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display: block; } + .figcenter {font-size: .9em; page-break-inside: avoid; max-width: 100%; + max-height: 100%; } + h1 {line-height: 150%; } + .chapter { clear: both; page-break-before: always; } + body {font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: justify; } + table {font-size: .9em; padding: 1.5em .5em 1em; page-break-inside: avoid; + clear: both; } + div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; + page-break-after: always; } + div.titlepage p {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; + line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 3em; } + .ph1 { text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; font-size: xx-large; + margin: .67em auto; page-break-before: always; } + .ph2 { text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; + page-break-before: always; } + .border {border-style: solid;border-width: medium; padding: 1em; clear: both; } + .x-ebookmaker p.dropcap:first-letter { float: left; } + </style> + </head> + <body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75317 ***</div> + +<div class='tnotes covernote'> + +<p class='c000'><strong>Transcriber’s Note:</strong></p> + +<p class='c000'>New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.</p> + +</div> + +<div class='titlepage'> + +<div> + <h1 class='c001'><span class='sc'><em>When Shadows Die</em></span><br> <span class='large'>A Sequel to “Love’s Bitterest Cup”</span></h1> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c002'> + <div><em>By</em></div> + <div><span class='large'>MRS. E. D. E. N. SOUTHWORTH</span></div> + <div class='c002'><span class='small'>AUTHOR OF</span></div> + <div class='c002'><span class='small'>“Nearest and Dearest,” “The Lost Lady of Lone,” “A Leap in the Dark,” “A Beautiful Fiend,” “Her Mother’s Secret,” Etc.</span></div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter id001' style='max-width: 361px'> +<img src='images/i_title.jpg' alt='[Logo]' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <div>A. L. BURT COMPANY</div> + <div><span class='sc'>Publishers</span>      <span class='sc'>New York</span></div> + </div> +</div> + +</div> + +<div class='chapter ph1'> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c003'> + <div>WHEN SHADOWS DIE</div> + </div> +</div> + +</div> + +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_3'>3</span> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER I<br> <span class='c005'>MEETING AND PARTING</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>The Earl of Enderby and his sister, Mrs. Force, acting +under the directions of the earl’s doctor, now set +out for Germany, and in due time reached Baden-Baden. +Their apartments, which had been secured by telegram, +were ready for them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They had one night’s rest from the journey, and were +waiting for their breakfast to be served in their private +parlor, when they were surprised by the entrance of Mr. +Force and all his party.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The family had been separated scarcely three months, +yet to see them meet a spectator might think they had +been parted for three years.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They soon paired off.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force and his wife sat down together on a corner +sofa and began to exchange confidences.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Leonidas and Odalite stood together at the window of +the room, looking out upon the busy scene on the street, +or rather seeming to do so, for they were really talking +earnestly together on the subject of their troubled present +and uncertain future.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They had not been separated for one day during their +<span class='pageno' id='Page_4'>4</span>travels; but they were to say good-by to each other very +soon.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It might be for years, and it might be forever.”</p> + +<p class='c006'>And so they seized every opportunity for a <em>tête-à-tête</em>.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Wynnette and Elva hovered around their mother, in +their delight at seeing her again.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The invalid earl sat for a while alone and forgotten, +until little Rosemary Hedge, who was also overlooked in +the family reunion, drew a hassock to the side of his +easy chair, sat down and laid her little, curly black head +on his knee. The action was full of pathos and confiding +tenderness. The earl laid his hand on the little head and +ran his thin, white fingers through the black curls. But +neither spoke, or needed to speak—so well the man and +the child understood each other.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Leonidas, my boy!” called Abel Force from his corner, +“I wish you would go and see if we can get rooms +for us all here. This should have been seen to sooner.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You need not stir, young sir,” said the earl; and +turning to his brother-in-law, he added: “Your apartments +are secured, Force. As soon as I received your +telegram saying that you would join me here, I sent off a +dispatch to secure them for you. I hardly need to remind +you that you are all my guests while we are together. +But you traveled by the night express. You +must have done so to reach this place so early in the day; +so you will want to go to your rooms. After you have +refreshed yourselves, join me here at breakfast.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Le arose at the earl’s request, and pulled at the bell +knob with a vigor lent by his impatience at being called +from the side of his beloved, and which soon brought a +servant to the room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Show these ladies and gentlemen to the apartments +prepared for them,” said the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_5'>5</span>The man, with many bows, preceded the party from +the room and conducted them to a large family suit of +rooms on the third floor, overlooking the New Promenade.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The travelers remained some weeks at Baden-Baden. +The baths were doing the earl much good. Mr. Force +also needed their healing powers. Somewhere on his +travels with the young people, not having his wife to +look after him, he had contracted rheumatism; he could +not exactly tell when or where or how, whether from +exposure or rain and mist on the mountains, or from +fishing on the lakes, or from sleeping in damp sheets, +and drinking the sour wine of the country, or from all +these causes put together, he could not say, so gradually +and insidiously had the malady crept upon him, taking +its chronic and least curable form. He had not mentioned +one word of this in any of his letters, nor had he +spoken of it on his arrival.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Indeed,” as he afterward explained, “never having +had any experience to guide me, I did not recognize the +malady at first, but merely took the feeling of heaviness +in all my frame for over-fatigue, and even when that +heaviness, being increased, became a general aching, I +still thought it to be the effect of excessive fatigue. I +was slow to learn and slower to confess that I had the +special malady of age—rheumatism. However, I thank +Heaven it is not acute. It has never laid me up for a +day,” he added, laughing at his misfortune.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Indeed, his troubles seldom kept him from making up +parties for excursions to the various objects of interest +in the town and its environs.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Only when the days were both cold and wet, as is +sometimes, not often, the case in early autumn there, +did Abel Force allow his young folks to go forth alone +under the care of their mother and the escort of Leonidas, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_6'>6</span>while he stayed within doors and played chess with +the invalid earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In this way the brothers-in-law became better acquainted +and more attached.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I wish you were an Englishman, Force,” said the +earl one day, when he had just checkmated Abel and was +resting on his laurels.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Why?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Not because I do not admire and respect your nationality, +but simply for one reason.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What is that?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I will tell you. You know, of course, that your wife +is my heiress, and if she survives me, will be my successor. +Now, if you were an Englishman you might get +the reversion of your wife’s title.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I do not want it. I would not ask for it, nor even +accept it.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“That is your republican pride. Perhaps you are +right. The old earldom has fallen to the distaff at +length, and it will be likely to stay there for some generations +to come; for Elfrida, who will be a countess in +her own right, has only daughters, which is a pity. And +yet I don’t know—I don’t know. If those fellows at +Exeter Hall, and elsewhere, get their way, in another +century from this there will not be an emperor or a +king, to say nothing of a little earl, to be found above +ground on the surface of this fourth planet of the solar +system commonly called the earth, and their bones will +be as great a curiosity as those of the behemoth or the +megatherium. Shall we have another game?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>And they played another, and yet another, game, in +perfect silence, interrupted only by the monosyllable +ejaculations of technicalities connected with their play.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The earl arose the winner; he often—not always—did. +And so he was in high spirits to welcome the return +of the excursionists to dinner.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_7'>7</span>Another sad day of separation was drawing near. Le +was to leave them on the eleventh of October, giving +himself twenty days in which to travel from Baden-Baden, +in Germany, to Washington, in the United +States.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This was according to his uncle’s advice.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You might stay here until the fifteenth, or even +until the seventeenth, and then reach Washington by the +thirty-first; but it would, under the most favorable circumstances, +be so close a shave as to be perilous to risk. +An officer, nay, a man, may risk anything else in the +world, Le, but he must not risk his honor. You must +report for duty at headquarters punctually on the first +of November, at any cost of pain to yourself or to +others.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I know it, uncle—I know it, and I will do my duty. +Never doubt me.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I never do, my boy. And listen, Le. If you are +prompt, as you are sure to be, you may be able to obtain +orders for the Mediterranean, and then, Le, we shall see +you again on this side. We will go to any port where +your ship may be.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Thank you, uncle. I shall try for orders to the Mediterranean. +And I think I shall get them. You see, I +have been to the west coast of Africa, and I have been +to the Pacific Coast, and I really think I may be favored +now with orders to the Mediterranean. However, an +officer must do his duty and obey, wherever he may be +sent—if it were to Behring’s Straits!” concluded Le, +with a dreary attempt at laughter.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the day of parting drew very near, and the depressed +spirits of the lovers were evident to all who observed +them, Mr. Force suddenly proposed that he and +his Odalite should accompany Le to the steamer and see +him off.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This proposition was received by the two young people +<span class='pageno' id='Page_8'>8</span>with grateful joy, as a short but most welcome reprieve +from speedy death, or—what seemed the same thing to +them—speedy separation. It gave them two or three +more days of precious life, or its equivalent—each other’s +society.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They cheered up under it and looked more hopefully +to the future. And in a few weeks more, they decided, +they should be sure to see Le again at some of the ports +of the Mediterranean.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the day of parting came, Mr. Force, Leonidas +and Odalite took leave of the earl and the ladies of +their party and left Baden-Baden for Ostend.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There were not so many steamship lines or such facilities +for rapid transit as in these days.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Our three travelers went by rail to Ostend, thence by +steamer to London, where they rested for one night, and +thence by rail to Liverpool, which they reached just +twelve hours before the sailing of the <em>Africa</em> for New +York.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force and Odalite took leave of Le on the deck of +the steamer, and left it only among the very last that +crossed the gang plank to the steam tender a moment +before the farewell gun was fired and the <em>Africa</em> steamed +out to sea.</p> + +<p class='c007'>A crowd of people stood on the deck of the steamer, +waving last farewells to another crowd on the deck of +the tender, who waved back in response, and gazed until +all distinct forms faded away in the distance.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Among those on the tender who stood and gazed and +waved the longest were Mr. Force and Odalite, who saw, +or thought they saw, Le’s figure long after everybody +else had given up the attempt to distinguish their own +departing friends in a mingled and fading view.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_9'>9</span> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER II<br> <span class='c005'>STARTLING NEWS</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>When the tender reached the dock Mr. Force touched +his daughter’s arm, and whispered:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We can get a train back to London, and catch the +night steamer to Ostend, and be with your mother by to-morrow +evening. Shall we do so, or shall we go down to +Chester and take a little tour through the Welsh mountains?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, no; papa, dear. We will go home to mamma, if +you please,” said Odalite, who, amid all her grief, noticed +the pale and worn look on the patient face that +told of his silent suffering.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Very well, my dear. I only thought it would divert +you,” he replied.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They drove from the docks to the Adelphi, where Mr. +Force paid their hotel bill, took up the little luggage, +and, with his daughter, drove on to the railway station, +and caught the express train to London, a tidal train that +connected with the Ostend night boat.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They reached Ostend the next day, and before night +arrived at Baden-Baden, where they were received with +gladness by their family, who did all that was possible +to cheer the spirits of Odalite and raise her hopes for +the future.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They all remained in Germany until the first of November, +and then set out to spend the winter on the +banks of the Mediterranean.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Their first halting place was Genoa, where they waited +letters from Le.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The letters arrived at length, bringing good news. Le +was assigned to the man-of-war <em>Eagle</em>, bound for the +Mediterranean! Bound direct for Genoa!</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_10'>10</span>Then, in perfect content, they settled down for the +winter.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The earl’s health was certainly improving in the mild +air of sunny Italy, and his spirits were rallying in the +society of his relatives, so he also decided to remain in +Genoa.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Before the end of November the <em>Eagle</em> was in port, +and Midshipman Force hastened to see his friends at +their house on the Strada Balbi.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He had been absent only seven weeks, yet they received +him with as much joy as though they had not +seen him for seven years.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As long as his ship lay at anchor in the harbor his +friends remained in the Strada Balbi. And whenever +he could get a day or a half day off he came to them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the <em>Eagle</em> sailed for Nice the family left Genoa +for the same city, and took up their quarters at the Hotel +de la Paix, and the same pleasant intercourse was resumed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And so the winter passed. And Mr. Force was beginning +to contemplate the possibility of having his daughter +freed from a merely nominal and most unfortunate +marriage. To do this it would be necessary, according +to his ideas of honor, that they should return to the state +and the parish where the marriage ceremony had been +nearly performed, but was finally interrupted.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But there was no hurry, he thought. Le was on the +Mediterranean, and his duty would keep him there for +two or three years longer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There was another source of occasional uneasiness—the +political condition of the United States. Ever since +the presidential election, in November, dissatisfaction +had spread in certain sections of the country, and trouble +seemed to be brewing.</p> + +<p class='c007'>All this, coming through the newspapers to the knowledge +of the absentees, gave them disturbance, but really +<span class='pageno' id='Page_11'>11</span>not much, so thoroughly confident were they all in the +safety of the Union, and the grand destiny of the republic.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The clouds on the political horizon would vanish, and +all would be well. No harm could come to the country, +which was the Lord’s City of Refuge for the oppressed +of all the world.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They had heard not a word from or of Angus Anglesea +since the Washington detective had traced him to +Canada, and there lost him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Le privately and most earnestly hoped that the villain +had got himself sent to some State prison for life, or, +well, hanged—which the midshipman thought would +have been even better. At least, however, the family +he had wronged so deeply seemed now to be well rid of +him. But Le expressed a strong wish that his uncle +would return to Maryland in the spring and have Odalite +entirely freed by the law from the bond, or rather, the +shadow of the bond, that lay so heavily on her life, and +on his.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No doubt I could easily have Odalite set free from +her nominal marriage with a villain, who was forced to +leave her at the altar before the benediction had been +given. But to do this, Le, I should have to take her +home to Maryland, where you could not follow her for +two or three years. So, what good could come of hurry? +Besides, we are no longer molested by the villain Anglesea. +Be thankful for that blessing, Le, and for the rest +be patient.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Patient!’” exclaimed the youth. “You have so +often told me to be patient, and I have so long been patient, +that I am unutterably impatient of the very word +‘patient’!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I beg your pardon, Le. I will not persecute you +with the word any longer,” gravely replied the elder +man.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_12'>12</span>“Uncle, I beg your pardon! I do, indeed. I feel myself +to be an ungrateful and most unreasonable wretch! +Here you have made my burden as light as you can by +showing me all sorts of favors and giving me all sorts of +privileges, moving about from place to place to give me +opportunity of being with you all, and here am I like a +beast losing my temper with you. Uncle! I don’t deserve +that you should pardon me!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Say no more, Le! Dear boy, I can understand your +trials; but look on the brighter side, my lad. The best of +the business now is that Anglesea does not trouble us. +He seems to have died out of our lives.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, but has he, uncle? He did that once before for +three years, and even advertised himself as dead and +buried. But he suddenly came to life again, and sprang +into our midst like a very demon, to do us all the harm +that he possibly could. How do we know when he will +reappear to disturb us? Uncle! I do not mean to +threaten, because I do not wish to sin; but I foresee that, +if Anglesea ever comes in my way again, the sight of +the man will goad me to crime.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, no, Le! No, my dear boy! Do not talk so! If +ever you should be tempted, pray to the Lord. And +think of Odalite. To bring yourself to evil would break +her heart, Le!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I will pray that I may never set eyes on that man +again, uncle!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Soon after this conversation, near the last of February, +the family went to Rome to witness the grand +grotesque pageantry of the carnival. Le could not leave +his ship to go with them, and so they only remained during +the week of orgies, and as soon as it was over returned +to Naples, where the <em>Eagle</em> was then at anchor. +Here they settled themselves in furnished lodgings, on +the Strada di Toledo, for the spring months.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was early in May.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_13'>13</span>They were all—with the exception of Le, who was on +duty on his ship—assembled in a handsome front room +overlooking the Strada.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The earl, whose health was so much improved that his +friends hoped for its full restoration, sat in his easy chair +beside a little stand, playing a game of chess with Wynnette, +who had developed into a champion chess player, +and was much harder to beat than ever her father had +been.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force, who, suffering from a return of his malady, +lay on a sofa, pale and patient, but in too much pain to +read or to talk. Odalite sat near him, silently working +on the silk flower embroidery she had learned to like +from her mother’s example.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Elva and Rosemary, at a round table, were turning +over a set of “views” left by Le on his previous visit.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mrs. Force was opening a newspaper received that +morning, and smoothing it out, preparatory to reading it +aloud to her family.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Suddenly she dropped the paper, covered her face with +her hands, and fell back in her chair, wailing forth the +words:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, my Lord! my Lord! This is the very hardest +thing to bear of all that went before!”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_14'>14</span> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER III<br> <span class='c005'>THE NEWS</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c009'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Who that endured them ever shall forget</div> + <div class='line in2'>The emotions of that spirit-trying time,</div> + <div class='line'>When breathless in the mart the couriers met,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Early and late, at evening and at prime,</div> + <div class='line in2'>When the loud cannon or the merry chime</div> + <div class='line'>Hail’d news on news, as field was lost or won;</div> + <div class='line in2'>When hope, long doubtful, soared at length sublime,</div> + <div class='line'>And weary eyes awoke as day begun</div> + <div class='line'>Saw peace’s broad banner rise to meet the rising sun.</div> + <div class='line in40'>—<span class='sc'>Scott.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>The first gun of our Civil War was fired, and its +report was heard throughout the civilized world!</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Abel! Oh, Abel!” moaned Mrs. Force, still +pale with emotion.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What is it, my dear? Calm yourself! All that you +hold nearest and dearest are in this room with you. +What trouble can come upon you?” inquired her husband, +rising from his couch of pain and limping toward +her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>She lifted the newspaper from the floor and handed +it to him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Lord Enderby looked from one to the other in perplexity. +He did not like to ask a question—he waited to hear.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Odalite, Wynnette and Elva also waited in anxious +suspense for their father to explain.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Not so Rosemary. Her agony of anxiety burst forth +at length in a cry:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Mr. Force! is my mother dead, or what?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No one is dead, my child. And no special evil has +come to you,” said Abel Force. Then speaking to his +expectant friends, he said: “There is a civil war at +home.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_15'>15</span>His explanation was like a bombshell dropped in their +midst. All shrank away aghast and in silence.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Before any one recovered speech the door was thrown +open, and Le burst in the room in great excitement.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You have heard the news!” he cried; and that was +his only greeting.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, we have heard the news,” gravely replied Mr. +Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I have come to bid you good-by. The mail that +brought the news brought dispatches from the navy department +ordering our ship home. We sail with the +next tide; that will be in an hour. Good-by! good-by!” +he said, beside himself with mingled emotions, as he hurried +from one to another, taking each in his arms for a +last embrace.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But, Le—this is awfully sudden!” exclaimed Mr. +Force, as he wrung the young midshipman’s hand.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes! yes! awfully sudden! Odalite! Oh, Odalite!” +he cried, turning to his eldest cousin and once betrothed +last of all, as if he had reserved his very last embrace +and kiss for his best beloved—“oh, my Odalite! May +God love, and bless, and guard you. Good-by! Good-by! +my dearest dear!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>And Le pressed her to his heart, and turned and +dashed out of the room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But, Le! But, Le! Wait! Can we not go to the +ship and see you off?” cried Wynnette, hurrying after +him, and overtaking him at the street door.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No! no! Impossible, my dear! A boat is waiting +to take me to the ship! I have barely time to reach her +deck before she sails! There would be no time for last +adieus there! God bless you! Take care of Odalite!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The street door banged behind Le, and he was gone.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Wynnette had flown downstairs, but she crawled up +again, dragging weary steps, “woe befreighted,” behind +her.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_16'>16</span>She entered the room, and sat down in silent sympathy +beside Odalite, who lay back in her chair, too stunned +by the shock of all that had happened to weep or to +moan, or even to realize the situation.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mrs. Force went and sat on the other side of her +stricken daughter, took her hand, and said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dear, nothing but prayer can help you now. You +must pray, Odalite.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The girl pressed her mother’s hand, but made no +reply.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force and Lord Enderby were in close conversation +on the political conflict out of which the war had +arisen.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Elva and Rosemary were standing together in the +oriel window overlooking the street, too much startled +by the suddenness of events to feel like talking.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Let us hope that this trouble will soon be over,” said +the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What! be put down like one of your corn riots, by +the simple reading of the ‘act’?” inquired Abel Force, +grimly. “No, Enderby! I know my countrymen, North +and South. And the civilized world will see a war that +has never been paralleled in the history of nations.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>And his words proved prophetic.</p> + +<p class='c007'>After this day every mail from America was looked +for in the keenest anxiety; and every mail brought the +most startling and exciting news. Every schoolboy and +schoolgirl is now familiar with the leading events of the +war, and they need not be rehearsed here.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Among news of more general interest came some of a +private nature to the Forces.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Among the rest, letters from Mrs. Anglesea, who +wrote:</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You had better pack right up and come right home. +‘The devil is to pay, and no pitch hot!’ The people +<span class='pageno' id='Page_17'>17</span>have riz up ag’in’ one another like mad. Ned Grandiere +has gone into the Confederate Army. Sam sticks at +home. He says war is bad for the crops, and somebody +must plow and sow.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“William Elk has gone into the Union Army.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“Thanks be to goodness, Old Beever and Old Barnes +and Old Copp are all past sixty, and too old to fight, or +they’d turn fools with the rest; but, as it is, they’re +’bliged to stay home and ’tend to their business, and +take care of Mondreer and Greenbushes.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“But they do say, hereabouts, as old Capt. Grandiere—and +he over seventy years old—has turned pirate, or +privateer, or something of the sort, and is making war +on all Uncle Sam’s ships; but I can’t believe it for one. +And young Roland Bayard is with him—first mate—and +is as deep in the mud as the captain is in the mire, +and is tarred with the same brush—which I mean to +say as they are both a pirating on the high seas, or a privateering, +or whatever their deviltry is, together. So +they say hereabouts.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“Anyway, the ship is overdue for months, and neither +ship, officers nor crew has been heard of with any sort +of certain sureness.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“And what I said in the beginning, old ‘oman, I say +in the end—as you and the ole man had better pack +right up and come right home.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“But still, if it would ill convenience you at the present +time to do so, you needn’t come, nor likewise fret +about your home. To be sure, the devil is let loose all +over the country, but he hasn’t entered into Mondreer or +Greenbushes yet. Me and the three old men, Copp, and +Beever, and Barnes, and the old niggers, take the very +best of care of everything. You bet your pile on that. +So do just as you think proper.”</p> + +<p class='c006'>This letter filled the Forces with dismay, as it told +<span class='pageno' id='Page_18'>18</span>them that their old friends and neighbors had risen, so +to speak, in arms against each other.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But the most disturbing part of the news was that +which referred to old Capt. Grandiere and his mate, +young Roland Bayard.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force, from his boyhood up to middle age, and +Mrs. Force, from her first arrival in Maryland to the +present time, had known the old mariner intimately and +respected him highly. They knew him, even in his +seventieth year, to be strong, vigorous, fiery and energetic. +But with all their knowledge of him they could +not know, in his absence, how he would regard the Civil +War, or which side he would take, if any, in the struggle.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They had known young Roland Bayard from his infancy, +and known him to be pure, true, brave and heroic +as his namesake, but they could not judge, without him, +which side he would take in the conflict. Nor could they +reconcile it with their knowledge of these men that they +should run up the black flag, and wage a war after a +manner little better, if any better, than piracy.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But of one course they were clear; namely, that they +must keep this baleful report as to Capt. Grandiere and +Mate Bayard from the hearing of little Rosemary Hedge. +The child must not be made miserable by a mere rumor +which might have no foundation in fact.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mrs. Force was even more affected than her husband +by the doubt that hung over the fate of the <em>Kitty</em>.</p> + +<p class='c007'>She answered her housekeeper’s letter, disclaiming all +belief in the story that Capt. Grandiere and Mate Bayard +had turned the <em>Kitty</em> and her crew into pirates.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And for the rest, told her that they—the Force family—should +not return home for some months to come, +even if then.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Later on there came a letter from Miss Susanna Grandiere +respecting her niece.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_19'>19</span>Miss Grandiere wrote in rather a stilted style, after +the manner of her old-fashioned romances. She wrote:</p> + +<p class='c008'>“All through the beautiful summer, all through the +glorious autumn, all through the desolate winter of the +past twelve months we have been anticipating the exquisite +happiness of beholding you again in the blooming +spring, when nature rises from the grave, and arrays +herself in fresh and radiant apparel.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“But, alas! evil days have fallen upon us. War stalks +abroad over our beloved country, spreading ruin, misery +and desolation. Brother rises up against brother, and +father against son. Friends and neighbors whose hearts +and minds were once united in the closest and holiest +bonds of friendship and affection, are now severed and +estranged in mutual hatred and malignity.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“In this spread of affliction and calamity a rumor +reaches us to the effect that the condition of your husband’s +constitution will detain you in foreign countries +for a considerable time to come.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“If this report be truthful, and you should contemplate +a further sojourn in the Eastern hemisphere, I must +implore you still to retain my beloved niece under your +protection until you can procure some responsible escort +to convey her across the ocean to the home of her childhood.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“I should not venture to take the liberty of preferring +this request did I not accord the most perfect credence +to your protestations of attachment to our beloved child, +and of enjoyment in her society, and of the invaluable +benefit she herself derives from foreign travel.”</p> + +<p class='c006'>This, and much more to the same purpose and in the +same style, wrote Miss Grandiere.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mrs. Force showed this letter to Rosemary, and then +<span class='pageno' id='Page_20'>20</span>had a talk with her, and found that the child was quite +willing to do whatever her friends should think best.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Mrs. Force answered the letter, condoling with +Miss Grandiere on the state of the country, but also expressing +the pleasure she and all her family would feel +in keeping little Rosemary with them as long as the child +might be permitted to stay.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Still later on letters were received from Le. His ship +was at Charleston, forming one of the blockading fleet.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Late in the summer of that year the Forces went again +to the hot baths of Baden-Baden for the benefit of the +husband and father’s health, which was giving the whole +family much concern.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER IV<br> <span class='c005'>ROSEMARY IS STARTLED</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>Strange to say, that while Abel Force seemed in danger +of becoming a confirmed invalid, the condition of his +delicate brother-in-law improved every day.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He no longer required the arm of his valet to lean on, +or even the help of a cane to walk with.</p> + +<p class='c007'>One day his sister said to him:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Francis, I do believe that you have been more of a +hypochondriac than of a real invalid, after all.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Elf,” he answered, “I am inclined to suspect that you +are right. Certainly most of my ailments, real or imaginary, +have vanished under the influence of change, motion +and society.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>As the earl continued to improve in health and +strength, his sister watched him with a new interest.</p> + +<p class='c007'>On another day she said to him:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Francis, why don’t you marry?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Lord Enderby started, and then he laughed.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_21'>21</span>“What has put that into your head?” he inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My anxious interest in your future—now that you +have a future, brother.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Would you, who are my heir presumptive, wish me +to marry?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Indeed, I would! You would be so much better and +happier! Think of it, Francis!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dearest, I am both too old and too young to fall +in love!” laughed the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What rubbish! ‘Too old and too young!’ What do +you mean by such absurdity?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I have passed my first youth of sentiment, and I +have not yet reached my second childhood of senility! +Therefore, I am both too old and too young to fall in +love.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Nonsense! That is not true; and, even if it were, +you are neither too young nor too old to marry. It is +not necessary that you should ‘fall in love.’ You might +meet some lady, however, whom you could love, and esteem, +and marry.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Where should I be likely to find such a lady? My +dear, I have never gone into society at all. Since my +return from India I have led a secluded life, on account +of my health.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“On account of your hypochondria, you mean! Now, +Francis, you must change all that. In the beginning of +the next London season you must open your house on +Westbourne Terrace, and entertain company.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Will you do the honors, Elfrida?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Of course I will,” replied the lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And you can bring out your two daughters, and present +them at court.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, I might do that.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Very well.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Had the earl felt disposed to look about him for a +<span class='pageno' id='Page_22'>22</span>wife, he might have found a suitable one in Baden-Baden.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There were many of the English nobility and gentry +staying there for the benefit of the baths. Many very +attractive young ladies of rank were in the matrimonial +market. But, to tell the truth, the invalid earl, either +from real ill health or from hypochondria, was very shy +of strangers, and better liked to stroll, or ride, or drive +with “the children,” as he called his nieces and their +young friend, than to linger in the parlors of the hotel +or the pavilions of the place.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In their rambles Odalite seldom joined them. She +preferred to stay with her suffering father, and share the +labors of her mother in the sick room. The earl and +the three younger girls usually set out together.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Wynnette and Elva walking on before; the earl, with +little Rosemary’s hand clasped in his own, followed behind.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Ever since that day, now more than a year ago, when +the reunited members of the Force family met at Baden-Baden, +and paired off—Mr. and Mrs. Force on one +sofa, Odalite and Le on another, and Wynnette and Elva +on the window seat, leaving the earl, as it were, “out in +the cold,” and quite forgotten, and little Rosemary, also +temporarily forgotten, had drawn a hassock to the side +of his easy chair and sat down and laid her little curly +black head on his knee, in silent sympathy—ever since +that day the earl and the child had been fast friends. In +her tender little heart she pitied him for his weakness +and illness, just as she might have pitied any poor man +in any rank of life, and she had fallen into a habit of +silent sympathy with him, and of drawing her hassock to +the side of his chair, when they were all indoors, and of +taking his hand when they were out walking. Even +now, when the invalid had recovered health, strength +and spirits, these habits of the child, once formed, were +<span class='pageno' id='Page_23'>23</span>not easily to be broken. She no longer pitied him, because +she saw that he was no longer an object of pity; +but she drew her hassock to his side indoors, and took +his hand and walked with him outside. She seemed to +think that he belonged to her, or she to him, or they to +each other.</p> + +<p class='c007'>One day they were sauntering slowly through the +grounds of the Conversation-Haus. Wynnette and Elva +were flitting on before them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Rosemary’s hand was—not on the earl’s arm—but in +his hand. He was so very much taller than the girl that +he led her like a child.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There had been a pause in their talk, when the earl +gently closed his fingers over hers, and said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My little one, I love you very much.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, I hope you do, and it is so kind of you!” warmly +answered the child, returning the pressure of his hand +and acting toward him as she would have acted toward +her uncle.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then, you do care for me a little?” he said.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, yes, indeed, I care for you a great deal. I am +very fond of you,” said Rosemary, warmly, squeezing +his fingers.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How old are you, Rosemary?” he gravely inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I shall soon be seventeen.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Indeed!” he exclaimed, turning and looking down on +her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, indeed!” she answered, positively.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, you are such a quaint, little old lady, that I am +not surprised, after all. You might have been fifteen, or +you might have been twenty. But seventeen! That is a +sweet age—the age at which the Princess Royal of England +was married!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Indeed!” exclaimed Rosemary, in her turn.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, indeed!” he replied, with a smile.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_24'>24</span>And then there was silence between the two for a +few minutes.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The earl was meditating. The child was uneasy, and +wondering why she was so.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Little friend,” he said, at last, “you and I seem very +good friends.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, we are! And it is so very good of you to be +friends with me!” she answered, warmly, squeezing his +fingers in her small hand.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And we are really fond of each other.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, very, very fond of one another, and it is so kind +of you!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But why should you say it is kind of me, little sweet +herb?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, why, because you are so old and so grand; and +I am so little every way!” she said, with another squeeze +of his fingers.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The earl winced; but whether at her words or her action, +who could say?</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Am I so old, so very old, then, Rosemary?” he +gravely inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, no, no; I did not mean that! Of course, I +didn’t mean that you are as old as Mr. Force, who is +forty-five; but I meant—I meant—I meant—you are so +very much grown up, to be so kind as to walk and talk +with a girl like me as much as you do.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, my dear, do you not like to have me walk and +talk with you?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, yes! indeed, indeed I do! Oh, you know I do!” +she answered, fervently.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Again the earl was silent for a few moments, and then, +drawing her small hand into the bend of his arm, he +asked:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Rosemary, would you like that you and I should +walk and talk together every day for the rest of our +lives?”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_25'>25</span>She turned and looked up into his face, as if she +wished to read his meaning.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He smiled into her upraised eyes.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Are you in earnest?” she inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Perfectly, Rosemary. Do you think I would jest +with you on such a subject?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No! but I thought you knew me so well that you +would know without asking that I would love dearly to +walk and talk with you every day all our lives long, if +we could! But how could we? Some of these days I +shall go back to Maryland, and then we shall part and +never meet again! Oh! I hate to think that we shall +never meet again. You do seem so near to me! So +very near to me! As if you were my own, my very +own! Oh, sir! I beg your pardon! that was very presumptuous! +I ought to have said—I ought to have +said——” She stopped and reddened.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What, my child? You have said nothing wrong or +untrue. What do you think you ought to have said?” +the earl inquired, in a caressing tone.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I think I should have said, that I feel so near to you—that +I feel as if I were your own, your very own! It +was too, too arrogant in me to say that I feel as you belonged +to me. I should have said, as if I belonged to +you,” she explained. And then she laughed a little, +as in ridicule of her own little ridiculous self.</p> + +<p class='c007'>His hand tightened on hers as he replied:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Suppose we compromise the question and say that we +belong to each other?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, that is it! And you are so good.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And you really wish that we two should walk and +talk together every day for the rest of our lives?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, yes; if it could be so!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Rosemary,” he said, very gravely, as he still held and +pressed her hand, “there is but one way in which it could +be so.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_26'>26</span>He paused, and she looked up.</p> + +<p class='c007'>How long he paused before he could venture to startle +the child by his next words:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“By marriage. Rosemary, dear, will you marry me?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>She turned pale, but did not withdraw her astonished +eyes from his face.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What do you say, little friend?” inquired the suitor.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, oh, oh!” was what she said.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Does that mean yes or no, Rosemary?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>She did not answer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You do not like me well enough to marry me, then, +Rosemary?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, yes, I do! Indeed, indeed I do; I would marry +you in a minute, but—but—but——”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But—what?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I am engaged!”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER V<br> <span class='c005'>THE EARL IS STARTLED</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>He held her off to get a better view of her face. Then +he stared at her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You! Engaged?” he cried.</p> + +<p class='c007'>She nodded two or three times in reply.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Such a mite as you! Why, how long have you been +engaged, pray?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I—don’t quite know. Ever since I can remember.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh! a family arrangement between your parents and +your betrothed husband’s, I suppose?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, no; not at all! Only between him and me.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“At that early age! Do babies betroth themselves in +America?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I don’t quite know; but we did! And we were not +<span class='pageno' id='Page_27'>27</span>both babies. He was a schoolboy, but I think I was a +baby at first.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“At first, very likely! Well, when are you to be married?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I don’t quite know. But not until Roland gets his +rights and comes into his estates.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah! there is litigation? But who is this happy man +Roland?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He is a mate on a merchantman at present. But +when he gets his rights, I am sure he will be a nobleman +of high rank, and maybe a prince of royal race.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh!” said the earl, with a curious smile. Then, +growing suddenly very grave, he inquired:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dear child, do your parents know anything about +your relations with this—adventurer?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He is not an adventurer,” said Rosemary.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But when he, a skipper’s mate, represents himself to +be a man of rank, kept out of his rights——”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But he don’t represent himself to be any other than +what he seems!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, I beg your pardon, my dear! I thought you +said he did.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No; oh, no! I said that I feel sure that when he gets +his rights, he will be a nobleman or a prince!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah! but why should you think so, my dear!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh! no one could look at Roland Bayard and not +know him to be one of princely rank!” exclaimed Rosemary, +with such solemn fervor that the earl turned and +gazed at her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And is this the only reason you have for thinking +the young man of gentle blood?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No! not only his looks, but his voice, speech, tone, +manner, gesture—all proclaim him of noble blood!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>As Rosemary spoke, she suddenly turned and looked +intently at the earl, and then she added:</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_28'>28</span>“Yes! It is true! It is not imagination! I have +thought of it often, though I never spoke of it before!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Of what, my dear?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Of Roland Bayard’s likeness to you!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“To me, my dear?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, to you! But for the difference in age and in +health, he is as much like you as one man can be to another!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Indeed!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, indeed!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“An imaginary or an accidental likeness, my child. +But, Rosemary, to return to yourself. Do your parents, +or guardians, know anything of your relations with this +questionable stranger?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He is not a questionable stranger. He was brought +up among us at home. Did I not tell you he used to ride +me on his shoulder when he was a boy and I was a +baby?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then, if he is not a stranger, you must know all +about him, and whether he is of high or low degree.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We do know all about him, but nothing at all about +his family. He was saved from a ship that was wrecked +on our coast, and he was the only one saved, and there +was not a mark on him or his clothing to identify him. +Mr. Force undertook to provide for him, and placed him +with Miss Sybilla Margaretta Bayard, who was herself +descended from a great English duke, though no one +would ever think so to look at her! Mr. Force also sent +Roland to school and afterward to college, and he would +have sent him to the Naval Academy, at Annapolis, only +he had already used all his influence to get Leonidas entered +there, and he could not ask the same favor for +Roland. So Roland, being bent upon going to sea, entered +the merchant service.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah! I see. But, my child, it seems to me that you +have not yet answered the question that I have twice +<span class='pageno' id='Page_29'>29</span>put to you: Do your parents, or guardians, know of the +engagement between you and this young man?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I have only one parent—my mother. My father was +lost at sea, before I was born, and left no property and +no will, because his ship went down, with everything +on board. My mother has some property, and so has +Aunt Sukey, and they take care of me,” said Rosemary; +and that was all she said at the time.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The earl looked at her curiously.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Was the child purposely evading his question?</p> + +<p class='c007'>No; the grave little face was too true for that thought.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Does your mother or your aunt know of your relations +with young—young——”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Roland Bayard?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Why, I think every one in our neighborhood must +know all about it! Because we all know all about our +neighbors, and some say that they know more of us than +we do of ourselves, and that we know more of them than +they do of themselves.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I think that quite likely. But, do your friends approve +of your engagement?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Not now; but they will when Roland comes into his +rights.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You poor child!” murmured the earl, in a low tone. +Then, speaking in a clearer voice, he asked:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Rosemary, would you marry this young man without +the approbation of your friends?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, never,” she answered, solemnly.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“That is right. Now, then, if your friends were to +counsel you to accept another suitor whom they approved, +would you do so?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, never,” replied the child, more emphatically +than before.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then what would you do?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I would be an old maid, like Aunt Sukey. I never +<span class='pageno' id='Page_30'>30</span>would marry Roland Bayard against the will of my +mother and my aunt; nor would I ever marry any one +else, even to please them. I would be a maiden lady, +like Miss Susannah Grandiere.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Little true heart! Well, little friend, I will not try, +through your guardians, to marry you against your will. +Neither, I think, will I marry any one else. And in any +case, we shall always be friends, shall we not, little sweet +herb?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Always! And it is so good of you to say so!” exclaimed +Rosemary, giving his hand another fond +squeeze.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They sauntered on in silence until they overtook Wynnette +and Elva, who had sat down on a garden seat to +wait for them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It is time to go home to luncheon,” said Wynnette, +“and I am starved.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>They turned their steps toward their hotel and reached +it in time to join Mr. and Mrs. Force and Odalite at +luncheon at their usual hour.</p> + +<p class='c007'>That afternoon, while Mr. Force was taking his daily +nap and the young girls were resting in their chambers, +the earl found himself alone with his sister in their private +parlor.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Elfrida,” he said, “I want you to tell me something +about this little protégé of yours.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Rosemary Hedge?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, she is the daughter of the late Capt. Hedge, of +the merchant service, and of his wife, Dorothy Grandiere, +the daughter of the late Gideon Grandiere, of St. +Mary’s. Her family is one of the oldest and best in the +State. And her friends have intrusted her to us for the +benefit of travel. That is all there is about Rosemary +Hedge.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_31'>31</span>“No, not quite all. The little one tells me that she is +engaged to be married.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Who? Rosemary?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Engaged to be married!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“This is news to me! I never even suspected such a +thing. Nor do I know how she has ever had an opportunity +of being wooed, far less won!” exclaimed the lady, +in surprise.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And yet the child honestly thinks that you know all +about it,” replied the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I know nothing. And I am really distressed at the +news you tell me. Have I been so absorbed in the care +of my sick husband as to have neglected the interests of +the orphan child? What adventurer has picked her up, +in the name of Heaven? Tell me, Francis, if you know.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Do you know anything of a young fellow called Roland +Bayard?” significantly inquired the earl, fixing his +eyes intently on the face of his sister.</p> + +<p class='c007'>That face paled under his wistful gaze; but the lady +recovered herself in a few moments, and replied:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes; he is a young man who in infancy was cast upon +our shores from a wrecked ship. He was cared for by +Mr. Force, who placed him in <a id='t31'></a>the charge of a respectable +woman and afterward sent him to school and to college.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Does any one know anything about his parentage?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He was the sole survivor of the wreck. There was +not a mark on his clothing or on his person to give a +clew to his parentage. But, as Mr. Force has practically +adopted him, he will not need to investigate his own antecedents. +He is in the merchant service now.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, I have heard so much from Rosemary. But +now as to his character?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He is above reproach. A not unworthy namesake of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_32'>32</span>two heroes—Roland and Bayard. But why do you inquire +into the history of this young person?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Because it is to him that Rosemary is engaged, or +thinks herself engaged.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh,” laughed the lady, “that is an old story.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It cannot be an old story, since the child is but +seventeen.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It is relatively an old story. When he was a schoolboy +he was much favored by his friends the Grandieres, +who lived at Oldfield, near Forest Rest, where his foster-mother, +Miss Bayard, lived, and where Roland was +reared. Rosemary was a baby. He used to pet her very +much and tell her that she was his sweetheart, and his +little wife, and all such childish nonsense as that. And +I think they kept it up until Rosemary was sent to boarding +school with our girls. Since that time—some five +years ago now—I think there has been no more of it. I +thought it was all forgotten long ago.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But it is not, you see. The child thinks that she is +engaged to him.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I wonder if she is attached to him,” said the lady, +thoughtfully.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I do not quite know. Perhaps, as she believes herself +to be engaged, she may also only believe that she is +attached to him. It is a subject upon which one cannot +very closely cross-examine a young girl.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, you could not; but I must,” replied the lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Without mentioning my name, if you please, Elfrida,” +said the earl, who also religiously refrained from +telling his sister of his proposal to Rosemary, lest Mrs. +Force should try to influence the girl in his favor. And +he did not wish the latter to be worried or coerced in any +way.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Certainly without mentioning your name. I shall +know how to manage with tact and discretion,” replied +the lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_33'>33</span>“One word more, Elfrida. Would you approve of a +marriage between this Roland Bayard and Rosemary +Hedge?” inquired the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, I should.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“That is all.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But I have not the disposal of the child’s hand, so +my own approval goes for nothing.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It is enough,” said the earl, and he opened the window +looking from the parlor to the balcony and went +out there to walk and smoke.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER VI<br> <span class='c005'>A STRANGE MEETING</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>The middle of October found the Forces with their +party again at Rome, settled in their old quarters.</p> + +<p class='c007'>News of the war came by every mail, bringing accounts +of battles fought, and lost or won.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They were of those few who in the dreadful struggle +could not take any side. They only longed for peace +and reconciliation. They passed the winter in Rome, +but in the early spring Mr. and Mrs. Force and their +daughters began to long for their native country even +more than for their particular home.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There seemed no present prospect of an end to the +fratricidal war. The holocausts of youth, manhood and +heroism offered up monthly to the Devil of Discord did +not seem to appease his rapacity.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Every mail brought news of new battles and of thousands +and tens of thousands slain on either side; the +storm of war raging more and more furiously as the +months went on.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Elfrida!” said Mr. Force one day, “I cannot stand it +<span class='pageno' id='Page_34'>34</span>any longer! We must go home, my dear, and be with +our country in her need! Not to burn and slay and rob +on one side or the other, but to nurse the wounded and +feed the hungry, and clothe the naked—and give all our +time, money and energy to this needful work. You and +your daughters and even your crippled husband can do +this much to abate the pain of the age!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>He had said words to the same effect before, but never +with so much of sorrowful earnestness as now.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, we will go, Abel. Yes; it is indeed our duty to +do so. Besides, our Odalite is wasting away with hope +deferred! We have not heard from Le for so many +months! He may be dead on some crowded battlefield, +or ill and delirious in some hospital, or in some prison! +We might find out his fate by going home. And then +there is poor little Rosemary fretting out her heart about +young Bayard, who has never been heard of since he +sailed with Capt. Grandiere, now nearly three years ago! +We might find out something satisfactory about him. +We all need to go home! There is no one but Wynnette +who is not breaking down under this anxiety and +uncertainty! Wynnette thanks Heaven every day that +Sam Grandiere chooses to stay home and mind his crops. +As for Elva, she makes every one’s trouble her own and +suffers for and with all. Yes, we all need to go home.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And our home and our country needs us,” added Mr. +Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So it was decided that they should return home as +soon as passages for their whole party could be secured.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mrs. Force dreaded to tell her brother of the impending +separation.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The earl had grown so much better in health, spirits +and happiness while traveling in their company, that it +would seem like relegating him to gloom, solitude and +despondency to send him back alone to his old life at Enderby +Castle.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_35'>35</span>She took the time immediately after breakfast the next +morning to break the news to him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Going! Going back to America!” he exclaimed, in +astonishment.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes. It is our bounden duty. The war is not the +temporary disturbance that you thought it was to be. +It is growing more terrible every month. It may last +yet for years. We must go to our home and do the best +we can for everybody,” replied the lady. And then she +went over the whole subject as it had been discussed between +herself and her husband.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, my dear, it is your duty to go home,” admitted +the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Still, my dear brother, we are very sorry to leave +you. I hope, however, that you will not go back to Enderby +Castle, to your old solitary life there. It is very +bad for you. I hope you will go up to London, and +open your house on Westbourne Terrace, and call your +friends together and entertain them, even though I +shall not be there with my daughters to help you, as I +had once hoped to be.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I shall not go to London, Elfrida. I have no friends +there, and I hate society. No; I shall go to the United +States with you,” said the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You don’t mean it!” exclaimed Mrs. Force, between +surprise, pleasure and incredulity.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes; I do most certainly mean it. I have never seen +America, and though the state of civil war may not be +the most pleasant aspect under which to view a new +country, yet it is certainly the most interesting. And so, +Elfrida, if you have no objection, I shall go with you to +America.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You know that I am delighted at the thought of having +you,” said the lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Has Force written to engage passage?” inquired the +earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_36'>36</span>“He intends to write this morning to inquire about the +first ship on which he can get berths for all our large +party to New York.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then ask him to see about two additional berths for +me and my valet.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus it was arranged that the whole family party, including +the earl, should go to America together.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In due time the answer from the agent of the Cunard +line arrived. They could all be accommodated on the +<em>Asia</em>, which would sail on the twenty-third of March.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“This is the ninth. We have just two weeks to get +ready in. We had best start for Liverpool as soon as +possible and make our final preparations for the voyage +there,” said Mr. Force, after he had read the letter to +his assembled family.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And, oh, papa, let somebody go to Enderby Castle +to fetch Joshua,” exclaimed Wynnette.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Why, my dear girl, the old dog may be dead,” said +the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, no, he is not dead! I write to Mrs. Kelsey every +week to ask about dear Joshua, and he is very well. And +he is not at all an old dog. He is only nine years old. I +remember him ever since he was a puppy.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, it has been over two years since he saw you, +and he has forgotten you by this time.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, no, he hasn’t. We were away from home three +years and three months, and he never forgot us. You +ought to have seen how he met us!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, my dear, when we get to Liverpool, I will telegraph +to one of my grooms to bring the dog to us.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Dear uncle! how I love you!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>A week from this time the whole party were settled at +the Adelphi Hotel, in Liverpool, to await the day of +their sailing for New York.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force kept his room. The Earl of Enderby spent +hours in his own apartment with his family solicitor and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_37'>37</span>his land steward, both of whom had been summoned by +telegraph to meet him at Liverpool.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The ladies of the family spent their days in final shopping, +providing themselves, among other conveniences, +with thick linsey-woolsey suits for sea wear, and with +heavy Astrakhan wool shawls for wraps.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In due time the groom from Enderby arrived with +Wynnette’s dog in his charge. Space does not permit to +describe the interview between the two. It is enough to +hint that Joshua, in dog language, bitterly reproached +his mistress for breaking faith with him, and deserting +him for so long a time, and then magnanimously forgave +her, while Wynnette was all apologies for the past and +protestations for the future.</p> + +<p class='c007'>On Saturday, the twenty-third of March, the whole +party embarked on board the ocean steamer <em>Asia</em>, then +at anchor in the Mersey, and bound to sail for New York +at twelve, noon, of that day.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There was the usual crowd on deck; with the usual +partings; friends departing, and friends who had come to +send them off; some grave, some cheerful, some merry, +some despondent.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At length this was all interrupted by the shout of the +first mate from the poop:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“All ashore!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>And the last hurried good-bys were spoken, and the +last embraces given, and the friends of the voyagers hastened +over the gang plank to the steam tender which had +brought them to the ship.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the farewell gun was fired, and the <em>Asia</em> stood +out to sea—her passengers standing in lines to gaze on +the receding land.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force and his party were walking up and down +the deck of the steamer, when they saw coming from the +opposite direction a figure so remarkable that it would at +once have attracted attention anywhere.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_38'>38</span>It was the tall, stout figure of an old man, with a +fresh, red face, clear blue eyes, a white mustache, and a +commanding presence. He wore the uniform of an +American skipper, with its flat, gold-rimmed cap.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As he approached Mr. Force stared, and then started +and held out his hand, exclaiming:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Capt. Grandiere! You here! Why, where did you +drop from, and where is Roland Bayard?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The gruff old sailor stopped to lift his cap to the ladies, +and to shake hands all around, and to be introduced to +the Earl of Enderby, and to shake hands with him, before +he replied to Mr. Force’s first question:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My ship, the <em>Kitty</em>, was taken by that infernal pirate, +the <em>Argente</em>. I was set ashore, alone, on the English +coast. I had some correspondents at Liverpool, who +supplied me with funds to return home. That is all.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But—where is Roland Bayard?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“With the pirates.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER VII<br> <span class='c005'>AN OLD SALT</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“Among the pirates, Capt. Grandiere? Roland Bayard +among the pirates?” exclaimed Mr. Force, while +Mrs. Force closed her lips with a sudden motion and +grew a shade paler. Rosemary began to tremble, and +the other young girls to look anxious.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Come aft! Let us find seats somewhere where we +will not be spied or overhauled, and I will tell you all +about it,” said the old skipper, moving down toward the +stern, where the deck was almost deserted by the other +passengers, who were all gathered forward, leaning over +the bulwarks and taking a last look at the receding shores +of England.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_39'>39</span>They found seats on the wooden benches, and sat +down.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The old skipper took off his cap and wiped his large, +red face and close-cropped gray head, and then said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I didn’t expect to see you here. I should as soon have +thought of seeing Oldfield farmhouse standing up before +me, right in my path, as a group of old neighbors, with +my little niece in the midst of them. Heavens and +earth—how a civil war shakes people up! I dare say, +now, you all left on account of the war.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No,” said Mr. Force, “we left before the war to +visit my brother-in-law here, and to give our young people +some advantage in foreign travel. My own ill health +has detained us abroad for more than two years. We return +now on account of the war.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Good Lord! Abel Force, you are not thinking of going +into the army in your crippled condition!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, not exactly. But we can all be useful in the +hospitals—even my wife and daughters—in caring for +the sick and wounded soldiers, and for the widows and +orphans of the dead, so far as our strength and means +will go.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah! that is something else! When did you hear +from the folks at home? I have not heard from them for +years.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I got a letter a week ago from your niece, Miss Grandiere. +Your nephew, William Elk, is in Richmond, on +Gen. Lee’s staff; your nephew, Thomas Grandiere, is in +New Orleans, with Gen. Butler, and your grandnephew, +Edward Grandiere, is with Farragut, in Mobile Bay. +Sam has elected to stay at home, follow the plow, and +take care of the women.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Sam has the only solid head in the family, except my +own! Look at that, now! Brothers and kinsmen shooting +each other down, running each other through the +body, blowing each other up, as if they were at war +<span class='pageno' id='Page_40'>40</span>with a foreign enemy! Oh, Lord! Lord!” groaned the +old skipper, flinging down his cap with force upon the +deck, and furiously wiping his perspiring face.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It is grievous enough; but it is human nature, and +we cannot change it. The strangest part of it all is that +the men composing the rank and file of each army have +no personal ill will toward their antagonists. Each fights +from a sense of duty. Each invoke the blessing of God +upon their arms. There was a time, Grandiere, in our +lives, when peace reigned so long that we all began to believe +that war belonged only to history, and barbaric history +at that, and had passed away forever, as one of the +last relics of barbarism. It was the Mexican War that +woke us up from our dream of the millennium. And, +since that, there has been in one part of the civilized +world or another almost incessant and most ruinous war. +So when we call ourselves a Christian, civilized and enlightened +people——”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We tell a lot of bragging lies! Out with it, papa, in +plain English!” put in Wynnette, who had held her +tongue until it ached.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Who is this girl?” inquired the old skipper.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My second daughter, Wynnette. Surely, I introduced +her to you,” said the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“So you did! But there are so many of them, you +know! I used to dandle this one on my knee when she +was a baby; but she has grown out of my knowledge!” +said the old skipper. Then turning to Wynnette, he +grasped her hand, and said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Right you are, my dear! We are a lot of braggarts +and ignoramuses! So far from being Christians, civilized +and enlightened, we do not even know what these +terms imply. We are heathen, barbarians, and we live +in the twilight. Right you are, my dear, as to your +opinions, but wrong in your way of putting them. Interrupting +your father. Discipline should be maintained, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_41'>41</span>my dear. Remember that!” said the old skipper, +not unkindly.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Before the astonished Wynnette could reply, Rosemary +put in her piteous little plaint, and said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Uncle Gideon! dear Uncle Gideon! Tell us +about—about——” She meant to say “Roland Bayard,” +but she reddened, and substituted: “The pirates!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Of course! That is what I brought you here for. +You have heard about the pirate Silver, and his ship, the +<em>Argente</em>?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I have seen notices of depredations made by the +<em>Argente</em>. It is a privateer in the Confederate service, +is it not?” inquired Mr. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Privateer? Yes, and worse! It is a pirate! In the +Confederate service? No; no further than running the +blockade, to carry in merchandise to sell at ruinous +prices, would go! The <em>Argente</em> is a privateer, a blockade +runner, a slaver, and a pirate. Just as, a few years ago, +we thought war had passed away from the face of the +earth forever, so we thought that piracy had been swept +from the sea. But we were mistaken in both cases. Our +Civil War, the blockading of our Southern ports, the +emancipation, and consequent stampede of the negroes, +have brought into action a fleet of sea robbers who call +themselves privateers, and pretend to be in the service +of this or that faction, but who are really pirates and +slavers. They are armed to the teeth and are manned +by the most reckless desperadoes gathered from all +nations—mostly jail birds, convicts, criminals. They +take our merchant ships, they steal slaves from the West +Indies, run the blockade and sell them in our Southern +ports; or, with equal impartiality, when opportunity is +given, they decoy slaves from the Southern plantations +by the promise of a free passage to the North, and they +carry them to the West Indies, where they sell them to +the planters. The most notorious of these brigands of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_42'>42</span>the sea is the <em>Argente</em>. I have never yet heard of any +of them being taken.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The old sailor having talked himself out of breath, +stopped, wiped his forehead, and flung his rolled handkerchief +with force upon the deck.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But, Uncle Gideon—dear Uncle Gideon—tell us +about—about the pirates,” pleaded Rosemary, pale with +sorrow.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My pet, I have told you about the pirates,” grunted +the skipper.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But—but—about—about—the loss of the <em>Kitty</em>,” +pleaded Rosemary.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The old skipper snatched up his cap from the deck and +flung it down again with violence. Then he said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes! Devil fly away with them! They took the +<em>Kitty</em>! I can’t talk about it, girl! The devil takes possession +of me every time I think of it! They took the +<em>Kitty</em>! That is all that is in it! Maybe some time or +other, when the devil forsakes me, I will tell you all +about it, but not now—not now!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Tell us something at least of Roland Bayard,” said +Wynnette.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I did tell you! He is among the pirates.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But in what capacity? Is he a prisoner or a volunteer?” +persisted the girl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh! oh, Wynnette! Roland Bayard could never be +a volunteer among the pirates. He would suffer himself +to be killed first! Yes—to be tortured to death first! +Yes—yes—to be slowly tortured to death first! Oh, +Roland! Roland!” wailed Rosemary, too deeply distressed +for her childhood’s friend to conceal her emotions.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Capt. Grandiere, touched by the trouble on the quaint +little face, pulled himself together, patted her head, and +said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Don’t cry, little girl! Roland is not a volunteer in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_43'>43</span>the pirate crew. I never believed that for one minute, +though Silver, the head devil, told me so. No, my +child, he is a prisoner among the pirates—I am sure of +that.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, then that is some comfort! I would rather they +should keep him a prisoner, or even kill him, than make +him wicked! Indeed, I would, Uncle Gideon. But how +comes he to be among the pirates and you here? He a +captive, and you free? Tell me that, Uncle Gideon,” +said the little creature, with a shade of reproach in her +troubled tones.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And while Rosemary waited in suspense for the answer +there was another who listened anxiously to catch +its every word. This was Elfrida Force.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER VIII<br> <span class='c005'>THE LOSS OF THE “KITTY”</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“I will tell you, my girl, though I hate to talk of it. +About a month ago I sailed from Havana, bound to London, +with a cargo of rum, tobacco and sweetmeats. The +weather was fine, and we had a good voyage until we +came within four or five days’ sail of port. A sail had +been following us all day long. We did not know she +was following us, nor could we make out by our best glass +what she was. She was the only sail in sight. As night +closed in she gained on us. That was certain. But still +we could not make her out. She did not come near +enough for that, for the <em>Kitty</em> is a pretty fast clipper herself. +As night darkened we lost sight of the strange +sail, without any misgivings. But in the gray of the +morning she was alongside of us! Hold on! The devil +is getting into me again!” exclaimed the old sea dog, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_44'>44</span>snatching Mr. Force’s hat from his head and flinging it +with vehemence upon the deck.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The fortunes of war, captain—the fortunes of war! +Be patient!” said Abel Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The fortunes of murder, robbery, arson, piracy! +There was no fight!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The will of Providence, then.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The will of the devil! You shan’t lay their murders, +and robberies, and arsons, and piracies upon Providence! +That would be blasphemy! There was no struggle! +What could our unarmed little Baltimore clipper do—though +every one was a hero—against a pirate ship of +twenty-four guns, manned by the desperate offscourings +of the galleys and the convict prisons, all armed to the +teeth, bristling with pistols, daggers and cutlasses? Nothing +at all! They boarded us, walked into us and through +us, and made prisoners of our men, took possession of our +ship, then put the men into two open boats and sent +them adrift, to sink or swim, carried off me and young +Roland captives to their own deck, and finally sent off an +officer and a detail of their devilish pirates to work the +<em>Kitty</em>—and Satan only knows where they carried her +and her valuable cargo of rum and tobacco! We parted +company then and there. I never saw young Roland +after that. I believe he did make some resistance, and +was wounded. I saw him bleeding and carried below, +and I never saw him again.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Here the captain made an involuntary dash at the +earl’s cap, but his hand was intercepted by Mr. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He’ll scalp us next,” said Wynnette.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Umph! Umph! Umph!” grunted the captain.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Uncle Gideon! Oh, Uncle Gideon!” moaned +Rosemary, while Mrs. Force gripped her own hands +firmly in silent trouble.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Don’t cry, honey! I believe he is safe enough and +will turn up all right. I called them murderers! And, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_45'>45</span>no doubt at all, some of that criminal crew were murderers, +and worse than murderers, if such could be! But +they did no murder in my sight! They might—had +they chosen—they might have massacred all hands +aboard the <em>Kitty</em>, but they didn’t! They put the men +in open boats and set them afloat to take their chance; +and then—for some reason well known to himself, but +quite unknown to me—Capt. Silver took young Bayard +and myself on board the <em>Argente</em>. I said I never +saw Roland after he was taken down below, nor did I! +But I did not fail to inquire for him. The head devil +told me that the young man was all right; that his wound +was only skin deep; that his men never killed or wounded +men whom they could so easily overpower and capture +without bloodshed; and especially in the case of a fine +young seaman who might become useful to them.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Uncle Gideon! Then they did only take Roland +on board to make a pirate of him!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Of course they did, my dear; for when I asked to +see Roland, Silver told me, with a satanic laugh, that the +young man was ‘in retreat,’ preparatory to entering his +novitiate in the holy orders of bold buccaneers, roaring +sea rovers, and that no outsiders should have access to +him, for fear they might shake his good resolutions and +even win him back to the selfish world.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What a devil!” exclaimed Wynnette.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Every day I inquired about Roland, and each day I +received answers which would have made me believe that +the boy was gradually being persuaded to become a pirate—if +I had not known that Roland Bayard could +never become so perverted.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, never, never, never!” firmly declared Rosemary.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But while Bayard was kept a close prisoner, I had +the run of the deck,” continued the captain. “One day +I asked Silver where he was bound. He told me, with +infernal insolence, that he should touch on the coast of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_46'>46</span>England, put me on shore, and then go about his own +business. Two days after, we came to anchor on a lonely +part of the coast of Cornwall. It was a dark night, and +they put me in a boat and took me ashore and left me +there, with just two sovereigns in my pocketbook. They +had robbed me of thousands, but they left me that much +to take me to London. I don’t know why, I am sure, +that it should sometimes occur to a scoundrel to stop +short of the extreme wickedness he might perpetrate! +But at all events, Silver did stop short of the crime of +leaving me penniless to perish at night on a desolate seacoast. +I passed the night in a solitary fisherman’s cottage. +In the morning there was not a sign of the <em>Argente</em> +to be seen. She had sailed again. I walked to the +nearest railway station, distant twelve miles, and there +I took the ‘Parliamentary’ to London—for I had to economize +my small funds. I went down to the West India +Docks, where I was as well known as the church clock, +and saw some of my correspondents, told my story, got +all the money I wanted, and took the express to Liverpool; +reached there yesterday, engaged a berth, and +here I am!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Was your ship and cargo insured?” inquired Mr. +Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“From keel to masthead,” answered the skipper. “But +that was against fire and water and accidents. Now, I +don’t know whether being taken by a pirate would be +considered as coming under the clause of accidents or +not. But, anyway, you know the insurance companies +are bound to make a fuss before they pay a cent. They +always do.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Your losses, then, I fear, may be heavy.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, but not ruinous, even if the insurance companies +do not pay, because I have still the <em>Blue Bird</em> that +George sails.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Where is Capt. George now?” inquired Mr. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_47'>47</span>“In the China seas somewhere if he has not been taken +by a privateer. But where is your nephew, Leonidas?” +inquired Capt. Grandiere.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We do not know. We have not heard from Le for +many months. When we last heard it was through a +letter from him dated on board the United States ship +<em>Eagle</em>, then about to sail under sealed orders. We are +all, therefore, naturally very anxious,” replied Mr. +Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ay! ay! These are anxious times for us all. But, at +any rate, the man-of-war is safe from the pirates, who +prey only on unarmed merchantmen. Hope the sealed +orders were to go after the privateers—that is, pirates.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The conversation was interrupted by the sound of the +dinner gong, and passengers began to troop down from +the deck to the dining saloon. Seasickness had not yet +come on to take away their appetites.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The earl, who had been a silent, though interested, +listener to the story of the old skipper, and who had his +own private opinion of young Roland Bayard’s position +in the pirate ship, arose and drew the arm of Rosemary +within his own, to take her down to dinner.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Old Capt. Grandiere offered his to Mrs. Force. Mr. +Force took his eldest daughter, and Wynnette made a +manly bow and took Elva under her protection.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And so they went down to their first dinner on the +<em>Asia</em>, and their last for several days, for a more stormy +passage than that of the <em>Asia</em> which sailed on that March +morning was never weathered by ocean steamer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>After dinner the old skipper went on deck to smoke +his pipe alone.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The Forces went down into the ladies’ cabin, to look +at their staterooms, arrange their effects, and get comfortably +settled in their quarters before seasickness +should overtake and disable them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Our party occupied three staterooms in a row, on the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_48'>48</span>right-hand side of the cabin as you entered it from the +forward gangway.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Nearest the gangway was the stateroom of Mr. and +Mrs. Force; next to that the one of Odalite and Elva; +and last of the three was that of Rosemary and Wynnette.</p> + +<p class='c007'>All the three rooms were exactly alike, and each had +a door opening into the cabin, and opposite the door a +little window looking out on the sea and sky. On the +left hand as you entered there was a wide berth at the +bottom and a narrow one at the top. On the right hand +was the wide sofa. Under the lower berth and under +the sofa were deep drawers to hold the sea wardrobe and +other effects of the passengers. In the angle between the +side of the window and the end of the sofa was a stationary +washstand, with all needful accessories. In the +angle between the other end of the sofa and the door +leading into the cabin was a stationary lamp, locked up +in a heavy plate glass box, and carefully lighted and +locked up every night, and unlocked and extinguished +every morning, by the stateroom steward. The little +door of this glass box or closet was in the general cabin, +so that the lamp could be attended without intrusion +into the stateroom. For the rest, all the fittings of the +staterooms were “cabinet finished”; the floor was covered +with a thick crimson Brussels carpet; the berths +and the windows curtained by crimson satin damask, and +the sofa covered with crimson moreen. Under the stationary +lamp was a corner bracket of black walnut, +with three shelves to hold books, or anything else that +could be contained on the limited space.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Below the Forces’ quarters was a long row of staterooms +exactly like their own, and on the opposite side of +the cabin a corresponding row, all occupied by ladies and +families who were total strangers to the Forces, and perhaps, +in many cases, to each other also.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_49'>49</span>The ladies’ cabin was fitted up very much as most +well-appointed steamer cabins are, with handsome carpet, +sofas, easy chairs, mirrors, water coolers, and so +forth. Down the middle stood a long oval table, at +which you could sit and read, or write, or sew, or talk +with companions. This table was lighted at night by +three large chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The Forces were well pleased with their quarters. +And as for the girls, they were always running in and +out of each other’s rooms, comparing and admiring.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Only Mrs. Force was anxious about the comfort of her +invalid brother. His stateroom was in the gentlemen’s +cabin. She would hear when they should meet at tea +whether he were well accommodated.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They had scarcely completed their arrangements when +the gong sounded to call the passengers to tea.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They went up to the saloon, where they were joined +by the earl and the old skipper. Their party of eight +just filled one table, which they thenceforth kept for +themselves.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The old skipper was installed at the head of the table +and the squire at the foot. Mrs. Force and the earl sat +on the right and left of the skipper. This arrangement +of the four elders was maintained for the whole of the +voyage, but the four young people sat as they pleased.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This table had two waiters, and they were well attended.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In answer to Mrs. Force’s questions the earl gave her +a good account of his stateroom, adding it was near that +of the captain.</p> + +<p class='c007'>After this the whole party went up on deck for a +promenade. The setting sun was striking a broad path +of glorious light across from the western horizon to the +bows of the ship.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It seems the course of our voyage,” said Odalite. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_50'>50</span>“We are sailing toward the setting sun, and just now +in its path of flame.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>There were many more people on the forward deck; +but after the sun had dropped below the horizon the +wind gradually freshened and it grew very cold.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Mr. Force proposed that they should leave the +deck.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They all went down to the saloon and gathered around +one of the vacant tables, where the captain entertained +them with sea yarns, and even sang a sea song.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There were many other groups of passengers gathered +at the other tables, but they were still strangers to our +party, when the old skipper began to sing his song +with its roaring refrain of:</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c011'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Oh! what a row! what a rumpus! and a rioting!</div> + <div class='line in2'>They all endure, you may be sure,</div> + <div class='line in6'>Who—go—to—sea!”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Conversation stopped at all the tables, and all the people +turned to listen.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Presently several joined in the chorus and made the +saloon ring again with melody.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At the close of the song the singer was loudly applauded; +but he excused himself from repeating the experiment.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At ten o’clock supper was served for those who wished +it; but as our party were not among that number they +left the saloon and retired to their berths, where they +were all soon rocked asleep by the motion of the ship.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And so ended their first day out.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_51'>51</span> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER IX<br> <span class='c005'>“THE SEA KING’S DAUGHTER”</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>The next day the passengers all arose early to go on +deck; but most of them had to lie down again before +they had finished dressing; and to remain in their staterooms, +where they were attended by the stewardess.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The ship was approaching Queenstown.</p> + +<p class='c007'>All our party, however, came upon deck. Some of +them were sick enough, but they all thought that the +fine air of the upper deck was better for them than the +close air of the staterooms, or even of the cabin.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The weather-beaten and weather-proof old skipper and +his grandniece, little Rosemary Hedge, were the only +ones who remained perfectly well, with a keen appetite +for breakfast and a wholesome enjoyment of the sharp +March morning.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How is it with you, my girl?” inquired the skipper, +when they all met in the bows and exchanged their morning +greetings and compared notes about endured or +threatened sickness. “How is it with you? You look as +fresh and as bright as a brand new sixpence, and you are +as steady on your pins as if you had been to sea all your +life!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She has been to sea longer than that!” put in Wynnette, +the incorrigible. “She is only seventeen years +old, but she has been to sea about two hundred years +to my certain knowledge! And how many thousand +years before that I don’t know! And if she has not exactly +followed the sea, in her own person, she has in +that of her ancestry, on both sides of the house. Her +father was a sailor, her two grandfathers were sailors, +and her four great-grandfathers. And from them she +has inherited her good sea legs.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_52'>52</span>“No—doubt—of—it. No—doubt—of—it,” slowly +and approvingly replied the old skipper, as he gazed admiringly +on his little niece. “Ah! if she had only been +a boy, what a sailor I could have made of her!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>They were drawing very near to Queenstown now, and +in less than half an hour the <em>Asia</em> dropped anchor in +the Cove of Cork.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As soon as the ship was still the seasick got well and +went down to breakfast.</p> + +<p class='c007'>After that they returned to the deck, to look out upon +the coast of Ireland.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As the <em>Asia</em> was to wait there for some hours to get +the last mail, many of the passengers went on shore. +Our party remained on the steamer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In the afternoon the excursionists returned. The ship +made preparations for sailing.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Our party sitting on deck, and all feeling perfectly +well now that the ship was still, overheard some “grew-some” +words from one of the men.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“That bank of clouds in the west means mischief +and dirty weather ahead.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Do you hear that, Jack Tar?” inquired the old skipper +of his little niece.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, Uncle Gideon,” she answered, lifting her large, +blue eyes to his face.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And do you know what ‘dirty weather ahead’ +means?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, Uncle Gideon.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, what does it mean?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Why, it means furious storms to come.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Did you ever hear the phrase before?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, Uncle Gideon.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then how do you know what it means?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I don’t know; but the meaning seems plain enough.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh! then I must tell you how you know. By instinct. +By inheritance. Just as the blind kitten knows +<span class='pageno' id='Page_53'>53</span>a dog the instant it scents his approach. I should think +you would know not only what dirty weather means, +but also the signs of its coming.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Even I, who am neither a sailor nor the son of a +sailor, can tell the signs of its presence,” said Wynnette. +“They are a ship deluged with rain and dilapidated by +wind, slopped all over by waves, and holding several +hundred human wretches, all deadly sick at their stomachs. +If that is not dirty weather, I don’t know the +meaning of words.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And that is just such weather, Miss Wynnette, as +we shall be likely to have, more or less, for the next ten +days, or longer. And the officers and men know it and +are preparing for it. But never you mind, little Jack +Tar. We shall not go down. And as for the rest, you +can stand the storm. You’re a natural born sailor!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>As the old skipper spoke the signal gun was fired, and +the <em>Asia</em> steamed out of the cove.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The sun had now set behind a heavy bank of clouds. +The wind had risen with more force than on the preceding +evening, and blew so freshly that all the passengers, +with the exception of a few weather-beaten men +and well-seasoned voyagers, went below.</p> + +<p class='c007'>All our party, with the exception of the old skipper +and his little niece Rosemary, not only went down, but +turned in to be looked after by the hard-worked stewardess, +or not unfrequently by one of the stewards.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You don’t want to go below to the stifling cabins, +do you, now, little Jack Tar?” inquired Capt. Grandiere +of his small companion.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, Uncle Gideon, I do not, indeed. I should much +rather stay up here with you as long as I may,” replied +the child.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Thought so! And so you may. Ah! if Heaven had +given me such a boy!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But, Uncle Gideon, although I can walk the deck +<span class='pageno' id='Page_54'>54</span>when the ship is rolling, without falling or turning sick, +I know I should not make a good sailor boy,” said Rosemary.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Why not, pray? I say you would make a splendid +sailor boy! Why, every one of the passengers has gone +down and turned in as sick as dogs, and here you are as +well as I am!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But I couldn’t be a sailor boy, because——”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Because what?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Because I should be afraid to climb the ropes and +things so high. I should be afraid of falling on the +deck and killing myself, or falling into the sea and getting +drowned,” pleaded Rosemary.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Now, don’t go to tell me that you have inherited your +sailor forefathers’ sea heads and sea legs without their +stout hearts! Don’t go to tell me that!” said the skipper, +taking his pipe from his mouth and staring down at his +little companion.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The quaint little creature looked so ashamed of herself +that the old man took pity on her, and said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah, well! you are nothing but a bit of a girl, after +all, and the very tiniest mite of a girl, for seventeen +years of age, that I ever saw in my life! Well, you +shan’t be a sailor and work on board ship! You shall be +a dainty little lady in your own house:</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c011'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“‘With servants to attend you</div> + <div class='line in4'>When you go up or down.’</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c012'>“Come, now! tell you old uncle a secret: Isn’t my lord +sweet on you?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>And the old sailor took his pipe from his mouth and +poked the stem of it into her side.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Sweet on me?’” echoed Rosemary, in perplexity.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“In love with you, then. Every girl knows what that +means as soon as she knows her right hand from her left, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_55'>55</span>or sooner. Tell me the truth, now—isn’t the earl in love +with you?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, no!” exclaimed Rosemary, in all sincerity; for +although she knew that Lord Enderby had proposed to +marry her, it never occurred to her to think of his being +“in love” with her, or anybody else, because she considered +him so much too old for her—old enough to be her +father, as in truth he was.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, then I don’t know the weather signs in that +latitude! That’s all. His eyes are never off you, child. +If he has not told you he loves you, he will do so soon. +You must then refer him to me. I am the head of the +family, and in the lack of your father, must stand in his +shoes. You are very young to marry, Rosemary—only +just seventeen. And I should accept his lordship’s offer +only with the understanding that he should wait for you +a year; but then I should accept him, my girl; for it is +not often that an English earl offers marriage to the +daughter of a merchant captain, even though she is a +little beauty and does come of a good family. And +Enderby is a good sort. That is better than being an +earl. He is a good sort.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Here the old man put his pipe in his mouth and +smoked on in silence for some minutes, during which +Rosemary sat by his side in dumb distress.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At last the skipper took out his pipe, blew off a cloud +of smoke that went floating over the sea, and then he +said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“So you understand, my dear, that I, the head of your +family, entirely approve the suit of Lord Enderby.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Rosemary was ready to cry.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But, Uncle Gideon, I don’t want to marry the earl! I +like him so very much! I love him—I love him dearly! +He is the best man I ever saw in my life! And I do love +him dearly, dearly; but I couldn’t marry him, and I +wouldn’t marry him for the whole wide world!” exclaimed +<span class='pageno' id='Page_56'>56</span>Rosemary, with her little face and frame all +quivering with her earnestness.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well—upon—my—word!” muttered the old skipper, +laying down his pipe for good and all, and staring +at his little niece, but to no purpose, for they were sitting +in deep shadow now, and he could not see her face.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You love the earl dearly, and would not marry him +for the world! That is crazy talk. What do you mean +by it?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Why, one does not want to marry people because one +loves people. I love you and Uncle Force, and Cousin +Le, and Sam and Ned, and ever so many more; but I +would not marry any of you for all the world, even if I +could. And I love Lord Enderby more than I do all the +others, but I would not marry him. I would die first!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then, I know what is the matter. The secret is out! +You love some one else even better than you do the earl! +Is not that so? I am the head of the family, Rosemary, +and I have a right to know.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Uncle,” whispered the little creature, in a tremulous +voice, as she clasped her tiny hands over her heart, +speaking frankly under the friendly cover of the darkness—“uncle, +I am not free to marry the earl, even if +I wished to do so, which, indeed, I do not. I am engaged +to Roland Bayard!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Good Lord bless my soul alive!” exclaimed the old +man. “Since when, if you please?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, I don’t know, Uncle Gideon; but I have been engaged +to Roland for years and years and years.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Bless my soul and body!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It is a sacred bond, and I wouldn’t break it even if I +could.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah! the love that grew from childhood—was that it, +Rosemary?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, dear Uncle Gideon.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, he’s a good sort, too—is Bayard.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_57'>57</span>As the old skipper spoke, one of the stewards came on +deck with a message from Mrs. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Would Capt. Grandiere be so good as to send Miss +Hedge down to the ladies’ cabin, as it was too late and +too cold for her to remain on deck?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I will take you down myself,” said the old man.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And he escorted the girl to the door of her stateroom, +and bade her good-night.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Rosemary was soon asleep in the upper berth of the +room she shared with Wynnette.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But the old skipper spent hours on deck before he +turned in.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER X<br> <span class='c005'>THE PRIVATEER “ARGENTE”</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>What a night!</p> + +<p class='c007'>The wind rose to a hurricane! It had a thousand +voices! It hummed, sang, whistled and hurrahed, as it +danced in the rigging. It moaned, wailed, howled and +shrieked, as it knocked the ship about. The steamer +rocked, tossed and tumbled in the stormy sea; now rising +high upon a heaving wave, now dropping into the gulch +of the sea.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Passengers could not sleep that night. It was as much +as they could do to hold on and keep their places in bed. +Those on the upper berths were in danger of serious +falls.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Rosemary, who shared Wynnette’s stateroom, and +slept in the upper berth, let herself down by a series of +difficult but successful gymnastics, and lay upon the +sofa, trembling. Presently she crept to the door, opened +it a little way, and peeped into the cabin. The place +was quiet, the doors of the other staterooms all closed, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_58'>58</span>and no one present but the local night watchman, sitting +composedly by the single light.</p> + +<p class='c007'>She closed the door, crept back to the sofa and lay +down again. Presently she said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Wynnette! how can you sleep through this?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Sleep!” cried Wynnette. “Who’s asleep? Not I! +Who could sleep through such a demoniac opera as this? +Rosemary! the Germans swear ‘Ten thousand devils!’—in +their own language—and I think the whole ten thousand +German devils must be holding an open-air concert, +after the manner of their musical countrymen, and that +right around our ship! Only, they are all roaring drunk, +and every one singing and playing and piping and blowing +out of tune! I never heard such a hullabaloo in +my life!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Wynnette, do you think there is any danger?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, I don’t. If there was, the passengers would all +be out of their berths and dressed, to be ready for the +lifeboats. And there would be a great running and racing, +and pulling and hauling, and cursing and swearing +on deck; and the officers would all be—blaming the +men’s eyes, and livers, and lights, to—encourage them, +you know. And making a hullabaloo to be heard above +the hurricane. And much more horrible than the hurricane, +too. No; there can be no danger yet.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But would all that profanity go on in a beautiful +ocean steamer?” inquired Rosemary.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“A good deal of it would on occasion. You may bet +your best boots on that.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, I wish it was morning!” sighed Rosemary.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“So do I. But ‘if wishes were horses, beggars would +ride,’ you know.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Morning came at length, however, and as the sun arose +the wind went down, but not entirely, for it still blew +and often started up in gusts.</p> + +<p class='c007'>None of our party appeared at the breakfast table, or +<span class='pageno' id='Page_59'>59</span>even afterward on deck, except the old skipper and Rosemary.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The day passed wearily.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At intervals Capt. Grandiere visited the earl in his +stateroom, and Rosemary her friends in their own. Both +visitors found the sick ones cross and sulky, and so indisposed +to be friendly and social that they were speedily +left to themselves.</p> + +<p class='c007'>People are no more responsible for their behavior +when they are seasick than if they were lunatics.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At night all hands turned in early. And the wind rose +and blew a hurricane all night.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And as the day had passed, so the week passed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sunday came. As the weather continued to be tempestuous, +the passengers remained seasick.</p> + +<p class='c007'>No one came up on deck except the old skipper and his +grandniece. The old man was dressed in his Sunday +clothes, and carried a Bible, a prayer book and a hymn +book in his hand. He drew his little companion away to +a comparatively sheltered part of the deck, and they +sat down to read the service for the day—the old man +reading the minister’s part from the book and the young +girl making the responses from memory. Then he read +the lessons for the day; and finally they sang a hymn.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At dinner time they went to the saloon, but found it +almost deserted.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The ensuing week proved quite as tempestuous as the +one just passed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They were, in fact, suffering from a series of equinoctial +storms.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the ship reached the Banks of Newfoundland +they experienced some variety of weather in the shape of +blinding snow and stinging sleet, added to howling winds +and leaping waves.</p> + +<p class='c007'>None but the officers and crew of the steamer and our +old skipper ventured on deck.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_60'>60</span>Even Rosemary stayed below. It is hard enough to +keep one’s feet on a rolling deck when it is dry, or on an +icy surface when it is still; but to stand or walk on the +sleety boards of a rocking ship is well-nigh impossible +to any one but a seasoned old salt.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So Rosemary, as well as her companions, kept the +cabin or the saloon.</p> + +<p class='c007'>To as many as were able to appear on the common +ground of the last-mentioned place the old man made +himself very useful and agreeable in helping them to +pass away the long days, and especially the long evenings. +He told stories, sang songs, and recited poetry—miles +of poetry, which he said he had committed to memory +in the lone watches of his half century of sea life.</p> + +<p class='c007'>All this time the steamer was not “flying,” not even +“running,” but, as it were, only tumbling against wind +and weather toward the port of New York.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But it happened on one fine morning, when the winds +and the waves fell and the sun shone brightly and +warmly, and seasick passengers got well and came out on +deck like hibernating animals in the spring—they spied +a pilot boat—Number 15—coming toward them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There was a general jubilee! They were not yet in +sight of land, but they could not be far from port, for +the pilot boat was coming!</p> + +<p class='c007'>Half an hour later the pilot boat was alongside and +the pilot on deck, with a batch of the latest New York +and Washington papers, and with news—such news!</p> + +<p class='c007'>A crowd gathered around him at once.</p> + +<p class='c007'>His papers were taken right and left, and all the men +turned eagerly to the first columns of the first page of +his own particular sheet to read:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Latest Dispatches from the Seat of War.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Before every man’s face fluttered the open newspapers +like spread sails, while they devoured the news!</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_61'>61</span>But the pilot’s oral news, which was so very fresh that +it had not had time to get into the morning papers, was +more interesting to our immediate party than all the +rest.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force, who was deep in news from the peninsula, +caught the words:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Lieut. Com. Force.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>And he looked up.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The pilot was hastily and excitedly recounting some +adventure to a group of men gathered around him to +listen. Among these was the old skipper Grandiere, who +seemed eagerly interested.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The pilot spoke hurriedly, for he had presently to take +command of the ship to carry her into port.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force dropped his paper and joined the group.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What is it?” he inquired of Gideon Grandiere.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But the old man was too intent upon the words of the +pilot to hear any others.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What is it?” inquired Mr. Force again.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the pilot stopped to answer him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The blockade runner <em>Argente</em>, Capt. Silver, sir! +Taken off the coast of South Carolina, by the United +States ship <em>Eagle</em>, Capt. Warfield. Silver and his first +officer, and all his crew who were not killed in the fight, +taken prisoners and put in irons. The <em>Eagle</em> put a part +of its own crew on board the <em>Argente</em>, under command +of Lieut. Force, who brought the prize safely into +port this morning, with Silver and his first officer in +irons.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Thank Heaven!” exclaimed Capt. Grandiere. “But +do you call her a blockade runner only? She’s an infernal +pirate! She took my <em>Kitty</em>! And Silver shall +hang for it!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And the <em>Argente</em> is now in New York harbor?” inquired +Mr. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_62'>62</span>“No, sir. She was telegraphed from the navy department +to sail at once for Washington. And she sailed an +hour ago.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XI<br> <span class='c005'>WHERE IS ROLAND?</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“Where is Roland? Oh, Mrs. Force, where is Roland? +He was on the pirate ship, you know! Oh, was +he wounded in the sea fight? Was he taken prisoner? +Was he killed? Oh, was he killed?” breathed little Rosemary +Hedge, pulling at the lady’s dress and lifting her +light blue eyes beseechingly to the lady’s face.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Let us hope that he has been rescued, my dear, and +brought home in honor, since you know he was himself +a captive among the pirates,” replied Elfrida Force, +whose face looked quite as pale and anxious as the distressed +little face turned up to hers.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But—but—does not the pilot know? Can he not +tell us? Will not some one ask him?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I think he has told all he knows, my dear! Remember +the <em>Argente</em> was only in port a few hours this morning, +after the morning papers were out, and before the +afternoon papers were out. The pilot put to sea at once. +He could not have got but an outline of the facts, and +perhaps not even a true outline.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Uncle Gideon!” pleaded Rosemary, leaving the +side of Mrs. Force and joining the old skipper. “Oh, +Uncle Gideon, won’t you please ask the pilot if he heard +of any prisoner among the pirate crew, rescued from +them by the <em>Eagle</em>, or if he heard anything at all of +Roland Bayard?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, yes, child, I will ask him,” promptly replied +Capt. Grandiere, pushing to the front of the group, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_63'>63</span>hailing the pilot, who was elbowing his way through the +questioners who would have detained him longer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ahoy, shipmate! Not so fast! Answer one question, +and then you may go.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, what is it?” demanded the pilot.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Heard you of any honest prisoner rescued from the +pirates?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Heard you of any man of Roland Bayard?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No! never heard that name before! There were but +two names talked of—Nichol Silver, the captain of the +blockade runner, and Craven Cloud, his first officer,” +said the pilot, now breaking away and hurrying aft.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And they’ll both be hung as high as Haman, or my +name is not Grandiere, and I never commanded the +good ship <em>Kitty</em>, and she was never taken from me, with +all her cargo, by the piratical craft <em>Argente</em>, devil sink +her! Blockade runner, is it? No doubt in the world +she was a blockade runner! But she was so much worse +than that that she was a pirate of the worst order! Attacking +and taking unarmed merchantmen, and committing +Lord knows what atrocities besides! Ah! I’m glad—I’m +glad I didn’t stop longer in England! I’m glad +I came over, so as to be able to give evidence that will +hang the pirate captain and his mate! I shall take the +first train to Washington, after landing! I must be on +hand to give my evidence as soon as possible, or those +devils will be claiming to be treated as prisoners of +war, because they were taken while trying to run the +blockade! Prisoners of war, indeed, after taking my +peaceable <em>Kitty</em>, with her cargo, and sending her crew +adrift! We’ll see when I get to Washington! My +evidence will hang them as high as Haman!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Don’t you think a fifteen-foot gallows and a five-foot +fall would be quite as effectual, Capt. Grandiere?” inquired +Wynnette.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_64'>64</span>“What do you know about it?” demanded the skipper.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Nothing at all! That is the very reason why I was +turning the question over in my mind and asking for +instructions.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Mr. Force! Oh, Mr. Force! What has become +of Roland?” pleaded Rosemary, in a low, wailing voice +as she took the squire’s hand.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I wish I could satisfy you, my dear, but I cannot. +We may learn something from the evening papers when +we land in New York. If we do not we shall certainly +find out when we reach Washington, where we shall +meet Le.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, how soon shall we go to Washington?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“By the first train after we land. Of course, you +know, we did expect to spend a few days in New York, +but this news has altered all our plans, and we shall go +on immediately to Washington.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“To-morrow? Early to-morrow?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, to-night! So that we may be in the city to-morrow +morning!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then,” said the quaint little being, “I must bear the +suspense as well as I can and trust in the Lord.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And, in the meantime, remember, my dear, as your +uncle said, we have every reason to hope and expect that +Roland is safe on board the <em>Argente</em>. Being already a +prisoner on board the blockade runner, he could not have +been in the sea fight, and, therefore, he could have been +neither killed nor wounded. If taken prisoner by the +<em>Eagle</em>, among the rest, he must soon have told the story +of his capture, and he must have been recognized by his +friend Le, and released and brought home in honor.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes,” said Rosemary, in her grave, demure way, “I +think that is very probable.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And we are going to Washington to find both our +lads, Le and Roland.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_65'>65</span>“Oh! Lord grant it!” fervently exclaimed Rosemary, +clasping her tiny hands and lifting her light blue eyes.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force turned to look at his daughter Odalite.</p> + +<p class='c007'>What a change had come over the pale, grave face of +the girl. Her cheeks and her lips were glowing with fire, +her dark eyes were sparkling with light.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What do you think of all this, my dear?” he inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, father! I feel so happy! so happy! Le has distinguished +himself! Le is the hero of the day! Thank +Heaven! Oh, thank Heaven! We shall see Le in a few +hours from this! See Le safe, well and honored! Thank +Heaven! Oh, thank Heaven!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force looked at his wife. Her face was very pale +and troubled.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dear Elfrida,” he said, “you let your sympathy +for little Rosemary Hedge and her lover affect you without +cause. I think there is no doubt the young man is +now quite safe on board the <em>Argente</em>, on her way to the +Washington Navy Yard. We shall land at New York +about sunset. We shall leave our effects at the custom +house and take the night express for the South. We +shall reach Washington before the <em>Argente</em> gets there; +but we shall wait for her, and as soon as she arrives we +shall find both the boys safe—Leonidas and Roland—safe.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You are very, very good,” she replied, in a low tone.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“There is the gong for dinner. I have an appetite for +the first time in ten days,” he said, gayly, as he drew his +wife’s arm within his own to take her down.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At all the tables in the dining saloon nothing was discussed +but the war news. Gen. Grant was slowly fighting +his way on to Richmond, opposed by an army that +was daily wasting away under toil, fever and privation, +but who made up for want of numbers with indomitable +courage, endurance and self-devotion.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_66'>66</span>After dinner the passengers all went up on deck to +watch for the first glimpse of land.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Many had glasses, through which they looked long +and wistfully to the westward, and then passed their instruments +on from hand to hand among the less fortunate +passengers who had none of their own.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Often they mistook a cloud lying low on the horizon +for a line of coast.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Presently some one staring through the glass cried +out:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Land!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Nothing but a low cloud!” cried another man, staring +through another glass.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The Highlands!” cried the first speaker.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And in a very few minutes “The Highlands!” was the +verdict of all on the outlook.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The progress of the ship was now very rapid.</p> + +<p class='c007'>She soon passed the Narrows, and stopped.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The quarantine officers came on board. No ship ever +came into the harbor with crew and passengers in a +healthier condition, Mr. Force’s chronic rheumatism +being the only case of indisposition on board. So the +<em>Asia</em> was allowed to go on her way, and reached her +pier a little after sunset.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force at once landed with his party, taking only +such luggage as they had used during the voyage, and +which could be carried in the hands of the servants.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This was duly examined and passed by the custom +house officers; the bulk of their luggage to be afterward +brought on by the groom of Lord Enderby, who was left +in charge.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There was a train for Washington at nine o’clock. It +was now seven.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They had time to go to a hotel and take tea.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They had scarcely left the custom house officers before +<span class='pageno' id='Page_67'>67</span>they were assailed by a swarm of newsboys crying their +papers.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Eve-en-ing——” this, that, or the other.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Latest from the Perningsalar!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Capture of the blockade runner <em>Argente</em> by United +States ship <em>Eagle</em>!” etc., etc.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Hi! Boy! Let us have a paper!” called Mr. Force, +as they were swarming past him to a large group of men +who were also just off the steamer, famishing for news +and calling for venders.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Two or three turned back.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force and the earl bought papers from all of +them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At this moment the negro valet who had been sent for +carriages came up with two.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The papers were distributed to the members of the +party and they entered the carriages, the four girls in +the front carriage, and the four elders in the hind one—and +read as they drove along.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But, in fact, they learned nothing more from the papers +than they had learned from the pilot, except that +there were more details of the fight which ended in the +capture of the privateer by the man-of-war.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This word “privateer” always put the old skipper into +a rage.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Privateer!” he exclaimed. “They might as well call +an assassin a mere sneak thief. She is a pirate of the +most devilish description. She took my unarmed <em>Kitty</em>. +She seized her cargo. She sent her crew adrift in open +boats in midocean. And I’ll hang all hands for it. I +swear it!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I don’t think you could hang a whole ship’s crew,” +laughed Lord Enderby.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, may I be blowed from a cannon’s mouth myself +if I don’t hang the head devil and his mate! That’s +<span class='pageno' id='Page_68'>68</span>what I’m going to Washington for—to make my +charge.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>In good time they reached their hotel, took their tea, +and sat down to rest and read the papers at their leisure +before starting on their night journey.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Here a little surprise met the whole party. When +Mr. Force tendered a ten-dollar goldpiece in payment of +his bill at the counter of the office, the coin was rung suspiciously +on the board, then examined critically, and +finally dropped into the till. And he was handed a ten-dollar +greenback and a two-dollar greenback in exchange, +with the information that he would find it all +right, as gold was that day at one hundred and twenty +per cent. premium.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This information so astonished the simple squire that +he did not recover himself until he had reached the +railway station at Jersey City.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The party arrived in full time to purchase their tickets +and take their seats.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XII<br> <span class='c005'>ON TO WASHINGTON</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“Everybody is happy but me! Oh, Uncle Gideon, I +have looked all over, up and down, and everywhere in +the papers, and I cannot see one word about Roland! +Oh, Roland! Roland!” moaned little Rosemary, as she +sat on the seat beside the old skipper in the crowded car.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My poor little girl, such a small item as the rescue +of a single prisoner from the pirate ship would scarcely +be noticed in a first hurried account of the capture by +the <em>Eagle</em>. Have patience, my dear little one. In a few +hours we shall hear from Le himself whether Roland is +with him. And remember, my girl, that you are going +<span class='pageno' id='Page_69'>69</span>to meet your dear mother and aunt, and all your near +relations, whom you have not seen for so many years, +and who are counting the hours until you come to them. +Think of your own kindred, my child.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh! I do, I do! And I do love my dear mother and +dear aunt, dearly, dearly! But they are both safe and +well, and so I am not anxious about them. But, oh! +Roland! Roland!” she wailed, in a little, low tone.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mrs. Force, who sat beside her husband immediately +in front of Rosemary and her uncle, heard the little, low +moan, and turning to the squire, said.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Abel, dear, will you change seats with little Rosemary, +and let the child sit with me for a while?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Certainly,” replied Mr. Force, and the change was +effected at once.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mrs. Force put one arm around Rosemary’s waist, +and drew her in a close embrace, as she whispered:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You must pray, and hope, and trust, my dear. We +have no reason to fear that any evil has happened to +Roland.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, ma’am, I am praying all the time, in my heart, +for Roland,” sighed the girl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, darling, when you pray, you must trust.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, I do try to! I do try to! But this dreadful uncertainty! +Oh! just look how happy Odalite and the +other girls are! But Odalite—every time she turns her +head around her face flashes! She is so delighted! Oh! +I hope I am not envious, but I do wish I felt as sure of +seeing Roland safe and well as you all are of seeing +Leonidas great and happy!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mrs. Force smiled, pensively, at the exaggerated +words of the poor little girl, but she did not attempt to +criticize them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was now nearly ten o’clock, and in spite of excitement +and anxiety the travelers yielded to a sense of fatigue +and drowsiness, ceased to talk, and began to doze.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_70'>70</span>There was no sleeping car on that train, or if there +was, the party had not engaged berths, so they sat in uneasy +attitudes, and dropped off, one by one, into slumber, +that was only disturbed by the stopping of the train at +the stations, and quickly resumed when the train was +again in motion.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They woke up thoroughly when they reached Philadelphia, +where several more cars were attached to the +train, and a number of troops got on to go to Washington, +en route to reinforce Gen. Grant’s army. Many of +these soldiers could not find seats, though the train was +a long one, and they had to stand in a line down the middle +of the cars.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This made the air stifling, oppressive and stupefying.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Our party dropped off into a deep, unwholesome sleep, +which lasted until the train reached Baltimore, when +they one and all awoke with a sense of sickness and semisuffocation.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But here people got in and people got out, doors were +opened at each end, and a draught of purifying air went +through and revived the sufferers.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Here still more cars were attached to the train, and +more troops got on, and the crowd was even closer than +before.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Again our victims succumbed to the stupefying effects +of the confined air, and slept heavily and unhealthily +until they reached Washington.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Day had dawned when the train crawled into the +depot.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The closely packed multitude got out, and filled all +the space that was under cover.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force piloted his party through the crowd, and +out into the open air.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I doubt if we can get a carriage,” said the squire, +looking around.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And his doubts were speedily and unpleasantly set at +<span class='pageno' id='Page_71'>71</span>rest. He could not. If there had been any on the spot +they had been seized by the first travelers, who had +jumped off the train to secure a ride.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“There is nothing for it but to walk to our hotel. +Luckily, it is not very far off,” said Mr. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was a fine morning, and dawn was reddening in the +east as they left the depot and walked on toward Pennsylvania +Avenue. They walked somewhat stiffly at first, +from having been cramped up so long in the railway +train, but the fresh air was reviving, and so they all felt +more invigorated at every yard by their progress.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They reached the hotel with fine appetites for breakfast.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force found, on inquiring at the office, that the +house was full; there was not a room or a bed to spare; +but the house could give them breakfast.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So they waited in the public parlor until the breakfast +hour came, when they went down into the saloon and +took their morning meal.</p> + +<p class='c007'>After breakfast Mr. Force went into the reading room +to inquire about the <em>Argente</em> and to look at the morning +papers.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The rest of his party waited for him at the foot of the +stairs leading to the parlor.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At last he came and said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The <em>Argente</em> has not yet reached the navy yard, nor +has she been heard from since leaving New York yesterday +morning, but she is expected to-day.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And what are we to do next?” inquired Mrs. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You and the girls will remain here, in the ladies’ +parlor, and read the newspapers, or amuse yourselves in +any way you please. Capt. Grandiere is going to see +the secretary of the navy to report the capture of his clipper, +the <em>Kitty</em>, by the <em>Argente</em>. Enderby will go out +with me in search of lodgings. We must find some place +to sleep in this overcrowded city. And we must get +<span class='pageno' id='Page_72'>72</span>out of it as soon as we can. As soon, that is, as the <em>Argente</em> +business is settled and Leonidas gets his leave. +We shall all return here in time for dinner.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>With these words Mr. Force opened the door of the +parlor and saw the ladies of his party in.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was yet so early that the parlor was quite empty.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I think you might venture to recline on some of these +sofas and go to sleep,” said the squire, as he nodded good-morning +and left the room, accompanied by the earl and +the skipper.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When they went down, left the hotel and stood upon +the sidewalk, Mr. Force looked up and down the streets +in search of that line of hacks which usually stands +drawn up before every large hotel. But it was not to be +seen.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Inquiry of the porters developed a startling fact—nearly +all the horses in Washington had a plague called +epizoötic. There were but few hacks in the public service +now, and they were always “on the go.” There were +but few street cars running, because there were but few +horses to draw them, and they were always overcrowded.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Shall we walk, Enderby? Or shall we stand on the +reeking platform of one of these passing cars?” Mr. +Force inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, walk, by all means, as long as we have a leg to +stand on, in preference to adding three hundred pounds +more to the burden of those poor beasts,” promptly replied +the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Fortunately, all the best hotels are on or near the +avenue,” observed the squire, as they turned westward.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Now, doesn’t it seem as if war were quite enough of +evil without a plague among the horses, Enderby?” inquired +Abel Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You may thank Heaven that the plague is not among +the humans,” replied the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_73'>73</span>“Here is the Metropolitan. We will try here,” said +the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And they went in, but were not successful; the house +was full.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So hotel after hotel was tried, but in vain. All were +full. The two gentlemen walked on toward the west +end of the avenue. There at length they found, in one +of the largest and best hotels in the city, a suit of three +rooms—two double-bedded chambers and one single one.</p> + +<p class='c007'>These were secured at once for their party of eight, +and at a rather high price, too.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then they went back to the place where they had +left the ladies of the party.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The old skipper had already returned.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force reported progress, and described the best +apartments he had been able to find.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You see there is scarcely space left for us in Washington. +We must get back to old Maryland as fast as we +can,” added the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Capt. Grandiere followed suit and told of his adventures. +He had not been able to see the secretary at all. +Anteroom full of lubbers who were seeking offices or +other favors. He had to wait his turn, and before his turn +came a fellow opened an inner door and announced that +the secretary could see no one else that day, and added +that he had gone home. Then he—the skipper—had +gone down to the navy yard to inquire about the <em>Argente</em>, +and discovered that the prize had been signaled +from Fortress Monroe and was expected to be at Washington +Navy Yard the next day.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And you shall see as fine a sight as you could wish +when I am confronted with that devil to-morrow! He +expects, by what we read, to be treated as a prisoner +of war, and to be put on his parole and set free. He +certainly doesn’t expect to find me on hand to stop his +little game and send him to prison to be tried for his +<span class='pageno' id='Page_74'>74</span>life, and in the end hung for piracy!” added the old +skipper.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, if we could only hear from Roland!” sighed little +Rosemary.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Be patient, dear. We shall hear to-morrow,” whispered +Mrs. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh! ‘To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow!’” +sighed Rosemary.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We will go down and get some luncheon, and then +go on to our new quarters.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And to-night we shall sleep in motionless beds for +the first time in two weeks, thank Heaven!” exclaimed +Wynnette.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They went down to the dining saloon and lunched. +Then Mr. Force settled the bill and the whole party +went out.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The squire caught a hack “on the fly,” put his five +ladies into it and gave the driver the address. The hack +drove off.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The three gentlemen walked all the way to the hotel.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When they reached it and were gathered in the parlor +some little discussion took place as to the division of +three rooms among eight persons. And it was concluded +that the four girls should have one of the double-bedded +rooms; the earl and the captain should have the +other; and Mr. and Mrs. Force should have the small +one.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The party retired very early that night, and in spite +of anticipations of the morning they all slept profoundly.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XIII<br> <span class='c005'>THE CAPTAIN OF THE “ARGENTE”</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>Our travelers arose very early the next morning.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The very first news that met Mr. Force on his entrance +<span class='pageno' id='Page_75'>75</span>into the gentlemen’s reading room was, that the +<em>Argente</em> was in the navy yard. She had arrived at dawn +that morning.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The squire hastened to the ladies’ parlor to communicate +the news to Mrs. Force and the girls.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There was a general exclamation of joy, and then a +cry of sharp anxiety from Rosemary:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh! when shall we find out about Roland?” she +pleaded.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“This very morning, dear child! No more to-morrows! +To-morrow has come!” replied Mrs. Force, with +a smile—yet, oh! how wan a smile!</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Come down to breakfast at once. We will get a cup +of coffee or something, and then start for the navy yard +and go on board the <em>Argente</em>,” said the squire, giving +his arm to his wife.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They went down to the saloon and breakfasted as well +as they could for the excitement, which took away their +appetite.</p> + +<p class='c007'>After that, Mr. Force went out to hunt up a carriage, +for there was none on the stand. When he returned, +he said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My children, I could only get one hack, and it will +hold but four persons inside. Your Uncle Enderby +does not wish to go out. Therefore, Wynnette and Elva, +you will remain here under the protection of your uncle, +until we come back. Your mother, your sister, and your +little friend will go with me.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But where is Uncle Gideon?” inquired Rosemary.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My child, chains would not have held him here. He +has gone down in an omnibus to the navy yard.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Preparations were soon made, and Mr. Force and +the three ladies were on their way to the east end of the +city.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They drove through the navy yard gate, past the officers’ +<span class='pageno' id='Page_76'>76</span>quarters and the workshops, and down to the water +side.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There lay the <em>Argente</em> at anchor a few hundred yards +from the shore.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force directed the driver to draw up.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then he alighted from the carriage and handed his +wife down; Odalite and Rosemary sprang out unassisted.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Odalite’s face was bright, eager, expectant; Rosemary’s +pale, timid and anxious; both stood looking out +upon the prize.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How shall we reach the ship?” inquired Mrs. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I must signal for a boat to come off and fetch us! +Stay, there is a boat coming,” announced the squire, and +soon they all saw the boat that had been partly hidden +in the shadow of the ship’s hulk, put off from her side. +It was rowed by six sailors and approached the shore +rapidly.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Who is in it? Oh, if it should be Roland!” aspirated +Rosemary, in a low, deep tone.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Who is it, Abel?” inquired Mrs. Force of her husband, +who was looking through a field glass.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“There is but one man besides the oarsmen, and his +back is toward us. I do not know who he is; but—he is +neither Leonidas nor Roland! He is much too stout for +either of our boys! He is as broad-backed as old Gideon +Grandiere!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“By the way, where is Capt. Grandiere? You said he +had come down to the yard; but we have not seen him.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dear, he was a full half hour in advance of us, +and must be on board the <em>Argente</em>, giving the officers and +crew the benefit of his views on piracy! Come, the +boat is almost here!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>A few minutes after the boat landed, the sailors drew +in their oars and the single passenger turned around, +got upon his feet, and stepped ashore.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He was the old skipper.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_77'>77</span>“Oh! Capt. Grandiere! What news?” exclaimed Mr. +Force, while all his party looked the eager question +which they did not put into words.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No news at all! Nothing but a fresh disappointment +and a longer suspense.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What do you mean?” inquired Mrs. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The old man took off his cap, drew his red bandanna +from its crown, deliberately wiped his face and head, +replaced the handkerchief in his cap and his cap upon +his crown and answered:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“There’s nobody aboard that can tell me anything, or +that will tell anything if they can.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And did you learn nothing?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Nothing but this: that Lieut. Force has gone to make +his report at headquarters, and nobody knows when he +will be back. And the pirate and his mate are gone before +the commissioner of prisoners, and nobody knows +what their fate is to be.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And did you hear nothing—nothing at all of Roland?” +inquired Rosemary, in a faint voice.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Nothing whatever, my girl! I did inquire, but no +one knew anything of any young man of that name. I +am very sorry, my poor child.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Rosemary had grown very pale and looked as if she +were about to faint.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The old skipper raised her in his arms and laid her in +the carriage, where she sank back upon the cushions.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mrs. Force got in, seated herself beside Rosemary and +drew the suffering girl to her bosom.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Have courage, my love,” she whispered, through her +tears—“have courage. Roland may have made his escape +from the <em>Argente</em> before she was captured by the +<em>Eagle</em>; or he may be, by a mistake, with the other prisoners +on board a man-of-war. Have courage, dear love.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Mrs. Force, I cannot—I cannot any longer! I +feel as if I should give up and die!” moaned the girl.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_78'>78</span>Mr. Force handed Odalite into the carriage, and then, +turning to the old skipper, said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Capt. Grandiere, if you will get in with the ladies, I +will take a seat with the driver, and we will all go on together.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I will take the seat by the driver, and thank you, if +you will allow me; but I cannot be shut up in the inside +of that hack; I would rather walk,” replied the old sailor.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“As you please,” said Mr. Force; and he helped the +skipper to mount the box, and then entered the carriage +and seated himself with his “womenkind.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Where to, sir?” inquired the driver.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“To the office of the commissioner of prisoners; and +on your way call at the hotel where you took us up.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The carriage drove off, passed through the navy yard +gate again, and took its way up Garrison Street to Pennsylvania +Avenue, and thence to the West End.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Half an hour’s rapid drive brought the party to the +front of their hotel.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dear,” said the squire to his wife, “I cannot take +you and these girls to the commissioner’s office. I will +take you upstairs, and ask your brother if he would +like to accompany me.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Very well, Abel,” replied the lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force got out, handed down his wife and the +young ladies, and escorted them into the hotel.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They found the earl and his two nieces in the parlor. +The two girls started up with the question:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What news?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No very definite news,” replied their father; “but +your mamma will tell you all we have learned. I am going +to the office of the commissioner of prisoners, to +see if I can meet Le. If I can, I will wait until he is at +leisure, and bring him here. Enderby, would you like +to go with me and see what it is?”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_79'>79</span>“Very much,” replied the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And the two men went out together. They entered +the carriage, which was driven off immediately.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was but a short drive, and in less than ten minutes +the carriage drew up, and the gentlemen alighted.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Capt. Grandiere climbed down from his seat, and the +three entered the building together.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The place had once been a commodious dwelling +house, but was now, like many others of the finest mansions +in Washington, taken for the service of the government. +A sentinel was on guard before the door. Mr. +Force spoke a few words to him, and passed on with his +party. He entered a front hall, and thence through a +door on the right they passed into a large front room, +furnished with seats all around its walls, and a long table +at its back, with chairs behind it, and folios and stationery +on its top. Two or three men in uniform sat +behind this table, while all around the room, on the +benches against the walls, sat a rough-looking score of +men guarded by soldiers. There was another door on +the right of the long table, and opening into a rear room. +A sentinel or janitor stood at that door.</p> + +<p class='c007'>While they waited to be admitted to the presence of +the commissioner, the door opened, and two prisoners +came out, guarded by a detachment of soldiers.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“There he is! There is the head devil—and not in +irons, either! And there—there, in his company—a +prisoner, too, by all that is atrocious!—is my mate, Roland!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The two gentlemen looked up, stared at the prisoners +who were slowly crossing the room to the outer door, +closely guarded by the soldiers—stared until the elder +and stouter of the two lifted the back of his hand to his +forehead in a mock salute, and smiled, while the younger +fixed a gaze of yearning entreaty upon the face of his +<span class='pageno' id='Page_80'>80</span>old captain, and then turned the same gaze upon his old +friend.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Yes! the pirate’s first officer, taken, red-handed, with +him, was Roland Bayard!</p> + +<p class='c007'>But who was the pirate himself?</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XIV<br> <span class='c005'>WHO HE WAS</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“You say this man is the captain of the <em>Argente</em>?” inquired +Mr. Force of the old skipper, when the prisoners +and their guard had passed out of the room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes! He is Silver—Silver, the pirate captain! No +irons on his wrists yet! Prisoner of war, is he? Ah! ah! +we shall see—we shall see! But my brave Roland! +Taken with him! This, then was the blockade runner’s +first officer whom they were talking about, who was +taken with him, and is now sent to prison with him! +Oh, Roland! Roland! Is it possible that you yielded +to temptations to join in a lawless life! But it will cost +you your own life, Roland, my lad! No rescued prisoner +from the pirate’s clutch are you, Roland, but a comrade +of pirates yourself! I thought I knew the boy! I +thought I knew him for an honest lad! But I was mistaken +in him! Oh, how mistaken I was!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>While the captain was muttering these lamentations +to himself, Mr. Force was standing in a maze of perplexity—not +thinking then so much of Roland as of the +pirate captain.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The earl touched him on the shoulder and aroused +him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I know the villain!” he said. “I have much cause to +know him! His name is Stukely—Byrne Stukely—once +<span class='pageno' id='Page_81'>81</span>a lieutenant in the royal navy, but cashiered years +ago for dishonorable conduct.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force stared at the speaker, but did not reply.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Why, Force! You look as if you knew the fellow +also! You look as if you ‘could a tale reveal.’ What +is it?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I know the man. But I know him as Angus Anglesea, +Esq., of Anglewood Manor, late colonel in the East +India Service.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What, Force! That fellow! He is not Anglesea! +He never was in the army in all his life. He was in the +navy, and kicked out for disgracing it. Is he the man +you have known to your grief as Anglesea?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He is.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then, Force, the mystery that puzzled me is solved. +The inconsistency that distressed me is reconciled. I +never could understand how you could accuse my friend +Angus Anglesea, the Christian gentleman and renowned +soldier, of the base and cowardly crimes committed by +your persecutor! How could I associate theft, forgery +and bigamy with such a character as that of Angus Anglesea? +Though they are very consistent with the career +of Byrne Stukely.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Who is this man? And how is it that he could take +the name and style of an officer and a gentleman, and +deceive us all, even my wife, who had known Col. Anglesea +in his youth?” demanded the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The earl shrugged his shoulders and then replied:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The fellow is a near relation of Anglesea, and bears +a strong personal resemblance to him. In their youth +and early manhood they were counterparts of each +other; but as they have grown older they have diverged +in appearance, so that now no one could mistake the one +for the other. The reason is this—both boys inherited +the same form, features and expression from the same +remote ancestor; but they inherited different dispositions, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_82'>82</span>and have had different trainings. Each has grown +old ‘in the likeness of his love,’ and so they have now +grown apart. Angus Anglesea is of medium size, as well +as of medium height; his features are clean cut, his complexion +clear and pale; his expression grave, sweet, +thoughtful, benevolent, intellectual. Stukely is, as you +see, overgrown, with an obese form, bloated features, red +face, and a brutal, sensual, and sometimes ferocious expression.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes,” replied Abel Force, “and the last three years +of lawless life has made him even more brutal than +ever.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He was in his earlier life a protégé of Anglesea’s. It +was his influence that got him into the royal navy. But +he is and has been for years a sharp thorn in the side of +Angus, taking advantage of his personal resemblance to +his cousin, using his knowledge of his relative’s affairs +and his skill in imitating his handwriting to swindle +every one everywhere who came under his notice. This +was the adventurer who tried to marry your daughter, +Force. It is well the marriage was stopped at the altar, +though the California woman, poor soul, had no right +to interfere.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Why?” demanded Abel Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Because Stukely has a wife and five children living +near Anglewood on the charity of Angus Anglesea.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Thank Heaven!” exclaimed Abel Force, earnestly. +“There is now nothing to prevent the happiness of +my dear Odalite and Leonidas.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I don’t know what you are both talking about, I am +sure,” complained the old skipper.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, you do not know our family history for the last +six years, Capt. Grandiere, or the trouble we have suffered +through that man of whom we have been speaking; +but you shall know all at our earliest convenience.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_83'>83</span>“But Roland! Oh, Roland! What will become of +my boy?” groaned the captain.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Can you not prove that he was taken prisoner by +the pirate?” demanded Mr. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes; but I cannot prove that he did not join the pirates, +as Silver told me that he meant to do. And here +he is under a false name—Craven Cloud, first officer to +the pirate captain! It looks black! I wish I had never +lived to see this day!” groaned the captain.</p> + +<p class='c007'>After they had waited about half an hour in the hope +of seeing Le come out of the commissioner’s office, Mr. +Force went and spoke to the messenger at the door.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Do you know whether Lieut. Force, who brought +the prize ship with the prisoners this morning, is now +with the commissioner?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, sir; he is not. He came with the prisoners this +morning and made his report, and left them, and then +went up to the navy department,” replied the man.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Thank you! That will do! Come, Enderby! Come, +Grandiere! We may as well return to the hotel! We +shall not be likely to find Le! We must wait until he +comes to us, I suppose! If he only knew what good +news waits him he would hurry!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“If he only knew that we were in the city, or where +to find us! But he does not, you see,” said the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Wait one moment,” exclaimed the captain. “I must +speak to that man before we go. Can you tell me where +those two prisoners have been sent?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“To the Old Capitol prison?” replied the messenger.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Can I get to see them?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Only by a permit.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Go on, Force! You and the earl! I am going to see +my dear boy! Oh, Heaven! who shall tell poor Rosemary?”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_84'>84</span> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XV<br> <span class='c005'>LEONIDAS</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“What do you think of this case of young Bayard?” +inquired the earl, as the two gentlemen drove back to +the hotel.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I cannot think! I have never in my life felt so +amazed, so confused, and so uncertain! The sudden +meeting of Anglesea——”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Stukely, my dear friend! Stukely!” interrupted the +earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Stukely, then! the man we have known as Anglesea—and +now known as the blockade runner, slaver and +pirate—has—demoralized my mental faculties!” exclaimed +Abel Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Do you believe Bayard to be a voluntary confederate +of the pirate?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No! no! If you put the question in that way, I say +no! I do not believe it!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The young man was a protégé of yours, I have +heard.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yet you do not know his parentage, or what traits +of character he may have inherited, which may have +been kept down by circumstances, and only wanted opportunity +to spring into life and activity.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I have known Roland from boyhood; I have watched +over him as over a dear son; and I have never seen a +low, base, or false trait in his character. His words, his +deeds, and his thoughts—so far as I could read them—have +always been pure, and true, and high. I cannot +think of him in any other light than that of my long +knowledge of him—I said from his boyhood. I meant +from his babyhood.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_85'>85</span>“I hope the young fellow’s character may be vindicated. +But his case looks very bad just at present.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I hope much from his old captain’s interview with +him. Roland may be able to explain his position to our +satisfaction. I shall wait anxiously for news from the +captain. Or Le may be able to throw some light upon +this subject. He may be able to tell us why Roland was +brought home as a prisoner, instead of as a rescued man. +We must wait for more light, Enderby.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes. In the meantime, shall you tell the poor little +girl the truth of Bayard’s position? Is it necessary that +she should be told, just at this point, when we know so +little, and that little is so—perhaps—needlessly alarming?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No. I think not. I will not tell Rosemary that he +is a prisoner. I must tell her only that he is alive and +well, and that he will come to see us as soon as he can. +Here we are at the hotel. And, thank Heaven! we have +good news for Odalite! Our darling is free—absolutely +free—and may marry her faithful betrothed to-morrow, +if she pleases!” said Abel Force, as he alighted from the +carriage, followed by the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They went upstairs together, and entered the parlor, +where they found Mrs. Force and the four young girls +anxiously awaiting them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Did you find Le?” eagerly inquired Mrs. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh! did you find Roland?” breathed Rosemary, +clasping her hands.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Odalite, Wynnette and Elva looked all the interest +they did not put into words.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, my dears, we did not find Le, but we heard +of him. He and Roland are both in the city, and both +alive and well; and both will come to see us as soon after +they shall have found out that we are in Washington as +they possibly can,” said Mr. Force, throwing himself into +a chair.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_86'>86</span>“Where are they now, papa, besides being in the city, +which is a place of ‘magnificent distances,’ you know?” +inquired Wynnette.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dear, Le is—everywhere—except here! Le is—ubiquitous! +He is a will-o’-the-wisp! We have spent +the day in following him about. He was on his ship—but +when we got there he was gone to the navy department, +and when we reached there he was off to the office +of the commissioner of prisoners. When we arrived at +the last-mentioned place he was gone back to the navy +department. So we came here to report and get a little +rest and refreshments, and then we are going down to +the navy yard to board the <em>Argente</em> and wait there until +we see him. He is sure to turn up on the <em>Argente</em>—well—sooner +or later, as he is in command.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And—Roland?” softly murmured Rosemary.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Roland, my dear, is alive and well, but he does not +know where you are any more than Le does. We must +find Le and let him know that we are here,” said Mr. +Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then, with a total change of manner, he began:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Come here, Odalite, my dear, and sit beside me. I +have such good news for you as shall give you patience +to wait for Le, if he does not come here for a week. But +such news that, if he knew it, would bring him within an +hour!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Full of vague expectancy, Odalite came and threw +herself down on the sofa beside her father, and looked +up into his eyes.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dear Odalite, what would be the very best news +that you could hear to-day?” he inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Odalite gazed into his eyes, too much excited to speak. +Fearing, indeed, to speak, lest his next words should disappoint +her raised hopes, while Mrs. Force and every occupant +of the room, except the earl, waited breathlessly.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_87'>87</span>“Oh, tell me, papa! tell me what you have to tell!” +pleaded Odalite.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Tell me, first, what would be the best news you +could possibly hear to-day?” persisted Abel Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>His daughter gazed into his face, while her color went +and came—came and went; but she did not speak.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, Odalite?” he inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Father,” she then answered, gravely, “the best news +that I could hear, that any of us could hear to-day, would +be that the war was ended, the country at peace, and the +North and South friends again.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“A conscientious reply, my dear. That would certainly +be the best news that any of us could hear. But +it is not the news that I have to tell, my love. Try +again. My news is of a private nature, and concerns +yourself. What would be the best news that you could +hear concerning yourself?” persisted the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“That I were free!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The words came in a tone of impassioned aspiration +that spoke volumes of the suffering the girl had endured +under the incubus that darkened and oppressed her life.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then, my dear, hear it!” said the squire, earnestly.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Odalite, you are free!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Father!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The cry came from her soul, and it was echoed by her +sisters and her friend.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Abel!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>This was from his wife.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, my dears, it is true!” replied the squire. “Odalite +is free!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Anglesea is dead, then? Our terrible enemy is +dead!” exclaimed Elfrida Force, with a sigh of infinite +relief.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, my dears, Anglesea is not dead, I thank Heaven! +Long may that gallant soldier and true gentleman live +to enrich humanity! But your enemy is dead to you, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_88'>88</span>Odalite! You are free, my child! As free as either of +your sisters! And you have always been free, my dearest +dear, although I did not know it until to-day.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What is the meaning of all this?” demanded Elfrida +Force, in a voice of doubt and pain.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Tell your sister, Enderby. Tell them all—and all +about it! I cannot. I am not equal to the task! I +should talk like a fool!” said the squire, drawing his +handkerchief from his pocket, and wiping his brows.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus adjured, the earl looked around on the group +of eager listeners, and said, addressing Mrs. Force:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You may remember, Elfrida, how amazed and incredulous +I was when you told me of the disgraceful career +of one whom you called by the name of my nearest +and dearest friend—Angus Anglesea.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes! yes!” eagerly exclaimed the lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And with good reason was I thus amazed and incredulous! +To think a gentleman of purest honor in +one hemisphere should become an unmitigated scoundrel +in another, was simply impossible! I did not, and could +not, comprehend the enigma, and I did not try!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But sometimes you nearly lost your temper with us!” +put in Mrs. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I did; because I thought you ought to have known +my brother officer better than to have believed him +guilty of all the crimes of which he was accused! Elfrida! +I had forgotten one matter that might have +cleared up the mystery at once! And that matter was the +existence of Byrne Stukely.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Byrne Stukely!’ Who was he?” inquired Mrs. +Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He was the man who, under the name of Angus Anglesea, +tried to marry your daughter, but failed so signally +that he has not even the shadow of a shade of +claim upon Odalite! She will not need the slightest +action of the law to free her from that incomplete ceremony +<span class='pageno' id='Page_89'>89</span>begun in All Faith Church! No, my dear; Odalite +Force, as my brother-in-law has just said, is as free +as either of her sisters! Byrne Stukely has a wife and +half a dozen children, more or less, living in the town +of Angleton, and supported by the charity of Angus +Anglesea!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But who then, in the name of Old Scratch, is this +Byrne Stukely?” demanded the irrepressible Wynnette.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dear, wait until I tell your mamma! Byrne +Stukely is a distant—very distant—relation of Angus +Anglesea, and yet the two distant cousins were, up to the +age of twenty or thereabout, as much alike as twin +brothers. They must each have inherited the form, features +and complexion of some common ancestor; but +there all the resemblance between the men ended; for +one inherited all the virtues of his progenitors and the +other all the vices! They were as opposite in character +as they were alike in form. This resemblance lasted, as +I said—lasted in its completeness—until the young men +grew to be about twenty years of age, when the character +of each began to impress itself upon his face, manner +and expression. Anglesea developed into a man of +the highest and purest moral and intellectual excellence, +and became a Christian gentleman and soldier. +Stukely sank down to the level of the beasts, and below +them—and became a bloated, brutalized criminal +and sensualist. No one, who has known both for the +last twenty years, could possibly mistake one for the +other. Each has grown ‘into the likeness of his spirit,’ +and therefore they have grown far apart.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I ought to have known he was an impostor!” put in +Wynnette. “I don’t mind other people being deceived +in the fellow! but for me—me—not to know, the minute +I saw the portrait of the real Col. Anglesea, that the +other fellow was a fraud!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“There were many other people deceived in times past +<span class='pageno' id='Page_90'>90</span>by the exact resemblance between the two men! It was a +source of continual embarrassment to the Angleseas of +Anglewood. The father of Angus Anglesea procured +for young Stukely a midshipman’s warrant, and got him +sent off to one of our most remote naval stations, to get +him out of the way and get rid of him. He went on +pretty well for a while. And he received much indulgence, +too, for the sake of the benefactor behind him +But rectitude was not the forte of Byrne Stukely, and in +the end he disgraced his patron and was dismissed the +service.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But how came he in the army?” inquired Wynnette.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He was never in the army. He was no more a colonel +than he was an Anglesea. Nor more a soldier than +he was a gentleman. He was in the navy, as I said, and +was kicked out of it. Lastly, he has turned up in the +slave trade and the general piracy line of business as +Capt. Silver.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Capt. Silver!” echoed every voice, except that of +Abel Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, my darlings—Capt. Silver, of the <em>Argente</em>. +Ostensibly blockade runner only. Subject only to the +laws of war—to be held only as a prisoner of war. But +really a slaver and a pirate, likely to be tried for his life +and hanged for his crimes by this government; or if he +should chance to escape conviction and execution here, +where the punishment of crime is so very uncertain, +still sure to be claimed by the British Government, +under the extradition act, and hanged by us, who, you +know, will stand no nonsense from slavers and pirates. +But now, my darlings, let us leave the subject of the villain +and turn to something pleasanter. Odalite, my +dear, I congratulate you on your escape. And I hope, +when we go down to the <em>Argente</em> this afternoon, we +shall be able to bring Lieut. Force back with us.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_91'>91</span>“Heaven grant it!” breathed Odalite, in a low and fervent +voice.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Where is Capt. Grandiere?” inquired Mrs. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He has gone to look up his mate, young Bayard,” +replied Mr. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, I hope he will bring Roland back with him!” +sighed Rosemary, who was the frankest little creature +in the world.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I hope he may,” said Mr. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Come! Let us go down to dinner,” suggested the +earl.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XVI<br> <span class='c005'>THE OLD SKIPPER’S DESPAIR</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>Meanwhile, Capt. Grandiere, having obtained his +pass, got into a crowded street car, en route for the Old +Capitol prison. After toiling up the long hill on the +north side of the Capitol grounds, the car turned into +East Capitol Street.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There the old skipper got off and inquired his way to +the “Old Capitol”—a large pile of brick buildings, looking +not unlike a warehouse, but which in its time, before +the present beautiful edifice had been raised, was used +for the councils of the National Congress, and now was +turned into a military prison.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Capt. Grandiere found the place—though it looked +very much like a Baltimore tobacco depot—and then +went up to the main floor, at which a sentry stood on +guard.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He showed his pass. The sentinel scrutinized it, returned +it to him, and let him in.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_92'>92</span>He entered a broad passage, with doors on either side, +and a staircase in the midst. These doors were all closed, +and a sentry stood at every one.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I wish to see young Ro—Mr. Craven Cloud,” said +the captain, correcting himself—“one of the officers +taken prisoner on the blockade runner <em>Argente</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The sentry to whom he addressed these words looked +at his pass, and said, laconically:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Upstairs.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The old man climbed the stairs, and found himself in +an upper passage, with other doors on each side, and another +staircase in the midst. These doors were also +closed and guarded by sentries.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I want to see Ro—Mr. Craven Cloud, one of the prisoners +from the blockade runner <em>Argente</em>,” said the skipper, +handing his pass to the nearest sentry, who looked +at it, and answered, shortly:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Upstairs.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The old man groaned, and slowly mounted the second +flight of stairs, to find himself in a passage exactly like +the one below in all respects of doors, sentries, and a +third staircase.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The captain, panting from his long ascent, repeated +his formula, and handed his pass, which was returned to +him, with the answering formula.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The old man, feeling fatigued and dizzy, began to ascend +the third flight of stairs. When he reached the top +he found himself in a passage precisely like those below—closed +doors, armed sentries, and a fourth staircase, +probably leading into the garret.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I have been a sailor for sixty years, and hope to sail +the seas for sixty more! Men have lived hale and hearty +to extreme old age, and why not I, who never was drunk +or ill in my life? But if I have to go up another flight +of stairs I shall be cut off in my prime!” said the captain +<span class='pageno' id='Page_93'>93</span>to himself, as he leaned, puffing and blowing, against +the freshly whitewashed wall.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I feel just like the</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c011'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“‘Youth who bore through snow and ice</div> + <div class='line'>A banner with a strange device—</div> + <div class='line in20'>Excelsior!’</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c012'>“Which must mean ‘Upstairs.’ And like him, I shall +drop dead at the top. Say! you, sir! I want to see Mr. +Craven Cloud, who was taken prisoner from the blockade +runner <em>Argente</em>. Here’s my permit,” said the old skipper, +as soon as he could get his breath, handing his pass +to one of the sentries.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Room at the end—Number 53,” said the soldier, returning +the paper.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Thank Heaven, that is a change for the better!” exclaimed +the old man, trotting up the whole length of the +passage to a board partition that seemed to have been +temporarily put up across the end.</p> + +<p class='c007'>A sentry stood before the door in this partition, and to +him the skipper gave his pass.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The sentry unlocked the door and admitted the visitor +into the small room that had been partitioned off from +the front end of the passage.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The place was clean, fresh and light, but had no furniture +except one narrow iron bedstead with a mattress, a +pillow and a white spread as clean as the room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Extended on the mattress lay the young and handsome +form of Roland Bayard, clothed only in his white shirt +and gray trousers. His hands were clasped above his +head and his eyes were open and fixed on the ceiling.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He started up on hearing the visitor enter.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Roland! Roland! My dear boy, Roland!” cried the +old skipper, in a tremulous voice, while the tears started +to his eyes.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_94'>94</span>If the two had been French or German, they would +have fallen into each other’s arms. Being Americans of +English descent, they only clasped hands a little more +firmly than usual, gazed into each other’s eyes earnestly +for a moment, and then sat down on the side of the bed +together in silence.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The old skipper at length spoke:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Roland, my dear, dear boy, how is this?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How is—what?” inquired the young man, slowly, +and after a pause, speaking in a tone of pain in his hesitating +voice, and with a look of pain in his haggard eyes +that could not be concealed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, you know. Dear lad, you know! You know +what I mean! How is that I find you here a prisoner, +instead of a free man? Why did you not tell Le that you +were a captive among the pirates, not a confederate of +them? Le could have corroborated your story and you +would have been brought home in honor, not in this +way!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Le could have done nothing for me, under the circumstances!” +replied the young man, in a tone so full +of despair that the old skipper looked at him in horror.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Circumstances, Roland? What circumstances? That +devil, Silver, told me he had persuaded you to join his +band. But he never told the truth! Surely, surely, +Roland, he never told the truth! You never joined the +pirate crew! Why do I ask? Of course you never did, +and never could!” said the captain, speaking with great +assurance, but—looking anxiously into the face of his +favorite for confirmation of his words.</p> + +<p class='c007'>No such confirmation came.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Roland put up his hand and covered his eyes; he +could not bear to meet that anxious, eager gaze of his +old friend.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Roland, my dear lad, to what circumstances do you +<span class='pageno' id='Page_95'>95</span>allude? Roland, for my sake—for all our sakes—for—for—little +Rosemary’s sake, explain yourself!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The young man kept his eyes covered and his head +bowed, while his whole frame shook as with an ague fit.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The old skipper saw the effect of his words, and repeated +them:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“For little Rosemary’s sake, dear lad!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Don’t! don’t!” wailed Roland. “Don’t! don’t! I +loved the child! Heaven knows how I loved her! She +was always the dearest creature on earth to me! I loved +her so much that I hope, in these three years of absence, +in which she has grown from childhood to womanhood, I +hope she has forgotten me!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>These last words were uttered in a wail of anguish.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But she has not forgotten you, Roland! You are the +larger part of her life! From the time I met her on the +<em>Asia</em>——Did I tell you that I came over on the same +ship with Force and his party?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No. Capt. Silver told me that he had set you ashore +on the coast of England, not far from Penzance, and so +I supposed that you had come home; but I did not know +on what ship or in what company! Go on! you were +talking about Rosemary.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We met by chance on board the <em>Asia</em>. Of course, +there was great surprise on both sides. And, of course, +I told them all about the capture of the <em>Kitty</em> by the pirates. +And the first question my niece asked was about +you. And from this she has been in a state of continual +anxiety about you—anxiety that has been much increased +since she learned of the capture of the <em>Argente</em> +by the <em>Eagle</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You told her I was with the pirates?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“As a captive, yes! as a well-treated captive! I was +not likely to repeat to her a tale that I did not myself +believe, about your having joined the crew,” said the +captain, indignantly.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_96'>96</span>Roland again covered his face with his hands, and +bowed his head.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Boy I what am I to think of your silence?” demanded +the old skipper, more in sorrow than in anger.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, my dear old captain, you will think as well of me +as you can.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Are you Capt. Silver’s mate? Yes or no?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I cannot tell you.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Roland, if you were the pirate’s mate, you would be +brave enough to avow it. If you were not, you would be +sure to deny it. I do not understand your silence.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The young man did not attempt to explain, but sat +with his elbows on his knees and his head bowed upon +his hands, in an attitude of despair.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I will ask you one other question. Perhaps you will +answer it. Did you recognize in the pirate Silver the +man whom you once knew as Angus Anglesea?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, I recognized him,” replied Roland, wearily.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And he recognized you as the youth he was accustomed +to see with the Forces?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, he knew me at once.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It must have been a strange meeting between you.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Tell me all about it, Roland, my lad. What did you +say to him? What did he say to you when you first met? +How did he account for having two characters and two +names, eh? Tell me all about it, lad.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I cannot. Believe me, I cannot. Oh, my old captain! +My dear old captain! It wrings my heart to refuse +you! I would do anything to please you, but I +cannot do this which you ask.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I don’t understand! I don’t understand! I don’t +believe I shall ever understand!” exclaimed the perplexed +captain, shaking his gray head.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Perhaps you never will in this world, but I hope that +you will in the world to come, when the secrets of all +<span class='pageno' id='Page_97'>97</span>hearts shall be revealed. In the meantime—oh, judge +me as charitably as you can!” pleaded Roland.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Heaven knows that I wish to do so, my dear lad! Perhaps +you may answer me one more question—a last one: +Why did you drop your lawful name of ‘Roland Bayard,’ +and take another by which you are now known—‘Craven +Cloud?’ You need not answer if you do not +choose?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I will tell you. The life of a blockade runner——”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Blockade runner be blowed!” angrily exclaimed the +old skipper. “Pirate, you mean! You can’t blind me +with—blockade runner! Not after her taking the <em>Kitty</em>, +you can’t! Pirate, lad—pirate!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Just as you please! The life, I say, on such a ship +is uncertain; death often tragic. I did not wish to carry +an honest name through such a life, or to such a death. +In a word—if those who loved me were destined to hear +one Craven Cloud—blockade runner, pirate, slaver, as +you please—had been taken and hanged, I did not wish +them to know that I was the man. I took an alias, and +I made it Craven Cloud because the name suited the +case. There! that is all.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But, Roland, you are no pirate—no slaver. It is impossible +that you should be!” exclaimed the old skipper +with the utmost confidence, yet still eagerly, prayerfully +gazing into the troubled face of his young mate +for confirmation of those words.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But still no such confirmation came.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The door opened and a soldier entered.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Sorry,” he said, in a serio-comic spirit in which some +of the soldiers jested their cares away, “sorry to separate +you, but the best of friends must part. Shutting up time +has come, and the word is march!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Do you mean I must go?” inquired the old skipper.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“That’s about the measure of it, granddad.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Good-by, Roland, lad! Mind, I don’t believe any ill +<span class='pageno' id='Page_98'>98</span>of you, in spite of all. I shall come to see you again to-morrow, +and bring Rosemary with me.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No! no! no! no! Do not bring her! I am parted +from Rosemary forever! The sight of her—would unman +me!” cried the youth.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then—what am I to say to her when I see her?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Say—the best you can—the fairest, the most merciful +you can!” exclaimed Roland.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The old skipper wrung the youth’s hand and left the +room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He returned to the hotel, but kept entirely out of the +way of the Forces. He had not the courage to meet +Rosemary.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XVII<br> <span class='c005'>ON BOARD THE PRIZE</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>Soon after dinner the earl and the squire left the hotel +for the ship.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They took a street car that ran from Georgetown to +the navy yard gate.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There they alighted and entered the yard, passed the +officers’ quarters, passed the workshops and the ship +house and went down to the water side.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As they neared it they saw an officer in naval uniform +standing with his back toward them, and his gaze directed +toward a boat, rowed by six men, that was swiftly +coming toward the shore.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force quickened his steps and laid his hand on +the arm of the man, whom he had recognized as Le.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The latter turned quickly, started joyfully, and held +out both hands, exclaiming:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Uncle Abel!”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_99'>99</span>“Le, dear boy!” cried the squire, seizing the youth’s +hands and shaking them cordially.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You here! What a surprise! How glad I am to see +you! I thought you were in Europe. When did you return? +How are my aunt and cousins? And how is Odalite? +And——”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Softly, Le. Softly, dear lad. One thing at a time. +We have just arrived from Europe, and we are all well. +And here is a friend of yours whom you are forgetting,” +said the squire, taking the young man’s arm and leading +him back to where the earl stood.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Lord Enderby! How glad I am to see you! This is +another joyful surprise. You are looking so well, too. +Quite recovered your health, I hope,” said Le, cordially +shaking the hand the earl had given him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Quite recovered, thank you,” replied the latter.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Where are you stopping, Uncle Abel?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We are stopping at the old place where we boarded +six years ago, when we first came to Washington. And +we have been following you about for the last twenty-four +hours,” replied Mr. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And to think I have passed that hotel at least a dozen +times within a day without knowing that you were there! +What a surprise! And you say Odalite is quite well?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Odalite and all are quite well.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I am so glad to hear that! And to know that they +are all so near! When can I see them?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“As soon as you please. It will depend on yourself. +They have been waiting for twenty-four hours most +anxiously to see you.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What a surprise! I cannot get over the surprise. +There is the boat, Uncle Abel. Will you and Lord Enderby +return with me on board the ship, and spend a +few hours with me in the cabin, where we can talk” Le +inquired, as the boat touched the wharf and the rowers +laid on their oars.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_100'>100</span>“We came down here for that very purpose,” replied +the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Come, then.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The three gentlemen walked down to the water’s edge +and entered the boat.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The sailors pushed off, turned and headed for the +<em>Argente</em>.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was a pretty view. The sun had just set, and the +western sky was aflame with the crimson afterglow +which was reflected in the water. The full moon was rising +like a vast globe of gold above the gray eastern +horizon. In the distance before them was the green and +wooded shore of Maryland. Midway of the river lay the +<em>Argente</em> at anchor, reflected clearly and duplicated distinctly +in the water below.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They soon reached the ship and stood upon the deck.</p> + +<p class='c007'>A young midshipman saluted his superior officer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Le introduced him as Midshipman Franklin, exchanged +a few words with him, and then took his friends +down into his own cabin.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This was quite a luxuriously furnished place for the +cabin of a man-of-war, as the pirate ship seemed in a +small way to be. An Axminster carpet was on the floor, +and blue satin damask curtains before the berths; blue +satin damask coverings on the chairs and sofas. A +marble-topped round table stood in the center. A marble-topped +sideboard, with silver stands for decanters +and glasses, stood at the end opposite the companion way.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Le drew chairs around the table and invited his friends +to be seated.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then he went to the sideboard and brought forth a +bottle of old port wine, with wineglasses, and a box of +choice Havana cigars, with wax tapers, and putting +them on the table, exclaimed, for the fourth time:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What a surprise! I shall never get over this surprise!”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_101'>101</span>“You talk of surprises, Le!” said Mr. Force, when +they had all had a glass of wine around, and had lighted +their cigars. “You talk of surprises; but you ought to +have grown hardened to them by this time! No one could +ever have had a greater one than you had when you +found in the pirate captain and his mate your old enemy, +Angus Anglesea, and your old friend, Roland Bayard!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You may well say that, uncle! But I do believe it +was the sight of my old foe that put the devil in me that +day and made me utterly reckless of my life in that +fight.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We have all read of your heroism in action, Le, my +dear boy, and we are proud of you,” said the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It wasn’t heroism, uncle! It was diabolism! If ever +the devil got into mortal man he did into me that day! +And it was all at the sight of Anglesea.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No matter, the papers are full of the brilliant action, +and you are the hero of the hour.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Of the hour. You are right, uncle! Of the hour! +In these days of heroes—on both sides, mind, uncle—no +one man, whatever his deeds, could expect to hold +public attention for a longer time. But, indeed—and +there is no mock modesty in what I say—I have no +merit. I was more mad than brave in that action.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Your captain, in his dispatches to the department, +puts the case in a better light. But let that pass for +the present. Do you know who the pirate really is?” demanded +the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No more than that he is Capt. Silver, known to us as +Col. Anglesea,” said Le.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He is neither entitled to the one name nor the other.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Neither Silver nor Anglesea? Who is he, then?” +demanded the young commander, in surprise.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Enderby, dear fellow! You, who can speak with +authority, tell Leonidas who the man really is.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The earl, thus entreated, turned to the young officer +<span class='pageno' id='Page_102'>102</span>and told him the story of Byrne Stukely, as it is already +known to our readers.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Le listened with the closest attention, and at the close +of the narrative drew a deep sigh of relief and breathed +forth a fervent thanksgiving.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And so you see by what Enderby has told you, that +the rascal has not now, nor ever has had, the slightest +claim on the hand of Odalite, who is now, and always has +been, perfectly free. There is not even any need to seek +the aid of the law in her case,” said Mr. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Thank Heaven! Oh! thank Heaven!” again fervently +exclaimed Le.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then, after a pause, he asked:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Uncle, when can I see Odalite?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“As soon as you please, my boy!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I wish I could see her to-night But to-night duty +holds me here. Franklin, my second in command, has +gone on shore for the first time to see his family, who +reside here, and whom he has not seen for three years. +So I cannot get off to-night! But early to-morrow! +How early may I see her to-morrow?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Come and breakfast with us at nine to-morrow. That +is about as early as we can manage.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I will go!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And now, Le, tell us about Roland Bayard. How +comes it that he is in the uniform of the pirate’s mate? +How comes it that he is brought here as a prisoner, instead +of as a rescued captive?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The countenance of the young man fell, all the joyous +life died out of it, and he murmured:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I had forgotten! In my own selfish joy I had forgotten,’”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Forgotten? What, Le?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I had forgotten Roland’s position. Oh, Uncle Abel! +It is a most cruel one!”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_103'>103</span>“Tell me one thing,” sternly demanded Mr. Force. +“Was he Silver’s mate?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I do not know.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You do not know, Le? What do you mean by that? +Surely you must know!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Indeed, I do not, uncle. After the fight was over, +and when the two prisoners were placed under my charge +on board this ship, and she was manned by a part of the +crew from the <em>Eagle</em>, and I was ordered to take her +home, when we had set sail and were well on our way I +went to see Roland, to ask him some explanation of his +presence on board the blockade runner. He was not +known there as Roland Bayard, but as Craven Cloud. +I found him alone, for the two prisoners had been confined +separately. I found him moody to the verge of +melancholy madness. I told him how grieved I was to +find him there, and asked him to tell me how it happened, +when he had left Capt. Grandiere, whether he +had joined the navy and had been captured in some +action.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And what did he reply to all these questions?” inquired +Mr. Force, seeing that Le paused in his narrative.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Not one satisfactory word! He told me that fate +had brought him there, and that he could tell me no +more. And though I plied him with questions, and appealed +to him to answer them in the name of our lifelong +love for one another, he remained obdurate. He assured +me that he could not satisfy me.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And he never did?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He never did. But one day he told me the reason +why his tongue was tied.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And what was that?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was a terrible revelation, uncle—a terrible revelation! +But it accounted for everything that was strange +<span class='pageno' id='Page_104'>104</span>in Roland’s life and conduct,” replied Le, still shrinking +from the utterance of what he had to say.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, well, my boy?” demanded the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He told me that Capt. Silver was his own father!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Good Heaven!” exclaimed the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The squire was silent for a moment, and then said, in +the most emphatic manner:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I don’t believe it! It is not true!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh! sir, it was true—too true! He had every proof +of its truth! Therefore, you understand that poor Roland, +if he was a prisoner among the blockade runners +and a witness to deeds even more unlawful and more +criminal, could not open his mouth with explanations +that might be fatal to Capt. Silver.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The scoundrel is no more Roland’s father than I am! +No, not by an infinite distance, for I have been a father +to the boy ever since he was a baby. And I know that +scoundrel is nothing to him! I know the reason why he +told such a falsehood to the young man. It was to get +him into his power and seal his lips! Did Roland, for +instance, tell you how he came to be separated from +Capt. Grandiere, and to be on board the blockade runner, +or rather the pirate, as she really was?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, sir. I explained to you that he would tell me +nothing but that fate had brought him there.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Of course. Then I will tell you. Capt. Grandiere’s +ship, the <em>Kitty</em>, was taken by the pirate <em>Argente</em> about +six weeks since only. Her crew were put into open boats +and sent adrift to sink or swim, find land or perish, as +fate might will. Her two officers, Skipper Grandiere and +Mate Bayard, were taken prisoners, and brought on +board the <em>Argente</em>, while a part of the pirate crew were +sent on board the <em>Kitty</em>, to take her, with her rich cargo, +to some port—Heaven knows where! That is how +young Bayard came on board the pirate ship.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Is—it—possible!” exclaimed Le, in amazement.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_105'>105</span>“Yes; and from the time the master and mate of the +<em>Kitty</em> were captured by Silver they were never allowed +to meet. Roland, who had been wounded, was kept +below in the cockpit. Silver told Capt. Grandiere that +Bayard had decided to take service with him, and did not +wish to see his old captain for fear of unpleasant words. +Silver was near the English coast, and he sent a boat +ashore at night and landed the old skipper on a remote +beach in Cornwall, and left him to find his way to London +as best he might.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But how did you find out all this, Uncle Abel?” inquired +Le, unable to get over his amazement.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Grandiere went up to London on a third-class train, +found his correspondents, told his story, got what money +he wanted, and engaged passage on the <em>Asia</em> from Liverpool +to New York. We came over on the same steamer. +That is how we came to know it.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Where is Capt. Grandiere now?” inquired Le.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“In Washington, staying at the same hotel with us. +You may judge our surprise, and his triumph, when on +reaching New York, three days since, we learned that +the blockade runner <em>Argente</em> had been captured by the +United States man-of-war <em>Eagle</em>, and had been sent home +as a prize, under the command of Lieut. Force. We +came down to Washington by the first train—I and my +party—to see you and Roland; but Capt. Grandiere +avowedly to prove Silver to be a pirate, and to hang +him. Capt. Grandiere will now also be able to prove +that young Roland Bayard was captured by the pirates +at the same time that his ship, the <em>Kitty</em>, was taken, and +he, the skipper, taken prisoner. Capt. Grandiere’s evidence +must vindicate Roland Bayard.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh! if it only could! But, uncle, if Roland will not +deny that he was a voluntary member of the pirate +crew?”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_106'>106</span>“He will deny it, when he knows the pirate lied to him +and deceived him, and has no claim whatever to his forbearance, +much less to his duty or affection,” said Mr. +Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was growing late, and Mr. Force arose to go.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Uncle,” said Le, “why cannot you and the earl stay +on board with me to-night? I can send a man with a +note to the hotel to let the ladies know where you are, +and I can make you up most comfortable berths in this +cabin. And to-morrow we can all three go and breakfast +with our friends,” pleaded the young man.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Le, my lad, I should like it extremely, but I cannot +speak for Enderby,” replied the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I propose this,” said the earl—“that I return to the +hotel to take care of the ladies, and prepare them for +your reception in the morning, leaving you here, Force, +with your nephew.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The earl’s proposal was accepted by acclamation, and +soon after he took his leave, and was rowed ashore, leaving +the uncle and nephew to spend the night together on +the ship.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XVIII<br> <span class='c005'>A TERRIBLE REVELATION</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“We must wait until Franklin comes on board,” said +Leonidas Force, the next morning, as he stood beside Mr. +Force, on the deck of the <em>Argente</em>, looking off toward the +navy yard, where a boat had already been sent to bring +out the young midshipman.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Will he be punctual?” inquired Mr. Force, who was +almost as impatient as his companion to be off to keep +their appointment to breakfast with the ladies of their +family at the hotel that morning.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_107'>107</span>“‘Punctual!’” echoed Le. “His orders are to report +on board at seven this morning, and he will be here on +time.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force took out his watch and looked at it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It wants twelve minutes to seven now!” he exclaimed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And here comes Franklin!” replied Le, as the young +midshipman was seen running across the yard down to +the water’s edge, where the boat waited.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As he jumped on board, the boat was seen to turn and +head for the ship.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In a few minutes it had crossed the water and come +up alongside.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Young Franklin sprang out and climbed up on deck.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Two minutes to seven! You are prompt, midshipman,” +said Le, smiling.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I would rather be an hour too soon than a second too +late, lieutenant,” replied the young officer, saluting.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Quite right! Tell the coxswain to wait. He is to +take this gentleman and myself ashore,” said Le.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then he went down into his cabin, followed by Mr. +Force, to make a few final preparations.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Soon they returned to the deck, went down into the +boat, and headed for the shore.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When they landed, and were walking across the yard, +Le asked:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I may at last marry Odalite without let or hindrance?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I have told you so, lad!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, bless you, uncle! But how soon? How soon?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“This very day, if Odalite and her mother agree.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Let us walk faster, uncle! Please!” pleaded the impatient +lover.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dear Le! Consider—consider my rheumatism! +Besides, look! There is no car near the gate, and we +shall pass through before one comes up.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_108'>108</span>Le saw at once that fast walking would not bring him +any sooner to the side of his sweetheart, and so he moderated +his haste.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They reached the gate just as a car came up, and they +entered it while the horses were being unharnessed and +turned around.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“If one had but wings!” said Le.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You would find them inconvenient on most occasions,” +replied Mr. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Several other passengers now entered the car, and it +started on its uptown trip.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Passengers from the sidewalks, however, continued to +stop the car and crowd in until it was more than full, +for every seat was occupied, and all the standing room +between the rows, as well as both platforms before and +behind.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This was always the condition of the street cars in war +times, when authorities were as careless of the lives of +horses as they were of those of men.</p> + +<p class='c007'>All private conversation was rendered impossible, and +Mr. Force rode on in perfect silence, half suffocated by +the close air and heavily pressed upon by a crowd of men +standing up in the middle, hanging on by the straps and +swaying to and fro against the forms of their fellow passengers.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At last—“long last”—the ordeal was over. The toiling +horses reached the corner of the street on which their +hotel was situated, and Mr. Force pulled the strap to stop +the car, and with his companion slowly pushed, elbowed +and worked his way out of the “black hole” in the open +air.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“There is one comfort in this difficulty in getting out—though +our clothes are often torn and our flesh +scratched or bruised in the trial—yet it gives the +wretched horses a minute’s rest,” said the squire, as, followed +<span class='pageno' id='Page_109'>109</span>by Le, he made his way across the pavement to the +ladies’ entrance of the house.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Here a great shock met him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The earl, pale and grave, stood in the hall waiting for +him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He bowed to Le, and then took the arm of his brother-in-law, +and said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Come with me, Force—lieutenant, you will find the +young ladies in the parlor.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Le, surprised and vaguely uneasy, hesitated for a moment, +and then ran upstairs.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What is the meaning of this, Enderby? What has +happened?” anxiously inquired the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Your wife is not well. She——”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She is ill! She is dangerously ill! Let me go to her! +Let me go to her at once!” exclaimed the terrified husband, +breaking from the earl’s hold.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, no, I beg of you! It would be useless! She is—sleeping! +Two physicians and a nurse watch beside her, +and they forbid all approach for the present. Come in +here with me!” said the earl, drawing his brother-in-law +into the nearest room, which happened to be a temporarily +untenanted private parlor.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“When did this happen? Why was I not sent for at +once? What is the nature of her illness? Oh, my dear +wife!” exclaimed the squire, as he fell rather than sat +down upon the nearest chair.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The earl closed the door and turned the key, and +then answered:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Not an hour ago! They—Elfrida and her daughter, +with Miss Hedge and myself—were in the drawing room +waiting for your arrival before ordering breakfast. A +servant brought in the morning paper, and Wynnette +took it to read aloud for the benefit of the party. She +turned first to the report of the examination of the two +prisoners, Silver and Cloud, alias Stukely and Bayard, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_110'>110</span>and of the demand of the British Government for their +extradition upon charge of piracy and slave dealing.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Good Heaven!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The demand was said to have come through the British +consul at New York, who had been on the watch for +the possible capture by our ships of this same pirate +ship.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then old Grandiere’s word will come true!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Probably! But as Wynnette read I happened to look +at my sister. She had grown deadly pale. I arose to go +to her, but she raised her hand with a gesture of command +that stopped me, and she listened to the end of +the reading, and then, with her wonderful self-control—deadly +pale as she was—arose to leave the room. Wynnette +had not observed the change in her mother; but +Odalite and Elva had done so, and both of them sprang +to her side. Her attack was so sudden and unaccountable.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I understand! I understand!” muttered Mr. Force +to himself.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But she waved the girls back in the most peremptory +manner, and went alone to her room. The children +came back to me, and gazed in my face for an explanation. +I could give them none. They once more started +to follow their mother. But I called them back, and told +them to be patient. Then the condition of little Rosemary +Hedge claimed attention. She was sobbing violently +on the sofa. I told my nieces to respect their +mother’s wish to be left alone; that she was probably +overcome by the ill news of one whom she had known +from his boyhood, and that she would best recover her +composure in solitude.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I understand! I understand!” again murmured the +poor squire to himself.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I went to Rosemary, and sought to soothe her. While +I was so engaged little Elva slipped away and went up +<span class='pageno' id='Page_111'>111</span>to her mother’s room, and instantly came shrieking back, +telling us, in wild and incoherent exclamations, that her +mother lay unconscious on the floor of her chamber.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Gracious! Gracious heavens!” groaned the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We hurried to her assistance, all of us, even Rosemary, +who forgot her own grief at this crisis. We found +her on the carpet in a deep swoon.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She lay face downward, and dressed as if for a journey. +By her side lay a traveling bag, which seemed to +have dropped from her hand as she fell.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I understand! Oh, I understand too well! too well!” +muttered the squire to himself.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We got her on the bed, and sent for a doctor. There +was one in the house, who heard of the event, and came +first. Then the doctor whom we had sent for arrived. +They are with her now. One of them procured a professional +nurse. And they are all three agreed upon one +point—that no one but the doctor or nurse be allowed to +enter the room.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But I must go to her door. I will not make the least +noise; but I must go to the door and see one of the physicians,” +said Mr. Force, rising.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I will go with you,” said the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The two gentlemen left the room together, and went +up two flights of stairs to the floor on which was the suit +of rooms occupied by the Forces.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They paused before the door of the chamber of illness, +or it might be of death, and Mr. Force tapped very +gently.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was the nurse, a wholesome-looking, middle-aged +woman, who answered the summons.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I wish to see one of the physicians,” whispered Abel +Force, in a voice that trembled with emotion.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The woman stepped noiselessly back into the room, +and was presently succeeded by Dr. Bolten, a large, fair, +bald-headed man, of about sixty years of age. He +<span class='pageno' id='Page_112'>112</span>stepped out into the passage noiselessly, closing the door +behind him. Then, in a whisper, he greeted Mr. Force, +with whom he had been acquainted.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How is my wife?” he inquired, in breathless anxiety.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XIX<br> <span class='c005'>THE BITTERNESS OF DEATH</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>The doctor took the squire’s arm and led him away +from the door before he answered:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She is doing as well as possible under the circumstances. +All depends now on absolute quiet. It was for +that reason I summoned a trained nurse and forbid any +of the family to approach her.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But what is the nature of her illness, doctor?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She has received a severe mental shock.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Of what nature?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I do not know.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Will—will she—recover?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“With great care, I hope so.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Can I go in—very quietly—and look upon her?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Not if you speak to her. Not if you waken her.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I will neither speak to her nor waken her. You +shall see how noiseless I can be.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I am not going back to her room. I have all my +patients to see yet, but I will call again in the afternoon. +Dr. Hollis will remain a little longer. And the nurse, +Mrs. Winder, can be relied on. If you enter the room, +Mr. Force, let me entreat you to make no sound,” said +Dr. Bolton, bowing, and passing the squire on his way +downstairs.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force softly turned the handle of the lock, which +had been oiled, and entered the room.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_113'>113</span>On the bed, covered with a white counterpane up to +her chin, lay the form of his fair wife, still and white +as death. On one side of her sat the nurse; on the other +side stood the doctor.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force raised his finger in token that he did not +mean to speak, nor expect to be spoken to, and so he approached +the bed on tiptoe, and gazed upon the marble +features, colorless except for the dark rings around the +eyes and lips.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As the husband gazed a spasm of anguish convulsed +his features. He turned his eyes from the face of his +wife to that of the young doctor who stood over her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Dr. Hollis smiled and placed his finger on his lips.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Abel Force understood both signs, and felt a little +hope steal into his heart. He stood for some time longer +gazing upon the beloved face, and then, at another sign +from the doctor, he turned to steal noiselessly from the +room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As he went from the bedside toward the door his eyes +fell on a large packet of paper, with a note tied on the +top of it. And as he passed he took it up, thinking that +it might be something that required to be sent to the post +office.</p> + +<p class='c007'>After leaving the room and closing the door softly behind +him, he looked at the superscription of the packet. +And it was this:</p> + +<p class='c008'>“To my dear husband, Abel Force. To be opened by +him alone.”</p> + +<p class='c006'>The packet was sealed and tied with a cord, under +which was slipped a letter, directed simply to Abel +Force, Esq.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Mr. Force had looked at this packet he showed +neither surprise at its existence or impatience to read it. +Without breaking the seal, he slipped it into his pocket, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_114'>114</span>and went quietly down to the parlor in search of his +troubled young people.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He found them all seated as if they had been at a +funeral.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Odalite and Le occupied one of the small sofas. Old +Capt. Grandiere sat in a large armchair, with his little +niece, Rosemary, on his knees, her head on his shoulder +and her arms around his neck. She had sobbed herself +into exhaustion, and therefore into quietness, and was +listening calmly to the consolation the old skipper was +trying to give her, and which was something like this:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I tell you, my pet, he may be as stubborn as a mule, +and hold his tongue until he loses the use of it, but I +know that, not two months since, he was taken prisoner +off my ship, along with me and all the crew, and so far +from being the pirate’s mate, he was the pirate’s prisoner. +I’ll tell my own story, and it will clear Roland +as sure as it will hang Silver.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>This, in every form and variety of language, was the +oft-repeated consolation that the old skipper was offering +to his little niece, and not without effect.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Elva and Wynnette were seated with the earl, who +was talking to them in a low voice, and evidently trying +to keep up their spirits.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As soon as the squire entered the room his daughters +all hurried to meet him, with anxious looks.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dears,” he said, “the doctors speak hopefully of +your mother’s condition. Let us be patient and trust in +Providence; and for the present, my children, you must +control your feelings and keep away from her room.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>But this did not satisfy the daughters of Elfrida Force. +They plied their father with questions:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What is the matter with mamma?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Did the doctors tell you what ails her?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“When will she get well?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How soon may we see her?”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_115'>115</span>And so forth, and so forth.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force answered these questions as well as he was +able, but not at all satisfactorily.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The old skipper broke in upon their talk.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Force! I wish to the Lord you would order these +girls down to breakfast! Here it is ten o’clock and not +one of us has had a mouthful.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dears, is that true?” demanded their father.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, we could not touch any food so long as we felt +so anxious about dear mamma!” answered Odalite, for +the whole party.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Come down at once! Le, give Odalite your arm! +Grandiere, take care of Rosemary! Enderby, look after +Wynnette! Come, my little Elva, under my own wing,” +said the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And so the party of eight went down to the public +breakfast room, but in truth no one but the earl, the old +skipper, and the young lieutenant made any pretense of +eating. The husband and daughters of Elfrida Force +could not feed while the life of the wife and mother +was in jeopardy. But they drank some strong coffee, +which served to support their strength.</p> + +<p class='c007'>After breakfast the young girls returned to the drawing +room under the escort of the earl and the old captain; +but Le remained by the side of Abel Force, who +walked toward the office of the hotel.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The occupant of the little room adjoining our own +has left this morning, and I wish to engage the apartment +before any one else takes it; for, Le, if the doctors +will not allow me to remain in the same apartment with +my suffering wife, I must, at least, be in the next one, if +possible,” said Mr. Force, as he went up to the counter.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The room was secured, and the two men turned to go +upstairs together.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Uncle,” said Le, “Odalite will not give me any answer! +<span class='pageno' id='Page_116'>116</span>Will not fix a day for our marriage until her +mother recovers.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Odalite is right, Le! How can she think of marriage, +or of anything but her mother at this crisis?” solemnly +inquired Abel Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, uncle, we have been so often disappointed, so +often put off! It does seem as if fate were against us!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Don’t be selfish, Le! Think, my dear boy, what anxiety +we are all suffering just now!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I know it, uncle! I know it, and I share it! But +how could our marriage affect the present circumstances? +It could not increase the danger of my aunt, nor could it +heighten our anxiety,” pleaded the youth.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dear Le, your passion blinds you to the fact that +your marriage at this time would be deeply indecorous! +Say no more about it, dear lad, until our beloved sufferer +is out of danger.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Le sighed profoundly, but did not answer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Le,” said the squire, in a low voice, to change the +subject, “have you told old Grandiere why it is that Roland +will not give evidence against the pirate captain, +even to save himself?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes; I have told him that Roland has been persuaded +by Silver, that he, Silver, is his, Roland’s, father.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He said that he didn’t believe one word of it. He +said that when the villain was down in Maryland he must +have heard the story of the young man having been +saved in his infancy from the wreck of the <em>Carrier Pigeon</em>, +without a mark on person or clothing to point to his +parentage, and taken advantage of the circumstance to +claim Roland as his son, and get him in his power.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I think Grandiere was right,” said Abel Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When they reentered the parlor they found all their +party present, idle and silent, because, in fact, they could +settle themselves to neither occupation nor conversation +while their minds were so full of anxiety.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_117'>117</span>Le went and sat down beside Odalite.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force lingered a few moments in the room to bid +his troubled daughters to trust in Providence and hope +for the best. Then, telling them he was going up to sit +in the room he had engaged adjoining their mother’s, and +that he might be found there if wanted, he left the parlor +and went upstairs.</p> + +<p class='c007'>First he stopped at the door of the side room and +tapped lightly.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The nurse came to answer the summons.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How is she?” he whispered.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The nurse came out and softly closed the door behind +her before answering:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She is sleeping quietly, and must not be disturbed on +any account.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Thank you. That will do. I am going to sit in the +next room. If I should be wanted, come to me there.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, sir,” said the woman, returning noiselessly to +the sick chamber, and closing the door behind her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As Mr. Force turned away, his eyes fell upon the form +of Rosemary Hedge moving silently as a spirit along the +corridor.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He went to her and whispered:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What is it, my dear?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Nothing. I am only going to our room to put on my +hat. Uncle Grandiere is going to take me to see dear +Roland,” replied the girl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah, that is right. God bless you, my dear!” said the +squire, as Rosemary passed on to the large, double-bedded +room in the same corridor which was occupied by +the four girls.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_118'>118</span> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XX<br> <span class='c005'>“WHEN LOVERS MEET IN ADVERSE HOUR”</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>Rosemary quickly put on the olive green linsey suit in +which she had crossed the sea, and the little round traveling +cap in which she had ridden to the city, and hurried +downstairs to join her uncle.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Her dress was not too warm for these late April days.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Come, my little love,” said the old skipper, “I could +not find a carriage for you on the stand, nor even at the +livery stable around the corner; so there is nothing for +us but to pack ourselves into a moving black hole they +call a street car or to walk. I think by walking fast we +could reach Capitol Hill sooner than by riding in one +of these cars.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Let us walk, by all means,” promptly replied Rosemary.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then went downstairs together and set out for a brisk +rate down Pennsylvania Avenue.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was a fine morning, with a bright sun, and a deep +blue sky mottled lightly with feathery white clouds, as +became an April day.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You must keep up your heart, little girl,” said the +old man, as they walked on.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I do try to do so. I have trust in the Lord; and, +under Him, in you, Uncle Gideon. But oh! when I +think of how the news affected her, my heart almost dies +in my breast,” sighed the girl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Mrs. Force, do you mean?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, of course.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But why?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, don’t you see? If the news of Roland’s danger +affected her so greatly, his state must be very serious.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dear, Roland may have had nothing to do with +<span class='pageno' id='Page_119'>119</span>the lady’s attack. It looks to me as if it was an apoplectic +fit, such as might have happened to any middle-aged +man or woman without any outside cause. Besides, +I never heard of Mrs. Force taking the least interest +in the young man, or even the slightest notice of +him beyond mere civility.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, she did—I am sure she did! I always thought—but +indeed I hardly know why I thought so—that she +was kinder to me on account of Roland. She always +sympathized with me. And it was the news of Roland’s +peril that brought on her illness—I know it was!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How do you know it, my dear?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Because I was watching her while Wynnette was +reading the paper. I was almost ready to die with my +trouble, and I was looking to her for help and comfort—because +she always sympathized with me—and I saw +her start, and her eyes grow wide and scared, and her +face turn white; and then I saw her rise to leave the +room. And then, but not till then, the others saw her, +and went to her; but she sent them all back. And I +knew it was about Roland, and I thought there was no +hope for him, and I fell to screaming. Oh, uncle, it +was so very bad in me to go on screaming so, but I +couldn’t help it. I couldn’t faint and forget all about it, +like Amanda Fitzallen used to do when she couldn’t +stand things any longer, so I had to keep screaming. If +I hadn’t I do think my heart would have bursted!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was all quite enough to frighten you into hysterics, +my poor little girl, when I was not on hand to reassure +you. But still, my dear, in future you must control +yourself. There is nothing more contemptible in this +world than a man or woman who cannot control himself +or herself.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But, uncle—my heart would have bursted if I hadn’t +screamed.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then, my dear, you should have let it burst, rather +<span class='pageno' id='Page_120'>120</span>than have screamed. This may seem harsh to you, my +dear, but it is the best kindness. Self-control, my little +girl, is one of the mightiest powers in this world. It is +the soul of the ruler, my dear,” said the old skipper; +and having taken this text he preached on it until they +reached the foot of the Capitol Hill, and he lost his wind +in climbing up it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In a short time they reached the Old Capitol prison.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Capt. Grandiere had procured two passes, and armed +with these, presented himself and his niece at the +guarded door, and was permitted to enter.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I know the way now! But let me take a long breath +before I begin to climb all these stairs that are before +us!” said the old man, as he dropped upon a rude bench +in the hall and began to wipe his face.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Rosemary sat down beside him, and peeped charily +through her green veil at the sentries that stood before +the closed doors on each side the hall.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Presently the captain arose and told Rosemary to +come along, and began to ascend the stairs.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They went up three flights and found themselves on +the third floor of the building, in a wide passage, with +closed doors, guarded by sentries on each side.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Walking between these they reached the front end of +the hall, where a small apartment had been made across +it by a partition of wood. Before a rude door a sentry +stood.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Capt. Grandiere showed his permits, and the soldier +opened the door to let them pass.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They entered the small room, which, however, had +the advantage of a large window and of perfect cleanliness—of +almost aggressive cleanliness—for everything +smelt of fresh water and fresh whitewash.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Roland Bayard sat on the side of his narrow cot, engaged +in reading the morning paper.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_121'>121</span>As his visitors entered the place he looked up, and +gave a cry of mingled pleasure and reproach.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Uncle! Rosemary! Oh, Rosemary! Oh, uncle, +how could you? Why did you?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Roland! Dear Roland! I couldn’t help it! I +wanted to see you so much! Oh, Roland, you are glad +to see me, are you not?” pleaded Rosemary, going to +him and putting both her hands on his shoulders, with +all the innocent candor of her childhood.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Glad’ to see you? ‘Glad!’” echoed the young man, +in a broken voice, as he took her tiny hands and pressed +them to his heart and to his lips, while his hot tears fell +upon them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Rosemary burst into a storm of tears and wept upon +his shoulder.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, uncle!” reproachfully exclaimed Roland, “why +did you bring this child here?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Because no power on earth would have kept her +away! If I had not brought her, she would have done +some deadly thing! She would have gone and got a pass +for herself. She would have come here alone and exposed +herself to insult on the way! You don’t know +what desperate dare-devils these little blue-eyed angels +of our race can be, where their friends are in danger +or in trouble!” said the old man.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And, oh! it is not only that I wanted to see you,” +said Rosemary, raising her tearful face from his shoulder, +“but I wanted to beg you for my sake—for my sake, +Roland, to be just to yourself! To have mercy on yourself! +You know, as we know, that you are not a pirate +or a slave-stealer! You know, as we know, that you +were taken prisoner by the pirates when the <em>Kitty</em> was +captured! Capt. Grandiere can testify to that! But he +cannot swear that you never joined the pirate crew after +you became their prisoner! He cannot swear that you +never became the pirate captain’s mate, as they charge +<span class='pageno' id='Page_122'>122</span>you with being. Only you can tell what you did after +recovering from your wounds on board the pirate ship. +We know that you remained true to yourself and to your +friends and to every principle of manhood and honesty, +and we could swear that you did, from our lifelong +knowledge of you! But, oh, Roland! But, oh, Roland! +Such testimony would not be worth anything +in a court of law, where moral conviction is not legal +evidence! Oh, dear, dear Roland! Take pity on yourself +and on us, and testify to the facts that will vindicate +you!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>These were her words, but no pen can give the pleading, +prayerful, pathetic tones and looks and gestures +with which they were uttered.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The whole strong frame of the young man shook with +the emotion that convulsed his soul.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Rosemary!” he said, at length, in a broken voice, “I +am about to speak the words that must separate us forever.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>He paused, and she took up his cue.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“That you cannot do, Roland! Neither man nor +angel can utter words which would separate us forever. +In this world we may be parted, Roland, if such be your +will. But not forever! Not forever!” she said, in her +tender, vibrating tones.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Rosemary, hear me! I cannot give the testimony +that would vindicate myself, because the same testimony +would convict Capt. Silver.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He will be convicted fast enough without your testimony,” +put in the old skipper.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then it would help to convict him, so I must not +give it.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But, oh! Roland, why should you care for that +wicked man—that wickedest man in the whole world?” +pleaded Rosemary.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_123'>123</span>“Because, poor child—and now come the words that +must part us—because I am his son!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Rosemary stared in blank amazement, while she grew +pale as ashes.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You are no more his son than you are my son! And +not half so much as you are Abel Force’s son! Deuce +take you, lad, are you such a baby as to be beguiled by +that man’s lies? He found out your early history, and +has made use of the facts, as well as of the want of facts, +to deceive you and claim you as his son, to get you in his +power, to make you his comrade, if he could, and to tie +your tongue in any case. Ah! you must be a blind bat, +indeed, not to see through him!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah! Capt. Grandiere, old friend, you do not know! +You do not know! Capt. Silver has proved the truth of +his story to me,” replied Roland, in a tone of despair.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How has he proved this?” demanded the old skipper.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I dare not tell you that. His story involves the—the—honor +of another—of another family. I cannot +breathe another word on this subject beyond the bare +fact that I know myself to be Silver’s son, and will not +give testimony to convict my father. So much was due +to you, and told that you may know why I will not +testify.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then——!——!——!” The old skipper let off a +volley of oaths that might have been highly effectual in a +storm at sea, or a fight with pirates, but that fell on +Rosemary’s delicate ears like claps of thunder, and made +her put her hands up to shelter them—and he finished +by saying—“If I don’t give a hint to the authorities and +have you put upon the stand and compelled to give evidence.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The young man made no reply, but turning to Rosemary, +began to ask about their mutual friends.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The girl answered all his questions to the best of her +knowledge.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_124'>124</span>This conversation lasted until the old skipper arose +to take leave.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Captain,” said Roland, “my advice to you is to take +Rosemary down to Maryland and leave her there with +her friends. Washington, under present circumstances, +is certainly no place for the child.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I will not go, Roland. I will not stir from this city +until I see you through this trouble!” said the girl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You hear that?” inquired the old skipper. “And +you see that I could not get her away without turning +Turk and tyrant, and calling in the power of the law and +using force and violence to back up that. What can an +old ruffian like me, even though I weigh two hundred +pounds, and am the terror of the roughest crew afloat, +do with a mite of a blue-eyed angel? She’ll do as she +likes, if she dies for it!” growled the skipper.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You will let me come to see you every day, Roland, +and in that way I can try to bear this,” pleaded Rosemary.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“May the Lord bless you, my child. May the Lord +bless you and keep you safe always!” breathed Roland, +as he folded her to his heart and kissed her—even as he +had been accustomed to do when he was a little lad and +she was a baby.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And so the interview ended.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXI<br> <span class='c005'>COUNTRY VISITORS</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>Capt. Grandiere and Rosemary left the Old Capitol +prison by the way they had entered it, and bent their +steps toward Pennsylvania Avenue, and thence toward +their hotel.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_125'>125</span>The old skipper went upstairs with Rosemary, to ask +after Mrs. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They found all the young people of their party still +in the drawing room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force was up another flight of stairs in the room +next to that of his sick wife.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Lieut. Force had returned to his ship.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Odalite, Wynnette and Elva were seated about the +room, trying to work at their flower embroidery and conversing +at intervals in hushed voices.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well! And how is the mother by this time?” cheerily +inquired the captain, with a view to encourage the +daughters.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Dr. Bolton has just made a second visit, and says +that she will do well, if not disturbed,” replied Odalite.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Thank Heaven! I hope she will be all right in a +day or two!” exclaimed Grandiere, heartily, as he threw +himself into a big armchair and dropped his hat between +his feet.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How did you leave Roland?” inquired Wynnette.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Perfectly well, as to his bodily health. He inquired +after you all, and sent his respects to you.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How does he take his arrest and imprisonment?—that +is what I meant,” said Wynnette.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Bravely and patiently, as should a man with a good +conscience,” replied the captain.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You can prove that he was a prisoner among the +pirates, and not a comrade of their crew?” said Wynnette.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I can swear that he was their prisoner,” replied the +old man.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And, of course, that will clear him,” said Wynnette, +conclusively.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The old skipper did not contradict her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Perhaps he might have done so, however, if at that +moment the door had not opened to admit a waiter, who +<span class='pageno' id='Page_126'>126</span>brought a handful of cards that he held together like an +open fan.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Before he could deliver them a group of laughing visitors +passed him and entered the room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Rosemary made a dart at the group, exclaiming:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Mother! Oh, mother!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>She was caught in the arms of Mrs. Dorothy Hedge +and covered with tears and kisses, while the three other +girls rushed upon Miss Susannah Grandiere, and the old +skipper trotted across the room and shook hands with +his grandnephew Sam, who was the only member of the +visiting party left for him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The words that followed on all sides were at first +rather incoherent, as such greetings after such partings +are apt to be.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We followed up the fellow who brought up our tickets. +Fancy our staying downstairs to wait for him to go +and come! So as he insisted on taking our tickets first +and handed us blank ones and a pencil, I wrote all our +names down and let him take them, but we followed +close behind the tickets!” said Mr. Sam Grandiere.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Cards, dear Sam! Cards!” whispered Wynnette.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How is it that you are not in the army?” inquired +Capt. Grandiere.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Because somebody had to stay home to plow and sow +and look after the family,” replied the young man.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And so you never volunteered, and you bought a +substitute when you were drafted?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I never volunteered because my father and brother +were both in the army, and because, as I said before, +somebody had to stay home and look after the crops. +And I never was drafted; if I had been I should have +gone in, because I could not have found it in my conscience +to tempt any poor fellow with money to go and +get shot in my place. No, if I had been drafted I should +have gone.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_127'>127</span>“Right, my boy! Right! Right! Right!” exclaimed +his uncle, heartily.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And how are all here?” inquired Miss Susannah +Grandiere, when at length all were seated.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You see us all here except papa and mamma. Papa +is well, but mamma——” Here the speaker, Odalite, +paused as the tears choked her voice.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Miss Grandiere looked from one to the other of the +family party in mute, though anxious inquiry.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Mrs. Force was taken suddenly ill this morning,” +said the old captain, speaking for his friends. “No! +now don’t be alarmed! The doctor, who has just left +her, says that she is doing well, and will be all right if +kept quiet!” he added, to soothe the uneasiness of the +visitors.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But what is the matter with her?” inquired Mrs. +Hedge.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She had a severe shock, and fell into a swoon. She +has been lying prostrate, but quiet, ever since. Now, +don’t be alarmed; there is no danger.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But what sort of a shock?” inquired Miss Grandiere.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Susannah, you were always inquisitor-general. Mrs. +Force heard suddenly that a friend of ours, young Roland +Bayard, had been taken prisoner under exceptional +circumstances.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What circumstances?” persisted the inquisitor.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The old skipper heaved a deep sigh, and as briefly as +he could, told the story of Roland’s double capture, first +by the <em>Argente</em>, that took the <em>Kitty</em>, and afterward by +the <em>Eagle</em>, that took the <em>Argente</em>, and he added, without +reserve, the circumstances of Capt. Silver’s alleged claim +upon Roland, which sealed the lips of the latter.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Roland the pirate’s son! Why, he is no more Silver’s +son than he is mine!” exclaimed young Sam.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But, now tell us how it was that you found us so +soon?”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_128'>128</span>“Well,” said Sam, “to begin at the beginning: On +Monday morning we got your telegram saying that you +had all arrived safe, and that Uncle Gideon was along +with you, and you would be with us in a few days. +Naturally we were all rejoiced and we waited for you. +But on Wednesday morning we got the New York papers, +telling all about the capture of the <em>Argente</em> by the +<em>Eagle</em>, and the arrival of the <em>Argente</em> under command of +Lieut. Force, and of the prize being ordered to the navy +yard here!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And it did not need one to rise from the dead to +reveal the fact that we should all come directly to this +city to meet Le!” put in Wynnette.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, it didn’t!” assented Sam.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And so I offered to come up and see you. And Aunt +Dolly and Aunt Sukey said they would come, too. So I +harnessed the two strongest draft horses to the old carryall, +and we set out yesterday morning. We got as far +as Horsehead last night, and put up there for the night. +This morning we started early, and reached the city +about noon. First, like a fool, I drove my party to your +sometime house at the West End. Found it was all +turned into public offices. Then we went the rounds of +the hotels and now at last we have found you.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Good boy!” exclaimed Wynnette.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But have you found rooms?” anxiously inquired the +old skipper.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No. Our carryall is at the door. We came here to +call first, but we also hoped that we would be able to +put up here,” said Sam.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Indeed, I hope you may,” said the old skipper; “but +the dearest thing in Washington at the present time is +space! If I had a room to myself I would offer it to +these ladies, but I have only a single bed in a double-bedded +room.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But, at any rate, you will order your carriage around +<span class='pageno' id='Page_129'>129</span>to the livery stable and spend the day with us. That will +give Mr. Grandiere time to see about your rooms, here +or elsewhere,” said Odalite to the two elder ladies, who +were seated on the sofa, with Rosemary between them, +with each of her little hands clasped one in each of +theirs.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, my dear, thank you, we will spend the day,” +announced Mrs. Hedge, for her party.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Come up now and lay off your wraps,” said Rosemary, +leading the way to what, in party parlance, was +now called the room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Uncle,” inquired Sam Grandiere, very anxiously, +“are matters really serious with Roland Bayard?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“So serious, my lad, that I fear for the worst. Unless +he can be disabused of this idea that Silver has impressed +upon him—that he is the pirate’s own son—he +will never be induced to give the testimony that will +convict that pirate and vindicate himself.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“If Miss Sibby Bayard were only here; she might be +of use at this time,” mused Sam, aloud.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Miss Sibby Bayard is here, you bet! Talk of the +devil and you know what follows,” said a voice on the +threshold, and the form of the lady in question appeared +at the door. “When a thing is got to be done, sez I, the +sooner the better, sez I! And so here I am, good folks.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXII<br> <span class='c005'>NEW HOPE</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“Miss Sibby!” exclaimed the assembled party, in one +breath, as they all arose to welcome her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, yes!” said the good woman, after she had shaken +hands all around, and had sunk breathless into the nearest +<span class='pageno' id='Page_130'>130</span>easy chair. “It is all mighty fine to cry out ‘Miss +Sibby,’ as if you were overjoled at the sight of me; but +deeds speak louder than words, sez I. And them as runs +away to the city and leave me behind, sez I, and then +pretends to be glad to see me, sez I, is nothing but +‘sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal,’ sez I. Yes, it’s +you I mean, Sam Grandiere!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But, Miss Sibby, I didn’t run away and leave you, +ma’am,” pleaded the young fellow.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And plenty of room in the carryall, too, as might +have incommodated me very well. The old saying sez +as ‘Where there is a will there is a way,’ and I sez, correspondimentally, +sez I, ‘where there is a way, sez I, +there out to be a will,’ sez I. Yes! I’m talking to you, +Sam Grandiere. You had the way to take me, but you +hadn’t got the will.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Indeed, Miss Sibby, I didn’t know you wanted to +come. I should have been glad enough to take you.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Why didn’t you ask me, then? You might a knowed, +soon as the news reached our neighborhood as all the +folks had come back from furrin parts, and Gideon +Grandiere among ’em, as I would want to come up and +hear news of my lad. But you run away and left me +behind. And when I found it out I just said to myself, +sez I, I’ll just harness up my old mule, sez I, and I won’t +be long behind ’em, sez I. And so here I am.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How did you find us out?” inquired Capt. Grandiere.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“In the funniest way as ever you see. As I was +a-driving slowly up the Pennsylwany Avenue who +should I see but that dog, Joshua, a-walking as majestical +down the street as if the whole city belonged to him. +I knowed him at once, and naterally looked to see who +was along of him. And then who should I see but that +nigger a-walking down the street behind the dog as if +the whole country belonged to him, if you please. So I +<span class='pageno' id='Page_131'>131</span>stopped the mule and hollered to him. And the wust +of hollering after anybody on Pennsylwany Avenue is +that everybody in hearing thinks as you’re hollering +after them. So everybody had to turn and look at me +and my mule. And the nigger stood and stared. And +I had to holler after him again to ax him where his +master was a-putting up. And he come to the side of +the cart and told me, and axed me to let him get in and +drive me to the hotel, ’cause, he said, every one was +a-staring at me.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And so Dickson drove you here, did he, ma’am?” +inquired the old skipper.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He did. But as for the people staring at me, sez I +to that nigger, if I am a show, I’m a free show, sez I, +and it will cost ’em nothing, sez I, and it ain’t often as +the poor white trash in the city gets a good chance to +stare at the descendant of the great duke, sez I, and you +may lay your life on that, sez I. So that nigger got in +and drove the mule, and Joshua marched behind as +solemn as a funeral procession. And so we got here. +And now how is my boy? My adopted neffy? And +where is he?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Roland is in good health. He is at present—ahem!—living +on Capitol Hill,” answered the old salt, who +was unwilling at this juncture to enter into explanations +with Miss Sibby as to Roland’s real state.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And why isn’t the boy staying here with you all?” +inquired the old lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, he—there is no room here. We are fearfully +crowded. The four young ladies have to sleep two in +a bed, in a double-bedded room.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“That’s ruinous to health. Why don’t you all go to +some other hotel?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Because they are all more crowded than this.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then what am I to do?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Sam and I are going out to hunt for lodgings +<span class='pageno' id='Page_132'>132</span>now. We have to find lodgings for my two nieces and +nephew. We will hunt up a place for you also. Of +course, you will stay here to-day.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It is perfectly dreadful! If I had a knowed all this +I’d a-never have left home. I had room enough to turn +round in there, anyways. When people’s well off, sez +I, they ought to be content, sez I. But how is Abel +Force and his wife and Odalite? I don’t see any of ’em +round.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Mrs. Force is not well, and Mr. Force is with her, +I believe. Odalite went to show my two nieces to a room +to take off their things,” discreetly answered the old +sailor.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What’s the matter along of Elfrida Force?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well—she——I really don’t know. Not much, I +hope.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I know. It’s trotting around so much. There’s +where it is. When people gets to be past their prime, +sez I, they ought to take care of what’s left of them, sez +I. ‘Dancing bears,’ sez I, ‘must pay for their airs,’ +sez I.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What sort of a time have you had since the war +began, Miss Sibby?” inquired the old salt, with a view +to take the visitor off dangerous ground.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But he “fell from the frying pan into the fire.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The old lady’s face flushed, and her eyes snapped.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Don’t ask me what sort of a time I’ve had! Old +Scratch’s own time! What with being raided by first +one party and then another, I have hardly a sheep or a +pig or a duck or a hen left on the place. And what with +being called a rebel by the Unioners and a traitor by the +Confederers, I have hardly a morsel of self-respect or +Christian charity left in my heart. And I haven’t a +bit of respect for either party—not I! Clapper-clawing +each other like a pack o’ wild cats for nothing in this +world, as I can see, ’less it is because they haven’t got +<span class='pageno' id='Page_133'>133</span>no furriners to clapper-claw. If free people can’t live +peaceable in a free, healthy, plentiful country, sez I, +the sooner they get the Turkey of Constantinople to rule +over them the better, sez I.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You seem to be excited, Miss Sibby.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“So would you be excited if you had suffered all that +I have. First comes the Unioners and carries off all my +pigs, and calls me a rebel because I object. And then +comes the Confederers and carries off all my fowls, and +calls me a traitor because I don’t see the right of it. +Unioners and Confederers! I calls ’em Blue Bottle +Flies and Gray Back Bugs, I do!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Miss Sibby!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, then, I do! I hain’t no patience with neither +party! A cutting and a slashing at each other like +Injuns! Only last week a lot of Blue Bottles come riding +up and searched the house after a spy—as if I would +harbor a spy!—and after eating up and drinking up +everything in the house, and putting me in fear of my +life, they mounted and rode away, telling me ‘to take +care of myself’! ‘Take care of myself,’ indeed; after +scaring me almost to death.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Miss Sibby! I am afraid you are no——”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Whatever he was going to say was cut short by the +sudden opening of the door, and the reëntrance of Odalite +Force, escorting Mrs. Hedge and Miss Grandiere.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You here, Miss Sibby?” exclaimed the three ladies, +in a breath.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What the Blue Bottles and the Gray Backs has left +of me is here, as you see,” replied Miss Bayard, rising +to receive the welcome of the new arrivals.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And now, Sam, my boy, we will go out hunting +lodgings; and if we can’t find them in the city we will +even go a little way into the country,” said the old skipper, +as he arose and bowed himself out of the room, followed +by his nephew.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_134'>134</span>When they had gone, Lord Enderby, who had been +left out of the talk, now fancied himself out of place. +So he likewise arose and bowed himself out.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the half dozen women were left in the parlor, +they drew their chairs together and fell into a confidential +talk.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Miss Sibby inquired more particularly into the nature +of Mrs. Force’s illness; and Wynnette, with her brusque +frankness, told the truth—that the shock of hearing of +Roland Bayard’s arrest and imprisonment, under the +charge of piracy, had made the lady ill.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Miss Sibby just stared with incredulous amazement.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Roland Bayard! My Roland—charged with piracy? +Why, it is all a funny mistake, you know, that must +soon be set right! And that old gay deceiver, Gideon +Grandiere, to go and tell me that he was boarding on +Capitol Hill, when he was in prison there! What did +he do it for? Was he afeared of scaring me about my +own Roland? Why, Lor’, sez I, when I know my boy is +innocent, sez I, I know his innocence is gwine to shine +forth like the sun at midday, sez I, and make his accusers +ashamed, sez I.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Here it was felt to be right Miss Sibby should be told +of the real state of the case. And so she had to hear all +about the taking of the <em>Kitty</em> by the <em>Argente</em>; when the +skipper and his mate were made prisoners by the pirate, +who set the former at liberty on the coast of Cornwall, +and kept the latter a captive on board the <em>Argente</em>; and +then of the capture of the <em>Argente</em> by the <em>Eagle</em>, and the +bringing of the prize into port with the pirate captain +and his first officer on board; and, finally, the identification +of the two prisoners as Angus Anglesea, alias Capt. +Silver, and Roland Bayard, alias Craven Cloud; and +the alleged paternal claim of the former upon the latter, +which now closed the lips of the claimed son from saving +himself by testifying against the self-styled father.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_135'>135</span>Miss Sibby’s eyes opened, her brows raised, and her +chin dropped in sheer horrified amazement.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Why, them’s all lies!” she indignantly exclaimed. +“Abel Force knows they’re lies! Why don’t he go and +tell the boy better? As to that Anglesea a-turning out +to be no Anglesea at all, no English gentleman at all, +and no military officer at all, but just a pirate, after +being a thief and a forger, I’m not a bit surprised at +that. No more would I be surprised if he was found out +to be Old Scratch himself, allowed to come on earth in +the human form in these very bad times. But as for +anything going amiss with my boy on account of his +being stuffed with lies about that pirate being of his own +father, it shan’t be done! Me and Abel Force will put a +stop to that! Abel Force knows who that boy’s father +is; and I have my suspicions. There shan’t be a hair +of his head hurt! Mind that!” said the old lady, shaking +her head.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Miss Sibby!” pleaded little Rosemary, clasping +her hands prayerfully, and raising her large blue eyes +to the speaker’s face. “Can you—will you—save Roland?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Abel Force can, and he will, or I’ll know the reason +why!” replied Miss Bayard.</p> + +<p class='c007'>For hours longer the conversation ran on Roland Bayard +and the net of circumstances that had caught him in +this perilous false position.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They were still talking when the two gentlemen returned, +and reported that they had found comfortable +lodgings for the travelers, who might take possession of +their new quarters that evening.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Where is Abel Force?” inquired the captain, as they +all went down to luncheon.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Papa sent word down that he did not need luncheon, +but would join us at dinner in the evening,” replied +Odalite.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_136'>136</span>And they began the meal.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And meanwhile where was Abel Force?</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXIII<br> <span class='c005'>TOO GREAT A BURDEN</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>Abel Force went into the little room he had engaged, +adjoining the sick chamber of his wife.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was no more than a closet, and had evidently been +used as a dressing room attached to the large chamber +before the exigencies of war had rendered space in the +house too valuable for the little place to be used for any +purpose but a bedroom.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was furnished very simply, with an iron bedstead, +a washstand with a glass above it, a single chair, and +half a dozen wooden pegs on the door to hang clothes.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force turned the back of the only chair to the +window that was opposite the door and overlooked the +yard; and he sat down and drew the packet he had +taken from his wife’s room, and again looked at the +superscription.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Yes, it was directed in a firm hand to:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Abel Force, Esq.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was tied up with cord and sealed with wax.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But under the cord a little note had been slipped, and +this also was addressed—but in a weak and tremulous +hand—to:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Abel Force, Esq.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>He opened the note to read it. It was without date; +yet he felt sure that it must have been written on that +very morning before the sudden fall of the woman had +prevented her flight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The note ran as follows:</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_137'>137</span>“The hour has come when I must drop the mask of +deceit and show myself in my true colors—a living lie, +a hypocrite, though never, never happy in falsehood and +hypocrisy. Your love and trust have wounded and tortured +me; the reverence of children has humiliated me. +No, never for a moment happy or at ease in my disguise. +It is almost a relief now to throw it off and reveal myself +as I am, even though the revelation must banish me +from your presence and my children’s forever in this +world, and perhaps in the next. Yet, I repeat, it is a +relief to throw off the disguise which has suffocated me +like a heavy cloak these many years; and has been more +than that—has been like Medea’s robe of fire for the +last few years since Anglesea’s first visit to us.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“The inclosed packet contains a manuscript that was +written at intervals during this time, and with a view +to the chance of just such a crisis as has now come. I +leave it for you to read. I do not ask you to pardon me, +for I know there is no such thing as pardon for me in +this world. I do not even ask you to judge charitably +of me—charity is for the sinner, not for the hypocrite. +I only ask you to read the story that you may understand +the fiendish hold one human being had upon my +body, soul and spirit—my very life here and hereafter; +and, after having read it, I, who have no right to ask +you anything, dare still to ask you this—to ask, to plead, +to pray that you will be kind to one who is the guiltless +victim of others’ guilt, and to save him, if you can. And +now, farewell! And oh! my whole heart goes out in +this cry. Oh, God! Oh, God! though I cannot be pardoned—yet, +oh! hear my prayer, and save and bless my +husband and my children!”</p> + +<p class='c006'>That was all.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Abel Force dropped his head upon his breast, and remained +in deep thought for a few moments. Then, with +<span class='pageno' id='Page_138'>138</span>a heavy sigh, he aroused himself, drew a match case from +his pocket, lighted a match, set fire to the little note and +held it down upon the stone window sill, with the point +of his penknife, until it was consumed to ashes.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then he went to lock his door, to prevent intrusion; +but he found that he had already taken that precaution.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Finally, he returned to his chair, cut the cords of the +packet, broke the seal, and read as follows:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“THE STORY OF A WITHERED HEART</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You have often heard how lonely, loveless and neglected +was my childhood and youth. You are reminded +of these facts now, not in excuse of what followed, but +as the causes of the effects that destroyed my life.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You know that I was born at Enderby Castle, where +the first years of my infancy passed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“When I was scarcely four years of age I lost my +mother—too young to understand or to lament my loss. +The pageantry of her funeral is one of the strongest impressions +among the brain pictures of that time.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“A few days after that event my father left Enderby, +taking me with him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We went to Weirdwaste, an estate he had acquired +through his marriage with my mother, situated on the +west coast of Ireland. It was, if possible, even more +drear, lonely and desolate than Enderby Cliff itself.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“This place, in which I was destined to pass my childhood, +was built of gray stone, two stories high, around +the four sides of a hollow quadrangle, at the inland end +of a long, flat point of land stretching far out into the +Atlantic Ocean, which at high tide swept over it, covering +more than two-thirds of the ground; and the moan +of the sea never ceased from the sorrowful shore. +North, west and south around the point of land nothing +but sky and water was to be seen. East—inland—was a +<span class='pageno' id='Page_139'>139</span>wild waste, dotted here and there by the huts of the +poorest peasantry on the island, and that means, also, +the poorest people on the earth.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The old manor house was shockingly out of repair, +but because it was the best building on the estate it was +occupied by my father’s land steward, O’Nally, and +his wife.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“These two had been old servants of my mother’s +family, and had been very much devoted to her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“After my father’s arrival with me at the house they +also acted in the capacity of butler and housekeeper.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My father had brought with him a valet and a +groom, and for me a nurse and a governess.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I was very warmly welcomed and fondly caressed +by my mother’s old servants, and so for the first few +days I was very happy at Weirdwaste.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We had no neighbors but the poor tenantry in the +huts, on the waste behind the manor house.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And we saw no company but the vicar of the little +Protestant parish, in the village of Bantrim, ten miles +inland, and the county practitioner from the same place.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“These two old men remain strong, clear portraits in +the gallery of my memory.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The vicar, Mr. Clement, was a large, fair, clean-shaved, +bald-headed old gentleman, with blue eyes and +a beaming smile. He was very, very good to me, and +I soon learned to love him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The medical practitioner, Dr. Alexander, was a tall, +gaunt, high-nosed, red-faced man, with a shock of iron-gray +hair and whiskers; a formidable frown and a +brusque manner. He also was very, very kind to me, +but I never got over my fear of him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My father did not intend to remain at Weirdwaste, +as I soon found out. He had the vicar and doctor come +and spend the day and dine at the house, so that they +<span class='pageno' id='Page_140'>140</span>might see the child who was to be left at Weirdwaste +under their joint care.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The doctor pronounced me a wonderfully sound and +healthy child, who would grow finely in the pure, invigorating +air of the seaside. The doctor promised to look +after my health, and the vicar to superintend my education. +And both engaged to write frequently and keep +my father advised as to my welfare.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“So, having taken every precaution he thought necessary +to my well-being, and having settled the urgent +business that brought him to Ireland, my father bade +me good-by, and left Weirdwaste to travel on the Continent.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And then began the loneliest life ever led by motherless +child.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“O’Nally and his wife were an old couple. They +kept two old servants—a woman, who did the housework; +and a man, who did the outdoor work. And they +kept an old horse and an old jaunting car.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My nurse was a respectable, elderly matron; my +governess, a discreet, middle-aged maiden, selected by +my father especially for good qualities. Surely I had +all the care and protection that was needed. But I had +no love, no play, no amusement, no companions. Even +the warm-hearted peasant women, who had come down +from their huts on the waste to welcome their little lady +of the manor, came no more after that first day—not +that they had ceased to care for me, but because the +occasion of their coming had passed, and their hard +work kept them all at home.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“On fine Sundays O’Nally took me in the jaunting +car, with himself and his wife, to church, and we heard +Mr. Clement preach, and after the service I sometimes +got a pat on the head, and a smile and kind word from +the vicar. He was a widower without children, so I +never was asked to his house.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_141'>141</span>“Once a week the county practitioner rode out to the +manor house to see after my health, that he might report +to my father. Also, if no one from Weirdwaste happened +to go to church on a Sunday, the vicar would ride +out to the manor in the course of the week to inquire +the cause of absence, and report to my father.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“These occasional drives to church on Sundays, and +semi-occasional visits from the vicar and the doctor, +were the only variations in the monotony of my days, +which were ordinarily passed in this way.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“At seven o’clock in the morning, Nurse Burns would +wake me up, give me a bath, and dress me in such a +plain black frock! I had not even the pleasure of pretty +clothes! And then she would give me my breakfast—such +a plain breakfast of oatmeal and milk! I had +never the indulgence of cakes or sugar plums, which +was all very well for me, no doubt, but which was also +very dull. Then came Miss Murray with the school +books, and I would sit alone with her in the schoolroom, +trying to study my first reader, while she sat reading or +sewing, but scarcely ever speaking.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then came the noon dinner of boiled mutton and +potatoes.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And after that more school for an hour or two.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then a walk on the sands, all around the point, if +the tide was low; or, if the tide were high and the cape +covered with water, we took a walk on the waste behind +the manor house.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Sometimes I got a letter from my father, inclosed +in one to the steward or to my governess.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_142'>142</span> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXIV<br> <span class='c005'>A NEW MOTHER</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“One day I received a terrible shock. Child as I +was, I felt it severely. It came so suddenly, so unexpectedly, +that it fell like a thunderbolt upon me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was a morning in November when the carrier’s +cart stopped at the manor house, and left a box directed +to me, in the care of the steward.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“When it was opened, it revealed a beautiful cake +wrapped in many folds of silver paper. I was delighted, +for I had not tasted cake for months.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But, oh! I did not taste it even then! The letter +that lay on the top of the cake poisoned it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“That letter told me that my father had married and +was spending his honeymoon in Paris. I had a stepmother! +A being whom, I knew not how, or why, unless +perhaps from the idle talk of servants, I had learned +to hate as an evil and to dread as an enemy—though it +never occurred to me that my father would give me one. +And yet he had married within five months after my +mother’s death.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I could not touch the poisoned cake! I know not +what became of it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I cried all that day and many days after. The +steward and his wife and the two old servants who had +known and loved and served my mother, encouraged me +with their sympathy and lamentations to yield to my +grief and despair; but the governess frowned upon me +and lectured me upon my duty to my parents, as it was +her business to do—only it seemed to me cruel in her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“As days passed my passionate grief subsided.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My father did not bring his bride to Weirdwaste, +which was, indeed, no fit place to bring a fine lady. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_143'>143</span>Nor did he send for me to join them wherever they +might be.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He heard regularly from me through the doctor, the +vicar, the steward, or my governess. And he seemed to +be content with my condition.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“So the year passed away. I was thankful to my +father for one thing—that he did not bring my stepmother +and myself together.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“This was all wrong, but I did not know it then. I +was unconsciously influenced by the sentiments of my +own mother’s own old servants who were about me, and +who, whenever Miss Murray was out of sight, would +commiserate with me on the subject of my stepmother, +and then rejoice with me on the fact that no future heir +to Enderby that might be born of the second marriage, +could deprive me of my inheritance of Weirdwaste, +which was mine in right of my own mother.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah me! Enderby Castle and Weirdwaste sounded +well enough in the peerage, but in point of fact the +united rent roll of both places did not reach over a thousand +pounds per annum, and my father, for his rank, +was a very poor man.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I expected to see my father at Christmas. He wrote +to the steward to say that he would come and bring Lady +Enderby with him, and that the house must be made as +comfortable as possible for her reception; and that the +suit of rooms pointing south must be fitted up for her +especial use.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“This letter filled my soul with dismay. I could have +looked forward with delight to the visit of my father, +had he been coming alone; but I could only dread the +meeting with my stepmother.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“However, both the pleasure and the pain were saved +me, for after the servants had got the house ready for +the reception of my father and his new wife, there came +another letter saying that the delicate health of Lady +<span class='pageno' id='Page_144'>144</span>Enderby obliged him to take her to Italy for the winter. +And in place of my father and stepmother’s visit, came +a box of presents.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I was again divided in my feelings—sorry not to +see my father, glad not to see my stepmother.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The Christmas box was a large and well-filled one, +packed with flannels and blankets, and tea and sugar for +the old women in the huts on the waste, and containing +another smaller box with cakes, sweetmeats and sugar +plums for me and my small household.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I heard the steward remark to his wife that the new +countess must be well off, or the earl must have come +into money some way, for this was the very first Christmas +that he had ever sent anything to the poor on the +estate. As the guardian of his daughter, the heiress, +he forgave many of them their rent, but he never helped +them in any other way. And so at Christmas the old +people on the waste were made happy. And now let me +add here that as long as I remained at the old manor +house this Christmas dole came every year.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“After this I heard less of the cruelty of my father in +afflicting me with a stepmother. I heard even less of +the wickedness of stepmothers in general and the probable +enormity of my stepmother in particular.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The old people from the waste came down in crowds +to the manor house on Christmas Day to thank me for +the dole that had been sent to them on Christmas Eve. +This was the only pleasure we had. There was no merrymaking, +and the state of the roads prevented us even +from going to church.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, the dreary winter that followed! No one came +to the house except the vicar and the doctor, who made +weekly calls to report to my father. And we went nowhere +at all. That was my first winter at Weirdwaste. +And here let me add that all succeeding winters were +like that.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_145'>145</span>“I had no companions, no amusements, no occupations +except my schoolbooks and my piano. I had not even +a pet bird, or cat, or dog.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The steward and his wife were good to me, but they +were engaged in their affairs. Miss Murray was faithful, +but when she was not hearing my lessons, or guiding +my fingers over the keys of the piano, she was busied in +reading. I never knew anybody to read so much as she +did. She had no other recreation.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“When the spring returned we began to take walks +on the sand again when the tide was out; and we drove +to church on Sundays when the state of the roads permitted +us.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“On the first of August we received news from my +father. He was at Enderby Castle, to which he had +taken my stepmother for a temporary sojourn. He +wrote to the steward to tell him that an heir had been +born to Enderby; and he wrote to me to say that my +new mother had given me a dear little brother, and that +he hoped I would love them both very much.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I was not quite four years old when my own dear +mother died. I was but a few weeks past five now when +I was told that I had a little brother by my father’s new +wife, and that I must love both.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I could not do it. You will see what a sensitive +and badly trained child I was when I tell you that I +fell into hysterical sobs and tears, and refused to be +comforted. It seemed to me that I had quite lost my +father—that he had been taken away from me by the +new woman and the new child. I remember crying +aloud to my own mother in heaven to come and take +me away, because no one cared for me on earth.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Miss Murray coaxed, lectured, remonstrated, all in +vain. I would not hear reason or receive consolation.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The two O’Nallys and the two old servants sympathized +with me, and petted me, and cried over me. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_146'>146</span>They never said a word against my father or my stepmother, +personally or in my presence; but I often overheard +them saying it was ‘a burning shame to neglect a +child as I was neglected; that I ought to be with my +father and stepmother, wherever they were,’ etc., etc. +And their words deepened in me the sense of injury I +felt.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And yet, in justice to my father and his wife, I must +say that no wrong was intended me. We were all the +victims of circumstances, as you will judge as I go on.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was on this occasion that I wrote my first letter +to my father, with much help from my governess.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“As soon as I had got over my paroxysms of grief, +which did not happen for days, Miss Murray insisted +that I should answer my father’s letter and wish him +joy of his heir, and send my love to my new mother and +little brother.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“This I most positively refused to do, declaring, with +a new burst of tears, that I did not wish him any joy in +his son; that I did not love my new brother, and that I +had no new mother. I had but one mother, who was in +heaven, and I should never have another.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My governess insisted, and tried to intimidate me +into compliance. Whereupon I told her that she should +not wish to make me write falsehoods, and that for my +part I was quite ready to be burned at the stake, like +Bishop Bonner, for the truth’s sake, rather than write +what I did not feel and what was not true.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You see from this what a morbid, sensitive, extravagant +little soul I was even at that tender age, and what +exaggerated views I took of every trial.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My governess had to yield the point. How could +she even wish her pupil to write falsely? We compromised +the matter by my consenting to write a short +note to my father, telling him that I was glad to hear +<span class='pageno' id='Page_147'>147</span>that he was well, and asking him when he would come +to see me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“A week later I got a most affectionate letter from my +father, saying that he would visit his ‘dear little daughter’ +as soon as he thought it would be safe to leave his +wife, who had lain in a low condition ever since the +arrival of her babe.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But my father did not come.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was, in fact, October before the countess was able +to leave her room. Then her physicians ordered her to +the south of France, whither my father soon took her, +with her infant son.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Another dreary winter followed me at Weirdwaste. +The same confinement to the house, without companions, +or amusements, or occupations—except my elderly attendants +and my schoolbooks and music. No visitors +except the vicar and the doctor. No visits except to +church on exceptional Sundays when the roads were +passable. I grew into a very strange child, precocious +in a certain sort of intelligence gained from books, but +backward in all knowledge of child life and depressed in +spirits.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I received occasional letters from my father, and +wrote others, touched up by my governess.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXV<br> <span class='c005'>FATHER AND DAUGHTER</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“It was not until the next June, when we had been +parted nearly two years, that I saw my father again.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He came over suddenly and dropped down on us, so +to speak, on the morning of the fifth of that month.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Steward and housekeeper were both ‘taken aback’ +<span class='pageno' id='Page_148'>148</span>and ‘flustered,’ as they described themselves; yet they +were not unprepared. The house was always as well +kept as the circumstances would permit.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Nor was Miss Murray. She also had done her duty +and could present her pupil without fear of criticism.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We were both in the schoolroom, my governess and +I, when the door opened and some one entered unannounced. +I looked up from my slate, to see a tall, +stately man, with a pale face framed in black hair and +black whiskers, standing in the doorway.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I recognized my father and flew to his embrace, before +Miss Murray could rise to receive him with deliberate +decorum.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My father kissed me with much love and received +Miss Murray’s greetings with stately politeness.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Later on, when I had recovered from my surprise +and excitement at his sudden appearance, he explained +that he had but lately returned to England and had +taken his delicate wife and child to London, which was +then, in the fine June days, at the height of the fashionable +season, and had left them on a visit to his mother-in-law, +the Dowager Lady Burnshot, who had a fine +house near Hyde Park; and that he had seized this first +opportunity to run to Ireland to see his dear little +daughter.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He further explained that he could not bring the +countess and the little viscount because she could not +bear the sea air yet.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He brought me a doll and a doll’s set of furniture, +all of which delighted me almost as much as his visit, +for—will it be believed?—I had not possessed a doll +since the death of my own mother, and I was only six +years old.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My father remained only a few days at Weirdwaste, +during which he invited the vicar and the doctor to dine +and talk with him over the affairs of the estate, and the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_149'>149</span>condition of my health, to thank them for their past +kindness, and to ask their continued supervision of his +daughter’s welfare.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I cannot take her with me to London at present,’ +he said, ‘for we are visiting at the house of Lady Burnshot, +the mother of my wife. Besides, I think, for her +own sake, little Elfrida is much better here for a few +years longer.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The doctor and the vicar agreed with my father, that +I was much better off at Weirdwaste than I could be +in London. And so there was no more to be said.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My father took a very loving leave of me at the end +of the week.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“After he was gone I grieved myself sick! I loved +him so dearly! I longed to go with him so ardently.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But it was not to be.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Why do I linger over these details? Is it because +we all grow garrulous when talking or writing of our +childhood? Or is it because I dread to approach the +period of my life’s tragedy? Or do both these causes +combine to influence me? I know not; but I know that +I must hurry toward that from which I shrink.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“A few weeks after this, being in the heat of summer, +my father came again to see me, bringing my stepmother +and my little baby brother with him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He had written to apprise us of the visit, so we +were all ready for him. All the animosity I had ever +felt against my stepmother vanished when I saw her +pale, patient face. My child heart pitied her, and from +pity I loved her; and did everything in my small power +to please her; except this—I would not call her mother. +I said it would not be right toward my own dear mother, +who was in heaven. And she kissed me, and said she +only was sorry she had not been able to do a mother’s +part by her motherless child, for that she, too, would +soon be in heaven, where she would meet my own +<span class='pageno' id='Page_150'>150</span>mother, when she could only tell her that she loved, but +had not been able to serve, her daughter.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“As for my infant brother, now a year old, I idolized +him. His mother delighted in my affection for her +child.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I have not been able to be good to you, my poor +little girl; but you will be good to him when I am gone, +will you not?’ she inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Indeed, indeed, I will. I will love him better than +myself. I will die for him,’ I said, taking the extravagant +view and using the exaggerated language that was +usual with me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The chills of autumn come very early at Weirdwaste, +and so about the middle of September, when the evenings +began to be cold, my father took my stepmother +and my baby brother back and settled them for a few +weeks at Torquay, then believed to be the best winter +resort in England.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I grieved after them for a week or more. And, oh! +how I wondered why they could not take me with them!</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The reason was this, as I afterward learned: that +the state of Lady Enderby’s health made it impossible +for me to be with them, especially in a lodging house.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My father did not visit Weirdwaste again for a long +time. He spent the winter with his wife and infant son +at Torquay, and in the early summer took them to +Switzerland, and in autumn to the Grecian Archipelago. +In fact, two more years passed before I saw my father +again.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then it was June and the height of the London season, +and he had brought his wife to London and left +her on a visit to her mother, the Baroness Burnshot. +But on this occasion he brought my little brother over to +Ireland and down to Weirdwaste.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The child was now called Viscount Glennon, and +was a beautiful boy nearly three years old.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_151'>151</span>“I was at that time a little old woman of eight. All +the years that I have lived and all the sorrows that I +have suffered have never made me as old as I was at +eight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But again my heart leaped to meet father and +brother, and I loved and adored them. I asked why my +stepmother had not come with them. My father told +me that she was much too frail to bear the sea air even +in summer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He was satisfied with my health, and with my progress +in learning, and so he left us, taking the boy with +him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I had now been more than four years at dreary +Weirdwaste, and had not known any home but the old +manor house, or any society than its inmates. As these +first four years passed so passed the next seven.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My father came about once a year to see me, bringing +my brother with him. He always spent a week at +Weirdwaste, and then returned to England, taking my +brother with him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“His time was entirely devoted to his invalid wife, +whose life seemed only to be prolonged by his incessant +care.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“They were always moving from place to place, as +the seasons changed—in Switzerland, or in Norway, or +Sweden in the summer; in the south of France, in Italy, +or among the isles of the Grecian Archipelago in winter. +Sometimes in the finest weather of the early summer +they came to London, during which time the countess +would visit her mother, and then my father would +take my little brother and come on a flying visit to me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“So the years went on until I reached my fifteenth +year, when the days of my dark destiny drew near.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_152'>152</span> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXVI<br> <span class='c005'>BRIGHTON YEARS AGO</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“You may never have occasion to read these lines, +yet I come to my task from time to time to prepare +them for you.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Let me resume:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I never was reconciled to my lonely life at Weirdwaste, +but as the years passed on, and I grew toward +womanhood the solitude and monotony of my surroundings +pressed more and more heavily upon my health +and spirits.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My father in these years seemed almost to have forgotten +me. He was with my mother on one of the +islands of the Grecian Archipelago—for her health. +My little brother—now a well-grown schoolboy—was at +Rugby. You see, our family of four was scattered.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“About this time my health and spirits became so +seriously affected that Dr. Alexander thought it necessary +to call my father’s attention to the fact. He wrote +to him, and in due time received an answer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was something to this effect:</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘As you recommend the south coast, you will please +take the girl to Brighton, and take suitable lodgings for +herself and her attendants. As she is no longer a child +she must have more advanced teachers. Miss Murray +may be retained as her companion or chaperon, but a +French governess must be engaged for her.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“‘I leave all this to you. Our good vicar will be able +to assist you.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“‘My son will join his sister at the seaside for the +midsummer holidays. Draw on me for the necessary +funds.’</p> + +<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_153'>153</span>“The prospect of any change filled my soul with delightful +anticipations.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was now the middle of June. By the first of July +I was established in delightful lodgings on the King’s +Road, facing the sea.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We had the whole of the first floor, consisting of a +suit of eight rooms—drawing room, dining room, schoolroom, +bathroom and four bedrooms.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I was delighted with the gay vision of life and +motion all around me; there seemed to be a perpetual +gala.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The splendor of the view from my front windows +was not all the splendor of sea and sky; it was fleets of +gayly decked craft, of all sizes and shapes, from the +queenly yacht to the pretty little rowboats; and the pier, +with its bazaars of toys, trinkets and jewelry; the bathing +houses, the frolicsome children in the surf or on the +sands, the brilliant crowds on the esplanade, the bands +of music, the magnificent shops, with displays of sumptuous +fabrics and splendid jewels, not to be surpassed in +those of Paris or Constantinople.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“In fact, to me, who had never been in a town before—to +me, coming from lonely and dreary Weirdwaste—Brighton +was a dazzling, bewildering scene of light, life, +gayety, splendor and magnificence.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And if it was all this viewed only from the front +windows of my lodgings, what was it, let me ask you, +afterward, when my schoolboy brother and his friends +came, full of high spirits, to make the most of our opportunities?</p> + +<p class='c007'>“On the second day after our installment at our lodgings +we were joined by the French governess who had +been engaged for me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She was a small, dark, middle-aged woman, with +black hair, and sharp, black eyes. Her name was De +la Champe—Madame de la Champe. Her last place +<span class='pageno' id='Page_154'>154</span>had been in the service of a duchess, whose last daughter +having just been married, madame found herself +under the necessity of seeking a new engagement, and +had found one through the vicar’s answer to her advertisement.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I did not like her, though she came so highly recommended. +But my prejudice against the Frenchwoman +was not the slightest drawback to my intense enjoyment +of my new and delightful surroundings.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“On the fourth day after our arrival we were joined +by my brother and his friend. My brother was then a +bright lad of twelve, looking older than his years, because +he was really a very precocious boy. He greeted +me with the warmest affection, and promised me a +‘jolly old time.’ His friend was Angus Anglesea, a +young man eight years his senior, who, however, had +formed a strong attachment for the bright lad, and taken +him under his protection.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Angus Anglesea was at this time about twenty years +of age; with a form of medium height, slender and fair, +with light hair and mustache, and blue eyes. His appearance +and manners were pleasing and attractive.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I could not have believed any evil of him then.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“On the day after the arrival of my brother and his +friend, the good doctor, who had accompanied us to +Brighton, took his leave, after having warned my teachers +that their office was, for the present, a sinecure, and +that there were really to be no lessons for the next three +months, or until my health should be fully reëstablished.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“After the doctor left our days were given up to enjoyment—walks +on the esplanade, sails on the sea, bathing +in the surf, drives along the coast, rides over the +downs, saunters on the pier—a perpetual recurrence of +delightful recreations, each one enhancing the pleasures +of all the others.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It seemed paradise to me. My brother lived with +<span class='pageno' id='Page_155'>155</span>us, of course. Angus Anglesea had lodgings near us, +and came every day to join in our amusements.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The Eleventh Hussars were stationed at Brighton +Barracks then, and the officers were often on parade. +Anglesea was not at that time in the army. He received +his commission afterward; but he knew a number +of the officers, and introduced some of them to me. My +French governess or my English teacher was always at +my side on these occasions.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“So three enchanting months passed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My brother’s holidays were over, and he was now to +go to Eton. My father’s London solicitor was charged +with the duty of making all the arrangements for his +entrance into college.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“On the fifteenth of September he left me, with the +promise to return and spend the Christmas holidays +with me, for I was to winter at Brighton.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Angus Anglesea remained at Brighton. Friends and +neighbors of his father’s, in Lancashire—the Earl and +Countess of Middlemoor, with their only daughter—had +arrived at their seaside home on Brunswick Terrace, +and Anglesea had remained to see them. Even +then he was reported to be engaged to the Lady Mary.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Soon I heard that young Anglesea had left his lodgings +and accepted the invitation of the earl and countess +to make their house his home during his sojourn at the +seaside.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“After this we did not see so much of young Anglesea.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He came but seldom to our lodgings, and never +joined us in our walks on the seaside. Whenever we +chanced to meet him, he was in the company of the +Middlemoors, either driving or walking with them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“If Brighton had seemed to me the paradise of life +and light, splendor and gayety, in the summer months, +when the season was at its lowest ebb, what was it, if +<span class='pageno' id='Page_156'>156</span>you please, in the early autumn, when the tide of wealth +and fashion set in?</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No words of mine can describe my impression of it, +my delight in it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The bijou of a theater and the elegant assembly +rooms were opened for the season. The ‘paradise’ was +one panorama of brilliant crowds. It was like nothing +real to my simplicity.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXVII<br> <span class='c005'>LUIGI SAVIOLA</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“I come now to the most fateful day of my unhappy +life. The day on which Luigi Saviola was presented +to me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was in November; but it was bright and sunny +on the seashore.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My companion and chaperon—once my English +teacher—Miss Murray, was confined to the house by a +slight attack of bronchitis, which she was carefully nursing +lest it should become serious.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I was walking on the esplanade, attended by my +French governess.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“At that early hour, ten in the morning, there were +but few people out besides nursemaids and children.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We were sauntering along slowly, when we saw coming +toward us Anglesea and another young gentleman, +walking arm in arm, apparently on the most friendly +and even affectionate terms.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“In a few minutes we met face to face.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Anglesea bowed, and then presented his companion:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Prince Luigi Saviola.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Madame de la Champe received the stranger’s low +bow with all the courtesy of her nation.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_157'>157</span>“I do not know how I received him, I wore a little +round turban hat, with a little thin, gray gauze mask +veil over my face, which completely shaded my features, +while it enabled me to look at the stranger.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I know not if there be any such thing as love at first +sight; for the only real, lasting love of my life was of +slow growth, as you know, Abel. Oh, Abel! you do +know that I love you!</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No! I do not believe there is such a thing as real +love at first sight; but I do know that there is a madness +that apes it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Some fascination made me look at this Italian from +behind the shield of my gray veil, while he talked with +my vivacious French governess, who quickly engaged +him in conversation.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He was young—quite youthful, indeed; and—it is +a very effeminate term to apply to a man—but he was +beautiful—not handsome, but beautiful. He was of +medium height and slender proportions; but he was +perfectly elegant in form and perfectly graceful in gesture. +His profile was purely, finely Grecian. His complexion +pale and clear, his hair, eyebrows and mustache +of darkest brown; his eyes of darkest violet blue. Yet +all this description gives but the outline of the youth’s +form and face—it cannot give the subtle and exquisite +charm of expression which was the chief beauty of his +aspect, nor can it give the lingering music of the most +melodious voice that ever spoke.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Are you displeased with me, that I describe this +stranger so minutely?</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I do it in cold blood, Abel, and only that you may +understand and perhaps pardon the fascination he possessed +over a sensitive, imaginative young recluse, such +as I had been. And some instinct told me even then +that this attraction was mutual, though we did not exchange +a word, and he could clearly see my face.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_158'>158</span>“After a few moments of courteous conversation, the +two young gentlemen bowed and walked on.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I went home in a dream—the face and voice of the +young stranger haunting my spirit.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The Frenchwoman made some few favorable remarks +on the manner and appearance of the young +Italian; but I did not reply—I could not.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I passed the day in a vision. I was like one possessed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Two days later young Anglesea made us the first call +of many days.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Madame de la Champe immediately beset him with +questions about the young Italian.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I said nothing, but listened with the deepest interest +for his replies.</p> + +<p class='c007'>(“This is a confession, you know, Abel. And I mean +that it shall be a full one.)</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I listened with the most eager curiosity to hear all +that could be told of one who had taken complete possession +of my fancy and imagination, if not of my heart.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And what Anglesea told us of Luigi Saviola did but +deepen the profound interest I already took in the young +stranger.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He told us that Saviola was of royal race, yet of advanced +republican ideas. That for the expression of his +principles he was a political exile. He was wealthy, +and his wealth had been confiscated. He was now living +in Brighton on the wreck of his fortune; but was brave, +cheerful and heroic, as we had seen him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“All this, as I say, deepened my interest in Saviola, +and heightened my admiration for him. He was no +longer a most charming person, but he was a hero and +a martyr, a patriot and a humanitarian. And already +I loved, adored, worshiped him, or believed that I did.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You see, Abel, what a very ‘foolish virgin’ I was. +But then, I was a motherless child.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_159'>159</span>“Anglesea was devoted to Saviola, and expressed the +most profound esteem and admiration for him. He +asked permission to bring the young Italian to call on +us.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was an indiscreet request to make; but Anglesea +was young and impulsive.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was an improper favor to grant, but my governess +was vain and faithless, and had herself taken a fancy +to the young Italian, so she consented that he should +come.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The intervening time between this day and the day +of the visit was passed by me in a state of feverish anticipation.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The next evening Anglesea brought Saviola. He +was much more attractive than ever. He talked mostly +with Madame de la Champe, but I felt that he looked +mostly at me—at me, who scarcely ever uttered a word.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“This was the first of many calls—for some time made +only in the company of his friend, and received by me +only in the company of one or both of my governesses.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How can I tell you the progress of that infatuation, +hallucination—call it what you please—that kindled at +the first meeting, and increased with every after interview?</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Saviola never sat by my side in those early days; +never took my hand, except at meeting and parting, +when, with the reverential tenderness of his race, he +would raise it to his lips, bowing over it. He scarcely +ever addressed me with words, but with glances—how +eloquently! All the wooing was done through the passionate +eyes.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“At first I could not look at him at all; then only +very shyly; and then at length my eyes seemed irresistibly +attracted to meet his—even to seek to meet his eys.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Abel, I am telling you everything! I am unveiling +my heart to you! How will you receive my confession? +<span class='pageno' id='Page_160'>160</span>Will you believe that there was no conscious +sense of wrongdoing at the time? But, indeed, there +was none. Will you believe the stranger truth that this +was not love which I gave to Luigi? I did not know +what love meant until I met the one love of my life—years +after this lunacy. Oh, Abel, believe that this +delirium was not love, though even I, knowing no better, +mistook it for love at the time. It was madness; it was +hero-worship, enthusiasm. But not love. This young +Italian exile, beautiful as Adonis in his person, was +idealized and glorified in my vision by his history.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Remember how young I was—scarcely past childhood; +and remember how I had lived isolated from all +society of my own rank and age, secluded in a desolate +old manor house on the Irish, coast, whose very name—Weirdwaste—could +not tell its dreariness; spending my +solitary life in wandering by the seashore during the +days, reading the old romances and poems left on the +bookshelves of the old manor house, and dreaming +dreams and seeing visions that seemed to have come to +be realized in my present surroundings and crystallized +in the person of Saviola.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Abel! Oh, Abel! Pity and pardon me if you +can, for now I come to the part of my life which I +shrink from approaching as a child would shrink from +a fierce fire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Luigi came every day now, whether Anglesea accompanied +him or not. I had learned a little Italian +from Miss Murray, at Weirdwaste, and now Madame +de la Champe was continuing my studies in that language.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Luigi found it out, and begged her permission to +bring me some standard Italian works and to assist me +in the translation.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Madame, who looked upon me only as a child, and +thought the attention of the young Italian so many +<span class='pageno' id='Page_161'>161</span>tributes to her own charms, very affably consented, and +so the exile became my unpaid master in Italian.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The ‘standard’ works he brought were all poetry—Petrarch’s, +Tasso’s and others’ impassioned songs. +These he translated for me in more ways than one—with +his pen, with his tongue, and more eloquently and +effectively still with his glorious eyes.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“As for me, I was far gone in madness before Luigi +ever had the opportunity to speak one direct word of +love to me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The inevitable hour came at last. I was reading +Italian poetry with Luigi.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Madame de la Champe sat near, working a screen +in Berlin wool. Suddenly she got up and left the room +to match some shade of worsted.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The next instant Saviola was at my feet, and, in a +sudden tempest of impassioned words, he told me what +his eyes had told me long ago.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“This was the first time we had been alone since we +had met on the esplanade, and he had seized the occasion.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I could not reply to him; but I did not repulse him, +and he saw that I did not wish to do so.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Madame!’ I whispered, as I heard the Frenchwoman’s +approach, which had not attracted his attention.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He arose at once, and resumed his attitude of teacher.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Madame entered. She had not been gone two minutes.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Gradually, as the intimacy between madame and the +exile advanced, her strict surveillance over me was relaxed. +I was still a child in her eyes, and she was a +charming woman who had fired the young Italian with +admiration. So she did not feat to leave Luigi and +myself together.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“As for Miss Murray, she hated all foreigners, especially +<span class='pageno' id='Page_162'>162</span>Italians, and most especially political exiles, so +she was seldom present during Saviola’s calls. We had +many a <em>tête-à-tête</em>. And for a few weeks we lived happily +in mere certainty that we could see and talk with +each other every day. But then came a change.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Luigi became restless and unhappy. He never +smiled now. He often sighed heavily. He grew paler +than his custom and very thin.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Madame—poor madame—thought the youth was +pining away for her love. And surely she did all she +could to encourage him to speak plainly to her; all she +could, except to tell him in so many words that she was +ready to marry him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“One day she sent me out of the room, and was with +him alone for an hour. I think then she really did propose +to him, and that he saved himself without wounding +her, for when she recalled me to the room Saviola +was gone, and she was in tears, when she said to me:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Ah, the poor prince! He is so honorable, so conscientious. +He sacrifices—he immolates himself! It is +for duty—it is for patriotism! We must cure him of +all that.’”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXVIII<br> <span class='c005'>A MAD ACT</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“So thanks to the blind vanity of the French governess, +the young Italian and her pupil escaped her +suspicion.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We were Romeo and Juliet. We were Francesca +and Paolo, Tasso and Leonora.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah! I have often thought since that it was well, in +the interest of poetry and romance, that the story of +these lovers never carried them into matrimony; for +<span class='pageno' id='Page_163'>163</span>such delirious passion is not the love that lasts through +a long life!</p> + +<p class='c007'>“A disastrous day was fast approaching us.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Luigi had been for some time suffering under the +deepest depression of spirits. Madame looked at him +and sighed as if she understood his secret sorrow and +could console him, if he were not so morbidly honorable +and conscientious, if he were not so determined to sacrifice, +to immolate himself on the altar of duty and +patriotism.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“One morning she left the room on some errand that +her restlessness suggested.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“In another moment Luigi was again at my feet, +pleading with me now to give myself to him, or rather +to take him for myself, for my lover, adorer and husband +at once and forever.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He explained in rapid, vehement words that he was +recalled to Italy; that he must go; that he could not and +would not leave me behind; he would rather die than +leave me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“All this, and much more, he poured forth in a torrent +of words, to which I only replied by tears.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He went on rapidly explaining, lest we should be +interrupted before he got through. He told me that all +was arranged for our flight. That Anglesea would help +us and keep our secret.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Madame!’ I whispered, as my quick ears heard a +footstep on the hall outside.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Meet me on the pier—four o’clock this afternoon. +Come without fail, if you care to save me from selfdestruction!’ +he hastily whispered, as he arose and resumed +his seat.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was not madame who entered, however; it was +Miss Murray.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She bowed stiffly to the Italian, and then glanced +searchingly around the room. Seeing no one present +<span class='pageno' id='Page_164'>164</span>but Saviola and myself—realizing that we were <em>tête-à-tête</em>—she +frowned and sharply demanded:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Where is madame?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘She has just left the room,’ I replied.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Very improper, very irregular, most reprehensible! +I shall write to-day,’ she said, as she sat down bolt +upright on the chair nearest us.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Miss Murray was a conscientious woman, and she +did her duty; there was no doubt of that! but her words +and her threatened action decided me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Swift as lightning through my mind sped this question: +What will be the effect of her letter to my father? +Something that will separate me at once and forever +from Saviola? I could not for a moment endure the +thought.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I looked at my lover, and my look said plainly as +tongue could speak:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I will meet you, and go with you to Italy.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And his eyes responded with equal clearness:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I understand you, and I thank and bless you.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Soon after he took a formal leave of me, and raised +Miss Murray’s hand to his lips and kissed it with devotional +tenderness as he bowed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘He is a very perfect gentleman, as indeed why +should he not be? A man of his rank?’ said the half-appeased +old maiden lady. ‘But all the same, my dear, +he is young and unmarried, and a foreigner! And, what +is worse still, he is a political refugee. Always suspicious +characters, my dear! Always suspicious characters!’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘But Prince Saviola is well introduced, Miss Murray, +and he is staying with the Middlemoors,’ I ventured +to advance in my lover’s defense.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Very true, my dear! But that does not prevent +him from being a foreigner and a political refugee,’ persisted +Miss Murray, in her most absolute manner.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_165'>165</span>“‘I cannot deny the fact,’ I admitted.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And then I went to my room and packed a small +handbag with the merest necessaries for my journey.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We still kept schoolroom hours for meals and had +our dinner at two o’clock.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Madame drank claret and Miss Murray stout at +dinner; but both equally went to sleep in their easy +chairs over the drawing-room fire, while I was supposed +to be busy with my exercises until the five o’clock tea.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Now was my opportunity.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“As soon as my governesses were both asleep in their +chairs, I left the room, went up to my chamber, put on +my outdoor dress, took my traveling bag and left the +house.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Never was there before so perfectly easy and simple +a flight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I walked down the King’s Road until I reached the +new pier, and there at the land end I met Saviola and +Anglesea waiting for me. A close carriage stood within +call.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Saviola was very much agitated.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was Anglesea who spoke first.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘My dear little girl,’ he said, as if he had been +speaking to his niece or younger sister, ‘I do not at all +approve of these proceedings; but as I feel perfectly certain +that you would go on without my consent and assistance, +I think it is best, in the interests of your absent +family, that I should aid and abet you in what you do—see +you safely, legally and regularly through it. Now +do not be frightened. We shall take the train for London. +Thence the night express for Scotland. And to-morrow +morning, as soon as we are over the border, you +shall be married. I shall not leave you until I witness +the ceremony and hold the certificate in my pocket. You +will write to your father and plead your cause as no one +but yourself can do so well. Perhaps he will storm, perhaps +<span class='pageno' id='Page_166'>166</span>he will reproach you, but he will end in forgiving +you—when he has considered all the circumstances. +Here is the carriage.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“While Anglesea had been talking, Saviola had +brought up the vehicle, and now he handed me into it +and entered himself, followed by Anglesea.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We drove at once to the station and took tickets for +London Bridge. In five minutes we three were +crowded into a coupé; and in little more than an hour +we were at London Bridge.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Anglesea, who had resumed the role of friend, guide +and protector to the two young maniacs, took us to a +quiet family hotel, where we three got supper in a private +sitting room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I assure you I do all this in the interests of my +friends, your relatives, my dear. I knew that Saviola +would, sooner or later, run off with you. So I determined +to see you safely through it all!’ he explained +again, as we sat down to supper.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“When the meal was over, Anglesea called a cab and +we all drove to King’s Cross Station, where we were +just in time to catch the night express on the Great +Northern Railway.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Anglesea took a compartment for ourselves, and took +along also a basket of fruit, a bag of cakes, and a box +of bonbons, for he knew that I was still child enough to +love sweetmeats. He also took half a dozen of bottled +lemonade and ginger beer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We none of us slept a wink that night, but laughed +and talked all night, and ate and drank at intervals.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I did not at all feel the gravity of the situation. I +had not left any one behind whom I cared much about, +or to whom I thought I owed any duty. So, I had no +regrets or compunctions on that score.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“As for my dear father, time, absence and negligence +had really estranged us, or seemed to have done so.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_167'>167</span>“I even thought my marriage might bring us closer +together; for Luigi had promised to take me to him as +soon as he should consent to see me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“So, without a regret for the past, or a misgiving of +the future, I yielded myself up to the joy of the present.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was a very happy journey. Excitement kept us +all from feeling the least sense of fatigue.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“About dawn we stopped at a wayside station.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Here we are,’ said Anglesea, as the guard called +out the name of the place.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We alighted, and Anglesea, keeping up his rôle, proposed +that we should go first to the hotel which stood on +the other side of the track.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘We must get washed, and combed, and fed, my +children, before we can present ourselves before the minister,’ +he said, speaking to us as if we were indeed children +and he were quite a venerable party. He was, in +truth, younger by a year than Saviola.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We went to the hotel, the ‘Victoria,’ where two rooms +were engaged—one for me alone, and one for Anglesea +and Savialo jointly.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I went to mine to refresh my toilet. I had never +dressed myself without the help of a maid in my life, +and hardly knew how to go about it. However, I rang +for the chambermaid, and with her assistance I took a +bath and made a change of clothes.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“After this I went down and joined Anglesea and +Saviola in the ladies’ parlor. They took me to breakfast +in the coffee room; and soon after that we all three +walked out in search of a minister. No marriage license +was required in Scotland.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We found a church, with a parsonage adjoining.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We all three passed through the gate leading into +the grounds before the house.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But only Anglesea went up to the door and rang the +bell.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_168'>168</span>“A servant maid opened to the summons.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Anglesea spoke to her, and both disappeared in the +house, leaving the door ajar.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“After a few minutes Anglesea reappeared at the +door, and with a smile beckoned us to come in.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We entered the hall, and were immediately conducted +by our ‘guide, philosopher and friend’ to the minister’s +study on the right hand of the hall.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“There stood a venerable man, with white hair, and +clothed in clerical black, to receive us.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Very few questions were put to us, and our answers, +mostly given through Anglesea, were satisfactory.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We were then asked to come up and take our stand +before the minister. And in a very few minutes the +marriage ceremony, which I believed had made us man +and wife, was completed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then the old minister gave us a solemn lecture on +the duties we had assumed. And then he made a fervent +prayer for us, and ended by giving us his blessing.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Anglesea paid him a munificent fee, for which the +old man gave him thanks.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘And a marriage certificate, if you please, reverend +sir. I am acting on the part of this young lady’s absent +friends, and I must omit no necessary formality,’ said +Anglesea.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The demand was unusual; the certificate was considered +unnecessary. The old minister told us so, and +added that he had no printed form and never had had +any.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Then we will take a written form. Just write that +on this day, in this place, you have united in marriage, +Luigi Saviola, of Naples, Italy, and Elfrida Glennon, +of Northumberland, England. Sign it yourself, as the +minister, and allow me to sign it as a witness. It would +also be better, too, if you could call in some member of +your family to sign as a second witness. I think I have +<span class='pageno' id='Page_169'>169</span>seen the young woman who let us in peeping through the +door through the whole performance. Please call her as +a second witness.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The old man sighed and sat down to the table where +his stationery lay, and wrote out the certificate.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Anglesea read it critically, expressed himself satisfied, +affixed his signature as witness, and then put the +pen in the hand of the maid, who had been called in for +the purpose, and who now scrawled her name under that +of Anglesea.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And it was finished.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXIX<br> <span class='c005'>AFTER THE MARRIAGE</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“We took leave of the old minister, who shook hands +warmly with us at parting, repeating his benediction.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We returned to the hotel, where Anglesea paid the +bill and reclaimed our bags.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then we went to the station, where we had to wait +some little time for the London train.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It came up about nine o’clock. We entered it and +were off to London. The daylight journey was even +more pleasant than our festive night ride. I, who had +been so confined all my life, could see the beautiful and +varied scenery—the lakes and mountains of Northumberland; +the moors and forests of Yorkshire; the castles, +country seats, hamlets and farmhouses along the way. +And to me all this was novel and delightful.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We reached London at nightfall. And there we +parted with Anglesea, who returned to Brighton to rejoin +his friends the Middlemoors.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“As we were really very tired with our twenty-four +<span class='pageno' id='Page_170'>170</span>hours of travel, without sleep, we went to the Norfolk +Hotel for the night.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The next day we spent in seeing some of the sights of +London, which I had never seen, and which, of course, +filled me with wonder and interest—indeed, all my life +since I had left Weirdwaste was marvelously changed +and enlarged, even as if I were born in a new world.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The next morning we took the tidal train from London +Bridge and went down to Dover to meet the Calais +boat.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘We will spend a month in Paris, my soul,’ said +Luigi to me, as we entered the train—‘a full month, no +less, my life.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘But have you not to go immediately to Italy?’ I +inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Oh, no; I am recalled—that is, I am permitted to +return, not commanded to do so,’ he explained.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Oh, then I misunderstood you.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes,’ he said.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘And your estates, dear Luigi. Are they restored to +you?’ I next inquired, without one mercenary thought +in my heart.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes,’ he replied, with a curious smile. ‘Such as +they are, my love and life, they are restored to me.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘What do you mean?’ I questioned.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘That they were not worth keeping from me, my +own. Yet, fear not. I am not without resources. We +shall spend a gay month in Paris.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And so we did.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We reached that city the next morning and took +apartments at the ‘Splendide.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“If to my rustic mind Brighton had been a delight +Paris was now a rapture.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Is there,’ I asked of Luigi, after only one day’s experience +of the city—‘is there another place in all this +world so heavenly as Paris?’</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_171'>171</span>“He looked at me a few seconds in silence, and then +replied, with more knowledge than his years could have +promised:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘No, my soul! There is no place on this planet so +celestial, or so infernal, as is this city.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I stared at him in dismay.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Never fear, my love. You shall never see or hear +the infernos of the city.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“That day I took time to write to my father. I had +not an hour’s leisure during our mad journeys to do so +before.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I told him all the circumstances and all the experiences +of outer and inner life that had driven me to +take my fate in my own hands and go away with Luigi +Saviola to be married. And I gave him all the details +of the journey and the ceremony. And I ended by imploring +him to forgive us both and to receive us on a +visit.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“After that act of duty, I plunged with Luigi into +all the gayeties of gay Paris, and saw no signs of the +‘infernos.’ Music, the drama, balls, excursions, these +filled up our days, for a month of mad rapture.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then, about the middle of December, we went down +to Marseilles, and took a steamer to Naples, where we +arrived in health, spirits and safety.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I had often questioned Luigi about his family, but +he told me he had none to speak of. He was an only +child; his father and mother were among the angels in +heaven. His uncle was a priest and missionary in +Brazil. His two aunts were nuns—one in a Benedictine +convent in France, the other in an Augustine sisterhood +in Spain.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I had questioned him about his home.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He had described to me a half ruined and wholly +uninhabitable castle situated among the forest-covered +mountains of the wild Abruzzo.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_172'>172</span>“But oh! how I longed to go there! All my love of +the historic, the romantic, the picturesque was engaged +in that longing!</p> + +<p class='c007'>“On our landing at Naples I proposed to go.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But he told me that at this season of the year the +roads were so very bad as to render the journey impracticable.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He took me to the ‘Vittoria,’ where we rested for a +few days.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Here again I wrote to my father, telling him of my +first letter, which I feared had never reached him, and +repeating at length the story of my marriage, and the +plea for his pardon.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I waited weeks for an answer before I gave up hope.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Naples did not offer many sources of amusement, but +we availed ourselves of all that was to be obtained.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was during our sojourn in this city that I gradually +learned—what I was very unwilling to believe and +very deeply distressed to know—namely, the nature of +those resources of which Luigi had spoken to me; they +were the gaming tables, at which he was almost always a +successful player. My hero, and martyr, and patriot +was a gambler!</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was a great grief, and I never really recovered +from it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He won large sums of money, and lavished gifts +upon me which gave me no pleasure.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“About the middle of February we went to Rome for +the carnival, for Lent was rather late this year.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And, after the week of orgies, we still remained in +the ‘Eternal City’ until the end of March, that I might +see all its glories, and, ah me! not a few of its shames.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“In April we went to Venice—the city of a hundred +isles. I thought I had seen the most marvelous and enchanting +things in the world, but here again wonder +upon wonder burst upon my amazed soul.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_173'>173</span>“Why should I go on writing all this like the index +of a guidebook?</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You and I have gone over Europe together. You +know me, and may judge what it was to me the first +time.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Let me be brief now.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Luigi, wherever we went, pursued his profession, +and was never without ‘revenues.’ I looked in vain for +any sign of heroism, self-devotion or patriotism in him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Sometimes in the cities we passed through, in the +public gardens, or the parlors of hotels, I heard questions +discussed which stirred my blood—questions of the +rights of man in all its ramifications—questions that +made my heart beat in sympathy.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“They never moved him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And I wondered. Once I asked him if he really had +lost all interest in the welfare of the world.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He shrugged his shoulders, and replied that he never +had felt any.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“On another occasion, when I spoke of the elevation +of mankind, he answered:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘We are young. We are fair. We are healthy. We +are happy. Let us enjoy ourselves, and let mankind go +to Hades.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dark-eyed Luigi was neither hero nor martyr; +neither patriot nor humanitarian. He was only a beautiful +and joyous youth, bent on making the merriest of +every hour of life at cost of anybody else, except of himself +and me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, how I was disappointed in him! A broken idol +is a very sad event in the life of a romantic dreamer, +I fancy.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I began to try to remember how I had ever got the +idea that he was a patriot and a political refugee, and +the rest of it. And I recollected that it was from Anglesea +and from Madame de la Champe.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_174'>174</span>“He—Luigi—had never pretended to be anything but +my lover. And he was my lover still. He continued to +be my lover to the last of his short, young life.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I must pass on now to the tragedy of our marriage.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXX<br> <span class='c005'>AWAKENING</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c009'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>There is not in this world of sin</div> + <div class='line'>A soul so deeply sunk therein,</div> + <div class='line'>Thronged though it be with crimes and cares,</div> + <div class='line'>Revenges, malices, despairs,</div> + <div class='line'>However dire the phantoms there,</div> + <div class='line'>However pestilent its air—</div> + <div class='line'>But in its thoroughfares, night and day,</div> + <div class='line'>There ever is some golden ray,</div> + <div class='line'>Like a sweet child from home astray—</div> + <div class='line'>Some light of Heaven, some fragment thence</div> + <div class='line'>Of primal love and innocence,</div> + <div class='line'>Which keeps the angels on its track</div> + <div class='line'>To lure and win and lead it back.</div> + <div class='line in20'>—<span class='sc'>Wm. H. Holcombe.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“We lived at the best hotels in every town and city +where we stopped, but we never stayed long at any place. +Saviola was too successful a gambler for that.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He was always kind to me, and would have loaded +me with jewels and costly dress, but that I would have +none of them, for my soul was troubled by the way in +which he made his money—a way that he no longer tried +to conceal from me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I had periodical fits of homesickness, during which +I wrote to my father and to my teachers, but without +<span class='pageno' id='Page_175'>175</span>in any instance receiving a reply. Then I would write +again and again, with no better result. And finally I +would give up hoping to hear from them, and try to +resign myself to my fate; until my next attack of homesickness +would set my pen in motion again.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Later on, not homesickness alone, but remorse and +despair and terror seized me. I was beginning to lose +all hope of ever being forgiven by my father; and, ah +me! I was also beginning to lose esteem for my husband, +for whose sake I had left all my friends and relations.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Luigi was still fond of me in that way that a child +is fond of a favorite toy of which he is not yet tired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I had discovered my own self-deception.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Other young girls have come to grief and death +through their deception by others. I had only myself +to blame! Myself had only deceived me. But it was +bitter! oh, how bitter! to find out that the hero, martyr, +patriot and humanitarian I had imagined, was only a +very handsome young gambler, who was not too honest +or truthful!</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My undeceived soul sickened at him and at myself!</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My very last attack of homesickness found us at +Geneva, where we had an elegant suit of apartments in +the Hotel Beau Rivage.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Again in one day I wrote five letters to absent +friends—to my father, to Miss Murray, to Madame de +la Champe, to Dr. Alexander, and to the Rev. Mr. +Clement. From some of these I should surely get an +answer. But week after week passed and no answer +came to me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“In the second month after our arrival at Geneva, +Saviola was suddenly called to Paris—on imperative +business, he said; but I had learned to distrust. I could +not accompany him—my state of health utterly precluded +the idea of my traveling. He took a very affectionate +<span class='pageno' id='Page_176'>176</span>leave of me, and promised to be back again +in a few days.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘A few days’ is a vague term! Yet I was not disturbed +by that. He left me, and I never saw his face +again.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Just one week after he went away my child was born—a +boy. I was very healthy, and had a rapid convalescence, +notwithstanding the suspense and anxiety I +was suffering on account of my father.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I wrote to Luigi—to the address he had given me—and +informed him of the event. But I received no reply +to my letter. Yet, I got better every day, and I took +great comfort and delight in my child. Also, I daily +expected the return of Saviola to answer my letter in +person—for I remembered that he hated to write, +and was therefore one of the very worst correspondents +in the world.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But I was disappointed. Day followed day, week +succeeded week, and I neither saw nor heard from +Saviola, nor received any answers to any letter written +to my father and friends.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I knew that my father must long have left the archipelago, +but I supposed that he must have—as usual—left +orders for any letters that might come for him after +his departure to be forwarded to his new address; so, +though I had expected delay, I had not anticipated final +disappointment.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was now the first of October, and many tourists +were leaving the lake. Saviola had left me amply provided +with funds, so that I had no fear of embarrassment, +especially as I was very economical, only applying +the ill-gotten money to my barest necessities. Besides, +I had my boy, so that I was able to wait quite cheerfully +the return of my husband.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah me! It was not Saviola that I was troubled about. +It was my father. At length it occurred to me to write +<span class='pageno' id='Page_177'>177</span>to my father’s London bankers to inquire for him. And +I wondered that I had never thought of doing so before.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“On this occasion I received a prompt answer, which +was at once encouraging and depressing, as you will see, +contradictory as the statement seems. Messrs. Rhodes +told me that the earl had taken the countess to the Canaries +for her ladyship’s health, and that they had wintered +there, but that in May they had sailed for an extensive +yachting cruise, from which they were expected +to return to England some time in February.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“So my father could never have received any of my +letters, and was therefore not the unbending, unforgiving, +pitiless father I had thought him. He had probably +written me many letters whose final destination was the +dead-letter office. I might still hope for his ready forgiveness. +So far the news was encouraging.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But, then, on the other hand, he would not return +until February. This was the depressing feature in the +letter. Yet the encouraging circumstances outweighed +the depressing item, so that, on the whole, I was more +hopeful and more cheerful.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“As the days of October grew shorter and cooler I +began to be impatient to leave the place, and for this +reason eager for the return of Saviola. At length I +grew really despondent. It was about this time—the +middle of October—that I saw in the little Geneva paper +an item that startled and delighted me. It was under +the head of ‘Arrivals.’ It was but a line:</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘The Hon. Angus Anglesea, England—Hotel des +Bergues.’</p> + +<p class='c006'>“Without an instant’s delay I sat down and wrote a +note, asking him to call on me at the Beau Rivage.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The thought of meeting one home face—and that +the face of my brother’s dear friend, Saviola’s good +<span class='pageno' id='Page_178'>178</span>friend, my own true friend, who had traveled with us +to Scotland to see that I should be regularly married +before he left me under the protection of Saviola—filled +my soul with delightful anticipations.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He came promptly in response to my summons. It +was only noon when the waiter opened the door of the +little drawing room where I sat, and announced:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘The Hon. Mr. Anglesea.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I sprang up and held out both my hands to welcome +him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He raised one to his lips, bowed over it, and said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I hope I find you well, madame.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Oh! I am so glad—so glad to see you!’ I exclaimed, +at random.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He took a seat.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I sank into my easy chair, my heart beating with excitement, +with tumult, only to see the face of a friend.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I am very happy to come to you,’ he said. ‘I hope +Saviola is well,’ he added—dubiously, as I thought.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘He is always well,’ I replied. ‘He is in Paris.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘You hear from him daily, of course?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘No. He is a poor correspondent. I shall not hear +from him until I see him, I fear.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He looked very grave, but made no comment.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I hastened to ask him if he knew where my father +then was.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“His reply confirmed the bankers news—the truth of +which, by the way, I had never doubted.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He said that my father was wintering in the Canaries +for the sake of the countess’ health, and that Viscount +Glennon, my brother, was with them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“This was the reason, then, why I had never heard +from my brother.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Mr. Anglesea appeared preoccupied while he spoke. +Then, after a short silence, he said:</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_179'>179</span>“‘Ah, madame, pray do not consider me impertinent. +Believe me, I speak only in your own interests——’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘As you acted when you went to Scotland with us,’ +I added.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Precisely, Madame la Princesse.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Then speak freely, Mr. Anglesea. I shall not take +offense.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Then I wish to inquire when you last heard from +Luigi Saviola.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I hated to answer that question—to confess the many +days that had elapsed since I had seen or heard from my +husband. Yet I answered:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I have not heard from him since he left here for +Paris, six weeks ago.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Ah!’ he said, very gravely.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘But I expect to see him soon,’ I added.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Indeed!’ he exclaimed, in surprise.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes, indeed. Of course. Why not?’ I demanded, +in astonishment.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He was silent.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Why not?’ I again demanded, uneasily.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He looked grave.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘What do you mean, Mr. Anglesea?’ I exclaimed, +anxiously.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Ah, madame!’ he sighed. ‘You know so little of +the world! So little of the world!’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Mr. Anglesea, you distress me. Has anything happened +to Saviola?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Ah, madame, you were but a child when you went +off to marry the Italian. I—knowing full well that I +could not prevent that mad act which was sure to take +place—went with you, for your sake, for your brother, +my friend’s sake, to prevent any fatal error from being +committed. I thought I had prevented calamity to you. +I know better now. Ah, yes!’</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_180'>180</span>“‘Mr. Anglesea,’ I said, ‘you frighten me. What has +happened? I implore you to tell me.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Not now! I cannot! But do not be alarmed! +Take courage! I am your friend! I will see you +through this trouble.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘No! you must tell me—now! Has—has—has——’ +I could scarcely bear to put the question; but I nerved +myself to do it. ‘Has Luigi left me—deserted me?’ +And I sank back and covered my burning face with my +hands.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘How shall I answer your question, madame? But +put the question rather to your own intelligence. He +left here six weeks ago. He has not returned or written +to you since. Any one less youthful, innocent and inexperienced +than yourself would draw inferences from +these circumstances. Will you excuse me now? I will +see you this evening. May I?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes,’ I answered, mechanically.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He bowed and left the room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I was alone again. I wished to be alone to collect +my thoughts. It had never occurred to me that Saviola +would desert me—never!</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He had ceased to be my king, my hero, my idol. +He had revealed himself to be a gambler, a sharper, an +adventurer. I had long ceased to love, trust, or respect +him. Still, I knew that he was fond of me, in his way, +and so I never imagined that he could forsake me. And, +now that the possibility was presented to me, it filled me +with more wonder than sorrow or mortification.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I was not nearly so much troubled by the possible +desertion of Saviola as I had been by the long silence +and fancied implacability of my father. I was sorry for +Saviola only because, though I had ceased to love, or +trust, or respect the man, I had begun to compassionate +him. He seemed so much weaker than I was.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“With this feeling of pity and regret was mingled +<span class='pageno' id='Page_181'>181</span>one of intense relief. I had so little to lose in losing the +man whose life was a constant source of shame and fear +to me! But, whatever he may have been, his rank was +unquestionable. I had been lawfully married to him, +and I was the Princess Saviola. And my son was Prince +Rolando Saviola. No one could deprive us of these old +and honorable, though now empty, titles.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I soon reconciled myself to my desertion, even if I +did not rejoice in my deliverance. I made up my mind +to take my child and go directly to Weirdwaste, my own +inheritance from my mother, and there await my father’s +return to England; then confess the whole truth to him +and throw myself upon his love and his protection.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But, ah, Heaven! I did not yet know the worst!”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXXI<br> <span class='c005'>PRETENDED CONSOLATION</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“In the evening Anglesea called on me again.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“His manner was full of the most respectful sympathy. +He was my brother’s dearest friend. He had +acted in my father’s and my brother’s absence as my own +best friend; and, since he could not prevent my romantic +escapade, he had attended me in the character of a +guardian, to see that no fatal mistake was made through +Saviola’s ignorance of national laws and customs. +Therefore, I had every reason to trust in him and confide +in him as in an elder brother.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I was alone, in the little drawing room, when he entered. +I received him as warmly, though more gravely, +than when he had called at noon.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“When we were seated I asked him—as I would have +<span class='pageno' id='Page_182'>182</span>asked my brother—whether my husband had really, +finally abandoned me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He looked searchingly into my face, as if to see how +I would be likely to take his answer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Finding in my expression no very distressing +anxiety, but simply a wish to know the truth, he replied:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Saviola has disappointed us all. If I were not +speaking to you I should say that he is scarcely worthy +of thought, still less of regret.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘But—are you sure? Has he really and finally +abandoned me?’ I repeated.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘He has.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘You are sure of this?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I am.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>His words and tones were grave, sweet and compassionate.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Where is he now?’ I next inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘In Paris.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I must write to him again, then,’ I said, with the +idea that, although I no longer loved or respected the +man, he was my husband, and to write to him was my +duty. ‘I will—will write to him to-night.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘You may do so,’ he said, gravely and tenderly. +‘Nay, I would even counsel you to do so for the relief +of your own mind, and that you may never have the +slightest cause for self-reproach. But I warn you that +it will have no effect whatever upon Saviola. He will +not answer your letter.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘He has not answered any letter of mine since he +left for Paris. But, surely, if I write and ask him, +plainly, whether he ever means to return to me, and beg +him to reply, so that I may know what to do, he will +answer.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘No, he will not. But, to satisfy yourself, write to +him at once. Then you will know, Elfrida!’”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_183'>183</span>“In the days when we three—Anglesea, my brother +and myself were as intimate and familiar as the children +of one house—he had followed suit with Francis and +called me by my Christian name, and sometimes by its +abbreviation. I had liked it then, and I liked it now, +though this was the first time, since my marriage, that +he had given it to me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes, I will write to-night. I will write at once,’ I +said.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Then I will bid you good-evening. There is a mail +that closes at eleven o’clock. If I leave you now you +may be able to secure it,’ he said, rising.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Thank you, Angus. Come again to-morrow,’ I +said, using the name I had been accustomed to give him +when he was the daily and beloved companion of my +brother and myself.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He took my hand, bowed over it and left the room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then I sat down to my desk to write the letter to +Saviola in Paris.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I did not reproach him, nor lament his absence, nor +write in any way unkindly or sorrowfully to him. I +simply reminded him how long he had been gone; how +many letters I had written that remained unanswered, +and then inquired whether he meant to return to me, +and if so, when? I ended by telling him that my little +son and myself were in good health, and begging him to +answer me to the point that I might know what to do. +So I left him at perfect liberty to act for himself.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“When I had sealed and directed this letter I rang +and dispatched it to the hotel bag that left the house at +a quarter to eleven.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then I went to bed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My child usually slept with his nurse in a little room +off my bedchamber. But now I called her to bring the +baby to me; and I took him into bed and drew him to my +bosom, finding comfort in the thought that my child +<span class='pageno' id='Page_184'>184</span>would never desert me, and that no one on earth had +power to take him from me. What a soothing balm +that little form was pressed to my heart.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I lay awake nearly all that night, not with trouble +or anxiety, but with thoughts and plans for the future +of my child and myself.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I had made up my mind. If I should get no answer +from Saviola I would make ready and leave Switzerland +for Ireland. I would go with my child to Weirdwaste, +which was my own, and live there as I had lived +before the fatal journey to Brighton. I would live +among my warm-hearted Irish tenants, who, poor as my +forefathers had been for generations, had never been oppressed, +but always helped to the extent of our power. +They had loved my mother, had loved me for her sake, +and they would now welcome and love my child, who +would be the heir of Weirdwaste, if of nothing more.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I would live at Weirdwaste until the return of my +father, when I would confess all my faults and follies +to him, and appeal to his affection for forgiveness and +protection.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“In two years and a few months I should be of age, +and should enter into the full possession of my poor, old +estate.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I should live there always, and bring up my boy to +be a Christian gentleman and a good and wise landlord.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The excellent vicar should be his tutor and look +after his education, and the amiable doctor should be +his physician and look after his health.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Francis, my dear brother, would visit me often, I +felt sure. My father would come sometimes. These +were all I really cared to see.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We should be happy—my little son and I—in spite +of all that had passed. He would never, from his +father’s example, grow up to become a gambler, a wine +<span class='pageno' id='Page_185'>185</span>bibber, or an adventurer. He should be trained to become +an honor to his name and a blessing to his tenantry.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Thinking these pleasant thoughts I fell asleep at last +and realized all my anticipations—in my dreams!</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The next day, and every day for a week, Angus +Anglesea came to see me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He no longer spoke of Saviola; but he talked to me +of my dear brother, his own dearest friend—a theme +of which I never tired. He told me that his ardent +studies at Eton had overtasked his strength. His physicians +recommended a long vacation, and a total change +of air and scene. Therefore, he accompanied his father +and stepmother to the Canaries—Dr. Alexander and the +Rev. Dr. Clement, of Weirdwaste, attending the party, +as traveling physician and private tutor.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘So,’ said I, ‘that is the reason why none of my letters +addressed to my old friends at Weirdwaste were +ever answered. But since the vicar and the doctor were +conscripted for foreign service, who, may I ask, was +left to take charge of the souls and bodies of the poor +people at Weirdwaste?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘My child, clergymen and physicians are as plenty +as wild berries. A curate without a parish and a doctor +without a practice were easily found to fill the places of +the hard-worked and badly paid old vicar and doctor, +who needed rest and change about as much as any of the +traveling party.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘So all my friends are in the Canaries!’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Except myself, Elfrida. I am here, and I will remain +near you, to guard you as an elder brother, until +your fate is decided.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘A girl’s fate is supposed to be decided when she is +married, but that does not take into account the possibility +of her desertion by her husband,’ I replied, but +without any bitterness of feeling.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘No,’ he admitted, very gravely—‘no, because such +<span class='pageno' id='Page_186'>186</span>possibilities are as exceptional as they are tragical. But +take courage, Elfrida. As I was your brother’s truest +friend and brother, so I will be yours, to remain near +you, to guard you and assist you as long as you may +need me.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Thank you, Angus! Oh, thank you! I am glad +that all my family and friends are in the Canaries, since +it is so good for them to be there. And I am glad—oh! +so glad that you are here, Angus! I do not feel quite +alone and helpless now that you are here. It is very +good of you to say that you will remain near me until +something is settled. But will not your doing so interfere +with some of your previous engagements?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Not with any,’ he replied. ‘I am an idle man. +And even if it were not so—even if I were over head and +ears in business—I should let all go in order to be of +service to my dear friend’s sister in her need. And believe +me, Elfrida, I find the greatest happiness in serving +you.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“His generous devotion moved me to tears. I +thanked him in the most earnest words at my command.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The week passed, and no letter came from Saviola. +I was not disappointed, for now I scarcely expected to +get one. I reconciled myself to my fate as a forsaken +wife all the more cheerfully for my child’s sake, who +would be thus saved from the baleful effects of his +father’s evil example.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The week passed, and though no letter came from +Saviola, no word on the subject was spoken between +Anglesea and myself.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_187'>187</span> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXXII<br> <span class='c005'>A WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“Anglesea watched me closely, as if in anxiety to +see how much this suspense and uncertainty might affect +my health and spirits. And I think he was surprised +and pleased to discover that I was not distressed by the +situation.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was on the eighth day after my letter had been +dispatched that the subject of that letter was first mentioned. +It was I who first spoke of it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Anglesea came in to make his usual morning call.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“After our greetings were over, and we had sat down, +I said to him:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘It is now more than a week since I wrote to Saviola. +I have now no longer the faintest hope of receiving +an answer to my letter. I shall not wait here longer. +I shall leave Geneva to-morrow.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I never supposed for a moment that you would +ever hear from him again. I knew, in fact, that it was +impossible for you to do so; but I wished you to prove +the question to yourself,’ he gravely replied.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘You knew it! I thought that you inferred it!’ I +exclaimed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘My inference amounted to moral conviction; moral +conviction to positive knowledge.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I did not answer him. I scarcely understood him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘What do you propose to do, Elfrida?’ he inquired, +gravely and tenderly taking my hand, and then adding: +‘Whatever it may be, you see me here ready to stand by +you, to counsel and assist you to the utmost of my +ability.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Oh! I thank you, Angus!—I thank you with all +<span class='pageno' id='Page_188'>188</span>my heart and soul! You are indeed a friend and brother +raised up to me in the time of need!’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I see—I hope I see clearly—that you are wasting +no vain regrets on the man who is unworthy of your +thoughts,’ he said, with a strange look that puzzled me, +coming from him. I cannot define the look; I had +never seen such a one on his face before, and it troubled +me; I answered him:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I am not grieving as you see; but we will not talk +of Saviola; he is my husband after all, you know.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Ah!’ he said, in a sort of equivocal tone that again +disturbed me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘What shall you do now, Elfrida?—after leaving +Geneva, I mean?’ he next inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I shall go at once to England, cross over to Ireland, +and take up my abode at Weirdwaste, where I lived so +long before that fatal visit to Brighton.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘To—Weirdwaste!’ he exclaimed, in some surprise.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes. It is a poor old manor, but it is my own +property in right of my mother, and I shall come into +full possession of it as soon as I am of age.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘But—to that wild, dreary, solitary home, where +you spent so many lonely, secluded, unhappy years. And +of which you complained to your brother and myself so +bitterly?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes. It seemed all that you have described it to be +to my wilful and impatient childhood and youth, when +I longed to see and know the world. I have seen and +known enough, and more than enough, of the world, and +now my thoughts turn to Weirdwaste and its quiet life +as a haven of rest.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘My poor Elfrida! You would wear your young +heart out in such a solitude!’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘No; I would not. I should have my child to occupy +and interest me; and I shall have the poor on the +estate to look after.’</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_189'>189</span>“‘These duties could not fill your heart, Elfrida. +You would languish into melancholia or death. Listen, +Elfrida—dearest Elfrida! You talked of that wild seacoast +manor house as a haven of rest. It would not be +so. It would be to you as a desert, a prison, an exile. +See, Elfrida! Here is your true haven of rest!’ he said, +bending toward me with a look that sent all the blood +rushing to my head and face.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘What do you mean? Where?’ I cried, in alarm, +though I did not understand his meaning.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Here!’ he exclaimed, striking his breast and then +extending both hands toward me—‘Here! in my love!—in +my arms!—in my bosom! Oh, Elfrida! accept the +life’s devotion of one who adores you, and who will +gladly consecrate all his days to your happiness!’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I could no longer misunderstand him; nor could I +speak for amazement and indignation. He took advantage +of my silence to pour out the malebolge of his +revolting passion before me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“At last, with a great effort, I conquered the speechless +panic into which his insults had thrown me, and +my wrath and shame burst forth in strong and fiery +words.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I ordered him from my presence; but he did not go. +I called him hard names—a snake in the grass—a wolf +in sheep’s clothing, a traitor, a hypocrite.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He did not reply; he stood up before me and took it +all, devouring me with his eyes, while his tongue was +silent.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“At length, my paroxysm of violence broke down in +tears, and I wept in bitter anguish.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Although I am forsaken, yet still I am a wife!’ I +said; ‘though my husband has left me, yet still he is my +husband.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“These words gave him the opportunity he now +wanted.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_190'>190</span>“I had sunk down in my chair and covered my face +with my hands.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He came up to me, laid his hand on the back of my +chair, and dropping his voice to the lowest tones of +reverential sympathy, he said these terrible words:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘No, Elfrida! No, my poor child! It breaks my +heart to tell you the truth, that I have only recently +learned to my dismay; but you must hear it sooner or +later. Better to hear it kindly, tenderly told by a +friend’s tongue than harshly and suddenly by a wordling’s +or an enemy’s. No, Elfrida! You are no wife.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Saviola is dead, then!’ I exclaimed, in an access of +excitement.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘No, Elfrida; that is not what I mean. You are +no wife, because—you never have been.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I lifted my head and gazed on him in dumb horror +and amazement.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He met my look with one of deepest sorrow and +commiseration.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘It is false!’ I cried, as soon as I could speak. ‘It +is foully, cruelly false!’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I would to Heaven it were!’ he sighed. ‘I would +to Heaven it were!’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“There was something in his look and tone that +seemed to force truth and despair into my soul. Had +my marriage ceremony been unlawful, notwithstanding +Anglesea’s pretended carefulness? Or what had happened? +How had I been betrayed? I struggled not to +believe him—not to question him; but I could not help +doing both.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Why do you say such—such——’ I had no word +strong enough to utter my thought.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He answered me as if I had done so:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Because I must, Elfrida. I came to Geneva for +that purpose. I came from Saviola, charged with a +message to you.’ He ceased.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_191'>191</span>“‘Go on,’ I said. ‘Go on,’ I was at that moment +almost insane. It took all my power of self-control to +keep still.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I met him in Paris two weeks ago. He told me that +he was on the eve of marriage with Mademoiselle de la +Villemonte, daughter of the Duc de la Villemonte; that +he had not the courage to write and break his connection +with you, especially as such writing would be dangerous. +It might bring you on to Paris to try to prevent it, +which would be awkward. So, he prayed me to take +his farewell message to you. I will not insult you, Elfrida, +by giving his message.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes! Give it! Do not spare me!’ I cried out in +my agony.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Then it was to the effect that he was obliged by +circumstances to part with you, but that as soon as he +could command the fortune he was to receive with +Mademoiselle de la Villemonte, he would make a suitable +provision for you and your child.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘You heard him say that? You, my brother’s +friend! And you did not slay him on the spot!’ I cried, +with all my blood on fire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘My dear Elfrida, my scorn, contempt and indignation +might have led me to knock the villain down and +trample him to death. But, my child, we are all living +in civilized Europe and in the nineteenth century, and +our education teaches us to subdue the wild beast that +is within us. Besides, I had you to think of. If I +should slay Saviola and be cast into prison, who would +take care of you? Your father and brother, even your +old pastor and doctor, were away in the Canaries, and +you had not a friend in the world near you.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘And I have not now!’ I cried, in bitter despair.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Do not say that, Elfrida. I lay my life at your +feet!’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘No more of that! Your every word insults me! +<span class='pageno' id='Page_192'>192</span>And you could come here with a false face and let me +write to that man and never tell me what you have only +told me now!’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘My dear Elfrida! Could I burst upon you suddenly +with news that, for aught I then knew, might +have killed you on the spot, or maddened you for life? +No, none but a brute could have done so. I had to feel +my way; to lead you slowly up to the truth; to +strengthen you to bear it. That is why I allowed you to +write to Saviola and to wait for a letter from him. +That is why I watched your every tone and look. While +doing so I perceived that your happiness did not depend +on your union with Saviola.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Tell me this!’ I burst out, almost furiously. ‘How +was it that you, who went ostensibly to guard me against +misadventure, became accessory to some deception which +rendered that marriage rite performed between me and +Saviola of no legal effect? Tell me this, oh, traitor and +hypocrite!’”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXXIII<br> <span class='c005'>HOW IT HAPPENED</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“‘My dearest Elfrida, for my beastly stupidity I deserve +all the reproaches you can heap upon me. But +not the utter reproach of complicity in the deception +that was practiced upon you. I never suspected Saviola +of a design to deceive you. But the Italian was too deep +for me. I went to insure you against mistake, not deception. +But, as I say, the Italian was too deep for me.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘What do you mean?’ I cried.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Saviola had studied the route to Scotland, with the +design to deceive you. There were two stations on that +route of similar names. One was Kelton, in Northumberland. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_193'>193</span>The other was Kilton, in Scotland. Saviola +took tickets for us all to Kelton, when he made us believe +that they were for Kilton. We went by the night +train, you remember. We got out at Kelton, near the +border on the English side, believing all the time that it +was Kilton, on the Scottish side. There, in England, +you were married regularly enough; but because it was +in England, and you were a minor marrying without +the consent of your parents or guardians, therefore the +marriage was illegal, null and void.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Did Saviola tell you this when you met in Paris?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes, but I had discovered the fact, to my great dismay +and distress, before that.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘When, and how?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘In September I was going up to Scotland for a +week’s shooting. I went by the same train that had +carried us, but in the daytime. When we stopped at +Kelton I recognized the station at which we had got out, +the hotel where we had stopped for breakfast, and the +distant church, with the manse beside it, where the marriage +ceremony had been performed. And yet I knew +then—as I had not known on that fatal night—that we +had not crossed the border.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Then we were married in England?’ I wailed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes! To settle the point, I asked a fellow passenger +how far we were from the Scottish border. He +told me just five miles. Still, I did not then suspect +Saviola of having wilfully betrayed us. I thought he +had confused the two—Kelton and Kilton—and had +made a fatal mistake. And I cursed my own stupidity +in not having foreseen and prevented it. I determined +to seek you both out and have the mistake rectified by +another and a regular marriage ceremony as soon as +possible. I did not know where to find you, nor of +whom to inquire for you, since your friends were all +in the Canary Islands. It was by accident only that I +<span class='pageno' id='Page_194'>194</span>met him in Paris, and learned the truth from his own +lips, as I have already told you.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He ceased to speak.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Overwhelmed as I was I tried to make some little +stand for my own dignity and self-respect. I said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘The marriage—in spite of quibbles—was a marriage +in the sight of God, if not in the sight of man. +The good old minister who pronounced the nuptial benediction +over two young people who—at that time, at +least, loved each other, and who were free to wed—married +us as lawfully, as sacredly as all the united state +and church could have married us! Repudiated and +abandoned as I may be, I am still the wife of Luigi +Saviola. And I will be true to myself. Though he has +sacrilegiously wedded another woman, he is still my +husband, and I will be faithful to him.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I had by this time recovered my self-possession, and +felt some regret at the paroxysm of emotion into which +I had been thrown.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Elfrida,’ he said, ‘this is sheer fatuity. You have +no more right to call yourself the wife of Prince Saviola +than you have to call yourself the consort of the czar. +You are not a wife. You are free—free to accept the +love and devotion that I lay at your feet.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I felt my heart rising again in wrath. I did not +wish again to lose my self-control. I commanded myself, +and, with forced calmness and some sarcasm, inquired:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Do I understand you to be offering me marriage +Mr. Anglesea?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He took his hand from the back of my chair, over +which he had been leaning, and walked away with a +look of petulance and annoyance. Presently he returned +to my side, and said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Dearest Elfrida, men do not offer marriage under +these circumstances.’</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_195'>195</span>“I turned and looked him straight in the face as I +demanded:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘What, then, is it that you do offer your friend’s +sister?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He winced slightly, but answered:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘All that a man may offer—under the circumstances—love, +devotion, protection. My heart and my +fortune. The use of my country seat and town house +until—ahem!—such settlements as may secure your +future from want. Elfrida, hear me!’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And again he poured forth a torrent of insults, +which pretended to be love, admiration, adoration—what +you will, but which were gross insults. When he +had talked himself out of breath I only answered:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Mr. Anglesea, you have offended me beyond hope +of pardon. Leave my presence at once, and never dare +to enter it again.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He did not go, but stood there and recommenced his +insulting suit.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I went and put my hand upon the bell.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Will you leave the room, or shall I call the people +of the house to put you out?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Neither, Elfrida. You will hear me,’ he said.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I pulled the cord, and with such effect that a servant +quickly entered the room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Show this gentleman out,’ I said.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The man bowed and held the door open.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Thanks, Fritz. I can find my own way. You +needn’t wait,’ said Anglesea, with cool insolence.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The man bowed and withdrew.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Anglesea turned to me with a smile.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Quick as lightning I formed a resolution and acted +upon it. I darted through the door leading into my +bedroom, closed it behind me, and shot the bolt to secure +myself. I heard him laugh as I dropped breathless +into a chair.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_196'>196</span>“‘What is it, madame?’ inquired the nurse, who was +seated beside my sleeping baby’s crib.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Nothing,’ I answered. And the girl, seeing that +I did not mean to be questioned, became silent.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Soon I heard Anglesea leave the room and walk +downstairs.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“A little later on I rang again and gave orders that +if the gentleman who had just gone out came again, he +was not to be admitted to my apartments.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then I began my preparations for leaving Geneva. +I clung with all my heart and soul and strength to the +conviction that my marriage was sacred. Saviola and +myself were both single when we married. The venerable +minister of God who united us was most solemnly +in earnest when he performed the rites and gave us his +benediction. We were married, and no subsequent +nuptials of Saviola could affect that undeniable fact.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yet—though I felt so sure of the reality and sanctity +of our marriage, I was resolved never under any +circumstances to be reunited with Saviola so long as a +doubt of the fact remained on my mind.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I would go, as I had planned, to Weirdwaste, and +live there with my child, retaining my marriage name +and title for the boy’s sake as well as for my own.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I made such progress with my preparations that +they were completed by nightfall.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Anna, my Swiss nursemaid, agreed to go with me to +England and remain with me until I could supply her +place, when I would pay her expenses back to Geneva.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“After my tea was over that evening, and as Fritz +went out with the service, I told him to bring my bill, +and have it include the night’s lodging and the next +morning’s breakfast.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He left to do my errand.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“In half an hour he returned, followed by some one +<span class='pageno' id='Page_197'>197</span>with a firm footstep. I thought it was Anglesea, and +flushed with indignation.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘A gentleman to see madame,’ said the waiter, +throwing open the door.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Did I not forbid you——’ I began, but stopped +suddenly and aghast.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was my father who stood before me.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXXIV<br> <span class='c005'>FATHER AND DAUGHTER</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“Yes, it was my father who stood before me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He was dressed in deep mourning, and he looked +older by twenty years than when I had seen him last. +As I gazed on his worn face, on which there was no +trace of anger, but only sorrow—I was suddenly smitten +with remorse for all I had done to him; wrongs of which +I never realized the enormity until now.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The cry of the prodigal son rose in agony to my lips:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Father! forgive me!’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He opened his arms, and I threw myself within +them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He folded me to his bosom in sorrow too deep for +words, yet I felt that I was forgiven as I sobbed on his +shoulder.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“After a few minutes he lifted my head, kissed me, +and led me to the sofa.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“When I had dropped upon the cushion he sat down +beside me, put his arm protectingly around me, and +then he spoke for the first time:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘It is I who need forgiveness—I who left my poor, +motherless little girl for long years to the care of hirelings +and eye servants, who betrayed their trust and left +<span class='pageno' id='Page_198'>198</span>her an easy prey to villainy. Yes, it is I who need forgiveness. +Elfrida, my child, can you forgive me?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Oh, father! father! do not speak so to me—to me +who sinned against you so grievously—to me who ought +to be on my knees at your feet!’ I said. And in the +excess of remorse that his patient, forgiving words inspired, +I would have kneeled to him, but that he stopped +me and drew me again to his bosom.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We spoke no more to each other for a few moments. +At last he said, in a broken voice:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Did you know—your poor stepmother—was dead, +Elfrida?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I thought so, from your mourning dress, papa. I +am very sorry for you,’ I replied.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘She passed away in the Canaries, five weeks since. +I have the comfort of knowing that everything which +human power could do was done for her. I devoted the +last twelve years of my life solely to her, going with her +wherever there was any hope for benefit. And for this +cause I left my poor motherless child exposed to the +beasts of prey that infest this world.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Father, dear father, say nothing more of that. I +am alive, and since you have forgiven me, I am almost +happy again. Dear father, let us live for each other +now. I will be the most loving, the most faithful, devoted +daughter that ever parent had. I will live for you, +father. Only for you—and—and—for my child—my +boy.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Your child, Elfrida!’ he said, staring at me, while +a shiver passed through his frame.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes, the child of my wilful, unfortunate marriage, +dear father. I wrote and told you all about my marriage, +but I fear you never got my letter.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘No,’ he said, with a visible effort to recover from +the shock he had received; ‘no. I heard of your marriage +from other sources, and not until I returned to +<span class='pageno' id='Page_199'>199</span>England, three weeks ago, with the remains of my wife +for interment in the vault at Enderby Castle. The +news met me there—terrible news to meet a father coming +home to bury his wife.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Oh, my father! Oh, my father! Can you forgive +me?’ I cried out, at this.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I could not forgive myself, child. I never dreamed +of blaming you. Does any one blame the bird that is +snared?’ he tenderly inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘You are too merciful to me—too merciful. I do +not deserve it,’ I said, covering my face with my hands, +for my father’s kind words pierced my heart like +poniards.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Hush, child; hush. Do not reproach yourself so +bitterly. Let me tell you how it was that I did not +receive any tidings of your marriage until my return +to England.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I know, dear father. It was because you were far +away in the Canaries.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘That was not all, my child. Listen. While I was +still in the archipelago, late in October, I received a +batch of letters from England, all bringing me good +news of my son and daughter. There was one from +you, telling me of your fully restored health and good +spirits, and your desire to spend the winter at Brighton. +Another from Miss Murray, giving a very flattering account +of your progress in education. A third was from +Madame de la Champe, much to the same effect.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Those letters were written only three days before +my hasty marriage, and, oh! believe me, papa, because +I even dreamed of taking such a hasty step,’ I earnestly +declared.</p> + +<p class='c007'>‘I do believe you, my child. You shall explain +later. The same mail brought me a long letter from +your brother, who had gone to Eton. He told me of +his long summer vacation spent with you at Brighton. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_200'>200</span>And he corroborated the intelligence given by yourself +and your governess as to your health, good spirits and +rapid progress. He also asked leave to spend the Christmas +holidays with you at Brighton.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Here I sighed so heavily that my father stopped, +and laid his hand on mine in sympathy, while he resumed:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘All these letters gave me great satisfaction, on account +of my dear children. They were especially comforting +to me at that time, as I was about to leave the +archipelago for the Canaries. I did not notice then that +Glennon had omitted to say one word about his own +health, which was always delicate, he having inherited +the constitution of his mother.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘He looked well when he left Brighton,’ I ventured +to say.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes; but he did not continue well after resuming +his studies. The same mail that brought me his letter +brought one from one of the physicians at Eton. I had +overlooked all my other correspondence in dwelling upon +the letters from my children; but at length I took up +one in a strange handwriting which, on opening, proved +to be from the physician who had been attending my +son for some seemingly slight disorder in his health. +This Dr. Fletcher wrote to me to say that the state of +my son’s health was such that Glennon should leave Eton +and have a thorough change of air, scene and diet. He +suggested that he should have a traveling tutor, and go +to a warmer and drier climate.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I had heard that he went with you to the Canaries,’ +I said.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes,’ continued my father, ‘I quickly made up my +mind in regard to Glennon. I wrote to my two old +friends, Dr. Alexander and the Rev. Mr. Clement, asking +them if they could procure substitutes to fill their +places at Weirdwaste, and accompany us to the Canaries +<span class='pageno' id='Page_201'>201</span>for the winter—the one to take charge of the young viscount’s +health, and the other to direct his studies in a +very moderate manner.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I heard, too, that the doctor and the vicar joined +your party,’ I said.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes; though I scarcely ventured to hope that they +would. And really I was as much surprised as pleased +when I received letters from them accepting my offer +and promising—according to my request, in case of their +acceptance—to go to Eton, join my son and accompany +him to Gibraltar, and there await the arrival of our +steamer.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My father paused for a few moments, looked at me +remorsefully, and said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I little knew how I was about to leave my dear, only +daughter; my poor, motherless girl! We sailed early +in November. But before sailing I answered your letter +and those of your teachers, expressing the great satisfaction +I felt in your improved health and good progress, +thanking your teachers for all their—supposed—zeal +and care, and telling you that you should winter at +Brighton while we were at the Canaries.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Oh! I never saw that letter, father! I had gone +on my mad journey before that letter came!’ I said.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I know it now, my dear! I did not know it then, +when I said in cheerful confidence that I had left you +so safe and happy. At Gibraltar your brother, with the +vicar and the doctor, joined us; and in a few days we +sailed for Santa Cruz de Teneriffe. Where were you +then, my dear?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I was in Paris—anxiously waiting for an answer +to the letter I had written you, announcing my marriage +and asking your forgiveness.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘A letter which I missed by leaving the Grecian +Archipelago before it arrived.’</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_202'>202</span>“‘And, oh, how long, in my ignorance—how long I +waited and hoped to hear from you!’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘As I waited and hoped to hear from you—not +understanding your silence. After we had been some +weeks settled at Santa Cruz, I began to be seriously uneasy +at not hearing from you, as I had especially requested +you, in my last letter, to direct your answer to +Santa Cruz de Teneriffe. But the countess urged that +you would probably wait to hear of our arrival before +writing. Then I wrote to you and waited for an answer; +none came. Then I wrote to the postmaster at +Brighton for information, and in due time received an +answer that your whole party had left the town, without +leaving any directions at the post office where letters +should be forwarded. This I attributed to carelessness +on your teachers’ part and inexperience on yours.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I left too suddenly and too madly to have thought +of such a provision—and I know not how my governesses +left after they discovered my flight.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I know how they left, but I did not learn until +later. From the postmaster’s imperfect information I +judged that you had returned to Weirdwaste. There +I addressed my next letters, with no more success than +had attended all the others. I received no answer. I +was uneasy, but not anxious. I thought that you were +living under the care of your teachers at Weirdwaste. +And I hoped, from week to week, to hear from you, and +ascribed my disappointment to any other cause than the +real one—to negligence, to irregular mails, and so forth.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘And all that time I was going from city to city +with my husband, leaving always directions where my +letters should be forwarded, and hoping always to hear +from you.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Ah, well, my dear, we were at cross-purposes without +knowing it. The summer came, but brought no increase +of health to my poor wife. She grew worse, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_203'>203</span>my great anxiety on her account began to absorb all +my thoughts. I ceased even to look for a letter from +England.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I understand, dear father; the present and real +calamity dulled your sensibilities to imaginary troubles.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘In a measure and for a time; but at length I wrote +to the steward at Weirdwaste to ask why I did not hear +from you or your teachers. But, ah! before there was +time for an answer to return my poor wife died, and +I got ready to bring her remains to England.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘My dear father!’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I took the casket first to Enderby, where, having +been previously embalmed, it lay in state in the drawing +room. The funeral was advertised for the eighth day +after the arrival of the body, and I used the interval in +going quietly down to Liverpool and taking steamer to +Ireland en route for Weirdwaste, to fetch my daughter +on to Enderby for the funeral. It was at Weirdwaste +that the news of your marriage first met me.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Oh, father! But you have pardoned me! And so +they knew nothing of it at Enderby?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘No, my dear. Consider the remoteness of each of +these seats from the busy world, and their distance from +each other—Enderby on the northwest coast of Northumberland—Weirdwaste +on the west coast of Ireland. +No, my dear, no hint of your marriage had reached +Enderby, nor would it ever have reached Weirdwaste +but for one circumstance.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘And that, my father?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Was the fact of your oldest governess, Miss Murray, +having left a portion of her effects at Weirdwaste. +The old lady wrote to the steward, telling him of your +sudden marriage, and of the consequent cessation of her +services, and requesting him to forward her effects—of +which she inclosed a list—to a certain address in London. +Though the steward and the housekeeper both +<span class='pageno' id='Page_204'>204</span>wrote to the governess—when they sent her boxes—imploring +her to give them more particulars of their beloved +young lady, she gave them none, merely saying in +the letter in which she acknowledged the receipt of her +property that you had married and had gone away—more +than that she said she knew nothing.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I bowed my head in sorrow. I realized what my +dear, stricken father must have felt to hear such news +at such a time. But I know he never, even in thought, +reproached me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I made every inquiry, but could learn no more at +Weirdwaste. I went back to Northumberland—to Enderby—and +remained until after the funeral of my dear +wife. Then I went down to Brighton to make inquiries +there. I found the house where you had lodged—to +which all my letters had been directed—but the landlady +could tell me nothing more than that the young +lady had been missed one day, and that at the end of the +same week the two old ladies had given up their apartments +and had gone to London. And that, subsequently, +she had heard a report that the young lady had gone off +to Scotland, with “the Italian,” to be married; but she +did not know the truth of the matter.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I do not know how the report could have got out, +except through my teachers.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Of course it was through them. When I could hear +no more I went up to London to transact some business +with my banker. I did not like to ask any direct questions +of him concerning you; nor did I have any strong +hope of hearing news of you in that quarter. Nevertheless, +when our accounts had been overhauled, I did +venture to remark:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘“My daughter has not drawn on you of late, I perceive.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘“Not for a year,” he said; “and that reminds me,” +he continued, “that I had a letter from her highness, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_205'>205</span>last summer, inquiring your lordship’s address—I believe +it was from Geneva. I cannot lay my hands on it +at this time, but—yes, I am sure it was from Geneva.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘How glad I am that I wrote that letter! The banker’s +prompt reply was the first clew I got to your whereabouts, +as the banker’s news was the first clew you got +to mine.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes, my dear. I did not ask a question, burning as +I was to hear more of you. How could I ask that comparative +stranger for information respecting my daughter, +with whose movements I should have been perfectly +familiar? I did not even know why he called you “her +highness.” I left England that same afternoon, and +came as fast as steam could bring me to Geneva. Here +I am! But I do not even know the name of your husband.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Again I dropped my head upon my breast. I had so +much to tell him, besides the name of my husband. But +he was waiting patiently for my reply. I gave it.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXXV<br> <span class='c005'>A SHOCK</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“‘Prince Luigi Saviola.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He stared at me in surprise, in distress.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Prince Luigi Saviola!’ he echoed, without withdrawing +his fixed gaze from my face.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes, dear father,’ I answered, wondering at the +emotion, or rather at the panic, into which my words +had thrown him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Oh, my poor child! Oh, my dear child! And here +you have been controlling and concealing your own great +sorrow to listen to me and to sympathize with my lighter +<span class='pageno' id='Page_206'>206</span>ones. Oh, my poor Elfrida! My poor, poor girl!’ he +breathed at last, with a voice full of distress and compassion +that I felt sure he must have heard of Saviola’s +Parisian marriage, and was grieving over it more than +I was for myself. I felt that I must try to comfort him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Do not take it to heart, dear father,’ I said. ‘Look +at me! I do not appear to be dying of despair, do I? +Do not grieve for me, since I do not grieve for myself. +Let us, from time to time, live for each other. You, +dear, dear father! have had a great sorrow which you +bear like a Christian. I have had a humiliating disappointment +and a wholesome lesson; though like most of +the teachings of experience, the lesson comes too late to +do the pupil any good. But from this time I will forget +my trouble and live for you.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He was still staring at me with more wonder and +amazement than before.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I had not the remotest suspicion that it was Luigi +Saviola whom you had married,’ he murmured, as if +speaking to himself. Then after another long, speculating +look at me, he inquired:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Elfrida, my darling, how came you to marry this +young man—was your act a mere whim, a childish +freak, or could you really have loved him?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I saw by his whole manner that there was some +afterthought in my father’s mind that I did not comprehend; +but I answered him:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I thought I loved him; but in my ignorance and +inexperience I must have been misled by fancy and +imagination to mistake admiration and enthusiasm for +love; but the hallucination was strong enough to make +me forget every duty I should have remembered and +held sacred.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Tell me all about your courtship and marriage, Elfrida!’ +he said.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And then I told him, as faithfully as I have set it +<span class='pageno' id='Page_207'>207</span>down here for you, Abel, every particular—of Saviola’s +introduction to me; of the growth of our acquaintance +and its development into that false hero-worship which +I mistook for love; of our runaway marriage, in which +Angus Anglesea aided as my guardian, saying that since +he had no power to prevent the marriage he would see +that it was solemnized legally and properly.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘God bless the boy!’ broke in my father, with so +much fervor that I had not heart to tell him afterward +what a villain Anglesea had proved himself—in the +sequel—to be.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then I told him of our travels; of my letters of contrition +to him; of my disappointments in not hearing +from him; of the gradual opening of my eyes to the true +character of my husband; of my grief, wonder and +humiliation at discovering that my imaginary hero, martyr, +patriot, humanitarian, was no better than a professional +gambler and adventurer! Still, though his life +degraded himself and me, though I could no longer +adore and worship him as I had done when I believed +in him—still I bore with him because I really thought +that he loved me, that with all his faults he was faithful +to me. In this belief I lived and hoped until the end +came. Then, indeed, the last scales fell from my eyes. +I know that if he had ever loved me, he had ceased to do +so now.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Poor fellow!’ murmured my father, as if he judged +Saviola much more leniently than I could do. And +again the impression came to me that there was an afterthought +lurking in his mind, incomprehensible to mine.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Why do you pity him, father dear? I should think +you would feel nothing but resentment and animosity to +him.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘My dear, when one has seen so much suffering as I +have, one must learn mercy. He ran away with my +daughter and married her, to be sure; but he was young +<span class='pageno' id='Page_208'>208</span>and in love, and you were living only with careless +governesses. I could have forgiven him. He took to +the gaming table until hazard became the passion of his +life. He was lucky in cards, but I never heard that he +was dishonest. And—without knowing his near relations +to you and myself—I have heard a good deal of +him lately.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Father, you seem to be really defending him.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Am I, my dear? Then it is because he can no +longer defend himself.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘No; for his conduct is utterly indefensible.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘What conduct, my child?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘My dear father, with all that you have heard of +him lately, you cannot have heard of the shocking event +at Paris.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes, my dear, I have heard it all—though I did +not know at the time that he was your husband.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘And now that you do know it, what do you think +of all this, sir?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I think, my dear, that it is strange in you, and incomprehensible +to me, that you should feel no regret +for the young man’s tragic fate, nor wear one sign of +mourning for him who was your husband. I think, my +dear, that in this you should pay some respect to death, +if not to the dead,’ he gravely replied.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was now my turn to stare at him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Father!’ I exclaimed; ‘I do not comprehend. What +tragic fate? Who is dead? Not Luigi! I heard of +him only yesterday!’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Heard of him? Heard of whom? Not Saviola? +Is it possible that you do not know?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Know what, sir? I know nothing, it seems. What +do you mean, dear father?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Is it possible that you do not know Prince Luigi +Saviola fell in a duel with the Duc de Montmeri, nearly +two months ago!’</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_209'>209</span>“‘Great Heaven! No, I knew nothing of all that. +Oh, poor Luigi! Poor Luigi!’ I covered my face with +my hands and fell back in my chair.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘And you knew nothing of all this?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Nothing, nothing!’ I moaned.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘And yet the papers were full of the subject.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I never saw any papers after Luigi left me. I +was expecting my child every day, and I lived very +secluded, so that I heard no rumors—until very lately +a report met me that he was on the eve of marriage with +a French heiress,’ I said, remembering the tale told me +by Anglesea.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Strange that such a report as that should get afloat +about a young man whose fate was well known all over +Europe, and filled all hearers with compassion and sympathy.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Tell me of the duel, father! Tell me all you know,’ +I said.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘It arose at a gentlemen’s dinner, given by one of +the Bonapartes. The talk turned on women, and drifted +into the comparative merits of women of different European +nationalities. The Duc de Montmeri, who had +taken too much wine, made some injurious and sneering +remarks on Italian women. The prince warmly took up +the defense of his fair compatriots. High words ensued. +The quarrel ended in the challenge of Saviola by Montmeri. +They met the next morning in a secluded spot in +the Rouveret. Montmeri was a professional duelist and +a dead shot. Saviola fell at the first fire. It was a murder—no +less. When his second went to raise his head +the dying man only breathed forth three words—“My +poor wife”—and died. Little did I think when I read +these words that the poor wife in question was my own +daughter.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Oh, Luigi! Poor Luigi! And to think that I +should have listened to such cruel slanders of you and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_210'>210</span>cherished such bitter thoughts of you!’ I exclaimed, in +sudden remorse at the remembrance of the ready credence +I had given to the story of his second marriage +told me by Anglesea.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘And you really knew nothing of this fatal duel +until I told you about it?’ again demanded my father.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Nothing, I assure you. But remember how secluded +I have lived here, seeing no one but my infant +boy, my nurse and my maid—except, indeed, my physician, +who came daily for weeks, but who would not have +been likely to speak to me of the duel, even if he had +read of it, which he might not have done, you know.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Well, my love, you should now put on widow’s +mourning for your deceased husband,’ said my father, +looking gravely into my face.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXXVI<br> <span class='c005'>“TELL ME ALL”</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“‘I am not sure that I have the right to do so,’ I answered, +dropping my head on my bosom.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘You do not know whether you have any right to do +so? What do you mean, Elfrida? Are we still at cross-purposes, +my dear? Or what new enigma is this?’ he +demanded, uneasily.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Father, I fear that a fatal mistake was made in the +manner of our marriage. I fear that mistake may render +it illegal. I will have no concealments from you. +Therefore, I must tell you even this. Once I was led +to believe that Saviola made no mistake, but purposely +left the train with me, on the English side of the border, +where our marriage without your consent would have +been unlawful; but now since I have learned that the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_211'>211</span>report of this French marriage was false, I now believe +that the report of his wilful deception of me in regard to +the place of our marriage was also false, and that he +ignorantly made the fatal mistake.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘My dear girl! My dear Elfrida! What do you +mean? What fatal mistake do you mean?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I have already indicated it, my dear father. But +I will tell you more distinctly,’ I said.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And then I told him of the two stations on the road +with similarly sounding names—Kelton, on the English +side, within five miles of the border, and Kilton, on the +Scottish side, just across the border. ‘Intending to be +married at the last-mentioned place, we got out of the +train by misadventure at the first, and we were married +in England.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘What disastrous carelessness!’ he groaned.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘But, father, we both acted in good faith, and were +married by an ordained clergyman, and had our marriage +duly recorded and witnessed. I do, for myself, +feel that our marriage was lawful and sacred as if we +had been united in the presence of all our relations, by +the combined powers of church and state. Still it is for +you to decide. I have concealed nothing from you, my +dear father. I have now told you all. I leave my fate +and my conduct in your hands. Shall I live on as the +widowed Princess Saviola, or what shall I do?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘My dear Elfrida, I must think of it. I must have +time to decide. This is a complication, an embarrassment +for which, dear child, I was not at all prepared. +No, do not look distressed, child. I do not blame you.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Before you came I had made up my mind to leave +Geneva and return to Ireland and take up my abode at +Weirdwaste, where you yourself had fixed my home. +Although I believed then that my husband had repudiated +the ceremony performed at Kelton, deserted +me and married a French heiress, still I had determined +<span class='pageno' id='Page_212'>212</span>to stand by my marriage, to call myself by my husband’s +name, and to live in seclusion at Weirdwaste and devote +myself to the education of my son and to the care of the +poor. Such was the plan of life I had laid out for myself +before your arrival, my dear father. Indeed, my +trunks are already packed and my hotel bill paid up +to noon to-morrow. But now I place myself in your +hands most gladly, and I will abide by your judgment.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘You could not do better, my dear. One part of +your plan may be carried out at once. We will leave +this place to-morrow morning for England, but not for +Ireland—not for Weirdwaste—rather for a little place +of mine to which you have never been; because, in fact, +it was leased for twenty-one years, and the lease will +only expire on the last day of December.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘You mean Myrtle Grove, on the south coast?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes, dear. I have given orders that as soon as it is +vacated it is to be put in complete order. I intended to +live there in strict seclusion. I did not know that I +should have the comfort of my dear daughter’s society. +For the present, that will be better than Weirdwaste for +you, my child.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I could not but agree with my father in this view of +the case.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then, as it was growing late, I rang for supper, +which was promptly served in my sitting room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I asked my father if he had engaged apartments for +the night.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He told me that he had not; that he had set out from +the railway station to find me first, having left all his +luggage in charge of his valet at the station. But he +said that he would attend to the matter immediately +after supper, which he did.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He succeeded in procuring rooms in the same house +and in the same corridor with me. Then he sent a messenger +<span class='pageno' id='Page_213'>213</span>from the hotel to the station to fetch his valet +with the luggage.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“When these arrived he bade me good-night, and retired +to his apartment.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He had not seen my beautiful boy, nor had he asked +to see him; nor had I the courage to propose to show +him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Now I felt a little grieved at this neglect of my innocent +child.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Early the next morning we left Geneva, and traveling +as fast as steam could carry us by land and sea, in +due time we reached London. We put up at one of the +quietest hotels at the West End. Here my father insisted +that I should pay off my French maid and my +Swiss nurse, and send each back to her own country.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“When they were gone, he said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘And now we take leave of the Princess Saviola forever, +and we know only Lady Elfrida Glennon.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘But my boy, dear father—my boy!’ I pleaded.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘A proper nurse must be procured for the child +without delay—some healthy young married woman living +in the country, who will take the whole charge of +the boy before we leave London. He is the child of a +deceased son of mine, and so delicate that he must be +reared in the country, and fed on fresh milk and fresh +air.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘And—must I part with my child, oh, father?’ I +pleaded.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘For a time you must—for his sake as well as for +your own. What should Lady Elfrida Glennon do with +a young child at Myrtle Grove?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I would have pleaded with him, but I saw at a glance +that it was useless to do so. Kind, tender, gentle, yielding +as my father was in most cases, yet when he once +made up his mind to any course his will was as strong +as fate. Besides, I and my child were both in his power. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_214'>214</span>I had no other alternative than to obey him. +And, finally, notwithstanding the pain I felt in parting +from my boy, I could not fail to see that, under the circumstances, +it was best for the child, and best for us +all, that he should be put out to be nursed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I took the sole charge of the child while we were +seeking for a nurse. We had many applications, but +I was hard to please. At length the right woman came; +a fine, fresh, young creature, with a plump form, bright +eyes, rosy cheeks, a pleasant smile, and a sweet voice. +She attracted me at sight. She was the wife of a young +dairyman. She had one child, a week older than my +boy; and she was well able to nurse twins, if Heaven +had sent twins to her. She was willing and anxious to +take our little orphan. She invited us to go down into +Kent and see for ourselves the comfort and cleanliness +of the dairy farm, and the health and liveliness of her +own child.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We took her at her word and went home with her—only +a few miles from London—and we were so well +satisfied with all we found there that we concluded it +would be difficult to do as well, and impossible to do +better, anywhere else; and we left the baby with her, +with a check for twenty-five pounds, that was to be renewed +quarterly.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I may here say that this young woman, Mary Chester, +did her full duty by her nurseling, as I found in my +periodical visits to the dairy.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“As soon as Myrtle Grove was ready for occupation, +my father took me down there.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was a comparatively small place, but a lovely, +secluded home, in a deep, green, wooded glen, about +three miles inland from the sea.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Here we lived a very quiet life, seeing no one but +the vicar, the Rev. Mr. Ashe, of St. Agnes’ Church, the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_215'>215</span>country practitioner, Dr. Ray, and the country lawyer, +Mr. Flood, who was my father’s local man of business.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We were both in deep mourning for my stepmother, +and that fact justified our seclusion from the world.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Once my brother came down from Eton to spend +the Easter holidays. He had never heard of my runaway +match, and my father decided that he never should +hear of it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Once a month my father took me to the dairy farm +in Kent to see his grandchild—the child of his deceased +son,’ as he called my boy, and as the people at the dairy +cottage believed him to be.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘And it is no falsehood, Elfrida, my dear. The lad +is my grandchild, and is the child of my deceased son—in-law’—he +said. Our deep mourning was supposed by +the dairy people to be worn for this same deceased son +and brother.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Looking back, I think I had never before spent so +calm, peaceful and contented a time as at Myrtle Grove.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXXVII<br> <span class='c005'>THE DAWN OF A BRIGHTER DAY</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“We liked Myrtle Grove so well that we made it our +home for three years. Its quiet beauty seemed so soothing +and restful after the terrible grandeur of Enderby +Castle and the mournful desolation of Weirdwaste. I +had a little school of poor children, and a small number +of aged and invalid cottagers, whose necessities gave +me interest and occupation.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My father was now a recluse and a student, passing +most of his time in the small library among his favorite +authors, or, if the weather was very fine, sitting in his +<span class='pageno' id='Page_216'>216</span>leather chair under one of the trees in the thickly shaded +grounds at the back of the house, with a book in his +hand.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My brother came every Christmas and every midsummer +to spend his vacation with us. As I mentioned +before, he knew nothing of my short, disastrous marriage, +and was to know nothing of it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“His talk, when he was at home, was full of Angus +Anglesea, his one dear friend. When he was praising +this hypocrite I was forced to make some excuse to get +out of the room, or to keep a painful silence in it, for +I could not contradict him or expose Anglesea’s villainy +to me without betraying facts that it was desirable +should be kept from him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Even my father, who knew now every circumstance +attending my imprudent marriage, knew nothing of +Anglesea’s insulting proposal to me. Pride, delicacy +and consideration for that dear father’s feelings prevented +me from telling him. Yet I made him understand +that, under my peculiar circumstances, I did not +want any visitors, especially gentlemen visitors, at Myrtle +Grove—of course always excepting the vicar, the +doctor, the lawyer and my dear brother, who could +scarcely, indeed, be called a visitor.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“In this manner, without having to mention Anglesea’s +name, I kept my brother’s dear friend from coming +to Myrtle Grove.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Before the commencement of every vacation, undaunted +by previous refusals, Glennon would write from +his college, and ask leave to bring his friend home with +him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My father would then bring the letter to me, and +ask my opinion. I would always tell him—what was +the truth—that my soul shrank from visitors.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And he would write something to the same effect in +his reply to Glennon.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_217'>217</span>“My brother took this very hard, and on his arrival +at home would always complain that it was—in schoolboy +slang—‘a jolly shame’ he could not have Anglesea +to spend the holidays with him as he had always been +accustomed to do.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He said that he did not know what had come over +‘Friday.’ She had been very fond of Anglesea when +they were at Brighton together. So fond of him that he—Glennon—had +hoped Anglesea might one day be his +brother-in-law, as he was now his brother in heart.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I said nothing in self-defense at all, but left it to my +father to explain—what he assumed to be the truth—that +I had no especial objection to Anglesea, but that the +state of my health unfitted me to entertain company.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“This generally satisfied him, at least for the time +being.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“At length, when little more than three years had +passed, my father began to grow weary of our long seclusion +from the world, and proposed that we should +make another tour of the Continent—avoiding as much +as possible the crowded resorts of tourists and betaking +ourselves to quieter scenes.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I consented to this, as I did to every plan proposed +by my father. I made but one condition. The Easter +holidays were approaching, and my brother was expected +to come to Myrtle Grove to spend the time with us as +usual. I therefore proposed to my father that Glennon +should now invite his friend to accompany him to Myrtle +Grove, while I myself should go for a week and take +lodgings at the dairyman’s cottage in Kent, where my +child was at nurse.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You may wonder why I should have done this, knowing +the character of Anglesea as I did. I have sometimes +wondered at the same act. But I think it was from +affection for Glennon I acted. I knew how he longed to +have Anglesea with him at Myrtle Grove. I wished to +<span class='pageno' id='Page_218'>218</span>gratify that longing. I knew that nothing I could do +could either cement or sever the bonds of that strong +friendship. I knew also that Anglesea never had and +never would show his cloven foot to Glennon, or that +even if he should do so, Glennon would never tolerate +it; he would fly from it. I felt instinctively that Anglesea +could never harm my brother.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“More than willingly, gladly, my father agreed to my +plan. He wanted to gratify his son. So I wrote immediately +to see if I could obtain lodgings, ‘for change of +air,’ at the dairy farm. In good time came a favorable +answer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then my father wrote to Glennon, authorizing him +to invite his friend to spend the Easter holidays with +him at Myrtle Grove.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I did not wait for the arrival of the visitor, but on +the Wednesday before Easter I set out alone for Kent, +meaning to engage some country girl in the neighborhood +of the dairy to wait on me while in lodgings.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I reached the dairy about four o’clock on that +Wednesday afternoon, and found my son, now a fine boy +over three years old, in the rosiest health and most boisterous +spirits. He sprang into his ‘auntie’s’ arms and +covered her with caresses before he began to search her +pockets and her hand bag for the sweetmeats and toys she +was accustomed to bring him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“A dainty tea table was waiting for me in a charming +cottage parlor. So Mary Chester coaxed my ‘nephew’ +from his ‘auntie’s’ arms and showed me into a clean, +neat, fresh bedroom, snow white, as all delectable bedrooms +were in the days before the ‘decoration’ craze +spread over the land. There I laid off my bonnet and +washed off the railroad dust.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And then I returned to the parlor, where my +‘nephew’ was allowed to join me at the tea table, sitting +up in a high armchair.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_219'>219</span>“That night Mary Chester waited on me as lady’s +maid, but the next day I procured the country girl I had +been thinking of.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I spent a really happy week at the dairy with my +child and his foster-brother. These two children were +so fond of each other that it was a comfort and delight +to me to think of them together.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Mary Chester had no other children, and she was +entirely devoted to them. John Chester, her husband, +was a fine, wholesome, honest young man, bearing an +excellent character in the neighborhood. We all went +to the parish house together on Easter Sunday, leaving +the two baby boys at home in charge of Mary Chester’s +grandmother, who was too infirm to sit through the long +church service, but who was quite equal to the care of +two children for a few hours.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“As Easter week drew to a close I began to think of +returning to Myrtle Grove.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But I did not leave the dairy until I received a letter +from my father, informing me that the visitors had +departed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then I loaded my little son, his foster-brother and +his attendants with presents suited to the conditions of +each. I returned heartfelt thanks to Mary Chester for +her excellent care of my ‘nephew,’ and paid her six +months in advance.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Finally, on the Thursday after Easter, I bade them +all good-by and set out to return to Myrtle Grove.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I found my father in excellent health, but impatient +to start on our journey.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I hurried my preparations, and two days after we +left England for Germany, where it was my fate first to +meet you, Abel Force, who made all the happiness of +my life.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_220'>220</span> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXXVIII<br> <span class='c005'>NEW LIFE</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“We avoided the ‘highways’ and public resorts of +travel—the grand railway lines, the great cities, the +famous spas, the big hotels, and we sought out the +by-ways—unfrequented hamlets and villages on mountain +heights or in forest depths, as yet undiscovered by the +eyes, unprofaned by the feet of speculators.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We had seen enough of the splendor and magnificence +of Europe; we wished to see some of its real, +working life.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, we wished to lose ourselves and find repose in +obscurity.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yet where can one go and avoid fate? Or where, +let me ask you, Abel, can we travel and not meet an +American tourist?</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You remember the day and the place of our first +meeting. It was on a glorious afternoon in July, when +the sun was sinking in the west and kindling all the +horizon into a conflagration. We were in a little chalet +at the foot of the mountain. We had come out to view +the magnificence of the sunset. The cowherd was penning +his cattle; the shepherd was folding his sheep.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Coming down the mountain path we saw a solitary +tourist, knapsack on back and alpenstock in hand.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“That was my first sight of you, Abel; a tall, athletic, +black-bearded man, whom we all first took for a +Tyrolesian.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You came up to the door of the chalet, raised your +hat to us and asked the cottagers if you could have a +night’s lodging.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Do you remember, Abel? Of course you could be +<span class='pageno' id='Page_221'>221</span>accommodated—roughly; we were all ‘roughing it’ for +the time being.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“So our acquaintance began.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“That night you introduced yourself to us by name +and nationality—Abel Force, of Maryland, United +States; and when my father, in return, named himself +and me your face brightened. You told him that on +leaving America you had brought letters of introduction—among +which was one from your late minister to St. +James, addressed to the Earl of Enderby. These letters +were all with your luggage at your hotel at Berne, where +you had left them to come on this pedestrian excursion +to the mountain. You added that you had missed Lord +Enderby in England and learned that he was traveling +on the Continent; that you deemed yourself strangely +fortunate in having thus met him, and would present +your credentials in the form of the ex-minister’s letter, +as soon as we should reach Berne.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The next day we all returned to Berne in company—you, +at my father’s invitation, taking a seat in our +carriage.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“At the Bernerhof Hotel we stopped but one night. +There you found and presented your letter—to prove +that you were no impostor, you said. You joined our +company and traveled where we traveled, and stopped +where we stopped.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Why should I repeat this to you, you know it already?</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Only because it is a visible link in the chain of our +destiny.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“That long summer, Abel, we spent together! That +long summer, every day of which drew our hearts nearer +and nearer! Even my father, who was ever most reserved +to all but oldest friends and nearest kin, came +to love you like a son.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I—feeling then, for the first time, all the bitter significance +<span class='pageno' id='Page_222'>222</span>of my own antecedents—resisted the sweet influence +that was flowing into my soul, yet—resisted it +in vain!</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You know how silently our love grew, during those +delightful weeks and months we lived and traveled together.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I knew then, though we might never marry in this +world, even as I know now—though this confession may +part us for this earth—that we are mates for all eternity.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“There came a day, at last, when we were all in the +ancient city of Grenada, that you went to my father and +asked his consent to win me for your wife. He told you +that he would have a talk with me first, and then give +you an answer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My father came to me and told me all that had +passed between himself and you, and of your proposal +for my hand, and he asked me how I felt disposed toward +‘Mr. Force.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh! the bitter sweet of that moment.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I told my father I felt so well disposed toward you, +that but for my past calamity and its living evidence I +should accept your hand.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Abel! my answer did not express the hundredth +part of the love, the joy and the sorrow that strove in +my heart at the time; but I had to control myself and +speak quietly, almost indifferently, in the presence of my +father.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He replied by assuring me that he should approve +my marriage with Mr. Force; that as for my calamity, +it was no crime, no fault of mine, but the result of circumstances—that +I was so perfectly and unquestionably +innocent that I might tell the whole story to Mr. Force +without losing a degree of his love and esteem.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“At that I became very much alarmed. I declared +to my father that I should die on the spot if ever my +suitor should be told the story of my humiliation; for +<span class='pageno' id='Page_223'>223</span>under such circumstances I could not look him in the +face and live.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My father attempted to argue with me, to call me +morbid, my thoughts and feelings extravagant, exaggerated; +but the violence of my agitation bore him down +and silenced him at last.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘What am I to say to Force?’ he inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Tell him anything you like—except the story of +my fall—or that I can accept his suit.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘You refuse him, then?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I must.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My father left me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I kept my room the whole of that day.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“On the next day I went down to the sitting room +we three occupied in common. I certainly did not expect +to find you there, Abel Force; yet there you were, +looking a little graver than usual, but otherwise behaving +as if nothing unusual had been said or done. You +bade me good-morning, handed me a chair, and inquired +after my health.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, though to my surprise I found you in our sitting +room that morning, I certainly expected you to +leave our party on the first opportunity. But you did +not. You remained with us and traveled with us as +before.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I shrank from speaking to my father on the subject, +yet at length I summoned courage to ask him if he had +given my answer to you. He replied that he had, and +that you had said you could wait and hope.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We spent the autumn together, as we had spent the +summer; yet, Abel, we were not happy, and as the time +for our return to England and your return to America +approached, and we were to separate to meet no more in +this world, we both grew more and more miserable. As +for me, my heart seemed wasting to death.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_224'>224</span>“One day in November my father came to me, and +said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Elfrida, do you consider me a man of honor, or +not?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘My dear father, what a question!’ was all that I +could answer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘But tell me, do you consider me a man of honor? +Yes, or no!’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes, my dear father; yes. A man of the most perfect +and most unquestionable honor,’ I replied.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Good! Then perhaps you will believe me and act +upon my words. Elfrida, Mr. Force has this morning +begged me to speak for him again. Again he offers you +his hand.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Well, my dear father?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Well, Elfrida, he loves you, and you know it. You +love him, and he knows it. You are both dying for each +other, and I know that.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Well, my dear father?’ I said again.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Have pity on him and on yourself, and accept his +suit.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘But, my past—my past—which I can never tell +him—never! I could die first.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Elfrida, do you believe your father to be a man of +honor?’ he inquired, for the third time.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Dear sir, how can you ask me? I have said, “a +man of indubitable honor,”’ I replied.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Very well, then. On the truth of a man, on the +honor of a peer, on the faith of a Christian, I swear to +you, Elfrida, that you may marry Force without telling +him one word of your past trouble,’ he said to me, so +solemnly that I could not question him. I could only +receive his words on the high and sacred ground on +which he had spoken them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Abel! was I wrong?</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_225'>225</span>“‘I am now going to send Force to see you,’ he repeated, +as he left the room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Two minutes after that you came to me, and before +you left my side I was your promised wife. Oh, Abel! +was I wrong? Was my father misled by his love for +his child? Was I deceived by my love for you? Oh, +Abel! was I wrong? I knew my father’s strict, punctilious +sense of honor. I had seen many instances of it. +He had been a wealthier man had he been a less fastidiously +honorable one. How could I believe that he would +sanction a dishonorable concealment of my story, even +to secure my own happiness?</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I could not believe this of my father. And yet I +doubted—I doubted. And this concealment never did +secure my happiness, but has burdened and darkened +and sickened my soul for twenty years.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You remember it was arranged that we should be +married at Myrtle Grove.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We all went to London together. You took apartments +at Langham’s. We went down to Myrtle Grove, +where you were to meet us, a fortnight later, for the +wedding.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And what did I do at Myrtle Grove? Prepare for +my wedding?</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No! I passed but one day there, and then I hurried +down into Kent and to the dairy farm to see my boy, +whom I had not seen for many months.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I carried loads of toys, pets, sweetmeats, presents +of all sorts—ah! as if gifts could compensate a child for +family recognition, for mother’s love.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I found the boy in high health, happy in his surroundings, +in his foster-parents’ affections, and in his +foster-brother’s companionship. I spent nearly the whole +fortnight preceding my marriage with my child in Kent.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Two days before the one appointed for the wedding +I took leave of my boy, half heartbroken at the forced +<span class='pageno' id='Page_226'>226</span>separation, yet comforted with the knowledge that he at +least was well and happy, and that he would be faithfully +nursed by Mary Chester, and carefully looked after +by my father, who had promised to adopt and educate +him, and to bring him to see me at intervals.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I returned to Myrtle Grove, having made no preparations +for our marriage, which you know was a strictly +private one at the parish church, with only my father to +give me away, and my brother and the parish clerk for +witnesses.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“After the wedding, you remember, we took leave of +my dear father, who promised to visit us the ensuing +spring, but who never kept his promise, because he died +suddenly of heart disease during that winter.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXXIX<br> <span class='c005'>A CLOUDED HONEYMOON</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“We went down to Liverpool and sailed for America, +to commence our new life on your Maryland plantation.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But, oh, Abel! with a burden of sorrow and remorse +on my heart and conscience which has oppressed and +darkened all my days.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“In the first winter of our marriage news came to us +of my father’s death, and we mourned him deeply, as +you know. Added to grief for his loss was anxiety for +the fate of the child he had promised to adopt and educate. +No news came to me of my boy. I knew not even +if the quarterly payments had been kept up. When we +went to Baltimore, however, to buy my mourning outfit, +I took the opportunity to send a bill of exchange for a +hundred pounds to Mary Chester on account, and asked +her to send me news of the boy, and to direct her letter +<span class='pageno' id='Page_227'>227</span>to Bryantown, to which place I intended to go, and I +did go at intervals, in hope to find a letter, but none ever +came.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“In the spring I received a terrible shock. Report +came that a schooner had been wrecked on the shore, and +that but one life had been saved—the life of a child +who had been washed up on the sands and found there +living.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“This child I heard was at the house of Miss Bayard, +who was taking care of him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I went—as everybody went—from curiosity to see +the little waif.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“There happened to be no visitor at the house when I +entered Miss Bayard’s parlor. She was talkative, as +usual, and told me all about the wreck and rescue as it +is known to you and to all that community. And she +took me into the bedroom adjoining the parlor to look +upon the sleeping boy.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“There he lay upon the clean patchwork quilt, crosswise +upon the bed, his flaxen head upon the snowy pillow, +a gray woolen shawl spread over him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I approached and stooped to look at his face.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Heaven of heavens!</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Think—think what I must have felt on recognizing +my own child!</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Surprise, delight, wonder, terror—all shook me in +turns as I gazed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Eh, ma’am! I don’t wonder it gives you a turn! It +did me, I tell you!’ the good woman whispered, as she +stood beside me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“In a tumult of emotion I withdrew from the room. I +was afraid the child might open his eyes and see me, +and I knew as surely as I had recognized him would the +little one remember me, and call me by my name as soon +as he should set eyes upon me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I was afraid to stay any longer, or to ask any more +<span class='pageno' id='Page_228'>228</span>questions, lest I should in some manner betray myself. +I took leave of Miss Bayard, and left the house.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The rescued child was the talk of the county for the +whole season. Every one wondered and speculated as +to the boy’s birth and social position, but no one could +decide upon it, for there was no mark on the nightdress +in which the little one had been found.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“In a few days I heard that you, my beloved and honored +husband—you, of all men—had taken upon yourself +the cost of the child’s maintenance and education; +that you had engaged to pay Miss Bayard a liberal +quarterly allowance for her care of the boy, and to send +him to school, as soon as he should be old enough to go.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then, when I heard this, my better angel urged me +to confide in you—to confess the truth and throw myself +upon your mercy—the mercy of the truest, noblest, tenderest +heart that ever beat!</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But I dared not do it. The longer I had kept my +secret from you the harder it was to tell. I feared that +you would ask me why I had not told you this before +our marriage. I feared that you might even part with +me. And the longer I had lived with you, the more I +loved you, the harder was the thought of parting from +you. I could not risk the loss, even though to retain +your love seemed almost a theft.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I did not tell you, nor did I show any sympathy in +your care of the friendless child. I did not go near my +boy, lest he should recognize and innocently betray me.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“So weeks passed into months, and months passed into +years. Children came to us, and drew our hearts even +more closely together, if that were possible, than they +had been before; but though I loved our little girls as +fondly as ever <a id='t228'></a>a mother did, yet I loved them no more +than I loved the dear boy whom I dared not acknowledge, +or even look upon.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was not until Roland was at school, and time and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_229'>229</span>change of fashion in clothing and hair-dressing had +made such alteration in my appearance that I judged it +safe to do so, I first saw my son face to face, and shook +hands with him. How he stared at me! his mind evidently +startled and perplexed by the phantom of a remembrance +he could not fix or define.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“After that I saw him often, and was able to befriend +him; but I was often troubled by the look of perplexity +in the boy’s eyes when they met mine. After a while, +however, this shade of memory faded quite away.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Years passed, and the old sorrow also seemed to have +gone like some morning cloud of spring, leaving scarcely +a trace behind.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was on that visit to Niagara Falls, now nearly +seven years ago, when I met in the parlor of the hotel +the one man I dreaded more than all men or all devils—Angus +Anglesea!</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I saw my danger as soon as our eyes met. I knew +that for the old repulse I had given him at Geneva he +would now take his revenge. Yet I tried to look him +down, but I could not. You were by my side. I was +obliged to present him to you. You had heard of Angus +Anglesea from my father and from my brother, and had +heard nothing but praise of the man from them. You +gave him a warm welcome. You pressed him to come +down and visit us at Mondreer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Afterward, to you alone I protested against this visit +with as much energy as I dared to use; for I could not +explain to you why he ought not be our guest. But you +thought me somewhat capricious, and declared that you +could not withdraw an invitation once given.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then I appealed to him, to any little remnant of +pride, honor or delicacy that might remain somewhere +in his depraved nature, not to accept your invitation—not +to enter a house which his presence would desecrate.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_230'>230</span>“He laughed in my face! He told me that he had +already accepted the invitation, and that he meant to +make the visit.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You know what followed. He came down with us +to Mondreer. He cast his eyes upon our dear daughter, +Odalite, and on her fortune—not only on her American +fortune, but on her English prospects.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah! my poor Odalite! She was engaged to be married +to her faithful lover, Leonidas Force, who was +expected home on the Christmas of that year; and she +was as true as truth to her love; she was not for a +moment ‘fascinated by the admiration of the brilliant +stranger,’ as people said. She sacrificed herself to save +me; and in saving me, to save you and her sisters.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Do you know what that snake who had entered our +paradise threatened to do if he were not bought off by +the hand and fortune and prospects of our daughter +Odalite? He threatened to publish my secret to the +whole world!</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah! how I mourned then that I had not told you the +sad story before accepting your offer of marriage, and +left you free to withdraw or to renew that offer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was too late then! Every year that I had kept +the story from you made it harder and more humiliating +to tell. And he threatened to tell—not you—that would +have been terrible enough—but to tell everybody!—to +tell the story in the barrooms of the country inns, at the +gentlemen’s wine parties and oyster suppers—and everywhere! +He would leave our house, take up his lodgings +at the Calvert, and spread the venom over the whole +community. That would have been fatal! Abel, this +story, as he would have told it, must have driven us all +in dishonor from the neighborhood. I think it would +have killed you. You are strong and brave, and could +have borne much—everything but dishonor! That +<span class='pageno' id='Page_231'>231</span>would have killed you! I know it would have driven +me mad, and it would have blighted the lives of our +children.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I was nearly insane, even then. Some women in +such a position would have committed suicide; but, +apart from its sinfulness, it would have been ineffectual +in my case, as, if I had died, he would still have blackmailed +Odalite. Some other women in my position +would have killed Anglesea. I knew that; and I knew +that if ever man deserved death at a woman’s hands, +he did at mine; but I was not even tempted so ruthlessly +to break the sacred laws of God. Nay, let me say +here, that weak, blind and foolish as I have been, I have +not only tried to keep, but I have kept those laws from +my youth up.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What is it, then, that I have confessed to you? Not +a sin, not a fault, but a secret that I have kept from you +because I had not strength enough to tell you, or light +enough to know you, or wisdom enough to confide in +your wisdom. It was no sin of mine that my marriage +was a deception practiced upon me; but it was a great +wrong to you to keep the secret of that marriage.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You know now the secret of my life—why I consented +to sacrifice Odalite to that man, from whom she +was saved as by a miracle.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Is it a mockery to ask you to pardon this lifelong +secret, Abel? I know that you will pardon as freely +as God pardons.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But when you have seen these lines you may never +afterward see me. Heaven knows.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c007'>“I have written the foregoing confession to put it +away, lest death take me unaware, leaving me no time +to tell the true story as I only can tell it.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_232'>232</span>“<span class='sc'>Washington</span>, April 18, 18—.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>“The time has come. I have learned some facts. The +villain who spoiled my life, and would have spoiled my +daughter’s life, was not Angus Anglesea, my brother’s +dearest friend, college mate, and fellow-officer, but an +impostor bearing his likeness and wearing his name, and +now waiting trial as a pirate and a slaver, and having +for his mate and fellow-prisoner one whom you have +known and cared for as Roland Bayard, but who is +really Roland Glennon, my son.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No! I cannot meet you! When you have read these +lines you will see me no more.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XL<br> <span class='c005'>A STARTLING ENCOUNTER</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>When Abel Force had finished reading this manuscript +he sat with it in his hand, thoughtfully gazing at +the paper and almost involuntarily listening for any +sound from the adjoining bedroom, where his wife lay +in a very precarious condition.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At last he folded up the parcel and put it into his +breast pocket, muttering to himself that he must keep +it out of sight until he could get an opportunity to +burn it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then he softly left the room and went and tapped +gently at the door of his wife’s chamber.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The nurse opened the door.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How is Mrs. Force?” he inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She is sleeping under the influence of an opiate. +The doctor thinks that if she sleeps well through the +night she will be very much better to-morrow morning.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Thank Heaven!”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_233'>233</span>The nurse softly closed the door, and Mr. Force returned +to the little room, where he lighted the gas, for +it was growing dark, made some little improvement in +his toilet, for it was dinner time, and then hurried +downstairs, for he had eaten nothing since breakfast.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He opened the parlor door, and was surprised to find +a group of many people gathered around his own party.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Wynnette sprang out from them all to meet him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh! papa, I have not seen you since early this morning. +Where have you been? We had all begun to fear +that you were a ‘mysterious disappearance’!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dear, I have been closely engaged all day. Who +are those with you?” inquired Mr. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Who? Who but your old friends and neighbors, +Mrs. Dorothy Hedge, Miss Susannah Grandiere and Mr. +Samuel Grandiere. Come! Come and speak to them.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“They here! Why, how did they find us out?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Joshua found them and brought them here, else they +never would have found us out. And yet people say that +dogs have no souls!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force hurried to meet the friends from St. +Mary’s, and warmly shook hands with them all.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We are so sorry to hear that Mrs. Force is indisposed,” +said Mrs. Hedge, when these greetings were +over.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She has had a severe nervous shock. Such strokes +must be epidemic among those who live amid ‘war’s +alarms,’ you know, Mrs. Hedge.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, of course. But all war’s alarms are not disastrous. +What a glorious deed young Leonidas Force has +done! I congratulate you on your nephew, Mr. Force.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Thank you, madam. Will you take my arm down +to dinner? There is the gong.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The whole party arose and went down into the dining +room and took their places at the table; the party +filled up a large one.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_234'>234</span>After dinner they returned to the drawing room for a +little while, and then the visitors from St. Mary’s bade +good-night, and—accompanied by Capt. Grandiere and +Rosemary Hedge—went away to take possession of their +rooms at a boarding house that had been found for them +in E Street.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force and Lord Enderby lighted a couple of +cigars and walked out on the bright and busy avenue to +smoke and stroll. Between the gas lamps and the illuminated +shop windows the scene was almost as light as +day, and, with its crowd of pedestrians, as noisy as a +fair.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Up and down they strolled and smoked until, tired +of being jolted, or, as the earl put it, “walked over,” +they turned up the west side of Fifteenth Street, where +the sidewalk was brilliantly lighted, yet almost vacant of +passengers.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Here they walked and talked in the cool of the evening, +unconscious of a dark figure approaching them +from the north end of the street, whose advent was to +have the most important effect on the destinies of several +of our friends. They were going to meet the form that +was approaching them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Both looked up carelessly and saw a tall, soldiery +looking man, who, coming up, held out his hand with +an exclamation of surprise and pleasure:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Enderby!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The earl stared for a second and then seized the +offered hand, crying with delight:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Anglesea!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“When did you arrive?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>This question was put, in the same words, at the same +time by both.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But three days since,” answered Lord Enderby.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Only this afternoon,” replied Gen. Anglesea. “I +have come to America to see your sister.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_235'>235</span>“Let me present you to my brother-in-law—Mr. +Force, of Mondreer, Maryland. Mr. Force—Gen. Anglesea, +late of the East Indian service—the real Simon +Pure, you understand, Abel!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The two gentlemen, thus introduced, bowed deeply.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You say you have come over to see my sister?” inquired +the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes! On very important business! You may judge +how important when I tell you that it has brought me +across the ocean at such a time as this.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My sister is at this time indisposed. I think it will +be a day or two before she is capable of attending to any +business. But here is her husband.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Of course. I am very happy to meet Mr. Force, and +shall be ready, at his convenience, to enter upon this +business. It concerns Lady Elfrida’s first marriage.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Now, if Mr. Force had not already learned the truth +concerning that first marriage, I know not what might +have been the consequences of this sudden announcement. +As it was, Lady Elfrida’s second husband, with +great presence of mind, replied:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Precisely. I shall be ready to attend to you as soon +as you please.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>As for Lord Enderby—who had never heard a word +about his sister’s first marriage—he was considerably +startled, but, with equal presence of mind, recovered +himself, and said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“If it is necessary that this matter should be entered +upon this evening, we had better withdraw into apartments. +We can scarcely discuss important business in +the street.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You are quite right. And I am at your service,” +assented the general.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But where shall we go? Privacy is hardly to be had +at any price in this overcrowded city. We have not a +private sitting room at our hotel.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_236'>236</span>“Come with me, then,” said Anglesea. “I have, by a +fortunate chance, been able to secure a comfortable bedroom, +with a little box of a sitting room adjoining.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“A box of a sitting room! What a boon! What a +blessing in these times!” said the earl, as he turned with +the squire and the general to walk to the last-mentioned +gentleman’s hotel.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Ten minutes later they were all three seated around +a small table, on which stood a bottle of sherry, some +wineglasses, and cigars.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My business with Lady Elfrida,” began Anglesea, +“is to restore to her some documents that have been too +long, indeed, in my possession, though I did not really +anticipate they would ever be called for, as they now +appear to be, to confirm her son’s claim to the estate +of his uncle—Antonio Saviola.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Her son?’” thought the earl to himself; but he +said nothing; he only looked at Abel Force, whose face +was quite impenetrable.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I hope the young gentleman is living and is quite +well.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, thank you, my stepson is quite well, and a very +fine young man altogether.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The earl looked from one to the other. Here was a +revelation! His sister had been twice married, and she +had a living son by her first marriage! And Abel Force +knew this! And he himself had never even suspected +such a thing! Why had not he—her brother—her only +living relative besides her husband and children—been +told of this first marriage? Did his father know it, and +conspire to keep the secret from him, too? Did Anglesea +also know it from the first, and confederate with all +the other conspirators to keep the secret from him—the +son, the brother, the bosom friend? It was very hard +on him, the injured earl reflected.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In the meantime the general had taken out from a +<span class='pageno' id='Page_237'>237</span>rolled morocco case a few parchments, which he spread +upon the little table—pushing all the glasses together +to make room. Then, missing some papers from among +the others, he arose and went into the adjoining chamber +to look for it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Lord Enderby seized the opportunity afforded by his +temporary absence to stoop and whisper to the squire:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“This sudden news of my sister’s first marriage has +fallen like a thunderbolt upon me!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Has it?” inquired the squire, with forced calmness.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I should think so! I had never dreamed of such a +thing! Why was it kept a secret from me? Did my +father know it?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Certainly.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My father knew it! Anglesea knew it! You knew +it! Why was it kept secret from me?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dear Enderby—because it seemed to your father +necessary that it should be kept so,” soothingly replied +the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Was the marriage a discreditable one, then?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, it was not.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then why, in the name of Heaven, could it not have +been announced?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dear Enderby—secrecy is not always wrong and +foolish; it is sometimes wise and right. It was so in +this instance. And I may further promise to satisfy you +of this in a few hours.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“When you married my sister, did you know that she +had been married before, and that she had a living son +by that first marriage?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Most certainly I did!” said Mr. Force, with emphasis.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And yet I remember—I swear that I remember—she +signed her name to her marriage register with you, +Elfrida Glennon.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_238'>238</span>“Hush! here comes Anglesea,” said the squire, as the +general entered the room.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XLI<br> <span class='c005'>THE OTHER SIDE</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“You are, of course, aware,” said the latter, sitting +down at the table and beginning to arrange his papers +before him—“you are, of course, aware of my own intimate +connection with the very youthful marriage of my +friends, Lady Elfrida Glennon and Prince Luigi Saviola?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force, thoroughly informed of that circumstance, +could bow acquiescence. This assent was supposed to +answer also for Lord Enderby—who, however, knew +nothing about it—and the general continued:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You know that at that time I was a very young man, +scarcely having attained my majority. I had a warm +friendship for, and a youthful sympathy with, the young +lovers; yet I would have dissuaded Saviola from the +hasty marriage if I could have done so. But who can +turn an Italian lover from his love chase? Seeing that +I could do nothing to prevent the marriage that was sure +to come off, sooner or later—for her father was in the +East, and her brother was at Eton, and a minor, and she +herself only in the care of two teachers for whom she +had neither love nor esteem—I determined to do a +brother’s or a father’s part by her, at least so far as +going with the mad pair and seeing that the marriage +ceremony was duly and lawfully performed in Scotland. +But you have heard all this before, and I am wasting +time, perhaps, in trying to excuse myself.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Your course in that affair needs no excuse, but +<span class='pageno' id='Page_239'>239</span>rather the gratitude of all who are interested in Lady +Elfrida,” said Mr. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I thank you, sir. I did indeed act in the interest of +the young lady. I went to Scotland with the young pair +and saw them properly married, in the parlor of the +manse, by the minister, at Kilton, Dumfries, North +Briton; and in addition to the certificate given to the +bride, I took a duplicate, duly signed and witnessed, +because I thought it just possible the young lady might +mislay or lose her lines.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You are sure that the place at which you stopped for +the marriage was Kilton, in Scotland, and not Kelton, a +few miles south in England?” inquired Mr. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Anglesea lifted his eyes from the paper in his hand +and looked at the questioner with surprise.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“They are so near together on the same line, and the +sound of the names are so similar, that the mistake +might easily have been made—on a night journey,” Mr. +Force explained.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It might, but it was not. Here is the certificate. +Will you examine it?” said the general, laying the document +before the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sure enough, there was the printed heading:</p> + +<p class='c007'>Parish of Kilton, Dumfries, N. B.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And then followed the date and the record of the marriage +between Luigi Saviola, of Naples, Italy, and Elfrida +Glennon, of Northumberland, England, signed +by the minister and attested by two witnesses.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Abel Force heaved so deep a sigh of relief that Lord +Enderby bent toward him and inquired:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What is the matter? Why were you so anxious +about this point?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I will tell you later. I will explain everything later. +For the present let us listen to the facts.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I wish to put one question to you, Anglesea, and in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_240'>240</span>the name of our lifelong friendship: Why did you never +inform me of my sister’s marriage?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Because, my dear fellow, I was in honor bound to +keep the secret until the parties concerned announced +their marriage. As I heard nothing about it from you +or your father, I was restrained from mentioning the +subject.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I see! I see!” assented the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I should not have brought up the matter now had +not the death of Saviola and the marriage of his widow +absolved me from my implied pledge of secrecy; and +very important considerations constrained me to cross +the ocean to seek out Lady Elfrida and to speak of her +first marriage, of which I was the principal witness.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I thank you, both on the part of Lady Elfrida and +myself, for the great interest you have felt and the great +trouble you have taken in her cause,” said Abel Force +so earnestly that Lord Enderby muttered to himself:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I wonder what in the deuce has come over the squire? +But I shall know presently, perhaps.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I must explain these considerations,” continued the +general. “I was at Naples last year, where I renewed +my acquaintance with the aged prince, Antonio Saviola, +whom I had known years before. We met at the house +of a mutual friend. He invited me to dine <em>tête-à-tête</em> +with him on the next day, and to come early, as he +wished to converse with me on a subject near. I accepted +the invitation and went.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Pardon,” said the earl; “what relation was Prince +Antonio to Luigi Saviola?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He was the granduncle of Luigi, who was his next +of kin. When I reached the Palazzo Saviola I was at +once ushered into the presence of the prince, who received +me in his library with much cordiality. He entered +at once upon the subject in his mind by saying:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘You were the attendant of my grandnephew, Luigi, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_241'>241</span>on the occasion of his marriage with the only daughter +of an English earl?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Yes, sir,’ I answered, a little surprised that he +should know the fact.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘So I was informed by a letter from my nephew +soon after the occurrence. You were also his second in +the fatal duel in Paris, about a year later, in which my +nephew lost his life?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘No, prince. I was not in Paris at the time of that +unhappy meeting,’ I answered.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Then I have been misinformed upon that point. +But there is no question of your having been a witness +to his marriage?’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘No question at all, prince. I was present in the +interests of the lady, taking the place of her father or +brother, one of whom should have been there to give her +away.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Precisely. That is how I understood from Luigi +your presence at this Montague and Capulet marriage. +I have lost sight of the widow entirely. I last heard of +her at Geneva. In a letter written to me by my unhappy +nephew on the night before his duel he told me +that his wife was at the Beau Rivage, Geneva, expecting +the birth of a child; that if he should survive the meeting +of the next day he would hurry to her side. If he +should fall, he recommended her to my sympathy and +compassion. This letter found me prostrate with +typhoid fever, and did not meet my eyes for weeks after +it was written. My nephew was dead and buried. His +widow had left Geneva, accompanied by her father and +her infant. All my efforts to find them proved fruitless, +and at last I gave up inquiry. Only lately have I become +again interested in the subject. The reason is this: +I am very aged, near ninety. My sons and grandsons +have all gone before me to the better land. The last, +Vittorio, departed some months since. I have no heirs, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_242'>242</span>unless it happens that the posthumous child of Luigi +proves to be a son and is now living. It is to ascertain +this point that I have called you here to-day.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I could tell him nothing about the child, of whom +I had never heard. But I offered to go to Geneva in +person, and search the church register of the year and +month in which the child of Luigi and Elfrida was +born, and ascertain whether that child were son or +daughter. I did so, and succeeded in procuring an attested +copy of the registry of birth and baptism of Rolando, +son of Luigi Antonio Saviola and Elfrida, his +wife. This I took to Naples and laid before the old +prince, together with the certificate of the marriage of +Luigi and Elfrida. The old man was very near his +end, but he lived long enough to acknowledge the boy as +his legal heir, and to make a will, leaving him all his +devisable property. ‘For I feel sure the youth is living, +<em>Amigo</em>,’ he said. ‘Fortune would not be so cruel as +to cut off the entire family of Saviola.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Those were his last words.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“After the funeral, I prepared to return to England, +to search for Lady Elfrida and her son. Judge of my +surprise when I learned, by a mere accident, that she +had been with her family at Naples only a few weeks +before. I went over to England, only to hear that she +had sailed, with all her party, for America. I took ship +and followed. Looked for you in New York in vain. +Remembered that you had a country seat at Mondreer, +Maryland. Came down to Washington to-day en route +for Mondreer. Ran up against you, Enderby, in the +street to-night.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“A lucky meeting,” said the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes. These documents before me are attested copies—the +first of the certificates of the marriage between +Luigi Saviola and Elfrida Glennon; the second of the +registry of baptism of Rolando, their son; the third +<span class='pageno' id='Page_243'>243</span>of the last will and testament of Antonio Saviola. These +will establish the claim of the young man, who, you say, +is alive and well, to the estate of his late uncle. When +may I bring them to Lady Elfrida?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“To-morrow, if you please,” replied Mr. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the earl and the squire arose, and, with renewed +thanks, bade the general good-night.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XLII<br> <span class='c005'>THE EARL’S DISCOVERY</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>The church bells were chiming twelve, midnight, as +the earl and the squire walked along the now almost +deserted avenue toward their hotel.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I had no idea it was so late,” said the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Nor I,” assented the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Force!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Will you tell me now, as we walk along, why my +sister’s first marriage was kept a secret from me during +all these years? Why even my chum in college, my +fellow soldier in camp, never once mentioned the matter +to me?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He has explained that in his case it was because no +one spoke of it to him, and it was not his cue to be the +first to allude to it.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But why? Why was all this mystery about a marriage +that was honorable enough in itself?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Because there was a fatal misapprehension. I call +it fatal, on account of the years of untold misery it entailed +upon more than one.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Explain.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You remember, and can now at last appreciate, the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_244'>244</span>dreary loneliness and isolation of your sister’s childhood +and early youth at Weirdwaste?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, yes! yes!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And the bewildering change that Brighton and a +princely lover must have been to the hitherto solitary +recluse of Weirdwaste?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, yes!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The fear of having to return to that desolation must +have been as strong a motive as love itself in inducing +her to fly to Scotland with her lover.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Most probably.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She had neither father, nor brother, nor any relative +near her; no one but governesses and servants.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah! my poor father never meant to be unkind, but +it was cruel to leave her in that isolation.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She found it so; and she listened to the pleadings of +her lover, whom her imagination had elevated into a +hero, martyr, patriot and humanitarian, when, in fact, +he was only a political refugee, on account of some hotheaded +revolutionary utterances he had given.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, I heard of Saviola’s exile while at Brighton; +but I never met the man.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I think your friend Anglesea had not met him at the +time you were in Brighton. He first met Saviola at +Lord Middlemoor’s, on Brunswick Terrace.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You seem to be well informed on all points of this +affair, Force.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Pretty well,” said the squire; “but to proceed. Your +sister went to Scotland to marry Saviola, escorted by +your friend Anglesea, who, having done all he could to +dissuade the Italian from running away with the young +lady, and having failed, was resolved that the marriage +that he could not prevent should at least be properly and +legally solemnized.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, he told us that.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And he told you also that he was bound to secrecy.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_245'>245</span>“He did.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, now to the point. When the newly married +pair parted from Anglesea, on the day of their marriage, +they never saw him again.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No. You heard Anglesea relate how the old Prince +Antonio Saviola supposed him—Anglesea—to have +acted as second to Luigi Saviola on the occasion of his +fatal duel with the Duc de Montmeri, and how he—Anglesea—had +denied all knowledge of the tragedy?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, I did hear, and I remembered that Anglesea +was at that very time at college with me.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, then, Enderby, listen: If the bona-fide Anglesea +did not officiate as Luigi Saviola’s second in that +duel, his double, Byrne Stukely, did.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, Anglesea’s <em>bête noir</em>, evil genius, material counterpart, +Byrne Stukely, did. He personated Anglesea +in Paris, on the dueling ground, and at the death of +Saviola, and in the apartments of Saviola’s widow!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah! what new infamy is this of which you tell me? +I shall have to prosecute that villain if he should escape +the law here!” exclaimed the earl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He will not escape the law here; but to proceed——”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes—yes!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Stukely received the last dying messages from the +lips of Saviola, and some little time afterward took them +to his widow in Geneva. There, passing himself off for +Anglesea—undetected, unsuspected by her, he delivered +his credentials, and won her confidence. But, when he +saw the beautiful young widow, he dared to think of +her in a manner that should have brought down upon +him severe chastisement.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How? What?” demanded the earl, in an excited +voice.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_246'>246</span>“Calm yourself, Enderby. Be patient, my friend. +Here is our hotel. Shall we go in?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No! no! I cannot go indoors now! Let us walk +here where the night air cools my head—unless you are +tired, Force?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, I am not tired. We will walk on a little way.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, go on!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“With an artful delicacy, with sham sympathy, he +approached the subject, and told Saviola’s widow that +she was, in fact, no widow at all; that her marriage with +the late prince was null and void from the first, because +it had been celebrated at Kelton, in Cumberland, England, +instead of at Kilton, in ——shire, Scotland. He +manufactured plenty of false evidence to prove his falsehood +to be truth, and then—and then——”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What? what?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He insulted the lady with the offer of his heart +and——”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Hand?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Protection!” murmured the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The earl sprang into the air as if he had been shot, +but came down upon his feet. He said nothing. There +are some things that will not bear a single word of comment. +This was one.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She ordered the venomous reptile from her presence, +and he crawled away, but left his poisoned sting behind. +The consummate art of his false evidence had convinced +her, as it afterward convinced her father, and, later on, +myself also, that her marriage ceremony with Saviola +was an empty form—null and void. Her father never +knew otherwise. She does not know otherwise to this +day. And I knew no better until to-night.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You believed my sister, your wife, to have been the +victim of a false first marriage until to-night?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, until the moment when Gen. Anglesea produced +the certificate, and told the true story.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_247'>247</span>“And yet you married her!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, thank Heaven, I was permitted to marry her, +and she has been the light of my life,” said the squire, +fervently.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“With this cloud overshadowing her.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Enderby, every one of us has something to bear. +This secret and its evil consequences have been our cross. +We have had no other. We have loved each other truly, +and we have been happy in our married life, notwithstanding +our cross.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Force, you are a noble fellow! But now about her +son. Where is he?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well,” said the squire, smiling and hesitating, “he +is a very fine young man, a prisoner of war at present, +but he shall be free to-morrow.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Not—Roland Bayard!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, Roland Bayard. As fine a young man as +breathes.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then, after his mother, he is my heir.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, Anglesea has proved his legal right to be called +so.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Force, does the boy know of his parentage?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No. His birth was a mystery to him, as it was to +every one except me and his mother. He believes himself +to be the son of Byrne Stukely, and that is the reason +why his tongue has been tied, so that he will not +give the evidence that will clear himself and go near to +hang Stukely.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I see! I see!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But he shall give it to-morrow, and be set at liberty. +I shall see to that. Here we are again at the door of our +hotel. Shall we go in? Or have you anything else to +ask me?” questioned the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No; nothing else to-night. Let us go in.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The two gentlemen entered the house, got their chamber +keys from the sleepy watchman, and went upstairs.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_248'>248</span>The public parlors were dark and deserted. The gas +burned low in the halls.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The earl and the squire bade each other good-night +and separated, and went off to their several apartments.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force climbed another flight of stairs to seek the +little room he had occupied since his wife’s illness.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He paused at the door of her sick chamber and +knocked lightly.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The night nurse answered the summons.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How is Mrs. Force this evening?” he inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She is better, sir, and she is sleeping nicely,” replied +the woman.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Thank Heaven! Good-night,” said the squire, as he +turned away and entered his own little room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He retired to bed, too happy to sleep until near morning, +when at length he sank to rest.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XLIII<br> <span class='c005'>HUSBAND AND WIFE</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>It was late in the morning when Abel Force was +awakened by a gentle tapping at his chamber door.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Who is there?” he inquired, as he hastily arose, +thrust his feet into slippers, drew on his dressing gown, +and opened the door.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It is I, papa,” said Wynnette, in a cheerful voice, +and with a bright smile, that at once dispelled the +squire’s fears for his wife, which had been aroused by +the summons.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How is your mother?” he inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She is better, papa. She is awake now. Dr. Bolton +says that we may see her, but only one at a time. I +thought you would like to be the first, so I came to call +<span class='pageno' id='Page_249'>249</span>you. I did not know that you were still asleep. It is +late, you see.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, it is late; but I was up nearly all night. Thank +Heaven that your mother is better. Come in, Wynnette.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Hadn’t I better leave you to dress, papa?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Presently. But I wish to send a line by you to your +mother before I go to her. I will dress while you take +it.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Wynnette entered the room, closed the door, and sat +down on the side of the little bed to wait for the “line.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force went to the small stand, and wrote:</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dearest dear, I have read your paper, and I love you +as ever—more than ever, if that were possible; for love +is deepened and sanctified by sympathy with all that you +have suffered. Send me word by our Wynnette if you +feel well enough to see me. I am longing to be with +you.”</p> + +<p class='c006'>He folded the paper and gave it to his daughter, saying:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Go in to see your mother, and when you have kissed +and embraced her give her this note, and wait until she +reads it. Then bring me any message that she may +send.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Wynnette took the missive, wondering a little why her +father should send it, and left the room to deliver it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But Mr. Force had acted with prudent foresight. He +feared that, in his wife’s nervous and enfeebled condition, +the sudden sight of him in her room while she was +yet in doubt about his feelings toward her, might have +a disastrous effect upon her health. Therefore he had +sent the short, loving message as a preparation for his +visit.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_250'>250</span>He dressed himself in a great hurry, and waited for +the return of Wynnette.</p> + +<p class='c007'>She came while he was drawing on his coat.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Mamma wants you to come at once and see her alone. +She has sent out the nurse.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How did you find her, Wynnette?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, she is better. All right, I should think, except +that she is very weak and as white as chalk. She cried +when she read your note, papa. Why did she cry, papa? +What was in your note?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She cried from nervousness, my dear. There was +nothing in my note to distress her. I expressed the sympathy +I felt, and asked her if she was able to see me,” +replied the squire, truthfully, as far as the words went, +yet evasively.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh!” said Wynnette, and she was perfectly satisfied.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I am going to see her now,” said the squire, as he +passed out of his own little room and went to his wife’s +chamber.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He opened the door and passed in. The window shutters +were open, but the white shades were down and the +lace curtains drawn, so that the chamber was filled with +a soft, dim, white light, that showed the low French bed +and the fair form upon it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As Mr. Force approached his wife, she put up her +hands and covered her face.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Elfrida,” he said, in low and tender tones.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, how can I look you in the face?” she murmured.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How can I kiss you, dear, unless you take away your +hands?” he said, gently removing them and pressing his +lips to hers.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Abel! if I could leave my bed—I should be at +your feet! It is on my knees that I should receive your +forgiveness,” she moaned.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dearest,” he whispered, kissing her again—“my +<span class='pageno' id='Page_251'>251</span>dearest, I do not offer you forgiveness, for you have +done me no wrong.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, yes! oh, yes! I had a shameful secret, and I kept +it from you, and married you! My love——No, no! +my selfish feeling was not worthy of the name of love, +yet what else can I call it? Whatever it was, it blinded +me to honor and duty and drew me on to marry you, +with that shameful secret in my heart,” she moaned.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Dear wife, you are very morbid. Your secret was +not a shameful one, and it was never kept from me,” he +answered, caressingly.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What, Abel! What are you telling me?” she inquired, +starting up in bed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Lie down again. Calm yourself and keep very quiet, +Elfrida. I have much to tell you, and I will tell you +all. Confession for confession, my dear.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The idea that you should have anything to confess! +It is impossible, Abel!” she said, as she sank back on her +pillow and lay quietly as he had told her to do.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, Elfrida! Confession for confession! for I knew +your secret when we married, but I never let you suspect +that I knew it.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How?” she breathed, in wonder.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Your father told me, when I asked him for your +hand. The late earl had insight enough into character +to see that he could trust me; that I could never blame +you for the deception he believed had been practiced +upon you; that I should consider you as truly an honorable +widow as if the marriage you believed to have been +a fraud, had been as legal a bond as it is now proved to +have been!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What—what are you saying, Abel? I—I—cannot +comprehend.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I am telling you that Saviola married you in good +faith, and that your marriage was as lawful as heaven +and earth could make it! But lie still, keep quiet, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_252'>252</span>let me tell my story in my own way. You will then be +able to comprehend it better.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I will try,” she said, settling herself once more.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You will remember that when I asked your father +for your hand he said that he must have a talk with you +before he could give an answer.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, he told me so, when he came to talk with me of +your proposal.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You remember that you refused me, all on account +of that secret, which you would not reveal. I, not knowing +why you refused me, but certainly knowing that you +returned my love, declined to take no for an answer, and +so I continued to be a member of your father’s traveling +party.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“After some weeks I again renewed my proposal for +your hand to the earl, your father, begging his intercession +with you on my behalf. It was then that he took +me into his confidence and told me of the false marriage +into which—he believed—you had been led while yet a +young, motherless girl in the schoolroom, and of the +child that had been born of that marriage, and finally +of the death of the man who had perpetrated the supposed +wrong.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It must have been a great shock to you.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“A shock that was without the least blame to you, my +darling wife; so that when I recovered from it I told +your father that you were in my eyes a blameless widow, +and that I should be the proudest and happiest man alive +if I could be blessed with your love and honored with +your hand.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Abel! Generous soul!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He then told me where the difficulty lay—that you +imagined yourself so—so—well, so injured by the wrong +which had been done you—or which you believed had +been done you—that you could never bring yourself +<span class='pageno' id='Page_253'>253</span>either to reveal it to me, or to marry me without having +revealed it.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, I could not—I could have died, or lived in misery +sooner.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“So your father told me. But I was a young man, +in love, my dearest, and therefore ready with expedients. +I said to the earl:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I see a way out of all this.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He replied:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Tell me, for I see none.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I answered:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘You have told me these antecedents, and your most +fastidious sense of honor is satisfied. I know the secret, +and still pray for the honor of your daughter’s hand, as +I believe I have already the blessing of her love. Pray +go, therefore, to your daughter, ask her if she considers +you a man of honor and integrity worthy of her trust. +Of course, she will earnestly, and with wonder and indignation +at such a question, assure you that she does. +You will then please tell her of my renewed proposals +and assure her, in turn, that on your honor as a peer, +and your faith as a Christian, she may accept my hand +without revealing her secret, and without detriment to +her conscience.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The earl remained plunged in thought for a few minutes, +and then replied:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘I believe you have found a way out of the labyrinth. +I will do as you request upon one condition.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I asked him what it was. He answered:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘That you never tell my daughter that you knew her +secret. She is so morbid on that point, I believe she +would die if she thought you knew it.’</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I promised. And, Elfrida, darling, you know the +rest. We married, each having a secret from the other—yours +the secret of your first marriage, mine the secret +<span class='pageno' id='Page_254'>254</span>of the forbidden knowledge of that marriage. Did I +not say that I should offer confession for confession?”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XLIV<br> <span class='c005'>LOVE STRONGER THAN FATE</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“Oh, Abel! what did you think of me all that time?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I thought that you were the loveliest, yet the most +morbid, woman, upon one point, on the face of the +earth. Often when I looked at you and saw you preoccupied +and very sorrowful, I wished that you would +be brave enough to tell me your trouble and so relieve +your heart and find rest in my sympathy. But you +never took courage to speak of it, and I was bound by +my promise to the late earl never to reveal my knowledge +unless you should first trust me with your secret. +You have done so at last, and enabled me to make my +confession also.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And oh! Abel, you educated my son!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Our son. I adopted him when I married his +mother.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Abel! Noble heart!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Hush, dear, I am but an honest and well-meaning +man. At least I hope I am that much. As soon as we +heard of the earl’s death I sent for the child, whom he +had cared for while he lived. The boy was brought +over in a Baltimore clipper and I went to the city to +meet him. I found the boy thriving, and I sent him +down to Port Tobacco by sea while I came home by land. +I intended that he should be reared in Port Tobacco, +where I could go to see him often and watch over his +training. It was a stormy season, and I, traveling by the +shorter land route, reached home fully a week before +<span class='pageno' id='Page_255'>255</span>the tempest-tossed and battered <em>Carrier Pigeon</em> was +driven upon our shores and wrecked with the loss of all +on board, except the child alone, who was strangely +saved. I should have taken him at once to our own +home but for consideration of you. I gave him in charge +of Miss Bayard. In a day or two I knew that you had +seen and recognized the boy. Then I noticed that any +mention of the wrecked child distressed you. So I did +all that I could for the little lad without forcing him +upon your notice.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My noble Abel! I have never deserved such a +heart!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No more of that, love. I think now that I have +made ‘a clean breast of it.’ I think I have told you all.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Except this: You said that my first marriage was +not a fraud, but a legal act. Oh! is that true? And +if true, how came you to know it?” inquired the lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, yes, I must explain that. And then, Elfrida, +you must neither talk nor listen longer. You are exhausted.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But tell me, first, how do you know my first marriage +was legal?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Do you remember the discovery we made the day before +you were taken ill?—the discovery that the villain +who attempted to blackmail you and marry our heiress, +under the name of Angus Anglesea, was not that gallant +officer at all, but an impostor, taking advantage of the +closest possible resemblance to Anglesea to carry out his +own nefarious purposes?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes; a relative of Anglesea—Byrne Stukely.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The same. Well, twenty years ago Anglesea and +Stukely—I hate to connect their names—were exact +counterparts, as you have heard. Well, this same +Stukely was in Paris at the time that Saviola was there, +and was taking the name and character of his benefactor. +Saviola, deceived by the name and resemblance, mistook +<span class='pageno' id='Page_256'>256</span>him for Anglesea, and asked him to act as his second. +Stukely consented, and when Saviola fell, mortally +wounded, the dying man intrusted the impostor with important +papers and confidential messages, to be delivered +to you at Geneva. Now do you understand?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, I see. But he took his time in coming to Geneva; +did not make his appearance there, indeed, until +weeks after Saviola’s death, when he came, I suppose, +in the course of his own business.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, my dear Elfrida, it must have been the sight +of your beautiful face that tempted him to his subtle +villainies; to use the papers and the information he +really possessed in the manufacturing of false evidence, +to convince you that your true and lawful marriage had +been a fraud, in order to get you in his power.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, yes. But when and how did you discover that +the marriage was really lawful, and that the evidence +produced by Stukely was fabricated?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“By the appearance, yesterday, of the bona-fide Angus +Anglesea, who went with you and Saviola to Scotland, +saw you married, and, for your better security, +took an attested copy of your marriage certificate, which +I have now in my possession.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My brother’s friend here! My brother’s friend all +that we first believed him to be! The vow he made to +see me scathless through my mad marriage kept to the +letter! The shadow lifted from my life! Oh! I am so +glad—so glad, and so grateful! Thank Heaven!—oh, +thank Heaven!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Do not excite yourself, Elfrida. You promised to be +quiet.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, I will. I will be quiet. But I am so happy—happier +than I have been for twenty-five years! What +brought Gen. Anglesea here?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He came in search of you. He brought with him +some papers that belong to you,” said the squire; and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_257'>257</span>then, while the lady listened with breathless interest, he +told her of his accidental meeting with her brother’s +old friend on the avenue the night before, and of the +long interview they had had in the apartments of the +general, in which the latter had told of his visit to +Naples, his chance encounter with the Prince Saviola, +and all that had transpired on the occasion, which was +followed a few weeks later by the death of the prince, +who had left all his devisable estate to his grandnephew, +Rolando, only son of Luigi Saviola, and his wife, Elfrida +Glennon.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And our dear friend took all the trouble to go to +Geneva and hunt up the baptismal register of my son, +and then to come across the ocean to find me out?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And to bring you the copies of your marriage certificate, +the register of your son’s birth and baptism, +and of your greatuncle’s will.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But my son, Abel!—my son!” she cried.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Our son’s release is the question of a few hours only. +He has been a voluntary prisoner because he has been +grossly deceived by Stukely into the belief that he is +Stukely’s son——”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The lady gave a cry of horror.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And he refused to testify against his supposed father. +This morning, Grandiere, Anglesea and myself will go +to see him together and tell him the truth. He will no +longer refuse to testify. We will then go to the commissioner +of prisoners and ask for him an early hearing. +If there should be any delay, we will go to the President. +I think I can promise that he will be released +before sunset.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Heaven grant it!” breathed the lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And now, Elfrida, I must summon your nurse and +leave you to repose. You had better not try to see any +one else to-day, not even the children. Anglesea will +wait until to-morrow for an interview.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_258'>258</span>“One more word before you leave me, Abel.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What is it?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How came I back here in this bed? Where did you +find me? I know I was crazed with trouble when I left +that statement on the table and started on my journey. +I have no distinct memory of that journey until I lost +myself in a wild, dark, desert place, infested with wild +beasts and birds of prey, and then oblivion, until I +awoke to find myself in this bed. How did I get back? +Who brought me home?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You have never been away, dear Elfrida. Your +‘howling wilderness’ was but a delirious dream. In +your distraction you prepared to leave me, no doubt, +but you never left the room. You were found by little +Elva, dressed as for a journey, but lying in a swoon +upon the carpet. You were put to bed and skilfully +treated, and you have got better.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Is—it—possible?” murmured the lady, passing her +hand dreamily over her forehead.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It is true. And now, dearest, though I would much +rather pass the whole day beside your bed, I must call +your nurse and let you rest. You must not be disturbed +again to-day,” said Abel Force, as he stooped and +kissed her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>She put out her arms and drew his head down again +and returned his kiss, murmuring:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Bless you, Abel! Bless you! Bless you!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then she released him, and he went softly to the door +and opened it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mrs. Winder, the sick nurse, was sitting on a chair a +few feet off. She arose and met the squire, saying, reproachfully:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You have stayed too long, sir! The doctor expressly +said that no one must talk to my patient for more than +five minutes, and you have stayed half an hour, at least. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_259'>259</span>It is very wrong, sir, indeed, very wrong—and I should +not like to be responsible for the consequences!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You must pardon me on this occasion, nurse,” said +the squire, good-humoredly. “I hope I have done your +patient no harm, and I promise that no one else shall +disturb her to-day.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, sir, that they shan’t! I will see to that!” answered +the woman, with the despotism of her class.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force was too happy to be resentful.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He went downstairs to the ladies’ parlor, where he +found a large party waiting for him—Odalite, Elva, +Wynnette, Mrs. Hedge, Miss Grandiere, Miss Bayard, +Rosemary, Capt. Gideon and young Sam.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He bowed as he entered the room, where he was +promptly met by Wynnette, who at once flew at him and +pecked him with the words:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Papa, you are a perfect outlaw. You were not given +permission to stay more than five minutes in mamma’s +room, and you have stayed—about five hours, it seems +to me.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh! tut, tut, tut! What reckless exaggeration! Not +half an hour, my dear,” said the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And we are all just famishing. Here are our friends +from the country, too. They have got furnished apartments +on E Street, but they have to come here for their +meals, and they are just fainting with hunger.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The squire thought they need not have waited for him, +but might have gone down to breakfast under the escort +of the old skipper, but he was too kind-hearted to say so.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She is only teasing you, Mr. Force. She has no +respect for the fourth commandment. We have but just +arrived, and though we have excellent appetites for our +breakfast, we are not suffering from hunger,” said Mrs. +Hedge.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I know, Wynnette,” said the chick-pecked papa. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_260'>260</span>“But now we will go downstairs at once. Where is +Enderby, then?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He went out to breakfast with a friend who has just +arrived from England, but I didn’t catch his name,” +replied the skipper.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, I know. Miss Sibby, will you take my arm?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Now, what do I want with your arm, Abel Force? +Them as has arms and legs of their own, sez I, don’t +need to be toted along on other people’s, sez I,” replied +the old lady, trotting on before the party.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XLV<br> <span class='c005'>WINDING UP</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>When the party returned to the drawing room they +found the earl and the general waiting for them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The squire greeted his friends, and then introduced +the general.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The visitors from the country, who had known the +counterfeit to their cost, were now very much pleased +to make the acquaintance of the genuine officer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Presently, taking Anglesea aside, Mr. Force said to +him:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I have had a long interview this morning with my +invalid wife. There has been a full explanation between +us; but the excitement of such a conversation has exhausted +her, and nurse and doctor forbid any more talk +to-day, and enjoin absolute repose. To-morrow she will +see you. In the meantime, will you be so good, if you +have no objection, to go with Capt. Grandiere and myself +to one of our military prisons? You need not fear +anything unwholesome. The place is a miracle of cleanliness.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_261'>261</span>“A veteran of the East Indian army need not fear +the sight of a military prison,” laughed the earl. “But +what may be the object of our visit?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force then explained the real position of Roland +Bayard and of Byrne Stukely, and the deception +that had been practiced by the slaver captain on his +young prisoner to persuade the latter that he was the +son of the former, and to prevent him from giving the +evidence that would clear himself and hang his supposed +father.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It is to abuse the young fellow of this false impression, +and to prove to him his real parentage, that I wish +you to accompany us to the prison, general,” concluded +Mr. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Of course, I will do all that with much pleasure. So +my estimable relative, Stukely, has wound up his career +by turning pirate and slaver in these war times! Well, +something of the sort might have been expected of him. +And his extradition has been demanded by the British +Government, I hear.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>These last words fell on the ear of Capt. Grandiere, +who immediately answered:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, and when they get him they’ll hang him, for +they don’t mince matters with such scoundrels as we do! +But, Force,” he added, turning to the squire, “an article +in this morning’s paper, while it confirms the report +about Stukely, denies that the extradition of Craven +Cloud, or any other than the slaver captain, has been +demanded. And that is plausible, too, for what time +had they to hear of Craven Cloud, who has only passed +a few weeks on board of the slaver by which he was taken +prisoner?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And who is Craven Cloud?” demanded the general.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Craven Cloud is the name our poor Roland took in +his dire misery to save his own name from unmerited +dishonor and to save his friends from the knowledge of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_262'>262</span>his possible fate. I am glad that he is not included in +this demand of your government.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“So am I, for his extradition would have involved +painful delays in getting his rights.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force then rang the bell and ordered a carriage—if +one could be procured—to be at the door in twenty +minutes.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then he went up to Rosemary Hedge, took her hand, +and said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Dear little, faithful heart, we are all going to get +Roland out of prison. It may take us all day, for there +may be lots of red tape to disentangle; but we expect +to bring him back with us.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Rosemary smiled gratefully.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Did I hear you say you expected to bring my Roland +back with you?” inquired Miss Sibby.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, madam,” replied the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, now, you do it, Abel Force! You better had, +squire! If you don’t I’ll walk myself right up to the +President! I won’t go to any of your secretaries, nor +commissioners, nor any other understrappers! I’ll walk +myself right up to the President of these United States, +and I’ll demand of him why a brave and honorable +young man who is the adopted nephew of a descendant +of the great duke of England is kept in prison! If you +go to any one, sez I, go to headquarters, sez I!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What does she mean by the ‘duke of England’?” inquired +the general, in a low voice.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, she means a duke of England—that is, Thomas, +fourth Duke of Norfolk, one of whose younger sons came +over to Maryland with Leonard Calvert in 1633, and +from whom Miss Bayard’s mother was really descended—a +fact which she never forgets or allows any one else +to forget. A long decline, you will say, but, my dear +general, there are people descended from your English +aristocracy who are working on our roads, or pining in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_263'>263</span>our prisons, as there are also people descended from your +English peasantry who are filling the highest places in +our social and national life. The waves of rank rise and +fall like those of the ocean!”</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c011'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“‘Here we go up—up—up!</div> + <div class='line'>And here we go down—down—downy!’”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c012'>murmured Wynnette, who, standing nearest the speakers, +had overheard with her sharp ears the low-toned +words of this conversation.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The carriage was now announced, and the three gentlemen +left the room to go upon their visit to Roland, +in the Old Capitol prison, putting the ladies under the +care of Sam Grandiere.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Young Sam, too gallant to leave them, yet with his +“ruling passion strong,” under all circumstances, proposed +to take them to the Agricultural College, and also +to the agricultural grounds and conservatories.</p> + +<p class='c007'>All the ladies consented to go, except Odalite, who +decided to stay home for the chance of being admitted +to see her invalid mother, and of receiving a visit from +her lover, should his official duties give him time to call.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But Le found no opportunity to visit his sweetheart +that day, and Odalite remained alone, unsummoned +even by her mother, who, jealously guarded by her nurse, +was kept in a state of complete quietude.</p> + +<p class='c007'>She did not go down to lunch because she disliked +to enter alone the public dining room, crowded as it +was at all times with officers, soldiers and civilians.</p> + +<p class='c007'>She remained in the ladies’ parlor, ate a few crackers, +read a few newspapers, went occasionally to her mother’s +door to inquire after the patient, and hearing that she +was resting quietly, returned to her parlor and her reading.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So passed the day.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_264'>264</span>It was late in the afternoon when Sam Grandiere and +his party returned from their sightseeing excursion.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The ladies were hungry and fatigued, and anxious to +get something to eat, and then to go to their rooms and +lie down.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But Sam was full of the wonders of agriculture, horticulture +and floriculture to which he had been introduced +that day.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“If I was to be condemned for my sins to live in the +city—which Heaven in mercy forbid—and was allowed +to choose the place of my punishment, it would be the +Agricultural College. I could stand that better than +any other place,” he said.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And this was high praise, coming from such a quarter.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When they had all lunched the Grandieres and +Hedges returned to their lodgings in E Street to rest +before dinner. They always went and came under protest, +declaring that to sleep in one house and eat in another +seemed to them so disorderly as to border on indecency.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But Wynnette always quoted Sancho Panza, reminding +them that “Travelers must be content,” especially +in war time.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was dark when at length the three gentlemen returned +to the hotel, with Lieut. Force and Roland Bayard +in their company.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As they entered the parlor Odalite sprang up with a +little cry of joy, given no less to the released prisoner +than to her betrothed lover.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Is it all over? Is Roland quite free now?” she inquired, +after she had shaken hands with both the young +men.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, no, not quite over, for Roland is detained here +in Washington as a witness. Perhaps he will have to go +<span class='pageno' id='Page_265'>265</span>to England as a witness. Find seats, gentlemen. I will +tell you all about it, Odalite,” said Mr. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When they were all seated, the squire continued:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We went from here to the Old Capitol prison, to see +this knight, who was going to sacrifice himself upon a +hallucination. Never mind that, you will understand +by and by. Our friend here was enabled to give Roland +the true history of his birth and parentage, being fully +acquainted with all the facts and furnished with documents +to prove them.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And who, then, is he—Roland?” inquired Odalite, +with affectionate interest.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Stay, my dear! Not now! I cannot inform you +just yet. You shall know his position presently. Now +I wish to tell you how we released Roland. First we +told his own story and convinced him that he owed no +duty to the impostor who had deceived him. Then we +went to the commissioner of prisoners, without much +success. Then to the secretary of war, without much +more. Finally to the President, who, after hearing +what we had to say, signed an order for Roland’s release +on parole.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But why not release in full?” inquired the young +lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Because, my dear, there must be an investigation. +And that takes time. However, he is practically free.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XLVI<br> <span class='c005'>REVELATIONS</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>The ladies’ parlor of the Blank Hotel, in the city of +Washington, consisted of several rooms thrown into one +by arches, draped with curtains.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_266'>266</span>It was the habit of the guests to collect in family or +social groups in the several compartments of this saloon, +where each circle could enjoy some privacy apart from +the stranger inmates.</p> + +<p class='c007'>On this warm evening in May all the Forces, except +the mother, all the Grandieres who were in Washington, +the Hedges, Miss Bayard, Roland, Gen. Anglesea and +the Earl of Enderby, were assembled in the rear alcove, +at a safe distance from any other guests who might be +in the parlor.</p> + +<p class='c007'>For still greater privacy the curtains of the arch had +been lowered, and for coolness the sashes of the bay +window at the back had been raised.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They thus enjoyed something like the seclusion of a +domestic drawing room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There was a gay group at the other extremity of the +saloon, and the sound but not the sense of their talk and +laughter sometimes reached our party in the rear alcove.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But nothing that was spoken among the latter could +possibly reach the ears of the former.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The alcove was in pleasant shade this summer evening. +Some one had asked leave of the others, and then +had lowered the gas, to decrease the heat, as well as to +subdue the light. The May moon, at its full, shone in +through the open bay window, and softly illumined the +interior, falling directly on the pale face of Abel Force, +who occupied a large easy chair in the midst of his +party, who were seated around him, waiting in eager attention +for his words.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The squire of Mondreer began to speak in a somewhat +formal manner.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My friends,” he said, “I have asked you all to meet +me here that I may explain to you some family matter +that you have not hitherto understood, or rather, that +you have entirely misunderstood up to this day.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The squire paused in some embarrassment.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_267'>267</span>Miss Sibby took advantage of the momentary silence +to nudge Miss Susannah Grandiere and whisper:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I knowed it. Everything as is hid, sez I, is sure to +come out, sez I; but it’s nothing ag’in Abel Force, whatever +it is, sez I. I’ll bet on the old squire every time, +sez I.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force went on:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You have all taken—or seemed to take—much for +granted in our lives which was not true. Now did you +not?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Why—not that I know of, Force. I don’t know of +any mistakes we any of us ever made about you,” exclaimed +old Capt. Grandiere, answering for all his neighbors. +“In what respect have we done you wrong?” he +next inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“In no respect have you done me wrong. You have +only taken some things for granted and made some harmless +mistakes.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What mistakes?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>These questions helped the embarrassed squire in his +awkward explanations. Perhaps he drew them out for +the purpose.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“For instance,” he replied, “you all took it for +granted, when I married in Europe, that I had married +a young lady who had never been married before.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, of course,” replied the old skipper, while every +one else listened in silent expectation.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You never imagined that I had married a young +widow.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Good Heaven! No!” exclaimed the old sailor, opening +his eyes to their widest extent. “None of us ever +could have dreamed of such a thing. So Mrs. Force +was a widow when you married her?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes; the widow of the late Prince Luigi Saviola, of +Naples.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_268'>268</span>“Goo-oo-ood gracious! And you never let on a word +about it to any of us!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“There was no occasion. The way did not open to +make such an announcement without apparent egotism,” +replied the squire, discreetly, but not very convincingly.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I confess I do not see where the egotism would have +been,” said Miss Susannah Grandiere.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“There may be a difference of opinion on that head,” +said Abel Force. “I could not go up and down the country +proclaiming aloud to all and sundry of my farmer +neighbors that I had married the widow of the late +Prince Luigi Saviola. Nor should I even mention the +fact here among my old friends this evening but that +new developments of circumstances have made it necessary +to do so.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“‘Needs must when the devil drives,’ sez I. Not that +Abel Force has anything to do with the devil, sez I. +No, indeed. I bet on Abel Force every time, sez I,” +muttered Miss Sibby, aside to Mrs. Hedge.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Now, squire, speak right up. Tell us all about it. +You look as if you couldn’t come to the point. You have +got something more to tell us besides that you married a +beautiful young widow. Out with it, squire. We are +all friends here,” heartily exclaimed old Gideon Grandiere.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus backed up and encouraged, the embarrassed +and hesitating master of Mondreer took heart of grace, +and told the story of his wife’s first marriage. Not the +whole story, by a long deal! He suppressed much that +did not concern his neighbors to be told, and would not +have edified them to hear.</p> + +<p class='c007'>For instance, he never hinted a word about the runaway +marriage of the fascinating Italian exile with the +too romantic young school girl. He merely told of the +marriage of Prince Luigi Saviola, of Naples, with the +Lady Elfrida Glennon, only daughter of the Earl of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_269'>269</span>Enderby. Of their travels over the Continent, and of +the birth of their only son at Geneva.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He breathed no syllable of the fatal duel in which the +prince had fallen; but told them that he had died suddenly +while on a visit to Paris; and that soon after his +death his widow had returned to the protection of her +father, in whose company he—Abel Force—had first +met her in Switzerland; and that he had been so +charmed with her that he had won her affections, and +that he had married her some months later in England.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At this point of the story Abel Force paused for a +few moments, and then said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It would be too long and tedious a tale to tell you +how we both became separated from our only son—that +is, my wife’s son by her first marriage, and my son by +adoption and by affection—the young man whom you +have known as Roland Bayard, but, who, in truth, is no +other than Rolando Saviola, the only son of the late +Prince Luigi Saviola and of the Lady Elfrida, his wife. +Enough that lately has come over from Europe this gentleman, +Gen. Anglesea, the long-time friend of my wife’s +family, who was present at her marriage with the prince; +who was present also at the death of the lately deceased, +aged Prince Antonio Saviola, and is the appointed executor +of his will. Gen. Anglesea has come to America +in search of the heir, and has found him in the person of +the young man whom, as I have said, you have known +so long as Roland Bayard.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>As Mr. Force concluded his narrative a silence of +astonishment fell on the circle.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And now,” put in the earl, “I hope all our friends +understand the position of my nephew here.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Old Capt. Grandiere started up and seized Roland’s +hand, and shook it heartily.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Little Rosemary slipped her slender fingers in those +of the earl, and whispered:</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_270'>270</span>“Didn’t I tell you Roland was of patrician birth? +Didn’t I tell you he looked like you? I am not the least +surprised.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The earl caressed the little hand that was resting in +his, but made no reply in words.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, for all that I knew it all along, and am not +surprised, I do feel as if I was hearing it all read out of +a romance, by the evening fire, in Aunt Sukey’s old +room in the farmhouse,” added Rosemary, dreamily.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Le followed the example of Capt. Grandiere, went up +and shook Roland by the hand, whispering:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I am heartily glad of your good fortune, old fellow—heartily +glad! Not that any fortune, good or ill, +could affect my friendship for you.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It is not likely,” smiled Roland. “If you did not +lose faith in me when I was in the role of the pirate +captain’s mate, surely no amount of adversity could turn +you against me. And as for prosperity, I know, Le, +that mine gives you unselfish joy.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>All now in turn shook hands with Roland, and wished +him well.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The young man cordially responded to all this sympathetic +pleasure.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. Force’s friends were not quite satisfied—all was +not cleared up to their contentment. They wished to +know how it happened that Roland had been separated +from his parents in his infancy.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But the mystery, which has been revealed to the +reader, was never made clear to them, though subsequently +various reports got into circulation concerning +the lost child—the most popular of which, originating no +one knew how, was that Roland had been stolen by +gypsies. This romance came finally to be received as +the truth.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was late that night when the party separated and +retired to rest.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_271'>271</span> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XLVII<br> <span class='c005'>MOTHER AND SON</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>The recovery of Elfrida Force was very rapid. +When she awoke from sleep on the morning after her +interview with her husband, she felt so free from pain +and weariness, so refreshed in mind and body, that she +wished to get up and dress, and go down into the drawing +room to join her family circle. This the nurse dissuaded +her from doing, but advised her to put on a +wrapper, sit in an easy chair, and receive any friends +she might wish to see in her own room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The first one she asked for was her husband. Abel +Force came quickly, dismissed the attendant from the +room, and sat down beside her, holding her hand in his +own a few moments before either spoke.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The squire was the first to break the eloquent silence.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Dearest, you will be glad to hear that our Roland +is at liberty; is fully exonerated.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Thank Heaven!” breathed the mother.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The morning’s papers give us the information that +Stukely will be yielded up to the British authorities and +will leave Washington to-day for New York, to sail on +the <em>Scotia</em>, on Saturday, for Liverpool.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Thank Heaven!” again breathed Elfrida Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I have had an explanation with our friends and +neighbors; have told them all that they need know, and +nothing more,” continued the squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>For the first time since his entrance the lady looked +uneasy.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Do not distress yourself, my dear. I will tell you all +that I said, and how I said it,” he added.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And then he repeated, nearly word for word, all that +<span class='pageno' id='Page_272'>272</span>had passed in the alcove of the ladies’ parlor on the preceding +night.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, Abel, how well you have managed to shield me, +unworthy that I am, from all reproach!” she murmured, +in a tremulous voice.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Nay, dear! Do not speak so of yourself. If I have +tried to lift the burdens and dispel the shadows from +about you, it is because it would have been unjust for +you to suffer from them. And, Elfrida, I have had this +morning an exhaustive interview with our son.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah, yes! yes! What will Roland think of my long +ignoring him?” sighed the mother.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He knows now all about it—the cruel, slanderous +deception practiced on you by the man Stukely, when he +made you believe that the marriage with Saviola was +illegal, and left you no other alternative than to do as +you did. And no shadow of implied blame is felt by +Roland—only reverential tenderness and compassion for +all that you have had to suffer for so many years from +the diabolical villainy of one man. Roland is impatient +to see you, my dear, as soon as you can admit him.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My incomparable husband!” breathed the lady, penetrated +by her perception of his utter unselfishness and +superiority to every feeling of jealousy.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah! how you exaggerate, dear,” he said, with a +smile. Then:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Will you see Roland?” he inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“When you please,” she answered.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He arose, stooped and kissed her forehead, and left +the room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In a few moments the door opened and Roland entered.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The blood rushed to the lady’s face, and then left it +paler than before. She held out both hands to receive +him.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_273'>273</span>“My son! Oh, my son! Can you forgive me?” she +wailed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Roland dropped on one knee and lifted her hands to +his lips, in silent reverence. Then he arose and folded +her in his arms, still in silence.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Speak to me, Roland,” she said at last, when he had +drawn a chair and seated himself at her side.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Dear mother,” he said, very gently, “I have heard +your whole story from the lips of my stepfather—my +honored father, I should rather say, for truly he has +done a father’s part, and given a father’s love to me—and +I feel for him the deepest love, respect and compassion. +I wish from my soul that at my hands the demon +who has wronged you so bitterly could receive his punishment.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, no, my son. From your hands his punishment +would be sinful revenge. From the hands of the law +which has seized him it will be retributive justice. Roland, +how much, if anything, can you remember of your +infancy, before you were cast upon these shores?” she +suddenly inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Not much very clearly, dear mother. But I do remember +a country place, where there were many cows +and some calves, fruit trees, flowers and a house covered +all over with flowering vines. I remember a rosy-cheeked +woman in a white cap and white apron, who +used to wash and dress me, and another little boy of +about my age, and give us our milk and bread in a room +that had a bright red brick floor.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Nothing more, Roland?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, yes. I remember something that used to make +a grand holiday for us, a great lady who used to come to +see us, and bring cakes and sugar plums and toys and +clothes. Then I remember being in a ship on the sea +for many days, but cannot recall how I got there, or how +I came away. These reminiscences I have often told to +<span class='pageno' id='Page_274'>274</span>Aunt Sibby, but neither she nor I could ever make out +by much study where that home of my infancy could +have been located, or what seas I had sailed over.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And did no face, no voice here ever associate itself +with those earlier memories?” inquired the mother.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes,” replied the young man. “I was but four years +old when I last beheld the face of the beautiful woman +who visited me at intervals, and whom I had been taught +to call my aunt. But this last occasion was fixed in my +memory from the childish delight I found in the hobby-horse +she had brought down for me, and also by something +very opposite that—my distress at seeing her great +griefs and paroxysms of sobs and tears at leaving me. +These impressed the lady’s face and voice indelibly on +my memory, so that the image and the tone survived +everything else in my picture of the past. I was ten +years old when I first saw ‘Mrs. Force’ at our school +examination, but her face and her voice troubled me +with fancies that they had both once been familiar and +beloved. Mother! I remembered your presence in the +home of my infancy, though I remembered little else +about it; and I recalled your face and voice when I met +you again six years later on this other side of the world, +though I could not identify you with the angel of my +fancy. Yet I always loved you in both characters, +though I never ventured to show my affection; and I +somehow perceived your love for me, though you never +showed it!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“A veil was between us,” said Elfrida Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, a veil; but so thin that we saw each other +through it. Why, mother, dear, even our little Rosemary +perceived this, for she often told me that she believed +you loved her for my sake more than for her own. +To-day she told me that when she was in distress on my +account, it was only to you she could go for sympathy.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And that was true,” murmured the lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_275'>275</span>“And, mother, dear, what treasures I have realized +in my new-found sisters. Odalite—always kind to me +because Leonidas loved me—Odalite has been most affectionate +to-day. Wynnette—charming Wynnette—has +been so openly fond of me as to rouse the jealousy +of Mr. Samuel Grandiere, who remonstrated in elegant +style this way: ‘Drot it all, Wynnette! You make +more of Roland than you ever did of me, though I am +to be your husband.’”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And what did our Wynnette say to that?” inquired +Mrs. Force, with a smile.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She answered: ‘Well? It is written that a man +shall forsake his father and his mother and cleave to his +wife; but it is nowhere written that a woman shall forsake +her darling brother to cleave to another fellow.’ +And she hugged me tighter and kissed me closer than +before.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And little Elva?” inquired the lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Sweet Elva! Tender, loving Elva! She could not +ever have been sweeter, kinder, tenderer to me than she +has always been. Elva is the sweetest of all my sweet +sisters.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She is a dear child,” breathed the lady. Then, after +a little pause—“And Rosemary?” she inquired.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Mother, with your consent—and I am sure we shall +have your consent—Rosemary will be my wife. Dear, +true-hearted little mite! She would have given herself +to me even if I had been nothing more than a little skipper’s +mate, under the ban of suspected piracy! Her love +for me was so warm—her faith in me so true—I am +glad that I have the rank and wealth to offer her which +will make me acceptable to her relations. But, mother, +dear, Gen. Anglesea is waiting to speak to you.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then go and bring him in; and, Roland, you need +not retire,” said the lady.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_276'>276</span> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XLVIII<br> <span class='c005'>THE MEETING OF OLD FRIENDS</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>Angus Anglesea entered the room, ushered in by +Roland and followed by Mr. Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mrs. Force arose from her chair to meet her old +friend, who took her hand and bowed over it respectfully.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I am very glad to see you after so many years,” said +Mrs. Force, as Roland drew forward a chair for the +visitor.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I wish with all my heart and soul that our meeting +had been earlier! It would then have saved much misunderstanding +and suffering,” said Gen. Anglesea, with +a deep sigh, as he took his seat by her side.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The past is past,” said the lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Every one in this world has something to bear. All +things considered, we have had but a small share of the +universal burden,” cheerfully remarked Abel Force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I have brought some very important documents here +to place in your hands,” said Anglesea, beginning to sort +a parcel of papers that he held.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You have taken much trouble to bring me these +documents. How can I thank you sufficiently?” murmured +the lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But I need no thanks for doing my duty! This is +the will of the late Antonio Saviola, by which he leaves +all his possessions to his grandnephew, Rolando Saviola,” +said the general, laying the largest document on the +small stand in front of the lady’s chair.</p> + +<p class='c007'>She bowed, and took it up.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“This is the certificate of your marriage with Luigi +Saviola, and this a certificate of the baptism of your son. +These documents were necessary to establish your son’s +<span class='pageno' id='Page_277'>277</span>right to the inheritance of the Saviola estates,” he continued, +placing two other papers on the table.</p> + +<p class='c007'>These also the lady took up, with a bow of thanks.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Mr. Force will tell you how all these came into nay +possession, if he has not already done so. And now, dear +lady, having surrendered my trust, I must take my leave +for the present. I have been cautioned by your physician, +who is waiting in the parlor below, not to make +my visit too long. I shall remain in Washington some +time, and I hope I shall be permitted to see you often,” +said Anglesea, as he arose to leave the room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Must you go? Then return soon. Come often. Do +come and spend the evening with us. I am quite recovered, +I assure you, and shall join my family party in +the drawing room after dinner,” said the lady, detaining +the hand that he had given her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I will do so with pleasure,” returned the general, +and with a low bow he relinquished her hand and left +the room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>His exit was followed by the entrance of the doctor to +make his daily visit. He expressed much satisfaction on +finding his patient so much improved. And when Mrs. +Force spoke of her wish to join her family in the drawing +room, the doctor made no objection to the proposed +measure.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As soon as he had gone, the lady dismissed her other +two visitors, Abel Force and Roland, telling them that +she meant to dress and go down into the parlor, where +they might rejoin her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The two men left the room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>A half hour later, Elfrida Force was seated in the +alcove at the rear of the saloon, surrounded by her daughters, +her young friends, and her old Maryland neighbors, +all of whom rejoiced over her as over one who, if not +risen from the dead, had at least passed safely through +a terrible crisis and risen from a most dangerous illness.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_278'>278</span>All the gentlemen of their circle were absent, having +gone with Roland, who was to pass through some necessary +formalities before he could be released from bonds +and set entirely at liberty.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So it turned out that the large party in the alcove +was a “hen convention.” And the subject they discussed +was a double wedding, when and where to come off.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Leonidas had that day pleaded for an immediate marriage, +urging, with much reason, the long time that he +and his beloved had been obliged to wait, and the repeated +disappointments they had been fated to suffer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And Mr. Force had replied that he would consult +Mrs. Force on the subject and give him an answer as +soon as possible. Mr. Force had, in fact, resolved to +leave the matter to be determined by his wife.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Roland had also pleaded for an early wedding, arguing +that he would be compelled to go to Italy to take +possession of his estates, and that after all that he and +his sweetheart had endured, they might really expect to +be made happy.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mrs. Hedge and Miss Grandiere promised to take the +matter into consideration, and give him an answer in +due time.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And now all the women and girls were freely discussing +the subject.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There should be a double wedding—that was a fixed +fact. Leonidas and Odalite, Roland and Rosemary +should be married at the same place and at the same +time—but in what place and at what time? In the +city of Washington, within a week, or in St. Mary’s +County, within a month?</p> + +<p class='c007'>That was the question that occupied the ladies’ circle.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There was so much to be said on both sides. It would +save time, trouble and expense to have the double wedding +come off in Washington. But, then, as Roland +and Rosemary were to sail for Europe immediately after +<span class='pageno' id='Page_279'>279</span>their marriage, it seemed a pity that they should not +look once more upon old scenes and meet once more old +friends before their departure.</p> + +<p class='c007'>You see the matter resolved itself at length into a +question of convenience or of sentiment. And, inasmuch +as it was a convention of women who sat upon this subject, +the decision may be anticipated, as given in the +favor of sentiment.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The weddings, therefore, were to be celebrated with +great pomp at All Faith Church, Mondreer and Oldfield, +in St. Mary’s County—that is to say, the double marriage +ceremony was settled to be performed at All Faith +Church, the wedding breakfast to be served for both +parties at Mondreer, and the evening reception to be +held at Oldfield.</p> + +<p class='c007'>After which Leonidas and Odalite would depart to +spend their honeymoon at their own little estate of +Greenbushes, and Roland and Rosemary would leave for +New York en route for Europe.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The ladies had settled this quite to their satisfaction +before the gentlemen all returned with the good news +that all formalities had been duly observed, and now +Roland was a free man, without the smallest suspicion +of a blemish on his honor.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And now,” said Abel Force, “we may all go down +into Maryland as soon as we please, and show Enderby +and Anglesea what our country life is like, for they have +both promised to be our guests for a season.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“That will be delightful, and I am rejoiced to hear +it,” said Mrs. Force, very cordially. At which the two +invited guests bowed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Later on that evening, when Elfrida Force found herself +alone with her husband in their chamber, she said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We cannot go down to Mondreer in less than a week. +I must write to-morrow to have the house prepared for +the reception of our visitors. And while that work is +<span class='pageno' id='Page_280'>280</span>going on I must do some shopping here for the two girls. +You know they cannot be married without clothes.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Without clothes! Good Lord, no!” exclaimed the +squire, and he gave in immediately.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The next day Mrs. Force wrote to her housekeeper at +Mondreer, addressing that worthy woman as Mrs. Anglesea, +lest, with her true name on the envelope, the +missive might not reach her, or if it did, might offend +her; but—addressing her so for the last time, for after +announcing the advent of her family and visitors at +Mondreer, and instructing the housekeeper in regard to +the preparations to be made for their accommodation, +Mrs. Force wrote briefly of the facts which had come +to light concerning the impostor who had called himself +Col. Angus Anglesea, but who was really Byrne Stukely, +an ex-midshipman in the royal navy, long an adventurer, +and lately a pirate. She suppressed only one fact—the +existence of Stukely’s wife and family at Angleton—and +this she kept in mercy to the deceived woman, since +there could be no good come of revealing it. She ended +by advising the Californian to drop the name of Anglesea, +to which the man who had given it to her had no +sort of right, and to take back that of her late husband, +who had had every claim on her love and faith. She +counseled her to do this the more especially as the real +Angus Anglesea was to be one of their visitors at Mondreer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Having dispatched this letter by the morning’s mail, +Mrs. Force ordered a carriage, and in company with +Mrs. Hedge, Odalite and Rosemary, drove out to purchase +wedding finery for the two brides-elect.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Two days later all the Grandieres, together with Mrs. +Hedge, Rosemary and Miss Sibby Bayard, left Washington +for St. Mary’s, partly on account of the expense +and inconvenience of sleeping in lodging houses and eating +<span class='pageno' id='Page_281'>281</span>at hotel restaurants, and partly as an advance guard +to go before and prepare the way for the wedding parties.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr. and Mrs. Force, with their family and guests, +expected to follow in about ten days—or as soon as the +wedding outfit for the two brides could be completed, +for the lady had undertaken the supervision of that part +of the program.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Young Sam Grandiere had pleaded hard to be allowed +to marry Wynnette at the same time that Leonidas +was to marry Odalite, and Roland Rosemary. And +neither Mr. nor Mrs. Force raised any objection. But +Wynnette herself resisted the proposal in a characteristic +way.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No,” she said, “we must not think of ‘marrying or +giving in marriage,’ while our countrymen are falling in +battle or dying in hospitals by thousands and tens of +thousands—many also perishing for want of help, and +not hands enough at leisure from business or from +pleasure to give it! No! I suppose it is necessary that +these others should marry for good reasons, but you and +I must wait for better times, Sam, because, as soon as +the double wedding is over and the two ‘happy’ pairs +gone, Elva and I intend to return to Washington and go +to work in the hospitals.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“In the hospitals! What can you two do?” had been +Sam’s amazed exclamation and incredulous question.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“We may not be first-rate nurses, but we can help the +nurses; we can obey orders, step lightly, speak softly, +fetch and carry, and do any work we are put to do, and +we mean to do it!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And your father and mother mean to let you?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Of course they do! That is what we all came home +from Europe for. And papa and mamma mean to offer +their services, too.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well! If it were not you and your parents, Wynnette, +I should say that you were all the biggest fools in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_282'>282</span>the world, and that each one of you was the biggest fool +of all the rest!” exclaimed the provoked lover.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And if it were not you, who couldn’t hit me back +because you are a man and I am a girl, I should box +your ears soundly for saying that, Mr. Samuel Grandiere!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, I shouldn’t mind that,” said Sam, with a laugh.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And the honest young pair parted good friends, Sam +going to escort his relations on their journey to St. +Mary’s.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XLIX<br> <span class='c005'>A DOUBLE WEDDING AT ALL FAITH</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>“It’s a habit he gibs hisse’f, ole mist’ess! Nuffin’ +’tall but a cussed, infunally habit he gibs hisse’f! And +he ought to be broke ob it, if it breaks his neck! He to +hab de darin’ impidence to take a rale gemman’s name +an’ to go paradin’ up an’ down de yeth an’ roun’ an’ +roun’ de worl’ a-deceivin’ ob young damsins like Miss +Odilly an’ ole widdies like you—de owdacious willyun! +Wot you reckon dey’ll do wid him, ole mist’ess?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Such were the comments and such was the question of +Luce, after hearing the letter of Mrs. Force which the +housekeeper of Mondreer, with her usually perfect openness, +had read aloud to the colored cook.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Wot yer reckon dey gwine to do wid dat ’funally +willyun, ole mist’ess?” again demanded Luce, seeing +that the other woman was studying the letter in silence.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“They’ll hang him! That’s what they’ll do with him. +He’s been sent to England—in chains, I hope—and +they’ll hang him! By all accounts they don’t fool with +such people as we do. They hang ’em. And now, Luce, +don’t you ever dare to call me by that devil’s name +<span class='pageno' id='Page_283'>283</span>again! And if anybody else ever does call me so, I’ll +sue ’em for slander and put the damages as high as the +law allows!” exclaimed the housekeeper.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“All yight, ole mist’ess. I won’t call yer dat. But +wot mus’ I call yer?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Call me Mrs. Wright. Wright is my right name, +and I shall always write it so, for all of that marriage +rite between me and that yonder beat.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Jes’ so, ole mist’ess—I’ll ’membeh!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It was my dear old man’s name, and I ought never +to have changed it. And I never will again, so help me! +And now, Luce, you and me has got to stir our stumps +and make this house jamb, for there’s not only two weddings—and +Lord knows one wedding makes fuss enough +in a house!—but there’s a whole raft of foreign company +coming to stay.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I t’ought as dere was on’y two st’ange gemmen.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, but one’s a lord and t’other a lion! And them +two’s as much as a regiment! So look alive, nigger, and +put your best foot first before the foreigners,” said the +housekeeper, with vim.</p> + +<p class='c007'>While active preparations were in progress at Mondreer, +all the Grandieres, with Mrs. Hedge, little Rosemary +and Miss Sibby Bayard, returned to the neighborhood.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The sensational news they brought from Washington +spread “like wildfire” through the county, and the capture +of the <em>Kitty</em> by the <em>Argente</em>; the taking of the <em>Argente</em> +by the <em>Eagle</em>; the detection of the true character of +the adventurer whom they had known and lionized as +Col. Angus Anglesea; the discovery of Roland Bayard’s +parentage; the approaching marriage of Leonidas with +Odalite, and of Roland with Rosemary—formed the +topics of conversation at all the tea tables and in all the +barrooms for many miles around.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_284'>284</span>In the height of all this gossip, the Forces, with their +two foreign guests, returned to Mondreer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They immediately became the objects of daily, yes, +hourly calls. Every acquaintance of the family, high +and low, rich and poor, came to welcome them back to +Mondreer, and all were received with courtesy.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Invitations were sent out “broadcast” for the double +wedding to be celebrated at All Faith Church on the +first of the ensuing June.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When that day dawned at length the sun arose in a +sky as bright and blue and shone upon a world as green +and fresh as ever blessed the bridals of youth and beauty.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At a very early hour the church was filled with the +nearest friends of the wedding parties, while scores of +invited guests who could not press into the building for +want of space sat in their carriages that filled the grove.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At ten o’clock the venerable clergyman appeared in +the chancel, robed in his white surplice, and attended by +his curate and clerk, and with their appearance a whisper +went around the congregation that the bridal procession +was approaching.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This was true. A moment later the doors were noiselessly +thrown open, and the ushers entered, standing on +the right and on the left. Then the bride, Odalite, appeared +leaning on the arm of her father. Her dress on +this occasion was very plain and simple—a white silk, +trained, and a long, white tulle veil, with a very slender +wreath of orange buds, gloves, boots, handkerchiefs and +bouquet to match, but no jewelry. Behind her walked +her bridesmaids, Wynnette and Elva, girls even more +simply dressed in white than herself.</p> + +<p class='c007'>A few steps in the rear came the second bridal train—little +Rosemary Hedge, led by her greatuncle, Capt. +Gideon Grandiere. She looked like a light, floating +cloud, with veil and dress all of snow-white tulle, +looped here and there with lilies of the valley. Behind +<span class='pageno' id='Page_285'>285</span>her walked her two bridesmaids, the little Elk girls, in +simple white organdie dresses.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Last of all came Mrs. Force, with the Earl of Enderby +and other friends, and Mrs. Hedge, with Miss +Susannah Grandiere.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As Odalite was led up to the altar by her father, +Leonidas Force came out of the vestry, followed by his +groomsman, Sam Grandiere, and joined them. The +circle, immediately arranged itself before the altar—the +friends of the pair standing behind and on the right +and left.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The venerable rector opened his book and the rites +commenced.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Odalite was the palest bride that ever willingly gave +her hand to her chosen bridegroom; but, then, the +shadow of the past overclouded her spirit.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Leonidas perceived this, and pressed her hand in +silent sympathy and reassuring tenderness.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The rites went on to the end. The benediction was +given, and the bride and groom were warmly congratulated.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the newly married pair, with their attendants, +withdrew to the rear to make way for the second wedding.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Old Capt. Grandiere led his niece, Rosemary Hedge, +up to the altar, followed by her bridesmaids. There +they were met by Roland Saviola and his groomsman, +Ned Grandiere. They formed before the altar, their +friends and relatives standing behind and on either side.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Again the rector advanced and opened his book, and +amid the deep silence commenced the solemn rites.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When they were ended, and the blessing was bestowed, +the bride kissed, and the bridegroom shaken by the hand, +both the wedding parties withdrew to the vestry to register +the marriages.</p> + +<p class='c007'>After this they made very slow progress out of the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_286'>286</span>church, their way being impeded by their acquaintances, +who left the pews to offer their congratulations.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At length they were permitted to enter their carriages +and take the road to Mondreer, where the marriage +breakfast was to be given.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was a great success, of course. The guests remained +until two o’clock, when they departed, well +pleased, and leaving their entertainers to take a few +hours’ repose before repairing to Oldfield for the evening’s +ball.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At the farm they all literally:</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c011'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Danced all night till broad daylight.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Then, after coffee, the two brides and grooms put on +their traveling dresses and took leave of their friends.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Leonidas and Odalite went to Greenbushes to spend +their honeymoon quietly.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Roland and Rosemary left for Washington, en route +for New York and Paris. Mrs. Hedge and Miss Grandiere +wept freely at parting with their darling, but were +consoled by the assurance from Roland that the trip +across the Atlantic was nothing at all in these days, and +that he should certainly bring Rosemary back to spend +Christmas with them, and afterward, if they pleased, +take both of them to Europe to spend a long time with +Rosemary and himself.</p> + +<p class='c007'>To Miss Sibby Bayard, who had been a true mother +to the young man, and who was weeping silently and +wiping her eyes surreptitiously, as if she were ashamed +of her tears, Roland said:</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Dearest Aunt Sibby, though I seem to be leaving +you finally, yet it is not so. You will see me much +oftener, and for much longer periods, than you used to +do when I was mate on a merchantman and away to sea +three years at a time. Besides, you will come and stay +<span class='pageno' id='Page_287'>287</span>with us on the other side as often and as long as you +please—forever, if you will. We should like it.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, honey! Never mind me! I’m not crying! +What should I cry for, when you are so happy? I love +you too true for that! Rale love, sez I, always rejoices +in the good of its objects, sez I! And them as snivels at +the happiness of their children, sez I, hasn’t much love, +but a deal of self in their souls, sez I!” Miss Sibby concluded, +with a glance of reproach on poor Mrs. Hedge +and Miss Grandiere.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At last they were gone.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And the invited guests soon followed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Oldfield was left to itself, except for the presence of +the Forces, who, being very tired, had accepted Mrs. +Grandiere’s pressing invitation to remain and rest for +the whole day. They all retired to their rooms to lie +down and sleep—all except the California widow, who, +with her instincts of order, volunteered to help to put the +farmhouse “to rights” after the party. She called to +her aid Luce, who had come to Oldfield in attendance on +her mistress.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Luce’s eyes were red, and her nose was swollen +through much crying.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Now, come out of that, you fool!” exclaimed the +widow, who had finished with her own crying.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I can’t help ob it!” sobbed Luce. “Dese yere boys +an’ gals is ’nough to break a body’s heart! Allers, eberlastin’ +gettin’ married world without end! But wot’s +de use ob talkin’? It’s a habit dey gibs deirse’ves! +Nuffin’ ’tall but a habit dey gibs deirse’ves! An’ dey’ll +nebber be broke ob it—nebber!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, hush, Luce! Look up! Look up, woman! +There is a good omen! The sun is rising!”</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c014'> + <div><span class='small'>THE END</span></div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='pbb'> + <hr class='pb c002'> +</div> +<div class='block'> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c003'> + <div><span class='xlarge'>POPULAR BOOKS</span></div> + <div class='c014'>By MRS. E. D. E. N. SOUTHWORTH</div> + <div class='c002'><span class='small'>In Handsome Cloth Binding</span></div> + <div class='c002'>Price per volume,      60 Cents</div> + </div> +</div> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<div class='lg-container-b'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Beautiful Fiend, A</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Brandon Coyle’s Wife</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to A Skeleton the Closet</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Bride’s Fate, The</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to The Changed Brides</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Bride’s Ordeal, The</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Capitola’s Peril</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to the Hidden Hand</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Changed Brides, The</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Cruel as the Grave</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>David Lindsay</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to Gloria</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Deed Without a Name, A</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Dorothy Harcourt’s Secret</div> + <div class='line in3'><span class='small'>Sequel to A Deed Without a Name</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Em”</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Em’s Husband</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to “Em”</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Fair Play</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>For Whose Sake</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to Why Did He Wed Her?</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>For Woman’s Love</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Fulfilling Her Destiny</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to When Love Commands</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Gloria</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Her Love or Her Life</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to The Bride’s Ordeal</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Her Mother’s Secret</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Hidden Hand, The</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>How He Won Her</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to Fair Play</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Ishmael</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Leap in the Dark, A</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Lilith</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to the Unloved Wife</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Little Nea’s Engagement</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to Nearest and Dearest</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Lost Heir, The</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Lost Lady of Lone, The</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Love’s Bitterest Cup</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to Her Mother’s Secret</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Mysterious Marriage, The</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to A Leap in the Dark</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Nearest and Dearest</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Noble Lord, A</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to The Lost Heir</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Self-Raised</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to Ishmael</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Skeleton in the Closet, A</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Struggle of a Soul, The</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to The Lost Lady of Lone</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Sweet Love’s Atonement</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Test of Love, The</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to A Tortured Heart</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>To His Fate</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to Dorothy Harcourt’s Secret</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Tortured Heart, A</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to The Trail of the Serpent</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Trail of the Serpent, The</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Tried for Her Life</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to Cruel as the Grave</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Unloved Wife, The</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Unrequited Love, An</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to For Woman’s Love</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Victor’s Triumph</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to A Beautiful Fiend</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>When Love Commands</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>When Shadows Die</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to Love’s Bitterest Cup</span></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Why Did He Wed Her?</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Zenobia’s Suitors</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='small'>Sequel to Sweet Love’s Atonement</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <div>For Sale by all Booksellers or will be sent postpaid on receipt of price.</div> + <div>A. L. BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS</div> + <div>52 Duane Street      New York</div> + <div class='c002'>Copyright, 1882, 1889</div> + <div><span class='sc'>By Robert Bonner</span></div> + <div>Renewal granted to Mrs. Charlotte Southworth Lawrence, 1910</div> + <div class='c002'>“WHEN SHADOWS DIE”</div> + <div class='c002'>Printed by special arrangement with <span class='sc'>Street & Smith</span></div> + </div> +</div> + +</div> + +<div class='pbb'> + <hr class='pb c002'> +</div> +<div class='tnotes x-ebookmaker'> + +<div class='chapter ph2'> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c003'> + <div>TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES</div> + </div> +</div> + +</div> + +<table class='table0'> + <tr> + <th class='c015'>Page</th> + <th class='c015'>Changed from</th> + <th class='c016'>Changed to</th> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c017'><a href='#t31'>31</a></td> + <td class='c018'>Mr. Force, who placed him in charge of a respectable</td> + <td class='c019'>Mr. Force, who placed him in the charge of a respectable</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c017'><a href='#t228'>228</a></td> + <td class='c018'>fondly as ever mother did, yet I loved them no more</td> + <td class='c019'>fondly as ever a mother did, yet I loved them no more</td> + </tr> +</table> + + <ul class='ul_1'> + <li>Typos fixed; non-standard spelling and dialect retained. + </li> + </ul> + +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75317 ***</div> + </body> + <!-- created with ppgen.py 3.57e (with regex) on 2025-01-17 22:32:44 GMT --> +</html> + |