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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/75276-0.txt b/75276-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..af8c693 --- /dev/null +++ b/75276-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3802 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75276 *** + + + + + +A CROWN OF SHAME. + +VOL. III. + + + + + A CROWN OF SHAME. + + _A NOVEL._ + + BY + FLORENCE MARRYAT, + + AUTHOR OF + ‘LOVE’S CONFLICT,’ ‘MY SISTER THE ACTRESS,’ + ETC. ETC. + + _IN THREE VOLUMES._ + + VOL. III. + + LONDON: + F. V. WHITE & CO., + 31 SOUTHAMPTON STREET, STRAND, W.C. + 1888. + + [_All rights reserved._] + + + + + EDINBURGH + COLSTON AND COMPANY + PRINTERS + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +_CONTENTS._ + + + PAGE + + CHAPTER I. 1 + + CHAPTER II. 19 + + CHAPTER III. 57 + + CHAPTER IV. 94 + + CHAPTER V. 129 + + CHAPTER VI. 165 + + CHAPTER VII. 201 + + + + +A CROWN OF SHAME. + + + + +POPULAR NEW NOVELS. + + +_Now ready, in One Vol., the Seventh Edition of_ + + =ARMY SOCIETY; or, Life in a Garrison Town.= By JOHN STRANGE WINTER. + Author of ‘Bootles’ Baby.’ Cloth gilt, 6s.; also picture boards, 2s. + + +_Also now ready, in cloth gilt, 3s. 6d. each._ + + =GARRISON GOSSIP, Gathered in Blankhampton.= By JOHN STRANGE WINTER. + Also picture boards, 2s. + + =IN THE SHIRES.= By Sir RANDAL H. ROBERTS, Bart. + + =THE OUTSIDER.= By HAWLEY SMART. + + =THE GIRL IN THE BROWN HABIT.= By Mrs EDWARD KENNARD. + + =STRAIGHT AS A DIE.= By the same Author. + + =BY WOMAN’S WIT.= By Mrs ALEXANDER. Author of ‘The Wooing O’t.’ + + =KILLED IN THE OPEN.= By Mrs EDWARD KENNARD. + + =IN A GRASS COUNTRY.= By Mrs H. LOVETT-CAMERON. + + =A DEVOUT LOVER.= By the same Author. + + =TWILIGHT TALES.= By Mrs EDWARD KENNARD. _Illustrated._ + + =SHE CAME BETWEEN.= By Mrs ALEXANDER FRASER. + + =THE CRUSADE OF ‘THE EXCELSIOR.’= By BRET HARTE. + + =A REAL GOOD THING.= By Mrs EDWARD KENNARD. + + =CURB AND SNAFFLE.= By Sir RANDAL H. ROBERTS, Bart. + + =DREAM FACES.= By the Hon. Mrs FETHERSTONHAUGH. + + =A SIEGE BABY.= By JOHN STRANGE WINTER. + + =MONA’S CHOICE.= By Mrs ALEXANDER. Author of ‘The Wooing O’t.’ + + + F. V. WHITE & Co., 31 Southampton Street, Strand, + London, W.C. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +A CROWN OF SHAME. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +Rosa, the yellow girl, was sauntering up and down the avenue of tulip +trees which formed an approach of a quarter of a mile to the plantation +of Beauregard, in a very discontented and sullen humour. She was +holding Maraquita’s baby in her arms, and she was dressed in her very +best. Her cotton gown was of the deepest rose colour; on her feet +she wore white stockings and prunella shoes with sandals; her long +black curls--in which she prided herself there was no trace of negro +crispness--were surmounted by a handkerchief of bright orange silk, +which Miss Lizzie had given her as a reward for her kindness to her +little charge. But what was the good of it all? thought Rosa; what was +the use of wearing her gilt earrings and her string of coral beads, +when there was no one to see them--not even a coolie boy left on the +plantation? For this was a general holiday. Not a hand was to work, +either in the coffee or sugar fields, for it was Miss Maraquita’s +wedding-day, and all the coloured people were off to the Fort Church to +witness the ceremony. All, that is to say, except poor Rosa. But Miss +Lizzie had refused to give her leave. She had promised the yellow girl +that she would take charge of the baby in the afternoon, and let her +join the big dinner that was to be given to all the hands at sunset, +and the dance that would follow it, but she would not consent to let +her go to the church. Lizzie had her own reasons for the denial--Rosa +might have been sure that she would never have been unjust or unkind to +any one--but she did not choose to tell them to her servant. + +She thought it would scarcely be delicate to let Rosa, who had the care +of the poor outcast baby, and was like a second mother to it, form one +of the gaping crowd to see Maraquita married to the Governor. It was +something too terrible to Lizzie to think that her adopted sister could +do this thing, and she decided that herself and all who had any part +to bear in her sinful secret were much better out of the way. So she +had condemned Rosa to remain in the plantation with the infant, who +was growing quite a big child, and the yellow girl was proportionately +discontented. + +There was a certain young Creole called Juan who had been paying her +great attention lately, and whom she entertained serious thoughts of +marrying. The silk handkerchief, the earrings, and the coral beads had +all been donned for Juan’s benefit, and now he was off to the Fort +with some other girl maybe--with Chloe, or Celeste, or Marie--and she +had to walk up and down this stupid avenue with the baby in her arms. +Rosa could have shaken the baby for keeping her from the much-coveted +spectacle. + +As she was thinking over her disappointment, Judy--Mammy Lila’s +granddaughter--walked from behind a tall bush, and confronted her. + +‘Hillo, Rosa!’ she cried. ‘Is dat Missy Liz’s baby? My! how dat grown; +she’s pretty heavy now, I guess.’ + +Judy was an ugly, cunning-looking young negress, of perhaps +fifteen--tall and lanky and large-boned, with a propensity for lying +and thieving and everything that was wrong. + +‘_Heavy?_’ echoed Rosa; ‘you may say dat. She breaks my arm pretty well +carrying her all day long. But ain’t you going to the wedding, Judy? +It’s most time to be off. Don’t I wish I’se going too.’ + +‘Why ain’t you going, Rosa, gal? Uncle Mose say dat will be de finest +sight ebber seen in San Diego. And you got your Sunday gown on too! +Why you not go?’ + +‘’Cause Missy Liz say _no_; and I nebber go back to her if I disobey! +But you’se going, Judy, sure?’ + +‘No, Rosa! I’se got bad head dis morning,’ replied Judy, with a cunning +look, and her lean hand to her woolly hair, ‘and I’se can’t stand long +walk. I’se better stay here till de dinner-bell sound.’ + +‘Dere now!’ cried Rosa, with vexation. ‘Ain’t dat a muddle? Why, I’d +gib my best earrings to be able to go. I shall nebber forgive myself +dat I not see Miss Quita’s wedding.’ + +‘You can see de carriages coming down de drive; and Miss Quita in her +white dress--all lace,’ said Judy. + +‘Dat ain’t de ting! But what you low niggers know about grand folk’s +ways? I want to be one of de church company, and hear de wedding +ceremony,’ replied Rosa, mouthing the long word. + +‘So you can, den, Rosa. Jes’ gib de chile to me, and I’ll hold it till +you come back. Don’t take no time to marry, you know; jest a few words, +and it’s all over; and I won’t leave dis place while you’re gone.’ + +‘Is dat a fac’, Judy?’ exclaimed the yellow girl, with a brightening +face. ‘Will you hold the baby whiles I gone? Den I’ll keep my word, and +you shall hab de earrings, for you’re the berry pusson as I wanted to +meet--dat’s so;’ and placing the infant in Judy’s arms, she disengaged +the gilt trinkets from her ears, and laid them in her hand. ‘Judy, +you’se a real good gal, and you won’t stir from dis avenue till I come +back; and if you sees Miss Lizzie a-coming, you’ll bolt in bushes like +rattlesnake? Is dat so?’ + +‘Dat _is_ so, Rosa. I’ll keep her safe, nebber fear. I likes nussing de +babies, and my head ain’t good for nuffin else dis morning.’ + +‘I’ll hurry back quick as I can directly dat’s over!’ cried Rosa, as +she darted down the tulip tree avenue, in order to reach the Fort +before the carriages from Beauregard. + +As soon as she was out of sight, Judy gave one look around to make sure +she was unobserved, and then dived with the child into the thick bushes +that skirted the drive on either side. She had not gone far before she +was met by Henri de Courcelles. He was dressed much as usual, but he +was looking very pale and dissipated, and there was a dark look about +his eyes that seemed as though he had been drinking hard, or going +without his natural rest. As he encountered Judy, he accosted her +roughly. + +‘So you’ve got the child?’ + +‘Oh, yes, Massa Courcelles, and wid berry little trouble. Rosa jes’ +_mad_ to go to wedding. She jump wid joy when I tell her I’d hold de +baby, and gib me her best earrings into de bargain; but I promise I be +back here when she return from church, so massa won’t be long after +her, eh?’ + +‘You shall be back as soon as ever it is possible: I promise you so +much; but you must come with me to San Diego. You don’t suppose I’m +going to carry _that_?’ + +‘Massa please,’ replied the coolie, shrugging her shoulders; ‘all same +to me. I can tell Rosa anyting,--dat I’se too bad to walk, and took de +baby to my hut, eh?’ + +‘I’ve no doubt you are equal to inventing any number of lies to suit +your purpose; but now you must follow me.’ + +De Courcelles led the way as he spoke by many a devious path through +the thicket, until they reached the outer boundary of the plantation, +where he hustled Judy and the child into a close carriage which he had +in waiting, and ordered the driver to take them to the Fort. + +Meanwhile, Maraquita, dressed in her bridal robes of lace and orange +blossoms, and with a costly veil covering her to the ground, stepped +into the carriage which was to convey her to church. The vehicle had +been re-painted for the auspicious occasion, and re-lined with a +delicate silver grey brocade. The horses were caparisoned in silver +harness, with large cockades of white ribbon at their ears, and the +coloured coachman and footman in brand new liveries wore large +bouquets of white flowers in their button-holes. Four or five other +vehicles followed that in which sat the bride between her adoring +parents, and contained relations of the family, and intimate friends +who were staying in the house. It was a trying ordeal for Mr and +Mrs Courtney, who were about to part with the one blossom of their +marriage-tree; but though the father was nervous and agitated, and the +mother could not prevent the tears rising to her eyes, the brilliant +position their daughter had attained for herself was the greatest +consideration in their minds, and outbalanced any pain they may have +felt at the impending separation. Quita herself felt overwhelmed at the +knowledge of her good fortune. She had so dreaded lest something might +occur to mar her prospects, that she was almost hysterical at the idea +that they were about to be consummated. She turned from one parent +to the other in a glow of expectation and triumph, which flushed her +usually pale cheeks, and lent a fire to her eye, that made her truly +beautiful. As the carriage approached the Fort, in which the English +Church was situated, they found the road lined with eager faces, both +white and coloured, and a shout of welcome and congratulation went +up as soon as they appeared. Sir Russell Johnstone was in the church +porch waiting to receive his bride, and it would have been difficult +to find a more lovely creature than stepped from the carriage and +stood before him, trembling (as it appeared) with modesty and maiden +shame. The church was crowded, every pew was filled with friends and +acquaintances carrying nosegays, the aisles were lined with darkies +grinning from ear to ear, the pillars and rails were wreathed with +flowers and ferns. Never was there a prettier wedding, nor a more +auspicious one. As Maraquita was led to the altar by her father and +mother, the organist commenced to play, and the choir, who had been +practising for the last month, sang a marriage hymn. Quita felt, for +the time being, as if she were about to wed the man of her choice, and +had no regrets to spare for a mistaken past. The flowers, the melody, +the congratulatory looks by which she was surrounded, appealed to her +senses, until she was ready to believe that she was worthy of them. +Henri de Courcelles had no place whatever in her thoughts that morning. +Out of sight, was truly out of mind with her shallow soul, and she +remembered nothing but that she was about to become Lady Johnstone, +and all the unmarried girls in San Diego were envying her good luck. +She went through the service as calmly as possible. Mrs Courtney +sobbed like a school-girl, her husband blew his nose and changed his +feet every minute, and Sir Russell was visibly agitated. Only the +beautiful young bride made her responses in an unfaltering voice, +and held up her face as soon as the ceremony was over, to receive +her bridegroom’s kiss, as quietly as if she had been married for ten +years. It was over then, and there was nothing more to do but to sign +her name in the register, and go forth to take her place in a world +which seemed strewn with roses, and in which no inconvenient memories +should rise up to trouble her. The organ pealed forth the wedding +march. Sir Russell extended his arm for her acceptance, and Maraquita +realised that at last she really was his _wife_, and no one could +deprive her of the position he had bestowed upon her. She beamed with +smiles of satisfaction as she walked down the aisle on her husband’s +arm, returning the bows on either side, and treading on the roses, and +lilies, and myrtle strewn by the children in her path. Sir Russell’s +carriage, with its four horses and outriders, and its stately guard of +honour, was waiting to receive her, and take her back to her father’s +house for breakfast, and her heart swelled with pride as she caught +sight of it, beyond the crowd that clustered round the church door and +steps, and threatened to impede her way. But she had hardly placed her +foot on the red carpet that had been laid down for her accommodation, +when her eye fell on a group that riveted her to the spot, and almost +made her breath stop,--a group that seemed to rise up as it were from +the very earth itself, like a Nemesis, to rob her of her joy. Maraquita +stared at it as if she were turning to stone, while her face grew +deadly pale, and her limbs tottered under her. Her first impulse had +been to scream, but the strong instinct of self-preservation inherent +in every nature prevented her, and the effort to restrain herself +resulted in her falling suddenly from Sir Russell’s support, and +sinking to the ground in a dead faint. A dozen people were round her in +a moment. Some declared it must be the heat--others, the excitement +and fatigue--only one person amongst them all, and that was her mother, +Mrs Courtney, discovered the real cause of her daughter’s emotion. +_She_ had come upon the scene in time to see the dark handsome face of +Henri de Courcelles glaring like that of an avenging angel above the +crowd, whilst in his arms he held up high on view his infant. She had +cowered herself beneath the sight--no wonder it had affected her poor +Maraquita. In a commanding voice she had desired the church peons to +disperse the crowd, and when the bride was sufficiently recovered to +be taken to her carriage, no one was left to molest her. One anxious +despairing look passed between her mother and herself, but a hurried +whisper from Mrs Courtney somewhat reassured her, and by the time they +reached Beauregard, Maraquita was to all appearances herself again. But +only to the view of strangers, for long after she had left San Diego, +and the Government steamer was conveying Sir Russell and Lady Johnstone +to a sister island to spend their honeymoon, she sat with her large +dark eyes staring out into the star-bespangled night, in which she saw +nothing but the picture of a man’s face, full of hate and frenzy and +revenge,--of a man who held a little infant in his arms. And as she +thought of it, Lady Johnstone felt the tears roll down her face (as +they should not have rolled down the face of a newly-wedded woman), in +memory of a past which she hated and loved, and longed-for and dreaded, +all at the same time. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +Hugh Norris had not been slow to avail himself of Lizzie’s permission +to visit her. He had knocked about a good deal in the world, and he had +seen all sorts and conditions of women, but he had never met any one +to interest him, and hold his sympathies, like the Doctor’s daughter. +It was not only that she was firm and sweet in temper, and strong in +mind, and clever and energetic--there was a more binding tie between +them than that. _They thought together_; and if men and women would +realise that kindred tastes and ideas form the only lasting bond +between friends, there would be fewer unhappy marriages than there are. +There is a great deal of talk heard on occasions about the happiness +of surrendering one’s opinions in deference to those of the person one +loves, but that notion is only believed in by the men who wish to be +master, and ride roughshod over their household gods. To surrender is +to give up one’s mental and moral liberty, and there may be duty in +bondage, but there can be no pleasure. Marriage should be the cementing +of a friendship between the sexes, and it is the only safe light by +which to regard it. There should be plenty of _giving_ in it, but no +_giving up_! And Captain Norris felt that if Lizzie Fellows could learn +to regard him as he did her, there would be very few jars in their +domestic _ménage_. He had been detained in San Diego much longer than +he had anticipated. Just as he got his cargo on board, and was ready +to start, a serious damage had been discovered in the _Trevelyan_, +and he had been compelled to send her into dock for repairs. Although +the delay meant a considerable loss of money to him, Captain Norris +did not regret it. He did not feel easy, in common with many of the +residents, with regard to the safety of the island; and to leave Lizzie +in possible danger, surrounded by a horde of mutinous coolies, and +without the possibility of obtaining news of her for months together, +would have been a sore trial to him. He would have taken her with +him gladly as his wife, or as an ordinary passenger, but he knew her +character too well to propose it. Had she been affianced to him, and +danger threatened her benefactor and his family, she would have died +with them, sooner than desert them in the time of uncertainty. And +uncertainty seemed to prevail in San Diego. Grave mutterings were heard +on every side of averted rebellions and suppressed mutinies, and the +planters knew that it needed but the necessary boldness on the part +of one set of hands to rise, to set the whole negro population aflame +with the lust for rapine and murder. Sir Russell Johnstone was not a +favourite amongst them, for he disliked the coloured people, and had +passed some very harsh sentences on the prisoners brought up to him +for judgment, and his name was seldom mentioned without an execration +attached to it. The hands on Beauregard had not shown discontent +beyond the ordinary grumblings and small impertinences common amongst +the coolies; but Hugh Norris knew the character of the people well, +and he distrusted them. He remembered how in former mutinies, both in +the East and West Indies, the actual fight for the supremacy had been +preceded for a long time by half-suppressed murmurs and complaints, +like the muttering of the elements before a tempest, and that, when the +storm broke, it came like a clap of thunder, suddenly and unexpectedly, +and overwhelmed its victims before they were hardly aware of the danger +they incurred. So he was glad than otherwise to be detained in San +Diego, though what he heard and saw there did not tend to reassure him. +He was present at Maraquita’s wedding, being a friend both of Sir +Russell Johnstone and the Courtneys; but he declined the invitation +to the breakfast, both because he disliked such festivities, and that +Lizzie Fellows, he knew, would not be there. But on the evening of the +same day he strolled into her bungalow, and seated himself without +ceremony like an old friend. + +‘So, Lizzie,’ he commenced, ‘you were not present at the grand wedding +this morning?’ + +‘No. I asked them to excuse me, Captain Norris. My dear father’s recent +death renders it very unfit that I should mix in any gaiety.’ + +‘But your adopted sister’s marriage, Lizzie! Surely that was an +occasion on which you might have relaxed your strict seclusion?’ + +He had marked the coolness which had separated Lizzie of late from +Mrs Courtney and her daughter, and he had his own suspicions on the +subject; but he had not presumed to put them into words. + +‘They didn’t think so. They were quite satisfied to let me follow my +own wishes,’ replied the girl quietly. + +‘And how is your nurse-child? Thriving?’ + +Lizzie’s eyes sparkled. + +‘Beautifully, thank you. She is growing such a dear little creature, +and knows me as well as possible.’ + +‘Have you had her baptised?’ + +‘How strange you should ask me that question,’ remarked Lizzie +thoughtfully, looking up from her work. ‘It is the very thing I was +about to consult you on! How often we seem to have the same ideas at +the same moment! I think you must be a wizard, and read my thoughts!’ + +‘It is because we are so much in sympathy with each other, Lizzie. But +what about the mysterious baby? Have you decided on the name you will +call her?’ + +‘No; I have never troubled my head about it. Any name will do.’ + +‘Oh, poor little lady! let us give her a pretty one whilst we are about +it. Why not call her after yourself?’ + +Lizzie shrank from the idea. + +‘Oh, no! She has nothing to do with me. Please suggest something else.’ + +‘Poor mite! she seems to have nothing to do with any one. She is a +little blot upon the universe. But she is God’s own child. Suppose we +call her after His mother.’ + +‘Mary! Yes, I like that idea. What is _your_ mother’s name, Captain +Norris?’ + +‘The same. I was thinking partly of her when I spoke.’ + +‘Then I shall like the name doubly for her sake. I am sure she must be +a good woman, to have borne such a son as you are.’ + +‘I am afraid that is not much recommendation for her, Lizzie,’ returned +Hugh Norris, laughing. ‘But she _is_ a good woman--the best woman I +have ever known--for all that. And how she would love _you_! How I wish +you knew her: you would get on so well together.’ + +‘How can you tell that?’ + +‘Because you have the same tastes. My mother is quite a doctor in her +way; and all the country people believe in her immensely. Only she is +a herbalist, and does not approve of strong drugs. Since my father +died, and her sons have gone out into the world, she has lived alone +in a cottage in the sweetest spot of Kent you have ever seen; and she +is beloved of the whole country-side. But I wish there was some one to +live with her, now she is getting old. She has never had a daughter, my +dear old mother! How she would love and cherish one!’ + +‘How many brothers have you?’ asked Lizzie, trying to run away from the +dangerous subject. + +‘Two, George and Frederick. George is in the Indian Army, and has been +out in Bengal for the last five years; and Fred is in business in +London. He goes down to see mother every now and then; but they are +only flying visits, and she must feel very lonely at times.’ + +‘Yes, very! How often do _you_ see her?’ + +‘Every few months, as a rule; but my time in England is necessarily +short. If I had a wife--’ said Captain Norris, and there stopped. + +‘Well,’ remarked Lizzie encouragingly, ‘what then?’ + +‘I was going to say that (with _her_ permission, of course) I shouldn’t +be entirely selfish: I should leave her behind me some voyages, that +she might keep my mother company. It wouldn’t be for long, perhaps, for +I hope to get work on shore some day--I shouldn’t like to spend all my +life roving about like this, without any settled home.’ + +‘But it must be glorious to sail about all over the world, and see so +many new countries!’ cried Lizzie, with kindling eyes. + +‘It is, whilst a man is young and independent, and has no ties to pull +at his heart-strings. _You_ would enjoy it, Lizzie, I am sure. Your +free and energetic spirit would be quite in accord with the unfettered +elements, and you would glory in seeing them circumvented (for mastered +they can never be) by the ingenuity or prevision of men.’ + +‘Yes, I should like it, I am sure. It is the sort of life that would +carry one out of oneself, and make one almost forget how much falsehood +and wickedness and ingratitude hold their place amongst men. To be out +on the open sea from morning to night, and to know for certain that +no one who has injured or disappointed you can follow you there, and +that you are alone with God and your own thoughts--it must be a kind of +little heaven in itself, if--if--’ + +‘If _what_, Lizzie?’ demanded Hugh Norris eagerly. + +‘If one went with the person one loved,’ she replied, with a slight +increase of colour. + +‘Let us talk of the baby--of little Mary,’ he said impatiently. ‘When +shall we have her christened?’ + +‘Any day, if you will be her godfather, and share the responsibility of +her with me.’ + +‘Willingly. As she is to bear my mother’s name, I consider it incumbent +on me to do so. But, Lizzie, have you taken my advice about this child? +Have you appealed to her parents to lift the burden they have laid upon +you, by at least a partial confession of their error?’ + +‘I have,’ she answered, in a low voice. + +‘And they refused?’ + +‘I only saw the mother, and she denied all knowledge of her child. +The--the--other parent I could not speak to.’ + +‘You know the names of both of them then.’ + +She bowed her head in silence. + +‘Lizzie, I think I have guessed your secret, or at least part of it. +The father of this infant is Henri de Courcelles.’ + +‘What should make you say that, Captain Norris?’ she exclaimed, in a +tone of alarm. + +‘The hesitation in your voice when you alluded to him; but I have had +my suspicions of it before now. And shall I tell you the name of the +mother who has left you to bear the burden of her shameful secret?’ + +‘No, no, Captain Norris,’ cried Lizzie, springing from her chair; ‘you +must not say it! I will not hear it! You are mistaken! It is not true! +Oh, my dear friend,’ she continued, laying her hand upon his arm, +‘think--_think_ what you are doing. The honour of a whole family is +involved in your discovery. Be silent. Keep the secret sacred, as I do, +for God’s sake.’ + +‘And what about the honour of the woman I love?’ he asked tenderly, as +he looked into her face; ‘am I not to think of that?’ + +‘If you love her,’ replied Lizzie, blushing, ‘you must know that her +honour is safe. But for the other--so young--so weak--’ + +‘So unprincipled--so false, you mean!’ said Hugh Norris indignantly. +‘Well, it will come home to her some day, see if it does not.’ + +‘But never through _my_ means,’ said Lizzie. + +‘No, not through you, my angel, but God will take care of His own. You +will not always live under this cloud. You would leave it behind you +to-morrow, if you would but consent to be my honoured wife.’ + +‘Not while it hangs over me,’ she whispered. + +‘And afterwards--’ + +‘Ah, Captain Norris, do not ask me! You are my best and truest friend, +and the man who would make me happier than any one else in the world. +I quite believe that. I say it after calm deliberation, and a careful +investigation of your character. But I am not in a position to marry +any one, and I never may be. Leave it to the future. If I am ever free, +and you are still of the same mind, I will answer the question you ask +me to-day.’ + +‘And I will live on that promise, Lizzie,’ replied Hugh Norris, ‘for +I feel the time of your release is not far off. If _you_ persist in +sacrificing yourself for the sake of your oath, your friends are not +bound to see you do it, without making an effort in your behalf. But I +have something to say to you before I go. Will you be very careful of +yourself, for my sake?’ + +‘In what way?’ she asked, with open eyes. ‘The fever is nearly passed; +and if it had not done so, I am fever-proof.’ + +‘There is a worse pestilence abroad than the fever, Lizzie,--a lust +for murder, and rapine, and insubordination. The negroes are ripe for +rebellion, and if there should be an insurrection, there may be fire +and bloodshed.’ + +‘Oh, they will never hurt me!’ replied Lizzie, with a confident smile. + +‘My dear, when the thirst for blood gets possession of a mob, +infuriated by a sense of wrong, they do not stay to distinguish friends +from foes. I feel uneasy that you should stay in this bungalow alone, +Lizzie, with no better protection than Rosa. It is not safe. Do you bar +your doors and windows at night?’ + +‘_Bar my doors and windows?_’ repeated Lizzie, with a smile. ‘Why, +Captain Norris, they stand open night and day; and I don’t believe +there is a fastening to any one of them. The coolies would indeed think +I had gone out of my mind, if they saw me bolting myself in from fear +of them.’ + +‘But I don’t like it,’ said Hugh Norris, with a sigh. ‘I have witnessed +several mutinies, Lizzie; and if there should be a grudge borne against +you by one person only, it may be sufficient to incense the entire mob. +Suppose they were to fire your bungalow, and destroy all your property?’ + +‘Captain Norris, do you _really_ think it is so likely to occur?’ +demanded Lizzie, struck by the portentous gravity of her friend. + +‘I do indeed, or I should not caution you.’ + +‘Then they may injure the White House, or do some harm to Mr and Mrs +Courtney!’ she exclaimed in alarm. ‘Should you not warn _them_? They +are of far more importance than myself.’ + +‘I won’t allow that; but Mr Courtney, at least, is aware of the danger. +The planters have held a meeting on the subject, with a view to +inquiring into the coolies’ fancied wrongs, but not, I understand, with +any satisfactory results. In fact, they can’t make out what it is they +do want, and I don’t think the darkies know themselves. Only the demons +of distrust and discontent are stalking abroad, and it behoves every +white man to be extra careful.’ + +‘Suppose they were to hurt Maraquita,’ suggested Lizzie, with a +shudder. ‘She is not a favourite amongst them, poor child, I know.’ + +‘And will be none the more for having married the Governor; for +the coloured population have taken a strong dislike to Sir Russell +Johnstone, as the discovered plots against Government House plainly +show. However, she will have every protection that the military forces +can give her, and you have _none_. It is of _you_ that I am thinking, +Lizzie. I wish I could persuade you to leave this bungalow, and go and +stay in the Fort till the danger is over.’ + +‘Oh, dear no! That is quite impossible. What, run away from my +patients, and leave them to die, for fear lest some of the men amongst +whom I have grown up might turn against me? Captain Norris, you +cannot think what you are asking me. Indeed, I have no fear--not the +slightest. These coolies love me--I know they do--and would die for me +sooner than harm a hair of my head.’ + +‘Perhaps so, Lizzie; though I have not much faith in any coloured +people. But you have the coolies of other plantations to guard against. +They do not confine their attacks to their employers’ property. If the +hands on Miners’ Gulch or Sans Souci, or any other estate, were to +rise, they might make a raid on Beauregard. Now, do you understand the +danger you may be in?’ + +‘Yes,’ replied Lizzie thoughtfully; ‘I had not considered that. I will +ask Mr Courtney if old Peter or William Hall may sleep at the bungalow +for the future, though I do not think they will be much protection. But +I am not afraid,--indeed I am not.’ + +‘You are the most courageous woman I have ever met,’ replied Captain +Norris. ‘I don’t believe you are afraid of anything.’ + +‘Except of injuring those who have been good to me,’ she said, somewhat +timidly. ‘Captain Norris, there is something on my mind that I feel +bound to mention to you. My name is not Fellows, and I don’t know what +my real name is.’ + +‘Are you not the Doctor’s daughter, then?’ he demanded, in surprise. + +‘Oh, yes, and though it may astonish you hereafter to remember I said +so, I would not give up the knowledge that I am his daughter for all +the world. Poor father! He was so unhappy, so unfortunate, so erring. +His soul was purified like that of an angel by the suffering he passed +through.’ + +‘Pardon me, Lizzie, but did I hear aright when you said your father was +_erring_?’ + +‘Yes, Captain Norris, erring beyond the generality of men. I should +not have mentioned it to you, except for the kind sentiments you have +expressed towards me this evening, and which make me feel that, before +they go further, you have a right to know all. The week before he died, +my father made a communication to me which I had never heard before, +and which he forbade me to repeat during his lifetime. His death has, +of course, released me from that duty, and I am sure that he would +have wished you, of all men, to be acquainted with the truth. But I +am afraid that it will shock you terribly, Captain Norris, to hear +that my poor father was a criminal in hiding from the law, and, except +for the goodness of Mr Courtney, he would have suffered the penalty of +transportation. This was the secret of the great friendship between +them, and why my father changed his name, to prevent his retreat from +being discovered.’ + +‘And yet Mr Courtney remained his friend to his life’s end. How good a +man your father must have been, Lizzie (but for this youthful error), +that his conduct had no power to separate him from the person who knew +and loved him best.’ + +‘Ah, that is how _I_ look at it!’ cried Lizzie, seizing his hand, and +bursting into tears; ‘but I hardly expected to hear so generous a +judgment from _your_ lips. If suffering, and repentance, and a desire +to make amendment, can atone for a man’s sin, I believe my poor father +fully expiated his. He was an exile from all his relations, and lived +under an assumed name, with no one but myself for a companion, and his +profession for occupation. I am not aware if I sprung from the gutter, +or came of a decent family. All I know is that I am called Elizabeth +Fellows, and that, although guiltless myself, I am not a fit wife for +any honest or honourable man.’ + +‘You shall not speak to me like that,’ exclaimed Hugh Norris +indignantly, ‘for it is not true! You are fit, in your own sweet self, +to mate with the best man that ever lived; and I consider you as far +above me as the stars are above the earth. But I think you should +ascertain your real name, and who your relations are. Your father is +gone, Lizzie. The discovery can never hurt him now, and there is no +saying how much benefit it may prove to you. Cannot Mr Courtney give +you the necessary information?’ + +‘I believe he can, but I have shrunk from asking him. This terrible +scandal about me--’ + +‘Don’t let that prevent you. Be your own brave self, and meet the +calumny as it deserves. Take my advice, Lizzie, and demand an +explanation from Mr Courtney as soon as possible. Life is uncertain, +you know, and he might die before you have ascertained the truth about +yourself. Then you might never hear it.’ + +‘He will be surprised to find me asking questions about which I have +shown no curiosity for so many years. He will wonder what can have put +it into my head.’ + +Hugh Norris drew nearer to her, and seized her hand. + +‘Say you are engaged to be married to me, and that you consider I have +a right to know everything concerning yourself.’ + +‘But that would not be true.’ + +‘Make it true, then. It lies with you to do so.’ + +‘No, Captain Norris,’ she replied gently, withdrawing her hand from +his. ‘I cannot--at least just yet. Give me a little time to recover +myself. Remember that but a few weeks back I considered myself +betrothed to Monsieur de Courcelles.’ + +‘And you love him still,’ he answered roughly, in his disappointment. + +‘No, no, I do _not_! I despise him for his falsehood and treachery, +and for his despicable conduct in trying to evade the consequences of +his own fault, at the expense of the character of the woman he once +professed to love. If there were not another man in all the world, I +would never place myself again under the yoke of Henri de Courcelles. +But to engage myself so soon to you--it would be hardly decent.’ + +‘Have your own way then,’ replied Hugh Norris, as he rose from his +seat, and took his cap in his hand. ‘I have asked you for the third +time, and failed. I shall begin to disbelieve in my good luck. It +evidently doesn’t lie in an uneven number.’ + +‘There are such slight intervals between your askings,’ said Lizzie, +laughing. But she ceased to laugh when she found herself alone. + +The honest, disinterested love of Hugh Norris was beginning to work +its way into her heart, and heal the wounds made by the other’s +defalcation. She would have liked to call him back and tell him that +she would follow the dictates of her feelings, and give him his answer +at once, without any regard to the dictum of the world; but womanly +pride prevented her doing so. She was terribly afraid, also, of being +deceived a second time. The scalded dog fears cold water, and though +her sense told her that Hugh Norris’s character and disposition were +utterly different from those of Henri de Courcelles, she dreaded +making another mistake, and finding out, when too late, that they were +unsuited to each other. His summary departure had the effect, however, +of causing her a sleepless night, and as soon as the sun was up the +following morning, she found her way to Mr Courtney’s office. + +‘Well, Lizzie,’ said the planter kindly, ‘and so you wouldn’t join our +festivities yesterday. It was a grand sight, though, and you would have +enjoyed it; and I missed you several times during the breakfast, I can +tell you.’ + +‘You have always been too kind to me, Mr Courtney; but you know +my reasons for not being with you. No one wishes Quita health and +happiness more than I do, and every sort of prosperity; but I was +better at home. Besides, I don’t think I could have come, under any +circumstances,’ continued Lizzie, smiling, ‘for do you know we had two +new arrivals on the plantation yesterday? Chloe, the mulatto, and Aunt +Jane, William Hall’s wife, both had daughters during the forenoon, and +both are determined to call them “Maraquita,” in honour of the wedding. +I did laugh so to see the two black woolly-headed little Maraquitas; +but the proud mothers saw nothing incongruous in the idea.’ + +‘Naturally,’ replied Mr Courtney, joining in the smile. ‘And what is +the plantation health report to-day?’ + +‘Very good! I have only two cases of fever left, and they are both +convalescent. The negro boy, Dickey, broke his arm whilst climbing +trees to see the fireworks last night--but it’s a simple fracture; +and I have a few children down with infantile cholera, but nothing +dangerous.’ + +‘That’s well. And can I do anything for you, Lizzie? Any orders wanted +for medicines, or other necessaries?’ + +‘No, sir; I have everything I require. But I came up this morning +chiefly to ask you a favour, Mr Courtney. I want you to tell me +everything you may know concerning my father and his family.’ + +The planter pushed his chair back, and regarded her with surprise. + +‘About your father’s family?’ he echoed. ‘But why should you imagine +that I know more than yourself?’ + +‘Oh, you need attempt no concealment with me, sir. I appreciate the +generosity of your motive, but my father himself has rendered it +unnecessary. A few days before he was taken from us, he related to me +the history of his life, and the reason why he lived a pensioner on +your goodness at Beauregard, instead of taking his place in the world +and society, like other men. Also that he passed under an assumed name, +from fear of the law; but he did not tell me what my real name is, and +I wish to know.’ + +‘But to what purpose, Lizzie? What good will it do?’ + +‘I have not even thought of that, sir; but if it brought evil in its +train, I should still ask for the information. For since my father +told me that Fellows is not my own name, I seem to have lost my +individuality, and to be some one else. When I hear it spoken, I don’t +feel as if I had the right to answer; and in fact, Mr Courtney, I beg +of you to satisfy my curiosity in this particular.’ + +‘Well, Lizzie, you are a woman, and if you have made up your mind on +this subject, you shall be gratified; but I would ask you to think +again first. I don’t believe the information will make you happier. +What is the use of belonging to a family who will not own you? Your +poor father’s relations all turned against him, and will do the same by +his daughter. It was that they might never have the power to insult +him again, that he took the name of Fellows.’ + +‘So he told me, sir; and also of the crime he committed against you, +and of the generosity with which you forgave it. I feel (and I told him +so) that after that, my life and all I hold dearest in the world should +be at your disposal; and I will sink my personality in the future, as I +have done in the past, if you wish me to do so.’ + +‘No, no! my dear girl, I don’t consider I have any right to dictate +to you on the subject; and since you desire to know your name, I will +tell it you. You are Elizabeth Ruthin, the granddaughter of General Sir +William and Lady Ruthin of Aberdare in Scotland. Your dear father’s +name was Herbert Ruthin. He was the second son, the eldest, I believe, +is in the army. He has already told you (you say) of the sad event +which brought us together. He was my dearest friend in youth, and to +the day of his death; but he was extravagant and thoughtless, and +hardly thought of the gravity of the act he was committing.’ + +‘That is _your_ kind way of putting it,’ said Lizzie. ‘My father did +not exonerate himself after that fashion, sir. He saw his fault in its +true light. But my mother’s name--what was that?’ + +‘Alice Stevens. She was the daughter of a clergyman, and a very sweet +woman, I believe; but she died so early, that I saw but little of her. +Have you any more questions to ask me, Lizzie?’ + +‘Only, have you any papers to prove what you tell me, Mr Courtney?’ + +‘What a practical young woman you are. Yes, I have. I loved your dear +father with almost a romantic attachment, and I have kept all the +letters that passed between us as young men, that is, when he was +practically living at home on Sir William Ruthin’s estate of Aberdare, +but going backward and forward to pursue his studies at Edinburgh. His +frequent mention of his home life, and every one connected with it, is +sufficient proof of his identity.’ + +‘And may I have those letters, sir?’ + +‘Certainly, if you wish it; and, now I come to think of it, they should +be in your possession, in case of anything happening unexpectedly to +me.’ + +Mr Courtney rose as he spoke, and unlocking an iron safe, placed a +packet of letters, endorsed ‘Correspondence with my friend H. Ruthin,’ +in her hand. + +‘And now, Lizzie, what will you do with them?’ he added. ‘Shall you +go post-haste to England by the next steamer, and lay claim to your +father’s property?’ + +‘Oh, sir, don’t laugh at me! Remember that a felon’s daughter has no +rights.’ + +‘Lizzie, you shall not use that term of your late father in my +presence!’ + +‘It is what he called himself, sir,--what, doubtless, his people call +him to this day, if ever they mention his name. Are my grandparents +living, Mr Courtney?’ + +‘I believe so, my dear, and a very nice couple they were, though I have +heard this trouble was an awful blow to their pride. Scotch pride too. +There’s nothing like it. But Lady Ruthin loved her son Herbert dearly +in the olden days. I wonder if she ever mourns for him now?’ + +‘Can time wear out a mother’s love?’ said Lizzie. ‘And my poor father +was so loveable and affectionate. I cannot believe sometimes that he +was capable of so base a sin as ingratitude.’ + +‘Don’t believe it, my dear! It is all over and past now. Think only +of him as one of God’s regenerated children. And if he erred in that +respect, his mantle has not fallen on his daughter, for you have repaid +any kindnesses we may have shown you, twofold.’ + +‘I have tried to do so,’ replied Lizzie, in a faltering voice, as, with +the packet of letters in her hand, she passed quickly from the office +on her way home. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +A few days later, Hugh Norris rushed unexpectedly into Lizzie’s +presence. + +‘I have come to wish you good-bye!’ he exclaimed, in a voice of +distress. ‘I have received orders this morning which compel me to sail +at once; and as the _Trevelyan’s_ repairs are complete, I have no +possible excuse for disobedience.’ + +Lizzie changed colour slightly as she heard the news, but she answered +quietly,-- + +‘And I am sure that, under any circumstances, you would make none. Have +you not often told me that a sailor’s first duty is towards his ship?’ + +‘Ah, yes; that is all very well in theory,’ he said, with a rueful +look, ‘but you cannot know what I feel at leaving you alone, Lizzie, at +this anxious time.’ + +‘I shall be safe enough, my dear friend, so have no fears for me. When +do you sail?’ + +‘With the tide this evening, and hardly know how I shall get through +all my work by that time. I didn’t expect to get off for another week.’ + +‘Then I mustn’t detain you, Captain Norris; though it was good of you +to think of me at the last.’ + +‘Of whom else should I think? I shall not be away long this time, +Lizzie. I only go to England and back. A couple of months may see me +here again. What can I do for you there?’ + +‘Nothing, thanks. I have no commissions for you.’ + +‘Have you spoken to Mr Courtney yet on the subject of your family?’ + +Lizzie started. + +‘Oh, yes; and that reminds me that I have some letters I want to show +you. Wait a moment Captain Norris, whilst I fetch them--’ + +‘Missy Liz! Missy Liz!’ piped a shrill little voice at the open door. + +‘What is it, Pete?’ she asked of a negro boy, whose dusky face was +anxiously peering in upon them. + +‘Oh, Missy Liz, please come quick to Mammy Chloe’s baby! That’s kinder +sick; taken drefful, with its eyes turned up so, and its body quite +stiff like a piece of wood!’ + +‘_Convulsions!_’ exclaimed Lizzie, as she threw the packet of letters +she had just taken from her desk across the table, and put her hat upon +her head. ‘Captain Norris, I _must_ go. Read those whilst I am gone.’ + +‘But I cannot stay till you come back, Lizzie. Each moment is precious +to me. Give me five minutes more.’ + +‘I dare not. This is a new-born infant, and a matter of life and death. +God bless you, and good-bye!’ + +He had only time to wring her hand, when she darted from the house. He +watched her figure running swiftly towards the negroes’ quarters, and +then returned to the shaded apartment, with a deep sigh. What interest +had he then in the packet of letters she had left him to peruse? +Lizzie was gone. He should not see her again, perhaps for months, +and the world seemed to be a blank without her. In the hope of her +speedy return, he sat down for a few minutes more, and mechanically +drew the letters towards him. But as his eye fell upon the written +words his countenance changed, and his expression became one of the +deepest interest. He hastily scanned through the letters, making sundry +notes as he did so, and then, with a long low whistle, he tied the +envelopes together again, and, laying them upon Lizzie’s desk, walked +to the window to watch for some token of her return. None came. The +Indian sun was blazing in all its splendour on the tropical leaves and +flowers, the pathway to the coolies’ huts was one long line of white +dust glittering like golden sand; but not a sound could be heard but +the far-off hum of the workers in the cotton fields, not a living +creature to be seen but Rosa in the shaded verandah, with Maraquita’s +child slumbering on her knees, and an aged negro, long past work, who +was warming his stiffened limbs in the sunshine. Hugh Norris watched +impatiently for a few minutes from the open door, and then, with a +rapid glance at his watch, and a deep sigh, he unwillingly prepared to +leave the bungalow. + +‘Be a good girl to your mistress, Rosa,’ he said, as he passed the +yellow girl; ‘take great care of her and the baby, and I’ll bring you a +beautiful string of beads when I come back from England.’ + +‘Tank you, sar,’ replied Rosa. ‘I’ll be berry good all time you away; +and I’d like a nice shawl too, sar.’ + +‘Well, you’re not bashful, Rosa,’ replied Hugh Norris, laughing; ‘but +you shall have the shawl too, if you’ll keep your promise. And if there +should be any trouble on the plantation--you know what I mean--take +Missy Lizzie up to the White House at once, and don’t mind what she +says about staying here.’ + +‘I understand, sar; but nebber you fear. De niggers on dis plantation +too good for dat. They lub Massa and Missus Courtney; and as for Missy +Liz, they die for her--dat’s jes’ so.’ + +Captain Norris gave a sigh of relief. + +‘I hope so, Rosa, and it makes me happier to hear you say it; but still +I am not easy. But take this and buy yourself a new gown; and remember, +when you wear it, that you have promised me to be faithful.’ + +He thrust a five-dollar note into her hand as he spoke, and with one +yearning look in the direction of the negro quarters, walked rapidly +away towards the town. Rosa rolled her eyes with delight at the feel of +the five-dollar note. + +‘_He_ gone ’coon too,’ she thought, with a sapient air; ‘dar’s another +what Missy Liz have done for. And she’s so quiet all de time. Dat’s +what beats me. ’Pears as if she didn’t care if they _was_ “gone” or +not. Wall, if dey all gib me five-dollar notes, I wish there was a +thousand of them.’ + +Meanwhile, Lizzie was kneeling down beside Mammy Chloe’s straw +mattress, putting the poor little black baby into hot baths, and +watching by it as tenderly as if it had been a princess of the blood +royal, until the attack of convulsions had ceased, and it was sleeping +peacefully on its mother’s breast again. + +‘Dar now, dat’s jes’ wonderful!’ exclaimed the crowd of dusky mortals, +who had anxiously watched her proceedings, ‘dat babby jes’ dyin’, +’pears as though death was in its face, and its body cold and stiff +a’ready, and Missy Liz comes ’long and touches it, and it’s as well as +ever in half an hour. Missy Liz, you _too_ clever! You like de Lord, +Who touches with little finger, and ebberybody well again. You jes’ +white angel, Missy Liz--no mistake about dat.’ + +‘My dear friends, you make too much of my poor services for you. You +could all do nearly as much for yourselves, if you would only let me +teach you. Mammy Chloe made her baby sick. She says she gave it some +sweet potato yesterday.’ + +‘Only tiny leetel bit, Missy Liz, out ob my own mouth!’ cried the +mother. + +‘However little it was, Chloe, it was too much for a baby of three days +old. How often must I tell you to give your little infants nothing +but the breast? Your baby is safe again now, but if you feed her with +potatoes, and rice, and bread, she will have another fit, and next time +I may be able to do nothing for her.’ + +Hereupon rose a chorus of dissentient voices. + +‘Oh, Missy Liz, how you saying dat? You can cure ebberyting, Missy Liz. +You mended Dicky’s arm, and cured old Jake’s rheumatiz, and bringed de +life back to Clairey, when she fell into de water, and was dead.’ + +‘No, no!’ disclaimed Lizzie, laughing, ‘she wasn’t _dead_, Betsy. I +can’t go as far as to bring the dead to life again.’ + +‘B’lieve you could, Missy Liz, if you tried, for you’se jes’ wonderful +all round; and de niggers nebber had a better friend--dat’s so.’ + +‘Ay, Massa Courcelles say dat last night, Auntie Bell. He say Massa +Courtney and de other planters dam bad trash, and better out ob de way; +but nobody must hurt Missy Liz, because she’s de niggers’ friend, and +lub ’em jes’ like herself.’ + +‘_Monsieur de Courcelles!_’ echoed Lizzie, thinking the negress had +made some mistake. ‘How could he have said that last night? He is not +in San Diego.’ + +‘Massa Courcelles not in San Diego?’ repeated the shrill voice of +Betsy. ‘Oh, Missy Liz, who tell you dat ar lie? Massa Courcelles nebber +leave de plantation yet. He’s living up at old Josh’s shanty, t’other +side of de avenue, and he comes along of evenings, and talks to us all +of our troubles.’ + +Lizzie’s brow flushed darkly. What could be the meaning of Henri de +Courcelles hiding himself on Beauregard? For what reason was he hanging +about the plantation, and mixing familiarly with the people whom he +professed to abhor? + +‘And what troubles have you that you can confide to a gentleman’s ears, +Betsy?’ she demanded reprovingly. ‘Monsieur de Courcelles was not so +kind to you whilst he was your overseer, that you should expect to +find a friend in him now. There is some deeper meaning, I am afraid, +in his pretended interest in you, than that of making your life more +comfortable.’ + +‘You may well say that, Miss Lizzie!’ cried Jerusha, who was standing +in the crowd, with her baby in her arms. ‘Dat man nebber sorry for +nobody but himself. What he care if our work is hard, or our backs ache +wid de sun, or our huts is dark, or de food common? Did he care when +_my_ back was bowed wid pain, and my head wid shame, and I couldn’t +hardly stand upon my legs? Didn’t he strike me and my poor leetle boy, +and say, “D--n you! Go hell! I make you work like a dog”?’ + +‘Hush, hush, Jerusha!’ exclaimed Lizzie, as she rose and placed her +hand kindly on the shoulder of the excited coolie. ‘I know you have had +your troubles, my poor girl. I know Monsieur de Courcelles has wronged +you terribly, but you must try to be patient, and forgive, as--as--we +all have to do sometimes.’ + +But Jerusha shook the compassionating touch off her. + +‘No, Missy Liz,’ she said loudly, ‘I _can’t_ forgive. If he had given +me one kind word, I’se have worked for him to my last day, and been +glad only to see him well and happy; but he’s bad all through, to de +very core. He wrong more dan me. Ah, I know plenty tings people not +thinking! and now he come and ’cite dese niggers to revenge demselves, +and send all de planters out of de island, and keep de fields for dere +own use. Dat his way of “paying out” somebody, Missy Liz. But _I_ know +him and his dark ways, and if dese people rise ’gainst de planters, +Massa Courcelles shall be de first to go, if I kill him with my own +hand.’ + +‘_Rise!_’ cried Lizzie indignantly. ‘Surely, after all the kindness +they have experienced from Mr and Mrs Courtney, there is no one on this +plantation so wicked as to dream of rising. What should they do it +for? What more can they desire than they already possess? There are +no hands on the island more looked after and cared for than those on +Beauregard.’ + +‘I dunno dat,’ chimed in a discontented voice. ‘San Souci niggers gets +a tot of rum ebery night, and a quarter of a pound more meat than _we_ +do.’ + +‘Who said that?’ exclaimed Lizzie quickly, turning round. ‘Ah, it was +_you_, Aunt Sally! That’s a nice grateful thing to say, when you were +down with fever three weeks this year, and received your wages all the +same, though you couldn’t do a stroke of work. That’s the best return +you can make, is it? And you know why the San Souci hands get extra +rations well enough,--because the plantation is so near the swamp, and +so unhealthy in consequence, that they are half their time down with +fever and ague. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, to set such a bad +example to the others.’ + +‘I only repeating what Massa Courcelles say,’ replied Aunt Sally +sulkily. + +‘Then Monsieur de Courcelles should be ashamed of himself. I have no +hesitation in saying it,’ continued Lizzie warmly. ‘I have been brought +up amongst you all since I was a little child, and I am a witness to +the kind and indulgent treatment you have received from your employers. +Mr Courtney has never spared money or trouble to make his hands +comfortable and happy, and if you have ever had any cause of complaint, +it has been against this very man who is inciting you now to feel +rebellious and ungrateful!’ + +‘De oberseer only act on de Massa’s orders,’ grumbled Aunt Sally again. + +‘It is not true!’ cried Lizzie indignantly. ‘Mr Courtney never ordered +Monsieur de Courcelles to do anything that was cruel or unjust. He left +a great deal of power in his hands, because he believed him to be a +good man, and worthy of his trust; but he found out his mistake, and +that is why he has been sent away.’ + +‘Missy Liz speaks God’s truth,’ exclaimed Jerusha, ‘and you niggers +know she do! What hasn’t dat man done to us? Didn’t he starve old Jakes +for three days ’cause he not clean horse proper? and didn’t he strike +Aunt Hannah ’cross de face with his whip, and make de ’sypelas come +out? Didn’t he take me up to his bungalow, and tell me I lib dere all +my life, and den kick me out like a dog ’cause I got a poor leetel +baby? Haven’t you niggers said, times out of mind, you’d like to kill +him for all he done, and that it was only ’cause Missy Liz like him +dat he wasn’t dead long ago? If you says “No” now, den you’se all +liars, and a lot of trash dat is afraid to stick to your own words.’ + +‘Jerusha is right,’ said Lizzie. ‘You were all afraid of Monsieur de +Courcelles, and spoke against him, whilst he was your overseer; but now +that he has no authority over you, you allow his specious tongue to +lead your minds astray. My dear friends, be warned in time. Monsieur de +Courcelles has no right to be on this plantation at all, and he only +comes here for a bad purpose. You mustn’t listen to him. I am sorry +to say it before you, but he is not a good man. I loved him once very +dearly,’ continued Lizzie, with a great effort, and her cheeks dyed +crimson, ‘and believed him to be all that was upright and honourable, +but I found out I was wrong, as you will find out you are wrong, when +it may be too late. Do you know that I have but to go to Mr Courtney, +and inform him of the mutinous ideas you are openly expressing, to have +you put into prison? And the new Governor is very strict, as you may +have heard, and makes an example of all rebels. He is determined to +crush the feeling of mutiny out of San Diego, whatever it may cost.’ + +‘Perhaps Gubnor get crushed hisself,’ suggested Betsy sullenly. + +‘Don’t talk nonsense!’ cried Lizzie sharply. ‘What could a handful of +coloured people do against the military forces? You would all be shot +down and killed, before you knew where you were.’ + +She spoke boldly and decisively, but her heart was sinking all the +while. If the negro population of the island rose _en masse_, the +slaughter might be terrible before peace could be restored amongst +them. She thought of her benefactors the Courtneys, of poor heedless +Maraquita and the kind-hearted Governor,--a little too of herself, and +shuddered. And Henri de Courcelles also. Would he not be overwhelmed +by the storm he was taking such pains to raise? At all risks, she said +to herself, she would see him, and warn him of the danger he ran in +turning against his late employers. + +‘Which of you has been listening to Monsieur de Courcelles’ +inflammatory talk?’ she asked presently, as she looked round upon the +women. + +‘All of us,’ answered Aunt Sally. ‘He come down to our huts of +evenings, and sit dere, and tell us how Massa Courtney treat him wuss +den nigger, and how we’se free coloured people, and should stan’ no +nonsense.’ + +‘He is worse than I thought him,’ said Lizzie. ‘He must stop it at +once, or I shall inform Mr Courtney, and have him turned off the +premises.’ + +‘_Kill him_, Missy Liz, _kill him_!’ hissed Jerusha, between her +clenched teeth; ‘dat is de only way to crush de rattlesnake.’ + +‘Don’t speak like that, Jerusha. It is wicked, and you do not mean it.’ + +But the Indian girl _did_ mean it all the same. + +‘Where did you say that Monsieur de Courcelles was staying, Betsy?’ +inquired Lizzie, a few moments after. + +‘At Uncle Josh’s shanty, t’other side of avenue. He mayn’t be dere now, +Missy Liz, but he sleeps dere ob nights.’ + +‘If de door would fasten, I’d set fire to dat rotten shanty, before +anoder moon,’ remarked Jerusha. + +‘Well, I must leave you now,’ said the Doctor’s daughter, with a deep +sigh; ‘but remember what I say. The next time I hear any talk like this +of to-day, I shall go straight to Mr Courtney, and ask him to dismiss +the whole lot of you. Then you will starve without any work to do, and +will be sorry you left your comfortable huts, and kind employers, at +the instigation of a villain.’ + +‘Massa Courtney starve too when he got no coolies to pick cotton and +rice for him,’ muttered some one in the crowd. + +Lizzie saw plainly that the disaffection had spread too effectually +to be quenched by her single arguments, and so she left them, and, +wrapped in thought, walked leisurely away from the coolie quarters. +Her first step, she felt, must be to see Henri de Courcelles, and with +that intention she directed her feet towards Uncle Josh’s shanty, +which stood somewhat apart from the rest. The sun was now high in the +heavens, and no European was abroad who could rest at home. Lizzie’s +broad-brimmed hat and white umbrella sheltered her sufficiently in the +shady plantation, but she would not have ventured out, except at the +call of duty, at so late an hour in the morning, and so she firmly +calculated on finding Monsieur de Courcelles within the hut. She was +not disappointed. Old Uncle Josh, who was an aged negro almost past +work, and only kept to do light jobs about the garden and stables, +came to the door with much caution to answer Lizzie’s knock for +admittance, and was about to declare that he knew nothing of Monsieur +de Courcelles, when a voice from within called out to him to admit +the lady, and not make a d--d fool of himself. So Lizzie passed in, +and found herself face to face with the man she had believed to be +hundreds of miles away. + +‘Monsieur,’ she commenced hurriedly, ‘I should not be here, except that +I have something of the utmost importance to say to you. You must send +this man away, so that he may not hear us.’ + +‘Go up to the plantation, Uncle Josh, or anywhere you like, and don’t +come back for an hour,’ said De Courcelles, in a voice of authority; +and the old negro nodded in acquiescence, and shambled off. + +‘Are you sure he is safe?’ demanded Lizzie, as the man disappeared. + +‘Safe as death! I have him under my thumb,’ was the confident reply. +‘And now, what can you have to say to me, Lizzie? After our last +parting, I hardly expected you would seek me out of your own accord.’ + +‘Neither should I have done so, except that the welfare of those I +love more than myself is at stake. Monsieur, why are you still on the +plantation of Beauregard?’ + +‘I think that is _my_ business sooner than yours.’ + +‘Indeed it is my business,--the business of every one who regards +the Courtneys as benefactors. Your presence here can be for no good +purpose. It spells ruin and devastation for them. By your false +arguments you are inciting these ignorant coloured people to rebel; you +are making them discontented--not to say bloodthirsty; and the upshot +of your evil counsel will be a mutiny, that will involve their own +downfall with those of their employers, and, perhaps, lead to murder +and rapine.’ + +‘And what do I care if it does? It will be no more than they deserve.’ + +‘Oh, Henri, you cannot think what you are saying! Surely you would +never be so wicked! What have the Courtneys done to make you so +revengeful? They were always the kindest of patrons to you, until this +unhappy business occurred with Maraquita. And even to the last they +were both just and generous. How can you find it in your heart to +injure them?’ + +‘They are Maraquita’s parents,’ he answered gloomily. + +‘And would you avenge her falsehood--her broken faith--upon them? +Monsieur, that is not like yourself! It is unworthy of any one calling +himself a man.’ + +‘What right had they to turn me off Beauregard, then? It was only done +to shield _her_, because they suspect the truth, and are afraid I might +prove a dangerous rival. _She_ marries the Governor of San Diego, +and is lapped in luxury and comfort, whilst _I_ (who am morally her +husband) am sent adrift, like a rudderless boat, to toss anywhere on +the sea of life. But I’ll be even with her yet, and her bald-headed old +ape of a partner too.’ + +‘Henri, you must not speak like that,’ said Lizzie firmly. ‘I feel +for your disappointment--indeed I do; it must be a bitterly hard +one; but to try and revenge yourself in this manner is a cowardly +and wicked thing. The feeling of disaffection is rife enough in the +island, without your adding to it. I beg--I pray of you to leave the +plantation, and not return. You have no right here, and if you remain, +I shall consider it my duty to inform Mr Courtney; and you know how +painful it would be for me to say anything to him against you. Henri, +for the sake of old times, do as I ask you.’ + +‘You are a good woman, Lizzie--I have always maintained that--and, if +you wish it, I will go. But, mind you, my departure will not stop the +rising mutiny, any more than my remaining here hatched it into life. +The native population is ripe for rebellion, and it is only now a +question of weeks--perhaps days--before they burst into open revolt. I +am glad I have seen you, to warn you against it. The coolies will not +harm you, I am sure--they love and reverence you too much--but they may +frighten you, and I should wish to prevent even that. But as for the +rest--well! I shall not be satisfied till I see the White House and +Government House in ashes, and their owners weltering in their blood!’ + +The expression of his face was so murderous as he spoke, that Lizzie +fairly screamed,-- + +‘Oh, Henri, Henri, surely you are _not_ in earnest! You would never +countenance nor encourage so horrible an idea! You would save those who +have been good to you--whom you once believed you loved--at the risk of +your own life! Tell me it is the truth, for I will never leave you till +you acknowledge it.’ + +Henri de Courcelles seized her two hands in a grip of iron, and drew +her towards him, until their faces nearly touched each other. + +‘Lizzie Fellows,’ he exclaimed roughly, to hide his emotion, ‘if I +could have gone on loving you, if that heartless jade had not come +between us with her mock innocence and her fatal beauty and blinded my +eyes to your superior virtues, I should have been a happier and better +man to-day. But now, I know it is too late. You have ceased to love me, +and I shall never again be able to lay any claim to your hand.’ + +‘But I have not ceased to care if you are a good man or a bad one, +Henri,’ she answered, through her tears; ‘and I entreat you now, by +your memory of the past, to do what I ask you, and leave Beauregard.’ + +‘I _will_, because you ask me; but, as I have already told you, it +will not make the difference you imagine. I could no more stay the +progress of this mutiny now, than I could single-handed quench the fire +of a burning city. It has gone too far for that. Besides, I have no +desire to do so. My heart thirsts for revenge, and I shall only quit +Beauregard to join another set of rebels, and perhaps a more dangerous +one.’ + +‘Henri, cannot I persuade you to give up that madness also?’ + +‘No, Lizzie, the time is past. Maraquita’s falsehood has made me +reckless, and I only live now to one end,--to see her punished as she +deserves.’ + +‘Leave her to Heaven, Henri. Do you think her infidelity will not be +its own punishment? How many nights will she lie awake, poor child, +wanting your love, wanting _mine_, which used, at one time, to make +all her happiness? How often will her heart yearn--for Quita _has_ a +heart, Henri, though it is choked up with vanity and love of self--for +the days she spent with us,--for the poor little innocent she has left +behind her? Ah, neither you nor I can measure the pain which remorse +will bring her!’ + +‘Don’t you believe it. You judge her by yourself, and your sex is the +only likeness between you. She is all bad, Lizzie, false from head to +foot, and the sooner the world is rid of her, the better.’ + +‘And are _you_ the one who should be her judge?’ replied Lizzie +mournfully; ‘can you bring clean hands into court, Henri, with which to +condemn her? No, I am not alluding to myself. It was not your fault, +perhaps, if you found upon a closer acquaintance that you could not +love me as you once imagined; but what of Jerusha--the poor little +coolie girl with whom you were carrying on a pretension of affection +at the same time that you were deceiving Maraquita? How can you find it +in your heart to contemplate revenge on her for an error of which you +were guilty yourself?’ + +‘You women don’t understand these things, Lizzie. No one but a little +fool like Jerusha would have believed for a moment that I was in +earnest, or that such an irregular business could possibly last more +than a few months.’ + +‘Yet Jerusha vows to have her revenge on you, as warmly as you do to +have yours on Maraquita.’ + +At this piece of intelligence, Henri de Courcelles changed colour. + +‘If that is the case, your advice has not come too soon. These coolies +are the very devil to stick to an idea if they once get it in their +head, and I shall wake up some night, perhaps, to find Miss Jerusha’s +fingers at my throat, if I don’t clear out. Curse the little jade! +She’s been more trouble to me than she’s worth.’ + +‘And may be the occasion of more yet,’ replied Lizzie, who saw the way, +by taking advantage of his fear, to make him hold to his purpose. ‘She +is dead set against you, Henri--I am witness to that--and constantly +speaking of her wrongs to the rest. She swears she will have your life +some way or other; and for that reason only, I think it would be much +wiser of you to leave the plantation. She is quite capable indeed of +betraying you to Mr Courtney; and such a proceeding might lead to your +arrest, on a suspicion of felonious purposes. Now, do you see the +danger you are in?’ + +‘Indeed I do, and I shall not sleep another night on Beauregard: you +may take my word for that. Indeed, when I come to think of it, I cannot +imagine how I can have been such a fool as to run the risk for so long. +There are plenty of places in San Diego where I can be safer, and bide +my time for my revenge.’ + +‘Do more, whilst you are about it, Henri. Leave San Diego altogether, +and your idea of revenge behind you. It will never make you any +happier, and it may cast a haunting regret over all your future. And +you are still young. There is perhaps a happy life looming for you in +the distance, if you will try and forget the failure of your youth.’ + +‘No, Lizzie; you speak to deaf ears. I will fulfil your wish, and leave +this place. Be satisfied with that, and when I am gone, forget all +about me. I was never worthy to kiss even the hem of your garment, and +my darkest shame will ever be that I permitted you to waste a single +thought upon me. Goodbye, my dear. Don’t stay here any longer, for your +presence, and the memories it brings with it, unman and make a coward +of me. By this time to-morrow I shall have left Beauregard for ever.’ + +‘Thank Heaven for that,’ replied Lizzie, as she obeyed his request, and +left the hut. + +Her mind was not wholly at ease concerning him, because she saw that he +was doggedly bent upon having his own way; but she had, at all events, +succeeded in scaring him off the property of her benefactors, and +trusted that when his evil influence was removed from them, the hands +of Beauregard would return to their former condition of obedience and +contentment. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Lizzie had guessed correctly when she said that Maraquita’s infidelity +would prove its own punishment. The honeymoon at Santa Lucia was not +a very satisfactory one, at least for the bride. So long as the day +endured, and Quita’s frivolous soul could be gorged on flattery, and +the servile congratulations paid her by her husband’s guests, she was +contented with her lot, and disposed to believe it would turn out all +she had prognosticated for herself. To feel she was the woman of most +importance in the island, and that she had horses and carriages, and +servants at her command, and that a military guard accompanied her +wherever she went, and everybody turned to gaze after her, and said to +one another, ‘There goes the Governor’s bride,’ was quite sufficient +to inflate her foolish little heart with pride, and make her forget, +for the time being, the penalty attached to it all. But one cannot pass +one’s entire life in public, and when the hours of domestic happiness +arrived, they were very trying. _Then_, if she had had a handsome +young husband suited to herself in age and disposition waiting on her +every look and smile while he whispered words of love in her ear, how +delighted would Maraquita have been to fly to the sacred recesses of +her own apartments, and shut the world and its hollow compliments +outside. But now such moments became torture. Sir Russell had been +sufficiently trying as a lover, but as a husband he became simply +unendurable. His middle-aged ecstasies over his new possession, his +fussy attentions, his twaddling conversation about things and people of +which she had never heard, soon bored his young wife to extinction. And +he was not slow to find out that he did not interest her. He noted the +vacant look, the wandering attention, the deep sighs that occasionally +interrupted their intercourse, and commenced to feel the first twinges +of jealousy, and to wonder if there had been any other admirer in the +background whom Lady Johnstone had not entirely forgotten. + +If he could only have read her thoughts as she sat by his side when +they were alone together, or lay for hours during the silent watches +of the night gazing open-eyed at the dark blue heaven with its myriad +clusters of stars, how unpleasantly satisfied he would have been. +It was at those times that the newly-made Lady Johnstone’s thoughts +returned to the past which she had so pertinaciously thrust from her, +and that she longed (with the contradiction of human nature) to be +able to take back again to her heart the fate which she had held in +her hand, without the moral courage to grasp it. It was then that the +glorious dark eyes of Henri de Courcelles seemed to gaze into her own +like twin stars, just as they used to look at those heavenly moments +when they sat together on the bench in the Oleander Thicket, and her +lover’s arms were folded closely round her, as though to shield her +from all harm. + +Henri de Courcelles had innumerable faults, but he had loved this girl +with all his heart, and, now that it was too late, Maraquita seemed +to realise it for the first time. There was another regret, too, that +intruded itself into her married life, a regret that seemed to grow +with the days, and assume such inconceivable proportions that she was +tempted to cry out that she could bear it no longer, but must at all +risks rush back to San Diego and see _her child_. Sometimes the unhappy +young mother would dream that the infant was dying, and wake up with +the tears upon her cheek; sometimes that it really belonged to Lizzie, +and she had lost the right to call it hers; and sometimes that she +held it to her heart, and was proud and fond of it like other mothers, +until she discovered it was a poisonous asp, stinging the bosom on +which it lay. Such thoughts and dreams were not good for the young +bride to indulge in, and she grew paler and thinner every day. Sir +Russell called in a doctor, who declared Lady Johnstone’s condition +to be due to weakness, consequent on her late attack of fever, and +advised her immediate return to San Diego, as possessing a higher and +more bracing air than Santa Lucia. Sir Russell sought his wife’s rooms, +all fuss and anxiety on account of her low spirits, and communicated +the medical man’s opinion to her. They had been married now for three +weeks, and the Governor had already come to the conclusion that a +domestic life was not all roses. He found his beautiful Maraquita +rather petulant at times, and disposed to have her own way. She was not +very affectionate either, and flouted his attempts at love-making in a +manner sufficient to cure the most ardent lover. He was disappointed +certainly; he had imagined women were more open to their husbands’ +advances; but, after all, he knew very little about the sex, and +was quite ready, as yet, to lay the failure at his own door. He was +not fit, he told himself, to be the companion of such an innocent, +guileless creature; she felt the difference between his society and +that she had left behind her. The position was new and strange to +her. She would be her own sweet self again when they returned to San +Diego and she was restored to her parents’ arms. The alacrity with +which Maraquita assented to his proposal to go home, confirmed his +sentiments upon the subject. It would have been somewhat of a shock to +him could he have read her thoughts on the occasion; but how few of +us could afford to read the mind of our dearest friend, without fear. +Maraquita’s face glowed, and her heart beat faster, as she pictured +herself settled at Government House. She would have a chance then of +seeing Lizzie again--perhaps of seeing Henri de Courcelles. Whilst +it lay in his power to deprive her of her promised dignity, she had +dreaded his presence, and hoped he was far away from San Diego; but +now that her position as Lady Johnstone was secure, and no one could +dethrone her, she began to crave for the excitement of seeing her lover +again. Weak and vacillating as she had been as Maraquita Courtney, +she was even worse as Lady Johnstone, for now her weakness threatened +to become a crime. Her depression of spirits and her feverish anxiety +were so patent, that the first time Mrs Courtney was alone with her +daughter, she taxed her with the change. + +‘Whatever is the matter with you, my dear child?’ she exclaimed; ‘you +don’t seem half so happy as I expected to see you. Here you are, the +Governor’s wife, and the lady of highest rank in San Diego, and yet +you seem quite melancholy. You don’t mean to tell me that you are +disappointed, or that your marriage has not proved all you expected it +to be?’ + +‘Oh, no, mamma! I suppose it’s all right! I’ve got the position and +the money, and no one can have been such a fool as to think I married +a bald-headed stupid old man like Sir Russell for anything else.’ + +Mrs Courtney lifted her hands and eyebrows in surprise. + +‘My dear! my dear! remember he’s the Governor!’ + +‘How can I forget it? Isn’t it dinned into my ears from sunrise to +sunset! Of course he’s the Governor! I am sure he need be, for he’s +very little else! But I’m afraid that fact is not sufficient for one’s +happiness.’ + +‘My darling, what more can you possibly want? A splendid house, and +number of servants, equipages, and horses, jewels, dresses, ornaments, +and the whole island at your feet! Why, I think you are the luckiest +girl I ever heard of.’ + +But her eloquence was interrupted by Maraquita flinging herself +headlong on a couch, and sobbing out,-- + +‘I’m not! I’m not! I’m as unhappy as I can be! I wish I had never +consented to give up my poor Henri! I dream of him every night!’ + +But at that confession, her mother’s attempt at consolation changed to +righteous scorn. + +‘Then you must be the wickedest girl alive, Maraquita! Dreaming of any +man but your husband, and not married a month yet! You ought to be +ashamed to mention such a thing, even to your mother! And that wretched +low-born overseer too--a half-caste Spaniard, with neither birth nor +money. I am utterly surprised at you!’ + +‘Mamma, you sha’n’t abuse him! He may be everything you say, but he’s +gloriously handsome; and he loved me, and I ought to have married him! +Why didn’t you manage it some way? You knew all about us, and you could +have persuaded papa to settle something on him, and let us live with +you at Beauregard, and then it would have been all right, and I should +have been much happier there with him and my poor little baby--’ + +‘Maraquita! are you _mad_?’ cried her mother, clapping her hand before +her daughter’s mouth; ‘or do you want every official in Government +House to hear your shameful secret? Good heavens, it is enough to make +me regret I ever interfered to save you from your own folly! If you +confess the truth now, you will make matters a thousand times worse +than if you had made the low marriage you seem to hanker after. It +would be a nice scandal for the island, to hear that the Governor +had repudiated you on account of your former light conduct! _Then_ +you would lose everything--reputation, position, and wealth, and gain +nothing in exchange.’ + +‘I could go to Henri,’ said Maraquita doggedly, for she possessed +one of those persistent natures that can work themselves up into a +belief, and she was working herself up to believe that she was still +passionately in love with De Courcelles, and ready to sacrifice +everything for him. + +‘That you certainly could not,’ returned Mrs Courtney, determined to +cut her folly in the bud, ‘for he is not in San Diego.’ + +‘Where is he then?’ exclaimed Quita, raising herself from the sofa +cushion. + +‘He has gone to America,’ replied her mother, ignoring her regard for +truth so long as she drove this nonsense out of Maraquita’s mind. + +‘_To America!_’ repeated the girl. ‘Oh, why did he go there? What is he +going to do?’ + +‘That is his business, not ours; but I believe his family live in the +States. However, he will never return to San Diego, and so you see how +little you will gain, and how much you may lose, by indulging in this +sentimental folly. Indeed, I cannot understand you, Quita! Your one +desire last month was to hear that this most objectionable young man +had left the island, and now you are moaning after him as if he had +been your dearest friend instead of your worst enemy.’ + +‘He loved me!’ sobbed Maraquita. + +‘I don’t think he _did_ love you,’ rejoined Mrs Courtney. ‘No man who +loved you would have treated you in so dishonourable a manner. However, +he has been ready enough to run away from you, and now the best thing +you can do is to forget all about him. Indeed, you must _compel_ +yourself to do so, my dear. You owe it not only to your husband, but +to your father and mother. And just think what a wicked thing you are +doing too--crying after another man when you are Sir Russell’s wife. +You horrify and grieve me beyond measure!’ + +Yes, Mrs Courtney was perfectly right! + +It was both weak and wicked of Lady Johnstone to let old memories +obtrude themselves upon her wedded life, but she had been far weaker +and wickeder when she gave them up against her inclination. An eligible +marriage is no cure for an ill-placed love, and the laws neither of +God nor man have any power to quench passion in the human heart. They +may help the victim to keep it under, but it is the one feeling that +refuses to be silent until it has died a natural death. Whilst poor +faulty Maraquita believed that Henri de Courcelles was lying in ambush +somewhere ready to appear before her at any moment, holding the pledge +of their love in his arms, as he did upon her wedding-day, she had had +a great fear mingled with her insane desire to see him again; but now +that her mother assured her he had left San Diego for ever, and she +should never be able to ask his forgiveness, her dread of him vanished, +to give place to a morbid regret. She wept so much and ate so little +during the first days of her installation at Government House, that +Mrs Courtney (who had been invited by Sir Russell to stay with her +daughter) became quite seriously alarmed for the consequences of her +grief, and tried all she could to rouse her by a description of the +splendid preparations which were being made for the ball to be given in +honour of their return. + +‘My dear girl, I never saw anything like it! Sir Russell is certainly +the most generous of men, and the whole island is talking of him. He +has given a _carte blanche_ order for all the white flowers procurable, +and the ballroom will be decorated with nothing else. It will look like +a huge bridal bouquet.’ + +‘Or a funeral shroud,’ suggested Quita, with a disagreeable laugh. + +‘My darling! what a strange thing to say. We won’t have it _too_ white, +if you have such unpleasant comparisons to make. I will suggest to +Sir Russell to have the wreaths tied with blue ribbons; or pink roses +interspersed with the white ones, would look very pretty.’ + +‘I’m sure I shouldn’t take the trouble, if I were you, mamma! Let him +have his own way. What does it signify what it looks like?’ + +‘I think it signifies a great deal,’ returned Mrs Courtney warmly; ‘and +when I come to consider the matter, white will not set off the dresses +as a little colour would do. For most of the ladies will be in white; +and you will wear your wedding-dress, of course, Maraquita.’ + +‘I suppose so, mamma.’ + +‘You will have to open the ball with Colonel Symonds, being the next +gentleman in rank to the Governor on the island, and Sir Russell must +lead out Mrs Symonds. It will be a magnificent sight, with all the +officers in full uniform, and the military bands in the orchestra. The +supper-tables are to be laid for three hundred, though I don’t know +where they are all to come from; but Sir Russell is _so_ generous. +It will be the proudest day of my life--next to your wedding-day, +Maraquita.’ + +‘I shall be very glad if you enjoy it, mamma.’ + +‘Come, come, my dear girl, I won’t have you speak of it in that +uninterested tone, as if you were an old woman of eighty, past all +thoughts of dancing and admiration. Why, there’s not a girl in the +island that dances better than you do, Quita; and think how every eye +will be fixed upon you, and how the women will envy your dress and your +beautiful jewels, and wish they had your luck. Why, there’s not a girl +in San Diego but would give her eyes to stand in your shoes.’ + +‘I daresay! but they pinch sometimes,’ said Quita, with a yawn. + +‘My darling, all wives’ shoes pinch sometimes,’ replied her mother. +‘Marriage is not a bed of roses, any more than any other condition. But +it is necessary to a woman’s well-doing, and you have drawn a splendid +prize in the matrimonial lottery. And now what time will your ladyship +please to drive this afternoon?’ + +Quita smiled. She liked to be called ‘your ladyship.’ If there was one +thing above another that reconciled her to the step she had taken, it +was to hear herself addressed by that much-coveted title. What children +most women are, after all, and how easily caught with glittering +baubles. Jewels and a title make up the sum total of domestic +happiness for the majority of the sex. Maraquita believed herself to be +wretched for the loss of Henri de Courcelles, but had she been put to +the test, she would not have given up her newly-acquired dignity, nor +one of her sets of ornaments, to bring him to her feet again. She would +sit for hours with her jewel cases in her lap, fingering the bracelets, +and rings, and necklaces that Sir Russell had given her, and holding +up the blood-red rubies, and the grass-green emeralds, and the deep +blue sapphires, and the pure white diamonds to the light, laughing to +see them catch the sun’s rays, and shoot out a thousand little stars +of fire to meet them. And as the day for the grand ball drew near, she +seemed to recover her cheerfulness. Mrs Courtney was delighted to see +the interest she suddenly evinced about her dress, and the ornaments +she was to wear with it, and the manner in which she should arrange +her hair; and when the evening arrived, she was as flushed with +excitement, and as eager for the festivities to be a success, as any +one could have wished to see her. It was a proud moment for Mr and Mrs +Courtney when they stood by the side of the dais which had been erected +for the convenience of the newly-married pair to receive their numerous +guests. Sir Russell, in his Governor’s uniform, looked imposing if +not handsome; and Maraquita, arrayed in her wedding garments, stood +by his side like a dainty fairy. All San Diego--that is, all the +respectable portion of it--passed before them in single file, to offer +their congratulations before the ball commenced, and there was but one +opinion of the appearance of the bride--that she was the handsomest +woman on the island. Mr and Mrs Courtney swelled with pride as they +overheard the various comments on her appearance, and felt rewarded at +last for all the trouble and anxiety their wayward daughter had given +them. The ballroom at Government House was a long apartment, with five +or six windows on either side, all open on account of the heat. The +spaces between these windows were hidden with trophies of flags, and +flowers, so that it looked like a vast bower of leaves and blossoms, +open at intervals to the outer air. Six large chandeliers pendant +from the ceiling, and laden with wax candles, made the ballroom a +blaze of light, and rendered it a conspicuous object from the outside. +That the poorer part of the population should not consider themselves +entirely shut out from the wedding festivities, Sir Russell had ordered +a handsome display of fireworks to be sent up from the Fort at ten +o’clock, and hundreds of coloured people were waiting around, in +anticipation of the display. The supper, which had taken many days to +prepare, was laid in another room on the same floor, on a series of +tables, which were glittering with knives, and forks, and glass, and +silver; and everything promised to go as merrily as the proverbial +marriage bell. As soon as they had received their guests, Sir Russell +and Lady Johnstone opened the ball with the two people of highest rank +present, and dancing became general. + +Maraquita, who was passionately fond of the exercise, did not miss +a single turn. Her card was naturally soon filled up, for every man +present tried to secure a waltz with the bride, and she flew all over +the room like a beautiful Bacchante, flushed and smiling, whilst her +parents looked on with admiring complacency, and one at least thanked +Heaven secretly that the threatened danger was at an end, and her +child had begun at last to properly appreciate the benefits of her +high position. The evening had waxed towards midnight, and though +the dancers gave no signs of fatigue, Sir Russell had just made his +way towards Mr and Mrs Courtney to consult them whether it would not +be wise to give the signal for supper, when a loud cry of alarm and +sounds of confusion were heard to proceed from the apartment where it +was laid. Sir Russell turned pale. He had heard something of the sort +before, and guessed its import; but he had no time to communicate his +fears to his friends, when a crowd of natives rushed into the room, +armed with pistols and knives, and every open window was simultaneously +blocked with dusky faces, ready to bar all egress, or to leap inside +at a moment’s notice. The band stopped playing at once--the dancers +screamed with alarm--all the men felt their hearts stop, and many of +the women fainted without warning. But Sir Russell was English bred, +and rose to the occasion at once. He looked almost majestic as he met +the oncoming horde of mutineers with an uplifted hand, as though he +challenged them to advance one step further, and demanded in a voice of +thunder what they required in his private apartments. + +‘_Your life!_’ shrieked one of the mob, ‘and de lives ob all dese d--d +white trash. And we’ll hab them too! On wid you, darkies! Cut ’em down +like de dogs what dey are.’ + +‘I’ll shoot the first man who tries to pass me!’ shouted Sir Russell, +as he drew a revolver from his pocket; and then turning to his +father-in-law, he exclaimed quickly,--‘Mrs Courtney--Maraquita, get +them away, for God’s sake!’ + +Maraquita had already flown to her parents for protection, and was +clinging to her mother in an agony of tears. + +‘Mamma! mamma! what will they do to us? Oh, we shall all be killed! Why +did I ever leave Beauregard!’ + +‘Hush! hush! my darling! it will be all right. There must be some +mistake,’ replied her mother, although she was shaking so violently +that she could hardly stand. + +But if it was a mistake, it was a very terrible one, for the next +moment the sound of several shots, and a piercing scream, proved that +the rebels had already commenced their murderous work. + +‘This way, Nita,’ said Mr Courtney hurriedly, pushing his wife and +daughter before him. ‘Keep close to the wall, and escape by the door +into the library. It is your best chance.’ + +But before they had gone many paces, elbowing their way frantically +through the crowd that pressed on them from every side, the dark faces +that had guarded the open windows perceived their means of exit, and +with a cry of fiendish delight, leapt into the room to prevent it. + +‘We are lost!’ cried Mrs Courtney. ‘Oh, Mr Courtney, in Heaven’s name, +what are we to do?’ + +‘Stand before Quita. Conceal her at all risks, and I will help you,’ +replied the father, as he ranged himself by the side of his trembling +wife, and in front of his daughter; and then he whispered, ‘Have no +fear, Nita; they can have no object in wounding _us_. Their malice is +against Sir Russell and our poor child. Spread your skirts over her, +for Heaven’s sake.’ + +Meanwhile the slaughter became general. The rebels rushed hither and +thither in search of Maraquita, wounding or killing every girl they +thought to be the bride, with, in most instances, the men who resented +the murder, until the ballroom reeked with blood, and the screams of +the unhappy victims were appalling. But the alarm had been given at +once, and in a few minutes the opposition shots of the military forces +were heard, and scores of the rebels bit the dust, whilst many more +were taken prisoners. Amongst the latter was a young and handsome +Spanish half-caste, whose dark eyes were on fire with the lust for +revenge, but who made no effort to free himself from his captors. + +‘The danger is past! Thank God that you are both safe!’ exclaimed Mr +Courtney, as he turned to embrace his wife and daughter. + +Sir Russell had been wounded in the wrist by a slash from one of his +own dinner knives; but the Fort physician had bound it up, and, now +that the first alarm was over, he was able to go in search of his bride. + +‘Maraquita, my dearest!’ he exclaimed fervently, as he saw the pale +little figure which Mr Courtney was supporting, ‘this is a terrible +affair, but, thank God, the brutes have not injured you, nor your +parents! You must come away from here at once, my love. Take her, Mr +Courtney, I beg of you, to her own apartments. This is no sight for +her.’ + +Quita closed her eyes, and shuddered as her glance fell on the +prostrate corpses, both black and white, that lay on the ballroom +floor, and heard the moans of those to whom the surgeon was already +attending; and she was quite willing to go away with her parents, and +try and forget the terrible business in sleep. + +‘Yes, yes,’ she murmured, clinging to her father; ‘take me away at +once, papa--I cannot bear it.’ + +But when she had advanced a few paces into the room, her eyes opened +again from sheer horror, and fell on a sight which paralysed her. +There, standing before her, though held back by the pinioning arms +of his captors, was Henri de Courcelles, whom she believed to be in +America, with such hatred and fury in his glance as she had never seen +before. + +‘_Henri!_’ she shrieked involuntarily, before she could prevent herself. + +‘So you have _escaped_!--curse you?’ he answered, glaring at her like +a fiend. ‘Then what am I doing here? I must be free, to live to avenge +myself on you.’ And without another word, and a sudden effort that +took the men who held him completely by surprise, Henri de Courcelles +wrenched himself away, and rushed to the open window, leapt into the +darkness and was gone. + +‘He must have killed himself!’ exclaimed one of the soldiers, looking +out upon the night. ‘There is a fall here of about twenty feet.’ + +‘Order the guard round to take him prisoner!’ shouted Sir Russell. ‘The +wall beneath the window is sixteen feet high. They will take him like +a rat in a trap. And if not, tell them to shoot him like a dog.’ + +‘No, no!’ cried Maraquita wildly. ‘They _must_ not--they _shall_ +not--he--he--’ + +But there she fainted, and fell in a heap at her husband’s feet. + +‘He is the ringleader of the whole mutiny,--the greatest rascal of them +all! What can she know of him?’ demanded Sir Russell, with a frown. + +‘Nothing; she never saw him before,’ replied Mrs Courtney boldly, +though she was shaking with fear lest Maraquita should betray herself. + +‘But she called him “Henri.” I heard her,’ said the Governor. + +‘He was a servant on Beauregard once, Sir Russell. I forgot that when +I said Maraquita had never seen him. But really this terrible business +has shaken me so that I don’t know what I’m saying. But my poor +darling must be carried to her room. She is not fit to walk. I hope +this shocking affair may not unsettle her reason.’ + +‘It seems as if it had done so already, when one hears her pleading for +the life of a murderer,’ said Sir Russell, as he assisted Mrs Courtney +to carry the unconscious girl to her own apartments. ‘And now, Mrs +Courtney, I will leave my wife in your charge. This is a very serious +matter, and may necessitate my sitting up all night. The rebellion is +quelled for the moment, but I must not rest until measures have been +taken to prevent its recurrence. My guests murdered before my very +eyes! It is incredible that such a thing should happen in Her Majesty’s +dominions. And we must crush the mutiny, if we string them all up to +the Fort gates. And this ringleader, this old servant (as you say) +of yours, shall be the first to suffer. I will give him lynch law as +soon as ever the dawn rises. I will teach him what the penalty is of +addressing the Governor’s wife as he has dared to do.’ + +And with this threat upon his lips, Sir Russell stalked gloomily away. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +As soon as the Governor had disappeared, Mrs Courtney tried hard to get +her husband out of the room; but he was obstinately bent on remaining +until his daughter had recovered her consciousness, and so, when +Maraquita opened her eyes, both her father and mother were bending over +her. + +‘Where am I?’ she exclaimed, as the world broke indistinctly upon her +again. + +‘In your own room, my darling. Lie down, Quita. Don’t attempt to rise. +You are quite safe. No one can hurt you here.’ + +‘_Safe!_’ repeated the girl, in a bewildered tone. ‘Ah, I remember +now! The ballroom--the blood--those dreadful cries! Oh, mamma, mamma,’ +she continued, clinging to her mother, ‘I shall never forget it! And +Julie Latreille too. I saw her murdered at my side. It is too, _too_ +horrible!’ + +‘No, no, my dearest. You are mistaken. Julie is not dead. She was +wounded, and they have taken her to the hospital. But don’t think of it +any more to-night. Let me undress you, that you may try and get some +sleep.’ + +‘_Not think of it!_’ said Maraquita, with staring bloodshot eyes, as +she sat up on the couch in her white lace dress, all crumpled and +spattered with blood, ‘not think of it. Why, I shall never cease +to think of it. And there was something else too. What was it? Ah, +_Henri_! and he cursed me!’ + +‘Mr Courtney, I must request you to leave us!’ exclaimed his wife +hurriedly. ‘You see the excitable condition she is in, and I can do +nothing with her whilst you are hanging over her like this. The less +people she has with her the better! You must positively go, and leave +her to Jessica and me.’ + +‘Well, my dear, if you think it necessary, of course I will go; but you +will lose no time, I hope, in getting the poor child into bed.’ + +‘Do you suppose I don’t know what is best for her, Mr Courtney? I am +only waiting till you are gone, to undress her.’ + +‘And you will send me word how she goes on--I shall not retire till I +hear she has recovered her composure, and is in a fair way to sleep.’ + +‘I will send Jessica to you in half an hour. By that time, I hope we +shall both have somewhat overcome this terrible shock. I shall stay +with her all night, and you had better go and tell Sir Russell so.’ + +And Mrs Courtney, who had been carrying on this colloquy just inside +the bedroom door, opened it, and gently pushing her husband into the +passage, reclosed and locked it, with a sigh of relief. + +‘Thank Heaven!’ she said to old Jessica, ‘we are safe! I trembled for +what she might say next.’ + +‘Allays dat cussed oberseer,’ observed the old negress, who stood by +Quita’s head. + +The girl herself was still sitting up on the couch when her mother +returned to her, staring into vacancy, and repeating the word +‘_Henri_’ in a low voice. + +‘Maraquita!’ said Mrs Courtney firmly, as she shook the girl to rouse +her to a sense of her position, ‘who are you talking to? There is no +one here! You are quite alone with Jessica and me. You are perfectly +safe. All the danger is over, and Government House is guarded by the +soldiery on every side. Come to bed now, like a good child, and try to +sleep.’ + +‘But _he_--where is _he_?’ asked Maraquita wildly. ‘Did they fire on +him? Is he hurt?’ + +‘Sir Russell, my darling? Well, nothing to signify! The brutes slashed +at him with their knives, and caught him on the wrist, but the doctor +says it will be all right again in a few days, and he will come and see +you by-and-by, dear.’ + +‘Not _him_! I don’t want _him_!’ returned Maraquita fretfully, ‘but +Henri--where is my Henri? He jumped out of the window, and Sir Russell +ordered them to kill him. Oh, tell me, in Heaven’s name, is he _dead_?’ + +Mrs Courtney did not know what to answer, but Jessica was ready with +the information. + +‘No, Missy Quita, he not dead. Governor’s Sambo tell me all de news +just now. De guard go after him, and take him prisoner, and shut him up +in Fort cell, where he can’t come out. And so my missy quite safe, and +can go to sleep comfortable.’ + +‘There, my darling, you hear what old Jessica says,’ interposed Mrs +Courtney soothingly. ‘They have got him in prison. It was like his +insolence to speak to you as he did; but you have given him so +much encouragement, that the creature is beside himself. But he has +overleapt the mark this time, and will never trouble you again.’ + +‘Will they--_kill_ him?’ said Quita, with a shiver. + +‘I hope so, I’m sure. It would be the best thing for all of us, and +drive this romantic nonsense out of your head, Maraquita. Why, what +is this, my dear? You are surely not weeping for the fate of this +_murderer_, who has instigated his fellows to kill half your friends, +and would have killed you, and your husband, and your parents, if he +had had the opportunity? I shall begin to think you have very little +love for your father or myself, if you can prefer _his_ life to ours.’ + +‘Oh, no, mamma, it isn’t that! I am very thankful to think you are all +safe. Only--only--Henri, who used to love me so--_to die_! Oh, it must +not be! It is _too_ shocking!’ + +‘If a man sets all the laws of his country at naught, he must pay the +penalty of his wrong-doing,’ said Mrs Courtney sententiously. + +‘Yes; but there is some excuse for him, mamma. Think of his grief for +my loss, his jealousy, his revenge. It was _I_ who drove him to it. I +should have been true to him at all hazards, and then this terrible +business would never have happened. Oh, mamma, he must not die, or his +spirit will haunt me all my days,’ said Quita, trembling, with closed +eyes. + +‘Maraquita, you are exaggerating the blame that is due to you in +this matter. In the first place, we don’t know that the mutiny was +organised on your account at all. The negroes are disaffected, I am +sorry to say, all over San Diego. And if it were, it is an outrage +which should call forth nothing but resentment on your part. You have +been foolishly weak in former times with regard to this man; but he +must have been insane if he ever believed you would marry him. You +followed your parents’ wishes in accepting Sir Russell Johnstone, and +have nothing to reproach yourself with in regard to it. Now, leave the +rest of the matter to him, and don’t worry your head about it. You may +depend upon it, the Governor will do what is just and right, and such a +dreadful affair will never be allowed to happen again.’ + +‘But Henri--what will they do to Henri?’ moaned Maraquita. + +‘Oh, this is unbearable! You are past all reason!’ cried Mrs Courtney +impatiently. ‘Here, Jessica, help me off with her ladyship’s things, +and let us put her into bed.’ + +She pulled off the various garments of cambric and lace, almost +roughly, in her indignation at her daughter’s weakness; and having seen +Maraquita laid in bed, she left her in her old nurse’s care, whilst she +went to ask the doctor for a sleeping draught. + +Jessica had been installed at Government House as she had desired, +and her wages had been raised to nearly double their former sum. Lady +Russell had felt uncomfortable at first to remember that there was some +one beside her who knew all about her maiden life, but in her present +extremity she turned to her old servant with a feeling of security +that she need hide nothing from her. As her mother left the room, she +moved on her pillow with a heavy sigh, and laid her little white hand +in Jessica’s dark palm. The negro nature, if vindictive and revengeful +under injustice, is also very affectionate and easily conciliated. This +caressing action on Maraquita’s part touched her old nurse’s heart. It +was some time since her little missy had shown any token of love for +her, and it won her over on the instant to her side. + +‘Jessica,’ sighed Quita, ‘I’m very unhappy.’ + +‘I know you is, poor missy,’ responded the negress. ‘You’se feelin’ +berry bad to-night. And, sakes! it’s no wonder. But it’ll be all right +bime-by, missy.’ + +‘I loved him, Jessica, very much,’ continued her young mistress. ‘You +knew all about us, and how I used to slip out when everybody was +asleep, and go to meet him in the Oleander thicket.’ + +‘Ah, yes, missy, Jessica knew. Many’s the night I’ve sot up, and +watched and waited for you to come back; but it was generally daylight +before you came. Ah! you used to love de oberseer in dose days, Missy +Quita, pretty strong.’ + +‘And I love him still, Nurse! I can’t help it!’ cried Quita feverishly, +as she sat up in bed, with her dark hair floating about her, and stared +at the negress with dilated eyes. ‘I have loved him all along; and if +they kill him, they will kill me too.’ + +‘No, no, missy; Governor not killing Massa Courcelles. Only keep him in +prison little while, and den let him go free. Lie down, missy, and go +sleep. All right bime-by.’ + +‘But I want to see him!’ exclaimed Quita excitedly. ‘I want to +hear everything they are going to do to him; and I want to ask his +forgiveness for having married Sir Russell. I _must_ see him, Jessica. +I shall go mad if I don’t.’ + +‘Den missy _shall_ see him,’ replied the servant soothingly. + +‘Will you manage it for me, Jessica?’ asked the girl eagerly; ‘and +without saying a word to mamma. Will you find out where Monsieur +de Courcelles has been taken, and if I can possibly get permission +to visit him, and if there will be a trial, and _when_? Find out +everything, Jessica, and let me know to-morrow morning, and you shall +have the pair of gold bangles papa gave me last birthday. Stay! you +shall have them now,’ continued Quita, as she sprang from her bed and +took the ornaments off her dressing-table. ‘Put them on your wrists, +Jessica, and remember you are to find out _everything_!’ + +‘Missy berry good to ole Jessica,’ said the negress, as she clasped the +glittering circlets on her dusky arms, and feasted her eyes on them; +‘and I’ll know de whole truth by to-morrow morning. Only missy must lie +down again now, and keep all dis berry dark, or de ole missus nebber +let me tell nuffin.’ + +The entrance of Mrs Courtney at this juncture with the opiate draught +put a stop to further confidence, and Maraquita, having obediently +swallowed it, soon lost sight of her troubles in sleep. Mrs Courtney +dismissed Jessica for the night, and lay down by her daughter’s side; +but it was long before she followed her example. She trembled not only +for the fright she had gone through, but for the influence she feared +it might have upon Maraquita’s future. + +‘Poor child!’ she thought, as she contemplated the lovely face, now +tranquil in slumber on the pillow beside her, ‘she is passing through +a terrible ordeal. I only trust it may not cause a rupture between +Sir Russell and herself. I am certain he suspects something. I did +not half like the look with which he received my explanation of the +matter. It was the most unfortunate thing in the world that that fellow +should have been planted right in Maraquita’s way as she left the room. +Two minutes sooner or later, and she would not have seen him. Now, I +hardly dare to think how it may end. If he is condemned to death, she +certainly must not hear of it: I must invent some reason to Sir Russell +for taking her away. Her emotional nature would break down altogether +under such a strain. What an awful thing it is that she should ever +have fallen into his clutches!’ And Mrs Courtney sighed over it until +she fell asleep. + +As soon as the morning broke, Maraquita having passed a good night, +and everything being tranquil at Government House, she accompanied +her husband to Beauregard for the day, for all the planters were +entertaining grave fears for the continued submission of their coolie +hands, and it was not thought advisable to leave the estates for long +at a time without a ruling eye. Her departure was the signal for a +long conference between Lady Russell and old Jessica. The negress had +ascertained that it was possible for the friends of the prisoners to +obtain access to them through a written order from the Governor, but +that the privilege would only be extended in the case of relations. + +‘That renders it impossible!’ exclaimed Quita despairingly, for she was +not a woman with the wit to overcome difficulties. + +‘How so, missy?’ demanded Jessica. ‘Why impossible? _I_ can get order +quick enough.’ + +‘_You_, Jessica? But Sir Russell knows you. Besides, he would never +believe you were related to Monsieur de Courcelles.’ + +‘Oh, missy, I not going work dat way at all. Course he not gib it to +_me_; but if missy gib me five-dollar note, dat half-caste woman Rosita +will go swaer she’s de oberseer’s aunt, or his moder, and want speak to +him with her daughter--dat’s _you_, missy. Den you put veil over your +face, and big cloak, and go with Rosita and see de oberseer.’ + +‘But Rosita may tell,’ said Maraquita, shrinking from the idea. + +Jessica shrugged her shoulders contemptuously. + +‘Rosita not tell--what good her telling? but if missy ’fraid, gib her +_ten_ dollars ’stead of five! den I swear she not tell.’ + +‘And what else did you hear, Jessica?’ + +‘Sambo say de Governor would hab hung all de mutineers dis morning, +same like dogs, only de Colonel ob de forces tell him dat berry bad +plan, and make big fight, and he better have proper martials. So dat am +fixed for to-morrow, and den dey will be hung at sunset fire--dat what +Sambo says.’ + +‘And--and--what more, Jessica?’ + +‘Dat’s pretty well all, missy, only de corpses hab been cleared away, +and will be buried dis evening. And Missy Latreille berry bad in +hospital, and both de Missy Burns dead, and dere fader hab sworn if +Governor don’t hang de rebels, _he_ will.’ + +‘Oh, it is terrible!’ sighed Maraquita. ‘I shall never have the courage +to visit the cells. I am so afraid of being found out.’ + +‘Den missy better not go.’ + +‘But, Jessica, he will die without my seeing him, and I shall never +forgive myself. I don’t know _what_ to do.’ + +She vacillated, like the weak creature she was, between two opinions, +until it was almost too late for Jessica to arrange the matter for +her; but finally, under the dread of her mother’s speedy return +from Beauregard, she made up her mind to visit De Courcelles, and +Jessica was despatched with a ten dollar note to make the necessary +preparations. + +When the afternoon sun was somewhat on the wane, and Sir Russell +Johnstone, having passed a sleepless night, and believing his wife to +be safe in her own apartments, had thrown himself down on a couch to +obtain some rest, Maraquita, effectually disguised with veil and cloak, +stole down the back staircase of Government House, in company with the +negress, and sought the abode of the half-caste woman Rosita, who had +been fully instructed in the part she had to play. Leaving Jessica +behind them, the two women immediately set out for the Fort, where they +were received by the officer commanding the prison guard. He threw one +glance on the Governor’s signature, and gave them immediate admittance. + +‘Friends to see the prisoner No. 14, by the Governor’s permission,’ +he shouted to the warder, who, unlocking a heavy iron-clamped door, +ushered the visitors into a stone passage, from which there seemed +to be no possibility of egress. Maraquita’s feeble courage was fast +failing her, and had it not been for the cool nerve and determination +of Rosita, she would have probably betrayed herself. But the half-caste +woman was quite equal to the emergency. + +‘Ah, sir, tell me!’ she exclaimed, as soon as they were alone with the +warder, ‘will they really kill my poor nephew? Is there no chance of a +reprieve?’ + +‘Don’t think so, ma’am,’ was the official’s answer; ‘but no one can +tell for certain till after the court-martial to-morrow. Your nephew, +you say?’ + +‘Yes! and this poor girl, my daughter, was to have been married to him +before long. It’s a terrible trial for her! I don’t know how she’ll +stand the interview.’ + +‘She’d better not see him. ’Twon’t do no good,’ said the warder +roughly; ‘though she’s had a lucky escape from such a rascal.’ + +‘But I’ve come on her account alone. She can’t rest till she’s seen her +cousin. Now, Clara, my dear, you’d better go in by yourself first, and +then when the time’s up, the warder will let you know.’ + +All this had been pre-arranged between them, but Rosita played her +part much better than Maraquita had the power to do. Her large eyes +glanced up almost appealingly when No. 14 was reached, and the gaoler’s +keys rattled in the door, and had not her companion pushed her into +the cell, she would have turned round and run away. But it was done, +and her retreat was cut off. She stood in the same room as Henri de +Courcelles. + +‘Friends for No. 14,’ sung out the warder, as he opened the door; ‘only +fifteen minutes allowed, so make the most of them.’ + +Henri de Courcelles looked up in amazement as the order sounded on his +ear. He knew of no friends to visit him in his trouble. He was sitting +in a small whitewashed room, which contained a pallet, a table, and a +couple of wooden chairs. His day’s rations were before him, but he had +not touched them. He was still in his usual attire, for it had not been +thought worth while to put him into prison clothes, and notwithstanding +an unshorn face and unkempt hair, he was looking as handsome--perhaps +handsomer, than ever, for disorder suited his gipsy style of beauty. As +he caught sight of Maraquita’s shrouded and veiled figure, he started a +little, but he never supposed for a moment it could be she, until she +lifted her veil, and gazed at him with scared and mournful eyes. + +‘Henri,’ she exclaimed, in a piteous voice, ‘I have come to see you!’ + +In her vanity, she had believed she had only to stand before him, and +look miserable, to bring him to her feet again. She had forgotten +the deadly insult she had put upon the man by marrying Sir Russell +Johnstone; the lies with which she had attempted to deceive him to the +very end; the treachery by which she and her mother had procured his +dismissal from Beauregard. She trusted, like many another of her sex, +too much to the power of her beauty to sway the minds of men. But mere +loveliness cannot supply the place of truth and fidelity, and she had +become nothing in the eyes of her former lover but a whited sepulchre, +and was the last person upon earth he desired to see. He sprang to his +feet as her voice fell on his ear, and looked at her with ineffable +scorn. + +‘_You_ have come to see _me_, and why?’ + +‘Oh, Henri, how can you ask? Do you think I am made of stone, that +I have entirely forgotten? When I saw you amongst those terrible +mutineers last night, it nearly killed me.’ + +‘It’s a pity it didn’t _quite_ kill you,’ he replied, ‘for women +such as you are not fit to live! Do you know _why_ I was there,--why +I headed their numbers, and incited them on to rebellion and +slaughter?--_in order that I might kill you_,--in order that you +should not live to deceive other men, and drive them to desperation, as +you have driven me.’ + +‘Oh, Henri, Henri,’ she exclaimed, panting with fear, ‘you are raving! +You would not injure _me_! Think, Henri, think of the hours I have lain +with my head on your breast and my lips to yours; think how you have +loved me,--of the tie between us, and I am sure that you would die +sooner than hurt a hair of my head.’ + +‘_Think of it!_’ he repeated, with a bitter laugh; ‘haven’t I thought +of it until it has turned my brain, and made me lust for your blood? To +think of all your professions of love, and how they have ended, is to +hate and despise you. _The tie between us!_ It had better die, and rot +where it lies, than grow up with one tithe of its mother’s falsehood. +No, Maraquita, the time for my belief in you is past. If you came here +to hear compliments, you have wasted your time, for I have nothing but +loathing and hatred to give you.’ + +‘Oh, Henri!’ she said, shivering, with her face hidden in her hands, +‘don’t speak to me like that! I will go away, and never attempt to +cross your path again, only promise me that neither you nor your +friends shall hurt me. It was not my fault, indeed it wasn’t. I married +at the command of my parents, and I have been so miserable since, +Henri. I have dreamt of you almost every night, and longed to see you +again. Oh, don’t look at me like that! Kiss me, and say you forgive me, +or I shall never know another happy moment.’ + +‘_Kiss you! Forgive you!_’ he repeated witheringly. ‘Never! Neither in +this life, nor the life to come. You escaped me last night, Maraquita, +but you shall not escape me for ever. I have sworn to have your life, +in return for all that was precious to me in mine, and I will have it +yet. I only bide my time.’ + +Then her fancied passion died out beneath his threats and blazing eyes, +and she turned and taunted him with his inability to carry out his +intentions. + +‘_You will have my life?_ What are you thinking of, to talk in so +absurd a manner? Do you forget where you are? Are you aware that you +will be brought up for trial to-morrow morning, and that if I give the +Governor one hint of this conversation, sunset will see your execution. +How will you be able to carry out your threats against me then?’ + +‘And so _this_ is the woman who will never know another happy moment +without my forgiveness!’ he returned sarcastically,--‘who can calmly +contemplate my possible execution as the means of her own deliverance, +and hint that she may expedite it! I thank you, madam, for showing me +your true nature so openly, else I might have been weak enough, in +these last moments, to believe you had really preserved some little +feeling for the man who should have been your husband. But I have a +word to say to you in return. I shall _not_ die to-morrow--I shall live +until I have the weapon in my hand wherewith to strike you down. And +then I shall not care how soon I go too. But in hell, Maraquita--even +in hell--I shall be beside you, to haunt you with the treachery which +sent us both there?’ + +‘Oh, have pity!--have pity on me!’ she cried, upon her knees. + +‘I have no pity,’ he answered, in a low voice; ‘and I shall have none. +You have left me only one feeling with regard to you,--determination +to carry out my revenge. When I think of it, I feel as if I had the +strength of ten thousand devils in me, and could tear these walls +asunder with my bare hands, and set myself free, only to be revenged on +you.’ + +‘Time’s up,’ called the warder from outside the door. + +‘Henri, will you not speak one word to me?--give me one look before I +go?’ wailed Maraquita. + +He advanced upon her with the eyes of a demoniac. + +‘Speak to you? Look at you?’ he exclaimed. ‘What have I to say to you +that I have not already said? Leave this cell, as you value a few more +days’ existence, or I shall tear you to pieces where you stand.’ + +And at the sight of his uplifted hands and glowering eyes, Maraquita +gave a low cry, and hastened through the open doorway. + +‘Not a very pleasant interview, I guess,’ observed the warder, as Quita +walked down the stone passage again, sobbing as if her heart would +break, and clinging to Rosita’s arm. ‘I told you you’d better not see +him. He’s more mad than sane, and I was half afraid he might do you +some harm.’ + +‘Is there,’ demanded Maraquita, as soon as she could command her voice +sufficiently to speak, ‘is there any chance of his being able to escape +from prison?’ + +The gaoler laughed. + +‘_Escape?_ Well, no. I wouldn’t set my heart on that, if I was you, +miss. ’Twould take a better man than he--though he’s a powerful fellow, +too--to break through these walls, when he’s once inside them. He’ll +never leave them again, unless it’s by the Governor’s orders--you may +take your oath of that.’ + +At Rosita’s house, Jessica received her weeping young mistress again, +and conducted her safely back to her own apartments; but it was long +before Maraquita could make up her mind whether she should speak to Sir +Russell on the subject of De Courcelles or not. Some suspicion might +attach to her doing so, though she trusted to her native cunning to +make a good story of it. But if she said nothing, and the court took +a lenient view of the part he had maintained in the mutiny, Henri de +Courcelles might be set at large again, and accomplish his wicked +designs upon her life. The love of living, so strong in every human +breast, finally outweighed all other considerations, and Maraquita, +after a night of painful deliberation, asked Jessica to summon Sir +Russell to her side. + +The Governor, unused to such amenities on the part of his bride, came +with alacrity, and full of tender solicitude for the apprehension and +terror she had passed through. + +‘You must try and dismiss it all from your mind now, my darling, for +the danger is really past. We try the mutineers to-day, and I have very +little doubt of the sentence which will be passed upon them.’ + +‘There is _one_--the man who spoke to me the other night,’ said +Maraquita, trembling; ‘what will they do to him?’ + +The Governor frowned. + +‘You mean the ringleader? I cannot tell; but if _I_ had to decide, I +should say that hanging was too good for him. Why do you ask, my dear? +Surely you are not interested in his fate.’ + +‘Oh, no, no! I am afraid of him,’ replied his wife. ‘He was papa’s +overseer once, and he--he--presumed to fall in love with me; and +because--because I married you instead, he has sworn to kill me; and he +_will_, Sir Russell, I am _sure_ he will, if they let him go free!’ + +‘He shall _not_ go free!’ exclaimed her husband indignantly. ‘Such +outrages from the half-caste population against European settlers are +not to be tolerated. I am glad you have told me this, Quita; it will go +greatly against him, if the court should be disposed to show him any +favour.’ + +‘Oh, _do_ send him away--get rid of him at all risks. He frightens me. +I shall die of fear,’ she whispered, clinging to Sir Russell’s arm. + +‘He shall never frighten you again, my darling. I will take care of +that,’ replied the Governor decidedly, as he pressed her to him. But +as he was embracing her, Jessica entered the bedroom, with an official +paper. + +‘Orderly from Fort bring for Governor,’ she ejaculated. + +Sir Russell glanced over its contents. + +‘Good heavens!’ he cried, ‘he has escaped us!’ + +‘Who--_who_?’ demanded Maraquita. + +‘The very man you were speaking of--Henri de Courcelles. He has broken, +by some miraculous means, out of his prison cell, and is missing. I +must order out the mounted police at once to follow him. Don’t be +afraid, Maraquita. It is impossible that he can escape the vigilance of +the law, in such a little place as San Diego.’ + +‘He will--he _will_!’ exclaimed the unhappy girl, as her husband rushed +out of the room. ‘He will live, as he said, to murder me.’ And with +that she fell back unconscious on her pillows. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +The account of the attempted massacre at Government House reached +Lizzie through Mr Courtney; but he did not tell her that Henri de +Courcelles had been arrested as one of the mutineers. He knew that she +had regarded his late overseer with affection, and he wanted to spare +her the pain of the suspense of learning his fate. It would be time +enough, he thought, for her to mourn when her friend had been tried and +condemned. But his kind consideration was wasted, for the news came to +her by means of the yellow girl, Rosa, who burst into her presence on +the day of De Courcelles’ escape from the Fort prison, brim full of the +intelligence. + +‘Oh, Missy Liz! dar’s grand news come from Government House. De Fort +prison doors is bust open, and dey’s all gone--ebbery one of dem +mutineers, and Massa Courcelles, he gone wid them.’ + +‘_Monsieur de Courcelles!_’ exclaimed Lizzie, hardly believing her +ears. ‘What are you talking of, Rosa?’ + +‘Jes’ God’s truth, Missy Liz. Massa Courcelles de ringleader ob all de +mutiny--dat’s what William Hall, dat hab jes’ come from de Fort, say; +and dey take him prisoner ob Tuesday night, and put him in cell, and +dis morning he was to be tried by ’martial; but he’s clean gone, and de +mounted police am scouring San Diego for him.’ + +‘De Courcelles amongst the rebels!’ repeated Lizzie. ‘_This_, then, is +what he meant by his revenge. Oh, that it had been in my power to save +him from falling so low!’ + +‘But dat ain’t all, Missy Liz; dere’s more to come. William Hall say de +police catch sight of Massa Courcelles ober de gully, close by Shanty +Hill, and he ’scape them again, and run straight for de Alligator +Swamp.’ + +‘He did not _enter_ it?’ cried Lizzie, turning pale. + +‘Oh, didn’t he, though? De police gallop after him, and he run same +like deer, and jump de fences, and go squash right in de swamp, where +de hosses couldn’t follow him, ’cause of de morass. And William say +when Massa Courcelles get on edge of swamp, he turn and wave his hand, +and hollo, and dive in bushes. And den de police see no more of him; +but dey is waiting dere now, horses and all, till he come out again. +But Massa Courcelles nebber come out again, Missy Liz. Dat what all de +niggers say; alligator and swamp take him pretty quick, and got him +now, maybe, de bad fellow!’ + +Lizzie did not answer her chattering handmaid, except by asking,-- + +‘What time is it, Rosa?’ + +‘Jes’ gone tree, Missy Liz.’ + +‘And when did this happen? I mean when did the police lose sight of +Monsieur de Courcelles in the Alligator Swamp?’ + +‘Eleben o’clock, missy.’ + +‘_Four hours_,’ said Lizzie to herself. ‘God help him! What can I do?’ + +She began turning over the contents of a medicine-chest as she thought +thus, and pouring the liquid from one bottle into the other, in an +apparently mechanical manner. + +‘Rosa!’ she said suddenly, turning to her open-eyed attendant, ‘I am +going out presently, and I may be detained longer than I anticipate. +Take great care of baby whilst I am away, and put her to sleep in your +own room to-night. Do you understand me?’ + +‘Yes, yes, Missy Liz.’ + +She watched her mistress array herself in her walking things, and take +down a broad sombrero hat, and a long cloak, which had belonged to +her father, from the cupboard where they hung, and place brandy and a +bottle of quinine, and strong smelling-salts and camphor in the basket +she hung upon her arm. These proceedings only excited Rosa’s curiosity; +but when Lizzie went on to load a revolver and place it in her belt, +and take a huge staff in her hand, the yellow girl could contain +herself no longer, but cried out,-- + +‘Oh, Missy Liz, Missy Liz! what you going to do with all dem things?’ + +‘Dare I trust you?’ said Lizzie, turning her grave, pale face towards +her. ‘Will you be faithful and keep my secret if I tell you what I am +going to do?’ + +‘Missy Liz, _I will_!’ replied Rosa solemnly. ‘I knows I’se berry bad +gal to you once. I said drefful things what I didn’t mean; but I’se +only ignorant yellow gal, Mis Liz, and I didn’t think how bad I was. +But Massa Norris, he make me promise when he go ’way that I’d be good +faithful servant to you, and take great care of you, and he’d bring me +lubly dress from England next time he come; and I would do it, Missy +Liz, without de dress, and only because I love you for all you done for +me.’ + +‘I believe you, and I will confide in you, for I must have a friend +to help me. Rosa, I am going to the Alligator Swamp to try and find +Monsieur de Courcelles.’ + +‘_De Alligator Swamp!_ Oh, Missy Liz! you nebber going there? You +can’t walk dere for de swamp, nor de thorn bushes; and de green slime +hab a smell what chokes you. Missy,’ continued Rosa earnestly, ‘even a +nigger can’t stay dere. You will lose your way d’reckly--dere’s no path +to guide you; and de alligators is awful. Dey kill you d’reckly dey see +you. Oh, Missy Liz, for God’s sake, don’t try to go!’ + +‘Listen to me, dear Rosa. _I must go!_ It is of no use to try and stop +me. Monsieur de Courcelles has been very wicked, no doubt--I don’t +defend his conduct--but _once_ I loved him Rosa, and a woman can never +quite forget the man she has loved.’ + +‘No, dat’s true, missy. Juan want me to marry him, but I keep thinking +too much ob that rascal sailor boy what was de fader of my poor leetel +Carlo--Dat’s truth,’ answered Rosa, shaking her black curls. + +‘Well then, perhaps you can understand a little what I feel now, Rosa. +Monsieur de Courcelles is in fearful danger. I know his spirit. He will +never come out of the swamp to be taken prisoner again. He will faint +from the fumes of the fearful miasma first, and sink for ever in the +morass, or he will cast himself before the first cayman in his path. I +may not find him, or I may be too late to give him any assistance, but +I must try. I have the proper medicines here to counteract the effect +of the swamp, for him and myself; and if I find him, I think with this +disguise I may get him safely out again without attracting the notice +of the police. I shall not go by Shanty Hill, Rosa. I shall make my way +round by the Miners’ Gulch. There is an entrance there at the back of +the Sans Souci plantation.’ + +‘And if you find him, Missy Liz--what den?’ inquired the yellow girl. + +‘Ah, Rosa! that is where I shall want your assistance and your +fidelity,’ replied her mistress. ‘If I find him, I must bring him +_here_, and hide him from the police until I can get him safely away +from the island.’ + +‘Dat berry dangerous work, Missy Liz.’ + +‘I know it, but how can I do otherwise? Could I let the man whom I once +believed would be my husband, perish in the Alligator Swamp, without an +attempt to rescue him; or deliver him up to die a murderer’s death upon +the gallows, as long as I can keep him from it? Oh, Rosa, Rosa!’ cried +Lizzie, weeping, ‘it is the same with all of us, white and black alike. +Love--although a love that is dead and over--sanctifies everything, and +claims a certain duty even for its ashes.’ + +The yellow girl did not understand her mistress’s words, but her tears +appealed to her heart, and she cried with her. + +‘Yes, Missy Liz, I understand. Dat’s jes’ same like me and de sailor +fellow. But you must take great care of yourself, Missy Liz. You +must be berry ’ticular where you step, and how you go, and keep a +sharp look-out for de alligators. Dey berry cowardly, Missy Liz. Dey +frightened of noise, and dey can’t run no ways; so if you don’t tread +right on dem, you’se all right.’ + +‘Yes, yes, Rosa! I know that, and I will take every possible caution,’ +replied Lizzie. And then she kissed the baby, and kissed Rosa, and +walked bravely off, as though she had been going on her daily rounds. + +The Alligator Swamp was situated in a deep gorge or valley between +two high hills, and was simply a stagnant bog, thickly clothed with +poisonous vegetation--indeed no healthy trees or bushes could have +existed in such an atmosphere. The fatal upas tree spread its thick +branches over the morass, sheltering deadly fungi of orange, and +red, and white. Thorny bushes were matted and interlaced about it, +so that had there been a solid foundation to the Alligator’s Swamp, +it would have been impossible to force one’s way through, or find a +path whereon to tread. The only resting-place for one’s feet consisted +of the logs and trunks of decayed trees, which had dropped, rolling +into the slime, and choked it up. But they were treacherous paths, as +may be well imagined, and it was difficult, in the semi-darkness, to +distinguish them from the caymen--the largest and fiercest breed of +alligators--from which the swamp derived its name. These creatures +lay on the top of the slimy deposit, just like rugged brown logs in +appearance, until a sound or a touch caused the apparently inert +mass to move, and a ferocious head, with two diamond bright eyes, +and an enormous mouth, with cruel fangs, rose up suddenly and snapt +its jaws over its unsuspecting prey. For there was no real daylight +in the Alligator Swamp. The branches of the trees were so thickly +interlaced overhead that the sun had no chance to penetrate them and +cleanse the Augean Stable with his health-giving rays; and so the +decaying vegetation and the slime had festered on together for years +past, and the caymen had bred and flourished there, until the boldest +negro of them all considered it certain death to breathe the air which +they inhaled. If the foolhardy creature who attempted to traverse the +swamp were not immersed in the stinking mud, or seized by the hungry +alligators, he was bound after a little while to sink down, giddy +and intoxicated from inhaling the various poisons around him, and so +fall a prey to either one or the other. Lizzie Fellows was perfectly +conscious of the terrible risk she ran,--more so, perhaps, than most +women would have been, for her father had fully explained the dangers +of the swamp to her, and warned her off its precincts. She knew that +the reason runaway negroes and escaped prisoners took refuge in the +Alligator Swamp was not because they sought safety in it, but because +they preferred death by its horrors to giving themselves up to the law. +They knew they went to their grave when they entered it, but they knew +also that the police would refuse to follow them there, and that they +would be left to die alone and unmolested. She had a long walk to +take before she reached it. She was anxious to meet no one who should +inquire her errand, or try to prevent it, and so she took a circuitous +route to Sans Souci, and crept round the back of the plantation until +she came to a clump of dense underwood, through which she knew a +path led to the fatal spot. She tied a handkerchief steeped in some +disinfectant across her mouth and nostrils as she entered it, and then, +with a short prayer to God for protection and success, went bravely +on. She carried a knife in her hand, with which she sliced the bark of +the trees as she walked along, for she was afraid of losing her way +altogether, and perhaps never finding the sunlight again; but for the +first few minutes the Alligator Swamp seemed to be a harmless place +enough. The grass beneath her feet was bright and green, from the +humidity of the atmosphere and the shade of the trees, but the first +indication of danger was given by her foot suddenly sinking in wet +soil up to her ankle. She drew it back quickly, and commenced to walk +more slowly, and tapping the ground before her with the stout stick +she held in her hand, before she ventured to tread on it. Her heart +beat fast at times as a rustle in the bushes betrayed the presence of +a rattlesnake--about the only living thing that shared the swamp with +the alligators--or a splash in the surrounding vegetation proved she +was approaching the haunts of the caymen. Still she went on, picking +her way over the morass, or skirting it by means of the rotten trunks +that lay across it, and swayed and rolled as she mounted them, as if +they would give way beneath her weight, and let her fall into the +slimy pool they floated on. Soon she began to feel the effects of +the mephitic vapours with which the place abounded, and had recourse +to her smelling-salts, to prevent her becoming giddy. All this time +Lizzie had kept up a continual note from a whistle she had hung about +her neck, and at intervals she had called upon Henri de Courcelles by +name. As she advanced to the centre of the swamp the daylight seemed +to be entirely excluded, and she lighted a lantern which was tied at +her girdle. With her staff in one hand and her revolver in the other +she now began to pick her way step by step, her heart sinking with +fear and disappointment as she went. For not a sound came in answer +to her whistle or her call. The profoundest silence reigned in the +Alligator Swamp. The stench of the decaying vegetation was more and +more apparent, and the only light by which she walked was the feeble +glimmer thrown in advance from the little lantern at her waist. It +was a situation to appal the bravest spirit. Once she stepped forward +almost confidently, and placed her foot on a broad bridge, formed, as +she believed, of the corrugated trunk of a fallen tree, but as she +touched it it sank beneath the slime, and rose again immediately with +two fierce twinkling eyes and an open jaw full of pointed teeth, to +confront her. + +Lizzie flew backward with a scream of terror, and, clinging with one +arm to the branch of a tree, discharged her revolver full in the +reptile’s face. The bullet was probably battered against its impervious +hide, but the shot had the desired effect of frightening the alligator +back into its home of slime. It had another, and more unforeseen +effect. It reached the senses of an almost unconscious man, who had +slidden into a sitting position beside some bushes, but a few yards +off, and roused him from his sleep of death. The sound of the shot +conveyed but one idea to his mind, however,--that his pursuers had +penetrated his asylum, and were close at hand to capture him; and with +the intention to defy them to the last, he staggered to his feet, and +set his back against a tree. The tall figure clothed in white became +apparent in the surrounding twilight, and when Lizzie raised her eyes +from the spot where the cayman had disappeared from view, it was to fix +them on the form of Henri de Courcelles. She uttered a cry of pleasure +at the discovery, which sounded to him like a note of victory. + +‘Stand off!’ he exclaimed loudly; ‘shoot me like a man if you will, but +don’t attempt to touch me with your accursed fingers, or I will dive +into the swamp and escape you.’ + +He was about to put his suicidal threat into execution, when Lizzie +stepped quickly across the yielding earth which separated them, and +stood by his side. + +‘Henri!’ she ejaculated, as she clutched at his clothes with her hand +and held him back. + +He turned and stared at her. + +‘_Lizzie!_’ was all he could say. + +‘Yes, it is I,’ she answered simply. + +At that his senses appeared to return to him. His astonishment at +seeing her was so great, that he pulled himself together, as a drunken +man will sometimes do, under special circumstances. + +‘Lizzie--_here!_’ he repeated. ‘But what made you come to such a place? +Do you know that you are courting certain death, and that every moment +may be your last? Go back at once! Don’t stay here another instant! You +were mad to think of such a thing.’ + +‘I _am_ going back, and at once,’ she answered quickly, ‘but you must +come with me.’ + +‘I cannot. The police are waiting for me outside, and I will die here +sooner than deliver myself into their hands.’ + +She disengaged the wallet of medicines which she had carried on her +back, and, pouring out a mixture of brandy and quinine, held it to his +lips. + +‘Drink this, Henri, and listen to me. I have come here expressly to +find you and save you, and you must trust yourself to me. The police +shall not take you. They are waiting by Shanty Hill, and I know a +secret outlet by Miners’ Gulch. But we must leave this pestiferous +atmosphere at once, or it may be fatal to both of us.’ + +He clung to her like a child to its mother. + +‘You can save me!’ he exclaimed. ‘Oh, my good angel! why did I ever +desert you?’ + +‘Hush! Don’t speak of that now. Think of nothing excepting the best +means to get out of this dreadful place. Drink some more brandy, and +inhale this ammonia. That is right. Pull yourself together, and follow +me closely. I will go first, and lead the way.’ + +She pulled him forward as she spoke, and mechanically he followed her. +Step by step they went, very slowly and cautiously at first, and +then faster, as the dusky twilight spread itself out, and the gleams +of sunshine penetrated at intervals the dense foliage, and turned +its neutral tints into living green. On they went, she in front with +her staff and revolver, and he, behind, only half comprehending what +had occurred to him, until they reached the thicket which abutted on +the Sans Souci plantation, where he sank down upon the grass, with +a low moan of exhaustion. Lizzie was busy with her wallet directly. +She had anticipated that as soon as the excitement was over he would +succumb to the strain he had passed through--for the Spanish Creoles +have not strong constitutions, and had provided the necessary remedies +against it. It was some little time before Henri de Courcelles fairly +understood what had happened to him, and then his gratitude knew no +bounds. + +‘Am I really safe, and with you?’ he murmured. ‘What have I done to +deserve such goodness at your hands?’ + +‘You are clear of that terrible swamp, Henri; but you are not by +any means safe yet; and if you would be, you must follow out my +instructions to the letter. See here! I have an old cloak and +_sombrero_ which belonged to my poor father. I left them under this +tree when I entered the swamp. We will wait here quietly until it is +a little darker, and then you must put them on, and come home to the +bungalow with me, and I will conceal you there until you can find some +means of leaving San Diego.’ + +‘But how will that be possible, Lizzie? The bills must be out by this +time, putting a price upon my head, and every nigger in the island +will be turned into an amateur detective, in the hope of being able to +claim the reward.’ + +‘Oh, don’t let us think of that now!’ replied Lizzie wearily. ‘The +chief thing at present is to restore your vitality. It is a blessing +you are still alive, Henri. Eat and drink what I have brought for you, +and thank God you can do it in safety. Nothing will harm you here.’ + +‘And you actually came in search of me, alone and unprotected?’ he +said, looking at her with the deepest admiration. ‘You braved the +dangers of this awful place,--ran the risk of a terrible death, and all +for me--_for me_, who have treated you so badly! Oh, Lizzie,’ continued +Henri de Courcelles, seizing her hand, ‘if the devotion of the life you +have rescued can atone to you, it will.’ + +But she drew her hand away hastily--almost with repugnance--from his +clasp. Was it not that of a would-be murderer? + +‘Henri,’ she replied quietly, though her voice shook, ‘you must never +speak to me again like that. I _have_ done what you say, and I thank +Heaven, who has crowned my efforts with success; but it was done for +the sake of the Past, not of the Present; and nothing in the Future, +except the knowledge that your life has been saved for better things, +can ever repay me. I have been shocked beyond measure at what I have +heard concerning you. You have steeped your hands, or would have done +so, in the blood of innocent victims, for the sake of carrying out an +unworthy revenge on the daughter of your benefactors. It was a crime +which would make any honest person shrink from you, which would make +most people consider that a death on the gallows, or in the Alligator +Swamp, was your just deserts. But I cannot _forget_, Henri. Ever since +I have known your relations with my adopted sister, I have ceased to +desire your affection; but I cannot forget that I once valued it, and +to think of your being sent out of the world without the opportunity to +repent, was very terrible to me. _That_ is why I have run this risk to +save you, and why I am thankful I have succeeded. But don’t speak of +love to me again, or you may make me sorry instead of glad.’ + +There was a calm, reasonable determination in her voice as she spoke, +that brought conviction home to Henri de Courcelles’ mind. He saw it +plainly now. He had not only lost her love,--he had forfeited her +respect and her esteem; and as the truth smote home to him, the +unwonted tears rose to his eyes. + +‘Why didn’t you leave me in the swamp?’ he murmured. ‘I had better +have remained there, to become the prey of the alligators, than live +under your contempt. Let me go back,’ he continued, starting to his +feet, ‘for your words have taken all my courage out of me, and I would +rather die a thousand deaths by my own hand than fall into those of my +enemies, and swing like a malefactor from the Fort gates.’ + +‘You shall do neither!’ exclaimed Lizzie, as she caught his arm, and +drew him down to her side again. ‘Come, Henri, be reasonable. Remember +I am your friend, and have thought out the whole plan of your escape. +Put on this cloak and _sombrero_. See how completely they disguise you, +and cover you from head to foot. The only thing we have to dread now +is lest some acquaintance should meet and question me; but that is very +unlikely, as this is the general dinner hour for all Europeans, and I +will take you home by an unfrequented path.’ + +‘But when I reach your bungalow, Lizzie, what will Rosa say?’ + +‘I have been obliged to take Rosa into my confidence, Henri, but she +will not betray you. As for the rest, leave it to me, and I believe +that, with Heaven’s aid, I can bring you out of this strait.’ + +‘You are too good to me,’ he said brokenly; ‘and I place myself +altogether in your hands. Lead on, Lizzie, as you think best, and I +will follow.’ + +‘No, Henri; we will walk side by side. It will be much better, in +case of an encounter with any one who knows us, that I should show a +perfect fearlessness in the matter. Take my staff in your hand, and +sling the wallet across your shoulder. Then we shall look as if we had +been searching the country for herbs for medicinal purposes; and I will +gather a bundle of leaves, in order to carry out the delusion. That is +right. Now come with me, and let us step out manfully together.’ + +They traversed the couple of miles that lay between them and +Beauregard, without encountering anything more formidable than a few +negroes sauntering along the road as they returned from work. But as +they approached the plantation, the danger of discovery became more +imminent, and Lizzie conducted her companion to her bungalow by a +circuitous route. + +It was reached at last, however, and as De Courcelles sank into one of +the familiar chairs in the sitting-room, he felt like a man who has +been delivered from the very jaws of death to be suddenly transported +into paradise. + +‘But you must not rest here, Henri,’ whispered Lizzie, as she quickly +closed all the jalousies. ‘Mr Courtney or one of the hands might enter +at any moment. There would be continual risk of discovery.’ + +‘Where, then?’ he demanded, in the same tone. + +‘In my dear father’s bedroom. It has never been opened since his death, +and you are not likely to be disturbed there. You know what these +silly, superstitious natives are. They would not enter a chamber where +a death has occurred, to save their lives. They would be fearful of +encountering my dear father’s wraith. You see now my object in dressing +you up in his cloak and hat. If any of our negroes had seen you, he +would probably have run shrieking to his hut, to spread the report that +the Doctor’s ghost was walking about Beauregard. You must remember to +keep up the idea, should any unforeseen risk occur. But here, for a +few days at least, I believe you will be safe,’ continued Lizzie, as +she unlocked the door of her late father’s apartment, ‘until I can +get you away from the island. You will have to be my prisoner,’ she +added playfully; ‘and I shall lock you in, and bring you your meals at +the stated times. But keep the jalousies bolted inside night and day, +and try to do with as little light as possible, to avoid attracting +attention. You will find all my dear father’s wardrobe in the cupboard +here. Use it as you think best, and try and be contented under the +restraint, and thankful (as I am) that Heaven has spared your life to +you.’ + +He turned round as he crossed the threshold, and sank on his knees +before her. + +‘You have forbidden me to speak of love,’ he ejaculated, ‘but I must +say something to express my gratitude. You have indeed heaped coals of +fire on my head! You have done what no other living creature, male or +female, would have done; you have risked your life and safety for me, +who have treated you worse than any one else. Let me say Heaven bless +you for it, Lizzie. I feel if there is a hell beyond the one we suffer +here, that mine will be to remember always the terrible mistake I made +in allowing a woman’s personal beauty to blind me to the virtues of +the friend whom I now feel I have loved and honoured above all the +world.’ + +He took her hand and kissed it as he spoke, and Lizzie was not ashamed +to let her tears fall freely on them both. + +‘I am glad now, Henri,’ she uttered falteringly, ‘and I shall be glad +in the days to come to think over the words you have just said, and to +remember that you knew me for your true friend. There are different +kinds of love from the one we once thought we felt for each other--and +perhaps better ones--and something of the sort I shall never cease to +feel for you. And if you think you owe me gratitude, Henri--if you +would repay me let it be by abandoning all ideas of revenge and murder +for the future. Don’t let me have the terrible self-reproach that I +have wasted my affection on one so utterly unworthy of it.’ + +‘I have taken a different oath, Lizzie, but I will rescind it, for your +sake, and here on my knees I swear to you that if I am spared to escape +the gallows, I will abandon all ideas of revenge in the future. After +all, Maraquita is but a false woman, not worthy of a man’s revenge. +There are dozens such: the world is peopled with them.’ + +‘She is the woman you loved, Henri,’ replied Lizzie gravely, ‘and +therefore she is the woman you should always be most lenient to. But +she has passed out of your world, and the kindest thing you can do +for her and yourself is to forget her. But you must not talk of such +exciting topics to-night. It may be some time before you shake off the +effects of the poisonous vapours you have inhaled. Go to rest now, and +sleep without fear. I will guarantee that no one shall disturb your +slumbers.’ + +De Courcelles took her advice, and flung himself, exhausted through +excitement and fatigue, upon the late Doctor’s bed, whilst she, with a +divine light, almost akin to maternal solicitude, upon her countenance, +took a seat in the outer room, and prepared to watch all night against +a possible surprise for the man she held prisoner. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +But from that moment Lizzie had not a moment’s peace. She dreaded +everything and everybody. Each casual visitor she believed to be a +spy, and the appearance of a friend made her think that the hour of +discovery had come. Rosa made her a thousand promises of fidelity, +but the yellow girl, though devoted to her mistress’s interests, was, +after all, very much like other women, and found it a hard task to hold +her tongue. The whole time she was employed in exercising the baby +in the plantation, was a season of torture to Lizzie, who pictured +her confiding the whole story to her most intimate friend, under a +promise of inviolable secrecy. Meanwhile Henri de Courcelles, though +confined to one room during the day time, and only venturing out after +dark by means of the window, and with a disguise on, was passing a +fairly pleasant time. The two women fed him royally, and waited on him +like servants, and he held several conferences with Lizzie as to the +possibility of his getting down to the Fort by night, and embarking as +a seaman on board one of the Spanish crafts that lay in the bay of San +Diego. They would have carried this plan, of which they had arranged +all the minutiæ together, into effect at once, had it not been deemed +advisable that De Courcelles should lie _perdu_ until it might be +supposed by the authorities that their prisoner had perished beyond all +doubt in the Alligator Swamp. As soon as the guard of mounted police +who watched for him outside the swamp was withdrawn, Lizzie and De +Courcelles decided that his first attempt at an escape from the island +should be made. He had been concealed in the bungalow for two days +when Mr Courtney walked in one morning and took a seat beside Lizzie. +The planter looked worn and anxious, and as he removed his hat, and +passed his handkerchief across his brow, he seemed to have grown older +of late, notwithstanding the brilliant marriage that his daughter had +made. The words with which he opened the conversation, had reference to +Maraquita. + +‘Sir Russell and Lady Johnstone have come to stay with us at the White +House, Lizzie.’ + +‘Indeed, sir,’ she replied. ‘I suppose Quita is nervous of staying at +Government House, after what happened there last week. And I don’t +wonder at it, poor girl! I should be glad to hear that the Governor had +decided to take her to England.’ + +‘So should we, my dear, and they will go before long--there is no +doubt of that--only, it would hardly do for the Governor to run away +whilst the island is in this state of ferment. But he judged rightly in +thinking that our dear Maraquita would feel safer and happier with her +parents, and in her old home. For she has received a terrible shock, +Lizzie, and it is telling on her visibly. She seems ten years older to +me.’ + +‘Poor Quita, she cannot fail to feel it,’ replied Lizzie, looking at +the matter in a totally different light from that in which Mr Courtney +regarded it. + +‘Yes, and I wish I could think that there was no further reason for her +fears. Lizzie, I have come here this morning for one purpose only,--to +persuade you to return with me to the White House.’ + +Lizzie started, and coloured. + +‘Oh, Mr Courtney, I cannot. I don’t know why you want me there, but +unless it is in my capacity as medical adviser, I must refuse. You +forget that Mrs Courtney ordered me never to show my face there again.’ + +‘I can allow no feminine quarrels to interfere with your safety, +Lizzie; and it is to secure _that_ that I beg of you to take up your +residence at my house until these mutinous ideas have been knocked out +of the coolies’ heads. I do not feel that you are safe,--that we are, +any of us, safe. I begin to distrust even my own hands, for whom I have +done all in my power.’ + +‘Mr Courtney, I appreciate your kindness, but there are too many +reasons why I cannot accept it.’ + +‘Name them, my dear.’ + +‘I have named one already, sir. Another is my infant charge. Do you +suppose I would desert her?’ + +‘Bring her with you. There is room in the White House for us all.’ + +‘No, Mr Courtney,’ she answered proudly, ‘it is _impossible_. I will +not take the child under the roof of the very woman who has falsely +accused me of being its mother.’ + +‘But I am sure, Lizzie, that neither my wife nor Maraquita really +believe that story.’ + +‘And I am sure of it too, sir; but that only places their cruelty to me +in a more heinous light. Forgive me for saying it, Mr Courtney, before +you, who have always been so good to me and my poor father, but I will +never again place myself voluntarily in the society of either Mrs +Courtney or Maraquita, until they have publicly acknowledged that they +have done me a foul wrong.’ + +‘They have been very hard on you,’ sighed the planter; ‘but their +conduct cannot blind me to my duty. I cannot consent to your remaining +here, Lizzie. The negroes may rise at any moment, and this bungalow is +in the very midst of their quarters. I have received secret information +concerning them, that has seriously alarmed me. The general +disaffection has spread much further than I dreamt of, and even the +hands on Beauregard are believed to be ripe for rebellion. Were they to +take it into their heads to rise, what would you do?’ + +Lizzie laughed at the idea. + +‘In that case, sir--did I believe it possible (which I can hardly do) +that your coolies could so utterly forget all they owe to you--I should +be much safer _here_ than in the White House. Why should they harbour +any resentment against _me_? They loved my dear father, and I believe +they love me for his sake, and _I_ have nothing to do with their +fancied causes for complaint. If they do rise, which God forbid, it +will be the White House against which they will make a raid.’ + +‘Ah, my dear child, long as you have lived amongst them, you do not +know the negro nature as I do. Once roused, he becomes a devil, and has +no power of distinguishing between friends and foes. This bungalow will +be the first piece of my property which they will have the opportunity +of destroying, and I feel sure they will not spare it, nor perhaps +even _you_. Lizzie, I beg, I implore of you to accept my offer of +protection, and transport yourself, and all you value, to the White +House.’ + +But Lizzie was firm. She quailed a little before the possible picture +Mr Courtney had conjured up,--before the remembrance too of certain +words of Captain Norris, in which he had expressed his own fears for +her safety; but they had no power to alter her determination. There +was her poor prisoner in the next room to them. Guilty as he had proved +himself to be, she had promised him her protection, and she would stand +by him to the last, even if they were doomed to perish together. So she +only shook her head, and smiled, and continued stitching at her work. + +‘Your obstinacy is incredible to me,’ said Mr Courtney, half angrily, +‘and you put me in a very unpleasant position. I promised your father +(as far as I could) to supply his place to you. I look on you as second +only to my own child, yet you refuse to accept from me a father’s +protection, or to yield me the obedience of a daughter.’ + +‘I am sorry to appear ungrateful to you, Mr Courtney, but I have my own +reasons for remaining in my own home, and your arguments have no power +to shake them. Pray don’t be under any further apprehension for me--I +have none for myself; and if your workers _are_ disposed to mutiny, it +is all the more reason that I should remain amongst them, and try to +bring them to a better frame of mind.’ + +‘Ah, I have heard of your attempts in that direction already, Lizzie, +and that the coolies call you the angel of Beauregard! You are a good +girl, my dear, and may God reward you for all you have done. I am only +sorry that unfortuitous circumstances should have laid this burden +of secrecy upon you. But cheer up; the day will come, perhaps, when +it will be removed as unexpectedly as it appeared. And no one shall +rejoice more when that day comes than I shall, Lizzie.’ + +She sighed, but she answered nothing. She knew that if the day he spoke +of ever dawned, it would be to bow her benefactor’s head with shame. + +‘And so all my entreaties are in vain?’ said Mr Courtney, as he rose to +go. + +‘Yes, sir; I shall remain here; and honestly, I do not believe you have +any cause for fear.’ + +Yet she pondered over what he had told her all that day, not from any +dread of her own safety, but endeavouring to think of some plan for +getting Henri de Courcelles away before there was any possibility of +his detection. For she felt that if the coolies on Beauregard _did_ +rise, and proceed to incendiarism or slaughter, Henri de Courcelles, +who had been their tyrannical master in the days gone by, and their +inciter to rebellion in the present, would be the first victim of +their lawless passions. Her mind was still running on the same subject +when the evening shadows closed, and Hugh Norris unexpectedly walked +into the room. + +Her first feeling at seeing him was one of such unmitigated pleasure, +that she could not help betraying it. + +‘Oh, Hugh--I mean, Captain Norris,’ she exclaimed, ‘are you really back +again? I am so glad--I didn’t think--I was afraid that--’ and here she +stopped, blushing for her incoherency. + +‘Are you _really_ glad?’ he said, taking her hand, and warmly pressing +it, whilst his open countenance revealed his emotion. ‘Have you felt my +absence, Lizzie? Have our two months of separation stretched themselves +out to their full term?’ + +‘Indeed they have,’ she answered ingenuously. ‘I have been counting +the days till you should return. For we have passed through a terrible +time since you left us. But perhaps you have already heard of it.’ + +‘Indeed I have heard of it, Lizzie,’ he said gravely, ‘and I thank God +that it was no worse. What should I have done had you been involved in +this horrible catastrophe? But I am here, and you are safe, and I will +not leave San Diego again until I take you with me. Was I not right in +my forebodings?’ + +‘Partially so; but you see that no one has harmed me yet. What a quick +passage you have made this time, Captain Norris.’ + +‘Very quick; but you may imagine that I wasted no more time in England +than I could help, Lizzie. I was not out of sight of San Diego before +I was longing to get back again, and, thanks to favourable winds, and +an obliging supercargo, I have made the double passage in as short a +time as is possible. But I found time to accomplish my heart’s desire, +all the same.’ + +‘What was that?’ she demanded curiously. + +‘Do you remember the packet of letters you threw me to read when we +last said good-bye, and you had to run off to attend to some woolly +infant or other?’ + +‘Yes, yes, I remember. It was Mammy Chloe’s baby,’ she answered, +laughing. + +‘The first letter I opened surprised me more than anything has ever +done in my life before. It was from your late father to Mr Courtney, +and he signed himself “Herbert Ruthin,” and wrote in familiar terms of +his father and mother, Sir William and Lady Ruthin, and of their place +in Scotland--Aberdare.’ + +‘Well, well! of course; it was his own home,’ interrupted Lizzie +impatiently. ‘Why should it have so greatly surprised you?’ + +‘Because, Lizzie, my mother (whose maiden name was Mary Herbert) is a +second or third cousin of Lady Ruthin, and when her ladyship came to +Maidstone, which is close to mother’s home, a few years ago, she called +on us, and took dinner at the cottage.’ + +‘Oh, Hugh, how very, _very_ strange!’ cried Lizzie, forgetting +etiquette in her breathless surprise. + +‘Yes, it is only another proof of how small the world is, and how we +are all but one large family. I remembered Lady Ruthin’s visit to my +mother distinctly, and also that I had heard she had had great trouble +about her second son Herbert, but I fancied he was dead. When I learnt +the truth from those letters, I determined to see Sir William and Lady +Ruthin on my return to England, and I did so.’ + +‘You _did_!’ echoed Lizzie; ‘and, oh! what did they say?’ + +‘I was only at Aberdare two hours, dearest,’ replied Captain Norris, +growing bolder as he gained his advantage, ‘but it was long enough to +serve my purpose. I told them everything, Lizzie,--what a good life +your dear father had lived here, expiating his youthful error by a +course of self-abnegation, and how like a martyr he had died, stricken +down by the exhaustion consequent on his labours for others. And I +soon found that if their pride and mortification have prevented their +speaking of their lost son for so many years past, it has not been +because the love of him has faded from their hearts. They concluded +he was dead long ago, but as I spoke of him, they were both melted +into tears, and reproached themselves bitterly for not having employed +stronger measures to ascertain his fate.’ + +‘My poor darling father!’ exclaimed Lizzie, weeping; ‘how I wish he +could have had the comfort of knowing that his parents felt for him.’ + +‘Doubtless he knows it now, dear. But my story is not done yet, +Lizzie. When I had told Sir William and Lady Ruthin all I knew about +your father, I spoke of _you_, and their excitement became painful to +witness. They are longing to see you, my dear, and make up to you for +all you have suffered on account of your poor father’s exile. I am the +bearer of a letter from them begging you at once to return to England +and place yourself under their protection. I shall see you in your +proper position at last, Lizzie, and reaping the reward you so richly +deserve. I cannot tell you how proud and happy I feel to have been made +the instrument of this change in your destinies.’ + +Lizzie looked up at him gratefully. + +‘It was so good of you to think of it,’ she murmured; ‘but I can hardly +believe it yet. My dear father’s parents! They will seem like part of +himself to me, and especially if they cherish his memory. And I shall +owe it all to you. What can I do for you in return, Hugh?’ + +‘Only one thing, dear. Let me take you back to England, and present +you to your grandparents as _my wife_.’ + +‘Did you--did you--say anything to them about it?’ she asked timidly. + +‘Well, I gave them a hint on the subject,’ he answered, laughing; ‘as +far, that is to say, as _I_ am concerned--I could not answer for _you_, +you know, because you have not yet answered for yourself.’ + +‘And how did they take it?’ + +‘They were good enough to say that they would make no objection +whatever to me as your husband, provided I gave up the sea and kept +you on dry land. And Sir William promised, moreover, in that case, to +help me to obtain suitable employment. And so you see, my dear, the +conclusion of the matter rests with you. What is your answer?’ + +She saw the deep blue honest eyes gazing fondly into her own, and had +just placed her hand in his preparatory to saying ‘Yes,’ when a loud +unmistakable cough sounded from the inner room. + +‘What is that?’ exclaimed Hugh Norris, starting to his feet, his senses +always acutely alive to possible danger. ‘There is some one in your +father’s bedroom. Stand aside, Lizzie, and let me see who it is.’ + +He seized his stick--his only weapon--as he spoke, and was about to try +the locked door. But she interposed herself between him and it. + +‘You cannot enter that room, Captain Norris. It is fastened.’ + +‘Then some one--a mutineer, perhaps--must have got in by the window. I +am certain my ears did not deceive me. The sound we heard proceeded +from that room, and I must satisfy myself on the subject.’ + +He was about to pass her, when she put out her hand to prevent him, and +he observed how very pale and strained her face (but a few moments ago +so smiling) had suddenly become. + +‘Captain Norris, I hold this room sacred to myself, and neither you, +nor any man, shall cross the threshold.’ + +He looked full at her then in his amazement, and the truth seemed to +flash suddenly upon him. + +‘You have been deceiving me!’ he exclaimed; ‘you have some one +concealed there whom you are ashamed to tell me of! Who is it?’ he +continued, in a low voice, which threatened danger,--‘that blackguard +De Courcelles, who would have slaughtered every European in the Fort, +if he had had his way, and whom I hear has been in hiding ever since?’ + +Lizzie was silent. Twice her mouth opened to utter a lie in the defence +of her former lover, and twice it died unuttered on her lips. Hugh +Norris knew her too well to misinterpret her want of courage. He threw +her one look of deep reproach, and, turning away, sat down by the +table, and buried his face in his hands. Lizzie could not withstand +the action. She crept after him, and laid her hand timidly upon his +shoulder. + +‘Hugh,’ she whispered, ‘Hugh--’ + +But he jerked the kindly touch away, almost roughly. + +‘Don’t come near me,’ he muttered, ‘Don’t speak to me. You are false, +and you have destroyed all my faith in womankind.’ + +‘No, no, Hugh! you shall not say that of me. Listen, and I will tell +you everything. I should have told it you in any case, for I sorely +need your counsel and advice, only we have had no time as yet to speak +of any one but ourselves. But you are good, and noble, and true, and +if you do not approve of my action, you will at least not betray it. +I will not deceive you, and I think, when you know all, you will +acknowledge you would have done the same. Henri de Courcelles is in +that room, a fugitive hiding from the law! No, don’t look at me like +that! I call Heaven to witness he is not there as my lover, but that I +would have extended the same succour to any fellow-creature who threw +himself upon my mercy. Hugh! I heard that he had escaped from the Fort +prison, and eluded the pursuit of the police by taking refuge in the +Alligator Swamp. Could I have left him there to perish by a miserable +death, without making one effort to save him?’ + +Captain Norris looked up at her in amazement. + +‘But what could _you_ do?’ he inquired. ‘Not a man in San Diego would +venture to penetrate the horrors of the swamp, unless he wished to die.’ + +‘Yet a _woman_ did,’ she whispered. + +‘Lizzie, you do not mean to tell me that you went yourself?--that you +risked the awful dangers of the miasma and the alligators, for the sake +of this man, and that you live to tell the tale?’ + +‘The danger was not so great for me as for another, Hugh, because I +knew the proper preventatives to carry with me. Anyway, I went, and +I was successful. I found this unhappy and misguided man nearly +unconscious from the effects of the poisonous air he was inhaling, and +I brought him safely out of it, and have hid him here for the last +two days, until I could devise some plan to get him away from San +Diego. Will you help me, Hugh? I know it is a great thing to ask at +your hands; and I have not another friend whom I would trust with the +secret; but I shall not rest till I know he is secure from suffering a +malefactor’s death upon the gallows.’ + +‘He deserves it, Lizzie, if any one ever did.’ + +‘I know it! but if we all received our deserts in this world, how badly +we should fare! Hugh, you will believe me when I tell you that such +love as I once entertained for Henri de Courcelles is all past, and for +ever. I see his character in its true light at last,--as vindictive +and revengeful and untrue! But that does not alter the case that once +I thought him good enough to be my husband, and mine is a heart that +cannot entirely forget!’ + +‘What do you want me to do for him, Lizzie?’ + +‘To get him down to the docks in disguise, and ship him on board one +of the vessels there that are bound for Spain or America. It would be +cruel to send him anywhere else. And if that should be impossible to do +all at once, couldn’t you let him stay on the _Trevelyan_ till you are +able to send him away?’ continued Lizzie wistfully. + +‘You ask me to do a very wrong and dangerous thing, my dear,--to +harbour a rebel against the British Government, and cheat the gallows +of its just due.’ + +‘No, Hugh--to succour a wretched fellow-creature, who was half driven +to madness by a woman’s treachery, before he dreamt of committing such +a crime. I cannot tell you all his story, but if you knew it, you would +pity him, as I do.’ + +‘Nothing of the sort. I despise the fool for having thrown away such +a heart as he had found in yours! Why, Lizzie! you are a heroine, and +the noblest woman I ever met! Well, and suppose I become a traitor to +my Queen and country at your command, and help this rascally lover of +yours to escape the ends of justice, what reward am I to expect for the +risk I shall run?’ + +‘What reward do you want?’ she answered, smiling at him through her +tears. ‘You shall name it, Hugh, for I see you are going to do this +great and generous thing for my sake, and hold out a helping hand to +your unfortunate rival.’ + +‘Promise to become my wife, Lizzie! Nothing short of that will quite +satisfy me of the purity of your benevolence for De Courcelles--because +I know your nobility of character too well to think you would ever +bestow your hand on one man whilst there was a remnant of love left in +your heart for another.’ + +‘You only do me justice there, Hugh; for if I am not _true_ I am +nothing. Yes, I will be your wife, whenever you choose to ask me, and +(God helping me) a good and faithful one.’ + +‘And a loving one into the bargain?’ he returned interrogatively. ‘I +will not accept your hand without your heart, Lizzie.’ + +‘Can any wife be good and faithful if she is not loving, Hugh? But do +not be afraid! _I love you._ Is that enough?’ + +‘Then come to my arms!’ he exclaimed, as he rose and held them out +to her. She was hesitating just a little, not entirely from coyness, +but because it is so sweet to dally with our happiness--when a low +murmuring sound, like the first menacing tones of thunder, or the +moaning of a sleuthhound when it finds the trail, which evidently +proceeded from the negroes’ quarters, made them start asunder, and +change colour. + +‘What was that?’ demanded Lizzie, under her breath, as Hugh Norris +threw his arm round her for protection. + +‘It is the groaning of a crowd,’ he answered. ‘It is the first note of +mutiny. Lizzie, there is something wrong! For God’s sake, let me take +you away from this.’ + +But she struggled to free herself. + +‘If they are rising, Hugh, let me go to them! No one understands them +as I do! Let me speak, and they will obey me! I can do with them as I +like.’ + +But before he had time to put into words his entreaty that she would +resign herself to his protection, a piercing shriek seemed to rend the +evening air, and the next minute Rosa, the yellow girl, rushed into the +room, with Maraquita’s infant in her arms. + +‘Oh, Missy Liz,’ she cried, ‘what have they done to my baby? Dis +crowd of niggers is all cryin’ out for dere rights, and down with de +planters, and I coming along, and dey pulled de poor baby from my arms, +and hit it on de head with a stone. Oh, Missy Liz, I couldn’t help it! +I screamed to dem to leave my poor baby alone! But dey call out ’tis +Missy Quita’s chile and Massa Courcelles’, and den dey strike it again. +And the baby’s berry sick, Missy Liz--berry sick, indeed,’ continued +Rosa, weeping, and rocking the bundle in her arms. + +‘Give it to me,’ said Lizzie calmly, though her face was deathly white, +but not so white as that of Maraquita’s infant, which lay calm and +peaceful in the sleep of death, with a discoloured bruise upon its +little forehead, where the cruel stone had struck it. + +‘She is _dead_!’ said Lizzie solemnly, as she placed the body on the +table. She did not shed a tear as she did so, but Hugh Norris, looking +up at her, marked the deep lines which suppressed emotion had drawn +upon her forehead, and thought he had never seen her look so stern +before. + +‘My poor little Mary,’ she said, in a low voice, as she gazed upon +the infant’s dead form. ‘This is the first-fruits of the Beauregard +rebellion, Hugh! They have risen at last, and they will not stop here! +What will become of them all at the White House?’ + +‘We must give the alarm at once,’ said Captain Norris. ‘They may not +be prepared for this outbreak. But Lizzie, I will not go and leave you +here! If you wish your friends to be put on their guard, you must come +with me.’ + +‘It is too late,’ she answered: ‘they are already upon us! We should +only walk into their midst. Listen to that--’ + +She held up her finger, and Captain Norris could distinctly hear the +yelling of a mob of coolies advancing on the plantation, and see the +flaming torches which they carried in their hands, whilst in another +moment two or three random shots proved that they were carrying +firearms, and prepared to use them.’ + +‘The devils!’ cried Norris. ‘Is it possible they can have the heart to +injure _you_, after all you have done for them?’ + +‘No, no, massa!’ exclaimed the yellow girl; ‘coolies never hurting +Missy Liz; they love her too much for dat. Only dey want revenge on +Massa Courtney and de Governor and Missy Quita. Missy Liz, dey will +fire de White House for sure, and kill de Governor! Hark! they hab +passed oder side of plantation. Dey go by Oleander Bungalow to de big +house, and nebber come near Missy Liz at all.’ + +‘They have come near enough, in killing my poor baby!’ exclaimed +Lizzie, weeping, as she kissed the dead child. ‘If they love _me_, why +couldn’t they have spared _her_?’ + +‘’Cause she belong to dat De Courcelles, and grow up bad like him and +Missy Quita. Dat what dem trashy niggers say,’ replied Rosa, joining +her sobs to those of her mistress. + +‘Is it possible this child belongs to Lady Johnstone?’ demanded Norris. + +‘Oh, hush, Hugh! don’t mention it, even _here_!’ said Lizzie. ‘I have +kept the secret for _her_ sake--not his!’ + +‘Oh, my brave girl, your love has indeed earned the martyr’s crown!’ he +answered, looking at her with the deepest admiration and respect. ‘But +hark, Lizzie! Surely the mob have turned this way.’ + +At that moment a kind of sudden rush through the darkness outside was +followed by the entrance of Mr and Mrs Courtney, with Maraquita and +Sir Russell Johnstone! The women were in their evening dresses--half +fainting with fear, and their protectors were almost as agitated as +themselves. + +‘Lizzie,’ cried Mr Courtney, ‘give us shelter, for God’s sake! Hide +us in your rooms, and this murderous crew will not dare to follow +us there. They are fond of you, Lizzie, and they will believe what +you say. Make them hear reason, in Heaven’s name! or we shall all be +slaughtered before your eyes!’ + +‘Quick! quick! in here!’ she exclaimed, as she thrust the whole party +into her own bedroom, and closed the door. ‘Go with them, Hugh,’ she +said, when they had concealed themselves, ‘and let me bring these +mutineers to reason.’ + +‘And leave you to fall a prey to their baffled wrath, or become a +billet for the first bullet that strays this way, Lizzie,’ he answered +tenderly. ‘No, my dear. You have said you love me; and if we have to +die, we will die together.’ + +Before she could answer him, a crew of dusky faces were surrounding +the bungalow, blocking up the verandah, pressing into the doors, and +filling up the framework of the windows. + +‘Whar’s de Gubnor and de planter? Is dem in hiding here?’ they shouted. +‘Gib dem up, Missy Liz, or we must enter de bungalow, and we doesn’t +want to do dat. Gib dem up, missy, and don’t you be skeered--no nigger +hurting one hair ob your head.’ + +‘I’m not afraid of you for myself, my friends,’ she exclaimed, +standing out boldly to the front, and facing the crowd of rebels, ‘for +you have always been good and kind to me; but if you love me, you will +go away to your own quarters, and leave my house alone!’ + +‘D’rectly we finds de Gubnor and de planter, Missy Liz. But we’se sworn +to ruin dem, and we must do it--dat’s so!’ + +‘And de Gubnor’s wife!’ shrieked a female voice, that might be heard +all over the bungalow. ‘Dat gal what pretends to be so good, and dat is +de moder of dat baby you keep, Missy Liz. She and Massa Courcelles know +all about dat chile; and I wish dey could swing together!’ + +‘Hush, Jerusha, hush! Go away, and keep your evil tongue to yourself!’ +cried Lizzie. + +‘Dat’s true, and you know it, Missy Liz. And de Governor shall know it, +too, and Massa Courtney, and all de world, dat she am no better than de +poor coolie gals what go all wrong.’ + +‘Jerusha, I _implore_ you, for God’s sake!’ commenced Lizzie again. + +But before she could finish her entreaty, Maraquita had pushed open +the bedroom door, and stood beside her, pale and trembling, but not +courageous, except with the courage born of despair. + +‘It _is_ true!’ she gasped, rather than said, ‘and I am ready to +confess it. No, Lizzie, don’t try to prevent my speaking. Everybody +may hear me now. I can suffer in secret no longer. Father, I am not +what you thought me! I am a sinful girl, and I have let the burden of +my shameful secret rest on Lizzie’s shoulders. These people only say +what is true. They hate me for what I have done, and want to revenge +themselves on us all, for my sake. Perhaps, now that I have confessed +my sin, they will pity and forgive me.’ + +She sunk exhausted with fear and shame on Lizzie’s shoulder as she +finished her recital. Sir Russell Johnstone and her parents were +standing by, horror-struck by what they had heard, and forgetful of +their own safety in the agony of witnessing her humiliation. But Lizzie +was the only person who addressed her. + +‘Hush, Quita, you have said enough; and surely all will think you have +suffered sufficiently, and need no further punishment.’ + +But the continual groaning and muttering of the crowd outside did not +seem as though their anger was appeased, and Quita shuddered as she +heard it. + +‘Give me my child!’ she exclaimed wildly. ‘Everything is slipping from +me. My father and mother stand by in silence, my husband will drive me +from his house. Give me something that I can call my own! Lizzie, I +want my child!’ + +‘_There_ is your child, Quita,’ replied her adopted sister sadly, as +she led her to the table. ‘God has already called it through their +hands to Himself. They would not leave you even that poor consolation, +my unhappy Quita.’ + +‘_Dead!_’ cried the unfortunate Lady Russell, as she gazed upon her +infant’s breathless form, ‘_dead!_ Oh, Henri, Henri, why was I ever +untrue to you, and to myself? My punishment is harder than I can bear.’ + +As she sunk upon her knees, and her pitiful cry of ‘Henri’ sounded on +the air, De Courcelles, unable to restrain his feelings longer, burst +open his prison door and rushed in upon them. + +‘Yes,’ he exclaimed triumphantly, as he glared round upon the parents +and husband of Maraquita, ‘she speaks the truth at last. I had sworn +to have her life, in exchange for that of which she has robbed me; but +she has avenged herself. Take me prisoner again, as soon as you like. I +shall die contented, to know what her future life must be.’ + +‘Dey nebber _take_ you!’ cried a shrill voice at the open casement, +which was immediately followed by a shot, which brought Henri de +Courcelles to the ground. + +‘_Jerusha!_’ he muttered between his teeth as he fell, with the dark +blood and froth bubbling from his lips. + +Lizzie was at his side in a moment tearing away his shirt, and striving +to stem the current of his life. But it was in vain. The overseer had +met his fate at last, and was rapidly bleeding to death. + +‘Henri,’ she cried, in a voice of distress, ‘I can do nothing for you! +You are going to God! May He bless and forgive you.’ + +‘As--you--have--done,’ he gasped out, as his lifeless head fell from +her arm. + +Sir Russell Johnstone had stood by, stern and miserable, watching the +pitiable sight, and listening to the confession which dashed all the +brightness from his married life, but Maraquita and her parents had +hidden themselves away, unable to bear such a strain upon their nervous +systems. Hugh Norris seeing that all was over, came forward to take +Lizzie in his arms; but she turned from him, and walked bravely into +the midst of the mutineers. Their flaring torches fell full on her +ashen face, and lighted up the large tears standing in her eyes; but +she stood before them without one sign of fear, and her voice was loud +and determined. + +‘Are you satisfied now?’ she demanded boldly, ‘or are not two lives +sufficient to gorge your lust for blood? Do you know what you have +done? You say you _love_ me, and would not harm a hair of my head, +yet you have killed the man you knew was dear to me! You have made me +risk my life in vain. Two days ago I walked into the Alligator Swamp +alone, to find Henri de Courcelles, and save him from the gallows, and +I brought him here, only to fall a victim to your barbarity. Was that +love for _me_? And the poor baby too--the little innocent child that I +was bringing up as my own, and that had never done you any harm, you +must needs take that from me too. Now, what more do you want? Is it my +own life? You may as well kill me as well as the rest. Perhaps I am not +more worthy to live, in your estimation, than they were.’ + +At this harangue, the ringleaders of the mutiny drew back abashed. They +had not calculated that in taking their revenge on Henri de Courcelles +they would injure their ‘Missy Liz.’ + +‘Missy Liz, no talking like dat,’ said an aged negro, speaking for +the rest. ‘Missy know we lub her, and call her de Good Angel ob +Beauregard.’ + +‘Then if you love me, coolies, prove it by what you do. Give up this +hateful mutiny against those who only desire your good, and let the +Governor, and Mr and Mrs Courtney, return to the White House in peace. +If you don’t, I warn you my life will be the sacrifice, for you shall +trample over my body before you enter the bungalow in search of them.’ + +She placed her two hands on the lintels of the doorposts as she spoke, +to bar their way, and the negroes saw she was in earnest. + +‘Go back to your quarters, my friends,’ she continued, in a softer +voice. ‘In my name, and the name of all whom I love, I beg of you to +return quietly to your homes, and relinquish your murderous design.’ + +‘For _your_ sake den, Missy Liz, for _your_ sake,’ replied the coolies, +as, startled, and somewhat ashamed of themselves, for they had no +real cause of complaint, and had only been incited on by the example +of others, the crowd broke up into groups, and commenced to walk back +slowly to their homes. And then Lizzie turned round, and threw herself +weeping into Hugh Norris’s arms. + + +THE END. + + +COLSTON AND COMPANY, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH. + + + + +TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: + + + Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. + + Emboldened text is surrounded by equals signs: =bold=. + + Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. + + Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized. + + Archaic or variant spelling has been retained. + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75276 *** diff --git a/75276-h/75276-h.htm b/75276-h/75276-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1ee244b --- /dev/null +++ b/75276-h/75276-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6107 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + A crown of shame (vol. 3 of 3) | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tiny {width: 10%; margin-left: 45%; margin-right: 45%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +td {padding-left: 0.5em;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} + +img.drop-cap +{ + float: left; + margin: 0 0.5em 0 0; +} + +.x-ebookmaker-2 img.drop-cap +{ + display: none; +} + +span.drop-cap +{ + color: transparent; + visibility: hidden; + margin-left: -0.9em; +} + +.x-ebookmaker-2 span.drop-cap +{ + color: inherit; + visibility: visible; + margin-left: 0; +} + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 17.5%; + margin-right: 17.5%; +} + +.x-ebookmaker .blockquot { + margin-left: 7.5%; + margin-right: 7.5%; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.ph1 {text-align: center; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;} +.ph2 {text-align: center; font-size: xx-large; font-weight: bold;} +.ph3 {text-align: center; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;} + +div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; page-break-after: always;} +div.titlepage p {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 2em;} + +.xlarge {font-size: 150%;} +.large {font-size: 125%;} + +.x-ebookmaker .hide {display: none; visibility: hidden;} + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +.hangingindent {text-indent: -2em; } + +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:smaller; + margin-left: 17.5%; + margin-right: 17.5%; + padding: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; } + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75276 ***</div> + +<div class="figcenter hide"><img src="images/coversmall.jpg" width="450" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h1>A CROWN OF SHAME.</h1> + +<p class="ph1">VOL. III.</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/title_page.jpg" alt="title page"></div> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="titlepage"> +<p class="ph2">A CROWN OF SHAME.</p> + +<p><span class="xlarge"><i>A NOVEL.</i></span></p> + +<p>BY<br> + +<span class="large">FLORENCE MARRYAT,</span><br> + +<small>AUTHOR OF<br> +‘LOVE’S CONFLICT,’ ‘MY SISTER THE ACTRESS,’<br> +ETC. ETC.</small></p> + +<p><i>IN THREE VOLUMES.</i><br> +<br> +VOL. III.</p> + +<p>LONDON:<br> +<span class="large">F. V. WHITE & CO.,</span><br> +31 SOUTHAMPTON STREET, STRAND, W.C.</p> + +<hr class="tiny"> +<p>1888.</p> + +<p>[<i>All rights reserved.</i>]</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center">EDINBURGH<br> +COLSTON AND COMPANY<br> +PRINTERS</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/icontents.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak"><i>CONTENTS.</i></h2> +</div> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/decoline.jpg" alt=""></div> +<table> + +<tr><td class="tdr" colspan="2"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> + +<tr><td>CHAPTER I.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1"> 1</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td>CHAPTER II.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_19"> 19</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td>CHAPTER III.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_57"> 57</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td>CHAPTER IV.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_94"> 94</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td>CHAPTER V.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_129"> 129</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td>CHAPTER VI.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_165"> 165</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td>CHAPTER VII.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_201"> 201</a></td></tr> +</table> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="ph2">A CROWN OF SHAME.</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="ph3">POPULAR NEW NOVELS.</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<hr class="tiny"> +<p class="center"><i>Now ready, in One Vol., the Seventh Edition of</i></p> + +<div class="hangingindent"> + +<p><b>ARMY SOCIETY; or, Life in a Garrison Town.</b> By <span class="smcap">John Strange +Winter</span>. Author of ‘Bootles’ Baby.’ Cloth gilt, 6s.; also picture boards, 2s.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="tiny"> +<p class="center"><i>Also now ready, in cloth gilt, 3s. 6d. each.</i></p> + +<div class="hangingindent"> +<p><b>GARRISON GOSSIP, Gathered in Blankhampton.</b> By <span class="smcap">John Strange +Winter</span>. Also picture boards, 2s.</p> + +<p><b>IN THE SHIRES.</b> By Sir <span class="smcap">Randal H. Roberts</span>, Bart.</p> + +<p><b>THE OUTSIDER.</b> By <span class="smcap">Hawley Smart</span>.</p> + +<p><b>THE GIRL IN THE BROWN HABIT.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">Edward Kennard</span>.</p> + +<p><b>STRAIGHT AS A DIE.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>BY WOMAN’S WIT.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">Alexander</span>. Author of ‘The Wooing O’t.’</p> + +<p><b>KILLED IN THE OPEN.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">Edward Kennard</span>.</p> + +<p><b>IN A GRASS COUNTRY.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">H. Lovett-Cameron</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A DEVOUT LOVER.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>TWILIGHT TALES.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">Edward Kennard</span>. <i>Illustrated.</i></p> + +<p><b>SHE CAME BETWEEN.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">Alexander Fraser</span>.</p> + +<p><b>THE CRUSADE OF ‘THE EXCELSIOR.’</b> By <span class="smcap">Bret Harte</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A REAL GOOD THING.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">Edward Kennard</span>.</p> + +<p><b>CURB AND SNAFFLE.</b> By Sir <span class="smcap">Randal H. Roberts</span>, Bart.</p> + +<p><b>DREAM FACES.</b> By the Hon. Mrs <span class="smcap">Fetherstonhaugh</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A SIEGE BABY.</b> By <span class="smcap">John Strange Winter</span>.</p> + +<p><b>MONA’S CHOICE.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">Alexander</span>. Author of ‘The Wooing O’t.’</p> +</div> +<hr class="tiny"> +<p class="center"><span class="large">F. V. WHITE & Co., 31 Southampton Street, Strand,<br> +London, W.C.</span></p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[1]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i001a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<p class="ph2">A CROWN OF SHAME.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/decoline.jpg" alt=""></div> +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER I.</h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i001b.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="R"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">R</span>OSA, the yellow girl, was sauntering +up and down the avenue +of tulip trees which formed +an approach of a quarter of a mile to +the plantation of Beauregard, in a very +discontented and sullen humour. She +was holding Maraquita’s baby in her +arms, and she was dressed in her very +best. Her cotton gown was of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[2]</span> +deepest rose colour; on her feet she +wore white stockings and prunella shoes +with sandals; her long black curls—in +which she prided herself there was no +trace of negro crispness—were surmounted +by a handkerchief of bright +orange silk, which Miss Lizzie had given +her as a reward for her kindness to +her little charge. But what was the +good of it all? thought Rosa; what was +the use of wearing her gilt earrings +and her string of coral beads, when +there was no one to see them—not even +a coolie boy left on the plantation? For +this was a general holiday. Not a hand +was to work, either in the coffee or sugar +fields, for it was Miss Maraquita’s wedding-day, +and all the coloured people +were off to the Fort Church to witness +the ceremony. All, that is to say, +except poor Rosa. But Miss Lizzie<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[3]</span> +had refused to give her leave. She +had promised the yellow girl that she +would take charge of the baby in the +afternoon, and let her join the big +dinner that was to be given to all the +hands at sunset, and the dance that +would follow it, but she would not consent +to let her go to the church. Lizzie +had her own reasons for the denial—Rosa +might have been sure that she +would never have been unjust or unkind +to any one—but she did not choose to +tell them to her servant.</p> + +<p>She thought it would scarcely be delicate +to let Rosa, who had the care of +the poor outcast baby, and was like +a second mother to it, form one of the +gaping crowd to see Maraquita married +to the Governor. It was something +too terrible to Lizzie to think that her +adopted sister could do this thing, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span> +she decided that herself and all who had +any part to bear in her sinful secret were +much better out of the way. So she +had condemned Rosa to remain in the +plantation with the infant, who was growing +quite a big child, and the yellow +girl was proportionately discontented.</p> + +<p>There was a certain young Creole +called Juan who had been paying her +great attention lately, and whom she +entertained serious thoughts of marrying. +The silk handkerchief, the earrings, +and the coral beads had all been donned +for Juan’s benefit, and now he was off +to the Fort with some other girl maybe—with +Chloe, or Celeste, or Marie—and +she had to walk up and down this +stupid avenue with the baby in her +arms. Rosa could have shaken the +baby for keeping her from the much-coveted +spectacle.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span>As she was thinking over her disappointment, +Judy—Mammy Lila’s granddaughter—walked +from behind a tall +bush, and confronted her.</p> + +<p>‘Hillo, Rosa!’ she cried. ‘Is dat +Missy Liz’s baby? My! how dat grown; +she’s pretty heavy now, I guess.’</p> + +<p>Judy was an ugly, cunning-looking +young negress, of perhaps fifteen—tall and +lanky and large-boned, with a propensity +for lying and thieving and everything that +was wrong.</p> + +<p>‘<i>Heavy?</i>’ echoed Rosa; ‘you may say +dat. She breaks my arm pretty well +carrying her all day long. But ain’t you +going to the wedding, Judy? It’s most +time to be off. Don’t I wish I’se going +too.’</p> + +<p>‘Why ain’t you going, Rosa, gal? +Uncle Mose say dat will be de finest +sight ebber seen in San Diego. And you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span> +got your Sunday gown on too! Why you +not go?’</p> + +<p>‘’Cause Missy Liz say <i>no</i>; and I nebber +go back to her if I disobey! But you’se +going, Judy, sure?’</p> + +<p>‘No, Rosa! I’se got bad head dis morning,’ +replied Judy, with a cunning look, +and her lean hand to her woolly hair, ‘and +I’se can’t stand long walk. I’se better +stay here till de dinner-bell sound.’</p> + +<p>‘Dere now!’ cried Rosa, with vexation. +‘Ain’t dat a muddle? Why, I’d gib my +best earrings to be able to go. I shall +nebber forgive myself dat I not see Miss +Quita’s wedding.’</p> + +<p>‘You can see de carriages coming down +de drive; and Miss Quita in her white +dress—all lace,’ said Judy.</p> + +<p>‘Dat ain’t de ting! But what you low +niggers know about grand folk’s ways? +I want to be one of de church company,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span> +and hear de wedding ceremony,’ replied +Rosa, mouthing the long word.</p> + +<p>‘So you can, den, Rosa. Jes’ gib de +chile to me, and I’ll hold it till you come +back. Don’t take no time to marry, you +know; jest a few words, and it’s all +over; and I won’t leave dis place while +you’re gone.’</p> + +<p>‘Is dat a fac’, Judy?’ exclaimed the +yellow girl, with a brightening face. +‘Will you hold the baby whiles I gone? +Den I’ll keep my word, and you shall +hab de earrings, for you’re the berry +pusson as I wanted to meet—dat’s so;’ +and placing the infant in Judy’s arms, +she disengaged the gilt trinkets from her +ears, and laid them in her hand. ‘Judy, +you’se a real good gal, and you won’t stir +from dis avenue till I come back; and if +you sees Miss Lizzie a-coming, you’ll bolt +in bushes like rattlesnake? Is dat so?’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span>‘Dat <i>is</i> so, Rosa. I’ll keep her safe, +nebber fear. I likes nussing de babies, +and my head ain’t good for nuffin else +dis morning.’</p> + +<p>‘I’ll hurry back quick as I can directly +dat’s over!’ cried Rosa, as she darted +down the tulip tree avenue, in order to +reach the Fort before the carriages from +Beauregard.</p> + +<p>As soon as she was out of sight, Judy +gave one look around to make sure she +was unobserved, and then dived with +the child into the thick bushes that +skirted the drive on either side. She +had not gone far before she was met +by Henri de Courcelles. He was dressed +much as usual, but he was looking very +pale and dissipated, and there was a +dark look about his eyes that seemed +as though he had been drinking hard, +or going without his natural rest. As<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span> +he encountered Judy, he accosted her +roughly.</p> + +<p>‘So you’ve got the child?’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, yes, Massa Courcelles, and wid +berry little trouble. Rosa jes’ <i>mad</i> to +go to wedding. She jump wid joy when +I tell her I’d hold de baby, and gib me +her best earrings into de bargain; but I +promise I be back here when she return +from church, so massa won’t be long +after her, eh?’</p> + +<p>‘You shall be back as soon as ever +it is possible: I promise you so much; +but you must come with me to San +Diego. You don’t suppose I’m going +to carry <i>that</i>?’</p> + +<p>‘Massa please,’ replied the coolie, +shrugging her shoulders; ‘all same to +me. I can tell Rosa anyting,—dat I’se +too bad to walk, and took de baby to +my hut, eh?’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span>‘I’ve no doubt you are equal to inventing +any number of lies to suit your +purpose; but now you must follow me.’</p> + +<p>De Courcelles led the way as he spoke by +many a devious path through the thicket, +until they reached the outer boundary +of the plantation, where he hustled Judy +and the child into a close carriage which +he had in waiting, and ordered the driver +to take them to the Fort.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Maraquita, dressed in her +bridal robes of lace and orange blossoms, +and with a costly veil covering her to the +ground, stepped into the carriage which +was to convey her to church. The +vehicle had been re-painted for the +auspicious occasion, and re-lined with a +delicate silver grey brocade. The horses +were caparisoned in silver harness, with +large cockades of white ribbon at their +ears, and the coloured coachman and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span> +footman in brand new liveries wore +large bouquets of white flowers in their +button-holes. Four or five other vehicles +followed that in which sat the bride between +her adoring parents, and contained +relations of the family, and intimate +friends who were staying in the house. +It was a trying ordeal for Mr and +Mrs Courtney, who were about to part +with the one blossom of their marriage-tree; +but though the father was nervous +and agitated, and the mother could not +prevent the tears rising to her eyes, +the brilliant position their daughter had +attained for herself was the greatest +consideration in their minds, and outbalanced +any pain they may have felt +at the impending separation. Quita +herself felt overwhelmed at the knowledge +of her good fortune. She had so +dreaded lest something might occur to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span> +mar her prospects, that she was almost +hysterical at the idea that they were +about to be consummated. She turned +from one parent to the other in a +glow of expectation and triumph, which +flushed her usually pale cheeks, and lent +a fire to her eye, that made her truly +beautiful. As the carriage approached +the Fort, in which the English Church +was situated, they found the road lined +with eager faces, both white and coloured, +and a shout of welcome and congratulation +went up as soon as they appeared. +Sir Russell Johnstone was in the church +porch waiting to receive his bride, and +it would have been difficult to find a +more lovely creature than stepped from +the carriage and stood before him, +trembling (as it appeared) with modesty +and maiden shame. The church was +crowded, every pew was filled with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span> +friends and acquaintances carrying nosegays, +the aisles were lined with darkies +grinning from ear to ear, the pillars +and rails were wreathed with flowers and +ferns. Never was there a prettier wedding, +nor a more auspicious one. As +Maraquita was led to the altar by her +father and mother, the organist commenced +to play, and the choir, who +had been practising for the last month, +sang a marriage hymn. Quita felt, for +the time being, as if she were about to +wed the man of her choice, and had +no regrets to spare for a mistaken past. +The flowers, the melody, the congratulatory +looks by which she was surrounded, +appealed to her senses, until she was +ready to believe that she was worthy +of them. Henri de Courcelles had +no place whatever in her thoughts that +morning. Out of sight, was truly out<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span> +of mind with her shallow soul, and +she remembered nothing but that she +was about to become Lady Johnstone, +and all the unmarried girls in San +Diego were envying her good luck. +She went through the service as calmly +as possible. Mrs Courtney sobbed +like a school-girl, her husband blew his +nose and changed his feet every minute, +and Sir Russell was visibly agitated. +Only the beautiful young bride made +her responses in an unfaltering voice, +and held up her face as soon as the +ceremony was over, to receive her +bridegroom’s kiss, as quietly as if she +had been married for ten years. It was +over then, and there was nothing more +to do but to sign her name in the +register, and go forth to take her place +in a world which seemed strewn with +roses, and in which no inconvenient<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span> +memories should rise up to trouble +her. The organ pealed forth the +wedding march. Sir Russell extended +his arm for her acceptance, and Maraquita +realised that at last she really +was his <i>wife</i>, and no one could deprive +her of the position he had bestowed +upon her. She beamed with +smiles of satisfaction as she walked +down the aisle on her husband’s arm, +returning the bows on either side, +and treading on the roses, and lilies, +and myrtle strewn by the children in +her path. Sir Russell’s carriage, with +its four horses and outriders, and its +stately guard of honour, was waiting +to receive her, and take her back to +her father’s house for breakfast, and +her heart swelled with pride as she +caught sight of it, beyond the crowd +that clustered round the church door<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span> +and steps, and threatened to impede +her way. But she had hardly placed +her foot on the red carpet that had +been laid down for her accommodation, +when her eye fell on a group that +riveted her to the spot, and almost +made her breath stop,—a group that +seemed to rise up as it were from the +very earth itself, like a Nemesis, to rob +her of her joy. Maraquita stared at +it as if she were turning to stone, while +her face grew deadly pale, and her +limbs tottered under her. Her first +impulse had been to scream, but the +strong instinct of self-preservation inherent +in every nature prevented her, +and the effort to restrain herself resulted +in her falling suddenly from Sir +Russell’s support, and sinking to the +ground in a dead faint. A dozen +people were round her in a moment.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span> +Some declared it must be the heat—others, +the excitement and fatigue—only +one person amongst them all, and +that was her mother, Mrs Courtney, +discovered the real cause of her +daughter’s emotion. <i>She</i> had come +upon the scene in time to see the +dark handsome face of Henri de Courcelles +glaring like that of an avenging +angel above the crowd, whilst in his +arms he held up high on view his +infant. She had cowered herself beneath +the sight—no wonder it had +affected her poor Maraquita. In a +commanding voice she had desired the +church peons to disperse the crowd, +and when the bride was sufficiently recovered +to be taken to her carriage, +no one was left to molest her. One +anxious despairing look passed between +her mother and herself, but a hurried<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span> +whisper from Mrs Courtney somewhat +reassured her, and by the time they +reached Beauregard, Maraquita was to +all appearances herself again. But only +to the view of strangers, for long after +she had left San Diego, and the Government +steamer was conveying Sir Russell +and Lady Johnstone to a sister island +to spend their honeymoon, she sat +with her large dark eyes staring out +into the star-bespangled night, in which +she saw nothing but the picture of a +man’s face, full of hate and frenzy and +revenge,—of a man who held a little +infant in his arms. And as she thought +of it, Lady Johnstone felt the tears +roll down her face (as they should not +have rolled down the face of a newly-wedded +woman), in memory of a past +which she hated and loved, and longed-for +and dreaded, all at the same time.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i019a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER II.</h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i019b.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="H"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">H</span>UGH NORRIS had not been +slow to avail himself of Lizzie’s +permission to visit her. He +had knocked about a good deal in the +world, and he had seen all sorts and +conditions of women, but he had never +met any one to interest him, and hold +his sympathies, like the Doctor’s daughter. +It was not only that she was firm and +sweet in temper, and strong in mind, and +clever and energetic—there was a more +binding tie between them than that. +<i>They thought together</i>; and if men and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span> +women would realise that kindred tastes +and ideas form the only lasting bond +between friends, there would be fewer +unhappy marriages than there are. +There is a great deal of talk heard on +occasions about the happiness of surrendering +one’s opinions in deference to +those of the person one loves, but that +notion is only believed in by the men +who wish to be master, and ride roughshod +over their household gods. To +surrender is to give up one’s mental +and moral liberty, and there may be +duty in bondage, but there can be +no pleasure. Marriage should be the +cementing of a friendship between the +sexes, and it is the only safe light by +which to regard it. There should be +plenty of <i>giving</i> in it, but no <i>giving up</i>! +And Captain Norris felt that if Lizzie +Fellows could learn to regard him as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span> +he did her, there would be very few jars +in their domestic <i>ménage</i>. He had been +detained in San Diego much longer than +he had anticipated. Just as he got his +cargo on board, and was ready to start, +a serious damage had been discovered +in the <i>Trevelyan</i>, and he had been compelled +to send her into dock for repairs. +Although the delay meant a considerable +loss of money to him, Captain Norris +did not regret it. He did not feel easy, +in common with many of the residents, +with regard to the safety of the island; +and to leave Lizzie in possible danger, +surrounded by a horde of mutinous +coolies, and without the possibility of +obtaining news of her for months together, +would have been a sore trial to +him. He would have taken her with +him gladly as his wife, or as an ordinary +passenger, but he knew her character<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span> +too well to propose it. Had she been +affianced to him, and danger threatened +her benefactor and his family, she would +have died with them, sooner than desert +them in the time of uncertainty. And +uncertainty seemed to prevail in San +Diego. Grave mutterings were heard +on every side of averted rebellions and +suppressed mutinies, and the planters +knew that it needed but the necessary +boldness on the part of one set of +hands to rise, to set the whole negro +population aflame with the lust for rapine +and murder. Sir Russell Johnstone was +not a favourite amongst them, for he +disliked the coloured people, and had +passed some very harsh sentences on +the prisoners brought up to him for +judgment, and his name was seldom +mentioned without an execration attached +to it. The hands on Beauregard had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span> +not shown discontent beyond the ordinary +grumblings and small impertinences +common amongst the coolies; but Hugh +Norris knew the character of the people +well, and he distrusted them. He remembered +how in former mutinies, both +in the East and West Indies, the actual +fight for the supremacy had been preceded +for a long time by half-suppressed +murmurs and complaints, like the muttering +of the elements before a tempest, +and that, when the storm broke, it +came like a clap of thunder, suddenly +and unexpectedly, and overwhelmed its +victims before they were hardly aware +of the danger they incurred. So he +was glad than otherwise to be detained +in San Diego, though what he heard +and saw there did not tend to reassure +him. He was present at Maraquita’s +wedding, being a friend both of Sir<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span> +Russell Johnstone and the Courtneys; +but he declined the invitation to the +breakfast, both because he disliked such +festivities, and that Lizzie Fellows, he +knew, would not be there. But on the +evening of the same day he strolled +into her bungalow, and seated himself +without ceremony like an old +friend.</p> + +<p>‘So, Lizzie,’ he commenced, ‘you were +not present at the grand wedding this +morning?’</p> + +<p>‘No. I asked them to excuse me, +Captain Norris. My dear father’s recent +death renders it very unfit that I should +mix in any gaiety.’</p> + +<p>‘But your adopted sister’s marriage, +Lizzie! Surely that was an occasion on +which you might have relaxed your strict +seclusion?’</p> + +<p>He had marked the coolness which had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span> +separated Lizzie of late from Mrs Courtney +and her daughter, and he had his +own suspicions on the subject; but he +had not presumed to put them into +words.</p> + +<p>‘They didn’t think so. They were +quite satisfied to let me follow my own +wishes,’ replied the girl quietly.</p> + +<p>‘And how is your nurse-child? Thriving?’</p> + +<p>Lizzie’s eyes sparkled.</p> + +<p>‘Beautifully, thank you. She is growing +such a dear little creature, and knows +me as well as possible.’</p> + +<p>‘Have you had her baptised?’</p> + +<p>‘How strange you should ask me that +question,’ remarked Lizzie thoughtfully, +looking up from her work. ‘It is the +very thing I was about to consult you +on! How often we seem to have the +same ideas at the same moment! I think<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span> +you must be a wizard, and read my +thoughts!’</p> + +<p>‘It is because we are so much in +sympathy with each other, Lizzie. But +what about the mysterious baby? Have +you decided on the name you will call +her?’</p> + +<p>‘No; I have never troubled my head +about it. Any name will do.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, poor little lady! let us give +her a pretty one whilst we are about it. +Why not call her after yourself?’</p> + +<p>Lizzie shrank from the idea.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, no! She has nothing to do +with me. Please suggest something +else.’</p> + +<p>‘Poor mite! she seems to have nothing +to do with any one. She is a little blot +upon the universe. But she is God’s +own child. Suppose we call her after +His mother.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span>‘Mary! Yes, I like that idea. What +is <i>your</i> mother’s name, Captain Norris?’</p> + +<p>‘The same. I was thinking partly of +her when I spoke.’</p> + +<p>‘Then I shall like the name doubly +for her sake. I am sure she must be a +good woman, to have borne such a son +as you are.’</p> + +<p>‘I am afraid that is not much recommendation +for her, Lizzie,’ returned Hugh +Norris, laughing. ‘But she <i>is</i> a good +woman—the best woman I have ever +known—for all that. And how she would +love <i>you</i>! How I wish you knew her: +you would get on so well together.’</p> + +<p>‘How can you tell that?’</p> + +<p>‘Because you have the same tastes. +My mother is quite a doctor in her way; +and all the country people believe in her +immensely. Only she is a herbalist, and +does not approve of strong drugs. Since<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span> +my father died, and her sons have gone +out into the world, she has lived alone +in a cottage in the sweetest spot of Kent +you have ever seen; and she is beloved +of the whole country-side. But I wish +there was some one to live with her, now +she is getting old. She has never had a +daughter, my dear old mother! How she +would love and cherish one!’</p> + +<p>‘How many brothers have you?’ asked +Lizzie, trying to run away from the +dangerous subject.</p> + +<p>‘Two, George and Frederick. George +is in the Indian Army, and has been out +in Bengal for the last five years; and +Fred is in business in London. He goes +down to see mother every now and then; +but they are only flying visits, and she +must feel very lonely at times.’</p> + +<p>‘Yes, very! How often do <i>you</i> see +her?’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span>‘Every few months, as a rule; but my +time in England is necessarily short. +If I had a wife—’ said Captain Norris, +and there stopped.</p> + +<p>‘Well,’ remarked Lizzie encouragingly, +‘what then?’</p> + +<p>‘I was going to say that (with <i>her</i> +permission, of course) I shouldn’t be +entirely selfish: I should leave her behind +me some voyages, that she might keep +my mother company. It wouldn’t be for +long, perhaps, for I hope to get work +on shore some day—I shouldn’t like to +spend all my life roving about like this, +without any settled home.’</p> + +<p>‘But it must be glorious to sail about +all over the world, and see so many +new countries!’ cried Lizzie, with kindling +eyes.</p> + +<p>‘It is, whilst a man is young and independent, +and has no ties to pull at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span> +his heart-strings. <i>You</i> would enjoy it, +Lizzie, I am sure. Your free and energetic +spirit would be quite in accord +with the unfettered elements, and you +would glory in seeing them circumvented +(for mastered they can never be) by the +ingenuity or prevision of men.’</p> + +<p>‘Yes, I should like it, I am sure. It +is the sort of life that would carry one +out of oneself, and make one almost forget +how much falsehood and wickedness +and ingratitude hold their place amongst +men. To be out on the open sea from +morning to night, and to know for +certain that no one who has injured or +disappointed you can follow you there, +and that you are alone with God and +your own thoughts—it must be a kind +of little heaven in itself, if—if—’</p> + +<p>‘If <i>what</i>, Lizzie?’ demanded Hugh +Norris eagerly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span>‘If one went with the person one +loved,’ she replied, with a slight increase +of colour.</p> + +<p>‘Let us talk of the baby—of little +Mary,’ he said impatiently. ‘When +shall we have her christened?’</p> + +<p>‘Any day, if you will be her godfather, +and share the responsibility of her with +me.’</p> + +<p>‘Willingly. As she is to bear my +mother’s name, I consider it incumbent +on me to do so. But, Lizzie, have you +taken my advice about this child? Have +you appealed to her parents to lift the +burden they have laid upon you, by +at least a partial confession of their +error?’</p> + +<p>‘I have,’ she answered, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>‘And they refused?’</p> + +<p>‘I only saw the mother, and she +denied all knowledge of her child. The—the—other<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span> +parent I could not speak +to.’</p> + +<p>‘You know the names of both of +them then.’</p> + +<p>She bowed her head in silence.</p> + +<p>‘Lizzie, I think I have guessed your +secret, or at least part of it. The father +of this infant is Henri de Courcelles.’</p> + +<p>‘What should make you say that, +Captain Norris?’ she exclaimed, in a tone +of alarm.</p> + +<p>‘The hesitation in your voice when you +alluded to him; but I have had my suspicions +of it before now. And shall I tell +you the name of the mother who has left +you to bear the burden of her shameful +secret?’</p> + +<p>‘No, no, Captain Norris,’ cried Lizzie, +springing from her chair; ‘you must not +say it! I will not hear it! You are mistaken! +It is not true! Oh, my dear<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span> +friend,’ she continued, laying her hand +upon his arm, ‘think—<i>think</i> what you are +doing. The honour of a whole family is +involved in your discovery. Be silent. +Keep the secret sacred, as I do, for God’s +sake.’</p> + +<p>‘And what about the honour of the +woman I love?’ he asked tenderly, as he +looked into her face; ‘am I not to think +of that?’</p> + +<p>‘If you love her,’ replied Lizzie, blushing, +‘you must know that her honour is safe. +But for the other—so young—so weak—’</p> + +<p>‘So unprincipled—so false, you mean!’ +said Hugh Norris indignantly. ‘Well, it +will come home to her some day, see if it +does not.’</p> + +<p>‘But never through <i>my</i> means,’ said +Lizzie.</p> + +<p>‘No, not through you, my angel, but +God will take care of His own. You will<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span> +not always live under this cloud. You +would leave it behind you to-morrow, if +you would but consent to be my honoured +wife.’</p> + +<p>‘Not while it hangs over me,’ she +whispered.</p> + +<p>‘And afterwards—’</p> + +<p>‘Ah, Captain Norris, do not ask me! +You are my best and truest friend, and +the man who would make me happier than +any one else in the world. I quite believe +that. I say it after calm deliberation, and +a careful investigation of your character. +But I am not in a position to marry any +one, and I never may be. Leave it to the +future. If I am ever free, and you are +still of the same mind, I will answer the +question you ask me to-day.’</p> + +<p>‘And I will live on that promise, Lizzie,’ +replied Hugh Norris, ‘for I feel the time +of your release is not far off. If <i>you</i><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span> +persist in sacrificing yourself for the sake +of your oath, your friends are not bound to +see you do it, without making an effort in +your behalf. But I have something to say +to you before I go. Will you be very +careful of yourself, for my sake?’</p> + +<p>‘In what way?’ she asked, with open +eyes. ‘The fever is nearly passed; and if +it had not done so, I am fever-proof.’</p> + +<p>‘There is a worse pestilence abroad than +the fever, Lizzie,—a lust for murder, and +rapine, and insubordination. The negroes +are ripe for rebellion, and if there should +be an insurrection, there may be fire and +bloodshed.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, they will never hurt me!’ replied +Lizzie, with a confident smile.</p> + +<p>‘My dear, when the thirst for blood +gets possession of a mob, infuriated by a +sense of wrong, they do not stay to distinguish +friends from foes. I feel uneasy<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span> +that you should stay in this bungalow +alone, Lizzie, with no better protection +than Rosa. It is not safe. Do you bar +your doors and windows at night?’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Bar my doors and windows?</i>’ repeated +Lizzie, with a smile. ‘Why, Captain +Norris, they stand open night and day; +and I don’t believe there is a fastening +to any one of them. The coolies would +indeed think I had gone out of my mind, +if they saw me bolting myself in from fear +of them.’</p> + +<p>‘But I don’t like it,’ said Hugh Norris, +with a sigh. ‘I have witnessed several +mutinies, Lizzie; and if there should be +a grudge borne against you by one person +only, it may be sufficient to incense +the entire mob. Suppose they were to +fire your bungalow, and destroy all your +property?’</p> + +<p>‘Captain Norris, do you <i>really</i> think it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span> +is so likely to occur?’ demanded Lizzie, +struck by the portentous gravity of her +friend.</p> + +<p>‘I do indeed, or I should not caution +you.’</p> + +<p>‘Then they may injure the White +House, or do some harm to Mr and +Mrs Courtney!’ she exclaimed in alarm. +‘Should you not warn <i>them</i>? They +are of far more importance than myself.’</p> + +<p>‘I won’t allow that; but Mr Courtney, +at least, is aware of the danger. The +planters have held a meeting on the subject, +with a view to inquiring into the +coolies’ fancied wrongs, but not, I understand, +with any satisfactory results. In +fact, they can’t make out what it is they +do want, and I don’t think the darkies +know themselves. Only the demons of +distrust and discontent are stalking abroad,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span> +and it behoves every white man to be +extra careful.’</p> + +<p>‘Suppose they were to hurt Maraquita,’ +suggested Lizzie, with a shudder. +‘She is not a favourite amongst them, +poor child, I know.’</p> + +<p>‘And will be none the more for having +married the Governor; for the coloured +population have taken a strong dislike to +Sir Russell Johnstone, as the discovered +plots against Government House plainly +show. However, she will have every +protection that the military forces can +give her, and you have <i>none</i>. It is of +<i>you</i> that I am thinking, Lizzie. I wish +I could persuade you to leave this bungalow, +and go and stay in the Fort till the +danger is over.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, dear no! That is quite impossible. +What, run away from my patients, +and leave them to die, for fear lest some<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span> +of the men amongst whom I have grown +up might turn against me? Captain +Norris, you cannot think what you are +asking me. Indeed, I have no fear—not +the slightest. These coolies love me—I +know they do—and would die for +me sooner than harm a hair of my +head.’</p> + +<p>‘Perhaps so, Lizzie; though I have not +much faith in any coloured people. But +you have the coolies of other plantations +to guard against. They do not confine +their attacks to their employers’ property. +If the hands on Miners’ Gulch or Sans +Souci, or any other estate, were to rise, +they might make a raid on Beauregard. +Now, do you understand the danger you +may be in?’</p> + +<p>‘Yes,’ replied Lizzie thoughtfully; ‘I +had not considered that. I will ask Mr +Courtney if old Peter or William Hall<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span> +may sleep at the bungalow for the future, +though I do not think they will be much +protection. But I am not afraid,—indeed +I am not.’</p> + +<p>‘You are the most courageous woman +I have ever met,’ replied Captain Norris. +‘I don’t believe you are afraid of anything.’</p> + +<p>‘Except of injuring those who have +been good to me,’ she said, somewhat +timidly. ‘Captain Norris, there is something +on my mind that I feel bound to +mention to you. My name is not Fellows, +and I don’t know what my real +name is.’</p> + +<p>‘Are you not the Doctor’s daughter, +then?’ he demanded, in surprise.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, yes, and though it may astonish +you hereafter to remember I said so, I +would not give up the knowledge that I +am his daughter for all the world. Poor<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span> +father! He was so unhappy, so unfortunate, +so erring. His soul was purified +like that of an angel by the suffering he +passed through.’</p> + +<p>‘Pardon me, Lizzie, but did I hear +aright when you said your father was +<i>erring</i>?’</p> + +<p>‘Yes, Captain Norris, erring beyond +the generality of men. I should not have +mentioned it to you, except for the kind +sentiments you have expressed towards +me this evening, and which make me +feel that, before they go further, you have +a right to know all. The week before +he died, my father made a communication +to me which I had never heard before, +and which he forbade me to repeat +during his lifetime. His death has, of +course, released me from that duty, and +I am sure that he would have wished +you, of all men, to be acquainted with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span> +the truth. But I am afraid that it will +shock you terribly, Captain Norris, to +hear that my poor father was a criminal +in hiding from the law, and, except for +the goodness of Mr Courtney, he would +have suffered the penalty of transportation. +This was the secret of the great +friendship between them, and why my +father changed his name, to prevent his +retreat from being discovered.’</p> + +<p>‘And yet Mr Courtney remained his +friend to his life’s end. How good a +man your father must have been, Lizzie +(but for this youthful error), that his +conduct had no power to separate him +from the person who knew and loved +him best.’</p> + +<p>‘Ah, that is how <i>I</i> look at it!’ cried +Lizzie, seizing his hand, and bursting +into tears; ‘but I hardly expected to +hear so generous a judgment from <i>your</i><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span> +lips. If suffering, and repentance, and a +desire to make amendment, can atone +for a man’s sin, I believe my poor father +fully expiated his. He was an exile from +all his relations, and lived under an assumed +name, with no one but myself for +a companion, and his profession for occupation. +I am not aware if I sprung +from the gutter, or came of a decent +family. All I know is that I am called +Elizabeth Fellows, and that, although +guiltless myself, I am not a fit wife for +any honest or honourable man.’</p> + +<p>‘You shall not speak to me like that,’ +exclaimed Hugh Norris indignantly, ‘for +it is not true! You are fit, in your own +sweet self, to mate with the best man +that ever lived; and I consider you as +far above me as the stars are above the +earth. But I think you should ascertain +your real name, and who your relations<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span> +are. Your father is gone, Lizzie. The +discovery can never hurt him now, and +there is no saying how much benefit +it may prove to you. Cannot Mr Courtney +give you the necessary information?’</p> + +<p>‘I believe he can, but I have shrunk +from asking him. This terrible scandal +about me—’</p> + +<p>‘Don’t let that prevent you. Be your +own brave self, and meet the calumny +as it deserves. Take my advice, Lizzie, +and demand an explanation from Mr +Courtney as soon as possible. Life is +uncertain, you know, and he might die +before you have ascertained the truth +about yourself. Then you might never +hear it.’</p> + +<p>‘He will be surprised to find me +asking questions about which I have +shown no curiosity for so many years.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span> +He will wonder what can have put it +into my head.’</p> + +<p>Hugh Norris drew nearer to her, and +seized her hand.</p> + +<p>‘Say you are engaged to be married +to me, and that you consider I have +a right to know everything concerning +yourself.’</p> + +<p>‘But that would not be true.’</p> + +<p>‘Make it true, then. It lies with you +to do so.’</p> + +<p>‘No, Captain Norris,’ she replied +gently, withdrawing her hand from his. +‘I cannot—at least just yet. Give me +a little time to recover myself. Remember +that but a few weeks back I considered +myself betrothed to Monsieur de +Courcelles.’</p> + +<p>‘And you love him still,’ he answered +roughly, in his disappointment.</p> + +<p>‘No, no, I do <i>not</i>! I despise him for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span> +his falsehood and treachery, and for his +despicable conduct in trying to evade the +consequences of his own fault, at the expense +of the character of the woman he +once professed to love. If there were +not another man in all the world, I would +never place myself again under the yoke of +Henri de Courcelles. But to engage myself +so soon to you—it would be hardly decent.’</p> + +<p>‘Have your own way then,’ replied +Hugh Norris, as he rose from his seat, and +took his cap in his hand. ‘I have asked +you for the third time, and failed. I shall +begin to disbelieve in my good luck. It +evidently doesn’t lie in an uneven number.’</p> + +<p>‘There are such slight intervals between +your askings,’ said Lizzie, laughing. +But she ceased to laugh when she +found herself alone.</p> + +<p>The honest, disinterested love of Hugh +Norris was beginning to work its way<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span> +into her heart, and heal the wounds +made by the other’s defalcation. She +would have liked to call him back and +tell him that she would follow the dictates +of her feelings, and give him his answer +at once, without any regard to the dictum +of the world; but womanly pride prevented +her doing so. She was terribly +afraid, also, of being deceived a second +time. The scalded dog fears cold water, +and though her sense told her that Hugh +Norris’s character and disposition were +utterly different from those of Henri de +Courcelles, she dreaded making another +mistake, and finding out, when too late, +that they were unsuited to each other. +His summary departure had the effect, +however, of causing her a sleepless night, +and as soon as the sun was up the following +morning, she found her way to +Mr Courtney’s office.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span>‘Well, Lizzie,’ said the planter kindly, +‘and so you wouldn’t join our festivities +yesterday. It was a grand sight, though, +and you would have enjoyed it; and I +missed you several times during the +breakfast, I can tell you.’</p> + +<p>‘You have always been too kind to +me, Mr Courtney; but you know my +reasons for not being with you. No one +wishes Quita health and happiness more +than I do, and every sort of prosperity; +but I was better at home. Besides, I +don’t think I could have come, under +any circumstances,’ continued Lizzie, smiling, +‘for do you know we had two new +arrivals on the plantation yesterday? +Chloe, the mulatto, and Aunt Jane, William +Hall’s wife, both had daughters +during the forenoon, and both are determined +to call them “Maraquita,” in +honour of the wedding. I did laugh so<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span> +to see the two black woolly-headed little +Maraquitas; but the proud mothers saw +nothing incongruous in the idea.’</p> + +<p>‘Naturally,’ replied Mr Courtney, joining +in the smile. ‘And what is the +plantation health report to-day?’</p> + +<p>‘Very good! I have only two cases +of fever left, and they are both convalescent. +The negro boy, Dickey, +broke his arm whilst climbing trees to +see the fireworks last night—but it’s +a simple fracture; and I have a few +children down with infantile cholera, but +nothing dangerous.’</p> + +<p>‘That’s well. And can I do anything +for you, Lizzie? Any orders wanted for +medicines, or other necessaries?’</p> + +<p>‘No, sir; I have everything I require. +But I came up this morning chiefly +to ask you a favour, Mr Courtney. I +want you to tell me everything you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span> +may know concerning my father and his +family.’</p> + +<p>The planter pushed his chair back, and +regarded her with surprise.</p> + +<p>‘About your father’s family?’ he echoed. +‘But why should you imagine that I know +more than yourself?’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, you need attempt no concealment +with me, sir. I appreciate the generosity +of your motive, but my father himself has +rendered it unnecessary. A few days +before he was taken from us, he related +to me the history of his life, and the +reason why he lived a pensioner on your +goodness at Beauregard, instead of taking +his place in the world and society, +like other men. Also that he passed +under an assumed name, from fear +of the law; but he did not tell me +what my real name is, and I wish to +know.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span>‘But to what purpose, Lizzie? What +good will it do?’</p> + +<p>‘I have not even thought of that, +sir; but if it brought evil in its train, I +should still ask for the information. For +since my father told me that Fellows is +not my own name, I seem to have lost +my individuality, and to be some one else. +When I hear it spoken, I don’t feel as if +I had the right to answer; and in fact, +Mr Courtney, I beg of you to satisfy my +curiosity in this particular.’</p> + +<p>‘Well, Lizzie, you are a woman, and +if you have made up your mind on this +subject, you shall be gratified; but I +would ask you to think again first. I +don’t believe the information will make +you happier. What is the use of belonging +to a family who will not own you? +Your poor father’s relations all turned +against him, and will do the same by his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span> +daughter. It was that they might never +have the power to insult him again, that +he took the name of Fellows.’</p> + +<p>‘So he told me, sir; and also of +the crime he committed against you, and +of the generosity with which you forgave +it. I feel (and I told him so) +that after that, my life and all I hold +dearest in the world should be at your +disposal; and I will sink my personality +in the future, as I have done in the +past, if you wish me to do so.’</p> + +<p>‘No, no! my dear girl, I don’t consider +I have any right to dictate to +you on the subject; and since you +desire to know your name, I will tell +it you. You are Elizabeth Ruthin, the +granddaughter of General Sir William +and Lady Ruthin of Aberdare in Scotland. +Your dear father’s name was +Herbert Ruthin. He was the second<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span> +son, the eldest, I believe, is in the +army. He has already told you (you +say) of the sad event which brought +us together. He was my dearest friend +in youth, and to the day of his death; +but he was extravagant and thoughtless, +and hardly thought of the gravity of +the act he was committing.’</p> + +<p>‘That is <i>your</i> kind way of putting +it,’ said Lizzie. ‘My father did not +exonerate himself after that fashion, sir. +He saw his fault in its true light. But +my mother’s name—what was that?’</p> + +<p>‘Alice Stevens. She was the daughter +of a clergyman, and a very sweet +woman, I believe; but she died so +early, that I saw but little of her. +Have you any more questions to ask +me, Lizzie?’</p> + +<p>‘Only, have you any papers to prove +what you tell me, Mr Courtney?’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span>‘What a practical young woman you +are. Yes, I have. I loved your dear +father with almost a romantic attachment, +and I have kept all the letters +that passed between us as young men, +that is, when he was practically living +at home on Sir William Ruthin’s estate +of Aberdare, but going backward and +forward to pursue his studies at Edinburgh. +His frequent mention of his +home life, and every one connected with +it, is sufficient proof of his identity.’</p> + +<p>‘And may I have those letters, sir?’</p> + +<p>‘Certainly, if you wish it; and, now +I come to think of it, they should be +in your possession, in case of anything +happening unexpectedly to me.’</p> + +<p>Mr Courtney rose as he spoke, and +unlocking an iron safe, placed a packet +of letters, endorsed ‘Correspondence with +my friend H. Ruthin,’ in her hand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span>‘And now, Lizzie, what will you do +with them?’ he added. ‘Shall you go +post-haste to England by the next +steamer, and lay claim to your father’s +property?’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, sir, don’t laugh at me! Remember +that a felon’s daughter has no +rights.’</p> + +<p>‘Lizzie, you shall not use that term +of your late father in my presence!’</p> + +<p>‘It is what he called himself, sir,—what, +doubtless, his people call him to +this day, if ever they mention his name. +Are my grandparents living, Mr +Courtney?’</p> + +<p>‘I believe so, my dear, and a very +nice couple they were, though I have +heard this trouble was an awful blow +to their pride. Scotch pride too. There’s +nothing like it. But Lady Ruthin loved +her son Herbert dearly in the olden<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span> +days. I wonder if she ever mourns +for him now?’</p> + +<p>‘Can time wear out a mother’s love?’ +said Lizzie. ‘And my poor father was +so loveable and affectionate. I cannot +believe sometimes that he was capable +of so base a sin as ingratitude.’</p> + +<p>‘Don’t believe it, my dear! It is all +over and past now. Think only of +him as one of God’s regenerated children. +And if he erred in that respect, his +mantle has not fallen on his daughter, +for you have repaid any kindnesses +we may have shown you, twofold.’</p> + +<p>‘I have tried to do so,’ replied Lizzie, +in a faltering voice, as, with the packet +of letters in her hand, she passed quickly +from the office on her way home.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i056.jpg" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i057a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER III.</h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i057b.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="A"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">A</span> FEW days later, Hugh +Norris rushed unexpectedly +into Lizzie’s presence.</p> + +<p>‘I have come to wish you good-bye!’ +he exclaimed, in a voice of distress. +‘I have received orders this morning +which compel me to sail at once; +and as the <i>Trevelyan’s</i> repairs are +complete, I have no possible excuse for +disobedience.’</p> + +<p>Lizzie changed colour slightly as she +heard the news, but she answered +quietly,—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span>‘And I am sure that, under any circumstances, +you would make none. Have +you not often told me that a sailor’s +first duty is towards his ship?’</p> + +<p>‘Ah, yes; that is all very well in +theory,’ he said, with a rueful look, +‘but you cannot know what I feel at +leaving you alone, Lizzie, at this anxious +time.’</p> + +<p>‘I shall be safe enough, my dear +friend, so have no fears for me. When +do you sail?’</p> + +<p>‘With the tide this evening, and +hardly know how I shall get through +all my work by that time. I didn’t +expect to get off for another week.’</p> + +<p>‘Then I mustn’t detain you, Captain +Norris; though it was good of you to +think of me at the last.’</p> + +<p>‘Of whom else should I think? I +shall not be away long this time, Lizzie.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span> +I only go to England and back. A +couple of months may see me here +again. What can I do for you there?’</p> + +<p>‘Nothing, thanks. I have no commissions +for you.’</p> + +<p>‘Have you spoken to Mr Courtney +yet on the subject of your family?’</p> + +<p>Lizzie started.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, yes; and that reminds me that +I have some letters I want to show +you. Wait a moment Captain Norris, +whilst I fetch them—’</p> + +<p>‘Missy Liz! Missy Liz!’ piped +a shrill little voice at the open +door.</p> + +<p>‘What is it, Pete?’ she asked of a +negro boy, whose dusky face was anxiously +peering in upon them.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Missy Liz, please come quick +to Mammy Chloe’s baby! That’s kinder +sick; taken drefful, with its eyes turned<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span> +up so, and its body quite stiff like a +piece of wood!’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Convulsions!</i>’ exclaimed Lizzie, as she +threw the packet of letters she had just +taken from her desk across the table, +and put her hat upon her head. ‘Captain +Norris, I <i>must</i> go. Read those whilst +I am gone.’</p> + +<p>‘But I cannot stay till you come +back, Lizzie. Each moment is precious +to me. Give me five minutes more.’</p> + +<p>‘I dare not. This is a new-born +infant, and a matter of life and death. +God bless you, and good-bye!’</p> + +<p>He had only time to wring her hand, +when she darted from the house. He +watched her figure running swiftly towards +the negroes’ quarters, and then +returned to the shaded apartment, with +a deep sigh. What interest had he +then in the packet of letters she had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span> +left him to peruse? Lizzie was gone. +He should not see her again, perhaps +for months, and the world seemed to +be a blank without her. In the hope +of her speedy return, he sat down for +a few minutes more, and mechanically +drew the letters towards him. But as +his eye fell upon the written words his +countenance changed, and his expression +became one of the deepest interest. +He hastily scanned through the letters, +making sundry notes as he did so, and +then, with a long low whistle, he tied +the envelopes together again, and, laying +them upon Lizzie’s desk, walked +to the window to watch for some token +of her return. None came. The Indian +sun was blazing in all its splendour +on the tropical leaves and flowers, the +pathway to the coolies’ huts was one +long line of white dust glittering like<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span> +golden sand; but not a sound could +be heard but the far-off hum of the +workers in the cotton fields, not a living +creature to be seen but Rosa in the +shaded verandah, with Maraquita’s child +slumbering on her knees, and an aged +negro, long past work, who was warming +his stiffened limbs in the sunshine. +Hugh Norris watched impatiently for a +few minutes from the open door, and +then, with a rapid glance at his watch, +and a deep sigh, he unwillingly prepared +to leave the bungalow.</p> + +<p>‘Be a good girl to your mistress, Rosa,’ +he said, as he passed the yellow girl; ‘take +great care of her and the baby, and I’ll +bring you a beautiful string of beads when +I come back from England.’</p> + +<p>‘Tank you, sar,’ replied Rosa. ‘I’ll be +berry good all time you away; and I’d like +a nice shawl too, sar.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span>‘Well, you’re not bashful, Rosa,’ replied +Hugh Norris, laughing; ‘but you shall +have the shawl too, if you’ll keep your +promise. And if there should be any +trouble on the plantation—you know what +I mean—take Missy Lizzie up to the White +House at once, and don’t mind what she +says about staying here.’</p> + +<p>‘I understand, sar; but nebber you fear. +De niggers on dis plantation too good for +dat. They lub Massa and Missus Courtney; +and as for Missy Liz, they die for her—dat’s +jes’ so.’</p> + +<p>Captain Norris gave a sigh of relief.</p> + +<p>‘I hope so, Rosa, and it makes me +happier to hear you say it; but still I am +not easy. But take this and buy yourself +a new gown; and remember, when you +wear it, that you have promised me to be +faithful.’</p> + +<p>He thrust a five-dollar note into her<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span> +hand as he spoke, and with one yearning +look in the direction of the negro quarters, +walked rapidly away towards the town. +Rosa rolled her eyes with delight at the +feel of the five-dollar note.</p> + +<p>‘<i>He</i> gone ’coon too,’ she thought, with a +sapient air; ‘dar’s another what Missy Liz +have done for. And she’s so quiet all de +time. Dat’s what beats me. ’Pears as if +she didn’t care if they <i>was</i> “gone” or not. +Wall, if dey all gib me five-dollar notes, +I wish there was a thousand of them.’</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Lizzie was kneeling down +beside Mammy Chloe’s straw mattress, +putting the poor little black baby into hot +baths, and watching by it as tenderly as if +it had been a princess of the blood royal, +until the attack of convulsions had ceased, +and it was sleeping peacefully on its +mother’s breast again.</p> + +<p>‘Dar now, dat’s jes’ wonderful!’ exclaimed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span> +the crowd of dusky mortals, who +had anxiously watched her proceedings, +‘dat babby jes’ dyin’, ’pears as though +death was in its face, and its body cold +and stiff a’ready, and Missy Liz comes +’long and touches it, and it’s as well as +ever in half an hour. Missy Liz, you +<i>too</i> clever! You like de Lord, Who +touches with little finger, and ebberybody +well again. You jes’ white angel, Missy +Liz—no mistake about dat.’</p> + +<p>‘My dear friends, you make too much +of my poor services for you. You could +all do nearly as much for yourselves, if +you would only let me teach you. Mammy +Chloe made her baby sick. She says she +gave it some sweet potato yesterday.’</p> + +<p>‘Only tiny leetel bit, Missy Liz, out ob +my own mouth!’ cried the mother.</p> + +<p>‘However little it was, Chloe, it was too +much for a baby of three days old. How<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span> +often must I tell you to give your little +infants nothing but the breast? Your baby +is safe again now, but if you feed her with +potatoes, and rice, and bread, she will have +another fit, and next time I may be able +to do nothing for her.’</p> + +<p>Hereupon rose a chorus of dissentient +voices.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Missy Liz, how you saying dat? +You can cure ebberyting, Missy Liz. +You mended Dicky’s arm, and cured old +Jake’s rheumatiz, and bringed de life +back to Clairey, when she fell into de +water, and was dead.’</p> + +<p>‘No, no!’ disclaimed Lizzie, laughing, +‘she wasn’t <i>dead</i>, Betsy. I can’t go as +far as to bring the dead to life again.’</p> + +<p>‘B’lieve you could, Missy Liz, if you +tried, for you’se jes’ wonderful all round; +and de niggers nebber had a better friend—dat’s +so.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span>‘Ay, Massa Courcelles say dat last +night, Auntie Bell. He say Massa Courtney +and de other planters dam bad trash, +and better out ob de way; but nobody +must hurt Missy Liz, because she’s de +niggers’ friend, and lub ’em jes’ like +herself.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Monsieur de Courcelles!</i>’ echoed +Lizzie, thinking the negress had made +some mistake. ‘How could he have +said that last night? He is not in San +Diego.’</p> + +<p>‘Massa Courcelles not in San Diego?’ +repeated the shrill voice of Betsy. ‘Oh, +Missy Liz, who tell you dat ar lie? +Massa Courcelles nebber leave de plantation +yet. He’s living up at old Josh’s +shanty, t’other side of de avenue, and he +comes along of evenings, and talks to us +all of our troubles.’</p> + +<p>Lizzie’s brow flushed darkly. What<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span> +could be the meaning of Henri de Courcelles +hiding himself on Beauregard? For +what reason was he hanging about the +plantation, and mixing familiarly with the +people whom he professed to abhor?</p> + +<p>‘And what troubles have you that you +can confide to a gentleman’s ears, Betsy?’ +she demanded reprovingly. ‘Monsieur +de Courcelles was not so kind to you +whilst he was your overseer, that you +should expect to find a friend in him +now. There is some deeper meaning, I +am afraid, in his pretended interest in +you, than that of making your life more +comfortable.’</p> + +<p>‘You may well say that, Miss Lizzie!’ +cried Jerusha, who was standing in the +crowd, with her baby in her arms. ‘Dat +man nebber sorry for nobody but himself. +What he care if our work is hard, +or our backs ache wid de sun, or our<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span> +huts is dark, or de food common? Did +he care when <i>my</i> back was bowed wid +pain, and my head wid shame, and I +couldn’t hardly stand upon my legs? +Didn’t he strike me and my poor leetle +boy, and say, “D—n you! Go hell! I +make you work like a dog”?’</p> + +<p>‘Hush, hush, Jerusha!’ exclaimed +Lizzie, as she rose and placed her hand +kindly on the shoulder of the excited +coolie. ‘I know you have had your +troubles, my poor girl. I know Monsieur +de Courcelles has wronged you terribly, +but you must try to be patient, and forgive, +as—as—we all have to do sometimes.’</p> + +<p>But Jerusha shook the compassionating +touch off her.</p> + +<p>‘No, Missy Liz,’ she said loudly, ‘I +<i>can’t</i> forgive. If he had given me one +kind word, I’se have worked for him to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span> +my last day, and been glad only to see +him well and happy; but he’s bad all +through, to de very core. He wrong +more dan me. Ah, I know plenty tings +people not thinking! and now he come +and ’cite dese niggers to revenge demselves, +and send all de planters out of +de island, and keep de fields for dere +own use. Dat his way of “paying out” +somebody, Missy Liz. But <i>I</i> know him +and his dark ways, and if dese people +rise ’gainst de planters, Massa Courcelles +shall be de first to go, if I kill him with +my own hand.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Rise!</i>’ cried Lizzie indignantly. +‘Surely, after all the kindness they +have experienced from Mr and Mrs +Courtney, there is no one on this plantation +so wicked as to dream of rising. +What should they do it for? What +more can they desire than they already<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span> +possess? There are no hands on the +island more looked after and cared for +than those on Beauregard.’</p> + +<p>‘I dunno dat,’ chimed in a discontented +voice. ‘San Souci niggers gets +a tot of rum ebery night, and a quarter +of a pound more meat than <i>we</i> do.’</p> + +<p>‘Who said that?’ exclaimed Lizzie +quickly, turning round. ‘Ah, it was +<i>you</i>, Aunt Sally! That’s a nice grateful +thing to say, when you were down +with fever three weeks this year, +and received your wages all the same, +though you couldn’t do a stroke of +work. That’s the best return you can +make, is it? And you know why the +San Souci hands get extra rations well +enough,—because the plantation is so +near the swamp, and so unhealthy in +consequence, that they are half their +time down with fever and ague. You<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span> +ought to be ashamed of yourself, to +set such a bad example to the others.’</p> + +<p>‘I only repeating what Massa Courcelles +say,’ replied Aunt Sally sulkily.</p> + +<p>‘Then Monsieur de Courcelles should +be ashamed of himself. I have no +hesitation in saying it,’ continued Lizzie +warmly. ‘I have been brought up +amongst you all since I was a little +child, and I am a witness to the kind +and indulgent treatment you have received +from your employers. Mr Courtney +has never spared money or trouble +to make his hands comfortable and +happy, and if you have ever had any +cause of complaint, it has been against +this very man who is inciting you now +to feel rebellious and ungrateful!’</p> + +<p>‘De oberseer only act on de Massa’s +orders,’ grumbled Aunt Sally again.</p> + +<p>‘It is not true!’ cried Lizzie indignantly.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span> +‘Mr Courtney never ordered +Monsieur de Courcelles to do anything +that was cruel or unjust. He left a +great deal of power in his hands, because +he believed him to be a good +man, and worthy of his trust; but he +found out his mistake, and that is why +he has been sent away.’</p> + +<p>‘Missy Liz speaks God’s truth,’ exclaimed +Jerusha, ‘and you niggers know +she do! What hasn’t dat man done to +us? Didn’t he starve old Jakes for +three days ’cause he not clean horse +proper? and didn’t he strike Aunt Hannah +’cross de face with his whip, and make +de ’sypelas come out? Didn’t he take +me up to his bungalow, and tell me I +lib dere all my life, and den kick me +out like a dog ’cause I got a poor leetel +baby? Haven’t you niggers said, times +out of mind, you’d like to kill him for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span> +all he done, and that it was only ’cause +Missy Liz like him dat he wasn’t dead +long ago? If you says “No” now, den +you’se all liars, and a lot of trash dat +is afraid to stick to your own words.’</p> + +<p>‘Jerusha is right,’ said Lizzie. ‘You +were all afraid of Monsieur de Courcelles, +and spoke against him, whilst he was your +overseer; but now that he has no authority +over you, you allow his specious tongue to +lead your minds astray. My dear friends, +be warned in time. Monsieur de Courcelles +has no right to be on this plantation +at all, and he only comes here for a bad +purpose. You mustn’t listen to him. I +am sorry to say it before you, but he is +not a good man. I loved him once very +dearly,’ continued Lizzie, with a great +effort, and her cheeks dyed crimson, ‘and +believed him to be all that was upright +and honourable, but I found out I was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span> +wrong, as you will find out you are wrong, +when it may be too late. Do you know +that I have but to go to Mr Courtney, +and inform him of the mutinous ideas you +are openly expressing, to have you put +into prison? And the new Governor is +very strict, as you may have heard, and +makes an example of all rebels. He is +determined to crush the feeling of mutiny +out of San Diego, whatever it may cost.’</p> + +<p>‘Perhaps Gubnor get crushed hisself,’ +suggested Betsy sullenly.</p> + +<p>‘Don’t talk nonsense!’ cried Lizzie +sharply. ‘What could a handful of coloured +people do against the military forces? +You would all be shot down and killed, +before you knew where you were.’</p> + +<p>She spoke boldly and decisively, but her +heart was sinking all the while. If the +negro population of the island rose <i>en +masse</i>, the slaughter might be terrible<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span> +before peace could be restored amongst +them. She thought of her benefactors +the Courtneys, of poor heedless Maraquita +and the kind-hearted Governor,—a little +too of herself, and shuddered. And Henri +de Courcelles also. Would he not be +overwhelmed by the storm he was taking +such pains to raise? At all risks, she said +to herself, she would see him, and warn +him of the danger he ran in turning +against his late employers.</p> + +<p>‘Which of you has been listening to +Monsieur de Courcelles’ inflammatory +talk?’ she asked presently, as she looked +round upon the women.</p> + +<p>‘All of us,’ answered Aunt Sally. ‘He +come down to our huts of evenings, and +sit dere, and tell us how Massa Courtney +treat him wuss den nigger, and how we’se +free coloured people, and should stan’ no +nonsense.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span>‘He is worse than I thought him,’ said +Lizzie. ‘He must stop it at once, or I +shall inform Mr Courtney, and have him +turned off the premises.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Kill him</i>, Missy Liz, <i>kill him</i>!’ hissed +Jerusha, between her clenched teeth; ‘dat +is de only way to crush de rattlesnake.’</p> + +<p>‘Don’t speak like that, Jerusha. It is +wicked, and you do not mean it.’</p> + +<p>But the Indian girl <i>did</i> mean it all the +same.</p> + +<p>‘Where did you say that Monsieur de +Courcelles was staying, Betsy?’ inquired +Lizzie, a few moments after.</p> + +<p>‘At Uncle Josh’s shanty, t’other side of +avenue. He mayn’t be dere now, Missy +Liz, but he sleeps dere ob nights.’</p> + +<p>‘If de door would fasten, I’d set fire +to dat rotten shanty, before anoder moon,’ +remarked Jerusha.</p> + +<p>‘Well, I must leave you now,’ said the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span> +Doctor’s daughter, with a deep sigh; ‘but +remember what I say. The next time I +hear any talk like this of to-day, I shall +go straight to Mr Courtney, and ask him +to dismiss the whole lot of you. Then +you will starve without any work to do, +and will be sorry you left your comfortable +huts, and kind employers, at the instigation +of a villain.’</p> + +<p>‘Massa Courtney starve too when he +got no coolies to pick cotton and rice for +him,’ muttered some one in the crowd.</p> + +<p>Lizzie saw plainly that the disaffection +had spread too effectually to be quenched +by her single arguments, and so she left +them, and, wrapped in thought, walked +leisurely away from the coolie quarters. +Her first step, she felt, must be to see +Henri de Courcelles, and with that intention +she directed her feet towards +Uncle Josh’s shanty, which stood somewhat<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span> +apart from the rest. The sun was +now high in the heavens, and no European +was abroad who could rest at home. +Lizzie’s broad-brimmed hat and white +umbrella sheltered her sufficiently in the +shady plantation, but she would not have +ventured out, except at the call of duty, +at so late an hour in the morning, and so +she firmly calculated on finding Monsieur +de Courcelles within the hut. She was +not disappointed. Old Uncle Josh, who +was an aged negro almost past work, and +only kept to do light jobs about the +garden and stables, came to the door +with much caution to answer Lizzie’s +knock for admittance, and was about to +declare that he knew nothing of Monsieur +de Courcelles, when a voice from within +called out to him to admit the lady, and +not make a d—d fool of himself. So +Lizzie passed in, and found herself face to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span> +face with the man she had believed to be +hundreds of miles away.</p> + +<p>‘Monsieur,’ she commenced hurriedly, +‘I should not be here, except that I +have something of the utmost importance +to say to you. You must send +this man away, so that he may not hear us.’</p> + +<p>‘Go up to the plantation, Uncle Josh, +or anywhere you like, and don’t come +back for an hour,’ said De Courcelles, in +a voice of authority; and the old negro +nodded in acquiescence, and shambled off.</p> + +<p>‘Are you sure he is safe?’ demanded +Lizzie, as the man disappeared.</p> + +<p>‘Safe as death! I have him under +my thumb,’ was the confident reply. +‘And now, what can you have to say +to me, Lizzie? After our last parting, +I hardly expected you would seek me out +of your own accord.’</p> + +<p>‘Neither should I have done so, except<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span> +that the welfare of those I love +more than myself is at stake. Monsieur, +why are you still on the plantation of +Beauregard?’</p> + +<p>‘I think that is <i>my</i> business sooner +than yours.’</p> + +<p>‘Indeed it is my business,—the business +of every one who regards the Courtneys +as benefactors. Your presence here can +be for no good purpose. It spells ruin +and devastation for them. By your false +arguments you are inciting these ignorant +coloured people to rebel; you are +making them discontented—not to say +bloodthirsty; and the upshot of your +evil counsel will be a mutiny, that will +involve their own downfall with those of +their employers, and, perhaps, lead to +murder and rapine.’</p> + +<p>‘And what do I care if it does? It +will be no more than they deserve.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span>‘Oh, Henri, you cannot think what +you are saying! Surely you would never +be so wicked! What have the Courtneys +done to make you so revengeful? +They were always the kindest of patrons +to you, until this unhappy business occurred +with Maraquita. And even to +the last they were both just and generous. +How can you find it in your heart +to injure them?’</p> + +<p>‘They are Maraquita’s parents,’ he answered +gloomily.</p> + +<p>‘And would you avenge her falsehood—her +broken faith—upon them? Monsieur, +that is not like yourself! It is +unworthy of any one calling himself a +man.’</p> + +<p>‘What right had they to turn me off +Beauregard, then? It was only done to +shield <i>her</i>, because they suspect the +truth, and are afraid I might prove<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span> +a dangerous rival. <i>She</i> marries the +Governor of San Diego, and is lapped +in luxury and comfort, whilst <i>I</i> (who +am morally her husband) am sent adrift, +like a rudderless boat, to toss anywhere +on the sea of life. But I’ll be even +with her yet, and her bald-headed old +ape of a partner too.’</p> + +<p>‘Henri, you must not speak like that,’ +said Lizzie firmly. ‘I feel for your disappointment—indeed +I do; it must be +a bitterly hard one; but to try and revenge +yourself in this manner is a +cowardly and wicked thing. The feeling +of disaffection is rife enough in the +island, without your adding to it. I beg—I +pray of you to leave the plantation, +and not return. You have no right +here, and if you remain, I shall consider +it my duty to inform Mr Courtney; and +you know how painful it would be for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span> +me to say anything to him against you. +Henri, for the sake of old times, do as +I ask you.’</p> + +<p>‘You are a good woman, Lizzie—I +have always maintained that—and, if you +wish it, I will go. But, mind you, my +departure will not stop the rising mutiny, +any more than my remaining here +hatched it into life. The native population +is ripe for rebellion, and it is only +now a question of weeks—perhaps days—before +they burst into open revolt. I +am glad I have seen you, to warn you +against it. The coolies will not harm +you, I am sure—they love and reverence +you too much—but they may frighten +you, and I should wish to prevent even +that. But as for the rest—well! I shall +not be satisfied till I see the White +House and Government House in ashes, +and their owners weltering in their blood!’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span>The expression of his face was so +murderous as he spoke, that Lizzie +fairly screamed,—</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Henri, Henri, surely you are +<i>not</i> in earnest! You would never countenance +nor encourage so horrible an +idea! You would save those who have +been good to you—whom you once believed +you loved—at the risk of your +own life! Tell me it is the truth, for +I will never leave you till you acknowledge +it.’</p> + +<p>Henri de Courcelles seized her two +hands in a grip of iron, and drew her +towards him, until their faces nearly +touched each other.</p> + +<p>‘Lizzie Fellows,’ he exclaimed roughly, +to hide his emotion, ‘if I could have +gone on loving you, if that heartless +jade had not come between us with +her mock innocence and her fatal beauty<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span> +and blinded my eyes to your superior +virtues, I should have been a happier +and better man to-day. But now, I +know it is too late. You have ceased +to love me, and I shall never again +be able to lay any claim to your +hand.’</p> + +<p>‘But I have not ceased to care +if you are a good man or a bad +one, Henri,’ she answered, through +her tears; ‘and I entreat you now, +by your memory of the past, to +do what I ask you, and leave Beauregard.’</p> + +<p>‘I <i>will</i>, because you ask me; but, as +I have already told you, it will not +make the difference you imagine. I +could no more stay the progress of +this mutiny now, than I could single-handed +quench the fire of a burning +city. It has gone too far for that.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span> +Besides, I have no desire to do so. +My heart thirsts for revenge, and I +shall only quit Beauregard to join +another set of rebels, and perhaps a +more dangerous one.’</p> + +<p>‘Henri, cannot I persuade you to +give up that madness also?’</p> + +<p>‘No, Lizzie, the time is past. Maraquita’s +falsehood has made me reckless, +and I only live now to one +end,—to see her punished as she +deserves.’</p> + +<p>‘Leave her to Heaven, Henri. Do +you think her infidelity will not be +its own punishment? How many +nights will she lie awake, poor child, +wanting your love, wanting <i>mine</i>, which +used, at one time, to make all her +happiness? How often will her heart +yearn—for Quita <i>has</i> a heart, Henri, +though it is choked up with vanity and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span> +love of self—for the days she spent +with us,—for the poor little innocent +she has left behind her? Ah, neither +you nor I can measure the pain which +remorse will bring her!’</p> + +<p>‘Don’t you believe it. You judge +her by yourself, and your sex is the +only likeness between you. She is all +bad, Lizzie, false from head to foot, +and the sooner the world is rid of her, +the better.’</p> + +<p>‘And are <i>you</i> the one who should +be her judge?’ replied Lizzie mournfully; +‘can you bring clean hands into +court, Henri, with which to condemn +her? No, I am not alluding to myself. +It was not your fault, perhaps, if you +found upon a closer acquaintance that +you could not love me as you once +imagined; but what of Jerusha—the +poor little coolie girl with whom you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span> +were carrying on a pretension of affection +at the same time that you were +deceiving Maraquita? How can you +find it in your heart to contemplate +revenge on her for an error of which +you were guilty yourself?’</p> + +<p>‘You women don’t understand these +things, Lizzie. No one but a little fool +like Jerusha would have believed for a +moment that I was in earnest, or that +such an irregular business could possibly +last more than a few months.’</p> + +<p>‘Yet Jerusha vows to have her revenge +on you, as warmly as you do to +have yours on Maraquita.’</p> + +<p>At this piece of intelligence, Henri +de Courcelles changed colour.</p> + +<p>‘If that is the case, your advice has +not come too soon. These coolies are +the very devil to stick to an idea if they +once get it in their head, and I shall<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span> +wake up some night, perhaps, to find +Miss Jerusha’s fingers at my throat, if +I don’t clear out. Curse the little jade! +She’s been more trouble to me than she’s +worth.’</p> + +<p>‘And may be the occasion of more +yet,’ replied Lizzie, who saw the way, +by taking advantage of his fear, to make +him hold to his purpose. ‘She is dead +set against you, Henri—I am witness to +that—and constantly speaking of her +wrongs to the rest. She swears she will +have your life some way or other; and for +that reason only, I think it would be +much wiser of you to leave the plantation. +She is quite capable indeed of betraying +you to Mr Courtney; and such +a proceeding might lead to your arrest, +on a suspicion of felonious purposes. +Now, do you see the danger you +are in?’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span>‘Indeed I do, and I shall not sleep +another night on Beauregard: you may +take my word for that. Indeed, when +I come to think of it, I cannot imagine +how I can have been such a fool as to +run the risk for so long. There are +plenty of places in San Diego where I +can be safer, and bide my time for my +revenge.’</p> + +<p>‘Do more, whilst you are about it, +Henri. Leave San Diego altogether, +and your idea of revenge behind you. +It will never make you any happier, +and it may cast a haunting regret over +all your future. And you are still young. +There is perhaps a happy life looming +for you in the distance, if you will +try and forget the failure of your +youth.’</p> + +<p>‘No, Lizzie; you speak to deaf ears. +I will fulfil your wish, and leave this<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span> +place. Be satisfied with that, and when +I am gone, forget all about me. I was +never worthy to kiss even the hem of +your garment, and my darkest shame +will ever be that I permitted you to +waste a single thought upon me. Goodbye, +my dear. Don’t stay here any +longer, for your presence, and the memories +it brings with it, unman and make +a coward of me. By this time to-morrow +I shall have left Beauregard +for ever.’</p> + +<p>‘Thank Heaven for that,’ replied Lizzie, +as she obeyed his request, and left the +hut.</p> + +<p>Her mind was not wholly at ease concerning +him, because she saw that he +was doggedly bent upon having his own +way; but she had, at all events, succeeded +in scaring him off the property of her +benefactors, and trusted that when his evil<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span> +influence was removed from them, the +hands of Beauregard would return to +their former condition of obedience and +contentment.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i093.jpg" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i094a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IV.</h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i094b.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="L"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">L</span>IZZIE had guessed correctly +when she said that Maraquita’s +infidelity would prove +its own punishment. The honeymoon +at Santa Lucia was not a very satisfactory +one, at least for the bride. So +long as the day endured, and Quita’s +frivolous soul could be gorged on flattery, +and the servile congratulations paid her +by her husband’s guests, she was contented +with her lot, and disposed to +believe it would turn out all she had +prognosticated for herself. To feel she<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span> +was the woman of most importance in +the island, and that she had horses and +carriages, and servants at her command, +and that a military guard accompanied +her wherever she went, and everybody +turned to gaze after her, and said to +one another, ‘There goes the Governor’s +bride,’ was quite sufficient to inflate +her foolish little heart with pride, and +make her forget, for the time being, +the penalty attached to it all. But +one cannot pass one’s entire life in +public, and when the hours of domestic +happiness arrived, they were very trying. +<i>Then</i>, if she had had a handsome +young husband suited to herself in age +and disposition waiting on her every +look and smile while he whispered words +of love in her ear, how delighted would +Maraquita have been to fly to the +sacred recesses of her own apartments,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span> +and shut the world and its hollow compliments +outside. But now such moments +became torture. Sir Russell had been +sufficiently trying as a lover, but as +a husband he became simply unendurable. +His middle-aged ecstasies over +his new possession, his fussy attentions, +his twaddling conversation about things +and people of which she had never +heard, soon bored his young wife to +extinction. And he was not slow to +find out that he did not interest her. +He noted the vacant look, the wandering +attention, the deep sighs that occasionally +interrupted their intercourse, and +commenced to feel the first twinges of +jealousy, and to wonder if there had +been any other admirer in the background +whom Lady Johnstone had not +entirely forgotten.</p> + +<p>If he could only have read her<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span> +thoughts as she sat by his side when +they were alone together, or lay for +hours during the silent watches of the +night gazing open-eyed at the dark +blue heaven with its myriad clusters +of stars, how unpleasantly satisfied he +would have been. It was at those +times that the newly-made Lady Johnstone’s +thoughts returned to the past +which she had so pertinaciously thrust +from her, and that she longed (with +the contradiction of human nature) to +be able to take back again to her +heart the fate which she had held in +her hand, without the moral courage to +grasp it. It was then that the glorious +dark eyes of Henri de Courcelles +seemed to gaze into her own like twin +stars, just as they used to look at those +heavenly moments when they sat together +on the bench in the Oleander Thicket,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span> +and her lover’s arms were folded closely +round her, as though to shield her from +all harm.</p> + +<p>Henri de Courcelles had innumerable +faults, but he had loved this girl with +all his heart, and, now that it was too +late, Maraquita seemed to realise it for +the first time. There was another regret, +too, that intruded itself into her +married life, a regret that seemed to +grow with the days, and assume such +inconceivable proportions that she was +tempted to cry out that she could bear +it no longer, but must at all risks rush +back to San Diego and see <i>her child</i>. +Sometimes the unhappy young mother +would dream that the infant was dying, +and wake up with the tears upon her +cheek; sometimes that it really belonged +to Lizzie, and she had lost the right to +call it hers; and sometimes that she<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span> +held it to her heart, and was proud and +fond of it like other mothers, until she +discovered it was a poisonous asp, stinging +the bosom on which it lay. Such +thoughts and dreams were not good for +the young bride to indulge in, and she +grew paler and thinner every day. Sir +Russell called in a doctor, who declared +Lady Johnstone’s condition to be due +to weakness, consequent on her late +attack of fever, and advised her immediate +return to San Diego, as possessing +a higher and more bracing air +than Santa Lucia. Sir Russell sought +his wife’s rooms, all fuss and anxiety +on account of her low spirits, and communicated +the medical man’s opinion to +her. They had been married now for +three weeks, and the Governor had +already come to the conclusion that a +domestic life was not all roses. He<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span> +found his beautiful Maraquita rather +petulant at times, and disposed to have +her own way. She was not very affectionate +either, and flouted his attempts +at love-making in a manner sufficient +to cure the most ardent lover. He +was disappointed certainly; he had +imagined women were more open to +their husbands’ advances; but, after all, +he knew very little about the sex, and +was quite ready, as yet, to lay the +failure at his own door. He was not +fit, he told himself, to be the companion +of such an innocent, guileless +creature; she felt the difference between +his society and that she had +left behind her. The position was new +and strange to her. She would be her +own sweet self again when they returned +to San Diego and she was +restored to her parents’ arms. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span> +alacrity with which Maraquita assented +to his proposal to go home, confirmed +his sentiments upon the subject. It +would have been somewhat of a shock +to him could he have read her thoughts +on the occasion; but how few of us +could afford to read the mind of our +dearest friend, without fear. Maraquita’s +face glowed, and her heart beat faster, +as she pictured herself settled at Government +House. She would have a chance +then of seeing Lizzie again—perhaps of +seeing Henri de Courcelles. Whilst it +lay in his power to deprive her of her +promised dignity, she had dreaded his +presence, and hoped he was far away +from San Diego; but now that her +position as Lady Johnstone was secure, +and no one could dethrone her, she +began to crave for the excitement of +seeing her lover again. Weak and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span> +vacillating as she had been as Maraquita +Courtney, she was even worse +as Lady Johnstone, for now her weakness +threatened to become a crime. +Her depression of spirits and her +feverish anxiety were so patent, that +the first time Mrs Courtney was alone +with her daughter, she taxed her with +the change.</p> + +<p>‘Whatever is the matter with you, +my dear child?’ she exclaimed; ‘you +don’t seem half so happy as I expected +to see you. Here you are, the +Governor’s wife, and the lady of highest +rank in San Diego, and yet you seem +quite melancholy. You don’t mean to +tell me that you are disappointed, or +that your marriage has not proved all +you expected it to be?’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, no, mamma! I suppose it’s all +right! I’ve got the position and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span> +money, and no one can have been such +a fool as to think I married a bald-headed +stupid old man like Sir Russell +for anything else.’</p> + +<p>Mrs Courtney lifted her hands and +eyebrows in surprise.</p> + +<p>‘My dear! my dear! remember he’s +the Governor!’</p> + +<p>‘How can I forget it? Isn’t it dinned +into my ears from sunrise to sunset! +Of course he’s the Governor! I am +sure he need be, for he’s very little +else! But I’m afraid that fact is not +sufficient for one’s happiness.’</p> + +<p>‘My darling, what more can you +possibly want? A splendid house, and +number of servants, equipages, and +horses, jewels, dresses, ornaments, and +the whole island at your feet! Why, I +think you are the luckiest girl I ever +heard of.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span>But her eloquence was interrupted +by Maraquita flinging herself headlong +on a couch, and sobbing out,—</p> + +<p>‘I’m not! I’m not! I’m as unhappy +as I can be! I wish I had never +consented to give up my poor Henri! +I dream of him every night!’</p> + +<p>But at that confession, her mother’s +attempt at consolation changed to +righteous scorn.</p> + +<p>‘Then you must be the wickedest +girl alive, Maraquita! Dreaming of any +man but your husband, and not married +a month yet! You ought to be ashamed +to mention such a thing, even to your +mother! And that wretched low-born +overseer too—a half-caste Spaniard, +with neither birth nor money. I am +utterly surprised at you!’</p> + +<p>‘Mamma, you sha’n’t abuse him! He +may be everything you say, but he’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span> +gloriously handsome; and he loved me, +and I ought to have married him! Why +didn’t you manage it some way? You +knew all about us, and you could have persuaded +papa to settle something on him, +and let us live with you at Beauregard, +and then it would have been all right, +and I should have been much happier +there with him and my poor little baby—’</p> + +<p>‘Maraquita! are you <i>mad</i>?’ cried +her mother, clapping her hand before +her daughter’s mouth; ‘or do you want +every official in Government House to +hear your shameful secret? Good +heavens, it is enough to make me +regret I ever interfered to save you +from your own folly! If you confess +the truth now, you will make matters +a thousand times worse than if you +had made the low marriage you seem +to hanker after. It would be a nice<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span> +scandal for the island, to hear that the +Governor had repudiated you on account +of your former light conduct! <i>Then</i> +you would lose everything—reputation, +position, and wealth, and gain nothing +in exchange.’</p> + +<p>‘I could go to Henri,’ said Maraquita +doggedly, for she possessed one of those +persistent natures that can work themselves +up into a belief, and she was +working herself up to believe that she +was still passionately in love with De +Courcelles, and ready to sacrifice everything +for him.</p> + +<p>‘That you certainly could not,’ returned +Mrs Courtney, determined to cut +her folly in the bud, ‘for he is not in +San Diego.’</p> + +<p>‘Where is he then?’ exclaimed Quita, +raising herself from the sofa cushion.</p> + +<p>‘He has gone to America,’ replied<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span> +her mother, ignoring her regard for truth +so long as she drove this nonsense out +of Maraquita’s mind.</p> + +<p>‘<i>To America!</i>’ repeated the girl. ‘Oh, +why did he go there? What is he going +to do?’</p> + +<p>‘That is his business, not ours; but +I believe his family live in the States. +However, he will never return to San +Diego, and so you see how little you will +gain, and how much you may lose, by +indulging in this sentimental folly. Indeed, +I cannot understand you, Quita! +Your one desire last month was to hear +that this most objectionable young man +had left the island, and now you are +moaning after him as if he had been +your dearest friend instead of your worst +enemy.’</p> + +<p>‘He loved me!’ sobbed Maraquita.</p> + +<p>‘I don’t think he <i>did</i> love you,’ rejoined<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span> +Mrs Courtney. ‘No man who loved you +would have treated you in so dishonourable +a manner. However, he has been +ready enough to run away from you, +and now the best thing you can do is +to forget all about him. Indeed, you must +<i>compel</i> yourself to do so, my dear. You +owe it not only to your husband, but +to your father and mother. And just +think what a wicked thing you are doing +too—crying after another man when you +are Sir Russell’s wife. You horrify and +grieve me beyond measure!’</p> + +<p>Yes, Mrs Courtney was perfectly +right!</p> + +<p>It was both weak and wicked of Lady +Johnstone to let old memories obtrude +themselves upon her wedded life, but +she had been far weaker and wickeder +when she gave them up against her inclination. +An eligible marriage is no cure<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span> +for an ill-placed love, and the laws +neither of God nor man have any power +to quench passion in the human heart. +They may help the victim to keep it +under, but it is the one feeling that +refuses to be silent until it has died a +natural death. Whilst poor faulty Maraquita +believed that Henri de Courcelles +was lying in ambush somewhere ready +to appear before her at any moment, +holding the pledge of their love in his +arms, as he did upon her wedding-day, +she had had a great fear mingled with +her insane desire to see him again; but +now that her mother assured her he had +left San Diego for ever, and she should +never be able to ask his forgiveness, her +dread of him vanished, to give place to +a morbid regret. She wept so much and +ate so little during the first days of her +installation at Government House, that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span> +Mrs Courtney (who had been invited by +Sir Russell to stay with her daughter) +became quite seriously alarmed for the +consequences of her grief, and tried all +she could to rouse her by a description +of the splendid preparations which were +being made for the ball to be given in +honour of their return.</p> + +<p>‘My dear girl, I never saw anything +like it! Sir Russell is certainly the +most generous of men, and the whole +island is talking of him. He has given +a <i>carte blanche</i> order for all the white +flowers procurable, and the ballroom +will be decorated with nothing else. It +will look like a huge bridal bouquet.’</p> + +<p>‘Or a funeral shroud,’ suggested Quita, +with a disagreeable laugh.</p> + +<p>‘My darling! what a strange thing +to say. We won’t have it <i>too</i> white, if +you have such unpleasant comparisons to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span> +make. I will suggest to Sir Russell to +have the wreaths tied with blue ribbons; +or pink roses interspersed with the white +ones, would look very pretty.’</p> + +<p>‘I’m sure I shouldn’t take the trouble, +if I were you, mamma! Let him have +his own way. What does it signify what +it looks like?’</p> + +<p>‘I think it signifies a great deal,’ returned +Mrs Courtney warmly; ‘and when +I come to consider the matter, white +will not set off the dresses as a little +colour would do. For most of the ladies +will be in white; and you will wear +your wedding-dress, of course, Maraquita.’</p> + +<p>‘I suppose so, mamma.’</p> + +<p>‘You will have to open the ball with +Colonel Symonds, being the next gentleman +in rank to the Governor on the +island, and Sir Russell must lead out<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span> +Mrs Symonds. It will be a magnificent +sight, with all the officers in full uniform, +and the military bands in the orchestra. +The supper-tables are to be laid for +three hundred, though I don’t know +where they are all to come from; but +Sir Russell is <i>so</i> generous. It will be +the proudest day of my life—next to +your wedding-day, Maraquita.’</p> + +<p>‘I shall be very glad if you enjoy it, +mamma.’</p> + +<p>‘Come, come, my dear girl, I won’t +have you speak of it in that uninterested +tone, as if you were an old woman of +eighty, past all thoughts of dancing and +admiration. Why, there’s not a girl in +the island that dances better than you +do, Quita; and think how every eye will +be fixed upon you, and how the women +will envy your dress and your beautiful +jewels, and wish they had your luck.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span> +Why, there’s not a girl in San Diego +but would give her eyes to stand in +your shoes.’</p> + +<p>‘I daresay! but they pinch sometimes,’ +said Quita, with a yawn.</p> + +<p>‘My darling, all wives’ shoes pinch +sometimes,’ replied her mother. ‘Marriage +is not a bed of roses, any more than +any other condition. But it is necessary +to a woman’s well-doing, and you have +drawn a splendid prize in the matrimonial +lottery. And now what time will your +ladyship please to drive this afternoon?’</p> + +<p>Quita smiled. She liked to be called +‘your ladyship.’ If there was one thing +above another that reconciled her to the +step she had taken, it was to hear herself +addressed by that much-coveted title. +What children most women are, after all, and +how easily caught with glittering baubles. +Jewels and a title make up the sum total<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span> +of domestic happiness for the majority of +the sex. Maraquita believed herself to be +wretched for the loss of Henri de Courcelles, +but had she been put to the test, +she would not have given up her newly-acquired +dignity, nor one of her sets of +ornaments, to bring him to her feet again. +She would sit for hours with her jewel +cases in her lap, fingering the bracelets, +and rings, and necklaces that Sir Russell +had given her, and holding up the blood-red +rubies, and the grass-green emeralds, +and the deep blue sapphires, and the pure +white diamonds to the light, laughing to +see them catch the sun’s rays, and shoot +out a thousand little stars of fire to meet +them. And as the day for the grand ball +drew near, she seemed to recover her +cheerfulness. Mrs Courtney was delighted +to see the interest she suddenly evinced +about her dress, and the ornaments she<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span> +was to wear with it, and the manner in +which she should arrange her hair; and +when the evening arrived, she was as +flushed with excitement, and as eager +for the festivities to be a success, as any +one could have wished to see her. It was +a proud moment for Mr and Mrs Courtney +when they stood by the side of the dais +which had been erected for the convenience +of the newly-married pair to receive their +numerous guests. Sir Russell, in his +Governor’s uniform, looked imposing if +not handsome; and Maraquita, arrayed in +her wedding garments, stood by his side +like a dainty fairy. All San Diego—that +is, all the respectable portion of it—passed +before them in single file, to offer their congratulations +before the ball commenced, and +there was but one opinion of the appearance +of the bride—that she was the handsomest +woman on the island. Mr and Mrs Courtney<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span> +swelled with pride as they overheard the +various comments on her appearance, and +felt rewarded at last for all the trouble +and anxiety their wayward daughter had +given them. The ballroom at Government +House was a long apartment, with +five or six windows on either side, all open +on account of the heat. The spaces between +these windows were hidden with +trophies of flags, and flowers, so that it +looked like a vast bower of leaves and +blossoms, open at intervals to the outer +air. Six large chandeliers pendant from +the ceiling, and laden with wax candles, +made the ballroom a blaze of light, and +rendered it a conspicuous object from the +outside. That the poorer part of the +population should not consider themselves +entirely shut out from the wedding +festivities, Sir Russell had ordered a +handsome display of fireworks to be sent<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span> +up from the Fort at ten o’clock, and +hundreds of coloured people were waiting +around, in anticipation of the display. +The supper, which had taken many days +to prepare, was laid in another room on +the same floor, on a series of tables, which +were glittering with knives, and forks, and +glass, and silver; and everything promised +to go as merrily as the proverbial marriage +bell. As soon as they had received their +guests, Sir Russell and Lady Johnstone +opened the ball with the two people of +highest rank present, and dancing became +general.</p> + +<p>Maraquita, who was passionately fond of +the exercise, did not miss a single turn. +Her card was naturally soon filled up, +for every man present tried to secure +a waltz with the bride, and she flew all +over the room like a beautiful Bacchante, +flushed and smiling, whilst her parents<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span> +looked on with admiring complacency, and +one at least thanked Heaven secretly that +the threatened danger was at an end, and +her child had begun at last to properly +appreciate the benefits of her high position. +The evening had waxed towards +midnight, and though the dancers gave +no signs of fatigue, Sir Russell had just +made his way towards Mr and Mrs Courtney +to consult them whether it would not +be wise to give the signal for supper, +when a loud cry of alarm and sounds of +confusion were heard to proceed from the +apartment where it was laid. Sir Russell +turned pale. He had heard something of +the sort before, and guessed its import; +but he had no time to communicate his +fears to his friends, when a crowd of +natives rushed into the room, armed +with pistols and knives, and every open +window was simultaneously blocked with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span> +dusky faces, ready to bar all egress, or +to leap inside at a moment’s notice. +The band stopped playing at once—the +dancers screamed with alarm—all the men +felt their hearts stop, and many of the +women fainted without warning. But +Sir Russell was English bred, and rose +to the occasion at once. He looked almost +majestic as he met the oncoming +horde of mutineers with an uplifted +hand, as though he challenged them to +advance one step further, and demanded +in a voice of thunder what they required +in his private apartments.</p> + +<p>‘<i>Your life!</i>’ shrieked one of the mob, +‘and de lives ob all dese d—d white +trash. And we’ll hab them too! On +wid you, darkies! Cut ’em down like de +dogs what dey are.’</p> + +<p>‘I’ll shoot the first man who tries to +pass me!’ shouted Sir Russell, as he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span> +drew a revolver from his pocket; and +then turning to his father-in-law, he +exclaimed quickly,—‘Mrs Courtney—Maraquita, +get them away, for God’s +sake!’</p> + +<p>Maraquita had already flown to her +parents for protection, and was clinging +to her mother in an agony of tears.</p> + +<p>‘Mamma! mamma! what will they do +to us? Oh, we shall all be killed! Why +did I ever leave Beauregard!’</p> + +<p>‘Hush! hush! my darling! it will be +all right. There must be some mistake,’ +replied her mother, although she was +shaking so violently that she could hardly +stand.</p> + +<p>But if it was a mistake, it was a very +terrible one, for the next moment the +sound of several shots, and a piercing +scream, proved that the rebels had already +commenced their murderous work.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span>‘This way, Nita,’ said Mr Courtney +hurriedly, pushing his wife and daughter +before him. ‘Keep close to the wall, +and escape by the door into the library. +It is your best chance.’</p> + +<p>But before they had gone many paces, +elbowing their way frantically through +the crowd that pressed on them from +every side, the dark faces that had +guarded the open windows perceived +their means of exit, and with a cry of +fiendish delight, leapt into the room to +prevent it.</p> + +<p>‘We are lost!’ cried Mrs Courtney. +‘Oh, Mr Courtney, in Heaven’s name, +what are we to do?’</p> + +<p>‘Stand before Quita. Conceal her at +all risks, and I will help you,’ replied +the father, as he ranged himself by the +side of his trembling wife, and in front +of his daughter; and then he whispered,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span> +‘Have no fear, Nita; they can have no +object in wounding <i>us</i>. Their malice is +against Sir Russell and our poor child. +Spread your skirts over her, for Heaven’s +sake.’</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the slaughter became general. +The rebels rushed hither and +thither in search of Maraquita, wounding +or killing every girl they thought to +be the bride, with, in most instances, +the men who resented the murder, until +the ballroom reeked with blood, and +the screams of the unhappy victims were +appalling. But the alarm had been given +at once, and in a few minutes the opposition +shots of the military forces were +heard, and scores of the rebels bit the +dust, whilst many more were taken +prisoners. Amongst the latter was a +young and handsome Spanish half-caste, +whose dark eyes were on fire with the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span> +lust for revenge, but who made no effort +to free himself from his captors.</p> + +<p>‘The danger is past! Thank God +that you are both safe!’ exclaimed Mr +Courtney, as he turned to embrace his +wife and daughter.</p> + +<p>Sir Russell had been wounded in the +wrist by a slash from one of his own +dinner knives; but the Fort physician +had bound it up, and, now that the first +alarm was over, he was able to go in +search of his bride.</p> + +<p>‘Maraquita, my dearest!’ he exclaimed +fervently, as he saw the pale little figure +which Mr Courtney was supporting, +‘this is a terrible affair, but, thank God, +the brutes have not injured you, nor +your parents! You must come away +from here at once, my love. Take her, +Mr Courtney, I beg of you, to her own +apartments. This is no sight for her.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span>Quita closed her eyes, and shuddered +as her glance fell on the prostrate corpses, +both black and white, that lay on the +ballroom floor, and heard the moans of +those to whom the surgeon was already +attending; and she was quite willing to +go away with her parents, and try and +forget the terrible business in sleep.</p> + +<p>‘Yes, yes,’ she murmured, clinging to +her father; ‘take me away at once, papa—I +cannot bear it.’</p> + +<p>But when she had advanced a few +paces into the room, her eyes opened +again from sheer horror, and fell on a +sight which paralysed her. There, standing +before her, though held back by the +pinioning arms of his captors, was Henri +de Courcelles, whom she believed to be +in America, with such hatred and fury +in his glance as she had never seen +before.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span>‘<i>Henri!</i>’ she shrieked involuntarily, +before she could prevent herself.</p> + +<p>‘So you have <i>escaped</i>!—curse you?’ +he answered, glaring at her like a fiend. +‘Then what am I doing here? I must +be free, to live to avenge myself on you.’ +And without another word, and a sudden +effort that took the men who held him +completely by surprise, Henri de Courcelles +wrenched himself away, and rushed +to the open window, leapt into the darkness +and was gone.</p> + +<p>‘He must have killed himself!’ exclaimed +one of the soldiers, looking out +upon the night. ‘There is a fall here +of about twenty feet.’</p> + +<p>‘Order the guard round to take him +prisoner!’ shouted Sir Russell. ‘The +wall beneath the window is sixteen +feet high. They will take him like a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span> +rat in a trap. And if not, tell them +to shoot him like a dog.’</p> + +<p>‘No, no!’ cried Maraquita wildly. +‘They <i>must</i> not—they <i>shall</i> not—he—he—’</p> + +<p>But there she fainted, and fell in a +heap at her husband’s feet.</p> + +<p>‘He is the ringleader of the whole +mutiny,—the greatest rascal of them all! +What can she know of him?’ demanded +Sir Russell, with a frown.</p> + +<p>‘Nothing; she never saw him before,’ +replied Mrs Courtney boldly, though +she was shaking with fear lest Maraquita +should betray herself.</p> + +<p>‘But she called him “Henri.” I +heard her,’ said the Governor.</p> + +<p>‘He was a servant on Beauregard +once, Sir Russell. I forgot that when +I said Maraquita had never seen him. +But really this terrible business has<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span> +shaken me so that I don’t know what +I’m saying. But my poor darling must +be carried to her room. She is not +fit to walk. I hope this shocking affair +may not unsettle her reason.’</p> + +<p>‘It seems as if it had done so already, +when one hears her pleading for the +life of a murderer,’ said Sir Russell, as +he assisted Mrs Courtney to carry the +unconscious girl to her own apartments. +‘And now, Mrs Courtney, I will leave +my wife in your charge. This is a very +serious matter, and may necessitate my +sitting up all night. The rebellion is +quelled for the moment, but I must +not rest until measures have been taken +to prevent its recurrence. My guests +murdered before my very eyes! It is +incredible that such a thing should +happen in Her Majesty’s dominions. +And we must crush the mutiny, if we<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span> +string them all up to the Fort gates. +And this ringleader, this old servant +(as you say) of yours, shall be the +first to suffer. I will give him lynch +law as soon as ever the dawn rises. +I will teach him what the penalty is +of addressing the Governor’s wife as he +has dared to do.’</p> + +<p>And with this threat upon his lips, +Sir Russell stalked gloomily away.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i128.jpg" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i129a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER V.</h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i129b.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="A"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">A</span>S soon as the Governor had +disappeared, Mrs Courtney +tried hard to get her husband +out of the room; but he was +obstinately bent on remaining until his +daughter had recovered her consciousness, +and so, when Maraquita opened +her eyes, both her father and mother +were bending over her.</p> + +<p>‘Where am I?’ she exclaimed, as +the world broke indistinctly upon her +again.</p> + +<p>‘In your own room, my darling. Lie<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span> +down, Quita. Don’t attempt to rise. +You are quite safe. No one can hurt +you here.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Safe!</i>’ repeated the girl, in a bewildered +tone. ‘Ah, I remember now! +The ballroom—the blood—those dreadful +cries! Oh, mamma, mamma,’ she +continued, clinging to her mother, ‘I +shall never forget it! And Julie Latreille +too. I saw her murdered at my side. +It is too, <i>too</i> horrible!’</p> + +<p>‘No, no, my dearest. You are mistaken. +Julie is not dead. She was +wounded, and they have taken her to +the hospital. But don’t think of it any +more to-night. Let me undress you, +that you may try and get some sleep.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Not think of it!</i>’ said Maraquita, +with staring bloodshot eyes, as she sat +up on the couch in her white lace dress, +all crumpled and spattered with blood,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span> +‘not think of it. Why, I shall never +cease to think of it. And there was +something else too. What was it? Ah, +<i>Henri</i>! and he cursed me!’</p> + +<p>‘Mr Courtney, I must request you to +leave us!’ exclaimed his wife hurriedly. +‘You see the excitable condition she is +in, and I can do nothing with her whilst +you are hanging over her like this. The +less people she has with her the better! +You must positively go, and leave her +to Jessica and me.’</p> + +<p>‘Well, my dear, if you think it necessary, +of course I will go; but you will lose +no time, I hope, in getting the poor child +into bed.’</p> + +<p>‘Do you suppose I don’t know what +is best for her, Mr Courtney? I am +only waiting till you are gone, to undress +her.’</p> + +<p>‘And you will send me word how she<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span> +goes on—I shall not retire till I hear +she has recovered her composure, and +is in a fair way to sleep.’</p> + +<p>‘I will send Jessica to you in half an +hour. By that time, I hope we shall +both have somewhat overcome this terrible +shock. I shall stay with her all night, and +you had better go and tell Sir Russell so.’</p> + +<p>And Mrs Courtney, who had been carrying +on this colloquy just inside the bedroom +door, opened it, and gently pushing +her husband into the passage, reclosed +and locked it, with a sigh of relief.</p> + +<p>‘Thank Heaven!’ she said to old +Jessica, ‘we are safe! I trembled for +what she might say next.’</p> + +<p>‘Allays dat cussed oberseer,’ observed +the old negress, who stood by Quita’s +head.</p> + +<p>The girl herself was still sitting up on +the couch when her mother returned to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span> +her, staring into vacancy, and repeating +the word ‘<i>Henri</i>’ in a low voice.</p> + +<p>‘Maraquita!’ said Mrs Courtney +firmly, as she shook the girl to rouse +her to a sense of her position, ‘who are +you talking to? There is no one here! +You are quite alone with Jessica and me. +You are perfectly safe. All the danger +is over, and Government House is guarded +by the soldiery on every side. Come to +bed now, like a good child, and try to +sleep.’</p> + +<p>‘But <i>he</i>—where is <i>he</i>?’ asked Maraquita +wildly. ‘Did they fire on him? +Is he hurt?’</p> + +<p>‘Sir Russell, my darling? Well, nothing +to signify! The brutes slashed at him +with their knives, and caught him on the +wrist, but the doctor says it will be all +right again in a few days, and he will +come and see you by-and-by, dear.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span>‘Not <i>him</i>! I don’t want <i>him</i>!’ returned +Maraquita fretfully, ‘but Henri—where +is my Henri? He jumped out of +the window, and Sir Russell ordered them +to kill him. Oh, tell me, in Heaven’s +name, is he <i>dead</i>?’</p> + +<p>Mrs Courtney did not know what to +answer, but Jessica was ready with the +information.</p> + +<p>‘No, Missy Quita, he not dead. +Governor’s Sambo tell me all de news +just now. De guard go after him, and +take him prisoner, and shut him up in +Fort cell, where he can’t come out. +And so my missy quite safe, and can go +to sleep comfortable.’</p> + +<p>‘There, my darling, you hear what old +Jessica says,’ interposed Mrs Courtney +soothingly. ‘They have got him in +prison. It was like his insolence to speak +to you as he did; but you have given him<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span> +so much encouragement, that the creature +is beside himself. But he has overleapt +the mark this time, and will never trouble +you again.’</p> + +<p>‘Will they—<i>kill</i> him?’ said Quita, +with a shiver.</p> + +<p>‘I hope so, I’m sure. It would be +the best thing for all of us, and drive +this romantic nonsense out of your head, +Maraquita. Why, what is this, my dear? +You are surely not weeping for the fate +of this <i>murderer</i>, who has instigated his +fellows to kill half your friends, and +would have killed you, and your husband, +and your parents, if he had had +the opportunity? I shall begin to think +you have very little love for your father +or myself, if you can prefer <i>his</i> life to +ours.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, no, mamma, it isn’t that! I +am very thankful to think you are all<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span> +safe. Only—only—Henri, who used to +love me so—<i>to die</i>! Oh, it must not +be! It is <i>too</i> shocking!’</p> + +<p>‘If a man sets all the laws of his +country at naught, he must pay the +penalty of his wrong-doing,’ said Mrs +Courtney sententiously.</p> + +<p>‘Yes; but there is some excuse +for him, mamma. Think of his grief +for my loss, his jealousy, his revenge. +It was <i>I</i> who drove him to it. I +should have been true to him at +all hazards, and then this terrible +business would never have happened. +Oh, mamma, he must not die, or +his spirit will haunt me all my +days,’ said Quita, trembling, with +closed eyes.</p> + +<p>‘Maraquita, you are exaggerating the +blame that is due to you in this matter. +In the first place, we don’t know that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span> +the mutiny was organised on your account +at all. The negroes are disaffected, +I am sorry to say, all over San Diego. +And if it were, it is an outrage which +should call forth nothing but resentment +on your part. You have been foolishly +weak in former times with regard to +this man; but he must have been +insane if he ever believed you would +marry him. You followed your parents’ +wishes in accepting Sir Russell Johnstone, +and have nothing to reproach +yourself with in regard to it. Now, +leave the rest of the matter to him, and +don’t worry your head about it. You +may depend upon it, the Governor will +do what is just and right, and such a +dreadful affair will never be allowed to +happen again.’</p> + +<p>‘But Henri—what will they do to +Henri?’ moaned Maraquita.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span>‘Oh, this is unbearable! You are +past all reason!’ cried Mrs Courtney +impatiently. ‘Here, Jessica, help me +off with her ladyship’s things, and let +us put her into bed.’</p> + +<p>She pulled off the various garments +of cambric and lace, almost roughly, in +her indignation at her daughter’s weakness; +and having seen Maraquita laid +in bed, she left her in her old nurse’s +care, whilst she went to ask the doctor +for a sleeping draught.</p> + +<p>Jessica had been installed at Government +House as she had desired, and +her wages had been raised to nearly +double their former sum. Lady Russell +had felt uncomfortable at first to remember +that there was some one beside +her who knew all about her maiden +life, but in her present extremity she +turned to her old servant with a feeling<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span> +of security that she need hide nothing +from her. As her mother left the room, +she moved on her pillow with a heavy +sigh, and laid her little white hand in +Jessica’s dark palm. The negro nature, +if vindictive and revengeful under injustice, +is also very affectionate and easily +conciliated. This caressing action on +Maraquita’s part touched her old nurse’s +heart. It was some time since her +little missy had shown any token of +love for her, and it won her over on +the instant to her side.</p> + +<p>‘Jessica,’ sighed Quita, ‘I’m very unhappy.’</p> + +<p>‘I know you is, poor missy,’ responded +the negress. ‘You’se feelin’ berry bad +to-night. And, sakes! it’s no wonder. +But it’ll be all right bime-by, missy.’</p> + +<p>‘I loved him, Jessica, very much,’ continued +her young mistress. ‘You knew<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span> +all about us, and how I used to slip out +when everybody was asleep, and go to +meet him in the Oleander thicket.’</p> + +<p>‘Ah, yes, missy, Jessica knew. Many’s +the night I’ve sot up, and watched and +waited for you to come back; but it was +generally daylight before you came. Ah! +you used to love de oberseer in dose days, +Missy Quita, pretty strong.’</p> + +<p>‘And I love him still, Nurse! I can’t +help it!’ cried Quita feverishly, as she sat +up in bed, with her dark hair floating about +her, and stared at the negress with dilated +eyes. ‘I have loved him all along; and +if they kill him, they will kill me too.’</p> + +<p>‘No, no, missy; Governor not killing +Massa Courcelles. Only keep him in +prison little while, and den let him go +free. Lie down, missy, and go sleep. +All right bime-by.’</p> + +<p>‘But I want to see him!’ exclaimed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span> +Quita excitedly. ‘I want to hear everything +they are going to do to him; and +I want to ask his forgiveness for having +married Sir Russell. I <i>must</i> see him, +Jessica. I shall go mad if I don’t.’</p> + +<p>‘Den missy <i>shall</i> see him,’ replied the +servant soothingly.</p> + +<p>‘Will you manage it for me, Jessica?’ +asked the girl eagerly; ‘and without saying +a word to mamma. Will you find +out where Monsieur de Courcelles has +been taken, and if I can possibly get +permission to visit him, and if there will +be a trial, and <i>when</i>? Find out everything, +Jessica, and let me know to-morrow +morning, and you shall have +the pair of gold bangles papa gave me +last birthday. Stay! you shall have +them now,’ continued Quita, as she +sprang from her bed and took the ornaments +off her dressing-table. ‘Put them<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span> +on your wrists, Jessica, and remember +you are to find out <i>everything</i>!’</p> + +<p>‘Missy berry good to ole Jessica,’ said +the negress, as she clasped the glittering +circlets on her dusky arms, and feasted +her eyes on them; ‘and I’ll know +de whole truth by to-morrow morning. +Only missy must lie down again +now, and keep all dis berry dark, +or de ole missus nebber let me tell +nuffin.’</p> + +<p>The entrance of Mrs Courtney at this +juncture with the opiate draught put a +stop to further confidence, and Maraquita, +having obediently swallowed it, soon lost +sight of her troubles in sleep. Mrs +Courtney dismissed Jessica for the night, +and lay down by her daughter’s side; +but it was long before she followed her +example. She trembled not only for the +fright she had gone through, but for the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span> +influence she feared it might have upon +Maraquita’s future.</p> + +<p>‘Poor child!’ she thought, as she contemplated +the lovely face, now tranquil in +slumber on the pillow beside her, ‘she is +passing through a terrible ordeal. I only +trust it may not cause a rupture between +Sir Russell and herself. I am certain he +suspects something. I did not half like the +look with which he received my explanation +of the matter. It was the most unfortunate +thing in the world that that fellow +should have been planted right in Maraquita’s +way as she left the room. Two +minutes sooner or later, and she would not +have seen him. Now, I hardly dare to +think how it may end. If he is condemned +to death, she certainly must not hear of +it: I must invent some reason to Sir +Russell for taking her away. Her emotional +nature would break down altogether<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span> +under such a strain. What an +awful thing it is that she should ever +have fallen into his clutches!’ And Mrs +Courtney sighed over it until she fell +asleep.</p> + +<p>As soon as the morning broke, Maraquita +having passed a good night, and +everything being tranquil at Government +House, she accompanied her husband to +Beauregard for the day, for all the planters +were entertaining grave fears for the continued +submission of their coolie hands, +and it was not thought advisable to leave +the estates for long at a time without a +ruling eye. Her departure was the signal +for a long conference between Lady +Russell and old Jessica. The negress +had ascertained that it was possible for +the friends of the prisoners to obtain +access to them through a written order +from the Governor, but that the privilege<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span> +would only be extended in the case of +relations.</p> + +<p>‘That renders it impossible!’ exclaimed +Quita despairingly, for she was not +a woman with the wit to overcome +difficulties.</p> + +<p>‘How so, missy?’ demanded Jessica. +‘Why impossible? <i>I</i> can get order +quick enough.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>You</i>, Jessica? But Sir Russell knows +you. Besides, he would never believe you +were related to Monsieur de Courcelles.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, missy, I not going work dat +way at all. Course he not gib it to <i>me</i>; +but if missy gib me five-dollar note, dat +half-caste woman Rosita will go swaer +she’s de oberseer’s aunt, or his moder, +and want speak to him with her daughter—dat’s +<i>you</i>, missy. Den you put veil +over your face, and big cloak, and go +with Rosita and see de oberseer.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span>‘But Rosita may tell,’ said Maraquita, +shrinking from the idea.</p> + +<p>Jessica shrugged her shoulders contemptuously.</p> + +<p>‘Rosita not tell—what good her +telling? but if missy ’fraid, gib her +<i>ten</i> dollars ’stead of five! den I swear +she not tell.’</p> + +<p>‘And what else did you hear, Jessica?’</p> + +<p>‘Sambo say de Governor would hab +hung all de mutineers dis morning, +same like dogs, only de Colonel ob de +forces tell him dat berry bad plan, and +make big fight, and he better have +proper martials. So dat am fixed for +to-morrow, and den dey will be hung +at sunset fire—dat what Sambo says.’</p> + +<p>‘And—and—what more, Jessica?’</p> + +<p>‘Dat’s pretty well all, missy, only +de corpses hab been cleared away,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span> +and will be buried dis evening. And +Missy Latreille berry bad in hospital, +and both de Missy Burns dead, and +dere fader hab sworn if Governor +don’t hang de rebels, <i>he</i> will.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, it is terrible!’ sighed Maraquita. +‘I shall never have the courage +to visit the cells. I am so afraid of +being found out.’</p> + +<p>‘Den missy better not go.’</p> + +<p>‘But, Jessica, he will die without +my seeing him, and I shall never +forgive myself. I don’t know <i>what</i> to +do.’</p> + +<p>She vacillated, like the weak creature +she was, between two opinions, until +it was almost too late for Jessica +to arrange the matter for her; but +finally, under the dread of her mother’s +speedy return from Beauregard, she +made up her mind to visit De Courcelles,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span> +and Jessica was despatched +with a ten dollar note to make the +necessary preparations.</p> + +<p>When the afternoon sun was somewhat +on the wane, and Sir Russell +Johnstone, having passed a sleepless +night, and believing his wife to be +safe in her own apartments, had thrown +himself down on a couch to obtain +some rest, Maraquita, effectually disguised +with veil and cloak, stole down +the back staircase of Government +House, in company with the negress, +and sought the abode of the half-caste +woman Rosita, who had been +fully instructed in the part she had +to play. Leaving Jessica behind them, +the two women immediately set out +for the Fort, where they were received +by the officer commanding the prison +guard. He threw one glance on the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span> +Governor’s signature, and gave them +immediate admittance.</p> + +<p>‘Friends to see the prisoner No. 14, +by the Governor’s permission,’ he shouted +to the warder, who, unlocking a heavy +iron-clamped door, ushered the visitors +into a stone passage, from which there +seemed to be no possibility of egress. +Maraquita’s feeble courage was fast +failing her, and had it not been for +the cool nerve and determination of +Rosita, she would have probably betrayed +herself. But the half-caste woman +was quite equal to the emergency.</p> + +<p>‘Ah, sir, tell me!’ she exclaimed, +as soon as they were alone with the +warder, ‘will they really kill my poor +nephew? Is there no chance of a +reprieve?’</p> + +<p>‘Don’t think so, ma’am,’ was the official’s +answer; ‘but no one can tell for certain<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span> +till after the court-martial to-morrow. +Your nephew, you say?’</p> + +<p>‘Yes! and this poor girl, my daughter, +was to have been married to him before +long. It’s a terrible trial for her! I don’t +know how she’ll stand the interview.’</p> + +<p>‘She’d better not see him. ’Twon’t do +no good,’ said the warder roughly; ‘though +she’s had a lucky escape from such a +rascal.’</p> + +<p>‘But I’ve come on her account alone. +She can’t rest till she’s seen her cousin. +Now, Clara, my dear, you’d better go in +by yourself first, and then when the time’s +up, the warder will let you know.’</p> + +<p>All this had been pre-arranged between +them, but Rosita played her part much +better than Maraquita had the power to +do. Her large eyes glanced up almost +appealingly when No. 14 was reached, +and the gaoler’s keys rattled in the door,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151]</span> +and had not her companion pushed her +into the cell, she would have turned round +and run away. But it was done, and her +retreat was cut off. She stood in the same +room as Henri de Courcelles.</p> + +<p>‘Friends for No. 14,’ sung out the +warder, as he opened the door; ‘only +fifteen minutes allowed, so make the most +of them.’</p> + +<p>Henri de Courcelles looked up in +amazement as the order sounded on his +ear. He knew of no friends to visit him +in his trouble. He was sitting in a small +whitewashed room, which contained a +pallet, a table, and a couple of wooden +chairs. His day’s rations were before him, +but he had not touched them. He was +still in his usual attire, for it had not +been thought worth while to put him into +prison clothes, and notwithstanding an +unshorn face and unkempt hair, he was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span> +looking as handsome—perhaps handsomer, +than ever, for disorder suited his gipsy +style of beauty. As he caught sight of +Maraquita’s shrouded and veiled figure, he +started a little, but he never supposed for +a moment it could be she, until she lifted +her veil, and gazed at him with scared and +mournful eyes.</p> + +<p>‘Henri,’ she exclaimed, in a piteous +voice, ‘I have come to see you!’</p> + +<p>In her vanity, she had believed she had +only to stand before him, and look +miserable, to bring him to her feet again. +She had forgotten the deadly insult she had +put upon the man by marrying Sir Russell +Johnstone; the lies with which she had +attempted to deceive him to the very end; +the treachery by which she and her mother +had procured his dismissal from Beauregard. +She trusted, like many another +of her sex, too much to the power of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span> +her beauty to sway the minds of men. +But mere loveliness cannot supply the +place of truth and fidelity, and she had +become nothing in the eyes of her former +lover but a whited sepulchre, and was +the last person upon earth he desired +to see. He sprang to his feet as her +voice fell on his ear, and looked at her +with ineffable scorn.</p> + +<p>‘<i>You</i> have come to see <i>me</i>, and why?’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Henri, how can you ask? Do +you think I am made of stone, that I +have entirely forgotten? When I saw +you amongst those terrible mutineers last +night, it nearly killed me.’</p> + +<p>‘It’s a pity it didn’t <i>quite</i> kill you,’ +he replied, ‘for women such as you +are not fit to live! Do you know <i>why</i> +I was there,—why I headed their numbers, +and incited them on to rebellion +and slaughter?—<i>in order that I might<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span> +kill you</i>,—in order that you should not +live to deceive other men, and drive +them to desperation, as you have driven +me.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Henri, Henri,’ she exclaimed, +panting with fear, ‘you are raving! +You would not injure <i>me</i>! Think, +Henri, think of the hours I have lain +with my head on your breast and my +lips to yours; think how you have +loved me,—of the tie between us, and +I am sure that you would die sooner +than hurt a hair of my head.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Think of it!</i>’ he repeated, with a +bitter laugh; ‘haven’t I thought of it +until it has turned my brain, and made +me lust for your blood? To think +of all your professions of love, and how +they have ended, is to hate and despise +you. <i>The tie between us!</i> It +had better die, and rot where it lies,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span> +than grow up with one tithe of its +mother’s falsehood. No, Maraquita, the +time for my belief in you is past. If +you came here to hear compliments, you +have wasted your time, for I have nothing +but loathing and hatred to give you.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Henri!’ she said, shivering, +with her face hidden in her hands, +‘don’t speak to me like that! I will +go away, and never attempt to cross +your path again, only promise me that +neither you nor your friends shall hurt +me. It was not my fault, indeed it +wasn’t. I married at the command of +my parents, and I have been so miserable +since, Henri. I have dreamt of +you almost every night, and longed +to see you again. Oh, don’t look at +me like that! Kiss me, and say you +forgive me, or I shall never know another +happy moment.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span>‘<i>Kiss you! Forgive you!</i>’ he repeated +witheringly. ‘Never! Neither +in this life, nor the life to come. +You escaped me last night, Maraquita, +but you shall not escape me for ever. +I have sworn to have your life, in +return for all that was precious to me +in mine, and I will have it yet. I +only bide my time.’</p> + +<p>Then her fancied passion died out +beneath his threats and blazing eyes, +and she turned and taunted him with +his inability to carry out his intentions.</p> + +<p>‘<i>You will have my life?</i> What are +you thinking of, to talk in so absurd +a manner? Do you forget where you +are? Are you aware that you will be +brought up for trial to-morrow morning, +and that if I give the Governor +one hint of this conversation, sunset +will see your execution. How will you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span> +be able to carry out your threats +against me then?’</p> + +<p>‘And so <i>this</i> is the woman who will +never know another happy moment without +my forgiveness!’ he returned sarcastically,—‘who +can calmly contemplate +my possible execution as the means of +her own deliverance, and hint that she +may expedite it! I thank you, madam, +for showing me your true nature so +openly, else I might have been weak +enough, in these last moments, to believe +you had really preserved some little feeling +for the man who should have been +your husband. But I have a word to +say to you in return. I shall <i>not</i> die +to-morrow—I shall live until I have the +weapon in my hand wherewith to strike +you down. And then I shall not care +how soon I go too. But in hell, Maraquita—even +in hell—I shall be beside<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span> +you, to haunt you with the treachery +which sent us both there?’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, have pity!—have pity on me!’ +she cried, upon her knees.</p> + +<p>‘I have no pity,’ he answered, in a low +voice; ‘and I shall have none. You +have left me only one feeling with regard +to you,—determination to carry out +my revenge. When I think of it, I feel +as if I had the strength of ten thousand +devils in me, and could tear these walls +asunder with my bare hands, and set +myself free, only to be revenged on +you.’</p> + +<p>‘Time’s up,’ called the warder from +outside the door.</p> + +<p>‘Henri, will you not speak one word +to me?—give me one look before I go?’ +wailed Maraquita.</p> + +<p>He advanced upon her with the eyes +of a demoniac.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span>‘Speak to you? Look at you?’ he +exclaimed. ‘What have I to say to you +that I have not already said? Leave +this cell, as you value a few more days’ +existence, or I shall tear you to pieces +where you stand.’</p> + +<p>And at the sight of his uplifted hands +and glowering eyes, Maraquita gave a +low cry, and hastened through the open +doorway.</p> + +<p>‘Not a very pleasant interview, I +guess,’ observed the warder, as Quita +walked down the stone passage again, +sobbing as if her heart would break, +and clinging to Rosita’s arm. ‘I +told you you’d better not see him. +He’s more mad than sane, and I was +half afraid he might do you some +harm.’</p> + +<p>‘Is there,’ demanded Maraquita, as +soon as she could command her voice<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span> +sufficiently to speak, ‘is there any chance +of his being able to escape from prison?’</p> + +<p>The gaoler laughed.</p> + +<p>‘<i>Escape?</i> Well, no. I wouldn’t set +my heart on that, if I was you, miss. +’Twould take a better man than he—though +he’s a powerful fellow, too—to +break through these walls, when he’s +once inside them. He’ll never leave +them again, unless it’s by the Governor’s +orders—you may take your oath of +that.’</p> + +<p>At Rosita’s house, Jessica received her +weeping young mistress again, and conducted +her safely back to her own apartments; +but it was long before Maraquita +could make up her mind whether she +should speak to Sir Russell on the subject +of De Courcelles or not. Some +suspicion might attach to her doing so, +though she trusted to her native cunning<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span> +to make a good story of it. But +if she said nothing, and the court took +a lenient view of the part he had maintained +in the mutiny, Henri de Courcelles +might be set at large again, and +accomplish his wicked designs upon her +life. The love of living, so strong in +every human breast, finally outweighed +all other considerations, and Maraquita, +after a night of painful deliberation, asked +Jessica to summon Sir Russell to her +side.</p> + +<p>The Governor, unused to such amenities +on the part of his bride, came with +alacrity, and full of tender solicitude for +the apprehension and terror she had +passed through.</p> + +<p>‘You must try and dismiss it all from +your mind now, my darling, for the +danger is really past. We try the +mutineers to-day, and I have very little<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span> +doubt of the sentence which will be +passed upon them.’</p> + +<p>‘There is <i>one</i>—the man who spoke +to me the other night,’ said Maraquita, +trembling; ‘what will they do to him?’</p> + +<p>The Governor frowned.</p> + +<p>‘You mean the ringleader? I cannot +tell; but if <i>I</i> had to decide, I should +say that hanging was too good for him. +Why do you ask, my dear? Surely you +are not interested in his fate.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, no, no! I am afraid of him,’ +replied his wife. ‘He was papa’s overseer +once, and he—he—presumed to fall +in love with me; and because—because +I married you instead, he has sworn to +kill me; and he <i>will</i>, Sir Russell, I +am <i>sure</i> he will, if they let him go +free!’</p> + +<p>‘He shall <i>not</i> go free!’ exclaimed her +husband indignantly. ‘Such outrages<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span> +from the half-caste population against +European settlers are not to be tolerated. +I am glad you have told me this, Quita; +it will go greatly against him, if the +court should be disposed to show him +any favour.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, <i>do</i> send him away—get rid of +him at all risks. He frightens me. I +shall die of fear,’ she whispered, clinging +to Sir Russell’s arm.</p> + +<p>‘He shall never frighten you again, +my darling. I will take care of that,’ +replied the Governor decidedly, as he +pressed her to him. But as he was +embracing her, Jessica entered the +bedroom, with an official paper.</p> + +<p>‘Orderly from Fort bring for Governor,’ +she ejaculated.</p> + +<p>Sir Russell glanced over its contents.</p> + +<p>‘Good heavens!’ he cried, ‘he has +escaped us!’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span>‘Who—<i>who</i>?’ demanded Maraquita.</p> + +<p>‘The very man you were speaking +of—Henri de Courcelles. He has +broken, by some miraculous means, out +of his prison cell, and is missing. I +must order out the mounted police at +once to follow him. Don’t be afraid, +Maraquita. It is impossible that he +can escape the vigilance of the law, in +such a little place as San Diego.’</p> + +<p>‘He will—he <i>will</i>!’ exclaimed the unhappy +girl, as her husband rushed out +of the room. ‘He will live, as he said, +to murder me.’ And with that she fell +back unconscious on her pillows.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i164.jpg" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i165a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VI.</h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i165b.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="T"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">T</span>HE account of the attempted +massacre at Government House +reached Lizzie through Mr +Courtney; but he did not tell her that +Henri de Courcelles had been arrested +as one of the mutineers. He knew that +she had regarded his late overseer with +affection, and he wanted to spare her the +pain of the suspense of learning his fate. +It would be time enough, he thought, +for her to mourn when her friend had +been tried and condemned. But his kind +consideration was wasted, for the news +came to her by means of the yellow girl,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[166]</span> +Rosa, who burst into her presence on +the day of De Courcelles’ escape from +the Fort prison, brim full of the intelligence.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Missy Liz! dar’s grand news +come from Government House. De Fort +prison doors is bust open, and dey’s all +gone—ebbery one of dem mutineers, and +Massa Courcelles, he gone wid them.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Monsieur de Courcelles!</i>’ exclaimed +Lizzie, hardly believing her ears. ‘What +are you talking of, Rosa?’</p> + +<p>‘Jes’ God’s truth, Missy Liz. Massa +Courcelles de ringleader ob all de mutiny—dat’s +what William Hall, dat hab jes’ +come from de Fort, say; and dey take +him prisoner ob Tuesday night, and put +him in cell, and dis morning he was to +be tried by ’martial; but he’s clean gone, +and de mounted police am scouring San +Diego for him.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[167]</span>‘De Courcelles amongst the rebels!’ +repeated Lizzie. ‘<i>This</i>, then, is what +he meant by his revenge. Oh, that it +had been in my power to save him from +falling so low!’</p> + +<p>‘But dat ain’t all, Missy Liz; dere’s +more to come. William Hall say de +police catch sight of Massa Courcelles +ober de gully, close by Shanty Hill, +and he ’scape them again, and run +straight for de Alligator Swamp.’</p> + +<p>‘He did not <i>enter</i> it?’ cried Lizzie, +turning pale.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, didn’t he, though? De police +gallop after him, and he run same like +deer, and jump de fences, and go squash +right in de swamp, where de hosses +couldn’t follow him, ’cause of de morass. +And William say when Massa +Courcelles get on edge of swamp, he +turn and wave his hand, and hollo, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span> +dive in bushes. And den de police see +no more of him; but dey is waiting +dere now, horses and all, till he come +out again. But Massa Courcelles nebber +come out again, Missy Liz. Dat what +all de niggers say; alligator and swamp +take him pretty quick, and got him now, +maybe, de bad fellow!’</p> + +<p>Lizzie did not answer her chattering +handmaid, except by asking,—</p> + +<p>‘What time is it, Rosa?’</p> + +<p>‘Jes’ gone tree, Missy Liz.’</p> + +<p>‘And when did this happen? I mean +when did the police lose sight of Monsieur +de Courcelles in the Alligator +Swamp?’</p> + +<p>‘Eleben o’clock, missy.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Four hours</i>,’ said Lizzie to herself. +‘God help him! What can I do?’</p> + +<p>She began turning over the contents +of a medicine-chest as she thought thus,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span> +and pouring the liquid from one bottle +into the other, in an apparently mechanical +manner.</p> + +<p>‘Rosa!’ she said suddenly, turning to +her open-eyed attendant, ‘I am going +out presently, and I may be detained +longer than I anticipate. Take great +care of baby whilst I am away, and +put her to sleep in your own room +to-night. Do you understand me?’</p> + +<p>‘Yes, yes, Missy Liz.’</p> + +<p>She watched her mistress array herself +in her walking things, and take +down a broad sombrero hat, and a long +cloak, which had belonged to her father, +from the cupboard where they hung, +and place brandy and a bottle of quinine, +and strong smelling-salts and camphor +in the basket she hung upon her arm. +These proceedings only excited Rosa’s +curiosity; but when Lizzie went on to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span> +load a revolver and place it in her +belt, and take a huge staff in her hand, +the yellow girl could contain herself no +longer, but cried out,—</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Missy Liz, Missy Liz! what +you going to do with all dem things?’</p> + +<p>‘Dare I trust you?’ said Lizzie, +turning her grave, pale face towards her. +‘Will you be faithful and keep my +secret if I tell you what I am going +to do?’</p> + +<p>‘Missy Liz, <i>I will</i>!’ replied Rosa +solemnly. ‘I knows I’se berry bad gal +to you once. I said drefful things what +I didn’t mean; but I’se only ignorant +yellow gal, Mis Liz, and I didn’t think +how bad I was. But Massa Norris, he +make me promise when he go ’way +that I’d be good faithful servant to you, +and take great care of you, and he’d +bring me lubly dress from England<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span> +next time he come; and I would do it, +Missy Liz, without de dress, and only +because I love you for all you done +for me.’</p> + +<p>‘I believe you, and I will confide in +you, for I must have a friend to help +me. Rosa, I am going to the Alligator +Swamp to try and find Monsieur de +Courcelles.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>De Alligator Swamp!</i> Oh, Missy +Liz! you nebber going there? You +can’t walk dere for de swamp, nor de +thorn bushes; and de green slime hab +a smell what chokes you. Missy,’ continued +Rosa earnestly, ‘even a nigger +can’t stay dere. You will lose your +way d’reckly—dere’s no path to guide +you; and de alligators is awful. Dey kill +you d’reckly dey see you. Oh, Missy +Liz, for God’s sake, don’t try to go!’</p> + +<p>‘Listen to me, dear Rosa. <i>I must<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span> +go!</i> It is of no use to try and stop +me. Monsieur de Courcelles has been +very wicked, no doubt—I don’t defend +his conduct—but <i>once</i> I loved him Rosa, +and a woman can never quite forget +the man she has loved.’</p> + +<p>‘No, dat’s true, missy. Juan want +me to marry him, but I keep thinking +too much ob that rascal sailor boy what +was de fader of my poor leetel Carlo—Dat’s +truth,’ answered Rosa, shaking +her black curls.</p> + +<p>‘Well then, perhaps you can understand +a little what I feel now, Rosa. +Monsieur de Courcelles is in fearful +danger. I know his spirit. He will +never come out of the swamp to be taken +prisoner again. He will faint from the +fumes of the fearful miasma first, and +sink for ever in the morass, or he +will cast himself before the first cayman<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span> +in his path. I may not find him, or +I may be too late to give him any +assistance, but I must try. I have the +proper medicines here to counteract the +effect of the swamp, for him and myself; +and if I find him, I think with this +disguise I may get him safely out again +without attracting the notice of the +police. I shall not go by Shanty +Hill, Rosa. I shall make my way +round by the Miners’ Gulch. There is +an entrance there at the back of the +Sans Souci plantation.’</p> + +<p>‘And if you find him, Missy Liz—what +den?’ inquired the yellow girl.</p> + +<p>‘Ah, Rosa! that is where I shall want +your assistance and your fidelity,’ replied +her mistress. ‘If I find him, I must bring +him <i>here</i>, and hide him from the police +until I can get him safely away from +the island.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span>‘Dat berry dangerous work, Missy +Liz.’</p> + +<p>‘I know it, but how can I do otherwise? +Could I let the man whom I once +believed would be my husband, perish in +the Alligator Swamp, without an attempt +to rescue him; or deliver him up to die +a murderer’s death upon the gallows, +as long as I can keep him from it? +Oh, Rosa, Rosa!’ cried Lizzie, weeping, +‘it is the same with all of us, white +and black alike. Love—although a love +that is dead and over—sanctifies everything, +and claims a certain duty even +for its ashes.’</p> + +<p>The yellow girl did not understand +her mistress’s words, but her tears appealed +to her heart, and she cried with +her.</p> + +<p>‘Yes, Missy Liz, I understand. Dat’s +jes’ same like me and de sailor fellow.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span> +But you must take great care of yourself, +Missy Liz. You must be berry ’ticular +where you step, and how you go, and +keep a sharp look-out for de alligators. +Dey berry cowardly, Missy Liz. Dey +frightened of noise, and dey can’t run +no ways; so if you don’t tread right +on dem, you’se all right.’</p> + +<p>‘Yes, yes, Rosa! I know that, and +I will take every possible caution,’ replied +Lizzie. And then she kissed the +baby, and kissed Rosa, and walked +bravely off, as though she had been +going on her daily rounds.</p> + +<p>The Alligator Swamp was situated in +a deep gorge or valley between two high +hills, and was simply a stagnant bog, +thickly clothed with poisonous vegetation—indeed +no healthy trees or bushes could +have existed in such an atmosphere. The +fatal upas tree spread its thick branches<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[176]</span> +over the morass, sheltering deadly fungi +of orange, and red, and white. Thorny +bushes were matted and interlaced about +it, so that had there been a solid +foundation to the Alligator’s Swamp, +it would have been impossible to +force one’s way through, or find a path +whereon to tread. The only resting-place +for one’s feet consisted of the +logs and trunks of decayed trees, which +had dropped, rolling into the slime, and +choked it up. But they were treacherous +paths, as may be well imagined, and it +was difficult, in the semi-darkness, to +distinguish them from the caymen—the +largest and fiercest breed of alligators—from +which the swamp derived its name. +These creatures lay on the top of the +slimy deposit, just like rugged brown +logs in appearance, until a sound or a +touch caused the apparently inert mass<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[177]</span> +to move, and a ferocious head, with +two diamond bright eyes, and an enormous +mouth, with cruel fangs, rose up +suddenly and snapt its jaws over its +unsuspecting prey. For there was no +real daylight in the Alligator Swamp. +The branches of the trees were so +thickly interlaced overhead that the sun +had no chance to penetrate them and +cleanse the Augean Stable with his +health-giving rays; and so the decaying +vegetation and the slime had festered on +together for years past, and the caymen +had bred and flourished there, until +the boldest negro of them all considered +it certain death to breathe +the air which they inhaled. If the +foolhardy creature who attempted to +traverse the swamp were not immersed +in the stinking mud, or seized by the +hungry alligators, he was bound after a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[178]</span> +little while to sink down, giddy and +intoxicated from inhaling the various +poisons around him, and so fall a prey +to either one or the other. Lizzie +Fellows was perfectly conscious of the +terrible risk she ran,—more so, perhaps, +than most women would have been, for +her father had fully explained the dangers +of the swamp to her, and warned her +off its precincts. She knew that the +reason runaway negroes and escaped +prisoners took refuge in the Alligator +Swamp was not because they sought +safety in it, but because they preferred +death by its horrors to giving themselves +up to the law. They knew they +went to their grave when they entered +it, but they knew also that the police +would refuse to follow them there, and +that they would be left to die alone +and unmolested. She had a long walk<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span> +to take before she reached it. She was +anxious to meet no one who should +inquire her errand, or try to prevent +it, and so she took a circuitous route to +Sans Souci, and crept round the back +of the plantation until she came to a +clump of dense underwood, through +which she knew a path led to the fatal +spot. She tied a handkerchief steeped +in some disinfectant across her mouth +and nostrils as she entered it, and +then, with a short prayer to God for +protection and success, went bravely on. +She carried a knife in her hand, with +which she sliced the bark of the trees +as she walked along, for she was afraid +of losing her way altogether, and perhaps +never finding the sunlight again; but for +the first few minutes the Alligator Swamp +seemed to be a harmless place enough. +The grass beneath her feet was bright<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span> +and green, from the humidity of the +atmosphere and the shade of the trees, +but the first indication of danger was +given by her foot suddenly sinking in +wet soil up to her ankle. She drew +it back quickly, and commenced to walk +more slowly, and tapping the ground +before her with the stout stick she held +in her hand, before she ventured to tread +on it. Her heart beat fast at times +as a rustle in the bushes betrayed the +presence of a rattlesnake—about the only +living thing that shared the swamp with +the alligators—or a splash in the surrounding +vegetation proved she was +approaching the haunts of the caymen. +Still she went on, picking her way over +the morass, or skirting it by means of +the rotten trunks that lay across it, and +swayed and rolled as she mounted them, +as if they would give way beneath her<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span> +weight, and let her fall into the slimy +pool they floated on. Soon she began to +feel the effects of the mephitic vapours +with which the place abounded, and had +recourse to her smelling-salts, to prevent +her becoming giddy. All this time Lizzie +had kept up a continual note from a +whistle she had hung about her neck, +and at intervals she had called upon +Henri de Courcelles by name. As she +advanced to the centre of the swamp +the daylight seemed to be entirely excluded, +and she lighted a lantern which +was tied at her girdle. With her staff +in one hand and her revolver in the +other she now began to pick her way +step by step, her heart sinking with +fear and disappointment as she went. +For not a sound came in answer to her +whistle or her call. The profoundest +silence reigned in the Alligator Swamp.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span> +The stench of the decaying vegetation +was more and more apparent, and the +only light by which she walked was +the feeble glimmer thrown in advance +from the little lantern at her waist. It +was a situation to appal the bravest +spirit. Once she stepped forward almost +confidently, and placed her foot +on a broad bridge, formed, as she +believed, of the corrugated trunk of a +fallen tree, but as she touched it it +sank beneath the slime, and rose again +immediately with two fierce twinkling +eyes and an open jaw full of pointed +teeth, to confront her.</p> + +<p>Lizzie flew backward with a scream of +terror, and, clinging with one arm to +the branch of a tree, discharged her +revolver full in the reptile’s face. The +bullet was probably battered against its +impervious hide, but the shot had the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span> +desired effect of frightening the alligator +back into its home of slime. It had +another, and more unforeseen effect. It +reached the senses of an almost unconscious +man, who had slidden into a +sitting position beside some bushes, but +a few yards off, and roused him from his +sleep of death. The sound of the shot +conveyed but one idea to his mind, however,—that +his pursuers had penetrated his +asylum, and were close at hand to capture +him; and with the intention to defy them +to the last, he staggered to his feet, and +set his back against a tree. The tall +figure clothed in white became apparent +in the surrounding twilight, and when +Lizzie raised her eyes from the spot +where the cayman had disappeared from +view, it was to fix them on the form +of Henri de Courcelles. She uttered +a cry of pleasure at the discovery,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span> +which sounded to him like a note of +victory.</p> + +<p>‘Stand off!’ he exclaimed loudly; ‘shoot +me like a man if you will, but don’t +attempt to touch me with your accursed +fingers, or I will dive into the swamp +and escape you.’</p> + +<p>He was about to put his suicidal threat +into execution, when Lizzie stepped quickly +across the yielding earth which separated +them, and stood by his side.</p> + +<p>‘Henri!’ she ejaculated, as she clutched +at his clothes with her hand and held him +back.</p> + +<p>He turned and stared at her.</p> + +<p>‘<i>Lizzie!</i>’ was all he could say.</p> + +<p>‘Yes, it is I,’ she answered simply.</p> + +<p>At that his senses appeared to return +to him. His astonishment at seeing +her was so great, that he pulled +himself together, as a drunken man<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span> +will sometimes do, under special circumstances.</p> + +<p>‘Lizzie—<i>here!</i>’ he repeated. ‘But what +made you come to such a place? Do +you know that you are courting certain +death, and that every moment may be +your last? Go back at once! Don’t stay +here another instant! You were mad +to think of such a thing.’</p> + +<p>‘I <i>am</i> going back, and at once,’ she +answered quickly, ‘but you must come +with me.’</p> + +<p>‘I cannot. The police are waiting for +me outside, and I will die here sooner +than deliver myself into their hands.’</p> + +<p>She disengaged the wallet of medicines +which she had carried on her back, and, +pouring out a mixture of brandy and +quinine, held it to his lips.</p> + +<p>‘Drink this, Henri, and listen to me. +I have come here expressly to find you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span> +and save you, and you must trust yourself +to me. The police shall not take +you. They are waiting by Shanty +Hill, and I know a secret outlet by +Miners’ Gulch. But we must leave this +pestiferous atmosphere at once, or it may +be fatal to both of us.’</p> + +<p>He clung to her like a child to its +mother.</p> + +<p>‘You can save me!’ he exclaimed. ‘Oh, +my good angel! why did I ever desert +you?’</p> + +<p>‘Hush! Don’t speak of that now. +Think of nothing excepting the best +means to get out of this dreadful place. +Drink some more brandy, and inhale +this ammonia. That is right. Pull yourself +together, and follow me closely. I +will go first, and lead the way.’</p> + +<p>She pulled him forward as she spoke, +and mechanically he followed her. Step<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[187]</span> +by step they went, very slowly and +cautiously at first, and then faster, as the +dusky twilight spread itself out, and the +gleams of sunshine penetrated at intervals +the dense foliage, and turned its neutral +tints into living green. On they went, +she in front with her staff and revolver, +and he, behind, only half comprehending +what had occurred to him, until they +reached the thicket which abutted on +the Sans Souci plantation, where he sank +down upon the grass, with a low moan +of exhaustion. Lizzie was busy with +her wallet directly. She had anticipated +that as soon as the excitement was over +he would succumb to the strain he had +passed through—for the Spanish Creoles +have not strong constitutions, and had +provided the necessary remedies against +it. It was some little time before Henri +de Courcelles fairly understood what had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[188]</span> +happened to him, and then his gratitude +knew no bounds.</p> + +<p>‘Am I really safe, and with you?’ +he murmured. ‘What have I done to +deserve such goodness at your hands?’</p> + +<p>‘You are clear of that terrible swamp, +Henri; but you are not by any means +safe yet; and if you would be, you must +follow out my instructions to the letter. +See here! I have an old cloak and +<i>sombrero</i> which belonged to my poor +father. I left them under this tree when +I entered the swamp. We will wait here +quietly until it is a little darker, and then +you must put them on, and come home +to the bungalow with me, and I will conceal +you there until you can find some +means of leaving San Diego.’</p> + +<p>‘But how will that be possible, Lizzie? +The bills must be out by this time, putting +a price upon my head, and every<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[189]</span> +nigger in the island will be turned into +an amateur detective, in the hope of being +able to claim the reward.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, don’t let us think of that now!’ +replied Lizzie wearily. ‘The chief thing +at present is to restore your vitality. It +is a blessing you are still alive, Henri. +Eat and drink what I have brought for +you, and thank God you can do it in +safety. Nothing will harm you here.’</p> + +<p>‘And you actually came in search of +me, alone and unprotected?’ he said, +looking at her with the deepest admiration. +‘You braved the dangers of this +awful place,—ran the risk of a terrible +death, and all for me—<i>for me</i>, who have +treated you so badly! Oh, Lizzie,’ continued +Henri de Courcelles, seizing her +hand, ‘if the devotion of the life you +have rescued can atone to you, it will.’</p> + +<p>But she drew her hand away hastily—almost<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[190]</span> +with repugnance—from his clasp. +Was it not that of a would-be murderer?</p> + +<p>‘Henri,’ she replied quietly, though +her voice shook, ‘you must never speak +to me again like that. I <i>have</i> done what +you say, and I thank Heaven, who has +crowned my efforts with success; but it +was done for the sake of the Past, not +of the Present; and nothing in the Future, +except the knowledge that your life has +been saved for better things, can ever +repay me. I have been shocked beyond +measure at what I have heard concerning you. +You have steeped your hands, +or would have done so, in the blood of +innocent victims, for the sake of carrying +out an unworthy revenge on the +daughter of your benefactors. It was a +crime which would make any honest +person shrink from you, which would +make most people consider that a death<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[191]</span> +on the gallows, or in the Alligator +Swamp, was your just deserts. But I +cannot <i>forget</i>, Henri. Ever since I have +known your relations with my adopted +sister, I have ceased to desire your affection; +but I cannot forget that I once +valued it, and to think of your being +sent out of the world without the opportunity +to repent, was very terrible to +me. <i>That</i> is why I have run this risk +to save you, and why I am thankful I +have succeeded. But don’t speak of love +to me again, or you may make me sorry +instead of glad.’</p> + +<p>There was a calm, reasonable determination +in her voice as she spoke, that +brought conviction home to Henri de +Courcelles’ mind. He saw it plainly now. +He had not only lost her love,—he had +forfeited her respect and her esteem; +and as the truth smote home to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[192]</span> +him, the unwonted tears rose to his +eyes.</p> + +<p>‘Why didn’t you leave me in the +swamp?’ he murmured. ‘I had better +have remained there, to become the prey +of the alligators, than live under your +contempt. Let me go back,’ he continued, +starting to his feet, ‘for your +words have taken all my courage out of +me, and I would rather die a thousand +deaths by my own hand than fall into +those of my enemies, and swing like a +malefactor from the Fort gates.’</p> + +<p>‘You shall do neither!’ exclaimed Lizzie, +as she caught his arm, and drew him +down to her side again. ‘Come, Henri, +be reasonable. Remember I am your +friend, and have thought out the whole +plan of your escape. Put on this cloak +and <i>sombrero</i>. See how completely they +disguise you, and cover you from head<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[193]</span> +to foot. The only thing we have to +dread now is lest some acquaintance +should meet and question me; but that +is very unlikely, as this is the general +dinner hour for all Europeans, and I +will take you home by an unfrequented +path.’</p> + +<p>‘But when I reach your bungalow, +Lizzie, what will Rosa say?’</p> + +<p>‘I have been obliged to take Rosa +into my confidence, Henri, but she will +not betray you. As for the rest, leave +it to me, and I believe that, with +Heaven’s aid, I can bring you out of +this strait.’</p> + +<p>‘You are too good to me,’ he said +brokenly; ‘and I place myself altogether +in your hands. Lead on, Lizzie, as you +think best, and I will follow.’</p> + +<p>‘No, Henri; we will walk side by +side. It will be much better, in case of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[194]</span> +an encounter with any one who knows +us, that I should show a perfect fearlessness +in the matter. Take my staff +in your hand, and sling the wallet across +your shoulder. Then we shall look as +if we had been searching the country +for herbs for medicinal purposes; and I +will gather a bundle of leaves, in order +to carry out the delusion. That is right. +Now come with me, and let us step out +manfully together.’</p> + +<p>They traversed the couple of miles +that lay between them and Beauregard, +without encountering anything more formidable +than a few negroes sauntering +along the road as they returned from +work. But as they approached the +plantation, the danger of discovery became +more imminent, and Lizzie conducted +her companion to her bungalow +by a circuitous route.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[195]</span>It was reached at last, however, and +as De Courcelles sank into one of the +familiar chairs in the sitting-room, he +felt like a man who has been delivered +from the very jaws of death to be suddenly +transported into paradise.</p> + +<p>‘But you must not rest here, Henri,’ +whispered Lizzie, as she quickly closed +all the jalousies. ‘Mr Courtney or one +of the hands might enter at any moment. +There would be continual risk of +discovery.’</p> + +<p>‘Where, then?’ he demanded, in the +same tone.</p> + +<p>‘In my dear father’s bedroom. It has +never been opened since his death, and +you are not likely to be disturbed there. +You know what these silly, superstitious +natives are. They would not enter a +chamber where a death has occurred, to +save their lives. They would be fearful<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[196]</span> +of encountering my dear father’s +wraith. You see now my object in +dressing you up in his cloak and hat. +If any of our negroes had seen you, he +would probably have run shrieking to +his hut, to spread the report that the +Doctor’s ghost was walking about +Beauregard. You must remember to +keep up the idea, should any unforeseen +risk occur. But here, for a few days at +least, I believe you will be safe,’ continued +Lizzie, as she unlocked the door +of her late father’s apartment, ‘until I +can get you away from the island. You +will have to be my prisoner,’ she added +playfully; ‘and I shall lock you in, and +bring you your meals at the stated +times. But keep the jalousies bolted +inside night and day, and try to do +with as little light as possible, to avoid +attracting attention. You will find all<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[197]</span> +my dear father’s wardrobe in the cupboard +here. Use it as you think best, +and try and be contented under the +restraint, and thankful (as I am) that +Heaven has spared your life to you.’</p> + +<p>He turned round as he crossed the +threshold, and sank on his knees before +her.</p> + +<p>‘You have forbidden me to speak of +love,’ he ejaculated, ‘but I must say something +to express my gratitude. You have +indeed heaped coals of fire on my head! +You have done what no other living +creature, male or female, would have done; +you have risked your life and safety for +me, who have treated you worse than any +one else. Let me say Heaven bless you +for it, Lizzie. I feel if there is a hell +beyond the one we suffer here, that mine +will be to remember always the terrible +mistake I made in allowing a woman’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[198]</span> +personal beauty to blind me to the virtues +of the friend whom I now feel I +have loved and honoured above all the +world.’</p> + +<p>He took her hand and kissed it as he +spoke, and Lizzie was not ashamed to let +her tears fall freely on them both.</p> + +<p>‘I am glad now, Henri,’ she uttered +falteringly, ‘and I shall be glad in the +days to come to think over the words you +have just said, and to remember that you +knew me for your true friend. There are +different kinds of love from the one we +once thought we felt for each other—and +perhaps better ones—and something +of the sort I shall never cease to feel for +you. And if you think you owe me +gratitude, Henri—if you would repay me +let it be by abandoning all ideas of revenge +and murder for the future. Don’t let me +have the terrible self-reproach that I have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[199]</span> +wasted my affection on one so utterly unworthy +of it.’</p> + +<p>‘I have taken a different oath, Lizzie, +but I will rescind it, for your sake, and +here on my knees I swear to you that +if I am spared to escape the gallows, I +will abandon all ideas of revenge in the +future. After all, Maraquita is but a +false woman, not worthy of a man’s +revenge. There are dozens such: the +world is peopled with them.’</p> + +<p>‘She is the woman you loved, Henri,’ +replied Lizzie gravely, ‘and therefore she +is the woman you should always be most +lenient to. But she has passed out of +your world, and the kindest thing you +can do for her and yourself is to forget +her. But you must not talk of such +exciting topics to-night. It may be some +time before you shake off the effects of +the poisonous vapours you have inhaled.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[200]</span> +Go to rest now, and sleep without fear. +I will guarantee that no one shall disturb +your slumbers.’</p> + +<p>De Courcelles took her advice, and +flung himself, exhausted through excitement +and fatigue, upon the late Doctor’s +bed, whilst she, with a divine light, almost +akin to maternal solicitude, upon her +countenance, took a seat in the outer room, +and prepared to watch all night against +a possible surprise for the man she held +prisoner.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i200.jpg" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[201]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i201a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VII.</h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i201b.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="B"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">B</span>UT from that moment Lizzie +had not a moment’s peace. +She dreaded everything and +everybody. Each casual visitor she believed +to be a spy, and the appearance +of a friend made her think that the +hour of discovery had come. Rosa made +her a thousand promises of fidelity, but +the yellow girl, though devoted to her +mistress’s interests, was, after all, very +much like other women, and found it a +hard task to hold her tongue. The +whole time she was employed in exercising +the baby in the plantation,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[202]</span> +was a season of torture to Lizzie, who +pictured her confiding the whole story +to her most intimate friend, under a +promise of inviolable secrecy. Meanwhile +Henri de Courcelles, though confined +to one room during the day time, +and only venturing out after dark by +means of the window, and with a disguise +on, was passing a fairly pleasant +time. The two women fed him royally, +and waited on him like servants, and +he held several conferences with Lizzie +as to the possibility of his getting down +to the Fort by night, and embarking +as a seaman on board one of the +Spanish crafts that lay in the bay of +San Diego. They would have carried +this plan, of which they had arranged +all the minutiæ together, into effect at +once, had it not been deemed advisable +that De Courcelles should lie <i>perdu</i><span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[203]</span> +until it might be supposed by the +authorities that their prisoner had perished +beyond all doubt in the Alligator +Swamp. As soon as the guard of +mounted police who watched for him +outside the swamp was withdrawn, Lizzie +and De Courcelles decided that his first +attempt at an escape from the island +should be made. He had been concealed +in the bungalow for two days +when Mr Courtney walked in one +morning and took a seat beside Lizzie. +The planter looked worn and anxious, +and as he removed his hat, and passed +his handkerchief across his brow, he +seemed to have grown older of late, +notwithstanding the brilliant marriage +that his daughter had made. The +words with which he opened the conversation, +had reference to Maraquita.</p> + +<p>‘Sir Russell and Lady Johnstone have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[204]</span> +come to stay with us at the White House, +Lizzie.’</p> + +<p>‘Indeed, sir,’ she replied. ‘I suppose +Quita is nervous of staying at +Government House, after what happened +there last week. And I don’t wonder +at it, poor girl! I should be glad to +hear that the Governor had decided +to take her to England.’</p> + +<p>‘So should we, my dear, and they +will go before long—there is no doubt +of that—only, it would hardly do for +the Governor to run away whilst the +island is in this state of ferment. But +he judged rightly in thinking that our +dear Maraquita would feel safer and +happier with her parents, and in her +old home. For she has received a +terrible shock, Lizzie, and it is telling +on her visibly. She seems ten years +older to me.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[205]</span>‘Poor Quita, she cannot fail to feel +it,’ replied Lizzie, looking at the matter +in a totally different light from that +in which Mr Courtney regarded it.</p> + +<p>‘Yes, and I wish I could think that +there was no further reason for her +fears. Lizzie, I have come here this +morning for one purpose only,—to persuade +you to return with me to the +White House.’</p> + +<p>Lizzie started, and coloured.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Mr Courtney, I cannot. I +don’t know why you want me there, +but unless it is in my capacity as +medical adviser, I must refuse. You +forget that Mrs Courtney ordered me +never to show my face there again.’</p> + +<p>‘I can allow no feminine quarrels to +interfere with your safety, Lizzie; and +it is to secure <i>that</i> that I beg of you +to take up your residence at my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[206]</span> +house until these mutinous ideas have +been knocked out of the coolies’ +heads. I do not feel that you are +safe,—that we are, any of us, safe. +I begin to distrust even my own +hands, for whom I have done all in +my power.’</p> + +<p>‘Mr Courtney, I appreciate your +kindness, but there are too many +reasons why I cannot accept it.’</p> + +<p>‘Name them, my dear.’</p> + +<p>‘I have named one already, sir. +Another is my infant charge. Do +you suppose I would desert her?’</p> + +<p>‘Bring her with you. There is room +in the White House for us all.’</p> + +<p>‘No, Mr Courtney,’ she answered +proudly, ‘it is <i>impossible</i>. I will not +take the child under the roof of the +very woman who has falsely accused +me of being its mother.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[207]</span>‘But I am sure, Lizzie, that neither my +wife nor Maraquita really believe that story.’</p> + +<p>‘And I am sure of it too, sir; but +that only places their cruelty to me +in a more heinous light. Forgive me +for saying it, Mr Courtney, before you, +who have always been so good to me +and my poor father, but I will never +again place myself voluntarily in the +society of either Mrs Courtney or +Maraquita, until they have publicly acknowledged +that they have done me +a foul wrong.’</p> + +<p>‘They have been very hard on you,’ +sighed the planter; ‘but their conduct +cannot blind me to my duty. I cannot +consent to your remaining here, +Lizzie. The negroes may rise at any +moment, and this bungalow is in the +very midst of their quarters. I have +received secret information concerning<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[208]</span> +them, that has seriously alarmed me. +The general disaffection has spread +much further than I dreamt of, and +even the hands on Beauregard are believed +to be ripe for rebellion. Were +they to take it into their heads to rise, +what would you do?’</p> + +<p>Lizzie laughed at the idea.</p> + +<p>‘In that case, sir—did I believe it +possible (which I can hardly do) that +your coolies could so utterly forget all +they owe to you—I should be much +safer <i>here</i> than in the White House. +Why should they harbour any resentment +against <i>me</i>? They loved my dear +father, and I believe they love me for +his sake, and <i>I</i> have nothing to do +with their fancied causes for complaint. +If they do rise, which God forbid, it +will be the White House against which +they will make a raid.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[209]</span>‘Ah, my dear child, long as you +have lived amongst them, you do not +know the negro nature as I do. Once +roused, he becomes a devil, and has no +power of distinguishing between friends +and foes. This bungalow will be the +first piece of my property which they +will have the opportunity of destroying, +and I feel sure they will not spare +it, nor perhaps even <i>you</i>. Lizzie, I +beg, I implore of you to accept my +offer of protection, and transport yourself, +and all you value, to the White +House.’</p> + +<p>But Lizzie was firm. She quailed a +little before the possible picture Mr +Courtney had conjured up,—before the +remembrance too of certain words of +Captain Norris, in which he had expressed +his own fears for her safety; +but they had no power to alter her<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[210]</span> +determination. There was her poor +prisoner in the next room to them. +Guilty as he had proved himself to be, +she had promised him her protection, +and she would stand by him to the +last, even if they were doomed to perish +together. So she only shook her head, +and smiled, and continued stitching at +her work.</p> + +<p>‘Your obstinacy is incredible to me,’ +said Mr Courtney, half angrily, ‘and you +put me in a very unpleasant position. +I promised your father (as far as I +could) to supply his place to you. I +look on you as second only to my +own child, yet you refuse to accept +from me a father’s protection, or to yield +me the obedience of a daughter.’</p> + +<p>‘I am sorry to appear ungrateful to +you, Mr Courtney, but I have my own +reasons for remaining in my own home,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[211]</span> +and your arguments have no power to +shake them. Pray don’t be under any +further apprehension for me—I have +none for myself; and if your workers <i>are</i> +disposed to mutiny, it is all the more +reason that I should remain amongst +them, and try to bring them to a better +frame of mind.’</p> + +<p>‘Ah, I have heard of your attempts +in that direction already, Lizzie, and +that the coolies call you the angel of +Beauregard! You are a good girl, my +dear, and may God reward you for all +you have done. I am only sorry that +unfortuitous circumstances should have +laid this burden of secrecy upon you. +But cheer up; the day will come, perhaps, +when it will be removed as unexpectedly +as it appeared. And no one +shall rejoice more when that day comes +than I shall, Lizzie.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[212]</span>She sighed, but she answered nothing. +She knew that if the day he spoke of +ever dawned, it would be to bow her +benefactor’s head with shame.</p> + +<p>‘And so all my entreaties are in vain?’ +said Mr Courtney, as he rose to go.</p> + +<p>‘Yes, sir; I shall remain here; and +honestly, I do not believe you have any +cause for fear.’</p> + +<p>Yet she pondered over what he had +told her all that day, not from any dread +of her own safety, but endeavouring to +think of some plan for getting Henri +de Courcelles away before there was +any possibility of his detection. For +she felt that if the coolies on Beauregard +<i>did</i> rise, and proceed to incendiarism or +slaughter, Henri de Courcelles, who had +been their tyrannical master in the days +gone by, and their inciter to rebellion in +the present, would be the first victim of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[213]</span> +their lawless passions. Her mind was +still running on the same subject when +the evening shadows closed, and Hugh +Norris unexpectedly walked into the +room.</p> + +<p>Her first feeling at seeing him was +one of such unmitigated pleasure, that +she could not help betraying it.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Hugh—I mean, Captain Norris,’ +she exclaimed, ‘are you really back +again? I am so glad—I didn’t think—I +was afraid that—’ and here she stopped, +blushing for her incoherency.</p> + +<p>‘Are you <i>really</i> glad?’ he said, taking +her hand, and warmly pressing it, whilst +his open countenance revealed his emotion. +‘Have you felt my absence, Lizzie? +Have our two months of separation +stretched themselves out to their full +term?’</p> + +<p>‘Indeed they have,’ she answered ingenuously.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[214]</span> +‘I have been counting the +days till you should return. For we +have passed through a terrible time since +you left us. But perhaps you have +already heard of it.’</p> + +<p>‘Indeed I have heard of it, Lizzie,’ +he said gravely, ‘and I thank God that +it was no worse. What should I have +done had you been involved in this +horrible catastrophe? But I am here, +and you are safe, and I will not leave +San Diego again until I take you with +me. Was I not right in my forebodings?’</p> + +<p>‘Partially so; but you see that no one +has harmed me yet. What a quick +passage you have made this time, Captain +Norris.’</p> + +<p>‘Very quick; but you may imagine +that I wasted no more time in England +than I could help, Lizzie. I was not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[215]</span> +out of sight of San Diego before I was +longing to get back again, and, thanks +to favourable winds, and an obliging +supercargo, I have made the double +passage in as short a time as is possible. +But I found time to accomplish +my heart’s desire, all the same.’</p> + +<p>‘What was that?’ she demanded +curiously.</p> + +<p>‘Do you remember the packet of +letters you threw me to read when we +last said good-bye, and you had to run +off to attend to some woolly infant or +other?’</p> + +<p>‘Yes, yes, I remember. It was +Mammy Chloe’s baby,’ she answered, +laughing.</p> + +<p>‘The first letter I opened surprised +me more than anything has ever done +in my life before. It was from your +late father to Mr Courtney, and he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[216]</span> +signed himself “Herbert Ruthin,” and +wrote in familiar terms of his father +and mother, Sir William and Lady +Ruthin, and of their place in Scotland—Aberdare.’</p> + +<p>‘Well, well! of course; it was his own +home,’ interrupted Lizzie impatiently. +‘Why should it have so greatly surprised +you?’</p> + +<p>‘Because, Lizzie, my mother (whose +maiden name was Mary Herbert) is a +second or third cousin of Lady Ruthin, +and when her ladyship came to Maidstone, +which is close to mother’s home, a few +years ago, she called on us, and took +dinner at the cottage.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Hugh, how very, <i>very</i> strange!’ +cried Lizzie, forgetting etiquette in her +breathless surprise.</p> + +<p>‘Yes, it is only another proof of how +small the world is, and how we are all<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[217]</span> +but one large family. I remembered Lady +Ruthin’s visit to my mother distinctly, +and also that I had heard she had had +great trouble about her second son +Herbert, but I fancied he was dead. +When I learnt the truth from those letters, +I determined to see Sir William and +Lady Ruthin on my return to England, +and I did so.’</p> + +<p>‘You <i>did</i>!’ echoed Lizzie; ‘and, oh! +what did they say?’</p> + +<p>‘I was only at Aberdare two hours, +dearest,’ replied Captain Norris, growing +bolder as he gained his advantage, ‘but +it was long enough to serve my purpose. +I told them everything, Lizzie,—what a +good life your dear father had lived here, +expiating his youthful error by a course +of self-abnegation, and how like a martyr +he had died, stricken down by the exhaustion +consequent on his labours for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[218]</span> +others. And I soon found that if their +pride and mortification have prevented +their speaking of their lost son for so +many years past, it has not been because +the love of him has faded from their hearts. +They concluded he was dead long ago, +but as I spoke of him, they were both +melted into tears, and reproached themselves +bitterly for not having employed +stronger measures to ascertain his fate.’</p> + +<p>‘My poor darling father!’ exclaimed +Lizzie, weeping; ‘how I wish he could +have had the comfort of knowing that +his parents felt for him.’</p> + +<p>‘Doubtless he knows it now, dear. +But my story is not done yet, Lizzie. +When I had told Sir William and Lady +Ruthin all I knew about your father, +I spoke of <i>you</i>, and their excitement +became painful to witness. They are +longing to see you, my dear, and make<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[219]</span> +up to you for all you have suffered on +account of your poor father’s exile. I +am the bearer of a letter from them +begging you at once to return to England +and place yourself under their protection. +I shall see you in your proper position +at last, Lizzie, and reaping the reward +you so richly deserve. I cannot tell +you how proud and happy I feel to +have been made the instrument of this +change in your destinies.’</p> + +<p>Lizzie looked up at him gratefully.</p> + +<p>‘It was so good of you to think of +it,’ she murmured; ‘but I can hardly +believe it yet. My dear father’s parents! +They will seem like part of himself to +me, and especially if they cherish his +memory. And I shall owe it all to +you. What can I do for you in return, +Hugh?’</p> + +<p>‘Only one thing, dear. Let me take<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[220]</span> +you back to England, and present you +to your grandparents as <i>my wife</i>.’</p> + +<p>‘Did you—did you—say anything to +them about it?’ she asked timidly.</p> + +<p>‘Well, I gave them a hint on the +subject,’ he answered, laughing; ‘as far, +that is to say, as <i>I</i> am concerned—I +could not answer for <i>you</i>, you know, +because you have not yet answered for +yourself.’</p> + +<p>‘And how did they take it?’</p> + +<p>‘They were good enough to say +that they would make no objection +whatever to me as your husband, provided +I gave up the sea and kept you +on dry land. And Sir William promised, +moreover, in that case, to help +me to obtain suitable employment. And +so you see, my dear, the conclusion +of the matter rests with you. What +is your answer?’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[221]</span>She saw the deep blue honest eyes +gazing fondly into her own, and had +just placed her hand in his preparatory +to saying ‘Yes,’ when a loud unmistakable +cough sounded from the inner +room.</p> + +<p>‘What is that?’ exclaimed Hugh +Norris, starting to his feet, his senses +always acutely alive to possible danger. +‘There is some one in your father’s +bedroom. Stand aside, Lizzie, and let +me see who it is.’</p> + +<p>He seized his stick—his only weapon—as +he spoke, and was about to try the +locked door. But she interposed herself +between him and it.</p> + +<p>‘You cannot enter that room, Captain +Norris. It is fastened.’</p> + +<p>‘Then some one—a mutineer, perhaps—must +have got in by the window. I +am certain my ears did not deceive<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[222]</span> +me. The sound we heard proceeded +from that room, and I must satisfy +myself on the subject.’</p> + +<p>He was about to pass her, when she +put out her hand to prevent him, and +he observed how very pale and strained +her face (but a few moments ago so smiling) +had suddenly become.</p> + +<p>‘Captain Norris, I hold this room +sacred to myself, and neither you, nor +any man, shall cross the threshold.’</p> + +<p>He looked full at her then in his +amazement, and the truth seemed to +flash suddenly upon him.</p> + +<p>‘You have been deceiving me!’ he exclaimed; +‘you have some one concealed +there whom you are ashamed to tell +me of! Who is it?’ he continued, in +a low voice, which threatened danger,—‘that +blackguard De Courcelles, who +would have slaughtered every European<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[223]</span> +in the Fort, if he had had his way, and +whom I hear has been in hiding ever +since?’</p> + +<p>Lizzie was silent. Twice her mouth +opened to utter a lie in the defence of her +former lover, and twice it died unuttered +on her lips. Hugh Norris knew her too +well to misinterpret her want of courage. +He threw her one look of deep reproach, +and, turning away, sat down by the table, +and buried his face in his hands. Lizzie +could not withstand the action. She crept +after him, and laid her hand timidly upon +his shoulder.</p> + +<p>‘Hugh,’ she whispered, ‘Hugh—’</p> + +<p>But he jerked the kindly touch away, +almost roughly.</p> + +<p>‘Don’t come near me,’ he muttered, +‘Don’t speak to me. You are false, and +you have destroyed all my faith in womankind.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[224]</span>‘No, no, Hugh! you shall not say +that of me. Listen, and I will tell you +everything. I should have told it you in +any case, for I sorely need your counsel +and advice, only we have had no time +as yet to speak of any one but ourselves. +But you are good, and noble, and true, +and if you do not approve of my action, +you will at least not betray it. I will not +deceive you, and I think, when you know +all, you will acknowledge you would have +done the same. Henri de Courcelles is +in that room, a fugitive hiding from the +law! No, don’t look at me like that! +I call Heaven to witness he is not there +as my lover, but that I would have extended +the same succour to any fellow-creature +who threw himself upon my +mercy. Hugh! I heard that he had +escaped from the Fort prison, and eluded +the pursuit of the police by taking refuge<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[225]</span> +in the Alligator Swamp. Could I have +left him there to perish by a miserable +death, without making one effort to save +him?’</p> + +<p>Captain Norris looked up at her in +amazement.</p> + +<p>‘But what could <i>you</i> do?’ he inquired. +‘Not a man in San Diego would venture +to penetrate the horrors of the swamp, +unless he wished to die.’</p> + +<p>‘Yet a <i>woman</i> did,’ she whispered.</p> + +<p>‘Lizzie, you do not mean to tell me +that you went yourself?—that you risked +the awful dangers of the miasma and the +alligators, for the sake of this man, and +that you live to tell the tale?’</p> + +<p>‘The danger was not so great for me +as for another, Hugh, because I knew the +proper preventatives to carry with me. +Anyway, I went, and I was successful. I +found this unhappy and misguided man<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[226]</span> +nearly unconscious from the effects of the +poisonous air he was inhaling, and I +brought him safely out of it, and have +hid him here for the last two days, until +I could devise some plan to get him away +from San Diego. Will you help me, +Hugh? I know it is a great thing to +ask at your hands; and I have not another +friend whom I would trust with +the secret; but I shall not rest till I know +he is secure from suffering a malefactor’s +death upon the gallows.’</p> + +<p>‘He deserves it, Lizzie, if any one +ever did.’</p> + +<p>‘I know it! but if we all received our +deserts in this world, how badly we +should fare! Hugh, you will believe me +when I tell you that such love as I +once entertained for Henri de Courcelles +is all past, and for ever. I see his character +in its true light at last,—as vindictive<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[227]</span> +and revengeful and untrue! But +that does not alter the case that once +I thought him good enough to be my +husband, and mine is a heart that cannot +entirely forget!’</p> + +<p>‘What do you want me to do for +him, Lizzie?’</p> + +<p>‘To get him down to the docks in +disguise, and ship him on board one of +the vessels there that are bound for +Spain or America. It would be cruel to +send him anywhere else. And if that +should be impossible to do all at once, +couldn’t you let him stay on the <i>Trevelyan</i> +till you are able to send him +away?’ continued Lizzie wistfully.</p> + +<p>‘You ask me to do a very wrong and +dangerous thing, my dear,—to harbour +a rebel against the British Government, +and cheat the gallows of its just due.’</p> + +<p>‘No, Hugh—to succour a wretched<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[228]</span> +fellow-creature, who was half driven to +madness by a woman’s treachery, before +he dreamt of committing such a crime. +I cannot tell you all his story, but if +you knew it, you would pity him, as +I do.’</p> + +<p>‘Nothing of the sort. I despise the +fool for having thrown away such a +heart as he had found in yours! Why, +Lizzie! you are a heroine, and the +noblest woman I ever met! Well, and +suppose I become a traitor to my Queen +and country at your command, and help +this rascally lover of yours to escape +the ends of justice, what reward am I +to expect for the risk I shall run?’</p> + +<p>‘What reward do you want?’ she +answered, smiling at him through her +tears. ‘You shall name it, Hugh, for I +see you are going to do this great and +generous thing for my sake, and hold<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[229]</span> +out a helping hand to your unfortunate +rival.’</p> + +<p>‘Promise to become my wife, Lizzie! +Nothing short of that will quite satisfy +me of the purity of your benevolence for +De Courcelles—because I know your +nobility of character too well to think +you would ever bestow your hand on +one man whilst there was a remnant of +love left in your heart for another.’</p> + +<p>‘You only do me justice there, Hugh; +for if I am not <i>true</i> I am nothing. +Yes, I will be your wife, whenever you +choose to ask me, and (God helping me) +a good and faithful one.’</p> + +<p>‘And a loving one into the bargain?’ +he returned interrogatively. ‘I will not +accept your hand without your heart, +Lizzie.’</p> + +<p>‘Can any wife be good and faithful +if she is not loving, Hugh? But<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[230]</span> +do not be afraid! <i>I love you.</i> Is that +enough?’</p> + +<p>‘Then come to my arms!’ he exclaimed, +as he rose and held them out +to her. She was hesitating just a little, +not entirely from coyness, but because +it is so sweet to dally with our happiness—when +a low murmuring sound, +like the first menacing tones of thunder, +or the moaning of a sleuthhound when +it finds the trail, which evidently proceeded +from the negroes’ quarters, made +them start asunder, and change colour.</p> + +<p>‘What was that?’ demanded Lizzie, +under her breath, as Hugh Norris +threw his arm round her for protection.</p> + +<p>‘It is the groaning of a crowd,’ he +answered. ‘It is the first note of +mutiny. Lizzie, there is something +wrong! For God’s sake, let me take +you away from this.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[231]</span>But she struggled to free herself.</p> + +<p>‘If they are rising, Hugh, let me go to +them! No one understands them as I +do! Let me speak, and they will obey +me! I can do with them as I like.’</p> + +<p>But before he had time to put into +words his entreaty that she would resign +herself to his protection, a piercing +shriek seemed to rend the evening air, +and the next minute Rosa, the yellow +girl, rushed into the room, with Maraquita’s +infant in her arms.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Missy Liz,’ she cried, ‘what +have they done to my baby? Dis +crowd of niggers is all cryin’ out for +dere rights, and down with de planters, +and I coming along, and dey pulled de +poor baby from my arms, and hit it on +de head with a stone. Oh, Missy Liz, I +couldn’t help it! I screamed to dem to +leave my poor baby alone! But dey<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[232]</span> +call out ’tis Missy Quita’s chile and +Massa Courcelles’, and den dey strike +it again. And the baby’s berry sick, +Missy Liz—berry sick, indeed,’ continued +Rosa, weeping, and rocking the bundle +in her arms.</p> + +<p>‘Give it to me,’ said Lizzie calmly, +though her face was deathly white, +but not so white as that of Maraquita’s +infant, which lay calm and peaceful in +the sleep of death, with a discoloured +bruise upon its little forehead, where +the cruel stone had struck it.</p> + +<p>‘She is <i>dead</i>!’ said Lizzie solemnly, +as she placed the body on the table. +She did not shed a tear as she did +so, but Hugh Norris, looking up at +her, marked the deep lines which suppressed +emotion had drawn upon her +forehead, and thought he had never +seen her look so stern before.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[233]</span>‘My poor little Mary,’ she said, in a +low voice, as she gazed upon the infant’s +dead form. ‘This is the first-fruits +of the Beauregard rebellion, Hugh! +They have risen at last, and they will +not stop here! What will become of +them all at the White House?’</p> + +<p>‘We must give the alarm at once,’ +said Captain Norris. ‘They may not +be prepared for this outbreak. But +Lizzie, I will not go and leave you +here! If you wish your friends to +be put on their guard, you must come +with me.’</p> + +<p>‘It is too late,’ she answered: ‘they +are already upon us! We should +only walk into their midst. Listen to +that—’</p> + +<p>She held up her finger, and Captain +Norris could distinctly hear the yelling +of a mob of coolies advancing on the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[234]</span> +plantation, and see the flaming torches +which they carried in their hands, +whilst in another moment two or three +random shots proved that they were +carrying firearms, and prepared to use +them.’</p> + +<p>‘The devils!’ cried Norris. ‘Is it +possible they can have the heart to +injure <i>you</i>, after all you have done +for them?’</p> + +<p>‘No, no, massa!’ exclaimed the yellow +girl; ‘coolies never hurting Missy Liz; +they love her too much for dat. Only +dey want revenge on Massa Courtney +and de Governor and Missy Quita. +Missy Liz, dey will fire de White +House for sure, and kill de Governor! +Hark! they hab passed oder side of +plantation. Dey go by Oleander Bungalow +to de big house, and nebber +come near Missy Liz at all.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[235]</span>‘They have come near enough, +in killing my poor baby!’ exclaimed +Lizzie, weeping, as she kissed the dead +child. ‘If they love <i>me</i>, why couldn’t +they have spared <i>her</i>?’</p> + +<p>‘’Cause she belong to dat De Courcelles, +and grow up bad like him and +Missy Quita. Dat what dem trashy +niggers say,’ replied Rosa, joining her +sobs to those of her mistress.</p> + +<p>‘Is it possible this child belongs to +Lady Johnstone?’ demanded Norris.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, hush, Hugh! don’t mention it, +even <i>here</i>!’ said Lizzie. ‘I have kept +the secret for <i>her</i> sake—not his!’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, my brave girl, your love has +indeed earned the martyr’s crown!’ he +answered, looking at her with the +deepest admiration and respect. ‘But +hark, Lizzie! Surely the mob have +turned this way.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[236]</span>At that moment a kind of sudden +rush through the darkness outside was +followed by the entrance of Mr and +Mrs Courtney, with Maraquita and Sir +Russell Johnstone! The women were +in their evening dresses—half fainting +with fear, and their protectors were almost +as agitated as themselves.</p> + +<p>‘Lizzie,’ cried Mr Courtney, ‘give us +shelter, for God’s sake! Hide us in your +rooms, and this murderous crew will not +dare to follow us there. They are fond +of you, Lizzie, and they will believe +what you say. Make them hear reason, +in Heaven’s name! or we shall all be +slaughtered before your eyes!’</p> + +<p>‘Quick! quick! in here!’ she exclaimed, +as she thrust the whole party +into her own bedroom, and closed the +door. ‘Go with them, Hugh,’ she said, +when they had concealed themselves,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[237]</span> +‘and let me bring these mutineers to +reason.’</p> + +<p>‘And leave you to fall a prey to their +baffled wrath, or become a billet for the +first bullet that strays this way, Lizzie,’ +he answered tenderly. ‘No, my dear. +You have said you love me; and if we +have to die, we will die together.’</p> + +<p>Before she could answer him, a crew +of dusky faces were surrounding the +bungalow, blocking up the verandah, +pressing into the doors, and filling up +the framework of the windows.</p> + +<p>‘Whar’s de Gubnor and de planter? +Is dem in hiding here?’ they shouted. +‘Gib dem up, Missy Liz, or we must +enter de bungalow, and we doesn’t want +to do dat. Gib dem up, missy, and +don’t you be skeered—no nigger hurting +one hair ob your head.’</p> + +<p>‘I’m not afraid of you for myself, my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[238]</span> +friends,’ she exclaimed, standing out +boldly to the front, and facing the +crowd of rebels, ‘for you have always +been good and kind to me; but if you +love me, you will go away to your own +quarters, and leave my house alone!’</p> + +<p>‘D’rectly we finds de Gubnor and de +planter, Missy Liz. But we’se sworn +to ruin dem, and we must do it—dat’s +so!’</p> + +<p>‘And de Gubnor’s wife!’ shrieked a +female voice, that might be heard all +over the bungalow. ‘Dat gal what pretends +to be so good, and dat is de +moder of dat baby you keep, Missy +Liz. She and Massa Courcelles know +all about dat chile; and I wish dey +could swing together!’</p> + +<p>‘Hush, Jerusha, hush! Go away, and +keep your evil tongue to yourself!’ cried +Lizzie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[239]</span>‘Dat’s true, and you know it, Missy +Liz. And de Governor shall know it, +too, and Massa Courtney, and all de +world, dat she am no better than de +poor coolie gals what go all wrong.’</p> + +<p>‘Jerusha, I <i>implore</i> you, for God’s +sake!’ commenced Lizzie again.</p> + +<p>But before she could finish her entreaty, +Maraquita had pushed open the +bedroom door, and stood beside her, +pale and trembling, but not courageous, +except with the courage born of +despair.</p> + +<p>‘It <i>is</i> true!’ she gasped, rather than +said, ‘and I am ready to confess it. +No, Lizzie, don’t try to prevent my +speaking. Everybody may hear me +now. I can suffer in secret no longer. +Father, I am not what you thought +me! I am a sinful girl, and I have let +the burden of my shameful secret rest<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[240]</span> +on Lizzie’s shoulders. These people +only say what is true. They hate me +for what I have done, and want to revenge +themselves on us all, for my sake. +Perhaps, now that I have confessed my +sin, they will pity and forgive me.’</p> + +<p>She sunk exhausted with fear and +shame on Lizzie’s shoulder as she finished +her recital. Sir Russell Johnstone +and her parents were standing by, horror-struck +by what they had heard, and +forgetful of their own safety in the +agony of witnessing her humiliation. +But Lizzie was the only person who +addressed her.</p> + +<p>‘Hush, Quita, you have said enough; +and surely all will think you have +suffered sufficiently, and need no further +punishment.’</p> + +<p>But the continual groaning and muttering +of the crowd outside did not seem<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[241]</span> +as though their anger was appeased, +and Quita shuddered as she heard it.</p> + +<p>‘Give me my child!’ she exclaimed +wildly. ‘Everything is slipping from +me. My father and mother stand by +in silence, my husband will drive me +from his house. Give me something +that I can call my own! Lizzie, I +want my child!’</p> + +<p>‘<i>There</i> is your child, Quita,’ replied +her adopted sister sadly, as she led +her to the table. ‘God has already +called it through their hands to Himself. +They would not leave you even that +poor consolation, my unhappy Quita.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Dead!</i>’ cried the unfortunate Lady +Russell, as she gazed upon her infant’s +breathless form, ‘<i>dead!</i> Oh, Henri, +Henri, why was I ever untrue to you, +and to myself? My punishment is +harder than I can bear.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[242]</span>As she sunk upon her knees, and +her pitiful cry of ‘Henri’ sounded +on the air, De Courcelles, unable +to restrain his feelings longer, burst +open his prison door and rushed in +upon them.</p> + +<p>‘Yes,’ he exclaimed triumphantly, +as he glared round upon the parents +and husband of Maraquita, ‘she speaks +the truth at last. I had sworn to +have her life, in exchange for that +of which she has robbed me; but +she has avenged herself. Take me +prisoner again, as soon as you like. +I shall die contented, to know what +her future life must be.’</p> + +<p>‘Dey nebber <i>take</i> you!’ cried a +shrill voice at the open casement, +which was immediately followed by +a shot, which brought Henri de Courcelles +to the ground.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[243]</span>‘<i>Jerusha!</i>’ he muttered between +his teeth as he fell, with the dark +blood and froth bubbling from his lips.</p> + +<p>Lizzie was at his side in a moment +tearing away his shirt, and striving +to stem the current of his life. +But it was in vain. The overseer +had met his fate at last, and was +rapidly bleeding to death.</p> + +<p>‘Henri,’ she cried, in a voice of +distress, ‘I can do nothing for you! +You are going to God! May He +bless and forgive you.’</p> + +<p>‘As—you—have—done,’ he gasped +out, as his lifeless head fell from +her arm.</p> + +<p>Sir Russell Johnstone had stood by, +stern and miserable, watching the pitiable +sight, and listening to the confession +which dashed all the brightness +from his married life, but Maraquita and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[244]</span> +her parents had hidden themselves away, +unable to bear such a strain upon their +nervous systems. Hugh Norris seeing +that all was over, came forward to take +Lizzie in his arms; but she turned from +him, and walked bravely into the midst +of the mutineers. Their flaring torches +fell full on her ashen face, and lighted +up the large tears standing in her eyes; +but she stood before them without one +sign of fear, and her voice was loud and +determined.</p> + +<p>‘Are you satisfied now?’ she demanded +boldly, ‘or are not two lives +sufficient to gorge your lust for blood? +Do you know what you have done? +You say you <i>love</i> me, and would not +harm a hair of my head, yet you have +killed the man you knew was dear to +me! You have made me risk my life +in vain. Two days ago I walked into<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[245]</span> +the Alligator Swamp alone, to find +Henri de Courcelles, and save him from +the gallows, and I brought him here, +only to fall a victim to your barbarity. +Was that love for <i>me</i>? And the poor +baby too—the little innocent child that +I was bringing up as my own, and that +had never done you any harm, you +must needs take that from me too. +Now, what more do you want? Is +it my own life? You may as well +kill me as well as the rest. Perhaps +I am not more worthy to live, in your +estimation, than they were.’</p> + +<p>At this harangue, the ringleaders of +the mutiny drew back abashed. They +had not calculated that in taking their +revenge on Henri de Courcelles they +would injure their ‘Missy Liz.’</p> + +<p>‘Missy Liz, no talking like dat,’ said +an aged negro, speaking for the rest.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[246]</span> +‘Missy know we lub her, and call her de +Good Angel ob Beauregard.’</p> + +<p>‘Then if you love me, coolies, prove it +by what you do. Give up this hateful +mutiny against those who only desire +your good, and let the Governor, and Mr +and Mrs Courtney, return to the White +House in peace. If you don’t, I warn +you my life will be the sacrifice, for you +shall trample over my body before you +enter the bungalow in search of them.’</p> + +<p>She placed her two hands on the +lintels of the doorposts as she spoke, +to bar their way, and the negroes saw +she was in earnest.</p> + +<p>‘Go back to your quarters, my friends,’ +she continued, in a softer voice. ‘In my +name, and the name of all whom I love, +I beg of you to return quietly to your +homes, and relinquish your murderous +design.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[247]</span>‘For <i>your</i> sake den, Missy Liz, for +<i>your</i> sake,’ replied the coolies, as, startled, +and somewhat ashamed of themselves, +for they had no real cause of complaint, +and had only been incited on by the +example of others, the crowd broke up +into groups, and commenced to walk back +slowly to their homes. And then Lizzie +turned round, and threw herself weeping +into Hugh Norris’s arms.</p> + + +<p class="center">THE END.</p> +<hr class="tiny"> +<p class="center">COLSTON AND COMPANY, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/back_cover.jpg" alt="back cover"></div> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="transnote"> +<p class="ph1">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:</p> + +<p>Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.</p> + +<p>Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.</p> + +<p>Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.</p> +</div></div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75276 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/75276-h/images/back_cover.jpg b/75276-h/images/back_cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..924c807 --- /dev/null +++ b/75276-h/images/back_cover.jpg diff --git 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