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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/37441-8.txt b/37441-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ce3d161 --- /dev/null +++ b/37441-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6974 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wanderer (Volume 5 of 5), by Fanny Burney + +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 Wanderer (Volume 5 of 5) + or, Female Difficulties + +Author: Fanny Burney + +Release Date: September 15, 2011 [EBook #37441] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WANDERER (VOLUME 5 OF 5) *** + + + + +Produced by Delphine Lettau, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + +VOLUME V + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVII + + +The final purposes for which man is ordained to move in this nether +sphere, will for ever remain disputable, while the doubts to which it +gives rise can be answered only by fellow-doubters: but that the basis +of his social comfort is confidence, is an axiom that waits no +revelation, requires no logic, and dispenses with mathematical accuracy +for proof: it is an axiom that comes home, straight forward and +intuitively, to our 'business and bosoms;'--there, with life, to lodge. + +Juliet, therefore, in this rustic abode, surrounded by the clinging +affection of instinctive partiality, felt a sense of security, more +potent in its simplicity, than she could have owed to any engagement, +even of honour, even of law, even of duty. And, while to the fond mother +and her little ones, she was every moment newly endeared, she +experienced herself, in their favour, an increase of regard, that +excited in her an ardent desire to make this her permanent dwelling, +till she could procure tidings from Gabriella. + +The night-scene, nevertheless, hung upon her with perplexity. The good +dame never reverted to it, evidently not imagining that it had been +observed; and persuaded that the entrance, at that moment, of her guest, +had been accidental. She constantly evaded to speak of her husband, or +of his affairs; while all her happiness, and almost her very existence, +seemed wrapt up in her children. + +Unable to devise any better method of arriving at the subject, Juliet, +at length, determined upon relating the story of the hut. She watched +for an opportunity, when the little boy and girl, whom she would not +risk frightening, were asleep; and then, while occupied at her needle, +began detailing every circumstance of that affair. + +The narrative of the place, and of the family, sufficed to draw, at +once, from the dame the exclamation, 'O, you been gone, then, to Nat +Mixon's? That be just he; and her, too. They be none o' the koindest, +that be sure, poor folk!' + +But at the history of the calling up in the night; the rising, passing, +and precautions; the dame changed colour, and, with palpable +disturbance, enquired upon what day of the week this had happened: she +revived, however, upon being answered that it was Thursday, simply +saying, 'Mercy be proised! that be a day as can do me no harm.' + +But, at the description of the sack, the lumpish sound, and the +subsequent appearance of a clot of blood, the poor woman turned pale; +and, blessing herself, said, 'The La be good unto me! Nat Mixon wull be +paid, at last, for all his bad ways! for, sure and sure, the devil do +owe un a grudge, or a would no ha' let a straunger in, to bear eye sight +to's goings on! 'T be a mercy 't be no worse, for an if 't had bin a +Friday--' + +She checked herself, but looked much troubled. Juliet, affrighted by her +own conjectures, would have stopt; the dame, however, begged her to go +on: but when she mentioned the cupboard, and the door smeared with +blood, the poor woman, unable to contain her feelings, caught her guest +by the arm, and exclaimed, 'You wull no' inform against un, wull you?' + +'Indeed, I should be most reluctant,' answered Juliet, 'to inform +against people who, be they what they may, admitted me to a night's +lodging, when I was in distress: nevertheless--what am I to think of +these appearances? Meetings in the dead of the night, so dark, private, +and clandestine?' + +'But, who could 't be as did call up Nat?' interrupted Dame Fairfield; +'for my husband do go only o' the Friday.--' and then, giving a loud +scream, 'La be good unto me!' she continued, 'if an't be last month, 't +be my husband for sure! for a could no' go o' the Friday, being the +great fair!' + +The expression of horrour now depicted upon the countenance of Juliet, +told the dame the mischief done by her unguarded speech; and, in a panic +uncontroulable, she flung her apron over her face, and sobbed out, ''T +be all blown, then, and we, we be all no better than ondone!' + +Shocked, grieved, and appalled at this detection, and uncertain whither +it might lead, or what might be its extent, the thoughts of Juliet were +now all engrossed in considering how immediately to abscond from a +situation so alarming and perilous. + +In a few minutes, Dame Fairfield, starting up, ran precipitately to the +bed, calling out, 'Come, my pretty ones, come, my dearys! come and down +o' your knees to the good gentlewoman, and praoy her to ha' mercy o' +poor daddy; for if so be a come to be honged and transported, you can +never show your poor innocent pretty faces agen! Come, little dearys, +come! down o' your marrow-bones; and praoy her to be so good as not to +be hard-hearted; for if a do be so onkoind as to inform against us, we +be all ondone!' + +Juliet would have stopt this scene, but it was not possible; the +children, though comprehending nothing that was said, and crying at +being awaked, obeyed; and, falling at her feet, and supporting +themselves by her gown, said, 'Pay, dood ady, don't hurt daddy! pay +don't, dood ady!' + +Touched, yet filled with augmented dismay by their prayers, Juliet, +tenderly embracing, carried them back to bed; and, with words of +comfort, and kind promises, soon hushed them again to sleep. + +But the mother was not to be appeased; she had flung herself upon her +knees, and upon her knees she pertinaciously kept; sobbing as if her +heart were bursting, and lamenting that her husband never would listen +to her, or things would not have come to such a pass. + +Juliet, full of compassion, yet shuddering, attempted to console her, +but would enter into no engagement. Pity, in such a case, however +sincerely felt, could not take the lead; humanity itself invoked +justice; and she determined to let no personal consideration whatsoever, +interfere any longer with her causing an immediate investigation to be +made into this fearful business. + +The poor woman would not quit the floor, even when, in despondence, she +gave over her kneeling importunity. Juliet, from the instant that she +discovered how deeply the husband was involved, forbore all enquiry that +might make the wife an informer against him; and sate by her side, +trying to revive her, with offers of friendship and assistance. + +But when, anxious to escape from this eventful Forest, and still +confiding in the simplicity and goodness of her hostess, she begged a +clear direction to the shortest way for getting to the high road; +saying, 'Alas! how little had I imagined that there had been any spot in +England, where travellers were thus dreadfully waylaid to their +destruction!' Dame Fairfield, suddenly ceasing her outcries, demanded +what she meant; saying, 'Why sure, and sure, there be no daunger to +nobody in our Forest! We do go up it and down it, noight and day, +without no manner of fear; and though I do come from afar off myself, +being but a straunger in these parts, till I was married; my +feather-in-law, who has lived in them, mon and boy, better than ninety +and odd years,--for, thof a be still as fresh as a rose, a be a'most a +hondred; he do tell me that a would carry his gold watch, if a had one, +in his open hand, from top to bottom of our nine walks, in the pitch of +the night; and a should aunswer to come to no harm; for a had never +heard of a traveller as had had so much as a hair of his head hurt in +the New Forest.' + +'What is it you tell me, my good dame?' cried Juliet amazed: 'What are +these alarming scenes that I have witnessed? And why are your +apprehensions for your husband so direful?' + +'The La be good unto me!' exclaimed the dame: 'why sure and sure you do +no' go to think the poor mon be a murderer?' + +'I am disposed to think whatever you will bid me,' replied Juliet, 'for +I see in you such perfect truth and candour, that I cannot hesitate in +giving you my belief.' + +'Why the La be good unto me, my good gentlewoman, there be but small +need to make bad worse! What the poor mon ha' done, may bring un to be +honged and transported; but if so be a had killed a mon, a might go to +old Nick besoides; and no one could say a deserved ony better.' + +Juliet earnestly begged an explanation; and Dame Fairfield then +confessed, that her husband and Nat Mixon were deer-stealers. + +After the tremendous sensations to which the mistake of Juliet, from her +ignorance of this species of traffic, had given rise, so unexpected a +solution of her perplexity, made this crime, contrasted with the +assassination of a fellow-creature, appear venial. But though relieved +from personal terrours, she would not hazard weakening the morality, in +lessening the fears of the good, but uncultivated Dame Fairfield, by +making her participate in the comparative view taken by herself, of the +greater with the less offence. She represented, therefore, warmly and +clearly, the turpitude of all failure of probity; dwelling most +especially upon the heinousness of a breach of trust. + +The good woman readily said, that she knew, well enough, that the deer +were as much the King's Majesty's as the Forest; and that she had told +it over and over to her husband; and bid him prepare for his latter end, +if he would follow such courses: 'But the main bleame, it do all lie in +Nat Mixon; for a be as bad a mon as a body might wish to set eyes on. +And a does always say a likes ony thing better than work. It be he has +led my poor husband astray: for, thof a be but a bad mon, at best, to my +mishap! a was a good sort of a husband enough, poor mon, till a took to +these courses. But a knows I do no' like un for that; and that makes it, +that a does no' much like me. But I would no' ha' un come to be honged +or transported, if so be a was as onkoind agen! I would sooner go with +un to prison; thof it be but a dismal life to be shut up by dark walls, +and iron bars for to see out of! but I'd do it for sure and sure, not to +forsake un, poor mon! in his need; if so be I could get wherewithal to +keep my little dearys.' + +Touched by such genuine and virtuous simplicity, Juliet now promised to +apply to some powerful gentleman, to take her husband from the +temptation of his present situation; and to settle them all at a +distance from the Forest. + +The good woman, at this idea, started up in an extacy, and jumped about +the room, to give some vent to her joy; kissing her little ones till she +nearly suffocated them; and telling them, for sure and certain, that +they had gotten an angel come amongst them, to save them all from shame. +'For now,' she continued, 'if we do but get un away from Nat Mixon and +his wife, who be the worst mon in all the Forest, a wull think no more +of selling unlawful goods than unlawful geame.' + +Juliet, though delighted at her happiness, was struck with the words +'unlawful goods;' which she involuntarily repeated. Dame Fairfield, +unable, at this moment, to practise any restraint upon her feelings, +plumply, then, acknowledged that Nat Mixon was a smuggler, as well as a +deer-stealer: and that three of them were gone, even now, about the +country, selling laces, and cambrics, and gloves, just brought to land. + +This additional misdemeanour, considerably abated the hopes of +reformation which had been conceived by Juliet; and every word that, +inadvertently, escaped from the unguarded dame, brought conviction that +the man was thoroughly worthless. To give him, nevertheless, if +possible, the means to amend; and, at all events, to succour his good +wife, and lovely children, occupied as much of the thoughts of Juliet as +could be drawn, by humanity, from the danger of her own situation, and +her solicitude to escape from the Forest. + +More fearful than ever of losing her way, and falling into new evil, she +again entreated Dame Fairfield to accompany her to the next town on the +morrow. The dame agreed to every thing; and then, light of heart, though +heavy with fatigue, went to rest; and was instantly visited by the best +physician to all our cares. + +Juliet, also, courted repose; and not utterly in vain; though it came +not to the relief of her anxious spirits, agitated by all the +anticipating inquietude of foresight, with the same salutary facility +with which it instantly hushed the fears and the griefs of the +unreflecting, though feeling Dame Fairfield. + +The moment that the babbling little voices of the children reached, the +next morning, the ear of Juliet, she descended from her small chamber, +to hasten the breakfast, and to quicken her departure. Dame Fairfield, +during the preparations and the repast, happy in new hope, and solaced +by unburthening her heart, conversed, without reserve, upon her affairs; +and the picture which her ingenuous avowals, and simple details, offered +to the mental view of Juliet, presented to her a new sight of human +life; but a sight from which she turned with equal sadness and +amazement. + +The wretched man of the hut, of whom the poor dame's husband was the +servile accomplice, was the leader in all the illicit adventures of the +New Forest. Another cottager, also, was entirely under his direction; +though the difficulty and danger attendant upon their principal traffic, +great search being always made after a lost deer, caused it to be rarely +repeated; but smaller game; hares, pheasants, and partridges, were +easily inveigled, by an adroit dispersion of grain, to a place proper +for their seizure; and it required not much skill to frame stories for +satisfying purchasers, who were generally too eager for possession, to +be scrupulous in investigating the means by which their luxury was so +cheaply indulged. + +The fixed day of rendezvous was every Friday month, that each might be +ready for his part of the enterprize. + +Juliet, the dame imagined, had been admitted because it was Thursday, +and that her husband had not given notice that he should change his day, +on account of the fair; besides which, neither Mixon, she said, nor his +wife, ever refused money, be it ever so dangerous. He and his family +nearly subsisted upon the game which could not be got off in time; or +the refuse; or parts that were too suspicious for sale, of the deer. But +Dame Fairfield, though at the expence of the most terrible quarrels, and +even ill usage from her husband, never would consent to touch, nor +suffer her children to eat, what was not their own; 'for I do tell un,' +she continued, 'it might strangle us down our throats; for it be all his +King's Majesty's; and I do no' know why we should take hisn goods, when +a do never come to take none of ours! for we be never mislested, night +nor day. And a do deserve well of us all; for a be as good a gentlemon +as ever broke bread! which we did all see, when a was in these parts; as +well as his good lady, the Queen, who had a smile for the lowest of us, +God bless un! and all their pretty ones! for they were made up of good +nature and charity; and had no more pride than the new-born baby. And we +did all love 'em, when they were in these parts, so as the like never +was seen before.' + +With regard to the smuggling, there were three men, she said, who came +over, alternately, from beyond seas, with counterband merchandize. They +landed where they could, and, if they were surprised, they knew how to +hide their goods, and pass for poor fishermen, blown over by foul winds: +for they had always fishing tackle ready to shew. They had agents all +round the coast, prepared to deal with them; but when they came to the +Forest, they always treated with Mixon. + +Her friend near the turnpike, at Salisbury, commonly kept a good store +of articles; which she carried about, occasionally, to the ladies of the +town. 'And I ha' had sums and sums of goods,' she added, 'here, +oftentimes, myself; and then I do no dare to leave the house for one +yearthly moment; for we be all no better than slaves when the smugglers +be here, for fear of some informer. And I do tell my poor husband, we +should be mainly happier to work our hands to the bone, ony day of the +year, so we did but live by the King's Majesty's laws, than to make +money by being always in a quandary. And a might see the truth of what I +do say, if a would no' blind his poor eyes; or Nat Mixon, thof a do get +a power of money, do live the most pitiful of us all, for the fear of +being found out: a does no' dare get un a hat, nor a waistcoat like to +another mon. And his wife be the dirtiest beast in all the Forest. And +their house and garden be no better than a piggery. So that they've no +joy of life. They be but bad people at best, poor folk! And Nat be main +cross-grained; for, with all his care, a do look to be took up every +blessed day; and that don't much mend a mon's humour.' + +Ah, thought Juliet, were the wilful, but unreflecting purchaser, +amenable to sharing the public punishment of the tempted and needy +instrument,--how soon would this traffic die away; and every country +live by its own means; or by its own fair commerce! + +They had all, the dame said, been hard at work, to cover some goods +under ground, the very night of Juliet's arrival: and they had put what +was for immediate sale into hods, spread over with potatoes, to convey +to different places. When Juliet had tapped at the door, the dame had +concluded it to be her husband, returned for something that had been +forgotten; but the sight of a stranger, she said, though it were but a +woman, made her think that they were all undone; for the changed dress +of Juliet impeded any recollection of her, till she spoke. + +In the communication to which this discourse gave rise, Juliet, with +surprize, and even with consternation, learnt, how pernicious were the +ravages of dishonest cupidity; how subversive alike of fair prosperity, +and genial happiness, even in the bosom of retired and beautiful +rusticity. For those who were employed in poaching, purloining wood, or +concealing illicit merchandize by night, were as incapable of the arts +and vigour of industry by day, as they were torpid to the charms and +animation of the surrounding beauties of nature. Their severest labour +received no pay, but from fearful, accidental, and perilous dexterity; +their best success was blighted by constant apprehension of detection. +Reproachful with each other, suspicious of their neighbours, and gloomy +in themselves, they were still greater strangers to civilized manners +than to social morality. + +In the midst, however, of the dejection excited by such a view of human +frailty, Juliet, whose heart always panted to love, and prided in +esteeming her fellow-creatures, had the consolation to gather, that the +houses which contained these unworthy members of the community were few, +in comparison with those which were inhabited by persons of unsullied +probity; that several of the cottagers were even exemplary for assiduous +laboriousness and good conduct; and that many of the farmers and their +families were universally respected. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVIII + + +When Dame Fairfield was nearly ready, Juliet, to forward the march, set +out with the two children; but had scarcely quitted the house, when the +sight of a man, advancing towards the habitation, made her plant herself +behind a tree, to examine him before she ventured to proceed. + +She observed that he stopt, every two or three minutes, himself, to take +an inquisitive view all around him; frequently bending upon the ground, +and appearing to be upon some eager search. + +As he approached, she thought that his air was familiar to her; she +regarded him more earnestly as he drew nearer; what, then, was her +horrour to recognize the pilot! + +She glided back, instantaneously, to the house, beckoning to the +children to follow; and, rushing upon Dame Fairfield, and, taking both +her hands, she faintly ejaculated, 'Oh my good dame!--hide, conceal me, +I entreat!--I am pursued by a cruel enemy, and lost if you are not my +friend!--Serve, save me, now, and I will be yours to the end of my +life!' + +'That I wull!' answered the dame, delighted; 'if you wull but be so +koind as to save my poor husband the sheame of being honged or +transported, I wull go through fire and water to serve you, to the +longest day I have to live upon the feace of God's yearth!' + +Then, making the children play without doors, that they might not +observe what passed, she told Juliet to bolt herself into the upper +chamber. + +In a few minutes, the children, running into the house, called out, +'Mam, mam, yonder be dad!' + +The dame went forth to meet him; and Juliet spent nearly half an hour in +the most cruel suspense. + +Dame Fairfield then came to her; and, by the discourse that ensued, she +found that the pilot was one of the smugglers who brought merchandize to +Mixon; and heard that he and Fairfield had thus unexpectedly returned, +in search of a piece of fine broad French lace, of great value, which +was missing; and which Fairfield suspected to have dropt from one of his +parcels, while he was making his assortments, by the light of the +lanthorn. She had been, she said, helping them to look for it, high and +low; but had stolen away, for an instant, to bring this account; and to +beg Juliet not to be frightened, because though, if Fairfield would go +up stairs, she could not hinder him, she would take care that the +smuggler should not follow. + +Juliet was now seized with a panic that nearly bereft her of all hope; +and Dame Fairfield was so much touched by the sight of her sufferings, +that she descended, unbidden, to endeavour to discover some means to +facilitate an escape. + +That the pilot should prove to be a smuggler, caused no surprize to +Juliet; but that accident should so cruelly be her foe, as to lead her +to the spot where he deposited and negociated his merchandize, at the +very period when his affairs brought him thither himself; that she +should find her chosen retreat her bane; and that, even where she was +unpursued, she should be overtaken; was a stroke of misfortune as severe +as it was unexpected. + +And, soon after, she found her situation still more terrible than she +had imagined it. Fairfield, presently entering the kitchen, to take some +food, accused his wife, in a loud and angry tone, of having abetted an +imposter. Mounseer, the smuggler, he said, had not come to these parts, +this time, merely for his own private business. He had been offered a +great reward for discovering a young gentlewoman who had run away; and +who turned out to be no other than the very same that she had been such +a ninny as to impose upon Dame Goss, at Salisbury; and who had made off +without paying for her board and lodging. + +The dame warmly declared, that this could not be possible; that it must +be some other gentlewoman; for that a person who could be so kind to her +children could not have so black a heart. + +Fairfield, with bitter reproaches against her folly, persisted in the +accusation: stating, that, upon Dame Goss's going to the post-office for +a letter, it had been refused to her, because of its being directed to a +person advertised in the public news-papers; and Dame Goss had been sent +back, with an excuse, to while away the time, till somebody should +follow, to confront the gentlewoman with the advertisement. But Dame +Goss, instead of keeping a sharp watch, had been over-persuaded to go of +an errand; and she had no sooner turned her back, than the gentlewoman +made off. However, they had written to the news-papers that she was +somewhere in those parts; and they could do no more; for there was no +right to seize her; for the advertisement only desired to know where she +might be heard of, and found. It had made a rare hue and cry in the +town; and Mounseer, the smuggler, who had come down to Salisbury along +with another outlandish man, had traced the gentlewoman as far as to +Romsey; but could not find out what had become of her afterwards. The +other outlandish man, who was as rich as a Duke, and was to pay the +reward, had stopt at Salisbury, for tidings: upon which Mounseer, the +smuggler, thought he might as well come on, and see a bit after his own +business by the way; for it would not lose much time; and he might not +get to these parts again for months. + +The silence that ensued, gave Juliet an afflicting presentiment that she +had lost, by this history, her friend and advocate: and accordingly, +when, upon her husband's returning to his search, the dame re-mounted +the stairs, her air was so changed, that Juliet, again clasping her +hands, cried, 'Oh! Dame Fairfield!--Kind, good Dame Fairfield! judge me +not till you know me better! Aid me still, my good dame, in pity, in +charity aid me!--for, believe me, I am innocent!' + +'Why then so I wull!' cried the dame, resuming her looks of mild good +will; 'I wull believe you! And I'll holp you too, for sure: for now you +be under my own poor roof, 'twould be like unto a false heart to give +you up to your enemies. Besoides, I do think in my conscience you wull +pay every one his own, when you've got wherewithal. And it be but hard +to expect it before. And I do say, that a person that could be so koind +to my little Jacky and Jenny, in their need, must have a good heart of +her own; and would no' wrong no yearthly creature, unless a could no' +holp it.' + +She then promised to watch the moment of the smuggler's turning round to +the garden-side of the house, to assist her flight; and, once a few +yards distant, all would be safe; for her change of clothes from what +she had worn at Salisbury, would secure her from any body's +recollection. + +This, in a few minutes, was performed; and, without daring to see the +children, who would have cried at her departure, Juliet took a hasty +leave, silent but full of gratitude, of the good dame; into whose bosom, +as her hand refused it, she slipt a guinea for the little ones; and, +having received full directions, set forward, by the shortest cut, to +the nearest high road. + +She reached it unannoyed, but breathless; and seated herself upon a bank +by its side; not to hesitate which way to turn; the right and the left +were alike unknown to her, and alike liable to danger; but to recover +respiration, and force to proceed. + +She could now form no plan, save to hasten to some other part of the +country; certain that here she was sought all around; and conscious that +the disguise of her habiliment, if not already betrayed, must shortly, +from a thousand accidents, prove nugatory. + +In her ignorance what course the pilot might take, upon quitting the +cottage of Fairfield, she determined upon seeking, immediately, some +decent lodging for the rest of the day; hoping thus, should he pursue +the same route, to escape being overtaken. + +She had soon the satisfaction to come to a small habitation, a little +out of the high road, where she was accommodated, by a man and his wife, +with a room that precisely answered her purpose: and here she spent the +night. + +Thankful in obtaining any sort of tranquillity, she would fain have +remained longer; but she durst not continue in the neighbourhood of +Fairfield; and, the following morning, she re-commenced her wanderings. + +She asked the way to Salisbury, though merely that she might take an +opposite direction. She ventured not to raise her eyes from the earth, +nor to cast even a glance at any one whom she passed. She held her +handkerchief to her face at the sound of every carriage; and trembled at +the approach of every horseman. Her steps were quick and eager; though +not more precipitate to fly from those by whom she was followed, than +fearful of being observed by those whom she met. + +In a short time, the sight of several hostlers, helpers, and postilions, +before a large house, which appeared to be a capital inn, made her cross +the way. She wished to turn wholly from the high road; but low +brick-walls had now, on either side, taken place of hedges, and she +searched in vain for an opening. Her earnestness to press onward, joined +to her fear of looking up, made her soon follow, unconsciously, an +ordinary man, till she was so close behind him, as suddenly to perceive, +by his now well known coat, that he was the pilot! A scream struggled to +escape her, in the surprize of her affright; but she stifled it, and, +turning short back, speeded her retrograde way with all her force. + +She had reason, however, to fear that her uncontrollable first emotion +had caught his notice, for she heard footsteps following. Hopeless of +saving herself, if watched or suspected, by flight; as she knew that +there was no turning for at least half a mile; she darted precipitately +into the inn; which seemed alone to offer her even a shadow of any +chance of concealment. She rushed past ostlers, helpers, postilions, and +waiters; seized the hand of the first female that she met; and hastily +begged to be shewn to a room. + +The chambermaid, astonished at such a request from a person no better +equipped, pertly asked what she meant. + +Juliet, whose apprehensive eyes roved everywhere, now saw the pilot at +the door. + +She held the maid by the arm, and, in a voice scarcely audible, +entreated to be taken any where that she might be alone; and had the +presence of mind to hint at a recompence. + +This instantly prevailed. The maid said, 'Well, come along!' and led her +to a small apartment up stairs. + +Juliet put a shilling into her hand, and was then left to herself. + +In an agony of suffering that disordered her whole frame, What a life, +she cried, is this that I lead! How tremendous, and how degrading! Is it +possible that even what I fly can be more dreadful? + +This question restored her fortitude. Ah yes! ah yes! she cried, all +passing evil is preferable to such a termination! + +She now composed her spirits, and, while deliberating how she might make +a friend of the maid, to aid her escape, perceived, from the window, the +pilot, in a stable-yard, examining a horse, for which he seemed to be +bartering. + +This determined her to attempt to regain the cottage which she had last +quitted, and thence to try some opposite route. + +Swiftly she descended the stairs; a general bustle from some new arrival +enabled her to pass unnoticed; but a chaise was at the door, and she was +forced to make way for a gentleman, who had just quitted it, to enter +the house. Unavoidably, by this movement, she saw the gentleman also; +the colour instantly forsook her cheeks and lips; her feet tottered, and +she fell. + +She was immediately surrounded by waiters; but the gentleman, who, +observing only her dress, concluded her to belong to the house, walked +on into the kitchen, and asked, in broken English, for the landlord or +landlady. + +Juliet, whose fall had been the effect of a sudden deprivation of +strength, from an abrupt sensation of horrour, had not fainted. She +heard, therefore, what passed, and was easily helped to rise; and, +shaded by her packet, which, even in her first terrour, she had +instinctively held to her face, she made a motion to walk into the air. +One of the men, good naturedly, placed her a chair without doors; she +sat upon it thankfully, and almost as quickly recovered as she had lost +her force, by a reviving idea, that, even yet, thus situated, she might +make her escape. + +She had just risen with this view, when the voice of the pilot, who was +coming round the house, from the stable-yard, forced her hastily to +re-enter the passage; but not before she heard him enquire, whether a +French gentleman were arrived in that chaise? + +Again, now, she glided on towards the stairs; hearing, as she passed, +the answer made by the French gentleman himself: '_Oui, oui, me voici. +Quelles sont les nouvelles?_'[1] + +[Footnote 1: 'Yes, yes; here I am. What's your news?'] + +The voices of both proved each to be advancing to the passage, to meet +the other. Juliet was no longer sensible of bodily weakness; nor +scarcely of bodily existence. She seemed to herself a mere composition +of terrour. She flew up the stairs, meaning to regain her little +chamber; but, mistaking her way, found herself in a gallery, leading to +the best apartments. Glad, however, rather than sorry, in the hope she +might here be less liable to be sought, she opened the first door; and, +entering a large room, locked and bolted herself in, with such extreme +precipitance, that already she had sunk upon her knees, in fervent +prayer, before a shadow, which caught her eyes, made her look round; +when she perceived, at a distant window, a gentleman who was writing. + +In the deepest consternation, she arose, hurrying to find the key; +which, in her perturbation, she had taken out, and let drop she knew not +where. + +While earnestly searching it, the gentleman, mildly, yet in a tone of +some surprize, enquired what she wanted. + +Startled at the sound of his voice, she looked up, and saw Harleigh. + +Her conflicting emotions now exceeded all that she had hitherto +experienced. To seem to follow, even to his room, the man whom she had +adjured, as he valued her preservation, to quit and avoid her; joined +sensations of shame so poignant, to those of horrour and anguish, with +which she was already overwhelmed, that, almost, she wished her last +hour to arrive; that, while finishing her wretchedness, she might clear +her integrity and honour. + +Harleigh, to whom her dress, as he had not caught a view of her face, +proved a complete disguise of her person, concluded her to be some light +nymph of the inn, and suffered her to search for the key, without even +repeating his question: but when, upon her finding it, he observed that +her shaking hand could not, for some time, fix it in the lock, he was +struck with something in her general form that urged him to rise, and +offer his assistance. + +Still more her hand shook, but she opened the door, and, without +answering, and with a head carefully averted, eagerly quitted the room; +shutting herself out, with trembling precipitation. + +Harleigh hesitated whether to follow; but it was only for a moment: the +next, a shriek of agony reached his ears, and, hastily rushing forth, he +saw the female who had just quitted him, standing in an attitude of +despair; her face bowed down upon her hands; while an ill-looking man, +whom he presently recollected for the pilot, grinning in triumph, and +with arms wide extended, to prevent her passing, loudly called out, +'_Citoyen! Citoyen! venez voir! c'est Elle! Je la tien!_'[2] + +[Footnote 2: 'Tis she, citizen! come and see! I have her safe!'] + +Harleigh would have remonstrated against this rude detention; but he had +no sooner begun speaking, than Juliet, finding that she could not +advance, retreated; and had just put her hand upon the lock of a door, +higher up in the gallery; when another man, dressed with disgusting +negligence, and of a hideous countenance, yet wearing an air of +ferocious authority; advancing by large strides, roughly seized her arm, +with one hand, while, with the other, he rudely lifted up her bonnet, to +examine her face. + +'_C'est bien!_' he cried, with a look of exultation, that gave to his +horrible features an air of infernal joy; '_viens, citoyenne, viens; +suis moi_.'[3] + +[Footnote 3: ''Tis well! come, citizen, come along! follow me.'] + +Harleigh, who, when the bonnet was raised, saw, what as yet he had +feared to surmize,--that it was Juliet; sprang forward, exclaiming, +'Daring ruffian! quit your hold!' + +'_Ose tu nier mes droits?_' cried the man, addressing Juliet; whose arm +he still griped;--_'Dis!--parles!--l'ose tu?_'[4] + +[Footnote 4: 'Darest thou deny my rights?--say!--speak! darest thou?'] + +Juliet was mute; but Harleigh saw that she was sinking, and bent towards +her to save her fall; what, then, was his astonishment, to perceive that +it was voluntary! and that she cast herself at the feet of her +assailant! + +Thunderstruck, he held back. + +The man, with an expression of diabolical delight at this posture, cast +his eyes now upon her, now upon her appalled defendant; and then, in +French, gave orders to the pilot, to see four fresh horses put to the +chaise: and, in a tone of somewhat abated rage, bid Juliet arise, and +accompany him down stairs. + +'Ah, no!--ah, spare--ah, leave me yet!--' in broken accents, and in +French, cried the still prostrate Juliet. + +The man, who was large made, tall, and strong, seized, then, both her +arms, with a motion that indicated his intention to drag her along. + +A piercing shriek forced its way from her at his touch: but she arose, +and made no appeal, no remonstrance. + +'_Si tu peus le conduire toute seule,_' said the man, sneeringly, +'_soit! Mais vas en avant! Je ne le perdrai plus de vu._'[5] + +[Footnote 5: 'If you can walk alone, well and good; but go on first. I +shall lose sight of you no more.'] + +Juliet again hid her face, but stood still. + +The man roughly gave her a push; seeming to enjoy, with a coarse laugh, +the pleasure of driving her on before him. + +Harleigh, who saw that her face was convulsed with horrour, fiercely +planted himself in the midst of the passage, vehemently exclaiming, +'Infernal monster! by what right do you act?' + +'_De quel droit me le demandez vous?_'[6] cried the man; who appeared +perfectly to understand English. + +[Footnote 6: 'By what right do you enquire?'] + +'By the rights of humanity!' replied Harleigh; 'and you shall answer me +by the rights of justice! One claim alone can annul my interference. Are +you her father?' + +_'Non!_' he answered, with a laugh of scorn; '_mais il y a d'autres +droits!_'[7] + +[Footnote 7: 'No; but there are other rights!'] + +'There are none!' cried Harleigh, 'to which you can pretend; none!' + +'_Comment cela? n'est-ce pas ma femme? Ne suis-je pas son mari?_'[8] + +[Footnote 8: 'How so? Is she not my wife? Am I not her husband?'] + +'No!' cried Harleigh, 'no!' with the fury of a man seized with sudden +delirium; 'I deny it!--'tis false! and neither you nor all the fiends of +hell shall make me believe it!' + +Juliet again fell prostrate; but, though her form turned towards her +assailant, her eyes, and supplicating hands, that begged forbearance, +were lifted up, in speechless agony, to Harleigh. + +Repressed by this look and action, though only to be overpowered by the +blackest surmizes, Harleigh again stood suspended. + +Finding the people of the inn were now filling the staircase, to see +what was the matter, the foreigner, in tolerable English, told them all +to be gone, for he was only recovering an eloped wife. Then, addressing +Juliet, 'If you dare assert,' he said, 'that you are not my wife, your +perjury may cost you dear! If you have not that hardiness, hold your +tongue and welcome. Who else will dare dispute my claims?' + +'I will!' cried Harleigh, furiously. 'Walk this way, Sir, and give me an +account of yourself! I will defend that lady from your inhuman grasp, to +the last drop of my blood!' + +'Ah, no! ah, no!' Juliet now faintly uttered; but the man, interrupting +her, said, 'Dare you assert, I demand, that you are not my wife? Speak! +Dare you?' + +Again she bowed down her face upon her hands,--her face that seemed +bloodless with despair; but she was mute. + +'I put you to the test;' continued the man, striding to the end of the +gallery, and opening the last door: 'Go into that chamber!' + +She shrieked aloud with agony uncontrollable; and Harleigh, with an +emotion irrepressible, cast his arms around her, exclaiming, 'Place +yourself under my protection! and no violence, no power upon earth shall +tear you away!' + +At these words, all the force of her character came again to her aid; +and she disengaged herself from him, with a reviving dignity in her air, +that shewed a decided resolution to resist his services: but she was +still utterly silent; and he saw that she was obliged to sustain her +tottering frame against the wall, to save herself from again sinking +upon the floor. + +The foreigner seemed with difficulty to restrain his rage from some act +of brutality; but, after a moment's pause, fixing his hands fiercely in +his sides, he ferociously confronted the shaking Juliet, and said, 'I +have informed your family of my rights. Lord Denmeath has promised me +his assistance and your portion.' + +'Lord Denmeath!' repeated the astonished Harleigh. + +'He has promised me, also,' the foreigner, without heeding him, +continued, 'the support of your half-brother, Lord Melbury,--' + +'Lord Melbury!' again exclaimed Harleigh; with an expression that spoke +a sudden delight, thrilling, in defiance of agony, through his burning +veins. + +'Who, he assures me, is a young man of honour, who will never abet a +wife in eloping from her husband. I shall take you, therefore, at first, +and at once, to Lord Denmeath, who will only pay your portion to your +own signature. Go, therefore, quietly into that room, till the chaise is +ready, and I promise that I won't follow you: though, if you resist, I +shall assert my rights by force.' + +He held the door open. She wrung her hands with agonizing horrour. He +took hold of her shoulder; she shrunk from his touch; but, in shrinking, +involuntarily entered the room. He would have pushed her on; but +Harleigh, who now looked wild with the violence of contending emotions; +with rage, astonishment, grief, and despair; furiously caught him by the +arm, calling out, 'Hold, villain, hold!--Speak, Madam, speak! Utter but +a syllable!--Deign only to turn towards me!--Pronounce but with your +eyes that he has no legal claim, and I will instantly secure your +liberty,--even from myself!--even from all mankind!--Speak!--turn!--look +but a moment this way!--One word! one single word!--' + +She clapped her hands upon her forehead, in an action of despair; but +the word was not spoken,--not a syllable was uttered! A look, however, +escaped her, expressive of a soul in torture, yet supplicating his +retreat. She then stepped further into the room, and the foreigner shut +and double-locked the door. + +Triumphantly brandishing the key, as he eyed, sidelong, the now passive +Harleigh, he went into the adjoining apartment; where, seating himself +in the middle of the room, he left the door wide open, to watch all +egress and regress in the passage. + +Harleigh now appeared to be lost! The violence of his agitation, while +he concluded her to be wrongfully claimed, was transformed into the +blackest and most indignant despondence, at her unresisting, however +wretched acquiescence, to commands thus brutal; emanating from an +authority of which, however evidently it was deplored, she attempted not +to controvert the legality. The dreadful mystery, more direful than it +had been depicted, even by the most cruel of his apprehensions, was now +revealed: she is married! he internally cried; married to the vilest of +wretches, whom she flies and abhors,--yet she is married! indisputably +married! and can never, never,--even in my wishes, now, be mine! + +A sudden sensation, kindred even to hatred, took possession of his +feelings. Altered she appeared to him, and delusive. She had always, +indeed, discouraged his hopes, always forbidden his expectations; yet +she must have seen that they subsisted, and were cherished; and could +not but have been conscious, that a single word, bitter, but essentially +just, might have demolished, have annihilated them in a moment. + +He dragged himself back to his apartment, and resolutely shut his door; +gloomily bent to nourish every unfavourable impression, that might +sicken regret by resentment. But no indignation could curb his grief at +her loss; nor his horrour at her situation: and the look that had +compelled his retreat; the look that so expressively had concentrated +and conveyed her so often reiterated sentence, of 'leave, or you destroy +me!' seemed rivetted to his very brain, so as to take despotic and +exclusive hold of all his faculties. + +In a few minutes, the sound of a carriage almost mechanically drew him +to the window. He saw there an empty chaise and four horses. It was +surely to convey her away!--and with the man whom she loathed,--and from +one who, so often! had awakened in her symptoms the most impressive of +the most flattering sensibility!-- + +The transitory calm of smothered, but not crushed emotions, was now +succeeded by a storm of the most violent and tragic passions. To lose +her for ever, yet irresistibly to believe himself beloved!--to see her +nearly lifeless with misery, yet to feel that to demand a conference, or +the smallest explanation, or even a parting word, might expose her to +the jealousy of a brute, who seemed capable of enjoying, rather than +deprecating, any opportunity to treat her ill; to be convinced that she +must be the victim of a forced marriage; yet to feel every sentiment of +honour, and if of honour of happiness! rise to oppose all violation of a +rite, that, once performed, must be held sacred:--thoughts, reflections, +ideas thus dreadful, and sensations thus excruciating, almost deprived +him of reason, and he cast himself upon the ground in wild agony. + +But he was soon roused thence by the gruff voice, well recollected, of +the pilot, who, from the bottom of the stairs, called out, '_Viens, +citoyen! tout est pret._'[9] + +[Footnote 9: 'Come, citizen; all is ready.'] + +With horrour, now, he heard the heavy step of the foreigner again in +the passage; he listened, and the sound reached his ear of the key +fixing--the door unlocking.--Excess of torture then caused a short +suspension of his faculties, and he heard no more. + +Soon, however, reviving, the stillness startled him. He opened his door. +No one was in the passage; but he caught a plaintive sound, from the +room in which Juliet was a prisoner: and soon gathered that Juliet +herself was imploring for leave to travel to Lord Denmeath's alone. + +What an aggravation to the sufferings of Harleigh, to learn that she was +thus allied, at the moment that he knew her to be another's! for however +the violence of his admiration had conquered every obstacle, he had +always thought, with reluctance and concern, of the supposed obscurity +of her family and connections. + +Juliet pleaded in vain. A harsh refusal was followed by the grossest +menace, if she hesitated to accompany him at once. + +The pilot, repeating his call, now mounted the stairs; and Harleigh felt +compelled to return to his room; but, looking back in re-entering it, he +saw Juliet forced into the passage; her face not merely pale, but +ghastly; her eyes nearly starting from her head. + +To rescue, to protect her, Harleigh now thought was all that could +render life desirable; but, while adoring her almost to madness, he +respected her situation and her fame, and re-passed into his chamber, +unseen by the foreigner. + +Yet he could not forbear placing himself so that he might catch a glance +of her as she went by; he held the door, therefore, in his hand, as if, +accidentally, at that moment, opening it. She did not turn her head, but +assumed an air of resignation, and walked straight on; yet though she +did not meet his eye, she evidently felt it; a pale pink suffusion shot +across her cheeks; taking place of the death-like hue they had exhibited +as she quitted her room; but which, fading away almost in the same +moment, left her again a seeming spectre. + +A nervous dimness took from Harleigh even the faculty of observing the +foreigner. She loves me! was his thought; she surely loves me! And the +idea which, not many minutes sooner, would have chaced from his mind +every feeling but of felicity, now rent his heart with torture, from +painting their mutual unhappiness. It was not a sigh that he stifled, +nor a sigh that escaped him; but a groan, a piercing groan, which broke +from his sorrows, as he heard her tottering step reach the stairs, while +internally he uttered, She is gone from me for ever! + +When he thought she would no longer be in sight, he followed to the +first landing-place; to catch, once more, even the most distant sound of +her feet: but the passage to and fro of waiters, forced him again to +mount to his chamber. There, he hastened to the window, to take a view, +a last view! of her loved form; but thence, shuddering, retreated, at +sight of the chaise and four; destined to whirl her everlastingly away +from him, with a companion so undisguisedly dreaded!--so evidently +abhorred! + +Yet, at the first sound, he returned to the window; whence he perceived +Juliet just arrived upon the threshold; looking like a picture of death, +and leaning upon a chambermaid, to whom she clung as to a bosom friend; +yet not attempting to resist the foreigner; who, on her other side, +dragged her by the arm, in open triumph. But, when she came to the +chaise-step, she staggered, her vital powers seemed forsaking her; she +heaved a hard and painful sigh, and, but for the chambermaid, who knelt +down to catch her, had fallen upon the ground. + +Harleigh was already half way down the stairs, almost frantic to save +her; before he had sufficient recollection to remind him, that any +effort on his part might cause her yet grosser insult. He was then again +at his window; where he saw a second chambermaid administering burnt +feathers, which had already recovered her from the fainting fit; while +the mistress of the house was presenting her with hartshorn and water. + +She refused no assistance; but the foreigner, who was loudly enraged at +the delay, said that he would lift her into the chaise; and bid the +pilot get in first, to help the operation. + +She now again looked so sick and disordered, that all the women called +upon the foreigner to let her re-enter the house, and take a little +rest, before her journey. Her eyes, turned up to heaven with +thankfulness, even at the proposal, encouraged them to grow clamorous in +their demand; but the man, with a scornful sneer, replied that her +journey would be her cure; and told the pilot, who was finishing a +bottle of wine, to make haste. + +The wretched Juliet, resuming her resolution, though with an air of +despair, faintly pronounced, that she would get into the carriage +herself; and, leaning upon the woman, ascended the steps, and dropt upon +the seat of the chaise. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIX + + +At this moment, a horseman, who had advanced full gallop, hastily +dismounting, enquired aloud, whether any French gentleman had lately +arrived. + +All who were present, pointed to the foreigner; who, not hearing, or +affecting not to hear the demand, began pushing away the women, that he +might follow Juliet. + +The horseman, approaching, asked the foreigner his name. + +'_Qu'est ce que cela vous fait?_'[10] he answered. + +[Footnote 10: 'What is that to you?'] + +'You must come with me into the inn,' the horseman replied, after +stedfastly examining his face. + +The foreigner, with a loud oath, refused to stir. + +The horseman, holding out a paper, clapped him upon the shoulder, +saying, that he was a person who had been looked for some time, in +consequence of information which had been lodged against him; and that +he was to be sent out of the kingdom. + +This declaration made, he called upon the master of the house to lend +his assistance, for keeping the arrested person in custody, till the +arrival of the proper officers of justice. + +The man, at first, could find no vent for his rage, except horrid oaths, +and tremendous imprecations; but, when he was positively seized, with a +menace of being bound hand and foot, if he offered any opposition, he +swore that his wife, at least, should accompany him; and put forth his +hand towards the chaise, to drag out Juliet. + +But Juliet was saved from his grasp by the landlady; who humanely, upon +seeing her almost expiring condition, had entered the carriage, during +the dispute, with a viol of sal volatile. + +The horseman, who was a peace-officer, said that he had no orders to +arrest any woman. She might come, or stay, as she pleased. + +The foreigner vociferously claimed her; uttering execrations against all +who unlawfully withheld her; or would abet her elopement. He would then +have passed round to the other door of the chaise, to seize her by +force; but the peace-officer, who was habitually deaf to any appeal, and +resolute against any resistance; compelled him, though storming, raging, +and swearing, his face distorted with fury, his under-jaw dropt, and his +mouth foaming, to re-enter the inn. + +Juliet received neither relief nor fresh pain from what passed. Though +no longer fainting, terrour and excess of misery operated so powerfully +upon her nerves, that his cries assailed her ears but as outrage upon +outrage; and, though clinging to the landlady, with instinctive entreaty +for support, she was so disordered by her recent fainting, and so +absorbed in the belief that she was lost, that she knew not what had +happened; nor suspected any impediment to her forced journey; till the +landlady, now quitting her, advised her to have a room and lie down; +saying that no wife could be expected to follow such a brute of a +husband to jail. + +Amazed, she enquired what was meant; and was answered, that her husband +was in the hands of justice. + +The violence of the changed, yet mixed sensations, with which she was +now assailed, made every pulse throb with so palpitating a rapidity, +that she felt as if life itself was seeking a vent through every +swelling vein. But, when again she was pressed to enter the house, and +not to accompany her husband to prison; she shuddered, her head was +bowed down with shame; and, making a motion that supplicated for +silence, she seemed internally torn asunder with torturing incertitude +how to act. + +During this instant,--it was scarcely more,--of irresolution, the +landlady alighted, and the chaise was driven abruptly from the door. But +Juliet had scarcely had time for new alarm, ere she found that she had +only been removed to make way for another carriage; from the window of +which she caught a glimpse of Sir Jaspar Herrington. + +Nor had she escaped his eye; her straw-bonnet having fallen off, without +being missed, while she fainted, her head was wholly without shade. + +With all of speed in his power, the Baronet hobbled to the chaise. She +covered her face, sinking with every species of confusion and distress. +'Have I the honour,' he cried, 'to address Miss Granville? The +Honourable Miss Granville?'-- + +'Good Heaven!--' Juliet astonished, and raising her head, exclaimed. + +'If so, I have the dulcet commission,' he continued, 'to escort her to +her brother and sister, Lord Melbury, and Lady Aurora Granville.' + +'Is it possible? Is it possible?' cried Juliet, in an ecstacy that +seemed to renovate her whole being: 'I dare not believe it!--Oh Sir +Jaspar! dear, good, kind, generous Sir Jaspar! delude me not, in pity!' + +'No, fairest syren!' answered Sir Jaspar, in a rapture nearly equal to +her own; 'if there be any delusion to fear, 'tis poor I must be its +victim!' + +'Oh take me, then, at once,--this instant,--this moment,--take me to +them, my benevolent, my noble friend! If, indeed, I have a brother, a +sister,--give me the heaven of their protection!--' + +Sir Jaspar, enchanted, invited her to honour him by accepting a seat in +his chaise. With glowing gratitude she complied; though the just +returning roses faded from her cheeks, as she alighted, upon perceiving +Harleigh, aloof and disconsolate, fixed like a statue, upon a small +planted eminence. Yet but momentarily was the whiter hue prevalent, and +her skin, the next instant, burned with blushes of the deepest dye. + +This transition was not lost upon Harleigh: his eye caught, and his +heart received it, with equal avidity and anguish. Ah why, thought he, +so sensitive! why, at this period of despair, must I awaken to a +consciousness of the full extent of my calamity! Yet, all his resentment +subsided; to believe that she participated in his sentiments, had a +charm so softening, so all-subduing, that, even in this crisis of +torture and hopelessness, it dissolved his whole soul into tenderness. + +Juliet, faintly articulating, 'Oh, let us be gone!' moved, with cast +down eyes, to the carriage of the Baronet; forced, from remaining +weakness, to accept the assistance of his groom; Sir Jaspar not having +strength, nor Harleigh courage, to offer aid. + +Sir Jaspar demanded her permission to stop at Salisbury, for his valet +and baggage. + +'Any where! any where!' answered the shaking Juliet, 'so I go but to +Lady Aurora!' + +Astonished, and thrilled to the soul by these words, Harleigh, who, +unconsciously, had advanced, involuntarily repeated, 'Lady Aurora?--Lady +Aurora Granville?'-- + +Unable to answer, or to look at him, the trembling Juliet, eagerly +laying both her hands upon the arm of the Baronet, as, cautiously, he +was mounting into the carriage, supplicated that they might be gone. + +A petition thus seconded, from so adored a suppliant, was irresistible; +he kissed each fair hand that thus honoured him; and had just accepted +the offer of Harleigh, to aid his arrangements; when the furious +prisoner, struggling with the peace-officers, and loudly swearing, +re-appeared at the inn-door, clamorously demanding his wife. + +The tortured Juliet, with an impulse of agony, cast, now, the hands that +were just withdrawn from the Baronet, upon the shoulder of Harleigh, who +was himself fastening the chaise-door, tremulously, and in a tone +scarcely audible, pronouncing, 'Oh! hurry us away, Mr Harleigh!--in +mercy!--in compassion!' + +Harleigh, bowing upon the hands which he ventured not to touch, but of +which he felt the impression with a pang indescribable, called to the +postilion to drive off full gallop. + +With a low and sad inclination of the head, Juliet, in a faultering +voice, thanked him; involuntarily adding, 'My prayers, Mr Harleigh,--my +every wish for happiness,--will for ever be yours!' + +The chaise drove off; but his groan, rather than sigh, reached her +agonized ear; and, in an emotion too violent for concealment, yet to +which she durst allow no vent, she held her almost bursting forehead +with her hand; breathing only by smothered sighs, and scarcely sensible +to the happiness of an uncertain escape, while bowed down by the sight +of the misery that she had inflicted, where all that she owed was +benevolence, sympathy, and generosity. + +Not even the delight of thus victoriously carrying off a disputed prize, +could immediately reconcile Sir Jaspar to the fear of even the smallest +disorder in the economy of his medicines, anodynes, sweetmeats, and +various whims; which, from long habits of self-indulgence, he now +conceived to be necessaries, not luxuries. + +But when, after having examined, in detail, that his travelling +apparatus was in order, he turned smilingly to the fair mede of his +exertions; and saw the deep absorption of all her faculties in her own +evident affliction, he was struck with surprise and disappointment; and, +after a short and mortified pause, 'Can it be, fair ænigma!' he cried, +'that it is with compunction you abandon this Gallic Goliah?' + +Surprised, through this question, from the keen anguish of speechless +suffering; retrospection and anticipation alike gave way to gratitude, +and she poured forth her thanks, her praises, and her wondering delight, +at this unexpected, and marvellous rescue, with so much vivacity of +transport, and so much softness of sensibility for his kindness, that +the enchanted Sir Jaspar, losing all forbearance, in the interest with +which he languished to learn, more positively, her history and her +situation, renewed his entreaties for communication, with an urgency +that she now, for many reasons, no longer thought right to resist: +anxious herself, since concealment was at an end, to clear away the dark +appearances by which she was surrounded; and to remove a mystery that, +for so long a period, had made her owe all good opinion to trust and +generosity. + +She pondered, nevertheless, and sighed, ere she could comply. It was +strange to her, she said, and sad, to lift up the veil of secresy to a +new, however interesting and respectable acquaintance; while to her +brother, her sister, and her earliest friend, she still appeared to be +inveloped in impenetrable concealment. Yet, if to communicate the +circumstances which had brought her into this deplorable situation, +could shew her sense of the benevolence of Sir Jaspar, she would set +apart her repugnance, and gather courage to retrace the cruel scenes of +which he had witnessed the direful result. Her inestimable friend had +already related the singular history of all that had preceded their +separation; but, uninformed herself of the dreadful events by which it +had been followed, she could go no further: otherwise, from a noble +openness of heart, which made all disguise painful, if not disgusting to +her, Sir Jaspar would already have been satisfied. + +The Baronet, ashamed, would now have withdrawn his petition; but Juliet +no longer wished to retract from her engagement. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXX + + +The first months after the departure of Gabriella, were passed, Juliet +narrated, quietly, though far from gaily, in complete retirement. To +lighten, through her cares and services, the terrible change of +condition experienced by her benefactress, the Marchioness, and by her +guardian, the Bishop, was her unremitting, and not successless +endeavour: but even this sad tranquillity was soon broken in upon, by an +accidental interview with a returned emigrant, who brought news of the +dangerous state of health into which the young son of Gabriella had +fallen. Too well knowing that this cherished little creature was the +sole consolation and support of its exiled mother, the Marchioness +earnestly desired that her daughter should possess again her early +companion; who best could aid to nurse the child; or, should its illness +prove fatal, to render its loss supportable. It was, therefore, settled, +that, guarded and accompanied by a faithful ancient servant, upon whose +prudence and attachment the Marchioness had the firmest reliance, Juliet +should follow her friend: and the benevolent Bishop promised to join +them both, as soon as his affairs would permit him to make the voyage. + +To obtain a passport being then impossible, Ambroise, this worthy +domestic, was employed to discover means for secretly crossing the +channel: and, as adroit as he was trusty, he found out a pilot, who, +though ostensibly but a fisherman, was a noted smuggler; and who passed +frequently to the opposite shore; now with goods, now with letters, now +with passengers. By this man the Marchioness wrote to prepare Gabriella +for the reception of her friend, who was to join her at Brighthelmstone; +whither, in her last letter, written, as Juliet now knew, in the anguish +of discovering symptoms of danger in the illness of her darling boy, +Gabriella had mentioned her intended excursion for sea-bathing. The +diligent Ambroise soon obtained information that the pilot was preparing +to sail with a select party. The Marchioness would rather have postponed +the voyage, till an answer could have been received from her daughter; +yet this was not an opportunity to be neglected. + +The light baggage, therefore, was packed, and they were waiting the word +of command from the pilot, when a commissary, from the Convention, +arrived, to purify, he said, and new-organize the town, near which, in a +villa that had been a part of her marriage-portion, the Marchioness and +her brother then resided. To this villa the commissary made his first +visit. The Bishop, by this agent of the inhuman Robespierre, was +immediately seized; and, while his unhappy sister, and nearly adoring +ward, were vainly kneeling at the feet of his condemner,--not accuser! +to supplicate mercy for innocence,--not for guilt! the persons who were +rifling the Bishop, shouted out, with savage joy, that they had found a +proof of his being a traitor, in a note in his pocket-book, which was +clearly a bribe from the enemy to betray the country. The commissary, +who, having often been employed as a spy, had a competent knowledge of +modern languages, which he spoke intelligibly, though with vulgar +phraseology and accent; took the paper, and read it without difficulty. +It was the promissory note of the old Earl Melbury. + +He eagerly demanded the Citoyenne Julie; swearing that, if six thousand +pounds were to be got by marrying, he would marry without delay. He +ordered her, therefore, to accompany him forthwith to the mayoralty. At +her indignant refusal, he scoffingly laughed; but, upon her positive +resistance, ordered her into custody. This, also, moved her not; she +only begged to be confined in the same prison with the Bishop. Coarsely +mocking her attachment for the priest, and holding her by the chin, he +swore that he would marry her, and her six thousand pounds. + +A million of deaths, could she die them, she resolutely replied, she +would suffer in preference. + +Her priest, then, he said, should away to the guillotine; though she had +only to marry, and sign the promissory-note for the dower, to set the +parson at liberty. Filled with horrour, she wrung her hands, and stood +suspended; while the Marchioness, with anguish indescribable, and a look +that made a supplication that no voice could pronounce, fell upon her +neck, gasping for breath, and almost fainting. + +'Ah, Madam!' Juliet cried, 'what is your will? I am yours,--entirely +yours! command me!'-- + +The Marchioness could not speak; but her sighs, her groans, rather, were +more eloquent than any words. + +'Bind the priest!' the commissary cried. 'His trial is over; bind the +traitor, and take him to the cell for execution.' + +The Marchioness sunk to the floor. + +'No!' cried Juliet, 'bind him not! Touch not his reverend and revered +person!--Give me the paper! I will sign what you please! I will go +whither you will!' + +'Come, then,' cried the commissary, 'to the mayoralty.' + +Juliet covered her face, but moved towards the door. + +The Bishop, hitherto passive and meekly resigned, now, with a sudden +effort of strength, repulsing his gaolers, while fire darted from his +eyes, and a spirit of command animated all his features, exclaimed, 'No, +generous Juliet! my own excellent child, no! Are a few years more or +less,--perhaps but a few minutes,--worth purchasing by the sacrifice of +truth, and the violation of every feeling? I will not be saved upon such +terms!' + +'No preaching,' cried the commissary; 'off with him at once.' + +The men now bound his hands and arms; while, returning to his natural +state of calmness, he lifted up his eyes towards heaven, and, in a loud +and sonorous voice, ejaculated, in Latin, a fervent prayer; with an air +so absorbed in mental and pious abstraction, that he seemed unconscious +what became of his person. + +Juliet, who had shrunk back at his speech, again advanced, and, with +agony unspeakable, held out her hand, in token of consent. The +commissary received it triumphantly, at the moment that the Bishop, upon +reaching the door, turned round to take a last view of his unhappy +sister; who, torn with conflicting emotions, seemed a statue of horrour. +But no sooner did he perceive the hand of his ward unresistingly grasped +by the commissary, than again the expression of his face shewed his soul +brought back from its heavenly absorption; and, stopping short, with an +air which, helpless and shackled as he was, overawed his fierce +conductors, 'Hold yet a moment,' he cried. 'Oh Juliet! Think,--know what +you are about! 'Tis not to this world alone you are responsible for vows +offered up at the altar of God! My child! my more than daughter! +sacrifice not your purity to your affections! Drag me not back from a +virtuous death to a miserable existence, by the foul crime of wilful +perjury!' + +Juliet affrighted, again snatched away her hand, with a look at the +commissary which pronounced an abhorrent refusal. + +The commissary, stamping with fury, ordered the Bishop instantly to the +cell of death. Where guilt, he said, had been proved, there was no need +of any tribunal; and the execution should take place with the speed +called for by his dangerous crimes. + +Juliet, cold, trembling, and again irresolute, was involuntarily turning +to the commissary; but the Bishop, charging her to be firm, pronounced a +pious blessing upon her head; faintly spoke a last adieu to his +miserable sister, and, with commanding solemnity, accompanied his +gaolers away. + +The horrour of that moment Juliet attempted not to describe; nor could +she recur to it, without sighs and emotions that, for a while, stopt her +narration. + +Sir Jaspar would have spared her the resumption of the history; but she +would not, having thus raised, trifle with his curiosity. + +The commissary, she continued, then took possession of all the money, +plate, and jewels he could find, and pursued what he called his rounds +of purification. + +How the Marchioness or herself out-lived that torturing day, Juliet +declared she could with difficulty, now, conceive. She was again willing +to become a victim to the safety of her guardian; but even the +Marchioness ceased to desire his preservation upon terms from which he +himself recoiled as culpable. Early the next morning they were both +conducted to a large house upon the market-place, where, in the most +direful suspense, they were kept waiting for more than two hours; in +which interval, such was the oppression of terrour, neither of them +opened their lips. + +The commissary, at length, broke into the room, and, seating himself in +an arm-chair, while, humbly and tremblingly, they stood at the door, +demanded of Juliet whether she were become more reasonable. Her head +drooped, but she would not answer. 'Follow me,' he cried, 'to this +balcony.' He opened a door leading to a large apartment that looked upon +the market-place. She suspected some sinister design, and would not +obey. 'Come you, then!' he cried, to the Marchioness; and, taking her by +the shoulder, rudely and grossly, he pushed her before him, till she +entered upon the balcony. A dreadful scream, which then broke from her, +brought Juliet to her side. + +Here, again, overpowered by the violence of bitter recollections, which +operated, for the moment, with nearly the force of immediate suffering, +Juliet was obliged to take breath before she could proceed. + +'Oh Sir Jaspar!' she then cried, 'upon approaching the wretched +Marchioness, what a distracting scene met my eyes! A scaffolding,--a +guillotine,--an executioner,--were immediately opposite me! and in the +hand of that hardened executioner, was held up to the view of the +senseless multitude, the ghastly, bleeding head of a victim that moment +offered up at the shrine of unmeaning though ferocious cruelty! Four +other destined victims, kneeling and devoutly at prayers, their hands +tied behind them, and their heads bald, were prepared for sacrifice; and +amidst them, eminently conspicuous, from his dignified mien, and pious +calmness, I distinguished my revered guardian! the Marchioness had +distinguished her beloved brother!--Oh moment of horrour exceeding all +description! I cast myself, nearly frantic, at the feet of the +commissary; I embraced his knees, as if with the fervour of affection; +wildly and passionately I conjured him to accept my hand and fortune, +and save the Bishop!--He laughed aloud with triumphant derision; but +gave an immediate order to postpone the execution of the priest. I blest +him,--yes, with all his crimes upon his head!--and even again I should +bless him, to save a life so precious! + +'The Marchioness, recovering her strength with her hopes, seized the arm +of the messenger of this heavenly news, hurrying him along with a force +nearly supernatural, and calling out aloud herself, from the instant +that she entered the market place, "_Un sursit! Un sursit!_"[11] + +[Footnote 11: 'A Reprieve! a reprieve!'] + +'"Now, then," cried the commissary, "come with me to the mayoralty;" and +was taking my no longer withheld, but shaking hand, when some soldiers +abruptly informed him than an insurrection had broken out at ----, which +demanded his immediate presence. + +'I caught this moment of his engaged attention to find my way down +stairs, and into the market-place: but not with a view to escape; every +feeling of my soul was concentrated in the safety of the Bishop. I +rushed forward, I forced my way through the throng, which, though at +first it opposed my steps, no sooner looked at me than, intimidated by +my desperation, or affected by my agony, it facilitated my passage. +Rapidly I overtook the Marchioness, whose age, whose dignified energy, +and loud cries of Reprieve! made way for her through every impediment, +whether of crowd or of guards, to the scaffolding. How we accomplished +it, nevertheless, I now wonder! But a sense of right, when asserted with +courage, is lodged in the lowest, the vilest of mankind;--a sense of +right, an awe of justice, and a propensity to sympathize with acute +distress! The reprieve which our cries had anticipated, and which the +man whom we accompanied confirmed, was received by the multitude, from +an ardent and universal respect to the well known excellencies of the +Bishop, with shouts of applause that exalted our joy at his deliverance +into a felicity which we thought celestial! At his venerable feet we +prostrated ourselves, as if he had been a martyr to religion, and +already was sainted. He was greatly affected; though perhaps only by our +emotion; for he looked too uncertain how this event had been brought to +bear, to partake of our happiness; and at me he cast an eye so full of +compassion, yet so interrogative, that mine sunk under it; and, far from +exulting that I had thus devoted myself to his preservation, I was +already trembling at the acknowledgement I had to make, when I was +suddenly seized by a soldier, who forced me, from all the tenderest +interests of my heart, back to the stormy commissary. Oh! what a change +of scene! He roughly took me by the arm, which felt as if it were +withered, and no longer a part of my frame at his touch; and, with +accusations of the grossest nature, and vows the most tremendous of +vengeance, compelled me to attend him to the mayoralty; deaf to my +prayers, my entreaties, my kneeling supplications that he would first +suffer me to see the Bishop at liberty. + +'At the mayoralty he was accosted by a messenger sent from the +Convention. Ah! it seemed to me, at that moment, that a whole age of +suffering could not counterbalance the delight I experienced, when, to +read an order thus presented to him, he was constrained to relinquish +his hard grasp! Still greater was my relief, when I learnt, by what +passed, that he had received commands to proceed directly to ----, where +the insurrection was become dangerous. + +'Such a multiplicity of business now crowded upon him, that I conceived +a hope I might be forgotten; or, at least, set apart as a future prey: +but alas! the promissory-note was still in his hand, and,--if heart he +has any,--if heart be not left out in his composition, there, past all +doubt, the six thousand pounds were already lodged. All my hopes, +therefore, faded away, when he had given some new directions; for, +seizing me again, by the wrist, he dragged me to the place,--I had +nearly said of execution!--There, by his previous orders, all were in +waiting,--all was ready!--Oh, Sir Jaspar! how is it that life still +holds, in those periods when all our earthly hopes, and even our +faculties of happiness, seem for ever entombed.' + +The bitterest sighs again interrupted her narration; but neither the +humanity nor the politeness of Sir Jaspar could combat any longer his +curiosity, and he conjured her to proceed. + +'The civil ceremony, dreadful, dreadful! however little awful compared +with that of the church, was instantly begun; in the midst of the buz of +business, the clamour of many tongues, the sneers of contempt, and the +laughter of derision; with an irreverence that might have suited a +theatre, and with a mockery of which the grossest buffoons would have +been ashamed. Scared and disordered, I understood not,--I heard not a +word; and my parched lips, and burning mouth, could not attempt any +articulation. + +'In a minute or two, this pretended formality was interrupted, by +information that a new messenger from the Convention demanded immediate +admittance. The commissary swore furiously that he should wait till the +six thousand pounds were secured; and vociferously ordered that the +ceremony should be hurried on. He was obeyed! and though my quivering +lips were never opened to pronounce an assenting syllable, the ceremony, +the direful ceremony, was finished, and I was called,--Oh heaven and +earth!--his wife! his married wife!--The Marchioness, at the same +terrible moment, broke into the apartment. The conflict between horrour +and tenderness was too violent, and, as she encircled me, with tortured +pity, in her arms, I sunk senseless at her feet. + +'Upon recovering, the first words that I heard were, "Look up, my child, +look up! we are alone!" and I beheld the unhappy Marchioness, whose face +seemed a living picture of commiserating woe. The commissary had been +forced away by a new express; but he had left a charge that I should be +ready to give my signature upon his return. The Marchioness then, with +expressions melting, at once, and exalting, condescended to pour forth +the most soothing acknowledgments; yet conjured me not to leave my own +purpose unanswered, by signing the promissory-note, till the Bishop +should be restored to liberty, with a passport, by which he might +instantly quit this spot of persecution. To find something was yet to be +done, and to be done for the Bishop, once more revived me; and when the +commissary re-entered the apartment, neither order nor menace could +intimidate me to take the pen, till my conditions were fulfilled. My +life, indeed, at that horrible period, had lost all value but what was +attached to the Bishop, the Marchioness, and my beloved Gabriella; for +myself, it seemed, thenceforth, reserved not for wretchedness, but +despair! + +'The passport was soon prepared; but when the Bishop was brought in to +receive it in my presence, he rejected it, even with severity, till he +heard,--from myself heard!--that the marriage-ceremony, as it was +called! was already over. Into what a consternation was he then flung! +Pale grew his reverend visage, and his eyes glistened with tears. He +would not, however, render abortive the sacrifice which he could no +longer impede, and I signed the promissory-note; while the Marchioness +wept floods of tears upon my neck; and the Bishop, with a look of +anguish that rent my heart, waved, with speechless sorrow, his venerable +hand, in token of a blessing, over my head; and, deeply sighing, +silently departed. + +'The commissary, forced immediately away, to transact some business with +his successor at this place, committed me to the charge of the mayor. I +was shewn to a sumptuous apartment; which I entered with a shuddering +dread that the gloomiest prison could scarcely have excited. The +Marchioness followed her brother; and I remained alone, trembling, +shaking, almost fainting at every sound, in a state of terrour and +misery indescribable. The commissary, however, returned not; and the +mayor, to whom my title of horrour was a title of respect, paid me +attentions of every sort. + +'In the afternoon, the Marchioness brought me the reviving tidings that +the Bishop was departed. He had promised to endeavour to join Gabriella. +The rest of this direful day passed, and no commissary appeared: but the +anguish of unremitting expectation kept aloof all joy at his absence, +for, in idea, he appeared every moment! Nevertheless, after sitting up +together the whole fearful night, we saw the sun rise the next morning +without any new horrour. I then received a visit from the mayor, with +information that the insurrection at ---- had obliged the commissary to +repair thither, and that he had just sent orders that I should join him +in the evening. Resistance was out of the question. The tender +Marchioness demanded leave to accompany me; but the mayor interposed, +and forced her home, to prepare and deliver my wardrobe for the journey. +It was so long ere she returned, that the patience of the mayor was +almost exhausted; but when, at last, she arrived, what a change was +there in her air! Her noble aspect had recovered more than its usual +serenity; it was radiant with benevolence and pleasure; and, when we +were left an instant together, "My Juliet!" she cried, while beaming +smiles illumined her fine face, "my Juliet! my other child! blessed be +Heaven, I can now rescue our rescuer! I have found means to snatch her +from this horrific thraldom, in the very journey destined for its +accomplishment!" + +'She then briefly prepared me for meeting and seconding the scheme of +deliverance that she had devised with the excellent Ambroise; and we +separated,--with what tears, what regret,--yet what perturbation of +rising hope! + +'All that the Marchioness had arranged was executed. Ambroise, disguised +as an old waggoner, preceded me to the small town of ----, where the +postilion, he knew, must stop to water the horses. Here I obtained leave +to alight for some refreshment, of which an old municipal officer, who +had me in charge, was not sorry, in idea, to partake; as he could not +entertain the most distant notion that I had formed any plan of escape. +As soon, however, as I was able to disengage myself from his sight, a +chambermaid, who had previously been gained by Ambroise, wrapt me in a +man's great coat, put on me a black wig, and a round hat, and, pointing +to a back door, went out another way; speaking aloud, as if called; to +give herself the power of asserting, afterwards, that the evasion had +been effected in her absence. The pretended waggoner then took me under +his arm, and flew with me across a narrow passage, where we met, by +appointment, an ancient domestic of the Bishop's; who conveyed me to a +small house, and secreted me in a dark closet, of which the entrance was +not discernible. He then went forth upon his own affairs, into such +streets and places as were most public; and my good waggoner found means +to abscond. + +'Here, while rigidly retaining the same posture, and scarcely daring to +breathe any more than to move, I heard the house entered by sundry +police-officers, who were pursuing me with execrations. They came into +the very room in which I was concealed; and beat round the wainscot in +their search; touching even the board which covered the small aperture, +not door, by which I was hidden from their view! I was not, however, +discovered; nor was the search, there, renewed; from the adroitness of +the domestic by whom I had been saved, in having shewn himself in the +public streets before I had yet been missed. + +'In this close recess, nearly without air, wholly without motion, and +incapable of taking any rest; but most kindly treated by the wife of the +good domestic, I passed a week. All search in that neighbourhood being +then over, I changed my clothing for some tattered old garments; stained +my face, throat, and arms; and, in the dead of the night, quitted my +place of confinement, and was conducted by my protector to a spot about +half a mile from the town. There I found Ambroise awaiting me, with a +little cart; in which he drove me to a small mean house, in the vicinity +of the sea-coast. He introduced me to the landlord and landlady as his +relation, and then left me to take some repose; while he went forth to +discover whether the pilot were yet sailed. + +'He had delivered to me my work-bag, in which was my purse, generously +stored by the Marchioness, with all the ready money that she could +spare, for my journey. For herself, she held it essential to remain +stationary, lest a general emigration should alienate the family-fortune +from every branch of her house. Excellent lady! At the moment she thus +studied the prosperity of her descendants, she lived upon roots, while +deprived of all she most valued in life, the society of her only child! + +'To repose the good Ambroise left me; but far from my pillow was repose! +the dreadful idea of flying one who might lay claim to the honoured +title of husband for pursuing me; the consciousness of being held by an +engagement which I would not fulfil, yet could not deny; the uncertainty +whether my revered Bishop had effected his escape; and the necessity of +abandoning my generous benefactress when surrounded by danger; joined to +the affliction of returning to my native country,--the country of my +birth, my heart, and my pride!--without name, without fortune, without +friends! no parents to receive me, no protector to counsel me; +unacknowledged by my family,--unknown even to the children of my +father!--Oh! bitter, bitter were my feelings!--Yet when I considered +that no action of my life had offended society, or forfeited my rights +to benevolence, I felt my courage revive, for I trusted in Providence. +Sleep then visited my eye-lids, though hard was the bed upon which I +sought it; hard and cold! the month was December. Happy but short +respite of forgetfulness! Four days and nights followed, of the most +terrible anxiety, ere Ambroise returned. He then brought me the +dismaying intelligence, that circumstances had intervened, in his own +affairs, that made it impossible for him, at that moment, to quit his +country. Yet less than ever could my voyage be delayed, the commissary +having, in his fury, advertised a description of my person, and set a +price upon my head; publicly vowing that I should be made over to the +guillotine, when found, for an example. Oh reign so justly called of +terrour! How lawless is its cruelty! How blest by all mankind will be +its termination. + +'It now became necessary to my safety, that Ambroise, who was known to +be a domestic of the Marchioness, should not appear to belong to me; +and that, to avoid any suspicion that I was the person advertised by the +commissary, I should present myself to the pilot as an accidental +passenger. + +'Ambroise had found means, during his absence, to communicate with the +Marchioness; from whom he brought me a letter of the sweetest kindness; +and intelligence and injunctions of the utmost importance. + +'The commissary, she informed me, immediately upon my disappearance, had +presented the promissory-note to the bankers; but they had declared it +not to be valid, till it were either signed by the heir of the late Earl +Melbury, or re-signed, with a fresh date, by Lord Denmeath. The +commissary, therefore, had sent over an agent to Lord Denmeath, to +claim, as my husband, the six thousand pounds, before my evasion should +be known. The Marchioness conjured me, nevertheless, to forbear applying +to my family; or avowing my name, or my return to my native land, till I +should be assured of the safety of the Bishop; whom the commissary had +now ordered to be pursued, and upon whom the most horrible vengeance +might be wreaked, should my escape to this happy land transpire, before +his own should be effected: though, while I was still supposed to be +within reach of our cruel persecutor, the Bishop, even if he were +seized, might merely be detained as an hostage for my future concession; +till happier days, or partial accident, might work his deliverance. + +'Inviolably I have adhered to these injunctions. In a note which I left +for the Marchioness, with Ambroise, I solemnly assured her, that no +hardships of adversity, nor even any temptation to happiness, should +make me waver in my given faith; or tear from me the secret of my name +and story, till I again saw, or received tidings of the Bishop. And Oh +how light, how even blissful,--in remembrance, at least,--will prove +every sacrifice, should the result be the preservation of the most pious +and exemplary of men! But, alas! I have been discovered, while still in +the dark as to his destiny, by means which no self-denial could +preclude, no fortitude avert! + +'The indefatigable Ambroise had learned that the pilot was to sail the +next evening for Dover. I now added patches and bandages to my stained +skin, and garb of poverty; and stole, with Ambroise, to the sea-side; +where we wandered till past midnight; when Ambroise descried a little +vessel, and the pilot; and, soon afterwards, sundry passengers, who, in +dead silence, followed each other into the boat. I then approached, and +called out to beg admission. I desired Ambroise to be gone; but he was +too anxious to leave me. Faithful, excellent creature! how he suffered +while I pleaded in vain! how he rejoiced when one of the passengers, +open to heavenly pity, humanely returned to the shore to assist me into +the boat! Ambroise took my last adieu to the Marchioness; and I set sail +for my loved, long lost, and fearfully recovered native land. + +'The effect upon my spirits of this rescue from an existence of +unmingled horrour, was so exhilarating, so exquisite, that no sooner was +my escape assured, than, from an impulse irresistible, I cast my ring, +which I had not yet dared throw away, into the sea; and felt as if my +freedom were from that moment restored! And, though innumerable +circumstances were unpleasant in the way, I was insensible to all but my +release; and believed that only to touch the British shore would be +liberty and felicity! + +'Little did I then conceive, impossible was it I should foresee, the +difficulties, dangers, disgraces, and distresses towards which I was +plunging! Too, too soon was I drawn from my illusion of perfect +happiness! and my first misfortune was the precursor of every evil by +which I have since been pursued;--I lost my purse; and, with it, away +flew my fancied independence, my ability to live as I pleased, and to +devote all my thoughts and my cares to consoling my beloved friend! + +'Vainly in London, and vainly at Brighthelmstone I sought that friend. I +would have returned to the capital, to attempt tracing her by minuter +enquiry; but I was deterred by poverty, and the fear of personal +discovery. I could only, therefore, continue on the spot named by the +Marchioness for our general rendezvous, where the opening of every day +gave me the chance of some direction how to proceed. But alas! from that +respected Marchioness two letters only have ever reached me! The first +assured me that she was safe and well, and that the Bishop, though +forced to take a distant route, had escaped his pursuers: but that the +commissary was in hourly augmenting rage, from Lord Denmeath's refusing +to honour the promissory-note, till the marriage should be authenticated +by the bride, with the signature and acquittal of the Bishop. The second +letter,--second and last from this honoured lady!--said that all was +well; but bid me wait with patience, perhaps to a long period, for +further intelligence, and console and seek to dwell with her Gabriella: +or, should any unforeseen circumstances inevitably separate us, +endeavour to fix myself in some respectable and happy family, whose +social felicity might bring, during this dread interval of suspense, +reflected happiness to my own heart: but still to remain wholly +unknown, till I should be joined by the Bishop. + +'Cast thus upon myself, and for a time indefinite, how hardly, and how +variously have I existed! But for the dreadful fear of worse, darkly and +continually hovering over my head, I could scarcely have summoned +courage for my unremitting trials. But whatever I endured was constantly +light in comparison with what I had escaped! Yet how was I tried,--Oh +Sir Jaspar! how cruelly! in resisting to present myself to my family! in +forbearing to pronounce the kind appellation of brother! the soft, +tender title of sister! Oh! in their sight, when witnessing their +goodness, when blest by their kindness, and urged by the most generous +sweetness to confidence, how violent, how indescribable have been my +struggles, to withhold from throwing myself into their arms, with the +fair, natural openness of sisterly affection! But Lord Denmeath, who +disputed, or denied, my relation to their family, was their uncle and +guardian. To him to make myself known, would have been to blight every +hope of concealment from the commissary, whose claims were precisely in +unison with the plan of his lordship, for making me an alien to my +country. What, against their joint interests and authority, would be the +power of a sister or a brother under age? Often, indeed, I was tempted +to trust them in secret; and oh how consolatory to my afflicted heart +would have been such a trust! but they had yet no establishment, and +they were wards of my declared enemy. How unavailing, therefore, to +excite their generous zeal, while necessarily forced to exact that our +ties of kindred should remain unacknowledged? Upon their honour I could +rely; but by their feelings, their kind, genuine, ardent feelings, I +must almost unavoidably have been betrayed. + +'To my Gabriella, also, I have forborne to unbosom my sorrows, and +reveal my alarms, that I might spare her already so deeply wounded soul, +the restless solicitude of fresh and cruel uncertainties. She concludes, +that though her letters have miscarried, or been lost, her honoured +mother and uncle still reside safely together, in the villa of the +Marchioness, in which she had bidden them adieu. And that noble mother +charged me to hide, if it should be possible, from her unhappy child, +the terrible history in which I had borne so considerable a part, till +she could give assurances to us both of her own and the Bishop's safety. +Alas! nine months have now worn away since our separation, yet no news +arrives!--no Bishop appears! + +'And now, Sir Jaspar, you have fully before you the cause and history +of my long concealment, my strange wanderings, and the apparently +impenetrable mystery in which I have been involved: why I could not +claim my family; why I could not avow my situation; why I dared not even +bear my name; all, all is before you! Oh! could I equally display to you +the events in store! tell you whether my revered Bishop is safe!--or +whether his safety, his precious life, can only be secured by my +perpetual captivity! One thing alone, in the midst of my complicate +suspenses, one thing alone is certain; no consideration that this world +can offer, will deter me from going back, voluntarily, to every evil +from which I have hitherto been flying, should the Bishop again be +seized, and should his release hang upon my final self-devotion!' + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXI + + +Sir Jaspar had listened to this narrative with trembling interest, and a +species of emotion that was indefinable; his head bent forward, and his +mouth nearly as wide open, from the fear of losing a word, as his eyes, +from eagerness not to lose a look: but, when it was finished, he +exclaimed, in a sort of transport, 'Is this all? Joy, then, to great +Cæsar! Why 'tis nothing! My little fairies are all skipping in ecstacy; +while the wickeder imps are making faces and wry mouths, not to see +mischief enough in the wind to afford them a supper! This a marriage? +Why you are free as air! + + 'The little birds that fly, + With careless ease, from tree to tree,' + +are not more at liberty. Ah! fair enslaver! were I as unshackled!'-- + +The smiles that, momentarily, broke their way through the tears and +sadness of Juliet shewed how much this declaration was in unison with +her wishes; but, exhausted by relating a history so deeply affecting to +her, she could enter into no discussion; and remained ceaselessly +weeping, till the Baronet, with an expression of surprize, asked whether +the meeting that would now ensue with her own family, could offer her no +consolation? + +Rousing, then, from her sorrows, to a grateful though forced exertion, +'Oh yes!' she cried, 'yes! Your generous goodness has given me new +existence! But horrour and distress have pursued me with such +accumulating severity, that the shock is still nearly overpowering. +Yet,--let me not diminish the satisfaction of your beneficence. I am +going now to be happy!--How big a word!--how new to my feelings!--A +sister!--a brother!--Have I, indeed, such relations?' smiling even +brightly through her tears. 'And will Lady Aurora,--the sweetest of +human beings!--condescend to acknowledge me? Will the amiable Lord +Melbury deign to support, to protect me? Oh Sir Jaspar, how have you +brought all this to bear? Where are these dearest persons? And when, and +by what means, am I to be blest with their sight, and honoured with +their sanction to my claim of consanguinity?' + +Sir Jaspar begged her to compose her spirits, promising to satisfy her +when she should become more calm. But, her thoughts having once turned +into this channel, all her tenderest affections gushed forth to oppose +their being diverted into any other; and the sound, the soul-penetrating +sound of sister!--of brother! once allowed utterance, vibrated through +her frame with a thousand soft emotions, now first welcomed without +check to her heart. + +Urgently, therefore, she desired an explanation of the manner in which +this commission had been given; of the tone of voice in which she had +been named; and of the time and place destined for the precious meeting. + +Sir Jaspar, though enchanted to see her revived, and enraptured to give +ear to her thanks, and to suck in her praises, was palpably embarrassed +how to answer her enquiries; which he suffered her to continue so long +without interruption or reply, that, her eagerness giving way to +anxiety, she solemnly required to know, whether it were by accident, or +through his own information, that Lord Melbury and Lady Aurora had been +made acquainted with her rights, or, more properly, with her hopes and +her fears in regard to their kindness and support. + +Still no answer was returned, but smiling looks, and encouraging +assurances. + +The most alarming doubts now disturbed the just opening views of Juliet +'Ah! Sir Jaspar!' she cried, 'why this procrastination? Practise no +deception, I conjure you!--Alas, you make me fear that you have acted +commission?'-- + +He protested, upon his honour, that that was not the case; yet asked why +she had settled that his commission came from Lady Aurora, or Lord +Melbury? + +'Good Heaven!'--exclaimed Juliet, astonished and affrighted. + +He had only, he said, affirmed, that his commission was to take her to +those noble personages; not that it had been from themselves that it had +emanated. + +Again every feature of Juliet seemed changed by disappointment; and the +accent of reproach was mingled with that of grief, as she pronounced, +'Oh Sir Jaspar! can you, then, have played with my happiness? have +trifled with my hopes?'-- + +'Not to be master of the whole planetary system,' he cried, 'with Venus, +in her choicest wiles, at its head! I have honourably had my commission; +but it has been for, not from your honourable relations. Those little +invisible, but active beings, who have taken my conscience in charge, +have spurred and goaded me on to this deed, ever since I saw your +distress at the fair Gallic needle-monger's. Night and day have they +pinched me and jirked me, to seek you, to find you, and to rescue you +from that brawny caitiff.'-- + +'Alas! to what purpose? If I have no asylum, what is my security?--' + +'If I have erred, my beauteous fugitive,' said Sir Jaspar, archly, 'I +must order the horses to turn about! We shall still, probably, be in +time to accompany the happy captive to his cell.' + +Juliet involuntarily screamed, but besought, at least, to know how she +had been traced; and what had induced the other pursuit; or caused the +seizure, which she had so unexpectedly witnessed, of her persecutor? + +He answered, that, restless to fathom a mystery, the profundity of which +left, to his active imagination, as much space for distant hope as for +present despair, he had invited Riley to dinner, upon quitting Frith +Street; and, through his means, had discovered the pilot; whose +friendship and services were secured, without scruple, by a few guineas. +By this man, Sir Jaspar was shewn the advertisement, which he now +produced; and which Juliet, though nearly overcome with shame, begged to +read. + + 'ELOPED from her HUSBAND, + + 'A young woman, tall, fair, blue-eyed; her face oval; her nose + Grecian; her mouth small; her cheeks high coloured; her chin + dimpled; and her hair of a glossy light brown. + + 'She goes commonly by the name of Miss Ellis. + + 'Whoever will send an account where she may be met with, or where + she has been seen, to ---- Attorney in ---- Street London, shall + receive a very handsome reward.' + +The pilot further acknowledged to Sir Jaspar, that his employer had, +formerly, been at the head of a gang of smugglers and swindlers; though, +latterly, he had been engaged in business of a much more serious nature. + +This intelligence, with an internal conviction that the marriage must +have been forced, decided Sir Jaspar to denounce the criminal to +justice; and then to take every possible measure, to have him either +imprisoned for trial, or sent out of the country, by the alien-bill, +before he should overtake the fair fugitive. His offences were, it +seems, notorious, and the warrant for his seizure was readily granted; +with an order for his being embarked by the first opportunity: +nevertheless, the difficulty to discover him had almost demolished the +scheme: though the Baronet had aided the search in person, to enjoy the +bliss of being the first to announce freedom to the lovely Runaway; and +to offer her immediate protection. + +But the pilot, who, after being well paid for his information, had +himself absconded, delayed all proceedings till he was found out, by +Riley, upon the Salisbury-road. He evaded giving any further +intelligence, till the glitter of a few guineas restored his spirit of +communication, when he was brought to confess, that his master was in +that neighbourhood; where they had received assurances that the fugitive +herself was lodged. Sir Jaspar instantly, then, took the measures of +which the result, seconded by sundry happy accidents, had been so +seasonable and prosperous. 'And never,' said he, in conclusion, 'did my +delectable little friends serve me so cogently, as in suggesting my +stratagem at your sight. If you do not directly name, they squeaked in +my ear, her brother and sister, she may demur at accompanying you: if +her brother and sister honour your assertion, you will fix the matchless +Wanderer in her proper sphere; if they protest against it,--what giant +stands in the way to your rearing and protecting the lovely flower +yourself?--This was the manner in which these hovering little beings +egged me on; but whether, with the playful philanthropy of courteous +sylphs, to win me your gentle smiles; or whether, with the wanton +malignity of little devils, to annihilate me with your frowns, is still +locked up in the womb of your countenance!' + +He then farther added, that Riley had accompanied him throughout the +expedition; but that, always exhilarated by scenes which excited +curiosity, or which produced commotion; he had scampered into the inn, +to witness the culprit's being secured, while Sir Jaspar had paid his +respects at the chaise. + +With a disappointed heart, and with affrighted spirits, Juliet now saw +that she must again, and immediately, renew her melancholy flight, in +search of a solitary hiding-place; till she could be assured of the +positive embarkation of the commissary. + +In vain Sir Jaspar pressed to pursue his design of conveying her to her +family; the dread of Lord Denmeath, who was in actual communication and +league with her persecutor, decided her refusal; though, while she had +believed in Sir Jaspar's commission for seeking her, neither risk nor +doubt had had power to check the ardour of her impatience, to cast +herself upon the protection of Lord Melbury and Lady Aurora: but she +felt no courage,--however generously they had succoured and +distinguished her as a distressed individual,--to rush upon them, +uncalled and unexpected, as a near relation; and one who had so large a +claim, could her kindred be proved, upon their inheritance. + +Her most earnest wish was to rejoin her Gabriella; but there, where she +had been discovered, she could least hope to lie concealed. She must +still, therefore, fly, in lonely silence. But she besought Sir Jaspar to +take her any whither rather than to Salisbury, where she had had the +horrour of being examined by the advertisement. + +Proud to receive her commands, he recommended to her a farm-house about +three miles from the city, of which the proprietor and his wife, who +were worthy and honest people, had belonged, formerly, to his family. + +She thankfully agreed to this proposal: but, when they arrived at the +farm, they heard that the master and mistress were gone to a +neighbouring fair, whence they were not expected back for an hour or +two; and that they had locked up the parlour. Some labourers being in +the kitchen, Sir Jaspar proposed driving about in the interval; and +ordered the postilion to Wilton. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXII + + +Absorbed in grief, and unable to converse, though endeavouring to listen +to the Baronet, Juliet was only drawn from her melancholy reverie, by +the rattling of the carriage upon a pavement, as it passed, through a +spacious gate, into the court-yard of a magnificent country seat. + +She demanded what this meant. + +Where better, he demanded in return, could she while away the interval +of waiting, than in viewing the finest works of art, displayed in a +temple consecrated to their service? + +This was a scheme to force back all her consideration. In hearing him +pronounce the word Wilton, she had merely thought of the town; not of +the mansion of the Earl of Pembroke; which she now positively refused +entering; earnestly representing the necessity, as well as propriety, in +a situation so perilous, of the most entire obscurity. + +He assured her that she would be less liable to observation in a +repository of the _beaux arts_, at the villa of a nobleman, than by +waiting in a post-chaise, before the door of an inn; as he must +indispensably change horses; and grant a little repose to his old groom, +who had been out with him all day. + +This she could not dispute, convinced, herself, that her greatest danger +lay in being recognized, or remarked, within the precincts of an inn. + +Nevertheless, how enter into such a mansion in a garb so unfit for +admission? She besought him to ask leave that she might remain in some +empty apartment, as an humble dependent, while he viewed the house. + +Extremely pleased by an idea so consonant to his fantastic taste, he +answered her aloud, in alighting, 'Yes, yes, Mrs Betty! if you wish to +see the rooms, that you may give an account of all the pretty images to +my little ones, there can be no objection.' + +She descended from the chaise, meaning to remonstrate upon this +misconstruction of her request; but, not allowing her the opportunity, +he gaily represented, to the person who shewed him the mansion, that he +was convoying a young nursery-maid, the daughter of a worthy old tenant, +to his grand-children; and that she had a fancy to see all the finery, +that she might make out some pretty stories, to tell the little dears, +when she wanted to put them to sleep. + +Juliet, whose deep distress made her as little desire to see as to be +seen, repeated that she wished to sit still in some spare room: he +walked on, pretending not to hear her, addressing himself to his +_Cicerone_, whom he kept at his side; and therefore, as there was no +female in view, to whom she could apply, she was compelled to follow. + +Not as Juliet she followed; Juliet whose soul was delightedly 'awake to +tender strokes of art,' whether in painting, music, or poetry; who never +saw excellence without emotion; and whose skill and taste would have +heightened her pleasure into rapture, her approbation into enthusiasm, +in viewing the delicious assemblage of painting, statuary, antiques, +natural curiosities, and artificial rarities, of Wilton;--not as Juliet, +she followed; but as one to whom every thing was indifferent; whose +discernment was gone, whose eyes were dimmed, whose powers of perception +were asleep, and whose spirit of enjoyment was annihilated. Figures of +the noblest sculpture; busts of historical interest; _alto_ and _basso +relievos_ of antique elegance; marbles, alabasters, spars, and lavers of +all colours, and in all forms; pictures glowing into life, and statues +appearing to command their beholders;--all that, at another period, +would have made her forget every thing but themselves, now vainly +solicited a moment of her attention. + +It was by no means the fault of the Baronet, that this nearly morbid +insensibility was not conquered, by the revivyfying objects which +surrounded her. He suffered her not to pass an Æsculapius, without +demanding a prescription for her health; a Mercury, without supplicating +an ordonnance for her spirits; a Minerva, without claiming an +exhortation to courage; nor a Venus, without pointing out, that +perpetual beauty beams but through perpetual smiles: couching every +phrase under emblematical recommendations of story-subjects for the +nursery. + +When the guide stood somewhat aloof, 'What say you, now,' he exultingly +whispered, 'to my famous little friends? Did they ever devise a more +ingenious gambol? From your slave, by a mere wave of their wand, they +have transformed me into your master! Ah, wicked syren! a dimple of +yours demolishes all their work, and again totters me down to your +feet!' + +Nevertheless, even in this nearly torpid state, accident having raised +her eyes to Vandyke's children of Charles the First, the extraordinary +attraction of that fascinating picture, was exciting, unconsciously, +some pleasure, when the sound of a carriage announcing a party to see +the house, she petitioned Sir Jaspar to avoid, if possible, being known. + +All compliance with whatever she could wish, the Baronet promised to +nail his eyes to the lowest picture in the room, should they be joined +by any stragglers; and then, relinquishing all further examination, he +begged permission to wait for his horses, in an apartment which is +presided by a noble picture of Salvator Rosa; to which, never +discouraged, he strove to call the attention of Juliet. + +Nothing could more aptly harmonize, not only with his enthusiastic +eulogiums, but with his quaint fancy, than that exquisite effusion of +the painter's imagination, 'where, surely,' said the rapturous Baronet, +'his pencil has been guided, if not impelled, in every stroke, by my +dear little cronies the fairies! And that variety of vivifying objects; +that rich, yet so elegant scenery, of airy gaiety, and ideal felicity, +is palpably a representation of fairy land itself! Is it thither my dear +little friends will, some day, convey me? And shall I be metamorphosed +into one of those youthful swains, that are twining their garlands with +such bewitching grace? And shall I myself elect the fair one, around +whom I shall entwine mine?' + +This harangue was interrupted, by the appearance of a newly arrived +party; but vainly Sir Jaspar kept his word, in reclining upon his +crutches, till he was nearly prostrate upon the ground; he was +immediately challenged by a lady; and that lady was Mrs Ireton. + +Juliet, inexpressibly shocked, hastily glided from the room, striving to +cover her face with her luxuriously curling hair. She rambled about the +mansion, till she met with a chambermaid, from whom she entreated +permission to wait in some private apartment, till the carriage to which +she belonged should be ready. + +The maid, obligingly, took her to a small room; and Juliet, taught by +her cruel confusion at the sight of Mrs Ireton, the censure, if not +slander, to which travelling alone with a man, however old, might make +her liable; determined, at whatever hazard, to hang, henceforth, solely +upon herself. She resolved, therefore, to beg the assistance of this +maid-servant, to direct her to some safe rural lodging. + +But how great was her consternation, when, requiring, now, her purse, +she suddenly missed,--what, in her late misery, she had neither guarded +nor thought of, her packet and her work-bag! + +Every pecuniary resource was now sunk at a blow! even the deposit, which +she had held as sacred, of Harleigh, was lost! + +At what period of her disturbances this misfortune had happened, she had +no knowledge; nor whether her property had been dropt in her distress, +or purloined; or simply left at the inn; the consequence, every way, was +equally dreadful: and but for Sir Jaspar, whom all sense of propriety +had told her, the moment before, to shun, yet to whom, now, she became +tied, by absolute necessity, her Difficulties, at this conjuncture, +would have been nearly distracting. + +When the carriage was returned, with fresh horses, Sir Jaspar found her +in a situation of augmented dismay, that filled him with concern; though +he also saw, that it was tempered by a grateful softness to himself, +that he thought more than ever bewitching. + +He assured her that Mrs Ireton, whom he had adroitly shaken off, had not +perceived her; but the moment that they were re-seated in the chaise, +she communicated to him, with the most painful suffering, the new, and +terrible stroke, by which she was oppressed. + +Viewing this as a mere pecuniary embarrassment, the joy of becoming +again useful, if not necessary, to her, sparkled in his eyes with almost +youthful vivacity; though he engaged to send his valet immediately to +the inn, to make enquiries, and offer rewards, for recovering the +strayed goods. + +This second loss of her purse, she suffered Sir Jaspar, without any +attempt at justification, to call an active epigram upon modern female +drapery; which prefers continual inconvenience, innumerable privations, +and the most distressing untidiness, to the antique habit of modesty and +good housewifery, which, erst, left the public display of the human +figure to the statuary; deeming that to support the female character was +more essential than to exhibit the female form. + +This second loss, also, by carrying back her reflections to the first, +brought to her mind several circumstances, which cast a new light upon +that origin of the various misfortunes and adventures which had followed +her arrival; and all her recollections, now she knew the rapacity and +worthlessness of the pilot, pointed out to her that she had probably +been robbed, at the moment when, impulsively, she was pouring forth, +upon her knees, her thanks for her deliverance. Her work-bag, which, +upon that occasion, she had deposited upon her seat, she remembered, +though she had then attributed it to his vigilance and care, seeing in +his hands, when she arose. + +Arrived at the farm-house, they found themselves expected by the farmer +and his wife, who paid the utmost respect to Sir Jaspar; but who saw, +with an air of evidently suspicious surprize, the respect which he +himself paid to Mrs Betty, the nurse-maid; whose beauty, with her rustic +attire, and disordered hair, would have made them instantly conclude her +to be a lost young creature, had not the decency of her look, the +dignity of her manner, and the grief visible in her countenance, spoken +irresistibly in favour of her innocence. They spoke not, however, in +favour of that of Sir Jaspar, whose old character of gallantry was well +known to them; and induced their belief, that he was inveigling this +young woman from her friends, for her moral destruction. They +accommodated her, nevertheless, for the night; but, whatever might be +their pity, determined, should the Baronet visit her the next day, to +invent some other occupation for their spare bedroom. + +Unenviable was that night, as passed by their lodger, however acceptable +to her was any asylum. She spent it in continual alarm; now shaking with +the terrour of pursuit; now affrighted with the prospect of being +pennyless; now shocked to find herself cast completely into the power of +a man, who, however aged, was her professed admirer; and now distracted +by varying resolutions upon the measures which she ought immediately to +take. And when, for a few minutes, her eyes, from extreme fatigue, +insensibly closed, her dreams, short and horrible, renewed the dreadful +event of the preceding day; again she saw herself pursued; again felt +herself seized; and she blessed the piercing shrieks with which she +awoke, though they brought to her but the transient relief that she was +safe for the passing moment. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIII + + +Sir Jaspar arrived late the next morning, in wrath, he said, with his +valet, who was not yet returned with the result of his enquiries from +the inn; but before Juliet could express any uneasiness at the delay, +the farmer and his wife, in evident confusion, though with professions +of great respect, humbly besought that his honour would excuse their +mentioning, that they expected a relation, to pass some days with them, +who would want the spare apartment. + +The Baronet, however displeased, humourously answered that their +relation was mightily welcome to pass his days with them, provided he +would be so kind as to go to the neighbouring public-house to take his +dreams: but Juliet, much hurt, though with an air of dignity that made +her hosts look more abashed than herself, desired that she might not +incommode the family; and entreated Sir Jaspar to convey her to the +nearest town. + +Sir Jaspar, rather to confound than to gratify the farmer, flung down a +guinea, which the man vainly sought to decline; and then led the way to +the carriage; at the door of which, stopping, he said, with an arch +smile, that he was not yet superannuated enough to take place of a fair +female; and desired that Mrs Betty would get in first. + +Shocked as Juliet felt to find herself thus suspiciously situated, the +affront was soon absorbed in the dread of greater evil; in the affright +of pursuit, and the dismay of being exposed to improper pecuniary +obligations. + +Not knowing the country, and not heeding the way that she went, she +concluded that they were driving to some neighbouring village, in search +of a new lodging; till she perceived that the carriage, which was drawn +by four horses, was laboriously mounting a steep acclivity. + +Looking then around her, she found herself upon a vast plain; nor house, +nor human being, nor tree, nor cattle within view. + +Surprised, 'Where are we?' she cried, 'Sir Jaspar? and whither are we +going?' + +To a quick meeting with his valet, he answered, by a difficult road, +rarely passed, because out of the common track. + +They then quietly proceeded; Juliet, wrapt up in her own fears and +affairs, making no comment upon the looks of enjoyment, and contented +taciturnity of her companion; till the groom, riding up to the window, +said that the horses could go no further. + +Sir Jaspar ordered them a feed; and enquired of Juliet whether she would +chuse, while they took a little rest, to mount on foot to the summit of +the ascent, and examine whether any horsemen were yet within sight. + +Glad to breathe a few minutes alone, she alighted and walked forward; +though slowly, and with eyes bent upon the turf; till she was struck by +the appearance of a wide ditch between a circular double bank; and +perceived that she was approaching the scattered remains of some ancient +building, vast, irregular, strange, and in ruins. + +Excited by sympathy in what seemed lonely and undone, rather than by +curiosity, she now went on more willingly, though not less sadly; till +she arrived at a stupendous assemblage of enormous stones, of which the +magnitude demanded ocular demonstration to be entitled to credibility. +Yet, though each of them, taken separately, might seem, from its +astonishing height and breadth, there, like some rock, to have been +placed from 'the beginning of things,' and though not even the rudest +sculpture denoted any vestige of human art, still the whole was clearly +no phenomenon of nature. The form, that might still be traced, of an +antique structure, was evidently circular and artificial; and here and +there, supported by gigantic posts, or pillars, immense slabs of flat +stone were raised horizontally, that could only by manual art and labour +have been elevated to such a height. Many were fallen; many, with grim +menace, looked nodding; but many, still sustaining their upright +direction, were so ponderous that they appeared to have resisted all the +wars of the elements, in this high and bleak situation, for ages. + +Struck with solemn wonder, Juliet for some time wandered amidst these +massy ruins, grand and awful, though terrific rather than attractive. +Mounting, then, upon a fragment of the pile, she saw that the view all +around was in perfect local harmony with the wild edifice, or rather +remains of an edifice, into which she had pierced. She discerned, to a +vast extent, a boundless plain, that, like the ocean, seemed to have no +term but the horizon; but which, also like the ocean, looked as desert +as it was unlimited. Here and there flew a bustard, or a wheat-ear; all +else seemed unpeopled air, and uncultivated waste. + +In a state of mind so utterly deplorable as that of Juliet, this grand, +uncouth monument of ancient days had a certain sad, indefinable +attraction, more congenial to her distress, than all the polish, taste, +and delicacy of modern skill. The beauties of Wilton seemed appendages +of luxury, as well as of refinement; and appeared to require not only +sentiment, but happiness for their complete enjoyment: while the nearly +savage, however wonderful work of antiquity, in which she was now +rambling; placed in this abandoned spot, far from the intercourse, or +even view of mankind, with no prospect but of heath and sky; blunted, +for the moment, her sensibility, by removing her wide from all the +objects with which it was in contact; and insensibly calmed her spirits; +though not by dissipating her reverie. Here, on the contrary, was room +for 'meditation even to madness;' nothing distracted the sight, nothing +broke in upon attention, nor varied the ideas. Thought, uninterrupted +and uncontrouled, was master of the mind. + +Here, in deep and melancholy rumination, she remained, till she was +joined by the Baronet; who toiled after his fair charge with an eager +will, though with slack and discourteous feet. + +'Do you divine, my beauteous Wanderer,' he cried, 'what part of the +globe you now brighten? Have you developed my stratagem to surprize you +by a view of what, perhaps, you thought impossible, something curious, +and worthy of attention, though more antique than myself?' + +Juliet tried, but vainly, to make a civil speech; and Sir Jaspar, after +having vainly awaited it, went on. + +'You picture yourself, perhaps, in the original temple of Gog and Magog? +for what less than giants could have heaved stones such as these? but +'tis not so; and you, who are pious, must view this spot, with bended +knees and new ideas. Dart, then, around, the "liquid lustre of those +eyes,--so brightly mutable, so sweetly wild!"[12]--and behold in each +stony spectre, now staring you in the face, a petrified old Druid! for +learn, fair fugitive, you ramble now within the holy precincts of that +rude wonder of other days, and disgrace of modern geometry, Stonehenge.' + +[Footnote 12: Mason's Lady Coventry.] + +In almost any other frame of mind, Juliet, from various descriptions, +joined to the vicinity of Salisbury, would not have required any +nomenclator to have told her where she was: but she could now make no +reflections, save upon her own misery; and no combinations, that were +not relative to her own dangers. + +Sir Jaspar apologized that he had not more roughly handled the farmer +and his wife, for their inhospitality; and frankly owned that it was not +from the milkiness of his nature that he had been so docile, but from an +ardent eagerness to visit Stonehenge with so fair a companion. + +Juliet, alarmed, demanded whether he had not taken the route by which +they were to meet his valet? + +'I have all my life,' continued he, 'fostered, as the wish next my +heart, the idea of being the object of some marvellous adventure: but +fortune, more deaf, if possible, than blind! has hitherto famished all +my elevated desires, by keeping me to the strict regimen of mere common +life. Nevertheless, to die like a brute, without leaving behind me one +staring anecdote, to be recounted by my successors to my little nephews +and nieces;--no! I cannot resolve upon so hum-drum an exit. Late, +therefore, last night, I counselled with my tiny friends; and the rogues +told me that those whom adventures would not seek, must seek adventures. +They then suggested to me, that to visit some romantic spot, far removed +from all living ken, or a vast unfrequented plain; where no leering eye, +with deriding scrutiny, no envious ear, with prepared impertinence, +could peep, or overhear;--where not even a bird could find a twig for +the sole of his paw;--there to encounter a lovely nymph; to dally with +her in dulcet discourse; to feast upon the sweet notes of her melodious +voice;--while obedient fays, and sprightly elves, should accoutre some +chosen fragment with offerings appropriate to the place and the +occasion--' + +One of his grooms, here, demanded of him a private audience. + +He retired to some distance, and the heart-oppressed Juliet relieved her +struggling feelings by weeping without controul. + +While pondering upon her precarious destiny, she perceived, through an +opening between two large stones, that Sir Jaspar had placed himself +upon an eminence, where, apparently, by his gestures, he was engaged in +an animated discourse. + +She concluded that the valet de chambre was arrived from the inn; but, +soon afterwards, she was struck with motions so extraordinary, and by an +appearance of a vivacity so extravagant, that she almost feared the +imagination of the Baronet had played him false, and was superseding his +reason. She arose, and softly approaching, endeavoured to discover with +whom he was conversing; but could discern no one, and was the more +alarmed; though the nearer she advanced, the less he seemed to be an +object of pity; his countenance being as bright with glee, as his hands +and arms were busy with action. + +After some time, she caught his eye; when, ceasing all gesticulation, he +kissed his hand, with a motion that invited her approach; and, gallantly +resigning his seat, begged her permission to take one by her side. + +He was all smiling good humour; and his features, in defiance of his +age, expressed the most playful archness. 'It is not,' he cried, 'for +nothing, permit me to assure you, that I have prowled over this +druidical spot; for though the Druids have not been so debonnaire as to +re-animate themselves to address me, they have suffered a flat surface +of their petrifaction to be covered over with a whole army of my little +frequenters; who have dragged thither a parcel, and the Lord knows what +besides, that they have displayed, as you see, full before me; after +which, with their usual familiarity, up they have been mounting to my +shoulders, my throat, my ears, and my wig; and lolling all about me, in +mockery of my remonstrances; saying, Harkee, old Sir!--for they use very +little ceremony with me;--didst thou really fancy we would suffer the +loveliest lily of the valley to droop without any gentle shade, under +the blazing glare of this full light, while thy aukward clown of a valet +trots to the inn for her bonnet? or let her wait his plodding return, +for what other drapery her fair form may require? or permit her to be +famished in the open air, whilst thou art hopping and hobbling, and +hobbling and hopping, about these ruins, which thou art so fast +ossifying to resemble? No, old Sir! look what our wands have brought +hither for her! look!--but touch nothing for thy life! her own lily +hands alone must develop our fairy gifts.' + +Juliet, who, already, had observed, upon the nearest flat stone, a large +band-box, and a square new trunk, placed as supporters to an elegant +Japan basket, in which were arranged various refreshments; could not, +however disconcerted by attentions that she knew not how to acknowledge, +prevail upon herself to damp the exaltation of his spirits, by resisting +his entreaty that she would herself lift up the lid of the trunk and +open the band-box. + +The first of these machines presented to her sight a complete small +assortment of the finest linen; the second contained a white chip bonnet +of the most beautiful texture. + +This last excited a transient feeling of pleasure, in offering some +shade for her face, now exposed to every eye. She looked at it, +wistfully, a few minutes, anticipating its umbrageous succour; yet +irresolute, and fearing to give encouragement to the too evident +admiration of the Baronet. Her deliberation, nevertheless, seconded by +her wishes, was in his favour. She passed over, in her mind, that he +knew her origin, and high natural, however disputed expectations; and +that, with all his gallantry, he was not only aged and sickly, but a +gentleman in manners and sentiments, as much as in birth and rank of +life. He could not mean her dishonour; and to shew, since thus cast into +his hands, and loaded with obligations of long standing, as well as +recent, a voluntary confidence in his character and intentions, might, +happily, from mingling a sense of honour with a sense of shame, turn +aside what was wrong in his regard, and give pride and pleasure to a +nobler attachment, that might fix him her solid and disinterested friend +for life. + +Decided by this view of things, she thankfully consented to receive his +offerings, upon condition that he would permit her to consider him as +the banker of Lord Melbury and of Lady Aurora Granville. + +Enchanted by her acceptance, and enraptured by its manner, the first +sensation of the melted Baronet was to cast himself at her feet: but the +movement was checked by certain aches and pains; while the necessity of +picking up one of his crutches, which, in his transport, had fallen from +his hands, mournfully called him back from his gallantry to his +infirmities. + +At this moment, an 'Ah ha! here's the Demoiselle!--Here she is, faith!' +suddenly presented before them Riley, mounted upon a fragment of the +pile, to take a view around him. + +Starting, and in dread of some new horrour, Juliet looked at him aghast; +while, clapping his hands, and turbently approaching her, he exclaimed, +'Yes! here she is, _in propria persona_! I was afraid that she had +slipped through our fingers again! Monsieur _le cher Epoux_ will have a +pretty tight job of it to get her into conjugal trammels! he will, +faith!' + +To the other, and yet more horrible sensations of Juliet, this speech +added a depth of shame nearly overwhelming, from the implied obloquy +hanging upon the character of a wife eloping from her husband. + +Presently, however, all within was changed; re-invigourated, new strung! +and joy, irresistibly, beamed from her eyes, and hope glowed upon her +cheeks, as Riley related that, before he had left the inn upon the road, +he had himself seen the new Mounseer, with poor Surly, who had been +seized as an accomplice, packed off together for the sea-coast, whence +they were both, with all speed, to be embarked for their own dear +country. + +The Baronet waved his hand, in act of congratulation to Juliet, but +forbore speaking; and Riley went on. + +'They made confounded wry faces, and grimaces, both of them. I never saw +a grimmer couple! They amused me mightily; they did, faith! But I can't +compliment you, Demoiselle, upon your choice of a loving partner. He has +as hang-dog a physiognomy as a Bow Street prowler might wish to light +upon on a summer's day. A most fiend-like aspect, I confess. I don't +well make out what you took to him for, Demoiselle? His Cupid's arrows +must have been handsomely tipt with gold, to blind you to all that brass +of his brow and his port.' + +Sir Jaspar, distressed for Juliet, and much annoyed by this +interruption, however happy in the intelligence to which it was the +vehicle, enquired what chance had brought Mr Riley to Stonehenge? + +The chance, he answered, that generally ruled his actions, namely, his +own will and pleasure. He had found out, in his prowls about Salisbury, +that Sir Jaspar was to be followed to Stonehenge by a dainty repast; +and, deeming his news well worth a bumper to the loving sea-voyagers, he +had borrowed a horse of one of Master Baronet's grooms, to take his +share in the feast. + +The Baronet, at this hint, instantly, and with scrupulous politeness, +did the honours of his stores; though he was ready to gnash his teeth +with ire, at so mundane an appropriation of his fairy purposes. + +'What a rare hand you are, Demoiselle,' cried Riley, 'at hocus pocus +work! Who the deuce, with that Hebe face of yours, could have thought of +your being a married woman! Why, when I saw you at the old Bang'em's +concert, at Brighthelmstone, I should have taken you for a +boarding-school Miss. But you metamorphose yourself about so, one does +not know which way to look for you. Ovid was a mere fool to you. His +nymphs, turned into trees, and rivers, and flowers, and beasts, and +fishes, make such a staring chaos of lies, that one reads them without a +ray of reference to truth; like the tales of the Genii, or of old +Mother Goose. He makes such a comical hodge podge of animal, vegetable, +and mineral choppings and changes, that we should shout over them, as +our brats do at a puppet-shew, when old Nick teaches punchinello the +devil's dance down to hell; or pummels his wife to a mummy; if it were +not for the sly rogue's tickling one's ears so cajolingly with the +jingle of metre. But Demoiselle, here, scorns all that namby pamby +work.' + +Sir Jaspar tried vainly to call him to order; the embarrassment of +Juliet operated but as a stimulus to his caustic humour. + +'I have met with nothing like her, Master Baronet,' he continued, 'all +the globe over. Neither juggler nor conjuror is a match for her. She can +make herself as ugly as a witch, and as handsome as an angel. She'll +answer what one only murmurs in a whisper; and she won't hear a word, +when one bawls as loud as a speaking-trumpet. Now she turns herself into +a vagrant, not worth sixpence; and now, into a fine player and singer +that ravishes all ears, and might make, if it suited her fancy, a +thousand pounds at her benefit: and now, again, as you see, you can't +tell whether she's a house-maid, or a country girl! yet a devilish fine +creature, faith! as fine a creature as ever I beheld,--when she's in +that humour! Look but what a beautiful head of hair she's displaying to +us now! It becomes her mightily. But I won't swear that she does not +change it, in a minute or two, for a skull-cap! She's a droll girl, +faith! I like her prodigiously!' + +Utterly disconcerted, Juliet, expressively bowing to the Baronet, lifted +up the lid of the band-box, and, encircling her head in his bonnet, +begged his permission to re-seat herself in the chaise. + +Charmed with the prospect of another tête à tête, Sir Jaspar, with +alacrity, accompanied her to the carriage; leaving Riley to enjoy, at +his leisure, the cynical satisfaction, of having worried a timid deer +from the field. + +Still, however, Juliet, while uncertain whether the embarkation might +not be eluded, desired to adhere to her plan of privacy and obscurity; +and the Baronet would not struggle against a resolution from which he +hoped to reap the fruit of lengthened intercourse. Pleased and +willingly, therefore, he told his postilion to drive across the plain +to ----, whence they proceeded post to Blandford. + +Great was the relief afforded to the feelings of Juliet, by a removal so +expeditious from the immediate vicinity of the scene of her sufferings; +but she considered it, at the same time, to be a circumstance to obviate +all necessity, and, consequently, all propriety of further attendance +from the Baronet: here, therefore, to his utter dismay, with firmness, +though with the gentlest acknowledgements, she begged that they might +separate. + +Cruelly disappointed, Sir Jaspar warmly remonstrated against the danger +of her being left alone; but the possible hazards which might be annexed +to acting right, could not deter her from the certain evil of acting +wrong. Her greatest repugnance was that of being again forced to accept +pecuniary aid; yet that, which, however disagreeable, might be refunded, +was at least preferable to the increase and continuance of obligations, +which, besides their perilous tendency, could never be repaid. Already, +upon opening the band-box, she had seen a well furnished purse; and +though her first movement had prompted its rejection, the decision of +necessity was that of acceptance. + +When Sir Jaspar found it utterly impossible to prevail with his fair +companion still to bear that title, he expostulated against leaving her, +at least, in a public town; and she was not sorry to accept his offer of +conveying her to some neighbouring village. + +It was still day-light, when they arrived within the picturesque view of +a villa, which Juliet, upon enquiry, heard was Milton-abbey. She soon +discovered, that the scheme of the Baronet, to lengthen their sojourn +with each other, was to carry her to see the house: but this she +absolutely refused; and her seriousness compelled him to drive to a +neighbouring cottage; where she had the good fortune to meet with a +clean elderly woman, who was able to accommodate her with a small +chamber. + +Here, not without sincere concern, she saw the reluctance, even to +sadness, with which her old admirer felt himself forced to leave his too +lovely young friend: and what she owed to him was so important, so +momentous, that she parted from him, herself, with real regret, and with +expressions of the most lively esteem and regard. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIV + + +Restless, again, was the night of Juliet; bewildered with varying +visions of hope, of despair, of bliss, of horrour; now presenting a fair +prospect that opened sweetly to her best affections; now shewing every +blossom blighted, by a dark, overwhelming storm. + +To engage the good will of her new hostess, she bestowed upon her nearly +every thing that she had worn upon entering the cottage. What she had +been seen and discovered in, could no longer serve any purpose of +concealment; and all disguise was disgusting to her, if not induced by +the most imperious necessity. She clothed herself, therefore, from the +fairy stores of her munificent old sylph; with whom her debts were so +multiplied and so considerable, that she meant, at all events, to call +upon her family for their disbursement. + +The quietness of this residence, induced her to propose remaining here: +and her new hostess, who was one of the many who, where interest +preaches passiveness, make it a point not to be troublesome, consented, +without objection or enquiry. + +Hence, again, she wrote to Gabriella, from whom she languished for +intelligence. + +In this perfect retirement, she passed her time in deep rumination; her +thoughts for ever hovering around the Bishop, upon whose fate her own +invariably depended. + +Her little apartment was close and hot; unshaded by blinds, unsheltered +by shutters; she went forth, therefore, early every morning, to enjoy +fresh air in the cool of a neighbouring wood, which, once having +entered, she knew not how to quit. Solitude there, had not the character +of seclusion; it bore not, as in her room, the air of banishment, if not +of imprisonment; and the beautiful prospects around her, though her +sole, were a never-failing source of recreation. + +She permitted not, however, her love of the country to beguile her into +danger by the love of variety; she wandered not far from her new +habitation, in the vicinity of Milton-abbey; of which she never lost +sight from distance, though frequently from intervening hills and trees. + +But no answer arrived from Gabriella; and, in a few days, her own letter +was returned, with a line written by the post-man upon the cover, to +say, No. -- Frith-street, Soho, was empty. + +New sorrow, now, and fearful distress assailed every feeling of Juliet: +What could have occasioned this sudden measure? Whither was Gabriella +gone? Might it be happiness?--or was it some new evil that had caused +this change of abode? The letter sent to Salisbury had never been +claimed; nor did Juliet dare demand it: but Gabriella might, perhaps, +have written her new plan by the address sent from the farm-house. + +It was now that she blessed the munificent Sir Jaspar, to whose purse +she had immediate recourse for sending a man and horse to the cottage; +with written instructions to enquire for a letter, concerning which she +had left directions with the good old cottager. + +While, to wear away the hours devoted to anxious waiting, she wandered, +as usual, in the view of Milton-abbey, from a rich valley, bounded by +rising hills, whose circling slopes bore the form of undulating waves, +she perceived, from a small distance, a horseman gallopping towards her +cottage. + +It could not already be her messenger. She felt uneasy, and, gliding to +the brow of an eminence, sat down upon the turf, as much as possible out +of sight. + +In a short time, she heard the quick pacing step of a man in haste. She +tried to place herself still more obscurely; but, by moving, caught the +eye of the object she meant to avoid. He approached her rapidly, but +when near enough to distinguish her, abruptly stopt, as if to recollect +himself; and Juliet, at the same moment that she was herself discerned, +recognized Harleigh. + +With difficulty restraining an exclamation, from surprize and painful +emotion, she looked round to discover if it would be possible to elude +him; but she could only walk towards Milton-abbey, in full view herself +from that noble seat; or immediately face him by returning to her home. +She stood still, therefore, though bending her eye to the ground; hurt +and offended that, at such a juncture, Harleigh could break into her +retreat; and grieved yet more deeply, that Harleigh could excite in her +even transitory displeasure. + +Harleigh stept forward, but his voice, husky and nervous, so +inarticulately pronounced something relative to a packet and a work-bag, +that Juliet, losing her displeasure in a sudden hope of hearing some +news of her property, raised her head, with a look that demanded an +explanation. + +Still he strove in vain for sufficient calmness to speak distinctly; yet +his answer gave Juliet to understand, that he had conveyed her packet +and work-bag to the cottage which he had been told she inhabited. + +'And where, Sir,' cried Juliet, surprized into vivacity and pleasure at +this unexpected hearing, 'how, and where have they been recovered?' + +Harleigh now blushed himself, at the blushes which he knew he must raise +in her cheeks, as he replied, that the packet and the work-bag which he +had brought, had been dropt in his room at the inn. + +Crimson is pale to the depth of red with which shame and confusion dyed +her face; while Harleigh, recovering his voice, sought to relieve her +embarrassment, by more rapidly continuing his discourse. + +'I should sooner have endeavoured to deliver these articles, but that I +knew not, till yesterday, that they had fallen to my care. I had left +the inn, to follow, and seek Sir Jaspar Herrington; but having various +papers and letters in my room, that I had not had time to collect, I +obtained leave to take away the key with me, of the landlady, to whom I +was well known,--for there, or in that neighbourhood, an irresistible +interest has kept me, from the time that, through my groom, I had +heard ... who had been seen ... at Bagshot ... entering the Salisbury +stage!--Yesterday, when I returned, to the inn, I first perceived these +parcels.'-- + +He stopt; but Juliet could not speak, could not look up; could pronounce +no apology, nor enter into any explanation. + +'Sir Jaspar Herrington,' he continued, 'whom I have just left, is still +at Salisbury; but setting out for town. From him I learnt your immediate +direction; but not knowing what might be the value of the packets, +nor,--' He hesitated a moment, and then, with a sigh, added, 'nor how to +direct them! I determined upon venturing to deliver them myself.' + +The tingling cheeks of Juliet, at the inference of the words 'nor how to +direct them,' seemed on fire; but she was totally silent. + +'I have carefully sealed them,' he resumed, 'and I have delivered them +to the woman of the cottage, for the young lady who at present sleeps +there; and, hearing that that young lady was walking in the +neighbourhood, I ventured to follow, with this intelligence.' + +'You are very good, Sir,' Juliet strove to answer; but her lips were +parched, and no words could find their way. + +This excess of timidity brought back the courage of Harleigh, who, +advancing a step or two, said, 'You will not be angry that Sir Jaspar, +moved by my uncontrollable urgency, has had the charity to reveal to me +some particulars....' + +'Oh! make way for me to pass, Mr Harleigh!' now interrupted Juliet, +forcing her voice, and striving to force a passage. + +'Did you wish, then,' said Harleigh, in a tone the most melancholy, +'could you wish that I should still languish in harrowing suspense? or +burst with ignorance?' + +'Oh no!' cried she, raising her eyes, which glistened with tears, 'no! +If the mystery that so long has hung about me, by occupying your ...' +She sought a word, and then continued: 'your imagination ... impedes the +oblivion that ought to bury me and my misfortunes from further +thought,--then, indeed, I ought to be thankful to Sir Jaspar,--and I am +thankful that he has let you know, ... that he has informed you....' + +She could not finish the sentence. + +'Yes!' cried Harleigh with energy, 'I have heard the dreadful history of +your wrongs! of the violences by which you have suffered, of the inhuman +attempts upon your liberty, your safety, your honour!--But since you +have thus happily--' + +'Mr Harleigh,' cried Juliet, struggling to recover her presence of mind, +'I need no longer, I trust, now, beg your absence! All I can have to say +you must, now, understand ... anticipate ... acknowledge ... since you +are aware....' + +'Ah!' cried Harleigh, in a tone not quite free from reproach;--'had you +but, from the beginning, condescended to inform me of your situation! a +situation so impossible to divine! so replete with horrour, with injury, +with unheard of suffering,--had you, from the first, instead of +avoiding, flying me, deigned to treat me with some trust--' + +'Mr Harleigh,' said Juliet, with eagerness, 'whatever may be your +surprize that such should be my situation, ... my fate, ... you can, at +least, require, now, no explanation why I have fled you!' + +The word why, vibrated instantly to the heart of Harleigh, where it +condolingly said: It was duty, then, not averseness, not indifference, +that urged that flight! she had not fled, had she not deemed herself +engaged!--Juliet, who had hastily uttered the why in the solicitude of +self-vindication, shewed, by a change of complexion, the moment that it +had passed her lips, that she felt the possible inference of which it +was susceptible, and dropt her eyes; fearful to risk discovering the +consciousness that they might indicate. + +Harleigh, however, now brightened, glowed with revived sensations: 'Ah! +be not,' he cried, 'be not the victim of your scruples! let not your too +delicate fears of doing wrong by others, urge you to inflict wrong, +irreparable wrong, upon yourself! Your real dangers are past; none now +remain but from a fancied,--pardon, pardon me!--a fancied refinement, +unfounded in reason, or in right! Suffer, therefore--' + +'Hold, Sir, hold!--we must not even talk upon this subject:--nor, at +this moment, upon any other!--' + +Her brow shewed rising displeasure; but Harleigh was intractable. +'Pronounce not,' he cried, 'an interdiction! I make no claim, no plea, +no condition. I will speak wholly as an impartial man;--and have you not +condescended to tell me, that as a friend, if to that title,--so +limited, yet so honourable,--I would confine myself,--you would not +disdain to consult with me? As such, I am now here. I feel, I respect, I +revere the delicacy of all your ideas, the perfection of your conduct! I +will put, therefore, aside, all that relates not simply to yourself, and +to your position; I will speak to you, for the moment, and in his +absence,--as--as Lord Melbury!--as your brother!--' + +An involuntary smile here unbent the knitting brow of Juliet, who could +not feel offended, or sorry, that Sir Jaspar had revealed the history of +her birth. + +She desired, nevertheless, to pass, refusing every species of +discussion. + +'If you will not answer, will not speak,' cried Harleigh, still +obstructing her way, 'fear not, at least, to hear! Are you not at +liberty? Is not your persecutor gone?--Can he ever return?' + +'Gone?' repeated Juliet. + +'I have myself seen him embark! I rode after his chaise, I pursued it to +the sea-coast, I saw him under sail.' + +Juliet, with uplifted eyes, clasped her hands, from an emotion of +ungovernable joy; which a thousand blushes betrayed her vain struggles +to suppress. + +Harleigh observed not this unmoved: 'Ah, Madam!' he cried, 'since, thus +critically, you have escaped;--since, thus happily, you are +released;--since no church ritual has ever sanctioned the sacrilegious +violence--' + +'Spare all ineffectual controversy!' cried Juliet, assuming an air and +tone of composure, with which her quick heaving bosom was ill in +harmony; 'I can neither talk nor listen upon this subject. You know, +now, my story: dread and atrocious as is my connection, my faith to it +must be unbroken, till I have seen the Bishop! and till the iniquity of +my chains may be proved, and my restoration to my violated freedom may +be legalized. Do not look so shocked; so angry, must I say?--Remember, +that a point of conscience can be settled only internally! I will speak, +therefore, but one word more; and I must hear no reply: little as I feel +to belong to the person in question, I cannot consider myself to be my +own! 'Tis a tie which, whether or not it binds me to him, excludes me, +while thus circumstanced, from all others!--This, Sir, is my last +word!--Adieu!' + +Harleigh, though looking nearly petrified, still stood before her. 'You +fly us, then,' he cried, resentfully, though mournfully, 'both alike? +You put us upon a par?--' + +'No!' answered Juliet, hastily, 'him I fly because I hate;--You--' + +The deep scarlet which mounted into her whole face finished the +sentence; in defiance of a sudden and abrupt breaking off, that meant +and hoped to snatch the unguarded phrase from comprehension. + +But Harleigh felt its fullest contrast; his hopes, his wishes, his whole +soul completed it by You, because I love!--not that he could persuade +himself that Juliet would have used those words; he knew the contrary; +knew that she would sooner thus situated expire; but such, he felt, was +the impulse of her thoughts; such the consciousness that broke off her +speech. + +He durst not venture at any acknowledgement; but, once appeased in his +doubts, and satisfied in his feelings, he respected her opinions, and, +yielding to her increased, yet speechless eagerness to be gone, he +silently, but with eyes of expressive tenderness, ceased to obstruct her +passage. + +Utterly confounded herself, at the half-pronounced thought, thus +inadvertently surprised from her, and thus palpably seized and +interpreted, she strove to devize some term that might obviate dangerous +consequences; but she felt her cheeks so hot, so cold, and again so hot, +that she durst not trust her face to his observation; and, accepting the +opening which he made for her, she was returning to her cottage, +tortured,--and yet soothed,--by indescribable emotions; when an +energetic cry of 'Ellis!--Harleigh!--Ellis!' made her raise her eyes to +the adjacent hill, and perceive Elinor. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXV + + +With arms extended, and a commanding air, Elinor, having made signs to +the dismayed Harleigh not to move, awaited, where she stood, the +terrified, but obedient Juliet. + +'Avoid me not!' she cried, 'Ellis! why should you avoid me? I have given +you back your plighted word; and the pride of Harleigh has saved him +from all bonds. Why, then, should you fly?' + +Juliet attempted not to make any answer. + +'The conference, the last conference,' continued Elinor, 'which so +ardently I have demanded, is still unaccorded. Repeatedly I could have +surprized it, singly, from Harleigh; but--' + +She stopt, coloured, looked indignant, yet ashamed, and then haughtily +went on: 'Imagine not my courage tarnished by cowardly apprehensions of +misinterpretation,--suspicion,--censoriousness;... no! let the world +sneer at its pleasure! Its spleen will never keep pace with my contempt. +But Harleigh!--I brave not the censure of Harleigh! even though +prepared, and resolved, to quit him for evermore! And, with ideas +punctilious such as his of feminine delicacy, he might blame, +perhaps,--should I seek him alone--' + +She blushed more deeply, and, with extreme agitation, added, 'Harleigh, +when we shall meet no more, will always honourably say, Her passion for +me might be tinctured with madness, but its purity was without alloy!' + +She now turned away, to hide a starting tear; but, soon resuming her +usually lively manner, said, 'I have traced you, at last, together; and +by means of our caustick, bilious fellow-traveller, Riley; whom I +encountered by accident; and who runs, snarling, yet curious, after his +fellow-creatures, working at making himself enemies, as if enmity were a +pleasing, or lucrative profession! From him I learnt, that he had just +seen you,--and together!--near Salisbury. I discovered you, Ellis, two +days ago; but Harleigh, though I have been roving some time in your +vicinity, only this moment.' + +A sudden shriek now broke from her, and Juliet, affrighted and looking +around, perceived Harleigh pacing hastily away. + +The shriek reached him, and he stopt. + +'Fly, fly, to him,' she cried, 'Ellis; assure him, I have no present +personal project; none! I solemnly promise, none! But I have an opinion +to gather from him, of which my ignorance burns, devours me, and will +not let me rest, alive nor dead!' + +Juliet, distressed, irresolute, ventured not to move. + +''Tis his duty,' continued Elinor, 'after his solemn declaration, to +initiate me into his motives for believing in a future state. I have +been distracting my burthened senses over theological works; but my head +is in no condition to comprehend them. They treat, also, of belief in a +future state, as of a thing not to be proved, but to be taken for +granted. Let him penetrate me with his own notions; or frankly +acknowledge their insufficiency. But let him mark that they are indeed +his own! Let them be neither fanatical, illusory, nor traditional.' + +Juliet was compelled to obey; but while she was repeating her message, +Elinor descended the hill, and they all met at its foot. + +'Harleigh,' she cried, 'fear me not! Do not imagine I shall again go +over the same ground;--at least, not with the monotonous stupidity of +again going over it in the same manner. Yet believe not my resolution to +be shaken! But I have some doubts, relative to your own principles and +opinions, of which I demand a solution.' + +She then seated herself upon the turf, and made Harleigh seat himself +before her, while Juliet remained by her side. + +'Can you feign, Harleigh? Can you endure to act a part, in defiance of +your nobler nature, merely to prolong my detested life? Do you join in +the popular cry against suicide, merely to arrest my impatient hand? If +not, initiate me, I beseech, in the series of pretended reasoning, by +which honour, honesty, and understanding such as yours, have been duped +into bigotry? How is it, explain! that you can have been worked upon to +believe in an existence after death? Ah, Harleigh! could you, indeed, +give so sublime a resting-place to my labouring ideas!--I would consent +to enter the ecclesiastical court myself, to sing the recantation of +what you deem my errours. And then, Albert, I might learn,--with all my +wretchedness!--to bear to live,--for then, I might seek and foster some +hope in dying!' + +'Dear Elinor!' cried Harleigh, gently, almost tenderly, 'let me send for +some divine!' + +'How conscious is this retreat,' she cried, 'of the weakness of your +cause! Ah! why thus try to bewilder a poor forlorn traveller, who is +dropping with fatigue upon her road? and to fret and goad her on, when +the poor tortured wretch languishes to give up the journey altogether? +Why not rather, more generously, more like yourself, aid her to attain +repose? to open her burning veins, and bid her pent up blood flow freely +to her relief? or kindly point the steel to her agonized heart, whose +last sigh would be ecstacy if it owed its liberation to your pitying +hand! Oh Harleigh! what vain prejudice, what superstitious sophistry, +robs me of the only solace that could soothe my parting breath?' + +'What is it Elinor means?' cried Harleigh, alarmed, yet affecting to +speak lightly: 'Has she no compunction for the labour she causes my +blood in thus perpetually accelerating its circulation.' + +'Pardon me, dear Harleigh, I have inadvertently run from my purpose to +my wishes. To the point, then. Make me, if it be possible, conceive how +your reason has thus been played upon, and your discernment been set +asleep. I have studied this matter abroad, with the ablest casuists, I +have met with; and though I may not retain, or detail their reasoning, +well enough to make a convert of any other, they have fixed for ever in +my own mind, a conviction that death and annihilation are one. Why do +you knit your brow?--And see how Ellis starts!--And why do you both look +at me as if I were mad? Mad? because I would rather crush misery than +endure it? Mad? because I would rather, at my own time, die the death of +reason, than by compulsion, and when least disposed, that of nature? Of +reason, that appreciates life but by enjoyment; not of nature, that +would make misery linger, till malady or old age dissolve the worn out +fabric. To indulge our little miserable fears and propensities, we give +flattering epithets to all our meannesses; for what is endurance of +worldly pain and affliction but folly? what patience, but insipidity? +what suffering, but cowardice? Oh suicide! triumphant antidote to woe! +straight forward, unerring route to rest, to repose! I call upon thy +aid! I invoke--' + +'Repose?--rest?' interrupted Harleigh, 'how earned? By deserting our +duties? By quitting our posts? By forsaking and wounding all by whom we +are cherished?' + +'One word, Harleigh, answers all that: Did we ask for our being? Why +was it given us if doomed to be wretched? To whom are we accountable for +renouncing a donation, made without our consent or knowledge? O, if ever +that wretched thing called life has a noble moment, it must surely be +that of its voluntary sacrifice! lopping off, at a blow, that +hydra-headed monster of evil upon evil, called time; bounding over the +imps of superstition; dancing upon the pangs of disease; and boldly, +hardily mocking the senseless legends, that would frighten us with +eternity!--Eternity? to poor, little, frail, finite beings like us! Oh +Albert! worldly considerations, monkish inventions, and superstitious +reveries set apart;--reason called forth, truth developed, probabilities +canvassed,--say! is it not clear that death is an end to all? an abyss +eternal? a conclusion? Nature comes but for succession; though the pride +of man would give her resurrection. Mouldering all together we go, to +form new earth for burying our successors.' + +'Horrible, Elinor, most horrible! yet if, indeed, it is your opinion +that you are doomed to sink to nothing; if your soul, in the full tide +of its energies, and in the pride of intellect, seems to you a mere +appendant to the body; if you believe it to be of the same fragile +materials; how can you wish to shorten the so short period of +consciousness? to abridge the so brief moment of sensibility? Is it not +always time enough to think, feel, see, hear,--love and be loved no +more?' + +'Yes! 'tis always too soon to lose happiness; but misery,--ah +Albert!--why should misery, when it can so easily be stilled, be +endured?' + +'Stilled, Elinor?--What mean you? By annihilation?--How an infidel +assumes fortitude to wish for death, is my constant astonishment! To +believe in the eternal loss of all he holds, or knows, or feels; to be +persuaded that "this sensible, warm being" will "melt, thaw, and resolve +itself into a dew,"--and to believe that there all ends! Surely every +species of existence must be preferable to such an expectation from its +cessation! Dust! literal dust!--Food for worms!--to be trod +upon;--crushed;--dug up;--battered down;--is that our termination? +That,--and nothing more?' + +'Tis shocking, Albert, no doubt; shocking and disgusting. Yet why +disguise the fact? Reason, philosophy, analogy, all prove our +materialism. Even common observation, even daily experience, in viewing +our natural end, where neither sickness nor accident impede, nor shorten +its progress, prove it by superannuation; shew clearly that mind and +body, when they die the long death of nature, gradually decline +together.' + +'Were that double decay constant, Elinor, in its junction, you might +thence, perhaps, draw that inference; but does not the body wither as +completely by decay, in the very prime, and pride, and bloom of youth, +where the death is consumption, as in the most worn-out decrepitude of +age? Yet the capacity is often, even to the last minute, as perfect as +in the vigour of health. Were all within, as well as all without, +material, would not the blight to one involve, uniformly, the blight to +the other? How often, too, does age, even the oldest, escape any +previous decay of intellect! There are records extant, of those who, +after attaining their hundredth year, have been capable of bearing +testimony in trials; but are there any of those, who, at half that age, +have preserved their external appearance? No. It is the body, therefore, +not the soul, that, in a natural state, and free from the accelerations +of accident, seems first to degenerate. The grace of symmetry, the charm +of expression, may last with our existence, and delight to its latest +date; but that which we understand exclusively, as personal +perfections,--how soon is it over! Not only before the intellects are +impaired, but even, and not rarely, before they are arrived at their +full completion. Can mind, then, and body be but one and the same thing, +when they neither flourish nor wither together?' + +'Ah, Harleigh! is it not your willing mind, that here frames its +sentiments from its exaltation? Not your deeper understanding, that +defines your future expectations from your rational belief?' + +'No, Elinor; my belief in the immortality of the soul may be +strengthened, but it is not framed by my wishes. Let me, however, ask +you a question in return. Your disbelief of the immortality of the soul, +is founded on your inability to have it, visually, or orally, +demonstrated: Let me, then, ask, can the nature, use, and destinations +of the soul, however darkly hidden from our analysing powers, be more +impervious to our limited foresight, than the narrower, yet equally, to +us, invisible, destiny of our days to come upon earth? But does any one, +therefore, from not knowing its purposes, disbelieve that his life may +be lengthened? Yet which of us can divine what his fate will be from +year to year? What his actions, from hour to hour? his thoughts, from +moment to moment?' + +'Oh Harleigh! how fatally is that true! how little did I foresee, when I +so delighted in your society, that that very delight would but impel me +to burn for the moment of bidding you an eternal farewell!' + +Harleigh sighed; but with earnestness continued: 'We conceive the soul +to influence, if not to direct our whole construction, yet we have no +sensible proof of its being in any part of it: how, then, shall we +determine that to be destroyed or departed, which we have never known to +be created? never seen to exist? O bow we down! for all is inexplicable! +We can but say, the body is obvious in its perfection, and still obvious +in its decay; the soul is always unsearchable! were we sure it were only +our understanding, we might, perhaps, develop it; or only our feelings, +we might catch it; but it is something indefinable, of which the +consciousness tells us not the qualities, nor the possession the +attributes; and of which the end leaves no trace! We follow it not to +its dissolution like the body; which, after what we call death, is still +as evident, as when our conception of what is soul were yet lent to it: +if the soul, then, be equally material, say, is it still there also? +though as unseen and hidden as when breath and motion were yet +perceptible?' + +'Body and soul, Albert, come together with existence, and together are +nullified by death.' + +'And are you, Elinor, aware whither such reasoning may lead? If the body +instead of being the tenement of the soul, is but one and the same with +it;--how are you certain, if they are not sundered by death, that they +do not in death, though by means, and with effects to us unknown, still +exist together? That with the body, whether animated or inert, the soul +may not always be adherent? who shall assure you, who, at least, shall +demonstrate, that if the soul be but a part of the body, it may not +think, though no utterance can be given to its thoughts; and may not +feel, though all expression is at an end, and motion is no more? Whither +may such reasoning lead? to what strange suggestions may it not conduct +us? to what vain fantasies, what useless horrours? May we not apprehend +that the insects, the worms which are formed from the human frame, may +partake of and retain human consciousness? May we not imagine those +wretched reptiles, which creep from our remains, to be sensible of their +fallen state, and tortured by their degradation? to resent, as well as +seek to elude the ill usage, the blows, the oppressions to which they +are exposed?--' + +'Fie! Albert, fie!' + +'Nay, what proof, if for proof you wait, have you to the contrary? Is it +their writhing? their sensitive shrink from your touch? their agonizing +efforts to save their miserable existence from your gripe?' + +'Harleigh! Harleigh!' + +'And this dust, Elinor, to which you settle that, finally, all will be +mouldered or crumbled;--fear you not that its every particle may +possess some sensitive quality? When we cease to speak, to move, to +breathe, you assert the soul to be annihilated: But why? Is it only +because you lose sight of its operations? In chemistry are there not +sundry substances which, by certain processes, become invisible, and are +sought in vain by the spectator; but which, by other processes, are +again brought to view? And shall the chemist have this faculty to +produce, and to withdraw, from our sight, and the Creator of All be +denied any occult powers?' + +'Nay, Albert, "how can we reason but from what we know?"--Will you +compare a fact which experiment can prove, which reason may discuss, and +which the senses may witness, with a bare possibility? A vague +conjecture?' + +'Is nothing, then, credible, Elinor, that is out of the +province of demonstration? nothing probable, that surpasses our +understanding?--nothing sacred that is beyond our view? Are we so +perfect in our knowledge, even of what we behold, or possess, as to draw +such presumptuous conclusions, of the self-sufficiency and omnipotence +of our faculties, for judging what is every way out of our sight, or +reach? Do we know one radical point of our existence, here, where "we +live, and move, and have our being?" Do we comprehend, unequivocally, +our immediate attributes and powers? Can we tell even how our hands obey +our will? how our desires suffice to guide our feet from place to place? +to roll our eyes from object to object? If all were clear, save the +existence and the extinction of the soul, then, indeed, we might +pronounce all faith, but in self-evidence, to be folly!' + +'Faith! Harleigh, faith? the very word scents of monkish subtleties! +'Tis to faith, to that absurd idea of lulling to sleep our reason, of +setting aside our senses, our observation, our knowledge; and giving our +ignorant, unmeaning trust, and blind confidence to religious quacks; +'tis to that, precisely that, you owe what you term our infidelity; for +'tis that which has provoked the spirit of investigation, which has +shewn us the pusillanimity and imbecility of consigning the short period +in which we possess our poor fleeting existence, to other men's uses, +deliberations, schemes, fancies, and ordinances. For what else can you +call submission to unproved assertions, and concurrence in unfounded +belief?' + +'And yet, this faith, Elinor, which, in religion, you renounce, despise, +or defy, because in religion you would think, feel, and believe by +demonstration alone, you insensibly admit in nearly all things else! +Have you it not in morals? Does society exist but by faith? Does +friendship,--I will not name what is so open to controversy as +love,--but say! has friendship any other tie? has honour any other bond +than faith? We have no proofs, no demonstrations of worth that can reach +the regions of the heart: we judge but by effects; we believe but by +analogies; we love, we esteem, we trust but by credulity, by faith! For +where is the mathematician who can calculate what may be pronounced of +the mind, from what is seen in the countenance, or uttered by speech? +yet is any one therefore so wretched, as not to feel any social reliance +beyond what he can mathematically demonstrate to be merited?' + +'And to what but that, Albert, precisely that, do we owe being so +perpetually duped and betrayed? to what but building upon false trust? +upon appearance, and not certainty?' + +'Certainty, Elinor! Where, and in what is certainty to be found? If you +disclaim belief in immortality upon faith, as insufficient to satisfy +reason, what is the basis even of your disbelief? Is it not faith also? +When you demand the proofs of immortality, let me demand, in return, +what are your proofs of materialism? And, till you can bring to +demonstration the operations of the soul while we live, presume not to +decide upon its extinction when we die! Of the corporeal machine, on the +contrary, speak at pleasure; you have before you all your documents for +ratiocination and decision; but, life once over,--when you have placed +the limbs, closed the eyes, arranged the form,--can you arrange the +mind?--the soul?' + +'Excite no doubts in me, Harleigh!--my creed is fixed.' + +'When sleep overtakes us,' he continued, 'and all, to the beholder, +looks the picture of death, save that the breath still heaves the +bosom;--what is it that guards entire, uninjured, the mind? the +faculties? It is not our consciousness,--we have none! Where is the soul +in that period? Gone it is not, for we are sensible to all that had +preceded its suspension, the moment that we awake. Yet, in that state of +periodical insensibility, what, but experience, could make those who +view us believe that we could ever rise, speak, move, or think again? +How inert is the body! How helpless, how useless, how incapable? Do we +see who is near us? Do we hear who addresses us? Do we know when the +most frightful crimes are committed by our sides? What, I demand, is our +consciousness? We have not the most distant of any thing that passes +around us: yet we open our eyes--and all is known, all is familiar +again. We hear, we see, we feel, we understand!' + +'Yes; but in that sleep, Harleigh, that mere mechanical repose of the +animal, we still breathe; we are capable, therefore, of being restored +to all our sensibilities, by a single touch, by a single start; 'tis but +a separation that parts us from ourselves, as absence parts us from our +friends. We yet live,--we yet, therefore, may meet again.' + +'And why, when we live no longer, may we not also, Elinor, meet again?' + +'Why?--Do you ask why?--Look round the old church-yards! See you not +there the dispersion of our poor mouldered beings? Is not every bone the +prey,--or the disgust,--of every animal? How, when scattered, commixed, +broken, battered, how shall they ever again be collected, united, +arranged, covered and coloured so as to appear regenerated?' + +'But what, Elinor, is the fragility, or the dispersion of the body, to +the solidity and the durability of the soul? Why are we to decide, that +to see ourselves again, and again to view each other, such as we seem +here, substance, or what we understand by it, is essential to our +re-union hereafter? Do we not meet, act, talk, move, think with one +another in our dreams? What is it which, then, embodies our ideas? which +gives to our sight, in perfect form and likeness, those with whom we +converse? which makes us conceive that we move, act, speak, and look, +ourselves, with the same gesture, mien, and voice as when awake?' + +'Dreams? pho!--they are but the nocturnal vagaries of the imagination.' + +'And what, Elinor, is imagination? You will not call it a part of your +body?' + +'No; but the blood which still circulates in our veins, Harleigh, gives +imagination its power.' + +'But does the blood circulate in the veins of our parents, of our +friends? of our acquaintances? and of strangers whom we equally meet? +yet we see them all; we converse with them all; we utter opinions; we +listen to their answers. And how ably we sometimes argue! how +characteristically those with whom we dispute reply! yet we do not +imagine we guide them. We wait their opinions and decisions, in the same +uncertainty and suspense, that we await them in our waking intercourse. +We have the same fears of ill fortune; the same horrour of ill usage; +the same ardour for success; the same feelings of sorrow, of joy, of +hope, or of remorse, that animate or that torture us, in our daily +occurrences. What new countries we visit! what strange sights we see! +what delight, what anguish, what alarms, what pleasures, and what pains +we experience! Yet in all this variety of incident, conversation, +motion, feeling,--we seem, to those who look at us, but unintelligent +and senseless, though still breathing clay.' + +'Ay; but after all those scenes, we awake, Albert, we awake! But when do +we awake from death? Death, the same experience tells us, is sleep +eternal!' + +'But in that sleep, also, are there no dreams? Are you sure of that? If, +in our common sleep, there still subsists an active principle, that +feels, speaks, invents, and only by awaking finds that the mind alone, +and not the body has been working;--how are you so sure that no such +active principle subsists in that sleep which you call eternal? Who has +told you what passes where experience is at an end? Who has talked to +you of "that bourne whence no traveller returns?" With the cessation, +indeed, of warmth; with the stillness of those pulses which beat from +circulating blood, all seems to end; but seems it not also to end when +we fall into apoplexies? when we faint away? when we appear to be +drowned? or when, by any means, life is casually suspended? Yet when +those arts, that skill, of which even the success teaches not the +principle, even the process discovers not the secret resources, draw +back, by means intelligible and visible, but through causes indefinable, +the fleeting breath to its corporeal habitation; animation instantly +returns, and the soul, with all its powers, revives!' + +'Ay, there, there, Albert, is the very point! If the soul were distinct +from the body, why should not those who are recovered from drowning, +suffocation, or other apparent death, be able to give some account of +what passed in those periods when they seemed to be no more? And who has +done it? No one, Harleigh! not a single renovated being, has explained +away the doubts to which those suspensions of animation give rise.' + +'And has any one explained, Elinor, why, though sometimes we have such +wonders to relate of the scenes in which we have borne a part in our +dreams,--we open our eyes, at other times, with no consciousness +whatever, that we have, any way existed from the moment of closing them? +The wants of refreshment and recruit of our corporeal machine, we all +feel, and know; those of that part which is intellectual,--who is able +to calculate? What, except the powers, can be more distinct than the +exercises of the mind and of the body? Yet, though we see not the +workings of what is intellectual; though they are known only by their +effects,--does the student by the midnight oil require less rest from +his mental fatigues,--whether he take it or not,--than the ploughman +from his corporal labour? Is he not as wearied, as exhausted, after a +day consigned to serious and unremitting study and reflection, as the +labourer who has spent it in digging, paving, hewing, and sawing? Yet +his body has been perfectly at peace; has not moved, has not made the +smallest exertion.' + +'And why, Harleigh? What is that, but because--' + +'Hasten not, Elinor, thence, to your favourite conclusion, that soul and +body, if wearied or rested together, are, therefore, one and the same +thing: observation, and reflection, turned to other points of view, will +shew you fresh reasons, and objects, every day, to disprove that +identity: shew you, on one side, corporal force for supporting the +bitterest grief of heart, with uninjured health; and, mental force, on +the other side, for bearing the acutest bodily disorders with unimpaired +intellectual vigour. How often do the most fragile machines, enwrap the +stoutest minds? how often do the halest frames, encircle the feeblest +intellects? All proves that the connexion between mind and body, however +intimate, is not blended;--though where its limits begin, or where they +end,--who can tell? But, who, also I repeat, can explain the phenomenon, +by which, in the dead of the night, when we are completely insulated, +and left in utter darkness, we firmly believe, nay, feel ourselves shone +upon by the broad beams of day; and surrounded by society, with which we +act, think, and reciprocate ideas?' + +'Dreams, I must own, Albert, are strangely incomprehensible. How bodies +can seem to appear, and voices to be heard, where all around is empty +space, it is not easy to conceive!' + +'Let this insolvable, and acknowledged difficulty, then, Elinor, in a +circumstance which, though daily recurring, remains inexplicable, check +any hardy decision of the cause why, after certain suspensions, the soul +may resume its functions to our evident knowledge; yet why we can +neither ascertain its departure, its continuance, nor its return, after +others. Oh Elinor! mock not, but revere the impenetrable mystery of +eternity! Ignorance is here our lot; presumption is our most useless +infirmity. The mind and body after death must either be separate, or +together. If together, as you assert, there is no proof attainable, that +the soul partakes not of all the changes, all the dispersions, all the +sufferings, and all the poor enjoyments, of what to us seems the +lifeless, but which, in that case, is only the speechless carcase: if +separate, as I believe,--whither goest thou, Oh soul! to what regions of +bliss?--or what abysses of woe?' + +'Harleigh, you electrify me! you convulse the whole train of my +principles, my systems, my long cherished conviction!' + +'Say, rather, Elinor, of your faith!--your faith in infidelity! Oh +Elinor! why call you not, rather, upon faith to aid your belief? Faith, +and revealed religion! The limited state of our positive perceptions, +grants us no means for comparison, for judgment, or even for thought, +but by analogy: ask yourself, then, Elinor,--What is there, even in +immortality, more difficult of comprehension, than that indescribable +daily occurrence, which all mankind equally, though unreflecting +experience, of a total suspension of every species of living knowledge, +of every faculty, of every sense,--called sleep? A suspension as big +with matter for speculation and wonder, though its cessation is visible +to us, as that last sleep, of which we view not the period.' + +'Albert!--should you shake my creed,--shall I be better contented? or +but yet more wretched?' + +'Can Elinor think,--yet ask such a question? Can a prospect of a future +state fail to offer a possibility of future happiness? Why wilfully +reject a consolation that you have no means to disprove? What know you +of this soul which you settle to be so easily annihilated? By what +criterion do you judge it? You have none! save a general consciousness, +that a something there is within us that mocks all search, yet that +always is uppermost; that anticipates good or evil; that outruns all +events; that feels the blow ere the flesh is touched; that expects the +sound before the ear receives it; that, unseen, untraced, unknown, +pervades, rules, animates all! that harbours thoughts, feelings, designs +which no human force can controul; which no mortal, unaided by our own +will, can discover; and which no aid whatever, either of our own or of +others, can bring forward to any possible manifestation!' + +'Alas, Harleigh! You shew me nonentity itself to be as doubtful as +immortality! Of what wretched stuff are we composed! Which way must I +now turn,-- + + 'Lost and bewildered in my fruitless search,'[13]-- + +which way must I turn to develop truth? to comprehend my own existence! +Oh Albert!--you almost make me wish to rest my perturbed mind where +fools alone, I thought, found rest, or hypocrites have seemed to find +it,--on Religion!' + +[Footnote 13: Addison.] + +'The feeling mind, dear Elinor, has no other serious serenity; no other +hold from the black, cheerless, petrifying expectation of nullity. If, +then, even a wish of light break through your dark despondence, read, +study the Evangelists!--and truth will blaze upon you, with the means to +find consolation.' + +'Albert, I know now where I am!--You open to me possibilities that +overwhelm me! My head seems bursting with fulness of struggling ideas!' + +'Give them, Elinor, fair play, and they will soon, in return, give you +tranquillity. Reflect only,--that that quality, that faculty, be its +nature, its durability, and its purpose what they may, which the world +at large agrees to call soul, has its universal comprehension from a +something that is felt; not that is proved! Yet who, and where is the +Atheist, the Deist, the Infidel of any description, gifted with the +means to demonstrate, that, in quitting the body with the parting +breath, it is necessarily extinct? that it may not, on the contrary, +still BE, when speech and motion are no more? when our flesh is mingled +with the dust, and our bones are dispersed by the winds? and BE, as +while we yet exist, no part of our body, no single of our senses; never, +while we seem to live, visible, yet never, when we seem to die, +perishable? May it not, when, with its last sigh, it leaves the body, +mingle with that vast expanse of air, which no instrument can completely +analyse, and which our imperfect sight views but as empty space? May it +not mount to upper regions, and enjoy purified bliss? May not all air be +peopled with our departed friends, hovering around us, as sensible as we +are unconscious? May not the uncumbered soul watch over those it loves? +find again those it had lost? be received in the Heaven of Heavens, +where it is destined,--not, Oh wretched idea!--to eternal sleep, +inertness, annihilating dust;--but to life, to joy, to sweetest +reminiscence, to tenderest re-unions, to grateful adoration to +intelligence never ending! Oh! Elinor! keep for ever in mind, that if no +mortal is gifted to prove that this is true,--neither is any one +empowered to prove that it is false!' + +'Oh delicious idea!' cried Elinor, rising: 'Oh image of perfection! Oh +Albert! conquering Albert! I hope,--I hope;--my soul may be +immortal!--Pray for me, Albert! Pray that I may dare offer up prayers +for myself!--Send me your Christian divine to guide me on my way; and +may your own heaven bless you, peerless Albert! for ever!--Adieu! adieu! +adieu!'-- + +Fervently, then, clasping her hands, she sunk, with overpowering +feelings, upon her knees. + +Juliet came forward to support her; and Harleigh, deeply gratified, +though full of commiseration, eagerly undertook the commission; and, +echoing back her blessing, without daring to utter a word to Juliet, +slowly quitted the spot. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVI + + +Elinor, for a considerable time, remained in the same posture, +ruminating, in silent abstraction; yet giving, from time to time, +emphatic, though involuntary utterance, to short and incoherent +sentences. 'A spirit immortal!--' 'Resurrection of the Dead!--' 'A life +to come!--' 'Oh Albert! is there, then, a region where I may hope to see +thee again!' + +Suddenly, at length, seeming to recollect herself, 'Pardon,' she cried, +'Albert, my strangeness,--queerness,--oddity,--what will you call it? I +am not the less,--O no! O no! penetrated by your impressive +reasoning--Albert!--' + +She lifted up her head, and, looking around, exclaimed, with an air of +consternation, 'Is he gone?' + +She arose, and with more firmness, said, 'He is right! I meant not,--and +I ought not to see him any more;--though dearer to my eyes is his sight, +than life or light!--' + +Looking, then, earnestly forwards, as if seeking him, 'Farewell, Oh +Albert!' she cried: 'We now, indeed, are parted for ever! To see thee +again, would sink me into the lowest abyss of contempt,--and I would far +rather bear thy hatred!--Yet hatred?--from that soul of humanity!--what +violence must be put upon its nature! And how cruel to reverse such +ineffable philanthropy!--No!--hate me not, my Albert!--It shall be my +own care that thou shalt not despise me!' + +Slowly she then walked away, followed silently by Juliet, who durst not +address her. Anxiously she looked around, till, at some distance, she +descried a horseman. It was Harleigh. She stopped, deeply moved, and +seemed inwardly to bless him. But, when he was no longer in sight, she +no longer restrained her anguish, and, casting herself upon the turf, +groaned rather than wept, exclaiming, 'Must I live--yet behold thee no +more!--Will neither sorrow, nor despair, nor even madness kill me?--Must +nature, in her decrepitude, alone bring death to Elinor?' + +Rising, then, and vainly trying again to descry the horse, 'All, all is +gone!' she cried, 'and I dare not even die!--All, all is gone, from the +lost, unhappy Elinor, but life and misery!' + +Turning, then, with quickness to Juliet, while pride and shame dried her +eyes, 'Ellis,' she said, 'let him not know I murmur!--Let not his last +hearing of Elinor be disgrace! Tell him, on the contrary, that his +friendship shall not be thrown away; nor his arguments be forgotten, or +unavailing: no! I will weigh every opinion, every sentiment that has +fallen from him, as if every word, unpolluted by human ignorance or +informity, had dropt straight from heaven! I will meditate upon +religion: I will humble myself to court resignation. I will fly hence, +to avoid all temptation of ever seeing him more!--and to distract my +wretchedness by new scenes. Oh Albert!--I will earn thy esteem by +acquiescence in my lot, that here,--even here,--I may taste the paradise +of alluring thee to include me in thy view of happiness hereafter!' + +Her foreign servant, then, came in view, and she made a motion to him +with her hand for her carriage. She awaited it in profound mental +absorption, and, when it arrived, placed herself in it without speaking. + +Juliet, full of tender pity, could no longer forbear saying, 'Adieu, +Madam! and may peace re-visit your generous heart!' + +Elinor, surprized and softened, looked at her with an expression of +involuntary admiration, as she answered, 'I believe you to be good, +Ellis!--I exonerate you from all delusory arts; and, internally, I never +thought you guilty,--or I had never feared you! Fool! mad fool, that I +have been, I am my own executioner! my distracting impatience to learn +the depth of my danger, was what put you together! taught you to know, +to appreciate one another! With my own precipitate hand, I have dug the +gulph into which I am fallen! Your dignified patience, your noble +modesty--Oh fatal Ellis!--presented a contrast that plunged a dagger +into all my efforts! Rash, eager ideot! I conceived suspense to be my +greatest bane!--Oh fool! eternal fool!--self-willed, and +self-destroying!--for the single thrill of one poor moment's returning +doubt--I would not suffer martyrdom!' + +She wept, and hid her face within the carriage; but, holding out her +hand to Juliet, 'Adieu, Ellis!' she cried, 'I struggle hardly not to +wish you any ill; and I have never given you my malediction: yet +Oh!--that you had never been born!'-- + +She snatched away her hand, and precipitately drew up all the blinds, to +hide her emotion; but, presently, letting one of them down, called out, +with resumed vivacity, and an air of gay defiance, 'Marry him, +Ellis!--marry him at once! I have always felt that I should be less mad, +if my honour called upon me for reason!--my honour and my pride!' + +The groom demanded orders. + +'Drive to the end of the world!' she answered, impatiently, 'so you ask +me no questions!' and, forcibly adding, 'Farewell, too happy Ellis!' she +again drew up all the blinds, and, in a minute, was out of sight. + +Juliet deplored her fate with the sincerest concern; and ruminated upon +her virtues, and attractive qualities, till their drawbacks diminished +from her view, and left nothing but unaffected wonder, that Harleigh +could resist them: 'twas a wonder, nevertheless, that every feeling of +her heart, in defiance of every conflict, rose, imperiously, to separate +from regret. + +At the cottage, she found her recovered property, which she now +concluded,--for her recollection was gone,--that she had dropt upon her +entrance into the room occupied by Harleigh, before she had perceived +that it was not empty. + +Here, too, almost immediately afterwards, her messenger returned with a +letter, which had remained more than a week at the post-office; whither +it had been sent back by the farmer, who had refused to risk advancing +the postage. + +The letter was from Gabriella, and sad, but full of business. She had +just received a hurrying summons from Mr de ----, her husband, to join +him at Teignmouth, in Devonshire; and, for family-reasons, which ought +not to be resisted, to accompany him abroad. Mr de ---- had been brought +by an accidental conveyance to Torbay; whence, through a peculiarly +favourable opportunity, he was to sail to his place of destination. He +charged her to use the utmost expedition; and, to spare the expence of a +double journey, and the difficulties of a double passport, for and from +London, he should procure permission to meet her at Teignmouth; where +they might remain till their vessel should be ready; the town of +Brixham, within Torbay, being filled with sailors, and unfit for female +residence. + +Gabriella owned, that she had nothing substantial, nor even rational, to +oppose to this plan; though her heart would be left in the grave, the +English grave of her adored child. She had relinquished, therefore, her +shop, and paid the rent, and her debts; and obtained money for the +journey by the sale of all her commodities. She then tenderly entreated, +if no insurmountable obstacles forbid it, that Juliet would be of their +party; and gave the direction of Mr de ---- at Teignmouth. + +Not a moment could Juliet hesitate upon joining her friend; though +whether or not she should accompany her abroad, she left for decision at +their meeting. She greatly feared the delay in receiving the letter +might make her arrive too late; but the experiment was well worth trial; +and she reached the beautifully situated small town of Teignmouth the +next morning. + +She drove to the lodging of which Gabriella had given the direction; +where she had the affliction to learn, that the lady whom she described, +and her husband, had quitted Teignmouth the preceding evening for +Torbay. + +She instantly demanded fresh horses, for following them; but the +postilion said, that he must return directly to Exeter, with his chaise; +and enquired where she would alight. Where she might most speedily, she +answered, find means to proceed. + +The postilion drove her, then, to a large lodging-house; but the town +was so full of company, as it was the season for bathing, that there was +no chaise immediately ready; and she was obliged to take possession of a +room, till some horses returned. + +As soon as she had deposited her baggage, she resolved upon walking back +to the late lodging of Gabriella, to seek some further information. + +In re-passing a gallery, which led from her chamber to the stairs, she +perceived, upon a band-box, left at the half-closed door of what +appeared to be the capital apartment, the loved name of Lady Aurora +Granville. + +Joy, hope, fondness, and every pleasurable emotion, danced suddenly in +her breast; and, chacing away, by surprize, all fearful caution, +irresistibly impelled her to push open the door. + +All possibility of concealment was, she knew, now at an end; and, with +it, finished her long forbearance. How sweet to cast herself, at length, +under so benign a protection! to build upon the unalterable sweetness of +Lady Aurora for a consolatory reception, and openly to claim her +support! + +Filled with these delighting ideas, she gently entered the room. It was +empty; but, the door to an inner apartment being open, she heard the +soft voice of Lady Aurora giving directions to some servant. + +While she hesitated whether, at once, to venture on, or to send in some +message, a chambermaid, coming out with another band-box, shut the inner +door. + +The dress of Juliet was no longer such as to make her appearance in a +capital apartment suspicious; and the chambermaid civily enquired whom +she was pleased to want. + +'Lady Aurora Granville,' she hesitatingly answered; adding that she +would tap at her ladyship's door herself, and begging that the maid +would not wait. + +The maid, busy and active, hurried off. Quickly, then, though softly, +Juliet stept forward; but at the door, trembling and full of fears, she +stopt short; and the sight of pen, ink, and paper upon a table, +determined her to commit her attempt to writing. + +Seizing a sheet of paper, without sitting down, and in a hand scarcely +legible, she began, + +'Is Lady Aurora Granville still the same Lady Aurora, the kind, the +benignant, the indulgent Lady Aurora,--' when the sound of another +voice, a voice more discordant, if possible, than that of Lady Aurora +had been melodious, reached her ear from under the window: it was that +of Mrs Howel. + +As shaking now with terrour as before she had been trembling with hope, +she rolled up her paper; and was hurrying it into her work-bag, which +had been returned to her by Harleigh; when the chambermaid, re-entering +the room, stared at her with some surprize, demanding whether she had +seen her ladyship. + +'No; ... I believe ... she is occupied,' Juliet, stammering, answered; +and flew along the gallery back to her chamber. + +That Lady Aurora should be under the care of Mrs Howel, who was the +nearest female relation of Lord Denmeath, could give no surprize to +Juliet; but the impulse which had urged her forward, had only painted to +her a precious interview with Lady Aurora alone; for how venture to +reveal herself in presence of so hard, so inimical a witness? The very +idea, joined to the terrible apprehension of irritating Lord Denmeath, +to aid some new attack from her legal persecutor; so damped her rising +joy, so repressed her buoyant hopes, that, to avoid the insupportable +repetition of injurious interrogatories, painful explanations, and +insulting incredulity, she decided, if she could join Gabriella at +Torbay, to accompany her to her purposed retreat; and there to await +either intelligence of the Bishop, or an open summons from her own +family. + +She hastened, therefore, to the late lodging of Gabriella; where, upon a +more minute investigation, she found, that a message had been left, in +case a lady should call to enquire for Madame de ----, to say, that the +small vessel in which M. de ---- and herself were humanely to be +received as passengers, was ready to sail; and to promise to write upon +their landing; and to endeavour to fix upon some means of re-union. The +lady, the lodging-people said, had lost all hope of her friend's +arrival, but had left that message in case of accidents. + +More eagerly than ever, Juliet now enquired for any kind of carriage; +but the town was full, and every vehicle was engaged till the next +morning. + +The next morning opened with a new and cruel disappointment: the +chambermaid came with excuses, that no chaise could be had, till towards +evening, as the Honourable Mrs Howel had engaged all the horses, to +carry herself and her people to Chudleigh-park. + +Dreadful to the impatience of Juliet was such a loss of time; yet she +shrunk from all appeal, upon her prior rights, with Mrs Howel. + +Still, not to render impossible, before her departure, an interview, +after which her heart was sighing, with Lady Aurora, she addressed to +her a few lines. + + 'To the Right Honourable Lady Aurora Granville. + + 'Brought hither in search of the friend of my earlier youth, what + have been my perturbation, my hope, my fear, at the sound of the + voice of her whom, proudly and fondly, it is my first wish to be + permitted to love, and to claim as the friend of my future days! + Ah, Lady Aurora! my inmost soul is touched and + moved!--nevertheless, not to press upon the difficulties of your + delicacy, nor to take advantage of the softness of your + sensibility, I go hence without imploring your support or + countenance. I quit again this loved land, scarcely known, though + devoutly revered, to watch and wait,--far, far off!--for tidings of + my future lot: I go to join the generous guardian of my orphan + life,--till I know whether I may hope to be acknowledged by a + brother! I go to dwell with my noble adopted sister,--till I learn + whether I may be recalled, to be owned by one still nearer,--and + who alone can be still dearer!' + +She gave this paper sealed, for delivery, to the chambermaid; saying +that she was going to take a long walk; and desiring, should there be +any answer, that it might carefully be kept for her return. + +This measure was to give Lady Aurora time to reflect, whether or not she +should demand an explanation of the note; rather than to surprize the +first eager impulse of her kindness. + +She then bent her steps towards the sea-side; but, though it was still +very early, there was so much company upon the sands, taking exercise +before, or after bathing, that she soon turned another way; and, invited +by the verdant freshness of the prospects, rambled on for a considerable +time: at first, with no other design than to while away a few hours; +but, afterwards, to give to those hours the pleasure ever new, ever +instructive, of viewing and studying the works of nature; which, on this +charming spot, now awfully noble, now elegantly simple; where the sea +and the land, the one sublime in its sameness, the other, exhilarating +in its variety, seem to be presented, as if in primeval lustre, to the +admiring eye of a meditative being. + +She clambered up various rocks, nearly to their summit, to enjoy, in one +grand perspective, the stupendous expansion of the ocean, glittering +with the brilliant rays of a bright and cloudless sky: dazzled, she +descended to their base, to repose her sight upon the soft, yet lively +tint of the green turf, and the rich, yet mild hue of the downy moss. +Almost sinking, now, from the scorching beams of a nearly vertical sun, +she looked round for some umbrageous retreat; but, refreshed the next +moment, by salubrious sea-breezes, by the coolness of the rocks, or by +the shade of the trees, she remained stationary, and charmed; a devoutly +adoring spectatress of the lovely, yet magnificent scenery encircling +her; so vast in its glory, so impressive in its details, of wild, varied +nature, apparently in its original state. + +When at length, she judged it to be right to return, upon coming within +sight of the lodging-house, she saw a carriage at the door, into which +some lady was mounting. + +Could it be Lady Aurora?--could she so depart, after reading her letter? +She retreated till the carriage drove off; and then, at the foot of the +stairs, met the chambermaid; of whom she eagerly asked, whether there +were any letter, or message, for her, from Lady Aurora. + +The maid answered No; her ladyship was gone away without saying any +thing. + +The words 'gone away' extremely affected Juliet, who, in ascending to +her room, wept bitterly at such a desertion; even while concluding it to +have been exacted by Mrs Howel. + +She rang the bell, to enquire whether she might now have a chaise. + +The chambermaid told her that she must come that very moment to speak to +a lady. + +'What lady?' cried Juliet, ever awake to hope; 'Is Lady Aurora Granville +come back?' + +No, no; Lady Aurora was gone to Chudleigh. + +'What lady then?' + +Mrs Howel, the maid answered, who ordered her to come that instant. + +''Tis a mistake,' said Juliet, with spirit; 'you must seek some other +person to whom to deliver such a message!' + +The maid would have asserted her exactitude in executing her commission; +but Juliet, declining to hear her, insisted upon being left. + +Extremely disturbed, she could suggest no reason why Mrs Howel should +remain, when Lady Aurora was gone; nor divine whether her letter were +voluntarily unanswered; or whether it had even been delivered; nor what +might still instigate the unrestrained arrogance of Mrs Howel. + +In a few minutes, the chambermaid returned, to acquaint her, that, if +she did not come immediately, Mrs Howel would send for her in another +manner. + +Too indignant, now, for fear, Juliet, said that she had no answer to +give to such a message; and charged the maid not to bring her any other. + +Another, nevertheless, and ere she had a moment to breathe, followed; +which was still more peremptory, and to which the chambermaid sneeringly +added, + +'You wonna let me look into youore work-bag, wull y?' + +'Why should you look into my work-bag?' + +'Nay, it ben't I as do want it; it be Maddam Howel.' + +'And for what purpose?' + +'Nay, I can't zay; but a do zay a ha' lost a bank-note.' + +'And what have I, or my work-bag, to do with that?' + +'Nay I don't know; but it ben't I ha' ta'en it. And it ben't I--' + +She stopt, grinning significantly; but, finding that Juliet deigned not +to ask an explanation, went on: 'It ben't I as husselled zomat into my +work-bag, in zuch a peck o' troubles, vor to hide it; it ben't I, vor +there be no mortal mon, nor womon neither, I be afeared of; vor I do +teake no mon's goods but my own.' + +Juliet now was thunderstruck. If a bank-note were missing, appearances, +from her silently entering and quitting the room, were certainly against +her; and though it could not be difficult to clear away such a +suspicion, it was shocking, past endurance, to have such a suspicion to +clear. + +While she hesitated what to reply, the maid, not doubting but that her +embarrassment was guilt, triumphantly continued her own defence; saying, +whoever might be suspected, it could not be she, for she did not go into +other people's rooms, not she! to peer about, and see what was to be +seen; nor say she was going to call upon grand gentlefolks, when she was +not going to do any such thing; not she! nor tear paper upon other +people's tables, to roll things up, and poke them into her work-bag; not +she! she had nothing to hide, for there was nothing she took, so there +was nothing she had to be ashamed of, not she! + +She then mutteringly walked off; but almost instantly returned, desiring +to know, in the name of Mrs Howel, whether Miss Ellis preferred that the +business of her examination should be terminated, before proper +witnesses, in her own room. + +Juliet, thus assailed, urged by judgment, and a sense of propriety, +struggled against personal feelings and fears; and resolved to rescue +not only herself, but her family, from the disgrace of a public +interrogatory. She walked, therefore, straight forward to the apartment +of Mrs Howel; determined to own, without delay, her birth and situation, +rather than submit to any indignity. + +At the entrance, she made way for the chambermaid to announce her; but +when she heard that voice, which, to her shocked ears, sounded far more +hoarse, more harsh, and more coarse than the raven's croak, her spirits +nearly forsook her. To cast herself thus upon the powerful enmity of +Lord Denmeath, with no kind Lady Aurora at hand, to soften the hazardous +tale, by her benignant pity; no generous Lord Melbury within call, to +resist perverse incredulity, by spontaneous support, and promised +protection:--'twas dreadful!--Yet no choice now remained, no possible +resource; she must meet her fate, or run away as a culprit. + +The latter she utterly disdained; and, at the words, loudly spoken, from +the inner room, 'Order her to appear!' she summoned to her aid all that +she possessed of pride or of dignity, to disguise her apprehensions; and +obeyed the imperious mandate. + +Mrs Howel, seated upon an easy chair, received her with an air of +prepared scorn; in which, nevertheless, was mixed some surprize at the +elegance, yet propriety, of her attire. 'Young woman,' she sternly said, +'what part is this you are acting? And what is it you suppose will be +its result? Can you imagine that you are to brave people of condition +with impunity? You have again dared to address, clandestinely, and by +letter, a young lady of quality, whom you know to be forbidden to afford +you any countenance. You have entered my apartment under false +pretences; you have been detected precipitately quitting it, thrusting +something into your work-bag, evidently taken from my table.'-- + +Juliet now felt her speech restored by contempt. 'I by no means +intended, Madam,' she drily answered, 'to have intruded upon your +benevolence. The sheet of paper which I took was to write to Lady Aurora +Granville; and I imagined,--mistakenly, it seems,--that it was already +her ladyship's.' + +The calmness of Juliet operated to produce a storm in Mrs Howel that +fired all her features; though, deeming it unbecoming her rank in life, +to shew anger to a person beneath her, she subdued her passion into +sarcasm, and said, 'Her ladyship, then, it seems, is to provide the +paper with which you write to her, as well as the clothes with which you +wait upon her? That she refuses herself whatever is not indispensable, +in order to make up a secret purse, has long been clear to me; and I +now, in your assumed garments, behold the application of her +privations!' + +'Oh Lady Aurora! lovely and loved Lady Aurora! have you indeed this +kindness for me! this heavenly goodness!'--interrupted, from a +sensibility that she would not seek to repress, the penetrated Juliet. + +'Unparalleled assurance!' exclaimed Mrs Howel. 'And do you think thus +triumphantly to gain your sinister ends? no! Lady Aurora will never see +your letter! I have already dispatched it to my Lord Denmeath.' + +The spirit of Juliet now instantly sunk: she felt herself again betrayed +into the power of her persecutor; again seized; and trembled so +exceedingly, that she with difficulty kept upon her feet. + +Mrs Howel exultingly perceived her advantage. 'What,' she haughtily +demanded, 'has brought you hither? And why are you here? If, indeed, you +approach the sea-side with a view to embark, and return whence you +came, I am far from offering any impediment to so befitting a measure. +My Lord Denmeath, I have reason to believe, would even assist it. Speak, +young woman! have you sense enough of the unbecoming situation in which +you now stand, to take so proper a course for getting to your home?' + +'My home!' repeated Juliet, casting up her eyes, which, bedewed with +tears at the word, she then covered with her handkerchief. + +'If to go thither be your intention,' said Mrs Howel, 'the matter may be +accommodated; speak, then.' + +'The little, Madam, that I mean to say,' cried Juliet, 'I must beg leave +to address to you when you are alone.' For the waiting-woman still +remained at the side of the toilette-table. + +'At length, then,' said Mrs Howel, much gratified, though always +scornful; 'you mean to confess?' And she told her woman to hasten the +packing up, and then to step into the next room. + +'Think, however;' she continued; 'deliberate, in this interval, upon +what you are going to do. I have already heard the tale which I have +seen, by your letter, you hint at propagating; heard it from my Lord +Denmeath himself. But so idle a fabrication, without a single proof, or +document, in its support, will only be considered as despicable. If +that, therefore, is the subject upon which you purpose to entertain me +in this _tête à tête_, be advised to change it, untried. Such stale +tricks are only to be played upon the inexperienced. You may well blush, +young woman! I am willing to hope it is with shame.' + +'You force me, Madam, to speak!' indignantly cried Juliet; 'though you +will not, thus publicly, force me to an explanation. For your own sake, +Madam, for decency's, if not for humanity's sake, press me no further, +till we are alone! or the blush with which you upbraid me, now, may +hereafter be yours! And not a blush like mine, from the indignation of +innocence injured--yet unsullied; but the blush of confusion and shame; +latent, yet irrepressible!' + +Rage, now, is a word inadequate to express the violent feelings of Mrs +Howel, which, nevertheless, she still strove to curb under an appearance +of disdain. 'You would spare me, then,' she cried, 'this humiliation? +And you suppose I can listen to such arrogance? Undeceive yourself, +young woman; and produce the contents of your work-bag at once, or +expect its immediate seizure for examination, by an officer of justice.' + +'What, Madam, do you mean?' cried Juliet, endeavouring, but not very +successfully, to speak with unconcern. + +'To allow you the choice of more, or fewer witnesses to your boasted +innocence!' + +'If your curiosity, Madam,' said Juliet, more calmly, yet not daring any +longer to resist, 'is excited to take an inventory of my small property, +I must endeavour to indulge it.' + +She was preparing to untie the strings of her work-bag; when a sudden +recollection of the bank-notes of Harleigh, for the possession of which +she could give no possible account, checked her hand, and changed her +countenance. + +Mrs Howel, perceiving her embarrassment, yet more haughtily said, 'Will +you deliver your work-bag, young woman, to Rawlins?' + +'No, Madam!' answered Juliet, reviving with conscious dignity; 'I will +neither so far offend myself at this moment,--nor you for every moment +that shall follow! I can deliver it only into your own hands.' + +'Enough!' cried Mrs Howel. 'Rawlins, order Hilson to enquire out the +magistrate of this village, and to desire that he will send to me some +peace-officer immediately.' + +She then opened the door of a small inner room, into which she shut +herself, with an air of deadly vengeance. + +Mrs Rawlins, at the same time, passed to the outer room, to summon +Hilson. + +Juliet, confounded, remained alone. She looked from one side to the +other; expecting either that Mrs Howel would call upon her, or that Mrs +Rawlins would return for further orders. Neither of them re-appeared, or +spoke. + +Alarmed, now, yet more powerfully than disgusted, she compelled herself +to tap at the door of Mrs Howel, and to beg admission. + +She received no answer. A second and a third attempt failed equally. +Affrighted more seriously, she hastened to the outer room; where a man, +Hilson, she supposed, was just quitting Mrs Rawlins. + +'Mrs Rawlins,' she cried; 'I beseech you not to send any one off, till +you have received fresh directions.' + +Mrs Rawlins desired to know whether this were the command of her lady. + +'It will be,' Juliet replied, 'when I have spoken to her again.' + +Mrs Rawlins answered, that her lady was always accustomed to be obeyed +at once; and told Hilson to make haste. + +Juliet entreated for only a moment's delay; but the man would not +listen. + +Though from justice Juliet could have nothing to fear, the idea of +being forced to own herself, when a peace-officer was sent for, to avoid +being examined as a criminal, filled her with such horrour and affright, +that, calling out, 'Stop! stop! I beseech you stop!--' she ran after the +man, with a precipitate eagerness, that made her nearly rush into the +arms of a gentleman, who, at that moment, having just passed by Hilson, +filled up the way. + +Without looking at him, she sought to hurry on; but, upon his saying, 'I +ask pardon, Ma'am, for barricading your passage in this sort;' she +recognized the voice of her first patron, the Admiral. + +Charmed with the hope of succour, 'Is it you, Sir?' she cried. 'Oh Sir, +stop that person!--Call to him! Bid him return! I implore you!--' + +'To be sure I will, ma'am!' answered he, courteously taking off his hat, +though appearing much amazed; and hallooing after Hilson, 'Hark'ee, my +lad! be so kind to veer about a bit.' + +Hilson, not venturing to shew disrespect to the uniform of the Admiral, +stood still. + +The Admiral then, putting on his hat, and conceiving his business to be +done, was passing on; and Hilson grinning at the short-lived impediment, +was continuing his route; but the calls and pleadings of Juliet made the +Admiral turn back, and, in a tone of authority, and with the voice of a +speaking trumpet, angrily cry, 'Halloo, there! Tack about and come +hither, my lad! What do you go t'other way for, when a lady calls you? +By George, if they had you aboard, they'd soon teach you better +manners!' + +Juliet, again addressing him, said, 'Oh Sir! how good you are! how truly +benevolent!--Detain him but till I speak with his lady, and I shall be +obliged to you eternally!' + +'To be sure I will, Ma'am!' answered the wondering Admiral. 'He sha'n't +pass me. You may depend upon that.' + +Juliet, meaning now to make her sad and forced confession, re-entered +the first apartment; and was soliciting, through Mrs Rawlins, for an +audience with Mrs Howel; when Hilson, surlily returning, preceded the +petitioner to his lady; and complained that he had been set upon by a +bully of the young woman's. + +Mrs Howel, coming forth, with a wrath that was deaf to prayer or +representation, gave orders that the master of the house should be +called to account for such an insult to one of her people. + +The master of the house appearing, made a thousand excuses for what had +happened; but said that he could not be answerable for people's falling +to words upon the stairs. + +Mrs Howel insisted upon reparation; and that those who had affronted her +people should be told to go out of the house; or she herself would never +enter it again. + +The landlord declared that he did not know how to do such a thing, for +the gentleman was his honour the Admiral; who was come to spend two or +three days there, from the shipping at Torbay. + +If it were a general-officer who had acted thus, she said, he could +certainly give some reason for his conduct; and she desired the landlord +to ask it of him in her name. + +In vain, during this debate, Juliet made every concession, save that of +delivering her work-bag to the scrutiny of Mrs Rawlins; nothing less +would satisfy the enraged Mrs Howel, who resisted all overtures for a +_tête à tête_; determined publicly to humble the object of her wrath. + +The Admiral, who was found standing sentinel at the door, desired an +audience of the lady himself. + +Mrs Howel accorded it with readiness; ordering Hilson, Mrs Rawlins, and +the landlord, to remain in the room. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVII + + +Mrs Howel received the Admiral, seated, with an air of state, upon her +arm-chair; at one side of which stood Mrs Rawlins, and at the other +Hilson. The landlord was stationed near the door; and Juliet, indignant, +though trembling, placed herself at a window; determining rather, with +whatever mortification, to seek the protection of the Admiral, than to +avow who she was thus publicly, thus disgracefully, and thus +compulsorily. + +The Admiral entered with the martial air of a man used to command; and +whose mind was made up not to be put out of his way. He bestowed, +nevertheless, three low bows, with great formality, to the sex of Mrs +Howel; to the first of which she arose and courtsied, returning the two +others by an inclination of the head, and bidding Hilson bring the +Admiral a chair. + +The Admiral, having adjusted himself, his hat, and his sword to his +liking, said, 'I wish you good morning, Ma'am. You won't take it amiss, +I hope, that I make free to wait upon you myself, for the sake of having +a small matter of discourse with you, about a certain chap that I +understand to be one of your domestics; a place whereof, if I may judge +by what I have seen of him, he is not over and above worthy.' + +'If any of my people, Sir,' answered Mrs Howel, 'have forgotten what is +due to an officer of your rank, I shall take care to make them sensible +of my displeasure.' + +The Admiral, much gratified, made her a low bow, saying, 'A lady, Ma'am, +such as I suppose you to be, can't fail having a right way of thinking. +But that sort of gentry, as I have taken frequent note, have an ugly +kind of a knack, of treating people rather short that have got a favour +to ask; the which I don't uphold. And this is the main reason that I +think it right to give you an item of my opinion upon this matter, +respecting that lad; who just now, in my proper view, let a young +gentlewoman call and squall after him, till she was black in the face, +without so much as once veering round, to say, Pray, Ma'am, what do you +please to want?' + +Hilson, now, triumphant that he could plead his haste to obey the +commands of his lady, was beginning an affronted self-defence; when the +Admiral, accidentally perceiving Juliet, hastily arose; and in a fit of +unrestrained choler, clinching his double fist at Hilson, cried, 'Why +what sort of a fellow are you, Sir? to bring me a chair while you see a +lady standing? Which do you take to be strongest? An old weather beaten +tar, such as I am; or a poor weak female, that could not lend a hand to +the pump, thof the vessel were going to the bottom?' + +Approaching Juliet, then with his own arm-chair, he begged her to be +seated; saying, 'The lad will take care to bring another to me, I +warrant him! A person who has got a scrap of gold-lace sewed upon his +jacket, is seldom overlooked by that kind of gentry; for which reason I +make no great account of complaisance, when I am dizened in my full +dress uniform,--which, by the way, is a greater ceremony-monger than +this, by thus much (measuring with his finger) more of tinsel!' + +Juliet, gratefully thanking him, but declining his offer, thought this +an opportunity not to be missed, to attempt, under his courageous +auspice, to escape. She courtsied to him, therefore, and was walking +away: but Mrs Howel, swelling with ire, already, at such civility to a +creature whom she had condemned to scorn, now flamed with passion, and +openly told the landlord, to let that young woman pass at his peril. + +Juliet, who saw in the anger which was mixed with the amazement of the +Admiral, that she had a decided defender at hand, collected her utmost +presence of mind, and, advancing to Mrs Howel, said, 'I have offered to +you, Madam, any explanation you may require alone; but in public I offer +you none!' + +'If you think yourself still dealing with a novice of the inexperience +of sixteen,' answered Mrs Howel, 'you will find yourself mistaken. I +will neither trust to the arts of a private recital, nor save your pride +from a public examination.' + +Then, addressing the Admiral, 'All yesterday morning, Sir,' she +continued, 'I had sundry articles, such as rings, bank-notes, and +letters of value, dispersed in my apartment, from a security that it was +sacred; but the chambermaid informs me, that she caught this young +woman entering it, under pretence of waiting upon a young lady, then in +the inner room; and the same chambermaid, an hour after, found that she +was still here; and endeavouring to conceal, in her work-bag something +that she had wrapt into a sheet of paper, that was confessedly pilfered +from my table.'-- + +The Admiral, observing, in the midst of the disturbance of Juliet at +this attack, an air of offended dignity, which urged him to believe that +she was innocent, unhesitatingly answered, ''Tis an old saying, Madam, +and a wise one, that standers-by see the most of the game; and I have +taken frequent note, that we are all of one mind, till we have heard two +sides of the question: for which reason I hold it but fair, that the +young gentlewoman should be asked what she has to say for herself.' + +'Can you suppose, Sir,' said Mrs Howel, the veins of whose face and +throat now looked bursting, 'that I mean to canvass this matter upon +terms of equality? that I intend to be my own pleader against a pauper +and an impostor?'-- + +Juliet here held her hand upon her forehead, as if scarcely able to +sustain the indignant pain with which she was seized; and the fierce +frown of the Admiral, showed his gauntlet not merely ready to be flung +on the ground, but almost in the face of her adversary; Mrs Howel, +however, went on. + +'I do not pretend to affirm that any thing has been purloined; but the +circumstances of the case are certainly extraordinary; and I should be +sorry to run the risk of wrongfully suspecting,--should something +hereafter be missing,--any of my own people. I demand, therefore, +immediately, an explanation of this transaction.' + +The Admiral, full of angry feelings as he looked at the panting Juliet, +replied, himself; 'To my seeming, Madam, the short cut to the truth in +this business, would be for you to cast an eye upon your own affairs; +which I doubt not but you will find in very good trim; and if you should +like to know what passes in my mind, I must needs make bold to remark, +that I think the so doing would be more good natured, by a +fellow-creature, than putting a young gentlewoman out of countenance by +talking so high: which, moreover, proves no fact.' + +'I am infinitely indebted to you, Sir, for the honour of your +reprimand,' Mrs Howel, affectedly bowing, answered; 'which I should not +have incurred, had it not appeared to me, that it would be far more +troublesome to my people, to take an exact review of my various and +numerous trinkets and affairs, than for an innocent person to display +the contents of a small work-bag.' + +'Nay, that is but reasonable,' said the Admiral; 'I won't say to the +contrary. And I make small doubt, but that the young gentlewoman +desires, in like manner with ourselves, that all should be fair and +above board. The work-bag, I'll bet you all I am worth, has not a +gimcrack in it that is not her own.' + +Juliet, to whom the consciousness was ever uppermost of the suspicious +bank-notes, felt by no means inclined to submit to an examination. +Again, therefore, and with firmness, she declined giving any +communication, but in a private interview with Mrs Howel. + +Mrs Howel, now, had not a doubt remaining, that something had been +stolen; and, still more desirous to disgrace the culprit, than to +recover her property, she declared, that she was perfectly ready to add +to the number of witnesses, but resolutely fixed not to diminish it; +public shame being the best antidote that could be offered, against +those arts by which youth and credulity had been duped. + +Juliet now looked down; embarrassed, distressed, yet colouring with +resentment. The Admiral, not conceiving her situation; nor being able to +comprehend the difficulty of displaying the contents of a work-bag, +approached her, and strove to give her courage. + +'Come!' he cried, 'young gentlewoman! don't be faint-hearted. Let the +lady have her way. I always like to have my own, which makes me speak up +for others. Besides which, I have no great opinion of quarrelling for +straws. We are none of us the nearer the mark for falling to +loggerheads: for which reason I make it a rule never to lose my temper +myself; except when I am provoked; so untie your work-bag, young +gentlewoman. I'll engage that it will do you no discredit, by the very +turn of your eye; for I don't know that, to my seeming, I ever saw a +modester look of a face.' + +This harangue was uttered in a tone of good-humoured benevolence, that +seemed seeking to raise her spirits; yet with an expression of +compassion, that indicated a tender feeling for her disturbance; while +the marked integrity, and honest frankness of his own character, with a +high sense of honour, and a sincere love of virtue, beamed benignly, as +he looked at her, in every feature of his kind, though furrowed face. + +Juliet was sensibly touched by his goodness and liberality, which +surprized from her all precaution; and the concession which she had +refused to arrogant menace, she spontaneously granted, to secure the +good will of her ancient, though unconscious friend. Raising, therefore, +her eyes, in which an expression of gratitude took place of that of +sadness, 'I will not, Sir,' she said, 'resist your counsel; though I +have in nothing forfeited my inherent right to the inviolability of my +property.' + +She then put her work-bag into his own hands. + +He received it with a bow down to the ground; while joy almost capered +in his old eyes; and, exultingly turning to Mrs Howel, 'To my seeming, +Madam,' he said, 'this young gentlewoman is as well-behaved a girl, as a +man might wish to meet with, from one side the globe to the t'other; and +I respect her accordingly. And, if I were to do so unhandsome a thing, +as to poke and peer into her baggage, after seeing her comport herself +so genteelly, I won't deny but I should merit a cat-o'-nine tails, +better than many an honest tar that receives them. And, therefore, I +hope, now, Madam, you will give back to the young gentlewoman your good +opinion, in like manner as I, here, give her back her work-bag.' + +And then, with another profound bow, and a flourish of his hand, that +shewed his pleasure in the part which he was taking, he was returning to +Juliet her property; when he was startled by an ungovernable gust of +wrath, from the utterly enraged Mrs Howel, who exclaimed, 'If you dare +take it, young woman, unexamined, 'tis to a justice of the peace, and +not to a sea-officer, that you will deliver it another time!' + +Juliet, certain, whatever might be her ultimate fate, that her birth and +family must, inevitably, be soon discovered, revolted from this menace; +and determined, rather than submit to any further indignity, to risk +casting herself, at once, upon the gentleman-like humanity of the +Admiral. Unintimidated, therefore, by the alarming threat, which, +heretofore, had appalled her, she steadily held out her hand, and +received, from the old officer, in graceful silence, the proffered +work-bag. + +There is nothing which so effectually oversets an accusing adversary, as +self-possession; self-possession, which, if unaffected, is the highest +attribute of fearless innocence; if assumed, the most consummate address +of skilful art. Called, therefore, from rage to shame, by the calmness +of Juliet, Mrs Howel constrained herself to resume her air of solemn +importance; and, perceiving the piqued look of the Admiral, at her +slighting manner of naming sea-officers, she courteously said, 'Permit +me, Sir, as you are so good as to enter into this affair, to state to +you that this young woman comes from abroad; and has no ostensible +method of living in this country: will it not, then, be more consonant +to prudence and decorum, that she should hasten to return whence she +came?' + +'Madam,' answered the Admiral, coldly, 'I never give advice upon the +onset of a question; that is to say, never till I see that one thing had +better be done than another. I have no great taste for groping in the +dark; wherefore, when I don't rightly make out what a person would be +at, I think the best mode to keep clear of a dispute, is to sheer off; +whereby one avoids, in like manner, either to give or take an affront: +two things not much more to my mind the one than the t'other. And so, +Madam, I wish you good day.' + +He then, with a formal bow, left the room, Juliet gliding out by his +side; while Mrs Howel, powerless to detain her, wreaked her pent-up +wrath upon the bell, which she rang, till every waiter in the house came +to hear, that she was now ready to set off for Chudleigh-park. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVIII + + +The kind looks, and determined approbation of the Admiral, gave Juliet, +now, courage to address him with a petition for his advice, how she +might arrive most expeditiously at Torbay. + +'Torbay?' he repeated, 'why I could send you in my boat. But what,--' +his brow overclouding, 'what has a modest girl to do at Torbay?' + +Juliet answered, that she should join, there, a friend whom she meant to +accompany to the continent. + +Every mark of favour was now changed into disdainful displeasure; and, +turning abruptly away from her, he muttered to himself, though aloud, +that women's going abroad, to outlandish places, whereby they learnt +more how to dizen themselves, and cut capers, than how to become good +wives and mothers, was what he could not uphold; and would not lend a +hand to; and then, without looking at her, he sullenly entered his own +apartment. + +The disappointed Juliet, utterly overset, was still dejectedly +ruminating in the corridor, when she heard the servants of Mrs Howel +announce, that their lady's carriage was ready. + +She then recovered her feet, to escape any fresh offence by regaining +her apartment. + +Her situation appeared to her now to be as extraordinary, as it was sad +and difficult. Entitled to an ample fortune, yet pennyless; indebted for +her sole preservation from insult and from famine, to pecuniary +obligations from accidental acquaintances, and those acquaintances, men! +pursued, with documents of legal right, by one whom she shuddered to +behold, and to whom she was so irreligiously tied, that she could not, +even if she wished it, regard herself as his lawful wife; though so +entangled, that her fetters seemed to be linked with duty and honour; +unacknowledged,--perhaps disowned by her family; and, though born to a +noble and yet untouched fortune, consigned to disguise, to debt, to +indigence, and to flight! + +While mournfully taking this review of her condition, and seeking, but +vainly, to form some plan for its amelioration, she heard the potent +voice of the Admiral call out, 'To Powderham Castle,' as a carriage +drove from the house; but ere she had time to lament the mortifying +errour of her benevolent, though ill judging friend, the approach to the +door of some other vehicle, announced a fresh arrival; and, presently, +all difficulties were absorbed in immediate terrour, as again she heard +that sound, which, of all others, most severely shocked her nerves, the +voice of Mrs Howel. + +What could cause this abrupt return? Had she received the directions of +Lord Denmeath? Was a new persecution arranged? or,--more horrible than +all,--had means been devized, for casting again the most wretched of +victims into the hands of the most terrific of her foes? + +Tremblingly she listened to every noise. A general commotion, with quick +pacing feet, spoke the entrance into the house of sundry servants; and, +presently, she distinctly heard the apartment of Mrs Howel taken +possession of by that lady, and by some person with whom she was +discoursing. + +All now, for about a quarter of an hour, was still. She was then alarmed +by a rustling sound, and a single footstep in the corridor: it +approached, stopt, seemed turning back; approached again; and, after a +few minutes, she was startled by a tapping at her door. + +She shook, she was all dismay and apprehension: she hesitated whether to +bolt herself in, or to accord admission; but a second tap bringing to +her reflection how short, how futile, how ineffectual would be any +resistance, she turned the key, opened her door, and her room was +instantly entered. + +Often, in the course of her long struggles and difficulties, had Juliet +been struck with astonishment; but never had she known surprize that +could bear any comparison with that which she experienced at this +moment; when, expecting to see Mrs Howel, or Lord Denmeath; when, +prepared for reproach, for menace, and for insult; she saw, as fearfully +she raised her eyes, instead of all that she dreaded and loathed, all +that she thought most sweet, most lovely, most perfect upon earth, in +the elegant form, and softly expressive face of Lady Aurora Granville, +who, with eyes glistening, and arms opening, gently ejaculated, 'My +sister!' and fell, weeping, upon her neck. + +Juliet nearly ceased to breathe: wonder, yet incredulity, took +possession of her faculties, and she knew not whether it were possible +that this could be reality till the big surprize, mingled with the +almost too powerful delight of her bosom, found some vent in a violent +burst of tears. + +Tender embraces, fond and open on the part of Lady Aurora, transported, +yet fearful and doubtful, on that of Juliet, kept them for some minutes +weeping in each other's arms. 'Can you, then,--' cried the penetrated +Juliet,--'may I believe in such felicity?--Can you condescend so far as +not to disdain,--disclaim,--and turn away from so unhappy a relation? so +distressed,--so helpless,--so desolate an object?' + +'Oh! hush! hush! hush!' cried Lady Aurora, putting her hand upon the +mouth of Juliet; 'you must not break my heart by such an idea,--such a +profanation! by making me apprehend that you could ever think me such a +monster! Did I wait till I knew your rights to my affection before I +loved you? Did I not divine them from the moment I first conversed with +you?' + +Folding, then, her white arms around Juliet, with redoubled tenderness, +'Oh my sweet Miss Ellis!' she cried. 'Let me call you still a little +while by that dear name! I have loved it so fondly that I can hardly +love more even to call you my dearest sister! How you have engaged my +thoughts; rested upon my imagination; occupied my ideas; been ever +uppermost in my memory; and always highest,--Oh! higher than any one in +my esteem and admiration! long, long before this loved moment, when Sir +Jaspar Herrington's letter makes my enthusiasm but a tender duty!' + +'Ah! Lady Aurora!' cried Juliet, 'what sufferings are not repaid by a +moment such as this! by a blessing so superlative, as thus to be +acknowledged, thus to be received, by the person whose virtues and whose +sweetness would have made me delight in her favour, had I never wanted +protection! had my lot in life been the most brilliant!' + +'Oh hush! sweet sister, hush!' interrupted Lady Aurora, again stopping +her mouth; 'what words are these? favour!--Lady Aurora!--Ah! never let +me hear them more, if you love me! What have we to do with such phrases? +Are we not sisters? Shall I use such to you? Would you love me if I did? +Would you not rather chide me?' + +Juliet could only shed tears, though tears so delicious, that it was +luxury to shed them. Lady Aurora would have kissed them from her cheeks; +but her own mingled with them so copiously, that it was not possible; +and though the smiles of expressive joy that brightened each +countenance, shewed their sensibility to be but fulness of happiness, +the meeting, the acknowledgment, with the throbbing recollection of all +that was passed, so touched each gentle heart, that they could but weep +and embrace, embrace and weep, alternately. + +'I have coveted,' at length cried Juliet, 'almost beyond light or life, +I have coveted this precious moment! When first I heard you named,--you +and Lord Melbury,--on the evening of the play, at Mrs Maple's, Oh! what +were my emotions! my satisfaction, my apprehensions, my hopes, and my +solicitude! When I saw two beings so sweet, so formed to create esteem +and love, so innocent, so unassuming, so attractive,--and whispered to +myself, Are these my nearest relations? Is this my sister? Is this my +brother?--how did my heart expand with joy and pride! How did I long to +cast off all disguise, all reserve, and cry Own me, amiable beings! +sweet sister! loved brother! pure, kind, and good! own your unhappy +sister! take to your pitying protection the distressed, persecuted, +insulated daughter of your father!' + +'Ah why,' cried Lady Aurora, 'did you not speak? why not indulge the +impulse of nature, and of kindness? Your talents, your acquirements, +your manners, won, instantly, all our admiration; enchanted, bewitched +us; but how wide were we from thinking, at that first moment, that we +had any tie to a mutual regard with the accomplished Miss Ellis! Our +first notion of that happiness, though still far from the truth,--was +after that cruel scene, which must for ever be blotted from all our +memories;--when my poor brother was urged on,--so unhappily! to forget +himself. The knowledge of that disgrace, from some listening servants, +reached Mrs Howel; she communicated it to my uncle Denmeath: no wonder +he was alarmed! Still, however, he told us not the story; though, to +stop the progress of what he feared, he acquainted us, that a report had +formerly been spread, that we had a distant relation abroad; not, he +said,--forgive him, if possible!--not in a right line related, and +never, by my father, meant to be any way acknowledged.--Oh how little he +knew my father! or, let me say, either of his daughters!--But, having +put my brother upon his guard, by suggesting that it was possible that +you might be this distant and unhonoured relation.--Ah, my Miss Ellis! +if you had seen our indignant looks, when we heard such phrases!--He +promised to seek you himself, and to examine into the affair; and +exacted, forced from us both a promise, in return, that we would never +either meet or write to you, till he had ascertained what was the truth. +The unfortunate scene at Mrs Howel's alone made my brother submit; for +he feared misconstruction: and his submission of course included mine. +Ah! had you spoken at that time! had you revealed--' + +'Alas! my distresses were so complicate! What most I wished upon earth, +was constantly counteracted by what most I dreaded! I could not make +myself known to my friends,--in the soothing supposition that such I +should find!--without betraying myself to my enemy; for Lord Denmeath +would assuredly have made me over to my persecutor. How, then, in a +situation so critical, yet so helpless, could I selfishly involve in my +wretchedness, my perplexity and my concealment, the kindest and +tenderest of human hearts?' + +'Frequently,' said Lady Aurora, 'we have considered, and consulted +together, what steps we ought to take; but the fear of some mistake, +some imprudence, some offence, in a point so doubtful, so delicate, made +us always decide that it was for you to speak first. And when I pressed +so earnestly for your confidence, it was in the hope, the flattering +hope, that I should prove my title to taking such a liberty. I had not, +else, been so importunate, so inconsiderate. My brother, too, actuated +by the same hope, urged you, perhaps, even more precipitately; but in +all honour, with all respect; with no view, no thought, but to cement +our regard by the ties of kindred. My brother can scarcely yet know our +beloved acquisition; but Sir Jaspar tells me that he has sent a +duplicate-letter to him, with the same precious history that he has +written to me. Oh, how fervent will be his delight!' + +She then related, to the grateful, but joy overpowered Juliet, that she +had herself but just acquired this information, through the letter of +which she had spoken; and which had been put into her hands, as she was +setting out for Chudleigh-park; to which place Mrs Howel had, hastily, +asked her to set off first, with her maid; promising to overtake her by +the way. + +The letter from Sir Jaspar, Lady Aurora continued, changed the whole +system of her conduct. When she learnt that Miss Ellis, instead of being +either an adventurer, or a distant and unhonoured relation, was the +daughter of her own father; by a first, a lawful, though a secret +marriage; all difficulty and irresolution vanished. Her first duty, she +now thought, was the duty of a daughter, in the acknowledgment of a +sister. + +She gave orders that her chaise should be driven back instantly to +Teignmouth; but, before she reached that village, she met Mrs Howel; +with whose woman she immediately changed place; and then communicated +the interesting intelligence that she had just received. Mrs Howel was +utterly confounded; having either never conceived the truth, or been of +opinion, with Lord Denmeath, that the interest, and the dignity of his +lordship's nephew and niece, demanded its disavowal, or concealment. But +when Lady Aurora openly protested, that she must instantly address her +sister, through the medium of Sir Jaspar Herrington; Mrs Howel, to stop +any written acknowledgment, confessed that the young person was at +Teignmouth; earnestly, however, insisting that no measure should be +adopted, till the arrival of Lord Denmeath, to whom she had already sent +an express. But Lady Aurora no sooner heard this welcome news, than, +stimulated by conceiving, that her inclinations and her sense of right, +were now one, she grew inflexible in her turn; and resolved to +acknowledge and embrace her sister, without any other permission than +the law of nature. Mrs Howel, conscious, Lady Aurora thought, that, +should the business take a new turn, from the interference of Sir Jaspar +Herrington, she might, already, have gone too far, was fain to accompany +her back to the lodging-house; and, after giving many admonitions, to +submit to the irrepressible impatience which sunk the niece in the +sister. + +Lady Aurora solicited, now, to know for what reason the name of Ellis +had been taken; and learnt that, in the terrible perturbation in which +Juliet had parted from the Marchioness, they had hastily agreed upon two +initial letters for their correspondence; reserving some better adoption +to a consultation with Gabriella. To have used the name of Granville, +would have been courting danger and pursuit. But the embarrassed avowal +of Juliet, that had been surprized from her at Dover, by the abrupt +interrogatory of Elinor, that she knew not, herself, what she ought to +be called; stood, ever after, in the way of any regulation upon that +difficult point. She had been glad, therefore, to subscribe to the +blunder of Miss Bydel, which seemed, in some measure, retaining an +appellation, at least a sound, designed for her by the Marchioness; and +which could not be called a deception, since all who then knew her, +knew, also, its origin. + +Lady Aurora acknowledged, that, even from their childhood, both Lord +Melbury and herself had heard, though secretly and vaguely, of a +suspected elder born; but not of a prior marriage; and they had often +wished to meet with Miss Powel; for calumny and mystery, while they had +hidden the truth, had not concealed the attachment of Lord Granville, +nor the suspicious disappearance of its object, and her mother. + +Innumerable plans, now, varying and short lived, because unsanctioned by +any authority, succeeded to one another, of what measures might be +adopted for their living together immediately. 'For how,' cried Juliet, +'could I, henceforth, sustain an insulated life? How bear to look around +me, again, and see no one whose kindness I could claim? Oh, how support +so forlorn a state, after feeling every sorrow subside on the +bosom,--may I, indeed, say so?--on the loved bosom of a sister?' + +Thus, in the grateful transports of sensations as exquisite as they were +sudden and unexpected, Juliet, acknowledged as her sister by Lady Aurora +Granville; and with hopes all alive of the tender protection of a +brother, felt every pulse, once again, beat to happiness; while every +fear and foreboding, though not annihilated, was set aside. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIX + + +While time was yet a stranger to regulation, and ere the dial shewed its +passage; when it had no computation but by our feelings, our weariness, +our occupations, or our passions; the sun which arose splendid upon +felicity, must have excited, by its quick parting rays, a surprise +nearly incredulous; while that which gave light but to sorrow, may have +appeared, at its evening setting, to have revolved the whole year. This +period, so long past, seemed now present to Lady Aurora and to Juliet; +so uncounted flew the minutes; so unconscious were they that they had +more than met, more than embraced, more than reciprocated their joy in +acknowledged kindred; that each felt amazed as well as shocked, when a +summons from Mrs Howel to Lady Aurora, told them that the day was fast +wearing, away. + +Lady Aurora reluctantly obeyed the call; and in thanksgiving, pious and +delighted, Juliet spent the interval of her absence. + +It was not long; she returned precipitately; but colourless, trembling, +and altered, though making an effort to smile: but the struggle against +her feelings ended in a burst of tears; and, again falling upon the neck +of Juliet; 'Oh my sweet sister!' she cried, 'is your persecution never +to end?' + +Juliet, though quickly alarmed, fondly answered, 'It is over already! +While that precious appellation comes from your lips,--sweet title of +tenderness and affection!--I feel above every danger!' + +Lady Aurora, bitterly weeping, was compelled, then, to acknowledge that +she had been hurried away by Mrs Howel, to be told that a foreigner, ill +dressed, and just arrived from the Continent, was demanding, in broken +English, of every one that he met, some news of a young person called +Miss Ellis. + +The exaltation of Juliet was instantly at an end; and, in an accent of +despair, she uttered, 'Is it so soon, then, over!--my transient +felicity!' + +Whether this foreigner were her persecutor himself, escaped and +disguised; or some emissary employed to claim or to entrap her, was all +of doubt by which she was momentarily supported; for she felt as +determined to resist an agent, as she thought herself incapable to +withstand the principal. + +Mrs Howel, who had heard of the search, represented to Lady Aurora, the +extreme impropriety of her ladyship's intercourse with a person thus +suspiciously pursued; at least till the opinion of Lord Denmeath could +be known. But Lady Aurora, fully satisfied that this helpless fugitive +was her half-sister, was now as firm as she had hitherto been facile; +and declared that, though her personal inclinations should still yield +to her respect for her uncle, her sense of filial duty to the memory of +her father, must bind her, openly and unreservedly, to sustain his +undoubted daughter. + +A waiter now interrupted them, to demand admission to Miss Ellis for a +foreigner. + +'She is not here!--There is no Miss Ellis here! No such +person!'--precipitately cried Lady Aurora; but the foreigner himself, +who stood behind the waiter, glided into the room. + +Lady Aurora nearly fainted; Juliet screamed and hid her face; the +foreigner called out, 'Ah Mademoiselle Juliette! c'est, donc, vous! et +vous ne me reconnoissez pas?'[14] + +[Footnote 14: 'Ah, Miss Juliet! it is you then! and you do not know +me?'] + +'Ah heaven!' cried Juliet, uncovering her face; 'Ambroise! my good, my +excellent Ambroise! is it you?--and you only?'--Turning then, +enraptured, to Lady Aurora, 'Kindest,' she cried, 'and tenderest of +human beings! condescend to receive, and to aid me to thank, the +valuable person to whom I owe my first deliverance!' + +Lady Aurora, revived and charmed, poured forth the warmest praises; +while Juliet, eagerly demanding news of the Marchioness; and whether he +could give any intelligence of the Bishop; saw his head droop, and +seized with terrour, exclaimed, 'Oh Ambroise! am I miserable for ever!' + +He hastened to assure her that they were both alive, and well; and, in +the ecstacy of her gratitude, upon the cessation of her first direful +surmise, she promised to receive all other information with courage. + +He shook his head, with an air the most sorrowful; and then related +that the Bishop, after delays, dangers, fruitless journies, and +disasters innumerable, which had detained him many months in the +interiour, had, at last, and most unfortunately, reached a port, whence +he was privately to embark for joining his niece, just as the +commissary, upon returning from his abortive expedition, was re-landed. +By some cruel accident, the voice of the prelate reached his ear: +immediate imprisonment, accompanied by treatment the most ignominious, +ensued. Ambroise, who, for the satisfaction of the Marchioness, had +attended the Bishop to the coast, was seized also; and both would +inevitably have been executed, had not a project occurred to the +commissary, of employing Ambroise to demand and recover his prey, and +her dowry. + +Ambroise stopt and wept. + +Bloodless now became the face of Juliet, though with forced, yet decided +courage, 'I understand you!' she cried, 'and Oh! if I can save him,--by +any sacrifice, any devotion,--I am contented! and I ought to be happy!' + +'Ah, cruel sister!' cried Lady Aurora; 'would you kill me?'-- + +Juliet, shedding a torrent of tears, tenderly embraced her. + +'The Bishop,' Ambroise continued, 'no sooner comprehended than he +forbade the attempt; but he was consigned, unheard, to a loathsome cell; +and Ambroise was almost instantly embarked; with peremptory orders to +acquaint _la citoyenne Julie_ that unless she returned immediately to +her husband, in order to sign and seal, by his side, and as his wife, +their joint claim to her portion, upon the terms that Lord Denmeath had +dictated; the most tremendous vengeance should fall upon the +hypocritical old priest, by every means the most terrible that could be +devised.' + +'I am ready! quite ready!' cried the pale Juliet, with energy; 'I do not +sacrifice, I save myself by preserving my honoured guardian!' + +This eagerness to rescue her revered benefactor, which made her feel +gloriously, though transiently, the exaltation of willing martyrdom, +soon subsided into the deepest grief, upon seeing Lady Aurora, +shivering, speechless, and nearly lifeless, sink despondingly upon the +ground. + +Juliet, kneeling by her side, and pressing her nearly cold face to her +bosom, bathed her cheeks, throat, and shoulders with fast falling tears; +but felt incapable of changing her plan. Yet all her own anguish was +almost intolerably embittered, by thus proving the fervour of an +affection, in which almost all her wishes might have been concentrated, +but that honour, conscience, and religion united to snatch her from its +enjoyment. + +The news that Lady Aurora was taken ill, spread quickly to Mrs Howel; +and brought that lady to the apartment of Juliet in person. Lady Aurora +was already recovered, and seated in the folding arms of Juliet, with +whom her tears were bitterly, but silently mingling. + +Mrs Howel, shocked and alarmed, summoned the female attendants to +conduct her ladyship to her own apartment. + +Lady Aurora would accept no aid save from Juliet; fondly leaning upon +whose arm she reached a sofa in her bed-chamber; where she assumed, +though with cruel struggles against her yielding nature, voice and +courage to pronounce, 'My dear Mrs Howel, you have always been so +singularly good to me,--you have always done me so much honour, that you +must not, will not refuse to be kinder to me still, and to permit me to +introduce to you ... Miss Granville!... For this young lady, Mrs Howel, +is my sister!... my very dear sister!' + +Utterly confounded, Mrs Howel made a silent inclination of the head, +with eyes superciliously cast down. The letter of Sir Jaspar Herrington +had not failed to convince her that this was the real offspring of Lord +Granville; whose existence had never been doubted in the world, but +whose legitimacy had never been believed. Still, however, Mrs Howel, who +was now, from her own hard conduct, become the young orphan's personal +enemy, flattered herself that means might be found to prevent the +publication of such a story; and determined to run no risk by appearing +to give it credit; at the same time that, in her uncertainty of the +event, she softened the austerity of her manner; and gave orders to the +servants to shew every possible respect to a person who had the honour +to be admitted to Lady Aurora Granville. + +Juliet was in too desperate a state for any thought, or care, relative +to Mrs Howel; and, having soothed Lady Aurora by promises of a speedy +return, she hastened back to Ambroise. + +She earnestly besought him, since her decision would be immutable, to +make immediate enquiries whence they might embark with the greatest +expedition. + +Sadly, yet, so circumstanced, not unwillingly he agreed; and gave to her +aching heart nearly the only joy of which it was susceptible, in the +news that the Marchioness was already at the sea-side, awaiting the +expected arrival of her darling daughter. + +Ambroise had been entrusted, he said, by the commissary, with this +cruel office, from his well known fidelity to the Marchioness and to the +Bishop, which, where the alternative was so dreadful, would urge him, +whatever might be his repugnance, to its faithful discharge. His orders +had been to proceed straight to Salisbury, whence, under the name of +Miss Ellis, he was to seek Juliet in every direction. And her various +adventures had made so much noise in that neighbourhood, that she had +been traced, with very little difficulty to Teignmouth. + +Her terrible compliance being thus solemnly fixed, she left him to +prepare for their departure the next morning, and returned to the +afflicted Lady Aurora; by whose side she remained till midnight; +struggling to sink her own sufferings, and to hide her shuddering +disgust and horrour, in administering words of comfort, and exhibiting +an example of fortitude, to her weeping sister. + +But when, early the next morning, with the dire idea of leave-taking, +she re-visited the gentle mourner, she found her nourishing a hope that +her Juliet might yet be melted to a change of plan. 'Oh my sister!' she +cried, 'my whole heart cannot thus have been opened to affection, to +confidence, to fondest friendship, only to be broken by this dreadful +separation! Our souls cannot have been knit together by ties of the +sweetest trust, only to be rent for ever asunder! You will surely +reflect before you destroy us both? for do you think you can now be a +single victim?' + +Dissolved with tenderness, yet agonized with grief, Juliet could but +weep, and ejaculate half-pronounced blessings; while Lady Aurora, with +renovating courage, said, 'Ah! think, sweet Juliet, think, if our +father,--was he not ours alike?--had lived to know the proud day of +receiving his long lost, and so accomplished daughter, such as I see her +now!--would he not have said to me, 'Aurora! this is your sister! You +are equally my children; love her, then, tenderly, and let there be but +one heart between you!'--And will you, then, Juliet, deliver us both up +to wretchedness? Must I see you no more? And only have seen you, now, to +embitter all the rest of my life?' + +'Oh resistless Aurora!' cried the miserable Juliet, 'rend not thus my +heart!--Think for me, my Aurora;--Think, as well as feel for me,--and +then--dispose of me as you will!'-- + +'I accept being the umpire, my Juliet! my tenderest sister! I accept it, +and you are saved!--We are both saved!--for this would be a sacrifice +beyond any call of duty!'--cried Lady Aurora, instantly reviving, not +simply to serenity, but to felicity, to rapture. Her tears were dried +up, her eyes shone with delight, and smiles the softest and most +expressive dimpled her chin, and played about her cheeks and mouth, +while, with a transport new to her serene temperament, she embraced the +appalled Juliet. ''Tis now, indeed,' she continued, 'I feel I have a +sister! 'Tis now I feel the force of kindred fondness! If you had not +loved me with a sister's affection, you would not have listened to my +solicitations; and if you had not listened, such a disappointment, and +your loss together,--do you think I should have been strong enough to +survive them?' But this enchantment lasted not long; she soon perceived +it was without participation, and her joy vanished, 'like the baseless +fabric of a vision.' Anguish sat upon the brow of Juliet; fits of +shuddering horrour shook every limb; and her only answer to these tender +endearments was by tears and embraces; while she strove to hide her +altered and nearly distorted face upon Lady Aurora's shoulder. + +'Speak to me, my sister!' cried Lady Aurora. 'Tell me that your pity for +the good Bishop is not stronger than all your love for me? than all your +value for your own security from barbarous brutality? than your trust in +Providence, that will surely protect so pious and exemplary a person?' + +'No, Heaven forbid!' answered Juliet; 'but, when Providence permits us +to see a way,--when it opens a path to us by which evil may be avoided, +by which duty may be exerted,--ought the difficulties of that way, the +perils of that path, to make us recoil from the attempt? When the +natural means are obvious, ought we to wait for some miracle?' + +'Ah, my sister!' cried Lady Aurora, 'would you, then, still go? Have you +yielded in mere transient compassion?' + +'No, sweet Aurora, no! To ruin your peace would every way destroy Mine! +Yet--what a fatality! to fear the very enjoyment of the family +protection for which I have been sighing my whole life, lest I can enjoy +it but by a crime! I abandon the post of honour, in leaving the +benefactor, the supporter, the preserver of my orphan existence, to +perpetual chains, if not to massacre!--Or I break the tender heart of +the gentlest, purest, and most beloved of sisters!' + +Lady Aurora, now, looked all consternation; and, after a disturbed +pause, 'If you think it wrong,' she cried, 'not to sacrifice +yourself,--Oh my sister! let not mere commiseration for my weakness lead +you astray! We all know there is another world, in which we yet may meet +again!' + +'Angel! angel!' cried Juliet, pressing Lady Aurora to her bosom. 'You +will aid me, then, to do right' by nobly supporting yourself, you will +help to keep me from sinking? Religion will give you strength of mind to +submit to our worldly separation, and all my sufferings will be +endurable, while they open to me the hope of a final re-union with my +angel sister!' + +They now mutually sought to re-animate each other. Piety strengthened +the fortitude of Juliet, and supplied its place to Lady Aurora; and, in +soft pity to each other, each strove to look away from, and beyond, all +present and actual evil; and to work up their minds, by religious hopes +and reflections, to an enthusiastic foretaste of the joys of futurity. + + + + +CHAPTER XC + + +This tenderly touching intercourse was broken in upon by a summons to +Ambroise, whom Juliet found waiting for her in the corridor; where he +was beginning to recount to her, that he had met with a sea-officer, who +had promised him a letter of recommendation for procuring a passport, if +he could bring proof that he was a proper person for having one; when +the Admiral issued abruptly from his apartment. + +He took off his hat, though with a severe air, to Juliet, who, abashed, +passed on to her chamber; but stopping and bluffly accosting Ambroise, +'Harkee!' he cried, 'my lad! a word with you!--Pray, what business have +you with that girl? I have, I know, as good as promised to help you off; +but let all be fair and above board. I don't pretend to have much taste +for any person who would go out of old England when once he has got +footing into it; thoff if I had had the misfortune to be born in France, +there's no being sure that I might not have liked it myself; from +knowing no better: for which reason I think nothing narrower than +holding a man cheap for loving his country, be it ever so bad a one. +Therefore, if you have a mind, my lad, as far as yourself goes, to sheer +off; as you are neither a sailor nor a soldier, nor, moreover, a +prisoner, I will lend you a hand and welcome. But no foul play! If +there's any person of your acquaintance, that, after being born in old +England, wants to go flaunting and jiggetting to outlandish countries, +you'll do well to give her a hint to keep astern of me; for I shall +never uphold a person who behaves o' that sort.' + +Ambroise, in broken English, earnestly entreated him not to withdraw his +promised protection; and Juliet, desirous to obtain his counsel for the +execution of her perilous enterprize, ventured back, and joined to +petition for instructions where she might embark most expeditiously; +endeavouring to make her peace with him, by solemnly avowing, that +necessity, not inclination, urged her to undertake this voyage; and +claiming assistance, a second time, from his tried benevolence. + +The words tried benevolence, and a second time, which inadvertently +escaped her, from eagerness to interest his attention, struck him +forcibly with ire. 'Avast!' he cried, 'none of your flummery! You think, +belike, because you've got a pretty face, to make a fool of me? but +that's sooner thought than done! You'll excuse me for speaking my mind a +little plainly; for how the devil, asking your pardon for such a word, +should I do any thing for you a second time, when I have never seen or +thought of you, up to this moment, a first? Please to tell me that!' + +Juliet, looking round, and seeing that no witnesses were by, gently +enquired whether he had no remembrance of a poor voyager, whom he had +had the charity to save, the preceding winter, from immediate +destruction, by admitting into a boat? + +'What! a swarthy minx? with a sooty sort of skin, and all over rags and +jags? Yes, yes, I remember her well enough: I thank her! but I don't +much advise her to come in my way! She turned out a mere impostor. She +was probably French. I gave her a guinea, and paid for her place to +town, and her entertainment. She took my guinea, and eat and drank; and +then made off by some other way! and has never been heard of since. I +described her at all the Dover stages and diligences; for I intended to +give her a trifle more, to help her to find her friends, for fear of her +falling into bad hands. But I could never get any tidings of her; she +was a mere cheat. How did you come to know the jade?' + +Juliet blushed violently, and, with some difficulty stammered out, 'Kind +as you are, Sir, good and charitable,--you have not well judged that +young person!'-- + +'By all that's sacred,' cried he, striking his cane upon the ground, 'if +it were possible for a girl to be painted to such a pitch of nicety, I +should swear you were that very mamselle yourself!--though, if you are, +I should take it as a favour if you would tell me, how the devil it came +into your head to let me pay for your stage-coach, when you never made +use of your place? Where the fun of that was I can't make out!' + +'I am but too sensible, Sir, that every thing seems against me!' said +Juliet, in a melancholy tone; 'yet the time, probably, is not very far +off, when I may be able sufficiently to explain myself, to cause you +much regret,--so generous seems your nature;--should you refuse me your +services in my very great distress!' + +The Admiral now looked deeply perplexed, yet evidently touched. 'I +should be loath, Madam,' he said, 'very loath, indeed, for the matter of +that, there's something so agreeable in you,--to think you no better +than you should be. Not that one ought to expect perfection; for a woman +is but a woman; which a man, as her native superiour, ought always to +keep in mind; however, don't take it amiss that I throw out that remark; +for I don't mean it to dash you.' + +Juliet, too much shocked to reply, cast up her eyes in silent appeal to +heaven, and, entering her room, resolved to fold two guineas in a small +packet, and to send them to the Admiral by Ambroise, for an immediate +acquittal of her double pecuniary debt. + +But the Admiral, struck by her manner, looked thoughtful, and +dissatisfied with himself; and, again calling to Ambroise, said, +'Harkee, my lad! I should not be sorry to know who that young +gentlewoman is?--I am afraid she thinks me rather unmannerly. And the +truth is, I don't know that I have been over and above polite: which I +take shame to myself for, I give you my word; for I am always devilish +bad company with myself when I have misbehaved to a female; because why? +She has no means to right herself. So I beg you to make my excuse to the +gentlewoman. And please to tell her that, though I am no great friend to +ceremony, I am very sorry if I have affronted her.' + +Ambroise said, that he was sure the young lady would think no more of +it, if his honour would but be kind enough to give the recommendatory +letter. + +'Why, with regard to that,' said the Admiral, after some deliberation, +'I would do her any service, whereby I might shew my good will; after +having been rather over-rough, be her class what it may, considering +she's a female; and, moreover, seems somewhat in jeopardy; if I were not +so cursedly afraid of being put upon! You, that are but an outlandish +man,--though I can't say but you've as good a look as another man;--a +very honest look, if one might judge by the face;--which made me take to +you, without much thinking what I was about, I can tell you!--' + +Ambroise, bowing low, hoped that he would not repent his goodness. + +'You, I say, being more in the use of being juggled, begging your +pardon, from its being more the custom of foreign parts; can have no +great notion, naturally, how little a British tar,--a person you don't +know over-much about, I believe!' smiling, 'there not being a great many +such, as I am told, off our own shores!--You, as I was remarking, can't +be expected to have much notion how little a British tar relishes being +over-reached. But the truth, Sir, is, we are set afloat upon the wide +ocean, before we have well done with our slabbering bibs; which makes us +the men we are! But, then, all we know of the world is only by bits and +scraps; except, mayhap, what we can pick out of books. And that's no +great matter; for the chief of a seaman's library is most commonly the +history of cheats and rogues; so that we are always upon the look out, +d'ye see, for fear of false colours.' + +Ambroise began a warm protestation of his honesty. + +'Not but that, let me tell you, Sir!' the Admiral went on, 'we have as +many good scholars upon quarter-deck, counting such as could pay for +their learning when they were younkers, as in any other calling. But +this was not the case with myself, who owe nothing to birth nor favour; +whereof I am proud to be thankful; for, from ten years old, when I was +turned adrift by my family, I have had little or no schooling,--except +by the buffets of the world.' + +Then, after ruminating for some minutes, he told Ambroise that he should +not be sorry to make his apologies to the gentlewoman himself; adding, +'For I could have sworn, when I first met her in the gallery, I had seen +her some where before; though I could not make out how nor when. But if +she's only that black madmysell washed white, I should like to have a +little parley with her. She may possibly do me the service of helping me +to find a friend; and if she does, I sha'n't be backward, God willing, +to requite her. And harkee, my lad! I should be glad to know the +gentlewoman's name. What's she called?' + +'She's called Mademoiselle Juliette, Monsieur.' + +'Juliet?--Are you sure of that?' cried the Admiral, starting. +'Juliet?--Are you very sure, Sir?' + +'Oui, oui, Monsieur.' + +'Harkee, sirrah! if you impose upon me, I'll trounce you within an inch +of your life! Juliet, do you say? Are you sure it's Juliet?' + +'Oui, Monsieur; Mademoiselle Juliette.' + +'Why then, as I am a living man, and on this side t'other world, I must +speak to her directly! Tell her so this instant.' + +Ambroise tapped, and Juliet opened the door; but, when he would have +spoken, the Admiral, taking him by the shoulders, and turning him round, +bid him go about his business; and, entering the room, shut the door, +and flung himself upon a chair. + +Rising, however, almost at the same instant, though much agitated, he +made sundry bows, but tried vainly to speak; while the astonished Juliet +waited gravely for some explanation of so strange an intrusion. + +'Madam,' he at length said, 'that Frenchman there,--who, it's like +enough, don't know what he says,--pretends your name is Juliet?' + +'Sir!'-- + +'If it be so, Ma'am,--you'll do me a remarkable piece of service, if you +will be so complaisant as to let me know how you came by that name?' + +Juliet now felt alarmed. + +'It's rather making free, Ma'am, I confess, but I shall take it as a +special favour, if you'll be pleased to tell me what part of the world +you come from?' + +'Sir, I--I--' + +'If you think my inquisitiveness impertinent, Ma'am; which it's like +enough you may, I shall beg leave to give you an item of my reason for +it; and then it's odds but you'll make less scruple to give me the +reply. Not that I mean to make conditions; for binding people down only +hampers good will. But when you have heard me, you may be glad, +perchance, to speak of your own accord; for I don't know, I give you my +solemn word, but that at this very moment you are talking to one of your +own kin!' + +He fixed his eyes upon her, then, with great earnestness. + +'My own kin?--What, Sir, do you mean?' + +'I'll tell you out of hand, Ma'am,--if I may be so bold as to sit down; +for whether we happen to be relations or no', there can be no law +against our being friends.' + +Juliet hastily presented him a chair, and scarcely breathed from +eagerness to reciprocate the enquiry. She had never heard the Admiral +mentioned but by his military title. + +Seated now by her side, he looked at her for some instants, smilingly, +though with glistening eyes; 'Madam,' he said, 'I had a sister whose +name was Juliet!--and the name is dear to my soul for her sake! And it's +no common name; so that I never hear it without being moved. She left a +child, Ma'am, who for some unnatural reasons, that I sha'n't enter upon +just now, was brought up in foreign parts. This child had her own sweet +name; and her own sweet character, too, I make small doubt; as well as +her own sweet face.'-- + +He stopt, and again more earnestly looked at Juliet; but, seeing her +strongly affected, begged her pardon, and, brushing a tear from his eye, +went on. + +'When I came home from my last station in the East Indies, I crossed +over the channel to see after her; a great proof of my good will, I can +tell you! for no little thing would have carried me to that lawless +place; and from the best land upon God's earth! but I got nothing for my +pains, except a cursed bad piece of news, which turned me upside down; +for I was told that she was married to a French monsieur! Upon which I +swore, God willing, never to see her face to the longest day I had to +live! And I came away with that resolution. However, a Christian is +never so perfect himself, as not to look over a flaw in his neighbour. +Wherefore, if I could get any item of the poor girl's repentance, I +don't think, for my dear sister's sake, but I could still take her to my +bosom,--yea, to my very heart of hearts!' + +'Tell me, Sir,' cried Juliet, rising, with clasped hands, and eyes fast +filling with tears; 'tell me,--for I have never heard it,--your name?' + +'By all that's holy!' cried he, rising too, and trembling, 'you make my +heart beat all over my body!--My name is Powel! In the name, then, of +the Most High,--are you not my niece yourself?' + +Juliet dropt at his feet; 'Oh heavenly Providence!' she ejaculated, 'you +are then my poor mother's brother!' Speech now, for a considerable time, +was denied to both; strong emotions, though of joy, nearly suffocated +Juliet, while the Admiral sobbed over her as he pressed her in his arms. + +'My girl!' he cried, when a little recovered, 'my sister's +daughter!--daughter of the dearest of sisters!--I have found, then, at +last, something appertaining to my poor sister! You shall be dear to my +soul for her sake, whatever you may be for your own. And, moreover, as +to what you may have done up to this time, whereof I don't mean to judge +uncharitably, every one of us being but frail, I shall let it all pass +by. So hold up your head, and take comfort, my girl, and don't be shy of +your old uncle; for whatever may have slipt from him in a moment of +choler, he'll protect you, God willing, to his last hour; and never come +out with another unkind word upon what is past and gone.' + +The heart of Juliet was too full to let her offer any immediate +vindication: she could but pronounce, 'My uncle, when I can be +explicit,--you will not--I hope, and trust,--have cause to blush for +me!'-- + +'Why then you are a very good girl!' cried he, well pleased, 'an +excellent girl, in the main, I make small doubt.' He then demanded, +though not, he protested, to find fault with what was past; what had +brought her over to her native land in such a ragged, mauled, and black +condition; which had prevented the least guess of who she was; 'for if, +when I saw you off the coast,' he continued, 'you had shewn yourself +such as you are now, you have so strong a look of my dear sister, that I +should have hailed you out of hand. Though when I saw you Here it never +came into my head; because why? I believed you to be There. And yet, +instinct is main powerful, whereof I am a proof; for I took a fancy to +you, even when I thought you an old woman; and, which is worse, a French +woman. Coming away from those shores gave me a good opinion of you at +once.' + +He then made many tender enquiries concerning the last illness, and the +death of Mrs Powel, his mother; whom it was now, he said, one-and-twenty +years since he had seen; as, upon his poor father's insolvency, he had +been taken from the royal navy, and sent out, in the company's service, +to the East Indies. + +Juliet, after satisfying his filial solicitude, ventured to express her +own, upon every circumstance of her mother's life, which had fallen to +his knowledge. + +The insolvency, the Admiral replied, had soon been succeeded by the +death of his father; and then his poor mother and sister had been driven +to a cheap country residence, in the neighbourhood of Melbury-Hall. +There, before he set out for the East Indies, he had passed a few days +to take leave; in which time Lord Granville, the Earl of Melbury's only +son, who had met them, it seems, in their rural strolls, had got such a +footing in their house, that he called in both morning and evening; and +stayed sometimes for hours, without knowing how time went. Uneasy upon +remarking this, he counselled his sister to keep out of the young +nobleman's way; and advised his mother to change her house. They both +promised so to do; but, for all that, before he set sail, he determined +to wait upon his lordship himself; which he did accordingly; and made +free to tell him, that he should take it but kind of his lordship, if he +would not be quite so sweet upon his sister. His lordship made fair +promises, with such a genteelness, that there was no help but to give +him credit; and, this being done, he went off with an easy heart. He +remained in the Company's service some time; during which, the letters +of his mother brought him the sorrowful tidings of his sister's death; +followed up, afterwards, by an account that, for her own health's sake, +she was gone over to reside in France. + +'This was a bit of news,' he continued, 'which I did not take quite so +kindly as I ought, mayhap, to have done, it not appertaining to a son to +have the upper hand of his mother. But, having been, from the first, +somewhat of a spoilt child, whereby my poor mother made herself plenty +of trouble; I was always rather over choleric when I was contradicted. +Taking it, therefore, rather amiss her going out of old England, no +great matter of letter-writing passed between us from that time, to my +return to my native land. + +'It was then I was told the worst tiding that ever I wish to hear! one +came, and t'other came, and all had some fuel to make the fire burn +fiercer, to give me an item that Lord Granville had over-persuaded my +sister to elope with him; and that she died of a broken heart; leaving a +child, that my mother, for my sister's reputation's sake, had gone to +bring up in foreign parts. My blood boiled so, then, in my veins, that +how it ever got cool enough not to burn me to a cinder is a main wonder. +But I vowed revenge, and that, I take it, sustained me; revenge being, +to my seeming, a noble passion, when it is not to spite those who have +done an ill turn to ourselves, but to punish those who have oppressed +the helpless. What aggravated me the more, was hearing that he was +married; and had two fine children, who were dawdled about every day in +his coach; while the child of my poor sister was shut up, immured, no +body knew where, in an outlandish country. I called him, therefore, to +account, and bid him meet me, at five o'clock in the morning, at a +coffee-house. We went into a private room. I used no great matter of +ceremony in coming to the point. You have betrayed, I cried, the +unprotected! You have seduced the forlorn! You have sold yourself to the +devil!--and as you have given him, of your own accord, your soul, I am +come to lend a hand to your giving him your body.'-- + +'Shocking!--Shocking!' interrupted Juliet. 'O my uncle!'-- + +'Why it was not over mannerly, I own; but I was too much aggrieved to +stand upon complimenting. I loved her, said I, with all my heart and +soul; but I bore patiently with her death, because I am a Christian; and +I know that life and death come from God; but I scorn to bear with her +dishonour, for that comes from a man. For the sake of your wife and +children, as they are not in fault, I would conceal your unmanly +baseness; but for the sake of my much injured sister, who was dearer to +me than all your kin and kind, I intend, by the grace, and with the +help of the Most High, to take a proper vengeance for her wrongs, by +blowing out your brains; unless, by the law of chance, you should blow +out mine; which, however, I should hold myself the most pitiful of +cowards to expect in so just a cause. + +'I then presented him my pistols, and gave him his choice which he would +have.' + +'Oh my poor father!' cried Juliet. 'Go on, my uncle, go on!' + +'He heard me to the finish without a word; and with a countenance so +sad, yet so firm, and which had so little the hue of guilt, that I have +thought since, many a time and often, that, if choler had not blinded +me, I should have stopt half way, and said, This is purely an innocent +man!' + +'Oh blessed be that word!' cried Juliet, clasping her hands, 'and +blessed, blessed be my uncle for so kindly pronouncing it!' + +'With what temper he answered me! If I insisted, he said, upon +satisfaction, he would not deny it me; "And I ought, indeed," he said, +"after an attack so insulting, to demand it for myself. But you are in +an errour; and your cause seems so completely the cause of justice and +virtue, that I cannot defend, till I have cleared myself. The sister +whom you would avenge was the beloved of my soul! Never will you mourn +for her as I have mourned! I neither betrayed nor seduced her. The love +that I bore her was as untainted as her own honour. The immoveable views +of my father to another alliance, kept our connexion secret; but your +sister, your unspotted sister, was my wedded wife!"--The joy of my +heart, at that moment, my dear girl, made me forget all my mishaps. I +jumped,--for I was but a boy, then, to what I am now; and I flung my +arms about his neck, and kissed him; which his lordship did not seem to +take at all unkindly. Since she is not dishonoured, I cried, I can bear +all else like a man. She is gone, indeed, my poor sister!--but 'tis to +heaven she is gone! and I can but pray that we may both, in our due +time, go there after her!--And upon that,--if I were to tell you the +honest truth,--we both fell a blubbering.--But she was no common person, +my dear sister!' + +Juliet wept with varying emotions. + +'His lordship,' the Admiral continued, 'then recorded the whole history +of his marriage, the birth of his child, and the loss of his poor wife. +That the child, accompanied by her grandmother, who scarcely breathed +out of its sight, was gone to be brought up in a convent, under the care +of a family of quality, that had a grand castle in its neighbourhood; +and under the immediate guidance of a worthy old parson; that, as soon +as she was educated, he should go over to fetch her, and write a letter +to his father to own his first marriage. But he begged me, for +family-reasons, to agree to the concealment, till I returned home for +good; and had a house of my own in which I could receive the child, in +the case his second lady and his father should behave unhandsomely. I +had no great taste for a hiding scheme; but I was so overcome with joy +to think my sister had been always a woman of honour, that I was in no +cue for squabbling: and, moreover, I gave way with the greater +complaisance, from the fear of seeing the child fall into the hands of +people who would be ashamed of her, whereby her spirit might be broken; +and, moreover, I can't say but I took it kind of his lordship the +thought of letting her come to a house of mine; for I had already +returned to his majesty's service; which, God willing, the devil himself +shall never draw me from again; and I was a post-captain, and in pretty +good circumstances. So I thought I had as well not meddle, nor do +mischief. And the more, as his lordship was so honourable as to entrust +to me a copy of a codicil to his will; written all in his own hand, and +duly signed and sealed; wherein he owns his lawful marriage with my poor +sister; and leaves her child the same fortune that he leaves to his +daughters by his wife of quality.' + +'Is it possible!--How fortunate! And have you, still, my dear uncle, +this codicil?' + +'Have I? Aye, my girl! I would sooner part with my right hand! It's the +proof and declaration of my sister's honour! and I would not change it +against all the diamonds, and all the pearls, and all the shawls of all +the nabobs of all Asia! It has been my whole comfort in all my difficult +voyages and hard services.' + +Ah! thought Juliet, were my revered Bishop safe, I might now be every +way happy! + +'What passed in my mind at that time, was to cross over the Channel, to +get my dear mother's blessing, and to give my own to my little niece. +But it's of no great consequence what we plan, if it is not upheld by +the Most High. I was all prepared, but I wrote never a word over, for +the sake of giving my mother a surprize; when, all at once, I had a +sudden promotion, with orders to return to the East Indies. And there I +was stationed, on and off, in and out, till t'other day, as one may say. +And when, at last, I got home again; meaning to marry Jenny Barker,--as +pretty a girl as ever came into the world; and to set her at the head of +my house, and equip her handsomely,--I found every thing turned upside +down! Lord Granville had been dead five months, and his father about as +many weeks. I had already heard, in the Indies, that my poor mother was +dead; and when I went to get a little comfort with Jenny Barker, and to +give her the baubles I had got together for her in the Indies,--always +priding myself in thinking how smart she'd look in this! and how pretty +her face would peep out of that!--I found her so mortally changed, that +I took her for her own mother! who I had left to the full as well +looking twenty years before; for, after my first voyage, by ill luck, I +had not seen Jenny, who was down in the country.' + +'But if she is amiable, uncle, and worthy--' + +'You have a right way of thinking, my dear; and I honour you for it: but +the disappointment came upon me so slap-dash, as one may say, for want +of a little forethought, that I let out what passed in my mind with too +little ceremony for making up again. However, I gave her the baubles; +which she accepted out of hand; and made free to ask me to add something +more, to make her amends for waiting for nothing; which was but fair; +though it showed me that when she had lost her pretty face, she had no +great matter to boast of in point of a noble way of thinking. I hope, +else, I should have been above playing her false; without which I should +be little to chose from a scoundrel. But she was in such a main hurry to +secure herself the rhino, that it's my brief that her inside, if I could +have got a look at it, was but little short, in point of ugliness, to +her outside. Howbeit, I used her handsomely, and we parted friends.' + +The Admiral here walked about the room, a little disturbed, and then +continued his narrative. + +He crossed the Straits, having always preserved the direction of the +lady of the castle near the convent; but the Revolution was then +flaming; the castle had been burnt; all the family was dispersed; and he +was warned not to make any enquiry even after the parson. But he grew +sick of the whole business, and not sorry to cut it short, upon hearing +that his niece, who was known by the appellation of Mademoiselle +Juliette, was married to a French monsieur. He was coming away, in deep +disgust, and burning wrath, when he was seized himself, and put into +prison by order of Mr Robespierre. But this durance did not last long; +for he joined a party that was just getting off, and returned to Great +Britain; and moreover, though little enough to his knowledge, in the +very same vessel that brought over his niece. 'And here, my dear girl, +is the finish of all I have to recount. But what I observe, with no +great pleasure, if I should tell you my remark, is, that, while, for so +many years, I have given up my head to nothing but thinking of my +niece,--to the exception of poor Jenny Barker,--she does not seem so +much as ever to have heard, or thought about her uncle?' + +Juliet assured him, on the contrary, that her grandmother Powel had +talked unceasingly of her son; but that, tender-hearted, timid, and +devoted to Lord Granville, she had never ventured to trust to a letter a +secret that demanded so much discretion; and had therefore postponed all +communication to their meeting; of which she had lived in the constant +hope. And Juliet herself, since the afflicting loss of that excellent +lady, always believing him to be in the East Indies, had never dared +claim his parentage, nor solicit his favour; her peculiar and unhappy +situation making all written accounts, not only of her affairs, but of +her name and her residence, dangerous. + +This brought the conversation back to herself. ''Tis remarkable enough,' +said the Admiral, 'that, in all this long parley, we have not yet said +an item about the worst part of the job,--your marriage! How came you +here without your husband? For all I have no great goust to your +marrying in that sort, God forbid I should uphold a wife in running away +from her lawful spouse, even though he be a Frenchman! We should always +do right, for the sake of shaming wrong. A man, being the higher vessel, +may marry all over the globe, and take his wife to his home; but a +woman, as she is only given him for his help-mate, must tack about after +him, and come to the same anchorage.' + +Sadness now clouded the skin, and dimmed the eyes of Juliet. The story +which she had to reveal, the hard necessity of separating herself from +so near a relation, and so kind a protector, at the very moment of an +apparent union; joined to the obstacles which his prejudices and +feelings might put in the way of her decided sacrifice; made the avowal +of her intention seem almost as difficult as its execution. + +'Don't be cast down, however, my girl,' continued the Admiral; 'for when +things are come to the worst, as I have taken frequent note, they often +veer about, nobody knows how, and turn out for the best. I should as +lieve you had not tied such an ugly knot, I won't say to the contrary; +howbeit, as the thing is done, we may as well make the best of it. The +man may be a tolerable good Christian, mayhap, for a Papist. And indeed, +to tell you the truth, though it is a thing I am not over fond of +speaking about, I have seen some Frenchmen I could have liked mightily +myself, if I had not known where they came from. I had some prisoners +once aboard, that were as likely men, and as much of gentlemen, and as +agreeable behaved, and had as good sense, too, of their own, as if they +had been Englishmen. Perhaps your husband may be one of them? If so, let +him come over here, and he shall want for nothing. I am always proud to +shew old England; so invite him, my dear, to come.' + +'Alas!--alas!--'cried Juliet, weeping. + +'What! he is but a sorry dog, then? Well, I can't pretend to be +surprized at that. However, I'll tie up your fortune, and won't let him +touch a penny of it, but upon condition that you come over for it +yourself once a year. And now I have you safe and sure, I shall carry my +codicil to Lord Denmeath,--a fellow of steel, they say!--and get you +your thirty thousand pounds; for that, I am told, is the portion of the +lady of quality's daughter. But all I shall give you myself shall only +be bit by bit, till I know how that sorry fellow uses you. It's a main +pity you threw yourself away in such a hurry! But I suppose he's a fine +likely young dog? + +'Hideous! hideous!' off all guard, exclaimed the shuddering Juliet. + +'Why, then, most like, you only married him for the sake of a little +palaver? Poor girl! However, it's done, and a husband's a husband; so +I'll ask no more questions.' + +Kissing her then very kindly, he said he would go and suck in a little +fresh breeze upon the beech, to calm his spirits; for he felt as if he +had been steering his vessel in a hurricane. + +He asked her to accompany him; but she desired a little stillness and +rest. He shook hands with her, and, with a look of concern, said, 'My +sister did but a foolish thing, after all, in marrying that young lord, +however the world may judge it to have been an ambitious one. You would +never have been smuggled out of your native land, in that fashion, if +she had taken up with a man in her own rank of life: some honest tar, +for example! for, to my seeming, there is not an honester person in the +whole world, nor a person of more honour, than a British tar! And +yet,--see the difference of those topsy-turvy marriages!--a worthy tar +would have been proud of my sister for his wife; while your lord was +only ashamed of her! for that's the bottom of the story, put what dust +you will in your eyes for the top!' + + + + +CHAPTER XCI + + +Juliet, left alone, again vented her full heart by tears. Happiness +never seemed within her reach, but to make her feel more severely the +hard necessity that it must be resigned. All her tenderest affections +had been delighted, and her most ardent wishes surpassed, in being +recognized as his niece by a man of so much worth, honour, and +benevolence as the Admiral; and her heart had been yet more exquisitely +touched, by acknowledged affinity with so sweet a character as that of +Lady Aurora; her portion, by the duplicate-codicil, flattered, and gave +dignity to her softest feelings;--nevertheless, the cruelty of her +situation was in nothing altered; the danger of the Bishop was still the +same; the same, therefore, was her duty. Even for deliberation she +allowed herself no choice, save whether to confess to the Admiral the +dreadful nature of her call to the Continent; or to go thither simply as +a thing of course, to join her husband. + +For the latter, his approvance was declared; for the former, even his +consent might be withdrawn: to spare, therefore, to his kind heart the +unavailing knowledge of her misery; and to herself the useless conflicts +that might ensue from the discovery; she ultimately decided to set out +upon her voyage, with her story and misfortunes unrevealed. + +This plan determined upon, she struggled to fortify her mind for its +execution, by endeavouring to consider as her husband the man to whom, +in any manner, she had given her hand; since so, only, she could seek to +check the disgust with which she shrunk from him as her deadliest foe. +She remembered, and even sought to call back, the terrific scruples with +which she had been seized, when, while striving to escape, she heard him +assert that she was his wife, and felt powerless to disvow his claim. +Triumphant, menacing, and ferocious, she had fled him without +hesitation, though not completely without doubt; but when she beheld +him seized, in custody,--and heard him call her husband! and saw herself +considered as his wife! duty, for that horrible instant, seemed in his +favour; and, had not Sir Jaspar summoned her by her maiden name, to +attend her own nearest relations, all her resistance had been subdued, +by an overwhelming dread that to resist might possibly be wrong. + +Recollection, also, told her that, at the epoch when, with whatever +misery, she had suffered him to take her hand, no mental reservation had +prepared for future flight and disavowal: she laboured therefore, now, +to plead to herself the vows which she had listened to, though she had +not pronounced; and to animate her sacrifice by the terrour of perjury. + +Nevertheless, all these virtuous arguments against her own freedom, were +insufficient to convince her that her marriage was valid. The violent +constraint, the forced rites, the interrupted ceremony, the omission of +every religious form;--no priest, no church to sanctify even +appearances;--No! she cried, no! I am not his wife! even were it my +wish, even were he all I prize upon earth, still I should fly him till +we were joined by holier bands! Nevertheless, for the Bishop I meant the +sacrifice, and, since so, only, he can be preserved;--for the Bishop I +must myself invite its more solemn ratification! + +Satisfied that this line of conduct, while dictated by tender gratitude, +was confirmed by severer justice; she would not trust herself again with +the sight of Lady Aurora, till measures were irreversibly taken for her +departure; and, upon the return of the Admiral from his walk, she +communicated to him, though without any explanation, her urgent desire +to make the voyage with all possible expedition. + +The Admiral, persuaded that her haste was to soften the harsh treatment +of a husband who had inveigled her into marriage by flattery and +falsehood, forbore either questions or comments; though he looked at her +with commiseration; often shaking his head, with an expression that +implied: What pity to have thrown yourself thus away! His high notions, +nevertheless, of conjugal prerogative, made him approve and second her +design; and, saying that he saw nothing gained by delay, but breeding +more bad blood, he told her that he would conduct her to ---- himself, +the next morning; and stay with her till he could procure her a proper +passage; engaging to present her wherewithal to ascertain for her a good +and hearty reception; with an assurance to her husband, that she should, +at any time, have the same sum, only for fetching it in person. + +This promising opening to occasional re-unions, gave her, now, more +fortitude for announcing to her gentle sister the fixed approaching +separation. But, though these were softening circumstances to their +parting, Lady Aurora heard the decision with despair; and though the +discovery of an uncle, a protector, in so excellent a man as the +Admiral, offered a prospect of solid comfort; still she could dwell only +upon the forced ties, the unnatural connexion, and the brutal character +to which her unhappy sister must be the victim. + +Each seeking, nevertheless, to console the other, though each, herself, +was inconsolable, they passed together the rest of the melancholy, yet +precious day; uninterrupted by the Admiral; who was engaged to dine out +in the neighbourhood; or even by Mrs Howel; who acquiesced, perforce, to +the pleadings of Lady Aurora; in suffering her ladyship to remain in her +own room with Juliet. + +They engaged to meet again by daybreak, the next morning, though to meet +but to part. The next morning, however, when summoned to a post-chaise +by the Admiral, the courage of Juliet, for so dreadful a leave-taking, +failed; and, committing to paper a few piercingly tender words, she +determined to write, more at length, all the consolation that she could +suggest from the first stage. + +But when, in speechless grief, she would have felt her little billet in +the anti-room, she found Lady Aurora's woman already in attendance; and +heard that Lady Aurora, also, was risen and dressed. She feared, +therefore, now, that an evasion might rather aggravate than spare +affliction to her beloved sister; and, repressing her own feelings, +entered the chamber. + +Lady Aurora, who had scarcely closed her eyes all night, had now, in the +fancied security of a meeting, from having placed her maid as a +sentinel, just dropt asleep. Her pale cheeks, and the movement of sorrow +still quivering upon her lips, shewed that she had been weeping, when +overpowering fatigue had induced a short slumber. Juliet, in looking at +her, thought she contemplated an angel. The touching innocence of her +countenance; the sweetness which no sadness could destroy; the grief +exempt from impatience; and the air of purity that overspread her whole +face, and seemed breathing round her whole form, inspired Juliet, for a +few moments, with ideas too sublime for mere sublunary sorrow. She +knelt, with tender reverence, by her side, inwardly ejaculating, Sleep +on, my angel sister! Recruit your harassed spirits, and wake not yet to +the woes of your hapless Juliet! Then, placing gently upon her bosom +the written farewell, she softly kissed the hem of her garments, and +glided from the room. + +She made a sign to the maid, for she had no power of utterance, not to +awaken her lady; and hurried down stairs to join the Admiral, attended +by the faithful Ambroise. + +She was spared offering any apologies for detaining her uncle, by +finding him preparing to step down to the beach, with a spying glass, +without which he never stirred a step; to take a view, before they set +off, of a sail, which his servant, an old seaman, had just brought him +word was in sight. He helped her, therefore, into the chaise, begging +her patience for a few minutes. + +Juliet was not sorry to seize this interval for returning to the +anti-room, to learn whether Lady Aurora were awake; and, by her +resignation or emotion, to judge whether a parting embrace would prove +baneful or soothing. + +As she was re-entering the house, a vociferous cry of 'Stop! stop!' +issued from a carriage that was driving past. She went on, desiring +Ambroise to give her notice when the Admiral came back; but had not yet +reached the gallery, when the stairs were rapidly ascended by two, or +more persons, one of which encircled her in his arms. + +She shrieked with sudden horrour and despair, strenuously striving to +disengage herself; though persuaded that the only person who would dare +thus to assail her, was him to whom she was intentionally resigning her +destiny; but her instinctive resistance was short; a voice that spoke +love and sweetness exclaimed. 'Miss Ellis! sweet, lovely Miss Ellis! you +are, then, my sister!' + +'Ah heavens! kind heaven!' cried the delighted Juliet, 'is it you, Lord +Melbury? and do you,--will you,--and thus kindly, own me?' + +'Own? I am proud of you! My other sister alone can be as dear to me! +what two incomparable creatures has heaven bestowed upon me for my +sisters! How hard I must work not to disgrace them! And I will work +hard, too! I will not see two such treasures, so near to me, and so dear +to me, hold down their sweet heads with shame for their brother. Come +with me, then, my new sister!--you need not fear to trust yourself with +me now! Come, for I have something to say that we must talk over +together alone.' + +Putting, then, her willing arm within his, he eagerly conducted her down +stairs; made her pass by the astonished Ambroise, at whom she nodded and +smiled in the fulness of her contentment, and led her towards the beach; +her heart exulting, and her eyes glistening with tender joy; even while +every nerve was affected, and all her feelings were tortured, by a dread +of quick approaching separation and misery. + +'I am come,' cried he, when they were at a little distance from the +houses, 'to take the most prompt advantage of my brotherly character. I +have travelled all night, not to lose a moment in laying my scheme +before you.' + +'What kindness!--Oh my lord!--and where did you hear,--where did Sir +Jaspar's letter reach you?' + +'Sir Jaspar?--I have received no letter from Sir Jaspar. I have seen no +Sir Jaspar!' + +'How, then, is it possible you can know--' + +'Oh ho! you think you have no friend, then, but Sir Jaspar? And you +suppose, perhaps, that you have no admirer but Sir Jaspar?' + +'I am sure, at least, there is no other person to whom I have revealed +my name.' + +'Then he must have betrayed it to some other himself, my sweet sister! +for 'tis not from him I have had my intelligence. Be less sure, +therefore, for the future, of an old man, and trust a younger one more +willingly! However, there is no time now for raillery; a messenger is +waiting the result of our conference. I am fully informed, my precious +sister, of your terrible situation; I will not stop now to execrate your +infernal pursuer, though he will not lose my execrations by the delay! I +know, too, your sublime resolution to save our dear guardian,--for yours +is ours!--that good and reverend Bishop; and to look upon yourself to be +tied up, as a bond-woman, till you are formally released form those foul +shackles. Do I state the case right?' + +'Oh far, far too acurately! And even now, at a moment so blest! I must +tear myself away,--by my own will, with whatever horrour!--from the +sweetest of sisters,--from you, my kindest brother!--and from the most +benevolent of uncles, by a separation a thousand times more dreadful +than any death!' + +'Take comfort, sweet sister! take comfort, loveliest Miss Ellis!--for I +can't help calling you Miss Ellis, now and then, a little while +longer:--I have a plan to make you free! to set you completely at +liberty, and yet save that excellent Bishop!--' + +'Oh my lord! how heavenly an idea!--but how impossible!' + +'Not at all! 'tis the easiest thing in the world! only hear me. That +wretch who claims you, shall have the portion he demands; the six +thousand pounds; immediately upon signing your release, sending over the +promissory-note of Lord Denmeath, and delivering your noble Bishop into +the hands of the person who shall carry over the money; which, however, +shall only be paid at some frontier town, whence the Bishop may come +instantly hither.' + +Struck with rapturous surprize, Juliet scarcely restrained herself form +falling at his feet. She pressed his arm, she kissed the edge of his +coat, and, while striving, inarticulately, to call for blessings upon +his head, burst into a passion of tears,--though tears of ecstatic +joy,--that nearly deprived her of respiration. + +'My sister! my dear sister!' tenderly cried Lord Melbury, 'how ashamed +you make me! Could you, then, expect less? What a poor opinion you have +entertained of your poor brother! I give you nothing! I merely agree +that you shall possess what is your due. Know you not that you are +entitled to thirty thousand pounds from our estate? To the same fortune +that has been settled upon Aurora? 'Tis from your own portion, only, my +poor sister, that this six thousand will be sunk.' + +'Can you, then, generous, generous Lord Melbury!--can you see thus, +without regret, without murmur, so capital a sum suddenly and +unexpectedly torn from you?' + +'I have not yet enjoyed it, my dear sister; I shall not, therefore, miss +it. But if I had possessed it always, should I not be paid, ten million +of times paid, by finding such a new sister? I shall be proud to shew +the whole world I know how to prize such a relation. And I will not have +them think me such a mere boy, because I am still rather young, as to be +at a loss how to act by myself. I shall not, therefore, consult my +uncle, for I am determined not to be ruled by him. I will solemnly bind +myself to pay your whole fortune the moment I am of age. It is my duty, +and my pride, and, at the same time, my delight, to spare your delicacy, +as well as my own character, and our dear father's memory, any process, +or any dispute.' + +Then, opening his arms, with design to embrace her, but checking himself +upon recollecting that he might be observed, he animatedly added, 'Yes, +my dear father! I will shew how I cherish your memory, by my care of +your eldest born! by my care of her interests, her safety, and her +happiness!--As to her honour,' he added, with a conscious smile, 'she +has shewn me that she knows how to be its guardian herself!' + +The grateful Juliet frankly acknowledged, that both the thought and the +wish had frequently occurred to her, of rescuing the Bishop, through her +portion, without herself: but she had been utterly powerless to raise +it. She was under age, and uncertain whether her rights might ever be +proved: and the six thousand pounds proffered by Lord Denmeath, she was +well aware, would never be accorded but to establish her as an alien. +Her generous brother, by anticipating, as well as confirming her claims, +alone could realize such a project. With sensations, then, of unmixed +felicity, that seemed lifting her, while yet on earth, into heaven, she +was flying to call for the participation of Lady Aurora, and of her +uncle, in her joy; when Lord Melbury, stopping her, said, that all was +not yet prepared for communication. + +'You clearly,' he continued, 'agree to the scheme?' + +'With transport!' she cried; 'and with eternal thankfulness!' + +Without delay, then, he said, they must appoint a person of trust, who +knew the French language well, and to whom the whole history might be +confided; to carry over the offer, and the money, and to bring back the +Bishop. + +'And I have a friend,' he continued, 'now ready for the enterprize. One +equally able and willing to claim the Bishop, and to give undoubted +security for the six thousand pounds. Can you form any notion who such a +man may be?' + +He looked at her gaily, yet with a scrutiny that made her blush. One +person only could occur to her; but occurred with an alarming sense of +impropriety in allowing him such an employment, that instantly damped +her high delight. She dropt her eyes; an unrepressed sigh broke from her +heart; but secret consciousness hushed all enquiry into the truth of her +conjecture. + +In silence, too, for a moment, Lord Melbury contemplated her; struck +with her sudden sadness, and uncertain to what it might be attributed. +Affectionately, then, taking her hand, 'I must come,' he cried, 'to the +point, or my messenger will lose his patience. Proposals of marriage the +most honourable have been made to me; such, my dear sister, as merit my +best interest with you. The person is unexceptionable, high in mind, +manners, and family, and has long been attached to you--' + +Juliet here, with dignity, interrupted him, 'My lord, I will not ask who +this may be; I even beg not to be told. I can listen to no one! Till the +Bishop is released and safe, I hold myself merely to be his hostage; +and, till my freedom, atrociously as it has been violated, shall be +legally restored to me, I cannot but feel hurt,--for I will not say +offended where the intention is so kind, and so pure,--that any +proposals of any sort, and from any person, should be addressed to me!' + +Lord Melbury, prepared for expostulation, was beginning to reply; but +she solemnly besought him not to involve her in any new conflicts. + +She then asked his permission to introduce him to her uncle, Admiral +Powel; whom she desired to join upon the beach. + +No, no; he answered; other business, still more urgent, must have +precedence. And, holding both her hands, he insisted upon acquainting, +her, that it was Mr Harleigh who had been his informant of her history +and situation; and that she was the undoubted and legitimate daughter of +Lord Granville; all which he had learnt from Sir Jaspar Herrington. 'And +Mr Harleigh has begged my leave,' continued his lordship, smiling, +'though I am not, you may think, perhaps, very old for judging of such +matters; to make his addresses to you.--Now don't put yourself into that +flutter till you hear how he arranged it; for he knows all your +scruples, and reveres them,--or, rather, and reveres you, my sweet +sister! for your scruples we both think a little chimerical: don't be +angry at that; we honour you all the same for having them: and Mr +Harleigh seems to adore you only the more. So, I make no doubt does +Aurora. And I, too, my dear sister! only I can't see you sacrificed to +them. But Mr Harleigh has found a way to reconcile all perplexities. He +will save you, he says, in honour as well as in person; for the wretch +shall still have the wife whom he married, if he will restore the +Bishop!' + +'What can you mean?'-- + +'His six thousand pounds, my dear sister! That sum, in full, he shall +have; for that, as Harleigh says, is the wife that he married!' + +Smiles now again, irresistibly, forced their way back to the face of +Juliet, as she bowed her full concurrence to this observation. + +'Harleigh, therefore,' continued Lord Melbury, 'for this very reason, +will go himself to make the arrangement; to the end that, if the wretch +refuses to take the six thousand without you, he may offer a thousand, +or two, over: for, enraged as he is to enrich such a scoundrel, he would +rather endow him with your whole thirty thousand, and, for aught I know, +with as much more of his own, than let you fall into his clutches.' + +The eyes of Juliet again swam in tears. 'Noble, incomparable Harleigh!' +she irresistibly ejaculated; but, checking herself, 'My lord,' she said, +'my thanks are still all that I can return to Mr Harleigh,--yet I will +not deny how much I am touched by his generosity. But I have +insurmountable objections to this proposition; now, indeed, ought I to +cast upon any other, the risks of an engagement which honour and +conscience make sacred to myself.' + +'Poor Harleigh!' said Lord Melbury, 'I have been but a bad advocate, he +will think! You will at least see him?' + +'See him?' + +'Yes; he came with me hither. 'Twas he descried you first, as you got +out of the post-chaise. He was accompanying me up the stairs: but he +retreated. You will surely see him?' + +'No, my Lord, no!--certainly not!' + +'What! not for a moment? Oh, that would be too barbarous!' + +With these words, he ran back to the town. + +Juliet called after him; but in vain. + +Her heart now beat high; it seemed throbbing through her bosom; but she +bent her way towards the beach, to secure her safety by joining her +uncle. + +She perceived him at some distance, in the midst of a small group; +conspicuous from his height, his naval air and equipment, and his long +spying glass; which he occasionally brandished, as he seemed +questioning, or haranguing the people around him. + +In a minute, she was accosted by the old sailor, who was sent by his +master to the chaise, in which he supposed his niece to be still +waiting; to beg that she would not be impatient, because a boat being +just come in, with a small handful of the enemy, his honour was giving a +look at the vessel, to see to its being wind and weather proof, to the +end that her ladyship might take a sail in it. + +Juliet, though she answered, 'Certainly; tell my uncle certainly;' knew +not what she heard, nor what she said; confused by fast approaching +footsteps, which told her that she could not, now, either by going on or +by turning back, escape meeting Harleigh. + +Lord Melbury advanced first; and, willing to give Harleigh a moment to +press his suit, good humouredly addressed the sailor, with enquiries of +what was going forward upon the beach. Harleigh, having made a bow, +which her averted eyes had not seen, drew back, distressed and +irresolute, waiting to catch a look that might be his guide. But when, +from the discourse of the sailor with Lord Melbury, he learnt the +arrival of a small vessel form the Continent, which was destined +immediately to return thither; he precipitately took his lordship by the +arm, spoke to him a few words apart, and then flew forward to the +strand. + +Juliet, disturbed by new fears, permitted her countenance to make +enquiries which her tongue durst not pronounce; and Lord Melbury, who +understood her, frankly said, 'He is a man, sister, of ten thousand! He +will sail a race with you, and strive which shall get in first to save +the Bishop!' + +Juliet felt thunderstruck; Harleigh seeking a passage in the very vessel +which seemed pitched upon by her uncle for her own voyage! That they +should go together was not to be thought of; but to suffer him to risk +becoming the victim to her promise and her duties, was grief and shame +and terrour united! Her eyes affrightedly pursued him, till he entered +into the group upon the strand; and her perturbation then was so +extreme, that she felt inclined to forfeit, by one dauntless stroke, the +delicacy which, as yet, had through life, been the prominent feature of +her character, by darting on, openly to conjure him to return. But +habits which have been formed upon principle, and embellished by +self-approbation, withstand, upon the smallest reflection, every wish, +and every feeling that would excite their violation. The idea, +therefore, died in its birth; and she sought to compose her disordered +spirits, by silent prayers for courage and resignation. + +With the most fraternal participation in her palpable distress, Lord +Melbury endeavoured to offer her consolation; till the sailor, who had +returned to the Admiral, came from him, a second time, to desire that +she would hasten upon the beach, 'to help his honour, please your +ladyship,' said the merry tar, with a significant nod, 'to a little +French lingo; these mounseers and their wives,--if, behaps, they be'n't +only their sweethearts; not over and above understanding his honour.' + +Juliet moved slowly on: the Admiral, used to more prompt obedience, came +forward to hasten her, calling out, as soon as she was within hearing, +'Please to wag a little nimbler, niece; for here are some outlandish +gentry come over, that speak so fast, one after t'other; or else all at +a time; each telling his own story; or, for aught I can make out, each +telling the same thing one as t'other; that, though I try my best to +understand them, not being willing to dash them, I can't make out above +one word in a dozen, if you take it upon an average, of what they say. +However, though it is our duty to hold them all as our native enemies; +and I shall never, God willing, see them in any other light; yet it +would be but unchristian not to lend them an hand, when they are +chopfallen and sorrowful; and, moreover, consumedly out of cash. So if I +can help them, I see no reason to the contrary; for my enemy in +distress is my friend: because why? I was only his enemy to get the +upper hand of him.' + +Then, turning to Lord Melbury and Harleigh, 'I hope,' he added, 'you +won't think me wanting to my country, if, for the honour of old England, +I give these poor half-starved souls a hearty meal of good roast beef, +with a bumper of Dorchester ale, and Devonshire cyder? things which I +conclude they have never yet tasted from their births to this hour; +their own washy diet of soup meagre and sallad, with which I would not +fatten a sparrow, being what they are more naturally born to. And I +sha'n't be sorry, I confess, to shew the French we have a little +politeness of our own; which, by what I have often taken note, I rather +surmize they hold to be a merchandize of their own monopoly. And so, if +you all think well of it, we'll tack about, and give them an handsome +invitation out of hand; for when a person stops to ponder before he does +a good office, 'tis a sign he had full as lieve let it alone.' + +Juliet readily complied, though she could not readily speak; but what +was her perturbation, the next moment, to see Harleigh vehemently break +from the group by which he had been surrounded, rush precipitately +forward to meet them, and, singling out Lord Melbury encircle his +lordship in his arms, exclaiming, 'My lord! my dear lord! your sister is +free!--I claim, now, your suffrage!--Her brutal persecutor, convicted of +heading a treasonable conspiracy in his own country, has paid the +forfeit of his crimes! These passengers bring the tidings! My lord! my +dear lord! your sister is free!'-- + +Juliet, who heard, as it was meant that she should hear, this passionate +address, felt suspended in all her faculties. Joy, in the first instant, +sought precedence; but it was supplanted, in another moment, by tearful +incredulity; and she stood motionless, speechless, scarcely conscious +whether she were alive. + +An exclamation of 'What's all this?' from the astonished Admiral; and a +juvenile jump of unrestrained rapture from the transported Lord Melbury, +brought Harleigh to himself. He felt confounded at the publicity and the +abruptness of an address into which his ecstacy had surprized him; yet +his satisfaction was too high for repentance, though he forced it to +submit to some controul. + +Suspension of sensibility could not, while there was life, be long +allowed to Juliet; and the violence of her emotions, at its return, +almost burst her bosom. What a change! her feet tottered; she sustained +her shaking frame against the Admiral; she believed herself in some new +existence! yet it was not unmixed joy that she experienced; there was +something in the nature of her deliverance repulsive to joy; and the +perturbed and tumultuous sensations which rushed into her breast, seemed +overpowering her strength, and almost shattering even her comprehension; +till she was brought back painfully to herself, by an abrupt +recollection of the uncertainty of the fate of the Bishop; and, +shudderingly, she exclaimed, 'Oh if my revered guardian be not safe!'-- + +The wondering Admiral now, addressing Harleigh, gravely begged to be +made acquainted, in plainer words, with the news that he reported. + +Not sorry to repeat what he wished should be fully comprehended, +Harleigh, more composedly, recounted his intelligence; dwelling upon +details which brought conviction of the seizure, the trial, and the +execution of the execrable commissary. + +Juliet listened with rapt attention; but in proportion as her security +in her own safety became confirmed, her poignant solicitude for that of +the Bishop increased; and again she exclaimed, 'Oh! if my guardian has +not escaped!' + +The Admiral, turning towards her rather austerely, said, 'You must have +had but a sad dog of a husband, Niece Granville, to think only of an old +priest, when you hear of his demise! However, to my seeming, though he +might be but a rogue, a husband's a husband; and I don't much uphold a +wife's not thinking of that; for, if a woman may mutiny against her +husband, there's an end of all discipline.' + +Overwhelmed with shame, Juliet could attempt no self defence; but Lord +Melbury warmly assured the Admiral, that his niece, Miss Granville, had +never really been married; that a forced, interrupted, and unfinished +lay-ceremony, had mockingly been celebrated; accompanied by +circumstances atrocious, infamous, and cruel: and that the marriage +could never have been valid, either in sight of the church, or of her +own conscience. + +The Admiral, with avidity and rising delight, sucked in this +vindication; and then whispered to Juliet, 'Pray, if I may make so free, +who is this pretty boy, that's got so much more insight into your +affairs than I have? He's a very pretty boy; but I have no great taste +to being put in the rear by him!' + +Juliet was beginning to reply, when the Admiral called out, in a tone of +some chagrin, 'Now we are put off from doing the handsome thing! for +here's the outlandish gentry coming among us before we have invited +them! And now, you'll see, they'll always stand to it that they have the +upper hand of us English in politeness! And I had rather have seen them +all at the devil!' + +Juliet, looking forward, perceived that they were approached by some +strangers of a foreign appearance; but they detained not her attention; +at one side, and somewhat aloof from them, a form caught her eye, +reverend, aged, infirm. She started, and with almost agonized +earnestness, advanced rapidly a few steps; then stopt abruptly to renew +her examination; but presently, advancing again, called out, 'Merciful +Heaven!' and, rushing on, with extended arms, and uncontrolled rapture, +threw herself at the feet of the ancient traveller; and, embracing his +knees, sobbed rather than articulated, in French, 'My guardian! my +preserver! my more than father!--I have not then lost you!' + +Deeply affected, the man of years bent over, and blessed her; mildly, +yet fondly, uttering, in the same language, 'My child! my Juliet!--Do I +then behold you again, my excellent child!' + +Then, helping her to rise, he added, 'Your willing martyrdom is spared, +my dear, my adopted daughter! and I, most mercifully! am spared its +bitter infliction. Thanksgiving are all we have to offer, thanksgiving +and humble prayers for UNIVERSAL PEACE!' + +With anxious tenderness Juliet enquired for her benefactress, the +Marchioness; and the Bishop for his niece Gabriella. The Marchioness was +safe and well, awaiting a general re-union with her family; Gabriella, +therefore, Juliet assured the Bishop, was now, probably in her revered +mother's arms. + +All further detail, whether of her own difficulties and sufferings, or +of the perils and escapes of the Bishop, during their long separation, +they mutually set apart for future communication; every evil, for the +present, being sunk in gratitude at their meeting. + +Harleigh, who witnessed this scene with looks of love and joy, though +not wholly unmixed with suffering impatience, forced himself to stand +aloof. Lord Melbury, who had no feeling to hide, nor result to fear, +gaily capered with unrestrained delight; and the Admiral, impressed with +wonder, yet reverence, his hat in his hand, and his head high up in the +air, waited patiently for a pause; and then, bowing to the ground, +solemnly said, 'Mr Bishop, you are welcome to old England! heartily +welcome, Mr Bishop! I ought to beg your pardon, perhaps, for speaking to +you in English; but I have partly forgot my French; which, not to mince +the matter, I never thought it much worth while to study; little enough +devizing I should ever meet with a native-born Frenchman who was so +honest a man! For it's pretty much our creed, aboard, though I don't +over and above uphold it myself, except as far as may belong to the +sea-service,--to look upon your nation as little better than a cluster +of rogues. However, we of the upper class, knowing that we are all +alike, in the main, of God's workmanship, don't account it our duty to +hold you so cheap. Therefore, Mr Bishop, you are heartily welcome to old +England.' + +The Bishop smiled; too wise to be offended, where he saw that no offence +was meant. + +'But, for all that,' the Admiral continued, 'I can't deny but I had as +lieve, to the full, if I had had my choice, that my niece should not +have been brought up by the enemy; yet I have always had a proper +respect for a parson, whether he be of the true religion, or only a +Papist. I hold nothing narrower than despising a man for his ignorance; +especially when it's only of the apparatus, and not of the solid part. +My niece, Mr Bishop, will tell you the heads of what I say in your own +proper dialect.' + +The Bishop answered, that he perfectly understood English. + +'I am cordially glad to hear it!' cried the Admiral, holding out his +hand to him; 'for that's an item that gives; me at once a good opinion +of you! A man can be no common person who has a taste for our sterling +sense, after being brought up to frothy compliments; and therefore, Mr +Bishop, I beg you to favour me with your company to eat a bit of roast +beef with us at our lodging-house; after our plain old English fashion: +which, if I should make free to tell you what passes in my mind, I hold +to be far wholesomer than your ragouts and fricandos, made up of oil and +grease. But I only drop that as a matter of opinion; every nation having +a right to like best what it can get cheapest. And if the rest of the +passengers are people of a right way of thinking, I beg you to tell them +I shall be glad of the favour of their company too.' + +The Bishop bowed, with an air of mild satisfaction. + +'And I heartily wish you would give me an item, Monsieur the Bishop, how +I might behave more handsomely; for, by what I can make out, you have +been as kind to my niece, as if you had been born on this side the +Channel; which is no small compliment to make to one born on t'other +side; and if ever I forget it, I wish I may go to the bottom! a thing we +seamen, who understand something of those matters, (smiling,) had full +as lief leave alone.' + +He then recommended to them all to stroll upon the sands for a further +whet to their appetite; while he went himself to the lodging-house, to +see what could be had for a repast. + + + + +CHAPTER XCII + + +Happy to second the benevolent scheme of the kind-hearted Admiral, the +Bishop hastened to his fellow-voyagers with the hospitable invitation. +Juliet, in whom every feeling was awake to meet, to embrace, and to +share her delight with Lady Aurora, would have followed; but Lord +Melbury, to avoid, upon so interesting an occasion, any interruption +from Mrs Howel, objected to returning to the hotel; and proposed being +the messenger to fetch their sister. Juliet joyfully consented, and went +to await them in the beautiful verdant recess, between two rocks, +overlooking the vast ocean, with which she had already been so much +charmed. + +No sooner, at this favourite spot, was Juliet alone, than, according to +her wonted custom, she vented the fulness of her heart in pious +acknowledgements. She had scarcely risen, when again,--though without +Lady Aurora,--she saw Lord Melbury; yet not alone; he was arm in arm +with Harleigh. 'My dear new sister,' he gaily cried, 'I go now for +Aurora. We shall be here presently; but Mr Harleigh is so kind as to +promise that he will stand without, as sentinel, to see that no one +approaches nor disturbs you.' + +He was gone while yet speaking. + +The immediate impulse of Juliet urged her to remonstrance, or flight; +but it was the impulse of habit, not of reason; an instant, and a look +of Harleigh, represented that the total change of her situation, +authorized, on all sides, a total change of conduct. + +Every part of her frame partook of the emotion with which this sudden +consciousness beat at her heart; while her silence, her unresisting +stay, and the sight of her varying complexion, thrilled to the soul of +Harleigh, with an encouragement that he trembled with impatience to +exchange for certainty. 'At last,--at last,--may I,' he cried, 'under +the sanction of a brother, presume upon obtaining a hearing with some +little remittance of reserve? of mistrust?' + +Juliet dropt her head. + +'Will not Miss Granville be more gracious than Miss Ellis has been? Miss +Granville can have no tie but what is voluntary: no hovering doubts, no +chilling scruples, no fancied engagements--' + +A half sigh, of too recent recollection, heaved the breast of Juliet. + +'To plead,' he continued, 'against all confidence; to freeze every +avenue to sympathy; to repel, or wound every rising hope! Miss +Granville, is wholly independent; mistress of her heart, mistress of +herself--' + +'No, Mr Harleigh, no!' with quickness, though with gentleness, +interrupted Juliet. + +Harleigh, momentarily startled, ventured to bend his head below her +bonnet; and saw, then, that the blush which had visited, flown, and +re-visited her face, had fixed itself in the deepest tint upon her +cheek. He gazed upon her in ecstatic silence, till, looking up, and, for +the first time, suffering her eyes willingly to meet his, 'No, Mr +Harleigh, no!' she softly repeated, 'I am not so independent!' A smile +then beamed over her features, so radiant, so embellishing, that +Harleigh wondered he had ever thought her beautiful before, as she +added, 'Had I an hundred hearts,--ten thousand times you must have +conquered them all!' + +Rapture itself, now, is too cold a word,--or too common a one,--to give +an adequate idea of the bliss of Harleigh. He took her no longer +reluctant hand, and she felt upon it a burning tear as he pressed it to +his lips; but his joy was unutterable. The change was so great, so +sudden, and so exquisite, from all he most dreaded to all he most +desired, that language seemed futile for its expression: and to look at +her without fearing to alarm or offend her; to meet, with the softest +assurance of partial favour, those eyes hitherto so coldly averted; to +hold, unresisted, the fair hand that, but the moment before, it seemed +sacrilege even to wish to touch; so, only, could he demonstrate the +fulness of his transport, the fervour of his gratitude, the perfection +of his felicity. + +In Juliet, though happiness was not less exalted, pleasure wore the +chastened garb of moderation, even in the midst of a frankness that laid +open her heart. Yet, seeing his suit thus authorized by her brother, and +certain of the approbation of the Bishop, and of her uncle, to so equal +and honourable an alliance; she indulged her soft propensities in his +favour, by gently conceding avowals, that rewarded not alone his +persevering constancy, but her own long and difficult forbearance. 'Many +efforts, many conflicts,' she cried, 'in my cruel trials, I have +certainly found harder; but none, none so distasteful, as the +unremitting necessity of seeming always impenetrable--where most I was +sensitive!' + +'By sweetness such as this,' cried Harleigh, 'you would almost persuade +me to rejoice at a suspense that has nearly maddened me! Yet,--could you +have conceived the agony, the despair of my mind, at your icy, +relentless silence! not once to trust me as a friend! not one moment to +confide in my integrity! never to consult, to commune, to speak, nor to +hear!--You smile?--Can it be at the pain you have inflicted?'-- + +'Oh no, no, no! If I smile, 'tis at the greater pain I have, I trust, +averted! While conscious that I might, eventually, be chained to +another, every duty admonished me to resist every feeling!--Yet with +hope always, ultimately, before me, I had not the force to utter a +word,--a baneful word!--that might teach you to renounce me!--even +though I deemed it indispensable to my honour to exact a total +separation. Had I confided to you my fearful secret,--had you yourself +aided the abolition of my shackles, should I not, in a situation so +delicate, so critical, have fixed an eternal barrier between us,--or +have sacrificed the fame of both to the most wounding of calumnies? Ah +no! from the instant that my heart interfered,--that I was conscious of +a new motive that urged my wish of liberation,--I have held it my duty, +I have felt it my future happiness, to avoid,--to fear,--to fly you!--' + +'I was most favoured, then, it seems,' replied Harleigh, with a smile of +rapture, 'when I thought you most inexorable? I must thank you for your +rejections, your avoidance, your implacable, immoveable coldness?' + +'Reverse, else, the medal,' cried she, gaily, 'and see whether the +impression will be more to your taste!' + +'Loveliest Miss Ellis! most beloved Miss Granville! My own,--at length! +at length! my own sweet Juliet! that, and that only can be to my taste +which has brought me to the bliss of this moment!' + +With blushing tenderness, Juliet then confessed, that at the moment of +his first generous declaration, following the summer-house scene with +Elinor, she had felt pierced with an aggravated horrour of her nameless +ties, that had nearly burst her heart asunder. + +With minute retrospection, then, enjoying even every evil, and finding +motives of congratulation from every pain that was past, they mutually +recapitulated their feelings, their conjectures, their rising and +progressive partiality, since the opening of their acquaintance. One +circumstance alone was tinted with regret,--'Elinor?' cried Juliet, 'Oh! +how will Elinor bear to hear of this event!' + +'Fear her not!' he returned. 'She has a noble, though, perhaps, a +masculine spirit, and she will soon, probably, think of this affair only +with pique and wonder,--not against me, for she is truly generous; but +against herself, for she is candid and just. She has always internally +believed, that perseverance in the honour that she has meant to shew me, +must ultimately be victorious; but, where partiality is not desired, it +can only be repaid, by man to woman as by woman to man, from weakness, +or vanity. Gratitude is all-powerful in friendship, for friendship may +be earned; but love, more wilful, more difficult, more capricious,--love +must be inspired, or must be caught. When Elinor, who possesses many of +the finest qualities of the mind, sees the fallacy of her new system; +when she finds how vainly she would tread down the barriers of custom +and experience, raised by the wisdom of foresight, and established, +after trial, for public utility; she will return to the habits of +society and common life, as one awakening from a dream in which she has +acted some strange and improbable part.--' + +A sound quick, but light, of feet here interrupted the _tête à tête_, +followed by the words, 'My sister! my sister!' and, in less than a +minute, Lady Aurora was in the arms of Juliet. 'Ah!' she cried, 'You are +not, then, gone! dear--cruel sister!--yet you could quit me, and quit me +without even a last adieu!' + +'Sweetest, most amiable of sisters!' cried the happy Juliet; 'can you +wonder I could not take leave of you, when that leave was, I feared, to +sunder us for life? when I thought myself destined to exile, slavery, +and misery? Could I dare imagine I was so soon to be restored to you? +Could I presume to hope that from anguish so nearly insupportable, I was +destined to be elevated,--every way!--to the summit of all I can +conceive of terrestrial happiness!' + +The grateful Harleigh, at these words, came forward to present himself +to Lady Aurora; who learnt with enchantment the purposed alliance; not +alone from the prospect of permanent happiness which it opened to her +sister, but also as a means to overcome all possible opposition, on the +part of Lord Denmeath, to a public acknowledgment of relationship. + +Juliet, who, in the indulgence of sentiments so long and so imperiously +curbed, found a charm nearly as fascinating as that which their avowal +communicated to Harleigh, began now, with blushing animation, to recount +to her delightedly listening Aurora, the various events, the unceasing +obligations, which had formed and fixed her attachment. + +A tale which, like this, had equal attraction to the speaker and to the +hearers, had little chance to be brief: it was not, therefore, far +advanced, when they were joined by Lord Melbury; who, gathering from +Lady Aurora the situation of affairs, bounded, wild as a young colt, +with joy. + +The minutes, now, were lengthening unconsciously to hours, when the +various narratives and congratulations were interrupted by a loud +'Halloo!' followed by the appearance of the old sailor. + +'Please your honours,' said the worthy tar, 'master begins to be afeard +you've as good as forgot him: he's been walking upon the beach, +alongside the old French parson, till one foot is plaguely put to it to +wag afore t'other. Howsomever, he'd scorn to give up to a Frenchman, to +the longest day he has to live; more especialsome to a parson; you may +take Jack's word for that!' + +The happy party now hastened to the strand; but there perceived neither +the Bishop nor the Admiral. The sailor, slily grinning at their +surprize, told them, with a merry nod, and a significant leer, that he +would shew them a sight that would make them stare amain; which was no +other than an honest Englishman, sitting, cheek by jowl, beside a +Frenchman; as lovingly as if they were both a couple of Christians, +coming off the same shore. + +He then led them to a bathing-machine; in which the Admiral was civilly, +though with great perplexity, labouring to hold discourse with the +Bishop. + +The impatient Harleigh besought Lord Melbury to be his agent, with the +guardian and the uncle of his lovely sister. Lord Melbury joyfully +complied. The affair, however momentous, was neither long nor difficult +to arrange. The Bishop felt an implicit trust in the known judgment and +tried discretion of his ward; and the Admiral held that a female, as the +weaker vessel, could never properly, nor even honourably, make the +voyage of life, but under the safe convoy of a good husband. + +Harleigh, therefore, was speedily summoned into the machine; his +proposals were so munificent, that they were applauded rather than +approved; and, all descending to the beach, the Bishop took one hand, +and the Admiral another, of the blushing Juliet, to present, with +tenderest blessings, to the happy, indescribably happy Harleigh. + +Juliet, then, had the unspeakable delight of presenting her brother and +her sister to her uncle, and to the Bishop. The Admiral, nevertheless, +could not resist taking his niece apart, to tell her, that, if he had +but had an insight into her being in such a hurry for a husband, he +should have made free to speak a good word for a young sea-captain of +his acquaintance; a lad for whom he had a great goust, and who would be +sure to make his way to the very top; since, already, he had had the +luck, while bravely fighting, in two different engagements, to see his +two senior officers drop by his side: by which means he had arrived at +his promotion of first lieutenant, and of captain. And if, which was +likely enough, God willing, he should meet with such another good turn +in a third future engagement, he bid fair for being a Commodore in the +prime of his days. 'And then, my dear,' he continued, 'when he had been +upon a long distant station; or when contrary winds, or the enemy, had +stopt his letters, so that you could not guess whether the poor lad were +alive or dead; think what would have been your pride to have read, all +o' the sudden, news of him in the Gazette!' + +This regret, nevertheless, operated not against his affection, nor his +beneficence, for, returning with her to the company, he solemnly +announced her to be his heiress. + +'One thing, however, pertaining to this business,' he cried, 'devilishly +works me still, whether I will or no'. That oldish gentlewoman, who was +taking upon her to send my Niece Granville before the justice! Who is +she, pray? I should not be sorry to know her calling; nor, moreover, +what 'tis puts her upon acting in such a sort.' + +Lord Melbury and Lady Aurora endeavoured to offer some excuse, saying, +that she was a relation of their uncle Denmeath. + +'Oh, if that be the case,' cried he, holding his head high up in the +air, 'I shall make no scruple to let her a little into my way of +thinking! It's a general rule with me, throughout life, to tell people +their faults; because why? There are plenty of people to tell them their +good qualities; in the proviso they have got any; or, in the t'other +case, to vamp up some, out of their own heads, that serve just as well +for ground-work to a few compliments; but as to their faults, not a soul +will give 'em a hint of one of them. They'll leave them to be 'ticed +strait to the devil, sooner than call out Jack Robinson! to save them.' + +Lady Aurora was now advancing with a gentle supplication; but, taking +off his hat, and making her a low bow, he declined hearing her; saying, +'Though it may rather pass for a hint than a compliment, to come out +with the plain truth to a young lady, I must make free to observe, that +I never let my complaisance get the upper hand of my sincerity; because +why? My sincerity is for myself; 'tis my honour! and whereby I keep my +own good opinion; but my complaisance is for my neighbours; serving only +to coax over the good opinion of others. For which reason, though I am +as glad as another man of a good word, I don't much fancy turning out of +my way for it. I hold it, therefore, my bounden duty, to demand a parley +with that oldish gentlewoman; and the more so, abundantly, for her being +a person of quality; for if she's better born, and better bred than her +neighbours, she should be better mannered. For who the devil's the +better for her birth and breeding, if they only serve to make her fancy +she has a right to be impudent? If we don't take care to drop a word or +two of advice, now and then, to persons of that sort, you'll see, before +long, they won't let a man sit down in their company, under a lord!' + +Then, enquiring her name, he sent his honest sailor to request an +audience of her for the uncle of the Honourable Miss Granville; adding, +with a significant smile, 'Harkee, my boy! if she says she don't know +such a person, tell her, one Admiral Powel will have the honour to +introduce him to her! And if she says she does not know Admiral Powel +neither, tell her to cast an eye upon the Gazette of the month of +September this very day twelve years!' + +To tranquillize Lady Aurora, Lord Melbury preceded the sailor to prepare +Mrs Howel for the interview; but he did not return, till a summons to +the repast was assembling the whole company in the lodging-house. He +then related that he had found his uncle Denmeath already arrived, and +that he had acquainted both him and Mrs Howel with the situation of +affairs. + +The Admiral now ordered the dinner to be kept warm, while he whetted, he +said, his goust for it; and then sped to the combat; bent upon fighting +as valiantly for the parental fortune of his niece with one antagonist, +as for what was due to her wounded dignity with the other. + +The party, however, was not long separated; Lord Denmeath, confounded by +intelligence so easily authenticated, of the duplicate-codicil, +protested that he had never designed that the portion should be +withheld; and Mrs Howel, stung with rage and shame at this positive +discovery of the family, the fortune, and the protection to which the +young woman, whom she had used so ignominiously, was entitled, received +the reprimands and admonitions of the Admiral in mortified silence. + +Nothing, when once 'tis understood, is so quickly settled as business. +Lord Denmeath, having given the name of his lawyer, broke up the +conference, and quitted Teignmouth; Mrs Howel, confused, offended, and +gloomy, was not less eager to be gone; though the Admiral would gladly +have detained her, to listen to a few more items of his opinions. Lady +Aurora, forced to accompany her uncle, softly whispered Juliet, in an +affectionate parting embrace, 'My dearest sister, ere long, will give a +new and sweet home to her Aurora!' + +This, indeed, was a powerful plea to favour the impatience of Harleigh; +a plea far more weighty than one urged by the Admiral; that she would be +married without further parleying, lest people should be pleased to take +it into their heads, that she had been the real wife of that scoundrel +commissary, and was forced, therefore, to go through the ceremony of +being his widow. + +Called, now, to the kind and splendid repast, the Admiral insisted that +Juliet should preside at his hospitable board; where, seated between her +revered Bishop and beloved brother, and facing her generous uncle, and +the man of her heart, she did the honours of the table to the enchanted +strangers, with glowing happiness, though blended with modest confusion. + +When the desert was served, the joyous Admiral, filling up a bumper of +ale, and rising, said, 'Ladies and gentlemen, I shall now make free to +propose two toasts to you: the first, as in duty bound, is to the King +and the Royal Navy. I always put them together; because why? I hold our +King to be our pilot, without whom we might soon be all aground; and, in +like manner, I hold us tars to be the best part of his majesty's ship's +company; for though old England, to my seeming, is at the top of the +world, if we tars were to play it false, it would soon pop to the +bottom. So here goes to the King and the Royal Navy!' + +This ceremony past; 'And now, gentlemen and ladies,' he resumed, 'as I +mortally hate a secret; having taken frequent note that what ought not +to be said is commonly something that ought not to be done; I shall make +bold to propose a second bumper, to the happy espousals of the +Honourable Miss Granville; who, you are to know, is my niece; with a +very honest gentleman, who is at my elbow; and who had the kindness to +take a liking to her before he knew that she had a Lord on one side, +and, moreover, an Admiral on t'other for her relations; nor yet that she +would have been a lady in her own right, if her father had not taken the +long journey before her grandfather.' + +This toast being gaily drunk by every one, save the blushing Juliet, the +Admiral sent out his grinning sailor, with a bottle of port, to repeat +it with the postilions. + +'Monsieur the Bishop,' continued the Admiral, 'there's one remark which +I must beg leave to make, that I hope you won't think unchristian; +though I confess it to be not over and above charitable; but I have +always, in my heart, owed a grudge to my Lord Granville, though his +lordship was my brother-in-law, for bringing up his daughter in foreign +parts; whereby he risked the ruin of her morals both in body and soul. +Not that I would condemn a dead man, who cannot speak up in his own +defence, for I hold nothing to be narrower than that; therefore, Mr +Bishop, if you have any thing to offer in his behalf, it will look very +well in you, as a parson, to make the most of it: and, moreover, give +great satisfaction both to my niece, the Honourable Miss Granville, and +to this young Lord, who is her half brother. And I, also, I hope, as a +good Christian, shall sincerely take my share thereof.' + +'An irresistible, or, rather, an unresisted disposition to procrastinate +whatever was painful,' answered the Bishop, in French, 'was the origin +and cause of all that you blame. Lord Granville always persuaded himself +that the morrow would offer opportunity, or inspire courage, for a +confession of his marriage that the day never presented, nor excited; +and to avow his daughter while that was concealed, would have been a +disgrace indelible to his deserving departed lady. This from year to +year, kept Miss Granville abroad. With the most exalted sentiments, the +nicest honour, and the quickest feelings, my noble, however irresolute +friend, had an unfortunate indecision of character, that made him waste +in weighing what should be done, the time and occasion of action. Could +he have foreseen the innumerable hardships, the endless distresses, from +which neither prudence nor innocence could guard the helpless offspring +of an unacknowledged union, he would either, at once and nobly, have +conquered his early passion; or courageously have sustained and avowed +its object.' + +'It must also be considered,' said Harleigh, while tears of filial +tenderness rolled down the cheeks of Juliet, and started into the eyes +of Lord Melbury, 'that, when my Lord Granville trusted his daughter to a +foreign country, his own premature death was not less foreseen, than +the political event in which her property and safety, in common with +those of the natives, were involved. That event has not operated more +wonderfully upon the fate and fortune, than upon the minds and +characters of those individuals who have borne in it any share; and who, +according to their temperaments and dispositions, have received its new +doctrines as lessons, or as warnings. Its undistinguishing admirers, it +has emancipated from all rule and order; while its unwilling, yet +observant and suffering witnesses, have been formed by it to fortitude, +prudence, and philosophy; it has taught them to strengthen the mind with +the body; it has animated the exercise of reason, the exertion of the +faculties, activity in labour, resignation in endurance, and +cheerfulness under every privation; it has formed, my Lord Melbury, in +the school of refining adversity, your firm, yet tender sister! it has +formed, noble Admiral, in the trials, perils, and hardships of a +struggling existence, your courageous, though so gentle niece!--And for +me, may I not hope that it has formed--' + +He stopt; the penetrated Juliet cast upon him a look that supplicated +silence. He obeyed its expression; and her mantling cheek, dimpling with +grateful smiles, amply recompensed his forbearance. + +'Gentlemen, both,' said the Admiral, 'I return you my hearty thanks for +letting me into this insight of the case. And if I were to give you, in +return, a little smattering of what passed in my own mind in those days, +I can't deny but I should have been tempted, often enough, to out with +the whole business, if I had not been afraid of being jeer'd for my +pains; a thing for which I had never much taste. Many and many a time I +used to muse upon it, and say to myself, My sister was married; +honourably married! And I,--for I was but a young man then to what I am +now,--a mere boy; and I, says I to myself, am brother-in-law to a lord! +Yet I was too proud to publish it of my own accord, because of his being +a lord! for, if I had, the whole ship's company, in those days, might +have thought me little better than a puppy.' + +The repast finished, the pleased and grateful guests separated. Harleigh +set off post for London and his lawyer; and the Bishop and Lord Melbury, +gladly accepted an invitation from the Admiral to his country-seat near +Richmond, of which, with the greatest delight, he proclaimed his niece +mistress. + +But short, here, was her reign. Harleigh was speedily ready: and his +cause, seconded by Lady Aurora and the Admiral, could not be pleaded in +vain to Juliet; who, in giving her hand where she had given her whole +heart; in partaking the name, the mansion, the fortune, and the fate of +Harleigh; bestowed and enjoyed such rare felicity, that all she had +endured seemed light, all she had performed appeared easy, and even +every woe became dear to her remembrance, that gradually and +progressively, though painfully and unsuspectedly, had contributed to so +exquisite and heartfelt a union. + +Her own happiness thus fixed, her first solicitude was for her guardian +and preserver the Bishop; whom, with her sympathizing Harleigh, she +attended to the Continent. There she was embraced and blessed by her +honoured benefactress, the Marchioness; there, and not vainly, she +strove to console her beloved Gabriella; and there, in the elegant +society to which she had owed all her early enjoyments, she prevailed +upon Harleigh to remain, till it became necessary to return to their +home, to present, upon his birth, a new heir to the enchanted Admiral. + +A rising family, then, put an end to foreign excursions; but the dearest +delight of Harleigh was seeking to assemble around his Juliet her first +friends. + +Lady Aurora had hardly any other home than that of her almost adored +sister, till she was installed in one, with an equal and amiable +partner, upon the same day that Lord Melbury obtained the willing hand +of the lively, natural, and feeling Lady Barbara Frankland. + +Sir Jaspar Herrington, to whom Juliet had such essential obligations, +became, now that all false hopes or fanciful wishes were annihilated, +her favourite guest. He still saw her with a tenderness which he +secretly, though no longer banefully nourished; but transferred to her +rapturously attentive children, the histories of his nocturnal +intercourse with sylphs, fairies, and the destinies; while, ever awake +to the wishes of Juliet, he rescued the simple Flora from impending +destruction, by portioning her in marriage with an honest vigilant +farmer. + +Scarcely less welcome than the whimsical Baronet to Juliet, nor less +happy under her roof, was the guileless and benevolent Mr Giles Arbe; +who there enjoyed, unbroken by his restless, adroit, and worldly cousin, +his innocent serenity. + +Juliet sought, too, with her first power, the intuitively virtuous Dame +Fairfield; whose incorrigible husband had briefly, with the man of the +hut, paid the dread earthly penalty of increased and detected crimes. + +Harleigh placed a considerable annuity upon the faithful, excellent +Ambroise; to whose care, soon afterwards, he committed the meritorious +widow, and her lovely little ones, by a marriage which ensured to them +the protection and endearments of a kind husband, and an affectionate +father. + +Even Mr Tedman, when Harleigh paid him, with high interest, his three +half-guineas, was invited to Harleigh Hall; where, with no small pride, +he received thanks for the first liberality he had ever prevailed with +himself to practise. + +No one to whom Juliet had ever owed any good office, was by her +forgotten, or by Harleigh neglected. They visited, with gifts and +praise, every cottage in which the Wanderer had been harboured; and +Harleigh bought of the young wood-cutters, at a high price, their dog +Dash; who became his new master's inseparable companion in his garden, +fields, and rides. + +But Riley, whose spirit of tormenting, springing from bilious ill +humour, operated in producing pain and mischief like the most confirmed +malevolence; Ireton, whose unmeaning pursuits, futile changes, and +careless insolence, were every where productive of disorder, save in his +own unfeeling breast; and Selina, who, in presence of a higher or richer +acquaintance, ventured not to bestow even a smile upon the person whom, +in her closet, she treated, trusted, and caressed as her bosom friend; +these, were excluded from the happy Hall, as persons of minds +uncongenial to confidence; that basis of peace and cordiality in social +intercourse. + +But while, for these, simple non-admission was deemed a sufficient mark +of disapprobation, the Admiral himself, when apprized of the adventures +of his niece, insisted upon being the messenger of positive exile to +three ladies, whom he nominated the three Furies; Mrs Howel, Mrs Ireton, +and Mrs Maple; that he might give them, he said, a hint, as it behoved a +good Christian to do, for their future amendment, of the reasons of +their exclusion. All mankind, he affirmed, would behave better, if the +good were not as cowardly as the bad are audacious. + +To spare at least the pride, though he could not the softer feelings of +Elinor, Harleigh thought it right to communicate to her himself, by +letter, the news of his marriage. She received it with a consternation +that cruelly opened her eyes to the false hopes which, however +disclaimed and disowned, had still duped her wishes, and played upon her +fancy, with visions that had brought Harleigh, ultimately, to her feet. +Despair, with its grimmest horrour, grasped her heart at this +self-detection; but pride supported her spirit; and Time, the healer of +woe, though the destroyer of life, moderated her passions, in +annihilating her expectations; and, when her better-qualities found +opportunity for exertion, her excentricities, though always what were +most conspicuous in her character, ceased to absorb her whole being. Yet +in the anguish of her disappointment, 'Alas! alas!' she cried, 'must +Elinor too,--must even Elinor!--like the element to which, with the +common herd, she owes, chiefly, her support, find,--with that herd!--her +own level?--find that she has strayed from the beaten road, only to +discover that all others are pathless!' + +Here, and thus felicitously, ended, with the acknowledgement of her +name, and her family, the DIFFICULTIES of the WANDERER;--a being who had +been cast upon herself; a female Robinson Crusoe, as unaided and +unprotected, though in the midst of the world, as that imaginary hero in +his uninhabited island; and reduced either to sink, through inanition, +to nonentity, or to be rescued from famine and death by such resources +as she could find, independently, in herself. + +How mighty, thus circumstanced, are the DIFFICULTIES with which a FEMALE +has to struggle! Her honour always in danger of being assailed, her +delicacy of being offended, her strength of being exhausted, and her +virtue of being calumniated! + +Yet even DIFFICULTIES such as these are not insurmountable, where mental +courage, operating through patience, prudence, and principle, supply +physical force, combat disappointment, and keep the untamed spirits +superiour to failure, and ever alive to hope. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Wanderer (Volume 5 of 5), by Fanny Burney + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WANDERER (VOLUME 5 OF 5) *** + +***** This file should be named 37441-8.txt or 37441-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/4/4/37441/ + +Produced by Delphine Lettau, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Wanderer (Volume 5 of 5) + or, Female Difficulties + +Author: Fanny Burney + +Release Date: September 15, 2011 [EBook #37441] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WANDERER (VOLUME 5 OF 5) *** + + + + +Produced by Delphine Lettau, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h2>VOLUME V</h2> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_681" id="Page_681">[Pg 681]</a></span></p> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p class="center"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXVII">CHAPTER LXXVII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXVIII">CHAPTER LXXVIII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXIX">CHAPTER LXXIX</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXX">CHAPTER LXXX</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXXI">CHAPTER LXXXI</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXXII">CHAPTER LXXXII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXXIII">CHAPTER LXXXIII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXXIV">CHAPTER LXXXIV</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXXV">CHAPTER LXXXV</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXXVI">CHAPTER LXXXVI</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXXVII">CHAPTER LXXXVII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXXVIII">CHAPTER LXXXVIII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXXIX">CHAPTER LXXXIX</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XC">CHAPTER XC</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XCI">CHAPTER XCI</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XCII">CHAPTER XCII</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_682" id="Page_682">[Pg 682]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_683" id="Page_683">[Pg 683]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXVII" id="CHAPTER_LXXVII"></a>CHAPTER LXXVII</h2> + + +<p>The final purposes for which man is ordained to move in this nether +sphere, will for ever remain disputable, while the doubts to which it +gives rise can be answered only by fellow-doubters: but that the basis +of his social comfort is confidence, is an axiom that waits no +revelation, requires no logic, and dispenses with mathematical accuracy +for proof: it is an axiom that comes home, straight forward and +intuitively, to our 'business and bosoms;'—there, with life, to lodge.</p> + +<p>Juliet, therefore, in this rustic abode, surrounded by the clinging +affection of instinctive partiality, felt a sense of security, more +potent in its simplicity, than she could have owed to any engagement, +even of honour, even of law, even of duty. And, while to the fond mother +and her little ones, she was every moment newly endeared, she +experienced herself, in their favour, an increase of regard, that +excited in her an ardent desire to make this her permanent dwelling, +till she could procure tidings from Gabriella.</p> + +<p>The night-scene, nevertheless, hung upon her with perplexity. The good +dame never reverted to it, evidently not imagining that it had been +observed; and persuaded that the entrance, at that moment, of her guest, +had been accidental. She constantly evaded to speak of her husband, or +of his affairs; while all her happiness, and almost her very existence, +seemed wrapt up in her children.</p> + +<p>Unable to devise any better method of arriving at the subject, Juliet, +at length, determined upon relating the story of the hut. She watched +for an opportunity, when the little boy and girl, whom she would not +risk frightening, were asleep; and then, while occupied at her needle, +began detailing every circumstance of that affair.</p> + +<p>The narrative of the place, and of the family, sufficed to draw, at +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_684" id="Page_684">[Pg 684]</a></span>once, from the dame the exclamation, 'O, you been gone, then, to Nat +Mixon's? That be just he; and her, too. They be none o' the koindest, +that be sure, poor folk!'</p> + +<p>But at the history of the calling up in the night; the rising, passing, +and precautions; the dame changed colour, and, with palpable +disturbance, enquired upon what day of the week this had happened: she +revived, however, upon being answered that it was Thursday, simply +saying, 'Mercy be proised! that be a day as can do me no harm.'</p> + +<p>But, at the description of the sack, the lumpish sound, and the +subsequent appearance of a clot of blood, the poor woman turned pale; +and, blessing herself, said, 'The La be good unto me! Nat Mixon wull be +paid, at last, for all his bad ways! for, sure and sure, the devil do +owe un a grudge, or a would no ha' let a straunger in, to bear eye sight +to's goings on! 'T be a mercy 't be no worse, for an if 't had bin a +Friday—'</p> + +<p>She checked herself, but looked much troubled. Juliet, affrighted by her +own conjectures, would have stopt; the dame, however, begged her to go +on: but when she mentioned the cupboard, and the door smeared with +blood, the poor woman, unable to contain her feelings, caught her guest +by the arm, and exclaimed, 'You wull no' inform against un, wull you?'</p> + +<p>'Indeed, I should be most reluctant,' answered Juliet, 'to inform +against people who, be they what they may, admitted me to a night's +lodging, when I was in distress: nevertheless—what am I to think of +these appearances? Meetings in the dead of the night, so dark, private, +and clandestine?'</p> + +<p>'But, who could 't be as did call up Nat?' interrupted Dame Fairfield; +'for my husband do go only o' the Friday.—' and then, giving a loud +scream, 'La be good unto me!' she continued, 'if an't be last month, 't +be my husband for sure! for a could no' go o' the Friday, being the +great fair!'</p> + +<p>The expression of horrour now depicted upon the countenance of Juliet, +told the dame the mischief done by her unguarded speech; and, in a panic +uncontroulable, she flung her apron over her face, and sobbed out, ''T +be all blown, then, and we, we be all no better than ondone!'</p> + +<p>Shocked, grieved, and appalled at this detection, and uncertain whither +it might lead, or what might be its extent, the thoughts of Juliet were +now all engrossed in considering how immediately to abscond from a +situation so alarming and perilous.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes, Dame Fairfield, starting up, ran precipitately to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_685" id="Page_685">[Pg 685]</a></span> the +bed, calling out, 'Come, my pretty ones, come, my dearys! come and down +o' your knees to the good gentlewoman, and praoy her to ha' mercy o' +poor daddy; for if so be a come to be honged and transported, you can +never show your poor innocent pretty faces agen! Come, little dearys, +come! down o' your marrow-bones; and praoy her to be so good as not to +be hard-hearted; for if a do be so onkoind as to inform against us, we +be all ondone!'</p> + +<p>Juliet would have stopt this scene, but it was not possible; the +children, though comprehending nothing that was said, and crying at +being awaked, obeyed; and, falling at her feet, and supporting +themselves by her gown, said, 'Pay, dood ady, don't hurt daddy! pay +don't, dood ady!'</p> + +<p>Touched, yet filled with augmented dismay by their prayers, Juliet, +tenderly embracing, carried them back to bed; and, with words of +comfort, and kind promises, soon hushed them again to sleep.</p> + +<p>But the mother was not to be appeased; she had flung herself upon her +knees, and upon her knees she pertinaciously kept; sobbing as if her +heart were bursting, and lamenting that her husband never would listen +to her, or things would not have come to such a pass.</p> + +<p>Juliet, full of compassion, yet shuddering, attempted to console her, +but would enter into no engagement. Pity, in such a case, however +sincerely felt, could not take the lead; humanity itself invoked +justice; and she determined to let no personal consideration whatsoever, +interfere any longer with her causing an immediate investigation to be +made into this fearful business.</p> + +<p>The poor woman would not quit the floor, even when, in despondence, she +gave over her kneeling importunity. Juliet, from the instant that she +discovered how deeply the husband was involved, forbore all enquiry that +might make the wife an informer against him; and sate by her side, +trying to revive her, with offers of friendship and assistance.</p> + +<p>But when, anxious to escape from this eventful Forest, and still +confiding in the simplicity and goodness of her hostess, she begged a +clear direction to the shortest way for getting to the high road; +saying, 'Alas! how little had I imagined that there had been any spot in +England, where travellers were thus dreadfully waylaid to their +destruction!' Dame Fairfield, suddenly ceasing her outcries, demanded +what she meant; saying, 'Why sure, and sure, there be no daunger to +nobody in our Forest! We do go up it and down it, noight and day, +without no manner of fear; and though I do come from afar off myself, +being but a straunger in these parts, till I was married; my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_686" id="Page_686">[Pg 686]</a></span> +feather-in-law, who has lived in them, mon and boy, better than ninety +and odd years,—for, thof a be still as fresh as a rose, a be a'most a +hondred; he do tell me that a would carry his gold watch, if a had one, +in his open hand, from top to bottom of our nine walks, in the pitch of +the night; and a should aunswer to come to no harm; for a had never +heard of a traveller as had had so much as a hair of his head hurt in +the New Forest.'</p> + +<p>'What is it you tell me, my good dame?' cried Juliet amazed: 'What are +these alarming scenes that I have witnessed? And why are your +apprehensions for your husband so direful?'</p> + +<p>'The La be good unto me!' exclaimed the dame: 'why sure and sure you do +no' go to think the poor mon be a murderer?'</p> + +<p>'I am disposed to think whatever you will bid me,' replied Juliet, 'for +I see in you such perfect truth and candour, that I cannot hesitate in +giving you my belief.'</p> + +<p>'Why the La be good unto me, my good gentlewoman, there be but small +need to make bad worse! What the poor mon ha' done, may bring un to be +honged and transported; but if so be a had killed a mon, a might go to +old Nick besoides; and no one could say a deserved ony better.'</p> + +<p>Juliet earnestly begged an explanation; and Dame Fairfield then +confessed, that her husband and Nat Mixon were deer-stealers.</p> + +<p>After the tremendous sensations to which the mistake of Juliet, from her +ignorance of this species of traffic, had given rise, so unexpected a +solution of her perplexity, made this crime, contrasted with the +assassination of a fellow-creature, appear venial. But though relieved +from personal terrours, she would not hazard weakening the morality, in +lessening the fears of the good, but uncultivated Dame Fairfield, by +making her participate in the comparative view taken by herself, of the +greater with the less offence. She represented, therefore, warmly and +clearly, the turpitude of all failure of probity; dwelling most +especially upon the heinousness of a breach of trust.</p> + +<p>The good woman readily said, that she knew, well enough, that the deer +were as much the King's Majesty's as the Forest; and that she had told +it over and over to her husband; and bid him prepare for his latter end, +if he would follow such courses: 'But the main bleame, it do all lie in +Nat Mixon; for a be as bad a mon as a body might wish to set eyes on. +And a does always say a likes ony thing better than work. It be he has +led my poor husband astray: for, thof a be but a bad mon, at best, to my +mishap! a was a good sort of a husband<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_687" id="Page_687">[Pg 687]</a></span> enough, poor mon, till a took to +these courses. But a knows I do no' like un for that; and that makes it, +that a does no' much like me. But I would no' ha' un come to be honged +or transported, if so be a was as onkoind agen! I would sooner go with +un to prison; thof it be but a dismal life to be shut up by dark walls, +and iron bars for to see out of! but I'd do it for sure and sure, not to +forsake un, poor mon! in his need; if so be I could get wherewithal to +keep my little dearys.'</p> + +<p>Touched by such genuine and virtuous simplicity, Juliet now promised to +apply to some powerful gentleman, to take her husband from the +temptation of his present situation; and to settle them all at a +distance from the Forest.</p> + +<p>The good woman, at this idea, started up in an extacy, and jumped about +the room, to give some vent to her joy; kissing her little ones till she +nearly suffocated them; and telling them, for sure and certain, that +they had gotten an angel come amongst them, to save them all from shame. +'For now,' she continued, 'if we do but get un away from Nat Mixon and +his wife, who be the worst mon in all the Forest, a wull think no more +of selling unlawful goods than unlawful geame.'</p> + +<p>Juliet, though delighted at her happiness, was struck with the words +'unlawful goods;' which she involuntarily repeated. Dame Fairfield, +unable, at this moment, to practise any restraint upon her feelings, +plumply, then, acknowledged that Nat Mixon was a smuggler, as well as a +deer-stealer: and that three of them were gone, even now, about the +country, selling laces, and cambrics, and gloves, just brought to land.</p> + +<p>This additional misdemeanour, considerably abated the hopes of +reformation which had been conceived by Juliet; and every word that, +inadvertently, escaped from the unguarded dame, brought conviction that +the man was thoroughly worthless. To give him, nevertheless, if +possible, the means to amend; and, at all events, to succour his good +wife, and lovely children, occupied as much of the thoughts of Juliet as +could be drawn, by humanity, from the danger of her own situation, and +her solicitude to escape from the Forest.</p> + +<p>More fearful than ever of losing her way, and falling into new evil, she +again entreated Dame Fairfield to accompany her to the next town on the +morrow. The dame agreed to every thing; and then, light of heart, though +heavy with fatigue, went to rest; and was instantly visited by the best +physician to all our cares.</p> + +<p>Juliet, also, courted repose; and not utterly in vain; though it came +not to the relief of her anxious spirits, agitated by all the +anticipating<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_688" id="Page_688">[Pg 688]</a></span> inquietude of foresight, with the same salutary facility +with which it instantly hushed the fears and the griefs of the +unreflecting, though feeling Dame Fairfield.</p> + +<p>The moment that the babbling little voices of the children reached, the +next morning, the ear of Juliet, she descended from her small chamber, +to hasten the breakfast, and to quicken her departure. Dame Fairfield, +during the preparations and the repast, happy in new hope, and solaced +by unburthening her heart, conversed, without reserve, upon her affairs; +and the picture which her ingenuous avowals, and simple details, offered +to the mental view of Juliet, presented to her a new sight of human +life; but a sight from which she turned with equal sadness and +amazement.</p> + +<p>The wretched man of the hut, of whom the poor dame's husband was the +servile accomplice, was the leader in all the illicit adventures of the +New Forest. Another cottager, also, was entirely under his direction; +though the difficulty and danger attendant upon their principal traffic, +great search being always made after a lost deer, caused it to be rarely +repeated; but smaller game; hares, pheasants, and partridges, were +easily inveigled, by an adroit dispersion of grain, to a place proper +for their seizure; and it required not much skill to frame stories for +satisfying purchasers, who were generally too eager for possession, to +be scrupulous in investigating the means by which their luxury was so +cheaply indulged.</p> + +<p>The fixed day of rendezvous was every Friday month, that each might be +ready for his part of the enterprize.</p> + +<p>Juliet, the dame imagined, had been admitted because it was Thursday, +and that her husband had not given notice that he should change his day, +on account of the fair; besides which, neither Mixon, she said, nor his +wife, ever refused money, be it ever so dangerous. He and his family +nearly subsisted upon the game which could not be got off in time; or +the refuse; or parts that were too suspicious for sale, of the deer. But +Dame Fairfield, though at the expence of the most terrible quarrels, and +even ill usage from her husband, never would consent to touch, nor +suffer her children to eat, what was not their own; 'for I do tell un,' +she continued, 'it might strangle us down our throats; for it be all his +King's Majesty's; and I do no' know why we should take hisn goods, when +a do never come to take none of ours! for we be never mislested, night +nor day. And a do deserve well of us all; for a be as good a gentlemon +as ever broke bread! which we did all see, when a was in these parts; as +well as his good lady,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_689" id="Page_689">[Pg 689]</a></span> the Queen, who had a smile for the lowest of us, +God bless un! and all their pretty ones! for they were made up of good +nature and charity; and had no more pride than the new-born baby. And we +did all love 'em, when they were in these parts, so as the like never +was seen before.'</p> + +<p>With regard to the smuggling, there were three men, she said, who came +over, alternately, from beyond seas, with counterband merchandize. They +landed where they could, and, if they were surprised, they knew how to +hide their goods, and pass for poor fishermen, blown over by foul winds: +for they had always fishing tackle ready to shew. They had agents all +round the coast, prepared to deal with them; but when they came to the +Forest, they always treated with Mixon.</p> + +<p>Her friend near the turnpike, at Salisbury, commonly kept a good store +of articles; which she carried about, occasionally, to the ladies of the +town. 'And I ha' had sums and sums of goods,' she added, 'here, +oftentimes, myself; and then I do no dare to leave the house for one +yearthly moment; for we be all no better than slaves when the smugglers +be here, for fear of some informer. And I do tell my poor husband, we +should be mainly happier to work our hands to the bone, ony day of the +year, so we did but live by the King's Majesty's laws, than to make +money by being always in a quandary. And a might see the truth of what I +do say, if a would no' blind his poor eyes; or Nat Mixon, thof a do get +a power of money, do live the most pitiful of us all, for the fear of +being found out: a does no' dare get un a hat, nor a waistcoat like to +another mon. And his wife be the dirtiest beast in all the Forest. And +their house and garden be no better than a piggery. So that they've no +joy of life. They be but bad people at best, poor folk! And Nat be main +cross-grained; for, with all his care, a do look to be took up every +blessed day; and that don't much mend a mon's humour.'</p> + +<p>Ah, thought Juliet, were the wilful, but unreflecting purchaser, +amenable to sharing the public punishment of the tempted and needy +instrument,—how soon would this traffic die away; and every country +live by its own means; or by its own fair commerce!</p> + +<p>They had all, the dame said, been hard at work, to cover some goods +under ground, the very night of Juliet's arrival: and they had put what +was for immediate sale into hods, spread over with potatoes, to convey +to different places. When Juliet had tapped at the door, the dame had +concluded it to be her husband, returned for something<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_690" id="Page_690">[Pg 690]</a></span> that had been +forgotten; but the sight of a stranger, she said, though it were but a +woman, made her think that they were all undone; for the changed dress +of Juliet impeded any recollection of her, till she spoke.</p> + +<p>In the communication to which this discourse gave rise, Juliet, with +surprize, and even with consternation, learnt, how pernicious were the +ravages of dishonest cupidity; how subversive alike of fair prosperity, +and genial happiness, even in the bosom of retired and beautiful +rusticity. For those who were employed in poaching, purloining wood, or +concealing illicit merchandize by night, were as incapable of the arts +and vigour of industry by day, as they were torpid to the charms and +animation of the surrounding beauties of nature. Their severest labour +received no pay, but from fearful, accidental, and perilous dexterity; +their best success was blighted by constant apprehension of detection. +Reproachful with each other, suspicious of their neighbours, and gloomy +in themselves, they were still greater strangers to civilized manners +than to social morality.</p> + +<p>In the midst, however, of the dejection excited by such a view of human +frailty, Juliet, whose heart always panted to love, and prided in +esteeming her fellow-creatures, had the consolation to gather, that the +houses which contained these unworthy members of the community were few, +in comparison with those which were inhabited by persons of unsullied +probity; that several of the cottagers were even exemplary for assiduous +laboriousness and good conduct; and that many of the farmers and their +families were universally respected.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_691" id="Page_691">[Pg 691]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_LXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER LXXVIII</h2> + + +<p>When Dame Fairfield was nearly ready, Juliet, to forward the march, set +out with the two children; but had scarcely quitted the house, when the +sight of a man, advancing towards the habitation, made her plant herself +behind a tree, to examine him before she ventured to proceed.</p> + +<p>She observed that he stopt, every two or three minutes, himself, to take +an inquisitive view all around him; frequently bending upon the ground, +and appearing to be upon some eager search.</p> + +<p>As he approached, she thought that his air was familiar to her; she +regarded him more earnestly as he drew nearer; what, then, was her +horrour to recognize the pilot!</p> + +<p>She glided back, instantaneously, to the house, beckoning to the +children to follow; and, rushing upon Dame Fairfield, and, taking both +her hands, she faintly ejaculated, 'Oh my good dame!—hide, conceal me, +I entreat!—I am pursued by a cruel enemy, and lost if you are not my +friend!—Serve, save me, now, and I will be yours to the end of my +life!'</p> + +<p>'That I wull!' answered the dame, delighted; 'if you wull but be so +koind as to save my poor husband the sheame of being honged or +transported, I wull go through fire and water to serve you, to the +longest day I have to live upon the feace of God's yearth!'</p> + +<p>Then, making the children play without doors, that they might not +observe what passed, she told Juliet to bolt herself into the upper +chamber.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes, the children, running into the house, called out, +'Mam, mam, yonder be dad!'</p> + +<p>The dame went forth to meet him; and Juliet spent nearly half an hour in +the most cruel suspense.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_692" id="Page_692">[Pg 692]</a></span></p> + +<p>Dame Fairfield then came to her; and, by the discourse that ensued, she +found that the pilot was one of the smugglers who brought merchandize to +Mixon; and heard that he and Fairfield had thus unexpectedly returned, +in search of a piece of fine broad French lace, of great value, which +was missing; and which Fairfield suspected to have dropt from one of his +parcels, while he was making his assortments, by the light of the +lanthorn. She had been, she said, helping them to look for it, high and +low; but had stolen away, for an instant, to bring this account; and to +beg Juliet not to be frightened, because though, if Fairfield would go +up stairs, she could not hinder him, she would take care that the +smuggler should not follow.</p> + +<p>Juliet was now seized with a panic that nearly bereft her of all hope; +and Dame Fairfield was so much touched by the sight of her sufferings, +that she descended, unbidden, to endeavour to discover some means to +facilitate an escape.</p> + +<p>That the pilot should prove to be a smuggler, caused no surprize to +Juliet; but that accident should so cruelly be her foe, as to lead her +to the spot where he deposited and negociated his merchandize, at the +very period when his affairs brought him thither himself; that she +should find her chosen retreat her bane; and that, even where she was +unpursued, she should be overtaken; was a stroke of misfortune as severe +as it was unexpected.</p> + +<p>And, soon after, she found her situation still more terrible than she +had imagined it. Fairfield, presently entering the kitchen, to take some +food, accused his wife, in a loud and angry tone, of having abetted an +imposter. Mounseer, the smuggler, he said, had not come to these parts, +this time, merely for his own private business. He had been offered a +great reward for discovering a young gentlewoman who had run away; and +who turned out to be no other than the very same that she had been such +a ninny as to impose upon Dame Goss, at Salisbury; and who had made off +without paying for her board and lodging.</p> + +<p>The dame warmly declared, that this could not be possible; that it must +be some other gentlewoman; for that a person who could be so kind to her +children could not have so black a heart.</p> + +<p>Fairfield, with bitter reproaches against her folly, persisted in the +accusation: stating, that, upon Dame Goss's going to the post-office for +a letter, it had been refused to her, because of its being directed to a +person advertised in the public news-papers; and Dame Goss had been sent +back, with an excuse, to while away the time, till somebody should +follow, to confront the gentlewoman with the advertisement.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_693" id="Page_693">[Pg 693]</a></span> But Dame +Goss, instead of keeping a sharp watch, had been over-persuaded to go of +an errand; and she had no sooner turned her back, than the gentlewoman +made off. However, they had written to the news-papers that she was +somewhere in those parts; and they could do no more; for there was no +right to seize her; for the advertisement only desired to know where she +might be heard of, and found. It had made a rare hue and cry in the +town; and Mounseer, the smuggler, who had come down to Salisbury along +with another outlandish man, had traced the gentlewoman as far as to +Romsey; but could not find out what had become of her afterwards. The +other outlandish man, who was as rich as a Duke, and was to pay the +reward, had stopt at Salisbury, for tidings: upon which Mounseer, the +smuggler, thought he might as well come on, and see a bit after his own +business by the way; for it would not lose much time; and he might not +get to these parts again for months.</p> + +<p>The silence that ensued, gave Juliet an afflicting presentiment that she +had lost, by this history, her friend and advocate: and accordingly, +when, upon her husband's returning to his search, the dame re-mounted +the stairs, her air was so changed, that Juliet, again clasping her +hands, cried, 'Oh! Dame Fairfield!—Kind, good Dame Fairfield! judge me +not till you know me better! Aid me still, my good dame, in pity, in +charity aid me!—for, believe me, I am innocent!'</p> + +<p>'Why then so I wull!' cried the dame, resuming her looks of mild good +will; 'I wull believe you! And I'll holp you too, for sure: for now you +be under my own poor roof, 'twould be like unto a false heart to give +you up to your enemies. Besoides, I do think in my conscience you wull +pay every one his own, when you've got wherewithal. And it be but hard +to expect it before. And I do say, that a person that could be so koind +to my little Jacky and Jenny, in their need, must have a good heart of +her own; and would no' wrong no yearthly creature, unless a could no' +holp it.'</p> + +<p>She then promised to watch the moment of the smuggler's turning round to +the garden-side of the house, to assist her flight; and, once a few +yards distant, all would be safe; for her change of clothes from what +she had worn at Salisbury, would secure her from any body's +recollection.</p> + +<p>This, in a few minutes, was performed; and, without daring to see the +children, who would have cried at her departure, Juliet took a hasty +leave, silent but full of gratitude, of the good dame; into whose bosom, +as her hand refused it, she slipt a guinea for the little ones;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_694" id="Page_694">[Pg 694]</a></span> and, +having received full directions, set forward, by the shortest cut, to +the nearest high road.</p> + +<p>She reached it unannoyed, but breathless; and seated herself upon a bank +by its side; not to hesitate which way to turn; the right and the left +were alike unknown to her, and alike liable to danger; but to recover +respiration, and force to proceed.</p> + +<p>She could now form no plan, save to hasten to some other part of the +country; certain that here she was sought all around; and conscious that +the disguise of her habiliment, if not already betrayed, must shortly, +from a thousand accidents, prove nugatory.</p> + +<p>In her ignorance what course the pilot might take, upon quitting the +cottage of Fairfield, she determined upon seeking, immediately, some +decent lodging for the rest of the day; hoping thus, should he pursue +the same route, to escape being overtaken.</p> + +<p>She had soon the satisfaction to come to a small habitation, a little +out of the high road, where she was accommodated, by a man and his wife, +with a room that precisely answered her purpose: and here she spent the +night.</p> + +<p>Thankful in obtaining any sort of tranquillity, she would fain have +remained longer; but she durst not continue in the neighbourhood of +Fairfield; and, the following morning, she re-commenced her wanderings.</p> + +<p>She asked the way to Salisbury, though merely that she might take an +opposite direction. She ventured not to raise her eyes from the earth, +nor to cast even a glance at any one whom she passed. She held her +handkerchief to her face at the sound of every carriage; and trembled at +the approach of every horseman. Her steps were quick and eager; though +not more precipitate to fly from those by whom she was followed, than +fearful of being observed by those whom she met.</p> + +<p>In a short time, the sight of several hostlers, helpers, and postilions, +before a large house, which appeared to be a capital inn, made her cross +the way. She wished to turn wholly from the high road; but low +brick-walls had now, on either side, taken place of hedges, and she +searched in vain for an opening. Her earnestness to press onward, joined +to her fear of looking up, made her soon follow, unconsciously, an +ordinary man, till she was so close behind him, as suddenly to perceive, +by his now well known coat, that he was the pilot! A scream struggled to +escape her, in the surprize of her affright; but she stifled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_695" id="Page_695">[Pg 695]</a></span> it, and, +turning short back, speeded her retrograde way with all her force.</p> + +<p>She had reason, however, to fear that her uncontrollable first emotion +had caught his notice, for she heard footsteps following. Hopeless of +saving herself, if watched or suspected, by flight; as she knew that +there was no turning for at least half a mile; she darted precipitately +into the inn; which seemed alone to offer her even a shadow of any +chance of concealment. She rushed past ostlers, helpers, postilions, and +waiters; seized the hand of the first female that she met; and hastily +begged to be shewn to a room.</p> + +<p>The chambermaid, astonished at such a request from a person no better +equipped, pertly asked what she meant.</p> + +<p>Juliet, whose apprehensive eyes roved everywhere, now saw the pilot at +the door.</p> + +<p>She held the maid by the arm, and, in a voice scarcely audible, +entreated to be taken any where that she might be alone; and had the +presence of mind to hint at a recompence.</p> + +<p>This instantly prevailed. The maid said, 'Well, come along!' and led her +to a small apartment up stairs.</p> + +<p>Juliet put a shilling into her hand, and was then left to herself.</p> + +<p>In an agony of suffering that disordered her whole frame, What a life, +she cried, is this that I lead! How tremendous, and how degrading! Is it +possible that even what I fly can be more dreadful?</p> + +<p>This question restored her fortitude. Ah yes! ah yes! she cried, all +passing evil is preferable to such a termination!</p> + +<p>She now composed her spirits, and, while deliberating how she might make +a friend of the maid, to aid her escape, perceived, from the window, the +pilot, in a stable-yard, examining a horse, for which he seemed to be +bartering.</p> + +<p>This determined her to attempt to regain the cottage which she had last +quitted, and thence to try some opposite route.</p> + +<p>Swiftly she descended the stairs; a general bustle from some new arrival +enabled her to pass unnoticed; but a chaise was at the door, and she was +forced to make way for a gentleman, who had just quitted it, to enter +the house. Unavoidably, by this movement, she saw the gentleman also; +the colour instantly forsook her cheeks and lips; her feet tottered, and +she fell.</p> + +<p>She was immediately surrounded by waiters; but the gentleman, who, +observing only her dress, concluded her to belong to the house,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_696" id="Page_696">[Pg 696]</a></span> walked +on into the kitchen, and asked, in broken English, for the landlord or +landlady.</p> + +<p>Juliet, whose fall had been the effect of a sudden deprivation of +strength, from an abrupt sensation of horrour, had not fainted. She +heard, therefore, what passed, and was easily helped to rise; and, +shaded by her packet, which, even in her first terrour, she had +instinctively held to her face, she made a motion to walk into the air. +One of the men, good naturedly, placed her a chair without doors; she +sat upon it thankfully, and almost as quickly recovered as she had lost +her force, by a reviving idea, that, even yet, thus situated, she might +make her escape.</p> + +<p>She had just risen with this view, when the voice of the pilot, who was +coming round the house, from the stable-yard, forced her hastily to +re-enter the passage; but not before she heard him enquire, whether a +French gentleman were arrived in that chaise?</p> + +<p>Again, now, she glided on towards the stairs; hearing, as she passed, +the answer made by the French gentleman himself: '<i>Oui, oui, me voici. +Quelles sont les nouvelles?</i>'<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<p>The voices of both proved each to be advancing to the passage, to meet +the other. Juliet was no longer sensible of bodily weakness; nor +scarcely of bodily existence. She seemed to herself a mere composition +of terrour. She flew up the stairs, meaning to regain her little +chamber; but, mistaking her way, found herself in a gallery, leading to +the best apartments. Glad, however, rather than sorry, in the hope she +might here be less liable to be sought, she opened the first door; and, +entering a large room, locked and bolted herself in, with such extreme +precipitance, that already she had sunk upon her knees, in fervent +prayer, before a shadow, which caught her eyes, made her look round; +when she perceived, at a distant window, a gentleman who was writing.</p> + +<p>In the deepest consternation, she arose, hurrying to find the key; +which, in her perturbation, she had taken out, and let drop she knew not +where.</p> + +<p>While earnestly searching it, the gentleman, mildly, yet in a tone of +some surprize, enquired what she wanted.</p> + +<p>Startled at the sound of his voice, she looked up, and saw Harleigh.</p> + +<p>Her conflicting emotions now exceeded all that she had hitherto +experienced. To seem to follow, even to his room, the man whom she had +adjured, as he valued her preservation, to quit and avoid her;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_697" id="Page_697">[Pg 697]</a></span> joined +sensations of shame so poignant, to those of horrour and anguish, with +which she was already overwhelmed, that, almost, she wished her last +hour to arrive; that, while finishing her wretchedness, she might clear +her integrity and honour.</p> + +<p>Harleigh, to whom her dress, as he had not caught a view of her face, +proved a complete disguise of her person, concluded her to be some light +nymph of the inn, and suffered her to search for the key, without even +repeating his question: but when, upon her finding it, he observed that +her shaking hand could not, for some time, fix it in the lock, he was +struck with something in her general form that urged him to rise, and +offer his assistance.</p> + +<p>Still more her hand shook, but she opened the door, and, without +answering, and with a head carefully averted, eagerly quitted the room; +shutting herself out, with trembling precipitation.</p> + +<p>Harleigh hesitated whether to follow; but it was only for a moment: the +next, a shriek of agony reached his ears, and, hastily rushing forth, he +saw the female who had just quitted him, standing in an attitude of +despair; her face bowed down upon her hands; while an ill-looking man, +whom he presently recollected for the pilot, grinning in triumph, and +with arms wide extended, to prevent her passing, loudly called out, +'<i>Citoyen! Citoyen! venez voir! c'est Elle! Je la tien!</i>'<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p>Harleigh would have remonstrated against this rude detention; but he had +no sooner begun speaking, than Juliet, finding that she could not +advance, retreated; and had just put her hand upon the lock of a door, +higher up in the gallery; when another man, dressed with disgusting +negligence, and of a hideous countenance, yet wearing an air of +ferocious authority; advancing by large strides, roughly seized her arm, +with one hand, while, with the other, he rudely lifted up her bonnet, to +examine her face.</p> + +<p>'<i>C'est bien!</i>' he cried, with a look of exultation, that gave to his +horrible features an air of infernal joy; '<i>viens, citoyenne, viens; +suis moi</i>.'<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> + +<p>Harleigh, who, when the bonnet was raised, saw, what as yet he had +feared to surmize,—that it was Juliet; sprang forward, exclaiming, +'Daring ruffian! quit your hold!'</p> + +<p>'<i>Ose tu nier mes droits?</i>' cried the man, addressing Juliet; whose arm +he still griped;—<i>'Dis!—parles!—l'ose tu?</i>'<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_698" id="Page_698">[Pg 698]</a></span></p> +<p>Juliet was mute; but Harleigh saw that she was sinking, and bent towards +her to save her fall; what, then, was his astonishment, to perceive that +it was voluntary! and that she cast herself at the feet of her +assailant!</p> + +<p>Thunderstruck, he held back.</p> + +<p>The man, with an expression of diabolical delight at this posture, cast +his eyes now upon her, now upon her appalled defendant; and then, in +French, gave orders to the pilot, to see four fresh horses put to the +chaise: and, in a tone of somewhat abated rage, bid Juliet arise, and +accompany him down stairs.</p> + +<p>'Ah, no!—ah, spare—ah, leave me yet!—' in broken accents, and in +French, cried the still prostrate Juliet.</p> + +<p>The man, who was large made, tall, and strong, seized, then, both her +arms, with a motion that indicated his intention to drag her along.</p> + +<p>A piercing shriek forced its way from her at his touch: but she arose, +and made no appeal, no remonstrance.</p> + +<p>'<i>Si tu peus le conduire toute seule,</i>' said the man, sneeringly, +'<i>soit! Mais vas en avant! Je ne le perdrai plus de vu.</i>'<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></p> + +<p>Juliet again hid her face, but stood still.</p> + +<p>The man roughly gave her a push; seeming to enjoy, with a coarse laugh, +the pleasure of driving her on before him.</p> + +<p>Harleigh, who saw that her face was convulsed with horrour, fiercely +planted himself in the midst of the passage, vehemently exclaiming, +'Infernal monster! by what right do you act?'</p> + +<p>'<i>De quel droit me le demandez vous?</i>'<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> cried the man; who appeared +perfectly to understand English.</p> + +<p>'By the rights of humanity!' replied Harleigh; 'and you shall answer me +by the rights of justice! One claim alone can annul my interference. Are +you her father?'</p> + +<p><i>'Non!</i>' he answered, with a laugh of scorn; '<i>mais il y a d'autres +droits!</i>'<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></p> + +<p>'There are none!' cried Harleigh, 'to which you can pretend; none!'</p> + +<p>'<i>Comment cela? n'est-ce pas ma femme? Ne suis-je pas son mari?</i>'<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></p> + +<p>'No!' cried Harleigh, 'no!' with the fury of a man seized with sudden<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_699" id="Page_699">[Pg 699]</a></span> +delirium; 'I deny it!—'tis false! and neither you nor all the fiends of +hell shall make me believe it!'</p> + +<p>Juliet again fell prostrate; but, though her form turned towards her +assailant, her eyes, and supplicating hands, that begged forbearance, +were lifted up, in speechless agony, to Harleigh.</p> + +<p>Repressed by this look and action, though only to be overpowered by the +blackest surmizes, Harleigh again stood suspended.</p> + +<p>Finding the people of the inn were now filling the staircase, to see +what was the matter, the foreigner, in tolerable English, told them all +to be gone, for he was only recovering an eloped wife. Then, addressing +Juliet, 'If you dare assert,' he said, 'that you are not my wife, your +perjury may cost you dear! If you have not that hardiness, hold your +tongue and welcome. Who else will dare dispute my claims?'</p> + +<p>'I will!' cried Harleigh, furiously. 'Walk this way, Sir, and give me an +account of yourself! I will defend that lady from your inhuman grasp, to +the last drop of my blood!'</p> + +<p>'Ah, no! ah, no!' Juliet now faintly uttered; but the man, interrupting +her, said, 'Dare you assert, I demand, that you are not my wife? Speak! +Dare you?'</p> + +<p>Again she bowed down her face upon her hands,—her face that seemed +bloodless with despair; but she was mute.</p> + +<p>'I put you to the test;' continued the man, striding to the end of the +gallery, and opening the last door: 'Go into that chamber!'</p> + +<p>She shrieked aloud with agony uncontrollable; and Harleigh, with an +emotion irrepressible, cast his arms around her, exclaiming, 'Place +yourself under my protection! and no violence, no power upon earth shall +tear you away!'</p> + +<p>At these words, all the force of her character came again to her aid; +and she disengaged herself from him, with a reviving dignity in her air, +that shewed a decided resolution to resist his services: but she was +still utterly silent; and he saw that she was obliged to sustain her +tottering frame against the wall, to save herself from again sinking +upon the floor.</p> + +<p>The foreigner seemed with difficulty to restrain his rage from some act +of brutality; but, after a moment's pause, fixing his hands fiercely in +his sides, he ferociously confronted the shaking Juliet, and said, 'I +have informed your family of my rights. Lord Denmeath has promised me +his assistance and your portion.'</p> + +<p>'Lord Denmeath!' repeated the astonished Harleigh.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_700" id="Page_700">[Pg 700]</a></span></p> + +<p>'He has promised me, also,' the foreigner, without heeding him, +continued, 'the support of your half-brother, Lord Melbury,—'</p> + +<p>'Lord Melbury!' again exclaimed Harleigh; with an expression that spoke +a sudden delight, thrilling, in defiance of agony, through his burning +veins.</p> + +<p>'Who, he assures me, is a young man of honour, who will never abet a +wife in eloping from her husband. I shall take you, therefore, at first, +and at once, to Lord Denmeath, who will only pay your portion to your +own signature. Go, therefore, quietly into that room, till the chaise is +ready, and I promise that I won't follow you: though, if you resist, I +shall assert my rights by force.'</p> + +<p>He held the door open. She wrung her hands with agonizing horrour. He +took hold of her shoulder; she shrunk from his touch; but, in shrinking, +involuntarily entered the room. He would have pushed her on; but +Harleigh, who now looked wild with the violence of contending emotions; +with rage, astonishment, grief, and despair; furiously caught him by the +arm, calling out, 'Hold, villain, hold!—Speak, Madam, speak! Utter but +a syllable!—Deign only to turn towards me!—Pronounce but with your +eyes that he has no legal claim, and I will instantly secure your +liberty,—even from myself!—even from all mankind!—Speak!—turn!—look +but a moment this way!—One word! one single word!—'</p> + +<p>She clapped her hands upon her forehead, in an action of despair; but +the word was not spoken,—not a syllable was uttered! A look, however, +escaped her, expressive of a soul in torture, yet supplicating his +retreat. She then stepped further into the room, and the foreigner shut +and double-locked the door.</p> + +<p>Triumphantly brandishing the key, as he eyed, sidelong, the now passive +Harleigh, he went into the adjoining apartment; where, seating himself +in the middle of the room, he left the door wide open, to watch all +egress and regress in the passage.</p> + +<p>Harleigh now appeared to be lost! The violence of his agitation, while +he concluded her to be wrongfully claimed, was transformed into the +blackest and most indignant despondence, at her unresisting, however +wretched acquiescence, to commands thus brutal; emanating from an +authority of which, however evidently it was deplored, she attempted not +to controvert the legality. The dreadful mystery, more direful than it +had been depicted, even by the most cruel of his apprehensions, was now +revealed: she is married! he internally cried; married to the vilest of +wretches, whom she flies and abhors,—yet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_701" id="Page_701">[Pg 701]</a></span> she is married! indisputably +married! and can never, never,—even in my wishes, now, be mine!</p> + +<p>A sudden sensation, kindred even to hatred, took possession of his +feelings. Altered she appeared to him, and delusive. She had always, +indeed, discouraged his hopes, always forbidden his expectations; yet +she must have seen that they subsisted, and were cherished; and could +not but have been conscious, that a single word, bitter, but essentially +just, might have demolished, have annihilated them in a moment.</p> + +<p>He dragged himself back to his apartment, and resolutely shut his door; +gloomily bent to nourish every unfavourable impression, that might +sicken regret by resentment. But no indignation could curb his grief at +her loss; nor his horrour at her situation: and the look that had +compelled his retreat; the look that so expressively had concentrated +and conveyed her so often reiterated sentence, of 'leave, or you destroy +me!' seemed rivetted to his very brain, so as to take despotic and +exclusive hold of all his faculties.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes, the sound of a carriage almost mechanically drew him +to the window. He saw there an empty chaise and four horses. It was +surely to convey her away!—and with the man whom she loathed,—and from +one who, so often! had awakened in her symptoms the most impressive of +the most flattering sensibility!—</p> + +<p>The transitory calm of smothered, but not crushed emotions, was now +succeeded by a storm of the most violent and tragic passions. To lose +her for ever, yet irresistibly to believe himself beloved!—to see her +nearly lifeless with misery, yet to feel that to demand a conference, or +the smallest explanation, or even a parting word, might expose her to +the jealousy of a brute, who seemed capable of enjoying, rather than +deprecating, any opportunity to treat her ill; to be convinced that she +must be the victim of a forced marriage; yet to feel every sentiment of +honour, and if of honour of happiness! rise to oppose all violation of a +rite, that, once performed, must be held sacred:—thoughts, reflections, +ideas thus dreadful, and sensations thus excruciating, almost deprived +him of reason, and he cast himself upon the ground in wild agony.</p> + +<p>But he was soon roused thence by the gruff voice, well recollected, of +the pilot, who, from the bottom of the stairs, called out, '<i>Viens, +citoyen! tout est pret.</i>'<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a></p> + +<p>With horrour, now, he heard the heavy step of the foreigner again<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_702" id="Page_702">[Pg 702]</a></span> in +the passage; he listened, and the sound reached his ear of the key +fixing—the door unlocking.—Excess of torture then caused a short +suspension of his faculties, and he heard no more.</p> + +<p>Soon, however, reviving, the stillness startled him. He opened his door. +No one was in the passage; but he caught a plaintive sound, from the +room in which Juliet was a prisoner: and soon gathered that Juliet +herself was imploring for leave to travel to Lord Denmeath's alone.</p> + +<p>What an aggravation to the sufferings of Harleigh, to learn that she was +thus allied, at the moment that he knew her to be another's! for however +the violence of his admiration had conquered every obstacle, he had +always thought, with reluctance and concern, of the supposed obscurity +of her family and connections.</p> + +<p>Juliet pleaded in vain. A harsh refusal was followed by the grossest +menace, if she hesitated to accompany him at once.</p> + +<p>The pilot, repeating his call, now mounted the stairs; and Harleigh felt +compelled to return to his room; but, looking back in re-entering it, he +saw Juliet forced into the passage; her face not merely pale, but +ghastly; her eyes nearly starting from her head.</p> + +<p>To rescue, to protect her, Harleigh now thought was all that could +render life desirable; but, while adoring her almost to madness, he +respected her situation and her fame, and re-passed into his chamber, +unseen by the foreigner.</p> + +<p>Yet he could not forbear placing himself so that he might catch a glance +of her as she went by; he held the door, therefore, in his hand, as if, +accidentally, at that moment, opening it. She did not turn her head, but +assumed an air of resignation, and walked straight on; yet though she +did not meet his eye, she evidently felt it; a pale pink suffusion shot +across her cheeks; taking place of the death-like hue they had exhibited +as she quitted her room; but which, fading away almost in the same +moment, left her again a seeming spectre.</p> + +<p>A nervous dimness took from Harleigh even the faculty of observing the +foreigner. She loves me! was his thought; she surely loves me! And the +idea which, not many minutes sooner, would have chaced from his mind +every feeling but of felicity, now rent his heart with torture, from +painting their mutual unhappiness. It was not a sigh that he stifled, +nor a sigh that escaped him; but a groan, a piercing groan, which broke +from his sorrows, as he heard her tottering step reach the stairs, while +internally he uttered, She is gone from me for ever!</p> + +<p>When he thought she would no longer be in sight, he followed to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_703" id="Page_703">[Pg 703]</a></span> the +first landing-place; to catch, once more, even the most distant sound of +her feet: but the passage to and fro of waiters, forced him again to +mount to his chamber. There, he hastened to the window, to take a view, +a last view! of her loved form; but thence, shuddering, retreated, at +sight of the chaise and four; destined to whirl her everlastingly away +from him, with a companion so undisguisedly dreaded!—so evidently +abhorred!</p> + +<p>Yet, at the first sound, he returned to the window; whence he perceived +Juliet just arrived upon the threshold; looking like a picture of death, +and leaning upon a chambermaid, to whom she clung as to a bosom friend; +yet not attempting to resist the foreigner; who, on her other side, +dragged her by the arm, in open triumph. But, when she came to the +chaise-step, she staggered, her vital powers seemed forsaking her; she +heaved a hard and painful sigh, and, but for the chambermaid, who knelt +down to catch her, had fallen upon the ground.</p> + +<p>Harleigh was already half way down the stairs, almost frantic to save +her; before he had sufficient recollection to remind him, that any +effort on his part might cause her yet grosser insult. He was then again +at his window; where he saw a second chambermaid administering burnt +feathers, which had already recovered her from the fainting fit; while +the mistress of the house was presenting her with hartshorn and water.</p> + +<p>She refused no assistance; but the foreigner, who was loudly enraged at +the delay, said that he would lift her into the chaise; and bid the +pilot get in first, to help the operation.</p> + +<p>She now again looked so sick and disordered, that all the women called +upon the foreigner to let her re-enter the house, and take a little +rest, before her journey. Her eyes, turned up to heaven with +thankfulness, even at the proposal, encouraged them to grow clamorous in +their demand; but the man, with a scornful sneer, replied that her +journey would be her cure; and told the pilot, who was finishing a +bottle of wine, to make haste.</p> + +<p>The wretched Juliet, resuming her resolution, though with an air of +despair, faintly pronounced, that she would get into the carriage +herself; and, leaning upon the woman, ascended the steps, and dropt upon +the seat of the chaise.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_704" id="Page_704">[Pg 704]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXIX" id="CHAPTER_LXXIX"></a>CHAPTER LXXIX</h2> + + +<p>At this moment, a horseman, who had advanced full gallop, hastily +dismounting, enquired aloud, whether any French gentleman had lately +arrived.</p> + +<p>All who were present, pointed to the foreigner; who, not hearing, or +affecting not to hear the demand, began pushing away the women, that he +might follow Juliet.</p> + +<p>The horseman, approaching, asked the foreigner his name.</p> + +<p>'<i>Qu'est ce que cela vous fait?</i>'<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> he answered.</p> + +<p>'You must come with me into the inn,' the horseman replied, after +stedfastly examining his face.</p> + +<p>The foreigner, with a loud oath, refused to stir.</p> + +<p>The horseman, holding out a paper, clapped him upon the shoulder, +saying, that he was a person who had been looked for some time, in +consequence of information which had been lodged against him; and that +he was to be sent out of the kingdom.</p> + +<p>This declaration made, he called upon the master of the house to lend +his assistance, for keeping the arrested person in custody, till the +arrival of the proper officers of justice.</p> + +<p>The man, at first, could find no vent for his rage, except horrid oaths, +and tremendous imprecations; but, when he was positively seized, with a +menace of being bound hand and foot, if he offered any opposition, he +swore that his wife, at least, should accompany him; and put forth his +hand towards the chaise, to drag out Juliet.</p> + +<p>But Juliet was saved from his grasp by the landlady; who humanely, upon +seeing her almost expiring condition, had entered the carriage, during +the dispute, with a viol of sal volatile.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_705" id="Page_705">[Pg 705]</a></span></p> + +<p>The horseman, who was a peace-officer, said that he had no orders to +arrest any woman. She might come, or stay, as she pleased.</p> + +<p>The foreigner vociferously claimed her; uttering execrations against all +who unlawfully withheld her; or would abet her elopement. He would then +have passed round to the other door of the chaise, to seize her by +force; but the peace-officer, who was habitually deaf to any appeal, and +resolute against any resistance; compelled him, though storming, raging, +and swearing, his face distorted with fury, his under-jaw dropt, and his +mouth foaming, to re-enter the inn.</p> + +<p>Juliet received neither relief nor fresh pain from what passed. Though +no longer fainting, terrour and excess of misery operated so powerfully +upon her nerves, that his cries assailed her ears but as outrage upon +outrage; and, though clinging to the landlady, with instinctive entreaty +for support, she was so disordered by her recent fainting, and so +absorbed in the belief that she was lost, that she knew not what had +happened; nor suspected any impediment to her forced journey; till the +landlady, now quitting her, advised her to have a room and lie down; +saying that no wife could be expected to follow such a brute of a +husband to jail.</p> + +<p>Amazed, she enquired what was meant; and was answered, that her husband +was in the hands of justice.</p> + +<p>The violence of the changed, yet mixed sensations, with which she was +now assailed, made every pulse throb with so palpitating a rapidity, +that she felt as if life itself was seeking a vent through every +swelling vein. But, when again she was pressed to enter the house, and +not to accompany her husband to prison; she shuddered, her head was +bowed down with shame; and, making a motion that supplicated for +silence, she seemed internally torn asunder with torturing incertitude +how to act.</p> + +<p>During this instant,—it was scarcely more,—of irresolution, the +landlady alighted, and the chaise was driven abruptly from the door. But +Juliet had scarcely had time for new alarm, ere she found that she had +only been removed to make way for another carriage; from the window of +which she caught a glimpse of Sir Jaspar Herrington.</p> + +<p>Nor had she escaped his eye; her straw-bonnet having fallen off, without +being missed, while she fainted, her head was wholly without shade.</p> + +<p>With all of speed in his power, the Baronet hobbled to the chaise. She +covered her face, sinking with every species of confusion and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_706" id="Page_706">[Pg 706]</a></span> distress. +'Have I the honour,' he cried, 'to address Miss Granville? The +Honourable Miss Granville?'—</p> + +<p>'Good Heaven!—' Juliet astonished, and raising her head, exclaimed.</p> + +<p>'If so, I have the dulcet commission,' he continued, 'to escort her to +her brother and sister, Lord Melbury, and Lady Aurora Granville.'</p> + +<p>'Is it possible? Is it possible?' cried Juliet, in an ecstacy that +seemed to renovate her whole being: 'I dare not believe it!—Oh Sir +Jaspar! dear, good, kind, generous Sir Jaspar! delude me not, in pity!'</p> + +<p>'No, fairest syren!' answered Sir Jaspar, in a rapture nearly equal to +her own; 'if there be any delusion to fear, 'tis poor I must be its +victim!'</p> + +<p>'Oh take me, then, at once,—this instant,—this moment,—take me to +them, my benevolent, my noble friend! If, indeed, I have a brother, a +sister,—give me the heaven of their protection!—'</p> + +<p>Sir Jaspar, enchanted, invited her to honour him by accepting a seat in +his chaise. With glowing gratitude she complied; though the just +returning roses faded from her cheeks, as she alighted, upon perceiving +Harleigh, aloof and disconsolate, fixed like a statue, upon a small +planted eminence. Yet but momentarily was the whiter hue prevalent, and +her skin, the next instant, burned with blushes of the deepest dye.</p> + +<p>This transition was not lost upon Harleigh: his eye caught, and his +heart received it, with equal avidity and anguish. Ah why, thought he, +so sensitive! why, at this period of despair, must I awaken to a +consciousness of the full extent of my calamity! Yet, all his resentment +subsided; to believe that she participated in his sentiments, had a +charm so softening, so all-subduing, that, even in this crisis of +torture and hopelessness, it dissolved his whole soul into tenderness.</p> + +<p>Juliet, faintly articulating, 'Oh, let us be gone!' moved, with cast +down eyes, to the carriage of the Baronet; forced, from remaining +weakness, to accept the assistance of his groom; Sir Jaspar not having +strength, nor Harleigh courage, to offer aid.</p> + +<p>Sir Jaspar demanded her permission to stop at Salisbury, for his valet +and baggage.</p> + +<p>'Any where! any where!' answered the shaking Juliet, 'so I go but to +Lady Aurora!'</p> + +<p>Astonished, and thrilled to the soul by these words, Harleigh, who, +unconsciously, had advanced, involuntarily repeated, 'Lady Aurora?—Lady +Aurora Granville?'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_707" id="Page_707">[Pg 707]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>Unable to answer, or to look at him, the trembling Juliet, eagerly +laying both her hands upon the arm of the Baronet, as, cautiously, he +was mounting into the carriage, supplicated that they might be gone.</p> + +<p>A petition thus seconded, from so adored a suppliant, was irresistible; +he kissed each fair hand that thus honoured him; and had just accepted +the offer of Harleigh, to aid his arrangements; when the furious +prisoner, struggling with the peace-officers, and loudly swearing, +re-appeared at the inn-door, clamorously demanding his wife.</p> + +<p>The tortured Juliet, with an impulse of agony, cast, now, the hands that +were just withdrawn from the Baronet, upon the shoulder of Harleigh, who +was himself fastening the chaise-door, tremulously, and in a tone +scarcely audible, pronouncing, 'Oh! hurry us away, Mr Harleigh!—in +mercy!—in compassion!'</p> + +<p>Harleigh, bowing upon the hands which he ventured not to touch, but of +which he felt the impression with a pang indescribable, called to the +postilion to drive off full gallop.</p> + +<p>With a low and sad inclination of the head, Juliet, in a faultering +voice, thanked him; involuntarily adding, 'My prayers, Mr Harleigh,—my +every wish for happiness,—will for ever be yours!'</p> + +<p>The chaise drove off; but his groan, rather than sigh, reached her +agonized ear; and, in an emotion too violent for concealment, yet to +which she durst allow no vent, she held her almost bursting forehead +with her hand; breathing only by smothered sighs, and scarcely sensible +to the happiness of an uncertain escape, while bowed down by the sight +of the misery that she had inflicted, where all that she owed was +benevolence, sympathy, and generosity.</p> + +<p>Not even the delight of thus victoriously carrying off a disputed prize, +could immediately reconcile Sir Jaspar to the fear of even the smallest +disorder in the economy of his medicines, anodynes, sweetmeats, and +various whims; which, from long habits of self-indulgence, he now +conceived to be necessaries, not luxuries.</p> + +<p>But when, after having examined, in detail, that his travelling +apparatus was in order, he turned smilingly to the fair mede of his +exertions; and saw the deep absorption of all her faculties in her own +evident affliction, he was struck with surprise and disappointment; and, +after a short and mortified pause, 'Can it be, fair ænigma!' he cried, +'that it is with compunction you abandon this Gallic Goliah?'</p> + +<p>Surprised, through this question, from the keen anguish of speechless +suffering; retrospection and anticipation alike gave way to gratitude,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_708" id="Page_708">[Pg 708]</a></span> +and she poured forth her thanks, her praises, and her wondering delight, +at this unexpected, and marvellous rescue, with so much vivacity of +transport, and so much softness of sensibility for his kindness, that +the enchanted Sir Jaspar, losing all forbearance, in the interest with +which he languished to learn, more positively, her history and her +situation, renewed his entreaties for communication, with an urgency +that she now, for many reasons, no longer thought right to resist: +anxious herself, since concealment was at an end, to clear away the dark +appearances by which she was surrounded; and to remove a mystery that, +for so long a period, had made her owe all good opinion to trust and +generosity.</p> + +<p>She pondered, nevertheless, and sighed, ere she could comply. It was +strange to her, she said, and sad, to lift up the veil of secresy to a +new, however interesting and respectable acquaintance; while to her +brother, her sister, and her earliest friend, she still appeared to be +inveloped in impenetrable concealment. Yet, if to communicate the +circumstances which had brought her into this deplorable situation, +could shew her sense of the benevolence of Sir Jaspar, she would set +apart her repugnance, and gather courage to retrace the cruel scenes of +which he had witnessed the direful result. Her inestimable friend had +already related the singular history of all that had preceded their +separation; but, uninformed herself of the dreadful events by which it +had been followed, she could go no further: otherwise, from a noble +openness of heart, which made all disguise painful, if not disgusting to +her, Sir Jaspar would already have been satisfied.</p> + +<p>The Baronet, ashamed, would now have withdrawn his petition; but Juliet +no longer wished to retract from her engagement.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_709" id="Page_709">[Pg 709]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXX" id="CHAPTER_LXXX"></a>CHAPTER LXXX</h2> + + +<p>The first months after the departure of Gabriella, were passed, Juliet +narrated, quietly, though far from gaily, in complete retirement. To +lighten, through her cares and services, the terrible change of +condition experienced by her benefactress, the Marchioness, and by her +guardian, the Bishop, was her unremitting, and not successless +endeavour: but even this sad tranquillity was soon broken in upon, by an +accidental interview with a returned emigrant, who brought news of the +dangerous state of health into which the young son of Gabriella had +fallen. Too well knowing that this cherished little creature was the +sole consolation and support of its exiled mother, the Marchioness +earnestly desired that her daughter should possess again her early +companion; who best could aid to nurse the child; or, should its illness +prove fatal, to render its loss supportable. It was, therefore, settled, +that, guarded and accompanied by a faithful ancient servant, upon whose +prudence and attachment the Marchioness had the firmest reliance, Juliet +should follow her friend: and the benevolent Bishop promised to join +them both, as soon as his affairs would permit him to make the voyage.</p> + +<p>To obtain a passport being then impossible, Ambroise, this worthy +domestic, was employed to discover means for secretly crossing the +channel: and, as adroit as he was trusty, he found out a pilot, who, +though ostensibly but a fisherman, was a noted smuggler; and who passed +frequently to the opposite shore; now with goods, now with letters, now +with passengers. By this man the Marchioness wrote to prepare Gabriella +for the reception of her friend, who was to join her at Brighthelmstone; +whither, in her last letter, written, as Juliet now knew, in the anguish +of discovering symptoms of danger in the illness of her darling boy, +Gabriella had mentioned her intended excursion<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_710" id="Page_710">[Pg 710]</a></span> for sea-bathing. The +diligent Ambroise soon obtained information that the pilot was preparing +to sail with a select party. The Marchioness would rather have postponed +the voyage, till an answer could have been received from her daughter; +yet this was not an opportunity to be neglected.</p> + +<p>The light baggage, therefore, was packed, and they were waiting the word +of command from the pilot, when a commissary, from the Convention, +arrived, to purify, he said, and new-organize the town, near which, in a +villa that had been a part of her marriage-portion, the Marchioness and +her brother then resided. To this villa the commissary made his first +visit. The Bishop, by this agent of the inhuman Robespierre, was +immediately seized; and, while his unhappy sister, and nearly adoring +ward, were vainly kneeling at the feet of his condemner,—not accuser! +to supplicate mercy for innocence,—not for guilt! the persons who were +rifling the Bishop, shouted out, with savage joy, that they had found a +proof of his being a traitor, in a note in his pocket-book, which was +clearly a bribe from the enemy to betray the country. The commissary, +who, having often been employed as a spy, had a competent knowledge of +modern languages, which he spoke intelligibly, though with vulgar +phraseology and accent; took the paper, and read it without difficulty. +It was the promissory note of the old Earl Melbury.</p> + +<p>He eagerly demanded the Citoyenne Julie; swearing that, if six thousand +pounds were to be got by marrying, he would marry without delay. He +ordered her, therefore, to accompany him forthwith to the mayoralty. At +her indignant refusal, he scoffingly laughed; but, upon her positive +resistance, ordered her into custody. This, also, moved her not; she +only begged to be confined in the same prison with the Bishop. Coarsely +mocking her attachment for the priest, and holding her by the chin, he +swore that he would marry her, and her six thousand pounds.</p> + +<p>A million of deaths, could she die them, she resolutely replied, she +would suffer in preference.</p> + +<p>Her priest, then, he said, should away to the guillotine; though she had +only to marry, and sign the promissory-note for the dower, to set the +parson at liberty. Filled with horrour, she wrung her hands, and stood +suspended; while the Marchioness, with anguish indescribable, and a look +that made a supplication that no voice could pronounce, fell upon her +neck, gasping for breath, and almost fainting.</p> + +<p>'Ah, Madam!' Juliet cried, 'what is your will? I am yours,—entirely +yours! command me!'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_711" id="Page_711">[Pg 711]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>The Marchioness could not speak; but her sighs, her groans, rather, were +more eloquent than any words.</p> + +<p>'Bind the priest!' the commissary cried. 'His trial is over; bind the +traitor, and take him to the cell for execution.'</p> + +<p>The Marchioness sunk to the floor.</p> + +<p>'No!' cried Juliet, 'bind him not! Touch not his reverend and revered +person!—Give me the paper! I will sign what you please! I will go +whither you will!'</p> + +<p>'Come, then,' cried the commissary, 'to the mayoralty.'</p> + +<p>Juliet covered her face, but moved towards the door.</p> + +<p>The Bishop, hitherto passive and meekly resigned, now, with a sudden +effort of strength, repulsing his gaolers, while fire darted from his +eyes, and a spirit of command animated all his features, exclaimed, 'No, +generous Juliet! my own excellent child, no! Are a few years more or +less,—perhaps but a few minutes,—worth purchasing by the sacrifice of +truth, and the violation of every feeling? I will not be saved upon such +terms!'</p> + +<p>'No preaching,' cried the commissary; 'off with him at once.'</p> + +<p>The men now bound his hands and arms; while, returning to his natural +state of calmness, he lifted up his eyes towards heaven, and, in a loud +and sonorous voice, ejaculated, in Latin, a fervent prayer; with an air +so absorbed in mental and pious abstraction, that he seemed unconscious +what became of his person.</p> + +<p>Juliet, who had shrunk back at his speech, again advanced, and, with +agony unspeakable, held out her hand, in token of consent. The +commissary received it triumphantly, at the moment that the Bishop, upon +reaching the door, turned round to take a last view of his unhappy +sister; who, torn with conflicting emotions, seemed a statue of horrour. +But no sooner did he perceive the hand of his ward unresistingly grasped +by the commissary, than again the expression of his face shewed his soul +brought back from its heavenly absorption; and, stopping short, with an +air which, helpless and shackled as he was, overawed his fierce +conductors, 'Hold yet a moment,' he cried. 'Oh Juliet! Think,—know what +you are about! 'Tis not to this world alone you are responsible for vows +offered up at the altar of God! My child! my more than daughter! +sacrifice not your purity to your affections! Drag me not back from a +virtuous death to a miserable existence, by the foul crime of wilful +perjury!'</p> + +<p>Juliet affrighted, again snatched away her hand, with a look at the +commissary which pronounced an abhorrent refusal.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_712" id="Page_712">[Pg 712]</a></span></p> + +<p>The commissary, stamping with fury, ordered the Bishop instantly to the +cell of death. Where guilt, he said, had been proved, there was no need +of any tribunal; and the execution should take place with the speed +called for by his dangerous crimes.</p> + +<p>Juliet, cold, trembling, and again irresolute, was involuntarily turning +to the commissary; but the Bishop, charging her to be firm, pronounced a +pious blessing upon her head; faintly spoke a last adieu to his +miserable sister, and, with commanding solemnity, accompanied his +gaolers away.</p> + +<p>The horrour of that moment Juliet attempted not to describe; nor could +she recur to it, without sighs and emotions that, for a while, stopt her +narration.</p> + +<p>Sir Jaspar would have spared her the resumption of the history; but she +would not, having thus raised, trifle with his curiosity.</p> + +<p>The commissary, she continued, then took possession of all the money, +plate, and jewels he could find, and pursued what he called his rounds +of purification.</p> + +<p>How the Marchioness or herself out-lived that torturing day, Juliet +declared she could with difficulty, now, conceive. She was again willing +to become a victim to the safety of her guardian; but even the +Marchioness ceased to desire his preservation upon terms from which he +himself recoiled as culpable. Early the next morning they were both +conducted to a large house upon the market-place, where, in the most +direful suspense, they were kept waiting for more than two hours; in +which interval, such was the oppression of terrour, neither of them +opened their lips.</p> + +<p>The commissary, at length, broke into the room, and, seating himself in +an arm-chair, while, humbly and tremblingly, they stood at the door, +demanded of Juliet whether she were become more reasonable. Her head +drooped, but she would not answer. 'Follow me,' he cried, 'to this +balcony.' He opened a door leading to a large apartment that looked upon +the market-place. She suspected some sinister design, and would not +obey. 'Come you, then!' he cried, to the Marchioness; and, taking her by +the shoulder, rudely and grossly, he pushed her before him, till she +entered upon the balcony. A dreadful scream, which then broke from her, +brought Juliet to her side.</p> + +<p>Here, again, overpowered by the violence of bitter recollections, which +operated, for the moment, with nearly the force of immediate suffering, +Juliet was obliged to take breath before she could proceed.</p> + +<p>'Oh Sir Jaspar!' she then cried, 'upon approaching the wretched<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_713" id="Page_713">[Pg 713]</a></span> +Marchioness, what a distracting scene met my eyes! A scaffolding,—a +guillotine,—an executioner,—were immediately opposite me! and in the +hand of that hardened executioner, was held up to the view of the +senseless multitude, the ghastly, bleeding head of a victim that moment +offered up at the shrine of unmeaning though ferocious cruelty! Four +other destined victims, kneeling and devoutly at prayers, their hands +tied behind them, and their heads bald, were prepared for sacrifice; and +amidst them, eminently conspicuous, from his dignified mien, and pious +calmness, I distinguished my revered guardian! the Marchioness had +distinguished her beloved brother!—Oh moment of horrour exceeding all +description! I cast myself, nearly frantic, at the feet of the +commissary; I embraced his knees, as if with the fervour of affection; +wildly and passionately I conjured him to accept my hand and fortune, +and save the Bishop!—He laughed aloud with triumphant derision; but +gave an immediate order to postpone the execution of the priest. I blest +him,—yes, with all his crimes upon his head!—and even again I should +bless him, to save a life so precious!</p> + +<p>'The Marchioness, recovering her strength with her hopes, seized the arm +of the messenger of this heavenly news, hurrying him along with a force +nearly supernatural, and calling out aloud herself, from the instant +that she entered the market place, "<i>Un sursit! Un sursit!</i>"<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a></p> + +<p>'"Now, then," cried the commissary, "come with me to the mayoralty;" and +was taking my no longer withheld, but shaking hand, when some soldiers +abruptly informed him than an insurrection had broken out at ——, which +demanded his immediate presence.</p> + +<p>'I caught this moment of his engaged attention to find my way down +stairs, and into the market-place: but not with a view to escape; every +feeling of my soul was concentrated in the safety of the Bishop. I +rushed forward, I forced my way through the throng, which, though at +first it opposed my steps, no sooner looked at me than, intimidated by +my desperation, or affected by my agony, it facilitated my passage. +Rapidly I overtook the Marchioness, whose age, whose dignified energy, +and loud cries of Reprieve! made way for her through every impediment, +whether of crowd or of guards, to the scaffolding. How we accomplished +it, nevertheless, I now wonder! But a sense of right, when asserted with +courage, is lodged in the lowest, the vilest of mankind;—a sense of +right, an awe of justice, and a propensity to sympathize with acute +distress! The reprieve which our cries had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_714" id="Page_714">[Pg 714]</a></span> anticipated, and which the +man whom we accompanied confirmed, was received by the multitude, from +an ardent and universal respect to the well known excellencies of the +Bishop, with shouts of applause that exalted our joy at his deliverance +into a felicity which we thought celestial! At his venerable feet we +prostrated ourselves, as if he had been a martyr to religion, and +already was sainted. He was greatly affected; though perhaps only by our +emotion; for he looked too uncertain how this event had been brought to +bear, to partake of our happiness; and at me he cast an eye so full of +compassion, yet so interrogative, that mine sunk under it; and, far from +exulting that I had thus devoted myself to his preservation, I was +already trembling at the acknowledgement I had to make, when I was +suddenly seized by a soldier, who forced me, from all the tenderest +interests of my heart, back to the stormy commissary. Oh! what a change +of scene! He roughly took me by the arm, which felt as if it were +withered, and no longer a part of my frame at his touch; and, with +accusations of the grossest nature, and vows the most tremendous of +vengeance, compelled me to attend him to the mayoralty; deaf to my +prayers, my entreaties, my kneeling supplications that he would first +suffer me to see the Bishop at liberty.</p> + +<p>'At the mayoralty he was accosted by a messenger sent from the +Convention. Ah! it seemed to me, at that moment, that a whole age of +suffering could not counterbalance the delight I experienced, when, to +read an order thus presented to him, he was constrained to relinquish +his hard grasp! Still greater was my relief, when I learnt, by what +passed, that he had received commands to proceed directly to ——, where +the insurrection was become dangerous.</p> + +<p>'Such a multiplicity of business now crowded upon him, that I conceived +a hope I might be forgotten; or, at least, set apart as a future prey: +but alas! the promissory-note was still in his hand, and,—if heart he +has any,—if heart be not left out in his composition, there, past all +doubt, the six thousand pounds were already lodged. All my hopes, +therefore, faded away, when he had given some new directions; for, +seizing me again, by the wrist, he dragged me to the place,—I had +nearly said of execution!—There, by his previous orders, all were in +waiting,—all was ready!—Oh, Sir Jaspar! how is it that life still +holds, in those periods when all our earthly hopes, and even our +faculties of happiness, seem for ever entombed.'</p> + +<p>The bitterest sighs again interrupted her narration; but neither the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_715" id="Page_715">[Pg 715]</a></span> +humanity nor the politeness of Sir Jaspar could combat any longer his +curiosity, and he conjured her to proceed.</p> + +<p>'The civil ceremony, dreadful, dreadful! however little awful compared +with that of the church, was instantly begun; in the midst of the buz of +business, the clamour of many tongues, the sneers of contempt, and the +laughter of derision; with an irreverence that might have suited a +theatre, and with a mockery of which the grossest buffoons would have +been ashamed. Scared and disordered, I understood not,—I heard not a +word; and my parched lips, and burning mouth, could not attempt any +articulation.</p> + +<p>'In a minute or two, this pretended formality was interrupted, by +information that a new messenger from the Convention demanded immediate +admittance. The commissary swore furiously that he should wait till the +six thousand pounds were secured; and vociferously ordered that the +ceremony should be hurried on. He was obeyed! and though my quivering +lips were never opened to pronounce an assenting syllable, the ceremony, +the direful ceremony, was finished, and I was called,—Oh heaven and +earth!—his wife! his married wife!—The Marchioness, at the same +terrible moment, broke into the apartment. The conflict between horrour +and tenderness was too violent, and, as she encircled me, with tortured +pity, in her arms, I sunk senseless at her feet.</p> + +<p>'Upon recovering, the first words that I heard were, "Look up, my child, +look up! we are alone!" and I beheld the unhappy Marchioness, whose face +seemed a living picture of commiserating woe. The commissary had been +forced away by a new express; but he had left a charge that I should be +ready to give my signature upon his return. The Marchioness then, with +expressions melting, at once, and exalting, condescended to pour forth +the most soothing acknowledgments; yet conjured me not to leave my own +purpose unanswered, by signing the promissory-note, till the Bishop +should be restored to liberty, with a passport, by which he might +instantly quit this spot of persecution. To find something was yet to be +done, and to be done for the Bishop, once more revived me; and when the +commissary re-entered the apartment, neither order nor menace could +intimidate me to take the pen, till my conditions were fulfilled. My +life, indeed, at that horrible period, had lost all value but what was +attached to the Bishop, the Marchioness, and my beloved Gabriella; for +myself, it seemed, thenceforth, reserved not for wretchedness, but +despair!</p> + +<p>'The passport was soon prepared; but when the Bishop was brought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_716" id="Page_716">[Pg 716]</a></span> in to +receive it in my presence, he rejected it, even with severity, till he +heard,—from myself heard!—that the marriage-ceremony, as it was +called! was already over. Into what a consternation was he then flung! +Pale grew his reverend visage, and his eyes glistened with tears. He +would not, however, render abortive the sacrifice which he could no +longer impede, and I signed the promissory-note; while the Marchioness +wept floods of tears upon my neck; and the Bishop, with a look of +anguish that rent my heart, waved, with speechless sorrow, his venerable +hand, in token of a blessing, over my head; and, deeply sighing, +silently departed.</p> + +<p>'The commissary, forced immediately away, to transact some business with +his successor at this place, committed me to the charge of the mayor. I +was shewn to a sumptuous apartment; which I entered with a shuddering +dread that the gloomiest prison could scarcely have excited. The +Marchioness followed her brother; and I remained alone, trembling, +shaking, almost fainting at every sound, in a state of terrour and +misery indescribable. The commissary, however, returned not; and the +mayor, to whom my title of horrour was a title of respect, paid me +attentions of every sort.</p> + +<p>'In the afternoon, the Marchioness brought me the reviving tidings that +the Bishop was departed. He had promised to endeavour to join Gabriella. +The rest of this direful day passed, and no commissary appeared: but the +anguish of unremitting expectation kept aloof all joy at his absence, +for, in idea, he appeared every moment! Nevertheless, after sitting up +together the whole fearful night, we saw the sun rise the next morning +without any new horrour. I then received a visit from the mayor, with +information that the insurrection at —— had obliged the commissary to +repair thither, and that he had just sent orders that I should join him +in the evening. Resistance was out of the question. The tender +Marchioness demanded leave to accompany me; but the mayor interposed, +and forced her home, to prepare and deliver my wardrobe for the journey. +It was so long ere she returned, that the patience of the mayor was +almost exhausted; but when, at last, she arrived, what a change was +there in her air! Her noble aspect had recovered more than its usual +serenity; it was radiant with benevolence and pleasure; and, when we +were left an instant together, "My Juliet!" she cried, while beaming +smiles illumined her fine face, "my Juliet! my other child! blessed be +Heaven, I can now rescue our rescuer! I have found means to snatch her +from this horrific thraldom, in the very journey destined for its +accomplishment!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_717" id="Page_717">[Pg 717]</a></span></p> + +<p>'She then briefly prepared me for meeting and seconding the scheme of +deliverance that she had devised with the excellent Ambroise; and we +separated,—with what tears, what regret,—yet what perturbation of +rising hope!</p> + +<p>'All that the Marchioness had arranged was executed. Ambroise, disguised +as an old waggoner, preceded me to the small town of ——, where the +postilion, he knew, must stop to water the horses. Here I obtained leave +to alight for some refreshment, of which an old municipal officer, who +had me in charge, was not sorry, in idea, to partake; as he could not +entertain the most distant notion that I had formed any plan of escape. +As soon, however, as I was able to disengage myself from his sight, a +chambermaid, who had previously been gained by Ambroise, wrapt me in a +man's great coat, put on me a black wig, and a round hat, and, pointing +to a back door, went out another way; speaking aloud, as if called; to +give herself the power of asserting, afterwards, that the evasion had +been effected in her absence. The pretended waggoner then took me under +his arm, and flew with me across a narrow passage, where we met, by +appointment, an ancient domestic of the Bishop's; who conveyed me to a +small house, and secreted me in a dark closet, of which the entrance was +not discernible. He then went forth upon his own affairs, into such +streets and places as were most public; and my good waggoner found means +to abscond.</p> + +<p>'Here, while rigidly retaining the same posture, and scarcely daring to +breathe any more than to move, I heard the house entered by sundry +police-officers, who were pursuing me with execrations. They came into +the very room in which I was concealed; and beat round the wainscot in +their search; touching even the board which covered the small aperture, +not door, by which I was hidden from their view! I was not, however, +discovered; nor was the search, there, renewed; from the adroitness of +the domestic by whom I had been saved, in having shewn himself in the +public streets before I had yet been missed.</p> + +<p>'In this close recess, nearly without air, wholly without motion, and +incapable of taking any rest; but most kindly treated by the wife of the +good domestic, I passed a week. All search in that neighbourhood being +then over, I changed my clothing for some tattered old garments; stained +my face, throat, and arms; and, in the dead of the night, quitted my +place of confinement, and was conducted by my protector to a spot about +half a mile from the town. There I found Ambroise<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_718" id="Page_718">[Pg 718]</a></span> awaiting me, with a +little cart; in which he drove me to a small mean house, in the vicinity +of the sea-coast. He introduced me to the landlord and landlady as his +relation, and then left me to take some repose; while he went forth to +discover whether the pilot were yet sailed.</p> + +<p>'He had delivered to me my work-bag, in which was my purse, generously +stored by the Marchioness, with all the ready money that she could +spare, for my journey. For herself, she held it essential to remain +stationary, lest a general emigration should alienate the family-fortune +from every branch of her house. Excellent lady! At the moment she thus +studied the prosperity of her descendants, she lived upon roots, while +deprived of all she most valued in life, the society of her only child!</p> + +<p>'To repose the good Ambroise left me; but far from my pillow was repose! +the dreadful idea of flying one who might lay claim to the honoured +title of husband for pursuing me; the consciousness of being held by an +engagement which I would not fulfil, yet could not deny; the uncertainty +whether my revered Bishop had effected his escape; and the necessity of +abandoning my generous benefactress when surrounded by danger; joined to +the affliction of returning to my native country,—the country of my +birth, my heart, and my pride!—without name, without fortune, without +friends! no parents to receive me, no protector to counsel me; +unacknowledged by my family,—unknown even to the children of my +father!—Oh! bitter, bitter were my feelings!—Yet when I considered +that no action of my life had offended society, or forfeited my rights +to benevolence, I felt my courage revive, for I trusted in Providence. +Sleep then visited my eye-lids, though hard was the bed upon which I +sought it; hard and cold! the month was December. Happy but short +respite of forgetfulness! Four days and nights followed, of the most +terrible anxiety, ere Ambroise returned. He then brought me the +dismaying intelligence, that circumstances had intervened, in his own +affairs, that made it impossible for him, at that moment, to quit his +country. Yet less than ever could my voyage be delayed, the commissary +having, in his fury, advertised a description of my person, and set a +price upon my head; publicly vowing that I should be made over to the +guillotine, when found, for an example. Oh reign so justly called of +terrour! How lawless is its cruelty! How blest by all mankind will be +its termination.</p> + +<p>'It now became necessary to my safety, that Ambroise, who was known to +be a domestic of the Marchioness, should not appear to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_719" id="Page_719">[Pg 719]</a></span> belong to me; +and that, to avoid any suspicion that I was the person advertised by the +commissary, I should present myself to the pilot as an accidental +passenger.</p> + +<p>'Ambroise had found means, during his absence, to communicate with the +Marchioness; from whom he brought me a letter of the sweetest kindness; +and intelligence and injunctions of the utmost importance.</p> + +<p>'The commissary, she informed me, immediately upon my disappearance, had +presented the promissory-note to the bankers; but they had declared it +not to be valid, till it were either signed by the heir of the late Earl +Melbury, or re-signed, with a fresh date, by Lord Denmeath. The +commissary, therefore, had sent over an agent to Lord Denmeath, to +claim, as my husband, the six thousand pounds, before my evasion should +be known. The Marchioness conjured me, nevertheless, to forbear applying +to my family; or avowing my name, or my return to my native land, till I +should be assured of the safety of the Bishop; whom the commissary had +now ordered to be pursued, and upon whom the most horrible vengeance +might be wreaked, should my escape to this happy land transpire, before +his own should be effected: though, while I was still supposed to be +within reach of our cruel persecutor, the Bishop, even if he were +seized, might merely be detained as an hostage for my future concession; +till happier days, or partial accident, might work his deliverance.</p> + +<p>'Inviolably I have adhered to these injunctions. In a note which I left +for the Marchioness, with Ambroise, I solemnly assured her, that no +hardships of adversity, nor even any temptation to happiness, should +make me waver in my given faith; or tear from me the secret of my name +and story, till I again saw, or received tidings of the Bishop. And Oh +how light, how even blissful,—in remembrance, at least,—will prove +every sacrifice, should the result be the preservation of the most pious +and exemplary of men! But, alas! I have been discovered, while still in +the dark as to his destiny, by means which no self-denial could +preclude, no fortitude avert!</p> + +<p>'The indefatigable Ambroise had learned that the pilot was to sail the +next evening for Dover. I now added patches and bandages to my stained +skin, and garb of poverty; and stole, with Ambroise, to the sea-side; +where we wandered till past midnight; when Ambroise descried a little +vessel, and the pilot; and, soon afterwards, sundry passengers, who, in +dead silence, followed each other into the boat. I then approached, and +called out to beg admission. I desired<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_720" id="Page_720">[Pg 720]</a></span> Ambroise to be gone; but he was +too anxious to leave me. Faithful, excellent creature! how he suffered +while I pleaded in vain! how he rejoiced when one of the passengers, +open to heavenly pity, humanely returned to the shore to assist me into +the boat! Ambroise took my last adieu to the Marchioness; and I set sail +for my loved, long lost, and fearfully recovered native land.</p> + +<p>'The effect upon my spirits of this rescue from an existence of +unmingled horrour, was so exhilarating, so exquisite, that no sooner was +my escape assured, than, from an impulse irresistible, I cast my ring, +which I had not yet dared throw away, into the sea; and felt as if my +freedom were from that moment restored! And, though innumerable +circumstances were unpleasant in the way, I was insensible to all but my +release; and believed that only to touch the British shore would be +liberty and felicity!</p> + +<p>'Little did I then conceive, impossible was it I should foresee, the +difficulties, dangers, disgraces, and distresses towards which I was +plunging! Too, too soon was I drawn from my illusion of perfect +happiness! and my first misfortune was the precursor of every evil by +which I have since been pursued;—I lost my purse; and, with it, away +flew my fancied independence, my ability to live as I pleased, and to +devote all my thoughts and my cares to consoling my beloved friend!</p> + +<p>'Vainly in London, and vainly at Brighthelmstone I sought that friend. I +would have returned to the capital, to attempt tracing her by minuter +enquiry; but I was deterred by poverty, and the fear of personal +discovery. I could only, therefore, continue on the spot named by the +Marchioness for our general rendezvous, where the opening of every day +gave me the chance of some direction how to proceed. But alas! from that +respected Marchioness two letters only have ever reached me! The first +assured me that she was safe and well, and that the Bishop, though +forced to take a distant route, had escaped his pursuers: but that the +commissary was in hourly augmenting rage, from Lord Denmeath's refusing +to honour the promissory-note, till the marriage should be authenticated +by the bride, with the signature and acquittal of the Bishop. The second +letter,—second and last from this honoured lady!—said that all was +well; but bid me wait with patience, perhaps to a long period, for +further intelligence, and console and seek to dwell with her Gabriella: +or, should any unforeseen circumstances inevitably separate us, +endeavour to fix myself in some respectable and happy family, whose +social felicity might bring, during this dread interval of suspense, +reflected happiness to my own heart:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_721" id="Page_721">[Pg 721]</a></span> but still to remain wholly +unknown, till I should be joined by the Bishop.</p> + +<p>'Cast thus upon myself, and for a time indefinite, how hardly, and how +variously have I existed! But for the dreadful fear of worse, darkly and +continually hovering over my head, I could scarcely have summoned +courage for my unremitting trials. But whatever I endured was constantly +light in comparison with what I had escaped! Yet how was I tried,—Oh +Sir Jaspar! how cruelly! in resisting to present myself to my family! in +forbearing to pronounce the kind appellation of brother! the soft, +tender title of sister! Oh! in their sight, when witnessing their +goodness, when blest by their kindness, and urged by the most generous +sweetness to confidence, how violent, how indescribable have been my +struggles, to withhold from throwing myself into their arms, with the +fair, natural openness of sisterly affection! But Lord Denmeath, who +disputed, or denied, my relation to their family, was their uncle and +guardian. To him to make myself known, would have been to blight every +hope of concealment from the commissary, whose claims were precisely in +unison with the plan of his lordship, for making me an alien to my +country. What, against their joint interests and authority, would be the +power of a sister or a brother under age? Often, indeed, I was tempted +to trust them in secret; and oh how consolatory to my afflicted heart +would have been such a trust! but they had yet no establishment, and +they were wards of my declared enemy. How unavailing, therefore, to +excite their generous zeal, while necessarily forced to exact that our +ties of kindred should remain unacknowledged? Upon their honour I could +rely; but by their feelings, their kind, genuine, ardent feelings, I +must almost unavoidably have been betrayed.</p> + +<p>'To my Gabriella, also, I have forborne to unbosom my sorrows, and +reveal my alarms, that I might spare her already so deeply wounded soul, +the restless solicitude of fresh and cruel uncertainties. She concludes, +that though her letters have miscarried, or been lost, her honoured +mother and uncle still reside safely together, in the villa of the +Marchioness, in which she had bidden them adieu. And that noble mother +charged me to hide, if it should be possible, from her unhappy child, +the terrible history in which I had borne so considerable a part, till +she could give assurances to us both of her own and the Bishop's safety. +Alas! nine months have now worn away since our separation, yet no news +arrives!—no Bishop appears!</p> + +<p>'And now, Sir Jaspar, you have fully before you the cause and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_722" id="Page_722">[Pg 722]</a></span> history +of my long concealment, my strange wanderings, and the apparently +impenetrable mystery in which I have been involved: why I could not +claim my family; why I could not avow my situation; why I dared not even +bear my name; all, all is before you! Oh! could I equally display to you +the events in store! tell you whether my revered Bishop is safe!—or +whether his safety, his precious life, can only be secured by my +perpetual captivity! One thing alone, in the midst of my complicate +suspenses, one thing alone is certain; no consideration that this world +can offer, will deter me from going back, voluntarily, to every evil +from which I have hitherto been flying, should the Bishop again be +seized, and should his release hang upon my final self-devotion!'</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_723" id="Page_723">[Pg 723]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXXI" id="CHAPTER_LXXXI"></a>CHAPTER LXXXI</h2> + + +<p>Sir Jaspar had listened to this narrative with trembling interest, and a +species of emotion that was indefinable; his head bent forward, and his +mouth nearly as wide open, from the fear of losing a word, as his eyes, +from eagerness not to lose a look: but, when it was finished, he +exclaimed, in a sort of transport, 'Is this all? Joy, then, to great +Cæsar! Why 'tis nothing! My little fairies are all skipping in ecstacy; +while the wickeder imps are making faces and wry mouths, not to see +mischief enough in the wind to afford them a supper! This a marriage? +Why you are free as air!</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'The little birds that fly,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With careless ease, from tree to tree,'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>are not more at liberty. Ah! fair enslaver! were I as unshackled!'—</p> + +<p>The smiles that, momentarily, broke their way through the tears and +sadness of Juliet shewed how much this declaration was in unison with +her wishes; but, exhausted by relating a history so deeply affecting to +her, she could enter into no discussion; and remained ceaselessly +weeping, till the Baronet, with an expression of surprize, asked whether +the meeting that would now ensue with her own family, could offer her no +consolation?</p> + +<p>Rousing, then, from her sorrows, to a grateful though forced exertion, +'Oh yes!' she cried, 'yes! Your generous goodness has given me new +existence! But horrour and distress have pursued me with such +accumulating severity, that the shock is still nearly overpowering. +Yet,—let me not diminish the satisfaction of your beneficence. I am +going now to be happy!—How big a word!—how new to my feelings!—A +sister!—a brother!—Have I, indeed, such relations?' smiling even +brightly through her tears. 'And will Lady Aurora,—the sweetest of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_724" id="Page_724">[Pg 724]</a></span> +human beings!—condescend to acknowledge me? Will the amiable Lord +Melbury deign to support, to protect me? Oh Sir Jaspar, how have you +brought all this to bear? Where are these dearest persons? And when, and +by what means, am I to be blest with their sight, and honoured with +their sanction to my claim of consanguinity?'</p> + +<p>Sir Jaspar begged her to compose her spirits, promising to satisfy her +when she should become more calm. But, her thoughts having once turned +into this channel, all her tenderest affections gushed forth to oppose +their being diverted into any other; and the sound, the soul-penetrating +sound of sister!—of brother! once allowed utterance, vibrated through +her frame with a thousand soft emotions, now first welcomed without +check to her heart.</p> + +<p>Urgently, therefore, she desired an explanation of the manner in which +this commission had been given; of the tone of voice in which she had +been named; and of the time and place destined for the precious meeting.</p> + +<p>Sir Jaspar, though enchanted to see her revived, and enraptured to give +ear to her thanks, and to suck in her praises, was palpably embarrassed +how to answer her enquiries; which he suffered her to continue so long +without interruption or reply, that, her eagerness giving way to +anxiety, she solemnly required to know, whether it were by accident, or +through his own information, that Lord Melbury and Lady Aurora had been +made acquainted with her rights, or, more properly, with her hopes and +her fears in regard to their kindness and support.</p> + +<p>Still no answer was returned, but smiling looks, and encouraging +assurances.</p> + +<p>The most alarming doubts now disturbed the just opening views of Juliet +'Ah! Sir Jaspar!' she cried, 'why this procrastination? Practise no +deception, I conjure you!—Alas, you make me fear that you have acted +commission?'—</p> + +<p>He protested, upon his honour, that that was not the case; yet asked why +she had settled that his commission came from Lady Aurora, or Lord +Melbury?</p> + +<p>'Good Heaven!'—exclaimed Juliet, astonished and affrighted.</p> + +<p>He had only, he said, affirmed, that his commission was to take her to +those noble personages; not that it had been from themselves that it had +emanated.</p> + +<p>Again every feature of Juliet seemed changed by disappointment; and the +accent of reproach was mingled with that of grief, as she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_725" id="Page_725">[Pg 725]</a></span> pronounced, +'Oh Sir Jaspar! can you, then, have played with my happiness? have +trifled with my hopes?'—</p> + +<p>'Not to be master of the whole planetary system,' he cried, 'with Venus, +in her choicest wiles, at its head! I have honourably had my commission; +but it has been for, not from your honourable relations. Those little +invisible, but active beings, who have taken my conscience in charge, +have spurred and goaded me on to this deed, ever since I saw your +distress at the fair Gallic needle-monger's. Night and day have they +pinched me and jirked me, to seek you, to find you, and to rescue you +from that brawny caitiff.'—</p> + +<p>'Alas! to what purpose? If I have no asylum, what is my security?—'</p> + +<p>'If I have erred, my beauteous fugitive,' said Sir Jaspar, archly, 'I +must order the horses to turn about! We shall still, probably, be in +time to accompany the happy captive to his cell.'</p> + +<p>Juliet involuntarily screamed, but besought, at least, to know how she +had been traced; and what had induced the other pursuit; or caused the +seizure, which she had so unexpectedly witnessed, of her persecutor?</p> + +<p>He answered, that, restless to fathom a mystery, the profundity of which +left, to his active imagination, as much space for distant hope as for +present despair, he had invited Riley to dinner, upon quitting Frith +Street; and, through his means, had discovered the pilot; whose +friendship and services were secured, without scruple, by a few guineas. +By this man, Sir Jaspar was shewn the advertisement, which he now +produced; and which Juliet, though nearly overcome with shame, begged to +read.</p> + +<blockquote><p class="center">'ELOPED from her HUSBAND,</p> + +<p>'A young woman, tall, fair, blue-eyed; her face oval; her nose +Grecian; her mouth small; her cheeks high coloured; her chin +dimpled; and her hair of a glossy light brown.</p> + +<p>'She goes commonly by the name of Miss Ellis.</p> + +<p>'Whoever will send an account where she may be met with, or where +she has been seen, to —— Attorney in —— Street London, shall +receive a very handsome reward.'</p></blockquote> + +<p>The pilot further acknowledged to Sir Jaspar, that his employer had, +formerly, been at the head of a gang of smugglers and swindlers; though, +latterly, he had been engaged in business of a much more serious nature.</p> + +<p>This intelligence, with an internal conviction that the marriage must<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_726" id="Page_726">[Pg 726]</a></span> +have been forced, decided Sir Jaspar to denounce the criminal to +justice; and then to take every possible measure, to have him either +imprisoned for trial, or sent out of the country, by the alien-bill, +before he should overtake the fair fugitive. His offences were, it +seems, notorious, and the warrant for his seizure was readily granted; +with an order for his being embarked by the first opportunity: +nevertheless, the difficulty to discover him had almost demolished the +scheme: though the Baronet had aided the search in person, to enjoy the +bliss of being the first to announce freedom to the lovely Runaway; and +to offer her immediate protection.</p> + +<p>But the pilot, who, after being well paid for his information, had +himself absconded, delayed all proceedings till he was found out, by +Riley, upon the Salisbury-road. He evaded giving any further +intelligence, till the glitter of a few guineas restored his spirit of +communication, when he was brought to confess, that his master was in +that neighbourhood; where they had received assurances that the fugitive +herself was lodged. Sir Jaspar instantly, then, took the measures of +which the result, seconded by sundry happy accidents, had been so +seasonable and prosperous. 'And never,' said he, in conclusion, 'did my +delectable little friends serve me so cogently, as in suggesting my +stratagem at your sight. If you do not directly name, they squeaked in +my ear, her brother and sister, she may demur at accompanying you: if +her brother and sister honour your assertion, you will fix the matchless +Wanderer in her proper sphere; if they protest against it,—what giant +stands in the way to your rearing and protecting the lovely flower +yourself?—This was the manner in which these hovering little beings +egged me on; but whether, with the playful philanthropy of courteous +sylphs, to win me your gentle smiles; or whether, with the wanton +malignity of little devils, to annihilate me with your frowns, is still +locked up in the womb of your countenance!'</p> + +<p>He then farther added, that Riley had accompanied him throughout the +expedition; but that, always exhilarated by scenes which excited +curiosity, or which produced commotion; he had scampered into the inn, +to witness the culprit's being secured, while Sir Jaspar had paid his +respects at the chaise.</p> + +<p>With a disappointed heart, and with affrighted spirits, Juliet now saw +that she must again, and immediately, renew her melancholy flight, in +search of a solitary hiding-place; till she could be assured of the +positive embarkation of the commissary.</p> + +<p>In vain Sir Jaspar pressed to pursue his design of conveying her to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_727" id="Page_727">[Pg 727]</a></span> her +family; the dread of Lord Denmeath, who was in actual communication and +league with her persecutor, decided her refusal; though, while she had +believed in Sir Jaspar's commission for seeking her, neither risk nor +doubt had had power to check the ardour of her impatience, to cast +herself upon the protection of Lord Melbury and Lady Aurora: but she +felt no courage,—however generously they had succoured and +distinguished her as a distressed individual,—to rush upon them, +uncalled and unexpected, as a near relation; and one who had so large a +claim, could her kindred be proved, upon their inheritance.</p> + +<p>Her most earnest wish was to rejoin her Gabriella; but there, where she +had been discovered, she could least hope to lie concealed. She must +still, therefore, fly, in lonely silence. But she besought Sir Jaspar to +take her any whither rather than to Salisbury, where she had had the +horrour of being examined by the advertisement.</p> + +<p>Proud to receive her commands, he recommended to her a farm-house about +three miles from the city, of which the proprietor and his wife, who +were worthy and honest people, had belonged, formerly, to his family.</p> + +<p>She thankfully agreed to this proposal: but, when they arrived at the +farm, they heard that the master and mistress were gone to a +neighbouring fair, whence they were not expected back for an hour or +two; and that they had locked up the parlour. Some labourers being in +the kitchen, Sir Jaspar proposed driving about in the interval; and +ordered the postilion to Wilton.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_728" id="Page_728">[Pg 728]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXXII" id="CHAPTER_LXXXII"></a>CHAPTER LXXXII</h2> + + +<p>Absorbed in grief, and unable to converse, though endeavouring to listen +to the Baronet, Juliet was only drawn from her melancholy reverie, by +the rattling of the carriage upon a pavement, as it passed, through a +spacious gate, into the court-yard of a magnificent country seat.</p> + +<p>She demanded what this meant.</p> + +<p>Where better, he demanded in return, could she while away the interval +of waiting, than in viewing the finest works of art, displayed in a +temple consecrated to their service?</p> + +<p>This was a scheme to force back all her consideration. In hearing him +pronounce the word Wilton, she had merely thought of the town; not of +the mansion of the Earl of Pembroke; which she now positively refused +entering; earnestly representing the necessity, as well as propriety, in +a situation so perilous, of the most entire obscurity.</p> + +<p>He assured her that she would be less liable to observation in a +repository of the <i>beaux arts</i>, at the villa of a nobleman, than by +waiting in a post-chaise, before the door of an inn; as he must +indispensably change horses; and grant a little repose to his old groom, +who had been out with him all day.</p> + +<p>This she could not dispute, convinced, herself, that her greatest danger +lay in being recognized, or remarked, within the precincts of an inn.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, how enter into such a mansion in a garb so unfit for +admission? She besought him to ask leave that she might remain in some +empty apartment, as an humble dependent, while he viewed the house.</p> + +<p>Extremely pleased by an idea so consonant to his fantastic taste, he +answered her aloud, in alighting, 'Yes, yes, Mrs Betty! if you wish to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_729" id="Page_729">[Pg 729]</a></span> +see the rooms, that you may give an account of all the pretty images to +my little ones, there can be no objection.'</p> + +<p>She descended from the chaise, meaning to remonstrate upon this +misconstruction of her request; but, not allowing her the opportunity, +he gaily represented, to the person who shewed him the mansion, that he +was convoying a young nursery-maid, the daughter of a worthy old tenant, +to his grand-children; and that she had a fancy to see all the finery, +that she might make out some pretty stories, to tell the little dears, +when she wanted to put them to sleep.</p> + +<p>Juliet, whose deep distress made her as little desire to see as to be +seen, repeated that she wished to sit still in some spare room: he +walked on, pretending not to hear her, addressing himself to his +<i>Cicerone</i>, whom he kept at his side; and therefore, as there was no +female in view, to whom she could apply, she was compelled to follow.</p> + +<p>Not as Juliet she followed; Juliet whose soul was delightedly 'awake to +tender strokes of art,' whether in painting, music, or poetry; who never +saw excellence without emotion; and whose skill and taste would have +heightened her pleasure into rapture, her approbation into enthusiasm, +in viewing the delicious assemblage of painting, statuary, antiques, +natural curiosities, and artificial rarities, of Wilton;—not as Juliet, +she followed; but as one to whom every thing was indifferent; whose +discernment was gone, whose eyes were dimmed, whose powers of perception +were asleep, and whose spirit of enjoyment was annihilated. Figures of +the noblest sculpture; busts of historical interest; <i>alto</i> and <i>basso +relievos</i> of antique elegance; marbles, alabasters, spars, and lavers of +all colours, and in all forms; pictures glowing into life, and statues +appearing to command their beholders;—all that, at another period, +would have made her forget every thing but themselves, now vainly +solicited a moment of her attention.</p> + +<p>It was by no means the fault of the Baronet, that this nearly morbid +insensibility was not conquered, by the revivyfying objects which +surrounded her. He suffered her not to pass an Æsculapius, without +demanding a prescription for her health; a Mercury, without supplicating +an ordonnance for her spirits; a Minerva, without claiming an +exhortation to courage; nor a Venus, without pointing out, that +perpetual beauty beams but through perpetual smiles: couching every +phrase under emblematical recommendations of story-subjects for the +nursery.</p> + +<p>When the guide stood somewhat aloof, 'What say you, now,' he exultingly +whispered, 'to my famous little friends? Did they ever devise<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_730" id="Page_730">[Pg 730]</a></span> a more +ingenious gambol? From your slave, by a mere wave of their wand, they +have transformed me into your master! Ah, wicked syren! a dimple of +yours demolishes all their work, and again totters me down to your +feet!'</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, even in this nearly torpid state, accident having raised +her eyes to Vandyke's children of Charles the First, the extraordinary +attraction of that fascinating picture, was exciting, unconsciously, +some pleasure, when the sound of a carriage announcing a party to see +the house, she petitioned Sir Jaspar to avoid, if possible, being known.</p> + +<p>All compliance with whatever she could wish, the Baronet promised to +nail his eyes to the lowest picture in the room, should they be joined +by any stragglers; and then, relinquishing all further examination, he +begged permission to wait for his horses, in an apartment which is +presided by a noble picture of Salvator Rosa; to which, never +discouraged, he strove to call the attention of Juliet.</p> + +<p>Nothing could more aptly harmonize, not only with his enthusiastic +eulogiums, but with his quaint fancy, than that exquisite effusion of +the painter's imagination, 'where, surely,' said the rapturous Baronet, +'his pencil has been guided, if not impelled, in every stroke, by my +dear little cronies the fairies! And that variety of vivifying objects; +that rich, yet so elegant scenery, of airy gaiety, and ideal felicity, +is palpably a representation of fairy land itself! Is it thither my dear +little friends will, some day, convey me? And shall I be metamorphosed +into one of those youthful swains, that are twining their garlands with +such bewitching grace? And shall I myself elect the fair one, around +whom I shall entwine mine?'</p> + +<p>This harangue was interrupted, by the appearance of a newly arrived +party; but vainly Sir Jaspar kept his word, in reclining upon his +crutches, till he was nearly prostrate upon the ground; he was +immediately challenged by a lady; and that lady was Mrs Ireton.</p> + +<p>Juliet, inexpressibly shocked, hastily glided from the room, striving to +cover her face with her luxuriously curling hair. She rambled about the +mansion, till she met with a chambermaid, from whom she entreated +permission to wait in some private apartment, till the carriage to which +she belonged should be ready.</p> + +<p>The maid, obligingly, took her to a small room; and Juliet, taught by +her cruel confusion at the sight of Mrs Ireton, the censure, if not +slander, to which travelling alone with a man, however old, might make +her liable; determined, at whatever hazard, to hang, henceforth,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_731" id="Page_731">[Pg 731]</a></span> solely +upon herself. She resolved, therefore, to beg the assistance of this +maid-servant, to direct her to some safe rural lodging.</p> + +<p>But how great was her consternation, when, requiring, now, her purse, +she suddenly missed,—what, in her late misery, she had neither guarded +nor thought of, her packet and her work-bag!</p> + +<p>Every pecuniary resource was now sunk at a blow! even the deposit, which +she had held as sacred, of Harleigh, was lost!</p> + +<p>At what period of her disturbances this misfortune had happened, she had +no knowledge; nor whether her property had been dropt in her distress, +or purloined; or simply left at the inn; the consequence, every way, was +equally dreadful: and but for Sir Jaspar, whom all sense of propriety +had told her, the moment before, to shun, yet to whom, now, she became +tied, by absolute necessity, her Difficulties, at this conjuncture, +would have been nearly distracting.</p> + +<p>When the carriage was returned, with fresh horses, Sir Jaspar found her +in a situation of augmented dismay, that filled him with concern; though +he also saw, that it was tempered by a grateful softness to himself, +that he thought more than ever bewitching.</p> + +<p>He assured her that Mrs Ireton, whom he had adroitly shaken off, had not +perceived her; but the moment that they were re-seated in the chaise, +she communicated to him, with the most painful suffering, the new, and +terrible stroke, by which she was oppressed.</p> + +<p>Viewing this as a mere pecuniary embarrassment, the joy of becoming +again useful, if not necessary, to her, sparkled in his eyes with almost +youthful vivacity; though he engaged to send his valet immediately to +the inn, to make enquiries, and offer rewards, for recovering the +strayed goods.</p> + +<p>This second loss of her purse, she suffered Sir Jaspar, without any +attempt at justification, to call an active epigram upon modern female +drapery; which prefers continual inconvenience, innumerable privations, +and the most distressing untidiness, to the antique habit of modesty and +good housewifery, which, erst, left the public display of the human +figure to the statuary; deeming that to support the female character was +more essential than to exhibit the female form.</p> + +<p>This second loss, also, by carrying back her reflections to the first, +brought to her mind several circumstances, which cast a new light upon +that origin of the various misfortunes and adventures which had followed +her arrival; and all her recollections, now she knew the rapacity and +worthlessness of the pilot, pointed out to her that she had probably +been robbed, at the moment when, impulsively, she was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_732" id="Page_732">[Pg 732]</a></span> pouring forth, +upon her knees, her thanks for her deliverance. Her work-bag, which, +upon that occasion, she had deposited upon her seat, she remembered, +though she had then attributed it to his vigilance and care, seeing in +his hands, when she arose.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the farm-house, they found themselves expected by the farmer +and his wife, who paid the utmost respect to Sir Jaspar; but who saw, +with an air of evidently suspicious surprize, the respect which he +himself paid to Mrs Betty, the nurse-maid; whose beauty, with her rustic +attire, and disordered hair, would have made them instantly conclude her +to be a lost young creature, had not the decency of her look, the +dignity of her manner, and the grief visible in her countenance, spoken +irresistibly in favour of her innocence. They spoke not, however, in +favour of that of Sir Jaspar, whose old character of gallantry was well +known to them; and induced their belief, that he was inveigling this +young woman from her friends, for her moral destruction. They +accommodated her, nevertheless, for the night; but, whatever might be +their pity, determined, should the Baronet visit her the next day, to +invent some other occupation for their spare bedroom.</p> + +<p>Unenviable was that night, as passed by their lodger, however acceptable +to her was any asylum. She spent it in continual alarm; now shaking with +the terrour of pursuit; now affrighted with the prospect of being +pennyless; now shocked to find herself cast completely into the power of +a man, who, however aged, was her professed admirer; and now distracted +by varying resolutions upon the measures which she ought immediately to +take. And when, for a few minutes, her eyes, from extreme fatigue, +insensibly closed, her dreams, short and horrible, renewed the dreadful +event of the preceding day; again she saw herself pursued; again felt +herself seized; and she blessed the piercing shrieks with which she +awoke, though they brought to her but the transient relief that she was +safe for the passing moment.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_733" id="Page_733">[Pg 733]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXXIII" id="CHAPTER_LXXXIII"></a>CHAPTER LXXXIII</h2> + + +<p>Sir Jaspar arrived late the next morning, in wrath, he said, with his +valet, who was not yet returned with the result of his enquiries from +the inn; but before Juliet could express any uneasiness at the delay, +the farmer and his wife, in evident confusion, though with professions +of great respect, humbly besought that his honour would excuse their +mentioning, that they expected a relation, to pass some days with them, +who would want the spare apartment.</p> + +<p>The Baronet, however displeased, humourously answered that their +relation was mightily welcome to pass his days with them, provided he +would be so kind as to go to the neighbouring public-house to take his +dreams: but Juliet, much hurt, though with an air of dignity that made +her hosts look more abashed than herself, desired that she might not +incommode the family; and entreated Sir Jaspar to convey her to the +nearest town.</p> + +<p>Sir Jaspar, rather to confound than to gratify the farmer, flung down a +guinea, which the man vainly sought to decline; and then led the way to +the carriage; at the door of which, stopping, he said, with an arch +smile, that he was not yet superannuated enough to take place of a fair +female; and desired that Mrs Betty would get in first.</p> + +<p>Shocked as Juliet felt to find herself thus suspiciously situated, the +affront was soon absorbed in the dread of greater evil; in the affright +of pursuit, and the dismay of being exposed to improper pecuniary +obligations.</p> + +<p>Not knowing the country, and not heeding the way that she went, she +concluded that they were driving to some neighbouring village, in search +of a new lodging; till she perceived that the carriage, which was drawn +by four horses, was laboriously mounting a steep acclivity.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_734" id="Page_734">[Pg 734]</a></span></p> + +<p>Looking then around her, she found herself upon a vast plain; nor house, +nor human being, nor tree, nor cattle within view.</p> + +<p>Surprised, 'Where are we?' she cried, 'Sir Jaspar? and whither are we +going?'</p> + +<p>To a quick meeting with his valet, he answered, by a difficult road, +rarely passed, because out of the common track.</p> + +<p>They then quietly proceeded; Juliet, wrapt up in her own fears and +affairs, making no comment upon the looks of enjoyment, and contented +taciturnity of her companion; till the groom, riding up to the window, +said that the horses could go no further.</p> + +<p>Sir Jaspar ordered them a feed; and enquired of Juliet whether she would +chuse, while they took a little rest, to mount on foot to the summit of +the ascent, and examine whether any horsemen were yet within sight.</p> + +<p>Glad to breathe a few minutes alone, she alighted and walked forward; +though slowly, and with eyes bent upon the turf; till she was struck by +the appearance of a wide ditch between a circular double bank; and +perceived that she was approaching the scattered remains of some ancient +building, vast, irregular, strange, and in ruins.</p> + +<p>Excited by sympathy in what seemed lonely and undone, rather than by +curiosity, she now went on more willingly, though not less sadly; till +she arrived at a stupendous assemblage of enormous stones, of which the +magnitude demanded ocular demonstration to be entitled to credibility. +Yet, though each of them, taken separately, might seem, from its +astonishing height and breadth, there, like some rock, to have been +placed from 'the beginning of things,' and though not even the rudest +sculpture denoted any vestige of human art, still the whole was clearly +no phenomenon of nature. The form, that might still be traced, of an +antique structure, was evidently circular and artificial; and here and +there, supported by gigantic posts, or pillars, immense slabs of flat +stone were raised horizontally, that could only by manual art and labour +have been elevated to such a height. Many were fallen; many, with grim +menace, looked nodding; but many, still sustaining their upright +direction, were so ponderous that they appeared to have resisted all the +wars of the elements, in this high and bleak situation, for ages.</p> + +<p>Struck with solemn wonder, Juliet for some time wandered amidst these +massy ruins, grand and awful, though terrific rather than attractive. +Mounting, then, upon a fragment of the pile, she saw that the view all +around was in perfect local harmony with the wild edifice,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_735" id="Page_735">[Pg 735]</a></span> or rather +remains of an edifice, into which she had pierced. She discerned, to a +vast extent, a boundless plain, that, like the ocean, seemed to have no +term but the horizon; but which, also like the ocean, looked as desert +as it was unlimited. Here and there flew a bustard, or a wheat-ear; all +else seemed unpeopled air, and uncultivated waste.</p> + +<p>In a state of mind so utterly deplorable as that of Juliet, this grand, +uncouth monument of ancient days had a certain sad, indefinable +attraction, more congenial to her distress, than all the polish, taste, +and delicacy of modern skill. The beauties of Wilton seemed appendages +of luxury, as well as of refinement; and appeared to require not only +sentiment, but happiness for their complete enjoyment: while the nearly +savage, however wonderful work of antiquity, in which she was now +rambling; placed in this abandoned spot, far from the intercourse, or +even view of mankind, with no prospect but of heath and sky; blunted, +for the moment, her sensibility, by removing her wide from all the +objects with which it was in contact; and insensibly calmed her spirits; +though not by dissipating her reverie. Here, on the contrary, was room +for 'meditation even to madness;' nothing distracted the sight, nothing +broke in upon attention, nor varied the ideas. Thought, uninterrupted +and uncontrouled, was master of the mind.</p> + +<p>Here, in deep and melancholy rumination, she remained, till she was +joined by the Baronet; who toiled after his fair charge with an eager +will, though with slack and discourteous feet.</p> + +<p>'Do you divine, my beauteous Wanderer,' he cried, 'what part of the +globe you now brighten? Have you developed my stratagem to surprize you +by a view of what, perhaps, you thought impossible, something curious, +and worthy of attention, though more antique than myself?'</p> + +<p>Juliet tried, but vainly, to make a civil speech; and Sir Jaspar, after +having vainly awaited it, went on.</p> + +<p>'You picture yourself, perhaps, in the original temple of Gog and Magog? +for what less than giants could have heaved stones such as these? but +'tis not so; and you, who are pious, must view this spot, with bended +knees and new ideas. Dart, then, around, the "liquid lustre of those +eyes,—so brightly mutable, so sweetly wild!"<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a>—and behold in each +stony spectre, now staring you in the face, a petrified old Druid! for +learn, fair fugitive, you ramble now within the holy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_736" id="Page_736">[Pg 736]</a></span> precincts of that +rude wonder of other days, and disgrace of modern geometry, Stonehenge.'</p> + +<p>In almost any other frame of mind, Juliet, from various descriptions, +joined to the vicinity of Salisbury, would not have required any +nomenclator to have told her where she was: but she could now make no +reflections, save upon her own misery; and no combinations, that were +not relative to her own dangers.</p> + +<p>Sir Jaspar apologized that he had not more roughly handled the farmer +and his wife, for their inhospitality; and frankly owned that it was not +from the milkiness of his nature that he had been so docile, but from an +ardent eagerness to visit Stonehenge with so fair a companion.</p> + +<p>Juliet, alarmed, demanded whether he had not taken the route by which +they were to meet his valet?</p> + +<p>'I have all my life,' continued he, 'fostered, as the wish next my +heart, the idea of being the object of some marvellous adventure: but +fortune, more deaf, if possible, than blind! has hitherto famished all +my elevated desires, by keeping me to the strict regimen of mere common +life. Nevertheless, to die like a brute, without leaving behind me one +staring anecdote, to be recounted by my successors to my little nephews +and nieces;—no! I cannot resolve upon so hum-drum an exit. Late, +therefore, last night, I counselled with my tiny friends; and the rogues +told me that those whom adventures would not seek, must seek adventures. +They then suggested to me, that to visit some romantic spot, far removed +from all living ken, or a vast unfrequented plain; where no leering eye, +with deriding scrutiny, no envious ear, with prepared impertinence, +could peep, or overhear;—where not even a bird could find a twig for +the sole of his paw;—there to encounter a lovely nymph; to dally with +her in dulcet discourse; to feast upon the sweet notes of her melodious +voice;—while obedient fays, and sprightly elves, should accoutre some +chosen fragment with offerings appropriate to the place and the +occasion—'</p> + +<p>One of his grooms, here, demanded of him a private audience.</p> + +<p>He retired to some distance, and the heart-oppressed Juliet relieved her +struggling feelings by weeping without controul.</p> + +<p>While pondering upon her precarious destiny, she perceived, through an +opening between two large stones, that Sir Jaspar had placed himself +upon an eminence, where, apparently, by his gestures, he was engaged in +an animated discourse.</p> + +<p>She concluded that the valet de chambre was arrived from the inn;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_737" id="Page_737">[Pg 737]</a></span> but, +soon afterwards, she was struck with motions so extraordinary, and by an +appearance of a vivacity so extravagant, that she almost feared the +imagination of the Baronet had played him false, and was superseding his +reason. She arose, and softly approaching, endeavoured to discover with +whom he was conversing; but could discern no one, and was the more +alarmed; though the nearer she advanced, the less he seemed to be an +object of pity; his countenance being as bright with glee, as his hands +and arms were busy with action.</p> + +<p>After some time, she caught his eye; when, ceasing all gesticulation, he +kissed his hand, with a motion that invited her approach; and, gallantly +resigning his seat, begged her permission to take one by her side.</p> + +<p>He was all smiling good humour; and his features, in defiance of his +age, expressed the most playful archness. 'It is not,' he cried, 'for +nothing, permit me to assure you, that I have prowled over this +druidical spot; for though the Druids have not been so debonnaire as to +re-animate themselves to address me, they have suffered a flat surface +of their petrifaction to be covered over with a whole army of my little +frequenters; who have dragged thither a parcel, and the Lord knows what +besides, that they have displayed, as you see, full before me; after +which, with their usual familiarity, up they have been mounting to my +shoulders, my throat, my ears, and my wig; and lolling all about me, in +mockery of my remonstrances; saying, Harkee, old Sir!—for they use very +little ceremony with me;—didst thou really fancy we would suffer the +loveliest lily of the valley to droop without any gentle shade, under +the blazing glare of this full light, while thy aukward clown of a valet +trots to the inn for her bonnet? or let her wait his plodding return, +for what other drapery her fair form may require? or permit her to be +famished in the open air, whilst thou art hopping and hobbling, and +hobbling and hopping, about these ruins, which thou art so fast +ossifying to resemble? No, old Sir! look what our wands have brought +hither for her! look!—but touch nothing for thy life! her own lily +hands alone must develop our fairy gifts.'</p> + +<p>Juliet, who, already, had observed, upon the nearest flat stone, a large +band-box, and a square new trunk, placed as supporters to an elegant +Japan basket, in which were arranged various refreshments; could not, +however disconcerted by attentions that she knew not how to acknowledge, +prevail upon herself to damp the exaltation of his spirits, by resisting +his entreaty that she would herself lift up the lid of the trunk and +open the band-box.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_738" id="Page_738">[Pg 738]</a></span></p> + +<p>The first of these machines presented to her sight a complete small +assortment of the finest linen; the second contained a white chip bonnet +of the most beautiful texture.</p> + +<p>This last excited a transient feeling of pleasure, in offering some +shade for her face, now exposed to every eye. She looked at it, +wistfully, a few minutes, anticipating its umbrageous succour; yet +irresolute, and fearing to give encouragement to the too evident +admiration of the Baronet. Her deliberation, nevertheless, seconded by +her wishes, was in his favour. She passed over, in her mind, that he +knew her origin, and high natural, however disputed expectations; and +that, with all his gallantry, he was not only aged and sickly, but a +gentleman in manners and sentiments, as much as in birth and rank of +life. He could not mean her dishonour; and to shew, since thus cast into +his hands, and loaded with obligations of long standing, as well as +recent, a voluntary confidence in his character and intentions, might, +happily, from mingling a sense of honour with a sense of shame, turn +aside what was wrong in his regard, and give pride and pleasure to a +nobler attachment, that might fix him her solid and disinterested friend +for life.</p> + +<p>Decided by this view of things, she thankfully consented to receive his +offerings, upon condition that he would permit her to consider him as +the banker of Lord Melbury and of Lady Aurora Granville.</p> + +<p>Enchanted by her acceptance, and enraptured by its manner, the first +sensation of the melted Baronet was to cast himself at her feet: but the +movement was checked by certain aches and pains; while the necessity of +picking up one of his crutches, which, in his transport, had fallen from +his hands, mournfully called him back from his gallantry to his +infirmities.</p> + +<p>At this moment, an 'Ah ha! here's the Demoiselle!—Here she is, faith!' +suddenly presented before them Riley, mounted upon a fragment of the +pile, to take a view around him.</p> + +<p>Starting, and in dread of some new horrour, Juliet looked at him aghast; +while, clapping his hands, and turbently approaching her, he exclaimed, +'Yes! here she is, <i>in propria persona</i>! I was afraid that she had +slipped through our fingers again! Monsieur <i>le cher Epoux</i> will have a +pretty tight job of it to get her into conjugal trammels! he will, +faith!'</p> + +<p>To the other, and yet more horrible sensations of Juliet, this speech +added a depth of shame nearly overwhelming, from the implied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_739" id="Page_739">[Pg 739]</a></span> obloquy +hanging upon the character of a wife eloping from her husband.</p> + +<p>Presently, however, all within was changed; re-invigourated, new strung! +and joy, irresistibly, beamed from her eyes, and hope glowed upon her +cheeks, as Riley related that, before he had left the inn upon the road, +he had himself seen the new Mounseer, with poor Surly, who had been +seized as an accomplice, packed off together for the sea-coast, whence +they were both, with all speed, to be embarked for their own dear +country.</p> + +<p>The Baronet waved his hand, in act of congratulation to Juliet, but +forbore speaking; and Riley went on.</p> + +<p>'They made confounded wry faces, and grimaces, both of them. I never saw +a grimmer couple! They amused me mightily; they did, faith! But I can't +compliment you, Demoiselle, upon your choice of a loving partner. He has +as hang-dog a physiognomy as a Bow Street prowler might wish to light +upon on a summer's day. A most fiend-like aspect, I confess. I don't +well make out what you took to him for, Demoiselle? His Cupid's arrows +must have been handsomely tipt with gold, to blind you to all that brass +of his brow and his port.'</p> + +<p>Sir Jaspar, distressed for Juliet, and much annoyed by this +interruption, however happy in the intelligence to which it was the +vehicle, enquired what chance had brought Mr Riley to Stonehenge?</p> + +<p>The chance, he answered, that generally ruled his actions, namely, his +own will and pleasure. He had found out, in his prowls about Salisbury, +that Sir Jaspar was to be followed to Stonehenge by a dainty repast; +and, deeming his news well worth a bumper to the loving sea-voyagers, he +had borrowed a horse of one of Master Baronet's grooms, to take his +share in the feast.</p> + +<p>The Baronet, at this hint, instantly, and with scrupulous politeness, +did the honours of his stores; though he was ready to gnash his teeth +with ire, at so mundane an appropriation of his fairy purposes.</p> + +<p>'What a rare hand you are, Demoiselle,' cried Riley, 'at hocus pocus +work! Who the deuce, with that Hebe face of yours, could have thought of +your being a married woman! Why, when I saw you at the old Bang'em's +concert, at Brighthelmstone, I should have taken you for a +boarding-school Miss. But you metamorphose yourself about so, one does +not know which way to look for you. Ovid was a mere fool to you. His +nymphs, turned into trees, and rivers, and flowers, and beasts, and +fishes, make such a staring chaos of lies, that one reads them without a +ray of reference to truth; like the tales of the Genii,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_740" id="Page_740">[Pg 740]</a></span> or of old +Mother Goose. He makes such a comical hodge podge of animal, vegetable, +and mineral choppings and changes, that we should shout over them, as +our brats do at a puppet-shew, when old Nick teaches punchinello the +devil's dance down to hell; or pummels his wife to a mummy; if it were +not for the sly rogue's tickling one's ears so cajolingly with the +jingle of metre. But Demoiselle, here, scorns all that namby pamby +work.'</p> + +<p>Sir Jaspar tried vainly to call him to order; the embarrassment of +Juliet operated but as a stimulus to his caustic humour.</p> + +<p>'I have met with nothing like her, Master Baronet,' he continued, 'all +the globe over. Neither juggler nor conjuror is a match for her. She can +make herself as ugly as a witch, and as handsome as an angel. She'll +answer what one only murmurs in a whisper; and she won't hear a word, +when one bawls as loud as a speaking-trumpet. Now she turns herself into +a vagrant, not worth sixpence; and now, into a fine player and singer +that ravishes all ears, and might make, if it suited her fancy, a +thousand pounds at her benefit: and now, again, as you see, you can't +tell whether she's a house-maid, or a country girl! yet a devilish fine +creature, faith! as fine a creature as ever I beheld,—when she's in +that humour! Look but what a beautiful head of hair she's displaying to +us now! It becomes her mightily. But I won't swear that she does not +change it, in a minute or two, for a skull-cap! She's a droll girl, +faith! I like her prodigiously!'</p> + +<p>Utterly disconcerted, Juliet, expressively bowing to the Baronet, lifted +up the lid of the band-box, and, encircling her head in his bonnet, +begged his permission to re-seat herself in the chaise.</p> + +<p>Charmed with the prospect of another tête à tête, Sir Jaspar, with +alacrity, accompanied her to the carriage; leaving Riley to enjoy, at +his leisure, the cynical satisfaction, of having worried a timid deer +from the field.</p> + +<p>Still, however, Juliet, while uncertain whether the embarkation might +not be eluded, desired to adhere to her plan of privacy and obscurity; +and the Baronet would not struggle against a resolution from which he +hoped to reap the fruit of lengthened intercourse. Pleased and +willingly, therefore, he told his postilion to drive across the plain +to ——, whence they proceeded post to Blandford.</p> + +<p>Great was the relief afforded to the feelings of Juliet, by a removal so +expeditious from the immediate vicinity of the scene of her sufferings; +but she considered it, at the same time, to be a circumstance to obviate +all necessity, and, consequently, all propriety of further<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_741" id="Page_741">[Pg 741]</a></span> attendance +from the Baronet: here, therefore, to his utter dismay, with firmness, +though with the gentlest acknowledgements, she begged that they might +separate.</p> + +<p>Cruelly disappointed, Sir Jaspar warmly remonstrated against the danger +of her being left alone; but the possible hazards which might be annexed +to acting right, could not deter her from the certain evil of acting +wrong. Her greatest repugnance was that of being again forced to accept +pecuniary aid; yet that, which, however disagreeable, might be refunded, +was at least preferable to the increase and continuance of obligations, +which, besides their perilous tendency, could never be repaid. Already, +upon opening the band-box, she had seen a well furnished purse; and +though her first movement had prompted its rejection, the decision of +necessity was that of acceptance.</p> + +<p>When Sir Jaspar found it utterly impossible to prevail with his fair +companion still to bear that title, he expostulated against leaving her, +at least, in a public town; and she was not sorry to accept his offer of +conveying her to some neighbouring village.</p> + +<p>It was still day-light, when they arrived within the picturesque view of +a villa, which Juliet, upon enquiry, heard was Milton-abbey. She soon +discovered, that the scheme of the Baronet, to lengthen their sojourn +with each other, was to carry her to see the house: but this she +absolutely refused; and her seriousness compelled him to drive to a +neighbouring cottage; where she had the good fortune to meet with a +clean elderly woman, who was able to accommodate her with a small +chamber.</p> + +<p>Here, not without sincere concern, she saw the reluctance, even to +sadness, with which her old admirer felt himself forced to leave his too +lovely young friend: and what she owed to him was so important, so +momentous, that she parted from him, herself, with real regret, and with +expressions of the most lively esteem and regard.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_742" id="Page_742">[Pg 742]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXXIV" id="CHAPTER_LXXXIV"></a>CHAPTER LXXXIV</h2> + + +<p>Restless, again, was the night of Juliet; bewildered with varying +visions of hope, of despair, of bliss, of horrour; now presenting a fair +prospect that opened sweetly to her best affections; now shewing every +blossom blighted, by a dark, overwhelming storm.</p> + +<p>To engage the good will of her new hostess, she bestowed upon her nearly +every thing that she had worn upon entering the cottage. What she had +been seen and discovered in, could no longer serve any purpose of +concealment; and all disguise was disgusting to her, if not induced by +the most imperious necessity. She clothed herself, therefore, from the +fairy stores of her munificent old sylph; with whom her debts were so +multiplied and so considerable, that she meant, at all events, to call +upon her family for their disbursement.</p> + +<p>The quietness of this residence, induced her to propose remaining here: +and her new hostess, who was one of the many who, where interest +preaches passiveness, make it a point not to be troublesome, consented, +without objection or enquiry.</p> + +<p>Hence, again, she wrote to Gabriella, from whom she languished for +intelligence.</p> + +<p>In this perfect retirement, she passed her time in deep rumination; her +thoughts for ever hovering around the Bishop, upon whose fate her own +invariably depended.</p> + +<p>Her little apartment was close and hot; unshaded by blinds, unsheltered +by shutters; she went forth, therefore, early every morning, to enjoy +fresh air in the cool of a neighbouring wood, which, once having +entered, she knew not how to quit. Solitude there, had not the character +of seclusion; it bore not, as in her room, the air of banishment, if not +of imprisonment; and the beautiful prospects around her, though her +sole, were a never-failing source of recreation.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_743" id="Page_743">[Pg 743]</a></span></p> + +<p>She permitted not, however, her love of the country to beguile her into +danger by the love of variety; she wandered not far from her new +habitation, in the vicinity of Milton-abbey; of which she never lost +sight from distance, though frequently from intervening hills and trees.</p> + +<p>But no answer arrived from Gabriella; and, in a few days, her own letter +was returned, with a line written by the post-man upon the cover, to +say, No. — Frith-street, Soho, was empty.</p> + +<p>New sorrow, now, and fearful distress assailed every feeling of Juliet: +What could have occasioned this sudden measure? Whither was Gabriella +gone? Might it be happiness?—or was it some new evil that had caused +this change of abode? The letter sent to Salisbury had never been +claimed; nor did Juliet dare demand it: but Gabriella might, perhaps, +have written her new plan by the address sent from the farm-house.</p> + +<p>It was now that she blessed the munificent Sir Jaspar, to whose purse +she had immediate recourse for sending a man and horse to the cottage; +with written instructions to enquire for a letter, concerning which she +had left directions with the good old cottager.</p> + +<p>While, to wear away the hours devoted to anxious waiting, she wandered, +as usual, in the view of Milton-abbey, from a rich valley, bounded by +rising hills, whose circling slopes bore the form of undulating waves, +she perceived, from a small distance, a horseman gallopping towards her +cottage.</p> + +<p>It could not already be her messenger. She felt uneasy, and, gliding to +the brow of an eminence, sat down upon the turf, as much as possible out +of sight.</p> + +<p>In a short time, she heard the quick pacing step of a man in haste. She +tried to place herself still more obscurely; but, by moving, caught the +eye of the object she meant to avoid. He approached her rapidly, but +when near enough to distinguish her, abruptly stopt, as if to recollect +himself; and Juliet, at the same moment that she was herself discerned, +recognized Harleigh.</p> + +<p>With difficulty restraining an exclamation, from surprize and painful +emotion, she looked round to discover if it would be possible to elude +him; but she could only walk towards Milton-abbey, in full view herself +from that noble seat; or immediately face him by returning to her home. +She stood still, therefore, though bending her eye to the ground; hurt +and offended that, at such a juncture, Harleigh could break into her +retreat; and grieved yet more deeply, that Harleigh could excite in her +even transitory displeasure.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_744" id="Page_744">[Pg 744]</a></span></p> + +<p>Harleigh stept forward, but his voice, husky and nervous, so +inarticulately pronounced something relative to a packet and a work-bag, +that Juliet, losing her displeasure in a sudden hope of hearing some +news of her property, raised her head, with a look that demanded an +explanation.</p> + +<p>Still he strove in vain for sufficient calmness to speak distinctly; yet +his answer gave Juliet to understand, that he had conveyed her packet +and work-bag to the cottage which he had been told she inhabited.</p> + +<p>'And where, Sir,' cried Juliet, surprized into vivacity and pleasure at +this unexpected hearing, 'how, and where have they been recovered?'</p> + +<p>Harleigh now blushed himself, at the blushes which he knew he must raise +in her cheeks, as he replied, that the packet and the work-bag which he +had brought, had been dropt in his room at the inn.</p> + +<p>Crimson is pale to the depth of red with which shame and confusion dyed +her face; while Harleigh, recovering his voice, sought to relieve her +embarrassment, by more rapidly continuing his discourse.</p> + +<p>'I should sooner have endeavoured to deliver these articles, but that I +knew not, till yesterday, that they had fallen to my care. I had left +the inn, to follow, and seek Sir Jaspar Herrington; but having various +papers and letters in my room, that I had not had time to collect, I +obtained leave to take away the key with me, of the landlady, to whom I +was well known,—for there, or in that neighbourhood, an irresistible +interest has kept me, from the time that, through my groom, I had +heard ... who had been seen ... at Bagshot ... entering the Salisbury +stage!—Yesterday, when I returned, to the inn, I first perceived these +parcels.'—</p> + +<p>He stopt; but Juliet could not speak, could not look up; could pronounce +no apology, nor enter into any explanation.</p> + +<p>'Sir Jaspar Herrington,' he continued, 'whom I have just left, is still +at Salisbury; but setting out for town. From him I learnt your immediate +direction; but not knowing what might be the value of the packets, +nor,—' He hesitated a moment, and then, with a sigh, added, 'nor how to +direct them! I determined upon venturing to deliver them myself.'</p> + +<p>The tingling cheeks of Juliet, at the inference of the words 'nor how to +direct them,' seemed on fire; but she was totally silent.</p> + +<p>'I have carefully sealed them,' he resumed, 'and I have delivered them +to the woman of the cottage, for the young lady who at present sleeps +there; and, hearing that that young lady was walking in the +neighbourhood, I ventured to follow, with this intelligence.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_745" id="Page_745">[Pg 745]</a></span></p> + +<p>'You are very good, Sir,' Juliet strove to answer; but her lips were +parched, and no words could find their way.</p> + +<p>This excess of timidity brought back the courage of Harleigh, who, +advancing a step or two, said, 'You will not be angry that Sir Jaspar, +moved by my uncontrollable urgency, has had the charity to reveal to me +some particulars....'</p> + +<p>'Oh! make way for me to pass, Mr Harleigh!' now interrupted Juliet, +forcing her voice, and striving to force a passage.</p> + +<p>'Did you wish, then,' said Harleigh, in a tone the most melancholy, +'could you wish that I should still languish in harrowing suspense? or +burst with ignorance?'</p> + +<p>'Oh no!' cried she, raising her eyes, which glistened with tears, 'no! +If the mystery that so long has hung about me, by occupying your ...' +She sought a word, and then continued: 'your imagination ... impedes the +oblivion that ought to bury me and my misfortunes from further +thought,—then, indeed, I ought to be thankful to Sir Jaspar,—and I am +thankful that he has let you know, ... that he has informed you....'</p> + +<p>She could not finish the sentence.</p> + +<p>'Yes!' cried Harleigh with energy, 'I have heard the dreadful history of +your wrongs! of the violences by which you have suffered, of the inhuman +attempts upon your liberty, your safety, your honour!—But since you +have thus happily—'</p> + +<p>'Mr Harleigh,' cried Juliet, struggling to recover her presence of mind, +'I need no longer, I trust, now, beg your absence! All I can have to say +you must, now, understand ... anticipate ... acknowledge ... since you +are aware....'</p> + +<p>'Ah!' cried Harleigh, in a tone not quite free from reproach;—'had you +but, from the beginning, condescended to inform me of your situation! a +situation so impossible to divine! so replete with horrour, with injury, +with unheard of suffering,—had you, from the first, instead of +avoiding, flying me, deigned to treat me with some trust—'</p> + +<p>'Mr Harleigh,' said Juliet, with eagerness, 'whatever may be your +surprize that such should be my situation, ... my fate, ... you can, at +least, require, now, no explanation why I have fled you!'</p> + +<p>The word why, vibrated instantly to the heart of Harleigh, where it +condolingly said: It was duty, then, not averseness, not indifference, +that urged that flight! she had not fled, had she not deemed herself +engaged!—Juliet, who had hastily uttered the why in the solicitude of +self-vindication, shewed, by a change of complexion, the moment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_746" id="Page_746">[Pg 746]</a></span> that it +had passed her lips, that she felt the possible inference of which it +was susceptible, and dropt her eyes; fearful to risk discovering the +consciousness that they might indicate.</p> + +<p>Harleigh, however, now brightened, glowed with revived sensations: 'Ah! +be not,' he cried, 'be not the victim of your scruples! let not your too +delicate fears of doing wrong by others, urge you to inflict wrong, +irreparable wrong, upon yourself! Your real dangers are past; none now +remain but from a fancied,—pardon, pardon me!—a fancied refinement, +unfounded in reason, or in right! Suffer, therefore—'</p> + +<p>'Hold, Sir, hold!—we must not even talk upon this subject:—nor, at +this moment, upon any other!—'</p> + +<p>Her brow shewed rising displeasure; but Harleigh was intractable. +'Pronounce not,' he cried, 'an interdiction! I make no claim, no plea, +no condition. I will speak wholly as an impartial man;—and have you not +condescended to tell me, that as a friend, if to that title,—so +limited, yet so honourable,—I would confine myself,—you would not +disdain to consult with me? As such, I am now here. I feel, I respect, I +revere the delicacy of all your ideas, the perfection of your conduct! I +will put, therefore, aside, all that relates not simply to yourself, and +to your position; I will speak to you, for the moment, and in his +absence,—as—as Lord Melbury!—as your brother!—'</p> + +<p>An involuntary smile here unbent the knitting brow of Juliet, who could +not feel offended, or sorry, that Sir Jaspar had revealed the history of +her birth.</p> + +<p>She desired, nevertheless, to pass, refusing every species of +discussion.</p> + +<p>'If you will not answer, will not speak,' cried Harleigh, still +obstructing her way, 'fear not, at least, to hear! Are you not at +liberty? Is not your persecutor gone?—Can he ever return?'</p> + +<p>'Gone?' repeated Juliet.</p> + +<p>'I have myself seen him embark! I rode after his chaise, I pursued it to +the sea-coast, I saw him under sail.'</p> + +<p>Juliet, with uplifted eyes, clasped her hands, from an emotion of +ungovernable joy; which a thousand blushes betrayed her vain struggles +to suppress.</p> + +<p>Harleigh observed not this unmoved: 'Ah, Madam!' he cried, 'since, thus +critically, you have escaped;—since, thus happily, you are +released;—since no church ritual has ever sanctioned the sacrilegious +violence—'</p> + +<p>'Spare all ineffectual controversy!' cried Juliet, assuming an air and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_747" id="Page_747">[Pg 747]</a></span> +tone of composure, with which her quick heaving bosom was ill in +harmony; 'I can neither talk nor listen upon this subject. You know, +now, my story: dread and atrocious as is my connection, my faith to it +must be unbroken, till I have seen the Bishop! and till the iniquity of +my chains may be proved, and my restoration to my violated freedom may +be legalized. Do not look so shocked; so angry, must I say?—Remember, +that a point of conscience can be settled only internally! I will speak, +therefore, but one word more; and I must hear no reply: little as I feel +to belong to the person in question, I cannot consider myself to be my +own! 'Tis a tie which, whether or not it binds me to him, excludes me, +while thus circumstanced, from all others!—This, Sir, is my last +word!—Adieu!'</p> + +<p>Harleigh, though looking nearly petrified, still stood before her. 'You +fly us, then,' he cried, resentfully, though mournfully, 'both alike? +You put us upon a par?—'</p> + +<p>'No!' answered Juliet, hastily, 'him I fly because I hate;—You—'</p> + +<p>The deep scarlet which mounted into her whole face finished the +sentence; in defiance of a sudden and abrupt breaking off, that meant +and hoped to snatch the unguarded phrase from comprehension.</p> + +<p>But Harleigh felt its fullest contrast; his hopes, his wishes, his whole +soul completed it by You, because I love!—not that he could persuade +himself that Juliet would have used those words; he knew the contrary; +knew that she would sooner thus situated expire; but such, he felt, was +the impulse of her thoughts; such the consciousness that broke off her +speech.</p> + +<p>He durst not venture at any acknowledgement; but, once appeased in his +doubts, and satisfied in his feelings, he respected her opinions, and, +yielding to her increased, yet speechless eagerness to be gone, he +silently, but with eyes of expressive tenderness, ceased to obstruct her +passage.</p> + +<p>Utterly confounded herself, at the half-pronounced thought, thus +inadvertently surprised from her, and thus palpably seized and +interpreted, she strove to devize some term that might obviate dangerous +consequences; but she felt her cheeks so hot, so cold, and again so hot, +that she durst not trust her face to his observation; and, accepting the +opening which he made for her, she was returning to her cottage, +tortured,—and yet soothed,—by indescribable emotions; when an +energetic cry of 'Ellis!—Harleigh!—Ellis!' made her raise her eyes to +the adjacent hill, and perceive Elinor.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_748" id="Page_748">[Pg 748]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXXV" id="CHAPTER_LXXXV"></a>CHAPTER LXXXV</h2> + + +<p>With arms extended, and a commanding air, Elinor, having made signs to +the dismayed Harleigh not to move, awaited, where she stood, the +terrified, but obedient Juliet.</p> + +<p>'Avoid me not!' she cried, 'Ellis! why should you avoid me? I have given +you back your plighted word; and the pride of Harleigh has saved him +from all bonds. Why, then, should you fly?'</p> + +<p>Juliet attempted not to make any answer.</p> + +<p>'The conference, the last conference,' continued Elinor, 'which so +ardently I have demanded, is still unaccorded. Repeatedly I could have +surprized it, singly, from Harleigh; but—'</p> + +<p>She stopt, coloured, looked indignant, yet ashamed, and then haughtily +went on: 'Imagine not my courage tarnished by cowardly apprehensions of +misinterpretation,—suspicion,—censoriousness;... no! let the world +sneer at its pleasure! Its spleen will never keep pace with my contempt. +But Harleigh!—I brave not the censure of Harleigh! even though +prepared, and resolved, to quit him for evermore! And, with ideas +punctilious such as his of feminine delicacy, he might blame, +perhaps,—should I seek him alone—'</p> + +<p>She blushed more deeply, and, with extreme agitation, added, 'Harleigh, +when we shall meet no more, will always honourably say, Her passion for +me might be tinctured with madness, but its purity was without alloy!'</p> + +<p>She now turned away, to hide a starting tear; but, soon resuming her +usually lively manner, said, 'I have traced you, at last, together; and +by means of our caustick, bilious fellow-traveller, Riley; whom I +encountered by accident; and who runs, snarling, yet curious, after his +fellow-creatures, working at making himself enemies, as if enmity were a +pleasing, or lucrative profession! From him I learnt, that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_749" id="Page_749">[Pg 749]</a></span> had just +seen you,—and together!—near Salisbury. I discovered you, Ellis, two +days ago; but Harleigh, though I have been roving some time in your +vicinity, only this moment.'</p> + +<p>A sudden shriek now broke from her, and Juliet, affrighted and looking +around, perceived Harleigh pacing hastily away.</p> + +<p>The shriek reached him, and he stopt.</p> + +<p>'Fly, fly, to him,' she cried, 'Ellis; assure him, I have no present +personal project; none! I solemnly promise, none! But I have an opinion +to gather from him, of which my ignorance burns, devours me, and will +not let me rest, alive nor dead!'</p> + +<p>Juliet, distressed, irresolute, ventured not to move.</p> + +<p>''Tis his duty,' continued Elinor, 'after his solemn declaration, to +initiate me into his motives for believing in a future state. I have +been distracting my burthened senses over theological works; but my head +is in no condition to comprehend them. They treat, also, of belief in a +future state, as of a thing not to be proved, but to be taken for +granted. Let him penetrate me with his own notions; or frankly +acknowledge their insufficiency. But let him mark that they are indeed +his own! Let them be neither fanatical, illusory, nor traditional.'</p> + +<p>Juliet was compelled to obey; but while she was repeating her message, +Elinor descended the hill, and they all met at its foot.</p> + +<p>'Harleigh,' she cried, 'fear me not! Do not imagine I shall again go +over the same ground;—at least, not with the monotonous stupidity of +again going over it in the same manner. Yet believe not my resolution to +be shaken! But I have some doubts, relative to your own principles and +opinions, of which I demand a solution.'</p> + +<p>She then seated herself upon the turf, and made Harleigh seat himself +before her, while Juliet remained by her side.</p> + +<p>'Can you feign, Harleigh? Can you endure to act a part, in defiance of +your nobler nature, merely to prolong my detested life? Do you join in +the popular cry against suicide, merely to arrest my impatient hand? If +not, initiate me, I beseech, in the series of pretended reasoning, by +which honour, honesty, and understanding such as yours, have been duped +into bigotry? How is it, explain! that you can have been worked upon to +believe in an existence after death? Ah, Harleigh! could you, indeed, +give so sublime a resting-place to my labouring ideas!—I would consent +to enter the ecclesiastical court myself, to sing the recantation of +what you deem my errours. And then, Albert, I might learn,—with all my +wretchedness!—to bear to live,—for then, I might seek and foster some +hope in dying!'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_750" id="Page_750">[Pg 750]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Dear Elinor!' cried Harleigh, gently, almost tenderly, 'let me send for +some divine!'</p> + +<p>'How conscious is this retreat,' she cried, 'of the weakness of your +cause! Ah! why thus try to bewilder a poor forlorn traveller, who is +dropping with fatigue upon her road? and to fret and goad her on, when +the poor tortured wretch languishes to give up the journey altogether? +Why not rather, more generously, more like yourself, aid her to attain +repose? to open her burning veins, and bid her pent up blood flow freely +to her relief? or kindly point the steel to her agonized heart, whose +last sigh would be ecstacy if it owed its liberation to your pitying +hand! Oh Harleigh! what vain prejudice, what superstitious sophistry, +robs me of the only solace that could soothe my parting breath?'</p> + +<p>'What is it Elinor means?' cried Harleigh, alarmed, yet affecting to +speak lightly: 'Has she no compunction for the labour she causes my +blood in thus perpetually accelerating its circulation.'</p> + +<p>'Pardon me, dear Harleigh, I have inadvertently run from my purpose to +my wishes. To the point, then. Make me, if it be possible, conceive how +your reason has thus been played upon, and your discernment been set +asleep. I have studied this matter abroad, with the ablest casuists, I +have met with; and though I may not retain, or detail their reasoning, +well enough to make a convert of any other, they have fixed for ever in +my own mind, a conviction that death and annihilation are one. Why do +you knit your brow?—And see how Ellis starts!—And why do you both look +at me as if I were mad? Mad? because I would rather crush misery than +endure it? Mad? because I would rather, at my own time, die the death of +reason, than by compulsion, and when least disposed, that of nature? Of +reason, that appreciates life but by enjoyment; not of nature, that +would make misery linger, till malady or old age dissolve the worn out +fabric. To indulge our little miserable fears and propensities, we give +flattering epithets to all our meannesses; for what is endurance of +worldly pain and affliction but folly? what patience, but insipidity? +what suffering, but cowardice? Oh suicide! triumphant antidote to woe! +straight forward, unerring route to rest, to repose! I call upon thy +aid! I invoke—'</p> + +<p>'Repose?—rest?' interrupted Harleigh, 'how earned? By deserting our +duties? By quitting our posts? By forsaking and wounding all by whom we +are cherished?'</p> + +<p>'One word, Harleigh, answers all that: Did we ask for our being?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_751" id="Page_751">[Pg 751]</a></span> Why +was it given us if doomed to be wretched? To whom are we accountable for +renouncing a donation, made without our consent or knowledge? O, if ever +that wretched thing called life has a noble moment, it must surely be +that of its voluntary sacrifice! lopping off, at a blow, that +hydra-headed monster of evil upon evil, called time; bounding over the +imps of superstition; dancing upon the pangs of disease; and boldly, +hardily mocking the senseless legends, that would frighten us with +eternity!—Eternity? to poor, little, frail, finite beings like us! Oh +Albert! worldly considerations, monkish inventions, and superstitious +reveries set apart;—reason called forth, truth developed, probabilities +canvassed,—say! is it not clear that death is an end to all? an abyss +eternal? a conclusion? Nature comes but for succession; though the pride +of man would give her resurrection. Mouldering all together we go, to +form new earth for burying our successors.'</p> + +<p>'Horrible, Elinor, most horrible! yet if, indeed, it is your opinion +that you are doomed to sink to nothing; if your soul, in the full tide +of its energies, and in the pride of intellect, seems to you a mere +appendant to the body; if you believe it to be of the same fragile +materials; how can you wish to shorten the so short period of +consciousness? to abridge the so brief moment of sensibility? Is it not +always time enough to think, feel, see, hear,—love and be loved no +more?'</p> + +<p>'Yes! 'tis always too soon to lose happiness; but misery,—ah +Albert!—why should misery, when it can so easily be stilled, be +endured?'</p> + +<p>'Stilled, Elinor?—What mean you? By annihilation?—How an infidel +assumes fortitude to wish for death, is my constant astonishment! To +believe in the eternal loss of all he holds, or knows, or feels; to be +persuaded that "this sensible, warm being" will "melt, thaw, and resolve +itself into a dew,"—and to believe that there all ends! Surely every +species of existence must be preferable to such an expectation from its +cessation! Dust! literal dust!—Food for worms!—to be trod +upon;—crushed;—dug up;—battered down;—is that our termination? +That,—and nothing more?'</p> + +<p>'Tis shocking, Albert, no doubt; shocking and disgusting. Yet why +disguise the fact? Reason, philosophy, analogy, all prove our +materialism. Even common observation, even daily experience, in viewing +our natural end, where neither sickness nor accident impede, nor shorten +its progress, prove it by superannuation; shew clearly that mind and +body, when they die the long death of nature, gradually decline +together.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_752" id="Page_752">[Pg 752]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Were that double decay constant, Elinor, in its junction, you might +thence, perhaps, draw that inference; but does not the body wither as +completely by decay, in the very prime, and pride, and bloom of youth, +where the death is consumption, as in the most worn-out decrepitude of +age? Yet the capacity is often, even to the last minute, as perfect as +in the vigour of health. Were all within, as well as all without, +material, would not the blight to one involve, uniformly, the blight to +the other? How often, too, does age, even the oldest, escape any +previous decay of intellect! There are records extant, of those who, +after attaining their hundredth year, have been capable of bearing +testimony in trials; but are there any of those, who, at half that age, +have preserved their external appearance? No. It is the body, therefore, +not the soul, that, in a natural state, and free from the accelerations +of accident, seems first to degenerate. The grace of symmetry, the charm +of expression, may last with our existence, and delight to its latest +date; but that which we understand exclusively, as personal +perfections,—how soon is it over! Not only before the intellects are +impaired, but even, and not rarely, before they are arrived at their +full completion. Can mind, then, and body be but one and the same thing, +when they neither flourish nor wither together?'</p> + +<p>'Ah, Harleigh! is it not your willing mind, that here frames its +sentiments from its exaltation? Not your deeper understanding, that +defines your future expectations from your rational belief?'</p> + +<p>'No, Elinor; my belief in the immortality of the soul may be +strengthened, but it is not framed by my wishes. Let me, however, ask +you a question in return. Your disbelief of the immortality of the soul, +is founded on your inability to have it, visually, or orally, +demonstrated: Let me, then, ask, can the nature, use, and destinations +of the soul, however darkly hidden from our analysing powers, be more +impervious to our limited foresight, than the narrower, yet equally, to +us, invisible, destiny of our days to come upon earth? But does any one, +therefore, from not knowing its purposes, disbelieve that his life may +be lengthened? Yet which of us can divine what his fate will be from +year to year? What his actions, from hour to hour? his thoughts, from +moment to moment?'</p> + +<p>'Oh Harleigh! how fatally is that true! how little did I foresee, when I +so delighted in your society, that that very delight would but impel me +to burn for the moment of bidding you an eternal farewell!'</p> + +<p>Harleigh sighed; but with earnestness continued: 'We conceive the soul +to influence, if not to direct our whole construction, yet we have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_753" id="Page_753">[Pg 753]</a></span> no +sensible proof of its being in any part of it: how, then, shall we +determine that to be destroyed or departed, which we have never known to +be created? never seen to exist? O bow we down! for all is inexplicable! +We can but say, the body is obvious in its perfection, and still obvious +in its decay; the soul is always unsearchable! were we sure it were only +our understanding, we might, perhaps, develop it; or only our feelings, +we might catch it; but it is something indefinable, of which the +consciousness tells us not the qualities, nor the possession the +attributes; and of which the end leaves no trace! We follow it not to +its dissolution like the body; which, after what we call death, is still +as evident, as when our conception of what is soul were yet lent to it: +if the soul, then, be equally material, say, is it still there also? +though as unseen and hidden as when breath and motion were yet +perceptible?'</p> + +<p>'Body and soul, Albert, come together with existence, and together are +nullified by death.'</p> + +<p>'And are you, Elinor, aware whither such reasoning may lead? If the body +instead of being the tenement of the soul, is but one and the same with +it;—how are you certain, if they are not sundered by death, that they +do not in death, though by means, and with effects to us unknown, still +exist together? That with the body, whether animated or inert, the soul +may not always be adherent? who shall assure you, who, at least, shall +demonstrate, that if the soul be but a part of the body, it may not +think, though no utterance can be given to its thoughts; and may not +feel, though all expression is at an end, and motion is no more? Whither +may such reasoning lead? to what strange suggestions may it not conduct +us? to what vain fantasies, what useless horrours? May we not apprehend +that the insects, the worms which are formed from the human frame, may +partake of and retain human consciousness? May we not imagine those +wretched reptiles, which creep from our remains, to be sensible of their +fallen state, and tortured by their degradation? to resent, as well as +seek to elude the ill usage, the blows, the oppressions to which they +are exposed?—'</p> + +<p>'Fie! Albert, fie!'</p> + +<p>'Nay, what proof, if for proof you wait, have you to the contrary? Is it +their writhing? their sensitive shrink from your touch? their agonizing +efforts to save their miserable existence from your gripe?'</p> + +<p>'Harleigh! Harleigh!'</p> + +<p>'And this dust, Elinor, to which you settle that, finally, all will be +mouldered or crumbled;—fear you not that its every particle may<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_754" id="Page_754">[Pg 754]</a></span> +possess some sensitive quality? When we cease to speak, to move, to +breathe, you assert the soul to be annihilated: But why? Is it only +because you lose sight of its operations? In chemistry are there not +sundry substances which, by certain processes, become invisible, and are +sought in vain by the spectator; but which, by other processes, are +again brought to view? And shall the chemist have this faculty to +produce, and to withdraw, from our sight, and the Creator of All be +denied any occult powers?'</p> + +<p>'Nay, Albert, "how can we reason but from what we know?"—Will you +compare a fact which experiment can prove, which reason may discuss, and +which the senses may witness, with a bare possibility? A vague +conjecture?'</p> + +<p>'Is nothing, then, credible, Elinor, that is out of the +province of demonstration? nothing probable, that surpasses our +understanding?—nothing sacred that is beyond our view? Are we so +perfect in our knowledge, even of what we behold, or possess, as to draw +such presumptuous conclusions, of the self-sufficiency and omnipotence +of our faculties, for judging what is every way out of our sight, or +reach? Do we know one radical point of our existence, here, where "we +live, and move, and have our being?" Do we comprehend, unequivocally, +our immediate attributes and powers? Can we tell even how our hands obey +our will? how our desires suffice to guide our feet from place to place? +to roll our eyes from object to object? If all were clear, save the +existence and the extinction of the soul, then, indeed, we might +pronounce all faith, but in self-evidence, to be folly!'</p> + +<p>'Faith! Harleigh, faith? the very word scents of monkish subtleties! +'Tis to faith, to that absurd idea of lulling to sleep our reason, of +setting aside our senses, our observation, our knowledge; and giving our +ignorant, unmeaning trust, and blind confidence to religious quacks; +'tis to that, precisely that, you owe what you term our infidelity; for +'tis that which has provoked the spirit of investigation, which has +shewn us the pusillanimity and imbecility of consigning the short period +in which we possess our poor fleeting existence, to other men's uses, +deliberations, schemes, fancies, and ordinances. For what else can you +call submission to unproved assertions, and concurrence in unfounded +belief?'</p> + +<p>'And yet, this faith, Elinor, which, in religion, you renounce, despise, +or defy, because in religion you would think, feel, and believe by +demonstration alone, you insensibly admit in nearly all things else! +Have you it not in morals? Does society exist but by faith? Does<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_755" id="Page_755">[Pg 755]</a></span> +friendship,—I will not name what is so open to controversy as +love,—but say! has friendship any other tie? has honour any other bond +than faith? We have no proofs, no demonstrations of worth that can reach +the regions of the heart: we judge but by effects; we believe but by +analogies; we love, we esteem, we trust but by credulity, by faith! For +where is the mathematician who can calculate what may be pronounced of +the mind, from what is seen in the countenance, or uttered by speech? +yet is any one therefore so wretched, as not to feel any social reliance +beyond what he can mathematically demonstrate to be merited?'</p> + +<p>'And to what but that, Albert, precisely that, do we owe being so +perpetually duped and betrayed? to what but building upon false trust? +upon appearance, and not certainty?'</p> + +<p>'Certainty, Elinor! Where, and in what is certainty to be found? If you +disclaim belief in immortality upon faith, as insufficient to satisfy +reason, what is the basis even of your disbelief? Is it not faith also? +When you demand the proofs of immortality, let me demand, in return, +what are your proofs of materialism? And, till you can bring to +demonstration the operations of the soul while we live, presume not to +decide upon its extinction when we die! Of the corporeal machine, on the +contrary, speak at pleasure; you have before you all your documents for +ratiocination and decision; but, life once over,—when you have placed +the limbs, closed the eyes, arranged the form,—can you arrange the +mind?—the soul?'</p> + +<p>'Excite no doubts in me, Harleigh!—my creed is fixed.'</p> + +<p>'When sleep overtakes us,' he continued, 'and all, to the beholder, +looks the picture of death, save that the breath still heaves the +bosom;—what is it that guards entire, uninjured, the mind? the +faculties? It is not our consciousness,—we have none! Where is the soul +in that period? Gone it is not, for we are sensible to all that had +preceded its suspension, the moment that we awake. Yet, in that state of +periodical insensibility, what, but experience, could make those who +view us believe that we could ever rise, speak, move, or think again? +How inert is the body! How helpless, how useless, how incapable? Do we +see who is near us? Do we hear who addresses us? Do we know when the +most frightful crimes are committed by our sides? What, I demand, is our +consciousness? We have not the most distant of any thing that passes +around us: yet we open our eyes—and all is known, all is familiar +again. We hear, we see, we feel, we understand!'</p> + +<p>'Yes; but in that sleep, Harleigh, that mere mechanical repose of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_756" id="Page_756">[Pg 756]</a></span> +animal, we still breathe; we are capable, therefore, of being restored +to all our sensibilities, by a single touch, by a single start; 'tis but +a separation that parts us from ourselves, as absence parts us from our +friends. We yet live,—we yet, therefore, may meet again.'</p> + +<p>'And why, when we live no longer, may we not also, Elinor, meet again?'</p> + +<p>'Why?—Do you ask why?—Look round the old church-yards! See you not +there the dispersion of our poor mouldered beings? Is not every bone the +prey,—or the disgust,—of every animal? How, when scattered, commixed, +broken, battered, how shall they ever again be collected, united, +arranged, covered and coloured so as to appear regenerated?'</p> + +<p>'But what, Elinor, is the fragility, or the dispersion of the body, to +the solidity and the durability of the soul? Why are we to decide, that +to see ourselves again, and again to view each other, such as we seem +here, substance, or what we understand by it, is essential to our +re-union hereafter? Do we not meet, act, talk, move, think with one +another in our dreams? What is it which, then, embodies our ideas? which +gives to our sight, in perfect form and likeness, those with whom we +converse? which makes us conceive that we move, act, speak, and look, +ourselves, with the same gesture, mien, and voice as when awake?'</p> + +<p>'Dreams? pho!—they are but the nocturnal vagaries of the imagination.'</p> + +<p>'And what, Elinor, is imagination? You will not call it a part of your +body?'</p> + +<p>'No; but the blood which still circulates in our veins, Harleigh, gives +imagination its power.'</p> + +<p>'But does the blood circulate in the veins of our parents, of our +friends? of our acquaintances? and of strangers whom we equally meet? +yet we see them all; we converse with them all; we utter opinions; we +listen to their answers. And how ably we sometimes argue! how +characteristically those with whom we dispute reply! yet we do not +imagine we guide them. We wait their opinions and decisions, in the same +uncertainty and suspense, that we await them in our waking intercourse. +We have the same fears of ill fortune; the same horrour of ill usage; +the same ardour for success; the same feelings of sorrow, of joy, of +hope, or of remorse, that animate or that torture us, in our daily +occurrences. What new countries we visit! what strange sights we see! +what delight, what anguish, what alarms, what pleasures,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_757" id="Page_757">[Pg 757]</a></span> and what pains +we experience! Yet in all this variety of incident, conversation, +motion, feeling,—we seem, to those who look at us, but unintelligent +and senseless, though still breathing clay.'</p> + +<p>'Ay; but after all those scenes, we awake, Albert, we awake! But when do +we awake from death? Death, the same experience tells us, is sleep +eternal!'</p> + +<p>'But in that sleep, also, are there no dreams? Are you sure of that? If, +in our common sleep, there still subsists an active principle, that +feels, speaks, invents, and only by awaking finds that the mind alone, +and not the body has been working;—how are you so sure that no such +active principle subsists in that sleep which you call eternal? Who has +told you what passes where experience is at an end? Who has talked to +you of "that bourne whence no traveller returns?" With the cessation, +indeed, of warmth; with the stillness of those pulses which beat from +circulating blood, all seems to end; but seems it not also to end when +we fall into apoplexies? when we faint away? when we appear to be +drowned? or when, by any means, life is casually suspended? Yet when +those arts, that skill, of which even the success teaches not the +principle, even the process discovers not the secret resources, draw +back, by means intelligible and visible, but through causes indefinable, +the fleeting breath to its corporeal habitation; animation instantly +returns, and the soul, with all its powers, revives!'</p> + +<p>'Ay, there, there, Albert, is the very point! If the soul were distinct +from the body, why should not those who are recovered from drowning, +suffocation, or other apparent death, be able to give some account of +what passed in those periods when they seemed to be no more? And who has +done it? No one, Harleigh! not a single renovated being, has explained +away the doubts to which those suspensions of animation give rise.'</p> + +<p>'And has any one explained, Elinor, why, though sometimes we have such +wonders to relate of the scenes in which we have borne a part in our +dreams,—we open our eyes, at other times, with no consciousness +whatever, that we have, any way existed from the moment of closing them? +The wants of refreshment and recruit of our corporeal machine, we all +feel, and know; those of that part which is intellectual,—who is able +to calculate? What, except the powers, can be more distinct than the +exercises of the mind and of the body? Yet, though we see not the +workings of what is intellectual; though they are known only by their +effects,—does the student by the midnight oil require less rest from +his mental fatigues,—whether he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_758" id="Page_758">[Pg 758]</a></span> take it or not,—than the ploughman +from his corporal labour? Is he not as wearied, as exhausted, after a +day consigned to serious and unremitting study and reflection, as the +labourer who has spent it in digging, paving, hewing, and sawing? Yet +his body has been perfectly at peace; has not moved, has not made the +smallest exertion.'</p> + +<p>'And why, Harleigh? What is that, but because—'</p> + +<p>'Hasten not, Elinor, thence, to your favourite conclusion, that soul and +body, if wearied or rested together, are, therefore, one and the same +thing: observation, and reflection, turned to other points of view, will +shew you fresh reasons, and objects, every day, to disprove that +identity: shew you, on one side, corporal force for supporting the +bitterest grief of heart, with uninjured health; and, mental force, on +the other side, for bearing the acutest bodily disorders with unimpaired +intellectual vigour. How often do the most fragile machines, enwrap the +stoutest minds? how often do the halest frames, encircle the feeblest +intellects? All proves that the connexion between mind and body, however +intimate, is not blended;—though where its limits begin, or where they +end,—who can tell? But, who, also I repeat, can explain the phenomenon, +by which, in the dead of the night, when we are completely insulated, +and left in utter darkness, we firmly believe, nay, feel ourselves shone +upon by the broad beams of day; and surrounded by society, with which we +act, think, and reciprocate ideas?'</p> + +<p>'Dreams, I must own, Albert, are strangely incomprehensible. How bodies +can seem to appear, and voices to be heard, where all around is empty +space, it is not easy to conceive!'</p> + +<p>'Let this insolvable, and acknowledged difficulty, then, Elinor, in a +circumstance which, though daily recurring, remains inexplicable, check +any hardy decision of the cause why, after certain suspensions, the soul +may resume its functions to our evident knowledge; yet why we can +neither ascertain its departure, its continuance, nor its return, after +others. Oh Elinor! mock not, but revere the impenetrable mystery of +eternity! Ignorance is here our lot; presumption is our most useless +infirmity. The mind and body after death must either be separate, or +together. If together, as you assert, there is no proof attainable, that +the soul partakes not of all the changes, all the dispersions, all the +sufferings, and all the poor enjoyments, of what to us seems the +lifeless, but which, in that case, is only the speechless carcase: if +separate, as I believe,—whither goest thou, Oh soul! to what regions of +bliss?—or what abysses of woe?'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_759" id="Page_759">[Pg 759]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Harleigh, you electrify me! you convulse the whole train of my +principles, my systems, my long cherished conviction!'</p> + +<p>'Say, rather, Elinor, of your faith!—your faith in infidelity! Oh +Elinor! why call you not, rather, upon faith to aid your belief? Faith, +and revealed religion! The limited state of our positive perceptions, +grants us no means for comparison, for judgment, or even for thought, +but by analogy: ask yourself, then, Elinor,—What is there, even in +immortality, more difficult of comprehension, than that indescribable +daily occurrence, which all mankind equally, though unreflecting +experience, of a total suspension of every species of living knowledge, +of every faculty, of every sense,—called sleep? A suspension as big +with matter for speculation and wonder, though its cessation is visible +to us, as that last sleep, of which we view not the period.'</p> + +<p>'Albert!—should you shake my creed,—shall I be better contented? or +but yet more wretched?'</p> + +<p>'Can Elinor think,—yet ask such a question? Can a prospect of a future +state fail to offer a possibility of future happiness? Why wilfully +reject a consolation that you have no means to disprove? What know you +of this soul which you settle to be so easily annihilated? By what +criterion do you judge it? You have none! save a general consciousness, +that a something there is within us that mocks all search, yet that +always is uppermost; that anticipates good or evil; that outruns all +events; that feels the blow ere the flesh is touched; that expects the +sound before the ear receives it; that, unseen, untraced, unknown, +pervades, rules, animates all! that harbours thoughts, feelings, designs +which no human force can controul; which no mortal, unaided by our own +will, can discover; and which no aid whatever, either of our own or of +others, can bring forward to any possible manifestation!'</p> + +<p>'Alas, Harleigh! You shew me nonentity itself to be as doubtful as +immortality! Of what wretched stuff are we composed! Which way must I +now turn,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Lost and bewildered in my fruitless search,'<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a>—<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>which way must I turn to develop truth? to comprehend my own existence! +Oh Albert!—you almost make me wish to rest my perturbed mind where +fools alone, I thought, found rest, or hypocrites have seemed to find +it,—on Religion!'</p> + +<p>'The feeling mind, dear Elinor, has no other serious serenity; no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_760" id="Page_760">[Pg 760]</a></span> other +hold from the black, cheerless, petrifying expectation of nullity. If, +then, even a wish of light break through your dark despondence, read, +study the Evangelists!—and truth will blaze upon you, with the means to +find consolation.'</p> + +<p>'Albert, I know now where I am!—You open to me possibilities that +overwhelm me! My head seems bursting with fulness of struggling ideas!'</p> + +<p>'Give them, Elinor, fair play, and they will soon, in return, give you +tranquillity. Reflect only,—that that quality, that faculty, be its +nature, its durability, and its purpose what they may, which the world +at large agrees to call soul, has its universal comprehension from a +something that is felt; not that is proved! Yet who, and where is the +Atheist, the Deist, the Infidel of any description, gifted with the +means to demonstrate, that, in quitting the body with the parting +breath, it is necessarily extinct? that it may not, on the contrary, +still <span class="smcap">BE</span>, when speech and motion are no more? when our flesh is mingled +with the dust, and our bones are dispersed by the winds? and <span class="smcap">BE</span>, as +while we yet exist, no part of our body, no single of our senses; never, +while we seem to live, visible, yet never, when we seem to die, +perishable? May it not, when, with its last sigh, it leaves the body, +mingle with that vast expanse of air, which no instrument can completely +analyse, and which our imperfect sight views but as empty space? May it +not mount to upper regions, and enjoy purified bliss? May not all air be +peopled with our departed friends, hovering around us, as sensible as we +are unconscious? May not the uncumbered soul watch over those it loves? +find again those it had lost? be received in the Heaven of Heavens, +where it is destined,—not, Oh wretched idea!—to eternal sleep, +inertness, annihilating dust;—but to life, to joy, to sweetest +reminiscence, to tenderest re-unions, to grateful adoration to +intelligence never ending! Oh! Elinor! keep for ever in mind, that if no +mortal is gifted to prove that this is true,—neither is any one +empowered to prove that it is false!'</p> + +<p>'Oh delicious idea!' cried Elinor, rising: 'Oh image of perfection! Oh +Albert! conquering Albert! I hope,—I hope;—my soul may be +immortal!—Pray for me, Albert! Pray that I may dare offer up prayers +for myself!—Send me your Christian divine to guide me on my way; and +may your own heaven bless you, peerless Albert! for ever!—Adieu! adieu! +adieu!'—</p> + +<p>Fervently, then, clasping her hands, she sunk, with overpowering +feelings, upon her knees.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_761" id="Page_761">[Pg 761]</a></span></p> + +<p>Juliet came forward to support her; and Harleigh, deeply gratified, +though full of commiseration, eagerly undertook the commission; and, +echoing back her blessing, without daring to utter a word to Juliet, +slowly quitted the spot.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_762" id="Page_762">[Pg 762]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXXVI" id="CHAPTER_LXXXVI"></a>CHAPTER LXXXVI</h2> + + +<p>Elinor, for a considerable time, remained in the same posture, +ruminating, in silent abstraction; yet giving, from time to time, +emphatic, though involuntary utterance, to short and incoherent +sentences. 'A spirit immortal!—' 'Resurrection of the Dead!—' 'A life +to come!—' 'Oh Albert! is there, then, a region where I may hope to see +thee again!'</p> + +<p>Suddenly, at length, seeming to recollect herself, 'Pardon,' she cried, +'Albert, my strangeness,—queerness,—oddity,—what will you call it? I +am not the less,—O no! O no! penetrated by your impressive +reasoning—Albert!—'</p> + +<p>She lifted up her head, and, looking around, exclaimed, with an air of +consternation, 'Is he gone?'</p> + +<p>She arose, and with more firmness, said, 'He is right! I meant not,—and +I ought not to see him any more;—though dearer to my eyes is his sight, +than life or light!—'</p> + +<p>Looking, then, earnestly forwards, as if seeking him, 'Farewell, Oh +Albert!' she cried: 'We now, indeed, are parted for ever! To see thee +again, would sink me into the lowest abyss of contempt,—and I would far +rather bear thy hatred!—Yet hatred?—from that soul of humanity!—what +violence must be put upon its nature! And how cruel to reverse such +ineffable philanthropy!—No!—hate me not, my Albert!—It shall be my +own care that thou shalt not despise me!'</p> + +<p>Slowly she then walked away, followed silently by Juliet, who durst not +address her. Anxiously she looked around, till, at some distance, she +descried a horseman. It was Harleigh. She stopped, deeply moved, and +seemed inwardly to bless him. But, when he was no longer in sight, she +no longer restrained her anguish, and, casting herself upon the turf, +groaned rather than wept, exclaiming, 'Must I live—yet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_763" id="Page_763">[Pg 763]</a></span> behold thee no +more!—Will neither sorrow, nor despair, nor even madness kill me?—Must +nature, in her decrepitude, alone bring death to Elinor?'</p> + +<p>Rising, then, and vainly trying again to descry the horse, 'All, all is +gone!' she cried, 'and I dare not even die!—All, all is gone, from the +lost, unhappy Elinor, but life and misery!'</p> + +<p>Turning, then, with quickness to Juliet, while pride and shame dried her +eyes, 'Ellis,' she said, 'let him not know I murmur!—Let not his last +hearing of Elinor be disgrace! Tell him, on the contrary, that his +friendship shall not be thrown away; nor his arguments be forgotten, or +unavailing: no! I will weigh every opinion, every sentiment that has +fallen from him, as if every word, unpolluted by human ignorance or +informity, had dropt straight from heaven! I will meditate upon +religion: I will humble myself to court resignation. I will fly hence, +to avoid all temptation of ever seeing him more!—and to distract my +wretchedness by new scenes. Oh Albert!—I will earn thy esteem by +acquiescence in my lot, that here,—even here,—I may taste the paradise +of alluring thee to include me in thy view of happiness hereafter!'</p> + +<p>Her foreign servant, then, came in view, and she made a motion to him +with her hand for her carriage. She awaited it in profound mental +absorption, and, when it arrived, placed herself in it without speaking.</p> + +<p>Juliet, full of tender pity, could no longer forbear saying, 'Adieu, +Madam! and may peace re-visit your generous heart!'</p> + +<p>Elinor, surprized and softened, looked at her with an expression of +involuntary admiration, as she answered, 'I believe you to be good, +Ellis!—I exonerate you from all delusory arts; and, internally, I never +thought you guilty,—or I had never feared you! Fool! mad fool, that I +have been, I am my own executioner! my distracting impatience to learn +the depth of my danger, was what put you together! taught you to know, +to appreciate one another! With my own precipitate hand, I have dug the +gulph into which I am fallen! Your dignified patience, your noble +modesty—Oh fatal Ellis!—presented a contrast that plunged a dagger +into all my efforts! Rash, eager ideot! I conceived suspense to be my +greatest bane!—Oh fool! eternal fool!—self-willed, and +self-destroying!—for the single thrill of one poor moment's returning +doubt—I would not suffer martyrdom!'</p> + +<p>She wept, and hid her face within the carriage; but, holding out her +hand to Juliet, 'Adieu, Ellis!' she cried, 'I struggle hardly not to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_764" id="Page_764">[Pg 764]</a></span> +wish you any ill; and I have never given you my malediction: yet +Oh!—that you had never been born!'—</p> + +<p>She snatched away her hand, and precipitately drew up all the blinds, to +hide her emotion; but, presently, letting one of them down, called out, +with resumed vivacity, and an air of gay defiance, 'Marry him, +Ellis!—marry him at once! I have always felt that I should be less mad, +if my honour called upon me for reason!—my honour and my pride!'</p> + +<p>The groom demanded orders.</p> + +<p>'Drive to the end of the world!' she answered, impatiently, 'so you ask +me no questions!' and, forcibly adding, 'Farewell, too happy Ellis!' she +again drew up all the blinds, and, in a minute, was out of sight.</p> + +<p>Juliet deplored her fate with the sincerest concern; and ruminated upon +her virtues, and attractive qualities, till their drawbacks diminished +from her view, and left nothing but unaffected wonder, that Harleigh +could resist them: 'twas a wonder, nevertheless, that every feeling of +her heart, in defiance of every conflict, rose, imperiously, to separate +from regret.</p> + +<p>At the cottage, she found her recovered property, which she now +concluded,—for her recollection was gone,—that she had dropt upon her +entrance into the room occupied by Harleigh, before she had perceived +that it was not empty.</p> + +<p>Here, too, almost immediately afterwards, her messenger returned with a +letter, which had remained more than a week at the post-office; whither +it had been sent back by the farmer, who had refused to risk advancing +the postage.</p> + +<p>The letter was from Gabriella, and sad, but full of business. She had +just received a hurrying summons from Mr de ——, her husband, to join +him at Teignmouth, in Devonshire; and, for family-reasons, which ought +not to be resisted, to accompany him abroad. Mr de —— had been brought +by an accidental conveyance to Torbay; whence, through a peculiarly +favourable opportunity, he was to sail to his place of destination. He +charged her to use the utmost expedition; and, to spare the expence of a +double journey, and the difficulties of a double passport, for and from +London, he should procure permission to meet her at Teignmouth; where +they might remain till their vessel should be ready; the town of +Brixham, within Torbay, being filled with sailors, and unfit for female +residence.</p> + +<p>Gabriella owned, that she had nothing substantial, nor even rational, to +oppose to this plan; though her heart would be left in the grave,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_765" id="Page_765">[Pg 765]</a></span> the +English grave of her adored child. She had relinquished, therefore, her +shop, and paid the rent, and her debts; and obtained money for the +journey by the sale of all her commodities. She then tenderly entreated, +if no insurmountable obstacles forbid it, that Juliet would be of their +party; and gave the direction of Mr de —— at Teignmouth.</p> + +<p>Not a moment could Juliet hesitate upon joining her friend; though +whether or not she should accompany her abroad, she left for decision at +their meeting. She greatly feared the delay in receiving the letter +might make her arrive too late; but the experiment was well worth trial; +and she reached the beautifully situated small town of Teignmouth the +next morning.</p> + +<p>She drove to the lodging of which Gabriella had given the direction; +where she had the affliction to learn, that the lady whom she described, +and her husband, had quitted Teignmouth the preceding evening for +Torbay.</p> + +<p>She instantly demanded fresh horses, for following them; but the +postilion said, that he must return directly to Exeter, with his chaise; +and enquired where she would alight. Where she might most speedily, she +answered, find means to proceed.</p> + +<p>The postilion drove her, then, to a large lodging-house; but the town +was so full of company, as it was the season for bathing, that there was +no chaise immediately ready; and she was obliged to take possession of a +room, till some horses returned.</p> + +<p>As soon as she had deposited her baggage, she resolved upon walking back +to the late lodging of Gabriella, to seek some further information.</p> + +<p>In re-passing a gallery, which led from her chamber to the stairs, she +perceived, upon a band-box, left at the half-closed door of what +appeared to be the capital apartment, the loved name of Lady Aurora +Granville.</p> + +<p>Joy, hope, fondness, and every pleasurable emotion, danced suddenly in +her breast; and, chacing away, by surprize, all fearful caution, +irresistibly impelled her to push open the door.</p> + +<p>All possibility of concealment was, she knew, now at an end; and, with +it, finished her long forbearance. How sweet to cast herself, at length, +under so benign a protection! to build upon the unalterable sweetness of +Lady Aurora for a consolatory reception, and openly to claim her +support!</p> + +<p>Filled with these delighting ideas, she gently entered the room. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_766" id="Page_766">[Pg 766]</a></span> was +empty; but, the door to an inner apartment being open, she heard the +soft voice of Lady Aurora giving directions to some servant.</p> + +<p>While she hesitated whether, at once, to venture on, or to send in some +message, a chambermaid, coming out with another band-box, shut the inner +door.</p> + +<p>The dress of Juliet was no longer such as to make her appearance in a +capital apartment suspicious; and the chambermaid civily enquired whom +she was pleased to want.</p> + +<p>'Lady Aurora Granville,' she hesitatingly answered; adding that she +would tap at her ladyship's door herself, and begging that the maid +would not wait.</p> + +<p>The maid, busy and active, hurried off. Quickly, then, though softly, +Juliet stept forward; but at the door, trembling and full of fears, she +stopt short; and the sight of pen, ink, and paper upon a table, +determined her to commit her attempt to writing.</p> + +<p>Seizing a sheet of paper, without sitting down, and in a hand scarcely +legible, she began,</p> + +<p>'Is Lady Aurora Granville still the same Lady Aurora, the kind, the +benignant, the indulgent Lady Aurora,—' when the sound of another +voice, a voice more discordant, if possible, than that of Lady Aurora +had been melodious, reached her ear from under the window: it was that +of Mrs Howel.</p> + +<p>As shaking now with terrour as before she had been trembling with hope, +she rolled up her paper; and was hurrying it into her work-bag, which +had been returned to her by Harleigh; when the chambermaid, re-entering +the room, stared at her with some surprize, demanding whether she had +seen her ladyship.</p> + +<p>'No; ... I believe ... she is occupied,' Juliet, stammering, answered; +and flew along the gallery back to her chamber.</p> + +<p>That Lady Aurora should be under the care of Mrs Howel, who was the +nearest female relation of Lord Denmeath, could give no surprize to +Juliet; but the impulse which had urged her forward, had only painted to +her a precious interview with Lady Aurora alone; for how venture to +reveal herself in presence of so hard, so inimical a witness? The very +idea, joined to the terrible apprehension of irritating Lord Denmeath, +to aid some new attack from her legal persecutor; so damped her rising +joy, so repressed her buoyant hopes, that, to avoid the insupportable +repetition of injurious interrogatories, painful explanations, and +insulting incredulity, she decided, if she could join Gabriella at +Torbay, to accompany her to her purposed retreat; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_767" id="Page_767">[Pg 767]</a></span> there to await +either intelligence of the Bishop, or an open summons from her own +family.</p> + +<p>She hastened, therefore, to the late lodging of Gabriella; where, upon a +more minute investigation, she found, that a message had been left, in +case a lady should call to enquire for Madame de ——, to say, that the +small vessel in which M. de —— and herself were humanely to be +received as passengers, was ready to sail; and to promise to write upon +their landing; and to endeavour to fix upon some means of re-union. The +lady, the lodging-people said, had lost all hope of her friend's +arrival, but had left that message in case of accidents.</p> + +<p>More eagerly than ever, Juliet now enquired for any kind of carriage; +but the town was full, and every vehicle was engaged till the next +morning.</p> + +<p>The next morning opened with a new and cruel disappointment: the +chambermaid came with excuses, that no chaise could be had, till towards +evening, as the Honourable Mrs Howel had engaged all the horses, to +carry herself and her people to Chudleigh-park.</p> + +<p>Dreadful to the impatience of Juliet was such a loss of time; yet she +shrunk from all appeal, upon her prior rights, with Mrs Howel.</p> + +<p>Still, not to render impossible, before her departure, an interview, +after which her heart was sighing, with Lady Aurora, she addressed to +her a few lines.</p> + +<blockquote><p class="right">'To the Right Honourable<br /> Lady Aurora Granville.</p> + +<p>'Brought hither in search of the friend of my earlier youth, what +have been my perturbation, my hope, my fear, at the sound of the +voice of her whom, proudly and fondly, it is my first wish to be +permitted to love, and to claim as the friend of my future days! +Ah, Lady Aurora! my inmost soul is touched and +moved!—nevertheless, not to press upon the difficulties of your +delicacy, nor to take advantage of the softness of your +sensibility, I go hence without imploring your support or +countenance. I quit again this loved land, scarcely known, though +devoutly revered, to watch and wait,—far, far off!—for tidings of +my future lot: I go to join the generous guardian of my orphan +life,—till I know whether I may hope to be acknowledged by a +brother! I go to dwell with my noble adopted sister,—till I learn +whether I may be recalled, to be owned by one still nearer,—and +who alone can be still dearer!'</p></blockquote><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_768" id="Page_768">[Pg 768]</a></span></p> + +<p>She gave this paper sealed, for delivery, to the chambermaid; saying +that she was going to take a long walk; and desiring, should there be +any answer, that it might carefully be kept for her return.</p> + +<p>This measure was to give Lady Aurora time to reflect, whether or not she +should demand an explanation of the note; rather than to surprize the +first eager impulse of her kindness.</p> + +<p>She then bent her steps towards the sea-side; but, though it was still +very early, there was so much company upon the sands, taking exercise +before, or after bathing, that she soon turned another way; and, invited +by the verdant freshness of the prospects, rambled on for a considerable +time: at first, with no other design than to while away a few hours; +but, afterwards, to give to those hours the pleasure ever new, ever +instructive, of viewing and studying the works of nature; which, on this +charming spot, now awfully noble, now elegantly simple; where the sea +and the land, the one sublime in its sameness, the other, exhilarating +in its variety, seem to be presented, as if in primeval lustre, to the +admiring eye of a meditative being.</p> + +<p>She clambered up various rocks, nearly to their summit, to enjoy, in one +grand perspective, the stupendous expansion of the ocean, glittering +with the brilliant rays of a bright and cloudless sky: dazzled, she +descended to their base, to repose her sight upon the soft, yet lively +tint of the green turf, and the rich, yet mild hue of the downy moss. +Almost sinking, now, from the scorching beams of a nearly vertical sun, +she looked round for some umbrageous retreat; but, refreshed the next +moment, by salubrious sea-breezes, by the coolness of the rocks, or by +the shade of the trees, she remained stationary, and charmed; a devoutly +adoring spectatress of the lovely, yet magnificent scenery encircling +her; so vast in its glory, so impressive in its details, of wild, varied +nature, apparently in its original state.</p> + +<p>When at length, she judged it to be right to return, upon coming within +sight of the lodging-house, she saw a carriage at the door, into which +some lady was mounting.</p> + +<p>Could it be Lady Aurora?—could she so depart, after reading her letter? +She retreated till the carriage drove off; and then, at the foot of the +stairs, met the chambermaid; of whom she eagerly asked, whether there +were any letter, or message, for her, from Lady Aurora.</p> + +<p>The maid answered No; her ladyship was gone away without saying any +thing.</p> + +<p>The words 'gone away' extremely affected Juliet, who, in ascending<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_769" id="Page_769">[Pg 769]</a></span> to +her room, wept bitterly at such a desertion; even while concluding it to +have been exacted by Mrs Howel.</p> + +<p>She rang the bell, to enquire whether she might now have a chaise.</p> + +<p>The chambermaid told her that she must come that very moment to speak to +a lady.</p> + +<p>'What lady?' cried Juliet, ever awake to hope; 'Is Lady Aurora Granville +come back?'</p> + +<p>No, no; Lady Aurora was gone to Chudleigh.</p> + +<p>'What lady then?'</p> + +<p>Mrs Howel, the maid answered, who ordered her to come that instant.</p> + +<p>''Tis a mistake,' said Juliet, with spirit; 'you must seek some other +person to whom to deliver such a message!'</p> + +<p>The maid would have asserted her exactitude in executing her commission; +but Juliet, declining to hear her, insisted upon being left.</p> + +<p>Extremely disturbed, she could suggest no reason why Mrs Howel should +remain, when Lady Aurora was gone; nor divine whether her letter were +voluntarily unanswered; or whether it had even been delivered; nor what +might still instigate the unrestrained arrogance of Mrs Howel.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes, the chambermaid returned, to acquaint her, that, if +she did not come immediately, Mrs Howel would send for her in another +manner.</p> + +<p>Too indignant, now, for fear, Juliet, said that she had no answer to +give to such a message; and charged the maid not to bring her any other.</p> + +<p>Another, nevertheless, and ere she had a moment to breathe, followed; +which was still more peremptory, and to which the chambermaid sneeringly +added,</p> + +<p>'You wonna let me look into youore work-bag, wull y?'</p> + +<p>'Why should you look into my work-bag?'</p> + +<p>'Nay, it ben't I as do want it; it be Maddam Howel.'</p> + +<p>'And for what purpose?'</p> + +<p>'Nay, I can't zay; but a do zay a ha' lost a bank-note.'</p> + +<p>'And what have I, or my work-bag, to do with that?'</p> + +<p>'Nay I don't know; but it ben't I ha' ta'en it. And it ben't I—'</p> + +<p>She stopt, grinning significantly; but, finding that Juliet deigned not +to ask an explanation, went on: 'It ben't I as husselled zomat into my +work-bag, in zuch a peck o' troubles, vor to hide it; it ben't I, vor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_770" id="Page_770">[Pg 770]</a></span> +there be no mortal mon, nor womon neither, I be afeared of; vor I do +teake no mon's goods but my own.'</p> + +<p>Juliet now was thunderstruck. If a bank-note were missing, appearances, +from her silently entering and quitting the room, were certainly against +her; and though it could not be difficult to clear away such a +suspicion, it was shocking, past endurance, to have such a suspicion to +clear.</p> + +<p>While she hesitated what to reply, the maid, not doubting but that her +embarrassment was guilt, triumphantly continued her own defence; saying, +whoever might be suspected, it could not be she, for she did not go into +other people's rooms, not she! to peer about, and see what was to be +seen; nor say she was going to call upon grand gentlefolks, when she was +not going to do any such thing; not she! nor tear paper upon other +people's tables, to roll things up, and poke them into her work-bag; not +she! she had nothing to hide, for there was nothing she took, so there +was nothing she had to be ashamed of, not she!</p> + +<p>She then mutteringly walked off; but almost instantly returned, desiring +to know, in the name of Mrs Howel, whether Miss Ellis preferred that the +business of her examination should be terminated, before proper +witnesses, in her own room.</p> + +<p>Juliet, thus assailed, urged by judgment, and a sense of propriety, +struggled against personal feelings and fears; and resolved to rescue +not only herself, but her family, from the disgrace of a public +interrogatory. She walked, therefore, straight forward to the apartment +of Mrs Howel; determined to own, without delay, her birth and situation, +rather than submit to any indignity.</p> + +<p>At the entrance, she made way for the chambermaid to announce her; but +when she heard that voice, which, to her shocked ears, sounded far more +hoarse, more harsh, and more coarse than the raven's croak, her spirits +nearly forsook her. To cast herself thus upon the powerful enmity of +Lord Denmeath, with no kind Lady Aurora at hand, to soften the hazardous +tale, by her benignant pity; no generous Lord Melbury within call, to +resist perverse incredulity, by spontaneous support, and promised +protection:—'twas dreadful!—Yet no choice now remained, no possible +resource; she must meet her fate, or run away as a culprit.</p> + +<p>The latter she utterly disdained; and, at the words, loudly spoken, from +the inner room, 'Order her to appear!' she summoned to her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_771" id="Page_771">[Pg 771]</a></span> aid all that +she possessed of pride or of dignity, to disguise her apprehensions; and +obeyed the imperious mandate.</p> + +<p>Mrs Howel, seated upon an easy chair, received her with an air of +prepared scorn; in which, nevertheless, was mixed some surprize at the +elegance, yet propriety, of her attire. 'Young woman,' she sternly said, +'what part is this you are acting? And what is it you suppose will be +its result? Can you imagine that you are to brave people of condition +with impunity? You have again dared to address, clandestinely, and by +letter, a young lady of quality, whom you know to be forbidden to afford +you any countenance. You have entered my apartment under false +pretences; you have been detected precipitately quitting it, thrusting +something into your work-bag, evidently taken from my table.'—</p> + +<p>Juliet now felt her speech restored by contempt. 'I by no means +intended, Madam,' she drily answered, 'to have intruded upon your +benevolence. The sheet of paper which I took was to write to Lady Aurora +Granville; and I imagined,—mistakenly, it seems,—that it was already +her ladyship's.'</p> + +<p>The calmness of Juliet operated to produce a storm in Mrs Howel that +fired all her features; though, deeming it unbecoming her rank in life, +to shew anger to a person beneath her, she subdued her passion into +sarcasm, and said, 'Her ladyship, then, it seems, is to provide the +paper with which you write to her, as well as the clothes with which you +wait upon her? That she refuses herself whatever is not indispensable, +in order to make up a secret purse, has long been clear to me; and I +now, in your assumed garments, behold the application of her +privations!'</p> + +<p>'Oh Lady Aurora! lovely and loved Lady Aurora! have you indeed this +kindness for me! this heavenly goodness!'—interrupted, from a +sensibility that she would not seek to repress, the penetrated Juliet.</p> + +<p>'Unparalleled assurance!' exclaimed Mrs Howel. 'And do you think thus +triumphantly to gain your sinister ends? no! Lady Aurora will never see +your letter! I have already dispatched it to my Lord Denmeath.'</p> + +<p>The spirit of Juliet now instantly sunk: she felt herself again betrayed +into the power of her persecutor; again seized; and trembled so +exceedingly, that she with difficulty kept upon her feet.</p> + +<p>Mrs Howel exultingly perceived her advantage. 'What,' she haughtily +demanded, 'has brought you hither? And why are you here? If, indeed, you +approach the sea-side with a view to embark, and return<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_772" id="Page_772">[Pg 772]</a></span> whence you +came, I am far from offering any impediment to so befitting a measure. +My Lord Denmeath, I have reason to believe, would even assist it. Speak, +young woman! have you sense enough of the unbecoming situation in which +you now stand, to take so proper a course for getting to your home?'</p> + +<p>'My home!' repeated Juliet, casting up her eyes, which, bedewed with +tears at the word, she then covered with her handkerchief.</p> + +<p>'If to go thither be your intention,' said Mrs Howel, 'the matter may be +accommodated; speak, then.'</p> + +<p>'The little, Madam, that I mean to say,' cried Juliet, 'I must beg leave +to address to you when you are alone.' For the waiting-woman still +remained at the side of the toilette-table.</p> + +<p>'At length, then,' said Mrs Howel, much gratified, though always +scornful; 'you mean to confess?' And she told her woman to hasten the +packing up, and then to step into the next room.</p> + +<p>'Think, however;' she continued; 'deliberate, in this interval, upon +what you are going to do. I have already heard the tale which I have +seen, by your letter, you hint at propagating; heard it from my Lord +Denmeath himself. But so idle a fabrication, without a single proof, or +document, in its support, will only be considered as despicable. If +that, therefore, is the subject upon which you purpose to entertain me +in this <i>tête à tête</i>, be advised to change it, untried. Such stale +tricks are only to be played upon the inexperienced. You may well blush, +young woman! I am willing to hope it is with shame.'</p> + +<p>'You force me, Madam, to speak!' indignantly cried Juliet; 'though you +will not, thus publicly, force me to an explanation. For your own sake, +Madam, for decency's, if not for humanity's sake, press me no further, +till we are alone! or the blush with which you upbraid me, now, may +hereafter be yours! And not a blush like mine, from the indignation of +innocence injured—yet unsullied; but the blush of confusion and shame; +latent, yet irrepressible!'</p> + +<p>Rage, now, is a word inadequate to express the violent feelings of Mrs +Howel, which, nevertheless, she still strove to curb under an appearance +of disdain. 'You would spare me, then,' she cried, 'this humiliation? +And you suppose I can listen to such arrogance? Undeceive yourself, +young woman; and produce the contents of your work-bag at once, or +expect its immediate seizure for examination, by an officer of justice.'</p> + +<p>'What, Madam, do you mean?' cried Juliet, endeavouring, but not very +successfully, to speak with unconcern.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_773" id="Page_773">[Pg 773]</a></span></p> + +<p>'To allow you the choice of more, or fewer witnesses to your boasted +innocence!'</p> + +<p>'If your curiosity, Madam,' said Juliet, more calmly, yet not daring any +longer to resist, 'is excited to take an inventory of my small property, +I must endeavour to indulge it.'</p> + +<p>She was preparing to untie the strings of her work-bag; when a sudden +recollection of the bank-notes of Harleigh, for the possession of which +she could give no possible account, checked her hand, and changed her +countenance.</p> + +<p>Mrs Howel, perceiving her embarrassment, yet more haughtily said, 'Will +you deliver your work-bag, young woman, to Rawlins?'</p> + +<p>'No, Madam!' answered Juliet, reviving with conscious dignity; 'I will +neither so far offend myself at this moment,—nor you for every moment +that shall follow! I can deliver it only into your own hands.'</p> + +<p>'Enough!' cried Mrs Howel. 'Rawlins, order Hilson to enquire out the +magistrate of this village, and to desire that he will send to me some +peace-officer immediately.'</p> + +<p>She then opened the door of a small inner room, into which she shut +herself, with an air of deadly vengeance.</p> + +<p>Mrs Rawlins, at the same time, passed to the outer room, to summon +Hilson.</p> + +<p>Juliet, confounded, remained alone. She looked from one side to the +other; expecting either that Mrs Howel would call upon her, or that Mrs +Rawlins would return for further orders. Neither of them re-appeared, or +spoke.</p> + +<p>Alarmed, now, yet more powerfully than disgusted, she compelled herself +to tap at the door of Mrs Howel, and to beg admission.</p> + +<p>She received no answer. A second and a third attempt failed equally. +Affrighted more seriously, she hastened to the outer room; where a man, +Hilson, she supposed, was just quitting Mrs Rawlins.</p> + +<p>'Mrs Rawlins,' she cried; 'I beseech you not to send any one off, till +you have received fresh directions.'</p> + +<p>Mrs Rawlins desired to know whether this were the command of her lady.</p> + +<p>'It will be,' Juliet replied, 'when I have spoken to her again.'</p> + +<p>Mrs Rawlins answered, that her lady was always accustomed to be obeyed +at once; and told Hilson to make haste.</p> + +<p>Juliet entreated for only a moment's delay; but the man would not +listen.</p> + +<p>Though from justice Juliet could have nothing to fear, the idea of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_774" id="Page_774">[Pg 774]</a></span> +being forced to own herself, when a peace-officer was sent for, to avoid +being examined as a criminal, filled her with such horrour and affright, +that, calling out, 'Stop! stop! I beseech you stop!—' she ran after the +man, with a precipitate eagerness, that made her nearly rush into the +arms of a gentleman, who, at that moment, having just passed by Hilson, +filled up the way.</p> + +<p>Without looking at him, she sought to hurry on; but, upon his saying, 'I +ask pardon, Ma'am, for barricading your passage in this sort;' she +recognized the voice of her first patron, the Admiral.</p> + +<p>Charmed with the hope of succour, 'Is it you, Sir?' she cried. 'Oh Sir, +stop that person!—Call to him! Bid him return! I implore you!—'</p> + +<p>'To be sure I will, ma'am!' answered he, courteously taking off his hat, +though appearing much amazed; and hallooing after Hilson, 'Hark'ee, my +lad! be so kind to veer about a bit.'</p> + +<p>Hilson, not venturing to shew disrespect to the uniform of the Admiral, +stood still.</p> + +<p>The Admiral then, putting on his hat, and conceiving his business to be +done, was passing on; and Hilson grinning at the short-lived impediment, +was continuing his route; but the calls and pleadings of Juliet made the +Admiral turn back, and, in a tone of authority, and with the voice of a +speaking trumpet, angrily cry, 'Halloo, there! Tack about and come +hither, my lad! What do you go t'other way for, when a lady calls you? +By George, if they had you aboard, they'd soon teach you better +manners!'</p> + +<p>Juliet, again addressing him, said, 'Oh Sir! how good you are! how truly +benevolent!—Detain him but till I speak with his lady, and I shall be +obliged to you eternally!'</p> + +<p>'To be sure I will, Ma'am!' answered the wondering Admiral. 'He sha'n't +pass me. You may depend upon that.'</p> + +<p>Juliet, meaning now to make her sad and forced confession, re-entered +the first apartment; and was soliciting, through Mrs Rawlins, for an +audience with Mrs Howel; when Hilson, surlily returning, preceded the +petitioner to his lady; and complained that he had been set upon by a +bully of the young woman's.</p> + +<p>Mrs Howel, coming forth, with a wrath that was deaf to prayer or +representation, gave orders that the master of the house should be +called to account for such an insult to one of her people.</p> + +<p>The master of the house appearing, made a thousand excuses for what had +happened; but said that he could not be answerable for people's falling +to words upon the stairs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_775" id="Page_775">[Pg 775]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs Howel insisted upon reparation; and that those who had affronted her +people should be told to go out of the house; or she herself would never +enter it again.</p> + +<p>The landlord declared that he did not know how to do such a thing, for +the gentleman was his honour the Admiral; who was come to spend two or +three days there, from the shipping at Torbay.</p> + +<p>If it were a general-officer who had acted thus, she said, he could +certainly give some reason for his conduct; and she desired the landlord +to ask it of him in her name.</p> + +<p>In vain, during this debate, Juliet made every concession, save that of +delivering her work-bag to the scrutiny of Mrs Rawlins; nothing less +would satisfy the enraged Mrs Howel, who resisted all overtures for a +<i>tête à tête</i>; determined publicly to humble the object of her wrath.</p> + +<p>The Admiral, who was found standing sentinel at the door, desired an +audience of the lady himself.</p> + +<p>Mrs Howel accorded it with readiness; ordering Hilson, Mrs Rawlins, and +the landlord, to remain in the room.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_776" id="Page_776">[Pg 776]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXXVII" id="CHAPTER_LXXXVII"></a>CHAPTER LXXXVII</h2> + + +<p>Mrs Howel received the Admiral, seated, with an air of state, upon her +arm-chair; at one side of which stood Mrs Rawlins, and at the other +Hilson. The landlord was stationed near the door; and Juliet, indignant, +though trembling, placed herself at a window; determining rather, with +whatever mortification, to seek the protection of the Admiral, than to +avow who she was thus publicly, thus disgracefully, and thus +compulsorily.</p> + +<p>The Admiral entered with the martial air of a man used to command; and +whose mind was made up not to be put out of his way. He bestowed, +nevertheless, three low bows, with great formality, to the sex of Mrs +Howel; to the first of which she arose and courtsied, returning the two +others by an inclination of the head, and bidding Hilson bring the +Admiral a chair.</p> + +<p>The Admiral, having adjusted himself, his hat, and his sword to his +liking, said, 'I wish you good morning, Ma'am. You won't take it amiss, +I hope, that I make free to wait upon you myself, for the sake of having +a small matter of discourse with you, about a certain chap that I +understand to be one of your domestics; a place whereof, if I may judge +by what I have seen of him, he is not over and above worthy.'</p> + +<p>'If any of my people, Sir,' answered Mrs Howel, 'have forgotten what is +due to an officer of your rank, I shall take care to make them sensible +of my displeasure.'</p> + +<p>The Admiral, much gratified, made her a low bow, saying, 'A lady, Ma'am, +such as I suppose you to be, can't fail having a right way of thinking. +But that sort of gentry, as I have taken frequent note, have an ugly +kind of a knack, of treating people rather short that have got a favour +to ask; the which I don't uphold. And this is the main reason<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_777" id="Page_777">[Pg 777]</a></span> that I +think it right to give you an item of my opinion upon this matter, +respecting that lad; who just now, in my proper view, let a young +gentlewoman call and squall after him, till she was black in the face, +without so much as once veering round, to say, Pray, Ma'am, what do you +please to want?'</p> + +<p>Hilson, now, triumphant that he could plead his haste to obey the +commands of his lady, was beginning an affronted self-defence; when the +Admiral, accidentally perceiving Juliet, hastily arose; and in a fit of +unrestrained choler, clinching his double fist at Hilson, cried, 'Why +what sort of a fellow are you, Sir? to bring me a chair while you see a +lady standing? Which do you take to be strongest? An old weather beaten +tar, such as I am; or a poor weak female, that could not lend a hand to +the pump, thof the vessel were going to the bottom?'</p> + +<p>Approaching Juliet, then with his own arm-chair, he begged her to be +seated; saying, 'The lad will take care to bring another to me, I +warrant him! A person who has got a scrap of gold-lace sewed upon his +jacket, is seldom overlooked by that kind of gentry; for which reason I +make no great account of complaisance, when I am dizened in my full +dress uniform,—which, by the way, is a greater ceremony-monger than +this, by thus much (measuring with his finger) more of tinsel!'</p> + +<p>Juliet, gratefully thanking him, but declining his offer, thought this +an opportunity not to be missed, to attempt, under his courageous +auspice, to escape. She courtsied to him, therefore, and was walking +away: but Mrs Howel, swelling with ire, already, at such civility to a +creature whom she had condemned to scorn, now flamed with passion, and +openly told the landlord, to let that young woman pass at his peril.</p> + +<p>Juliet, who saw in the anger which was mixed with the amazement of the +Admiral, that she had a decided defender at hand, collected her utmost +presence of mind, and, advancing to Mrs Howel, said, 'I have offered to +you, Madam, any explanation you may require alone; but in public I offer +you none!'</p> + +<p>'If you think yourself still dealing with a novice of the inexperience +of sixteen,' answered Mrs Howel, 'you will find yourself mistaken. I +will neither trust to the arts of a private recital, nor save your pride +from a public examination.'</p> + +<p>Then, addressing the Admiral, 'All yesterday morning, Sir,' she +continued, 'I had sundry articles, such as rings, bank-notes, and +letters of value, dispersed in my apartment, from a security that it was +sacred;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_778" id="Page_778">[Pg 778]</a></span> but the chambermaid informs me, that she caught this young +woman entering it, under pretence of waiting upon a young lady, then in +the inner room; and the same chambermaid, an hour after, found that she +was still here; and endeavouring to conceal, in her work-bag something +that she had wrapt into a sheet of paper, that was confessedly pilfered +from my table.'—</p> + +<p>The Admiral, observing, in the midst of the disturbance of Juliet at +this attack, an air of offended dignity, which urged him to believe that +she was innocent, unhesitatingly answered, ''Tis an old saying, Madam, +and a wise one, that standers-by see the most of the game; and I have +taken frequent note, that we are all of one mind, till we have heard two +sides of the question: for which reason I hold it but fair, that the +young gentlewoman should be asked what she has to say for herself.'</p> + +<p>'Can you suppose, Sir,' said Mrs Howel, the veins of whose face and +throat now looked bursting, 'that I mean to canvass this matter upon +terms of equality? that I intend to be my own pleader against a pauper +and an impostor?'—</p> + +<p>Juliet here held her hand upon her forehead, as if scarcely able to +sustain the indignant pain with which she was seized; and the fierce +frown of the Admiral, showed his gauntlet not merely ready to be flung +on the ground, but almost in the face of her adversary; Mrs Howel, +however, went on.</p> + +<p>'I do not pretend to affirm that any thing has been purloined; but the +circumstances of the case are certainly extraordinary; and I should be +sorry to run the risk of wrongfully suspecting,—should something +hereafter be missing,—any of my own people. I demand, therefore, +immediately, an explanation of this transaction.'</p> + +<p>The Admiral, full of angry feelings as he looked at the panting Juliet, +replied, himself; 'To my seeming, Madam, the short cut to the truth in +this business, would be for you to cast an eye upon your own affairs; +which I doubt not but you will find in very good trim; and if you should +like to know what passes in my mind, I must needs make bold to remark, +that I think the so doing would be more good natured, by a +fellow-creature, than putting a young gentlewoman out of countenance by +talking so high: which, moreover, proves no fact.'</p> + +<p>'I am infinitely indebted to you, Sir, for the honour of your +reprimand,' Mrs Howel, affectedly bowing, answered; 'which I should not +have incurred, had it not appeared to me, that it would be far more +troublesome to my people, to take an exact review of my various and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_779" id="Page_779">[Pg 779]</a></span> +numerous trinkets and affairs, than for an innocent person to display +the contents of a small work-bag.'</p> + +<p>'Nay, that is but reasonable,' said the Admiral; 'I won't say to the +contrary. And I make small doubt, but that the young gentlewoman +desires, in like manner with ourselves, that all should be fair and +above board. The work-bag, I'll bet you all I am worth, has not a +gimcrack in it that is not her own.'</p> + +<p>Juliet, to whom the consciousness was ever uppermost of the suspicious +bank-notes, felt by no means inclined to submit to an examination. +Again, therefore, and with firmness, she declined giving any +communication, but in a private interview with Mrs Howel.</p> + +<p>Mrs Howel, now, had not a doubt remaining, that something had been +stolen; and, still more desirous to disgrace the culprit, than to +recover her property, she declared, that she was perfectly ready to add +to the number of witnesses, but resolutely fixed not to diminish it; +public shame being the best antidote that could be offered, against +those arts by which youth and credulity had been duped.</p> + +<p>Juliet now looked down; embarrassed, distressed, yet colouring with +resentment. The Admiral, not conceiving her situation; nor being able to +comprehend the difficulty of displaying the contents of a work-bag, +approached her, and strove to give her courage.</p> + +<p>'Come!' he cried, 'young gentlewoman! don't be faint-hearted. Let the +lady have her way. I always like to have my own, which makes me speak up +for others. Besides which, I have no great opinion of quarrelling for +straws. We are none of us the nearer the mark for falling to +loggerheads: for which reason I make it a rule never to lose my temper +myself; except when I am provoked; so untie your work-bag, young +gentlewoman. I'll engage that it will do you no discredit, by the very +turn of your eye; for I don't know that, to my seeming, I ever saw a +modester look of a face.'</p> + +<p>This harangue was uttered in a tone of good-humoured benevolence, that +seemed seeking to raise her spirits; yet with an expression of +compassion, that indicated a tender feeling for her disturbance; while +the marked integrity, and honest frankness of his own character, with a +high sense of honour, and a sincere love of virtue, beamed benignly, as +he looked at her, in every feature of his kind, though furrowed face.</p> + +<p>Juliet was sensibly touched by his goodness and liberality, which +surprized from her all precaution; and the concession which she had +refused to arrogant menace, she spontaneously granted, to secure the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_780" id="Page_780">[Pg 780]</a></span> +good will of her ancient, though unconscious friend. Raising, therefore, +her eyes, in which an expression of gratitude took place of that of +sadness, 'I will not, Sir,' she said, 'resist your counsel; though I +have in nothing forfeited my inherent right to the inviolability of my +property.'</p> + +<p>She then put her work-bag into his own hands.</p> + +<p>He received it with a bow down to the ground; while joy almost capered +in his old eyes; and, exultingly turning to Mrs Howel, 'To my seeming, +Madam,' he said, 'this young gentlewoman is as well-behaved a girl, as a +man might wish to meet with, from one side the globe to the t'other; and +I respect her accordingly. And, if I were to do so unhandsome a thing, +as to poke and peer into her baggage, after seeing her comport herself +so genteelly, I won't deny but I should merit a cat-o'-nine tails, +better than many an honest tar that receives them. And, therefore, I +hope, now, Madam, you will give back to the young gentlewoman your good +opinion, in like manner as I, here, give her back her work-bag.'</p> + +<p>And then, with another profound bow, and a flourish of his hand, that +shewed his pleasure in the part which he was taking, he was returning to +Juliet her property; when he was startled by an ungovernable gust of +wrath, from the utterly enraged Mrs Howel, who exclaimed, 'If you dare +take it, young woman, unexamined, 'tis to a justice of the peace, and +not to a sea-officer, that you will deliver it another time!'</p> + +<p>Juliet, certain, whatever might be her ultimate fate, that her birth and +family must, inevitably, be soon discovered, revolted from this menace; +and determined, rather than submit to any further indignity, to risk +casting herself, at once, upon the gentleman-like humanity of the +Admiral. Unintimidated, therefore, by the alarming threat, which, +heretofore, had appalled her, she steadily held out her hand, and +received, from the old officer, in graceful silence, the proffered +work-bag.</p> + +<p>There is nothing which so effectually oversets an accusing adversary, as +self-possession; self-possession, which, if unaffected, is the highest +attribute of fearless innocence; if assumed, the most consummate address +of skilful art. Called, therefore, from rage to shame, by the calmness +of Juliet, Mrs Howel constrained herself to resume her air of solemn +importance; and, perceiving the piqued look of the Admiral, at her +slighting manner of naming sea-officers, she courteously said, 'Permit +me, Sir, as you are so good as to enter into this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_781" id="Page_781">[Pg 781]</a></span> affair, to state to +you that this young woman comes from abroad; and has no ostensible +method of living in this country: will it not, then, be more consonant +to prudence and decorum, that she should hasten to return whence she +came?'</p> + +<p>'Madam,' answered the Admiral, coldly, 'I never give advice upon the +onset of a question; that is to say, never till I see that one thing had +better be done than another. I have no great taste for groping in the +dark; wherefore, when I don't rightly make out what a person would be +at, I think the best mode to keep clear of a dispute, is to sheer off; +whereby one avoids, in like manner, either to give or take an affront: +two things not much more to my mind the one than the t'other. And so, +Madam, I wish you good day.'</p> + +<p>He then, with a formal bow, left the room, Juliet gliding out by his +side; while Mrs Howel, powerless to detain her, wreaked her pent-up +wrath upon the bell, which she rang, till every waiter in the house came +to hear, that she was now ready to set off for Chudleigh-park.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_782" id="Page_782">[Pg 782]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_LXXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER LXXXVIII</h2> + + +<p>The kind looks, and determined approbation of the Admiral, gave Juliet, +now, courage to address him with a petition for his advice, how she +might arrive most expeditiously at Torbay.</p> + +<p>'Torbay?' he repeated, 'why I could send you in my boat. But what,—' +his brow overclouding, 'what has a modest girl to do at Torbay?'</p> + +<p>Juliet answered, that she should join, there, a friend whom she meant to +accompany to the continent.</p> + +<p>Every mark of favour was now changed into disdainful displeasure; and, +turning abruptly away from her, he muttered to himself, though aloud, +that women's going abroad, to outlandish places, whereby they learnt +more how to dizen themselves, and cut capers, than how to become good +wives and mothers, was what he could not uphold; and would not lend a +hand to; and then, without looking at her, he sullenly entered his own +apartment.</p> + +<p>The disappointed Juliet, utterly overset, was still dejectedly +ruminating in the corridor, when she heard the servants of Mrs Howel +announce, that their lady's carriage was ready.</p> + +<p>She then recovered her feet, to escape any fresh offence by regaining +her apartment.</p> + +<p>Her situation appeared to her now to be as extraordinary, as it was sad +and difficult. Entitled to an ample fortune, yet pennyless; indebted for +her sole preservation from insult and from famine, to pecuniary +obligations from accidental acquaintances, and those acquaintances, men! +pursued, with documents of legal right, by one whom she shuddered to +behold, and to whom she was so irreligiously tied, that she could not, +even if she wished it, regard herself as his lawful wife; though so +entangled, that her fetters seemed to be linked with duty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_783" id="Page_783">[Pg 783]</a></span> and honour; +unacknowledged,—perhaps disowned by her family; and, though born to a +noble and yet untouched fortune, consigned to disguise, to debt, to +indigence, and to flight!</p> + +<p>While mournfully taking this review of her condition, and seeking, but +vainly, to form some plan for its amelioration, she heard the potent +voice of the Admiral call out, 'To Powderham Castle,' as a carriage +drove from the house; but ere she had time to lament the mortifying +errour of her benevolent, though ill judging friend, the approach to the +door of some other vehicle, announced a fresh arrival; and, presently, +all difficulties were absorbed in immediate terrour, as again she heard +that sound, which, of all others, most severely shocked her nerves, the +voice of Mrs Howel.</p> + +<p>What could cause this abrupt return? Had she received the directions of +Lord Denmeath? Was a new persecution arranged? or,—more horrible than +all,—had means been devized, for casting again the most wretched of +victims into the hands of the most terrific of her foes?</p> + +<p>Tremblingly she listened to every noise. A general commotion, with quick +pacing feet, spoke the entrance into the house of sundry servants; and, +presently, she distinctly heard the apartment of Mrs Howel taken +possession of by that lady, and by some person with whom she was +discoursing.</p> + +<p>All now, for about a quarter of an hour, was still. She was then alarmed +by a rustling sound, and a single footstep in the corridor: it +approached, stopt, seemed turning back; approached again; and, after a +few minutes, she was startled by a tapping at her door.</p> + +<p>She shook, she was all dismay and apprehension: she hesitated whether to +bolt herself in, or to accord admission; but a second tap bringing to +her reflection how short, how futile, how ineffectual would be any +resistance, she turned the key, opened her door, and her room was +instantly entered.</p> + +<p>Often, in the course of her long struggles and difficulties, had Juliet +been struck with astonishment; but never had she known surprize that +could bear any comparison with that which she experienced at this +moment; when, expecting to see Mrs Howel, or Lord Denmeath; when, +prepared for reproach, for menace, and for insult; she saw, as fearfully +she raised her eyes, instead of all that she dreaded and loathed, all +that she thought most sweet, most lovely, most perfect upon earth, in +the elegant form, and softly expressive face of Lady<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_784" id="Page_784">[Pg 784]</a></span> Aurora Granville, +who, with eyes glistening, and arms opening, gently ejaculated, 'My +sister!' and fell, weeping, upon her neck.</p> + +<p>Juliet nearly ceased to breathe: wonder, yet incredulity, took +possession of her faculties, and she knew not whether it were possible +that this could be reality till the big surprize, mingled with the +almost too powerful delight of her bosom, found some vent in a violent +burst of tears.</p> + +<p>Tender embraces, fond and open on the part of Lady Aurora, transported, +yet fearful and doubtful, on that of Juliet, kept them for some minutes +weeping in each other's arms. 'Can you, then,—' cried the penetrated +Juliet,—'may I believe in such felicity?—Can you condescend so far as +not to disdain,—disclaim,—and turn away from so unhappy a relation? so +distressed,—so helpless,—so desolate an object?'</p> + +<p>'Oh! hush! hush! hush!' cried Lady Aurora, putting her hand upon the +mouth of Juliet; 'you must not break my heart by such an idea,—such a +profanation! by making me apprehend that you could ever think me such a +monster! Did I wait till I knew your rights to my affection before I +loved you? Did I not divine them from the moment I first conversed with +you?'</p> + +<p>Folding, then, her white arms around Juliet, with redoubled tenderness, +'Oh my sweet Miss Ellis!' she cried. 'Let me call you still a little +while by that dear name! I have loved it so fondly that I can hardly +love more even to call you my dearest sister! How you have engaged my +thoughts; rested upon my imagination; occupied my ideas; been ever +uppermost in my memory; and always highest,—Oh! higher than any one in +my esteem and admiration! long, long before this loved moment, when Sir +Jaspar Herrington's letter makes my enthusiasm but a tender duty!'</p> + +<p>'Ah! Lady Aurora!' cried Juliet, 'what sufferings are not repaid by a +moment such as this! by a blessing so superlative, as thus to be +acknowledged, thus to be received, by the person whose virtues and whose +sweetness would have made me delight in her favour, had I never wanted +protection! had my lot in life been the most brilliant!'</p> + +<p>'Oh hush! sweet sister, hush!' interrupted Lady Aurora, again stopping +her mouth; 'what words are these? favour!—Lady Aurora!—Ah! never let +me hear them more, if you love me! What have we to do with such phrases? +Are we not sisters? Shall I use such to you? Would you love me if I did? +Would you not rather chide me?'</p> + +<p>Juliet could only shed tears, though tears so delicious, that it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_785" id="Page_785">[Pg 785]</a></span> +luxury to shed them. Lady Aurora would have kissed them from her cheeks; +but her own mingled with them so copiously, that it was not possible; +and though the smiles of expressive joy that brightened each +countenance, shewed their sensibility to be but fulness of happiness, +the meeting, the acknowledgment, with the throbbing recollection of all +that was passed, so touched each gentle heart, that they could but weep +and embrace, embrace and weep, alternately.</p> + +<p>'I have coveted,' at length cried Juliet, 'almost beyond light or life, +I have coveted this precious moment! When first I heard you named,—you +and Lord Melbury,—on the evening of the play, at Mrs Maple's, Oh! what +were my emotions! my satisfaction, my apprehensions, my hopes, and my +solicitude! When I saw two beings so sweet, so formed to create esteem +and love, so innocent, so unassuming, so attractive,—and whispered to +myself, Are these my nearest relations? Is this my sister? Is this my +brother?—how did my heart expand with joy and pride! How did I long to +cast off all disguise, all reserve, and cry Own me, amiable beings! +sweet sister! loved brother! pure, kind, and good! own your unhappy +sister! take to your pitying protection the distressed, persecuted, +insulated daughter of your father!'</p> + +<p>'Ah why,' cried Lady Aurora, 'did you not speak? why not indulge the +impulse of nature, and of kindness? Your talents, your acquirements, +your manners, won, instantly, all our admiration; enchanted, bewitched +us; but how wide were we from thinking, at that first moment, that we +had any tie to a mutual regard with the accomplished Miss Ellis! Our +first notion of that happiness, though still far from the truth,—was +after that cruel scene, which must for ever be blotted from all our +memories;—when my poor brother was urged on,—so unhappily! to forget +himself. The knowledge of that disgrace, from some listening servants, +reached Mrs Howel; she communicated it to my uncle Denmeath: no wonder +he was alarmed! Still, however, he told us not the story; though, to +stop the progress of what he feared, he acquainted us, that a report had +formerly been spread, that we had a distant relation abroad; not, he +said,—forgive him, if possible!—not in a right line related, and +never, by my father, meant to be any way acknowledged.—Oh how little he +knew my father! or, let me say, either of his daughters!—But, having +put my brother upon his guard, by suggesting that it was possible that +you might be this distant and unhonoured relation.—Ah, my Miss Ellis! +if you had seen our indignant looks, when we heard such phrases!—He +promised to seek you himself, and to examine into the affair; and +exacted, forced from us<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_786" id="Page_786">[Pg 786]</a></span> both a promise, in return, that we would never +either meet or write to you, till he had ascertained what was the truth. +The unfortunate scene at Mrs Howel's alone made my brother submit; for +he feared misconstruction: and his submission of course included mine. +Ah! had you spoken at that time! had you revealed—'</p> + +<p>'Alas! my distresses were so complicate! What most I wished upon earth, +was constantly counteracted by what most I dreaded! I could not make +myself known to my friends,—in the soothing supposition that such I +should find!—without betraying myself to my enemy; for Lord Denmeath +would assuredly have made me over to my persecutor. How, then, in a +situation so critical, yet so helpless, could I selfishly involve in my +wretchedness, my perplexity and my concealment, the kindest and +tenderest of human hearts?'</p> + +<p>'Frequently,' said Lady Aurora, 'we have considered, and consulted +together, what steps we ought to take; but the fear of some mistake, +some imprudence, some offence, in a point so doubtful, so delicate, made +us always decide that it was for you to speak first. And when I pressed +so earnestly for your confidence, it was in the hope, the flattering +hope, that I should prove my title to taking such a liberty. I had not, +else, been so importunate, so inconsiderate. My brother, too, actuated +by the same hope, urged you, perhaps, even more precipitately; but in +all honour, with all respect; with no view, no thought, but to cement +our regard by the ties of kindred. My brother can scarcely yet know our +beloved acquisition; but Sir Jaspar tells me that he has sent a +duplicate-letter to him, with the same precious history that he has +written to me. Oh, how fervent will be his delight!'</p> + +<p>She then related, to the grateful, but joy overpowered Juliet, that she +had herself but just acquired this information, through the letter of +which she had spoken; and which had been put into her hands, as she was +setting out for Chudleigh-park; to which place Mrs Howel had, hastily, +asked her to set off first, with her maid; promising to overtake her by +the way.</p> + +<p>The letter from Sir Jaspar, Lady Aurora continued, changed the whole +system of her conduct. When she learnt that Miss Ellis, instead of being +either an adventurer, or a distant and unhonoured relation, was the +daughter of her own father; by a first, a lawful, though a secret +marriage; all difficulty and irresolution vanished. Her first duty, she +now thought, was the duty of a daughter, in the acknowledgment of a +sister.</p> + +<p>She gave orders that her chaise should be driven back instantly to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_787" id="Page_787">[Pg 787]</a></span> +Teignmouth; but, before she reached that village, she met Mrs Howel; +with whose woman she immediately changed place; and then communicated +the interesting intelligence that she had just received. Mrs Howel was +utterly confounded; having either never conceived the truth, or been of +opinion, with Lord Denmeath, that the interest, and the dignity of his +lordship's nephew and niece, demanded its disavowal, or concealment. But +when Lady Aurora openly protested, that she must instantly address her +sister, through the medium of Sir Jaspar Herrington; Mrs Howel, to stop +any written acknowledgment, confessed that the young person was at +Teignmouth; earnestly, however, insisting that no measure should be +adopted, till the arrival of Lord Denmeath, to whom she had already sent +an express. But Lady Aurora no sooner heard this welcome news, than, +stimulated by conceiving, that her inclinations and her sense of right, +were now one, she grew inflexible in her turn; and resolved to +acknowledge and embrace her sister, without any other permission than +the law of nature. Mrs Howel, conscious, Lady Aurora thought, that, +should the business take a new turn, from the interference of Sir Jaspar +Herrington, she might, already, have gone too far, was fain to accompany +her back to the lodging-house; and, after giving many admonitions, to +submit to the irrepressible impatience which sunk the niece in the +sister.</p> + +<p>Lady Aurora solicited, now, to know for what reason the name of Ellis +had been taken; and learnt that, in the terrible perturbation in which +Juliet had parted from the Marchioness, they had hastily agreed upon two +initial letters for their correspondence; reserving some better adoption +to a consultation with Gabriella. To have used the name of Granville, +would have been courting danger and pursuit. But the embarrassed avowal +of Juliet, that had been surprized from her at Dover, by the abrupt +interrogatory of Elinor, that she knew not, herself, what she ought to +be called; stood, ever after, in the way of any regulation upon that +difficult point. She had been glad, therefore, to subscribe to the +blunder of Miss Bydel, which seemed, in some measure, retaining an +appellation, at least a sound, designed for her by the Marchioness; and +which could not be called a deception, since all who then knew her, +knew, also, its origin.</p> + +<p>Lady Aurora acknowledged, that, even from their childhood, both Lord +Melbury and herself had heard, though secretly and vaguely, of a +suspected elder born; but not of a prior marriage; and they had often +wished to meet with Miss Powel; for calumny and mystery, while<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_788" id="Page_788">[Pg 788]</a></span> they had +hidden the truth, had not concealed the attachment of Lord Granville, +nor the suspicious disappearance of its object, and her mother.</p> + +<p>Innumerable plans, now, varying and short lived, because unsanctioned by +any authority, succeeded to one another, of what measures might be +adopted for their living together immediately. 'For how,' cried Juliet, +'could I, henceforth, sustain an insulated life? How bear to look around +me, again, and see no one whose kindness I could claim? Oh, how support +so forlorn a state, after feeling every sorrow subside on the +bosom,—may I, indeed, say so?—on the loved bosom of a sister?'</p> + +<p>Thus, in the grateful transports of sensations as exquisite as they were +sudden and unexpected, Juliet, acknowledged as her sister by Lady Aurora +Granville; and with hopes all alive of the tender protection of a +brother, felt every pulse, once again, beat to happiness; while every +fear and foreboding, though not annihilated, was set aside.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_789" id="Page_789">[Pg 789]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXXIX" id="CHAPTER_LXXXIX"></a>CHAPTER LXXXIX</h2> + + +<p>While time was yet a stranger to regulation, and ere the dial shewed its +passage; when it had no computation but by our feelings, our weariness, +our occupations, or our passions; the sun which arose splendid upon +felicity, must have excited, by its quick parting rays, a surprise +nearly incredulous; while that which gave light but to sorrow, may have +appeared, at its evening setting, to have revolved the whole year. This +period, so long past, seemed now present to Lady Aurora and to Juliet; +so uncounted flew the minutes; so unconscious were they that they had +more than met, more than embraced, more than reciprocated their joy in +acknowledged kindred; that each felt amazed as well as shocked, when a +summons from Mrs Howel to Lady Aurora, told them that the day was fast +wearing, away.</p> + +<p>Lady Aurora reluctantly obeyed the call; and in thanksgiving, pious and +delighted, Juliet spent the interval of her absence.</p> + +<p>It was not long; she returned precipitately; but colourless, trembling, +and altered, though making an effort to smile: but the struggle against +her feelings ended in a burst of tears; and, again falling upon the neck +of Juliet; 'Oh my sweet sister!' she cried, 'is your persecution never +to end?'</p> + +<p>Juliet, though quickly alarmed, fondly answered, 'It is over already! +While that precious appellation comes from your lips,—sweet title of +tenderness and affection!—I feel above every danger!'</p> + +<p>Lady Aurora, bitterly weeping, was compelled, then, to acknowledge that +she had been hurried away by Mrs Howel, to be told that a foreigner, ill +dressed, and just arrived from the Continent, was demanding, in broken +English, of every one that he met, some news of a young person called +Miss Ellis.</p> + +<p>The exaltation of Juliet was instantly at an end; and, in an accent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_790" id="Page_790">[Pg 790]</a></span> of +despair, she uttered, 'Is it so soon, then, over!—my transient +felicity!'</p> + +<p>Whether this foreigner were her persecutor himself, escaped and +disguised; or some emissary employed to claim or to entrap her, was all +of doubt by which she was momentarily supported; for she felt as +determined to resist an agent, as she thought herself incapable to +withstand the principal.</p> + +<p>Mrs Howel, who had heard of the search, represented to Lady Aurora, the +extreme impropriety of her ladyship's intercourse with a person thus +suspiciously pursued; at least till the opinion of Lord Denmeath could +be known. But Lady Aurora, fully satisfied that this helpless fugitive +was her half-sister, was now as firm as she had hitherto been facile; +and declared that, though her personal inclinations should still yield +to her respect for her uncle, her sense of filial duty to the memory of +her father, must bind her, openly and unreservedly, to sustain his +undoubted daughter.</p> + +<p>A waiter now interrupted them, to demand admission to Miss Ellis for a +foreigner.</p> + +<p>'She is not here!—There is no Miss Ellis here! No such +person!'—precipitately cried Lady Aurora; but the foreigner himself, +who stood behind the waiter, glided into the room.</p> + +<p>Lady Aurora nearly fainted; Juliet screamed and hid her face; the +foreigner called out, 'Ah Mademoiselle Juliette! c'est, donc, vous! et +vous ne me reconnoissez pas?'<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a></p> + +<p>'Ah heaven!' cried Juliet, uncovering her face; 'Ambroise! my good, my +excellent Ambroise! is it you?—and you only?'—Turning then, +enraptured, to Lady Aurora, 'Kindest,' she cried, 'and tenderest of +human beings! condescend to receive, and to aid me to thank, the +valuable person to whom I owe my first deliverance!'</p> + +<p>Lady Aurora, revived and charmed, poured forth the warmest praises; +while Juliet, eagerly demanding news of the Marchioness; and whether he +could give any intelligence of the Bishop; saw his head droop, and +seized with terrour, exclaimed, 'Oh Ambroise! am I miserable for ever!'</p> + +<p>He hastened to assure her that they were both alive, and well; and, in +the ecstacy of her gratitude, upon the cessation of her first direful +surmise, she promised to receive all other information with courage.</p> + +<p>He shook his head, with an air the most sorrowful; and then related<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_791" id="Page_791">[Pg 791]</a></span> +that the Bishop, after delays, dangers, fruitless journies, and +disasters innumerable, which had detained him many months in the +interiour, had, at last, and most unfortunately, reached a port, whence +he was privately to embark for joining his niece, just as the +commissary, upon returning from his abortive expedition, was re-landed. +By some cruel accident, the voice of the prelate reached his ear: +immediate imprisonment, accompanied by treatment the most ignominious, +ensued. Ambroise, who, for the satisfaction of the Marchioness, had +attended the Bishop to the coast, was seized also; and both would +inevitably have been executed, had not a project occurred to the +commissary, of employing Ambroise to demand and recover his prey, and +her dowry.</p> + +<p>Ambroise stopt and wept.</p> + +<p>Bloodless now became the face of Juliet, though with forced, yet decided +courage, 'I understand you!' she cried, 'and Oh! if I can save him,—by +any sacrifice, any devotion,—I am contented! and I ought to be happy!'</p> + +<p>'Ah, cruel sister!' cried Lady Aurora; 'would you kill me?'—</p> + +<p>Juliet, shedding a torrent of tears, tenderly embraced her.</p> + +<p>'The Bishop,' Ambroise continued, 'no sooner comprehended than he +forbade the attempt; but he was consigned, unheard, to a loathsome cell; +and Ambroise was almost instantly embarked; with peremptory orders to +acquaint <i>la citoyenne Julie</i> that unless she returned immediately to +her husband, in order to sign and seal, by his side, and as his wife, +their joint claim to her portion, upon the terms that Lord Denmeath had +dictated; the most tremendous vengeance should fall upon the +hypocritical old priest, by every means the most terrible that could be +devised.'</p> + +<p>'I am ready! quite ready!' cried the pale Juliet, with energy; 'I do not +sacrifice, I save myself by preserving my honoured guardian!'</p> + +<p>This eagerness to rescue her revered benefactor, which made her feel +gloriously, though transiently, the exaltation of willing martyrdom, +soon subsided into the deepest grief, upon seeing Lady Aurora, +shivering, speechless, and nearly lifeless, sink despondingly upon the +ground.</p> + +<p>Juliet, kneeling by her side, and pressing her nearly cold face to her +bosom, bathed her cheeks, throat, and shoulders with fast falling tears; +but felt incapable of changing her plan. Yet all her own anguish was +almost intolerably embittered, by thus proving the fervour of an +affection, in which almost all her wishes might have been concentrated,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_792" id="Page_792">[Pg 792]</a></span> +but that honour, conscience, and religion united to snatch her from its +enjoyment.</p> + +<p>The news that Lady Aurora was taken ill, spread quickly to Mrs Howel; +and brought that lady to the apartment of Juliet in person. Lady Aurora +was already recovered, and seated in the folding arms of Juliet, with +whom her tears were bitterly, but silently mingling.</p> + +<p>Mrs Howel, shocked and alarmed, summoned the female attendants to +conduct her ladyship to her own apartment.</p> + +<p>Lady Aurora would accept no aid save from Juliet; fondly leaning upon +whose arm she reached a sofa in her bed-chamber; where she assumed, +though with cruel struggles against her yielding nature, voice and +courage to pronounce, 'My dear Mrs Howel, you have always been so +singularly good to me,—you have always done me so much honour, that you +must not, will not refuse to be kinder to me still, and to permit me to +introduce to you ... Miss Granville!... For this young lady, Mrs Howel, +is my sister!... my very dear sister!'</p> + +<p>Utterly confounded, Mrs Howel made a silent inclination of the head, +with eyes superciliously cast down. The letter of Sir Jaspar Herrington +had not failed to convince her that this was the real offspring of Lord +Granville; whose existence had never been doubted in the world, but +whose legitimacy had never been believed. Still, however, Mrs Howel, who +was now, from her own hard conduct, become the young orphan's personal +enemy, flattered herself that means might be found to prevent the +publication of such a story; and determined to run no risk by appearing +to give it credit; at the same time that, in her uncertainty of the +event, she softened the austerity of her manner; and gave orders to the +servants to shew every possible respect to a person who had the honour +to be admitted to Lady Aurora Granville.</p> + +<p>Juliet was in too desperate a state for any thought, or care, relative +to Mrs Howel; and, having soothed Lady Aurora by promises of a speedy +return, she hastened back to Ambroise.</p> + +<p>She earnestly besought him, since her decision would be immutable, to +make immediate enquiries whence they might embark with the greatest +expedition.</p> + +<p>Sadly, yet, so circumstanced, not unwillingly he agreed; and gave to her +aching heart nearly the only joy of which it was susceptible, in the +news that the Marchioness was already at the sea-side, awaiting the +expected arrival of her darling daughter.</p> + +<p>Ambroise had been entrusted, he said, by the commissary, with this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_793" id="Page_793">[Pg 793]</a></span> +cruel office, from his well known fidelity to the Marchioness and to the +Bishop, which, where the alternative was so dreadful, would urge him, +whatever might be his repugnance, to its faithful discharge. His orders +had been to proceed straight to Salisbury, whence, under the name of +Miss Ellis, he was to seek Juliet in every direction. And her various +adventures had made so much noise in that neighbourhood, that she had +been traced, with very little difficulty to Teignmouth.</p> + +<p>Her terrible compliance being thus solemnly fixed, she left him to +prepare for their departure the next morning, and returned to the +afflicted Lady Aurora; by whose side she remained till midnight; +struggling to sink her own sufferings, and to hide her shuddering +disgust and horrour, in administering words of comfort, and exhibiting +an example of fortitude, to her weeping sister.</p> + +<p>But when, early the next morning, with the dire idea of leave-taking, +she re-visited the gentle mourner, she found her nourishing a hope that +her Juliet might yet be melted to a change of plan. 'Oh my sister!' she +cried, 'my whole heart cannot thus have been opened to affection, to +confidence, to fondest friendship, only to be broken by this dreadful +separation! Our souls cannot have been knit together by ties of the +sweetest trust, only to be rent for ever asunder! You will surely +reflect before you destroy us both? for do you think you can now be a +single victim?'</p> + +<p>Dissolved with tenderness, yet agonized with grief, Juliet could but +weep, and ejaculate half-pronounced blessings; while Lady Aurora, with +renovating courage, said, 'Ah! think, sweet Juliet, think, if our +father,—was he not ours alike?—had lived to know the proud day of +receiving his long lost, and so accomplished daughter, such as I see her +now!—would he not have said to me, 'Aurora! this is your sister! You +are equally my children; love her, then, tenderly, and let there be but +one heart between you!'—And will you, then, Juliet, deliver us both up +to wretchedness? Must I see you no more? And only have seen you, now, to +embitter all the rest of my life?'</p> + +<p>'Oh resistless Aurora!' cried the miserable Juliet, 'rend not thus my +heart!—Think for me, my Aurora;—Think, as well as feel for me,—and +then—dispose of me as you will!'—</p> + +<p>'I accept being the umpire, my Juliet! my tenderest sister! I accept it, +and you are saved!—We are both saved!—for this would be a sacrifice +beyond any call of duty!'—cried Lady Aurora, instantly reviving, not +simply to serenity, but to felicity, to rapture. Her tears were dried +up, her eyes shone with delight, and smiles the softest and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_794" id="Page_794">[Pg 794]</a></span> most +expressive dimpled her chin, and played about her cheeks and mouth, +while, with a transport new to her serene temperament, she embraced the +appalled Juliet. ''Tis now, indeed,' she continued, 'I feel I have a +sister! 'Tis now I feel the force of kindred fondness! If you had not +loved me with a sister's affection, you would not have listened to my +solicitations; and if you had not listened, such a disappointment, and +your loss together,—do you think I should have been strong enough to +survive them?' But this enchantment lasted not long; she soon perceived +it was without participation, and her joy vanished, 'like the baseless +fabric of a vision.' Anguish sat upon the brow of Juliet; fits of +shuddering horrour shook every limb; and her only answer to these tender +endearments was by tears and embraces; while she strove to hide her +altered and nearly distorted face upon Lady Aurora's shoulder.</p> + +<p>'Speak to me, my sister!' cried Lady Aurora. 'Tell me that your pity for +the good Bishop is not stronger than all your love for me? than all your +value for your own security from barbarous brutality? than your trust in +Providence, that will surely protect so pious and exemplary a person?'</p> + +<p>'No, Heaven forbid!' answered Juliet; 'but, when Providence permits us +to see a way,—when it opens a path to us by which evil may be avoided, +by which duty may be exerted,—ought the difficulties of that way, the +perils of that path, to make us recoil from the attempt? When the +natural means are obvious, ought we to wait for some miracle?'</p> + +<p>'Ah, my sister!' cried Lady Aurora, 'would you, then, still go? Have you +yielded in mere transient compassion?'</p> + +<p>'No, sweet Aurora, no! To ruin your peace would every way destroy Mine! +Yet—what a fatality! to fear the very enjoyment of the family +protection for which I have been sighing my whole life, lest I can enjoy +it but by a crime! I abandon the post of honour, in leaving the +benefactor, the supporter, the preserver of my orphan existence, to +perpetual chains, if not to massacre!—Or I break the tender heart of +the gentlest, purest, and most beloved of sisters!'</p> + +<p>Lady Aurora, now, looked all consternation; and, after a disturbed +pause, 'If you think it wrong,' she cried, 'not to sacrifice +yourself,—Oh my sister! let not mere commiseration for my weakness lead +you astray! We all know there is another world, in which we yet may meet +again!'</p> + +<p>'Angel! angel!' cried Juliet, pressing Lady Aurora to her bosom.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_795" id="Page_795">[Pg 795]</a></span> 'You +will aid me, then, to do right' by nobly supporting yourself, you will +help to keep me from sinking? Religion will give you strength of mind to +submit to our worldly separation, and all my sufferings will be +endurable, while they open to me the hope of a final re-union with my +angel sister!'</p> + +<p>They now mutually sought to re-animate each other. Piety strengthened +the fortitude of Juliet, and supplied its place to Lady Aurora; and, in +soft pity to each other, each strove to look away from, and beyond, all +present and actual evil; and to work up their minds, by religious hopes +and reflections, to an enthusiastic foretaste of the joys of futurity.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_796" id="Page_796">[Pg 796]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XC" id="CHAPTER_XC"></a>CHAPTER XC</h2> + + +<p>This tenderly touching intercourse was broken in upon by a summons to +Ambroise, whom Juliet found waiting for her in the corridor; where he +was beginning to recount to her, that he had met with a sea-officer, who +had promised him a letter of recommendation for procuring a passport, if +he could bring proof that he was a proper person for having one; when +the Admiral issued abruptly from his apartment.</p> + +<p>He took off his hat, though with a severe air, to Juliet, who, abashed, +passed on to her chamber; but stopping and bluffly accosting Ambroise, +'Harkee!' he cried, 'my lad! a word with you!—Pray, what business have +you with that girl? I have, I know, as good as promised to help you off; +but let all be fair and above board. I don't pretend to have much taste +for any person who would go out of old England when once he has got +footing into it; thoff if I had had the misfortune to be born in France, +there's no being sure that I might not have liked it myself; from +knowing no better: for which reason I think nothing narrower than +holding a man cheap for loving his country, be it ever so bad a one. +Therefore, if you have a mind, my lad, as far as yourself goes, to sheer +off; as you are neither a sailor nor a soldier, nor, moreover, a +prisoner, I will lend you a hand and welcome. But no foul play! If +there's any person of your acquaintance, that, after being born in old +England, wants to go flaunting and jiggetting to outlandish countries, +you'll do well to give her a hint to keep astern of me; for I shall +never uphold a person who behaves o' that sort.'</p> + +<p>Ambroise, in broken English, earnestly entreated him not to withdraw his +promised protection; and Juliet, desirous to obtain his counsel for the +execution of her perilous enterprize, ventured back, and joined to +petition for instructions where she might embark most expeditiously; +endeavouring to make her peace with him, by solemnly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_797" id="Page_797">[Pg 797]</a></span> avowing, that +necessity, not inclination, urged her to undertake this voyage; and +claiming assistance, a second time, from his tried benevolence.</p> + +<p>The words tried benevolence, and a second time, which inadvertently +escaped her, from eagerness to interest his attention, struck him +forcibly with ire. 'Avast!' he cried, 'none of your flummery! You think, +belike, because you've got a pretty face, to make a fool of me? but +that's sooner thought than done! You'll excuse me for speaking my mind a +little plainly; for how the devil, asking your pardon for such a word, +should I do any thing for you a second time, when I have never seen or +thought of you, up to this moment, a first? Please to tell me that!'</p> + +<p>Juliet, looking round, and seeing that no witnesses were by, gently +enquired whether he had no remembrance of a poor voyager, whom he had +had the charity to save, the preceding winter, from immediate +destruction, by admitting into a boat?</p> + +<p>'What! a swarthy minx? with a sooty sort of skin, and all over rags and +jags? Yes, yes, I remember her well enough: I thank her! but I don't +much advise her to come in my way! She turned out a mere impostor. She +was probably French. I gave her a guinea, and paid for her place to +town, and her entertainment. She took my guinea, and eat and drank; and +then made off by some other way! and has never been heard of since. I +described her at all the Dover stages and diligences; for I intended to +give her a trifle more, to help her to find her friends, for fear of her +falling into bad hands. But I could never get any tidings of her; she +was a mere cheat. How did you come to know the jade?'</p> + +<p>Juliet blushed violently, and, with some difficulty stammered out, 'Kind +as you are, Sir, good and charitable,—you have not well judged that +young person!'—</p> + +<p>'By all that's sacred,' cried he, striking his cane upon the ground, 'if +it were possible for a girl to be painted to such a pitch of nicety, I +should swear you were that very mamselle yourself!—though, if you are, +I should take it as a favour if you would tell me, how the devil it came +into your head to let me pay for your stage-coach, when you never made +use of your place? Where the fun of that was I can't make out!'</p> + +<p>'I am but too sensible, Sir, that every thing seems against me!' said +Juliet, in a melancholy tone; 'yet the time, probably, is not very far +off, when I may be able sufficiently to explain myself, to cause you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_798" id="Page_798">[Pg 798]</a></span> +much regret,—so generous seems your nature;—should you refuse me your +services in my very great distress!'</p> + +<p>The Admiral now looked deeply perplexed, yet evidently touched. 'I +should be loath, Madam,' he said, 'very loath, indeed, for the matter of +that, there's something so agreeable in you,—to think you no better +than you should be. Not that one ought to expect perfection; for a woman +is but a woman; which a man, as her native superiour, ought always to +keep in mind; however, don't take it amiss that I throw out that remark; +for I don't mean it to dash you.'</p> + +<p>Juliet, too much shocked to reply, cast up her eyes in silent appeal to +heaven, and, entering her room, resolved to fold two guineas in a small +packet, and to send them to the Admiral by Ambroise, for an immediate +acquittal of her double pecuniary debt.</p> + +<p>But the Admiral, struck by her manner, looked thoughtful, and +dissatisfied with himself; and, again calling to Ambroise, said, +'Harkee, my lad! I should not be sorry to know who that young +gentlewoman is?—I am afraid she thinks me rather unmannerly. And the +truth is, I don't know that I have been over and above polite: which I +take shame to myself for, I give you my word; for I am always devilish +bad company with myself when I have misbehaved to a female; because why? +She has no means to right herself. So I beg you to make my excuse to the +gentlewoman. And please to tell her that, though I am no great friend to +ceremony, I am very sorry if I have affronted her.'</p> + +<p>Ambroise said, that he was sure the young lady would think no more of +it, if his honour would but be kind enough to give the recommendatory +letter.</p> + +<p>'Why, with regard to that,' said the Admiral, after some deliberation, +'I would do her any service, whereby I might shew my good will; after +having been rather over-rough, be her class what it may, considering +she's a female; and, moreover, seems somewhat in jeopardy; if I were not +so cursedly afraid of being put upon! You, that are but an outlandish +man,—though I can't say but you've as good a look as another man;—a +very honest look, if one might judge by the face;—which made me take to +you, without much thinking what I was about, I can tell you!—'</p> + +<p>Ambroise, bowing low, hoped that he would not repent his goodness.</p> + +<p>'You, I say, being more in the use of being juggled, begging your +pardon, from its being more the custom of foreign parts; can have no +great notion, naturally, how little a British tar,—a person you don't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_799" id="Page_799">[Pg 799]</a></span> +know over-much about, I believe!' smiling, 'there not being a great many +such, as I am told, off our own shores!—You, as I was remarking, can't +be expected to have much notion how little a British tar relishes being +over-reached. But the truth, Sir, is, we are set afloat upon the wide +ocean, before we have well done with our slabbering bibs; which makes us +the men we are! But, then, all we know of the world is only by bits and +scraps; except, mayhap, what we can pick out of books. And that's no +great matter; for the chief of a seaman's library is most commonly the +history of cheats and rogues; so that we are always upon the look out, +d'ye see, for fear of false colours.'</p> + +<p>Ambroise began a warm protestation of his honesty.</p> + +<p>'Not but that, let me tell you, Sir!' the Admiral went on, 'we have as +many good scholars upon quarter-deck, counting such as could pay for +their learning when they were younkers, as in any other calling. But +this was not the case with myself, who owe nothing to birth nor favour; +whereof I am proud to be thankful; for, from ten years old, when I was +turned adrift by my family, I have had little or no schooling,—except +by the buffets of the world.'</p> + +<p>Then, after ruminating for some minutes, he told Ambroise that he should +not be sorry to make his apologies to the gentlewoman himself; adding, +'For I could have sworn, when I first met her in the gallery, I had seen +her some where before; though I could not make out how nor when. But if +she's only that black madmysell washed white, I should like to have a +little parley with her. She may possibly do me the service of helping me +to find a friend; and if she does, I sha'n't be backward, God willing, +to requite her. And harkee, my lad! I should be glad to know the +gentlewoman's name. What's she called?'</p> + +<p>'She's called Mademoiselle Juliette, Monsieur.'</p> + +<p>'Juliet?—Are you sure of that?' cried the Admiral, starting. +'Juliet?—Are you very sure, Sir?'</p> + +<p>'Oui, oui, Monsieur.'</p> + +<p>'Harkee, sirrah! if you impose upon me, I'll trounce you within an inch +of your life! Juliet, do you say? Are you sure it's Juliet?'</p> + +<p>'Oui, Monsieur; Mademoiselle Juliette.'</p> + +<p>'Why then, as I am a living man, and on this side t'other world, I must +speak to her directly! Tell her so this instant.'</p> + +<p>Ambroise tapped, and Juliet opened the door; but, when he would have +spoken, the Admiral, taking him by the shoulders, and turning him round, +bid him go about his business; and, entering the room, shut the door, +and flung himself upon a chair.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_800" id="Page_800">[Pg 800]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rising, however, almost at the same instant, though much agitated, he +made sundry bows, but tried vainly to speak; while the astonished Juliet +waited gravely for some explanation of so strange an intrusion.</p> + +<p>'Madam,' he at length said, 'that Frenchman there,—who, it's like +enough, don't know what he says,—pretends your name is Juliet?'</p> + +<p>'Sir!'—</p> + +<p>'If it be so, Ma'am,—you'll do me a remarkable piece of service, if you +will be so complaisant as to let me know how you came by that name?'</p> + +<p>Juliet now felt alarmed.</p> + +<p>'It's rather making free, Ma'am, I confess, but I shall take it as a +special favour, if you'll be pleased to tell me what part of the world +you come from?'</p> + +<p>'Sir, I—I—'</p> + +<p>'If you think my inquisitiveness impertinent, Ma'am; which it's like +enough you may, I shall beg leave to give you an item of my reason for +it; and then it's odds but you'll make less scruple to give me the +reply. Not that I mean to make conditions; for binding people down only +hampers good will. But when you have heard me, you may be glad, +perchance, to speak of your own accord; for I don't know, I give you my +solemn word, but that at this very moment you are talking to one of your +own kin!'</p> + +<p>He fixed his eyes upon her, then, with great earnestness.</p> + +<p>'My own kin?—What, Sir, do you mean?'</p> + +<p>'I'll tell you out of hand, Ma'am,—if I may be so bold as to sit down; +for whether we happen to be relations or no', there can be no law +against our being friends.'</p> + +<p>Juliet hastily presented him a chair, and scarcely breathed from +eagerness to reciprocate the enquiry. She had never heard the Admiral +mentioned but by his military title.</p> + +<p>Seated now by her side, he looked at her for some instants, smilingly, +though with glistening eyes; 'Madam,' he said, 'I had a sister whose +name was Juliet!—and the name is dear to my soul for her sake! And it's +no common name; so that I never hear it without being moved. She left a +child, Ma'am, who for some unnatural reasons, that I sha'n't enter upon +just now, was brought up in foreign parts. This child had her own sweet +name; and her own sweet character, too, I make small doubt; as well as +her own sweet face.'—</p> + +<p>He stopt, and again more earnestly looked at Juliet; but, seeing her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_801" id="Page_801">[Pg 801]</a></span> +strongly affected, begged her pardon, and, brushing a tear from his eye, +went on.</p> + +<p>'When I came home from my last station in the East Indies, I crossed +over the channel to see after her; a great proof of my good will, I can +tell you! for no little thing would have carried me to that lawless +place; and from the best land upon God's earth! but I got nothing for my +pains, except a cursed bad piece of news, which turned me upside down; +for I was told that she was married to a French monsieur! Upon which I +swore, God willing, never to see her face to the longest day I had to +live! And I came away with that resolution. However, a Christian is +never so perfect himself, as not to look over a flaw in his neighbour. +Wherefore, if I could get any item of the poor girl's repentance, I +don't think, for my dear sister's sake, but I could still take her to my +bosom,—yea, to my very heart of hearts!'</p> + +<p>'Tell me, Sir,' cried Juliet, rising, with clasped hands, and eyes fast +filling with tears; 'tell me,—for I have never heard it,—your name?'</p> + +<p>'By all that's holy!' cried he, rising too, and trembling, 'you make my +heart beat all over my body!—My name is Powel! In the name, then, of +the Most High,—are you not my niece yourself?'</p> + +<p>Juliet dropt at his feet; 'Oh heavenly Providence!' she ejaculated, 'you +are then my poor mother's brother!' Speech now, for a considerable time, +was denied to both; strong emotions, though of joy, nearly suffocated +Juliet, while the Admiral sobbed over her as he pressed her in his arms.</p> + +<p>'My girl!' he cried, when a little recovered, 'my sister's +daughter!—daughter of the dearest of sisters!—I have found, then, at +last, something appertaining to my poor sister! You shall be dear to my +soul for her sake, whatever you may be for your own. And, moreover, as +to what you may have done up to this time, whereof I don't mean to judge +uncharitably, every one of us being but frail, I shall let it all pass +by. So hold up your head, and take comfort, my girl, and don't be shy of +your old uncle; for whatever may have slipt from him in a moment of +choler, he'll protect you, God willing, to his last hour; and never come +out with another unkind word upon what is past and gone.'</p> + +<p>The heart of Juliet was too full to let her offer any immediate +vindication: she could but pronounce, 'My uncle, when I can be +explicit,—you will not—I hope, and trust,—have cause to blush for +me!'—</p> + +<p>'Why then you are a very good girl!' cried he, well pleased, 'an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_802" id="Page_802">[Pg 802]</a></span> +excellent girl, in the main, I make small doubt.' He then demanded, +though not, he protested, to find fault with what was past; what had +brought her over to her native land in such a ragged, mauled, and black +condition; which had prevented the least guess of who she was; 'for if, +when I saw you off the coast,' he continued, 'you had shewn yourself +such as you are now, you have so strong a look of my dear sister, that I +should have hailed you out of hand. Though when I saw you Here it never +came into my head; because why? I believed you to be There. And yet, +instinct is main powerful, whereof I am a proof; for I took a fancy to +you, even when I thought you an old woman; and, which is worse, a French +woman. Coming away from those shores gave me a good opinion of you at +once.'</p> + +<p>He then made many tender enquiries concerning the last illness, and the +death of Mrs Powel, his mother; whom it was now, he said, one-and-twenty +years since he had seen; as, upon his poor father's insolvency, he had +been taken from the royal navy, and sent out, in the company's service, +to the East Indies.</p> + +<p>Juliet, after satisfying his filial solicitude, ventured to express her +own, upon every circumstance of her mother's life, which had fallen to +his knowledge.</p> + +<p>The insolvency, the Admiral replied, had soon been succeeded by the +death of his father; and then his poor mother and sister had been driven +to a cheap country residence, in the neighbourhood of Melbury-Hall. +There, before he set out for the East Indies, he had passed a few days +to take leave; in which time Lord Granville, the Earl of Melbury's only +son, who had met them, it seems, in their rural strolls, had got such a +footing in their house, that he called in both morning and evening; and +stayed sometimes for hours, without knowing how time went. Uneasy upon +remarking this, he counselled his sister to keep out of the young +nobleman's way; and advised his mother to change her house. They both +promised so to do; but, for all that, before he set sail, he determined +to wait upon his lordship himself; which he did accordingly; and made +free to tell him, that he should take it but kind of his lordship, if he +would not be quite so sweet upon his sister. His lordship made fair +promises, with such a genteelness, that there was no help but to give +him credit; and, this being done, he went off with an easy heart. He +remained in the Company's service some time; during which, the letters +of his mother brought him the sorrowful tidings of his sister's death; +followed up,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_803" id="Page_803">[Pg 803]</a></span> afterwards, by an account that, for her own health's sake, +she was gone over to reside in France.</p> + +<p>'This was a bit of news,' he continued, 'which I did not take quite so +kindly as I ought, mayhap, to have done, it not appertaining to a son to +have the upper hand of his mother. But, having been, from the first, +somewhat of a spoilt child, whereby my poor mother made herself plenty +of trouble; I was always rather over choleric when I was contradicted. +Taking it, therefore, rather amiss her going out of old England, no +great matter of letter-writing passed between us from that time, to my +return to my native land.</p> + +<p>'It was then I was told the worst tiding that ever I wish to hear! one +came, and t'other came, and all had some fuel to make the fire burn +fiercer, to give me an item that Lord Granville had over-persuaded my +sister to elope with him; and that she died of a broken heart; leaving a +child, that my mother, for my sister's reputation's sake, had gone to +bring up in foreign parts. My blood boiled so, then, in my veins, that +how it ever got cool enough not to burn me to a cinder is a main wonder. +But I vowed revenge, and that, I take it, sustained me; revenge being, +to my seeming, a noble passion, when it is not to spite those who have +done an ill turn to ourselves, but to punish those who have oppressed +the helpless. What aggravated me the more, was hearing that he was +married; and had two fine children, who were dawdled about every day in +his coach; while the child of my poor sister was shut up, immured, no +body knew where, in an outlandish country. I called him, therefore, to +account, and bid him meet me, at five o'clock in the morning, at a +coffee-house. We went into a private room. I used no great matter of +ceremony in coming to the point. You have betrayed, I cried, the +unprotected! You have seduced the forlorn! You have sold yourself to the +devil!—and as you have given him, of your own accord, your soul, I am +come to lend a hand to your giving him your body.'—</p> + +<p>'Shocking!—Shocking!' interrupted Juliet. 'O my uncle!'—</p> + +<p>'Why it was not over mannerly, I own; but I was too much aggrieved to +stand upon complimenting. I loved her, said I, with all my heart and +soul; but I bore patiently with her death, because I am a Christian; and +I know that life and death come from God; but I scorn to bear with her +dishonour, for that comes from a man. For the sake of your wife and +children, as they are not in fault, I would conceal your unmanly +baseness; but for the sake of my much injured sister, who was dearer to +me than all your kin and kind, I intend, by the grace,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_804" id="Page_804">[Pg 804]</a></span> and with the +help of the Most High, to take a proper vengeance for her wrongs, by +blowing out your brains; unless, by the law of chance, you should blow +out mine; which, however, I should hold myself the most pitiful of +cowards to expect in so just a cause.</p> + +<p>'I then presented him my pistols, and gave him his choice which he would +have.'</p> + +<p>'Oh my poor father!' cried Juliet. 'Go on, my uncle, go on!'</p> + +<p>'He heard me to the finish without a word; and with a countenance so +sad, yet so firm, and which had so little the hue of guilt, that I have +thought since, many a time and often, that, if choler had not blinded +me, I should have stopt half way, and said, This is purely an innocent +man!'</p> + +<p>'Oh blessed be that word!' cried Juliet, clasping her hands, 'and +blessed, blessed be my uncle for so kindly pronouncing it!'</p> + +<p>'With what temper he answered me! If I insisted, he said, upon +satisfaction, he would not deny it me; "And I ought, indeed," he said, +"after an attack so insulting, to demand it for myself. But you are in +an errour; and your cause seems so completely the cause of justice and +virtue, that I cannot defend, till I have cleared myself. The sister +whom you would avenge was the beloved of my soul! Never will you mourn +for her as I have mourned! I neither betrayed nor seduced her. The love +that I bore her was as untainted as her own honour. The immoveable views +of my father to another alliance, kept our connexion secret; but your +sister, your unspotted sister, was my wedded wife!"—The joy of my +heart, at that moment, my dear girl, made me forget all my mishaps. I +jumped,—for I was but a boy, then, to what I am now; and I flung my +arms about his neck, and kissed him; which his lordship did not seem to +take at all unkindly. Since she is not dishonoured, I cried, I can bear +all else like a man. She is gone, indeed, my poor sister!—but 'tis to +heaven she is gone! and I can but pray that we may both, in our due +time, go there after her!—And upon that,—if I were to tell you the +honest truth,—we both fell a blubbering.—But she was no common person, +my dear sister!'</p> + +<p>Juliet wept with varying emotions.</p> + +<p>'His lordship,' the Admiral continued, 'then recorded the whole history +of his marriage, the birth of his child, and the loss of his poor wife. +That the child, accompanied by her grandmother, who scarcely breathed +out of its sight, was gone to be brought up in a convent, under the care +of a family of quality, that had a grand castle in its neighbourhood; +and under the immediate guidance of a worthy old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_805" id="Page_805">[Pg 805]</a></span> parson; that, as soon +as she was educated, he should go over to fetch her, and write a letter +to his father to own his first marriage. But he begged me, for +family-reasons, to agree to the concealment, till I returned home for +good; and had a house of my own in which I could receive the child, in +the case his second lady and his father should behave unhandsomely. I +had no great taste for a hiding scheme; but I was so overcome with joy +to think my sister had been always a woman of honour, that I was in no +cue for squabbling: and, moreover, I gave way with the greater +complaisance, from the fear of seeing the child fall into the hands of +people who would be ashamed of her, whereby her spirit might be broken; +and, moreover, I can't say but I took it kind of his lordship the +thought of letting her come to a house of mine; for I had already +returned to his majesty's service; which, God willing, the devil himself +shall never draw me from again; and I was a post-captain, and in pretty +good circumstances. So I thought I had as well not meddle, nor do +mischief. And the more, as his lordship was so honourable as to entrust +to me a copy of a codicil to his will; written all in his own hand, and +duly signed and sealed; wherein he owns his lawful marriage with my poor +sister; and leaves her child the same fortune that he leaves to his +daughters by his wife of quality.'</p> + +<p>'Is it possible!—How fortunate! And have you, still, my dear uncle, +this codicil?'</p> + +<p>'Have I? Aye, my girl! I would sooner part with my right hand! It's the +proof and declaration of my sister's honour! and I would not change it +against all the diamonds, and all the pearls, and all the shawls of all +the nabobs of all Asia! It has been my whole comfort in all my difficult +voyages and hard services.'</p> + +<p>Ah! thought Juliet, were my revered Bishop safe, I might now be every +way happy!</p> + +<p>'What passed in my mind at that time, was to cross over the Channel, to +get my dear mother's blessing, and to give my own to my little niece. +But it's of no great consequence what we plan, if it is not upheld by +the Most High. I was all prepared, but I wrote never a word over, for +the sake of giving my mother a surprize; when, all at once, I had a +sudden promotion, with orders to return to the East Indies. And there I +was stationed, on and off, in and out, till t'other day, as one may say. +And when, at last, I got home again; meaning to marry Jenny Barker,—as +pretty a girl as ever came into the world; and to set her at the head of +my house, and equip her handsomely,—I found every thing turned upside +down! Lord Granville had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_806" id="Page_806">[Pg 806]</a></span> dead five months, and his father about as +many weeks. I had already heard, in the Indies, that my poor mother was +dead; and when I went to get a little comfort with Jenny Barker, and to +give her the baubles I had got together for her in the Indies,—always +priding myself in thinking how smart she'd look in this! and how pretty +her face would peep out of that!—I found her so mortally changed, that +I took her for her own mother! who I had left to the full as well +looking twenty years before; for, after my first voyage, by ill luck, I +had not seen Jenny, who was down in the country.'</p> + +<p>'But if she is amiable, uncle, and worthy—'</p> + +<p>'You have a right way of thinking, my dear; and I honour you for it: but +the disappointment came upon me so slap-dash, as one may say, for want +of a little forethought, that I let out what passed in my mind with too +little ceremony for making up again. However, I gave her the baubles; +which she accepted out of hand; and made free to ask me to add something +more, to make her amends for waiting for nothing; which was but fair; +though it showed me that when she had lost her pretty face, she had no +great matter to boast of in point of a noble way of thinking. I hope, +else, I should have been above playing her false; without which I should +be little to chose from a scoundrel. But she was in such a main hurry to +secure herself the rhino, that it's my brief that her inside, if I could +have got a look at it, was but little short, in point of ugliness, to +her outside. Howbeit, I used her handsomely, and we parted friends.'</p> + +<p>The Admiral here walked about the room, a little disturbed, and then +continued his narrative.</p> + +<p>He crossed the Straits, having always preserved the direction of the +lady of the castle near the convent; but the Revolution was then +flaming; the castle had been burnt; all the family was dispersed; and he +was warned not to make any enquiry even after the parson. But he grew +sick of the whole business, and not sorry to cut it short, upon hearing +that his niece, who was known by the appellation of Mademoiselle +Juliette, was married to a French monsieur. He was coming away, in deep +disgust, and burning wrath, when he was seized himself, and put into +prison by order of Mr Robespierre. But this durance did not last long; +for he joined a party that was just getting off, and returned to Great +Britain; and moreover, though little enough to his knowledge, in the +very same vessel that brought over his niece. 'And here, my dear girl, +is the finish of all I have to recount. But what I observe, with no +great pleasure, if I should tell you my remark,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_807" id="Page_807">[Pg 807]</a></span> is, that, while, for so +many years, I have given up my head to nothing but thinking of my +niece,—to the exception of poor Jenny Barker,—she does not seem so +much as ever to have heard, or thought about her uncle?'</p> + +<p>Juliet assured him, on the contrary, that her grandmother Powel had +talked unceasingly of her son; but that, tender-hearted, timid, and +devoted to Lord Granville, she had never ventured to trust to a letter a +secret that demanded so much discretion; and had therefore postponed all +communication to their meeting; of which she had lived in the constant +hope. And Juliet herself, since the afflicting loss of that excellent +lady, always believing him to be in the East Indies, had never dared +claim his parentage, nor solicit his favour; her peculiar and unhappy +situation making all written accounts, not only of her affairs, but of +her name and her residence, dangerous.</p> + +<p>This brought the conversation back to herself. ''Tis remarkable enough,' +said the Admiral, 'that, in all this long parley, we have not yet said +an item about the worst part of the job,—your marriage! How came you +here without your husband? For all I have no great goust to your +marrying in that sort, God forbid I should uphold a wife in running away +from her lawful spouse, even though he be a Frenchman! We should always +do right, for the sake of shaming wrong. A man, being the higher vessel, +may marry all over the globe, and take his wife to his home; but a +woman, as she is only given him for his help-mate, must tack about after +him, and come to the same anchorage.'</p> + +<p>Sadness now clouded the skin, and dimmed the eyes of Juliet. The story +which she had to reveal, the hard necessity of separating herself from +so near a relation, and so kind a protector, at the very moment of an +apparent union; joined to the obstacles which his prejudices and +feelings might put in the way of her decided sacrifice; made the avowal +of her intention seem almost as difficult as its execution.</p> + +<p>'Don't be cast down, however, my girl,' continued the Admiral; 'for when +things are come to the worst, as I have taken frequent note, they often +veer about, nobody knows how, and turn out for the best. I should as +lieve you had not tied such an ugly knot, I won't say to the contrary; +howbeit, as the thing is done, we may as well make the best of it. The +man may be a tolerable good Christian, mayhap, for a Papist. And indeed, +to tell you the truth, though it is a thing I am not over fond of +speaking about, I have seen some Frenchmen I could have liked mightily +myself, if I had not known where they came from.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_808" id="Page_808">[Pg 808]</a></span> I had some prisoners +once aboard, that were as likely men, and as much of gentlemen, and as +agreeable behaved, and had as good sense, too, of their own, as if they +had been Englishmen. Perhaps your husband may be one of them? If so, let +him come over here, and he shall want for nothing. I am always proud to +shew old England; so invite him, my dear, to come.'</p> + +<p>'Alas!—alas!—'cried Juliet, weeping.</p> + +<p>'What! he is but a sorry dog, then? Well, I can't pretend to be +surprized at that. However, I'll tie up your fortune, and won't let him +touch a penny of it, but upon condition that you come over for it +yourself once a year. And now I have you safe and sure, I shall carry my +codicil to Lord Denmeath,—a fellow of steel, they say!—and get you +your thirty thousand pounds; for that, I am told, is the portion of the +lady of quality's daughter. But all I shall give you myself shall only +be bit by bit, till I know how that sorry fellow uses you. It's a main +pity you threw yourself away in such a hurry! But I suppose he's a fine +likely young dog?</p> + +<p>'Hideous! hideous!' off all guard, exclaimed the shuddering Juliet.</p> + +<p>'Why, then, most like, you only married him for the sake of a little +palaver? Poor girl! However, it's done, and a husband's a husband; so +I'll ask no more questions.'</p> + +<p>Kissing her then very kindly, he said he would go and suck in a little +fresh breeze upon the beech, to calm his spirits; for he felt as if he +had been steering his vessel in a hurricane.</p> + +<p>He asked her to accompany him; but she desired a little stillness and +rest. He shook hands with her, and, with a look of concern, said, 'My +sister did but a foolish thing, after all, in marrying that young lord, +however the world may judge it to have been an ambitious one. You would +never have been smuggled out of your native land, in that fashion, if +she had taken up with a man in her own rank of life: some honest tar, +for example! for, to my seeming, there is not an honester person in the +whole world, nor a person of more honour, than a British tar! And +yet,—see the difference of those topsy-turvy marriages!—a worthy tar +would have been proud of my sister for his wife; while your lord was +only ashamed of her! for that's the bottom of the story, put what dust +you will in your eyes for the top!'</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_809" id="Page_809">[Pg 809]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XCI" id="CHAPTER_XCI"></a>CHAPTER XCI</h2> + + +<p>Juliet, left alone, again vented her full heart by tears. Happiness +never seemed within her reach, but to make her feel more severely the +hard necessity that it must be resigned. All her tenderest affections +had been delighted, and her most ardent wishes surpassed, in being +recognized as his niece by a man of so much worth, honour, and +benevolence as the Admiral; and her heart had been yet more exquisitely +touched, by acknowledged affinity with so sweet a character as that of +Lady Aurora; her portion, by the duplicate-codicil, flattered, and gave +dignity to her softest feelings;—nevertheless, the cruelty of her +situation was in nothing altered; the danger of the Bishop was still the +same; the same, therefore, was her duty. Even for deliberation she +allowed herself no choice, save whether to confess to the Admiral the +dreadful nature of her call to the Continent; or to go thither simply as +a thing of course, to join her husband.</p> + +<p>For the latter, his approvance was declared; for the former, even his +consent might be withdrawn: to spare, therefore, to his kind heart the +unavailing knowledge of her misery; and to herself the useless conflicts +that might ensue from the discovery; she ultimately decided to set out +upon her voyage, with her story and misfortunes unrevealed.</p> + +<p>This plan determined upon, she struggled to fortify her mind for its +execution, by endeavouring to consider as her husband the man to whom, +in any manner, she had given her hand; since so, only, she could seek to +check the disgust with which she shrunk from him as her deadliest foe. +She remembered, and even sought to call back, the terrific scruples with +which she had been seized, when, while striving to escape, she heard him +assert that she was his wife, and felt powerless to disvow his claim. +Triumphant, menacing, and ferocious, she had fled him without +hesitation, though not completely without doubt;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_810" id="Page_810">[Pg 810]</a></span> but when she beheld +him seized, in custody,—and heard him call her husband! and saw herself +considered as his wife! duty, for that horrible instant, seemed in his +favour; and, had not Sir Jaspar summoned her by her maiden name, to +attend her own nearest relations, all her resistance had been subdued, +by an overwhelming dread that to resist might possibly be wrong.</p> + +<p>Recollection, also, told her that, at the epoch when, with whatever +misery, she had suffered him to take her hand, no mental reservation had +prepared for future flight and disavowal: she laboured therefore, now, +to plead to herself the vows which she had listened to, though she had +not pronounced; and to animate her sacrifice by the terrour of perjury.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, all these virtuous arguments against her own freedom, were +insufficient to convince her that her marriage was valid. The violent +constraint, the forced rites, the interrupted ceremony, the omission of +every religious form;—no priest, no church to sanctify even +appearances;—No! she cried, no! I am not his wife! even were it my +wish, even were he all I prize upon earth, still I should fly him till +we were joined by holier bands! Nevertheless, for the Bishop I meant the +sacrifice, and, since so, only, he can be preserved;—for the Bishop I +must myself invite its more solemn ratification!</p> + +<p>Satisfied that this line of conduct, while dictated by tender gratitude, +was confirmed by severer justice; she would not trust herself again with +the sight of Lady Aurora, till measures were irreversibly taken for her +departure; and, upon the return of the Admiral from his walk, she +communicated to him, though without any explanation, her urgent desire +to make the voyage with all possible expedition.</p> + +<p>The Admiral, persuaded that her haste was to soften the harsh treatment +of a husband who had inveigled her into marriage by flattery and +falsehood, forbore either questions or comments; though he looked at her +with commiseration; often shaking his head, with an expression that +implied: What pity to have thrown yourself thus away! His high notions, +nevertheless, of conjugal prerogative, made him approve and second her +design; and, saying that he saw nothing gained by delay, but breeding +more bad blood, he told her that he would conduct her to —— himself, +the next morning; and stay with her till he could procure her a proper +passage; engaging to present her wherewithal to ascertain for her a good +and hearty reception; with an assurance to her husband, that she should, +at any time, have the same sum, only for fetching it in person.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_811" id="Page_811">[Pg 811]</a></span></p> + +<p>This promising opening to occasional re-unions, gave her, now, more +fortitude for announcing to her gentle sister the fixed approaching +separation. But, though these were softening circumstances to their +parting, Lady Aurora heard the decision with despair; and though the +discovery of an uncle, a protector, in so excellent a man as the +Admiral, offered a prospect of solid comfort; still she could dwell only +upon the forced ties, the unnatural connexion, and the brutal character +to which her unhappy sister must be the victim.</p> + +<p>Each seeking, nevertheless, to console the other, though each, herself, +was inconsolable, they passed together the rest of the melancholy, yet +precious day; uninterrupted by the Admiral; who was engaged to dine out +in the neighbourhood; or even by Mrs Howel; who acquiesced, perforce, to +the pleadings of Lady Aurora; in suffering her ladyship to remain in her +own room with Juliet.</p> + +<p>They engaged to meet again by daybreak, the next morning, though to meet +but to part. The next morning, however, when summoned to a post-chaise +by the Admiral, the courage of Juliet, for so dreadful a leave-taking, +failed; and, committing to paper a few piercingly tender words, she +determined to write, more at length, all the consolation that she could +suggest from the first stage.</p> + +<p>But when, in speechless grief, she would have felt her little billet in +the anti-room, she found Lady Aurora's woman already in attendance; and +heard that Lady Aurora, also, was risen and dressed. She feared, +therefore, now, that an evasion might rather aggravate than spare +affliction to her beloved sister; and, repressing her own feelings, +entered the chamber.</p> + +<p>Lady Aurora, who had scarcely closed her eyes all night, had now, in the +fancied security of a meeting, from having placed her maid as a +sentinel, just dropt asleep. Her pale cheeks, and the movement of sorrow +still quivering upon her lips, shewed that she had been weeping, when +overpowering fatigue had induced a short slumber. Juliet, in looking at +her, thought she contemplated an angel. The touching innocence of her +countenance; the sweetness which no sadness could destroy; the grief +exempt from impatience; and the air of purity that overspread her whole +face, and seemed breathing round her whole form, inspired Juliet, for a +few moments, with ideas too sublime for mere sublunary sorrow. She +knelt, with tender reverence, by her side, inwardly ejaculating, Sleep +on, my angel sister! Recruit your harassed spirits, and wake not yet to +the woes of your hapless<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_812" id="Page_812">[Pg 812]</a></span> Juliet! Then, placing gently upon her bosom +the written farewell, she softly kissed the hem of her garments, and +glided from the room.</p> + +<p>She made a sign to the maid, for she had no power of utterance, not to +awaken her lady; and hurried down stairs to join the Admiral, attended +by the faithful Ambroise.</p> + +<p>She was spared offering any apologies for detaining her uncle, by +finding him preparing to step down to the beach, with a spying glass, +without which he never stirred a step; to take a view, before they set +off, of a sail, which his servant, an old seaman, had just brought him +word was in sight. He helped her, therefore, into the chaise, begging +her patience for a few minutes.</p> + +<p>Juliet was not sorry to seize this interval for returning to the +anti-room, to learn whether Lady Aurora were awake; and, by her +resignation or emotion, to judge whether a parting embrace would prove +baneful or soothing.</p> + +<p>As she was re-entering the house, a vociferous cry of 'Stop! stop!' +issued from a carriage that was driving past. She went on, desiring +Ambroise to give her notice when the Admiral came back; but had not yet +reached the gallery, when the stairs were rapidly ascended by two, or +more persons, one of which encircled her in his arms.</p> + +<p>She shrieked with sudden horrour and despair, strenuously striving to +disengage herself; though persuaded that the only person who would dare +thus to assail her, was him to whom she was intentionally resigning her +destiny; but her instinctive resistance was short; a voice that spoke +love and sweetness exclaimed. 'Miss Ellis! sweet, lovely Miss Ellis! you +are, then, my sister!'</p> + +<p>'Ah heavens! kind heaven!' cried the delighted Juliet, 'is it you, Lord +Melbury? and do you,—will you,—and thus kindly, own me?'</p> + +<p>'Own? I am proud of you! My other sister alone can be as dear to me! +what two incomparable creatures has heaven bestowed upon me for my +sisters! How hard I must work not to disgrace them! And I will work +hard, too! I will not see two such treasures, so near to me, and so dear +to me, hold down their sweet heads with shame for their brother. Come +with me, then, my new sister!—you need not fear to trust yourself with +me now! Come, for I have something to say that we must talk over +together alone.'</p> + +<p>Putting, then, her willing arm within his, he eagerly conducted her down +stairs; made her pass by the astonished Ambroise, at whom she nodded and +smiled in the fulness of her contentment, and led her towards the beach; +her heart exulting, and her eyes glistening with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_813" id="Page_813">[Pg 813]</a></span> tender joy; even while +every nerve was affected, and all her feelings were tortured, by a dread +of quick approaching separation and misery.</p> + +<p>'I am come,' cried he, when they were at a little distance from the +houses, 'to take the most prompt advantage of my brotherly character. I +have travelled all night, not to lose a moment in laying my scheme +before you.'</p> + +<p>'What kindness!—Oh my lord!—and where did you hear,—where did Sir +Jaspar's letter reach you?'</p> + +<p>'Sir Jaspar?—I have received no letter from Sir Jaspar. I have seen no +Sir Jaspar!'</p> + +<p>'How, then, is it possible you can know—'</p> + +<p>'Oh ho! you think you have no friend, then, but Sir Jaspar? And you +suppose, perhaps, that you have no admirer but Sir Jaspar?'</p> + +<p>'I am sure, at least, there is no other person to whom I have revealed +my name.'</p> + +<p>'Then he must have betrayed it to some other himself, my sweet sister! +for 'tis not from him I have had my intelligence. Be less sure, +therefore, for the future, of an old man, and trust a younger one more +willingly! However, there is no time now for raillery; a messenger is +waiting the result of our conference. I am fully informed, my precious +sister, of your terrible situation; I will not stop now to execrate your +infernal pursuer, though he will not lose my execrations by the delay! I +know, too, your sublime resolution to save our dear guardian,—for yours +is ours!—that good and reverend Bishop; and to look upon yourself to be +tied up, as a bond-woman, till you are formally released form those foul +shackles. Do I state the case right?'</p> + +<p>'Oh far, far too acurately! And even now, at a moment so blest! I must +tear myself away,—by my own will, with whatever horrour!—from the +sweetest of sisters,—from you, my kindest brother!—and from the most +benevolent of uncles, by a separation a thousand times more dreadful +than any death!'</p> + +<p>'Take comfort, sweet sister! take comfort, loveliest Miss Ellis!—for I +can't help calling you Miss Ellis, now and then, a little while +longer:—I have a plan to make you free! to set you completely at +liberty, and yet save that excellent Bishop!—'</p> + +<p>'Oh my lord! how heavenly an idea!—but how impossible!'</p> + +<p>'Not at all! 'tis the easiest thing in the world! only hear me. That +wretch who claims you, shall have the portion he demands; the six +thousand pounds; immediately upon signing your release, sending over the +promissory-note of Lord Denmeath, and delivering your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_814" id="Page_814">[Pg 814]</a></span> noble Bishop into +the hands of the person who shall carry over the money; which, however, +shall only be paid at some frontier town, whence the Bishop may come +instantly hither.'</p> + +<p>Struck with rapturous surprize, Juliet scarcely restrained herself form +falling at his feet. She pressed his arm, she kissed the edge of his +coat, and, while striving, inarticulately, to call for blessings upon +his head, burst into a passion of tears,—though tears of ecstatic +joy,—that nearly deprived her of respiration.</p> + +<p>'My sister! my dear sister!' tenderly cried Lord Melbury, 'how ashamed +you make me! Could you, then, expect less? What a poor opinion you have +entertained of your poor brother! I give you nothing! I merely agree +that you shall possess what is your due. Know you not that you are +entitled to thirty thousand pounds from our estate? To the same fortune +that has been settled upon Aurora? 'Tis from your own portion, only, my +poor sister, that this six thousand will be sunk.'</p> + +<p>'Can you, then, generous, generous Lord Melbury!—can you see thus, +without regret, without murmur, so capital a sum suddenly and +unexpectedly torn from you?'</p> + +<p>'I have not yet enjoyed it, my dear sister; I shall not, therefore, miss +it. But if I had possessed it always, should I not be paid, ten million +of times paid, by finding such a new sister? I shall be proud to shew +the whole world I know how to prize such a relation. And I will not have +them think me such a mere boy, because I am still rather young, as to be +at a loss how to act by myself. I shall not, therefore, consult my +uncle, for I am determined not to be ruled by him. I will solemnly bind +myself to pay your whole fortune the moment I am of age. It is my duty, +and my pride, and, at the same time, my delight, to spare your delicacy, +as well as my own character, and our dear father's memory, any process, +or any dispute.'</p> + +<p>Then, opening his arms, with design to embrace her, but checking himself +upon recollecting that he might be observed, he animatedly added, 'Yes, +my dear father! I will shew how I cherish your memory, by my care of +your eldest born! by my care of her interests, her safety, and her +happiness!—As to her honour,' he added, with a conscious smile, 'she +has shewn me that she knows how to be its guardian herself!'</p> + +<p>The grateful Juliet frankly acknowledged, that both the thought and the +wish had frequently occurred to her, of rescuing the Bishop, through her +portion, without herself: but she had been utterly powerless to raise +it. She was under age, and uncertain whether her rights<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_815" id="Page_815">[Pg 815]</a></span> might ever be +proved: and the six thousand pounds proffered by Lord Denmeath, she was +well aware, would never be accorded but to establish her as an alien. +Her generous brother, by anticipating, as well as confirming her claims, +alone could realize such a project. With sensations, then, of unmixed +felicity, that seemed lifting her, while yet on earth, into heaven, she +was flying to call for the participation of Lady Aurora, and of her +uncle, in her joy; when Lord Melbury, stopping her, said, that all was +not yet prepared for communication.</p> + +<p>'You clearly,' he continued, 'agree to the scheme?'</p> + +<p>'With transport!' she cried; 'and with eternal thankfulness!'</p> + +<p>Without delay, then, he said, they must appoint a person of trust, who +knew the French language well, and to whom the whole history might be +confided; to carry over the offer, and the money, and to bring back the +Bishop.</p> + +<p>'And I have a friend,' he continued, 'now ready for the enterprize. One +equally able and willing to claim the Bishop, and to give undoubted +security for the six thousand pounds. Can you form any notion who such a +man may be?'</p> + +<p>He looked at her gaily, yet with a scrutiny that made her blush. One +person only could occur to her; but occurred with an alarming sense of +impropriety in allowing him such an employment, that instantly damped +her high delight. She dropt her eyes; an unrepressed sigh broke from her +heart; but secret consciousness hushed all enquiry into the truth of her +conjecture.</p> + +<p>In silence, too, for a moment, Lord Melbury contemplated her; struck +with her sudden sadness, and uncertain to what it might be attributed. +Affectionately, then, taking her hand, 'I must come,' he cried, 'to the +point, or my messenger will lose his patience. Proposals of marriage the +most honourable have been made to me; such, my dear sister, as merit my +best interest with you. The person is unexceptionable, high in mind, +manners, and family, and has long been attached to you—'</p> + +<p>Juliet here, with dignity, interrupted him, 'My lord, I will not ask who +this may be; I even beg not to be told. I can listen to no one! Till the +Bishop is released and safe, I hold myself merely to be his hostage; +and, till my freedom, atrociously as it has been violated, shall be +legally restored to me, I cannot but feel hurt,—for I will not say +offended where the intention is so kind, and so pure,—that any +proposals of any sort, and from any person, should be addressed to me!'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_816" id="Page_816">[Pg 816]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lord Melbury, prepared for expostulation, was beginning to reply; but +she solemnly besought him not to involve her in any new conflicts.</p> + +<p>She then asked his permission to introduce him to her uncle, Admiral +Powel; whom she desired to join upon the beach.</p> + +<p>No, no; he answered; other business, still more urgent, must have +precedence. And, holding both her hands, he insisted upon acquainting, +her, that it was Mr Harleigh who had been his informant of her history +and situation; and that she was the undoubted and legitimate daughter of +Lord Granville; all which he had learnt from Sir Jaspar Herrington. 'And +Mr Harleigh has begged my leave,' continued his lordship, smiling, +'though I am not, you may think, perhaps, very old for judging of such +matters; to make his addresses to you.—Now don't put yourself into that +flutter till you hear how he arranged it; for he knows all your +scruples, and reveres them,—or, rather, and reveres you, my sweet +sister! for your scruples we both think a little chimerical: don't be +angry at that; we honour you all the same for having them: and Mr +Harleigh seems to adore you only the more. So, I make no doubt does +Aurora. And I, too, my dear sister! only I can't see you sacrificed to +them. But Mr Harleigh has found a way to reconcile all perplexities. He +will save you, he says, in honour as well as in person; for the wretch +shall still have the wife whom he married, if he will restore the +Bishop!'</p> + +<p>'What can you mean?'—</p> + +<p>'His six thousand pounds, my dear sister! That sum, in full, he shall +have; for that, as Harleigh says, is the wife that he married!'</p> + +<p>Smiles now again, irresistibly, forced their way back to the face of +Juliet, as she bowed her full concurrence to this observation.</p> + +<p>'Harleigh, therefore,' continued Lord Melbury, 'for this very reason, +will go himself to make the arrangement; to the end that, if the wretch +refuses to take the six thousand without you, he may offer a thousand, +or two, over: for, enraged as he is to enrich such a scoundrel, he would +rather endow him with your whole thirty thousand, and, for aught I know, +with as much more of his own, than let you fall into his clutches.'</p> + +<p>The eyes of Juliet again swam in tears. 'Noble, incomparable Harleigh!' +she irresistibly ejaculated; but, checking herself, 'My lord,' she said, +'my thanks are still all that I can return to Mr Harleigh,—yet I will +not deny how much I am touched by his generosity. But I have +insurmountable objections to this proposition; now, indeed, ought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_817" id="Page_817">[Pg 817]</a></span> I to +cast upon any other, the risks of an engagement which honour and +conscience make sacred to myself.'</p> + +<p>'Poor Harleigh!' said Lord Melbury, 'I have been but a bad advocate, he +will think! You will at least see him?'</p> + +<p>'See him?'</p> + +<p>'Yes; he came with me hither. 'Twas he descried you first, as you got +out of the post-chaise. He was accompanying me up the stairs: but he +retreated. You will surely see him?'</p> + +<p>'No, my Lord, no!—certainly not!'</p> + +<p>'What! not for a moment? Oh, that would be too barbarous!'</p> + +<p>With these words, he ran back to the town.</p> + +<p>Juliet called after him; but in vain.</p> + +<p>Her heart now beat high; it seemed throbbing through her bosom; but she +bent her way towards the beach, to secure her safety by joining her +uncle.</p> + +<p>She perceived him at some distance, in the midst of a small group; +conspicuous from his height, his naval air and equipment, and his long +spying glass; which he occasionally brandished, as he seemed +questioning, or haranguing the people around him.</p> + +<p>In a minute, she was accosted by the old sailor, who was sent by his +master to the chaise, in which he supposed his niece to be still +waiting; to beg that she would not be impatient, because a boat being +just come in, with a small handful of the enemy, his honour was giving a +look at the vessel, to see to its being wind and weather proof, to the +end that her ladyship might take a sail in it.</p> + +<p>Juliet, though she answered, 'Certainly; tell my uncle certainly;' knew +not what she heard, nor what she said; confused by fast approaching +footsteps, which told her that she could not, now, either by going on or +by turning back, escape meeting Harleigh.</p> + +<p>Lord Melbury advanced first; and, willing to give Harleigh a moment to +press his suit, good humouredly addressed the sailor, with enquiries of +what was going forward upon the beach. Harleigh, having made a bow, +which her averted eyes had not seen, drew back, distressed and +irresolute, waiting to catch a look that might be his guide. But when, +from the discourse of the sailor with Lord Melbury, he learnt the +arrival of a small vessel form the Continent, which was destined +immediately to return thither; he precipitately took his lordship by the +arm, spoke to him a few words apart, and then flew forward to the +strand.</p> + +<p>Juliet, disturbed by new fears, permitted her countenance to make<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_818" id="Page_818">[Pg 818]</a></span> +enquiries which her tongue durst not pronounce; and Lord Melbury, who +understood her, frankly said, 'He is a man, sister, of ten thousand! He +will sail a race with you, and strive which shall get in first to save +the Bishop!'</p> + +<p>Juliet felt thunderstruck; Harleigh seeking a passage in the very vessel +which seemed pitched upon by her uncle for her own voyage! That they +should go together was not to be thought of; but to suffer him to risk +becoming the victim to her promise and her duties, was grief and shame +and terrour united! Her eyes affrightedly pursued him, till he entered +into the group upon the strand; and her perturbation then was so +extreme, that she felt inclined to forfeit, by one dauntless stroke, the +delicacy which, as yet, had through life, been the prominent feature of +her character, by darting on, openly to conjure him to return. But +habits which have been formed upon principle, and embellished by +self-approbation, withstand, upon the smallest reflection, every wish, +and every feeling that would excite their violation. The idea, +therefore, died in its birth; and she sought to compose her disordered +spirits, by silent prayers for courage and resignation.</p> + +<p>With the most fraternal participation in her palpable distress, Lord +Melbury endeavoured to offer her consolation; till the sailor, who had +returned to the Admiral, came from him, a second time, to desire that +she would hasten upon the beach, 'to help his honour, please your +ladyship,' said the merry tar, with a significant nod, 'to a little +French lingo; these mounseers and their wives,—if, behaps, they be'n't +only their sweethearts; not over and above understanding his honour.'</p> + +<p>Juliet moved slowly on: the Admiral, used to more prompt obedience, came +forward to hasten her, calling out, as soon as she was within hearing, +'Please to wag a little nimbler, niece; for here are some outlandish +gentry come over, that speak so fast, one after t'other; or else all at +a time; each telling his own story; or, for aught I can make out, each +telling the same thing one as t'other; that, though I try my best to +understand them, not being willing to dash them, I can't make out above +one word in a dozen, if you take it upon an average, of what they say. +However, though it is our duty to hold them all as our native enemies; +and I shall never, God willing, see them in any other light; yet it +would be but unchristian not to lend them an hand, when they are +chopfallen and sorrowful; and, moreover, consumedly out of cash. So if I +can help them, I see no reason to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_819" id="Page_819">[Pg 819]</a></span> contrary; for my enemy in +distress is my friend: because why? I was only his enemy to get the +upper hand of him.'</p> + +<p>Then, turning to Lord Melbury and Harleigh, 'I hope,' he added, 'you +won't think me wanting to my country, if, for the honour of old England, +I give these poor half-starved souls a hearty meal of good roast beef, +with a bumper of Dorchester ale, and Devonshire cyder? things which I +conclude they have never yet tasted from their births to this hour; +their own washy diet of soup meagre and sallad, with which I would not +fatten a sparrow, being what they are more naturally born to. And I +sha'n't be sorry, I confess, to shew the French we have a little +politeness of our own; which, by what I have often taken note, I rather +surmize they hold to be a merchandize of their own monopoly. And so, if +you all think well of it, we'll tack about, and give them an handsome +invitation out of hand; for when a person stops to ponder before he does +a good office, 'tis a sign he had full as lieve let it alone.'</p> + +<p>Juliet readily complied, though she could not readily speak; but what +was her perturbation, the next moment, to see Harleigh vehemently break +from the group by which he had been surrounded, rush precipitately +forward to meet them, and, singling out Lord Melbury encircle his +lordship in his arms, exclaiming, 'My lord! my dear lord! your sister is +free!—I claim, now, your suffrage!—Her brutal persecutor, convicted of +heading a treasonable conspiracy in his own country, has paid the +forfeit of his crimes! These passengers bring the tidings! My lord! my +dear lord! your sister is free!'—</p> + +<p>Juliet, who heard, as it was meant that she should hear, this passionate +address, felt suspended in all her faculties. Joy, in the first instant, +sought precedence; but it was supplanted, in another moment, by tearful +incredulity; and she stood motionless, speechless, scarcely conscious +whether she were alive.</p> + +<p>An exclamation of 'What's all this?' from the astonished Admiral; and a +juvenile jump of unrestrained rapture from the transported Lord Melbury, +brought Harleigh to himself. He felt confounded at the publicity and the +abruptness of an address into which his ecstacy had surprized him; yet +his satisfaction was too high for repentance, though he forced it to +submit to some controul.</p> + +<p>Suspension of sensibility could not, while there was life, be long +allowed to Juliet; and the violence of her emotions, at its return, +almost burst her bosom. What a change! her feet tottered; she sustained +her shaking frame against the Admiral; she believed herself in some new<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_820" id="Page_820">[Pg 820]</a></span> +existence! yet it was not unmixed joy that she experienced; there was +something in the nature of her deliverance repulsive to joy; and the +perturbed and tumultuous sensations which rushed into her breast, seemed +overpowering her strength, and almost shattering even her comprehension; +till she was brought back painfully to herself, by an abrupt +recollection of the uncertainty of the fate of the Bishop; and, +shudderingly, she exclaimed, 'Oh if my revered guardian be not safe!'—</p> + +<p>The wondering Admiral now, addressing Harleigh, gravely begged to be +made acquainted, in plainer words, with the news that he reported.</p> + +<p>Not sorry to repeat what he wished should be fully comprehended, +Harleigh, more composedly, recounted his intelligence; dwelling upon +details which brought conviction of the seizure, the trial, and the +execution of the execrable commissary.</p> + +<p>Juliet listened with rapt attention; but in proportion as her security +in her own safety became confirmed, her poignant solicitude for that of +the Bishop increased; and again she exclaimed, 'Oh! if my guardian has +not escaped!'</p> + +<p>The Admiral, turning towards her rather austerely, said, 'You must have +had but a sad dog of a husband, Niece Granville, to think only of an old +priest, when you hear of his demise! However, to my seeming, though he +might be but a rogue, a husband's a husband; and I don't much uphold a +wife's not thinking of that; for, if a woman may mutiny against her +husband, there's an end of all discipline.'</p> + +<p>Overwhelmed with shame, Juliet could attempt no self defence; but Lord +Melbury warmly assured the Admiral, that his niece, Miss Granville, had +never really been married; that a forced, interrupted, and unfinished +lay-ceremony, had mockingly been celebrated; accompanied by +circumstances atrocious, infamous, and cruel: and that the marriage +could never have been valid, either in sight of the church, or of her +own conscience.</p> + +<p>The Admiral, with avidity and rising delight, sucked in this +vindication; and then whispered to Juliet, 'Pray, if I may make so free, +who is this pretty boy, that's got so much more insight into your +affairs than I have? He's a very pretty boy; but I have no great taste +to being put in the rear by him!'</p> + +<p>Juliet was beginning to reply, when the Admiral called out, in a tone of +some chagrin, 'Now we are put off from doing the handsome thing! for +here's the outlandish gentry coming among us before we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_821" id="Page_821">[Pg 821]</a></span> have invited +them! And now, you'll see, they'll always stand to it that they have the +upper hand of us English in politeness! And I had rather have seen them +all at the devil!'</p> + +<p>Juliet, looking forward, perceived that they were approached by some +strangers of a foreign appearance; but they detained not her attention; +at one side, and somewhat aloof from them, a form caught her eye, +reverend, aged, infirm. She started, and with almost agonized +earnestness, advanced rapidly a few steps; then stopt abruptly to renew +her examination; but presently, advancing again, called out, 'Merciful +Heaven!' and, rushing on, with extended arms, and uncontrolled rapture, +threw herself at the feet of the ancient traveller; and, embracing his +knees, sobbed rather than articulated, in French, 'My guardian! my +preserver! my more than father!—I have not then lost you!'</p> + +<p>Deeply affected, the man of years bent over, and blessed her; mildly, +yet fondly, uttering, in the same language, 'My child! my Juliet!—Do I +then behold you again, my excellent child!'</p> + +<p>Then, helping her to rise, he added, 'Your willing martyrdom is spared, +my dear, my adopted daughter! and I, most mercifully! am spared its +bitter infliction. Thanksgiving are all we have to offer, thanksgiving +and humble prayers for <span class="smcap">UNIVERSAL PEACE</span>!'</p> + +<p>With anxious tenderness Juliet enquired for her benefactress, the +Marchioness; and the Bishop for his niece Gabriella. The Marchioness was +safe and well, awaiting a general re-union with her family; Gabriella, +therefore, Juliet assured the Bishop, was now, probably in her revered +mother's arms.</p> + +<p>All further detail, whether of her own difficulties and sufferings, or +of the perils and escapes of the Bishop, during their long separation, +they mutually set apart for future communication; every evil, for the +present, being sunk in gratitude at their meeting.</p> + +<p>Harleigh, who witnessed this scene with looks of love and joy, though +not wholly unmixed with suffering impatience, forced himself to stand +aloof. Lord Melbury, who had no feeling to hide, nor result to fear, +gaily capered with unrestrained delight; and the Admiral, impressed with +wonder, yet reverence, his hat in his hand, and his head high up in the +air, waited patiently for a pause; and then, bowing to the ground, +solemnly said, 'Mr Bishop, you are welcome to old England! heartily +welcome, Mr Bishop! I ought to beg your pardon, perhaps, for speaking to +you in English; but I have partly forgot my French; which, not to mince +the matter, I never thought it much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_822" id="Page_822">[Pg 822]</a></span> worth while to study; little enough +devizing I should ever meet with a native-born Frenchman who was so +honest a man! For it's pretty much our creed, aboard, though I don't +over and above uphold it myself, except as far as may belong to the +sea-service,—to look upon your nation as little better than a cluster +of rogues. However, we of the upper class, knowing that we are all +alike, in the main, of God's workmanship, don't account it our duty to +hold you so cheap. Therefore, Mr Bishop, you are heartily welcome to old +England.'</p> + +<p>The Bishop smiled; too wise to be offended, where he saw that no offence +was meant.</p> + +<p>'But, for all that,' the Admiral continued, 'I can't deny but I had as +lieve, to the full, if I had had my choice, that my niece should not +have been brought up by the enemy; yet I have always had a proper +respect for a parson, whether he be of the true religion, or only a +Papist. I hold nothing narrower than despising a man for his ignorance; +especially when it's only of the apparatus, and not of the solid part. +My niece, Mr Bishop, will tell you the heads of what I say in your own +proper dialect.'</p> + +<p>The Bishop answered, that he perfectly understood English.</p> + +<p>'I am cordially glad to hear it!' cried the Admiral, holding out his +hand to him; 'for that's an item that gives; me at once a good opinion +of you! A man can be no common person who has a taste for our sterling +sense, after being brought up to frothy compliments; and therefore, Mr +Bishop, I beg you to favour me with your company to eat a bit of roast +beef with us at our lodging-house; after our plain old English fashion: +which, if I should make free to tell you what passes in my mind, I hold +to be far wholesomer than your ragouts and fricandos, made up of oil and +grease. But I only drop that as a matter of opinion; every nation having +a right to like best what it can get cheapest. And if the rest of the +passengers are people of a right way of thinking, I beg you to tell them +I shall be glad of the favour of their company too.'</p> + +<p>The Bishop bowed, with an air of mild satisfaction.</p> + +<p>'And I heartily wish you would give me an item, Monsieur the Bishop, how +I might behave more handsomely; for, by what I can make out, you have +been as kind to my niece, as if you had been born on this side the +Channel; which is no small compliment to make to one born on t'other +side; and if ever I forget it, I wish I may go to the bottom! a thing we +seamen, who understand something of those matters, (smiling,) had full +as lief leave alone.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_823" id="Page_823">[Pg 823]</a></span></p> + +<p>He then recommended to them all to stroll upon the sands for a further +whet to their appetite; while he went himself to the lodging-house, to +see what could be had for a repast.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_824" id="Page_824">[Pg 824]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XCII" id="CHAPTER_XCII"></a>CHAPTER XCII</h2> + + +<p>Happy to second the benevolent scheme of the kind-hearted Admiral, the +Bishop hastened to his fellow-voyagers with the hospitable invitation. +Juliet, in whom every feeling was awake to meet, to embrace, and to +share her delight with Lady Aurora, would have followed; but Lord +Melbury, to avoid, upon so interesting an occasion, any interruption +from Mrs Howel, objected to returning to the hotel; and proposed being +the messenger to fetch their sister. Juliet joyfully consented, and went +to await them in the beautiful verdant recess, between two rocks, +overlooking the vast ocean, with which she had already been so much +charmed.</p> + +<p>No sooner, at this favourite spot, was Juliet alone, than, according to +her wonted custom, she vented the fulness of her heart in pious +acknowledgements. She had scarcely risen, when again,—though without +Lady Aurora,—she saw Lord Melbury; yet not alone; he was arm in arm +with Harleigh. 'My dear new sister,' he gaily cried, 'I go now for +Aurora. We shall be here presently; but Mr Harleigh is so kind as to +promise that he will stand without, as sentinel, to see that no one +approaches nor disturbs you.'</p> + +<p>He was gone while yet speaking.</p> + +<p>The immediate impulse of Juliet urged her to remonstrance, or flight; +but it was the impulse of habit, not of reason; an instant, and a look +of Harleigh, represented that the total change of her situation, +authorized, on all sides, a total change of conduct.</p> + +<p>Every part of her frame partook of the emotion with which this sudden +consciousness beat at her heart; while her silence, her unresisting +stay, and the sight of her varying complexion, thrilled to the soul of +Harleigh, with an encouragement that he trembled with impatience to +exchange for certainty. 'At last,—at last,—may I,' he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_825" id="Page_825">[Pg 825]</a></span> cried, 'under +the sanction of a brother, presume upon obtaining a hearing with some +little remittance of reserve? of mistrust?'</p> + +<p>Juliet dropt her head.</p> + +<p>'Will not Miss Granville be more gracious than Miss Ellis has been? Miss +Granville can have no tie but what is voluntary: no hovering doubts, no +chilling scruples, no fancied engagements—'</p> + +<p>A half sigh, of too recent recollection, heaved the breast of Juliet.</p> + +<p>'To plead,' he continued, 'against all confidence; to freeze every +avenue to sympathy; to repel, or wound every rising hope! Miss +Granville, is wholly independent; mistress of her heart, mistress of +herself—'</p> + +<p>'No, Mr Harleigh, no!' with quickness, though with gentleness, +interrupted Juliet.</p> + +<p>Harleigh, momentarily startled, ventured to bend his head below her +bonnet; and saw, then, that the blush which had visited, flown, and +re-visited her face, had fixed itself in the deepest tint upon her +cheek. He gazed upon her in ecstatic silence, till, looking up, and, for +the first time, suffering her eyes willingly to meet his, 'No, Mr +Harleigh, no!' she softly repeated, 'I am not so independent!' A smile +then beamed over her features, so radiant, so embellishing, that +Harleigh wondered he had ever thought her beautiful before, as she +added, 'Had I an hundred hearts,—ten thousand times you must have +conquered them all!'</p> + +<p>Rapture itself, now, is too cold a word,—or too common a one,—to give +an adequate idea of the bliss of Harleigh. He took her no longer +reluctant hand, and she felt upon it a burning tear as he pressed it to +his lips; but his joy was unutterable. The change was so great, so +sudden, and so exquisite, from all he most dreaded to all he most +desired, that language seemed futile for its expression: and to look at +her without fearing to alarm or offend her; to meet, with the softest +assurance of partial favour, those eyes hitherto so coldly averted; to +hold, unresisted, the fair hand that, but the moment before, it seemed +sacrilege even to wish to touch; so, only, could he demonstrate the +fulness of his transport, the fervour of his gratitude, the perfection +of his felicity.</p> + +<p>In Juliet, though happiness was not less exalted, pleasure wore the +chastened garb of moderation, even in the midst of a frankness that laid +open her heart. Yet, seeing his suit thus authorized by her brother, and +certain of the approbation of the Bishop, and of her uncle, to so equal +and honourable an alliance; she indulged her soft propensities<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_826" id="Page_826">[Pg 826]</a></span> in his +favour, by gently conceding avowals, that rewarded not alone his +persevering constancy, but her own long and difficult forbearance. 'Many +efforts, many conflicts,' she cried, 'in my cruel trials, I have +certainly found harder; but none, none so distasteful, as the +unremitting necessity of seeming always impenetrable—where most I was +sensitive!'</p> + +<p>'By sweetness such as this,' cried Harleigh, 'you would almost persuade +me to rejoice at a suspense that has nearly maddened me! Yet,—could you +have conceived the agony, the despair of my mind, at your icy, +relentless silence! not once to trust me as a friend! not one moment to +confide in my integrity! never to consult, to commune, to speak, nor to +hear!—You smile?—Can it be at the pain you have inflicted?'—</p> + +<p>'Oh no, no, no! If I smile, 'tis at the greater pain I have, I trust, +averted! While conscious that I might, eventually, be chained to +another, every duty admonished me to resist every feeling!—Yet with +hope always, ultimately, before me, I had not the force to utter a +word,—a baneful word!—that might teach you to renounce me!—even +though I deemed it indispensable to my honour to exact a total +separation. Had I confided to you my fearful secret,—had you yourself +aided the abolition of my shackles, should I not, in a situation so +delicate, so critical, have fixed an eternal barrier between us,—or +have sacrificed the fame of both to the most wounding of calumnies? Ah +no! from the instant that my heart interfered,—that I was conscious of +a new motive that urged my wish of liberation,—I have held it my duty, +I have felt it my future happiness, to avoid,—to fear,—to fly you!—'</p> + +<p>'I was most favoured, then, it seems,' replied Harleigh, with a smile of +rapture, 'when I thought you most inexorable? I must thank you for your +rejections, your avoidance, your implacable, immoveable coldness?'</p> + +<p>'Reverse, else, the medal,' cried she, gaily, 'and see whether the +impression will be more to your taste!'</p> + +<p>'Loveliest Miss Ellis! most beloved Miss Granville! My own,—at length! +at length! my own sweet Juliet! that, and that only can be to my taste +which has brought me to the bliss of this moment!'</p> + +<p>With blushing tenderness, Juliet then confessed, that at the moment of +his first generous declaration, following the summer-house scene with +Elinor, she had felt pierced with an aggravated horrour of her nameless +ties, that had nearly burst her heart asunder.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_827" id="Page_827">[Pg 827]</a></span></p> + +<p>With minute retrospection, then, enjoying even every evil, and finding +motives of congratulation from every pain that was past, they mutually +recapitulated their feelings, their conjectures, their rising and +progressive partiality, since the opening of their acquaintance. One +circumstance alone was tinted with regret,—'Elinor?' cried Juliet, 'Oh! +how will Elinor bear to hear of this event!'</p> + +<p>'Fear her not!' he returned. 'She has a noble, though, perhaps, a +masculine spirit, and she will soon, probably, think of this affair only +with pique and wonder,—not against me, for she is truly generous; but +against herself, for she is candid and just. She has always internally +believed, that perseverance in the honour that she has meant to shew me, +must ultimately be victorious; but, where partiality is not desired, it +can only be repaid, by man to woman as by woman to man, from weakness, +or vanity. Gratitude is all-powerful in friendship, for friendship may +be earned; but love, more wilful, more difficult, more capricious,—love +must be inspired, or must be caught. When Elinor, who possesses many of +the finest qualities of the mind, sees the fallacy of her new system; +when she finds how vainly she would tread down the barriers of custom +and experience, raised by the wisdom of foresight, and established, +after trial, for public utility; she will return to the habits of +society and common life, as one awakening from a dream in which she has +acted some strange and improbable part.—'</p> + +<p>A sound quick, but light, of feet here interrupted the <i>tête à tête</i>, +followed by the words, 'My sister! my sister!' and, in less than a +minute, Lady Aurora was in the arms of Juliet. 'Ah!' she cried, 'You are +not, then, gone! dear—cruel sister!—yet you could quit me, and quit me +without even a last adieu!'</p> + +<p>'Sweetest, most amiable of sisters!' cried the happy Juliet; 'can you +wonder I could not take leave of you, when that leave was, I feared, to +sunder us for life? when I thought myself destined to exile, slavery, +and misery? Could I dare imagine I was so soon to be restored to you? +Could I presume to hope that from anguish so nearly insupportable, I was +destined to be elevated,—every way!—to the summit of all I can +conceive of terrestrial happiness!'</p> + +<p>The grateful Harleigh, at these words, came forward to present himself +to Lady Aurora; who learnt with enchantment the purposed alliance; not +alone from the prospect of permanent happiness which it opened to her +sister, but also as a means to overcome all possible opposition, on the +part of Lord Denmeath, to a public acknowledgment of relationship.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_828" id="Page_828">[Pg 828]</a></span></p> + +<p>Juliet, who, in the indulgence of sentiments so long and so imperiously +curbed, found a charm nearly as fascinating as that which their avowal +communicated to Harleigh, began now, with blushing animation, to recount +to her delightedly listening Aurora, the various events, the unceasing +obligations, which had formed and fixed her attachment.</p> + +<p>A tale which, like this, had equal attraction to the speaker and to the +hearers, had little chance to be brief: it was not, therefore, far +advanced, when they were joined by Lord Melbury; who, gathering from +Lady Aurora the situation of affairs, bounded, wild as a young colt, +with joy.</p> + +<p>The minutes, now, were lengthening unconsciously to hours, when the +various narratives and congratulations were interrupted by a loud +'Halloo!' followed by the appearance of the old sailor.</p> + +<p>'Please your honours,' said the worthy tar, 'master begins to be afeard +you've as good as forgot him: he's been walking upon the beach, +alongside the old French parson, till one foot is plaguely put to it to +wag afore t'other. Howsomever, he'd scorn to give up to a Frenchman, to +the longest day he has to live; more especialsome to a parson; you may +take Jack's word for that!'</p> + +<p>The happy party now hastened to the strand; but there perceived neither +the Bishop nor the Admiral. The sailor, slily grinning at their +surprize, told them, with a merry nod, and a significant leer, that he +would shew them a sight that would make them stare amain; which was no +other than an honest Englishman, sitting, cheek by jowl, beside a +Frenchman; as lovingly as if they were both a couple of Christians, +coming off the same shore.</p> + +<p>He then led them to a bathing-machine; in which the Admiral was civilly, +though with great perplexity, labouring to hold discourse with the +Bishop.</p> + +<p>The impatient Harleigh besought Lord Melbury to be his agent, with the +guardian and the uncle of his lovely sister. Lord Melbury joyfully +complied. The affair, however momentous, was neither long nor difficult +to arrange. The Bishop felt an implicit trust in the known judgment and +tried discretion of his ward; and the Admiral held that a female, as the +weaker vessel, could never properly, nor even honourably, make the +voyage of life, but under the safe convoy of a good husband.</p> + +<p>Harleigh, therefore, was speedily summoned into the machine; his +proposals were so munificent, that they were applauded rather than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_829" id="Page_829">[Pg 829]</a></span> +approved; and, all descending to the beach, the Bishop took one hand, +and the Admiral another, of the blushing Juliet, to present, with +tenderest blessings, to the happy, indescribably happy Harleigh.</p> + +<p>Juliet, then, had the unspeakable delight of presenting her brother and +her sister to her uncle, and to the Bishop. The Admiral, nevertheless, +could not resist taking his niece apart, to tell her, that, if he had +but had an insight into her being in such a hurry for a husband, he +should have made free to speak a good word for a young sea-captain of +his acquaintance; a lad for whom he had a great goust, and who would be +sure to make his way to the very top; since, already, he had had the +luck, while bravely fighting, in two different engagements, to see his +two senior officers drop by his side: by which means he had arrived at +his promotion of first lieutenant, and of captain. And if, which was +likely enough, God willing, he should meet with such another good turn +in a third future engagement, he bid fair for being a Commodore in the +prime of his days. 'And then, my dear,' he continued, 'when he had been +upon a long distant station; or when contrary winds, or the enemy, had +stopt his letters, so that you could not guess whether the poor lad were +alive or dead; think what would have been your pride to have read, all +o' the sudden, news of him in the Gazette!'</p> + +<p>This regret, nevertheless, operated not against his affection, nor his +beneficence, for, returning with her to the company, he solemnly +announced her to be his heiress.</p> + +<p>'One thing, however, pertaining to this business,' he cried, 'devilishly +works me still, whether I will or no'. That oldish gentlewoman, who was +taking upon her to send my Niece Granville before the justice! Who is +she, pray? I should not be sorry to know her calling; nor, moreover, +what 'tis puts her upon acting in such a sort.'</p> + +<p>Lord Melbury and Lady Aurora endeavoured to offer some excuse, saying, +that she was a relation of their uncle Denmeath.</p> + +<p>'Oh, if that be the case,' cried he, holding his head high up in the +air, 'I shall make no scruple to let her a little into my way of +thinking! It's a general rule with me, throughout life, to tell people +their faults; because why? There are plenty of people to tell them their +good qualities; in the proviso they have got any; or, in the t'other +case, to vamp up some, out of their own heads, that serve just as well +for ground-work to a few compliments; but as to their faults, not a soul +will give 'em a hint of one of them. They'll leave them to be 'ticed +strait to the devil, sooner than call out Jack Robinson! to save them.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_830" id="Page_830">[Pg 830]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lady Aurora was now advancing with a gentle supplication; but, taking +off his hat, and making her a low bow, he declined hearing her; saying, +'Though it may rather pass for a hint than a compliment, to come out +with the plain truth to a young lady, I must make free to observe, that +I never let my complaisance get the upper hand of my sincerity; because +why? My sincerity is for myself; 'tis my honour! and whereby I keep my +own good opinion; but my complaisance is for my neighbours; serving only +to coax over the good opinion of others. For which reason, though I am +as glad as another man of a good word, I don't much fancy turning out of +my way for it. I hold it, therefore, my bounden duty, to demand a parley +with that oldish gentlewoman; and the more so, abundantly, for her being +a person of quality; for if she's better born, and better bred than her +neighbours, she should be better mannered. For who the devil's the +better for her birth and breeding, if they only serve to make her fancy +she has a right to be impudent? If we don't take care to drop a word or +two of advice, now and then, to persons of that sort, you'll see, before +long, they won't let a man sit down in their company, under a lord!'</p> + +<p>Then, enquiring her name, he sent his honest sailor to request an +audience of her for the uncle of the Honourable Miss Granville; adding, +with a significant smile, 'Harkee, my boy! if she says she don't know +such a person, tell her, one Admiral Powel will have the honour to +introduce him to her! And if she says she does not know Admiral Powel +neither, tell her to cast an eye upon the Gazette of the month of +September this very day twelve years!'</p> + +<p>To tranquillize Lady Aurora, Lord Melbury preceded the sailor to prepare +Mrs Howel for the interview; but he did not return, till a summons to +the repast was assembling the whole company in the lodging-house. He +then related that he had found his uncle Denmeath already arrived, and +that he had acquainted both him and Mrs Howel with the situation of +affairs.</p> + +<p>The Admiral now ordered the dinner to be kept warm, while he whetted, he +said, his goust for it; and then sped to the combat; bent upon fighting +as valiantly for the parental fortune of his niece with one antagonist, +as for what was due to her wounded dignity with the other.</p> + +<p>The party, however, was not long separated; Lord Denmeath, confounded by +intelligence so easily authenticated, of the duplicate-codicil, +protested that he had never designed that the portion should be +withheld; and Mrs Howel, stung with rage and shame at this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_831" id="Page_831">[Pg 831]</a></span> positive +discovery of the family, the fortune, and the protection to which the +young woman, whom she had used so ignominiously, was entitled, received +the reprimands and admonitions of the Admiral in mortified silence.</p> + +<p>Nothing, when once 'tis understood, is so quickly settled as business. +Lord Denmeath, having given the name of his lawyer, broke up the +conference, and quitted Teignmouth; Mrs Howel, confused, offended, and +gloomy, was not less eager to be gone; though the Admiral would gladly +have detained her, to listen to a few more items of his opinions. Lady +Aurora, forced to accompany her uncle, softly whispered Juliet, in an +affectionate parting embrace, 'My dearest sister, ere long, will give a +new and sweet home to her Aurora!'</p> + +<p>This, indeed, was a powerful plea to favour the impatience of Harleigh; +a plea far more weighty than one urged by the Admiral; that she would be +married without further parleying, lest people should be pleased to take +it into their heads, that she had been the real wife of that scoundrel +commissary, and was forced, therefore, to go through the ceremony of +being his widow.</p> + +<p>Called, now, to the kind and splendid repast, the Admiral insisted that +Juliet should preside at his hospitable board; where, seated between her +revered Bishop and beloved brother, and facing her generous uncle, and +the man of her heart, she did the honours of the table to the enchanted +strangers, with glowing happiness, though blended with modest confusion.</p> + +<p>When the desert was served, the joyous Admiral, filling up a bumper of +ale, and rising, said, 'Ladies and gentlemen, I shall now make free to +propose two toasts to you: the first, as in duty bound, is to the King +and the Royal Navy. I always put them together; because why? I hold our +King to be our pilot, without whom we might soon be all aground; and, in +like manner, I hold us tars to be the best part of his majesty's ship's +company; for though old England, to my seeming, is at the top of the +world, if we tars were to play it false, it would soon pop to the +bottom. So here goes to the King and the Royal Navy!'</p> + +<p>This ceremony past; 'And now, gentlemen and ladies,' he resumed, 'as I +mortally hate a secret; having taken frequent note that what ought not +to be said is commonly something that ought not to be done; I shall make +bold to propose a second bumper, to the happy espousals of the +Honourable Miss Granville; who, you are to know, is my niece; with a +very honest gentleman, who is at my elbow; and who had the kindness to +take a liking to her before he knew that she had a Lord<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_832" id="Page_832">[Pg 832]</a></span> on one side, +and, moreover, an Admiral on t'other for her relations; nor yet that she +would have been a lady in her own right, if her father had not taken the +long journey before her grandfather.'</p> + +<p>This toast being gaily drunk by every one, save the blushing Juliet, the +Admiral sent out his grinning sailor, with a bottle of port, to repeat +it with the postilions.</p> + +<p>'Monsieur the Bishop,' continued the Admiral, 'there's one remark which +I must beg leave to make, that I hope you won't think unchristian; +though I confess it to be not over and above charitable; but I have +always, in my heart, owed a grudge to my Lord Granville, though his +lordship was my brother-in-law, for bringing up his daughter in foreign +parts; whereby he risked the ruin of her morals both in body and soul. +Not that I would condemn a dead man, who cannot speak up in his own +defence, for I hold nothing to be narrower than that; therefore, Mr +Bishop, if you have any thing to offer in his behalf, it will look very +well in you, as a parson, to make the most of it: and, moreover, give +great satisfaction both to my niece, the Honourable Miss Granville, and +to this young Lord, who is her half brother. And I, also, I hope, as a +good Christian, shall sincerely take my share thereof.'</p> + +<p>'An irresistible, or, rather, an unresisted disposition to procrastinate +whatever was painful,' answered the Bishop, in French, 'was the origin +and cause of all that you blame. Lord Granville always persuaded himself +that the morrow would offer opportunity, or inspire courage, for a +confession of his marriage that the day never presented, nor excited; +and to avow his daughter while that was concealed, would have been a +disgrace indelible to his deserving departed lady. This from year to +year, kept Miss Granville abroad. With the most exalted sentiments, the +nicest honour, and the quickest feelings, my noble, however irresolute +friend, had an unfortunate indecision of character, that made him waste +in weighing what should be done, the time and occasion of action. Could +he have foreseen the innumerable hardships, the endless distresses, from +which neither prudence nor innocence could guard the helpless offspring +of an unacknowledged union, he would either, at once and nobly, have +conquered his early passion; or courageously have sustained and avowed +its object.'</p> + +<p>'It must also be considered,' said Harleigh, while tears of filial +tenderness rolled down the cheeks of Juliet, and started into the eyes +of Lord Melbury, 'that, when my Lord Granville trusted his daughter to a +foreign country, his own premature death was not less foreseen,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_833" id="Page_833">[Pg 833]</a></span> than +the political event in which her property and safety, in common with +those of the natives, were involved. That event has not operated more +wonderfully upon the fate and fortune, than upon the minds and +characters of those individuals who have borne in it any share; and who, +according to their temperaments and dispositions, have received its new +doctrines as lessons, or as warnings. Its undistinguishing admirers, it +has emancipated from all rule and order; while its unwilling, yet +observant and suffering witnesses, have been formed by it to fortitude, +prudence, and philosophy; it has taught them to strengthen the mind with +the body; it has animated the exercise of reason, the exertion of the +faculties, activity in labour, resignation in endurance, and +cheerfulness under every privation; it has formed, my Lord Melbury, in +the school of refining adversity, your firm, yet tender sister! it has +formed, noble Admiral, in the trials, perils, and hardships of a +struggling existence, your courageous, though so gentle niece!—And for +me, may I not hope that it has formed—'</p> + +<p>He stopt; the penetrated Juliet cast upon him a look that supplicated +silence. He obeyed its expression; and her mantling cheek, dimpling with +grateful smiles, amply recompensed his forbearance.</p> + +<p>'Gentlemen, both,' said the Admiral, 'I return you my hearty thanks for +letting me into this insight of the case. And if I were to give you, in +return, a little smattering of what passed in my own mind in those days, +I can't deny but I should have been tempted, often enough, to out with +the whole business, if I had not been afraid of being jeer'd for my +pains; a thing for which I had never much taste. Many and many a time I +used to muse upon it, and say to myself, My sister was married; +honourably married! And I,—for I was but a young man then to what I am +now,—a mere boy; and I, says I to myself, am brother-in-law to a lord! +Yet I was too proud to publish it of my own accord, because of his being +a lord! for, if I had, the whole ship's company, in those days, might +have thought me little better than a puppy.'</p> + +<p>The repast finished, the pleased and grateful guests separated. Harleigh +set off post for London and his lawyer; and the Bishop and Lord Melbury, +gladly accepted an invitation from the Admiral to his country-seat near +Richmond, of which, with the greatest delight, he proclaimed his niece +mistress.</p> + +<p>But short, here, was her reign. Harleigh was speedily ready: and his +cause, seconded by Lady Aurora and the Admiral, could not be pleaded in +vain to Juliet; who, in giving her hand where she had given<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_834" id="Page_834">[Pg 834]</a></span> her whole +heart; in partaking the name, the mansion, the fortune, and the fate of +Harleigh; bestowed and enjoyed such rare felicity, that all she had +endured seemed light, all she had performed appeared easy, and even +every woe became dear to her remembrance, that gradually and +progressively, though painfully and unsuspectedly, had contributed to so +exquisite and heartfelt a union.</p> + +<p>Her own happiness thus fixed, her first solicitude was for her guardian +and preserver the Bishop; whom, with her sympathizing Harleigh, she +attended to the Continent. There she was embraced and blessed by her +honoured benefactress, the Marchioness; there, and not vainly, she +strove to console her beloved Gabriella; and there, in the elegant +society to which she had owed all her early enjoyments, she prevailed +upon Harleigh to remain, till it became necessary to return to their +home, to present, upon his birth, a new heir to the enchanted Admiral.</p> + +<p>A rising family, then, put an end to foreign excursions; but the dearest +delight of Harleigh was seeking to assemble around his Juliet her first +friends.</p> + +<p>Lady Aurora had hardly any other home than that of her almost adored +sister, till she was installed in one, with an equal and amiable +partner, upon the same day that Lord Melbury obtained the willing hand +of the lively, natural, and feeling Lady Barbara Frankland.</p> + +<p>Sir Jaspar Herrington, to whom Juliet had such essential obligations, +became, now that all false hopes or fanciful wishes were annihilated, +her favourite guest. He still saw her with a tenderness which he +secretly, though no longer banefully nourished; but transferred to her +rapturously attentive children, the histories of his nocturnal +intercourse with sylphs, fairies, and the destinies; while, ever awake +to the wishes of Juliet, he rescued the simple Flora from impending +destruction, by portioning her in marriage with an honest vigilant +farmer.</p> + +<p>Scarcely less welcome than the whimsical Baronet to Juliet, nor less +happy under her roof, was the guileless and benevolent Mr Giles Arbe; +who there enjoyed, unbroken by his restless, adroit, and worldly cousin, +his innocent serenity.</p> + +<p>Juliet sought, too, with her first power, the intuitively virtuous Dame +Fairfield; whose incorrigible husband had briefly, with the man of the +hut, paid the dread earthly penalty of increased and detected crimes.</p> + +<p>Harleigh placed a considerable annuity upon the faithful, excellent +Ambroise; to whose care, soon afterwards, he committed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_835" id="Page_835">[Pg 835]</a></span> meritorious +widow, and her lovely little ones, by a marriage which ensured to them +the protection and endearments of a kind husband, and an affectionate +father.</p> + +<p>Even Mr Tedman, when Harleigh paid him, with high interest, his three +half-guineas, was invited to Harleigh Hall; where, with no small pride, +he received thanks for the first liberality he had ever prevailed with +himself to practise.</p> + +<p>No one to whom Juliet had ever owed any good office, was by her +forgotten, or by Harleigh neglected. They visited, with gifts and +praise, every cottage in which the Wanderer had been harboured; and +Harleigh bought of the young wood-cutters, at a high price, their dog +Dash; who became his new master's inseparable companion in his garden, +fields, and rides.</p> + +<p>But Riley, whose spirit of tormenting, springing from bilious ill +humour, operated in producing pain and mischief like the most confirmed +malevolence; Ireton, whose unmeaning pursuits, futile changes, and +careless insolence, were every where productive of disorder, save in his +own unfeeling breast; and Selina, who, in presence of a higher or richer +acquaintance, ventured not to bestow even a smile upon the person whom, +in her closet, she treated, trusted, and caressed as her bosom friend; +these, were excluded from the happy Hall, as persons of minds +uncongenial to confidence; that basis of peace and cordiality in social +intercourse.</p> + +<p>But while, for these, simple non-admission was deemed a sufficient mark +of disapprobation, the Admiral himself, when apprized of the adventures +of his niece, insisted upon being the messenger of positive exile to +three ladies, whom he nominated the three Furies; Mrs Howel, Mrs Ireton, +and Mrs Maple; that he might give them, he said, a hint, as it behoved a +good Christian to do, for their future amendment, of the reasons of +their exclusion. All mankind, he affirmed, would behave better, if the +good were not as cowardly as the bad are audacious.</p> + +<p>To spare at least the pride, though he could not the softer feelings of +Elinor, Harleigh thought it right to communicate to her himself, by +letter, the news of his marriage. She received it with a consternation +that cruelly opened her eyes to the false hopes which, however +disclaimed and disowned, had still duped her wishes, and played upon her +fancy, with visions that had brought Harleigh, ultimately, to her feet. +Despair, with its grimmest horrour, grasped her heart at this +self-detection; but pride supported her spirit; and Time, the healer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_836" id="Page_836">[Pg 836]</a></span> of +woe, though the destroyer of life, moderated her passions, in +annihilating her expectations; and, when her better-qualities found +opportunity for exertion, her excentricities, though always what were +most conspicuous in her character, ceased to absorb her whole being. Yet +in the anguish of her disappointment, 'Alas! alas!' she cried, 'must +Elinor too,—must even Elinor!—like the element to which, with the +common herd, she owes, chiefly, her support, find,—with that herd!—her +own level?—find that she has strayed from the beaten road, only to +discover that all others are pathless!'</p> + +<p>Here, and thus felicitously, ended, with the acknowledgement of her +name, and her family, the <span class="smcap">Difficulties</span> of the <span class="smcap">Wanderer</span>;—a being who had +been cast upon herself; a female Robinson Crusoe, as unaided and +unprotected, though in the midst of the world, as that imaginary hero in +his uninhabited island; and reduced either to sink, through inanition, +to nonentity, or to be rescued from famine and death by such resources +as she could find, independently, in herself.</p> + +<p>How mighty, thus circumstanced, are the <span class="smcap">DIFFICULTIES</span> with which a <span class="smcap">FEMALE</span> +has to struggle! Her honour always in danger of being assailed, her +delicacy of being offended, her strength of being exhausted, and her +virtue of being calumniated!</p> + +<p>Yet even <span class="smcap">DIFFICULTIES</span> such as these are not insurmountable, where mental +courage, operating through patience, prudence, and principle, supply +physical force, combat disappointment, and keep the untamed spirits +superiour to failure, and ever alive to hope.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> 'Yes, yes; here I am. What's your news?'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> 'Tis she, citizen! come and see! I have her safe!'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> ''Tis well! come, citizen, come along! follow me.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> 'Darest thou deny my rights?—say!—speak! darest thou?'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> 'If you can walk alone, well and good; but go on first. I +shall lose sight of you no more.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> 'By what right do you enquire?'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> 'No; but there are other rights!'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> 'How so? Is she not my wife? Am I not her husband?'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> 'Come, citizen; all is ready.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> 'What is that to you?'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> 'A Reprieve! a reprieve!'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> Mason's Lady Coventry.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> Addison.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> 'Ah, Miss Juliet! it is you then! and you do not know +me?'</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Wanderer (Volume 5 of 5), by Fanny Burney + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WANDERER (VOLUME 5 OF 5) *** + +***** This file should be named 37441-h.htm or 37441-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/4/4/37441/ + +Produced by Delphine Lettau, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Wanderer (Volume 5 of 5) + or, Female Difficulties + +Author: Fanny Burney + +Release Date: September 15, 2011 [EBook #37441] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WANDERER (VOLUME 5 OF 5) *** + + + + +Produced by Delphine Lettau, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + +VOLUME V + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVII + + +The final purposes for which man is ordained to move in this nether +sphere, will for ever remain disputable, while the doubts to which it +gives rise can be answered only by fellow-doubters: but that the basis +of his social comfort is confidence, is an axiom that waits no +revelation, requires no logic, and dispenses with mathematical accuracy +for proof: it is an axiom that comes home, straight forward and +intuitively, to our 'business and bosoms;'--there, with life, to lodge. + +Juliet, therefore, in this rustic abode, surrounded by the clinging +affection of instinctive partiality, felt a sense of security, more +potent in its simplicity, than she could have owed to any engagement, +even of honour, even of law, even of duty. And, while to the fond mother +and her little ones, she was every moment newly endeared, she +experienced herself, in their favour, an increase of regard, that +excited in her an ardent desire to make this her permanent dwelling, +till she could procure tidings from Gabriella. + +The night-scene, nevertheless, hung upon her with perplexity. The good +dame never reverted to it, evidently not imagining that it had been +observed; and persuaded that the entrance, at that moment, of her guest, +had been accidental. She constantly evaded to speak of her husband, or +of his affairs; while all her happiness, and almost her very existence, +seemed wrapt up in her children. + +Unable to devise any better method of arriving at the subject, Juliet, +at length, determined upon relating the story of the hut. She watched +for an opportunity, when the little boy and girl, whom she would not +risk frightening, were asleep; and then, while occupied at her needle, +began detailing every circumstance of that affair. + +The narrative of the place, and of the family, sufficed to draw, at +once, from the dame the exclamation, 'O, you been gone, then, to Nat +Mixon's? That be just he; and her, too. They be none o' the koindest, +that be sure, poor folk!' + +But at the history of the calling up in the night; the rising, passing, +and precautions; the dame changed colour, and, with palpable +disturbance, enquired upon what day of the week this had happened: she +revived, however, upon being answered that it was Thursday, simply +saying, 'Mercy be proised! that be a day as can do me no harm.' + +But, at the description of the sack, the lumpish sound, and the +subsequent appearance of a clot of blood, the poor woman turned pale; +and, blessing herself, said, 'The La be good unto me! Nat Mixon wull be +paid, at last, for all his bad ways! for, sure and sure, the devil do +owe un a grudge, or a would no ha' let a straunger in, to bear eye sight +to's goings on! 'T be a mercy 't be no worse, for an if 't had bin a +Friday--' + +She checked herself, but looked much troubled. Juliet, affrighted by her +own conjectures, would have stopt; the dame, however, begged her to go +on: but when she mentioned the cupboard, and the door smeared with +blood, the poor woman, unable to contain her feelings, caught her guest +by the arm, and exclaimed, 'You wull no' inform against un, wull you?' + +'Indeed, I should be most reluctant,' answered Juliet, 'to inform +against people who, be they what they may, admitted me to a night's +lodging, when I was in distress: nevertheless--what am I to think of +these appearances? Meetings in the dead of the night, so dark, private, +and clandestine?' + +'But, who could 't be as did call up Nat?' interrupted Dame Fairfield; +'for my husband do go only o' the Friday.--' and then, giving a loud +scream, 'La be good unto me!' she continued, 'if an't be last month, 't +be my husband for sure! for a could no' go o' the Friday, being the +great fair!' + +The expression of horrour now depicted upon the countenance of Juliet, +told the dame the mischief done by her unguarded speech; and, in a panic +uncontroulable, she flung her apron over her face, and sobbed out, ''T +be all blown, then, and we, we be all no better than ondone!' + +Shocked, grieved, and appalled at this detection, and uncertain whither +it might lead, or what might be its extent, the thoughts of Juliet were +now all engrossed in considering how immediately to abscond from a +situation so alarming and perilous. + +In a few minutes, Dame Fairfield, starting up, ran precipitately to the +bed, calling out, 'Come, my pretty ones, come, my dearys! come and down +o' your knees to the good gentlewoman, and praoy her to ha' mercy o' +poor daddy; for if so be a come to be honged and transported, you can +never show your poor innocent pretty faces agen! Come, little dearys, +come! down o' your marrow-bones; and praoy her to be so good as not to +be hard-hearted; for if a do be so onkoind as to inform against us, we +be all ondone!' + +Juliet would have stopt this scene, but it was not possible; the +children, though comprehending nothing that was said, and crying at +being awaked, obeyed; and, falling at her feet, and supporting +themselves by her gown, said, 'Pay, dood ady, don't hurt daddy! pay +don't, dood ady!' + +Touched, yet filled with augmented dismay by their prayers, Juliet, +tenderly embracing, carried them back to bed; and, with words of +comfort, and kind promises, soon hushed them again to sleep. + +But the mother was not to be appeased; she had flung herself upon her +knees, and upon her knees she pertinaciously kept; sobbing as if her +heart were bursting, and lamenting that her husband never would listen +to her, or things would not have come to such a pass. + +Juliet, full of compassion, yet shuddering, attempted to console her, +but would enter into no engagement. Pity, in such a case, however +sincerely felt, could not take the lead; humanity itself invoked +justice; and she determined to let no personal consideration whatsoever, +interfere any longer with her causing an immediate investigation to be +made into this fearful business. + +The poor woman would not quit the floor, even when, in despondence, she +gave over her kneeling importunity. Juliet, from the instant that she +discovered how deeply the husband was involved, forbore all enquiry that +might make the wife an informer against him; and sate by her side, +trying to revive her, with offers of friendship and assistance. + +But when, anxious to escape from this eventful Forest, and still +confiding in the simplicity and goodness of her hostess, she begged a +clear direction to the shortest way for getting to the high road; +saying, 'Alas! how little had I imagined that there had been any spot in +England, where travellers were thus dreadfully waylaid to their +destruction!' Dame Fairfield, suddenly ceasing her outcries, demanded +what she meant; saying, 'Why sure, and sure, there be no daunger to +nobody in our Forest! We do go up it and down it, noight and day, +without no manner of fear; and though I do come from afar off myself, +being but a straunger in these parts, till I was married; my +feather-in-law, who has lived in them, mon and boy, better than ninety +and odd years,--for, thof a be still as fresh as a rose, a be a'most a +hondred; he do tell me that a would carry his gold watch, if a had one, +in his open hand, from top to bottom of our nine walks, in the pitch of +the night; and a should aunswer to come to no harm; for a had never +heard of a traveller as had had so much as a hair of his head hurt in +the New Forest.' + +'What is it you tell me, my good dame?' cried Juliet amazed: 'What are +these alarming scenes that I have witnessed? And why are your +apprehensions for your husband so direful?' + +'The La be good unto me!' exclaimed the dame: 'why sure and sure you do +no' go to think the poor mon be a murderer?' + +'I am disposed to think whatever you will bid me,' replied Juliet, 'for +I see in you such perfect truth and candour, that I cannot hesitate in +giving you my belief.' + +'Why the La be good unto me, my good gentlewoman, there be but small +need to make bad worse! What the poor mon ha' done, may bring un to be +honged and transported; but if so be a had killed a mon, a might go to +old Nick besoides; and no one could say a deserved ony better.' + +Juliet earnestly begged an explanation; and Dame Fairfield then +confessed, that her husband and Nat Mixon were deer-stealers. + +After the tremendous sensations to which the mistake of Juliet, from her +ignorance of this species of traffic, had given rise, so unexpected a +solution of her perplexity, made this crime, contrasted with the +assassination of a fellow-creature, appear venial. But though relieved +from personal terrours, she would not hazard weakening the morality, in +lessening the fears of the good, but uncultivated Dame Fairfield, by +making her participate in the comparative view taken by herself, of the +greater with the less offence. She represented, therefore, warmly and +clearly, the turpitude of all failure of probity; dwelling most +especially upon the heinousness of a breach of trust. + +The good woman readily said, that she knew, well enough, that the deer +were as much the King's Majesty's as the Forest; and that she had told +it over and over to her husband; and bid him prepare for his latter end, +if he would follow such courses: 'But the main bleame, it do all lie in +Nat Mixon; for a be as bad a mon as a body might wish to set eyes on. +And a does always say a likes ony thing better than work. It be he has +led my poor husband astray: for, thof a be but a bad mon, at best, to my +mishap! a was a good sort of a husband enough, poor mon, till a took to +these courses. But a knows I do no' like un for that; and that makes it, +that a does no' much like me. But I would no' ha' un come to be honged +or transported, if so be a was as onkoind agen! I would sooner go with +un to prison; thof it be but a dismal life to be shut up by dark walls, +and iron bars for to see out of! but I'd do it for sure and sure, not to +forsake un, poor mon! in his need; if so be I could get wherewithal to +keep my little dearys.' + +Touched by such genuine and virtuous simplicity, Juliet now promised to +apply to some powerful gentleman, to take her husband from the +temptation of his present situation; and to settle them all at a +distance from the Forest. + +The good woman, at this idea, started up in an extacy, and jumped about +the room, to give some vent to her joy; kissing her little ones till she +nearly suffocated them; and telling them, for sure and certain, that +they had gotten an angel come amongst them, to save them all from shame. +'For now,' she continued, 'if we do but get un away from Nat Mixon and +his wife, who be the worst mon in all the Forest, a wull think no more +of selling unlawful goods than unlawful geame.' + +Juliet, though delighted at her happiness, was struck with the words +'unlawful goods;' which she involuntarily repeated. Dame Fairfield, +unable, at this moment, to practise any restraint upon her feelings, +plumply, then, acknowledged that Nat Mixon was a smuggler, as well as a +deer-stealer: and that three of them were gone, even now, about the +country, selling laces, and cambrics, and gloves, just brought to land. + +This additional misdemeanour, considerably abated the hopes of +reformation which had been conceived by Juliet; and every word that, +inadvertently, escaped from the unguarded dame, brought conviction that +the man was thoroughly worthless. To give him, nevertheless, if +possible, the means to amend; and, at all events, to succour his good +wife, and lovely children, occupied as much of the thoughts of Juliet as +could be drawn, by humanity, from the danger of her own situation, and +her solicitude to escape from the Forest. + +More fearful than ever of losing her way, and falling into new evil, she +again entreated Dame Fairfield to accompany her to the next town on the +morrow. The dame agreed to every thing; and then, light of heart, though +heavy with fatigue, went to rest; and was instantly visited by the best +physician to all our cares. + +Juliet, also, courted repose; and not utterly in vain; though it came +not to the relief of her anxious spirits, agitated by all the +anticipating inquietude of foresight, with the same salutary facility +with which it instantly hushed the fears and the griefs of the +unreflecting, though feeling Dame Fairfield. + +The moment that the babbling little voices of the children reached, the +next morning, the ear of Juliet, she descended from her small chamber, +to hasten the breakfast, and to quicken her departure. Dame Fairfield, +during the preparations and the repast, happy in new hope, and solaced +by unburthening her heart, conversed, without reserve, upon her affairs; +and the picture which her ingenuous avowals, and simple details, offered +to the mental view of Juliet, presented to her a new sight of human +life; but a sight from which she turned with equal sadness and +amazement. + +The wretched man of the hut, of whom the poor dame's husband was the +servile accomplice, was the leader in all the illicit adventures of the +New Forest. Another cottager, also, was entirely under his direction; +though the difficulty and danger attendant upon their principal traffic, +great search being always made after a lost deer, caused it to be rarely +repeated; but smaller game; hares, pheasants, and partridges, were +easily inveigled, by an adroit dispersion of grain, to a place proper +for their seizure; and it required not much skill to frame stories for +satisfying purchasers, who were generally too eager for possession, to +be scrupulous in investigating the means by which their luxury was so +cheaply indulged. + +The fixed day of rendezvous was every Friday month, that each might be +ready for his part of the enterprize. + +Juliet, the dame imagined, had been admitted because it was Thursday, +and that her husband had not given notice that he should change his day, +on account of the fair; besides which, neither Mixon, she said, nor his +wife, ever refused money, be it ever so dangerous. He and his family +nearly subsisted upon the game which could not be got off in time; or +the refuse; or parts that were too suspicious for sale, of the deer. But +Dame Fairfield, though at the expence of the most terrible quarrels, and +even ill usage from her husband, never would consent to touch, nor +suffer her children to eat, what was not their own; 'for I do tell un,' +she continued, 'it might strangle us down our throats; for it be all his +King's Majesty's; and I do no' know why we should take hisn goods, when +a do never come to take none of ours! for we be never mislested, night +nor day. And a do deserve well of us all; for a be as good a gentlemon +as ever broke bread! which we did all see, when a was in these parts; as +well as his good lady, the Queen, who had a smile for the lowest of us, +God bless un! and all their pretty ones! for they were made up of good +nature and charity; and had no more pride than the new-born baby. And we +did all love 'em, when they were in these parts, so as the like never +was seen before.' + +With regard to the smuggling, there were three men, she said, who came +over, alternately, from beyond seas, with counterband merchandize. They +landed where they could, and, if they were surprised, they knew how to +hide their goods, and pass for poor fishermen, blown over by foul winds: +for they had always fishing tackle ready to shew. They had agents all +round the coast, prepared to deal with them; but when they came to the +Forest, they always treated with Mixon. + +Her friend near the turnpike, at Salisbury, commonly kept a good store +of articles; which she carried about, occasionally, to the ladies of the +town. 'And I ha' had sums and sums of goods,' she added, 'here, +oftentimes, myself; and then I do no dare to leave the house for one +yearthly moment; for we be all no better than slaves when the smugglers +be here, for fear of some informer. And I do tell my poor husband, we +should be mainly happier to work our hands to the bone, ony day of the +year, so we did but live by the King's Majesty's laws, than to make +money by being always in a quandary. And a might see the truth of what I +do say, if a would no' blind his poor eyes; or Nat Mixon, thof a do get +a power of money, do live the most pitiful of us all, for the fear of +being found out: a does no' dare get un a hat, nor a waistcoat like to +another mon. And his wife be the dirtiest beast in all the Forest. And +their house and garden be no better than a piggery. So that they've no +joy of life. They be but bad people at best, poor folk! And Nat be main +cross-grained; for, with all his care, a do look to be took up every +blessed day; and that don't much mend a mon's humour.' + +Ah, thought Juliet, were the wilful, but unreflecting purchaser, +amenable to sharing the public punishment of the tempted and needy +instrument,--how soon would this traffic die away; and every country +live by its own means; or by its own fair commerce! + +They had all, the dame said, been hard at work, to cover some goods +under ground, the very night of Juliet's arrival: and they had put what +was for immediate sale into hods, spread over with potatoes, to convey +to different places. When Juliet had tapped at the door, the dame had +concluded it to be her husband, returned for something that had been +forgotten; but the sight of a stranger, she said, though it were but a +woman, made her think that they were all undone; for the changed dress +of Juliet impeded any recollection of her, till she spoke. + +In the communication to which this discourse gave rise, Juliet, with +surprize, and even with consternation, learnt, how pernicious were the +ravages of dishonest cupidity; how subversive alike of fair prosperity, +and genial happiness, even in the bosom of retired and beautiful +rusticity. For those who were employed in poaching, purloining wood, or +concealing illicit merchandize by night, were as incapable of the arts +and vigour of industry by day, as they were torpid to the charms and +animation of the surrounding beauties of nature. Their severest labour +received no pay, but from fearful, accidental, and perilous dexterity; +their best success was blighted by constant apprehension of detection. +Reproachful with each other, suspicious of their neighbours, and gloomy +in themselves, they were still greater strangers to civilized manners +than to social morality. + +In the midst, however, of the dejection excited by such a view of human +frailty, Juliet, whose heart always panted to love, and prided in +esteeming her fellow-creatures, had the consolation to gather, that the +houses which contained these unworthy members of the community were few, +in comparison with those which were inhabited by persons of unsullied +probity; that several of the cottagers were even exemplary for assiduous +laboriousness and good conduct; and that many of the farmers and their +families were universally respected. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVIII + + +When Dame Fairfield was nearly ready, Juliet, to forward the march, set +out with the two children; but had scarcely quitted the house, when the +sight of a man, advancing towards the habitation, made her plant herself +behind a tree, to examine him before she ventured to proceed. + +She observed that he stopt, every two or three minutes, himself, to take +an inquisitive view all around him; frequently bending upon the ground, +and appearing to be upon some eager search. + +As he approached, she thought that his air was familiar to her; she +regarded him more earnestly as he drew nearer; what, then, was her +horrour to recognize the pilot! + +She glided back, instantaneously, to the house, beckoning to the +children to follow; and, rushing upon Dame Fairfield, and, taking both +her hands, she faintly ejaculated, 'Oh my good dame!--hide, conceal me, +I entreat!--I am pursued by a cruel enemy, and lost if you are not my +friend!--Serve, save me, now, and I will be yours to the end of my +life!' + +'That I wull!' answered the dame, delighted; 'if you wull but be so +koind as to save my poor husband the sheame of being honged or +transported, I wull go through fire and water to serve you, to the +longest day I have to live upon the feace of God's yearth!' + +Then, making the children play without doors, that they might not +observe what passed, she told Juliet to bolt herself into the upper +chamber. + +In a few minutes, the children, running into the house, called out, +'Mam, mam, yonder be dad!' + +The dame went forth to meet him; and Juliet spent nearly half an hour in +the most cruel suspense. + +Dame Fairfield then came to her; and, by the discourse that ensued, she +found that the pilot was one of the smugglers who brought merchandize to +Mixon; and heard that he and Fairfield had thus unexpectedly returned, +in search of a piece of fine broad French lace, of great value, which +was missing; and which Fairfield suspected to have dropt from one of his +parcels, while he was making his assortments, by the light of the +lanthorn. She had been, she said, helping them to look for it, high and +low; but had stolen away, for an instant, to bring this account; and to +beg Juliet not to be frightened, because though, if Fairfield would go +up stairs, she could not hinder him, she would take care that the +smuggler should not follow. + +Juliet was now seized with a panic that nearly bereft her of all hope; +and Dame Fairfield was so much touched by the sight of her sufferings, +that she descended, unbidden, to endeavour to discover some means to +facilitate an escape. + +That the pilot should prove to be a smuggler, caused no surprize to +Juliet; but that accident should so cruelly be her foe, as to lead her +to the spot where he deposited and negociated his merchandize, at the +very period when his affairs brought him thither himself; that she +should find her chosen retreat her bane; and that, even where she was +unpursued, she should be overtaken; was a stroke of misfortune as severe +as it was unexpected. + +And, soon after, she found her situation still more terrible than she +had imagined it. Fairfield, presently entering the kitchen, to take some +food, accused his wife, in a loud and angry tone, of having abetted an +imposter. Mounseer, the smuggler, he said, had not come to these parts, +this time, merely for his own private business. He had been offered a +great reward for discovering a young gentlewoman who had run away; and +who turned out to be no other than the very same that she had been such +a ninny as to impose upon Dame Goss, at Salisbury; and who had made off +without paying for her board and lodging. + +The dame warmly declared, that this could not be possible; that it must +be some other gentlewoman; for that a person who could be so kind to her +children could not have so black a heart. + +Fairfield, with bitter reproaches against her folly, persisted in the +accusation: stating, that, upon Dame Goss's going to the post-office for +a letter, it had been refused to her, because of its being directed to a +person advertised in the public news-papers; and Dame Goss had been sent +back, with an excuse, to while away the time, till somebody should +follow, to confront the gentlewoman with the advertisement. But Dame +Goss, instead of keeping a sharp watch, had been over-persuaded to go of +an errand; and she had no sooner turned her back, than the gentlewoman +made off. However, they had written to the news-papers that she was +somewhere in those parts; and they could do no more; for there was no +right to seize her; for the advertisement only desired to know where she +might be heard of, and found. It had made a rare hue and cry in the +town; and Mounseer, the smuggler, who had come down to Salisbury along +with another outlandish man, had traced the gentlewoman as far as to +Romsey; but could not find out what had become of her afterwards. The +other outlandish man, who was as rich as a Duke, and was to pay the +reward, had stopt at Salisbury, for tidings: upon which Mounseer, the +smuggler, thought he might as well come on, and see a bit after his own +business by the way; for it would not lose much time; and he might not +get to these parts again for months. + +The silence that ensued, gave Juliet an afflicting presentiment that she +had lost, by this history, her friend and advocate: and accordingly, +when, upon her husband's returning to his search, the dame re-mounted +the stairs, her air was so changed, that Juliet, again clasping her +hands, cried, 'Oh! Dame Fairfield!--Kind, good Dame Fairfield! judge me +not till you know me better! Aid me still, my good dame, in pity, in +charity aid me!--for, believe me, I am innocent!' + +'Why then so I wull!' cried the dame, resuming her looks of mild good +will; 'I wull believe you! And I'll holp you too, for sure: for now you +be under my own poor roof, 'twould be like unto a false heart to give +you up to your enemies. Besoides, I do think in my conscience you wull +pay every one his own, when you've got wherewithal. And it be but hard +to expect it before. And I do say, that a person that could be so koind +to my little Jacky and Jenny, in their need, must have a good heart of +her own; and would no' wrong no yearthly creature, unless a could no' +holp it.' + +She then promised to watch the moment of the smuggler's turning round to +the garden-side of the house, to assist her flight; and, once a few +yards distant, all would be safe; for her change of clothes from what +she had worn at Salisbury, would secure her from any body's +recollection. + +This, in a few minutes, was performed; and, without daring to see the +children, who would have cried at her departure, Juliet took a hasty +leave, silent but full of gratitude, of the good dame; into whose bosom, +as her hand refused it, she slipt a guinea for the little ones; and, +having received full directions, set forward, by the shortest cut, to +the nearest high road. + +She reached it unannoyed, but breathless; and seated herself upon a bank +by its side; not to hesitate which way to turn; the right and the left +were alike unknown to her, and alike liable to danger; but to recover +respiration, and force to proceed. + +She could now form no plan, save to hasten to some other part of the +country; certain that here she was sought all around; and conscious that +the disguise of her habiliment, if not already betrayed, must shortly, +from a thousand accidents, prove nugatory. + +In her ignorance what course the pilot might take, upon quitting the +cottage of Fairfield, she determined upon seeking, immediately, some +decent lodging for the rest of the day; hoping thus, should he pursue +the same route, to escape being overtaken. + +She had soon the satisfaction to come to a small habitation, a little +out of the high road, where she was accommodated, by a man and his wife, +with a room that precisely answered her purpose: and here she spent the +night. + +Thankful in obtaining any sort of tranquillity, she would fain have +remained longer; but she durst not continue in the neighbourhood of +Fairfield; and, the following morning, she re-commenced her wanderings. + +She asked the way to Salisbury, though merely that she might take an +opposite direction. She ventured not to raise her eyes from the earth, +nor to cast even a glance at any one whom she passed. She held her +handkerchief to her face at the sound of every carriage; and trembled at +the approach of every horseman. Her steps were quick and eager; though +not more precipitate to fly from those by whom she was followed, than +fearful of being observed by those whom she met. + +In a short time, the sight of several hostlers, helpers, and postilions, +before a large house, which appeared to be a capital inn, made her cross +the way. She wished to turn wholly from the high road; but low +brick-walls had now, on either side, taken place of hedges, and she +searched in vain for an opening. Her earnestness to press onward, joined +to her fear of looking up, made her soon follow, unconsciously, an +ordinary man, till she was so close behind him, as suddenly to perceive, +by his now well known coat, that he was the pilot! A scream struggled to +escape her, in the surprize of her affright; but she stifled it, and, +turning short back, speeded her retrograde way with all her force. + +She had reason, however, to fear that her uncontrollable first emotion +had caught his notice, for she heard footsteps following. Hopeless of +saving herself, if watched or suspected, by flight; as she knew that +there was no turning for at least half a mile; she darted precipitately +into the inn; which seemed alone to offer her even a shadow of any +chance of concealment. She rushed past ostlers, helpers, postilions, and +waiters; seized the hand of the first female that she met; and hastily +begged to be shewn to a room. + +The chambermaid, astonished at such a request from a person no better +equipped, pertly asked what she meant. + +Juliet, whose apprehensive eyes roved everywhere, now saw the pilot at +the door. + +She held the maid by the arm, and, in a voice scarcely audible, +entreated to be taken any where that she might be alone; and had the +presence of mind to hint at a recompence. + +This instantly prevailed. The maid said, 'Well, come along!' and led her +to a small apartment up stairs. + +Juliet put a shilling into her hand, and was then left to herself. + +In an agony of suffering that disordered her whole frame, What a life, +she cried, is this that I lead! How tremendous, and how degrading! Is it +possible that even what I fly can be more dreadful? + +This question restored her fortitude. Ah yes! ah yes! she cried, all +passing evil is preferable to such a termination! + +She now composed her spirits, and, while deliberating how she might make +a friend of the maid, to aid her escape, perceived, from the window, the +pilot, in a stable-yard, examining a horse, for which he seemed to be +bartering. + +This determined her to attempt to regain the cottage which she had last +quitted, and thence to try some opposite route. + +Swiftly she descended the stairs; a general bustle from some new arrival +enabled her to pass unnoticed; but a chaise was at the door, and she was +forced to make way for a gentleman, who had just quitted it, to enter +the house. Unavoidably, by this movement, she saw the gentleman also; +the colour instantly forsook her cheeks and lips; her feet tottered, and +she fell. + +She was immediately surrounded by waiters; but the gentleman, who, +observing only her dress, concluded her to belong to the house, walked +on into the kitchen, and asked, in broken English, for the landlord or +landlady. + +Juliet, whose fall had been the effect of a sudden deprivation of +strength, from an abrupt sensation of horrour, had not fainted. She +heard, therefore, what passed, and was easily helped to rise; and, +shaded by her packet, which, even in her first terrour, she had +instinctively held to her face, she made a motion to walk into the air. +One of the men, good naturedly, placed her a chair without doors; she +sat upon it thankfully, and almost as quickly recovered as she had lost +her force, by a reviving idea, that, even yet, thus situated, she might +make her escape. + +She had just risen with this view, when the voice of the pilot, who was +coming round the house, from the stable-yard, forced her hastily to +re-enter the passage; but not before she heard him enquire, whether a +French gentleman were arrived in that chaise? + +Again, now, she glided on towards the stairs; hearing, as she passed, +the answer made by the French gentleman himself: '_Oui, oui, me voici. +Quelles sont les nouvelles?_'[1] + +[Footnote 1: 'Yes, yes; here I am. What's your news?'] + +The voices of both proved each to be advancing to the passage, to meet +the other. Juliet was no longer sensible of bodily weakness; nor +scarcely of bodily existence. She seemed to herself a mere composition +of terrour. She flew up the stairs, meaning to regain her little +chamber; but, mistaking her way, found herself in a gallery, leading to +the best apartments. Glad, however, rather than sorry, in the hope she +might here be less liable to be sought, she opened the first door; and, +entering a large room, locked and bolted herself in, with such extreme +precipitance, that already she had sunk upon her knees, in fervent +prayer, before a shadow, which caught her eyes, made her look round; +when she perceived, at a distant window, a gentleman who was writing. + +In the deepest consternation, she arose, hurrying to find the key; +which, in her perturbation, she had taken out, and let drop she knew not +where. + +While earnestly searching it, the gentleman, mildly, yet in a tone of +some surprize, enquired what she wanted. + +Startled at the sound of his voice, she looked up, and saw Harleigh. + +Her conflicting emotions now exceeded all that she had hitherto +experienced. To seem to follow, even to his room, the man whom she had +adjured, as he valued her preservation, to quit and avoid her; joined +sensations of shame so poignant, to those of horrour and anguish, with +which she was already overwhelmed, that, almost, she wished her last +hour to arrive; that, while finishing her wretchedness, she might clear +her integrity and honour. + +Harleigh, to whom her dress, as he had not caught a view of her face, +proved a complete disguise of her person, concluded her to be some light +nymph of the inn, and suffered her to search for the key, without even +repeating his question: but when, upon her finding it, he observed that +her shaking hand could not, for some time, fix it in the lock, he was +struck with something in her general form that urged him to rise, and +offer his assistance. + +Still more her hand shook, but she opened the door, and, without +answering, and with a head carefully averted, eagerly quitted the room; +shutting herself out, with trembling precipitation. + +Harleigh hesitated whether to follow; but it was only for a moment: the +next, a shriek of agony reached his ears, and, hastily rushing forth, he +saw the female who had just quitted him, standing in an attitude of +despair; her face bowed down upon her hands; while an ill-looking man, +whom he presently recollected for the pilot, grinning in triumph, and +with arms wide extended, to prevent her passing, loudly called out, +'_Citoyen! Citoyen! venez voir! c'est Elle! Je la tien!_'[2] + +[Footnote 2: 'Tis she, citizen! come and see! I have her safe!'] + +Harleigh would have remonstrated against this rude detention; but he had +no sooner begun speaking, than Juliet, finding that she could not +advance, retreated; and had just put her hand upon the lock of a door, +higher up in the gallery; when another man, dressed with disgusting +negligence, and of a hideous countenance, yet wearing an air of +ferocious authority; advancing by large strides, roughly seized her arm, +with one hand, while, with the other, he rudely lifted up her bonnet, to +examine her face. + +'_C'est bien!_' he cried, with a look of exultation, that gave to his +horrible features an air of infernal joy; '_viens, citoyenne, viens; +suis moi_.'[3] + +[Footnote 3: ''Tis well! come, citizen, come along! follow me.'] + +Harleigh, who, when the bonnet was raised, saw, what as yet he had +feared to surmize,--that it was Juliet; sprang forward, exclaiming, +'Daring ruffian! quit your hold!' + +'_Ose tu nier mes droits?_' cried the man, addressing Juliet; whose arm +he still griped;--_'Dis!--parles!--l'ose tu?_'[4] + +[Footnote 4: 'Darest thou deny my rights?--say!--speak! darest thou?'] + +Juliet was mute; but Harleigh saw that she was sinking, and bent towards +her to save her fall; what, then, was his astonishment, to perceive that +it was voluntary! and that she cast herself at the feet of her +assailant! + +Thunderstruck, he held back. + +The man, with an expression of diabolical delight at this posture, cast +his eyes now upon her, now upon her appalled defendant; and then, in +French, gave orders to the pilot, to see four fresh horses put to the +chaise: and, in a tone of somewhat abated rage, bid Juliet arise, and +accompany him down stairs. + +'Ah, no!--ah, spare--ah, leave me yet!--' in broken accents, and in +French, cried the still prostrate Juliet. + +The man, who was large made, tall, and strong, seized, then, both her +arms, with a motion that indicated his intention to drag her along. + +A piercing shriek forced its way from her at his touch: but she arose, +and made no appeal, no remonstrance. + +'_Si tu peus le conduire toute seule,_' said the man, sneeringly, +'_soit! Mais vas en avant! Je ne le perdrai plus de vu._'[5] + +[Footnote 5: 'If you can walk alone, well and good; but go on first. I +shall lose sight of you no more.'] + +Juliet again hid her face, but stood still. + +The man roughly gave her a push; seeming to enjoy, with a coarse laugh, +the pleasure of driving her on before him. + +Harleigh, who saw that her face was convulsed with horrour, fiercely +planted himself in the midst of the passage, vehemently exclaiming, +'Infernal monster! by what right do you act?' + +'_De quel droit me le demandez vous?_'[6] cried the man; who appeared +perfectly to understand English. + +[Footnote 6: 'By what right do you enquire?'] + +'By the rights of humanity!' replied Harleigh; 'and you shall answer me +by the rights of justice! One claim alone can annul my interference. Are +you her father?' + +_'Non!_' he answered, with a laugh of scorn; '_mais il y a d'autres +droits!_'[7] + +[Footnote 7: 'No; but there are other rights!'] + +'There are none!' cried Harleigh, 'to which you can pretend; none!' + +'_Comment cela? n'est-ce pas ma femme? Ne suis-je pas son mari?_'[8] + +[Footnote 8: 'How so? Is she not my wife? Am I not her husband?'] + +'No!' cried Harleigh, 'no!' with the fury of a man seized with sudden +delirium; 'I deny it!--'tis false! and neither you nor all the fiends of +hell shall make me believe it!' + +Juliet again fell prostrate; but, though her form turned towards her +assailant, her eyes, and supplicating hands, that begged forbearance, +were lifted up, in speechless agony, to Harleigh. + +Repressed by this look and action, though only to be overpowered by the +blackest surmizes, Harleigh again stood suspended. + +Finding the people of the inn were now filling the staircase, to see +what was the matter, the foreigner, in tolerable English, told them all +to be gone, for he was only recovering an eloped wife. Then, addressing +Juliet, 'If you dare assert,' he said, 'that you are not my wife, your +perjury may cost you dear! If you have not that hardiness, hold your +tongue and welcome. Who else will dare dispute my claims?' + +'I will!' cried Harleigh, furiously. 'Walk this way, Sir, and give me an +account of yourself! I will defend that lady from your inhuman grasp, to +the last drop of my blood!' + +'Ah, no! ah, no!' Juliet now faintly uttered; but the man, interrupting +her, said, 'Dare you assert, I demand, that you are not my wife? Speak! +Dare you?' + +Again she bowed down her face upon her hands,--her face that seemed +bloodless with despair; but she was mute. + +'I put you to the test;' continued the man, striding to the end of the +gallery, and opening the last door: 'Go into that chamber!' + +She shrieked aloud with agony uncontrollable; and Harleigh, with an +emotion irrepressible, cast his arms around her, exclaiming, 'Place +yourself under my protection! and no violence, no power upon earth shall +tear you away!' + +At these words, all the force of her character came again to her aid; +and she disengaged herself from him, with a reviving dignity in her air, +that shewed a decided resolution to resist his services: but she was +still utterly silent; and he saw that she was obliged to sustain her +tottering frame against the wall, to save herself from again sinking +upon the floor. + +The foreigner seemed with difficulty to restrain his rage from some act +of brutality; but, after a moment's pause, fixing his hands fiercely in +his sides, he ferociously confronted the shaking Juliet, and said, 'I +have informed your family of my rights. Lord Denmeath has promised me +his assistance and your portion.' + +'Lord Denmeath!' repeated the astonished Harleigh. + +'He has promised me, also,' the foreigner, without heeding him, +continued, 'the support of your half-brother, Lord Melbury,--' + +'Lord Melbury!' again exclaimed Harleigh; with an expression that spoke +a sudden delight, thrilling, in defiance of agony, through his burning +veins. + +'Who, he assures me, is a young man of honour, who will never abet a +wife in eloping from her husband. I shall take you, therefore, at first, +and at once, to Lord Denmeath, who will only pay your portion to your +own signature. Go, therefore, quietly into that room, till the chaise is +ready, and I promise that I won't follow you: though, if you resist, I +shall assert my rights by force.' + +He held the door open. She wrung her hands with agonizing horrour. He +took hold of her shoulder; she shrunk from his touch; but, in shrinking, +involuntarily entered the room. He would have pushed her on; but +Harleigh, who now looked wild with the violence of contending emotions; +with rage, astonishment, grief, and despair; furiously caught him by the +arm, calling out, 'Hold, villain, hold!--Speak, Madam, speak! Utter but +a syllable!--Deign only to turn towards me!--Pronounce but with your +eyes that he has no legal claim, and I will instantly secure your +liberty,--even from myself!--even from all mankind!--Speak!--turn!--look +but a moment this way!--One word! one single word!--' + +She clapped her hands upon her forehead, in an action of despair; but +the word was not spoken,--not a syllable was uttered! A look, however, +escaped her, expressive of a soul in torture, yet supplicating his +retreat. She then stepped further into the room, and the foreigner shut +and double-locked the door. + +Triumphantly brandishing the key, as he eyed, sidelong, the now passive +Harleigh, he went into the adjoining apartment; where, seating himself +in the middle of the room, he left the door wide open, to watch all +egress and regress in the passage. + +Harleigh now appeared to be lost! The violence of his agitation, while +he concluded her to be wrongfully claimed, was transformed into the +blackest and most indignant despondence, at her unresisting, however +wretched acquiescence, to commands thus brutal; emanating from an +authority of which, however evidently it was deplored, she attempted not +to controvert the legality. The dreadful mystery, more direful than it +had been depicted, even by the most cruel of his apprehensions, was now +revealed: she is married! he internally cried; married to the vilest of +wretches, whom she flies and abhors,--yet she is married! indisputably +married! and can never, never,--even in my wishes, now, be mine! + +A sudden sensation, kindred even to hatred, took possession of his +feelings. Altered she appeared to him, and delusive. She had always, +indeed, discouraged his hopes, always forbidden his expectations; yet +she must have seen that they subsisted, and were cherished; and could +not but have been conscious, that a single word, bitter, but essentially +just, might have demolished, have annihilated them in a moment. + +He dragged himself back to his apartment, and resolutely shut his door; +gloomily bent to nourish every unfavourable impression, that might +sicken regret by resentment. But no indignation could curb his grief at +her loss; nor his horrour at her situation: and the look that had +compelled his retreat; the look that so expressively had concentrated +and conveyed her so often reiterated sentence, of 'leave, or you destroy +me!' seemed rivetted to his very brain, so as to take despotic and +exclusive hold of all his faculties. + +In a few minutes, the sound of a carriage almost mechanically drew him +to the window. He saw there an empty chaise and four horses. It was +surely to convey her away!--and with the man whom she loathed,--and from +one who, so often! had awakened in her symptoms the most impressive of +the most flattering sensibility!-- + +The transitory calm of smothered, but not crushed emotions, was now +succeeded by a storm of the most violent and tragic passions. To lose +her for ever, yet irresistibly to believe himself beloved!--to see her +nearly lifeless with misery, yet to feel that to demand a conference, or +the smallest explanation, or even a parting word, might expose her to +the jealousy of a brute, who seemed capable of enjoying, rather than +deprecating, any opportunity to treat her ill; to be convinced that she +must be the victim of a forced marriage; yet to feel every sentiment of +honour, and if of honour of happiness! rise to oppose all violation of a +rite, that, once performed, must be held sacred:--thoughts, reflections, +ideas thus dreadful, and sensations thus excruciating, almost deprived +him of reason, and he cast himself upon the ground in wild agony. + +But he was soon roused thence by the gruff voice, well recollected, of +the pilot, who, from the bottom of the stairs, called out, '_Viens, +citoyen! tout est pret._'[9] + +[Footnote 9: 'Come, citizen; all is ready.'] + +With horrour, now, he heard the heavy step of the foreigner again in +the passage; he listened, and the sound reached his ear of the key +fixing--the door unlocking.--Excess of torture then caused a short +suspension of his faculties, and he heard no more. + +Soon, however, reviving, the stillness startled him. He opened his door. +No one was in the passage; but he caught a plaintive sound, from the +room in which Juliet was a prisoner: and soon gathered that Juliet +herself was imploring for leave to travel to Lord Denmeath's alone. + +What an aggravation to the sufferings of Harleigh, to learn that she was +thus allied, at the moment that he knew her to be another's! for however +the violence of his admiration had conquered every obstacle, he had +always thought, with reluctance and concern, of the supposed obscurity +of her family and connections. + +Juliet pleaded in vain. A harsh refusal was followed by the grossest +menace, if she hesitated to accompany him at once. + +The pilot, repeating his call, now mounted the stairs; and Harleigh felt +compelled to return to his room; but, looking back in re-entering it, he +saw Juliet forced into the passage; her face not merely pale, but +ghastly; her eyes nearly starting from her head. + +To rescue, to protect her, Harleigh now thought was all that could +render life desirable; but, while adoring her almost to madness, he +respected her situation and her fame, and re-passed into his chamber, +unseen by the foreigner. + +Yet he could not forbear placing himself so that he might catch a glance +of her as she went by; he held the door, therefore, in his hand, as if, +accidentally, at that moment, opening it. She did not turn her head, but +assumed an air of resignation, and walked straight on; yet though she +did not meet his eye, she evidently felt it; a pale pink suffusion shot +across her cheeks; taking place of the death-like hue they had exhibited +as she quitted her room; but which, fading away almost in the same +moment, left her again a seeming spectre. + +A nervous dimness took from Harleigh even the faculty of observing the +foreigner. She loves me! was his thought; she surely loves me! And the +idea which, not many minutes sooner, would have chaced from his mind +every feeling but of felicity, now rent his heart with torture, from +painting their mutual unhappiness. It was not a sigh that he stifled, +nor a sigh that escaped him; but a groan, a piercing groan, which broke +from his sorrows, as he heard her tottering step reach the stairs, while +internally he uttered, She is gone from me for ever! + +When he thought she would no longer be in sight, he followed to the +first landing-place; to catch, once more, even the most distant sound of +her feet: but the passage to and fro of waiters, forced him again to +mount to his chamber. There, he hastened to the window, to take a view, +a last view! of her loved form; but thence, shuddering, retreated, at +sight of the chaise and four; destined to whirl her everlastingly away +from him, with a companion so undisguisedly dreaded!--so evidently +abhorred! + +Yet, at the first sound, he returned to the window; whence he perceived +Juliet just arrived upon the threshold; looking like a picture of death, +and leaning upon a chambermaid, to whom she clung as to a bosom friend; +yet not attempting to resist the foreigner; who, on her other side, +dragged her by the arm, in open triumph. But, when she came to the +chaise-step, she staggered, her vital powers seemed forsaking her; she +heaved a hard and painful sigh, and, but for the chambermaid, who knelt +down to catch her, had fallen upon the ground. + +Harleigh was already half way down the stairs, almost frantic to save +her; before he had sufficient recollection to remind him, that any +effort on his part might cause her yet grosser insult. He was then again +at his window; where he saw a second chambermaid administering burnt +feathers, which had already recovered her from the fainting fit; while +the mistress of the house was presenting her with hartshorn and water. + +She refused no assistance; but the foreigner, who was loudly enraged at +the delay, said that he would lift her into the chaise; and bid the +pilot get in first, to help the operation. + +She now again looked so sick and disordered, that all the women called +upon the foreigner to let her re-enter the house, and take a little +rest, before her journey. Her eyes, turned up to heaven with +thankfulness, even at the proposal, encouraged them to grow clamorous in +their demand; but the man, with a scornful sneer, replied that her +journey would be her cure; and told the pilot, who was finishing a +bottle of wine, to make haste. + +The wretched Juliet, resuming her resolution, though with an air of +despair, faintly pronounced, that she would get into the carriage +herself; and, leaning upon the woman, ascended the steps, and dropt upon +the seat of the chaise. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIX + + +At this moment, a horseman, who had advanced full gallop, hastily +dismounting, enquired aloud, whether any French gentleman had lately +arrived. + +All who were present, pointed to the foreigner; who, not hearing, or +affecting not to hear the demand, began pushing away the women, that he +might follow Juliet. + +The horseman, approaching, asked the foreigner his name. + +'_Qu'est ce que cela vous fait?_'[10] he answered. + +[Footnote 10: 'What is that to you?'] + +'You must come with me into the inn,' the horseman replied, after +stedfastly examining his face. + +The foreigner, with a loud oath, refused to stir. + +The horseman, holding out a paper, clapped him upon the shoulder, +saying, that he was a person who had been looked for some time, in +consequence of information which had been lodged against him; and that +he was to be sent out of the kingdom. + +This declaration made, he called upon the master of the house to lend +his assistance, for keeping the arrested person in custody, till the +arrival of the proper officers of justice. + +The man, at first, could find no vent for his rage, except horrid oaths, +and tremendous imprecations; but, when he was positively seized, with a +menace of being bound hand and foot, if he offered any opposition, he +swore that his wife, at least, should accompany him; and put forth his +hand towards the chaise, to drag out Juliet. + +But Juliet was saved from his grasp by the landlady; who humanely, upon +seeing her almost expiring condition, had entered the carriage, during +the dispute, with a viol of sal volatile. + +The horseman, who was a peace-officer, said that he had no orders to +arrest any woman. She might come, or stay, as she pleased. + +The foreigner vociferously claimed her; uttering execrations against all +who unlawfully withheld her; or would abet her elopement. He would then +have passed round to the other door of the chaise, to seize her by +force; but the peace-officer, who was habitually deaf to any appeal, and +resolute against any resistance; compelled him, though storming, raging, +and swearing, his face distorted with fury, his under-jaw dropt, and his +mouth foaming, to re-enter the inn. + +Juliet received neither relief nor fresh pain from what passed. Though +no longer fainting, terrour and excess of misery operated so powerfully +upon her nerves, that his cries assailed her ears but as outrage upon +outrage; and, though clinging to the landlady, with instinctive entreaty +for support, she was so disordered by her recent fainting, and so +absorbed in the belief that she was lost, that she knew not what had +happened; nor suspected any impediment to her forced journey; till the +landlady, now quitting her, advised her to have a room and lie down; +saying that no wife could be expected to follow such a brute of a +husband to jail. + +Amazed, she enquired what was meant; and was answered, that her husband +was in the hands of justice. + +The violence of the changed, yet mixed sensations, with which she was +now assailed, made every pulse throb with so palpitating a rapidity, +that she felt as if life itself was seeking a vent through every +swelling vein. But, when again she was pressed to enter the house, and +not to accompany her husband to prison; she shuddered, her head was +bowed down with shame; and, making a motion that supplicated for +silence, she seemed internally torn asunder with torturing incertitude +how to act. + +During this instant,--it was scarcely more,--of irresolution, the +landlady alighted, and the chaise was driven abruptly from the door. But +Juliet had scarcely had time for new alarm, ere she found that she had +only been removed to make way for another carriage; from the window of +which she caught a glimpse of Sir Jaspar Herrington. + +Nor had she escaped his eye; her straw-bonnet having fallen off, without +being missed, while she fainted, her head was wholly without shade. + +With all of speed in his power, the Baronet hobbled to the chaise. She +covered her face, sinking with every species of confusion and distress. +'Have I the honour,' he cried, 'to address Miss Granville? The +Honourable Miss Granville?'-- + +'Good Heaven!--' Juliet astonished, and raising her head, exclaimed. + +'If so, I have the dulcet commission,' he continued, 'to escort her to +her brother and sister, Lord Melbury, and Lady Aurora Granville.' + +'Is it possible? Is it possible?' cried Juliet, in an ecstacy that +seemed to renovate her whole being: 'I dare not believe it!--Oh Sir +Jaspar! dear, good, kind, generous Sir Jaspar! delude me not, in pity!' + +'No, fairest syren!' answered Sir Jaspar, in a rapture nearly equal to +her own; 'if there be any delusion to fear, 'tis poor I must be its +victim!' + +'Oh take me, then, at once,--this instant,--this moment,--take me to +them, my benevolent, my noble friend! If, indeed, I have a brother, a +sister,--give me the heaven of their protection!--' + +Sir Jaspar, enchanted, invited her to honour him by accepting a seat in +his chaise. With glowing gratitude she complied; though the just +returning roses faded from her cheeks, as she alighted, upon perceiving +Harleigh, aloof and disconsolate, fixed like a statue, upon a small +planted eminence. Yet but momentarily was the whiter hue prevalent, and +her skin, the next instant, burned with blushes of the deepest dye. + +This transition was not lost upon Harleigh: his eye caught, and his +heart received it, with equal avidity and anguish. Ah why, thought he, +so sensitive! why, at this period of despair, must I awaken to a +consciousness of the full extent of my calamity! Yet, all his resentment +subsided; to believe that she participated in his sentiments, had a +charm so softening, so all-subduing, that, even in this crisis of +torture and hopelessness, it dissolved his whole soul into tenderness. + +Juliet, faintly articulating, 'Oh, let us be gone!' moved, with cast +down eyes, to the carriage of the Baronet; forced, from remaining +weakness, to accept the assistance of his groom; Sir Jaspar not having +strength, nor Harleigh courage, to offer aid. + +Sir Jaspar demanded her permission to stop at Salisbury, for his valet +and baggage. + +'Any where! any where!' answered the shaking Juliet, 'so I go but to +Lady Aurora!' + +Astonished, and thrilled to the soul by these words, Harleigh, who, +unconsciously, had advanced, involuntarily repeated, 'Lady Aurora?--Lady +Aurora Granville?'-- + +Unable to answer, or to look at him, the trembling Juliet, eagerly +laying both her hands upon the arm of the Baronet, as, cautiously, he +was mounting into the carriage, supplicated that they might be gone. + +A petition thus seconded, from so adored a suppliant, was irresistible; +he kissed each fair hand that thus honoured him; and had just accepted +the offer of Harleigh, to aid his arrangements; when the furious +prisoner, struggling with the peace-officers, and loudly swearing, +re-appeared at the inn-door, clamorously demanding his wife. + +The tortured Juliet, with an impulse of agony, cast, now, the hands that +were just withdrawn from the Baronet, upon the shoulder of Harleigh, who +was himself fastening the chaise-door, tremulously, and in a tone +scarcely audible, pronouncing, 'Oh! hurry us away, Mr Harleigh!--in +mercy!--in compassion!' + +Harleigh, bowing upon the hands which he ventured not to touch, but of +which he felt the impression with a pang indescribable, called to the +postilion to drive off full gallop. + +With a low and sad inclination of the head, Juliet, in a faultering +voice, thanked him; involuntarily adding, 'My prayers, Mr Harleigh,--my +every wish for happiness,--will for ever be yours!' + +The chaise drove off; but his groan, rather than sigh, reached her +agonized ear; and, in an emotion too violent for concealment, yet to +which she durst allow no vent, she held her almost bursting forehead +with her hand; breathing only by smothered sighs, and scarcely sensible +to the happiness of an uncertain escape, while bowed down by the sight +of the misery that she had inflicted, where all that she owed was +benevolence, sympathy, and generosity. + +Not even the delight of thus victoriously carrying off a disputed prize, +could immediately reconcile Sir Jaspar to the fear of even the smallest +disorder in the economy of his medicines, anodynes, sweetmeats, and +various whims; which, from long habits of self-indulgence, he now +conceived to be necessaries, not luxuries. + +But when, after having examined, in detail, that his travelling +apparatus was in order, he turned smilingly to the fair mede of his +exertions; and saw the deep absorption of all her faculties in her own +evident affliction, he was struck with surprise and disappointment; and, +after a short and mortified pause, 'Can it be, fair aenigma!' he cried, +'that it is with compunction you abandon this Gallic Goliah?' + +Surprised, through this question, from the keen anguish of speechless +suffering; retrospection and anticipation alike gave way to gratitude, +and she poured forth her thanks, her praises, and her wondering delight, +at this unexpected, and marvellous rescue, with so much vivacity of +transport, and so much softness of sensibility for his kindness, that +the enchanted Sir Jaspar, losing all forbearance, in the interest with +which he languished to learn, more positively, her history and her +situation, renewed his entreaties for communication, with an urgency +that she now, for many reasons, no longer thought right to resist: +anxious herself, since concealment was at an end, to clear away the dark +appearances by which she was surrounded; and to remove a mystery that, +for so long a period, had made her owe all good opinion to trust and +generosity. + +She pondered, nevertheless, and sighed, ere she could comply. It was +strange to her, she said, and sad, to lift up the veil of secresy to a +new, however interesting and respectable acquaintance; while to her +brother, her sister, and her earliest friend, she still appeared to be +inveloped in impenetrable concealment. Yet, if to communicate the +circumstances which had brought her into this deplorable situation, +could shew her sense of the benevolence of Sir Jaspar, she would set +apart her repugnance, and gather courage to retrace the cruel scenes of +which he had witnessed the direful result. Her inestimable friend had +already related the singular history of all that had preceded their +separation; but, uninformed herself of the dreadful events by which it +had been followed, she could go no further: otherwise, from a noble +openness of heart, which made all disguise painful, if not disgusting to +her, Sir Jaspar would already have been satisfied. + +The Baronet, ashamed, would now have withdrawn his petition; but Juliet +no longer wished to retract from her engagement. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXX + + +The first months after the departure of Gabriella, were passed, Juliet +narrated, quietly, though far from gaily, in complete retirement. To +lighten, through her cares and services, the terrible change of +condition experienced by her benefactress, the Marchioness, and by her +guardian, the Bishop, was her unremitting, and not successless +endeavour: but even this sad tranquillity was soon broken in upon, by an +accidental interview with a returned emigrant, who brought news of the +dangerous state of health into which the young son of Gabriella had +fallen. Too well knowing that this cherished little creature was the +sole consolation and support of its exiled mother, the Marchioness +earnestly desired that her daughter should possess again her early +companion; who best could aid to nurse the child; or, should its illness +prove fatal, to render its loss supportable. It was, therefore, settled, +that, guarded and accompanied by a faithful ancient servant, upon whose +prudence and attachment the Marchioness had the firmest reliance, Juliet +should follow her friend: and the benevolent Bishop promised to join +them both, as soon as his affairs would permit him to make the voyage. + +To obtain a passport being then impossible, Ambroise, this worthy +domestic, was employed to discover means for secretly crossing the +channel: and, as adroit as he was trusty, he found out a pilot, who, +though ostensibly but a fisherman, was a noted smuggler; and who passed +frequently to the opposite shore; now with goods, now with letters, now +with passengers. By this man the Marchioness wrote to prepare Gabriella +for the reception of her friend, who was to join her at Brighthelmstone; +whither, in her last letter, written, as Juliet now knew, in the anguish +of discovering symptoms of danger in the illness of her darling boy, +Gabriella had mentioned her intended excursion for sea-bathing. The +diligent Ambroise soon obtained information that the pilot was preparing +to sail with a select party. The Marchioness would rather have postponed +the voyage, till an answer could have been received from her daughter; +yet this was not an opportunity to be neglected. + +The light baggage, therefore, was packed, and they were waiting the word +of command from the pilot, when a commissary, from the Convention, +arrived, to purify, he said, and new-organize the town, near which, in a +villa that had been a part of her marriage-portion, the Marchioness and +her brother then resided. To this villa the commissary made his first +visit. The Bishop, by this agent of the inhuman Robespierre, was +immediately seized; and, while his unhappy sister, and nearly adoring +ward, were vainly kneeling at the feet of his condemner,--not accuser! +to supplicate mercy for innocence,--not for guilt! the persons who were +rifling the Bishop, shouted out, with savage joy, that they had found a +proof of his being a traitor, in a note in his pocket-book, which was +clearly a bribe from the enemy to betray the country. The commissary, +who, having often been employed as a spy, had a competent knowledge of +modern languages, which he spoke intelligibly, though with vulgar +phraseology and accent; took the paper, and read it without difficulty. +It was the promissory note of the old Earl Melbury. + +He eagerly demanded the Citoyenne Julie; swearing that, if six thousand +pounds were to be got by marrying, he would marry without delay. He +ordered her, therefore, to accompany him forthwith to the mayoralty. At +her indignant refusal, he scoffingly laughed; but, upon her positive +resistance, ordered her into custody. This, also, moved her not; she +only begged to be confined in the same prison with the Bishop. Coarsely +mocking her attachment for the priest, and holding her by the chin, he +swore that he would marry her, and her six thousand pounds. + +A million of deaths, could she die them, she resolutely replied, she +would suffer in preference. + +Her priest, then, he said, should away to the guillotine; though she had +only to marry, and sign the promissory-note for the dower, to set the +parson at liberty. Filled with horrour, she wrung her hands, and stood +suspended; while the Marchioness, with anguish indescribable, and a look +that made a supplication that no voice could pronounce, fell upon her +neck, gasping for breath, and almost fainting. + +'Ah, Madam!' Juliet cried, 'what is your will? I am yours,--entirely +yours! command me!'-- + +The Marchioness could not speak; but her sighs, her groans, rather, were +more eloquent than any words. + +'Bind the priest!' the commissary cried. 'His trial is over; bind the +traitor, and take him to the cell for execution.' + +The Marchioness sunk to the floor. + +'No!' cried Juliet, 'bind him not! Touch not his reverend and revered +person!--Give me the paper! I will sign what you please! I will go +whither you will!' + +'Come, then,' cried the commissary, 'to the mayoralty.' + +Juliet covered her face, but moved towards the door. + +The Bishop, hitherto passive and meekly resigned, now, with a sudden +effort of strength, repulsing his gaolers, while fire darted from his +eyes, and a spirit of command animated all his features, exclaimed, 'No, +generous Juliet! my own excellent child, no! Are a few years more or +less,--perhaps but a few minutes,--worth purchasing by the sacrifice of +truth, and the violation of every feeling? I will not be saved upon such +terms!' + +'No preaching,' cried the commissary; 'off with him at once.' + +The men now bound his hands and arms; while, returning to his natural +state of calmness, he lifted up his eyes towards heaven, and, in a loud +and sonorous voice, ejaculated, in Latin, a fervent prayer; with an air +so absorbed in mental and pious abstraction, that he seemed unconscious +what became of his person. + +Juliet, who had shrunk back at his speech, again advanced, and, with +agony unspeakable, held out her hand, in token of consent. The +commissary received it triumphantly, at the moment that the Bishop, upon +reaching the door, turned round to take a last view of his unhappy +sister; who, torn with conflicting emotions, seemed a statue of horrour. +But no sooner did he perceive the hand of his ward unresistingly grasped +by the commissary, than again the expression of his face shewed his soul +brought back from its heavenly absorption; and, stopping short, with an +air which, helpless and shackled as he was, overawed his fierce +conductors, 'Hold yet a moment,' he cried. 'Oh Juliet! Think,--know what +you are about! 'Tis not to this world alone you are responsible for vows +offered up at the altar of God! My child! my more than daughter! +sacrifice not your purity to your affections! Drag me not back from a +virtuous death to a miserable existence, by the foul crime of wilful +perjury!' + +Juliet affrighted, again snatched away her hand, with a look at the +commissary which pronounced an abhorrent refusal. + +The commissary, stamping with fury, ordered the Bishop instantly to the +cell of death. Where guilt, he said, had been proved, there was no need +of any tribunal; and the execution should take place with the speed +called for by his dangerous crimes. + +Juliet, cold, trembling, and again irresolute, was involuntarily turning +to the commissary; but the Bishop, charging her to be firm, pronounced a +pious blessing upon her head; faintly spoke a last adieu to his +miserable sister, and, with commanding solemnity, accompanied his +gaolers away. + +The horrour of that moment Juliet attempted not to describe; nor could +she recur to it, without sighs and emotions that, for a while, stopt her +narration. + +Sir Jaspar would have spared her the resumption of the history; but she +would not, having thus raised, trifle with his curiosity. + +The commissary, she continued, then took possession of all the money, +plate, and jewels he could find, and pursued what he called his rounds +of purification. + +How the Marchioness or herself out-lived that torturing day, Juliet +declared she could with difficulty, now, conceive. She was again willing +to become a victim to the safety of her guardian; but even the +Marchioness ceased to desire his preservation upon terms from which he +himself recoiled as culpable. Early the next morning they were both +conducted to a large house upon the market-place, where, in the most +direful suspense, they were kept waiting for more than two hours; in +which interval, such was the oppression of terrour, neither of them +opened their lips. + +The commissary, at length, broke into the room, and, seating himself in +an arm-chair, while, humbly and tremblingly, they stood at the door, +demanded of Juliet whether she were become more reasonable. Her head +drooped, but she would not answer. 'Follow me,' he cried, 'to this +balcony.' He opened a door leading to a large apartment that looked upon +the market-place. She suspected some sinister design, and would not +obey. 'Come you, then!' he cried, to the Marchioness; and, taking her by +the shoulder, rudely and grossly, he pushed her before him, till she +entered upon the balcony. A dreadful scream, which then broke from her, +brought Juliet to her side. + +Here, again, overpowered by the violence of bitter recollections, which +operated, for the moment, with nearly the force of immediate suffering, +Juliet was obliged to take breath before she could proceed. + +'Oh Sir Jaspar!' she then cried, 'upon approaching the wretched +Marchioness, what a distracting scene met my eyes! A scaffolding,--a +guillotine,--an executioner,--were immediately opposite me! and in the +hand of that hardened executioner, was held up to the view of the +senseless multitude, the ghastly, bleeding head of a victim that moment +offered up at the shrine of unmeaning though ferocious cruelty! Four +other destined victims, kneeling and devoutly at prayers, their hands +tied behind them, and their heads bald, were prepared for sacrifice; and +amidst them, eminently conspicuous, from his dignified mien, and pious +calmness, I distinguished my revered guardian! the Marchioness had +distinguished her beloved brother!--Oh moment of horrour exceeding all +description! I cast myself, nearly frantic, at the feet of the +commissary; I embraced his knees, as if with the fervour of affection; +wildly and passionately I conjured him to accept my hand and fortune, +and save the Bishop!--He laughed aloud with triumphant derision; but +gave an immediate order to postpone the execution of the priest. I blest +him,--yes, with all his crimes upon his head!--and even again I should +bless him, to save a life so precious! + +'The Marchioness, recovering her strength with her hopes, seized the arm +of the messenger of this heavenly news, hurrying him along with a force +nearly supernatural, and calling out aloud herself, from the instant +that she entered the market place, "_Un sursit! Un sursit!_"[11] + +[Footnote 11: 'A Reprieve! a reprieve!'] + +'"Now, then," cried the commissary, "come with me to the mayoralty;" and +was taking my no longer withheld, but shaking hand, when some soldiers +abruptly informed him than an insurrection had broken out at ----, which +demanded his immediate presence. + +'I caught this moment of his engaged attention to find my way down +stairs, and into the market-place: but not with a view to escape; every +feeling of my soul was concentrated in the safety of the Bishop. I +rushed forward, I forced my way through the throng, which, though at +first it opposed my steps, no sooner looked at me than, intimidated by +my desperation, or affected by my agony, it facilitated my passage. +Rapidly I overtook the Marchioness, whose age, whose dignified energy, +and loud cries of Reprieve! made way for her through every impediment, +whether of crowd or of guards, to the scaffolding. How we accomplished +it, nevertheless, I now wonder! But a sense of right, when asserted with +courage, is lodged in the lowest, the vilest of mankind;--a sense of +right, an awe of justice, and a propensity to sympathize with acute +distress! The reprieve which our cries had anticipated, and which the +man whom we accompanied confirmed, was received by the multitude, from +an ardent and universal respect to the well known excellencies of the +Bishop, with shouts of applause that exalted our joy at his deliverance +into a felicity which we thought celestial! At his venerable feet we +prostrated ourselves, as if he had been a martyr to religion, and +already was sainted. He was greatly affected; though perhaps only by our +emotion; for he looked too uncertain how this event had been brought to +bear, to partake of our happiness; and at me he cast an eye so full of +compassion, yet so interrogative, that mine sunk under it; and, far from +exulting that I had thus devoted myself to his preservation, I was +already trembling at the acknowledgement I had to make, when I was +suddenly seized by a soldier, who forced me, from all the tenderest +interests of my heart, back to the stormy commissary. Oh! what a change +of scene! He roughly took me by the arm, which felt as if it were +withered, and no longer a part of my frame at his touch; and, with +accusations of the grossest nature, and vows the most tremendous of +vengeance, compelled me to attend him to the mayoralty; deaf to my +prayers, my entreaties, my kneeling supplications that he would first +suffer me to see the Bishop at liberty. + +'At the mayoralty he was accosted by a messenger sent from the +Convention. Ah! it seemed to me, at that moment, that a whole age of +suffering could not counterbalance the delight I experienced, when, to +read an order thus presented to him, he was constrained to relinquish +his hard grasp! Still greater was my relief, when I learnt, by what +passed, that he had received commands to proceed directly to ----, where +the insurrection was become dangerous. + +'Such a multiplicity of business now crowded upon him, that I conceived +a hope I might be forgotten; or, at least, set apart as a future prey: +but alas! the promissory-note was still in his hand, and,--if heart he +has any,--if heart be not left out in his composition, there, past all +doubt, the six thousand pounds were already lodged. All my hopes, +therefore, faded away, when he had given some new directions; for, +seizing me again, by the wrist, he dragged me to the place,--I had +nearly said of execution!--There, by his previous orders, all were in +waiting,--all was ready!--Oh, Sir Jaspar! how is it that life still +holds, in those periods when all our earthly hopes, and even our +faculties of happiness, seem for ever entombed.' + +The bitterest sighs again interrupted her narration; but neither the +humanity nor the politeness of Sir Jaspar could combat any longer his +curiosity, and he conjured her to proceed. + +'The civil ceremony, dreadful, dreadful! however little awful compared +with that of the church, was instantly begun; in the midst of the buz of +business, the clamour of many tongues, the sneers of contempt, and the +laughter of derision; with an irreverence that might have suited a +theatre, and with a mockery of which the grossest buffoons would have +been ashamed. Scared and disordered, I understood not,--I heard not a +word; and my parched lips, and burning mouth, could not attempt any +articulation. + +'In a minute or two, this pretended formality was interrupted, by +information that a new messenger from the Convention demanded immediate +admittance. The commissary swore furiously that he should wait till the +six thousand pounds were secured; and vociferously ordered that the +ceremony should be hurried on. He was obeyed! and though my quivering +lips were never opened to pronounce an assenting syllable, the ceremony, +the direful ceremony, was finished, and I was called,--Oh heaven and +earth!--his wife! his married wife!--The Marchioness, at the same +terrible moment, broke into the apartment. The conflict between horrour +and tenderness was too violent, and, as she encircled me, with tortured +pity, in her arms, I sunk senseless at her feet. + +'Upon recovering, the first words that I heard were, "Look up, my child, +look up! we are alone!" and I beheld the unhappy Marchioness, whose face +seemed a living picture of commiserating woe. The commissary had been +forced away by a new express; but he had left a charge that I should be +ready to give my signature upon his return. The Marchioness then, with +expressions melting, at once, and exalting, condescended to pour forth +the most soothing acknowledgments; yet conjured me not to leave my own +purpose unanswered, by signing the promissory-note, till the Bishop +should be restored to liberty, with a passport, by which he might +instantly quit this spot of persecution. To find something was yet to be +done, and to be done for the Bishop, once more revived me; and when the +commissary re-entered the apartment, neither order nor menace could +intimidate me to take the pen, till my conditions were fulfilled. My +life, indeed, at that horrible period, had lost all value but what was +attached to the Bishop, the Marchioness, and my beloved Gabriella; for +myself, it seemed, thenceforth, reserved not for wretchedness, but +despair! + +'The passport was soon prepared; but when the Bishop was brought in to +receive it in my presence, he rejected it, even with severity, till he +heard,--from myself heard!--that the marriage-ceremony, as it was +called! was already over. Into what a consternation was he then flung! +Pale grew his reverend visage, and his eyes glistened with tears. He +would not, however, render abortive the sacrifice which he could no +longer impede, and I signed the promissory-note; while the Marchioness +wept floods of tears upon my neck; and the Bishop, with a look of +anguish that rent my heart, waved, with speechless sorrow, his venerable +hand, in token of a blessing, over my head; and, deeply sighing, +silently departed. + +'The commissary, forced immediately away, to transact some business with +his successor at this place, committed me to the charge of the mayor. I +was shewn to a sumptuous apartment; which I entered with a shuddering +dread that the gloomiest prison could scarcely have excited. The +Marchioness followed her brother; and I remained alone, trembling, +shaking, almost fainting at every sound, in a state of terrour and +misery indescribable. The commissary, however, returned not; and the +mayor, to whom my title of horrour was a title of respect, paid me +attentions of every sort. + +'In the afternoon, the Marchioness brought me the reviving tidings that +the Bishop was departed. He had promised to endeavour to join Gabriella. +The rest of this direful day passed, and no commissary appeared: but the +anguish of unremitting expectation kept aloof all joy at his absence, +for, in idea, he appeared every moment! Nevertheless, after sitting up +together the whole fearful night, we saw the sun rise the next morning +without any new horrour. I then received a visit from the mayor, with +information that the insurrection at ---- had obliged the commissary to +repair thither, and that he had just sent orders that I should join him +in the evening. Resistance was out of the question. The tender +Marchioness demanded leave to accompany me; but the mayor interposed, +and forced her home, to prepare and deliver my wardrobe for the journey. +It was so long ere she returned, that the patience of the mayor was +almost exhausted; but when, at last, she arrived, what a change was +there in her air! Her noble aspect had recovered more than its usual +serenity; it was radiant with benevolence and pleasure; and, when we +were left an instant together, "My Juliet!" she cried, while beaming +smiles illumined her fine face, "my Juliet! my other child! blessed be +Heaven, I can now rescue our rescuer! I have found means to snatch her +from this horrific thraldom, in the very journey destined for its +accomplishment!" + +'She then briefly prepared me for meeting and seconding the scheme of +deliverance that she had devised with the excellent Ambroise; and we +separated,--with what tears, what regret,--yet what perturbation of +rising hope! + +'All that the Marchioness had arranged was executed. Ambroise, disguised +as an old waggoner, preceded me to the small town of ----, where the +postilion, he knew, must stop to water the horses. Here I obtained leave +to alight for some refreshment, of which an old municipal officer, who +had me in charge, was not sorry, in idea, to partake; as he could not +entertain the most distant notion that I had formed any plan of escape. +As soon, however, as I was able to disengage myself from his sight, a +chambermaid, who had previously been gained by Ambroise, wrapt me in a +man's great coat, put on me a black wig, and a round hat, and, pointing +to a back door, went out another way; speaking aloud, as if called; to +give herself the power of asserting, afterwards, that the evasion had +been effected in her absence. The pretended waggoner then took me under +his arm, and flew with me across a narrow passage, where we met, by +appointment, an ancient domestic of the Bishop's; who conveyed me to a +small house, and secreted me in a dark closet, of which the entrance was +not discernible. He then went forth upon his own affairs, into such +streets and places as were most public; and my good waggoner found means +to abscond. + +'Here, while rigidly retaining the same posture, and scarcely daring to +breathe any more than to move, I heard the house entered by sundry +police-officers, who were pursuing me with execrations. They came into +the very room in which I was concealed; and beat round the wainscot in +their search; touching even the board which covered the small aperture, +not door, by which I was hidden from their view! I was not, however, +discovered; nor was the search, there, renewed; from the adroitness of +the domestic by whom I had been saved, in having shewn himself in the +public streets before I had yet been missed. + +'In this close recess, nearly without air, wholly without motion, and +incapable of taking any rest; but most kindly treated by the wife of the +good domestic, I passed a week. All search in that neighbourhood being +then over, I changed my clothing for some tattered old garments; stained +my face, throat, and arms; and, in the dead of the night, quitted my +place of confinement, and was conducted by my protector to a spot about +half a mile from the town. There I found Ambroise awaiting me, with a +little cart; in which he drove me to a small mean house, in the vicinity +of the sea-coast. He introduced me to the landlord and landlady as his +relation, and then left me to take some repose; while he went forth to +discover whether the pilot were yet sailed. + +'He had delivered to me my work-bag, in which was my purse, generously +stored by the Marchioness, with all the ready money that she could +spare, for my journey. For herself, she held it essential to remain +stationary, lest a general emigration should alienate the family-fortune +from every branch of her house. Excellent lady! At the moment she thus +studied the prosperity of her descendants, she lived upon roots, while +deprived of all she most valued in life, the society of her only child! + +'To repose the good Ambroise left me; but far from my pillow was repose! +the dreadful idea of flying one who might lay claim to the honoured +title of husband for pursuing me; the consciousness of being held by an +engagement which I would not fulfil, yet could not deny; the uncertainty +whether my revered Bishop had effected his escape; and the necessity of +abandoning my generous benefactress when surrounded by danger; joined to +the affliction of returning to my native country,--the country of my +birth, my heart, and my pride!--without name, without fortune, without +friends! no parents to receive me, no protector to counsel me; +unacknowledged by my family,--unknown even to the children of my +father!--Oh! bitter, bitter were my feelings!--Yet when I considered +that no action of my life had offended society, or forfeited my rights +to benevolence, I felt my courage revive, for I trusted in Providence. +Sleep then visited my eye-lids, though hard was the bed upon which I +sought it; hard and cold! the month was December. Happy but short +respite of forgetfulness! Four days and nights followed, of the most +terrible anxiety, ere Ambroise returned. He then brought me the +dismaying intelligence, that circumstances had intervened, in his own +affairs, that made it impossible for him, at that moment, to quit his +country. Yet less than ever could my voyage be delayed, the commissary +having, in his fury, advertised a description of my person, and set a +price upon my head; publicly vowing that I should be made over to the +guillotine, when found, for an example. Oh reign so justly called of +terrour! How lawless is its cruelty! How blest by all mankind will be +its termination. + +'It now became necessary to my safety, that Ambroise, who was known to +be a domestic of the Marchioness, should not appear to belong to me; +and that, to avoid any suspicion that I was the person advertised by the +commissary, I should present myself to the pilot as an accidental +passenger. + +'Ambroise had found means, during his absence, to communicate with the +Marchioness; from whom he brought me a letter of the sweetest kindness; +and intelligence and injunctions of the utmost importance. + +'The commissary, she informed me, immediately upon my disappearance, had +presented the promissory-note to the bankers; but they had declared it +not to be valid, till it were either signed by the heir of the late Earl +Melbury, or re-signed, with a fresh date, by Lord Denmeath. The +commissary, therefore, had sent over an agent to Lord Denmeath, to +claim, as my husband, the six thousand pounds, before my evasion should +be known. The Marchioness conjured me, nevertheless, to forbear applying +to my family; or avowing my name, or my return to my native land, till I +should be assured of the safety of the Bishop; whom the commissary had +now ordered to be pursued, and upon whom the most horrible vengeance +might be wreaked, should my escape to this happy land transpire, before +his own should be effected: though, while I was still supposed to be +within reach of our cruel persecutor, the Bishop, even if he were +seized, might merely be detained as an hostage for my future concession; +till happier days, or partial accident, might work his deliverance. + +'Inviolably I have adhered to these injunctions. In a note which I left +for the Marchioness, with Ambroise, I solemnly assured her, that no +hardships of adversity, nor even any temptation to happiness, should +make me waver in my given faith; or tear from me the secret of my name +and story, till I again saw, or received tidings of the Bishop. And Oh +how light, how even blissful,--in remembrance, at least,--will prove +every sacrifice, should the result be the preservation of the most pious +and exemplary of men! But, alas! I have been discovered, while still in +the dark as to his destiny, by means which no self-denial could +preclude, no fortitude avert! + +'The indefatigable Ambroise had learned that the pilot was to sail the +next evening for Dover. I now added patches and bandages to my stained +skin, and garb of poverty; and stole, with Ambroise, to the sea-side; +where we wandered till past midnight; when Ambroise descried a little +vessel, and the pilot; and, soon afterwards, sundry passengers, who, in +dead silence, followed each other into the boat. I then approached, and +called out to beg admission. I desired Ambroise to be gone; but he was +too anxious to leave me. Faithful, excellent creature! how he suffered +while I pleaded in vain! how he rejoiced when one of the passengers, +open to heavenly pity, humanely returned to the shore to assist me into +the boat! Ambroise took my last adieu to the Marchioness; and I set sail +for my loved, long lost, and fearfully recovered native land. + +'The effect upon my spirits of this rescue from an existence of +unmingled horrour, was so exhilarating, so exquisite, that no sooner was +my escape assured, than, from an impulse irresistible, I cast my ring, +which I had not yet dared throw away, into the sea; and felt as if my +freedom were from that moment restored! And, though innumerable +circumstances were unpleasant in the way, I was insensible to all but my +release; and believed that only to touch the British shore would be +liberty and felicity! + +'Little did I then conceive, impossible was it I should foresee, the +difficulties, dangers, disgraces, and distresses towards which I was +plunging! Too, too soon was I drawn from my illusion of perfect +happiness! and my first misfortune was the precursor of every evil by +which I have since been pursued;--I lost my purse; and, with it, away +flew my fancied independence, my ability to live as I pleased, and to +devote all my thoughts and my cares to consoling my beloved friend! + +'Vainly in London, and vainly at Brighthelmstone I sought that friend. I +would have returned to the capital, to attempt tracing her by minuter +enquiry; but I was deterred by poverty, and the fear of personal +discovery. I could only, therefore, continue on the spot named by the +Marchioness for our general rendezvous, where the opening of every day +gave me the chance of some direction how to proceed. But alas! from that +respected Marchioness two letters only have ever reached me! The first +assured me that she was safe and well, and that the Bishop, though +forced to take a distant route, had escaped his pursuers: but that the +commissary was in hourly augmenting rage, from Lord Denmeath's refusing +to honour the promissory-note, till the marriage should be authenticated +by the bride, with the signature and acquittal of the Bishop. The second +letter,--second and last from this honoured lady!--said that all was +well; but bid me wait with patience, perhaps to a long period, for +further intelligence, and console and seek to dwell with her Gabriella: +or, should any unforeseen circumstances inevitably separate us, +endeavour to fix myself in some respectable and happy family, whose +social felicity might bring, during this dread interval of suspense, +reflected happiness to my own heart: but still to remain wholly +unknown, till I should be joined by the Bishop. + +'Cast thus upon myself, and for a time indefinite, how hardly, and how +variously have I existed! But for the dreadful fear of worse, darkly and +continually hovering over my head, I could scarcely have summoned +courage for my unremitting trials. But whatever I endured was constantly +light in comparison with what I had escaped! Yet how was I tried,--Oh +Sir Jaspar! how cruelly! in resisting to present myself to my family! in +forbearing to pronounce the kind appellation of brother! the soft, +tender title of sister! Oh! in their sight, when witnessing their +goodness, when blest by their kindness, and urged by the most generous +sweetness to confidence, how violent, how indescribable have been my +struggles, to withhold from throwing myself into their arms, with the +fair, natural openness of sisterly affection! But Lord Denmeath, who +disputed, or denied, my relation to their family, was their uncle and +guardian. To him to make myself known, would have been to blight every +hope of concealment from the commissary, whose claims were precisely in +unison with the plan of his lordship, for making me an alien to my +country. What, against their joint interests and authority, would be the +power of a sister or a brother under age? Often, indeed, I was tempted +to trust them in secret; and oh how consolatory to my afflicted heart +would have been such a trust! but they had yet no establishment, and +they were wards of my declared enemy. How unavailing, therefore, to +excite their generous zeal, while necessarily forced to exact that our +ties of kindred should remain unacknowledged? Upon their honour I could +rely; but by their feelings, their kind, genuine, ardent feelings, I +must almost unavoidably have been betrayed. + +'To my Gabriella, also, I have forborne to unbosom my sorrows, and +reveal my alarms, that I might spare her already so deeply wounded soul, +the restless solicitude of fresh and cruel uncertainties. She concludes, +that though her letters have miscarried, or been lost, her honoured +mother and uncle still reside safely together, in the villa of the +Marchioness, in which she had bidden them adieu. And that noble mother +charged me to hide, if it should be possible, from her unhappy child, +the terrible history in which I had borne so considerable a part, till +she could give assurances to us both of her own and the Bishop's safety. +Alas! nine months have now worn away since our separation, yet no news +arrives!--no Bishop appears! + +'And now, Sir Jaspar, you have fully before you the cause and history +of my long concealment, my strange wanderings, and the apparently +impenetrable mystery in which I have been involved: why I could not +claim my family; why I could not avow my situation; why I dared not even +bear my name; all, all is before you! Oh! could I equally display to you +the events in store! tell you whether my revered Bishop is safe!--or +whether his safety, his precious life, can only be secured by my +perpetual captivity! One thing alone, in the midst of my complicate +suspenses, one thing alone is certain; no consideration that this world +can offer, will deter me from going back, voluntarily, to every evil +from which I have hitherto been flying, should the Bishop again be +seized, and should his release hang upon my final self-devotion!' + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXI + + +Sir Jaspar had listened to this narrative with trembling interest, and a +species of emotion that was indefinable; his head bent forward, and his +mouth nearly as wide open, from the fear of losing a word, as his eyes, +from eagerness not to lose a look: but, when it was finished, he +exclaimed, in a sort of transport, 'Is this all? Joy, then, to great +Caesar! Why 'tis nothing! My little fairies are all skipping in ecstacy; +while the wickeder imps are making faces and wry mouths, not to see +mischief enough in the wind to afford them a supper! This a marriage? +Why you are free as air! + + 'The little birds that fly, + With careless ease, from tree to tree,' + +are not more at liberty. Ah! fair enslaver! were I as unshackled!'-- + +The smiles that, momentarily, broke their way through the tears and +sadness of Juliet shewed how much this declaration was in unison with +her wishes; but, exhausted by relating a history so deeply affecting to +her, she could enter into no discussion; and remained ceaselessly +weeping, till the Baronet, with an expression of surprize, asked whether +the meeting that would now ensue with her own family, could offer her no +consolation? + +Rousing, then, from her sorrows, to a grateful though forced exertion, +'Oh yes!' she cried, 'yes! Your generous goodness has given me new +existence! But horrour and distress have pursued me with such +accumulating severity, that the shock is still nearly overpowering. +Yet,--let me not diminish the satisfaction of your beneficence. I am +going now to be happy!--How big a word!--how new to my feelings!--A +sister!--a brother!--Have I, indeed, such relations?' smiling even +brightly through her tears. 'And will Lady Aurora,--the sweetest of +human beings!--condescend to acknowledge me? Will the amiable Lord +Melbury deign to support, to protect me? Oh Sir Jaspar, how have you +brought all this to bear? Where are these dearest persons? And when, and +by what means, am I to be blest with their sight, and honoured with +their sanction to my claim of consanguinity?' + +Sir Jaspar begged her to compose her spirits, promising to satisfy her +when she should become more calm. But, her thoughts having once turned +into this channel, all her tenderest affections gushed forth to oppose +their being diverted into any other; and the sound, the soul-penetrating +sound of sister!--of brother! once allowed utterance, vibrated through +her frame with a thousand soft emotions, now first welcomed without +check to her heart. + +Urgently, therefore, she desired an explanation of the manner in which +this commission had been given; of the tone of voice in which she had +been named; and of the time and place destined for the precious meeting. + +Sir Jaspar, though enchanted to see her revived, and enraptured to give +ear to her thanks, and to suck in her praises, was palpably embarrassed +how to answer her enquiries; which he suffered her to continue so long +without interruption or reply, that, her eagerness giving way to +anxiety, she solemnly required to know, whether it were by accident, or +through his own information, that Lord Melbury and Lady Aurora had been +made acquainted with her rights, or, more properly, with her hopes and +her fears in regard to their kindness and support. + +Still no answer was returned, but smiling looks, and encouraging +assurances. + +The most alarming doubts now disturbed the just opening views of Juliet +'Ah! Sir Jaspar!' she cried, 'why this procrastination? Practise no +deception, I conjure you!--Alas, you make me fear that you have acted +commission?'-- + +He protested, upon his honour, that that was not the case; yet asked why +she had settled that his commission came from Lady Aurora, or Lord +Melbury? + +'Good Heaven!'--exclaimed Juliet, astonished and affrighted. + +He had only, he said, affirmed, that his commission was to take her to +those noble personages; not that it had been from themselves that it had +emanated. + +Again every feature of Juliet seemed changed by disappointment; and the +accent of reproach was mingled with that of grief, as she pronounced, +'Oh Sir Jaspar! can you, then, have played with my happiness? have +trifled with my hopes?'-- + +'Not to be master of the whole planetary system,' he cried, 'with Venus, +in her choicest wiles, at its head! I have honourably had my commission; +but it has been for, not from your honourable relations. Those little +invisible, but active beings, who have taken my conscience in charge, +have spurred and goaded me on to this deed, ever since I saw your +distress at the fair Gallic needle-monger's. Night and day have they +pinched me and jirked me, to seek you, to find you, and to rescue you +from that brawny caitiff.'-- + +'Alas! to what purpose? If I have no asylum, what is my security?--' + +'If I have erred, my beauteous fugitive,' said Sir Jaspar, archly, 'I +must order the horses to turn about! We shall still, probably, be in +time to accompany the happy captive to his cell.' + +Juliet involuntarily screamed, but besought, at least, to know how she +had been traced; and what had induced the other pursuit; or caused the +seizure, which she had so unexpectedly witnessed, of her persecutor? + +He answered, that, restless to fathom a mystery, the profundity of which +left, to his active imagination, as much space for distant hope as for +present despair, he had invited Riley to dinner, upon quitting Frith +Street; and, through his means, had discovered the pilot; whose +friendship and services were secured, without scruple, by a few guineas. +By this man, Sir Jaspar was shewn the advertisement, which he now +produced; and which Juliet, though nearly overcome with shame, begged to +read. + + 'ELOPED from her HUSBAND, + + 'A young woman, tall, fair, blue-eyed; her face oval; her nose + Grecian; her mouth small; her cheeks high coloured; her chin + dimpled; and her hair of a glossy light brown. + + 'She goes commonly by the name of Miss Ellis. + + 'Whoever will send an account where she may be met with, or where + she has been seen, to ---- Attorney in ---- Street London, shall + receive a very handsome reward.' + +The pilot further acknowledged to Sir Jaspar, that his employer had, +formerly, been at the head of a gang of smugglers and swindlers; though, +latterly, he had been engaged in business of a much more serious nature. + +This intelligence, with an internal conviction that the marriage must +have been forced, decided Sir Jaspar to denounce the criminal to +justice; and then to take every possible measure, to have him either +imprisoned for trial, or sent out of the country, by the alien-bill, +before he should overtake the fair fugitive. His offences were, it +seems, notorious, and the warrant for his seizure was readily granted; +with an order for his being embarked by the first opportunity: +nevertheless, the difficulty to discover him had almost demolished the +scheme: though the Baronet had aided the search in person, to enjoy the +bliss of being the first to announce freedom to the lovely Runaway; and +to offer her immediate protection. + +But the pilot, who, after being well paid for his information, had +himself absconded, delayed all proceedings till he was found out, by +Riley, upon the Salisbury-road. He evaded giving any further +intelligence, till the glitter of a few guineas restored his spirit of +communication, when he was brought to confess, that his master was in +that neighbourhood; where they had received assurances that the fugitive +herself was lodged. Sir Jaspar instantly, then, took the measures of +which the result, seconded by sundry happy accidents, had been so +seasonable and prosperous. 'And never,' said he, in conclusion, 'did my +delectable little friends serve me so cogently, as in suggesting my +stratagem at your sight. If you do not directly name, they squeaked in +my ear, her brother and sister, she may demur at accompanying you: if +her brother and sister honour your assertion, you will fix the matchless +Wanderer in her proper sphere; if they protest against it,--what giant +stands in the way to your rearing and protecting the lovely flower +yourself?--This was the manner in which these hovering little beings +egged me on; but whether, with the playful philanthropy of courteous +sylphs, to win me your gentle smiles; or whether, with the wanton +malignity of little devils, to annihilate me with your frowns, is still +locked up in the womb of your countenance!' + +He then farther added, that Riley had accompanied him throughout the +expedition; but that, always exhilarated by scenes which excited +curiosity, or which produced commotion; he had scampered into the inn, +to witness the culprit's being secured, while Sir Jaspar had paid his +respects at the chaise. + +With a disappointed heart, and with affrighted spirits, Juliet now saw +that she must again, and immediately, renew her melancholy flight, in +search of a solitary hiding-place; till she could be assured of the +positive embarkation of the commissary. + +In vain Sir Jaspar pressed to pursue his design of conveying her to her +family; the dread of Lord Denmeath, who was in actual communication and +league with her persecutor, decided her refusal; though, while she had +believed in Sir Jaspar's commission for seeking her, neither risk nor +doubt had had power to check the ardour of her impatience, to cast +herself upon the protection of Lord Melbury and Lady Aurora: but she +felt no courage,--however generously they had succoured and +distinguished her as a distressed individual,--to rush upon them, +uncalled and unexpected, as a near relation; and one who had so large a +claim, could her kindred be proved, upon their inheritance. + +Her most earnest wish was to rejoin her Gabriella; but there, where she +had been discovered, she could least hope to lie concealed. She must +still, therefore, fly, in lonely silence. But she besought Sir Jaspar to +take her any whither rather than to Salisbury, where she had had the +horrour of being examined by the advertisement. + +Proud to receive her commands, he recommended to her a farm-house about +three miles from the city, of which the proprietor and his wife, who +were worthy and honest people, had belonged, formerly, to his family. + +She thankfully agreed to this proposal: but, when they arrived at the +farm, they heard that the master and mistress were gone to a +neighbouring fair, whence they were not expected back for an hour or +two; and that they had locked up the parlour. Some labourers being in +the kitchen, Sir Jaspar proposed driving about in the interval; and +ordered the postilion to Wilton. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXII + + +Absorbed in grief, and unable to converse, though endeavouring to listen +to the Baronet, Juliet was only drawn from her melancholy reverie, by +the rattling of the carriage upon a pavement, as it passed, through a +spacious gate, into the court-yard of a magnificent country seat. + +She demanded what this meant. + +Where better, he demanded in return, could she while away the interval +of waiting, than in viewing the finest works of art, displayed in a +temple consecrated to their service? + +This was a scheme to force back all her consideration. In hearing him +pronounce the word Wilton, she had merely thought of the town; not of +the mansion of the Earl of Pembroke; which she now positively refused +entering; earnestly representing the necessity, as well as propriety, in +a situation so perilous, of the most entire obscurity. + +He assured her that she would be less liable to observation in a +repository of the _beaux arts_, at the villa of a nobleman, than by +waiting in a post-chaise, before the door of an inn; as he must +indispensably change horses; and grant a little repose to his old groom, +who had been out with him all day. + +This she could not dispute, convinced, herself, that her greatest danger +lay in being recognized, or remarked, within the precincts of an inn. + +Nevertheless, how enter into such a mansion in a garb so unfit for +admission? She besought him to ask leave that she might remain in some +empty apartment, as an humble dependent, while he viewed the house. + +Extremely pleased by an idea so consonant to his fantastic taste, he +answered her aloud, in alighting, 'Yes, yes, Mrs Betty! if you wish to +see the rooms, that you may give an account of all the pretty images to +my little ones, there can be no objection.' + +She descended from the chaise, meaning to remonstrate upon this +misconstruction of her request; but, not allowing her the opportunity, +he gaily represented, to the person who shewed him the mansion, that he +was convoying a young nursery-maid, the daughter of a worthy old tenant, +to his grand-children; and that she had a fancy to see all the finery, +that she might make out some pretty stories, to tell the little dears, +when she wanted to put them to sleep. + +Juliet, whose deep distress made her as little desire to see as to be +seen, repeated that she wished to sit still in some spare room: he +walked on, pretending not to hear her, addressing himself to his +_Cicerone_, whom he kept at his side; and therefore, as there was no +female in view, to whom she could apply, she was compelled to follow. + +Not as Juliet she followed; Juliet whose soul was delightedly 'awake to +tender strokes of art,' whether in painting, music, or poetry; who never +saw excellence without emotion; and whose skill and taste would have +heightened her pleasure into rapture, her approbation into enthusiasm, +in viewing the delicious assemblage of painting, statuary, antiques, +natural curiosities, and artificial rarities, of Wilton;--not as Juliet, +she followed; but as one to whom every thing was indifferent; whose +discernment was gone, whose eyes were dimmed, whose powers of perception +were asleep, and whose spirit of enjoyment was annihilated. Figures of +the noblest sculpture; busts of historical interest; _alto_ and _basso +relievos_ of antique elegance; marbles, alabasters, spars, and lavers of +all colours, and in all forms; pictures glowing into life, and statues +appearing to command their beholders;--all that, at another period, +would have made her forget every thing but themselves, now vainly +solicited a moment of her attention. + +It was by no means the fault of the Baronet, that this nearly morbid +insensibility was not conquered, by the revivyfying objects which +surrounded her. He suffered her not to pass an AEsculapius, without +demanding a prescription for her health; a Mercury, without supplicating +an ordonnance for her spirits; a Minerva, without claiming an +exhortation to courage; nor a Venus, without pointing out, that +perpetual beauty beams but through perpetual smiles: couching every +phrase under emblematical recommendations of story-subjects for the +nursery. + +When the guide stood somewhat aloof, 'What say you, now,' he exultingly +whispered, 'to my famous little friends? Did they ever devise a more +ingenious gambol? From your slave, by a mere wave of their wand, they +have transformed me into your master! Ah, wicked syren! a dimple of +yours demolishes all their work, and again totters me down to your +feet!' + +Nevertheless, even in this nearly torpid state, accident having raised +her eyes to Vandyke's children of Charles the First, the extraordinary +attraction of that fascinating picture, was exciting, unconsciously, +some pleasure, when the sound of a carriage announcing a party to see +the house, she petitioned Sir Jaspar to avoid, if possible, being known. + +All compliance with whatever she could wish, the Baronet promised to +nail his eyes to the lowest picture in the room, should they be joined +by any stragglers; and then, relinquishing all further examination, he +begged permission to wait for his horses, in an apartment which is +presided by a noble picture of Salvator Rosa; to which, never +discouraged, he strove to call the attention of Juliet. + +Nothing could more aptly harmonize, not only with his enthusiastic +eulogiums, but with his quaint fancy, than that exquisite effusion of +the painter's imagination, 'where, surely,' said the rapturous Baronet, +'his pencil has been guided, if not impelled, in every stroke, by my +dear little cronies the fairies! And that variety of vivifying objects; +that rich, yet so elegant scenery, of airy gaiety, and ideal felicity, +is palpably a representation of fairy land itself! Is it thither my dear +little friends will, some day, convey me? And shall I be metamorphosed +into one of those youthful swains, that are twining their garlands with +such bewitching grace? And shall I myself elect the fair one, around +whom I shall entwine mine?' + +This harangue was interrupted, by the appearance of a newly arrived +party; but vainly Sir Jaspar kept his word, in reclining upon his +crutches, till he was nearly prostrate upon the ground; he was +immediately challenged by a lady; and that lady was Mrs Ireton. + +Juliet, inexpressibly shocked, hastily glided from the room, striving to +cover her face with her luxuriously curling hair. She rambled about the +mansion, till she met with a chambermaid, from whom she entreated +permission to wait in some private apartment, till the carriage to which +she belonged should be ready. + +The maid, obligingly, took her to a small room; and Juliet, taught by +her cruel confusion at the sight of Mrs Ireton, the censure, if not +slander, to which travelling alone with a man, however old, might make +her liable; determined, at whatever hazard, to hang, henceforth, solely +upon herself. She resolved, therefore, to beg the assistance of this +maid-servant, to direct her to some safe rural lodging. + +But how great was her consternation, when, requiring, now, her purse, +she suddenly missed,--what, in her late misery, she had neither guarded +nor thought of, her packet and her work-bag! + +Every pecuniary resource was now sunk at a blow! even the deposit, which +she had held as sacred, of Harleigh, was lost! + +At what period of her disturbances this misfortune had happened, she had +no knowledge; nor whether her property had been dropt in her distress, +or purloined; or simply left at the inn; the consequence, every way, was +equally dreadful: and but for Sir Jaspar, whom all sense of propriety +had told her, the moment before, to shun, yet to whom, now, she became +tied, by absolute necessity, her Difficulties, at this conjuncture, +would have been nearly distracting. + +When the carriage was returned, with fresh horses, Sir Jaspar found her +in a situation of augmented dismay, that filled him with concern; though +he also saw, that it was tempered by a grateful softness to himself, +that he thought more than ever bewitching. + +He assured her that Mrs Ireton, whom he had adroitly shaken off, had not +perceived her; but the moment that they were re-seated in the chaise, +she communicated to him, with the most painful suffering, the new, and +terrible stroke, by which she was oppressed. + +Viewing this as a mere pecuniary embarrassment, the joy of becoming +again useful, if not necessary, to her, sparkled in his eyes with almost +youthful vivacity; though he engaged to send his valet immediately to +the inn, to make enquiries, and offer rewards, for recovering the +strayed goods. + +This second loss of her purse, she suffered Sir Jaspar, without any +attempt at justification, to call an active epigram upon modern female +drapery; which prefers continual inconvenience, innumerable privations, +and the most distressing untidiness, to the antique habit of modesty and +good housewifery, which, erst, left the public display of the human +figure to the statuary; deeming that to support the female character was +more essential than to exhibit the female form. + +This second loss, also, by carrying back her reflections to the first, +brought to her mind several circumstances, which cast a new light upon +that origin of the various misfortunes and adventures which had followed +her arrival; and all her recollections, now she knew the rapacity and +worthlessness of the pilot, pointed out to her that she had probably +been robbed, at the moment when, impulsively, she was pouring forth, +upon her knees, her thanks for her deliverance. Her work-bag, which, +upon that occasion, she had deposited upon her seat, she remembered, +though she had then attributed it to his vigilance and care, seeing in +his hands, when she arose. + +Arrived at the farm-house, they found themselves expected by the farmer +and his wife, who paid the utmost respect to Sir Jaspar; but who saw, +with an air of evidently suspicious surprize, the respect which he +himself paid to Mrs Betty, the nurse-maid; whose beauty, with her rustic +attire, and disordered hair, would have made them instantly conclude her +to be a lost young creature, had not the decency of her look, the +dignity of her manner, and the grief visible in her countenance, spoken +irresistibly in favour of her innocence. They spoke not, however, in +favour of that of Sir Jaspar, whose old character of gallantry was well +known to them; and induced their belief, that he was inveigling this +young woman from her friends, for her moral destruction. They +accommodated her, nevertheless, for the night; but, whatever might be +their pity, determined, should the Baronet visit her the next day, to +invent some other occupation for their spare bedroom. + +Unenviable was that night, as passed by their lodger, however acceptable +to her was any asylum. She spent it in continual alarm; now shaking with +the terrour of pursuit; now affrighted with the prospect of being +pennyless; now shocked to find herself cast completely into the power of +a man, who, however aged, was her professed admirer; and now distracted +by varying resolutions upon the measures which she ought immediately to +take. And when, for a few minutes, her eyes, from extreme fatigue, +insensibly closed, her dreams, short and horrible, renewed the dreadful +event of the preceding day; again she saw herself pursued; again felt +herself seized; and she blessed the piercing shrieks with which she +awoke, though they brought to her but the transient relief that she was +safe for the passing moment. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIII + + +Sir Jaspar arrived late the next morning, in wrath, he said, with his +valet, who was not yet returned with the result of his enquiries from +the inn; but before Juliet could express any uneasiness at the delay, +the farmer and his wife, in evident confusion, though with professions +of great respect, humbly besought that his honour would excuse their +mentioning, that they expected a relation, to pass some days with them, +who would want the spare apartment. + +The Baronet, however displeased, humourously answered that their +relation was mightily welcome to pass his days with them, provided he +would be so kind as to go to the neighbouring public-house to take his +dreams: but Juliet, much hurt, though with an air of dignity that made +her hosts look more abashed than herself, desired that she might not +incommode the family; and entreated Sir Jaspar to convey her to the +nearest town. + +Sir Jaspar, rather to confound than to gratify the farmer, flung down a +guinea, which the man vainly sought to decline; and then led the way to +the carriage; at the door of which, stopping, he said, with an arch +smile, that he was not yet superannuated enough to take place of a fair +female; and desired that Mrs Betty would get in first. + +Shocked as Juliet felt to find herself thus suspiciously situated, the +affront was soon absorbed in the dread of greater evil; in the affright +of pursuit, and the dismay of being exposed to improper pecuniary +obligations. + +Not knowing the country, and not heeding the way that she went, she +concluded that they were driving to some neighbouring village, in search +of a new lodging; till she perceived that the carriage, which was drawn +by four horses, was laboriously mounting a steep acclivity. + +Looking then around her, she found herself upon a vast plain; nor house, +nor human being, nor tree, nor cattle within view. + +Surprised, 'Where are we?' she cried, 'Sir Jaspar? and whither are we +going?' + +To a quick meeting with his valet, he answered, by a difficult road, +rarely passed, because out of the common track. + +They then quietly proceeded; Juliet, wrapt up in her own fears and +affairs, making no comment upon the looks of enjoyment, and contented +taciturnity of her companion; till the groom, riding up to the window, +said that the horses could go no further. + +Sir Jaspar ordered them a feed; and enquired of Juliet whether she would +chuse, while they took a little rest, to mount on foot to the summit of +the ascent, and examine whether any horsemen were yet within sight. + +Glad to breathe a few minutes alone, she alighted and walked forward; +though slowly, and with eyes bent upon the turf; till she was struck by +the appearance of a wide ditch between a circular double bank; and +perceived that she was approaching the scattered remains of some ancient +building, vast, irregular, strange, and in ruins. + +Excited by sympathy in what seemed lonely and undone, rather than by +curiosity, she now went on more willingly, though not less sadly; till +she arrived at a stupendous assemblage of enormous stones, of which the +magnitude demanded ocular demonstration to be entitled to credibility. +Yet, though each of them, taken separately, might seem, from its +astonishing height and breadth, there, like some rock, to have been +placed from 'the beginning of things,' and though not even the rudest +sculpture denoted any vestige of human art, still the whole was clearly +no phenomenon of nature. The form, that might still be traced, of an +antique structure, was evidently circular and artificial; and here and +there, supported by gigantic posts, or pillars, immense slabs of flat +stone were raised horizontally, that could only by manual art and labour +have been elevated to such a height. Many were fallen; many, with grim +menace, looked nodding; but many, still sustaining their upright +direction, were so ponderous that they appeared to have resisted all the +wars of the elements, in this high and bleak situation, for ages. + +Struck with solemn wonder, Juliet for some time wandered amidst these +massy ruins, grand and awful, though terrific rather than attractive. +Mounting, then, upon a fragment of the pile, she saw that the view all +around was in perfect local harmony with the wild edifice, or rather +remains of an edifice, into which she had pierced. She discerned, to a +vast extent, a boundless plain, that, like the ocean, seemed to have no +term but the horizon; but which, also like the ocean, looked as desert +as it was unlimited. Here and there flew a bustard, or a wheat-ear; all +else seemed unpeopled air, and uncultivated waste. + +In a state of mind so utterly deplorable as that of Juliet, this grand, +uncouth monument of ancient days had a certain sad, indefinable +attraction, more congenial to her distress, than all the polish, taste, +and delicacy of modern skill. The beauties of Wilton seemed appendages +of luxury, as well as of refinement; and appeared to require not only +sentiment, but happiness for their complete enjoyment: while the nearly +savage, however wonderful work of antiquity, in which she was now +rambling; placed in this abandoned spot, far from the intercourse, or +even view of mankind, with no prospect but of heath and sky; blunted, +for the moment, her sensibility, by removing her wide from all the +objects with which it was in contact; and insensibly calmed her spirits; +though not by dissipating her reverie. Here, on the contrary, was room +for 'meditation even to madness;' nothing distracted the sight, nothing +broke in upon attention, nor varied the ideas. Thought, uninterrupted +and uncontrouled, was master of the mind. + +Here, in deep and melancholy rumination, she remained, till she was +joined by the Baronet; who toiled after his fair charge with an eager +will, though with slack and discourteous feet. + +'Do you divine, my beauteous Wanderer,' he cried, 'what part of the +globe you now brighten? Have you developed my stratagem to surprize you +by a view of what, perhaps, you thought impossible, something curious, +and worthy of attention, though more antique than myself?' + +Juliet tried, but vainly, to make a civil speech; and Sir Jaspar, after +having vainly awaited it, went on. + +'You picture yourself, perhaps, in the original temple of Gog and Magog? +for what less than giants could have heaved stones such as these? but +'tis not so; and you, who are pious, must view this spot, with bended +knees and new ideas. Dart, then, around, the "liquid lustre of those +eyes,--so brightly mutable, so sweetly wild!"[12]--and behold in each +stony spectre, now staring you in the face, a petrified old Druid! for +learn, fair fugitive, you ramble now within the holy precincts of that +rude wonder of other days, and disgrace of modern geometry, Stonehenge.' + +[Footnote 12: Mason's Lady Coventry.] + +In almost any other frame of mind, Juliet, from various descriptions, +joined to the vicinity of Salisbury, would not have required any +nomenclator to have told her where she was: but she could now make no +reflections, save upon her own misery; and no combinations, that were +not relative to her own dangers. + +Sir Jaspar apologized that he had not more roughly handled the farmer +and his wife, for their inhospitality; and frankly owned that it was not +from the milkiness of his nature that he had been so docile, but from an +ardent eagerness to visit Stonehenge with so fair a companion. + +Juliet, alarmed, demanded whether he had not taken the route by which +they were to meet his valet? + +'I have all my life,' continued he, 'fostered, as the wish next my +heart, the idea of being the object of some marvellous adventure: but +fortune, more deaf, if possible, than blind! has hitherto famished all +my elevated desires, by keeping me to the strict regimen of mere common +life. Nevertheless, to die like a brute, without leaving behind me one +staring anecdote, to be recounted by my successors to my little nephews +and nieces;--no! I cannot resolve upon so hum-drum an exit. Late, +therefore, last night, I counselled with my tiny friends; and the rogues +told me that those whom adventures would not seek, must seek adventures. +They then suggested to me, that to visit some romantic spot, far removed +from all living ken, or a vast unfrequented plain; where no leering eye, +with deriding scrutiny, no envious ear, with prepared impertinence, +could peep, or overhear;--where not even a bird could find a twig for +the sole of his paw;--there to encounter a lovely nymph; to dally with +her in dulcet discourse; to feast upon the sweet notes of her melodious +voice;--while obedient fays, and sprightly elves, should accoutre some +chosen fragment with offerings appropriate to the place and the +occasion--' + +One of his grooms, here, demanded of him a private audience. + +He retired to some distance, and the heart-oppressed Juliet relieved her +struggling feelings by weeping without controul. + +While pondering upon her precarious destiny, she perceived, through an +opening between two large stones, that Sir Jaspar had placed himself +upon an eminence, where, apparently, by his gestures, he was engaged in +an animated discourse. + +She concluded that the valet de chambre was arrived from the inn; but, +soon afterwards, she was struck with motions so extraordinary, and by an +appearance of a vivacity so extravagant, that she almost feared the +imagination of the Baronet had played him false, and was superseding his +reason. She arose, and softly approaching, endeavoured to discover with +whom he was conversing; but could discern no one, and was the more +alarmed; though the nearer she advanced, the less he seemed to be an +object of pity; his countenance being as bright with glee, as his hands +and arms were busy with action. + +After some time, she caught his eye; when, ceasing all gesticulation, he +kissed his hand, with a motion that invited her approach; and, gallantly +resigning his seat, begged her permission to take one by her side. + +He was all smiling good humour; and his features, in defiance of his +age, expressed the most playful archness. 'It is not,' he cried, 'for +nothing, permit me to assure you, that I have prowled over this +druidical spot; for though the Druids have not been so debonnaire as to +re-animate themselves to address me, they have suffered a flat surface +of their petrifaction to be covered over with a whole army of my little +frequenters; who have dragged thither a parcel, and the Lord knows what +besides, that they have displayed, as you see, full before me; after +which, with their usual familiarity, up they have been mounting to my +shoulders, my throat, my ears, and my wig; and lolling all about me, in +mockery of my remonstrances; saying, Harkee, old Sir!--for they use very +little ceremony with me;--didst thou really fancy we would suffer the +loveliest lily of the valley to droop without any gentle shade, under +the blazing glare of this full light, while thy aukward clown of a valet +trots to the inn for her bonnet? or let her wait his plodding return, +for what other drapery her fair form may require? or permit her to be +famished in the open air, whilst thou art hopping and hobbling, and +hobbling and hopping, about these ruins, which thou art so fast +ossifying to resemble? No, old Sir! look what our wands have brought +hither for her! look!--but touch nothing for thy life! her own lily +hands alone must develop our fairy gifts.' + +Juliet, who, already, had observed, upon the nearest flat stone, a large +band-box, and a square new trunk, placed as supporters to an elegant +Japan basket, in which were arranged various refreshments; could not, +however disconcerted by attentions that she knew not how to acknowledge, +prevail upon herself to damp the exaltation of his spirits, by resisting +his entreaty that she would herself lift up the lid of the trunk and +open the band-box. + +The first of these machines presented to her sight a complete small +assortment of the finest linen; the second contained a white chip bonnet +of the most beautiful texture. + +This last excited a transient feeling of pleasure, in offering some +shade for her face, now exposed to every eye. She looked at it, +wistfully, a few minutes, anticipating its umbrageous succour; yet +irresolute, and fearing to give encouragement to the too evident +admiration of the Baronet. Her deliberation, nevertheless, seconded by +her wishes, was in his favour. She passed over, in her mind, that he +knew her origin, and high natural, however disputed expectations; and +that, with all his gallantry, he was not only aged and sickly, but a +gentleman in manners and sentiments, as much as in birth and rank of +life. He could not mean her dishonour; and to shew, since thus cast into +his hands, and loaded with obligations of long standing, as well as +recent, a voluntary confidence in his character and intentions, might, +happily, from mingling a sense of honour with a sense of shame, turn +aside what was wrong in his regard, and give pride and pleasure to a +nobler attachment, that might fix him her solid and disinterested friend +for life. + +Decided by this view of things, she thankfully consented to receive his +offerings, upon condition that he would permit her to consider him as +the banker of Lord Melbury and of Lady Aurora Granville. + +Enchanted by her acceptance, and enraptured by its manner, the first +sensation of the melted Baronet was to cast himself at her feet: but the +movement was checked by certain aches and pains; while the necessity of +picking up one of his crutches, which, in his transport, had fallen from +his hands, mournfully called him back from his gallantry to his +infirmities. + +At this moment, an 'Ah ha! here's the Demoiselle!--Here she is, faith!' +suddenly presented before them Riley, mounted upon a fragment of the +pile, to take a view around him. + +Starting, and in dread of some new horrour, Juliet looked at him aghast; +while, clapping his hands, and turbently approaching her, he exclaimed, +'Yes! here she is, _in propria persona_! I was afraid that she had +slipped through our fingers again! Monsieur _le cher Epoux_ will have a +pretty tight job of it to get her into conjugal trammels! he will, +faith!' + +To the other, and yet more horrible sensations of Juliet, this speech +added a depth of shame nearly overwhelming, from the implied obloquy +hanging upon the character of a wife eloping from her husband. + +Presently, however, all within was changed; re-invigourated, new strung! +and joy, irresistibly, beamed from her eyes, and hope glowed upon her +cheeks, as Riley related that, before he had left the inn upon the road, +he had himself seen the new Mounseer, with poor Surly, who had been +seized as an accomplice, packed off together for the sea-coast, whence +they were both, with all speed, to be embarked for their own dear +country. + +The Baronet waved his hand, in act of congratulation to Juliet, but +forbore speaking; and Riley went on. + +'They made confounded wry faces, and grimaces, both of them. I never saw +a grimmer couple! They amused me mightily; they did, faith! But I can't +compliment you, Demoiselle, upon your choice of a loving partner. He has +as hang-dog a physiognomy as a Bow Street prowler might wish to light +upon on a summer's day. A most fiend-like aspect, I confess. I don't +well make out what you took to him for, Demoiselle? His Cupid's arrows +must have been handsomely tipt with gold, to blind you to all that brass +of his brow and his port.' + +Sir Jaspar, distressed for Juliet, and much annoyed by this +interruption, however happy in the intelligence to which it was the +vehicle, enquired what chance had brought Mr Riley to Stonehenge? + +The chance, he answered, that generally ruled his actions, namely, his +own will and pleasure. He had found out, in his prowls about Salisbury, +that Sir Jaspar was to be followed to Stonehenge by a dainty repast; +and, deeming his news well worth a bumper to the loving sea-voyagers, he +had borrowed a horse of one of Master Baronet's grooms, to take his +share in the feast. + +The Baronet, at this hint, instantly, and with scrupulous politeness, +did the honours of his stores; though he was ready to gnash his teeth +with ire, at so mundane an appropriation of his fairy purposes. + +'What a rare hand you are, Demoiselle,' cried Riley, 'at hocus pocus +work! Who the deuce, with that Hebe face of yours, could have thought of +your being a married woman! Why, when I saw you at the old Bang'em's +concert, at Brighthelmstone, I should have taken you for a +boarding-school Miss. But you metamorphose yourself about so, one does +not know which way to look for you. Ovid was a mere fool to you. His +nymphs, turned into trees, and rivers, and flowers, and beasts, and +fishes, make such a staring chaos of lies, that one reads them without a +ray of reference to truth; like the tales of the Genii, or of old +Mother Goose. He makes such a comical hodge podge of animal, vegetable, +and mineral choppings and changes, that we should shout over them, as +our brats do at a puppet-shew, when old Nick teaches punchinello the +devil's dance down to hell; or pummels his wife to a mummy; if it were +not for the sly rogue's tickling one's ears so cajolingly with the +jingle of metre. But Demoiselle, here, scorns all that namby pamby +work.' + +Sir Jaspar tried vainly to call him to order; the embarrassment of +Juliet operated but as a stimulus to his caustic humour. + +'I have met with nothing like her, Master Baronet,' he continued, 'all +the globe over. Neither juggler nor conjuror is a match for her. She can +make herself as ugly as a witch, and as handsome as an angel. She'll +answer what one only murmurs in a whisper; and she won't hear a word, +when one bawls as loud as a speaking-trumpet. Now she turns herself into +a vagrant, not worth sixpence; and now, into a fine player and singer +that ravishes all ears, and might make, if it suited her fancy, a +thousand pounds at her benefit: and now, again, as you see, you can't +tell whether she's a house-maid, or a country girl! yet a devilish fine +creature, faith! as fine a creature as ever I beheld,--when she's in +that humour! Look but what a beautiful head of hair she's displaying to +us now! It becomes her mightily. But I won't swear that she does not +change it, in a minute or two, for a skull-cap! She's a droll girl, +faith! I like her prodigiously!' + +Utterly disconcerted, Juliet, expressively bowing to the Baronet, lifted +up the lid of the band-box, and, encircling her head in his bonnet, +begged his permission to re-seat herself in the chaise. + +Charmed with the prospect of another tete a tete, Sir Jaspar, with +alacrity, accompanied her to the carriage; leaving Riley to enjoy, at +his leisure, the cynical satisfaction, of having worried a timid deer +from the field. + +Still, however, Juliet, while uncertain whether the embarkation might +not be eluded, desired to adhere to her plan of privacy and obscurity; +and the Baronet would not struggle against a resolution from which he +hoped to reap the fruit of lengthened intercourse. Pleased and +willingly, therefore, he told his postilion to drive across the plain +to ----, whence they proceeded post to Blandford. + +Great was the relief afforded to the feelings of Juliet, by a removal so +expeditious from the immediate vicinity of the scene of her sufferings; +but she considered it, at the same time, to be a circumstance to obviate +all necessity, and, consequently, all propriety of further attendance +from the Baronet: here, therefore, to his utter dismay, with firmness, +though with the gentlest acknowledgements, she begged that they might +separate. + +Cruelly disappointed, Sir Jaspar warmly remonstrated against the danger +of her being left alone; but the possible hazards which might be annexed +to acting right, could not deter her from the certain evil of acting +wrong. Her greatest repugnance was that of being again forced to accept +pecuniary aid; yet that, which, however disagreeable, might be refunded, +was at least preferable to the increase and continuance of obligations, +which, besides their perilous tendency, could never be repaid. Already, +upon opening the band-box, she had seen a well furnished purse; and +though her first movement had prompted its rejection, the decision of +necessity was that of acceptance. + +When Sir Jaspar found it utterly impossible to prevail with his fair +companion still to bear that title, he expostulated against leaving her, +at least, in a public town; and she was not sorry to accept his offer of +conveying her to some neighbouring village. + +It was still day-light, when they arrived within the picturesque view of +a villa, which Juliet, upon enquiry, heard was Milton-abbey. She soon +discovered, that the scheme of the Baronet, to lengthen their sojourn +with each other, was to carry her to see the house: but this she +absolutely refused; and her seriousness compelled him to drive to a +neighbouring cottage; where she had the good fortune to meet with a +clean elderly woman, who was able to accommodate her with a small +chamber. + +Here, not without sincere concern, she saw the reluctance, even to +sadness, with which her old admirer felt himself forced to leave his too +lovely young friend: and what she owed to him was so important, so +momentous, that she parted from him, herself, with real regret, and with +expressions of the most lively esteem and regard. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIV + + +Restless, again, was the night of Juliet; bewildered with varying +visions of hope, of despair, of bliss, of horrour; now presenting a fair +prospect that opened sweetly to her best affections; now shewing every +blossom blighted, by a dark, overwhelming storm. + +To engage the good will of her new hostess, she bestowed upon her nearly +every thing that she had worn upon entering the cottage. What she had +been seen and discovered in, could no longer serve any purpose of +concealment; and all disguise was disgusting to her, if not induced by +the most imperious necessity. She clothed herself, therefore, from the +fairy stores of her munificent old sylph; with whom her debts were so +multiplied and so considerable, that she meant, at all events, to call +upon her family for their disbursement. + +The quietness of this residence, induced her to propose remaining here: +and her new hostess, who was one of the many who, where interest +preaches passiveness, make it a point not to be troublesome, consented, +without objection or enquiry. + +Hence, again, she wrote to Gabriella, from whom she languished for +intelligence. + +In this perfect retirement, she passed her time in deep rumination; her +thoughts for ever hovering around the Bishop, upon whose fate her own +invariably depended. + +Her little apartment was close and hot; unshaded by blinds, unsheltered +by shutters; she went forth, therefore, early every morning, to enjoy +fresh air in the cool of a neighbouring wood, which, once having +entered, she knew not how to quit. Solitude there, had not the character +of seclusion; it bore not, as in her room, the air of banishment, if not +of imprisonment; and the beautiful prospects around her, though her +sole, were a never-failing source of recreation. + +She permitted not, however, her love of the country to beguile her into +danger by the love of variety; she wandered not far from her new +habitation, in the vicinity of Milton-abbey; of which she never lost +sight from distance, though frequently from intervening hills and trees. + +But no answer arrived from Gabriella; and, in a few days, her own letter +was returned, with a line written by the post-man upon the cover, to +say, No. -- Frith-street, Soho, was empty. + +New sorrow, now, and fearful distress assailed every feeling of Juliet: +What could have occasioned this sudden measure? Whither was Gabriella +gone? Might it be happiness?--or was it some new evil that had caused +this change of abode? The letter sent to Salisbury had never been +claimed; nor did Juliet dare demand it: but Gabriella might, perhaps, +have written her new plan by the address sent from the farm-house. + +It was now that she blessed the munificent Sir Jaspar, to whose purse +she had immediate recourse for sending a man and horse to the cottage; +with written instructions to enquire for a letter, concerning which she +had left directions with the good old cottager. + +While, to wear away the hours devoted to anxious waiting, she wandered, +as usual, in the view of Milton-abbey, from a rich valley, bounded by +rising hills, whose circling slopes bore the form of undulating waves, +she perceived, from a small distance, a horseman gallopping towards her +cottage. + +It could not already be her messenger. She felt uneasy, and, gliding to +the brow of an eminence, sat down upon the turf, as much as possible out +of sight. + +In a short time, she heard the quick pacing step of a man in haste. She +tried to place herself still more obscurely; but, by moving, caught the +eye of the object she meant to avoid. He approached her rapidly, but +when near enough to distinguish her, abruptly stopt, as if to recollect +himself; and Juliet, at the same moment that she was herself discerned, +recognized Harleigh. + +With difficulty restraining an exclamation, from surprize and painful +emotion, she looked round to discover if it would be possible to elude +him; but she could only walk towards Milton-abbey, in full view herself +from that noble seat; or immediately face him by returning to her home. +She stood still, therefore, though bending her eye to the ground; hurt +and offended that, at such a juncture, Harleigh could break into her +retreat; and grieved yet more deeply, that Harleigh could excite in her +even transitory displeasure. + +Harleigh stept forward, but his voice, husky and nervous, so +inarticulately pronounced something relative to a packet and a work-bag, +that Juliet, losing her displeasure in a sudden hope of hearing some +news of her property, raised her head, with a look that demanded an +explanation. + +Still he strove in vain for sufficient calmness to speak distinctly; yet +his answer gave Juliet to understand, that he had conveyed her packet +and work-bag to the cottage which he had been told she inhabited. + +'And where, Sir,' cried Juliet, surprized into vivacity and pleasure at +this unexpected hearing, 'how, and where have they been recovered?' + +Harleigh now blushed himself, at the blushes which he knew he must raise +in her cheeks, as he replied, that the packet and the work-bag which he +had brought, had been dropt in his room at the inn. + +Crimson is pale to the depth of red with which shame and confusion dyed +her face; while Harleigh, recovering his voice, sought to relieve her +embarrassment, by more rapidly continuing his discourse. + +'I should sooner have endeavoured to deliver these articles, but that I +knew not, till yesterday, that they had fallen to my care. I had left +the inn, to follow, and seek Sir Jaspar Herrington; but having various +papers and letters in my room, that I had not had time to collect, I +obtained leave to take away the key with me, of the landlady, to whom I +was well known,--for there, or in that neighbourhood, an irresistible +interest has kept me, from the time that, through my groom, I had +heard ... who had been seen ... at Bagshot ... entering the Salisbury +stage!--Yesterday, when I returned, to the inn, I first perceived these +parcels.'-- + +He stopt; but Juliet could not speak, could not look up; could pronounce +no apology, nor enter into any explanation. + +'Sir Jaspar Herrington,' he continued, 'whom I have just left, is still +at Salisbury; but setting out for town. From him I learnt your immediate +direction; but not knowing what might be the value of the packets, +nor,--' He hesitated a moment, and then, with a sigh, added, 'nor how to +direct them! I determined upon venturing to deliver them myself.' + +The tingling cheeks of Juliet, at the inference of the words 'nor how to +direct them,' seemed on fire; but she was totally silent. + +'I have carefully sealed them,' he resumed, 'and I have delivered them +to the woman of the cottage, for the young lady who at present sleeps +there; and, hearing that that young lady was walking in the +neighbourhood, I ventured to follow, with this intelligence.' + +'You are very good, Sir,' Juliet strove to answer; but her lips were +parched, and no words could find their way. + +This excess of timidity brought back the courage of Harleigh, who, +advancing a step or two, said, 'You will not be angry that Sir Jaspar, +moved by my uncontrollable urgency, has had the charity to reveal to me +some particulars....' + +'Oh! make way for me to pass, Mr Harleigh!' now interrupted Juliet, +forcing her voice, and striving to force a passage. + +'Did you wish, then,' said Harleigh, in a tone the most melancholy, +'could you wish that I should still languish in harrowing suspense? or +burst with ignorance?' + +'Oh no!' cried she, raising her eyes, which glistened with tears, 'no! +If the mystery that so long has hung about me, by occupying your ...' +She sought a word, and then continued: 'your imagination ... impedes the +oblivion that ought to bury me and my misfortunes from further +thought,--then, indeed, I ought to be thankful to Sir Jaspar,--and I am +thankful that he has let you know, ... that he has informed you....' + +She could not finish the sentence. + +'Yes!' cried Harleigh with energy, 'I have heard the dreadful history of +your wrongs! of the violences by which you have suffered, of the inhuman +attempts upon your liberty, your safety, your honour!--But since you +have thus happily--' + +'Mr Harleigh,' cried Juliet, struggling to recover her presence of mind, +'I need no longer, I trust, now, beg your absence! All I can have to say +you must, now, understand ... anticipate ... acknowledge ... since you +are aware....' + +'Ah!' cried Harleigh, in a tone not quite free from reproach;--'had you +but, from the beginning, condescended to inform me of your situation! a +situation so impossible to divine! so replete with horrour, with injury, +with unheard of suffering,--had you, from the first, instead of +avoiding, flying me, deigned to treat me with some trust--' + +'Mr Harleigh,' said Juliet, with eagerness, 'whatever may be your +surprize that such should be my situation, ... my fate, ... you can, at +least, require, now, no explanation why I have fled you!' + +The word why, vibrated instantly to the heart of Harleigh, where it +condolingly said: It was duty, then, not averseness, not indifference, +that urged that flight! she had not fled, had she not deemed herself +engaged!--Juliet, who had hastily uttered the why in the solicitude of +self-vindication, shewed, by a change of complexion, the moment that it +had passed her lips, that she felt the possible inference of which it +was susceptible, and dropt her eyes; fearful to risk discovering the +consciousness that they might indicate. + +Harleigh, however, now brightened, glowed with revived sensations: 'Ah! +be not,' he cried, 'be not the victim of your scruples! let not your too +delicate fears of doing wrong by others, urge you to inflict wrong, +irreparable wrong, upon yourself! Your real dangers are past; none now +remain but from a fancied,--pardon, pardon me!--a fancied refinement, +unfounded in reason, or in right! Suffer, therefore--' + +'Hold, Sir, hold!--we must not even talk upon this subject:--nor, at +this moment, upon any other!--' + +Her brow shewed rising displeasure; but Harleigh was intractable. +'Pronounce not,' he cried, 'an interdiction! I make no claim, no plea, +no condition. I will speak wholly as an impartial man;--and have you not +condescended to tell me, that as a friend, if to that title,--so +limited, yet so honourable,--I would confine myself,--you would not +disdain to consult with me? As such, I am now here. I feel, I respect, I +revere the delicacy of all your ideas, the perfection of your conduct! I +will put, therefore, aside, all that relates not simply to yourself, and +to your position; I will speak to you, for the moment, and in his +absence,--as--as Lord Melbury!--as your brother!--' + +An involuntary smile here unbent the knitting brow of Juliet, who could +not feel offended, or sorry, that Sir Jaspar had revealed the history of +her birth. + +She desired, nevertheless, to pass, refusing every species of +discussion. + +'If you will not answer, will not speak,' cried Harleigh, still +obstructing her way, 'fear not, at least, to hear! Are you not at +liberty? Is not your persecutor gone?--Can he ever return?' + +'Gone?' repeated Juliet. + +'I have myself seen him embark! I rode after his chaise, I pursued it to +the sea-coast, I saw him under sail.' + +Juliet, with uplifted eyes, clasped her hands, from an emotion of +ungovernable joy; which a thousand blushes betrayed her vain struggles +to suppress. + +Harleigh observed not this unmoved: 'Ah, Madam!' he cried, 'since, thus +critically, you have escaped;--since, thus happily, you are +released;--since no church ritual has ever sanctioned the sacrilegious +violence--' + +'Spare all ineffectual controversy!' cried Juliet, assuming an air and +tone of composure, with which her quick heaving bosom was ill in +harmony; 'I can neither talk nor listen upon this subject. You know, +now, my story: dread and atrocious as is my connection, my faith to it +must be unbroken, till I have seen the Bishop! and till the iniquity of +my chains may be proved, and my restoration to my violated freedom may +be legalized. Do not look so shocked; so angry, must I say?--Remember, +that a point of conscience can be settled only internally! I will speak, +therefore, but one word more; and I must hear no reply: little as I feel +to belong to the person in question, I cannot consider myself to be my +own! 'Tis a tie which, whether or not it binds me to him, excludes me, +while thus circumstanced, from all others!--This, Sir, is my last +word!--Adieu!' + +Harleigh, though looking nearly petrified, still stood before her. 'You +fly us, then,' he cried, resentfully, though mournfully, 'both alike? +You put us upon a par?--' + +'No!' answered Juliet, hastily, 'him I fly because I hate;--You--' + +The deep scarlet which mounted into her whole face finished the +sentence; in defiance of a sudden and abrupt breaking off, that meant +and hoped to snatch the unguarded phrase from comprehension. + +But Harleigh felt its fullest contrast; his hopes, his wishes, his whole +soul completed it by You, because I love!--not that he could persuade +himself that Juliet would have used those words; he knew the contrary; +knew that she would sooner thus situated expire; but such, he felt, was +the impulse of her thoughts; such the consciousness that broke off her +speech. + +He durst not venture at any acknowledgement; but, once appeased in his +doubts, and satisfied in his feelings, he respected her opinions, and, +yielding to her increased, yet speechless eagerness to be gone, he +silently, but with eyes of expressive tenderness, ceased to obstruct her +passage. + +Utterly confounded herself, at the half-pronounced thought, thus +inadvertently surprised from her, and thus palpably seized and +interpreted, she strove to devize some term that might obviate dangerous +consequences; but she felt her cheeks so hot, so cold, and again so hot, +that she durst not trust her face to his observation; and, accepting the +opening which he made for her, she was returning to her cottage, +tortured,--and yet soothed,--by indescribable emotions; when an +energetic cry of 'Ellis!--Harleigh!--Ellis!' made her raise her eyes to +the adjacent hill, and perceive Elinor. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXV + + +With arms extended, and a commanding air, Elinor, having made signs to +the dismayed Harleigh not to move, awaited, where she stood, the +terrified, but obedient Juliet. + +'Avoid me not!' she cried, 'Ellis! why should you avoid me? I have given +you back your plighted word; and the pride of Harleigh has saved him +from all bonds. Why, then, should you fly?' + +Juliet attempted not to make any answer. + +'The conference, the last conference,' continued Elinor, 'which so +ardently I have demanded, is still unaccorded. Repeatedly I could have +surprized it, singly, from Harleigh; but--' + +She stopt, coloured, looked indignant, yet ashamed, and then haughtily +went on: 'Imagine not my courage tarnished by cowardly apprehensions of +misinterpretation,--suspicion,--censoriousness;... no! let the world +sneer at its pleasure! Its spleen will never keep pace with my contempt. +But Harleigh!--I brave not the censure of Harleigh! even though +prepared, and resolved, to quit him for evermore! And, with ideas +punctilious such as his of feminine delicacy, he might blame, +perhaps,--should I seek him alone--' + +She blushed more deeply, and, with extreme agitation, added, 'Harleigh, +when we shall meet no more, will always honourably say, Her passion for +me might be tinctured with madness, but its purity was without alloy!' + +She now turned away, to hide a starting tear; but, soon resuming her +usually lively manner, said, 'I have traced you, at last, together; and +by means of our caustick, bilious fellow-traveller, Riley; whom I +encountered by accident; and who runs, snarling, yet curious, after his +fellow-creatures, working at making himself enemies, as if enmity were a +pleasing, or lucrative profession! From him I learnt, that he had just +seen you,--and together!--near Salisbury. I discovered you, Ellis, two +days ago; but Harleigh, though I have been roving some time in your +vicinity, only this moment.' + +A sudden shriek now broke from her, and Juliet, affrighted and looking +around, perceived Harleigh pacing hastily away. + +The shriek reached him, and he stopt. + +'Fly, fly, to him,' she cried, 'Ellis; assure him, I have no present +personal project; none! I solemnly promise, none! But I have an opinion +to gather from him, of which my ignorance burns, devours me, and will +not let me rest, alive nor dead!' + +Juliet, distressed, irresolute, ventured not to move. + +''Tis his duty,' continued Elinor, 'after his solemn declaration, to +initiate me into his motives for believing in a future state. I have +been distracting my burthened senses over theological works; but my head +is in no condition to comprehend them. They treat, also, of belief in a +future state, as of a thing not to be proved, but to be taken for +granted. Let him penetrate me with his own notions; or frankly +acknowledge their insufficiency. But let him mark that they are indeed +his own! Let them be neither fanatical, illusory, nor traditional.' + +Juliet was compelled to obey; but while she was repeating her message, +Elinor descended the hill, and they all met at its foot. + +'Harleigh,' she cried, 'fear me not! Do not imagine I shall again go +over the same ground;--at least, not with the monotonous stupidity of +again going over it in the same manner. Yet believe not my resolution to +be shaken! But I have some doubts, relative to your own principles and +opinions, of which I demand a solution.' + +She then seated herself upon the turf, and made Harleigh seat himself +before her, while Juliet remained by her side. + +'Can you feign, Harleigh? Can you endure to act a part, in defiance of +your nobler nature, merely to prolong my detested life? Do you join in +the popular cry against suicide, merely to arrest my impatient hand? If +not, initiate me, I beseech, in the series of pretended reasoning, by +which honour, honesty, and understanding such as yours, have been duped +into bigotry? How is it, explain! that you can have been worked upon to +believe in an existence after death? Ah, Harleigh! could you, indeed, +give so sublime a resting-place to my labouring ideas!--I would consent +to enter the ecclesiastical court myself, to sing the recantation of +what you deem my errours. And then, Albert, I might learn,--with all my +wretchedness!--to bear to live,--for then, I might seek and foster some +hope in dying!' + +'Dear Elinor!' cried Harleigh, gently, almost tenderly, 'let me send for +some divine!' + +'How conscious is this retreat,' she cried, 'of the weakness of your +cause! Ah! why thus try to bewilder a poor forlorn traveller, who is +dropping with fatigue upon her road? and to fret and goad her on, when +the poor tortured wretch languishes to give up the journey altogether? +Why not rather, more generously, more like yourself, aid her to attain +repose? to open her burning veins, and bid her pent up blood flow freely +to her relief? or kindly point the steel to her agonized heart, whose +last sigh would be ecstacy if it owed its liberation to your pitying +hand! Oh Harleigh! what vain prejudice, what superstitious sophistry, +robs me of the only solace that could soothe my parting breath?' + +'What is it Elinor means?' cried Harleigh, alarmed, yet affecting to +speak lightly: 'Has she no compunction for the labour she causes my +blood in thus perpetually accelerating its circulation.' + +'Pardon me, dear Harleigh, I have inadvertently run from my purpose to +my wishes. To the point, then. Make me, if it be possible, conceive how +your reason has thus been played upon, and your discernment been set +asleep. I have studied this matter abroad, with the ablest casuists, I +have met with; and though I may not retain, or detail their reasoning, +well enough to make a convert of any other, they have fixed for ever in +my own mind, a conviction that death and annihilation are one. Why do +you knit your brow?--And see how Ellis starts!--And why do you both look +at me as if I were mad? Mad? because I would rather crush misery than +endure it? Mad? because I would rather, at my own time, die the death of +reason, than by compulsion, and when least disposed, that of nature? Of +reason, that appreciates life but by enjoyment; not of nature, that +would make misery linger, till malady or old age dissolve the worn out +fabric. To indulge our little miserable fears and propensities, we give +flattering epithets to all our meannesses; for what is endurance of +worldly pain and affliction but folly? what patience, but insipidity? +what suffering, but cowardice? Oh suicide! triumphant antidote to woe! +straight forward, unerring route to rest, to repose! I call upon thy +aid! I invoke--' + +'Repose?--rest?' interrupted Harleigh, 'how earned? By deserting our +duties? By quitting our posts? By forsaking and wounding all by whom we +are cherished?' + +'One word, Harleigh, answers all that: Did we ask for our being? Why +was it given us if doomed to be wretched? To whom are we accountable for +renouncing a donation, made without our consent or knowledge? O, if ever +that wretched thing called life has a noble moment, it must surely be +that of its voluntary sacrifice! lopping off, at a blow, that +hydra-headed monster of evil upon evil, called time; bounding over the +imps of superstition; dancing upon the pangs of disease; and boldly, +hardily mocking the senseless legends, that would frighten us with +eternity!--Eternity? to poor, little, frail, finite beings like us! Oh +Albert! worldly considerations, monkish inventions, and superstitious +reveries set apart;--reason called forth, truth developed, probabilities +canvassed,--say! is it not clear that death is an end to all? an abyss +eternal? a conclusion? Nature comes but for succession; though the pride +of man would give her resurrection. Mouldering all together we go, to +form new earth for burying our successors.' + +'Horrible, Elinor, most horrible! yet if, indeed, it is your opinion +that you are doomed to sink to nothing; if your soul, in the full tide +of its energies, and in the pride of intellect, seems to you a mere +appendant to the body; if you believe it to be of the same fragile +materials; how can you wish to shorten the so short period of +consciousness? to abridge the so brief moment of sensibility? Is it not +always time enough to think, feel, see, hear,--love and be loved no +more?' + +'Yes! 'tis always too soon to lose happiness; but misery,--ah +Albert!--why should misery, when it can so easily be stilled, be +endured?' + +'Stilled, Elinor?--What mean you? By annihilation?--How an infidel +assumes fortitude to wish for death, is my constant astonishment! To +believe in the eternal loss of all he holds, or knows, or feels; to be +persuaded that "this sensible, warm being" will "melt, thaw, and resolve +itself into a dew,"--and to believe that there all ends! Surely every +species of existence must be preferable to such an expectation from its +cessation! Dust! literal dust!--Food for worms!--to be trod +upon;--crushed;--dug up;--battered down;--is that our termination? +That,--and nothing more?' + +'Tis shocking, Albert, no doubt; shocking and disgusting. Yet why +disguise the fact? Reason, philosophy, analogy, all prove our +materialism. Even common observation, even daily experience, in viewing +our natural end, where neither sickness nor accident impede, nor shorten +its progress, prove it by superannuation; shew clearly that mind and +body, when they die the long death of nature, gradually decline +together.' + +'Were that double decay constant, Elinor, in its junction, you might +thence, perhaps, draw that inference; but does not the body wither as +completely by decay, in the very prime, and pride, and bloom of youth, +where the death is consumption, as in the most worn-out decrepitude of +age? Yet the capacity is often, even to the last minute, as perfect as +in the vigour of health. Were all within, as well as all without, +material, would not the blight to one involve, uniformly, the blight to +the other? How often, too, does age, even the oldest, escape any +previous decay of intellect! There are records extant, of those who, +after attaining their hundredth year, have been capable of bearing +testimony in trials; but are there any of those, who, at half that age, +have preserved their external appearance? No. It is the body, therefore, +not the soul, that, in a natural state, and free from the accelerations +of accident, seems first to degenerate. The grace of symmetry, the charm +of expression, may last with our existence, and delight to its latest +date; but that which we understand exclusively, as personal +perfections,--how soon is it over! Not only before the intellects are +impaired, but even, and not rarely, before they are arrived at their +full completion. Can mind, then, and body be but one and the same thing, +when they neither flourish nor wither together?' + +'Ah, Harleigh! is it not your willing mind, that here frames its +sentiments from its exaltation? Not your deeper understanding, that +defines your future expectations from your rational belief?' + +'No, Elinor; my belief in the immortality of the soul may be +strengthened, but it is not framed by my wishes. Let me, however, ask +you a question in return. Your disbelief of the immortality of the soul, +is founded on your inability to have it, visually, or orally, +demonstrated: Let me, then, ask, can the nature, use, and destinations +of the soul, however darkly hidden from our analysing powers, be more +impervious to our limited foresight, than the narrower, yet equally, to +us, invisible, destiny of our days to come upon earth? But does any one, +therefore, from not knowing its purposes, disbelieve that his life may +be lengthened? Yet which of us can divine what his fate will be from +year to year? What his actions, from hour to hour? his thoughts, from +moment to moment?' + +'Oh Harleigh! how fatally is that true! how little did I foresee, when I +so delighted in your society, that that very delight would but impel me +to burn for the moment of bidding you an eternal farewell!' + +Harleigh sighed; but with earnestness continued: 'We conceive the soul +to influence, if not to direct our whole construction, yet we have no +sensible proof of its being in any part of it: how, then, shall we +determine that to be destroyed or departed, which we have never known to +be created? never seen to exist? O bow we down! for all is inexplicable! +We can but say, the body is obvious in its perfection, and still obvious +in its decay; the soul is always unsearchable! were we sure it were only +our understanding, we might, perhaps, develop it; or only our feelings, +we might catch it; but it is something indefinable, of which the +consciousness tells us not the qualities, nor the possession the +attributes; and of which the end leaves no trace! We follow it not to +its dissolution like the body; which, after what we call death, is still +as evident, as when our conception of what is soul were yet lent to it: +if the soul, then, be equally material, say, is it still there also? +though as unseen and hidden as when breath and motion were yet +perceptible?' + +'Body and soul, Albert, come together with existence, and together are +nullified by death.' + +'And are you, Elinor, aware whither such reasoning may lead? If the body +instead of being the tenement of the soul, is but one and the same with +it;--how are you certain, if they are not sundered by death, that they +do not in death, though by means, and with effects to us unknown, still +exist together? That with the body, whether animated or inert, the soul +may not always be adherent? who shall assure you, who, at least, shall +demonstrate, that if the soul be but a part of the body, it may not +think, though no utterance can be given to its thoughts; and may not +feel, though all expression is at an end, and motion is no more? Whither +may such reasoning lead? to what strange suggestions may it not conduct +us? to what vain fantasies, what useless horrours? May we not apprehend +that the insects, the worms which are formed from the human frame, may +partake of and retain human consciousness? May we not imagine those +wretched reptiles, which creep from our remains, to be sensible of their +fallen state, and tortured by their degradation? to resent, as well as +seek to elude the ill usage, the blows, the oppressions to which they +are exposed?--' + +'Fie! Albert, fie!' + +'Nay, what proof, if for proof you wait, have you to the contrary? Is it +their writhing? their sensitive shrink from your touch? their agonizing +efforts to save their miserable existence from your gripe?' + +'Harleigh! Harleigh!' + +'And this dust, Elinor, to which you settle that, finally, all will be +mouldered or crumbled;--fear you not that its every particle may +possess some sensitive quality? When we cease to speak, to move, to +breathe, you assert the soul to be annihilated: But why? Is it only +because you lose sight of its operations? In chemistry are there not +sundry substances which, by certain processes, become invisible, and are +sought in vain by the spectator; but which, by other processes, are +again brought to view? And shall the chemist have this faculty to +produce, and to withdraw, from our sight, and the Creator of All be +denied any occult powers?' + +'Nay, Albert, "how can we reason but from what we know?"--Will you +compare a fact which experiment can prove, which reason may discuss, and +which the senses may witness, with a bare possibility? A vague +conjecture?' + +'Is nothing, then, credible, Elinor, that is out of the +province of demonstration? nothing probable, that surpasses our +understanding?--nothing sacred that is beyond our view? Are we so +perfect in our knowledge, even of what we behold, or possess, as to draw +such presumptuous conclusions, of the self-sufficiency and omnipotence +of our faculties, for judging what is every way out of our sight, or +reach? Do we know one radical point of our existence, here, where "we +live, and move, and have our being?" Do we comprehend, unequivocally, +our immediate attributes and powers? Can we tell even how our hands obey +our will? how our desires suffice to guide our feet from place to place? +to roll our eyes from object to object? If all were clear, save the +existence and the extinction of the soul, then, indeed, we might +pronounce all faith, but in self-evidence, to be folly!' + +'Faith! Harleigh, faith? the very word scents of monkish subtleties! +'Tis to faith, to that absurd idea of lulling to sleep our reason, of +setting aside our senses, our observation, our knowledge; and giving our +ignorant, unmeaning trust, and blind confidence to religious quacks; +'tis to that, precisely that, you owe what you term our infidelity; for +'tis that which has provoked the spirit of investigation, which has +shewn us the pusillanimity and imbecility of consigning the short period +in which we possess our poor fleeting existence, to other men's uses, +deliberations, schemes, fancies, and ordinances. For what else can you +call submission to unproved assertions, and concurrence in unfounded +belief?' + +'And yet, this faith, Elinor, which, in religion, you renounce, despise, +or defy, because in religion you would think, feel, and believe by +demonstration alone, you insensibly admit in nearly all things else! +Have you it not in morals? Does society exist but by faith? Does +friendship,--I will not name what is so open to controversy as +love,--but say! has friendship any other tie? has honour any other bond +than faith? We have no proofs, no demonstrations of worth that can reach +the regions of the heart: we judge but by effects; we believe but by +analogies; we love, we esteem, we trust but by credulity, by faith! For +where is the mathematician who can calculate what may be pronounced of +the mind, from what is seen in the countenance, or uttered by speech? +yet is any one therefore so wretched, as not to feel any social reliance +beyond what he can mathematically demonstrate to be merited?' + +'And to what but that, Albert, precisely that, do we owe being so +perpetually duped and betrayed? to what but building upon false trust? +upon appearance, and not certainty?' + +'Certainty, Elinor! Where, and in what is certainty to be found? If you +disclaim belief in immortality upon faith, as insufficient to satisfy +reason, what is the basis even of your disbelief? Is it not faith also? +When you demand the proofs of immortality, let me demand, in return, +what are your proofs of materialism? And, till you can bring to +demonstration the operations of the soul while we live, presume not to +decide upon its extinction when we die! Of the corporeal machine, on the +contrary, speak at pleasure; you have before you all your documents for +ratiocination and decision; but, life once over,--when you have placed +the limbs, closed the eyes, arranged the form,--can you arrange the +mind?--the soul?' + +'Excite no doubts in me, Harleigh!--my creed is fixed.' + +'When sleep overtakes us,' he continued, 'and all, to the beholder, +looks the picture of death, save that the breath still heaves the +bosom;--what is it that guards entire, uninjured, the mind? the +faculties? It is not our consciousness,--we have none! Where is the soul +in that period? Gone it is not, for we are sensible to all that had +preceded its suspension, the moment that we awake. Yet, in that state of +periodical insensibility, what, but experience, could make those who +view us believe that we could ever rise, speak, move, or think again? +How inert is the body! How helpless, how useless, how incapable? Do we +see who is near us? Do we hear who addresses us? Do we know when the +most frightful crimes are committed by our sides? What, I demand, is our +consciousness? We have not the most distant of any thing that passes +around us: yet we open our eyes--and all is known, all is familiar +again. We hear, we see, we feel, we understand!' + +'Yes; but in that sleep, Harleigh, that mere mechanical repose of the +animal, we still breathe; we are capable, therefore, of being restored +to all our sensibilities, by a single touch, by a single start; 'tis but +a separation that parts us from ourselves, as absence parts us from our +friends. We yet live,--we yet, therefore, may meet again.' + +'And why, when we live no longer, may we not also, Elinor, meet again?' + +'Why?--Do you ask why?--Look round the old church-yards! See you not +there the dispersion of our poor mouldered beings? Is not every bone the +prey,--or the disgust,--of every animal? How, when scattered, commixed, +broken, battered, how shall they ever again be collected, united, +arranged, covered and coloured so as to appear regenerated?' + +'But what, Elinor, is the fragility, or the dispersion of the body, to +the solidity and the durability of the soul? Why are we to decide, that +to see ourselves again, and again to view each other, such as we seem +here, substance, or what we understand by it, is essential to our +re-union hereafter? Do we not meet, act, talk, move, think with one +another in our dreams? What is it which, then, embodies our ideas? which +gives to our sight, in perfect form and likeness, those with whom we +converse? which makes us conceive that we move, act, speak, and look, +ourselves, with the same gesture, mien, and voice as when awake?' + +'Dreams? pho!--they are but the nocturnal vagaries of the imagination.' + +'And what, Elinor, is imagination? You will not call it a part of your +body?' + +'No; but the blood which still circulates in our veins, Harleigh, gives +imagination its power.' + +'But does the blood circulate in the veins of our parents, of our +friends? of our acquaintances? and of strangers whom we equally meet? +yet we see them all; we converse with them all; we utter opinions; we +listen to their answers. And how ably we sometimes argue! how +characteristically those with whom we dispute reply! yet we do not +imagine we guide them. We wait their opinions and decisions, in the same +uncertainty and suspense, that we await them in our waking intercourse. +We have the same fears of ill fortune; the same horrour of ill usage; +the same ardour for success; the same feelings of sorrow, of joy, of +hope, or of remorse, that animate or that torture us, in our daily +occurrences. What new countries we visit! what strange sights we see! +what delight, what anguish, what alarms, what pleasures, and what pains +we experience! Yet in all this variety of incident, conversation, +motion, feeling,--we seem, to those who look at us, but unintelligent +and senseless, though still breathing clay.' + +'Ay; but after all those scenes, we awake, Albert, we awake! But when do +we awake from death? Death, the same experience tells us, is sleep +eternal!' + +'But in that sleep, also, are there no dreams? Are you sure of that? If, +in our common sleep, there still subsists an active principle, that +feels, speaks, invents, and only by awaking finds that the mind alone, +and not the body has been working;--how are you so sure that no such +active principle subsists in that sleep which you call eternal? Who has +told you what passes where experience is at an end? Who has talked to +you of "that bourne whence no traveller returns?" With the cessation, +indeed, of warmth; with the stillness of those pulses which beat from +circulating blood, all seems to end; but seems it not also to end when +we fall into apoplexies? when we faint away? when we appear to be +drowned? or when, by any means, life is casually suspended? Yet when +those arts, that skill, of which even the success teaches not the +principle, even the process discovers not the secret resources, draw +back, by means intelligible and visible, but through causes indefinable, +the fleeting breath to its corporeal habitation; animation instantly +returns, and the soul, with all its powers, revives!' + +'Ay, there, there, Albert, is the very point! If the soul were distinct +from the body, why should not those who are recovered from drowning, +suffocation, or other apparent death, be able to give some account of +what passed in those periods when they seemed to be no more? And who has +done it? No one, Harleigh! not a single renovated being, has explained +away the doubts to which those suspensions of animation give rise.' + +'And has any one explained, Elinor, why, though sometimes we have such +wonders to relate of the scenes in which we have borne a part in our +dreams,--we open our eyes, at other times, with no consciousness +whatever, that we have, any way existed from the moment of closing them? +The wants of refreshment and recruit of our corporeal machine, we all +feel, and know; those of that part which is intellectual,--who is able +to calculate? What, except the powers, can be more distinct than the +exercises of the mind and of the body? Yet, though we see not the +workings of what is intellectual; though they are known only by their +effects,--does the student by the midnight oil require less rest from +his mental fatigues,--whether he take it or not,--than the ploughman +from his corporal labour? Is he not as wearied, as exhausted, after a +day consigned to serious and unremitting study and reflection, as the +labourer who has spent it in digging, paving, hewing, and sawing? Yet +his body has been perfectly at peace; has not moved, has not made the +smallest exertion.' + +'And why, Harleigh? What is that, but because--' + +'Hasten not, Elinor, thence, to your favourite conclusion, that soul and +body, if wearied or rested together, are, therefore, one and the same +thing: observation, and reflection, turned to other points of view, will +shew you fresh reasons, and objects, every day, to disprove that +identity: shew you, on one side, corporal force for supporting the +bitterest grief of heart, with uninjured health; and, mental force, on +the other side, for bearing the acutest bodily disorders with unimpaired +intellectual vigour. How often do the most fragile machines, enwrap the +stoutest minds? how often do the halest frames, encircle the feeblest +intellects? All proves that the connexion between mind and body, however +intimate, is not blended;--though where its limits begin, or where they +end,--who can tell? But, who, also I repeat, can explain the phenomenon, +by which, in the dead of the night, when we are completely insulated, +and left in utter darkness, we firmly believe, nay, feel ourselves shone +upon by the broad beams of day; and surrounded by society, with which we +act, think, and reciprocate ideas?' + +'Dreams, I must own, Albert, are strangely incomprehensible. How bodies +can seem to appear, and voices to be heard, where all around is empty +space, it is not easy to conceive!' + +'Let this insolvable, and acknowledged difficulty, then, Elinor, in a +circumstance which, though daily recurring, remains inexplicable, check +any hardy decision of the cause why, after certain suspensions, the soul +may resume its functions to our evident knowledge; yet why we can +neither ascertain its departure, its continuance, nor its return, after +others. Oh Elinor! mock not, but revere the impenetrable mystery of +eternity! Ignorance is here our lot; presumption is our most useless +infirmity. The mind and body after death must either be separate, or +together. If together, as you assert, there is no proof attainable, that +the soul partakes not of all the changes, all the dispersions, all the +sufferings, and all the poor enjoyments, of what to us seems the +lifeless, but which, in that case, is only the speechless carcase: if +separate, as I believe,--whither goest thou, Oh soul! to what regions of +bliss?--or what abysses of woe?' + +'Harleigh, you electrify me! you convulse the whole train of my +principles, my systems, my long cherished conviction!' + +'Say, rather, Elinor, of your faith!--your faith in infidelity! Oh +Elinor! why call you not, rather, upon faith to aid your belief? Faith, +and revealed religion! The limited state of our positive perceptions, +grants us no means for comparison, for judgment, or even for thought, +but by analogy: ask yourself, then, Elinor,--What is there, even in +immortality, more difficult of comprehension, than that indescribable +daily occurrence, which all mankind equally, though unreflecting +experience, of a total suspension of every species of living knowledge, +of every faculty, of every sense,--called sleep? A suspension as big +with matter for speculation and wonder, though its cessation is visible +to us, as that last sleep, of which we view not the period.' + +'Albert!--should you shake my creed,--shall I be better contented? or +but yet more wretched?' + +'Can Elinor think,--yet ask such a question? Can a prospect of a future +state fail to offer a possibility of future happiness? Why wilfully +reject a consolation that you have no means to disprove? What know you +of this soul which you settle to be so easily annihilated? By what +criterion do you judge it? You have none! save a general consciousness, +that a something there is within us that mocks all search, yet that +always is uppermost; that anticipates good or evil; that outruns all +events; that feels the blow ere the flesh is touched; that expects the +sound before the ear receives it; that, unseen, untraced, unknown, +pervades, rules, animates all! that harbours thoughts, feelings, designs +which no human force can controul; which no mortal, unaided by our own +will, can discover; and which no aid whatever, either of our own or of +others, can bring forward to any possible manifestation!' + +'Alas, Harleigh! You shew me nonentity itself to be as doubtful as +immortality! Of what wretched stuff are we composed! Which way must I +now turn,-- + + 'Lost and bewildered in my fruitless search,'[13]-- + +which way must I turn to develop truth? to comprehend my own existence! +Oh Albert!--you almost make me wish to rest my perturbed mind where +fools alone, I thought, found rest, or hypocrites have seemed to find +it,--on Religion!' + +[Footnote 13: Addison.] + +'The feeling mind, dear Elinor, has no other serious serenity; no other +hold from the black, cheerless, petrifying expectation of nullity. If, +then, even a wish of light break through your dark despondence, read, +study the Evangelists!--and truth will blaze upon you, with the means to +find consolation.' + +'Albert, I know now where I am!--You open to me possibilities that +overwhelm me! My head seems bursting with fulness of struggling ideas!' + +'Give them, Elinor, fair play, and they will soon, in return, give you +tranquillity. Reflect only,--that that quality, that faculty, be its +nature, its durability, and its purpose what they may, which the world +at large agrees to call soul, has its universal comprehension from a +something that is felt; not that is proved! Yet who, and where is the +Atheist, the Deist, the Infidel of any description, gifted with the +means to demonstrate, that, in quitting the body with the parting +breath, it is necessarily extinct? that it may not, on the contrary, +still BE, when speech and motion are no more? when our flesh is mingled +with the dust, and our bones are dispersed by the winds? and BE, as +while we yet exist, no part of our body, no single of our senses; never, +while we seem to live, visible, yet never, when we seem to die, +perishable? May it not, when, with its last sigh, it leaves the body, +mingle with that vast expanse of air, which no instrument can completely +analyse, and which our imperfect sight views but as empty space? May it +not mount to upper regions, and enjoy purified bliss? May not all air be +peopled with our departed friends, hovering around us, as sensible as we +are unconscious? May not the uncumbered soul watch over those it loves? +find again those it had lost? be received in the Heaven of Heavens, +where it is destined,--not, Oh wretched idea!--to eternal sleep, +inertness, annihilating dust;--but to life, to joy, to sweetest +reminiscence, to tenderest re-unions, to grateful adoration to +intelligence never ending! Oh! Elinor! keep for ever in mind, that if no +mortal is gifted to prove that this is true,--neither is any one +empowered to prove that it is false!' + +'Oh delicious idea!' cried Elinor, rising: 'Oh image of perfection! Oh +Albert! conquering Albert! I hope,--I hope;--my soul may be +immortal!--Pray for me, Albert! Pray that I may dare offer up prayers +for myself!--Send me your Christian divine to guide me on my way; and +may your own heaven bless you, peerless Albert! for ever!--Adieu! adieu! +adieu!'-- + +Fervently, then, clasping her hands, she sunk, with overpowering +feelings, upon her knees. + +Juliet came forward to support her; and Harleigh, deeply gratified, +though full of commiseration, eagerly undertook the commission; and, +echoing back her blessing, without daring to utter a word to Juliet, +slowly quitted the spot. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVI + + +Elinor, for a considerable time, remained in the same posture, +ruminating, in silent abstraction; yet giving, from time to time, +emphatic, though involuntary utterance, to short and incoherent +sentences. 'A spirit immortal!--' 'Resurrection of the Dead!--' 'A life +to come!--' 'Oh Albert! is there, then, a region where I may hope to see +thee again!' + +Suddenly, at length, seeming to recollect herself, 'Pardon,' she cried, +'Albert, my strangeness,--queerness,--oddity,--what will you call it? I +am not the less,--O no! O no! penetrated by your impressive +reasoning--Albert!--' + +She lifted up her head, and, looking around, exclaimed, with an air of +consternation, 'Is he gone?' + +She arose, and with more firmness, said, 'He is right! I meant not,--and +I ought not to see him any more;--though dearer to my eyes is his sight, +than life or light!--' + +Looking, then, earnestly forwards, as if seeking him, 'Farewell, Oh +Albert!' she cried: 'We now, indeed, are parted for ever! To see thee +again, would sink me into the lowest abyss of contempt,--and I would far +rather bear thy hatred!--Yet hatred?--from that soul of humanity!--what +violence must be put upon its nature! And how cruel to reverse such +ineffable philanthropy!--No!--hate me not, my Albert!--It shall be my +own care that thou shalt not despise me!' + +Slowly she then walked away, followed silently by Juliet, who durst not +address her. Anxiously she looked around, till, at some distance, she +descried a horseman. It was Harleigh. She stopped, deeply moved, and +seemed inwardly to bless him. But, when he was no longer in sight, she +no longer restrained her anguish, and, casting herself upon the turf, +groaned rather than wept, exclaiming, 'Must I live--yet behold thee no +more!--Will neither sorrow, nor despair, nor even madness kill me?--Must +nature, in her decrepitude, alone bring death to Elinor?' + +Rising, then, and vainly trying again to descry the horse, 'All, all is +gone!' she cried, 'and I dare not even die!--All, all is gone, from the +lost, unhappy Elinor, but life and misery!' + +Turning, then, with quickness to Juliet, while pride and shame dried her +eyes, 'Ellis,' she said, 'let him not know I murmur!--Let not his last +hearing of Elinor be disgrace! Tell him, on the contrary, that his +friendship shall not be thrown away; nor his arguments be forgotten, or +unavailing: no! I will weigh every opinion, every sentiment that has +fallen from him, as if every word, unpolluted by human ignorance or +informity, had dropt straight from heaven! I will meditate upon +religion: I will humble myself to court resignation. I will fly hence, +to avoid all temptation of ever seeing him more!--and to distract my +wretchedness by new scenes. Oh Albert!--I will earn thy esteem by +acquiescence in my lot, that here,--even here,--I may taste the paradise +of alluring thee to include me in thy view of happiness hereafter!' + +Her foreign servant, then, came in view, and she made a motion to him +with her hand for her carriage. She awaited it in profound mental +absorption, and, when it arrived, placed herself in it without speaking. + +Juliet, full of tender pity, could no longer forbear saying, 'Adieu, +Madam! and may peace re-visit your generous heart!' + +Elinor, surprized and softened, looked at her with an expression of +involuntary admiration, as she answered, 'I believe you to be good, +Ellis!--I exonerate you from all delusory arts; and, internally, I never +thought you guilty,--or I had never feared you! Fool! mad fool, that I +have been, I am my own executioner! my distracting impatience to learn +the depth of my danger, was what put you together! taught you to know, +to appreciate one another! With my own precipitate hand, I have dug the +gulph into which I am fallen! Your dignified patience, your noble +modesty--Oh fatal Ellis!--presented a contrast that plunged a dagger +into all my efforts! Rash, eager ideot! I conceived suspense to be my +greatest bane!--Oh fool! eternal fool!--self-willed, and +self-destroying!--for the single thrill of one poor moment's returning +doubt--I would not suffer martyrdom!' + +She wept, and hid her face within the carriage; but, holding out her +hand to Juliet, 'Adieu, Ellis!' she cried, 'I struggle hardly not to +wish you any ill; and I have never given you my malediction: yet +Oh!--that you had never been born!'-- + +She snatched away her hand, and precipitately drew up all the blinds, to +hide her emotion; but, presently, letting one of them down, called out, +with resumed vivacity, and an air of gay defiance, 'Marry him, +Ellis!--marry him at once! I have always felt that I should be less mad, +if my honour called upon me for reason!--my honour and my pride!' + +The groom demanded orders. + +'Drive to the end of the world!' she answered, impatiently, 'so you ask +me no questions!' and, forcibly adding, 'Farewell, too happy Ellis!' she +again drew up all the blinds, and, in a minute, was out of sight. + +Juliet deplored her fate with the sincerest concern; and ruminated upon +her virtues, and attractive qualities, till their drawbacks diminished +from her view, and left nothing but unaffected wonder, that Harleigh +could resist them: 'twas a wonder, nevertheless, that every feeling of +her heart, in defiance of every conflict, rose, imperiously, to separate +from regret. + +At the cottage, she found her recovered property, which she now +concluded,--for her recollection was gone,--that she had dropt upon her +entrance into the room occupied by Harleigh, before she had perceived +that it was not empty. + +Here, too, almost immediately afterwards, her messenger returned with a +letter, which had remained more than a week at the post-office; whither +it had been sent back by the farmer, who had refused to risk advancing +the postage. + +The letter was from Gabriella, and sad, but full of business. She had +just received a hurrying summons from Mr de ----, her husband, to join +him at Teignmouth, in Devonshire; and, for family-reasons, which ought +not to be resisted, to accompany him abroad. Mr de ---- had been brought +by an accidental conveyance to Torbay; whence, through a peculiarly +favourable opportunity, he was to sail to his place of destination. He +charged her to use the utmost expedition; and, to spare the expence of a +double journey, and the difficulties of a double passport, for and from +London, he should procure permission to meet her at Teignmouth; where +they might remain till their vessel should be ready; the town of +Brixham, within Torbay, being filled with sailors, and unfit for female +residence. + +Gabriella owned, that she had nothing substantial, nor even rational, to +oppose to this plan; though her heart would be left in the grave, the +English grave of her adored child. She had relinquished, therefore, her +shop, and paid the rent, and her debts; and obtained money for the +journey by the sale of all her commodities. She then tenderly entreated, +if no insurmountable obstacles forbid it, that Juliet would be of their +party; and gave the direction of Mr de ---- at Teignmouth. + +Not a moment could Juliet hesitate upon joining her friend; though +whether or not she should accompany her abroad, she left for decision at +their meeting. She greatly feared the delay in receiving the letter +might make her arrive too late; but the experiment was well worth trial; +and she reached the beautifully situated small town of Teignmouth the +next morning. + +She drove to the lodging of which Gabriella had given the direction; +where she had the affliction to learn, that the lady whom she described, +and her husband, had quitted Teignmouth the preceding evening for +Torbay. + +She instantly demanded fresh horses, for following them; but the +postilion said, that he must return directly to Exeter, with his chaise; +and enquired where she would alight. Where she might most speedily, she +answered, find means to proceed. + +The postilion drove her, then, to a large lodging-house; but the town +was so full of company, as it was the season for bathing, that there was +no chaise immediately ready; and she was obliged to take possession of a +room, till some horses returned. + +As soon as she had deposited her baggage, she resolved upon walking back +to the late lodging of Gabriella, to seek some further information. + +In re-passing a gallery, which led from her chamber to the stairs, she +perceived, upon a band-box, left at the half-closed door of what +appeared to be the capital apartment, the loved name of Lady Aurora +Granville. + +Joy, hope, fondness, and every pleasurable emotion, danced suddenly in +her breast; and, chacing away, by surprize, all fearful caution, +irresistibly impelled her to push open the door. + +All possibility of concealment was, she knew, now at an end; and, with +it, finished her long forbearance. How sweet to cast herself, at length, +under so benign a protection! to build upon the unalterable sweetness of +Lady Aurora for a consolatory reception, and openly to claim her +support! + +Filled with these delighting ideas, she gently entered the room. It was +empty; but, the door to an inner apartment being open, she heard the +soft voice of Lady Aurora giving directions to some servant. + +While she hesitated whether, at once, to venture on, or to send in some +message, a chambermaid, coming out with another band-box, shut the inner +door. + +The dress of Juliet was no longer such as to make her appearance in a +capital apartment suspicious; and the chambermaid civily enquired whom +she was pleased to want. + +'Lady Aurora Granville,' she hesitatingly answered; adding that she +would tap at her ladyship's door herself, and begging that the maid +would not wait. + +The maid, busy and active, hurried off. Quickly, then, though softly, +Juliet stept forward; but at the door, trembling and full of fears, she +stopt short; and the sight of pen, ink, and paper upon a table, +determined her to commit her attempt to writing. + +Seizing a sheet of paper, without sitting down, and in a hand scarcely +legible, she began, + +'Is Lady Aurora Granville still the same Lady Aurora, the kind, the +benignant, the indulgent Lady Aurora,--' when the sound of another +voice, a voice more discordant, if possible, than that of Lady Aurora +had been melodious, reached her ear from under the window: it was that +of Mrs Howel. + +As shaking now with terrour as before she had been trembling with hope, +she rolled up her paper; and was hurrying it into her work-bag, which +had been returned to her by Harleigh; when the chambermaid, re-entering +the room, stared at her with some surprize, demanding whether she had +seen her ladyship. + +'No; ... I believe ... she is occupied,' Juliet, stammering, answered; +and flew along the gallery back to her chamber. + +That Lady Aurora should be under the care of Mrs Howel, who was the +nearest female relation of Lord Denmeath, could give no surprize to +Juliet; but the impulse which had urged her forward, had only painted to +her a precious interview with Lady Aurora alone; for how venture to +reveal herself in presence of so hard, so inimical a witness? The very +idea, joined to the terrible apprehension of irritating Lord Denmeath, +to aid some new attack from her legal persecutor; so damped her rising +joy, so repressed her buoyant hopes, that, to avoid the insupportable +repetition of injurious interrogatories, painful explanations, and +insulting incredulity, she decided, if she could join Gabriella at +Torbay, to accompany her to her purposed retreat; and there to await +either intelligence of the Bishop, or an open summons from her own +family. + +She hastened, therefore, to the late lodging of Gabriella; where, upon a +more minute investigation, she found, that a message had been left, in +case a lady should call to enquire for Madame de ----, to say, that the +small vessel in which M. de ---- and herself were humanely to be +received as passengers, was ready to sail; and to promise to write upon +their landing; and to endeavour to fix upon some means of re-union. The +lady, the lodging-people said, had lost all hope of her friend's +arrival, but had left that message in case of accidents. + +More eagerly than ever, Juliet now enquired for any kind of carriage; +but the town was full, and every vehicle was engaged till the next +morning. + +The next morning opened with a new and cruel disappointment: the +chambermaid came with excuses, that no chaise could be had, till towards +evening, as the Honourable Mrs Howel had engaged all the horses, to +carry herself and her people to Chudleigh-park. + +Dreadful to the impatience of Juliet was such a loss of time; yet she +shrunk from all appeal, upon her prior rights, with Mrs Howel. + +Still, not to render impossible, before her departure, an interview, +after which her heart was sighing, with Lady Aurora, she addressed to +her a few lines. + + 'To the Right Honourable Lady Aurora Granville. + + 'Brought hither in search of the friend of my earlier youth, what + have been my perturbation, my hope, my fear, at the sound of the + voice of her whom, proudly and fondly, it is my first wish to be + permitted to love, and to claim as the friend of my future days! + Ah, Lady Aurora! my inmost soul is touched and + moved!--nevertheless, not to press upon the difficulties of your + delicacy, nor to take advantage of the softness of your + sensibility, I go hence without imploring your support or + countenance. I quit again this loved land, scarcely known, though + devoutly revered, to watch and wait,--far, far off!--for tidings of + my future lot: I go to join the generous guardian of my orphan + life,--till I know whether I may hope to be acknowledged by a + brother! I go to dwell with my noble adopted sister,--till I learn + whether I may be recalled, to be owned by one still nearer,--and + who alone can be still dearer!' + +She gave this paper sealed, for delivery, to the chambermaid; saying +that she was going to take a long walk; and desiring, should there be +any answer, that it might carefully be kept for her return. + +This measure was to give Lady Aurora time to reflect, whether or not she +should demand an explanation of the note; rather than to surprize the +first eager impulse of her kindness. + +She then bent her steps towards the sea-side; but, though it was still +very early, there was so much company upon the sands, taking exercise +before, or after bathing, that she soon turned another way; and, invited +by the verdant freshness of the prospects, rambled on for a considerable +time: at first, with no other design than to while away a few hours; +but, afterwards, to give to those hours the pleasure ever new, ever +instructive, of viewing and studying the works of nature; which, on this +charming spot, now awfully noble, now elegantly simple; where the sea +and the land, the one sublime in its sameness, the other, exhilarating +in its variety, seem to be presented, as if in primeval lustre, to the +admiring eye of a meditative being. + +She clambered up various rocks, nearly to their summit, to enjoy, in one +grand perspective, the stupendous expansion of the ocean, glittering +with the brilliant rays of a bright and cloudless sky: dazzled, she +descended to their base, to repose her sight upon the soft, yet lively +tint of the green turf, and the rich, yet mild hue of the downy moss. +Almost sinking, now, from the scorching beams of a nearly vertical sun, +she looked round for some umbrageous retreat; but, refreshed the next +moment, by salubrious sea-breezes, by the coolness of the rocks, or by +the shade of the trees, she remained stationary, and charmed; a devoutly +adoring spectatress of the lovely, yet magnificent scenery encircling +her; so vast in its glory, so impressive in its details, of wild, varied +nature, apparently in its original state. + +When at length, she judged it to be right to return, upon coming within +sight of the lodging-house, she saw a carriage at the door, into which +some lady was mounting. + +Could it be Lady Aurora?--could she so depart, after reading her letter? +She retreated till the carriage drove off; and then, at the foot of the +stairs, met the chambermaid; of whom she eagerly asked, whether there +were any letter, or message, for her, from Lady Aurora. + +The maid answered No; her ladyship was gone away without saying any +thing. + +The words 'gone away' extremely affected Juliet, who, in ascending to +her room, wept bitterly at such a desertion; even while concluding it to +have been exacted by Mrs Howel. + +She rang the bell, to enquire whether she might now have a chaise. + +The chambermaid told her that she must come that very moment to speak to +a lady. + +'What lady?' cried Juliet, ever awake to hope; 'Is Lady Aurora Granville +come back?' + +No, no; Lady Aurora was gone to Chudleigh. + +'What lady then?' + +Mrs Howel, the maid answered, who ordered her to come that instant. + +''Tis a mistake,' said Juliet, with spirit; 'you must seek some other +person to whom to deliver such a message!' + +The maid would have asserted her exactitude in executing her commission; +but Juliet, declining to hear her, insisted upon being left. + +Extremely disturbed, she could suggest no reason why Mrs Howel should +remain, when Lady Aurora was gone; nor divine whether her letter were +voluntarily unanswered; or whether it had even been delivered; nor what +might still instigate the unrestrained arrogance of Mrs Howel. + +In a few minutes, the chambermaid returned, to acquaint her, that, if +she did not come immediately, Mrs Howel would send for her in another +manner. + +Too indignant, now, for fear, Juliet, said that she had no answer to +give to such a message; and charged the maid not to bring her any other. + +Another, nevertheless, and ere she had a moment to breathe, followed; +which was still more peremptory, and to which the chambermaid sneeringly +added, + +'You wonna let me look into youore work-bag, wull y?' + +'Why should you look into my work-bag?' + +'Nay, it ben't I as do want it; it be Maddam Howel.' + +'And for what purpose?' + +'Nay, I can't zay; but a do zay a ha' lost a bank-note.' + +'And what have I, or my work-bag, to do with that?' + +'Nay I don't know; but it ben't I ha' ta'en it. And it ben't I--' + +She stopt, grinning significantly; but, finding that Juliet deigned not +to ask an explanation, went on: 'It ben't I as husselled zomat into my +work-bag, in zuch a peck o' troubles, vor to hide it; it ben't I, vor +there be no mortal mon, nor womon neither, I be afeared of; vor I do +teake no mon's goods but my own.' + +Juliet now was thunderstruck. If a bank-note were missing, appearances, +from her silently entering and quitting the room, were certainly against +her; and though it could not be difficult to clear away such a +suspicion, it was shocking, past endurance, to have such a suspicion to +clear. + +While she hesitated what to reply, the maid, not doubting but that her +embarrassment was guilt, triumphantly continued her own defence; saying, +whoever might be suspected, it could not be she, for she did not go into +other people's rooms, not she! to peer about, and see what was to be +seen; nor say she was going to call upon grand gentlefolks, when she was +not going to do any such thing; not she! nor tear paper upon other +people's tables, to roll things up, and poke them into her work-bag; not +she! she had nothing to hide, for there was nothing she took, so there +was nothing she had to be ashamed of, not she! + +She then mutteringly walked off; but almost instantly returned, desiring +to know, in the name of Mrs Howel, whether Miss Ellis preferred that the +business of her examination should be terminated, before proper +witnesses, in her own room. + +Juliet, thus assailed, urged by judgment, and a sense of propriety, +struggled against personal feelings and fears; and resolved to rescue +not only herself, but her family, from the disgrace of a public +interrogatory. She walked, therefore, straight forward to the apartment +of Mrs Howel; determined to own, without delay, her birth and situation, +rather than submit to any indignity. + +At the entrance, she made way for the chambermaid to announce her; but +when she heard that voice, which, to her shocked ears, sounded far more +hoarse, more harsh, and more coarse than the raven's croak, her spirits +nearly forsook her. To cast herself thus upon the powerful enmity of +Lord Denmeath, with no kind Lady Aurora at hand, to soften the hazardous +tale, by her benignant pity; no generous Lord Melbury within call, to +resist perverse incredulity, by spontaneous support, and promised +protection:--'twas dreadful!--Yet no choice now remained, no possible +resource; she must meet her fate, or run away as a culprit. + +The latter she utterly disdained; and, at the words, loudly spoken, from +the inner room, 'Order her to appear!' she summoned to her aid all that +she possessed of pride or of dignity, to disguise her apprehensions; and +obeyed the imperious mandate. + +Mrs Howel, seated upon an easy chair, received her with an air of +prepared scorn; in which, nevertheless, was mixed some surprize at the +elegance, yet propriety, of her attire. 'Young woman,' she sternly said, +'what part is this you are acting? And what is it you suppose will be +its result? Can you imagine that you are to brave people of condition +with impunity? You have again dared to address, clandestinely, and by +letter, a young lady of quality, whom you know to be forbidden to afford +you any countenance. You have entered my apartment under false +pretences; you have been detected precipitately quitting it, thrusting +something into your work-bag, evidently taken from my table.'-- + +Juliet now felt her speech restored by contempt. 'I by no means +intended, Madam,' she drily answered, 'to have intruded upon your +benevolence. The sheet of paper which I took was to write to Lady Aurora +Granville; and I imagined,--mistakenly, it seems,--that it was already +her ladyship's.' + +The calmness of Juliet operated to produce a storm in Mrs Howel that +fired all her features; though, deeming it unbecoming her rank in life, +to shew anger to a person beneath her, she subdued her passion into +sarcasm, and said, 'Her ladyship, then, it seems, is to provide the +paper with which you write to her, as well as the clothes with which you +wait upon her? That she refuses herself whatever is not indispensable, +in order to make up a secret purse, has long been clear to me; and I +now, in your assumed garments, behold the application of her +privations!' + +'Oh Lady Aurora! lovely and loved Lady Aurora! have you indeed this +kindness for me! this heavenly goodness!'--interrupted, from a +sensibility that she would not seek to repress, the penetrated Juliet. + +'Unparalleled assurance!' exclaimed Mrs Howel. 'And do you think thus +triumphantly to gain your sinister ends? no! Lady Aurora will never see +your letter! I have already dispatched it to my Lord Denmeath.' + +The spirit of Juliet now instantly sunk: she felt herself again betrayed +into the power of her persecutor; again seized; and trembled so +exceedingly, that she with difficulty kept upon her feet. + +Mrs Howel exultingly perceived her advantage. 'What,' she haughtily +demanded, 'has brought you hither? And why are you here? If, indeed, you +approach the sea-side with a view to embark, and return whence you +came, I am far from offering any impediment to so befitting a measure. +My Lord Denmeath, I have reason to believe, would even assist it. Speak, +young woman! have you sense enough of the unbecoming situation in which +you now stand, to take so proper a course for getting to your home?' + +'My home!' repeated Juliet, casting up her eyes, which, bedewed with +tears at the word, she then covered with her handkerchief. + +'If to go thither be your intention,' said Mrs Howel, 'the matter may be +accommodated; speak, then.' + +'The little, Madam, that I mean to say,' cried Juliet, 'I must beg leave +to address to you when you are alone.' For the waiting-woman still +remained at the side of the toilette-table. + +'At length, then,' said Mrs Howel, much gratified, though always +scornful; 'you mean to confess?' And she told her woman to hasten the +packing up, and then to step into the next room. + +'Think, however;' she continued; 'deliberate, in this interval, upon +what you are going to do. I have already heard the tale which I have +seen, by your letter, you hint at propagating; heard it from my Lord +Denmeath himself. But so idle a fabrication, without a single proof, or +document, in its support, will only be considered as despicable. If +that, therefore, is the subject upon which you purpose to entertain me +in this _tete a tete_, be advised to change it, untried. Such stale +tricks are only to be played upon the inexperienced. You may well blush, +young woman! I am willing to hope it is with shame.' + +'You force me, Madam, to speak!' indignantly cried Juliet; 'though you +will not, thus publicly, force me to an explanation. For your own sake, +Madam, for decency's, if not for humanity's sake, press me no further, +till we are alone! or the blush with which you upbraid me, now, may +hereafter be yours! And not a blush like mine, from the indignation of +innocence injured--yet unsullied; but the blush of confusion and shame; +latent, yet irrepressible!' + +Rage, now, is a word inadequate to express the violent feelings of Mrs +Howel, which, nevertheless, she still strove to curb under an appearance +of disdain. 'You would spare me, then,' she cried, 'this humiliation? +And you suppose I can listen to such arrogance? Undeceive yourself, +young woman; and produce the contents of your work-bag at once, or +expect its immediate seizure for examination, by an officer of justice.' + +'What, Madam, do you mean?' cried Juliet, endeavouring, but not very +successfully, to speak with unconcern. + +'To allow you the choice of more, or fewer witnesses to your boasted +innocence!' + +'If your curiosity, Madam,' said Juliet, more calmly, yet not daring any +longer to resist, 'is excited to take an inventory of my small property, +I must endeavour to indulge it.' + +She was preparing to untie the strings of her work-bag; when a sudden +recollection of the bank-notes of Harleigh, for the possession of which +she could give no possible account, checked her hand, and changed her +countenance. + +Mrs Howel, perceiving her embarrassment, yet more haughtily said, 'Will +you deliver your work-bag, young woman, to Rawlins?' + +'No, Madam!' answered Juliet, reviving with conscious dignity; 'I will +neither so far offend myself at this moment,--nor you for every moment +that shall follow! I can deliver it only into your own hands.' + +'Enough!' cried Mrs Howel. 'Rawlins, order Hilson to enquire out the +magistrate of this village, and to desire that he will send to me some +peace-officer immediately.' + +She then opened the door of a small inner room, into which she shut +herself, with an air of deadly vengeance. + +Mrs Rawlins, at the same time, passed to the outer room, to summon +Hilson. + +Juliet, confounded, remained alone. She looked from one side to the +other; expecting either that Mrs Howel would call upon her, or that Mrs +Rawlins would return for further orders. Neither of them re-appeared, or +spoke. + +Alarmed, now, yet more powerfully than disgusted, she compelled herself +to tap at the door of Mrs Howel, and to beg admission. + +She received no answer. A second and a third attempt failed equally. +Affrighted more seriously, she hastened to the outer room; where a man, +Hilson, she supposed, was just quitting Mrs Rawlins. + +'Mrs Rawlins,' she cried; 'I beseech you not to send any one off, till +you have received fresh directions.' + +Mrs Rawlins desired to know whether this were the command of her lady. + +'It will be,' Juliet replied, 'when I have spoken to her again.' + +Mrs Rawlins answered, that her lady was always accustomed to be obeyed +at once; and told Hilson to make haste. + +Juliet entreated for only a moment's delay; but the man would not +listen. + +Though from justice Juliet could have nothing to fear, the idea of +being forced to own herself, when a peace-officer was sent for, to avoid +being examined as a criminal, filled her with such horrour and affright, +that, calling out, 'Stop! stop! I beseech you stop!--' she ran after the +man, with a precipitate eagerness, that made her nearly rush into the +arms of a gentleman, who, at that moment, having just passed by Hilson, +filled up the way. + +Without looking at him, she sought to hurry on; but, upon his saying, 'I +ask pardon, Ma'am, for barricading your passage in this sort;' she +recognized the voice of her first patron, the Admiral. + +Charmed with the hope of succour, 'Is it you, Sir?' she cried. 'Oh Sir, +stop that person!--Call to him! Bid him return! I implore you!--' + +'To be sure I will, ma'am!' answered he, courteously taking off his hat, +though appearing much amazed; and hallooing after Hilson, 'Hark'ee, my +lad! be so kind to veer about a bit.' + +Hilson, not venturing to shew disrespect to the uniform of the Admiral, +stood still. + +The Admiral then, putting on his hat, and conceiving his business to be +done, was passing on; and Hilson grinning at the short-lived impediment, +was continuing his route; but the calls and pleadings of Juliet made the +Admiral turn back, and, in a tone of authority, and with the voice of a +speaking trumpet, angrily cry, 'Halloo, there! Tack about and come +hither, my lad! What do you go t'other way for, when a lady calls you? +By George, if they had you aboard, they'd soon teach you better +manners!' + +Juliet, again addressing him, said, 'Oh Sir! how good you are! how truly +benevolent!--Detain him but till I speak with his lady, and I shall be +obliged to you eternally!' + +'To be sure I will, Ma'am!' answered the wondering Admiral. 'He sha'n't +pass me. You may depend upon that.' + +Juliet, meaning now to make her sad and forced confession, re-entered +the first apartment; and was soliciting, through Mrs Rawlins, for an +audience with Mrs Howel; when Hilson, surlily returning, preceded the +petitioner to his lady; and complained that he had been set upon by a +bully of the young woman's. + +Mrs Howel, coming forth, with a wrath that was deaf to prayer or +representation, gave orders that the master of the house should be +called to account for such an insult to one of her people. + +The master of the house appearing, made a thousand excuses for what had +happened; but said that he could not be answerable for people's falling +to words upon the stairs. + +Mrs Howel insisted upon reparation; and that those who had affronted her +people should be told to go out of the house; or she herself would never +enter it again. + +The landlord declared that he did not know how to do such a thing, for +the gentleman was his honour the Admiral; who was come to spend two or +three days there, from the shipping at Torbay. + +If it were a general-officer who had acted thus, she said, he could +certainly give some reason for his conduct; and she desired the landlord +to ask it of him in her name. + +In vain, during this debate, Juliet made every concession, save that of +delivering her work-bag to the scrutiny of Mrs Rawlins; nothing less +would satisfy the enraged Mrs Howel, who resisted all overtures for a +_tete a tete_; determined publicly to humble the object of her wrath. + +The Admiral, who was found standing sentinel at the door, desired an +audience of the lady himself. + +Mrs Howel accorded it with readiness; ordering Hilson, Mrs Rawlins, and +the landlord, to remain in the room. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVII + + +Mrs Howel received the Admiral, seated, with an air of state, upon her +arm-chair; at one side of which stood Mrs Rawlins, and at the other +Hilson. The landlord was stationed near the door; and Juliet, indignant, +though trembling, placed herself at a window; determining rather, with +whatever mortification, to seek the protection of the Admiral, than to +avow who she was thus publicly, thus disgracefully, and thus +compulsorily. + +The Admiral entered with the martial air of a man used to command; and +whose mind was made up not to be put out of his way. He bestowed, +nevertheless, three low bows, with great formality, to the sex of Mrs +Howel; to the first of which she arose and courtsied, returning the two +others by an inclination of the head, and bidding Hilson bring the +Admiral a chair. + +The Admiral, having adjusted himself, his hat, and his sword to his +liking, said, 'I wish you good morning, Ma'am. You won't take it amiss, +I hope, that I make free to wait upon you myself, for the sake of having +a small matter of discourse with you, about a certain chap that I +understand to be one of your domestics; a place whereof, if I may judge +by what I have seen of him, he is not over and above worthy.' + +'If any of my people, Sir,' answered Mrs Howel, 'have forgotten what is +due to an officer of your rank, I shall take care to make them sensible +of my displeasure.' + +The Admiral, much gratified, made her a low bow, saying, 'A lady, Ma'am, +such as I suppose you to be, can't fail having a right way of thinking. +But that sort of gentry, as I have taken frequent note, have an ugly +kind of a knack, of treating people rather short that have got a favour +to ask; the which I don't uphold. And this is the main reason that I +think it right to give you an item of my opinion upon this matter, +respecting that lad; who just now, in my proper view, let a young +gentlewoman call and squall after him, till she was black in the face, +without so much as once veering round, to say, Pray, Ma'am, what do you +please to want?' + +Hilson, now, triumphant that he could plead his haste to obey the +commands of his lady, was beginning an affronted self-defence; when the +Admiral, accidentally perceiving Juliet, hastily arose; and in a fit of +unrestrained choler, clinching his double fist at Hilson, cried, 'Why +what sort of a fellow are you, Sir? to bring me a chair while you see a +lady standing? Which do you take to be strongest? An old weather beaten +tar, such as I am; or a poor weak female, that could not lend a hand to +the pump, thof the vessel were going to the bottom?' + +Approaching Juliet, then with his own arm-chair, he begged her to be +seated; saying, 'The lad will take care to bring another to me, I +warrant him! A person who has got a scrap of gold-lace sewed upon his +jacket, is seldom overlooked by that kind of gentry; for which reason I +make no great account of complaisance, when I am dizened in my full +dress uniform,--which, by the way, is a greater ceremony-monger than +this, by thus much (measuring with his finger) more of tinsel!' + +Juliet, gratefully thanking him, but declining his offer, thought this +an opportunity not to be missed, to attempt, under his courageous +auspice, to escape. She courtsied to him, therefore, and was walking +away: but Mrs Howel, swelling with ire, already, at such civility to a +creature whom she had condemned to scorn, now flamed with passion, and +openly told the landlord, to let that young woman pass at his peril. + +Juliet, who saw in the anger which was mixed with the amazement of the +Admiral, that she had a decided defender at hand, collected her utmost +presence of mind, and, advancing to Mrs Howel, said, 'I have offered to +you, Madam, any explanation you may require alone; but in public I offer +you none!' + +'If you think yourself still dealing with a novice of the inexperience +of sixteen,' answered Mrs Howel, 'you will find yourself mistaken. I +will neither trust to the arts of a private recital, nor save your pride +from a public examination.' + +Then, addressing the Admiral, 'All yesterday morning, Sir,' she +continued, 'I had sundry articles, such as rings, bank-notes, and +letters of value, dispersed in my apartment, from a security that it was +sacred; but the chambermaid informs me, that she caught this young +woman entering it, under pretence of waiting upon a young lady, then in +the inner room; and the same chambermaid, an hour after, found that she +was still here; and endeavouring to conceal, in her work-bag something +that she had wrapt into a sheet of paper, that was confessedly pilfered +from my table.'-- + +The Admiral, observing, in the midst of the disturbance of Juliet at +this attack, an air of offended dignity, which urged him to believe that +she was innocent, unhesitatingly answered, ''Tis an old saying, Madam, +and a wise one, that standers-by see the most of the game; and I have +taken frequent note, that we are all of one mind, till we have heard two +sides of the question: for which reason I hold it but fair, that the +young gentlewoman should be asked what she has to say for herself.' + +'Can you suppose, Sir,' said Mrs Howel, the veins of whose face and +throat now looked bursting, 'that I mean to canvass this matter upon +terms of equality? that I intend to be my own pleader against a pauper +and an impostor?'-- + +Juliet here held her hand upon her forehead, as if scarcely able to +sustain the indignant pain with which she was seized; and the fierce +frown of the Admiral, showed his gauntlet not merely ready to be flung +on the ground, but almost in the face of her adversary; Mrs Howel, +however, went on. + +'I do not pretend to affirm that any thing has been purloined; but the +circumstances of the case are certainly extraordinary; and I should be +sorry to run the risk of wrongfully suspecting,--should something +hereafter be missing,--any of my own people. I demand, therefore, +immediately, an explanation of this transaction.' + +The Admiral, full of angry feelings as he looked at the panting Juliet, +replied, himself; 'To my seeming, Madam, the short cut to the truth in +this business, would be for you to cast an eye upon your own affairs; +which I doubt not but you will find in very good trim; and if you should +like to know what passes in my mind, I must needs make bold to remark, +that I think the so doing would be more good natured, by a +fellow-creature, than putting a young gentlewoman out of countenance by +talking so high: which, moreover, proves no fact.' + +'I am infinitely indebted to you, Sir, for the honour of your +reprimand,' Mrs Howel, affectedly bowing, answered; 'which I should not +have incurred, had it not appeared to me, that it would be far more +troublesome to my people, to take an exact review of my various and +numerous trinkets and affairs, than for an innocent person to display +the contents of a small work-bag.' + +'Nay, that is but reasonable,' said the Admiral; 'I won't say to the +contrary. And I make small doubt, but that the young gentlewoman +desires, in like manner with ourselves, that all should be fair and +above board. The work-bag, I'll bet you all I am worth, has not a +gimcrack in it that is not her own.' + +Juliet, to whom the consciousness was ever uppermost of the suspicious +bank-notes, felt by no means inclined to submit to an examination. +Again, therefore, and with firmness, she declined giving any +communication, but in a private interview with Mrs Howel. + +Mrs Howel, now, had not a doubt remaining, that something had been +stolen; and, still more desirous to disgrace the culprit, than to +recover her property, she declared, that she was perfectly ready to add +to the number of witnesses, but resolutely fixed not to diminish it; +public shame being the best antidote that could be offered, against +those arts by which youth and credulity had been duped. + +Juliet now looked down; embarrassed, distressed, yet colouring with +resentment. The Admiral, not conceiving her situation; nor being able to +comprehend the difficulty of displaying the contents of a work-bag, +approached her, and strove to give her courage. + +'Come!' he cried, 'young gentlewoman! don't be faint-hearted. Let the +lady have her way. I always like to have my own, which makes me speak up +for others. Besides which, I have no great opinion of quarrelling for +straws. We are none of us the nearer the mark for falling to +loggerheads: for which reason I make it a rule never to lose my temper +myself; except when I am provoked; so untie your work-bag, young +gentlewoman. I'll engage that it will do you no discredit, by the very +turn of your eye; for I don't know that, to my seeming, I ever saw a +modester look of a face.' + +This harangue was uttered in a tone of good-humoured benevolence, that +seemed seeking to raise her spirits; yet with an expression of +compassion, that indicated a tender feeling for her disturbance; while +the marked integrity, and honest frankness of his own character, with a +high sense of honour, and a sincere love of virtue, beamed benignly, as +he looked at her, in every feature of his kind, though furrowed face. + +Juliet was sensibly touched by his goodness and liberality, which +surprized from her all precaution; and the concession which she had +refused to arrogant menace, she spontaneously granted, to secure the +good will of her ancient, though unconscious friend. Raising, therefore, +her eyes, in which an expression of gratitude took place of that of +sadness, 'I will not, Sir,' she said, 'resist your counsel; though I +have in nothing forfeited my inherent right to the inviolability of my +property.' + +She then put her work-bag into his own hands. + +He received it with a bow down to the ground; while joy almost capered +in his old eyes; and, exultingly turning to Mrs Howel, 'To my seeming, +Madam,' he said, 'this young gentlewoman is as well-behaved a girl, as a +man might wish to meet with, from one side the globe to the t'other; and +I respect her accordingly. And, if I were to do so unhandsome a thing, +as to poke and peer into her baggage, after seeing her comport herself +so genteelly, I won't deny but I should merit a cat-o'-nine tails, +better than many an honest tar that receives them. And, therefore, I +hope, now, Madam, you will give back to the young gentlewoman your good +opinion, in like manner as I, here, give her back her work-bag.' + +And then, with another profound bow, and a flourish of his hand, that +shewed his pleasure in the part which he was taking, he was returning to +Juliet her property; when he was startled by an ungovernable gust of +wrath, from the utterly enraged Mrs Howel, who exclaimed, 'If you dare +take it, young woman, unexamined, 'tis to a justice of the peace, and +not to a sea-officer, that you will deliver it another time!' + +Juliet, certain, whatever might be her ultimate fate, that her birth and +family must, inevitably, be soon discovered, revolted from this menace; +and determined, rather than submit to any further indignity, to risk +casting herself, at once, upon the gentleman-like humanity of the +Admiral. Unintimidated, therefore, by the alarming threat, which, +heretofore, had appalled her, she steadily held out her hand, and +received, from the old officer, in graceful silence, the proffered +work-bag. + +There is nothing which so effectually oversets an accusing adversary, as +self-possession; self-possession, which, if unaffected, is the highest +attribute of fearless innocence; if assumed, the most consummate address +of skilful art. Called, therefore, from rage to shame, by the calmness +of Juliet, Mrs Howel constrained herself to resume her air of solemn +importance; and, perceiving the piqued look of the Admiral, at her +slighting manner of naming sea-officers, she courteously said, 'Permit +me, Sir, as you are so good as to enter into this affair, to state to +you that this young woman comes from abroad; and has no ostensible +method of living in this country: will it not, then, be more consonant +to prudence and decorum, that she should hasten to return whence she +came?' + +'Madam,' answered the Admiral, coldly, 'I never give advice upon the +onset of a question; that is to say, never till I see that one thing had +better be done than another. I have no great taste for groping in the +dark; wherefore, when I don't rightly make out what a person would be +at, I think the best mode to keep clear of a dispute, is to sheer off; +whereby one avoids, in like manner, either to give or take an affront: +two things not much more to my mind the one than the t'other. And so, +Madam, I wish you good day.' + +He then, with a formal bow, left the room, Juliet gliding out by his +side; while Mrs Howel, powerless to detain her, wreaked her pent-up +wrath upon the bell, which she rang, till every waiter in the house came +to hear, that she was now ready to set off for Chudleigh-park. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVIII + + +The kind looks, and determined approbation of the Admiral, gave Juliet, +now, courage to address him with a petition for his advice, how she +might arrive most expeditiously at Torbay. + +'Torbay?' he repeated, 'why I could send you in my boat. But what,--' +his brow overclouding, 'what has a modest girl to do at Torbay?' + +Juliet answered, that she should join, there, a friend whom she meant to +accompany to the continent. + +Every mark of favour was now changed into disdainful displeasure; and, +turning abruptly away from her, he muttered to himself, though aloud, +that women's going abroad, to outlandish places, whereby they learnt +more how to dizen themselves, and cut capers, than how to become good +wives and mothers, was what he could not uphold; and would not lend a +hand to; and then, without looking at her, he sullenly entered his own +apartment. + +The disappointed Juliet, utterly overset, was still dejectedly +ruminating in the corridor, when she heard the servants of Mrs Howel +announce, that their lady's carriage was ready. + +She then recovered her feet, to escape any fresh offence by regaining +her apartment. + +Her situation appeared to her now to be as extraordinary, as it was sad +and difficult. Entitled to an ample fortune, yet pennyless; indebted for +her sole preservation from insult and from famine, to pecuniary +obligations from accidental acquaintances, and those acquaintances, men! +pursued, with documents of legal right, by one whom she shuddered to +behold, and to whom she was so irreligiously tied, that she could not, +even if she wished it, regard herself as his lawful wife; though so +entangled, that her fetters seemed to be linked with duty and honour; +unacknowledged,--perhaps disowned by her family; and, though born to a +noble and yet untouched fortune, consigned to disguise, to debt, to +indigence, and to flight! + +While mournfully taking this review of her condition, and seeking, but +vainly, to form some plan for its amelioration, she heard the potent +voice of the Admiral call out, 'To Powderham Castle,' as a carriage +drove from the house; but ere she had time to lament the mortifying +errour of her benevolent, though ill judging friend, the approach to the +door of some other vehicle, announced a fresh arrival; and, presently, +all difficulties were absorbed in immediate terrour, as again she heard +that sound, which, of all others, most severely shocked her nerves, the +voice of Mrs Howel. + +What could cause this abrupt return? Had she received the directions of +Lord Denmeath? Was a new persecution arranged? or,--more horrible than +all,--had means been devized, for casting again the most wretched of +victims into the hands of the most terrific of her foes? + +Tremblingly she listened to every noise. A general commotion, with quick +pacing feet, spoke the entrance into the house of sundry servants; and, +presently, she distinctly heard the apartment of Mrs Howel taken +possession of by that lady, and by some person with whom she was +discoursing. + +All now, for about a quarter of an hour, was still. She was then alarmed +by a rustling sound, and a single footstep in the corridor: it +approached, stopt, seemed turning back; approached again; and, after a +few minutes, she was startled by a tapping at her door. + +She shook, she was all dismay and apprehension: she hesitated whether to +bolt herself in, or to accord admission; but a second tap bringing to +her reflection how short, how futile, how ineffectual would be any +resistance, she turned the key, opened her door, and her room was +instantly entered. + +Often, in the course of her long struggles and difficulties, had Juliet +been struck with astonishment; but never had she known surprize that +could bear any comparison with that which she experienced at this +moment; when, expecting to see Mrs Howel, or Lord Denmeath; when, +prepared for reproach, for menace, and for insult; she saw, as fearfully +she raised her eyes, instead of all that she dreaded and loathed, all +that she thought most sweet, most lovely, most perfect upon earth, in +the elegant form, and softly expressive face of Lady Aurora Granville, +who, with eyes glistening, and arms opening, gently ejaculated, 'My +sister!' and fell, weeping, upon her neck. + +Juliet nearly ceased to breathe: wonder, yet incredulity, took +possession of her faculties, and she knew not whether it were possible +that this could be reality till the big surprize, mingled with the +almost too powerful delight of her bosom, found some vent in a violent +burst of tears. + +Tender embraces, fond and open on the part of Lady Aurora, transported, +yet fearful and doubtful, on that of Juliet, kept them for some minutes +weeping in each other's arms. 'Can you, then,--' cried the penetrated +Juliet,--'may I believe in such felicity?--Can you condescend so far as +not to disdain,--disclaim,--and turn away from so unhappy a relation? so +distressed,--so helpless,--so desolate an object?' + +'Oh! hush! hush! hush!' cried Lady Aurora, putting her hand upon the +mouth of Juliet; 'you must not break my heart by such an idea,--such a +profanation! by making me apprehend that you could ever think me such a +monster! Did I wait till I knew your rights to my affection before I +loved you? Did I not divine them from the moment I first conversed with +you?' + +Folding, then, her white arms around Juliet, with redoubled tenderness, +'Oh my sweet Miss Ellis!' she cried. 'Let me call you still a little +while by that dear name! I have loved it so fondly that I can hardly +love more even to call you my dearest sister! How you have engaged my +thoughts; rested upon my imagination; occupied my ideas; been ever +uppermost in my memory; and always highest,--Oh! higher than any one in +my esteem and admiration! long, long before this loved moment, when Sir +Jaspar Herrington's letter makes my enthusiasm but a tender duty!' + +'Ah! Lady Aurora!' cried Juliet, 'what sufferings are not repaid by a +moment such as this! by a blessing so superlative, as thus to be +acknowledged, thus to be received, by the person whose virtues and whose +sweetness would have made me delight in her favour, had I never wanted +protection! had my lot in life been the most brilliant!' + +'Oh hush! sweet sister, hush!' interrupted Lady Aurora, again stopping +her mouth; 'what words are these? favour!--Lady Aurora!--Ah! never let +me hear them more, if you love me! What have we to do with such phrases? +Are we not sisters? Shall I use such to you? Would you love me if I did? +Would you not rather chide me?' + +Juliet could only shed tears, though tears so delicious, that it was +luxury to shed them. Lady Aurora would have kissed them from her cheeks; +but her own mingled with them so copiously, that it was not possible; +and though the smiles of expressive joy that brightened each +countenance, shewed their sensibility to be but fulness of happiness, +the meeting, the acknowledgment, with the throbbing recollection of all +that was passed, so touched each gentle heart, that they could but weep +and embrace, embrace and weep, alternately. + +'I have coveted,' at length cried Juliet, 'almost beyond light or life, +I have coveted this precious moment! When first I heard you named,--you +and Lord Melbury,--on the evening of the play, at Mrs Maple's, Oh! what +were my emotions! my satisfaction, my apprehensions, my hopes, and my +solicitude! When I saw two beings so sweet, so formed to create esteem +and love, so innocent, so unassuming, so attractive,--and whispered to +myself, Are these my nearest relations? Is this my sister? Is this my +brother?--how did my heart expand with joy and pride! How did I long to +cast off all disguise, all reserve, and cry Own me, amiable beings! +sweet sister! loved brother! pure, kind, and good! own your unhappy +sister! take to your pitying protection the distressed, persecuted, +insulated daughter of your father!' + +'Ah why,' cried Lady Aurora, 'did you not speak? why not indulge the +impulse of nature, and of kindness? Your talents, your acquirements, +your manners, won, instantly, all our admiration; enchanted, bewitched +us; but how wide were we from thinking, at that first moment, that we +had any tie to a mutual regard with the accomplished Miss Ellis! Our +first notion of that happiness, though still far from the truth,--was +after that cruel scene, which must for ever be blotted from all our +memories;--when my poor brother was urged on,--so unhappily! to forget +himself. The knowledge of that disgrace, from some listening servants, +reached Mrs Howel; she communicated it to my uncle Denmeath: no wonder +he was alarmed! Still, however, he told us not the story; though, to +stop the progress of what he feared, he acquainted us, that a report had +formerly been spread, that we had a distant relation abroad; not, he +said,--forgive him, if possible!--not in a right line related, and +never, by my father, meant to be any way acknowledged.--Oh how little he +knew my father! or, let me say, either of his daughters!--But, having +put my brother upon his guard, by suggesting that it was possible that +you might be this distant and unhonoured relation.--Ah, my Miss Ellis! +if you had seen our indignant looks, when we heard such phrases!--He +promised to seek you himself, and to examine into the affair; and +exacted, forced from us both a promise, in return, that we would never +either meet or write to you, till he had ascertained what was the truth. +The unfortunate scene at Mrs Howel's alone made my brother submit; for +he feared misconstruction: and his submission of course included mine. +Ah! had you spoken at that time! had you revealed--' + +'Alas! my distresses were so complicate! What most I wished upon earth, +was constantly counteracted by what most I dreaded! I could not make +myself known to my friends,--in the soothing supposition that such I +should find!--without betraying myself to my enemy; for Lord Denmeath +would assuredly have made me over to my persecutor. How, then, in a +situation so critical, yet so helpless, could I selfishly involve in my +wretchedness, my perplexity and my concealment, the kindest and +tenderest of human hearts?' + +'Frequently,' said Lady Aurora, 'we have considered, and consulted +together, what steps we ought to take; but the fear of some mistake, +some imprudence, some offence, in a point so doubtful, so delicate, made +us always decide that it was for you to speak first. And when I pressed +so earnestly for your confidence, it was in the hope, the flattering +hope, that I should prove my title to taking such a liberty. I had not, +else, been so importunate, so inconsiderate. My brother, too, actuated +by the same hope, urged you, perhaps, even more precipitately; but in +all honour, with all respect; with no view, no thought, but to cement +our regard by the ties of kindred. My brother can scarcely yet know our +beloved acquisition; but Sir Jaspar tells me that he has sent a +duplicate-letter to him, with the same precious history that he has +written to me. Oh, how fervent will be his delight!' + +She then related, to the grateful, but joy overpowered Juliet, that she +had herself but just acquired this information, through the letter of +which she had spoken; and which had been put into her hands, as she was +setting out for Chudleigh-park; to which place Mrs Howel had, hastily, +asked her to set off first, with her maid; promising to overtake her by +the way. + +The letter from Sir Jaspar, Lady Aurora continued, changed the whole +system of her conduct. When she learnt that Miss Ellis, instead of being +either an adventurer, or a distant and unhonoured relation, was the +daughter of her own father; by a first, a lawful, though a secret +marriage; all difficulty and irresolution vanished. Her first duty, she +now thought, was the duty of a daughter, in the acknowledgment of a +sister. + +She gave orders that her chaise should be driven back instantly to +Teignmouth; but, before she reached that village, she met Mrs Howel; +with whose woman she immediately changed place; and then communicated +the interesting intelligence that she had just received. Mrs Howel was +utterly confounded; having either never conceived the truth, or been of +opinion, with Lord Denmeath, that the interest, and the dignity of his +lordship's nephew and niece, demanded its disavowal, or concealment. But +when Lady Aurora openly protested, that she must instantly address her +sister, through the medium of Sir Jaspar Herrington; Mrs Howel, to stop +any written acknowledgment, confessed that the young person was at +Teignmouth; earnestly, however, insisting that no measure should be +adopted, till the arrival of Lord Denmeath, to whom she had already sent +an express. But Lady Aurora no sooner heard this welcome news, than, +stimulated by conceiving, that her inclinations and her sense of right, +were now one, she grew inflexible in her turn; and resolved to +acknowledge and embrace her sister, without any other permission than +the law of nature. Mrs Howel, conscious, Lady Aurora thought, that, +should the business take a new turn, from the interference of Sir Jaspar +Herrington, she might, already, have gone too far, was fain to accompany +her back to the lodging-house; and, after giving many admonitions, to +submit to the irrepressible impatience which sunk the niece in the +sister. + +Lady Aurora solicited, now, to know for what reason the name of Ellis +had been taken; and learnt that, in the terrible perturbation in which +Juliet had parted from the Marchioness, they had hastily agreed upon two +initial letters for their correspondence; reserving some better adoption +to a consultation with Gabriella. To have used the name of Granville, +would have been courting danger and pursuit. But the embarrassed avowal +of Juliet, that had been surprized from her at Dover, by the abrupt +interrogatory of Elinor, that she knew not, herself, what she ought to +be called; stood, ever after, in the way of any regulation upon that +difficult point. She had been glad, therefore, to subscribe to the +blunder of Miss Bydel, which seemed, in some measure, retaining an +appellation, at least a sound, designed for her by the Marchioness; and +which could not be called a deception, since all who then knew her, +knew, also, its origin. + +Lady Aurora acknowledged, that, even from their childhood, both Lord +Melbury and herself had heard, though secretly and vaguely, of a +suspected elder born; but not of a prior marriage; and they had often +wished to meet with Miss Powel; for calumny and mystery, while they had +hidden the truth, had not concealed the attachment of Lord Granville, +nor the suspicious disappearance of its object, and her mother. + +Innumerable plans, now, varying and short lived, because unsanctioned by +any authority, succeeded to one another, of what measures might be +adopted for their living together immediately. 'For how,' cried Juliet, +'could I, henceforth, sustain an insulated life? How bear to look around +me, again, and see no one whose kindness I could claim? Oh, how support +so forlorn a state, after feeling every sorrow subside on the +bosom,--may I, indeed, say so?--on the loved bosom of a sister?' + +Thus, in the grateful transports of sensations as exquisite as they were +sudden and unexpected, Juliet, acknowledged as her sister by Lady Aurora +Granville; and with hopes all alive of the tender protection of a +brother, felt every pulse, once again, beat to happiness; while every +fear and foreboding, though not annihilated, was set aside. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIX + + +While time was yet a stranger to regulation, and ere the dial shewed its +passage; when it had no computation but by our feelings, our weariness, +our occupations, or our passions; the sun which arose splendid upon +felicity, must have excited, by its quick parting rays, a surprise +nearly incredulous; while that which gave light but to sorrow, may have +appeared, at its evening setting, to have revolved the whole year. This +period, so long past, seemed now present to Lady Aurora and to Juliet; +so uncounted flew the minutes; so unconscious were they that they had +more than met, more than embraced, more than reciprocated their joy in +acknowledged kindred; that each felt amazed as well as shocked, when a +summons from Mrs Howel to Lady Aurora, told them that the day was fast +wearing, away. + +Lady Aurora reluctantly obeyed the call; and in thanksgiving, pious and +delighted, Juliet spent the interval of her absence. + +It was not long; she returned precipitately; but colourless, trembling, +and altered, though making an effort to smile: but the struggle against +her feelings ended in a burst of tears; and, again falling upon the neck +of Juliet; 'Oh my sweet sister!' she cried, 'is your persecution never +to end?' + +Juliet, though quickly alarmed, fondly answered, 'It is over already! +While that precious appellation comes from your lips,--sweet title of +tenderness and affection!--I feel above every danger!' + +Lady Aurora, bitterly weeping, was compelled, then, to acknowledge that +she had been hurried away by Mrs Howel, to be told that a foreigner, ill +dressed, and just arrived from the Continent, was demanding, in broken +English, of every one that he met, some news of a young person called +Miss Ellis. + +The exaltation of Juliet was instantly at an end; and, in an accent of +despair, she uttered, 'Is it so soon, then, over!--my transient +felicity!' + +Whether this foreigner were her persecutor himself, escaped and +disguised; or some emissary employed to claim or to entrap her, was all +of doubt by which she was momentarily supported; for she felt as +determined to resist an agent, as she thought herself incapable to +withstand the principal. + +Mrs Howel, who had heard of the search, represented to Lady Aurora, the +extreme impropriety of her ladyship's intercourse with a person thus +suspiciously pursued; at least till the opinion of Lord Denmeath could +be known. But Lady Aurora, fully satisfied that this helpless fugitive +was her half-sister, was now as firm as she had hitherto been facile; +and declared that, though her personal inclinations should still yield +to her respect for her uncle, her sense of filial duty to the memory of +her father, must bind her, openly and unreservedly, to sustain his +undoubted daughter. + +A waiter now interrupted them, to demand admission to Miss Ellis for a +foreigner. + +'She is not here!--There is no Miss Ellis here! No such +person!'--precipitately cried Lady Aurora; but the foreigner himself, +who stood behind the waiter, glided into the room. + +Lady Aurora nearly fainted; Juliet screamed and hid her face; the +foreigner called out, 'Ah Mademoiselle Juliette! c'est, donc, vous! et +vous ne me reconnoissez pas?'[14] + +[Footnote 14: 'Ah, Miss Juliet! it is you then! and you do not know +me?'] + +'Ah heaven!' cried Juliet, uncovering her face; 'Ambroise! my good, my +excellent Ambroise! is it you?--and you only?'--Turning then, +enraptured, to Lady Aurora, 'Kindest,' she cried, 'and tenderest of +human beings! condescend to receive, and to aid me to thank, the +valuable person to whom I owe my first deliverance!' + +Lady Aurora, revived and charmed, poured forth the warmest praises; +while Juliet, eagerly demanding news of the Marchioness; and whether he +could give any intelligence of the Bishop; saw his head droop, and +seized with terrour, exclaimed, 'Oh Ambroise! am I miserable for ever!' + +He hastened to assure her that they were both alive, and well; and, in +the ecstacy of her gratitude, upon the cessation of her first direful +surmise, she promised to receive all other information with courage. + +He shook his head, with an air the most sorrowful; and then related +that the Bishop, after delays, dangers, fruitless journies, and +disasters innumerable, which had detained him many months in the +interiour, had, at last, and most unfortunately, reached a port, whence +he was privately to embark for joining his niece, just as the +commissary, upon returning from his abortive expedition, was re-landed. +By some cruel accident, the voice of the prelate reached his ear: +immediate imprisonment, accompanied by treatment the most ignominious, +ensued. Ambroise, who, for the satisfaction of the Marchioness, had +attended the Bishop to the coast, was seized also; and both would +inevitably have been executed, had not a project occurred to the +commissary, of employing Ambroise to demand and recover his prey, and +her dowry. + +Ambroise stopt and wept. + +Bloodless now became the face of Juliet, though with forced, yet decided +courage, 'I understand you!' she cried, 'and Oh! if I can save him,--by +any sacrifice, any devotion,--I am contented! and I ought to be happy!' + +'Ah, cruel sister!' cried Lady Aurora; 'would you kill me?'-- + +Juliet, shedding a torrent of tears, tenderly embraced her. + +'The Bishop,' Ambroise continued, 'no sooner comprehended than he +forbade the attempt; but he was consigned, unheard, to a loathsome cell; +and Ambroise was almost instantly embarked; with peremptory orders to +acquaint _la citoyenne Julie_ that unless she returned immediately to +her husband, in order to sign and seal, by his side, and as his wife, +their joint claim to her portion, upon the terms that Lord Denmeath had +dictated; the most tremendous vengeance should fall upon the +hypocritical old priest, by every means the most terrible that could be +devised.' + +'I am ready! quite ready!' cried the pale Juliet, with energy; 'I do not +sacrifice, I save myself by preserving my honoured guardian!' + +This eagerness to rescue her revered benefactor, which made her feel +gloriously, though transiently, the exaltation of willing martyrdom, +soon subsided into the deepest grief, upon seeing Lady Aurora, +shivering, speechless, and nearly lifeless, sink despondingly upon the +ground. + +Juliet, kneeling by her side, and pressing her nearly cold face to her +bosom, bathed her cheeks, throat, and shoulders with fast falling tears; +but felt incapable of changing her plan. Yet all her own anguish was +almost intolerably embittered, by thus proving the fervour of an +affection, in which almost all her wishes might have been concentrated, +but that honour, conscience, and religion united to snatch her from its +enjoyment. + +The news that Lady Aurora was taken ill, spread quickly to Mrs Howel; +and brought that lady to the apartment of Juliet in person. Lady Aurora +was already recovered, and seated in the folding arms of Juliet, with +whom her tears were bitterly, but silently mingling. + +Mrs Howel, shocked and alarmed, summoned the female attendants to +conduct her ladyship to her own apartment. + +Lady Aurora would accept no aid save from Juliet; fondly leaning upon +whose arm she reached a sofa in her bed-chamber; where she assumed, +though with cruel struggles against her yielding nature, voice and +courage to pronounce, 'My dear Mrs Howel, you have always been so +singularly good to me,--you have always done me so much honour, that you +must not, will not refuse to be kinder to me still, and to permit me to +introduce to you ... Miss Granville!... For this young lady, Mrs Howel, +is my sister!... my very dear sister!' + +Utterly confounded, Mrs Howel made a silent inclination of the head, +with eyes superciliously cast down. The letter of Sir Jaspar Herrington +had not failed to convince her that this was the real offspring of Lord +Granville; whose existence had never been doubted in the world, but +whose legitimacy had never been believed. Still, however, Mrs Howel, who +was now, from her own hard conduct, become the young orphan's personal +enemy, flattered herself that means might be found to prevent the +publication of such a story; and determined to run no risk by appearing +to give it credit; at the same time that, in her uncertainty of the +event, she softened the austerity of her manner; and gave orders to the +servants to shew every possible respect to a person who had the honour +to be admitted to Lady Aurora Granville. + +Juliet was in too desperate a state for any thought, or care, relative +to Mrs Howel; and, having soothed Lady Aurora by promises of a speedy +return, she hastened back to Ambroise. + +She earnestly besought him, since her decision would be immutable, to +make immediate enquiries whence they might embark with the greatest +expedition. + +Sadly, yet, so circumstanced, not unwillingly he agreed; and gave to her +aching heart nearly the only joy of which it was susceptible, in the +news that the Marchioness was already at the sea-side, awaiting the +expected arrival of her darling daughter. + +Ambroise had been entrusted, he said, by the commissary, with this +cruel office, from his well known fidelity to the Marchioness and to the +Bishop, which, where the alternative was so dreadful, would urge him, +whatever might be his repugnance, to its faithful discharge. His orders +had been to proceed straight to Salisbury, whence, under the name of +Miss Ellis, he was to seek Juliet in every direction. And her various +adventures had made so much noise in that neighbourhood, that she had +been traced, with very little difficulty to Teignmouth. + +Her terrible compliance being thus solemnly fixed, she left him to +prepare for their departure the next morning, and returned to the +afflicted Lady Aurora; by whose side she remained till midnight; +struggling to sink her own sufferings, and to hide her shuddering +disgust and horrour, in administering words of comfort, and exhibiting +an example of fortitude, to her weeping sister. + +But when, early the next morning, with the dire idea of leave-taking, +she re-visited the gentle mourner, she found her nourishing a hope that +her Juliet might yet be melted to a change of plan. 'Oh my sister!' she +cried, 'my whole heart cannot thus have been opened to affection, to +confidence, to fondest friendship, only to be broken by this dreadful +separation! Our souls cannot have been knit together by ties of the +sweetest trust, only to be rent for ever asunder! You will surely +reflect before you destroy us both? for do you think you can now be a +single victim?' + +Dissolved with tenderness, yet agonized with grief, Juliet could but +weep, and ejaculate half-pronounced blessings; while Lady Aurora, with +renovating courage, said, 'Ah! think, sweet Juliet, think, if our +father,--was he not ours alike?--had lived to know the proud day of +receiving his long lost, and so accomplished daughter, such as I see her +now!--would he not have said to me, 'Aurora! this is your sister! You +are equally my children; love her, then, tenderly, and let there be but +one heart between you!'--And will you, then, Juliet, deliver us both up +to wretchedness? Must I see you no more? And only have seen you, now, to +embitter all the rest of my life?' + +'Oh resistless Aurora!' cried the miserable Juliet, 'rend not thus my +heart!--Think for me, my Aurora;--Think, as well as feel for me,--and +then--dispose of me as you will!'-- + +'I accept being the umpire, my Juliet! my tenderest sister! I accept it, +and you are saved!--We are both saved!--for this would be a sacrifice +beyond any call of duty!'--cried Lady Aurora, instantly reviving, not +simply to serenity, but to felicity, to rapture. Her tears were dried +up, her eyes shone with delight, and smiles the softest and most +expressive dimpled her chin, and played about her cheeks and mouth, +while, with a transport new to her serene temperament, she embraced the +appalled Juliet. ''Tis now, indeed,' she continued, 'I feel I have a +sister! 'Tis now I feel the force of kindred fondness! If you had not +loved me with a sister's affection, you would not have listened to my +solicitations; and if you had not listened, such a disappointment, and +your loss together,--do you think I should have been strong enough to +survive them?' But this enchantment lasted not long; she soon perceived +it was without participation, and her joy vanished, 'like the baseless +fabric of a vision.' Anguish sat upon the brow of Juliet; fits of +shuddering horrour shook every limb; and her only answer to these tender +endearments was by tears and embraces; while she strove to hide her +altered and nearly distorted face upon Lady Aurora's shoulder. + +'Speak to me, my sister!' cried Lady Aurora. 'Tell me that your pity for +the good Bishop is not stronger than all your love for me? than all your +value for your own security from barbarous brutality? than your trust in +Providence, that will surely protect so pious and exemplary a person?' + +'No, Heaven forbid!' answered Juliet; 'but, when Providence permits us +to see a way,--when it opens a path to us by which evil may be avoided, +by which duty may be exerted,--ought the difficulties of that way, the +perils of that path, to make us recoil from the attempt? When the +natural means are obvious, ought we to wait for some miracle?' + +'Ah, my sister!' cried Lady Aurora, 'would you, then, still go? Have you +yielded in mere transient compassion?' + +'No, sweet Aurora, no! To ruin your peace would every way destroy Mine! +Yet--what a fatality! to fear the very enjoyment of the family +protection for which I have been sighing my whole life, lest I can enjoy +it but by a crime! I abandon the post of honour, in leaving the +benefactor, the supporter, the preserver of my orphan existence, to +perpetual chains, if not to massacre!--Or I break the tender heart of +the gentlest, purest, and most beloved of sisters!' + +Lady Aurora, now, looked all consternation; and, after a disturbed +pause, 'If you think it wrong,' she cried, 'not to sacrifice +yourself,--Oh my sister! let not mere commiseration for my weakness lead +you astray! We all know there is another world, in which we yet may meet +again!' + +'Angel! angel!' cried Juliet, pressing Lady Aurora to her bosom. 'You +will aid me, then, to do right' by nobly supporting yourself, you will +help to keep me from sinking? Religion will give you strength of mind to +submit to our worldly separation, and all my sufferings will be +endurable, while they open to me the hope of a final re-union with my +angel sister!' + +They now mutually sought to re-animate each other. Piety strengthened +the fortitude of Juliet, and supplied its place to Lady Aurora; and, in +soft pity to each other, each strove to look away from, and beyond, all +present and actual evil; and to work up their minds, by religious hopes +and reflections, to an enthusiastic foretaste of the joys of futurity. + + + + +CHAPTER XC + + +This tenderly touching intercourse was broken in upon by a summons to +Ambroise, whom Juliet found waiting for her in the corridor; where he +was beginning to recount to her, that he had met with a sea-officer, who +had promised him a letter of recommendation for procuring a passport, if +he could bring proof that he was a proper person for having one; when +the Admiral issued abruptly from his apartment. + +He took off his hat, though with a severe air, to Juliet, who, abashed, +passed on to her chamber; but stopping and bluffly accosting Ambroise, +'Harkee!' he cried, 'my lad! a word with you!--Pray, what business have +you with that girl? I have, I know, as good as promised to help you off; +but let all be fair and above board. I don't pretend to have much taste +for any person who would go out of old England when once he has got +footing into it; thoff if I had had the misfortune to be born in France, +there's no being sure that I might not have liked it myself; from +knowing no better: for which reason I think nothing narrower than +holding a man cheap for loving his country, be it ever so bad a one. +Therefore, if you have a mind, my lad, as far as yourself goes, to sheer +off; as you are neither a sailor nor a soldier, nor, moreover, a +prisoner, I will lend you a hand and welcome. But no foul play! If +there's any person of your acquaintance, that, after being born in old +England, wants to go flaunting and jiggetting to outlandish countries, +you'll do well to give her a hint to keep astern of me; for I shall +never uphold a person who behaves o' that sort.' + +Ambroise, in broken English, earnestly entreated him not to withdraw his +promised protection; and Juliet, desirous to obtain his counsel for the +execution of her perilous enterprize, ventured back, and joined to +petition for instructions where she might embark most expeditiously; +endeavouring to make her peace with him, by solemnly avowing, that +necessity, not inclination, urged her to undertake this voyage; and +claiming assistance, a second time, from his tried benevolence. + +The words tried benevolence, and a second time, which inadvertently +escaped her, from eagerness to interest his attention, struck him +forcibly with ire. 'Avast!' he cried, 'none of your flummery! You think, +belike, because you've got a pretty face, to make a fool of me? but +that's sooner thought than done! You'll excuse me for speaking my mind a +little plainly; for how the devil, asking your pardon for such a word, +should I do any thing for you a second time, when I have never seen or +thought of you, up to this moment, a first? Please to tell me that!' + +Juliet, looking round, and seeing that no witnesses were by, gently +enquired whether he had no remembrance of a poor voyager, whom he had +had the charity to save, the preceding winter, from immediate +destruction, by admitting into a boat? + +'What! a swarthy minx? with a sooty sort of skin, and all over rags and +jags? Yes, yes, I remember her well enough: I thank her! but I don't +much advise her to come in my way! She turned out a mere impostor. She +was probably French. I gave her a guinea, and paid for her place to +town, and her entertainment. She took my guinea, and eat and drank; and +then made off by some other way! and has never been heard of since. I +described her at all the Dover stages and diligences; for I intended to +give her a trifle more, to help her to find her friends, for fear of her +falling into bad hands. But I could never get any tidings of her; she +was a mere cheat. How did you come to know the jade?' + +Juliet blushed violently, and, with some difficulty stammered out, 'Kind +as you are, Sir, good and charitable,--you have not well judged that +young person!'-- + +'By all that's sacred,' cried he, striking his cane upon the ground, 'if +it were possible for a girl to be painted to such a pitch of nicety, I +should swear you were that very mamselle yourself!--though, if you are, +I should take it as a favour if you would tell me, how the devil it came +into your head to let me pay for your stage-coach, when you never made +use of your place? Where the fun of that was I can't make out!' + +'I am but too sensible, Sir, that every thing seems against me!' said +Juliet, in a melancholy tone; 'yet the time, probably, is not very far +off, when I may be able sufficiently to explain myself, to cause you +much regret,--so generous seems your nature;--should you refuse me your +services in my very great distress!' + +The Admiral now looked deeply perplexed, yet evidently touched. 'I +should be loath, Madam,' he said, 'very loath, indeed, for the matter of +that, there's something so agreeable in you,--to think you no better +than you should be. Not that one ought to expect perfection; for a woman +is but a woman; which a man, as her native superiour, ought always to +keep in mind; however, don't take it amiss that I throw out that remark; +for I don't mean it to dash you.' + +Juliet, too much shocked to reply, cast up her eyes in silent appeal to +heaven, and, entering her room, resolved to fold two guineas in a small +packet, and to send them to the Admiral by Ambroise, for an immediate +acquittal of her double pecuniary debt. + +But the Admiral, struck by her manner, looked thoughtful, and +dissatisfied with himself; and, again calling to Ambroise, said, +'Harkee, my lad! I should not be sorry to know who that young +gentlewoman is?--I am afraid she thinks me rather unmannerly. And the +truth is, I don't know that I have been over and above polite: which I +take shame to myself for, I give you my word; for I am always devilish +bad company with myself when I have misbehaved to a female; because why? +She has no means to right herself. So I beg you to make my excuse to the +gentlewoman. And please to tell her that, though I am no great friend to +ceremony, I am very sorry if I have affronted her.' + +Ambroise said, that he was sure the young lady would think no more of +it, if his honour would but be kind enough to give the recommendatory +letter. + +'Why, with regard to that,' said the Admiral, after some deliberation, +'I would do her any service, whereby I might shew my good will; after +having been rather over-rough, be her class what it may, considering +she's a female; and, moreover, seems somewhat in jeopardy; if I were not +so cursedly afraid of being put upon! You, that are but an outlandish +man,--though I can't say but you've as good a look as another man;--a +very honest look, if one might judge by the face;--which made me take to +you, without much thinking what I was about, I can tell you!--' + +Ambroise, bowing low, hoped that he would not repent his goodness. + +'You, I say, being more in the use of being juggled, begging your +pardon, from its being more the custom of foreign parts; can have no +great notion, naturally, how little a British tar,--a person you don't +know over-much about, I believe!' smiling, 'there not being a great many +such, as I am told, off our own shores!--You, as I was remarking, can't +be expected to have much notion how little a British tar relishes being +over-reached. But the truth, Sir, is, we are set afloat upon the wide +ocean, before we have well done with our slabbering bibs; which makes us +the men we are! But, then, all we know of the world is only by bits and +scraps; except, mayhap, what we can pick out of books. And that's no +great matter; for the chief of a seaman's library is most commonly the +history of cheats and rogues; so that we are always upon the look out, +d'ye see, for fear of false colours.' + +Ambroise began a warm protestation of his honesty. + +'Not but that, let me tell you, Sir!' the Admiral went on, 'we have as +many good scholars upon quarter-deck, counting such as could pay for +their learning when they were younkers, as in any other calling. But +this was not the case with myself, who owe nothing to birth nor favour; +whereof I am proud to be thankful; for, from ten years old, when I was +turned adrift by my family, I have had little or no schooling,--except +by the buffets of the world.' + +Then, after ruminating for some minutes, he told Ambroise that he should +not be sorry to make his apologies to the gentlewoman himself; adding, +'For I could have sworn, when I first met her in the gallery, I had seen +her some where before; though I could not make out how nor when. But if +she's only that black madmysell washed white, I should like to have a +little parley with her. She may possibly do me the service of helping me +to find a friend; and if she does, I sha'n't be backward, God willing, +to requite her. And harkee, my lad! I should be glad to know the +gentlewoman's name. What's she called?' + +'She's called Mademoiselle Juliette, Monsieur.' + +'Juliet?--Are you sure of that?' cried the Admiral, starting. +'Juliet?--Are you very sure, Sir?' + +'Oui, oui, Monsieur.' + +'Harkee, sirrah! if you impose upon me, I'll trounce you within an inch +of your life! Juliet, do you say? Are you sure it's Juliet?' + +'Oui, Monsieur; Mademoiselle Juliette.' + +'Why then, as I am a living man, and on this side t'other world, I must +speak to her directly! Tell her so this instant.' + +Ambroise tapped, and Juliet opened the door; but, when he would have +spoken, the Admiral, taking him by the shoulders, and turning him round, +bid him go about his business; and, entering the room, shut the door, +and flung himself upon a chair. + +Rising, however, almost at the same instant, though much agitated, he +made sundry bows, but tried vainly to speak; while the astonished Juliet +waited gravely for some explanation of so strange an intrusion. + +'Madam,' he at length said, 'that Frenchman there,--who, it's like +enough, don't know what he says,--pretends your name is Juliet?' + +'Sir!'-- + +'If it be so, Ma'am,--you'll do me a remarkable piece of service, if you +will be so complaisant as to let me know how you came by that name?' + +Juliet now felt alarmed. + +'It's rather making free, Ma'am, I confess, but I shall take it as a +special favour, if you'll be pleased to tell me what part of the world +you come from?' + +'Sir, I--I--' + +'If you think my inquisitiveness impertinent, Ma'am; which it's like +enough you may, I shall beg leave to give you an item of my reason for +it; and then it's odds but you'll make less scruple to give me the +reply. Not that I mean to make conditions; for binding people down only +hampers good will. But when you have heard me, you may be glad, +perchance, to speak of your own accord; for I don't know, I give you my +solemn word, but that at this very moment you are talking to one of your +own kin!' + +He fixed his eyes upon her, then, with great earnestness. + +'My own kin?--What, Sir, do you mean?' + +'I'll tell you out of hand, Ma'am,--if I may be so bold as to sit down; +for whether we happen to be relations or no', there can be no law +against our being friends.' + +Juliet hastily presented him a chair, and scarcely breathed from +eagerness to reciprocate the enquiry. She had never heard the Admiral +mentioned but by his military title. + +Seated now by her side, he looked at her for some instants, smilingly, +though with glistening eyes; 'Madam,' he said, 'I had a sister whose +name was Juliet!--and the name is dear to my soul for her sake! And it's +no common name; so that I never hear it without being moved. She left a +child, Ma'am, who for some unnatural reasons, that I sha'n't enter upon +just now, was brought up in foreign parts. This child had her own sweet +name; and her own sweet character, too, I make small doubt; as well as +her own sweet face.'-- + +He stopt, and again more earnestly looked at Juliet; but, seeing her +strongly affected, begged her pardon, and, brushing a tear from his eye, +went on. + +'When I came home from my last station in the East Indies, I crossed +over the channel to see after her; a great proof of my good will, I can +tell you! for no little thing would have carried me to that lawless +place; and from the best land upon God's earth! but I got nothing for my +pains, except a cursed bad piece of news, which turned me upside down; +for I was told that she was married to a French monsieur! Upon which I +swore, God willing, never to see her face to the longest day I had to +live! And I came away with that resolution. However, a Christian is +never so perfect himself, as not to look over a flaw in his neighbour. +Wherefore, if I could get any item of the poor girl's repentance, I +don't think, for my dear sister's sake, but I could still take her to my +bosom,--yea, to my very heart of hearts!' + +'Tell me, Sir,' cried Juliet, rising, with clasped hands, and eyes fast +filling with tears; 'tell me,--for I have never heard it,--your name?' + +'By all that's holy!' cried he, rising too, and trembling, 'you make my +heart beat all over my body!--My name is Powel! In the name, then, of +the Most High,--are you not my niece yourself?' + +Juliet dropt at his feet; 'Oh heavenly Providence!' she ejaculated, 'you +are then my poor mother's brother!' Speech now, for a considerable time, +was denied to both; strong emotions, though of joy, nearly suffocated +Juliet, while the Admiral sobbed over her as he pressed her in his arms. + +'My girl!' he cried, when a little recovered, 'my sister's +daughter!--daughter of the dearest of sisters!--I have found, then, at +last, something appertaining to my poor sister! You shall be dear to my +soul for her sake, whatever you may be for your own. And, moreover, as +to what you may have done up to this time, whereof I don't mean to judge +uncharitably, every one of us being but frail, I shall let it all pass +by. So hold up your head, and take comfort, my girl, and don't be shy of +your old uncle; for whatever may have slipt from him in a moment of +choler, he'll protect you, God willing, to his last hour; and never come +out with another unkind word upon what is past and gone.' + +The heart of Juliet was too full to let her offer any immediate +vindication: she could but pronounce, 'My uncle, when I can be +explicit,--you will not--I hope, and trust,--have cause to blush for +me!'-- + +'Why then you are a very good girl!' cried he, well pleased, 'an +excellent girl, in the main, I make small doubt.' He then demanded, +though not, he protested, to find fault with what was past; what had +brought her over to her native land in such a ragged, mauled, and black +condition; which had prevented the least guess of who she was; 'for if, +when I saw you off the coast,' he continued, 'you had shewn yourself +such as you are now, you have so strong a look of my dear sister, that I +should have hailed you out of hand. Though when I saw you Here it never +came into my head; because why? I believed you to be There. And yet, +instinct is main powerful, whereof I am a proof; for I took a fancy to +you, even when I thought you an old woman; and, which is worse, a French +woman. Coming away from those shores gave me a good opinion of you at +once.' + +He then made many tender enquiries concerning the last illness, and the +death of Mrs Powel, his mother; whom it was now, he said, one-and-twenty +years since he had seen; as, upon his poor father's insolvency, he had +been taken from the royal navy, and sent out, in the company's service, +to the East Indies. + +Juliet, after satisfying his filial solicitude, ventured to express her +own, upon every circumstance of her mother's life, which had fallen to +his knowledge. + +The insolvency, the Admiral replied, had soon been succeeded by the +death of his father; and then his poor mother and sister had been driven +to a cheap country residence, in the neighbourhood of Melbury-Hall. +There, before he set out for the East Indies, he had passed a few days +to take leave; in which time Lord Granville, the Earl of Melbury's only +son, who had met them, it seems, in their rural strolls, had got such a +footing in their house, that he called in both morning and evening; and +stayed sometimes for hours, without knowing how time went. Uneasy upon +remarking this, he counselled his sister to keep out of the young +nobleman's way; and advised his mother to change her house. They both +promised so to do; but, for all that, before he set sail, he determined +to wait upon his lordship himself; which he did accordingly; and made +free to tell him, that he should take it but kind of his lordship, if he +would not be quite so sweet upon his sister. His lordship made fair +promises, with such a genteelness, that there was no help but to give +him credit; and, this being done, he went off with an easy heart. He +remained in the Company's service some time; during which, the letters +of his mother brought him the sorrowful tidings of his sister's death; +followed up, afterwards, by an account that, for her own health's sake, +she was gone over to reside in France. + +'This was a bit of news,' he continued, 'which I did not take quite so +kindly as I ought, mayhap, to have done, it not appertaining to a son to +have the upper hand of his mother. But, having been, from the first, +somewhat of a spoilt child, whereby my poor mother made herself plenty +of trouble; I was always rather over choleric when I was contradicted. +Taking it, therefore, rather amiss her going out of old England, no +great matter of letter-writing passed between us from that time, to my +return to my native land. + +'It was then I was told the worst tiding that ever I wish to hear! one +came, and t'other came, and all had some fuel to make the fire burn +fiercer, to give me an item that Lord Granville had over-persuaded my +sister to elope with him; and that she died of a broken heart; leaving a +child, that my mother, for my sister's reputation's sake, had gone to +bring up in foreign parts. My blood boiled so, then, in my veins, that +how it ever got cool enough not to burn me to a cinder is a main wonder. +But I vowed revenge, and that, I take it, sustained me; revenge being, +to my seeming, a noble passion, when it is not to spite those who have +done an ill turn to ourselves, but to punish those who have oppressed +the helpless. What aggravated me the more, was hearing that he was +married; and had two fine children, who were dawdled about every day in +his coach; while the child of my poor sister was shut up, immured, no +body knew where, in an outlandish country. I called him, therefore, to +account, and bid him meet me, at five o'clock in the morning, at a +coffee-house. We went into a private room. I used no great matter of +ceremony in coming to the point. You have betrayed, I cried, the +unprotected! You have seduced the forlorn! You have sold yourself to the +devil!--and as you have given him, of your own accord, your soul, I am +come to lend a hand to your giving him your body.'-- + +'Shocking!--Shocking!' interrupted Juliet. 'O my uncle!'-- + +'Why it was not over mannerly, I own; but I was too much aggrieved to +stand upon complimenting. I loved her, said I, with all my heart and +soul; but I bore patiently with her death, because I am a Christian; and +I know that life and death come from God; but I scorn to bear with her +dishonour, for that comes from a man. For the sake of your wife and +children, as they are not in fault, I would conceal your unmanly +baseness; but for the sake of my much injured sister, who was dearer to +me than all your kin and kind, I intend, by the grace, and with the +help of the Most High, to take a proper vengeance for her wrongs, by +blowing out your brains; unless, by the law of chance, you should blow +out mine; which, however, I should hold myself the most pitiful of +cowards to expect in so just a cause. + +'I then presented him my pistols, and gave him his choice which he would +have.' + +'Oh my poor father!' cried Juliet. 'Go on, my uncle, go on!' + +'He heard me to the finish without a word; and with a countenance so +sad, yet so firm, and which had so little the hue of guilt, that I have +thought since, many a time and often, that, if choler had not blinded +me, I should have stopt half way, and said, This is purely an innocent +man!' + +'Oh blessed be that word!' cried Juliet, clasping her hands, 'and +blessed, blessed be my uncle for so kindly pronouncing it!' + +'With what temper he answered me! If I insisted, he said, upon +satisfaction, he would not deny it me; "And I ought, indeed," he said, +"after an attack so insulting, to demand it for myself. But you are in +an errour; and your cause seems so completely the cause of justice and +virtue, that I cannot defend, till I have cleared myself. The sister +whom you would avenge was the beloved of my soul! Never will you mourn +for her as I have mourned! I neither betrayed nor seduced her. The love +that I bore her was as untainted as her own honour. The immoveable views +of my father to another alliance, kept our connexion secret; but your +sister, your unspotted sister, was my wedded wife!"--The joy of my +heart, at that moment, my dear girl, made me forget all my mishaps. I +jumped,--for I was but a boy, then, to what I am now; and I flung my +arms about his neck, and kissed him; which his lordship did not seem to +take at all unkindly. Since she is not dishonoured, I cried, I can bear +all else like a man. She is gone, indeed, my poor sister!--but 'tis to +heaven she is gone! and I can but pray that we may both, in our due +time, go there after her!--And upon that,--if I were to tell you the +honest truth,--we both fell a blubbering.--But she was no common person, +my dear sister!' + +Juliet wept with varying emotions. + +'His lordship,' the Admiral continued, 'then recorded the whole history +of his marriage, the birth of his child, and the loss of his poor wife. +That the child, accompanied by her grandmother, who scarcely breathed +out of its sight, was gone to be brought up in a convent, under the care +of a family of quality, that had a grand castle in its neighbourhood; +and under the immediate guidance of a worthy old parson; that, as soon +as she was educated, he should go over to fetch her, and write a letter +to his father to own his first marriage. But he begged me, for +family-reasons, to agree to the concealment, till I returned home for +good; and had a house of my own in which I could receive the child, in +the case his second lady and his father should behave unhandsomely. I +had no great taste for a hiding scheme; but I was so overcome with joy +to think my sister had been always a woman of honour, that I was in no +cue for squabbling: and, moreover, I gave way with the greater +complaisance, from the fear of seeing the child fall into the hands of +people who would be ashamed of her, whereby her spirit might be broken; +and, moreover, I can't say but I took it kind of his lordship the +thought of letting her come to a house of mine; for I had already +returned to his majesty's service; which, God willing, the devil himself +shall never draw me from again; and I was a post-captain, and in pretty +good circumstances. So I thought I had as well not meddle, nor do +mischief. And the more, as his lordship was so honourable as to entrust +to me a copy of a codicil to his will; written all in his own hand, and +duly signed and sealed; wherein he owns his lawful marriage with my poor +sister; and leaves her child the same fortune that he leaves to his +daughters by his wife of quality.' + +'Is it possible!--How fortunate! And have you, still, my dear uncle, +this codicil?' + +'Have I? Aye, my girl! I would sooner part with my right hand! It's the +proof and declaration of my sister's honour! and I would not change it +against all the diamonds, and all the pearls, and all the shawls of all +the nabobs of all Asia! It has been my whole comfort in all my difficult +voyages and hard services.' + +Ah! thought Juliet, were my revered Bishop safe, I might now be every +way happy! + +'What passed in my mind at that time, was to cross over the Channel, to +get my dear mother's blessing, and to give my own to my little niece. +But it's of no great consequence what we plan, if it is not upheld by +the Most High. I was all prepared, but I wrote never a word over, for +the sake of giving my mother a surprize; when, all at once, I had a +sudden promotion, with orders to return to the East Indies. And there I +was stationed, on and off, in and out, till t'other day, as one may say. +And when, at last, I got home again; meaning to marry Jenny Barker,--as +pretty a girl as ever came into the world; and to set her at the head of +my house, and equip her handsomely,--I found every thing turned upside +down! Lord Granville had been dead five months, and his father about as +many weeks. I had already heard, in the Indies, that my poor mother was +dead; and when I went to get a little comfort with Jenny Barker, and to +give her the baubles I had got together for her in the Indies,--always +priding myself in thinking how smart she'd look in this! and how pretty +her face would peep out of that!--I found her so mortally changed, that +I took her for her own mother! who I had left to the full as well +looking twenty years before; for, after my first voyage, by ill luck, I +had not seen Jenny, who was down in the country.' + +'But if she is amiable, uncle, and worthy--' + +'You have a right way of thinking, my dear; and I honour you for it: but +the disappointment came upon me so slap-dash, as one may say, for want +of a little forethought, that I let out what passed in my mind with too +little ceremony for making up again. However, I gave her the baubles; +which she accepted out of hand; and made free to ask me to add something +more, to make her amends for waiting for nothing; which was but fair; +though it showed me that when she had lost her pretty face, she had no +great matter to boast of in point of a noble way of thinking. I hope, +else, I should have been above playing her false; without which I should +be little to chose from a scoundrel. But she was in such a main hurry to +secure herself the rhino, that it's my brief that her inside, if I could +have got a look at it, was but little short, in point of ugliness, to +her outside. Howbeit, I used her handsomely, and we parted friends.' + +The Admiral here walked about the room, a little disturbed, and then +continued his narrative. + +He crossed the Straits, having always preserved the direction of the +lady of the castle near the convent; but the Revolution was then +flaming; the castle had been burnt; all the family was dispersed; and he +was warned not to make any enquiry even after the parson. But he grew +sick of the whole business, and not sorry to cut it short, upon hearing +that his niece, who was known by the appellation of Mademoiselle +Juliette, was married to a French monsieur. He was coming away, in deep +disgust, and burning wrath, when he was seized himself, and put into +prison by order of Mr Robespierre. But this durance did not last long; +for he joined a party that was just getting off, and returned to Great +Britain; and moreover, though little enough to his knowledge, in the +very same vessel that brought over his niece. 'And here, my dear girl, +is the finish of all I have to recount. But what I observe, with no +great pleasure, if I should tell you my remark, is, that, while, for so +many years, I have given up my head to nothing but thinking of my +niece,--to the exception of poor Jenny Barker,--she does not seem so +much as ever to have heard, or thought about her uncle?' + +Juliet assured him, on the contrary, that her grandmother Powel had +talked unceasingly of her son; but that, tender-hearted, timid, and +devoted to Lord Granville, she had never ventured to trust to a letter a +secret that demanded so much discretion; and had therefore postponed all +communication to their meeting; of which she had lived in the constant +hope. And Juliet herself, since the afflicting loss of that excellent +lady, always believing him to be in the East Indies, had never dared +claim his parentage, nor solicit his favour; her peculiar and unhappy +situation making all written accounts, not only of her affairs, but of +her name and her residence, dangerous. + +This brought the conversation back to herself. ''Tis remarkable enough,' +said the Admiral, 'that, in all this long parley, we have not yet said +an item about the worst part of the job,--your marriage! How came you +here without your husband? For all I have no great goust to your +marrying in that sort, God forbid I should uphold a wife in running away +from her lawful spouse, even though he be a Frenchman! We should always +do right, for the sake of shaming wrong. A man, being the higher vessel, +may marry all over the globe, and take his wife to his home; but a +woman, as she is only given him for his help-mate, must tack about after +him, and come to the same anchorage.' + +Sadness now clouded the skin, and dimmed the eyes of Juliet. The story +which she had to reveal, the hard necessity of separating herself from +so near a relation, and so kind a protector, at the very moment of an +apparent union; joined to the obstacles which his prejudices and +feelings might put in the way of her decided sacrifice; made the avowal +of her intention seem almost as difficult as its execution. + +'Don't be cast down, however, my girl,' continued the Admiral; 'for when +things are come to the worst, as I have taken frequent note, they often +veer about, nobody knows how, and turn out for the best. I should as +lieve you had not tied such an ugly knot, I won't say to the contrary; +howbeit, as the thing is done, we may as well make the best of it. The +man may be a tolerable good Christian, mayhap, for a Papist. And indeed, +to tell you the truth, though it is a thing I am not over fond of +speaking about, I have seen some Frenchmen I could have liked mightily +myself, if I had not known where they came from. I had some prisoners +once aboard, that were as likely men, and as much of gentlemen, and as +agreeable behaved, and had as good sense, too, of their own, as if they +had been Englishmen. Perhaps your husband may be one of them? If so, let +him come over here, and he shall want for nothing. I am always proud to +shew old England; so invite him, my dear, to come.' + +'Alas!--alas!--'cried Juliet, weeping. + +'What! he is but a sorry dog, then? Well, I can't pretend to be +surprized at that. However, I'll tie up your fortune, and won't let him +touch a penny of it, but upon condition that you come over for it +yourself once a year. And now I have you safe and sure, I shall carry my +codicil to Lord Denmeath,--a fellow of steel, they say!--and get you +your thirty thousand pounds; for that, I am told, is the portion of the +lady of quality's daughter. But all I shall give you myself shall only +be bit by bit, till I know how that sorry fellow uses you. It's a main +pity you threw yourself away in such a hurry! But I suppose he's a fine +likely young dog? + +'Hideous! hideous!' off all guard, exclaimed the shuddering Juliet. + +'Why, then, most like, you only married him for the sake of a little +palaver? Poor girl! However, it's done, and a husband's a husband; so +I'll ask no more questions.' + +Kissing her then very kindly, he said he would go and suck in a little +fresh breeze upon the beech, to calm his spirits; for he felt as if he +had been steering his vessel in a hurricane. + +He asked her to accompany him; but she desired a little stillness and +rest. He shook hands with her, and, with a look of concern, said, 'My +sister did but a foolish thing, after all, in marrying that young lord, +however the world may judge it to have been an ambitious one. You would +never have been smuggled out of your native land, in that fashion, if +she had taken up with a man in her own rank of life: some honest tar, +for example! for, to my seeming, there is not an honester person in the +whole world, nor a person of more honour, than a British tar! And +yet,--see the difference of those topsy-turvy marriages!--a worthy tar +would have been proud of my sister for his wife; while your lord was +only ashamed of her! for that's the bottom of the story, put what dust +you will in your eyes for the top!' + + + + +CHAPTER XCI + + +Juliet, left alone, again vented her full heart by tears. Happiness +never seemed within her reach, but to make her feel more severely the +hard necessity that it must be resigned. All her tenderest affections +had been delighted, and her most ardent wishes surpassed, in being +recognized as his niece by a man of so much worth, honour, and +benevolence as the Admiral; and her heart had been yet more exquisitely +touched, by acknowledged affinity with so sweet a character as that of +Lady Aurora; her portion, by the duplicate-codicil, flattered, and gave +dignity to her softest feelings;--nevertheless, the cruelty of her +situation was in nothing altered; the danger of the Bishop was still the +same; the same, therefore, was her duty. Even for deliberation she +allowed herself no choice, save whether to confess to the Admiral the +dreadful nature of her call to the Continent; or to go thither simply as +a thing of course, to join her husband. + +For the latter, his approvance was declared; for the former, even his +consent might be withdrawn: to spare, therefore, to his kind heart the +unavailing knowledge of her misery; and to herself the useless conflicts +that might ensue from the discovery; she ultimately decided to set out +upon her voyage, with her story and misfortunes unrevealed. + +This plan determined upon, she struggled to fortify her mind for its +execution, by endeavouring to consider as her husband the man to whom, +in any manner, she had given her hand; since so, only, she could seek to +check the disgust with which she shrunk from him as her deadliest foe. +She remembered, and even sought to call back, the terrific scruples with +which she had been seized, when, while striving to escape, she heard him +assert that she was his wife, and felt powerless to disvow his claim. +Triumphant, menacing, and ferocious, she had fled him without +hesitation, though not completely without doubt; but when she beheld +him seized, in custody,--and heard him call her husband! and saw herself +considered as his wife! duty, for that horrible instant, seemed in his +favour; and, had not Sir Jaspar summoned her by her maiden name, to +attend her own nearest relations, all her resistance had been subdued, +by an overwhelming dread that to resist might possibly be wrong. + +Recollection, also, told her that, at the epoch when, with whatever +misery, she had suffered him to take her hand, no mental reservation had +prepared for future flight and disavowal: she laboured therefore, now, +to plead to herself the vows which she had listened to, though she had +not pronounced; and to animate her sacrifice by the terrour of perjury. + +Nevertheless, all these virtuous arguments against her own freedom, were +insufficient to convince her that her marriage was valid. The violent +constraint, the forced rites, the interrupted ceremony, the omission of +every religious form;--no priest, no church to sanctify even +appearances;--No! she cried, no! I am not his wife! even were it my +wish, even were he all I prize upon earth, still I should fly him till +we were joined by holier bands! Nevertheless, for the Bishop I meant the +sacrifice, and, since so, only, he can be preserved;--for the Bishop I +must myself invite its more solemn ratification! + +Satisfied that this line of conduct, while dictated by tender gratitude, +was confirmed by severer justice; she would not trust herself again with +the sight of Lady Aurora, till measures were irreversibly taken for her +departure; and, upon the return of the Admiral from his walk, she +communicated to him, though without any explanation, her urgent desire +to make the voyage with all possible expedition. + +The Admiral, persuaded that her haste was to soften the harsh treatment +of a husband who had inveigled her into marriage by flattery and +falsehood, forbore either questions or comments; though he looked at her +with commiseration; often shaking his head, with an expression that +implied: What pity to have thrown yourself thus away! His high notions, +nevertheless, of conjugal prerogative, made him approve and second her +design; and, saying that he saw nothing gained by delay, but breeding +more bad blood, he told her that he would conduct her to ---- himself, +the next morning; and stay with her till he could procure her a proper +passage; engaging to present her wherewithal to ascertain for her a good +and hearty reception; with an assurance to her husband, that she should, +at any time, have the same sum, only for fetching it in person. + +This promising opening to occasional re-unions, gave her, now, more +fortitude for announcing to her gentle sister the fixed approaching +separation. But, though these were softening circumstances to their +parting, Lady Aurora heard the decision with despair; and though the +discovery of an uncle, a protector, in so excellent a man as the +Admiral, offered a prospect of solid comfort; still she could dwell only +upon the forced ties, the unnatural connexion, and the brutal character +to which her unhappy sister must be the victim. + +Each seeking, nevertheless, to console the other, though each, herself, +was inconsolable, they passed together the rest of the melancholy, yet +precious day; uninterrupted by the Admiral; who was engaged to dine out +in the neighbourhood; or even by Mrs Howel; who acquiesced, perforce, to +the pleadings of Lady Aurora; in suffering her ladyship to remain in her +own room with Juliet. + +They engaged to meet again by daybreak, the next morning, though to meet +but to part. The next morning, however, when summoned to a post-chaise +by the Admiral, the courage of Juliet, for so dreadful a leave-taking, +failed; and, committing to paper a few piercingly tender words, she +determined to write, more at length, all the consolation that she could +suggest from the first stage. + +But when, in speechless grief, she would have felt her little billet in +the anti-room, she found Lady Aurora's woman already in attendance; and +heard that Lady Aurora, also, was risen and dressed. She feared, +therefore, now, that an evasion might rather aggravate than spare +affliction to her beloved sister; and, repressing her own feelings, +entered the chamber. + +Lady Aurora, who had scarcely closed her eyes all night, had now, in the +fancied security of a meeting, from having placed her maid as a +sentinel, just dropt asleep. Her pale cheeks, and the movement of sorrow +still quivering upon her lips, shewed that she had been weeping, when +overpowering fatigue had induced a short slumber. Juliet, in looking at +her, thought she contemplated an angel. The touching innocence of her +countenance; the sweetness which no sadness could destroy; the grief +exempt from impatience; and the air of purity that overspread her whole +face, and seemed breathing round her whole form, inspired Juliet, for a +few moments, with ideas too sublime for mere sublunary sorrow. She +knelt, with tender reverence, by her side, inwardly ejaculating, Sleep +on, my angel sister! Recruit your harassed spirits, and wake not yet to +the woes of your hapless Juliet! Then, placing gently upon her bosom +the written farewell, she softly kissed the hem of her garments, and +glided from the room. + +She made a sign to the maid, for she had no power of utterance, not to +awaken her lady; and hurried down stairs to join the Admiral, attended +by the faithful Ambroise. + +She was spared offering any apologies for detaining her uncle, by +finding him preparing to step down to the beach, with a spying glass, +without which he never stirred a step; to take a view, before they set +off, of a sail, which his servant, an old seaman, had just brought him +word was in sight. He helped her, therefore, into the chaise, begging +her patience for a few minutes. + +Juliet was not sorry to seize this interval for returning to the +anti-room, to learn whether Lady Aurora were awake; and, by her +resignation or emotion, to judge whether a parting embrace would prove +baneful or soothing. + +As she was re-entering the house, a vociferous cry of 'Stop! stop!' +issued from a carriage that was driving past. She went on, desiring +Ambroise to give her notice when the Admiral came back; but had not yet +reached the gallery, when the stairs were rapidly ascended by two, or +more persons, one of which encircled her in his arms. + +She shrieked with sudden horrour and despair, strenuously striving to +disengage herself; though persuaded that the only person who would dare +thus to assail her, was him to whom she was intentionally resigning her +destiny; but her instinctive resistance was short; a voice that spoke +love and sweetness exclaimed. 'Miss Ellis! sweet, lovely Miss Ellis! you +are, then, my sister!' + +'Ah heavens! kind heaven!' cried the delighted Juliet, 'is it you, Lord +Melbury? and do you,--will you,--and thus kindly, own me?' + +'Own? I am proud of you! My other sister alone can be as dear to me! +what two incomparable creatures has heaven bestowed upon me for my +sisters! How hard I must work not to disgrace them! And I will work +hard, too! I will not see two such treasures, so near to me, and so dear +to me, hold down their sweet heads with shame for their brother. Come +with me, then, my new sister!--you need not fear to trust yourself with +me now! Come, for I have something to say that we must talk over +together alone.' + +Putting, then, her willing arm within his, he eagerly conducted her down +stairs; made her pass by the astonished Ambroise, at whom she nodded and +smiled in the fulness of her contentment, and led her towards the beach; +her heart exulting, and her eyes glistening with tender joy; even while +every nerve was affected, and all her feelings were tortured, by a dread +of quick approaching separation and misery. + +'I am come,' cried he, when they were at a little distance from the +houses, 'to take the most prompt advantage of my brotherly character. I +have travelled all night, not to lose a moment in laying my scheme +before you.' + +'What kindness!--Oh my lord!--and where did you hear,--where did Sir +Jaspar's letter reach you?' + +'Sir Jaspar?--I have received no letter from Sir Jaspar. I have seen no +Sir Jaspar!' + +'How, then, is it possible you can know--' + +'Oh ho! you think you have no friend, then, but Sir Jaspar? And you +suppose, perhaps, that you have no admirer but Sir Jaspar?' + +'I am sure, at least, there is no other person to whom I have revealed +my name.' + +'Then he must have betrayed it to some other himself, my sweet sister! +for 'tis not from him I have had my intelligence. Be less sure, +therefore, for the future, of an old man, and trust a younger one more +willingly! However, there is no time now for raillery; a messenger is +waiting the result of our conference. I am fully informed, my precious +sister, of your terrible situation; I will not stop now to execrate your +infernal pursuer, though he will not lose my execrations by the delay! I +know, too, your sublime resolution to save our dear guardian,--for yours +is ours!--that good and reverend Bishop; and to look upon yourself to be +tied up, as a bond-woman, till you are formally released form those foul +shackles. Do I state the case right?' + +'Oh far, far too acurately! And even now, at a moment so blest! I must +tear myself away,--by my own will, with whatever horrour!--from the +sweetest of sisters,--from you, my kindest brother!--and from the most +benevolent of uncles, by a separation a thousand times more dreadful +than any death!' + +'Take comfort, sweet sister! take comfort, loveliest Miss Ellis!--for I +can't help calling you Miss Ellis, now and then, a little while +longer:--I have a plan to make you free! to set you completely at +liberty, and yet save that excellent Bishop!--' + +'Oh my lord! how heavenly an idea!--but how impossible!' + +'Not at all! 'tis the easiest thing in the world! only hear me. That +wretch who claims you, shall have the portion he demands; the six +thousand pounds; immediately upon signing your release, sending over the +promissory-note of Lord Denmeath, and delivering your noble Bishop into +the hands of the person who shall carry over the money; which, however, +shall only be paid at some frontier town, whence the Bishop may come +instantly hither.' + +Struck with rapturous surprize, Juliet scarcely restrained herself form +falling at his feet. She pressed his arm, she kissed the edge of his +coat, and, while striving, inarticulately, to call for blessings upon +his head, burst into a passion of tears,--though tears of ecstatic +joy,--that nearly deprived her of respiration. + +'My sister! my dear sister!' tenderly cried Lord Melbury, 'how ashamed +you make me! Could you, then, expect less? What a poor opinion you have +entertained of your poor brother! I give you nothing! I merely agree +that you shall possess what is your due. Know you not that you are +entitled to thirty thousand pounds from our estate? To the same fortune +that has been settled upon Aurora? 'Tis from your own portion, only, my +poor sister, that this six thousand will be sunk.' + +'Can you, then, generous, generous Lord Melbury!--can you see thus, +without regret, without murmur, so capital a sum suddenly and +unexpectedly torn from you?' + +'I have not yet enjoyed it, my dear sister; I shall not, therefore, miss +it. But if I had possessed it always, should I not be paid, ten million +of times paid, by finding such a new sister? I shall be proud to shew +the whole world I know how to prize such a relation. And I will not have +them think me such a mere boy, because I am still rather young, as to be +at a loss how to act by myself. I shall not, therefore, consult my +uncle, for I am determined not to be ruled by him. I will solemnly bind +myself to pay your whole fortune the moment I am of age. It is my duty, +and my pride, and, at the same time, my delight, to spare your delicacy, +as well as my own character, and our dear father's memory, any process, +or any dispute.' + +Then, opening his arms, with design to embrace her, but checking himself +upon recollecting that he might be observed, he animatedly added, 'Yes, +my dear father! I will shew how I cherish your memory, by my care of +your eldest born! by my care of her interests, her safety, and her +happiness!--As to her honour,' he added, with a conscious smile, 'she +has shewn me that she knows how to be its guardian herself!' + +The grateful Juliet frankly acknowledged, that both the thought and the +wish had frequently occurred to her, of rescuing the Bishop, through her +portion, without herself: but she had been utterly powerless to raise +it. She was under age, and uncertain whether her rights might ever be +proved: and the six thousand pounds proffered by Lord Denmeath, she was +well aware, would never be accorded but to establish her as an alien. +Her generous brother, by anticipating, as well as confirming her claims, +alone could realize such a project. With sensations, then, of unmixed +felicity, that seemed lifting her, while yet on earth, into heaven, she +was flying to call for the participation of Lady Aurora, and of her +uncle, in her joy; when Lord Melbury, stopping her, said, that all was +not yet prepared for communication. + +'You clearly,' he continued, 'agree to the scheme?' + +'With transport!' she cried; 'and with eternal thankfulness!' + +Without delay, then, he said, they must appoint a person of trust, who +knew the French language well, and to whom the whole history might be +confided; to carry over the offer, and the money, and to bring back the +Bishop. + +'And I have a friend,' he continued, 'now ready for the enterprize. One +equally able and willing to claim the Bishop, and to give undoubted +security for the six thousand pounds. Can you form any notion who such a +man may be?' + +He looked at her gaily, yet with a scrutiny that made her blush. One +person only could occur to her; but occurred with an alarming sense of +impropriety in allowing him such an employment, that instantly damped +her high delight. She dropt her eyes; an unrepressed sigh broke from her +heart; but secret consciousness hushed all enquiry into the truth of her +conjecture. + +In silence, too, for a moment, Lord Melbury contemplated her; struck +with her sudden sadness, and uncertain to what it might be attributed. +Affectionately, then, taking her hand, 'I must come,' he cried, 'to the +point, or my messenger will lose his patience. Proposals of marriage the +most honourable have been made to me; such, my dear sister, as merit my +best interest with you. The person is unexceptionable, high in mind, +manners, and family, and has long been attached to you--' + +Juliet here, with dignity, interrupted him, 'My lord, I will not ask who +this may be; I even beg not to be told. I can listen to no one! Till the +Bishop is released and safe, I hold myself merely to be his hostage; +and, till my freedom, atrociously as it has been violated, shall be +legally restored to me, I cannot but feel hurt,--for I will not say +offended where the intention is so kind, and so pure,--that any +proposals of any sort, and from any person, should be addressed to me!' + +Lord Melbury, prepared for expostulation, was beginning to reply; but +she solemnly besought him not to involve her in any new conflicts. + +She then asked his permission to introduce him to her uncle, Admiral +Powel; whom she desired to join upon the beach. + +No, no; he answered; other business, still more urgent, must have +precedence. And, holding both her hands, he insisted upon acquainting, +her, that it was Mr Harleigh who had been his informant of her history +and situation; and that she was the undoubted and legitimate daughter of +Lord Granville; all which he had learnt from Sir Jaspar Herrington. 'And +Mr Harleigh has begged my leave,' continued his lordship, smiling, +'though I am not, you may think, perhaps, very old for judging of such +matters; to make his addresses to you.--Now don't put yourself into that +flutter till you hear how he arranged it; for he knows all your +scruples, and reveres them,--or, rather, and reveres you, my sweet +sister! for your scruples we both think a little chimerical: don't be +angry at that; we honour you all the same for having them: and Mr +Harleigh seems to adore you only the more. So, I make no doubt does +Aurora. And I, too, my dear sister! only I can't see you sacrificed to +them. But Mr Harleigh has found a way to reconcile all perplexities. He +will save you, he says, in honour as well as in person; for the wretch +shall still have the wife whom he married, if he will restore the +Bishop!' + +'What can you mean?'-- + +'His six thousand pounds, my dear sister! That sum, in full, he shall +have; for that, as Harleigh says, is the wife that he married!' + +Smiles now again, irresistibly, forced their way back to the face of +Juliet, as she bowed her full concurrence to this observation. + +'Harleigh, therefore,' continued Lord Melbury, 'for this very reason, +will go himself to make the arrangement; to the end that, if the wretch +refuses to take the six thousand without you, he may offer a thousand, +or two, over: for, enraged as he is to enrich such a scoundrel, he would +rather endow him with your whole thirty thousand, and, for aught I know, +with as much more of his own, than let you fall into his clutches.' + +The eyes of Juliet again swam in tears. 'Noble, incomparable Harleigh!' +she irresistibly ejaculated; but, checking herself, 'My lord,' she said, +'my thanks are still all that I can return to Mr Harleigh,--yet I will +not deny how much I am touched by his generosity. But I have +insurmountable objections to this proposition; now, indeed, ought I to +cast upon any other, the risks of an engagement which honour and +conscience make sacred to myself.' + +'Poor Harleigh!' said Lord Melbury, 'I have been but a bad advocate, he +will think! You will at least see him?' + +'See him?' + +'Yes; he came with me hither. 'Twas he descried you first, as you got +out of the post-chaise. He was accompanying me up the stairs: but he +retreated. You will surely see him?' + +'No, my Lord, no!--certainly not!' + +'What! not for a moment? Oh, that would be too barbarous!' + +With these words, he ran back to the town. + +Juliet called after him; but in vain. + +Her heart now beat high; it seemed throbbing through her bosom; but she +bent her way towards the beach, to secure her safety by joining her +uncle. + +She perceived him at some distance, in the midst of a small group; +conspicuous from his height, his naval air and equipment, and his long +spying glass; which he occasionally brandished, as he seemed +questioning, or haranguing the people around him. + +In a minute, she was accosted by the old sailor, who was sent by his +master to the chaise, in which he supposed his niece to be still +waiting; to beg that she would not be impatient, because a boat being +just come in, with a small handful of the enemy, his honour was giving a +look at the vessel, to see to its being wind and weather proof, to the +end that her ladyship might take a sail in it. + +Juliet, though she answered, 'Certainly; tell my uncle certainly;' knew +not what she heard, nor what she said; confused by fast approaching +footsteps, which told her that she could not, now, either by going on or +by turning back, escape meeting Harleigh. + +Lord Melbury advanced first; and, willing to give Harleigh a moment to +press his suit, good humouredly addressed the sailor, with enquiries of +what was going forward upon the beach. Harleigh, having made a bow, +which her averted eyes had not seen, drew back, distressed and +irresolute, waiting to catch a look that might be his guide. But when, +from the discourse of the sailor with Lord Melbury, he learnt the +arrival of a small vessel form the Continent, which was destined +immediately to return thither; he precipitately took his lordship by the +arm, spoke to him a few words apart, and then flew forward to the +strand. + +Juliet, disturbed by new fears, permitted her countenance to make +enquiries which her tongue durst not pronounce; and Lord Melbury, who +understood her, frankly said, 'He is a man, sister, of ten thousand! He +will sail a race with you, and strive which shall get in first to save +the Bishop!' + +Juliet felt thunderstruck; Harleigh seeking a passage in the very vessel +which seemed pitched upon by her uncle for her own voyage! That they +should go together was not to be thought of; but to suffer him to risk +becoming the victim to her promise and her duties, was grief and shame +and terrour united! Her eyes affrightedly pursued him, till he entered +into the group upon the strand; and her perturbation then was so +extreme, that she felt inclined to forfeit, by one dauntless stroke, the +delicacy which, as yet, had through life, been the prominent feature of +her character, by darting on, openly to conjure him to return. But +habits which have been formed upon principle, and embellished by +self-approbation, withstand, upon the smallest reflection, every wish, +and every feeling that would excite their violation. The idea, +therefore, died in its birth; and she sought to compose her disordered +spirits, by silent prayers for courage and resignation. + +With the most fraternal participation in her palpable distress, Lord +Melbury endeavoured to offer her consolation; till the sailor, who had +returned to the Admiral, came from him, a second time, to desire that +she would hasten upon the beach, 'to help his honour, please your +ladyship,' said the merry tar, with a significant nod, 'to a little +French lingo; these mounseers and their wives,--if, behaps, they be'n't +only their sweethearts; not over and above understanding his honour.' + +Juliet moved slowly on: the Admiral, used to more prompt obedience, came +forward to hasten her, calling out, as soon as she was within hearing, +'Please to wag a little nimbler, niece; for here are some outlandish +gentry come over, that speak so fast, one after t'other; or else all at +a time; each telling his own story; or, for aught I can make out, each +telling the same thing one as t'other; that, though I try my best to +understand them, not being willing to dash them, I can't make out above +one word in a dozen, if you take it upon an average, of what they say. +However, though it is our duty to hold them all as our native enemies; +and I shall never, God willing, see them in any other light; yet it +would be but unchristian not to lend them an hand, when they are +chopfallen and sorrowful; and, moreover, consumedly out of cash. So if I +can help them, I see no reason to the contrary; for my enemy in +distress is my friend: because why? I was only his enemy to get the +upper hand of him.' + +Then, turning to Lord Melbury and Harleigh, 'I hope,' he added, 'you +won't think me wanting to my country, if, for the honour of old England, +I give these poor half-starved souls a hearty meal of good roast beef, +with a bumper of Dorchester ale, and Devonshire cyder? things which I +conclude they have never yet tasted from their births to this hour; +their own washy diet of soup meagre and sallad, with which I would not +fatten a sparrow, being what they are more naturally born to. And I +sha'n't be sorry, I confess, to shew the French we have a little +politeness of our own; which, by what I have often taken note, I rather +surmize they hold to be a merchandize of their own monopoly. And so, if +you all think well of it, we'll tack about, and give them an handsome +invitation out of hand; for when a person stops to ponder before he does +a good office, 'tis a sign he had full as lieve let it alone.' + +Juliet readily complied, though she could not readily speak; but what +was her perturbation, the next moment, to see Harleigh vehemently break +from the group by which he had been surrounded, rush precipitately +forward to meet them, and, singling out Lord Melbury encircle his +lordship in his arms, exclaiming, 'My lord! my dear lord! your sister is +free!--I claim, now, your suffrage!--Her brutal persecutor, convicted of +heading a treasonable conspiracy in his own country, has paid the +forfeit of his crimes! These passengers bring the tidings! My lord! my +dear lord! your sister is free!'-- + +Juliet, who heard, as it was meant that she should hear, this passionate +address, felt suspended in all her faculties. Joy, in the first instant, +sought precedence; but it was supplanted, in another moment, by tearful +incredulity; and she stood motionless, speechless, scarcely conscious +whether she were alive. + +An exclamation of 'What's all this?' from the astonished Admiral; and a +juvenile jump of unrestrained rapture from the transported Lord Melbury, +brought Harleigh to himself. He felt confounded at the publicity and the +abruptness of an address into which his ecstacy had surprized him; yet +his satisfaction was too high for repentance, though he forced it to +submit to some controul. + +Suspension of sensibility could not, while there was life, be long +allowed to Juliet; and the violence of her emotions, at its return, +almost burst her bosom. What a change! her feet tottered; she sustained +her shaking frame against the Admiral; she believed herself in some new +existence! yet it was not unmixed joy that she experienced; there was +something in the nature of her deliverance repulsive to joy; and the +perturbed and tumultuous sensations which rushed into her breast, seemed +overpowering her strength, and almost shattering even her comprehension; +till she was brought back painfully to herself, by an abrupt +recollection of the uncertainty of the fate of the Bishop; and, +shudderingly, she exclaimed, 'Oh if my revered guardian be not safe!'-- + +The wondering Admiral now, addressing Harleigh, gravely begged to be +made acquainted, in plainer words, with the news that he reported. + +Not sorry to repeat what he wished should be fully comprehended, +Harleigh, more composedly, recounted his intelligence; dwelling upon +details which brought conviction of the seizure, the trial, and the +execution of the execrable commissary. + +Juliet listened with rapt attention; but in proportion as her security +in her own safety became confirmed, her poignant solicitude for that of +the Bishop increased; and again she exclaimed, 'Oh! if my guardian has +not escaped!' + +The Admiral, turning towards her rather austerely, said, 'You must have +had but a sad dog of a husband, Niece Granville, to think only of an old +priest, when you hear of his demise! However, to my seeming, though he +might be but a rogue, a husband's a husband; and I don't much uphold a +wife's not thinking of that; for, if a woman may mutiny against her +husband, there's an end of all discipline.' + +Overwhelmed with shame, Juliet could attempt no self defence; but Lord +Melbury warmly assured the Admiral, that his niece, Miss Granville, had +never really been married; that a forced, interrupted, and unfinished +lay-ceremony, had mockingly been celebrated; accompanied by +circumstances atrocious, infamous, and cruel: and that the marriage +could never have been valid, either in sight of the church, or of her +own conscience. + +The Admiral, with avidity and rising delight, sucked in this +vindication; and then whispered to Juliet, 'Pray, if I may make so free, +who is this pretty boy, that's got so much more insight into your +affairs than I have? He's a very pretty boy; but I have no great taste +to being put in the rear by him!' + +Juliet was beginning to reply, when the Admiral called out, in a tone of +some chagrin, 'Now we are put off from doing the handsome thing! for +here's the outlandish gentry coming among us before we have invited +them! And now, you'll see, they'll always stand to it that they have the +upper hand of us English in politeness! And I had rather have seen them +all at the devil!' + +Juliet, looking forward, perceived that they were approached by some +strangers of a foreign appearance; but they detained not her attention; +at one side, and somewhat aloof from them, a form caught her eye, +reverend, aged, infirm. She started, and with almost agonized +earnestness, advanced rapidly a few steps; then stopt abruptly to renew +her examination; but presently, advancing again, called out, 'Merciful +Heaven!' and, rushing on, with extended arms, and uncontrolled rapture, +threw herself at the feet of the ancient traveller; and, embracing his +knees, sobbed rather than articulated, in French, 'My guardian! my +preserver! my more than father!--I have not then lost you!' + +Deeply affected, the man of years bent over, and blessed her; mildly, +yet fondly, uttering, in the same language, 'My child! my Juliet!--Do I +then behold you again, my excellent child!' + +Then, helping her to rise, he added, 'Your willing martyrdom is spared, +my dear, my adopted daughter! and I, most mercifully! am spared its +bitter infliction. Thanksgiving are all we have to offer, thanksgiving +and humble prayers for UNIVERSAL PEACE!' + +With anxious tenderness Juliet enquired for her benefactress, the +Marchioness; and the Bishop for his niece Gabriella. The Marchioness was +safe and well, awaiting a general re-union with her family; Gabriella, +therefore, Juliet assured the Bishop, was now, probably in her revered +mother's arms. + +All further detail, whether of her own difficulties and sufferings, or +of the perils and escapes of the Bishop, during their long separation, +they mutually set apart for future communication; every evil, for the +present, being sunk in gratitude at their meeting. + +Harleigh, who witnessed this scene with looks of love and joy, though +not wholly unmixed with suffering impatience, forced himself to stand +aloof. Lord Melbury, who had no feeling to hide, nor result to fear, +gaily capered with unrestrained delight; and the Admiral, impressed with +wonder, yet reverence, his hat in his hand, and his head high up in the +air, waited patiently for a pause; and then, bowing to the ground, +solemnly said, 'Mr Bishop, you are welcome to old England! heartily +welcome, Mr Bishop! I ought to beg your pardon, perhaps, for speaking to +you in English; but I have partly forgot my French; which, not to mince +the matter, I never thought it much worth while to study; little enough +devizing I should ever meet with a native-born Frenchman who was so +honest a man! For it's pretty much our creed, aboard, though I don't +over and above uphold it myself, except as far as may belong to the +sea-service,--to look upon your nation as little better than a cluster +of rogues. However, we of the upper class, knowing that we are all +alike, in the main, of God's workmanship, don't account it our duty to +hold you so cheap. Therefore, Mr Bishop, you are heartily welcome to old +England.' + +The Bishop smiled; too wise to be offended, where he saw that no offence +was meant. + +'But, for all that,' the Admiral continued, 'I can't deny but I had as +lieve, to the full, if I had had my choice, that my niece should not +have been brought up by the enemy; yet I have always had a proper +respect for a parson, whether he be of the true religion, or only a +Papist. I hold nothing narrower than despising a man for his ignorance; +especially when it's only of the apparatus, and not of the solid part. +My niece, Mr Bishop, will tell you the heads of what I say in your own +proper dialect.' + +The Bishop answered, that he perfectly understood English. + +'I am cordially glad to hear it!' cried the Admiral, holding out his +hand to him; 'for that's an item that gives; me at once a good opinion +of you! A man can be no common person who has a taste for our sterling +sense, after being brought up to frothy compliments; and therefore, Mr +Bishop, I beg you to favour me with your company to eat a bit of roast +beef with us at our lodging-house; after our plain old English fashion: +which, if I should make free to tell you what passes in my mind, I hold +to be far wholesomer than your ragouts and fricandos, made up of oil and +grease. But I only drop that as a matter of opinion; every nation having +a right to like best what it can get cheapest. And if the rest of the +passengers are people of a right way of thinking, I beg you to tell them +I shall be glad of the favour of their company too.' + +The Bishop bowed, with an air of mild satisfaction. + +'And I heartily wish you would give me an item, Monsieur the Bishop, how +I might behave more handsomely; for, by what I can make out, you have +been as kind to my niece, as if you had been born on this side the +Channel; which is no small compliment to make to one born on t'other +side; and if ever I forget it, I wish I may go to the bottom! a thing we +seamen, who understand something of those matters, (smiling,) had full +as lief leave alone.' + +He then recommended to them all to stroll upon the sands for a further +whet to their appetite; while he went himself to the lodging-house, to +see what could be had for a repast. + + + + +CHAPTER XCII + + +Happy to second the benevolent scheme of the kind-hearted Admiral, the +Bishop hastened to his fellow-voyagers with the hospitable invitation. +Juliet, in whom every feeling was awake to meet, to embrace, and to +share her delight with Lady Aurora, would have followed; but Lord +Melbury, to avoid, upon so interesting an occasion, any interruption +from Mrs Howel, objected to returning to the hotel; and proposed being +the messenger to fetch their sister. Juliet joyfully consented, and went +to await them in the beautiful verdant recess, between two rocks, +overlooking the vast ocean, with which she had already been so much +charmed. + +No sooner, at this favourite spot, was Juliet alone, than, according to +her wonted custom, she vented the fulness of her heart in pious +acknowledgements. She had scarcely risen, when again,--though without +Lady Aurora,--she saw Lord Melbury; yet not alone; he was arm in arm +with Harleigh. 'My dear new sister,' he gaily cried, 'I go now for +Aurora. We shall be here presently; but Mr Harleigh is so kind as to +promise that he will stand without, as sentinel, to see that no one +approaches nor disturbs you.' + +He was gone while yet speaking. + +The immediate impulse of Juliet urged her to remonstrance, or flight; +but it was the impulse of habit, not of reason; an instant, and a look +of Harleigh, represented that the total change of her situation, +authorized, on all sides, a total change of conduct. + +Every part of her frame partook of the emotion with which this sudden +consciousness beat at her heart; while her silence, her unresisting +stay, and the sight of her varying complexion, thrilled to the soul of +Harleigh, with an encouragement that he trembled with impatience to +exchange for certainty. 'At last,--at last,--may I,' he cried, 'under +the sanction of a brother, presume upon obtaining a hearing with some +little remittance of reserve? of mistrust?' + +Juliet dropt her head. + +'Will not Miss Granville be more gracious than Miss Ellis has been? Miss +Granville can have no tie but what is voluntary: no hovering doubts, no +chilling scruples, no fancied engagements--' + +A half sigh, of too recent recollection, heaved the breast of Juliet. + +'To plead,' he continued, 'against all confidence; to freeze every +avenue to sympathy; to repel, or wound every rising hope! Miss +Granville, is wholly independent; mistress of her heart, mistress of +herself--' + +'No, Mr Harleigh, no!' with quickness, though with gentleness, +interrupted Juliet. + +Harleigh, momentarily startled, ventured to bend his head below her +bonnet; and saw, then, that the blush which had visited, flown, and +re-visited her face, had fixed itself in the deepest tint upon her +cheek. He gazed upon her in ecstatic silence, till, looking up, and, for +the first time, suffering her eyes willingly to meet his, 'No, Mr +Harleigh, no!' she softly repeated, 'I am not so independent!' A smile +then beamed over her features, so radiant, so embellishing, that +Harleigh wondered he had ever thought her beautiful before, as she +added, 'Had I an hundred hearts,--ten thousand times you must have +conquered them all!' + +Rapture itself, now, is too cold a word,--or too common a one,--to give +an adequate idea of the bliss of Harleigh. He took her no longer +reluctant hand, and she felt upon it a burning tear as he pressed it to +his lips; but his joy was unutterable. The change was so great, so +sudden, and so exquisite, from all he most dreaded to all he most +desired, that language seemed futile for its expression: and to look at +her without fearing to alarm or offend her; to meet, with the softest +assurance of partial favour, those eyes hitherto so coldly averted; to +hold, unresisted, the fair hand that, but the moment before, it seemed +sacrilege even to wish to touch; so, only, could he demonstrate the +fulness of his transport, the fervour of his gratitude, the perfection +of his felicity. + +In Juliet, though happiness was not less exalted, pleasure wore the +chastened garb of moderation, even in the midst of a frankness that laid +open her heart. Yet, seeing his suit thus authorized by her brother, and +certain of the approbation of the Bishop, and of her uncle, to so equal +and honourable an alliance; she indulged her soft propensities in his +favour, by gently conceding avowals, that rewarded not alone his +persevering constancy, but her own long and difficult forbearance. 'Many +efforts, many conflicts,' she cried, 'in my cruel trials, I have +certainly found harder; but none, none so distasteful, as the +unremitting necessity of seeming always impenetrable--where most I was +sensitive!' + +'By sweetness such as this,' cried Harleigh, 'you would almost persuade +me to rejoice at a suspense that has nearly maddened me! Yet,--could you +have conceived the agony, the despair of my mind, at your icy, +relentless silence! not once to trust me as a friend! not one moment to +confide in my integrity! never to consult, to commune, to speak, nor to +hear!--You smile?--Can it be at the pain you have inflicted?'-- + +'Oh no, no, no! If I smile, 'tis at the greater pain I have, I trust, +averted! While conscious that I might, eventually, be chained to +another, every duty admonished me to resist every feeling!--Yet with +hope always, ultimately, before me, I had not the force to utter a +word,--a baneful word!--that might teach you to renounce me!--even +though I deemed it indispensable to my honour to exact a total +separation. Had I confided to you my fearful secret,--had you yourself +aided the abolition of my shackles, should I not, in a situation so +delicate, so critical, have fixed an eternal barrier between us,--or +have sacrificed the fame of both to the most wounding of calumnies? Ah +no! from the instant that my heart interfered,--that I was conscious of +a new motive that urged my wish of liberation,--I have held it my duty, +I have felt it my future happiness, to avoid,--to fear,--to fly you!--' + +'I was most favoured, then, it seems,' replied Harleigh, with a smile of +rapture, 'when I thought you most inexorable? I must thank you for your +rejections, your avoidance, your implacable, immoveable coldness?' + +'Reverse, else, the medal,' cried she, gaily, 'and see whether the +impression will be more to your taste!' + +'Loveliest Miss Ellis! most beloved Miss Granville! My own,--at length! +at length! my own sweet Juliet! that, and that only can be to my taste +which has brought me to the bliss of this moment!' + +With blushing tenderness, Juliet then confessed, that at the moment of +his first generous declaration, following the summer-house scene with +Elinor, she had felt pierced with an aggravated horrour of her nameless +ties, that had nearly burst her heart asunder. + +With minute retrospection, then, enjoying even every evil, and finding +motives of congratulation from every pain that was past, they mutually +recapitulated their feelings, their conjectures, their rising and +progressive partiality, since the opening of their acquaintance. One +circumstance alone was tinted with regret,--'Elinor?' cried Juliet, 'Oh! +how will Elinor bear to hear of this event!' + +'Fear her not!' he returned. 'She has a noble, though, perhaps, a +masculine spirit, and she will soon, probably, think of this affair only +with pique and wonder,--not against me, for she is truly generous; but +against herself, for she is candid and just. She has always internally +believed, that perseverance in the honour that she has meant to shew me, +must ultimately be victorious; but, where partiality is not desired, it +can only be repaid, by man to woman as by woman to man, from weakness, +or vanity. Gratitude is all-powerful in friendship, for friendship may +be earned; but love, more wilful, more difficult, more capricious,--love +must be inspired, or must be caught. When Elinor, who possesses many of +the finest qualities of the mind, sees the fallacy of her new system; +when she finds how vainly she would tread down the barriers of custom +and experience, raised by the wisdom of foresight, and established, +after trial, for public utility; she will return to the habits of +society and common life, as one awakening from a dream in which she has +acted some strange and improbable part.--' + +A sound quick, but light, of feet here interrupted the _tete a tete_, +followed by the words, 'My sister! my sister!' and, in less than a +minute, Lady Aurora was in the arms of Juliet. 'Ah!' she cried, 'You are +not, then, gone! dear--cruel sister!--yet you could quit me, and quit me +without even a last adieu!' + +'Sweetest, most amiable of sisters!' cried the happy Juliet; 'can you +wonder I could not take leave of you, when that leave was, I feared, to +sunder us for life? when I thought myself destined to exile, slavery, +and misery? Could I dare imagine I was so soon to be restored to you? +Could I presume to hope that from anguish so nearly insupportable, I was +destined to be elevated,--every way!--to the summit of all I can +conceive of terrestrial happiness!' + +The grateful Harleigh, at these words, came forward to present himself +to Lady Aurora; who learnt with enchantment the purposed alliance; not +alone from the prospect of permanent happiness which it opened to her +sister, but also as a means to overcome all possible opposition, on the +part of Lord Denmeath, to a public acknowledgment of relationship. + +Juliet, who, in the indulgence of sentiments so long and so imperiously +curbed, found a charm nearly as fascinating as that which their avowal +communicated to Harleigh, began now, with blushing animation, to recount +to her delightedly listening Aurora, the various events, the unceasing +obligations, which had formed and fixed her attachment. + +A tale which, like this, had equal attraction to the speaker and to the +hearers, had little chance to be brief: it was not, therefore, far +advanced, when they were joined by Lord Melbury; who, gathering from +Lady Aurora the situation of affairs, bounded, wild as a young colt, +with joy. + +The minutes, now, were lengthening unconsciously to hours, when the +various narratives and congratulations were interrupted by a loud +'Halloo!' followed by the appearance of the old sailor. + +'Please your honours,' said the worthy tar, 'master begins to be afeard +you've as good as forgot him: he's been walking upon the beach, +alongside the old French parson, till one foot is plaguely put to it to +wag afore t'other. Howsomever, he'd scorn to give up to a Frenchman, to +the longest day he has to live; more especialsome to a parson; you may +take Jack's word for that!' + +The happy party now hastened to the strand; but there perceived neither +the Bishop nor the Admiral. The sailor, slily grinning at their +surprize, told them, with a merry nod, and a significant leer, that he +would shew them a sight that would make them stare amain; which was no +other than an honest Englishman, sitting, cheek by jowl, beside a +Frenchman; as lovingly as if they were both a couple of Christians, +coming off the same shore. + +He then led them to a bathing-machine; in which the Admiral was civilly, +though with great perplexity, labouring to hold discourse with the +Bishop. + +The impatient Harleigh besought Lord Melbury to be his agent, with the +guardian and the uncle of his lovely sister. Lord Melbury joyfully +complied. The affair, however momentous, was neither long nor difficult +to arrange. The Bishop felt an implicit trust in the known judgment and +tried discretion of his ward; and the Admiral held that a female, as the +weaker vessel, could never properly, nor even honourably, make the +voyage of life, but under the safe convoy of a good husband. + +Harleigh, therefore, was speedily summoned into the machine; his +proposals were so munificent, that they were applauded rather than +approved; and, all descending to the beach, the Bishop took one hand, +and the Admiral another, of the blushing Juliet, to present, with +tenderest blessings, to the happy, indescribably happy Harleigh. + +Juliet, then, had the unspeakable delight of presenting her brother and +her sister to her uncle, and to the Bishop. The Admiral, nevertheless, +could not resist taking his niece apart, to tell her, that, if he had +but had an insight into her being in such a hurry for a husband, he +should have made free to speak a good word for a young sea-captain of +his acquaintance; a lad for whom he had a great goust, and who would be +sure to make his way to the very top; since, already, he had had the +luck, while bravely fighting, in two different engagements, to see his +two senior officers drop by his side: by which means he had arrived at +his promotion of first lieutenant, and of captain. And if, which was +likely enough, God willing, he should meet with such another good turn +in a third future engagement, he bid fair for being a Commodore in the +prime of his days. 'And then, my dear,' he continued, 'when he had been +upon a long distant station; or when contrary winds, or the enemy, had +stopt his letters, so that you could not guess whether the poor lad were +alive or dead; think what would have been your pride to have read, all +o' the sudden, news of him in the Gazette!' + +This regret, nevertheless, operated not against his affection, nor his +beneficence, for, returning with her to the company, he solemnly +announced her to be his heiress. + +'One thing, however, pertaining to this business,' he cried, 'devilishly +works me still, whether I will or no'. That oldish gentlewoman, who was +taking upon her to send my Niece Granville before the justice! Who is +she, pray? I should not be sorry to know her calling; nor, moreover, +what 'tis puts her upon acting in such a sort.' + +Lord Melbury and Lady Aurora endeavoured to offer some excuse, saying, +that she was a relation of their uncle Denmeath. + +'Oh, if that be the case,' cried he, holding his head high up in the +air, 'I shall make no scruple to let her a little into my way of +thinking! It's a general rule with me, throughout life, to tell people +their faults; because why? There are plenty of people to tell them their +good qualities; in the proviso they have got any; or, in the t'other +case, to vamp up some, out of their own heads, that serve just as well +for ground-work to a few compliments; but as to their faults, not a soul +will give 'em a hint of one of them. They'll leave them to be 'ticed +strait to the devil, sooner than call out Jack Robinson! to save them.' + +Lady Aurora was now advancing with a gentle supplication; but, taking +off his hat, and making her a low bow, he declined hearing her; saying, +'Though it may rather pass for a hint than a compliment, to come out +with the plain truth to a young lady, I must make free to observe, that +I never let my complaisance get the upper hand of my sincerity; because +why? My sincerity is for myself; 'tis my honour! and whereby I keep my +own good opinion; but my complaisance is for my neighbours; serving only +to coax over the good opinion of others. For which reason, though I am +as glad as another man of a good word, I don't much fancy turning out of +my way for it. I hold it, therefore, my bounden duty, to demand a parley +with that oldish gentlewoman; and the more so, abundantly, for her being +a person of quality; for if she's better born, and better bred than her +neighbours, she should be better mannered. For who the devil's the +better for her birth and breeding, if they only serve to make her fancy +she has a right to be impudent? If we don't take care to drop a word or +two of advice, now and then, to persons of that sort, you'll see, before +long, they won't let a man sit down in their company, under a lord!' + +Then, enquiring her name, he sent his honest sailor to request an +audience of her for the uncle of the Honourable Miss Granville; adding, +with a significant smile, 'Harkee, my boy! if she says she don't know +such a person, tell her, one Admiral Powel will have the honour to +introduce him to her! And if she says she does not know Admiral Powel +neither, tell her to cast an eye upon the Gazette of the month of +September this very day twelve years!' + +To tranquillize Lady Aurora, Lord Melbury preceded the sailor to prepare +Mrs Howel for the interview; but he did not return, till a summons to +the repast was assembling the whole company in the lodging-house. He +then related that he had found his uncle Denmeath already arrived, and +that he had acquainted both him and Mrs Howel with the situation of +affairs. + +The Admiral now ordered the dinner to be kept warm, while he whetted, he +said, his goust for it; and then sped to the combat; bent upon fighting +as valiantly for the parental fortune of his niece with one antagonist, +as for what was due to her wounded dignity with the other. + +The party, however, was not long separated; Lord Denmeath, confounded by +intelligence so easily authenticated, of the duplicate-codicil, +protested that he had never designed that the portion should be +withheld; and Mrs Howel, stung with rage and shame at this positive +discovery of the family, the fortune, and the protection to which the +young woman, whom she had used so ignominiously, was entitled, received +the reprimands and admonitions of the Admiral in mortified silence. + +Nothing, when once 'tis understood, is so quickly settled as business. +Lord Denmeath, having given the name of his lawyer, broke up the +conference, and quitted Teignmouth; Mrs Howel, confused, offended, and +gloomy, was not less eager to be gone; though the Admiral would gladly +have detained her, to listen to a few more items of his opinions. Lady +Aurora, forced to accompany her uncle, softly whispered Juliet, in an +affectionate parting embrace, 'My dearest sister, ere long, will give a +new and sweet home to her Aurora!' + +This, indeed, was a powerful plea to favour the impatience of Harleigh; +a plea far more weighty than one urged by the Admiral; that she would be +married without further parleying, lest people should be pleased to take +it into their heads, that she had been the real wife of that scoundrel +commissary, and was forced, therefore, to go through the ceremony of +being his widow. + +Called, now, to the kind and splendid repast, the Admiral insisted that +Juliet should preside at his hospitable board; where, seated between her +revered Bishop and beloved brother, and facing her generous uncle, and +the man of her heart, she did the honours of the table to the enchanted +strangers, with glowing happiness, though blended with modest confusion. + +When the desert was served, the joyous Admiral, filling up a bumper of +ale, and rising, said, 'Ladies and gentlemen, I shall now make free to +propose two toasts to you: the first, as in duty bound, is to the King +and the Royal Navy. I always put them together; because why? I hold our +King to be our pilot, without whom we might soon be all aground; and, in +like manner, I hold us tars to be the best part of his majesty's ship's +company; for though old England, to my seeming, is at the top of the +world, if we tars were to play it false, it would soon pop to the +bottom. So here goes to the King and the Royal Navy!' + +This ceremony past; 'And now, gentlemen and ladies,' he resumed, 'as I +mortally hate a secret; having taken frequent note that what ought not +to be said is commonly something that ought not to be done; I shall make +bold to propose a second bumper, to the happy espousals of the +Honourable Miss Granville; who, you are to know, is my niece; with a +very honest gentleman, who is at my elbow; and who had the kindness to +take a liking to her before he knew that she had a Lord on one side, +and, moreover, an Admiral on t'other for her relations; nor yet that she +would have been a lady in her own right, if her father had not taken the +long journey before her grandfather.' + +This toast being gaily drunk by every one, save the blushing Juliet, the +Admiral sent out his grinning sailor, with a bottle of port, to repeat +it with the postilions. + +'Monsieur the Bishop,' continued the Admiral, 'there's one remark which +I must beg leave to make, that I hope you won't think unchristian; +though I confess it to be not over and above charitable; but I have +always, in my heart, owed a grudge to my Lord Granville, though his +lordship was my brother-in-law, for bringing up his daughter in foreign +parts; whereby he risked the ruin of her morals both in body and soul. +Not that I would condemn a dead man, who cannot speak up in his own +defence, for I hold nothing to be narrower than that; therefore, Mr +Bishop, if you have any thing to offer in his behalf, it will look very +well in you, as a parson, to make the most of it: and, moreover, give +great satisfaction both to my niece, the Honourable Miss Granville, and +to this young Lord, who is her half brother. And I, also, I hope, as a +good Christian, shall sincerely take my share thereof.' + +'An irresistible, or, rather, an unresisted disposition to procrastinate +whatever was painful,' answered the Bishop, in French, 'was the origin +and cause of all that you blame. Lord Granville always persuaded himself +that the morrow would offer opportunity, or inspire courage, for a +confession of his marriage that the day never presented, nor excited; +and to avow his daughter while that was concealed, would have been a +disgrace indelible to his deserving departed lady. This from year to +year, kept Miss Granville abroad. With the most exalted sentiments, the +nicest honour, and the quickest feelings, my noble, however irresolute +friend, had an unfortunate indecision of character, that made him waste +in weighing what should be done, the time and occasion of action. Could +he have foreseen the innumerable hardships, the endless distresses, from +which neither prudence nor innocence could guard the helpless offspring +of an unacknowledged union, he would either, at once and nobly, have +conquered his early passion; or courageously have sustained and avowed +its object.' + +'It must also be considered,' said Harleigh, while tears of filial +tenderness rolled down the cheeks of Juliet, and started into the eyes +of Lord Melbury, 'that, when my Lord Granville trusted his daughter to a +foreign country, his own premature death was not less foreseen, than +the political event in which her property and safety, in common with +those of the natives, were involved. That event has not operated more +wonderfully upon the fate and fortune, than upon the minds and +characters of those individuals who have borne in it any share; and who, +according to their temperaments and dispositions, have received its new +doctrines as lessons, or as warnings. Its undistinguishing admirers, it +has emancipated from all rule and order; while its unwilling, yet +observant and suffering witnesses, have been formed by it to fortitude, +prudence, and philosophy; it has taught them to strengthen the mind with +the body; it has animated the exercise of reason, the exertion of the +faculties, activity in labour, resignation in endurance, and +cheerfulness under every privation; it has formed, my Lord Melbury, in +the school of refining adversity, your firm, yet tender sister! it has +formed, noble Admiral, in the trials, perils, and hardships of a +struggling existence, your courageous, though so gentle niece!--And for +me, may I not hope that it has formed--' + +He stopt; the penetrated Juliet cast upon him a look that supplicated +silence. He obeyed its expression; and her mantling cheek, dimpling with +grateful smiles, amply recompensed his forbearance. + +'Gentlemen, both,' said the Admiral, 'I return you my hearty thanks for +letting me into this insight of the case. And if I were to give you, in +return, a little smattering of what passed in my own mind in those days, +I can't deny but I should have been tempted, often enough, to out with +the whole business, if I had not been afraid of being jeer'd for my +pains; a thing for which I had never much taste. Many and many a time I +used to muse upon it, and say to myself, My sister was married; +honourably married! And I,--for I was but a young man then to what I am +now,--a mere boy; and I, says I to myself, am brother-in-law to a lord! +Yet I was too proud to publish it of my own accord, because of his being +a lord! for, if I had, the whole ship's company, in those days, might +have thought me little better than a puppy.' + +The repast finished, the pleased and grateful guests separated. Harleigh +set off post for London and his lawyer; and the Bishop and Lord Melbury, +gladly accepted an invitation from the Admiral to his country-seat near +Richmond, of which, with the greatest delight, he proclaimed his niece +mistress. + +But short, here, was her reign. Harleigh was speedily ready: and his +cause, seconded by Lady Aurora and the Admiral, could not be pleaded in +vain to Juliet; who, in giving her hand where she had given her whole +heart; in partaking the name, the mansion, the fortune, and the fate of +Harleigh; bestowed and enjoyed such rare felicity, that all she had +endured seemed light, all she had performed appeared easy, and even +every woe became dear to her remembrance, that gradually and +progressively, though painfully and unsuspectedly, had contributed to so +exquisite and heartfelt a union. + +Her own happiness thus fixed, her first solicitude was for her guardian +and preserver the Bishop; whom, with her sympathizing Harleigh, she +attended to the Continent. There she was embraced and blessed by her +honoured benefactress, the Marchioness; there, and not vainly, she +strove to console her beloved Gabriella; and there, in the elegant +society to which she had owed all her early enjoyments, she prevailed +upon Harleigh to remain, till it became necessary to return to their +home, to present, upon his birth, a new heir to the enchanted Admiral. + +A rising family, then, put an end to foreign excursions; but the dearest +delight of Harleigh was seeking to assemble around his Juliet her first +friends. + +Lady Aurora had hardly any other home than that of her almost adored +sister, till she was installed in one, with an equal and amiable +partner, upon the same day that Lord Melbury obtained the willing hand +of the lively, natural, and feeling Lady Barbara Frankland. + +Sir Jaspar Herrington, to whom Juliet had such essential obligations, +became, now that all false hopes or fanciful wishes were annihilated, +her favourite guest. He still saw her with a tenderness which he +secretly, though no longer banefully nourished; but transferred to her +rapturously attentive children, the histories of his nocturnal +intercourse with sylphs, fairies, and the destinies; while, ever awake +to the wishes of Juliet, he rescued the simple Flora from impending +destruction, by portioning her in marriage with an honest vigilant +farmer. + +Scarcely less welcome than the whimsical Baronet to Juliet, nor less +happy under her roof, was the guileless and benevolent Mr Giles Arbe; +who there enjoyed, unbroken by his restless, adroit, and worldly cousin, +his innocent serenity. + +Juliet sought, too, with her first power, the intuitively virtuous Dame +Fairfield; whose incorrigible husband had briefly, with the man of the +hut, paid the dread earthly penalty of increased and detected crimes. + +Harleigh placed a considerable annuity upon the faithful, excellent +Ambroise; to whose care, soon afterwards, he committed the meritorious +widow, and her lovely little ones, by a marriage which ensured to them +the protection and endearments of a kind husband, and an affectionate +father. + +Even Mr Tedman, when Harleigh paid him, with high interest, his three +half-guineas, was invited to Harleigh Hall; where, with no small pride, +he received thanks for the first liberality he had ever prevailed with +himself to practise. + +No one to whom Juliet had ever owed any good office, was by her +forgotten, or by Harleigh neglected. They visited, with gifts and +praise, every cottage in which the Wanderer had been harboured; and +Harleigh bought of the young wood-cutters, at a high price, their dog +Dash; who became his new master's inseparable companion in his garden, +fields, and rides. + +But Riley, whose spirit of tormenting, springing from bilious ill +humour, operated in producing pain and mischief like the most confirmed +malevolence; Ireton, whose unmeaning pursuits, futile changes, and +careless insolence, were every where productive of disorder, save in his +own unfeeling breast; and Selina, who, in presence of a higher or richer +acquaintance, ventured not to bestow even a smile upon the person whom, +in her closet, she treated, trusted, and caressed as her bosom friend; +these, were excluded from the happy Hall, as persons of minds +uncongenial to confidence; that basis of peace and cordiality in social +intercourse. + +But while, for these, simple non-admission was deemed a sufficient mark +of disapprobation, the Admiral himself, when apprized of the adventures +of his niece, insisted upon being the messenger of positive exile to +three ladies, whom he nominated the three Furies; Mrs Howel, Mrs Ireton, +and Mrs Maple; that he might give them, he said, a hint, as it behoved a +good Christian to do, for their future amendment, of the reasons of +their exclusion. All mankind, he affirmed, would behave better, if the +good were not as cowardly as the bad are audacious. + +To spare at least the pride, though he could not the softer feelings of +Elinor, Harleigh thought it right to communicate to her himself, by +letter, the news of his marriage. She received it with a consternation +that cruelly opened her eyes to the false hopes which, however +disclaimed and disowned, had still duped her wishes, and played upon her +fancy, with visions that had brought Harleigh, ultimately, to her feet. +Despair, with its grimmest horrour, grasped her heart at this +self-detection; but pride supported her spirit; and Time, the healer of +woe, though the destroyer of life, moderated her passions, in +annihilating her expectations; and, when her better-qualities found +opportunity for exertion, her excentricities, though always what were +most conspicuous in her character, ceased to absorb her whole being. Yet +in the anguish of her disappointment, 'Alas! alas!' she cried, 'must +Elinor too,--must even Elinor!--like the element to which, with the +common herd, she owes, chiefly, her support, find,--with that herd!--her +own level?--find that she has strayed from the beaten road, only to +discover that all others are pathless!' + +Here, and thus felicitously, ended, with the acknowledgement of her +name, and her family, the DIFFICULTIES of the WANDERER;--a being who had +been cast upon herself; a female Robinson Crusoe, as unaided and +unprotected, though in the midst of the world, as that imaginary hero in +his uninhabited island; and reduced either to sink, through inanition, +to nonentity, or to be rescued from famine and death by such resources +as she could find, independently, in herself. + +How mighty, thus circumstanced, are the DIFFICULTIES with which a FEMALE +has to struggle! Her honour always in danger of being assailed, her +delicacy of being offended, her strength of being exhausted, and her +virtue of being calumniated! + +Yet even DIFFICULTIES such as these are not insurmountable, where mental +courage, operating through patience, prudence, and principle, supply +physical force, combat disappointment, and keep the untamed spirits +superiour to failure, and ever alive to hope. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Wanderer (Volume 5 of 5), by Fanny Burney + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WANDERER (VOLUME 5 OF 5) *** + +***** This file should be named 37441.txt or 37441.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/4/4/37441/ + +Produced by Delphine Lettau, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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