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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/7631.txt b/7631.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1ab5fbf --- /dev/null +++ b/7631.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2981 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook The Disowned, by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, V1 +#59 in our series by Edward Bulwer-Lytton + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**EBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These EBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers***** + + +Title: The Disowned, Volume 1. + +Author: Edward Bulwer-Lytton + +Release Date: March 2005 [EBook #7631] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on March 4, 2004] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + + + + + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DISOWNED, LYTTON, V1 *** + + + +This eBook was produced by Tapio Riikonen +and David Widger + + + + + +THE DISOWNED + +by Edward Bulwer Lytton + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +I'll tell you a story if you please to attend. + G. KNIGHT: Limbo. + +It was the evening of a soft, warm day in the May of 17--. The sun +had already set, and the twilight was gathering slowly over the large, +still masses of wood which lay on either side of one of those green +lanes so peculiar to England. Here and there, the outline of the +trees irregularly shrunk back from the road, leaving broad patches of +waste land covered with fern and the yellow blossoms of the dwarf +furze, and at more distant intervals thick clusters of rushes, from +which came the small hum of gnats,--those "evening revellers" +alternately rising and sinking in the customary manner of their +unknown sports,--till, as the shadows grew darker and darker, their +thin and airy shapes were no longer distinguishable, and no solitary +token of life or motion broke the voiceless monotony of the +surrounding woods. + +The first sound which invaded the silence came from the light, quick +footsteps of a person whose youth betrayed itself in its elastic and +unmeasured tread, and in the gay, free carol which broke out by fits +and starts upon the gentle stillness of the evening. + +There was something rather indicative of poetical taste than musical +science in the selection of this vesper hymn, which always commenced +with,-- + + "'T is merry, 't is merry, in good green wood," + +and never proceeded a syllable further than the end of the second +line,-- + + "when birds are about and singing;" + +from the last word of which, after a brief pause, it invariably +started forth into joyous "iteration." + +Presently a heavier, yet still more rapid, step than that of the youth +was heard behind; and, as it overtook the latter, a loud, clear, good- +humoured voice gave the salutation of the evening. The tone in which +this courtesy was returned was frank, distinct, and peculiarly +harmonious. + +"Good evening, my friend. How far is it to W----? I hope I am not +out of the direct road?" + +"To W----, sir?" said the man, touching his hat, as he perceived, in +spite of the dusk, something in the air and voice of his new +acquaintance which called for a greater degree of respect than he was +at first disposed to accord to a pedestrian traveller,--"to W----, +sir? why, you will not surely go there to-night? it is more than +eight miles distant, and the roads none of the best" + +"Now, a curse on all rogues!" quoth the youth, with a serious sort of +vivacity. "Why, the miller at the foot of the hill assured me I +should be at my journey's end in less than an hour." + +"He may have said right, sir," returned the man, "yet you will not +reach W---- in twice that time." + +"How do you mean?" said the younger stranger. + +"Why, that you may for once force a miller to speak truth in spite of +himself, and make a public-house, about three miles hence, the end of +your day's journey." + +"Thank you for the hint," said the youth. "Does the house you speak +of lie on the road-side?" + +"No, sir: the lane branches off about two miles hence, and you must +then turn to the right; but till then our way is the same, and if you +would not prefer your own company to mine we can trudge on together." + +"With all my heart," rejoined the younger stranger; "and not the less +willingly from the brisk pace you walk. I thought I had few equals in +pedestrianism; but it should not be for a small wager that I would +undertake to keep up with you." + +"Perhaps, sir," said the man, laughing, "I'll have had in the course of +my life a better usage and a longer experience of my heels than you +have." + +Somewhat startled by a speech of so equivocal a meaning, the youth, +for the first time, turned round to examine, as well as the increasing +darkness would permit, the size and appearance of his companion. He +was not perhaps too well satisfied with his survey. His fellow +pedestrian was about six feet high, and of a corresponding girth of +limb and frame, which would have made him fearful odds in any +encounter where bodily strength was the best means of conquest. +Notwithstanding the mildness of the weather, he was closely buttoned +in a rough great-coat, which was well calculated to give all due +effect to the athletic proportions of the wearer. + +There was a pause of some moments. + +"This is but a wild, savage sort of scene for England, sir, in this +day of new-fashioned ploughs and farming improvements," said the tall +stranger, looking round at the ragged wastes and grim woods, which lay +steeped in the shade beside and before them. + +"True," answered the youth; "and in a few years agricultural +innovation will scarcely leave, even in these wastes, a single furze- +blossom for the bee or a tuft of green-sward for the grasshopper; but, +however unpleasant the change may be for us foot-travellers, we must +not repine at what they tell us is so sure a witness of the prosperity +of the country." + +"They tell us! who tell us?" exclaimed the stranger, with great +vivacity. "Is it the puny and spiritless artisan, or the debased and +crippled slave of the counter and the till, or the sallow speculator +on morals, who would mete us out our liberty, our happiness, our very +feelings by the yard and inch and fraction? No, no, let them follow +what the books and precepts of their own wisdom teach them; let them +cultivate more highly the lands they have already parcelled out by +dikes and fences, and leave, though at scanty intervals, some green +patches of unpolluted land for the poor man's beast and the free man's +foot." + +"You are an enthusiast on this subject," said the younger traveller, +not a little surprised at the tone and words of the last speech; "and +if I were not just about to commence the world with a firm persuasion +that enthusiasm on any matter is a great obstacle to success, I could +be as warm though not so eloquent as yourself." + +"Ah, sir," said the stranger, sinking into a more natural and careless +tone, "I have a better right than I imagine you can claim to repine or +even to inveigh against the boundaries which are, day by day and hour +by hour, encroaching upon what I have learned to look upon as my own +territory. You were, just before I joined you, singing an old song; I +honour you for your taste: and no offence, sir, but a sort of +fellowship in feeling made me take the liberty to accost you. I am no +very great scholar in other things; but I owe my present circumstances +of life solely to my fondness for those old songs and quaint +madrigals. And I believe no person can better apply to himself Will +Shakspeare's invitation,-- + + 'Under the greenwood tree + Who loves to lie with me, + And tune his merry note + Unto the sweet bird's throat, + Come hither, come hither, come hither, + Here shall he see + No enemy + But winter and rough weather.'" + +Relieved from his former fear, but with increased curiosity at this +quotation, which was half said, half sung, in a tone which seemed to +evince a hearty relish for the sense of the words, the youth replied,-- + +"Truly, I did not expect to meet among the travellers of this wild +country with so well-stored a memory. And, indeed, I should have +imagined that the only persons to whom your verses could exactly have +applied were those honourable vagrants from the Nile whom in vulgar +language we term gypsies." + +"Precisely so, sir," answered the tall stranger, indifferently; +"precisely so. It is to that ancient body that I belong." + +"The devil you do!" quoth the youth, in unsophisticated surprise; "the +progress of education is indeed astonishing!" + +"Why," answered the stranger, laughing, "to tell you the truth, sir, I +am a gypsy by inclination, not birth. The illustrious Bamfylde Moore +Carew is not the only example of one of gentle blood and honourable +education whom the fleshpots of Egypt have seduced." + +"I congratulate myself," quoth the youth, in a tone that might have +been in jest, "upon becoming acquainted with a character at once so +respectable and so novel; and, to return your quotation in the way of +a compliment, I cry out with the most fashionable author of +Elizabeth's days,-- + + 'O for a bowl of fat Canary, + Rich Palermo, sparkling Sherry,' + +in order to drink to our better acquaintance." + +"Thank you, sir,--thank you," cried the strange gypsy, seemingly +delighted with the spirit with which his young acquaintance appeared +to enter into his character, and his quotation from a class of authors +at that time much less known and appreciated than at present; "and if +you have seen already enough of the world to take up with ale when +neither Canary, Palermo, nor Sherry are forthcoming, I will promise, +at least, to pledge you in large draughts of that homely beverage. +What say you to passing a night with us? our tents are yet more at +hand than the public-house of which I spoke to you." The young man +hesitated a moment, then replied,-- + +"I will answer you frankly, my friend, even though I may find cause to +repent my confidence. I have a few guineas about me, which, though +not a large sum, are my all. Now, however ancient and honourable your +fraternity may be, they labour under a sad confusion, I fear, in their +ideas of meum and tuum." + +"Faith, sir, I believe you are right; and were you some years older, I +think you would not have favoured me with the same disclosure you have +done now; but you may be quite easy on that score. If you were made +of gold, the rascals would not filch off the corner of your garment as +long as you were under my protection. Does this assurance satisfy +you?" + +"Perfectly," said the youth; "and now how far are we from your +encampment? I assure you I am all eagerness to be among a set of +which I have witnessed such a specimen." + +"Nay, nay," returned the gypsy, "you must not judge of all my brethren +by me: I confess that they are but a rough tribe. However, I love +them dearly; and am only the more inclined to think them honest to +each other, because they are rogues to all the rest of the world." + +By this time our travellers had advanced nearly two miles since they +had commenced companionship; and at a turn in the lane, about three +hundred yards farther on, they caught a glimpse of a distant fire +burning brightly through the dim trees. They quickened their pace, +and striking a little out of their path into a common, soon approached +two tents, the Arab homes of the vagrant and singular people with whom +the gypsy claimed brotherhood and alliance. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + Here we securely live and eat + The cream of meat; + And keep eternal fires + By which we sit and do divine. + HERRICK: Ode to Sir Clipseby Crew. + +Around a fire which blazed and crackled beneath the large seething- +pot, that seemed an emblem of the mystery and a promise of the good +cheer which are the supposed characteristics of the gypsy race, were +grouped seven or eight persons, upon whose swarthy and strong +countenances the irregular and fitful flame cast a picturesque and not +unbecoming glow. All of these, with the exception of an old crone who +was tending the pot, and a little boy who was feeding the fire with +sundry fragments of stolen wood, started to their feet upon the +entrance of the stranger. + +"What ho! my bob cuffins," cried the gypsy guide, "I have brought you +a gentry cove, to whom you will show all proper respect: and hark ye, +my maunders, if ye dare beg, borrow, or steal a single croker,--ay, +but a bawbee of him, I'll--but ye know me." The gypsy stopped +abruptly, and turned an eye, in which menace vainly struggled with +good-humour, upon each of his brethren, as they submissively bowed to +him and his protege, and poured forth a profusion of promises, to +which their admonitor did not even condescend to listen. He threw off +his great-coat, doubled it down by the best place near the fire, and +made the youth forthwith possess himself of the seat it afforded. He +then lifted the cover of the mysterious caldron. "Well, Mort," cried +he to the old woman, as he bent wistfully down, "what have we here?" + +"Two ducks, three chickens, and a rabbit, with some potatoes," growled +the old hag, who claimed the usual privilege of her culinary office, +to be as ill-tempered as she pleased. + +"Good!" said the gypsy; "and now, Mim, my cull, go to the other tent, +and ask its inhabitants, in my name, to come here and sup; bid them +bring their caldron to eke out ours: I'll find the lush." + +With these words (which Mim, a short, swarthy member of the gang, with +a countenance too astute to be pleasing, instantly started forth to +obey) the gypsy stretched himself at full length by the youth's side, +and began reminding him, with some jocularity and at some length, of +his promise to drink to their better acquaintance. + +Something there was in the scene, the fire, the caldron, the intent +figure and withered countenance of the old woman, the grouping of the +other forms, the rude but not unpicturesque tent, the dark still woods +on either side, with the deep and cloudless skies above, as the stars +broke forth one by one upon the silent air, which (to use the orthodox +phrase of the novelist) would not have been wholly unworthy the bold +pencil of Salvator himself. + +The youth eyed, with that involuntary respect which personal +advantages always command, the large yet symmetrical proportions of +his wild companion; nor was the face which belonged to that frame much +less deserving of attention. Though not handsome, it was both shrewd +and prepossessing in its expression; the forehead was prominent, the +brows overhung the eyes, which were large, dark, and, unlike those of +the tribe in general, rather calm than brilliant; the complexion, +though sun-burnt, was not swarthy, and the face was carefully and +cleanly shaved, so as to give all due advantage of contrast to the +brown luxuriant locks which fell rather in flakes than curls, on +either side of the healthful and manly cheeks. In age, he was about +thirty-five, and, though his air and mien were assuredly not lofty nor +aristocratic, yet they were strikingly above the bearing of his +vagabond companions: those companions were in all respects of the +ordinary race of gypsies; the cunning and flashing eye, the raven +locks, the dazzling teeth, the bronzed colour, and the low, slight, +active form, were as strongly their distinguishing characteristics as +the tokens of all their tribe. + +But to these, the appearance of the youth presented a striking and +beautiful contrast. + +He had only just passed the stage of boyhood, perhaps he might have +seen eighteen summers, probably not so many. He had, in imitation of +his companion, and perhaps from mistaken courtesy to his new society, +doffed his hat; and the attitude which he had chosen fully developed +the noble and intellectual turn of his head and throat. His hair, as +yet preserved from the disfiguring fashions of the day, was of a deep +auburn, which was rapidly becoming of a more chestnut hue, and curled +in short close curls from the nape of the neck to the commencement of +a forehead singularly white and high. His brows finely and lightly +pencilled, and his long lashes of the darkest dye, gave a deeper and +perhaps softer shade than they otherwise would have worn to eyes quick +and observant in their expression and of a light hazel in their +colour. His cheek was very fair, and the red light of the fire cast +an artificial tint of increased glow upon a complexion that had +naturally rather bloom than colour; while a dark riding frock set off +in their full beauty the fine outline of his chest and the slender +symmetry of his frame. + +But it was neither his features nor his form, eminently handsome as +they were, which gave the principal charm to the young stranger's +appearance: it was the strikingly bold, buoyant, frank, and almost +joyous expression which presided over all. There seemed to dwell the +first glow and life of youth, undimmed by a single fear and unbaffled +in a single hope. There were the elastic spring, the inexhaustible +wealth of energies which defied in their exulting pride the heaviness +of sorrow and the harassments of time. It was a face that, while it +filled you with some melancholy foreboding of the changes and chances +which must, in the inevitable course of fate, cloud the openness of +the unwrinkled brow, and soberize the fire of the daring and restless +eye, instilled also within you some assurance of triumph, and some +omen of success,--a vague but powerful sympathy with the adventurous +and cheerful spirit which appeared literally to speak in its +expression. It was a face you might imagine in one born under a +prosperous star; and you felt, as you gazed, a confidence in that +bright countenance, which, like the shield of the British Prince, +[Prince Arthur.--See "The Faerie Queene."] seemed possessed with a +spell to charm into impotence the evil spirits who menaced its +possessor. + +"Well, sir," said his friend, the gypsy, who had in his turn been +surveying with admiration the sinewy and agile frame of his young +guest, "well, sir, how fares your appetite? Old Dame Bingo will be +mortally offended if you do not do ample justice to her good cheer." + +"If so," answered our traveller, who, young as he was, had learnt +already the grand secret of making in every situation a female friend, +"if so, I shall be likely to offend her still more." + +"And how, my pretty master?" said the old crone with an iron smile. + +"Why, I shall be bold enough to reconcile matters with a kiss, Mrs. +Bingo," answered the youth. + +"Ha! Ha!" shouted the tall gypsy; "it is many a long day since my old +Mort slapped a gallant's face for such an affront. But here come our +messmates. Good evening, my mumpers; make your bows to this gentleman +who has come to bowse with us to-night. 'Gad, we'll show him that old +ale's none the worse for keeping company with the moon's darlings. +Come, sit down, sit down. Where's the cloth, ye ill-mannered loons, +and the knives and platters? Have we no holiday customs for +strangers, think ye? Mim, my cove, off to my caravan; bring out the +knives, and all other rattletraps; and harkye, my cuffin, this small +key opens the inner hole, where you will find two barrels; bring one +of them. I'll warrant it of the best, for the brewer himself drank +some of the same sort but two hours before I nimm'd them. Come, +stump, my cull, make yourself wings. Ho, Dame Bingo, is not that pot +of thine seething yet? Ah, my young gentleman, you commence betimes; +so much the better; if love's a summer's day, we all know how early a +summer morning begins," added the jovial Egyptian in a lower voice +(feeling perhaps that he was only understood by himself), as he gazed +complacently on the youth, who, with that happy facility of making +himself everywhere at home so uncommon to his countrymen, was already +paying compliments suited to their understanding to two fair daughters +of the tribe who had entered with the new-comers. Yet had he too much +craft or delicacy, call it which you will, to continue his addresses +to that limit where ridicule or jealousy from the male part of the +assemblage might commence; on the contrary, he soon turned to the men, +and addressed them with a familiarity so frank and so suited to their +taste that he grew no less rapidly in their favour than he had already +done in that of the women, and when the contents of the two caldrons +were at length set upon the coarse but clean cloth which in honour of +his arrival covered the sod, it was in the midst of a loud and +universal peal of laughter which some broad witticism of the young +stranger had produced that the party sat down to their repast. + +Bright were the eyes and sleek the tresses of the damsel who placed +herself by the side of the stranger, and many were the alluring +glances and insinuated compliments which replied to his open +admiration and profuse flattery; but still there was nothing exclusive +in his attentions; perhaps an ignorance of the customs of his +entertainers, and a consequent discreet fear of offending them, +restrained him; or perhaps he found ample food for occupation in the +plentiful dainties which his host heaped before him. + +"Now tell me," said the gypsy chief (for chief he appeared to be), "if +we lead not a merrier life than you dreamt of? or would you have us +change our coarse fare and our simple tents, our vigorous limbs and +free hearts, for the meagre board, the monotonous chamber, the +diseased frame, and the toiling, careful, and withered spirit of some +miserable mechanic?" + +"Change!" cried the youth, with an earnestness which, if affected, was +an exquisite counterfeit, "by Heaven, I would change with you myself." + +"Bravo, my fine cove!" cried the host, and all the gang echoed their +sympathy with his applause. + +The youth continued: "Meat, and that plentiful; ale, and that strong; +women, and those pretty ones: what can man desire more?" + +"Ay," cried the host, "and all for nothing,--no, not even a tax; who +else in this kingdom can say that? Come, Mim, push round the ale." + +And the ale was pushed round, and if coarse the merriment, loud at +least was the laugh that rang ever and anon from the old tent; and +though, at moments, something in the guest's eye and lip might have +seemed, to a very shrewd observer, a little wandering and absent, yet, +upon the whole, he was almost as much at ease as the rest, and if he +was not quite as talkative he was to the full as noisy. + +By degrees, as the hour grew later and the barrel less heavy, the +conversation changed into one universal clatter. Some told their +feats in beggary; others, their achievements in theft; not a viand +they had fed on but had its appropriate legend; even the old rabbit, +which had been as tough as old rabbit can well be, had not been +honestly taken from his burrow; no less a person than Mim himself had +purloined it from a widow's footman who was carrying it to an old maid +from her nephew the Squire. + +"Silence," cried the host, who loved talking as well as the rest, and +who for the last ten minutes had been vainly endeavouring to obtain +attention. "Silence! my maunders, it's late, and we shall have the +queer cuffins [magistrates] upon us if we keep it up much longer. +What, ho, Mim, are you still gabbling at the foot of the table when +your betters are talking? As sure as my name's King Cole, I'll choke +you with your own rabbit skin, if you don't hush your prating cheat,-- +nay, never look so abashed: if you will make a noise, come forward, +and sing us a gypsy song. You see, my young sir," turning to his +guest, "that we are not without our pretensions to the fine arts." + +At this order, Mim started forth, and taking his station at the right +hand of the soi-disant King Cole, began the following song, the chorus +of which was chanted in full diapason by the whole group, with the +additional force of emphasis that knives, feet, and fists could +bestow:-- + + THE GYPSY'S SONG. + + The king to his hall, and the steed to his stall, + And the cit to his bilking board; + But we are not bound to an acre of ground, + For our home is the houseless sward. + We sow not, nor toil; yet we glean from the soil + As much as its reapers do; + And wherever we rove, we feed on the cove + Who gibes at the mumping crew. + CHORUS.--So the king to his hall, etc. + + We care not a straw for the limbs of the law, + Nor a fig for the cuffin queer; + While Hodge and his neighbour shall lavish and labour, + Our tent is as sure of its cheer. + CHORUS.--So the king to his hall, etc. + + The worst have an awe of the harman's [constable] claw, + And the best will avoid the trap; [bailiff] + But our wealth is as free of the bailiff's see + As our necks of the twisting crap. [gallows] + CHORUS.--So the king to his hall, etc. + + They say it is sweet to win the meat + For the which one has sorely wrought; + But I never could find that we lacked the mind + For the food that has cost us nought! + CHRUS.--So the king to his hall, etc. + + And when we have ceased from our fearless feast + Why, our jigger [door] will need no bars; + Our sentry shall be on the owlet's tree, + And our lamps the glorious stars. + + CHORUS. + So the king to his hall, and the steed to his stall, + And the cit to his bilking board; + But we are not bound to an acre of ground, + For our home is the houseless sward. + +Rude as was this lawless stave, the spirit with which it was sung +atoned to the young stranger for its obscurity and quaintness; as for +his host, that curious personage took a lusty and prominent part in +the chorus; nor did the old woods refuse their share of the burden, +but sent back a merry echo to the chief's deep voice and the harsher +notes of his jovial brethren. + +When the glee had ceased, King Cole rose, the whole band followed his +example, the cloth was cleared in a trice, the barrel--oh! what a +falling off was there!--was rolled into a corner of the tent, and the +crew to whom the awning belonged began to settle themselves to rest; +while those who owned the other encampment marched forth, with King +Cole at their head. Leaning with no light weight upon his guest's +arm, the lover of ancient minstrelsy poured into the youth's ear a +strain of eulogy, rather eloquent than coherent, upon the scene they +had just witnessed. + +"What," cried his majesty in an enthusiastic tone, "what can be so +truly regal as our state? Can any man control us? Are we not above +all laws? Are we not the most despotic of kings? Nay, more than the +kings of earth, are we not the kings of Fairyland itself? Do we not +realize the golden dreams of the old rhymers, luxurious dogs that they +were? Who would not cry out,-- + + 'Blest silent groves! Oh, may ye be + Forever Mirth's best nursery! + May pure Contents + Forever pitch their tents + Upon these downs, these meads, these rocks, these mountains.'" + +Uttering this notable extract from the thrice-honoured Sir Henry +Wotton, King Cole turned abruptly from the common, entered the wood +which skirted it, and, only attended by his guest and his minister +Mim, came suddenly, by an unexpected and picturesque opening in the +trees, upon one of those itinerant vehicles termed caravans, he +ascended the few steps which led to the entrance, opened the door, and +was instantly in the arms of a pretty and young woman. On seeing our +hero (for such we fear the youth is likely to become), she drew back +with a blush not often found upon regal cheeks. + +"Pooh," said King Cole, half tauntingly, half fondly, "pooh, Lucy, +blushes are garden flowers, and ought never to be found wild in the +woods:" then changing his tone, he said, "come, put some fresh straw +in the corner, this stranger honours our palace to-night; Mim, unload +thyself of our royal treasures; watch without and vanish from within!" + +Depositing on his majesty's floor the appurtenances of the regal +supper-table, Mim made his respectful adieus and disappeared; +meanwhile the queen scattered some fresh straw over a mattress in the +narrow chamber, and, laying over all a sheet of singularly snowy hue, +made her guest some apology for the badness of his lodging; this King +Cole interrupted by a most elaborately noisy yawn and a declaration of +extreme sleepiness. "Now, Lucy, let us leave the gentleman to what he +will like better than soft words even from a queen. Good night, sir, +we shall be stirring at daybreak;" and with this farewell King Cole +took the lady's arm, and retired with her into an inner compartment of +the caravan. + +Left to himself, our hero looked round with surprise at the exceeding +neatness which reigned over the whole apartment. But what chiefly +engrossed the attention of one to whose early habits books had always +been treasures were several volumes, ranged in comely shelves, fenced +with wirework, on either side of the fireplace. "Courage," thought +he, as he stretched himself on his humble couch, "my adventures have +commenced well: a gypsy tent, to be sure, is nothing very new; but a +gypsy who quotes poetry, and enjoys a modest wife, speaks better than +books do for the improvement of the world!" + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + Hath not old custom made this life more sweet + Than that of painted pomp?--As You Like It. + +The sun broke cheerfully through the small lattice of the caravan, as +the youth opened his eyes and saw the good-humoured countenance of his +gypsy host bending over him complacently. + +"You slept so soundly, sir, that I did not like to disturb you; but my +good wife only waits your rising to have all ready for breakfast." + +"It were a thousand pities," cried the guest, leaping from his bed, +"that so pretty a face should look cross on my account, so I will not +keep her waiting an instant." + +The gypsy smiled, as he answered, "I require no professional help from +the devil, sir, to foretell your fortune." + +"No!--and what is it?" + +"Honour, reputation, success: all that are ever won by a soft tongue, +if it be backed by a bold heart." + +Bright and keen was the flash which shot over the countenance of the +one for whom this prediction was made, as he listened to it with a +fondness for which his reason rebuked him. + +He turned aside with a sigh, which did not escape the gypsy, and +bathed his face in the water which the provident hand of the good +woman had set out for his lavations. + +"Well," said his host, when the youth had finished his brief toilet, +"suppose we breathe the fresh air, while Lucy smooths your bed and +prepares the breakfast?" + +"With all my heart," replied the youth, and they descended the steps +which led into the wood. It was a beautiful, fresh morning; the air +was like a draught from a Spirit's fountain, and filled the heart with +new youth and the blood with a rapturous delight; the leaves--the +green, green leaves of spring--were quivering on the trees, among +which the happy birds fluttered and breathed the gladness of their +souls in song. While the dewdrops that-- + + "strewed + A baptism o'er the flowers"-- + +gave back in their million mirrors the reflected smiles of the +cloudless and rejoicing sun. + +"Nature," said the gypsy, "has bestowed on her children a gorgeous +present in such a morning." + +"True," said the youth; "and you, of us two, perhaps only deserve it; +as for me, when I think of the long road of dust, heat, and toil, that +lies before me, I could almost wish to stop here and ask an admission +into the gypsy's tents." + +"You could not do a wiser thing!" said the gypsy, gravely. + +"But fate leaves me no choice," continued the youth, as seriously as +if he were in earnest; "and I must quit you immediately after I have a +second time tasted of your hospitable fare." + +"If it must be so," answered the gypsy, "I will see you, at least, a +mile or two on your road." The youth thanked him for a promise which +his curiosity made acceptable, and they turned once more to the +caravan. + +The meal, however obtained, met with as much honour as it could +possibly have received from the farmer from whom its materials were +borrowed. + +It was not without complacency that the worthy pair beheld the notice +their guest lavished upon a fair, curly-headed boy of about three +years old, the sole child and idol of the gypsy potentates. But they +did not perceive, when the youth rose to depart, that he slipped into +the folds of the child's dress a ring of some value, the only one he +possessed. + +"And now," said he, after having thanked his entertainers for their +hospitality, "I must say good-by to your flock, and set out upon my +day's journey." + +Lucy, despite her bashfulness, shook hands with her handsome guest; +and the latter, accompanied by the gypsy chief, strolled down to the +encampments. + +Open and free was his parting farewell to the inmates of the two +tents, and liberal was the hand which showered upon all--especially on +the damsel who had been his Thais of the evening feast--the silver +coins which made no inconsiderable portion of his present property. + +It was amidst the oracular wishes and favourable predictions of the +whole crew that he recommenced his journey with the gypsy chief. + +When the tents were fairly out of sight, and not till then, King Cole +broke the silence which had as yet subsisted between them. + +"I suppose, my young gentleman, that you expect to meet some of your +friends or relations at W----? I know not what they will say when +they hear where you have spent the night." + +"Indeed!" said the youth; "whoever hears my adventures, relation or +not, will be delighted with my description; but in sober earnest, I +expect to find no one at W---- more my friend than a surly innkeeper, +unless it be his dog." + +"Why, they surely do not suffer a stripling of your youth and evident +quality to wander alone!" cried King Cole, in undisguised surprise. + +The young traveller made no prompt answer, but bent down as if to +pluck a wild-flower which grew by the road-side: after a pause, he +said,-- + +"Nay, Master Cole, you must not set me the example of playing the +inquisitor, or you cannot guess how troublesome I shall be. To tell +you the truth, I am dying with curiosity to know something more about +you than you may be disposed to tell me: you have already confessed +that, however boon companions your gypsies may be, it is not among +gypsies that you were born and bred." + +King Cole laughed: perhaps he was not ill pleased by the curiosity of +his guest, nor by the opportunity it afforded him of being his own +hero. + +"My story, sir," said he, "would be soon told, if you thought it worth +the hearing, nor does it contain anything which should prevent my +telling it." + +"If so," quoth the youth, "I shall conceive your satisfying my request +a still greater favour than those you have already bestowed upon me." + +The gypsy relaxed his pace into an indolent saunter, as he commenced:-- + +"The first scene that I remember was similar to that which you +witnessed last night. The savage tent, and the green moor; the fagot +blaze; the eternal pot, with its hissing note of preparation; the old +dame who tended it, and the ragged urchins who learned from its +contents the first reward of theft and the earliest temptation to it, +--all these are blended into agreeable confusion as the primal +impressions of my childhood. The woman who nurtured me as my mother +was rather capricious than kind, and my infancy passed away, like that +of more favoured scions of fortune, in alternate chastisement and +caresses. In good truth, Kinching Meg had the shrillest voice and the +heaviest hand of the whole crew; and I cannot complain of injustice, +since she treated me no worse than the rest. Notwithstanding the +irregularity of my education, I grew up strong and healthy, and my +reputed mother had taught me so much fear for herself that she left me +none for anything else; accordingly, I became bold, reckless, and +adventurous, and at the age of thirteen was as thorough a reprobate as +the tribe could desire. At that time a singular change befell me: we +(that is, my mother and myself) were begging not many miles hence at +the door of a rich man's house in which the mistress lay on her death- +bed. That mistress was my real mother, from whom Meg had stolen me in +the first year of existence. Whether it was through the fear of +conscience or the hope of reward, no sooner had Meg learnt the +dangerous state of my poor mother, the constant grief, which they said +had been the sole though slow cause of her disease, and the large sums +which had been repeatedly offered for my recovery; no sooner, I say, +did Meg ascertain all these particulars than she fought her way up to +the sick-chamber, fell on her knees before the bed, owned her crime, +and produced myself. Various little proofs of time, place, +circumstance; the clothing I had worn when stolen, and which was still +preserved, joined to the striking likeness I bore to both my parents, +especially to my father, silenced all doubt and incredulity: I was +welcomed home with a joy which it is in vain to describe. My return +seemed to recall my mother from the grave; she lingered on for many +months longer than her physicians thought it possible, and when she +died her last words commended me to my father's protection." + +"My surviving parent needed no such request. He lavished upon me all +that superfluity of fondness and food of which those good people who +are resolved to spoil their children are so prodigal. He could not +bear the idea of sending me to school; accordingly he took a tutor for +me,--a simple-hearted, gentle, kind man, who possessed a vast store of +learning rather curious than useful. He was a tolerable, and at least +an enthusiastic antiquarian, a more than tolerable poetaster; and he +had a prodigious budget full of old ballads and songs, which he loved +better to teach and I to learn, than all the 'Latin, Greek, geography, +astronomy, and the use of the globes,' which my poor father had so +sedulously bargained for." + +"Accordingly, I became exceedingly well-informed in all the 'precious +conceits' and 'golden garlands' of our British ancients, and continued +exceedingly ignorant of everything else, save and except a few of the +most fashionable novels of the day, and the contents of six lying +volumes of voyages and travels, which flattered both my appetite for +the wonderful and my love of the adventurous. My studies, such as +they were, were not by any means suited to curb or direct the vagrant +tastes my childhood had acquired: on the contrary, the old poets, with +their luxurious description of the 'green wood' and the forest life; +the fashionable novelists, with their spirited accounts of the +wanderings of some fortunate rogue, and the ingenious travellers, with +their wild fables, so dear to the imagination of every boy, only +fomented within me a strong though secret regret at my change of life, +and a restless disgust to the tame home and bounded roamings to which +I was condemned. When I was about seventeen, my father sold his +property (which he had become possessed of in right of my mother), and +transferred the purchase money to the security of the Funds. Shortly +afterwards he died; the bulk of his fortune became mine; the remainder +was settled upon a sister, many years older than myself, whom, in +consequence of her marriage and residence in a remote part of Wales, I +had never yet seen." + +"Now, then, I was perfectly free and unfettered; my guardian lived in +Scotland, and left me entirely to the guidance of my tutor, who was +both too simple and too indolent to resist my inclinations. I went to +London, became acquainted with a set of most royal scamps, frequented +the theatres and the taverns, the various resorts which constitute the +gayeties of a blood just above the middle class, and was one of the +noisiest and wildest 'blades' that ever heard the 'chimes by midnight' +and the magistrate's lecture for matins. I was a sort of leader among +the jolly dogs I consorted with." + +"My earlier education gave a raciness and nature to my delineations of +'life' which delighted them. But somehow or other I grew wearied of +this sort of existence. About a year after I was of age my fortune +was more than three parts spent; I fell ill with drinking and grew +dull with remorse: need I add that my comrades left me to myself? A +fit of the spleen, especially if accompanied with duns, makes one +wofully misanthropic; so, when I recovered from my illness, I set out +on a tour through Great Britain and France,--alone, and principally on +foot. Oh, the rapture of shaking off the half friends and cold +formalities of society and finding oneself all unfettered, with no +companion but Nature, no guide but youth, and no flatterer but hope!" + +"Well, my young friend, I travelled for two years, and saw even in +that short time enough of this busy world to weary and disgust me with +its ordinary customs. I was not made to be polite, still less to be +ambitious. I sighed after the coarse comrades and the free tents of +my first associates; and a thousand remembrances of the gypsy +wanderings, steeped in all the green and exhilarating colours of +childhood, perpetually haunted my mind. On my return from my +wanderings I found a letter from my sister, who, having become a +widow, had left Wales, and had now fixed her residence in a well +visited watering-place in the west of England. I had never yet seen +her, and her letter was a fine-ladylike sort of epistle, with a great +deal of romance and a very little sense, written in an extremely +pretty hand, and ending with a quotation from Pope (I never could +endure Pope, nor indeed any of the poets of the days of Anne and her +successors). It was a beautiful season of the year: I had been inured +to pedestrian excursions; so I set off on foot to see my nearest +surviving relative. On the way, I fell in (though on a very different +spot) with the very encampment you saw last night. By heavens, that +was a merry meeting to me! I joined, and journeyed with them for +several days: never do I remember a happier time. Then, after many +years of bondage and stiffness, and accordance with the world, I found +myself at ease, like a released bird; with what zest did I join in the +rude jokes and the knavish tricks, the stolen feasts and the roofless +nights of those careless vagabonds!" + +"I left my fellow-travellers at the entrance of the town where my +sister lived. Now came the contrast. Somewhat hot, rather coarsely +clad, and covered with the dust of a long summer's day, I was ushered +into a little drawing-room, eighteen feet by twelve, as I was +afterwards somewhat pompously informed. A flaunting carpet, green, +red, and yellow, covered the floor. A full-length picture of a thin +woman, looking most agreeably ill-tempered, stared down at me from the +chimney-piece; three stuffed birds--how emblematic of domestic life!-- +stood stiff and imprisoned, even after death, in a glass cage. A +fire-screen and a bright fireplace; chairs covered with holland, to +preserve them from the atmosphere; and long mirrors, wrapped as to the +frame-work in yellow muslin, to keep off the flies,--finish the +panorama of this watering-place mansion. The door opened, silks +rustled, a voice shrieked 'My Brother!' and a figure, a thin figure, +the original of the picture over the chimney-piece, rushed in." + +"I can well fancy her joy," said the youth. + +"You can do no such thing, begging your pardon, sir," resumed King +Cole. "She had no joy at all: she was exceedingly surprised and +disappointed. In spite of my early adventures, I had nothing +picturesque or romantic about me at all. I was very thirsty, and I +called for beer; I was very tired, and I lay down on the sofa; I wore +thick shoes and small buckles; and my clothes were made God knows +where, and were certainly put on God knows how. My sister was +miserably ashamed of me: she had not even the manners to disguise it. +In a higher rank of life than that which she held she would have +suffered far less mortification; for I fancy great people pay but +little real attention to externals. Even if a man of rank is vulgar, +it makes no difference in the orbit in which he moves: but your +'genteel gentlewomen' are so terribly dependent upon what Mrs. Tomkins +will say; so very uneasy about their relations and the opinion they +are held in; and, above all, so made up of appearances and clothes; so +undone if they do not eat, drink, and talk a la mode,--that I can +fancy no shame like that of my poor sister at having found, and being +found with, a vulgar brother." + +"I saw how unwelcome I was and I did not punish myself by a long +visit. I left her house and returned towards London. On my road, I +again met with my gypsy friends: the warmth of their welcome enchanted +me; you may guess the rest. I stayed with them so long that I could +not bear to leave them; I re-entered their crew: I am one among them. +Not that I have become altogether and solely of the tribe: I still +leave them whenever the whim seizes me, and repair to the great cities +and thoroughfares of man. There I am soon driven back again to my +favourite and fresh fields, as a reed upon a wild stream is dashed +back upon the green rushes from which it has been torn. You perceive +that I have many comforts and distinctions above the rest; for, alas, +sir, there is no society, however free and democratic, where wealth +will not create an aristocracy; the remnant of my fortune provides me +with my unostentatious equipage and the few luxuries it contains; it +repays secretly to the poor what my fellow-vagrants occasionally filch +from them; it allows me to curb among the crew all the grosser and +heavier offences against the law to which want might otherwise compel +them; and it serves to keep up that sway and ascendency which my +superior education and fluent spirits enabled me at first to attain. +Though not legally their king, I assume that title over the few +encampments with which I am accustomed to travel; and you perceive +that I have given my simple name both to the jocular and kingly +dignity of which the old song will often remind you. My story is +done." + +"Not quite," said his companion: "your wife? How came you by that +blessing?" + +"Ah! thereby hangs a pretty and a love-sick tale, which would not +stand ill in an ancient ballad; but I will content myself with briefly +sketching it. Lucy is the daughter of a gentleman farmer: about four +years ago I fell in love with her. I wooed her clandestinely, and at +last I owned I was a gypsy: I did not add my birth nor fortune; no, I +was full of the romance of the Nut-brown Maid's lover, and attempted a +trial of woman's affection, which even in these days was not +disappointed. Still her father would not consent to our marriage, +till very luckily things went bad with him; corn, crops, cattle,--the +deuce was in them all; an execution was in his house, and a writ out +against his person. I settled these matters for him, and in return +received a father-in-law's blessing, and we are now the best friends +in the world. Poor Lucy is perfectly reconciled to her caravan and +her wandering husband, and has never, I believe, once repented the day +on which she became the gypsy's wife!" + +"I thank you heartily for your history," said the youth, who had +listened very attentively to this detail; "and though my happiness and +pursuits are centred in that world which you despise, yet I confess +that I feel a sensation very like envy at your singular choice; and I +would not dare to ask of my heart whether that choice is not happier, +as it is certainly more philosophical, than mine." + +They had now reached a part of the road where the country assumed a +totally different character; the woods and moors were no longer +visible, but a broad and somewhat bleak extent of country lay before +them. Here and there only a few solitary trees broke the uniformity +of the wide fields and scanty hedgerows, and at distant intervals the +thin spires of the scattered churches rose, like the prayers of which +they were the symbols, to mingle themselves with heaven. + +The gypsy paused: "I will accompany you," said he, "no farther; your +way lies straight onwards, and you will reach W---- before noon; +farewell, and may God watch over you!" + +"Farewell!" said the youth, warmly pressing the hand which was +extended to him. "If we ever meet again, it will probably solve a +curious riddle; namely, whether you are not disgusted with the caravan +and I with the world!" + +"The latter is more likely than the former," said the gypsy, for one +stands a much greater chance of being disgusted with others than with +one's self; so changing a little the old lines, I will wish you adieu +after my own fashion, namely, in verse,-- + + 'Go, set thy heart on winged wealth, + Or unto honour's towers aspire; + But give me freedom and my health, + And there's the sum of my desire!'" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + The letter, madam; have you none for me?--The Rendezvous. + Provide surgeons.--Lover's Progress. + +Our solitary traveller pursued his way with the light step and gay +spirits of youth and health. + +"Turn gypsy, indeed!" he said, talking to himself; "there is something +better in store for me than that. Ay, I have all the world before me +where to choose--not my place of rest. No, many a long year will pass +away ere any place of rest will be my choice! I wonder whether I +shall find the letter at W----; the letter, the last letter I shall +ever have from home but it is no home to me now; and I--I, insulted, +reviled, trampled upon, without even a name--well, well, I will earn a +still fairer one than that of my forefathers. They shall be proud to +own me yet." And with these words the speaker broke off abruptly, +with a swelling chest and a flashing eye; and as, an unknown and +friendless adventurer, he gazed on the expanded and silent country +around him, he felt like Castruccio Castrucani that he could stretch +his hands to the east and to the west and exclaim, "Oh, that my power +kept pace with my spirit, then should it grasp the corners of the +earth!" + +The road wound at last from the champaign country, through which it +had for some miles extended itself, into a narrow lane, girded on +either side by a dead fence. As the youth entered this lane, he was +somewhat startled by the abrupt appearance of a horseman, whose steed +leaped the hedge so close to our hero as almost to endanger his +safety. The rider, a gentleman of about five-and-twenty, pulled up, +and in a tone of great courtesy apologized for his inadvertency; the +apology was readily admitted, and the horseman rode onwards in the +direction of W----. + +Trifling as this incident was, the air and mien of the stranger were +sufficient to arrest irresistibly the thoughts of the young traveller; +and before they had flowed into a fresh channel he found himself in +the town and at the door of the inn to which his expedition was bound. +He entered the bar; a buxom landlady and a still more buxom daughter +were presiding over the spirits of the place. + +"You have some boxes and a letter for me, I believe," said the young +gentleman to the comely hostess. + +"To you, sir!--the name, if you please?" + +"To--to--to C---- L----," said the youth; "the initials C. L., to be +left till called for." + +"Yes, sir, we have some luggage; came last night by the van; and a +letter besides, sir, to C. L. also." + +The daughter lifted her large dark eyes at the handsome stranger, and +felt a wonderful curiosity to know what the letter to C. L. could +possibly be about; meanwhile mine hostess, raising her hand to a shelf +on which stood an Indian slop-basin, the great ornament of the bar at +the Golden Fleece, brought from its cavity a well-folded and well- +sealed epistle. + +"That is it," cried the youth; "show me a private room instantly." + +"What can he want a private room for?" thought the landlady's +daughter. + +"Show the gentleman to the Griffin, No. 4, John Merrylack," said the +landlady herself. + +With an impatient step the owner of the letter followed a slipshod and +marvellously unwashed waiter into No. 4,--a small square asylum for +town travellers, country yeomen, and "single gentlemen;" presenting, +on the one side, an admirable engraving of the Marquis of Granby, and +on the other an equally delightful view of the stable-yard. + +Mr. C. L. flung himself on a chair (there were only four chairs in No. +4), watched the waiter out of the room, seized his letter, broke open +the seal, and read--yea, reader, you shall read it too--as follows:-- + +"Enclosed is the sum to which you are entitled; remember, that it is +all which you can ever claim at my hands; remember also that you have +made the choice which now nothing can persuade me to alter. Be the +name you have so long iniquitously borne henceforth and always +forgotten; upon that condition you may yet hope from my generosity the +future assistance which you must want, but which you could not ask +from my affection. Equally by my heart and my reason you are forever +DISOWNED." + +The letter fell from the reader's hands. He took up the inclosure: it +was an order payable in London for 1,000 pounds; to him it seemed like +the rental of the Indies. + +"Be it so!" he said aloud, and slowly; "be it so! With this will I +carve my way: many a name in history was built upon a worse +foundation!" + +With these words he carefully put up the money, re-read the brief note +which enclosed it, tore the latter into pieces, and then, going +towards the aforesaid view of the stable-yard, threw open the window +and leaned out, apparently in earnest admiration of two pigs which +marched gruntingly towards him, one goat regaling himself upon a +cabbage, and a broken-winded, emaciated horse, which having just been +what the hostler called "rubbed down," was just going to be what the +hostler called "fed." + +While engaged in this interesting survey, the clatter of hoofs was +suddenly heard upon the rough pavement, a bell rang, a dog barked, the +pigs grunted, the hostler ran out, and the stranger, whom our hero had +before met on the road, trotted into the yard. + +It was evident from the obsequiousness of the attendants that the +horseman was a personage of no mean importance; and indeed there was +something singularly distinguished and highbred in his air and +carriage. + +"Who can that be?" said the youth, as the horseman, having dismounted, +turned towards the door of the inn: the question was readily answered, +"There goes pride and poverty!" said the hostler, "Here comes Squire +Mordaunt!" said the landlady. + +At the farther end of the stable-yard, through a narrow gate, the +youth caught a glimpse of the green sward and the springing flowers of +a small garden. Wearied with the sameness of No. 4 rather than with +his journey, he sauntered towards the said gate, and, seating himself +in a small arbour within the garden, surrendered himself to +reflection. + +The result of this self-conference was a determination to leave the +Golden Fleece by the earliest conveyance which went to that great +object and emporium of all his plans and thoughts, London. As, full +of this resolution and buried in the dream which it conjured up, he +was returning with downcast eyes and unheeding steps through the +stable-yard, to the delights of No. 4, he was suddenly accosted by a +loud and alarmed voice,-- + +"For God's sake, sir, look out, or--" + +The sentence was broken off, the intended warning came too late, our +hero staggered back a few steps, and fell, stunned and motionless, +against the stable door. Unconsciously he had passed just behind the +heels of the stranger's horse, which being by no means in good humour +with the clumsy manoeuvres of his shampooer, the hostler, had taken +advantage of the opportunity presented to him of working off his +irritability, and had consequently inflicted a severe kick upon the +right shoulder of Mr. C. L. + +The stranger, honoured by the landlady with the name and title of +Squire Mordaunt, was in the yard at the moment. He hastened towards +the sufferer, who as yet was scarcely sensible, and led him into the +house. The surgeon of the village was sent for and appeared. This +disciple of Galen, commonly known by the name of Jeremiah Bossolton, +was a gentleman considerably more inclined to breadth than length. He +was exactly five feet one inch in height, but thick and solid as a +milestone; a wig of modern cut, carefully curled and powdered, gave +somewhat of a modish and therefore unseemly grace to a solemn eye; a +mouth drawn down at the corners; a nose that had something in it +exceedingly consequential; eyebrows sage and shaggy; ears large and +fiery; and a chin that would have done honour to a mandarin. Now Mr. +Jeremiah Bossolton had a certain peculiarity of speech to which I +shall find it difficult to do justice. Nature had impressed upon his +mind a prodigious love of the grandiloquent; Mr. Bossolton, therefore, +disdained the exact language of the vulgar, and built unto himself a +lofty fabric of words in which his sense managed very frequently to +lose itself. Moreover, upon beginning a sentence of peculiar dignity, +Mr. Bossolton was, it must be confessed, sometimes at a loss to +conclude it in a period worthy of the commencement; and this caprice +of nature which had endowed him with more words than thoughts +(necessity is, indeed, the mother of invention) drove him into a very +ingenious method of remedying the deficiency; this was simply the plan +of repeating the sense by inverting the sentence. + +"How long a period of time," said Mr. Bossolton, "has elapsed since +this deeply-to-be-regretted and seriously-to-be-investigated accident +occurred?" + +"Not many minutes," said Mordaunt; "make no further delay, I beseech +you, but examine the arm; it is not broken, I trust?" + +"In this world, Mr. Mordaunt," said the practitioner, bowing very low, +for the person he addressed was of the most ancient lineage in the +county, "in this world, Mr. Mordaunt, even at the earliest period of +civilization, delay in matters of judgment has ever been considered of +such vital importance, and--and such important vitality, that we find +it inculcated in the proverbs of the Greeks and the sayings of the +Chaldeans as a principle of the most expedient utility, and--and--the +most useful expediency!" + +"Mr. Bossolton," said Mordaunt, in a tone of remarkable and even +artificial softness and civility, "have the kindness immediately to +examine this gentleman's bruises." + +Mr. Bossolton looked up to the calm but haughty face of the speaker, +and without a moment's hesitation proceeded to handle the arm, which +was already stripped for his survey. + +"It frequently occurs," said Mr. Bossolton, "in the course of my +profession, that the forcible, sudden, and vehement application of any +hard substance, like the hoof of a quadruped, to the soft, tender, and +carniferous parts of the human frame, such as the arm, occasions a +pain--a pang, I should rather say--of the intensest acuteness, and-- +and of the acutest intensity." + +"Pray, Mr. Bossolton, is the bone broken?" asked Mordaunt. + +By this time the patient, who had been hitherto in that languor which +extreme pain always produces at first, especially on young frames, was +sufficiently recovered to mark and reply to the kind solicitude of the +last speaker: "I thank you, sir," said he with a smile, "for your +anxiety, but I feel that the bone is not broken; the muscles are a +little hurt, that is all." + +"Young gentleman," said Mr. Bossolton, "you must permit me to say that +they who have all their lives been employed in the pursuit, and the +investigation, and the analysis of certain studies are in general +better acquainted with those studies than they who have neither given +them any importance of consideration--nor--nor any consideration of +importance. Establishing this as my hypothesis, I shall now proceed +to--" + +"Apply immediate remedies, if you please, Mr. Bossolton," interrupted +Mr. Mordaunt, in that sweet and honeyed tone which somehow or other +always silenced even the garrulous practitioner. + +Driven into taciturnity, Mr. Bossolton again inspected the arm, and +proceeded to urge the application of liniments and bandages, which he +promised to prepare with the most solicitudinous despatch and the most +despatchful solicitude. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + Your name, Sir! + Ha! my name, you say--my name? + 'T is well--my name--is--nay, I must consider.--Pedrillo. + +This accident occasioned a delay of some days in the plans of the +young gentleman, for whom we trust very soon, both for our own +convenience and that of our reader, to find a fitting appellation. + +Mr. Mordaunt, after seeing every attention paid to him both surgical +and hospitable, took his departure with a promise to call the next +day; leaving behind him a strong impression of curiosity and interest +to serve our hero as some mental occupation until his return. The +bonny landlady came up in a new cap, with blue ribbons, in the course +of the evening, to pay a visit of inquiry to the handsome patient, who +was removed from the Griffin, No. 4, to the Dragon, No. 8,--a room +whose merits were exactly in proportion to its number, namely, twice +as great as those of No. 4. + +"Well, sir," said Mrs. Taptape, with a courtesy, "I trust you find +yourself better." + +"At this moment I do," said the gallant youth, with a significant air. + +"Hem," quoth the landlady. + +A pause ensued. In spite of the compliment, a certain suspicion +suddenly darted across the mind of the hostess. Strong as are the +prepossessions of the sex, those of the profession are much stronger. + +"Honest folk," thought the landlady, "don't travel with their initials +only; the last 'Whitehall Evening' was full of shocking accounts of +swindlers and cheats; and I gave nine pounds odd shillings for the +silver teapot John has brought him up,--as if the delft one was not +good enough for a foot traveller!" + +Pursuing these ideas, Mrs. Taptape, looking bashfully down, said,-- + +"By the by, sir; Mr. Bossolton asked me what name he should put down +in his book for the medicines; what would you please me to say, sir?" + +"Mr. who?" said the youth, elevating his eyebrows. + +"Mr. Bossolton, sir, the apothecary." + +"Oh! Bossolton! very odd name that,--not near so pretty as--dear me, +what a beautiful cap that is of yours!" said the young gentleman. + +"Lord, sir, do you think so? The ribbon is pretty enough; but--but, +as I was saying, what name shall I tell Mr. Bossolton to put in his +book?" "This," thought Mrs. Taptape, "is coming to the point." + +"Well!" said the youth, slowly, and as if in a profound reverie, +"well, Bossolton is certainly the most singular name I ever heard; he +does right to put it in a book: it is quite a curiosity! is he +clever?" + +"Very, sir," said the landlady, somewhat sharply; "but it is your +name, not his, that he wishes to put into his book." + +"Mine?" said the youth, who appeared to have been seeking to gain time +in order to answer a query which most men find requires very little +deliberation, "mine, you say; my name is Linden--Clarence Linden--you +understand?" + +"What a pretty name!" thought the landlady's daughter, who was +listening at the keyhole; "but how could he admire that odious cap of +Ma's!" + +"And, now, landlady, I wish you would send up my boxes; and get me a +newspaper, if you please." + +"Yes, sir," said the landlady, and she rose to retire. + +"I do not think," said the youth to himself, "that I could have hit on +a prettier name, and so novel a one too!--Clarence Linden,--why, if I +were that pretty girl at the bar I could fall in love with the very +words. Shakspeare was quite wrong when he said,-- + + 'A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.'" + +"A rose by any name would not smell as sweet; if a rose's name was +Jeremiah Bossolton, for instance, it would not, to my nerves at least, +smell of anything but an apothecary's shop!" + +When Mordaunt called the next morning, he found Clarence much better, +and carelessly turning over various books, part of the contents of the +luggage superscribed C. L. A book of whatever description was among +the few companions for whom Mordaunt had neither fastidiousness nor +reserve; and the sympathy of taste between him and the sufferer gave +rise to a conversation less cold and commonplace than it might +otherwise have been. And when Mordaunt, after a stay of some length, +rose to depart, he pressed Linden to return his visit before he left +that part of the country; his place, he added, was only about five +miles distant from W----. Linden, greatly interested in his visitor, +was not slow in accepting the invitation, and, perhaps for the first +time in his life, Mordaunt was shaking hands with a stranger he had +only known two days. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + While yet a child, and long before his time, + He had perceived the presence and the power + Of greatness. + . . . . . + But eagerly he read, and read again. + . . . . . + Yet still uppermost + Nature was at his heart, as if he felt, + Though yet he knew not how, a wasting power + In all things that from her sweet influence + Might seek to wean him. Therefore with her hues, + Her forms, and with the spirit of her forms, + He clothed the nakedness of austere truth. + WORDSWORTH. + +Algernon Mordaunt was the last son of an old and honourable race, +which had centuries back numbered princes in its line. His parents +had had many children, but all (save Algernon, the youngest) died in +their infancy. His mother perished in giving him birth. +Constitutional infirmity and the care of mercenary nurses contributed +to render Algernon a weakly and delicate child: hence came a taste for +loneliness and a passion for study; and from these sprung, on the one +hand, the fastidiousness and reserve which render us apparently +unamiable, and, on the other, the loftiness of spirit and the kindness +of heart which are the best and earliest gifts of literature, and more +than counterbalance our deficiencies in the "minor morals" due to +society by their tendency to increase our attention to the greater +ones belonging to mankind. Mr. Mordaunt was a man of luxurious habits +and gambling propensities: wedded to London, he left the house of his +ancestors to moulder into desertion and decay; but to this home +Algernon was constantly consigned during his vacations from school; +and its solitude and cheerlessness gave to a disposition naturally +melancholy and thoughtful those colours which subsequent events were +calculated to deepen, not efface. + +Truth obliges us to state, despite our partiality to Mordaunt, that, +when he left his school after a residence of six years, it was with +the bitter distinction of having been the most unpopular boy in it. +Why, nobody could exactly explain, for his severest enemies could not +accuse him of ill-nature, cowardice, or avarice, and these make the +three capital offences of a school-boy; but Algernon Mordaunt had +already acquired the knowledge of himself, and could explain the +cause, though with a bitter and swelling heart. His ill health, his +long residence at home, his unfriended and almost orphan situation, +his early habits of solitude and reserve, all these, so calculated to +make the spirit shrink within itself, made him, on his entrance at +school, if not unsocial, appear so: this was the primary reason of his +unpopularity; the second was that he perceived, for he was sensitive +(and consequently acute) to the extreme, the misfortune of his manner, +and in his wish to rectify it, it became doubly unprepossessing; to +reserve, it now added embarrassment, to coldness, gloom; and the pain +he felt in addressing or being addressed by another was naturally and +necessarily reciprocal, for the effects of sympathy are nowhere so +wonderful, yet so invisible, as in the manners. + +By degrees he shunned the intercourse which had for him nothing but +distress, and his volatile acquaintances were perhaps the first to set +him the example. Often in his solitary walks he stopped afar off to +gaze upon the sports which none ever solicited him to share; and as +the shout of laughter and of happy hearts came, peal after peal, upon +his ear, he turned enviously, yet not malignantly away, with tears, +which not all his pride could curb, and muttered to himself, "And +these, these hate me!" + +There are two feelings common to all high or affectionate natures,-- +that of extreme susceptibility to opinion and that of extreme +bitterness at its injustice. These feelings were Mordaunt's: but the +keen edge which one blow injures, the repetition blunts; and by little +and little, Algernon became not only accustomed, but, as he persuaded +himself, indifferent, to his want of popularity; his step grew more +lofty, and his address more collected, and that which was once +diffidence gradually hardened into pride. + +His residence at the University was neither without honour nor profit. +A college life was then, as now, either the most retired or the most +social of all others; we need scarcely say which it was to Mordaunt, +but his was the age when solitude is desirable, and when the closet +forms the mind better than the world. Driven upon itself, his +intellect became inquiring and its resources profound; admitted to +their inmost recesses, he revelled among the treasures of ancient +lore, and in his dreams of the Nymph and Naiad, or his researches +after truth in the deep wells of the Stagyrite or the golden fountains +of Plato, he forgot the loneliness of his lot and exhausted the +hoarded enthusiasm of his soul. + +But his mind, rather thoughtful than imaginative, found no idol like +"Divine Philosophy." It delighted to plunge itself into the mazes of +metaphysical investigation; to trace the springs of the intellect; to +connect the arcana of the universe; to descend into the darkest +caverns, or to wind through the minutest mysteries of Nature, and +rise, step by step, to that arduous elevation on which Thought stands +dizzy and confused, looking beneath upon a clouded earth, and above +upon an unfathomable heaven. + +Rarely wandering from his chamber, known personally to few and +intimately by none, Algernon yet left behind him at the University the +most remarkable reputation of his day. He had obtained some of the +highest of academical honours, and by that proverbial process of +vulgar minds which ever frames the magnificent from the unknown, the +seclusion in which he lived and the recondite nature of his favourite +pursuits attached to his name a still greater celebrity and interest +than all the orthodox and regular dignities he had acquired. There +are few men who do not console themselves for not being generally +loved, if they can reasonably hope that they are generally esteemed. +Mordaunt had now grown reconciled to himself and to his kind. He had +opened to his interest a world in his own breast, and it consoled him +for his mortification in the world without. But, better than this, +his habits as well as studies had strengthened the principles and +confirmed the nobility of his mind. He was not, it is true, more +kind, more benevolent, more upright than before; but those virtues now +emanated from principle, not emotion: and principle to the mind is +what a free constitution is to a people; without that principle or +that free constitution, the one may be for the moment as good, the +other as happy; but we cannot tell how long the goodness and the +happiness will continue. + +On leaving the University, his father sent for him to London. He +stayed there a short time, and mingled partially in its festivities; +but the pleasures of English dissipation have for a century been the +same, heartless without gayety, and dull without refinement. Nor +could Mordaunt, the most fastidious, yet warm-hearted of human beings, +reconcile either his tastes or his affections to the cold insipidities +of patrician society. His father's habits and evident distresses +deepened his disgust to his situation; for the habits were incurable +and the distresses increasing; and nothing but a circumstance which +Mordaunt did not then understand prevented the final sale of an estate +already little better than a pompons incumbrance. + +It was therefore with the half painful, half pleasurable sensation +with which we avoid contemplating a ruin we cannot prevent that +Mordaunt set out upon that Continental tour deemed then so necessary a +part of education. His father, on taking leave of him, seemed deeply +affected. "Go, my son," said he, "may God bless you, and not punish +me too severely. I have wronged you deeply, and I cannot bear to look +upon your face." + +To these words Algernon attached a general, but they cloaked a +peculiar, meaning: in three years, he returned to England; his father +had been dead some months, and the signification of his parting +address was already deciphered,--but of this hereafter. + +In his travels Mordaunt encountered an Englishman whose name I will +not yet mention: a person of great reputed wealth; a merchant, yet a +man of pleasure; a voluptuary in life, yet a saint in reputation; or, +to abstain from the antithetical analysis of a character which will +not be corporeally presented to the reader till our tale is +considerably advanced, one who drew from nature a singular combination +of shrewd but false conclusions, and a peculiar philosophy, destined +hereafter to contrast the colours and prove the practical utility of +that which was espoused by Mordaunt. + +There can be no education in which the lessons of the world do not +form a share. Experience, in expanding Algernon's powers, had ripened +his virtues. Nor had the years which had converted knowledge into +wisdom failed in imparting polish to refinement. His person had +acquired a greater grace, and his manners an easier dignity than +before. His noble and generous mind had worked its impress upon his +features and his mien; and those who could overcome the first coldness +and shrinking hauteur of his address found it required no minute +examination to discover the real expression of the eloquent eye and +the kindling lip. + +He had not been long returned before he found two enemies to his +tranquillity,--the one was love, the other appeared in the more +formidable guise of a claimant to his estate. Before Algernon was +aware of the nature of the latter he went to consult with his lawyer. + +"If the claim be just, I shall not, of course, proceed to law," said +Mordaunt. + +"But without the estate, sir, you have nothing!" + +"True," said Algernon, calmly. + +But the claim was not just, and to law he went. + +In this lawsuit, however, he had one assistant in an old relation, who +had seen, indeed, but very little of him, but who compassionated his +circumstances, and above all hated his opponent. This relation was +rich and childless; and there were not wanting those who predicted +that his money would ultimately discharge the mortgages and repair the +house of the young representative of the Mordaunt honours. But the +old kinsman was obstinate, self-willed, and under the absolute +dominion of patrician pride; and it was by no means improbable that +the independence of Mordaunt's character would soon create a disunion +between them, by clashing against the peculiarities of his relation's +temper. + +It was a clear and sunny morning when Linden, tolerably recovered of +his hurt, set out upon a sober and aged pony, which after some natural +pangs of shame he had hired of his landlord, to Mordaunt Court. + +Mordaunt's house was situated in the midst of a wild and extensive +park, surrounded with woods, and interspersed with trees of the +stateliest growth, now scattered into irregular groups, now marshalled +into sweeping avenues; while, ever and anon, Linden caught glimpses of +a rapid and brawling rivulet, which in many a slight but sounding +waterfall gave a music strange and spirit-like to the thick copses and +forest glades through which it went exulting on its way. The deer lay +half concealed by the fern among which they couched, turning their +stately crests towards the stranger, but not stirring from their rest; +while from the summit of beeches which would have shamed the pavilion +of Tityrus the rooks--those monks of the feathered people--were loud +in their confused but not displeasing confabulations. + +As Linden approached the house, he was struck with the melancholy air +of desolation which spread over and around it: fragments of stone, +above which clomb the rank weed, insolently proclaiming the triumph of +Nature's meanest offspring over the wrecks of art; a moat dried up; a +railing once of massive gilding, intended to fence a lofty terrace on +the right from the incursions of the deer, but which, shattered and +decayed, now seemed to ask with the satirist,-- + + "To what end did our lavish ancestors + Erect of old these stately piles of ours?" + +--a chapel on the left, perfectly in ruins,--all appeared strikingly +to denote that time had outstripped fortune, and that the years, which +alike hallow and destroy, had broken the consequence, in deepening the +antiquity, of the House of Mordaunt. + +The building itself agreed but too well with the tokens of decay +around it; most of the windows were shut up, and the shutters of dark +oak, richly gilt, contrasted forcibly with the shattered panes and +mouldered framing of the glass. It was a house of irregular +architecture. Originally built in the fifteenth century, it had +received its last improvement, with the most lavish expense, during +the reign of Anne; and it united the Gallic magnificence of the latter +period with the strength and grandeur of the former; it was in a great +part overgrown with ivy, and, where that insidious ornament had not +reached, the signs of decay, and even ruin, were fully visible. The +sun itself, bright and cheering as it shone over Nature, making the +green sod glow like emeralds, and the rivulet flash in its beam, like +one of those streams of real light, imagined by Swedenborg in his +visions of heaven, and clothing tree and fell, brake and hillock, with +the lavish hues of infant summer,--the sun itself only made more +desolate, because more conspicuous, the venerable fabric, which the +youthful traveller frequently paused more accurately to survey, and +its laughing and sportive beams playing over chink and crevice, seemed +almost as insolent and untimeous as the mirth of the young mocking the +silent grief of some gray-headed and solitary mourner. + +Clarence had now reached the porch, and the sound of the shrill bell +he touched rang with a strange note through the general stillness of +the place. A single servant appeared, and ushered Clarence through a +screen hall, hung round with relics of armour, and ornamented on the +side opposite the music gallery with a solitary picture of gigantic +size, and exhibiting the full length of the gaunt person and sable +steed of that Sir Piers de Mordaunt who had so signalized himself in +the field in which Henry of Richmond changed his coronet for a crown. +Through this hall Clarence was led to a small chamber clothed with +uncouth and tattered arras, in which, seemingly immersed in papers, he +found the owner of the domain. + +"Your studies," said Linden, after the salutations of the day, "seem +to harmonize with the venerable antiquity of your home;" and he +pointed to the crabbed characters and faded ink of the papers on the +table. + +"So they ought," answered Mordaunt, with a faint smile; "for they are +called from their quiet archives in order to support my struggle for +that home. But I fear the struggle is in vain, and that the quibbles +of law will transfer into other hands a possession I am foolish enough +to value the more from my inability to maintain it" + +Something of this Clarence had before learned from the communicative +gossip of his landlady; and less desirous to satisfy his curiosity +than to lead the conversation from a topic which he felt must be so +unwelcome to Mordaunt, he expressed a wish to see the state apartments +of the house. With something of shame at the neglect they had +necessarily experienced, and something of pride at the splendour which +no neglect could efface, Mordaunt yielded to the request, and led the +way up a staircase of black oak, the walls and ceiling of which were +covered with frescoes of Italian art, to a suite of apartments in +which time and dust seemed the only tenants. Lingeringly did Clarence +gaze upon the rich velvet, the costly mirrors, the motley paintings of +a hundred ancestors, and the antique cabinets, containing, among the +most hoarded relics of the Mordaunt race, curiosities which the +hereditary enthusiasm of a line of cavaliers had treasured as the most +sacred of heirlooms, and which, even to the philosophical mind of +Mordaunt, possessed a value he did not seek too minutely to analyze. +Here was the goblet from which the first prince of Tudor had drunk +after the field of Bosworth. Here the ring with which the chivalrous +Francis the First had rewarded a signal feat of that famous Robert de +Mordaunt, who, as a poor but adventurous cadet of the house, had +brought to the "first gentleman of France" the assistance of his +sword. Here was the glove which Sir Walter had received from the +royal hand of Elizabeth, and worn in the lists upon a crest which the +lance of no antagonist in that knightly court could abase. And here, +more sacred than all, because connected with the memory of misfortune, +was a small box of silver which the last king of a fated line had +placed in the hands of the gray-headed descendant of that Sir Walter +after the battle of the Boyne, saying, "Keep this, Sir Everard +Mordaunt, for the sake of one who has purchased the luxury of +gratitude at the price of a throne!" + +As Clarence glanced from these relics to the figure of Mordaunt, who +stood at a little distance leaning against the window, with arms +folded on his breast and with eyes abstractedly wandering over the +noble woods and extended park, which spread below, he could not but +feel that if birth had indeed the power of setting its seal upon the +form, it was never more conspicuous than in the broad front and lofty +air of the last descendant of the race by whose memorials he was +surrounded. Touched by the fallen fortunes of Mordaunt, and +interested by the uncertainty which the chances of law threw over his +future fate, Clarence could not resist exclaiming, with some warmth +and abruptness,-- + +"And by what subterfuge or cavil does the present claimant of these +estates hope to dislodge their rightful possessor?" + +"Why," answered Mordaunt, "it is a long story in detail, but briefly +told in epitome. My father was a man whose habits greatly exceeded +his fortune, and a few months after his death, Mr. Vavasour, a distant +relation, produced a paper, by which it appeared that my father had, +for a certain sum of ready money, disposed of his estates to this Mr. +Vavasour, upon condition that they should not be claimed nor the +treaty divulged till after his death; the reason for this proviso +seems to have been the shame my father felt for his exchange, and his +fear of the censures of that world to which he was always devoted." + +"But how unjust to you!" said Clarence. + +"Not so much so as it seems," said Mordaunt, deprecatingly; "for I was +then but a sickly boy, and according to the physicians, and I +sincerely believe according also to my poor father's belief, almost +certain of a premature death. In that case Vavasour would have been +the nearest heir; and this expectancy, by the by, joined to the +mortgages on the property, made the sum given ridiculously +disproportioned to the value of the estate. I must confess that the +news came upon me like a thunderbolt. I should have yielded up +possession immediately, but was informed by my lawyers that my father +had no legal right to dispose of the property; the discussion of that +right forms the ground of the present lawsuit. But," continued +Mordaunt, proudly, yet mournfully, "I am prepared for the worst; if, +indeed, I should call that the worst which can affect neither +intellect nor health nor character nor conscience." + +Clarence was silent, and Mordaunt after a brief pause once more +resumed his guidance. Their tour ended in a large library filled with +books, and this Mordaunt informed his guest was his chosen sitting- +room. + +An old carved table was covered with works which for the most part +possessed for the young mind of Clarence, more accustomed to imagine +than reflect, but a very feeble attraction; on looking over them, he, +however, found, half hid by a huge folio of Hobbes, and another of +Locke, a volume of Milton's poems; this paved the way to a +conversation in which both had an equal interest, for both were +enthusiastic in the character and genius of that wonderful man, for +whom "the divine and solemn countenance of Freedom" was dearer than +the light of day, and whose solitary spell, accomplishing what the +whole family of earth once vainly began upon the plain of Shinar, has +built of materials more imperishable than "slime and brick" "a city +and a tower whose summit has reached to heaven." + +It was with mutual satisfaction that Mordaunt and his guest continued +their commune till the hour of dinner was announced to them by a bell, +which, formerly intended as an alarum, now served the peaceful purpose +of a more agreeable summons. + +The same servant who had admitted Clarence ushered them through the +great hall into the dining-room, and was their solitary attendant +during their repast. + +The temper of Mordaunt was essentially grave and earnest, and his +conversation almost invariably took the tone of his mind; this made +their conference turn upon less minute and commonplace topics than one +between such new acquaintances, especially of different ages, usually +does. + +"You will positively go to London to-morrow, then?" said Mordaunt, as +the servant, removing the appurtenances of dinner, left them alone. + +"Positively," answered Clarence. "I go there to carve my own +fortunes, and, to say truth, I am impatient to begin." Mordaunt +looked earnestly at the frank face of the speaker, and wondered that +one so young, so well-educated, and, from his air and manner, +evidently of gentle blood, should appear so utterly thrown upon his +own resources. + +"I wish you success," said he, after a pause; "and it is a noble part +of the organization of this world that, by increasing those riches +which are beyond fortune, we do in general take the surest method of +obtaining those which are in its reach." + +Clarence looked inquiringly at Mordaunt, who, perceiving it, +continued, "I see that I should explain myself further. I will do so +by using the thoughts of a mind not the least beautiful and +accomplished which this country has produced. 'Of all which belongs +to us,' said Bolingbroke, 'the least valuable parts can alone fall +under the will of others. Whatever is best is safest; lies out of the +reach of human power; can neither be given nor taken away. Such is +this great and beautiful work of Nature, the world. Such is the mind +of man, which contemplates and admires the world whereof it makes the +noblest part. These are inseparably ours, and as long as we remain in +one we shall enjoy the other.'" + +"Beautiful, indeed!" exclaimed Clarence, with the enthusiasm of a +young and pure heart, to which every loftier sentiment is always +beautiful. + +"And true as beautiful!" said Mordaunt. "Nor is this all, for the +mind can even dispense with that world 'of which it forms a part' if +we can create within it a world still more inaccessible to chance. +But (and I now return to and explain my former observation) the means +by which we can effect this peculiar world can be rendered equally +subservient to our advancement and prosperity in that which we share +in common with our race; for the riches which by the aid of wisdom we +heap up in the storehouses of the mind are, though not the only, the +most customary coin by which external prosperity is bought. So that +the philosophy which can alone give independence to ourselves becomes; +under the name of honesty, the best policy in commerce with our kind." + +In conversation of this nature, which the sincerity and lofty +enthusiasm of Mordaunt rendered interesting to Clarence, despite the +distaste to the serious so ordinary to youth, the hours passed on, +till the increasing evening warned Linden to depart. + +"Adieu!" said he to Mordaunt. "I know not when we shall meet again, +but if we ever do, I will make it my boast, whether in prosperity or +misfortune, not to have forgotten the pleasure I have this day +enjoyed!" + +Returning his guest's farewell with a warmth unusual to his manner, +Mordaunt followed him to the door and saw him depart. + +Fate ordained that they should pursue in very different paths their +several destinies; nor did it afford them an opportunity of meeting +again, till years and events had severely tried the virtue of one and +materially altered the prospects of the other. + +The next morning Clarence Linden was on his road to London. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +"Upon my word," cries Jones, "thou art a very odd fellow, and I like +thy humour extremely."--FIELDING. + +The rumbling and jolting vehicle which conveyed Clarence to the +metropolis stopped at the door of a tavern in Holborn. Linden was +ushered into a close coffee-room and presented with a bill of fare. +While he was deliberating between the respective merits of mutton +chops and beefsteaks, a man with a brown coat, brown breeches, and a +brown wig, walked into the room; he cast a curious glance at Clarence +and then turned to the waiter. + +"A pair of slippers!" + +"Yes, sir," and the waiter disappeared. + +"I suppose," said the brown gentleman to Clarence, "I suppose, sir, +you are the gentleman just come to town?" + +"You are right, sir," said Clarence. + +"Very well, very well indeed," resumed the stranger, musingly. "I +took the liberty of looking at your boxes in the passage; I knew a +lady, sir, a relation of yours, I think." + +"Sir!" exclaimed Linden, colouring violently. + +"At least I suppose, for her name was just the same as yours, only, at +least, one letter difference between them: yours is Linden I see, sir; +hers was Minden. Am I right in my conjecture that you are related to +her?" + +"Sir," answered Clarence, gravely, "notwithstanding the similarity of +our names, we are not related." + +"Very extraordinary," replied the stranger. + +"Very," repeated Linden. + +"I had the honour, sir," said the brown gentleman, "to make Mrs. +Minden many presents of value, and I should have been very happy to +have obliged you in the same manner, had you been in any way connected +with that worthy gentlewoman." + +"You are very kind," said Linden, "you are very kind; and since such +were your intentions, I believe I must have been connected with Mrs. +Minden. At all events, as you justly observe, there is only the +difference of a letter between our names, a discrepancy too slight, I +am sure, to alter your benevolent intentions." + +Here the waiter returned with the slippers. + +The stranger slowly unbuttoned his gaiters. "Sir," said he to Linden, +"we will renew our conversation presently." + +No sooner had the generous friend of Mrs. Minden deposited his feet in +their easy tenements than he quitted the room. "Pray," said Linden to +the waiter, when he had ordered his simple repast, "who is that +gentleman in brown?" + +"Mr. Brown," replied the waiter. + +"And who or what is Mr. Brown?" asked our hero. + +Before the waiter could reply, Mr. Brown returned, with a large +bandbox, carefully enveloped in a blue handkerchief. "You come from +----, sir?" said Mr. Brown, quietly seating himself at the same table +as Linden. + +"No, sir, I do not." + +"From ----, then?" + +"No, sir,--from W----." + +"W----?--ay--well. I knew a lady with a name very like W---- (the +late Lady Waddilove) extremely well. I made her some valuable +presents: her ladyship was very sensible of it." + +"I don't doubt it, sir," replied Clarence; "such instances of general +beneficence rarely occur!" + +"I have some magnificent relics of her ladyship in this box," returned +Mr. Brown. + +"Really! then she was no less generous than yourself, I presume?" + +"Yes, her ladyship was remarkably generous. About a week before she +died (the late Lady Waddilove was quite sensible of her danger), she +called me to her,--'Brown,' said she, 'you are a good creature; I have +had my most valuable things from you. I am not ungrateful: I will +leave you--my maid! She is as clever as you are and as good.' I took +the hint, sir, and married. It was an excellent bargain. My wife is +a charming woman; she entirely fitted up Mrs. Minden's wardrobe and I +furnished the house. Mrs. Minden was greatly indebted to us." + +"Heaven help me!" thought Clarence, "the man is certainly mad." + +The waiter entered with the dinner; and Mr. Brown, who seemed to have +a delicate aversion to any conversation in the presence of the +Ganymede of the Holborn tavern, immediately ceased his communications; +meanwhile, Clarence took the opportunity to survey him more minutely +than he had hitherto done. + +His new acquaintance was in age about forty-eight; in stature, rather +under the middle height; and thin, dried, withered, yet muscular +withal, like a man who, in stinting his stomach for the sake of +economy, does not the less enjoy the power of undergoing any fatigue +or exertion that an object of adequate importance may demand. We have +said already that he was attired, like twilight, "in a suit of sober +brown;" and there was a formality, a precision, and a cat-like sort of +cleanliness in his garb, which savoured strongly of the respectable +coxcombry of the counting-house. His face was lean, it is true, but +not emaciated; and his complexion, sallow and adust, harmonized well +with the colours of his clothing. An eye of the darkest hazel, sharp, +shrewd, and flashing at times, especially at the mention of the +euphonious name of Lady Waddilove,--a name frequently upon the lips of +the inheritor of her abigail,--with a fire that might be called +brilliant, was of that modest species which can seldom encounter the +straightforward glance of another; on the contrary, it seemed +restlessly uneasy in any settled place, and wandered from ceiling to +floor, and corner to corner, with an inquisitive though apparently +careless glance, as if seeking for something to admire or haply to +appropriate; it also seemed to be the especial care of Mr. Brown to +veil, as far as he was able, the vivacity of his looks beneath an +expression of open and unheeding good-nature, an expression strangely +enough contrasting with the closeness and sagacity which Nature had +indelibly stamped upon features pointed, aquiline, and impressed with +a strong mixture of the Judaical physiognomy. The manner and bearing +of this gentleman partook of the same undecided character as his +countenance: they seemed to be struggling between civility and +importance; a real eagerness to make the acquaintance of the person he +addressed, and an assumed recklessness of the advantages which that +acquaintance could bestow;--it was like the behaviour of a man who is +desirous of having the best possible motives imputed to him, but is +fearful lest that desire should not be utterly fulfilled. At the +first glance you would have pledged yourself for his respectability; +at the second, you would have half suspected him to be a rogue; and, +after you had been half an hour in his company, you would confess +yourself in the obscurest doubt which was the better guess, the first +or the last. + +"Waiter!" said Mr. Brown, looking enviously at the viands upon which +Linden, having satisfied his curiosity, was now with all the appetite +of youth regaling himself. "Waiter!" + +"Yes, sir!" + +"Bring me a sandwich--and--and, waiter, see that I have plenty of-- +plenty of--" + +"What, sir?" + +"Plenty of mustard, waiter." + +"Mustard" (and here Mr. Brown addressed himself to Clarence) "is a +very wonderful assistance to the digestion. By the by, sir, if you +want any curiously fine mustard, I can procure you some pots quite +capital,--a great favour, though,--they were smuggled from France, +especially for the use of the late Lady Waddilove." + +"Thank you," said Linden, dryly; "I shall be very happy to accept +anything you may wish to offer me." + +Mr. Brown took a pocket-book from his pouch. "Six pots of mustard, +sir,--shall I say six?" + +"As many as you please," replied Clarence; and Mr. Brown wrote down +"Six pots of French mustard." + +"You are a very young gentleman, sir," said Mr. Brown, "probably +intended for some profession: I don't mean to be impertinent, but if I +can be of any assistance--" + +"You can, sir," replied Linden, "and immediately--have the kindness to +ring the bell." + +Mr. Brown, with a grave smile, did as he was desired; the waiter re- +entered, and, receiving a whispered order from Clarence, again +disappeared. + +"What profession did you say, sir?" renewed Mr. Brown, artfully. + +"None!" replied Linden. + +"Oh, very well,--very well indeed. Then as an idle, independent +gentleman, you will of course be a bit of a beau; want some shirts, +possibly; fine cravats, too; gentlemen wear a particular pattern now; +gloves, gold, or shall I say gilt chain, watch and seals, a ring or +two, and a snuff-box?" + +"Sir, you are vastly obliging," said Clarence, in undisguised +surprise. + +"Not at all, I would do anything for a relation of Mrs. Minden." + +The waiter re-entered; "Sir," said he to Linden, "your room is quite +ready." + +"I am glad to hear it," said Clarence, rising. "Mr. Brown, I have the +honour of wishing you a good evening." + +"Stay, sir--stay; you have not looked into these things belonging to +the late Lady Waddilove." + +"Another time," said Clarence, hastily. + +"To-morrow, at ten o'clock," muttered Mr. Brown. + +"I am exceedingly glad I have got rid of that fellow," said Linden to +himself, as he stretched his limbs in his easy-chair, and drank off +the last glass of his pint of port. "If I have not already seen, I +have already guessed, enough of the world, to know that you are to +look to your pockets when a man offers you a present; they who 'give,' +also 'take away.' So here I am in London, with an order for 1000 +pounds in my purse, the wisdom of Dr. Latinas in my head, and the +health of eighteen in my veins; will it not be my own fault if I do +not both enjoy and make myself--" + +And then, yielding to meditations of future success, partaking +strongly of the inexperienced and sanguine temperament of the +soliloquist, Clarence passed the hours till his pillow summoned him to +dreams no less ardent and perhaps no less unreal. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +"Oh, how I long to be employed!"--Every Man in his Humour. + +Clarence was sitting the next morning over the very unsatisfactory +breakfast which tea made out of broomsticks, and cream out of chalk +(adulteration thrived even in 17--) afforded, when the waiter threw +open the door and announced Mr. Brown. + +"Just in time, sir, you perceive," said Mr. Brown; "I am punctuality +itself: exactly a quarter of a minute to ten. I have brought you the +pots of French mustard, and I have some very valuable articles which +you must want, besides." + +"Thank you, sir," said Linden, not well knowing what to say; and Mr. +Brown, untying a silk handkerchief, produced three shirts, two pots of +pomatum, a tobacco canister with a German pipe, four pair of silk +stockings, two gold seals, three rings, and a stuffed parrot! + +"Beautiful articles these, sir," said Mr. Brown, with a snuffle "of +inward sweetness long drawn out," and expressive of great admiration +of his offered treasures; "beautiful articles, sir, ar'n't they?" + +"Very, the parrot in particular," said Clarence. + +"Yes, sir," returned Mr. Brown, "the parrot is indeed quite a jewel; +it belonged to the late Lady Waddilove; I offer it to you with +considerable regret, for--" + +"Oh!" interrupted Clarence, "pray do not rob yourself of such a jewel; +it really is of no use to me." + +"I know that, sir,--I know that," replied Mr. Brown; "but it will be +of use to your friends; it will be inestimable to any old aunt, sir, +any maiden lady living at Hackney, any curious elderly gentleman fond +of a knack-knack. I knew you would know some one to send it to as a +present, even though you should not want it yourself." + +"Bless me!" thought Linden, "was there ever such generosity? Not +content with providing for my wants, he extends his liberality even to +any possible relations I may possess!" + +Mr. Brown now re-tied "the beautiful articles" in his handkerchief. +"Shall I leave them, sir?" said he. + +"Why, really," said Clarence, "I thought yesterday that you were in +jest; but you must be aware that I cannot accept presents from any +gentleman so much,--so much a stranger to me as you are." + +"No, sir, I am aware of that," replied Mr. Brown; "and in order to +remove the unpleasantness of such a feeling, sir, on your part,-- +merely in order to do that, I assure you with no other view, sir, in +the world,--I have just noted down the articles on this piece of +paper; but as you will perceive, at a price so low as still to make +them actually presents in everything but the name. Oh, sir, I +perfectly understand your delicacy, and would not for the world +violate it." + +So saying, Mr. Brown put a paper into Linden's hands, the substance of +which a very little more experience of the world would have enabled +Clarence to foresee; it ran thus:-- + +CLARENCE LINDEN, ESQ., DR. + TO Mr. MORRIS BROWN. + l. s. d. +To Six Pots of French Mustard . . . . . . . . . 1 4 0 +To Three Superfine Holland Shirts, with Cambric Bosoms, + Complete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1 0 +To Two Pots of Superior French Pomatum . . . . . . 0 10 0 +To a Tobacco Canister of enamelled Tin, with a finely + Executed Head of the Pretender; slight flaw in the same. 0 12 6 +To a German Pipe, second hand, as good as new, belonging + to the late Lady Waddilove . . . . . . . . . . 1 18 0 +To Four Pair of Black Silk Hose, ditto, belonging to her + Ladyship's Husband . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 0 +To Two Superfine Embossed Gold Watch Seals, with a + Classical Motto and Device to each, namely, Mouse Trap, + and "Prenez Garde," to one, and "Who the devil can this + be from?" [One would not have thought these ingenious + devices had been of so ancient a date as the year 17--.] + to the other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 0 +To a remarkably fine Antique Ring, having the head of a + Monkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 16 6 +A ditto, with blue stones . . . . . . . . . . . 0 12 6 +A ditto, with green ditto . . . . . . . . . . . 0 12 6 +A Stuffed Green Parrot, a remarkable favourite of the late + Lady W. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 0 + -------- + Sum Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 18 0 + Deduction for Ready Money . . . . . . . . . . 0 13 6 + -------- + 15 4 6 + Mr. Brown's Profits for Brokerage . . . . . . . . 1 10 0 + -------- + Sum Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 14 6 + +Received of Clarence Linden, Esq., this day of 17--. + +It would have been no unamusing study to watch the expression of +Clarence's face as it lengthened over each article until he had +reached the final conclusion. He then carefully folded up the paper, +restored it to Mr. Brown, with a low bow, and said, "Excuse me, sir, I +will not take advantage of your generosity; keep your parrot and other +treasures for some more worthy person. I cannot accept of what you +are pleased to term your very valuable presents!" + +"Oh, very well, very well," said Mr. Brown, pocketing the paper, and +seeming perfectly unconcerned at the termination of his proposals; +"perhaps I can serve you in some other way?" + +"In none, I thank you," replied Linden. + +"Just consider, sir!--you will want lodgings; I can find them for you +cheaper than you can yourself; or perhaps you would prefer going into +a nice, quiet, genteel family where you can have both board and +lodging, and be treated in every way as the pet child of the master?" + +A thought crossed Linden's mind. He was going to stay in town some +time; he was ignorant of its ways; he had neither friends nor +relations, at least none whom he could visit and consult; moreover, +hotels, he knew, were expensive; lodgings, though cheaper, might, if +tolerably comfortable, greatly exceed the sum prudence would allow him +to expend would not this plan proposed by Mr. Brown, of going into a +"nice quiet genteel family," he the most advisable one he could adopt? +The generous benefactor of the late and ever-to-be-remembered Lady +Waddilove perceived his advantage, and making the most of Clarence's +hesitation, continued,-- + +"I know of a charming little abode, sir, situated in the suburbs of +London, quite rus in urbe, as the scholars say; you can have a +delightful little back parlour, looking out upon the garden, and all +to yourself, I dare say." + +"And pray, Mr. Brown," interrupted Linden, "what price do you think +would be demanded for such enviable accommodation? If you offer me +them as 'a present,' I shall have nothing to say to them." + +"Oh, sir," answered Mr. Brown, "the price will be a trifle,--a mere +trifle; but I will inquire, and let you know the exact sum in the +course of the day: all they want is a respectable gentlemanlike +lodger; and I am sure so near a relation of Mrs. Minden will upon my +recommendation be received with avidity. Then you won't have any of +these valuable articles, sir? You'll repent it, sir; take my word for +it--hem! + +"Since," replied Clarence, dryly, "your word appears of so much more +value than your articles, pardon me, if I prefer taking the former +instead of the latter." + +Mr. Brown forced a smile,--"Well, sir, very well, very well indeed. +You will not go out before two o'clock? and at that time I shall call +upon you respecting the commission you have favoured me with." + +"I will await you," said Clarence; and he bowed Mr. Brown out of the +room. + +"Now, really," said Linden to himself, as he paced the narrow limits +of his apartment, "I do not see what better plan I can pursue; but let +me well consider what is my ultimate object. A high step in the +world's ladder! how is this to be obtained? First, by the regular +method of professions; but what profession should I adopt? The Church +is incompatible with my object, the army and navy with my means. Next +come the irregular methods of adventure and enterprise, such as +marriage with a fortune,"--here he paused and looked at the glass,-- +"the speculation of a political pamphlet, or an ode to the minister; +attendance on some dying miser of my own name, without a relation in +the world; or, in short, any other mode of making money that may +decently offer itself. Now, situated as I am, without a friend in +this great city, I might as well purchase my experience at as cheap a +rate and in as brief a time as possible, nor do I see any plan of +doing so more promising than that proposed by Mr. Brown." + +These and such like reflections, joined to the inspiriting pages of +the "Newgate Calendar" and "The Covent Garden Magazine," two works +which Clarence dragged from their concealment under a black tea-tray, +afforded him ample occupation till the hour of two, punctual to which +time Mr. Morris Brown returned. + +"Well, sir," said Clarence, "what is your report?" + +The friend of the late Lady W. wiped his brow and gave three long +sighs before he replied: "A long walk, sir--a very long walk I have +had; but I have succeeded. No thanks, sir,--no thanks,--the lady, a +most charming, delightful, amiable woman, will receive you with +pleasure; you will have the use of a back parlour (as I said) all the +morning, and a beautiful little bedroom entirely to yourself; think of +that, sir. You will have an egg for breakfast, and you will dine with +the family at three o'clock: quite fashionable hours you see, sir." + +"And the terms?" said Linden, impatiently. + +"Why, sir," replied Mr. Brown, "the lady was too genteel to talk to me +about them; you had better walk with me to her house and see if you +cannot yourself agree with her." + +"I will," said Clarence. "Will you wait here till I have dressed?" + +Mr. Brown bowed his assent. + +"I might as well," thought Clarence, as he ascended to his bedroom, +"inquire into the character of this gentleman to whose good offices I +am so rashly intrusting myself." He rang his bell; the chambermaid +appeared, and was dismissed for the waiter. The character was soon +asked, and soon given. For our reader's sake we will somewhat enlarge +upon it. + +Mr. Morris Brown originally came into the world with the simple +appellation of Moses, a name which his father--honest man--had, as the +Minories can still testify, honourably borne before him. Scarcely, +however, had the little Moses attained the age of five, when his +father, for causes best known to himself, became a Christian. Somehow +or other there is a most potent connection between the purse and the +conscience, and accordingly the blessings of Heaven descended in +golden showers upon the proselyte. "I shall die worth a plum," said +Moses the elder (who had taken unto himself the Christian cognomen of +Brown); "I shall die worth a plum," repeated he, as he went one fine +morning to speculate at the Exchange. A change of news, sharp and +unexpected as a change of wind, lowered the stocks and blighted the +plum. Mr. Brown was in the "Gazette" that week, and his wife in weeds +for him the next. He left behind him, besides the said wife, several +debts and his son Moses. Beggared by the former, our widow took a +small shop in Wardour Street to support the latter. Patient, but +enterprising--cautious of risking pounds, indefatigable in raising +pence--the little Moses inherited the propensities of his Hebrew +ancestors; and though not so capable as his immediate progenitor of +making a fortune, he was at least far less likely to lose one. In +spite, however, of all the industry both of mother and son, the gains +of the shop were but scanty; to increase them capital was required, +and all Mr. Moses Brown's capital lay in his brain. "It is a bad +foundation," said the mother, with a sigh. "Not at all!" said the +son, and leaving the shop, he turned broker. Now a broker is a man +who makes an income out of other people's funds,--a gleaner of stray +extravagances; and by doing the public the honour of living upon them +may fairly be termed a little sort of state minister in his way. What +with haunting sales, hawking china, selling the curiosities of one old +lady and purchasing the same for another, Mr. Brown managed to enjoy a +very comfortable existence. Great pains and small gains will at last +invert their antithesis, and make little trouble and great profit; so +that by the time Mr. Brown had attained his fortieth year, the petty +shop had become a large warehouse; and, if the worthy Moses, now +christianized into Morris, was not so sanguine as his father in the +gathering of plums, he had been at least as fortunate in the +collecting of windfalls. To say truth, the abigail of the defunct +Lady Waddilove had been no unprofitable helpmate to our broker. As +ingenious as benevolent, she was the owner of certain rooms of great +resort in the neighbourhood of St. James's,--rooms where caps and +appointments were made better than anywhere else, and where credit was +given and character lost upon terms equally advantageous to the +accommodating Mrs. Brown. + +Meanwhile her husband, continuing through liking what he had begun +through necessity, slackened not his industry in augmenting his +fortune; on the contrary, small profits were but a keener incentive to +large ones,--as the glutton only sharpened by luncheon his appetite +for dinner. Still was Mr. Brown the very Alcibiades of brokers, the +universal genius, suiting every man to his humour. Business of +whatever description, from the purchase of a borough to that of a +brooch, was alike the object of Mr. Brown's most zealous pursuit: +taverns, where country cousins put up; rustic habitations, where +ancient maidens resided; auction or barter; city or hamlet,--all were +the same to that enterprising spirit, which made out of every +acquaintance--a commission! Sagacious and acute, Mr. Brown perceived +the value of eccentricity in covering design, and found by experience +that whatever can be laughed at as odd will be gravely considered as +harmless. Several of the broker's peculiarities were, therefore, more +artificial than natural; and many were the sly bargains which he +smuggled into effect under the comfortable cloak of singularity. No +wonder, then, that the crafty Morris grew gradually in repute as a +person of infinite utility and excellent qualifications; or that the +penetrating friends of his deceased sire bowed to the thriving +itinerant, with a respect which they denied to many in loftier +professions and more general esteem. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +Trust me you have an exceeding fine lodging here,--very neat and +private.--BEN JONSON. + +It was a tolerably long walk to the abode of which the worthy broker +spoke in such high terms of commendation. At length, at the suburbs +towards Paddington, Mr. Brown stopped at a very small house; it stood +rather retired from its surrounding neighbours, which were of a +loftier and more pretending aspect than itself, and, in its awkward +shape and pitiful bashfulness, looked exceedingly like a school-boy +finding himself for the first time in a grown up party, and shrinking +with all possible expedition into the obscurest corner he can +discover. Passing through a sort of garden, in which a spot of grass +lay in the embraces of a stripe of gravel, Mr. Brown knocked upon a +very bright knocker at a very new door. The latter was opened, and a +foot-boy appeared. + +"Is Mrs. Copperas within?" asked the broker. + +"Yees, sir," said the boy. + +"Show this gentleman and myself up stairs," resumed Brown. + +"Yees," reiterated the lackey. + +Up a singularly narrow staircase, into a singularly diminutive +drawing-room, Clarence and his guide were ushered. There, seated on a +little chair by a little work-table, with one foot on a little stool +and one hand on a little book, was a little--very little lady. + +"This is the young gentleman," said Mr. Brown; and Clarence bowed low, +in token of the introduction. + +The lady returned the salutation with an affected bend, and said, in a +mincing and grotesquely subdued tone, "You are desirous, sir, of +entering into the bosom of my family. We possess accommodations of a +most elegant description; accustomed to the genteelest circles, +enjoying the pure breezes of the Highgate hills, and presenting to any +guest we may receive the attractions of a home rather than of a +lodging, you will find our retreat no less eligible than unique. You +are, I presume, sir, in some profession, some city avocation--or--or +trade?" + +"I have the misfortune," said he, smiling, "to belong to no +profession." + +The lady looked hard at the speaker, and then at the broker. With +certain people to belong to no profession is to be of no +respectability. + +"The most unexceptionable references will be given-and required," +resumed Mrs. Copperas. + +"Certainly," said Mr. Brown, "certainly, the gentleman is a relation +of Mrs. Minden, a very old customer of mine." + +"In that case," said Mrs. Copperas, "the affair is settled;" and, +rising, she rang the bell, and ordered the foot-boy, whom she +addressed by the grandiloquent name of "De Warens" to show the +gentleman the apartments. While Clarence was occupied in surveying +the luxuries of a box at the top of the house, called a bed-chamber, +which seemed just large and just hot enough for a chrysalis, and a +corresponding box below, termed the back parlour, which would +certainly not have been large enough for the said chrysalis when +turned into a butterfly, Mr. Morris Brown, after duly, expatiating on +the merits of Clarence, proceeded to speak of the terms; these were +soon settled, for Clarence was yielding and the lady not above three +times as extortionate as she ought to have been. + +Before Linden left the house, the bargain was concluded. That night +his trunks were removed to his new abode, and having with incredible +difficulty been squeezed into the bedroom, Clarence surveyed them with +the same astonishment with which the virtuoso beheld the flies in +amber,-- + + "Not that the things were either rich or rare, + He wondered how the devil they got there!" + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + Such scenes had tempered with a pensive grace + The maiden lustre of that faultless face; + Had hung a sad and dreamlike spell upon + The gliding music of her silver tone, + And shaded the soft soul which loved to lie + In the deep pathos of that volumed eye.--O'Neill; or, The Rebel. + +The love thus kindled between them was of no common or calculating +nature: it was vigorous and delicious, and at times so suddenly +intense as to appear to their young hearts for a moment or so with +almost an awful character.--Inesilla. + +The reader will figure to himself a small chamber, in a remote wing of +a large and noble mansion. The walls were covered with sketches whose +extreme delicacy of outline and colouring betrayed the sex of the +artist; a few shelves filled with books supported vases of flowers. A +harp stood neglected at the farther end of the room, and just above +hung the slender prison of one of those golden wanderers from the +Canary Isles which hear to our colder land some of the gentlest music +of their skies and zephyrs. The window, reaching to the ground, was +open, and looked, through the clusters of jessamine and honeysuckle +which surrounded the low veranda, beyond upon thick and frequent +copses of blossoming shrubs, redolent of spring and sparkling in the +sunny tears of a May shower which had only just wept itself away. +Embosomed in these little groves lay plots of flowers, girdled with +turf as green as ever wooed the nightly dances of the fairies; and +afar off, through one artful opening, the eye caught the glittering +wanderings of water, on whose light and smiles the universal happiness +of the young year seemed reflected. + +But in that chamber, heedless of all around, and cold to the joy with +which everything else, equally youthful, beautiful, and innocent, +seemed breathing and inspired, sat a very young and lovely female. +Her cheek leaned upon her hand, and large tears flowed fast and +burningly over the small and delicate fingers. The comb that had +confined her tresses lay at her feet, and the high dress which +concealed her swelling breast had been loosened, to give vent to the +suffocating and indignant throbbings which had rebelled against its +cincture; all appeared to announce that bitterness of grief when the +mind, as it were, wreaks its scorn upon the body in its contempt for +external seemings, and to proclaim that the present more subdued and +softened sorrow had only succeeded to a burst far less quiet and +uncontrolled. Woe to those who eat the bread of dependence their +tears are wrung from the inmost sources of the heart. + +Isabel St. Leger was the only child of a captain in the army who died +in her infancy; her mother had survived him but a few months; and to +the reluctant care and cold affections of a distant and wealthy +relation of the same name the warm-hearted and penniless orphan was +consigned. Major-General Cornelius St. Leger, whose riches had been +purchased in India at the price of his constitution, was of a temper +as hot as his curries, and he wreaked it the more unsparingly on his +ward, because the superior ill-temper of his maiden sister had +prevented his giving vent to it upon her. That sister, Miss Diana St. +Leger, was a meagre gentlewoman of about six feet high, with a loud +voice and commanding aspect. Long in awe of her brother, she rejoiced +at heart to find some one whom she had such right and reason to make +in awe of herself; and from the age of four to that of seventeen +Isabel suffered every insult and every degradation which could be +inflicted upon her by the tyranny of her two protectors. Her spirit, +however, was far from being broken by the rude shocks it received; on +the contrary, her mind, gentleness itself to the kind, rose +indignantly against the unjust. It was true that the sense of wrong +did not break forth audibly; for, though susceptible, Isabel was meek, +and her pride was concealed by the outward softness and feminacy of +her temper: but she stole away from those who had wounded her heart or +trampled upon its feelings, and nourished with secret but passionate +tears the memory of the harshness or injustice she had endured. Yet +she was not vindictive: her resentment was a noble not a debasing +feeling; once, when she was yet a child, Miss Diana was attacked with +a fever of the most malignant and infectious kind; her brother loved +himself far too well to risk his safety by attending her; the servants +were too happy to wreak their hatred under the pretence of obeying +their fears; they consequently followed the example of their master; +and Miss Diana St. Leger might have gone down to her ancestors +"unwept, unhonoured, and unsung," if Isabel had not volunteered and +enforced her attendance. Hour after hour her fairy form flitted +around the sick-chamber; or sat mute and breathless by the feverish +bed; she had neither fear for contagion nor bitterness for past +oppression; everything vanished beneath the one hope of serving, the +one gratification of feeling herself, in the wide waste of creation, +not utterly without use, as she had been hitherto without friends. + +Miss St. Leger recovered. "For your recovery, in the first place," +said the doctor, "you will thank Heaven; in the second, you will thank +your young relation;" and for several days the convalescent did +overwhelm the happy Isabel with her praises and caresses. But this +change did not last long: the chaste Diana had been too spoiled by the +prosperity of many years for the sickness of a single month to effect +much good in her disposition. Her old habits were soon resumed; and +though it is probable that her heart was in reality softened towards +the poor Isabel, that softening by no means extended to her temper. +In truth, the brother and sister were not without affection for one so +beautiful and good, but they had been torturing slaves all their +lives, and their affection was, and could be, but that of a taskmaster +or a planter. + +But Isabel was the only relation who ever appeared within their walls; +and among the guests with whom the luxurious mansion was crowded, she +passed no less for the heiress than the dependant; to her, therefore, +was offered the homage of many lips and hearts, and if her pride was +perpetually galled and her feelings insulted in private, her vanity +(had that equalled her pride and her feelings in its susceptibility) +would in no slight measure have recompensed her in public. Unhappily, +however, her vanity was the least prominent quality she possessed; and +the compliments of mercenary adulation were not more rejected by her +heart than despised by her understanding. + +Yet did she bear within her a deep fund of buried tenderness, and a +mine of girlish and enthusiastic romance,--dangerous gifts to one so +situated, which, while they gave to her secret moments of solitude a +powerful but vague attraction, probably only prepared for her future +years the snare which might betray them into error or the delusion +which would colour them with regret. + +Among those whom the ostentatious hospitality of General St. Leger +attracted to his house was one of very different character and +pretensions to the rest. Formed to be unpopular with the generality +of men, the very qualities that made him so were those which +principally fascinate the higher description of women of ancient +birth, which rendered still more displeasing the pride and coldness of +his mien; of talents peculiarly framed to attract interest as well as +esteem; of a deep and somewhat morbid melancholy, which, while it +turned from ordinary ties, inclined yearningly towards passionate +affections; of a temper where romance was only concealed from the many +to become more seductive to the few; unsocial, but benevolent; +disliked, but respected; of the austerest demeanour, but of passions +the most fervid, though the most carefully concealed,--this man united +within himself all that repels the common mass of his species, and all +that irresistibly wins and fascinates the rare and romantic few. To +these qualities were added a carriage and bearing of that high and +commanding order which men mistake for arrogance and pretension, and +women overrate in proportion to its contrast to their own. Something +of mystery there was in the commencement of the deep and eventful love +which took place between this person and Isabel, which I have never +been able to learn whatever it was, it seemed to expedite and heighten +the ordinary progress of love; and when in the dim twilight, beneath +the first melancholy smile of the earliest star, their hearts opened +audibly to each other, that confession had been made silently long +since and registered in the inmost recesses of the soul. + +But their passion, which began in prosperity, was soon darkened. +Whether he took offence at the haughtiness of Isabel's lover, or +whether he desired to retain about him an object which he could +torment and tyrannize over, no sooner did the General discover the +attachment of his young relation than he peremptorily forbade its +indulgence, and assumed so insolent and overbearing an air towards the +lover that the latter felt he could no longer repeat his visits to or +even continue his acquaintance with the nabob. + +To add to these adverse circumstances, a relation of the lover, from +whom his expectations had been large, was so enraged, not only at the +insult his cousin had received, but at the very idea of his forming an +alliance with one in so dependent a situation and connected with such +new blood as Isabel St. Leger, that, with that arrogance which +relations, however distant, think themselves authorized to assume, he +enjoined his cousin, upon pain of forfeiture of favour and fortune, to +renounce all idea of so disparaging an alliance. The one thus +addressed was not of a temper patiently to submit to such threats: he +answered them with disdain; and the breach, so dangerous to his +pecuniary interest, was already begun. + +So far had the history of our lover proceeded at the time in which we +have introduced Isabel to the reader, and described to him the chamber +to which, in all her troubles and humiliations, she was accustomed to +fly, as to a sad but still unviolated sanctuary of retreat. + +The quiet of this asylum was first broken by a slight rustling among +the leaves; but Isabel's back was turned towards the window, and in +the engrossment of her feelings she heard it not. The thick copse +that darkened the left side of the veranda was pierced, and a man +passed within the covered space, and stood still and silent before the +window, intently gazing upon the figure, which (though the face was +turned from him) betrayed in its proportions that beauty which in his +eyes had neither an equal nor a fault. + +The figure of the stranger, though not very tall, was above the +ordinary height, and gracefully rather than robustly formed. He was +dressed in the darkest colours and the simplest fashion, which +rendered yet more striking the nobleness of his mien, as well as the +clear and almost delicate paleness of his complexion; his features +were finely and accurately formed; and had not ill health, long +travel, or severe thought deepened too much the lines of the +countenance, and sharpened its contour, the classic perfection of +those features would have rendered him undeniably and even eminently +handsome. As it was, the paleness and the somewhat worn character of +his face, joined to an expression at first glance rather haughty and +repellent, made him lose in physical what he certainly gained in +intellectual beauty. His eyes were large, deep, and melancholy, and +had the hat which now hung over his brow been removed, it would have +displayed a forehead of remarkable boldness and power. + +Altogether, the face was cast in a rare and intellectual mould, and, +if wanting in those more luxuriant attractions common to the age of +the stranger, who could scarcely have attained his twenty-sixth year, +it betokened, at least, that predominance of mind over body which in +some eyes is the most requisite characteristic of masculine beauty. + +With a soft and noiseless step, the stranger moved from his station +without the window, and, entering the room, stole towards the spot on +which Isabel was sitting. He leaned over her chair, and his eye +rested upon his own picture, and a letter in his own writing, over +which the tears of the young orphan flowed fast. + +A moment more of agitated happiness for one, of unconscious and +continued sadness for the other,-- + + "'T is past, her lover's at her feet." + +And what indeed "was to them the world beside, with all its changes of +time and tide"? Joy, hope, all blissful and bright sensations, lay +mingled, like meeting waters, in one sunny stream of heartfelt and +unfathomable enjoyment; but this passed away, and the remembrance of +bitterness and evil succeeded. + +"Oh, Algernon!" said Isabel, in a low voice, "is this your promise?" + +"Believe me," said Mordaunt, for it was indeed he, "I have struggled +long with my feelings, but in vain; and for both our sakes, I rejoice +at the conquest they obtained. I listened only to a deceitful +delusion when I imagined I was obeying the dictates of reason. Ah, +dearest, why should we part for the sake of dubious and distant evils, +when the misery of absence is the most certain, the most unceasing +evil we can endure?" + +"For your sake, and therefore for mine!" interrupted Isabel, +struggling with her tears. "I am a beggar and an outcast. You must +not link your fate with mine. I could bear, Heaven knows how +willingly, poverty and all its evils for you and with you; but I +cannot bring them upon you." + +"Nor will you," said Mordaunt, passionately, as he covered the hand he +held with his burning kisses. "Have I not enough for both of us? It +is my love, not poverty, that I beseech you to share." + +"No! Algernon, you cannot deceive me; your own estate will be torn +from you by the law: if you marry me, your cousin will not assist you; +I, you know too well, can command nothing; and I shall see you, for +whom in my fond and bright dreams I have presaged everything great and +exalted, buried in an obscurity from which your talents can never +rise, and suffering the pangs of poverty and dependence and +humiliation like my own; and--and--I--should be the wretch who caused +you all. Never, Algernon, never!--I love you too--too well!" + +But the effort which wrung forth the determination of the tone in +which these words were uttered was too violent to endure; and, as the +full desolation of her despair crowded fast and dark upon the orphan's +mind, she sank back upon her chair in very sickness of soul, nor +heeded, in her unconsious misery, that her hand was yet clasped by her +lover and that her head drooped upon his bosom. + +"Isabel," he said, in a low, sweet tone, which to her ear seemed the +concentration of all earthly music,--"Isabel, look up,--my own, my +beloved,--look up and hear me. Perhaps you say truly when you tell me +that the possessions of my house shall melt away from me, and that my +relation will not offer to me the precarious bounty which, even if he +did offer, I would reject; but, dearest, are there not a thousand +paths open to me,--the law, the state, the army?--you are silent, +Isabel,--speak!" + +Isabel did not reply, but the soft eyes which rested upon his told, in +their despondency, how little her reason was satisfied by the +arguments he urged. + +"Besides," he continued, "we know not yet whether the law may not +decide in my favour: at all events years may pass before the judgment +is given; those years make the prime and verdure of our lives; let us +not waste them in mourning over blighted hopes and severed hearts; let +us snatch what happiness is yet in our power, nor anticipate, while +the heavens are still bright above us, the burden of the thunder or +the cloud." + +Isabel was one of the least selfish and most devoted of human beings, +yet she must be forgiven if at that moment her resolution faltered, +and the overpowering thought of being in reality his forever flashed +upon her mind. It passed from her the moment it was formed; and, +rising from a situation in which the touch of that dear hand and the +breath of those wooing lips endangered the virtue and weakened the +strength of her resolves, she withdrew herself from his grasp, and +while she averted her eyes, which dared not encounter his, she said in +a low but firm voice,-- + +"It is in vain, Algernon; it is in vain. I can be to you nothing but +a blight or burden, nothing but a source of privation and anguish. +Think you that I will be this?--no, I will not darken your fair hopes +and impede your reasonable ambition. Go (and here her voice faltered +for a moment, but soon recovered its tone), go, Algernon, dear +Algernon; and if my foolish heart will not ask you to think of me no +more, I can at least implore you to think of me only as one who would +die rather than cost you a moment of that poverty and debasement, the +bitterness of which she has felt herself, and who for that very reason +tears herself away from you forever." + +"Stay, Isabel, stay!" cried Mordaunt, as he caught hold of her robe, +"give me but one word more, and you shall leave me. Say that if I can +create for myself a new source of independence; if I can carve out a +road where the ambition you erroneously impute to me can be gratified, +as well as the more moderate wishes our station has made natural to us +to form,--say, that if I do this, I may permit myself to hope,--say, +that when I have done it, I may claim you as my own!" + +Isabel paused, and turned once more her face towards his own. Her +lips moved, and though the words died within her heart, yet Mordaunt +read well their import in the blushing cheek and the heaving bosom, +and the lips which one ray of hope and comfort was sufficient to +kindle into smiles. He gazed, and all obstacles, all difficulties, +disappeared; the gulf of time seemed passed, and he felt as if already +he had earned and won his reward. + +He approached her yet nearer; one kiss on those lips, one pressure of +that thrilling hand, one long, last embrace of that shrinking and +trembling form,--and then, as the door closed upon his view, he felt +that the sunshine of Nature had passed away, and that in the midst of +the laughing and peopled earth he stood in darkness and alone. + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DISOWNED, LYTTON, V1 *** + +****** This file should be named 7631.txt or 7631.zip ******* + +This eBook was produced by Tapio Riikonen +and David Widger + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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