diff options
| author | pgww <pgww@lists.pglaf.org> | 2025-07-29 16:22:01 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | pgww <pgww@lists.pglaf.org> | 2025-07-29 16:22:01 -0700 |
| commit | 1e31d8439546dfda847bfa55de7fa7ee618f5fd5 (patch) | |
| tree | f3ddeab7a0eaf8e02055a48b26c56576d34813db /76591-h | |
Diffstat (limited to '76591-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 76591-h/76591-h.htm | 28966 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 76591-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 490421 bytes |
2 files changed, 28966 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/76591-h/76591-h.htm b/76591-h/76591-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e611df7 --- /dev/null +++ b/76591-h/76591-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,28966 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> + <head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title>The Deserted Wife | Project Gutenberg</title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + body { margin-left: 8%; margin-right: 10%; } + h1 { text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-size: xx-large; } + h2 { text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-size: x-large; } + h3 { text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-size: large; } + .pageno { right: 1%; font-size: x-small; background-color: inherit; color: silver; + text-indent: 0em; text-align: right; position: absolute; + border: thin solid silver; padding: .1em .2em; font-style: normal; + font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; } + p { text-indent: 0; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; text-align: justify; } + sup { vertical-align: top; font-size: 0.6em; } + .fss { font-size: 75%; } + .sc { font-variant: small-caps; } + .large { font-size: large; } + .xlarge { font-size: x-large; } + .small { font-size: small; } + .lg-container-b { text-align: center; } + .x-ebookmaker .lg-container-b { clear: both; } + .lg-container-l { text-align: justify; } + .x-ebookmaker .lg-container-l { clear: both; } + .lg-container-r { text-align: right; } + .x-ebookmaker .lg-container-r { clear: both; } + .linegroup { display: inline-block; text-align: justify; } + .x-ebookmaker .linegroup { display: block; margin-left: 1.5em; } + .linegroup .group { margin: 1em auto; } + .linegroup .line { text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em; } + div.linegroup > :first-child { margin-top: 0; } + .linegroup .in10 { padding-left: 8.0em; } + .linegroup .in12 { padding-left: 9.0em; } + .linegroup .in14 { padding-left: 10.0em; } + .linegroup .in16 { padding-left: 11.0em; } + .linegroup .in17 { padding-left: 11.5em; } + .linegroup .in18 { padding-left: 12.0em; } + .linegroup .in2 { padding-left: 4.0em; } + .linegroup .in20 { padding-left: 13.0em; } + .linegroup .in22 { padding-left: 14.0em; } + .linegroup .in24 { padding-left: 15.0em; } + .linegroup .in28 { padding-left: 17.0em; } + .linegroup .in32 { padding-left: 19.0em; } + .linegroup .in36 { padding-left: 21.0em; } + .linegroup .in38 { padding-left: 22.0em; } + .linegroup .in40 { padding-left: 23.0em; } + .linegroup .in44 { padding-left: 25.0em; } + .linegroup .in6 { padding-left: 6.0em; } + .linegroup .in8 { padding-left: 7.0em; } + .ul_1 li {padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em; } + ul.ul_1 {padding-left: 0; margin-left: 2.78%; margin-top: .5em; + margin-bottom: .5em; list-style-type: disc; } + div.footnote > :first-child { margin-top: 1em; } + div.footnote p { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + div.pbb { page-break-before: always; } + hr.pb { border: none; border-bottom: thin solid; margin-bottom: 1em; } + .x-ebookmaker hr.pb { display: none; } + .chapter { clear: both; page-break-before: always; } + .table0 { margin: auto; margin-top: 2em; } + .nf-center { text-align: center; } + .nf-center-c0 { text-align: justify; margin: 0.5em 0; } + .c000 { margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; } + .c001 { page-break-before: always; margin-top: 4em; } + .c002 { margin-top: 2em; } + .c003 { margin-top: 1em; } + .c004 { margin-top: 1em; font-size: .9em; } + .c005 { margin-top: 4em; } + .c006 { page-break-before:auto; margin-top: 4em; } + .c007 { page-break-before: auto; margin-top: 2em; } + .c008 { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + .c009 { font-size: 80%; } + .c010 { margin-top: 2em; font-size: .9em; } + .c011 { margin-top: 2em; text-indent: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + .c012 { text-decoration: none; } + .c013 { border: none; border-bottom: thin solid; margin-top: 0.8em; + margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 35%; margin-right: 35%; width: 30%; } + .c014 { margin-top: 2em; font-size: .9em; text-indent: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.25em; + } + .c015 { font-size: .9em; } + .c016 { text-indent: 0; margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + .c017 { font-size: .9em; text-indent: 1em; margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + .c018 { border: none; border-bottom: thin solid; margin-bottom: 0.8em; + margin-left: 35%; margin-right: 35%; width: 30%; margin-top: 2em; } + .c019 { text-indent: 0; font-size: .9em; margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 0.25em; + } + .c020 { vertical-align: top; text-align: center; padding-right: 1em; } + .c021 { vertical-align: top; text-align: center; } + .c022 { vertical-align: top; text-align: right; padding-right: 1em; } + .c023 { vertical-align: top; text-align: justify; padding-right: 1em; } + .c024 { vertical-align: top; text-align: justify; } + div.tnotes { padding-left:1em;padding-right:1em;background-color:#E3E4FA; + border:thin solid silver; margin:2em 10% 0 10%; font-family: Georgia, serif; + clear: both; } + .covernote { visibility: hidden; display: none; } + div.tnotes p { text-align: justify; } + .x-ebookmaker .covernote { visibility: visible; display: block; } + h1 {line-height: 150%; } + .footnote {font-size: .9em; } + div.footnote p {text-indent: 2em; margin-bottom: .5em; } + .chapter { clear: both; page-break-before: always; } + body {font-family: Garamond, Georgia, serif; text-align: justify; } + table {font-size: .9em; padding: 1.5em .5em 1em; page-break-inside: avoid; + clear: both; } + div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; + page-break-after: always; } + div.titlepage p {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; + line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 3em; } + .ph1 { text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; font-size: xx-large; + margin: .67em auto; page-break-before: always; } + .ph2 { text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; + page-break-before: always; } + .x-ebookmaker p.dropcap:first-letter { float: left; } + </style> + </head> + <body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76591 ***</div> + +<div class='tnotes covernote'> + +<p class='c000'><strong>Transcriber’s Note:</strong></p> + +<p class='c000'>New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.</p> + +</div> + +<div class='titlepage'> + +<div> + <h1 class='c001'><span class='large'>THE</span><br> DESERTED WIFE.</h1> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c002'> + <div><span class='small'>BY</span></div> + <div class='c003'><span class='xlarge'>EMMA D. E. NEVITT SOUTHWORTH,</span></div> + <div class='c003'><span class='small'>AUTHOR OF</span></div> + <div class='c003'><span class='small'>“RETRIBUTION, OR THE VALE OF SHADOWS.”</span></div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Various the ways in which our souls are tried;</div> + <div class='line'>Love often fails where most our faith relied;</div> + <div class='line'>Some wayward heart may win without a thought,</div> + <div class='line'>That which thine own by sacrifice hath bought;</div> + <div class='line'>Whilst thou, forsaken, grieving, left to pine,</div> + <div class='line'>Vainly mayst claim his plighted faith as thine;</div> + <div class='line'>Vainly with forced indulgence strive to smile</div> + <div class='line'>In the cold world, heart-broken all the while,</div> + <div class='line'>Or from its glittering and unquiet crowd,</div> + <div class='line'>Thy brain on fire, thy spirit crushed and bowed,</div> + <div class='line'>Creep home unnoticed, there to weep alone,</div> + <div class='line'>Mocked by a claim that gives thee not thine own,</div> + <div class='line'>Which leaves thee bound through all thy blighted youth</div> + <div class='line'>To him whose perjured soul hath broke its truth;</div> + <div class='line'>While the just world beholding thee bereft—</div> + <div class='line'>Scorns—not his sin—but <em>thee</em>, for being left.”</div> + <div class='line in40'><span class='sc'>Mrs. Norton’s Dream.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <div><span class='large'>NEW YORK:</span></div> + <div>D. APPLETON & COMPANY, 200 BROADWAY.</div> + <div>PHILADELPHIA:</div> + <div>GEO. S. APPLETON, 164 CHESNUT-STREET.</div> + <div>M DCCC L.</div> + </div> +</div> + +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c005'> + <div><span class='small'>Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1850,</span></div> + <div><span class='small'><span class='sc'>By</span> D. APPLETON & COMPANY,</span></div> + <div><span class='small'>In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.</span></div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c005'> + <div>TO</div> + <div class='c003'><span class='large'>DOCTOR WILLIAM ELDER,</span></div> + <div class='c003'>OF PHILADELPHIA,</div> + <div class='c003'>WHOSE CONSTANT ASSISTANCE AND KIND ENCOURAGEMENT</div> + <div class='c003'>CHEERED, INSPIRED, AND SUSTAINED HER</div> + <div class='c003'>THROUGH THE TOILS AND TRIALS OF HER VOCATION,</div> + <div class='c003'>This Book is Inscribed,</div> + <div class='c003'>AS AN ASSURANCE OF GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE, BY</div> + <div class='c003'>THE AUTHOR.</div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-l'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Washington, June 3, 1850.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_5'>5</span> + <h2 class='c006'>INTRODUCTION.</h2> +</div> +<h3 class='c007'>MARRIAGE.</h3> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Marriage is a matter of more worth</div> + <div class='line'>Than to be dealt in by attorneyship.”</div> + <div class='line in32'><em>Shakspeare.</em></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“The bloom or blight of all men’s happiness.”</div> + <div class='line in40'><em>Byron.</em></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c008'>In no other civilized country in the world is +marriage contracted, or dissolved, with such +culpable levity as in our own. In no other +civilized country (except, perhaps, in France, +just at present), can divorce be obtained with +such facility, and upon such slight grounds. +And it may be the very ease with which the +sacred bond may be broken that leads many +people into forming it so lightly. An obligation +so easily annulled may be carelessly contracted. +I remember an anecdote in point:—“Take care—this +contemplated marriage of yours is a hasty +affair—and when consummated, it is for <em>life</em>, +you know—‘’Till death do you part,’” said a +young man to his friend, who was about to enter +into the “holy state.” “Oh, no! not necessarily—there +are such things as <em>divorces</em>, recollect,” +laughingly replied the perspective bridegroom—a +handsome hero, of black eyes and +white teeth—and his black eyes flashed, and his +white teeth gleamed, as though he had been +saying the wittiest thing in the world. The +youth was in love—therefore his speech could +not be taken seriously. He was jesting. <em>Still</em> +his words betrayed—that even then, in the heyday +of his passion, a future contingency was +present to his mind. That future contingency +<em>arrived</em>—would <em>never</em> have arrived—had he not +known beforehand of its remedy. He married—lived +with his young bride eighteen months. +She became the mother of a little girl—fell into +ill health—lost her beauty and attractions. He +left her—to travel in Europe—he said—but +years passed, and he never returned or wrote. +He left her broken in heart; broken in health, +injured in reputation; exposed to the misconstructions +of the world; to the miseries of +poverty; to the temptations of youth, of isolation, +and of warm affections; to the pursuit of +the licentious; to the calumny of the wicked or +the thoughtless; and worse than all to bear up +against—the doubts and suspicions of the good. +She was destitute of mental resources—in delicate +health—morbidly sensitive, and she sank—sank—under +the accumulating miseries of her position—and +died—in the twenty-second year of +her age, and in the fourth of her wretched +marriage.</p> + +<p class='c008'>I was about to cite another case—a <em>second</em> +case—when the memory of a third; a fourth; a +fifth; a <em>dozen</em> aggravated instances of desertion, +presented themselves to my mind, and pressed +upon me, and, reader, I cannot trouble you with +the whole of them. The evils of <em>misalliance</em> +are irremediable, at least by foreign interference; +and the miseries of desertion are well nigh +incurable, or, “the cure is worse than the disease.” +Let us look at the <em>causes</em> and the means +of <em>prevention</em>, of unhappy marriages. Yet, if +you read only for the story, just skip the whole +of this chapter, and commence at the <em>next</em>, which +opens the drama.</p> + +<p class='c008'>To go back to the beginning—a primary cause +of unhappy marriage is a <em>defective moral and +physical education</em>. In our country intellectual +education is on a par with that of other enlightened +nations of the earth—not so moral +and physical education. Prudence, fortitude, +truth, reverence, and fidelity, are not inculcated +here as they should be. Industry, activity, and +enterprise are our national good points of character, +and these are impressed upon children by +example, rather than by admonition; and our +virtues, generosity, hospitality, courage, and +patriotism, are the virtues of constitution and of +circumstance, rather than of education.</p> + +<p class='c008'>We fail to impress the duty of <span class='fss'>PRUDENCE</span> upon +our children, and hence rash and culpable mercantile +speculation, ending in insolvency—and +hence hasty, inconsiderate marriages, ending in +bankruptcy of heart, home, and happiness. We +fail to impress the duty of <span class='fss'>FIDELITY</span> upon our +<span class='pageno' id='Page_6'>6</span>children, and hence irregularity and unfaithfulness +in business, embezzlement of funds, &c., +and hence broken marriage faith and deserted +families.</p> + +<p class='c008'>We fail to inculcate the duty of <span class='fss'>FORTITUDE</span>, +and hence, when obligations, professional or +matrimonial, become painful, they are too often +abandoned.</p> + +<p class='c008'>But it is <span class='fss'>PHYSICAL EDUCATION</span>, in its relation to +the happiness of married life, that I wish to +discuss. We are still more thoughtlessly neglectful, +and I was about to say, <em>fatally</em> neglectful +of physical, than of moral education. <em>Fatally</em>, +because no moral education can be completely +successful, unless assisted and supported by a good +physical training.</p> + +<p class='c008'>An instance—preach patience for ever, yet a +dyspeptic <em>will</em> be ill-tempered.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Another—preach industry for ever, yet the +weak and languid <em>will</em> be lazy and idle.</p> + +<p class='c008'>A third—inculcate the necessity of courage, +presence of mind, by eloquent precept, and by the +example of all the heroes and heroines of history, +yet the nervous <em>will</em> start if a door claps.</p> + +<p class='c008'>One might go on <em>ad infinitum</em>.</p> + +<p class='c008'>A defective physical education is one of the +primary causes of unhappiness in the marriage +relation. A girl cannot be a useful or a happy +wife, and she cannot make her husband and her +children happy, or even comfortable, unless she +be a healthy woman. In Great Britain, a girl +in delicate health never expects to be married, +and her friends never desire it for her. American +girls are proverbially delicate in organization, +and frail in health, and their mothers were +delicate before them, and their children will be +still more delicate after them, unless there is a +great reform in physical cultivation. Such a +reform is happily beginning in the North. It +is yet unthought of here, and in the West and +South. Daily exercise by walking, skipping +rope, calisthenics, horseback riding, which bring +all the limbs and muscles into play; daily +bathing in cold water on first rising in the +morning; fresh air, simple, plain food, the disuse +of coffee and tea, comfortable clothing, the +disuse of tight ligatures, corsets, tight-waisted +dresses, tight shoes, &c., are the best features of +this excellent system of physical training. I +believe that a young person with a good constitution +to commence with, faithfully following +these means for the preservation of health, with +the blessing of God, will not fade or break until +she is fifty, nor die until she is an hundred years +old. I believe that youth, health, beauty, +strength, and life can be greatly prolonged beyond +their present average, and that we were all +intended to live twice or three times as long as +with our sad mal-treatment we do live.</p> + +<p class='c008'>American children (with the exception of a +very few, whose parents know and practise +better) grow up drinking hot tea and coffee, +eating hot meats and rich gravies and pastries, +never bathing, taking little exercise, confined in +crowded school-rooms or close house-rooms, +and become narrow-shouldered, hollow-cheeked, +pale, sickly, nervous, and fretful; they marry +early companions as pale, sickly, nervous, and +fretful as themselves, and have children <em>twice</em> as +pale, sickly, nervous, and fretful as their parents, +and discord and other domestic miseries are +such inevitable results that we <em>must</em> pity, and +can scarcely blame the victims. They cry out +in their agony for separation, divorce, for reform +in social laws, when the truth is, no reform +would cure their evils without a reform in their +personal habits; such a reform as would give +health, consequently good humor, and lastly, +happiness.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Few people consider how much our <em>moral</em> as +well as our <em>physical</em> health depends upon exercise, +cleanliness, and temperance. How much +our happiness depends upon a free circulation, +unobstructed perspiration, and a good digestion. +How much domestic discomfort is caused by the +querulousness of ill health. Many a man of +weak and unsettled principles is driven to dissipation +and vice, and it may be to crime, by the +discomforts of his home, of his sickly and +nervous wife, fretful and troublesome children.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Another prominent cause of unhappy marriages, +is the too unguarded and unrestrained +association between young persons of opposite +sexes in the same rank of society. If the dress +and address of a young man are passable, if his +conduct is unimpeachable, and his <em>prospects fair</em>, +however otherwise unknown and untried, he +may be admitted at once to the intimacy of a +young lady, and after a brief courtship, <em>too</em> brief +to give either a knowledge of their own or each +other’s hearts, take the last irrevocable step—<em>marriage</em>. +And this youth of fair manners, fair +appearance, and fair conduct, may turn out to +be, if not positively depraved, yet weak, unstable, +untried, possessing the <em>best reputation</em>, based +upon the morality of externals, rather than the +tested, sound integrity of heart; with the most +<em>defective character</em>, totally unfit to guide himself, +still less another, through the shoals and +quicksands of life.</p> + +<p class='c008'>In the old times of chivalry, a knight must +have proved his prowess before he could successfully +aspire to the hand of his lady love. +The days of knight-errantry are long past, but +in the age of man, or of the world, the days of +moral warfare are never over; never over with +the world while it exists; never over with man +until death; and I would have some better proof +of moral force in an untried young man, than a +few weeks of acquaintance, popularity, and mere +amiability of manners would give, before I could +trust the temporal and eternal welfare of my +daughter to his keeping. When a young girl’s +heart is lost and won, it is too late for these +prudential considerations; in this case, as in +every other, the old proverb holds good—<i><span lang="it"><a id='t6'></a>Fidarsi +è bene, e non fidarse e meglio</span></i>. The +conversational acquaintanceship should be prevented +from maturing into the dangerous intimacy. +Yet do not misunderstand me; I would not +have you pain or repulse a young heart by the +coldness of suspicion. I would not have you +shut yourselves up in a dark distrust, and close +your doors, and guard your girls with Eastern +jealousy; far from it, one need not run upon +Scylla in avoiding Charybdis. “Moderation is +the golden thread that holds together the bead-roll +of the virtues.” I would have you take the +middle course—“the golden mean” between jealous +surveillance and dangerous neglect. In all +other civilized and enlightened society in the +world, young ladies are carefully guarded and +guided, chaperoned through the mazes of life. +In countries of the Eastern continent this system +<span class='pageno' id='Page_7'>7</span>of surveillance is excessive; here, it is reprehensibly +deficient; in England it is perfect. I +confess I would have our manners resemble the +English in <em>this</em> respect.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Still another primary cause (I speak only of +<em>primary causes</em> here, deeming discord, tyranny, +drunkenness, infidelity, and desertion so many +<em>effects</em>), still another primary cause of unhappiness +in the marriage state, is that marriage is +contracted too early in life. American girls are +proverbially married too young; at an age at +which even a hearty robust Englishwoman +would scarcely be permitted to enter upon the +responsibilities of marriage. How much more +improper then must it be for an American girl, +with her national extreme delicacy of organization, +to take upon herself the heavy burdens and +onerous duties of matrimony, before her feeble +constitution is mature, or her frail strength confirmed. +But our girls, with all these natural +disadvantages, are married early, and hence the +early (<em>proverbially</em> again) wasting of health and +life; the failing of beauty, decline of grace, and +loss of attractions in the women; and hence the +vexatious, nervous irritability so common in +young mothers, so destructive to domestic +harmony and happiness. How can it be otherwise +with the continued tax of a young and +increasing family upon the immature strength of +the youthful wife and mother? Our girls are +extremely fragile at best, and will ever be so, +aye and will grow more so, unless a better +system of physical education is generally adopted. +When these delicate girls prematurely assume +the cares and burdens of a family, they break +down under it, become thin, pale, sickly, nervous, +and fretful; no longer attractive, almost repulsive; +and the husband, father, if his disposition +be benevolent and protective, as is the nature of +most American men, suffers martyrdom, devotes +himself a living sacrifice to his sickly wife and +large family. I know hundreds of such devoted +men, all unconscious of their self-devotion, +passing their lives in dull counting-houses, dark +stores, dingy offices, dirty work-shops, or +crowded school-rooms, so cheerfully! to provide +a comfortable or a luxurious home where +their wives and children ever live, but where +they only come to snatch a hasty meal, or late +at night to sleep. This, I think, is what Dr. +Dewey calls “The Religion of Toil.” But if +on the other hand this husband of the sickly +wife, this father of the peevish children, this +victim of early marriage and other abuses, +happens to be selfish and unprincipled, he becomes, +more or less, tyrant or reprobate, or he +sometimes quietly <em>leaves</em>, goes to the West or +South, to sea, or to parts unknown, and is never +heard of again. If he be licentious as well as +selfish, his wandering fancies fix upon some +younger, fresher, fairer, or some <em>new</em> form; then +comes the thought of the possibility, the probability, +the almost certainty, if he pursues it, of getting +a legal enfranchisement from his matrimonial +bonds. And this is naturally suggested by the +facility with which divorces are granted; true, +he cannot legally repudiate his wife while she +remains faithful, but he <em>can</em> oblige <em>her</em> to release +him, or break her neck, or her heart, or desert +and starve her into compliance with his measures; +or he can wrest her children from her, +and make their restoration to her bosom the +price of his release. I am not exaggerating, +reader; if you live in a city, and will look about +you, you will find that I speak truly. But to +conclude, I reiterate, and insist upon this point, +that the fundamental causes of unhappiness in +married life, are a defective moral and <em>physical</em> +education—and a premature contraction of the +matrimonial engagement.</p> + +<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_9'>9</span></div> +<div class='chapter ph1'> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c005'> + <div>THE DESERTED WIFE.</div> + </div> +</div> + +</div> + +<div> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER I.<br> <span class='c009'>THE OLD MANSION HOUSE.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>All day within the dreary house,</div> + <div class='line'>The doors upon their hinges creak;</div> + <div class='line'>The blue fly sings in the pane—the mouse</div> + <div class='line'>Behind the mouldering wainscot creeps,</div> + <div class='line'>Or from the crevice peers about.</div> + <div class='line in32'><span class='sc'>Tennyson.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>The wild wind sweeps across the old damp floors,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And makes a weary and a wailing moan,</div> + <div class='line'>All night you hear the clap of broken doors,</div> + <div class='line in2'>That on their rusty hinges grate and groan;</div> + <div class='line'>And then old voices calling from behind</div> + <div class='line'>The worn and wormy wainscot flapping in the wind.</div> + <div class='line in38'><span class='sc'>Miller.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>The character of the first settlers of Maryland +and Virginia is known to have been very different +from that of the Pilgrim Fathers—as opposite +as the idle, gay, and dissolute cavalier to the +stern, laborious, and self-denying Puritan. Their +purpose in seeking the shores of the Western +World was also widely different from that of the +first settlers of New England—the object of the +latter being spiritual liberty; the end of the +former, material wealth. And their history since +the first settlement of the country has been as +broadly diverse. The children of the Pilgrim +Fathers have reached the highest seats in the +temples of Fame and Fortune—the descendants +of the first aristocratic settlers of Maryland and +Virginia have seen themselves outstripped in the +path of success and honor by the children of the +very menials of their father’s house. This is +emphatically the case in Maryland. Among the +friends and partizans of Lord Baltimore, who +sought with him an Eldorado among the rolling +hills and lovely vales, and beside the broad and +beautiful rivers of Maryland, came many younger +sons of the decayed old English nobility and +gentry, who thought out of the wealth of the +New World to found a name and a family here, +that should rival, in power and splendor, the +house from which they sprang. They seemed +to overlook the fact that this coveted wealth +was as yet unreclaimed from the wilderness—that +nothing but energy, labor, and perseverance +could receive and appropriate it; and even if at +first they had observed this, it would have +availed them little, for unlike the Pilgrim +Fathers, they were deplorably destitute of these +natural and necessary qualifications for success +in a new and unsubdued world.</p> + +<p class='c008'>With all their old ancestral pride, they also +brought to these shores those habits of idleness, +dissipation, and reckless expenditure which had +been so destructive to their fortunes in the old +country. Many succeeded in securing from the +wilderness large estates, and upon them they +erected handsome edifices,—the bricks, glass, and +other materials for which were mostly imported +from England to Baltimore, and brought down +the Potomac or Patuxent rivers to the site +selected for building (so little available then to +these settlers were the fine resources of the +country). Some of these old mansion houses +are yet standing,<a id='r1'></a><a href='#f1' class='c012'><sup>[1]</sup></a> but like the families that own +them, much decayed, and remaining merely as +memorials of past grandeur. The descendants +of these first settlers of Maryland and Virginia +are the proudest, and <em>some</em> of them, alas! the +poorest of the citizens of these States. These +people are <i><span lang="la">sui generis</span></i>—unlike any other people +I ever saw or read of. Each planter on his own +estate, great or small, productive or barren, is +prouder, and more thoroughly convinced of his +own immense personal importance, than any +throned, crowned, and sceptred monarch in +Christendom or Heatheness. With all this, they +are brave, generous, gallant, and hospitable, even +to extravagance. It has been entered as a complaint +against the older counties of Maryland +and Virginia, that the taverns are wretched, and +how can it be helped? Tavern-keeping is a +poor business there, because the doors of every +planter’s house fly open to receive the traveller +who passes near his gates—and a welcome is +extended to him with the cheerful, genial warmth +of a country gentleman to whom the exercise of +hospitality is a delight as well as a duty. It is +a very common thing to see a perfect stranger +ride up to the gate of a Maryland or Virginia +planter’s farm yard, with the purpose of remaining +all night—or a week, if his convenience +requires it—and he is sure of a welcome, as long +as he pleases to stay—for him the “fatted calf” +is killed, for him the butt of cordial broached.</p> + +<div class='footnote' id='f1'> +<p class='c008'><a href='#r1'>1</a>. We have one in Washington. It is an old ruin—some +hundred years older than the city—and stands +near the junction of the Potomac and Anacostia. It is +haunted, of course.</p> +</div> + +<p class='c008'>Northern and Western men who occasionally +happen to travel through the lower counties of +these States, put up at poor taverns, and go +away to abuse the half savage state of society +there. They should rather present themselves +at some planter’s house, where they would be +received with the best, as a matter of course, and +invited, if it were spring, to a fish feast upon the +banks of the nearest river, or, if it were autumn, +to a deer hunt. Let idlers who are <em>ennuyés</em> to +death with the common-places of their daily life, +just take a country road tour through the lower +counties of Maryland and Virginia, and they will +find themselves transported to the associations of +two centuries ago, among the oldest-fashioned +people, with the oldest-fashioned houses, furniture, +and manners in the world.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>Down on the western shore of Maryland is a +heath containing about five hundred acres—upon +which stands an old mansion-house, in ruins, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_10'>10</span>both of which I wish to describe. This heath is +bounded on the North by the river P., on the +South by Sachem’s Creek, on the West by a +deep, dense forest, and on the East by the +Chesapeake Bay. The heath rises gradually +from the bay, and is relieved by clumps of pine +and cedar trees, standing between the swells of +ground as it rolls back from the water towards +the forest, while towards the North the ground +rises and sharpens into a steep promontory, +sticking out between the junction of the river +with the bay. Crowning the summit of this +promontory, is a large, square, red brick old +mansion-house. Around this house wave tall, +gloomy old Lombardy poplars—like sable +plumes around a hearse. Around the shores of +the promontory runs a half-ruined low brick +wall, inclosing the garden attached to the mansion. +This garden is grown up with weeds and +thistles. This estate was known by the name +of The Heath, or Heath Hall, and had continued +in the possession of the Churchill family +since the first settlement of Maryland.</p> + +<p class='c008'>On the opposite point of the mouth of the +river was the struggling little village of Churchill +Point,—a great colonial seaport town, withered +in the germ—now only an occasional depot for +tobacco raised in the immediate neighborhood, +and shipped thence to Baltimore by the little +packets that traded up and down the river, and +sometimes stopped there to take in freight. A +large old barn of a storehouse, where produce +was left till carried away—a large, old, white-framed +tavern, half-furnished, where passengers +went to meet the packets, a blacksmith’s shop, a +country merchant’s store, a post-office, kept by +the widow of the late post-master, a few cottages, +tenanted by wool, cotton, and flax dyers, by +domestic counterpane and carpet weavers, and +other country laborers, made up the staple of +the village. About a quarter of a mile back +from the village, in a clearing in the forest, stood +the Episcopal Church of the Crucifixion. Divine +service was performed here only once a fortnight, +as the pastor had two parishes under his +charge.<a id='r2'></a><a href='#f2' class='c012'><sup>[2]</sup></a></p> + +<div class='footnote' id='f2'> +<p class='c008'><a href='#r2'>2</a>. This is frequently the case, even at this day, in +remote counties of Maryland.</p> +</div> + +<p class='c008'>To return to Churchill Hall. This estate +had once been highly valuable, both as to size +and productiveness. Running over its natural +boundaries, it extended beyond the river and +creek, and for miles into the forest behind—and +for fertility it was called the garden spot of +Maryland. But many acres had passed from +the possession of the family, and what was left +was worn out by that wretched system of agriculture +which has ruined the once highly productive +lands of Maryland. I mean the continual +drain upon the resources of the soil, without +ever giving it rest or food; sowing a field +years at a stretch, without giving it the repose +of a single season, or the nutriment of a single +bushel of manure. All that was left of the once +beautiful farm was the sterile heath and ruined +Hall I have described, when the estate, by the +death of his father, passed into the possession of +Ignatius, the last heir of the Churchills, who, +and his two sisters, Sophie and Rosalie, were +the only remaining members of the family. His +poverty and his incumbrances did not prevent +him from loving and marrying a beautiful girl in +his neighborhood, Agatha Gormon, who left a +luxurious home to share his poverty in the +ruined Hall at the Heath; nor could his love +save her from death, when, in the second year +of her marriage, she passed away, leaving an infant +daughter of a day old. He had loved her +with an exclusive, absorbing passion, and from +the hour of her sudden death he pined away, and +in less than a year thereafter was laid in her grave—opened +to receive him. The orphan heiress +of a ruin and a desert, the infant Agatha—or, +as from her wild, dark beauty, she was nicknamed, +<em>Hagar</em>—was left in charge of his sisters. +These ladies, though poor, were quite comfortable. +The lower rooms of the old house were +kept in tolerable order. Their table was supplied +by the garden, the dairy, and the river, +which afforded excellent fish, crabs, and oysters—while +their pocket money was supplied by the +hire of several negroes owned by them. The +girls were beautiful—and, poor as they were, it +was thought not impossible that they might marry +well. The elder sister, Rosalie, was a merry, +plump, golden-haired, blue-eyed lassie, with a +complexion that the country beaux compared to +strawberries and cream—she was the first to fulfil +the happy auguries drawn for her. She was +seen by a young merchant of Baltimore, who +happened to have business at Churchill’s Point, +and after rather a short courtship, she was +wedded and carried off to the city home of her +husband. Sophie Churchill, now bereaved and +alone at seventeen, devoted herself with all the +enthusiasm of her ardent, loving nature, to the +care and education of her infant niece, and little +Hagar grew passionately fond of her aunt. Her +sole domestic was an old woman, a pure Guinea +negress, who, seventy years before, in her childhood, +had been torn from her native coast, +brought to this country, and sold. She had +served the Churchill family for three generations, +and was nearly eighty years old—yet with the +strong tenacity of life distinguishing the native +African, she still kept up and at work, seemingly +in all her mid-life vigor. Now, reader, I am +telling you no invented story—so do you not +think that there was something slightly romantic +about the position of this young girl, left with +the charge of an infant, living in an old ruin, on +a bleak shore, and having no other companion +or attendant but the old Guinea negress? <em>Real +life</em> is full of the picturesque and the romantic. +I have never yet needed to cull flowers from the +fields of imagination. The gardens of memory +and tradition will furnish materials for a life of +romance writing.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER II.<br> <span class='c009'>THE MINISTER.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in24'>“——Gentleness</div> + <div class='line'>And a strange strength, a calm o’errulling strength,</div> + <div class='line'>Are mixed within him so that neither take</div> + <div class='line'>Possession from the other—neither rise</div> + <div class='line'>In mastery or passion—but both grow</div> + <div class='line'>Harmoniously together.”</div> + <div class='line in32'><span class='sc'>W. G. Simms.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>Sophie Churchill was a pretty girl of round +<i><span lang="fr">petite</span></i> form, of clear pale olive complexion, large, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_11'>11</span>soft brown eyes, and dark chestnut hair. Had +her position been different she would have been +much admired and courted—as it was she was +neglected and even slandered—yes, slandered—after +the death of her brother, and the marriage +of her only sister, she had, in pure ignorance of +the world, kept up exactly the same manner of +life as before. Instead of engaging some respectable +elderly female as housekeeper and companion +(which indeed her limited means did not allow), +she preferred remaining alone, and continued to +receive the visits not only of ladies, which of +course was in perfect propriety, but of <em>gentlemen</em>—that +is to say, of her own and her father’s +familiar friends—the sons and brothers of their +near neighbors, who testified their remembrance +of the dead, and their respect for the living, by +sometimes calling to see Sophie and her little +charge, and by sometimes bringing her a brace +of wild fowl, a pair of pigeons, or some other +such game from their morning sport upon the +moor; until at last they found that their well meant +kindness to the young and pretty orphan +was subjecting her to the invidious remarks of +all the thoughtless or the malicious gossips of +the neighborhood. Then their occasional visits +were discontinued, and the poor girl was left +almost entirely alone, especially as the advancing +winter and the increasing severity of the +weather precluded the visits of <em>ladies</em> to that desolate +heath. And desolate indeed it was upon +this first winter that Sophie passed alone at the +Hall.</p> + +<p class='c008'>As early as the first of December the river +was frozen over. With the thoughtlessness of a +young girl upon whom the cares of housekeeping +were exclusively and suddenly thrown, she +had neglected to provide for the exigencies of +the severe winters of that particular locality. +She had even from delicacy omitted to send for +the wages of the few negroes out on hire—and +the first of December, when the ground was two +feet deep in snow, and the river was a solid block +of ice, and even the bay near the shore was +crusted over, found Sophie Churchill destitute of +the common necessaries of life. To augment +the evils of her position, the old negress—who +in health was in herself a host—was laid up +with the rheumatism. At this time Sophie was +so poor that her little charge (now three years +old) possessed but one suit of clothes; and every +night, after putting the little one to bed, would +Sophie go, up to her knees in snow, away off to +the forest, a quarter of a mile distant, to collect +brush, to supply the fire the next day—her little +arms and moderate strength serving to bring so +small a quantity at a time that she would have +to make this trip half-a-dozen times a night before +a sufficient quantity was collected. Then +she would have to take the bucket and go +to a dell in the same forest to bring water, and +after coming home would take the sleeping +Hagar’s only suit of clothes and wash and iron +them for the next day, solaced while at her +work by the mutterings of the old negress, who, +with the irritability of sickness, would growl +from her lair—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, ho! kin tote water, kin you—thought +how you was to <em>deleky</em> an’ <em>saft</em> (<em>delicate and +soft</em>) to tote water from de spring,” &c., &c.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie never paid the slightest attention to +this ill-temper; she seemed not to hear it. It +was remarkable that Sophie never once in the +whole course of her life was heard to utter a +complaint, lay a charge, or make a reproach; +and that she was perfectly unconscious of the +moral beauty of her own patience. She merely +acted out her own nature without thinking +about it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie had one faithful friend in the aged +pastor of the parish—but he, with his multifarious +duties, could seldom find time to visit her. The +Rev. Senex May, with his young wife and only +child, lived in a pretty cottage on the other side +of the river, in a grove half way between the +village and the forest. His youthful wife, +Emily Wilde, had been an orphan, a governess +from New England, living in the family of a +wealthy planter in the neighborhood. Weary +of her friendless, homeless, and unsettled life, +she had given her hand where her deepest +reverence had long been bestowed, and was very +happy as “the old man’s darling.” One child, +a boy, had blessed this singular union.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Mr. May and Emily did not surmise the deep +destitution into which Sophie Churchill had +fallen. The deep snow and severe cold had +prevented them for several weeks from crossing +the river to see her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>At last the weather moderated, the snow +melted, the ice-bound river was freed, a mild +dry wind from the South sprang up and dried +the ground, the roads became passable, and the +long confined and dreadfully wearied country +neighbors geared up their vehicles of various +sorts, from the ox-cart to the coach and pair, +and from the ass’s colt to the high bred courser, +and went “a-visiting.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was about ten o’clock in the morning of a +beautiful winter’s day, that Sophie caught a +glimpse through the window of the old parson +on his old horse, with Emily seated on a pillion +behind him, with her arms around his waist. +Sophie sprang to meet and greet them—and—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I knew you’d come! I <em>knew</em> you would,” +she said, as she held up her hands to assist +Emily, who sprang from the pillion into her +arms. And she burst into tears as she received +her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Poor girl! she had been so lonesome, for so +long.</p> + +<p class='c008'>After greeting Mr. May, she drew Emily’s +arm within her own and led the way to the +house, while the old parson ambled leisurely up +to the horse-block, alighted, and followed them. +When they were seated in the parlor, and Emily +had taken Hagar upon her lap and filled her +apron with the home-made cakes she had +brought, Mr. May turned to Sophie, and +stroking her brown hair, inquired—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How has my little partridge contrived to +live through this long, hard winter?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie Churchill was thoroughly ingenuous, +and in reply she gave a simple narrative of her +life since the setting in of the winter.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was beautiful to observe, that during her +narrative she had uttered no one word of reflection +or reproach against the friends and neighbors +who had so cruelly neglected her. She +merely told without complaint, the simple story +of her sufferings as a duty, in answer to her +venerated pastor’s question. He heard with +emotion—and—</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_12'>12</span>“Poor ‘stricken deer’—poor shorn lamb—aye! +shorn to the very ‘quick,’” he said.</p> + +<p class='c008'>At the conclusion of her story—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The Lord loveth whom He chasteneth, and +scourgeth every child whom he receiveth,” he +said, reverently. And then he arose and walked +soberly and thoughtfully up and down the floor +with his hands clasped behind his back.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He was a round, stout old gentleman, wore +short breeches and silk stockings, and had his +grey hair parted over his venerable brow, +smoothed back and plaited in a queue behind; so +you may readily fancy him as he paced up and +down the floor with his hands clasped behind +him and his head bowed upon his chest, while he +seemed to be revolving some plan.</p> + +<p class='c008'>While he walked, Emily sat and played with +Hagar on her lap; at last turning to Miss +Churchill she said,—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do you know, Sophie, that I am not contented +at all—that I am very <em>dis</em>contented? I +want a little girl!—I want a little girl <em>so bad</em>! +I want one to dress, and to fix, and to play +with. My boy is eight years old, and far too +big to be dressed in trimmed clothes—too much +of a man, in his own and his father’s opinion, to +wear anything but a plain broadcloth jacket +and trousers. And I do <em>so</em> love to make and +trim children’s clothes. I never go into a dry +goods store and see remnants of pretty calico or +merino, but I think what sweet frocks for a +little girl they would make. Last fall I bought +some pretty remnants of crimson merino and +orange-colored bombazine, and a bunch of narrow +black worsted braid to trim with, just for a +notion—don’t laugh at me, Sophie; and so this +winter, while confined to the house by the +dreadful weather, I passed some of the dreary +evenings pleasantly in making and trimming +some little dresses, and as I had no little girl to +wear them I made them to fit <em>your</em> little girl, +Sophie. Here they are—try one of them on +her—<em>please</em> try one of them on her—I want to +see how they look <em>so much</em>!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And opening her travelling satchel she produced +with glee four beautiful little dresses suitable +for winter—a crimson, and a green merino, +and a blue, and an orange bombazine.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And that ain’t all,” said she, diving into her +satchel; “I have made half-a-dozen nice little +petticoats, and half-a-dozen pair of pantalets, +and I have trimmed them with thread edging, +and, to complete the wardrobe, I bought four +pairs of little shoes to match in colors each of +the four dresses; and I have half finished at +home a little black velvet pelisse and a little +black plush hat, into which I intend to stick a +small white plume. Won’t our little girl be +nice, Sophie?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Emily’s black eyes were dancing as she dashed +back the black ringlets that kept falling over +her face, while she stooped over the basket and +looked up for a reply.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was just Sophie Churchill’s character to receive +this favor with all the simple, artless frankness +with which it was offered. She expressed +no surprise—spoke no thanks; she only passed +her hand around Emily’s neck, turned her face +around to meet her own, bent forward, and +kissed her lips.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“There! Now, Sophie, let us go into your +chamber and dress her,” said Emily, setting Hagar +off her lap, and beginning to replace the +articles in the satchel, and rising to go upstairs. +But her husband now approached her, and laying +his hand affectionately on the top of her +head, pressed her down into her seat, and took +the chair by her side, saying,—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Emily, how would you like to have your +friend Miss Churchill always with you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! I should be delighted—enchanted!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Of course—so I supposed, my dear. Come +here, Sophie, my child!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie was at the side-board, taking out some +apples. She replaced them, however, and went +up to her pastor.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sophie,” said the old man, “I have to ask +your forgiveness, child. I have sadly neglected +my duty as your pastor. I should have seen +that you were comfortably provided for. Do +you forgive me, child?” said he, passing his +arm around her waist, and drawing her up to +him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie looked at her pastor with embarrassed +surprise, and blushed up to her eyes. It seemed +to her such an inversion of all order for her venerated +pastor to ask <em>her</em> forgiveness. She only +raised his hand to her lips in silent reverence, +then stood before him waiting his further communication.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He passed his hand once or twice across his +brow, and looked at Emily with imploring embarrassment; +but Emily could not or would not +come to his assistance, when he said,—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sophie Churchill, my dear, it is neither +proper for you to live in this ruined old house in +this sterile heath, nor is it christian in me to +permit it. And now you say that people have +been speaking ill of you—and you tell me this, +without excitement, as though it were the most +natural thing in the world, and you tell me that +in consequence you are quite neglected, without +resentment, as though it were the justest fate +on earth. This must not go on so—Sophie, will +you come and live with us? I do not ask you +in any way to become dependent upon me, for, +alas! I know too well the unconquerable pride +of the Churchills of Heath Hall!” and he smiled +with a half reproving, half caressing air. “This +property well-managed is quite enough to support +you and your little charge very handsomely. +But <em>you</em> cannot manage it! Now, Miss +Churchill, what I wish is, to unite the little +families of Heath Hall and Grove Cottage. You +and Hagar shall come and live with us at Grove +Cottage nine months in the year. I will repair +and re-furnish a part of this old Hall, and we +will all come down here for sea-bathing during +the three summer months. I will also beg the +privilege of catching fish, crabs, and oysters from +your fishing landing here—and of shooting wild +fowl on your moor. I will take upon myself +the collection of all your out-standing debts, +paying them into your own hands. Come, Miss +Churchill! what say you to this plan of uniting +our families? Though just now, for the first +time, proposed to Emily—the project is very near +to her heart. She needs a companion near her +own age and of her own sex, and will be +delighted to have you with her, especially as she +can then have a ‘little girl to dress and fix,’” +said he smiling—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! did <em>you</em> hear that?” laughed Emily.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, my darling! I heard <em>that</em>. Well, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_13'>13</span>Sophie,” he said, turning anxiously to Miss +Churchill.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He need not have beat about the subject so +long, as fearing difficulty with Miss Churchill. +Sophie was too natural, too simple, frank, and +entirely unworldly to feel any doubts, fears, or +scruples upon the subject. Her pastor proposed +the plan—and that fact carried with it a weight +of authority that would have constrained her +acceptance of a much less agreeable proposition—for +in her heart she liked this project—the only +drawback being her dislike to leave as her home, +the Hall of her own and her fathers’ nativity. +She expressed her glad acquiescence in the plan—and +Emily sealed the contract with a kiss on +her brow. “Now, Emily, my darling, we will +hurry home—the sooner that we may begin to +fit up the rooms for Miss Churchill. This is +Monday—by Saturday, Miss Churchill, we shall +be ready for you—and on Saturday morning +Emily shall drive over and fetch you and Hagar, +so that we may all go to church together on +Sunday. As for this old hall, it can be shut up +for the present and left in charge of old Cumbo, +who, Guinea nigger like, is never half so happy +as when left entirely alone. You will like our +little lad, as well as Emily loves your little girl, +Miss Churchill—you could not help it if you +were to try, my dear—and you and Emily and +the children will be very happy—if I can make +you so—for I love to see happy faces about me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The old man smiled gravely and sweetly as +he said this, and arose to take leave.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mind, dear Sophie,” said Emily, “<em>we</em> shall be +ready—do <em>you</em> be ready also—for I will be sure +to be at your door early on Saturday morning.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“If it be the will of God,” said the pastor.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! certainly, I always <em>mean that</em>,” said +Emily.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Always <em>say</em> it then, my dear—somehow or +other my heart sank within me as I heard you +promise so confidently to be here on Saturday +morning. Alas! who can tell? Some of us +may be in our graves Saturday morning!” A +shadow had fallen on his brow. The two young +women felt serious. He recovered himself with an +effort, saying, “I must not darken young hearts +with my gloom! Come! smile, Emily. Bid +your friend good-by—and know that every event +is ordered by infinite wisdom and love.” And +they took leave and rode away.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER III.<br> <span class='c009'>DEATH.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Why should death be linked with fear?</div> + <div class='line in2'>A single breath—a low drawn sigh,</div> + <div class='line'>Can break the ties that bind us here,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And waft the spirit to the sky.”</div> + <div class='line in32'><span class='sc'>Mrs. Welby.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>The pastor’s home was a pretty little white +cottage, with green blinds, nestled among the +trees from which it took its name. A piazza ran +all around it. In summer, vines were trained to +run above the window of the cottage and around +the post of the piazza—and whole parterres of +white lilies (Emily’s favorite flower) filled the +air with fragrance. Just at this season the scene +was rather bleak. The surrounding trees and +overhanging vines but added by the nakedness +of their branches to the dreariness of the aspect. +The cottage was of one story—consisting of a +middle building with two wings. In the middle +part, first was an entry parallel with the front of +the house. At each end of this entry was a +door leading into the little wings, each of which +contained a bed-chamber. These chambers had +each a large bow window fronting on the piazza. +The left hand room was occupied by the pastor +and his wife, and the right hand one was fitted +up for the reception of Sophie Churchill and her +little charge. Behind each of these chambers +was a little closet—that communicating with +Emily’s room was occupied by her son; that +opening from the room prepared for Sophie, was +assigned to the use of their only domestic, a +mulatto girl. The centre building contained, +first in front a parlor, back of that a dining-room, +then a kitchen. Behind the house was a +vegetable garden, and a poultry yard—and still +further behind an orchard of various fruits. In +front of the cottage was a flower yard, and a +grape walk extended from the front of the piazza +quite down to the gate. Bee-hives were standing +under the locust trees that were scattered +over the lawn.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Emily was a great housekeeper—and her +parlor was a model of comfort. There were no +framed pictures. The walls were covered with +a landscape paper (<em>engraved</em>, not colored) +representing the neighborhood of Jerusalem and +scenes in the life of the Saviour. On the wall, +on one side of the fire-place, was Christ blessing +little children—on the other Christ at the marriage +at Cana—the figures were nearly as large +as life. Emily loved them like familiar friends—and +this paper was a favorite with the old man +because its grave hue, assisted by the slate-colored +moreen curtains at the windows, and the +slate-colored coverings of the lounges and easy +chairs, shed a sober clerical sort of air over the +room. The mantel-piece was of dark grey marble, +and the very andirons, fender, &c., had no glaring +brass about them, but were made of polished +steel. A large and well filled book-case stood +at the end of the room opposite the fire-place—a +bronze bust of John Huss stood upon the top of +it. <em>That</em> was the old man’s hero. On Friday +morning succeeding their visit to Heath Hall—this +parlor was in its highest state of perfection—everything +glittered with a sober polished steel +sort of brilliancy—like a “friend’s” wit and +humor. They were ready for Miss Churchill. +Sophie at the Hall was preparing for her +removal—all her small effects and Hagar’s +slender stock of clothing were put in order and +packed. On Friday morning they were quite +ready. On Friday morning Mrs. May’s maid +rode over on a side-saddle and carried a note to +Sophie Churchill. The note was from Emily, +of course, and ran thus—</p> + +<p class='c014'>“Come, my little partridge, are you ready to fly?—your +nest in the grove is quite ready—the sweetest +little nest you ever saw. I have put up white muslin +curtains to your bed and windows, laid down a new +home-made carpet on your floor, whitened your hearth, +and hung your favorite picture of the Madonna and +child over the chimney-piece. Kitty and I have made +some seed cakes to-day—and Mr. May has just received +from Baltimore Scott’s new novel of ‘Ivanhoe.’ I +<span class='pageno' id='Page_14'>14</span>await your arrival to cut the leaves—shall we not be +happy to-morrow? I have borrowed Mrs. Gardiner +Green’s carryall and shall be at your door by seven in +the morning. I design that you shall breakfast with us, +so be ready for migration, my bird.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c015'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“EMILY.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>That night Emily retired to rest so full of +thoughts of the morrow that she could not sleep. +For one thing she feared that she should not +wake early enough—her very bonnet and cloak +were laid out ready to be put on when she +should first get up; and then she was afraid her +buckwheat cakes might not rise well on account +of the cold, and <em>terribly</em> afraid lest the cloud +that obscured the moon should bring rain the +next morning. At last she fell asleep, and it +seemed to her that she had but just lost herself when +she was aroused by a soft hand laid on her face. +She threw up her own hand, half unconsciously, +to remove it, when she heard her husband say, +in feeble tones, “Emily, I am dying; get up, +child.” She started up in vague alarm, for she +was yet but half awake, struck a light, and passing +around to the other side of the bed, let it +shine in his face. His features were frightfully +drawn and haggard, as though by a recent fit of +agonizing pain—his voice was quiet, as he +said,—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Blow out the candle, child, and open the +window-shutters to let the moonbeams in, and +come and sit by me, Emily.” She was wide +enough awake now, and trembling in every +limb, while she gazed upon that contorted countenance, +and marked while he spoke the frightful +ruin an hour had made of it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are ill—very ill!—let me call up Kitty +and send for a physician,” said she, setting down +the candle, and running to the door. He recalled +her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My Emily, come here—let Kitty sleep—do +not disturb the household—send for no one, I +insist—a college of doctors could not save me. +My Emily, blow out the candle—it hurts me; +there—now open the shutters so that I can see +out into the free sky. Thank you, child. Now, +Emily, wrap yourself in your cloak, and come +and take this seat by my side.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Trembling with grief and terror, she did all +that he requested, and finally, as she took the +chair at the head of the bed, said,—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, do give me leave to send for a physician—you +have been in a fit or in agonizing +pain, and may be so again; <em>do</em> let me send for +a physician.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My child, whom would you send? Dr. +Howe lives fourteen miles off; can you send +Kitty at night so far?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! I could send her over to the village to +knock up Mr. Green or some of the men, who +will saddle a horse and go—do let me!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Emily, before a messenger could <em>go</em>, much +less <em>return</em> with the doctor, it would be too late. +Stay—do not leave me! I charge you do not +leave me!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He grasped her hand convulsively, as a spasm +beginning in his left shoulder and arm shook fearfully +his whole person. Emily gazed, pale and +cold as lead, and twice started up to call assistance, +when both times the hand of the convulsed man +tightened upon her wrist, and retained her in her +seat. The fit at last was over, and he was +looking into Emily’s face.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! <em>what</em> can I do for you?” she cried, +“<em>do—do—do</em> let me try something.” She was +too much shocked for tears.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do <em>only</em> what I ask of you, dear child—stay +by me. I am dying, Emily.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, no! <em>not</em> dying, but <em>ill</em>—very ill. Oh, +<em>what</em> is the matter with you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Now her tears gushed forth.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Control yourself, Emily—you can do it. +<em>This</em> is my disease, <em>angina pectoris</em>. I have +been threatened with it long—it will do its office +to-night. One or two more such convulsions +as that and my soul will be released—released! +Only think of that! Free to traverse +the boundless realms of air! Stupendous it +seems to me—I cannot fully realize it. One +hour convulsed and agonizing here, the next beyond +the most distant star we see. One moment +your pale face fades from my eyes, the +next the divine glory of the Saviour’s countenance +bursts upon my vision!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>A terrible convulsion now seized and shook +his frame; he held Emily’s hand as before—the +fit passed.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You will weep for the old man a few days, +Emily, and only a few days. At first you will +feel very desolate and helpless, but you will +soon recover from that, and find an absorbing +object in your son for a time—<em>that</em> may also +pass, for you are young.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Shall I not awake Augustus?” asked Emily, +through her streaming tears.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, child. Do not let him look, young as +he is, upon the terrors of a death like this—a +death of physical anguish. I looked over him +as he lay in his cot to-night and blessed him in +his sleep. That is sufficient.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The muscles of his face and hands began to +twitch—he struggled and writhed in another +strong spasm. When that was over, and he +had grown quite calm, he raised his feeble +hands, and parting the soft dark hair from her +white forehead, he said,—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I bless you, Emily—I bless you and you +shall be blessed—blessed in your son, blessed in +your friends, blessed in yourself, and blessed in +your God.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>A convulsion stronger and longer in continuance +than any that had preceded it threatened +his immediate dissolution. When, at last, it slowly +and interruptedly subsided, his features settled +into the fixity of death. He did not speak again, +his respiration was labored and painful, and +only when Emily attempted to move would +he give any sign of consciousness by feebly trying +to tighten his hold upon her hand; at last +that hold relaxed, the respiration ceased, and the +freed soul “migrated to the Great Secret.” +Emily was calm and quiet now. She laid the +venerable hands together over his bosom, composed +the limbs, closed the eyes, and straightened +the white coverlet of the bed. Then she resumed +her seat and her watch until the morning +dawned, then dressing herself, she went into the +sleeping closet of Kitty, aroused her, told her +what had happened, and sent her to the village +to procure assistance. By sunrise the cottage +was half-full of sympathizing neighbors. The +pastor’s funeral took place on the fourth day +after his death. The successor of the pastor +had arrived in time to perform the funeral ceremonies, +and after that was over remained as a +temporary guest at the Grove. All plans of removing +<span class='pageno' id='Page_15'>15</span>thither were for the present abandoned +by Sophie Churchill.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER IV.<br> <span class='c009'>THE STRANGER.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Erect, morose, determined, solemn, slow—</div> + <div class='line'>Who knows the man can never cease to know.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Crabbe.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“A fearful sign stands in thy house of life—</div> + <div class='line'>An enemy;—a fiend lurks close behind</div> + <div class='line'>The radiance of thy planet—oh! be warned!”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Coleridge.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>The Rev. John Huss Withers. He had been +recommended to the parish as his successor in +case of his own demise by Mr. May. He had +been a student some twenty years back with +the old gentleman—within the last eight or ten +years he had had charge of a congregation in +one of the Northern cities. Very lately his +charge had been resigned—and, in reply to a +letter written by Mr. May, inquiring his reason +for his resignation, he alleged the cause to be—domestic +affliction—the <em>loss</em> of his wife. The +old pastor wrote back a letter full of sympathy, +and attempted consolation, and then the correspondence +was suffered to drop. There was no +telling how much the mere circumstance of his +given name, “John Huss,” affected the partiality +of the old man in his favor.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Certainly when he appeared at the grove, there +was nothing very winning in his looks. During +the funeral ceremonies, Mrs. May and Miss +Churchill had scarcely observed him, absorbed +as they were in thoughts of the dead. After the +return from the burial ground—after Emily and +Sophie had laid off their bonnets in Miss +Churchill’s room, Emily said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You must stay with us at least a week or +two, Sophie—and we must share together this +room that I proposed for you—I will have the +crib brought down from the loft and put by the +side of our bed for little Hagar. One room +<em>must</em> be given up to the use of our boarder, Mr. +Withers, and I prefer to let him have mine, for +its distressing associations affect my nerves +dreadfully.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then the new preacher is to board with you, +Emily?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, my love, for many good, <em>very good</em> +reasons—first, he was my husband’s friend, and +then I am afraid to live here by myself, or I +mean without a man about the place; and then +the old ladies all tell me that I must receive +him because it is so convenient to the church.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>For her life, Sophie Churchill could not have +explained the cause of the oppression that +settled upon her heart, or the deep sigh that +revealed the burden on her spirits without throwing +it off. They went into the parlor, that was +unoccupied, but glittering with its sober, +polished steel lustre, and took seats; Emily, in +the slate-colored damask easy chair, and Sophie +upon the lounge of the same grave hue. By +nothing could you have guessed the late presence +of so gloomy a visitor as death in that sober but +cheerful room.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Emily, by the expressed wish of her late +husband, wore no mourning—her dress was that +she always wore in-doors—a soft and full white +muslin wrapper, descending from her full bust, +and gathered around her slender waist by a cord +and tassel. Her soft, silky black hair was +parted over her forehead, and hung in thick +ringlets that scarcely reached her bosom—she +leaned back serenely with her hands resting on +the arms of the slate-colored chair. Sophie +Churchill’s clear olive complexion looked almost +fair, contrasted with her smoothly braided brown +hair, her large, melancholy brown eyes, and her +brown silk dress. Sophie leaned over the elbow +of the lounge towards her friend, whose chair +was near that end. Kitty came in to lay the +cloth for tea, and soon a round table stood on +the floor covered by a snow-white damask cloth, +white china tea service, and the nice light bread +and hard golden-hued butter, and clear honey, +with the seed cakes of Emily’s preparation. +The tea was placed upon the table and their +boarder summoned from the piazza, where he +had been promenading. He came in.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He came in, lifting his hat from his head, and +placing it upon a side stand, slowly and gravely +assumed the seat at the foot of the table where +Emily and Sophie were already seated. They +raised their eyes simultaneously to look at him, +and at once the whole aspect of the room seemed +changed—a funeral solemnity gathered over it. +Sophie, attracted by one of those strange spells +exercised by objects of terror over us, could not +keep her large startled eyes off him—at last he +raised his head and looked her full in the face—her +eyes fell, and a visible shudder shook her +frame—a just perceptible smile writhed the +corner of his mouth as he withdrew his gaze +from her. Sophie did not open her mouth to +speak during the meal; Emily dispensed her +hospitalities with her usual graceful ease. At +the end of tea they arose, Kitty entered and +cleared the table, and Mrs. May, making an +apology, left the room to attend to some +domestic matters. Sophie was now alone with +the new preacher. She resumed her seat at the +end of the lounge, he took the easy chair just +vacated by Emily, and drawing it closer to the +side of Miss Churchill, he stooped forward and +inquired in his singularly sweet tones—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You live in this neighborhood, Miss +Churchill?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, sir,” she said, and her eyes dropped, +and the blood mounted to her brow, and +receding, left it pale—again that singular smile +curled the corner of his lip.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Far from this, Miss Churchill?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I live at Heath Hall.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah! and nearly quite alone, Miss Churchill, +with only one aged female domestic and an +infant—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And <em>God</em>!” said Sophie, raising her eyes +confidently to meet his; but the brilliant, basilisk, +greenish grey eyes seemed to freeze her eyeballs, +and she dropped their sheltering lids again—yet +she felt the glance of those glittering, cold, +keen eyes entering her heart, and a chill, an icy +chill, ran through all her veins. She started up +and sought Emily.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Emily was in the next room, the dining-room, +where, seated in two little chairs at a little child’s +table, covered with a white cloth, appeared the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_16'>16</span>children, Gusty and Hagar, eating their supper +of milk and sweetmeats. The children were +at each end of the table, and Emily was kneeling +at the side with an arm lightly clasped +around each—she had just thus embraced the +orphans, and a tear was glistening in her eye. +She arose as Sophie entered, and said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why have you left the room, my love; it +was so rude to Mr. Withers?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Because I don’t like to stay with him—do +<em>you</em>? How do <em>you</em> like him, Emily?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, dear, I don’t know. I have scarcely +had an opportunity of seeing yet—he is grave, +grave to austerity, yet that, though it may awe +young maidens, can scarcely be deemed a fault +in the Pastor of the Crucifixion Parish.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! it was not that—it was not that!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What was it then, my frightened dove?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I could not tell you! You wouldn’t understand! +<em>He has never looked at you—never +spoken to you.</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How you do talk at random, child—we +conversed at tea.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“He has never looked at you and never +spoken to you!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My dear, you are hysterical—I must give +you some morphine.” She went to a cupboard. +But the wild fluttering of Sophie’s startled heart +subsided—she refused the morphine, and at last +they returned to the parlor.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The next day was Good Friday, and of +course there was service at the church, and the +Rev. John Huss Withers was to preach his first +sermon. Reader, do you happen to know what +a great event the arrival of a new preacher is in +a country neighborhood? Not only does the +parish over which he is installed as minister, but +every surrounding parish, forsake their own +especial minister to flock to hear him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>At an early hour two horses stood saddled at +the gate of Grove Cottage, and the minister, +Sophie, Emily, and her son, sallied out to mount +them. When Sophie saw but two horses +saddled, and knew that there were four persons +to go to church, she looked with embarrassment +at Emily.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are to ride on a pillion behind Mr. +Withers, Miss Churchill—and Gusty is to ride +behind me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The parson was already mounted, and before +Sophie had time to reply, he rode up to where +she was standing on the horse-block, stooped +his giant arm, and lifting her lightly to the pillion, +drew her arms around his waist and cantered +off. Earth and sky swam together in Sophie’s +vision as they went. Emily was in her saddle, +and Kitty lifted up and set her boy behind her, +and then taking the infant Hagar in her arms +went into the house. Emily paced soberly +along—Master Gusty was quarrelling all the +way, asserting that it was <em>his</em> right to ride and +his mother ought to sit behind <em>him</em>, like the +parson and Miss Sophie. Mr. Withers was +waiting for them in the shadow of the forest just +at its entrance. At another time Emily could +scarcely have suppressed a smile at seeing the +cold, dead white face and dilated eyes of +Sophie Churchill, with her fingers, which spellbound +she scarcely durst withdraw, stiff and +pale as tallow candles thrown into strong relief +upon the black broadcloth of the parson’s +coat.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Where are your gloves, Miss Churchill?” +said Emily.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I had not drawn them on, and I lost them +on our ride. <em>I want to get down and go back +and get them</em>,” said Sophie, in an imploring +voice.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mrs. May—ride forward, madam, and I +will canter back with Miss Churchill in search +of her gloves!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, no, no! no, I thank you!—it will be +too late,” gasped Sophie—but even while she +spoke he had wheeled his horse and was going +back.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You should not have named your wish <em>to +get down</em> and return then,” said he, in his sweet, +dear tones. They had ridden back about an +eighth of a mile when Sophie, anxious to rejoin +her other companions, said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I think I lost my gloves about here.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Mr. Withers alighted, and placing the reins +and his riding-whip in the hands of Miss +Churchill, favored the poor girl with a look full +in the face that froze the blood in her veins. +She thought of the long ride they would now +have to take through the forest alone, and her +heart died within her. She watched him, +nervously saw him pick up the gloves and turn +to approach, she looked at him with the eyes +of a startled fawn ready for flight—she met the +same basilisk gaze—it maddened her—suddenly +jerking the bit and putting whip to her horse, +she sped from the spot like an arrow from a +bow, and fled across the common with a vague +idea of reaching her own home—he shouted:</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The horse is running away with you! rein +up your horse,” and flew after her. She reached +the banks of the river—gave one frightened look +behind, and madly urged her steed down the +bank and into the rushing water swollen by the +recent thaw. The water was deep, and her +steed floundered and struggled with the waves +just as Withers appeared at the top of the bank—sped +down—dashed into the water and seizing +the rein swayed the horse around—drew him to +the beach, and led him dripping and struggling +up the bank. When they were once more on +firm, high ground, he paused to breathe the +horse; the water was dripping from the dress of +Sophie, and her wet clothes were clinging tightly +about her limbs. He leaned upon his elbow +upon the pommel of her saddle and said, gravely,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are an interesting young lady, Miss +Churchill; your feats of horsemanship are surprising.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie’s sudden plunge-bath, and the real +danger she had passed, had somewhat restored +the tone of her nervous system by putting to +flight her imaginary terrors. The horse had +now recovered his wind and they set forward, +the preacher leading the horse—they reached the +cottage gate—he assisted Sophie to alight—as +she reached the ground she said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You had better push forward to church, Mr. +Withers; you will be too late.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He took his watch calmly from his pocket +and holding it near her face, said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“See, it wants a quarter to nine o’clock; if +you hurry and change your dress we can get +there in time.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am not going, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then I shall stay home to take care of you—you +need care after this morning’s adventure,” +<span class='pageno' id='Page_17'>17</span>and so saying, he quietly began to unsaddle the +horse.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Stop, I will go,” said Sophie, choosing the +lighter evil, and she hurried in to change her +dress.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What has happened, sir?” said Kitty, coming +out.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The horse ran away with Miss Churchill,” +replied he.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie now returned arrayed in a black silk, +and was lifted tremblingly into her seat. They +then set off at a brisk canter and soon entered the +forest. Reader, do you like a dark forest road? +If so, you would have been delighted with the +forest road leading to this church, winding now +through a deep dell where the branches met +over head, and now up a steep hill over which +the trees were thinly scattered. They had just +entered a dark walk from which the thick overhanging +branches excluded nearly every ray of +light when Sophie, turning her head aside, her +eyes fell upon some object couched in the underwood, +her gaze was riveted, her eyes dilated, +her lips fell apart, her face became ashy pale, +and then a half-suppressed cry burst from her lips. +The parson halted—turned around in his saddle—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is the matter, Miss Churchill?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Something frightened me in the bushes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He looked scrutinizingly in every direction.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I see nothing—was it a wolf?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No—let’s go on.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Your heart is beating as though it would +break its prison—you are shaking like an ague. +Was it a bear?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, no—<em>do</em> go on.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>What</em> was it then?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nothing, nothing—please go on.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And yet you can scarcely keep your seat. +Are you nervous, Miss Churchill?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, very.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I should think so; you should have medical +advice,” and touching his horse, they galloped +forward.</p> + +<p class='c008'>They soon entered an open forest glade in +which stood the church, a red brick building, +having the form of a cross. Many broken tombstones +were all around it, and scattering trees to +which were tied numerous horses, and nearly +filling up the glade were hundreds of vehicles of +every description, from the ox-cart to the splendid +coach and pair. Alighting near a horse-block, +he fastened his horse, and lifting her from +the pillion, led her into the church, which was +already crowded, and up the long middle aisle +to the pew of Emily, which was the top pew on +the right hand facing the pulpit; he opened the +door, saw her seated, and passed on to his reading-desk. +Emily observed the pale face and +trembling frame of her friend, but had no opportunity +of inquiring the cause, which she naturally +associated with her delay in overtaking +her. Nor was this opportunity afforded after +church, when the congregation all crowded +around to speak to their new minister. Mr. +Gardiner Green, a wealthy planter, the nearest +neighbor of Emily, performed the part of master +of ceremonies. It is true that all had seen Mr. +Withers at Mr. May’s funeral, but upon such an +occasion as that, of course there could be but +few introductions. It was an hour before the +congregation were all in their saddles or their +vehicles, and ready to disperse.</p> + +<p class='c008'>When our little party were mounted and had +entered the forest, the pastor said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Your young friend, Miss Churchill, is a celebrated +horsewoman, is she not, Mrs. May?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Very.</em> Sophie is the best rider of all the +ladies of this county,” said Emily, unsuspiciously, +“but what detained you so long?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“While I was hunting for Miss Churchill’s +gloves, her horse suddenly started and ran off +with her; dashed down the bank and into the +river. She kept her seat like a heroine, and so +was saved.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Emily evinced less surprise than might have +been expected, merely remarking,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I have known Sophie Churchill to ford that +river on horseback when a mere child.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yet Miss Churchill seems very timid too.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She is. Her good horsemanship is merely +habit—she has been accustomed to ride from infancy; +but to-day Sophie certainly is nervous—what +is the matter with you, Sophie, my love?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie spoke of her fright in the forest, yet +persisted in refusing to explain it. They +reached home. Dinner was ready, the ladies +laid off their bonnets, and all sat down to the +table. Immediately after dinner the minister +arose and retired to his chamber, and Sophie +drew a long free breath, as though a stricture +were removed from her chest.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come into our bedroom, and let’s put on +our loose wrappers and lie down, Sophie; it is +really fatiguing these long rides to church and +back.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And she arose, and Sophie followed her. +Emily assisted her off with her dress, and taking +a bottle of cologne, washed her face and head +until she looked better; and then, as they +rested on the bed, she said,—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now, Sophie, tell me about this forest +fright, for there is more in it than you would +confess to any one but me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Perhaps you will think it imagination, or +nothing, yet, as we entered the deep dell, just a +quarter of a mile behind the church, I happened +to turn my head, and low, crouched down to +the ground, I saw—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The wannest, most spectral face that could +be conceived, with wild eyes and streaming +hair.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A runaway mulatto!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I tell you <em>no</em>! The face was whiter than +snow—the eyes blue, and blazing in their steady +gaze upon me; the hair golden, streaked with +silver. The skeleton hand was like a bird’s +claw with emaciation, and the finger pointed to +the minister.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Emily listened with an incredulous smile, then +she said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A figure conjured up by imagination, Sophie—a +mere creature of your disordered +nerves. You should read Sir Walter Scott’s +letters on Demonology, and then you would +understand. But, dear, how do you and the +minister get on? Do you know I think you are +a favorite with him.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! God forbid!” said Sophie, clasping her +hands.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, my dear, what is the matter?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Oh!</em> I have such an antipathy to him—such +a sickening, deadly antipathy to him; when +his eyes meet mine, or his hand falls upon mine, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_18'>18</span>a cold chill runs all through me, and I grow +blind and faint.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, my love, fortunately you are not +obliged to like him. Yet he will be very popular, +Sophie. Did you observe the even unusual +respect paid him by his congregation to-day? +His sermon made a marked impression. All +the widows and girls will be setting their caps +for him, but you, I think, will win the prize.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Emily, I am going home to-morrow.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>No</em>, my love, no; why, what put that into +your head?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not like to stay here; I do not like +Mr. Withers, and I do not like the tone of your +conversation so soon after your husband’s +death.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The tears overflowed Emily’s eyes.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am wrong—I am wrong, to forget for a +moment the loss of so kind a friend; and yet, +Sophie, death never did make me gloomy. +Sickness does, suffering does, but I quite as often +envy as regret the departed. Think, Sophie, he +has rejoined in heaven the wife of his youth and +middle life, ‘the Michal of his bloom,’ whom he +loved as he never could love <em>me</em>, ‘the Abishag +of his age.’ She was his companion for time +and for eternity; I, only a fellow-passenger for +a short stage—the <em>end</em> of his journey, the <em>beginning</em> +of mine.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Here a summons to tea broke up their conference. +They dressed and went out; the minister +was there before them. They sat down +to tea.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The next morning Sophie Churchill made an +effort to return home, but she was overruled. It +was Saturday, Emily said, and she must stay to +attend church the next day, Easter Sunday. +She complied, and attended church with the family, +without meeting with another adventure +of any sort. On Easter Monday Sophie mounted +on Emily’s horse, and carrying little Hagar on +her lap, set out for her home at Heath Hall, attended +by Master Gusty Wilde May as escort, +who fancied his manhood greatly accelerated by +the honor of his office.</p> + +<p class='c008'>I told you that the house at the Heath was +large and square. It faced the bay, and a wide +hall ran from the central front entrance through +to the back—from the middle of this hall, and +facing the entrance, arose the wide staircase, +whose balustrades turned off in a scroll on each +side of the bottom steps. Under these stairs was +a large closet where household utensils were +kept. On each side of this wide hall were +opposite doors—the left hand door letting into +the parlor, the right hand door into the ruinous +drawing-room. The dim old parlor, with the +sleeping-room above it, and the kitchen near it, +was the only habitable part of the house, and +even these rooms leaked in rainy weather. One +evening, about a week from the day of her +arrival at home, Sophie Churchill sat alone +before the smouldering fire in the wide arched +fire-place; a lamp burned on the little old spiderlegged +workstand; the moonlight streamed +through the branches of the old poplar trees +that swayed against the four gothic-arched and +curtainless front windows. The room was +nearly bare of furniture; no carpet was on the +floor; and the once bright-colored landscape +paper on the walls illustrating Fox’s Christian +Martyrs was torn and faded. It was a weird +scene enough. The figures of the Martyrs were +large as life. Upon the wall opposite the fire-place, +and beside the door leading into the hall, +was the representation of a Christian suffering +the baptism of fire; and as the ray of the lamp +flickered upon it, the form of the martyr seemed +to writhe and quiver—seemed to dip and rise +from the flames, and the features of his tormentors +to grin and leer. Sophie was there knitting, +and her large brown eyes were somewhat +larger, with a vague terror that had fallen upon +her spirits as soon as she was left alone. And +well might she feel this; except the infant and +the beldam, there was not a soul within half a +mile of her, and the forest behind was known to +be the refuge of a runaway negro—a gigantic +fellow, whose depredations in the neighborhood +were violent and frequent.</p> + +<p class='c008'>At the time I write of, the most heinous crimes +were sometimes perpetrated by fugitive slaves in +their desperation; their motives—revenge, impending +starvation, or a passionate desire for liberty. +They are the banditti of the Southern States. +The forests of Maryland and Virginia contain +caves, once the resort of runaway negroes, from +whence at night they issued and fell upon the +unwary traveller or the unprotected house to +levy their contributions.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Jim Hice,” the man whose depredations now +spread terror through the neighborhood, was a +fugitive not only from slavery, but from justice. +Impelled by starvation, he had once, after +watching a long time outside of the window to +know that the coast was clear, entered the +kitchen of an old friend and begged “a mouthful +to save me from starving.” This friend gave +him a can of whiskey, which he swallowed at a +draught, and which, from the emptiness of his +stomach, immediately intoxicated him; and then +offered him a hunk of corn pone and a herring, +which he began to devour like a wild beast. +But before he could finish it, the door opened +and the overseer of the estate appeared. The +negro recognised him—his eyes flew wildly +around. He sprang to the window, but was +seized by the hands of the overseer before he +could pass through it. They struggled for life +and death—but the struggle was unequal. Soon +the gigantic negro had hugged his captor to his +bosom with one strong arm, while with the +other hand he drew from his pocket a butcher +knife and plunged it to the handle into his chest—then +dropping him, sprang over his body, +cleared the door, and fled to the woods.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The officers of justice were soon in pursuit—a +price was set upon his head—volunteering parties +set out in search of him, and he was traced to +the forest behind Heath Hall. There, in spite of +the most vigorous hunt with horses and hounds +in the deep dells and dense thickets of the forest, +he remained concealed.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was a week since they had lost trace of +him there—and old Cumbo had just brought the +news to Sophie that day—hence Sophie’s +dilating eyes and starting nerves at every sound. +At last, though but eight o’clock, she could bear +it no longer—so wrought up had her nerves +become that as the lamp flickered against the +walls, the old figures in the landscape paper, +Fox’s Martyrs, seemed to dance and jibber in +their flames. The rattling branches against the +windows seemed the breaking, crushing crossbar +<span class='pageno' id='Page_19'>19</span>of the burglar, while the glancing of the +moonbeams between them seemed like the +gliding about of spirits from another world. +Sophie arose with a cautious tread, as though +stealing from enemies, and opened the door of +the great hall from the centre of which the staircase +ascended. She held her lamp in one hand, +her knitting in the other, and her heart was +beating and her eyes half starting as she opened +the door and prepared to bound up the stairs to +her own, and little Hagar’s room. Somehow all +her vague imaginary terrors gave way, while she +held little Hagar in her arms, as though there +was safety in the presence of infant innocence. +She opened the door, and there before her, joining +her, stood the gigantic negro, with wild, +haggard face, and bloodshot eyes! With a +piercing scream, Sophie dropped her candle, +which was extinguished in the fall, and fled back +into the parlor.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He followed her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>She had sunk, paralysed with extreme terror, +into a chair.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The negro stood before her again, and extending +one talon-like hand, exclaimed—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am not going to hurt you, Miss Sophie—give +me some victuals—I am starving!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>But Sophie only gazed at him with a <a id='t19'></a>startled +and stony eye—her senses petrified.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Give me some food, Miss Churchill, I die—”</p> + +<p class='c008'><em>Sophie</em> was dying, or seemed to be—her head +had fallen back against the chair—her chin had +dropped, and her stony eyes, started from her +chalky face, were riveted upon her fearful visitor.</p> + +<p class='c008'><em>His</em> eyes were hollow and fiery, and his giant +frame was trembling in every limb. He dropped +on the floor before her, and said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Miss Sophie, Miss Sophie, look at me. I +won’t hurt you—how could I hurt you when I +can scarcely stand! Give me some victuals—I +have not tasted food for four days. Give me +some, Miss Sophie!—Oh don’t be scared at <em>me</em>—not +at <em>me</em>—who used to ride you on my +shoulder when you were a baby—how could <em>I</em> +hurt you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Just then the door opened, and Sophie, with a +scream of joy, bounded from her chair, sprang +over the prostrate negro, and flew into the arms +of old Cumbo and fainted.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The pastor was behind the old woman. The +negro seeing her, started up, ran and shook the +window sash—it resisted his efforts to raise or +break; sprang to the opposite side, tried another +window in vain—then attempted to dart past +the minister who stood in the door. Mr. +Withers extended his arm, intercepted and +captured the fugitive. He struggled—Mr. +Withers was cool, strong, and determined—held +him fast by the wrists—trying to get them +together that he might bind them. He stood +firm, while the negro—his eyes glaring like flame +in a dark night, his teeth set, his thick neck +swollen, his starting muscles, like knotted cords +in his sinewy arms, fell violently from side to +side in his desperate efforts to escape.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He had been starving, and the factitious strength +lent by despair soon failed—his struggles became +fainter and fainter—and ceased as Mr. Withers +bore him down to the floor, placed his knee upon +his breast, crossed his wrists, and hallooed to the +old woman to bring a cord to bind him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Old Cumbo, in a distant part of the room, was +bathing her young mistress’s face with water—Sophia +Churchill was recovering from her faint. +The old woman hobbled up, shaking her hand +in the face of the captive as she passed him, +exclaiming, “You gallows face vilyun you!” +went into the hall, opened a dark closet under +the stairs, and drew out a clothes line, which she +brought to Mr. Withers. He bound his prisoner +securely, and then stood up from his labors to +breathe; his eyes fell on the drooping form of +Sophia Churchill, he walked up to her and stooping +over her spake softly,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You have been in some danger and very +great alarm, Miss Churchill; I thank God who +inspired my visit to you this evening. I just +chanced to knock at your hall door, as your old +servant, aroused by your screams, had come +down to your assistance; she opened the door +and admitted me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophia was still trembling in every limb, and +the tears were trickling down her cheeks.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And now, Miss Churchill, I must leave you +immediately to proceed to the village and procure +an officer; the miscreant must be lodged in +jail to-night. Don’t feel any more alarm; he is +perfectly secure, or if it would relieve you, we +can lock him up; have you a room?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No,” said Sophia, “don’t lock him up.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It would be altogether a work of supererogation, +I think. Well, Miss Churchill, I will +leave you now, and return within two hours.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>So saying the minister took his hat and withdrew. +Sophia remained leaning her cheek upon +her hand. The old woman stood stooping over +the negro with her hands resting on her knees, +peering down in his face.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Kik—kik—kik!” (laughing), “you ready +trussed for hanging up now, ain’t you? kik—kik—kik—kik! +how you feel when git rope roun’ +neck, hey? Mind, I gwine see you hang, hear?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Cumbo, come away,” commanded Miss +Churchill, as sternly as she knew how to speak.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The old woman did not move nor take off her +eyes from her fallen foe, but answered, “Oh, he +one gran’ rascal, Missy, one gallows face vilyun +as ever lib—use to drive me ’bout ’mong corn +hills, when he great man, when he Massa Churchill +oberseer—black oberseer—<em>black</em> gemmun—<em>black</em> +Massa! kik—kik—kik!” And the old +woman snapped her fingers under the nose of +the prisoner.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The harshness of black overseers, who are +often selected for their greater vigilance and +severity, and the hatred the negroes feel towards +them, is notorious in the Southern States.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The old woman continued her abuse, the +negro suffered it without reply. Sophia Churchill +watched him</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Until the pity of her heart grew strong.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c008'>At last the old woman said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now I gwine out, see ef dey comin’ wid +cons’ble,” and left the room.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophia looked at the poor wretch tied like a +beast for slaughter, and thought of the dreadful +death hanging over him, until pity overcame +terror and conquered reason. She arose, and +drawing near him stealthily as one would approach +a bound tiger, she said gently:</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Jim, I’m sorry for you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! Miss Sophia,” said he weeping.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Very</em> sorry for you. Oh! Jim, <em>why</em> did you +<span class='pageno' id='Page_20'>20</span>run away, and <em>why</em> did you break into houses and +rob, and <em>why, why</em> did you stab the overseer?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Is</em> he dead? tell me <em>that, is</em> he dead, Miss +Sophia?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, Jim, he is not dead, he has recovered, +so you are free from blood-guiltiness.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Thank God, then, I’m no murderer.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, poor wretch, your fate in this world +will be the same as though you were. You +made an assault upon the life of an overseer in +his attempt to re-capture you; not just to <em>see</em> +what you have brought yourself to.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The negro wept outright.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But I did not come over here to reprove +you, Jim. Jim, if I were to cut your bands and +let you go, what would you do?” He half +started up, gazed intently on her and said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I would go down on my knees and bless +you; I’d learn to pray, so I could pray for you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I don’t mean that; would you try to reform?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Miss Sophia, would you believe me if I were +to promise?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophia was silent.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“There, I knew you wouldn’t, Miss Sophia, +you couldn’t if you were to try,” and he sighed +heavily.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Jim, I will let you go. I don’t know whether +I am doing right or wrong, but I cannot bear +the thought of your wretched condition, and the +awful fate that too surely awaits you, if you are +imprisoned to-night. Listen, Jim. I have a +strong fishing-boat, moored at the beach, at the +foot of the promontory; two oars and some +fishing tackle are in it—in the little fishing-shed +under the brow of the rock there is a sail. When +I cut these cords, fly, take the boat, the oars, +and the sail, put out into the bay, keep near the +coast, and <em>up</em> the bay, until you reach the Susquehanna; +go a few miles up that, and then +land. You will be in Pennsylvania, and you +will be safe. And oh, listen! Go to work—steal +no more, for every future crime you commit +will rest upon my head for permitting you +to escape.” Sophie was now trembling at the +responsibility she was assuming. “Look you, +Jim, resolve upon amendment, pray God to help, +and <em>I</em>,” said she sternly, “<em>I</em> shall pray too. I +shall pray God to help you to reform, and I +shall pray God to grant you a safe termination +to your highly dangerous voyage, if you are +<em>going</em> to reform; if not, if he sees your heart is +hardened, I shall pray him in that case to let +you drown or fall into the hands of your pursuers, +that my mercy to you may not turn out +cruelty to others.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She went into the kitchen, got a pone of cornbread +and a knife, returned and cut his cords. +He sprang upon his feet, and scarcely waiting to +receive the pone she gave him, fled from the +house.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie sat down trembling in her seat. She +had been afraid of him even while talking to +him and setting him at liberty; now she drew a +long breath, with an inexpressible feeling of relief. +But soon came other thoughts; her doubtful +act of mercy had been a matter of feeling +entirely, and by no means of judgment, and she +did not now feel altogether assured of its prosperity; +besides she feared that she had made herself +in some way amenable to the laws, by assisting +a felon to escape. Sophie was really +growing sick at heart; she resolved to avoid an +explanation and seek her rest. She went to her +chamber, undressed and retired to bed, where, +with little Hagar clasped in her arms, she tried +to forget in the presence of innocence the scene +of horror she had lately witnessed. Presently +she heard the officers enter the room below; +exclamations of surprise and regret (oaths were +spared in the pastor’s presence), and then she +heard old Cumbo hobbling up the stairs. She entered +her room, exclaiming in tones of extreme +indignation—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ha! hi! <em>What</em> do you think, Miss Soph, +do you think that gallows-faced vilyun ain’t +broke loose and <em>gone</em>!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie raised herself on her elbow and looked +at the old woman without speaking.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, indeed! broke loose and <em>gone</em>! There’s +no tellin’ what <em>he wouldn’t</em> do, the ungrateful +wretch, to break loose and go! after Massa +Widders con’cendin’ tu him too! Oh! he’d ’ny +his Saviour—<em>he’d</em> do anything.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Cumbo, will you be kind enough to go down +to Mr. Withers, and tell him that I am sick—<em>very</em> +sick—and ask him to excuse my absence!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“An’ nuff to make you! an’ nuff to make +you! I’m sick myself; I did hope to see that +gran’ rascal hang. I did <em>that</em>, and now jes see +what a ’spointment.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And the old woman hobbled away, and soon +she heard her visitors leave the house, speaking +their regret and sympathy as they went. Old +Cumbo came up, and spreading a pallet near her +young mistress’s bed, lay down to sleep, or +rather to talk.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER V.<br> <span class='c009'>THE PHILOSOPHER.</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c014'>“Anxiety and Ennui are the Scylla and Charybdis +of the voyage of Life.”</p> +<div class='lg-container-r c015'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Ramsay on Human Happiness.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>The next morning early Emily May was over +at the hall. She rode her own saddle-horse and +little Gusty rode another, behind which was fixed +a pillion, upon which Sophie was to return to +the Grove—at least, so said Mrs. May, for she +persisted that Heath Hall was neither a safe nor +a proper place of residence for Miss Churchill. +But neither coaxing threats nor arguments would +have prevailed with Sophie to leave the Heath—her +antipathy to Emily’s boarder was undiminished. +Emily spent the day with her, and at +nightfall left, disappointed.</p> + +<p class='c008'>That evening, after the beldam and the infant +were asleep, Sophie as usual sat alone in her +large old parlor. She felt a sense of security +and peace, and plied her knitting-needles diligently—her +thoughts occupied with no heavier +matter than the heeling and toeing of little +Hagar’s red worsted stockings, or at most, the +well-being of her cow and calf, or her vegetable +garden, for already upon the maiden had +descended matronly cares. She sat there knitting, +and presently a rap—a calm, self-possessed +rap was heard at the hall door; she glanced at +the old clock in the corner, it was seven +o’clock; she passed to the door and reached it +<span class='pageno' id='Page_21'>21</span>just as the rap was repeated; she opened it, and +Mr. Withers, the minister, stood before her; his +thin dark figure looming up in the moonshine.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Good evening, Miss Churchill,” said he, +stepping in, taking her hand and pressing it +gently. “You have quite recovered your fright, +I trust?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Quite, sir,” replied Sophie, laconically, as +she reluctantly led the way into the room and +set a chair for her minister on the opposite side +of her workstand. He dropped himself into it, +and extending his long legs towards the little +fire, he said,—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You were not at church last Sabbath, Miss +Sophie, and it was with a view of inquiring the +reason of your absence that I came here—may +I make that inquiry now?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Except while with Mrs. May I have not +been to church for many months.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“May I inquire, as your pastor, why?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The distance is considerable; that, in Summer, +would be no objection, but during the Winter +and Spring the roads are nearly impassable +to a foot passenger, and I have no conveyance.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah!” said the minister, a gleam of pleasure +lighting up his dark countenance, “then I am +very happy in possessing the means of obviating +that objection; having just purchased a gig, I +shall be very happy in making a small circuit in +my ride, for the purpose of taking you to +church.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You will be giving yourself too much trouble, +sir,” said Sophie.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Not so, my dear; you must see that to <em>me</em> +at least it will be a pleasure.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are very obliging, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie’s eyes were fixed upon her knitting. +She appeared to be counting the stitches. He +found it very difficult to support a conversation +with her, but he persevered, questioning her with a +pastor’s privilege with a young parishioner, upon +the state of her affairs in general, her income, +the number of slaves on hire, the resources of +her farm, her fishing landing, her moor, her +garden, and her dairy. She gave him laconic, +but straightforward answers, and at the end of +the colloquy he mused, and, half to himself, +said, that the place had been very much abused, +that with ease it might yet be reclaimed, and a +handsome property made of it; and then, at the +end of an hour, he arose and took leave.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie rejoiced that his visit was at an end. +Throughout his whole stay she had not once +raised her eyes to his countenance.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Two evenings from that, at the same hour, +and in the same place, Sophie sat alone, a rap +was heard at the door, and again she arose, +opened it, and admitted the minister; again he +found a seat at the opposite side of her workstand; +and again he freely used his pastoral +privilege of questioning her; but this time it was +not upon external circumstances, but upon the +operations of her mind and heart; and how +adroitly he did it—<em>with his pastoral privilege</em>—and +but for her antipathy, how easy had been +his task, with one of Sophie’s <em>naiveté</em>. Yes, +she admitted, in reply to his searching questions, +that even she, young as she was, sometimes felt +life to wane and sink as though her very soul +was dying in her bosom, that sometimes life appeared +to have no object worth pursuing.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You suffer from ennui then, Miss Churchill, +perhaps you would not feel this so much in the +company of your friend, Mrs. May, would +you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, sir, I have felt dull even with Emily.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do you suffer from <em>ennui</em> when busied in +your garden, your dairy, or at your needle-work?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, sir, for it seems to me sometimes a sad +waste of life to pass it <em>only</em> in feeding the +stomach and clothing the back.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie was certainly beginning to be more +communicative; the pastor was drawing her out. +He looked at her now with more interest than +ever, as he said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And yet, Miss Churchill, there is your friend, +Mrs. May, who finds her happiness in her daily +life and household duties. How do you account +for her habitual cheerfulness; or do you suppose +that she is ever a victim to ennui?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Never!</em> But then Emily May is a ‘fine +woman,’ every one says so—‘an excellent manager’—the +best housekeeper in the county, and +she is happy, busy and happy, because she deserves +to be. I am, or if I could afford it, +<em>should</em> be idle, for I am not as fond of household +work as Emily is, and I am discontented, +and as idleness and discontent are sin, and sin is +misery, therefore I am sometimes miserable, it is +quite plain.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why don’t you overcome this sinful tendency +then?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“As yet I have not been able to do it, I resolve—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘And re-resolve,’ and will be likely to ‘die +the same,’ if you do not get to the root of your +malady and understand it. Your explanation” +(and the pastor smiled a slightly cynical smile) +“is an orthodox piece of theology enough, as +far as it goes. Idleness is certainly sinful and a +fruitful cause of discontent, because it is opposed +to the principles of our organization; there is no +atom in the universe idle for a single instant, nor +are we, even our bodies, <em>ever</em> idle, even when +sleeping, for the heart, lungs, and brain continue +to perform their functions, even when <em>dead</em>; for +when the dust returns to dust, its particles, +through a thousand ramifications, perform a +thousand services in the universe. And the +mind? Is the mind <em>ever</em> idle? Has the course +of thought been once really arrested since it first +began? It has flowed in countless millions of +courses; it has been suddenly turned aside, but +has it ever stopped? Your heart has beaten, your +brain worked for twenty years, to what purpose? +No, Miss Churchill, by <em>idleness</em> you mean misdirection +of energies; and by <em>discontent</em> the pain +that naturally follows therefrom. Listen to me, +Miss Churchill.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie was listening to him with interest—these +thoughts, however old, were to the unopened +mind of the young girl new and striking.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Listen, I can explain your friend’s happiness +and your own misery, better and more satisfactorily +than you have done—and by doing so, +illustrate the lesson I wish to give you; and +further and more completely to illustrate my +theory, I must bring in another acquaintance of +ours, Mrs. Gardiner Green; what is her character, +Sophie?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“An elegant woman, all the neighbors say, +but always in a bustle, always overheated about +something, always anxious.”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_22'>22</span>“I thought so! she will do for an illustration +of my first class <i><span lang="fr">à merveille</span></i>.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Listen then, Miss Churchill—the secret of +happiness is <em>this</em>: the striking of a just balance +between the desires and the faculties; if the +desires are greater than the faculties, they will +goad you on to efforts beyond your strength, and +anxiety will destroy happiness, as in the case of +Mrs. Gardiner Green, whose desires Heaven +knows are low enough—being only to shine as +the bright particular star of a country neighborhood—to +have the best house, the best equipage, +to wear the best dresses, and give the best dinners; +grovelling as these wishes are, they yet +exceed her faculties for accomplishing them—hence +her eternal fret. I can further illustrate +this class of unfortunates by a notorious name, +Aaron Burr; brilliant as were his faculties his +desires yet transcended them—he wished to rule +alike despotically over the hearts and minds of +men and women, and over the nations of the +earth. In both these cases that I have cited, +one from the highest, the other from the lowest +grade of mind, the evil was the same—the +balance between the faculties and the desires was +not struck. Well, Miss Churchill, you are +musing—upon what?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I was thinking, had Aaron Burr had the +power of accomplishing his ambitious desires, or +had Mrs. Gardiner Green the ability to carry +out her vain ones, would either be any happier?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That involves another question of moral +philosophy to which we have not arrived, and +which we will not discuss just now. We are +speaking of present and positive causes of unhappiness, +and not of future contingencies, +Sophie—I beg your pardon, Miss Churchill.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Call me Sophie, I am more accustomed to +that name,” said she, rather timidly. Truly +Miss Churchill was “coming round,” and the +minister felt it, for he replied gently,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And I am more accustomed to hear you +called Sophie—and,” added he softly, “to <em>think</em> +of you as Sophie.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She avoided meeting his eyes, which she felt +fixed upon her, and a strange pain, dissipating +all the intellectual pleasures she was beginning +to receive from his society, crept into her heart—she +blamed herself for having spoken in the +manner she did.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He resumed,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You, Sophie, belong to the second class of +my unfortunates, the class whose <em>faculties</em> transcend +their desires, whose peculiar torment is +<em>ennui</em>. You, Sophie, have some noble faculty +or faculties unemployed, and they are corroding +in your bosom, and you call your suffering discontent. +Your remedy is to discover these latent +faculties (for very often these are as unknown or +unsuspected by their possessor, as is some obscure +physical disease), and develope and cultivate +them—it is their suppressed life that is torturing +you now—bring them out, use them, give them +a field and you will be happy.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But how?” said Sophie, looking up again.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I will teach you by-and-by. Pass we now +to the third class, or those whose faculties and +desires are fairly balanced, who suffer neither +from ennui on the one side nor anxiety on the +other. Your friend, Mrs. May, is a perfect +example of this happy organization; her whole +soul is in her house and family; she has no wish +beyond the well ordering of her dwelling, the +propriety of her dress, her table, her manners +and conversation, and the education of her son, +and her faculties are fully equal to, and not +greater than her wishes; thus she is always +calmly busy and serenely happy.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He now arose to take leave, and Sophie took +the lamp to light him to the door. When they got +there he held out his hand to bid her good night; +he caught her hand, held it a moment while his +glance sought her eyes, met them, and he murmured +in a low earnest voice, “Sophie.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She withdrew her hand, dropped her eyes, and +a chill crept over her frame. He whispered +“good night,” set his hat upon his head, and +walked off. His tall thin figure was soon seen +stalking up and down the undulating hills that +descended to the river.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Two or three days passed and Miss Churchill +saw no more of the minister. “I wonder if he +will come to-night,” had been the secret thought +of Sophie as evening approached each day; and +half with dread, half with hope, she listened for +his knock. His last visit had been on Wednesday. +Saturday evening came. Sophie had completed +her week’s work, and was sitting at the +window with her hands folded on her lap, and +looking out into the moonlit scene. The moon +was now full, and the broad river and the boundless +bay were reflected in its light and seen between +the clumps of intervening trees. At last upon +the path issuing from the clump of trees on the +left, was seen the tall figure of the minister. +Sophie withdrew from the window, and soon +after Mr. Withers was admitted by old Cumbo, +who had not yet retired to bed.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, Miss Churchill,” said he, advancing to +her side, “have you succeeded in discovering +those faculties, whose corrosion in idleness is +giving you so much distress?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I cannot flatter myself, sir, with the idea of +possessing any faculties above the simple discharge +of plain duties.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then you are quite happy in knitting, sewing, +and watching old Cumbo milk the cows and +weed the garden; and you never wish these occupations +varied except by rest and recreation?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie was silent. He had now taken a seat by +her side on the settle under the window. Sophie’s +eyes were riveted abstractedly on the opposite +wall, papered with the martyrdom of St. Petronella +and the four noble Roman ladies who suffered +with her; the scene represented the martyrdom +at the moment when life was offered the +young saint as she stood upon the scaffold, on condition +of her recantation. She stood in the centre +of the scaffold arrayed in a scant white tunic, her +white and slender limbs exposed, her hands +clasped upon her bosom, and her fine blue eyes +raised to heaven, her golden locks rolling to her +waist; behind her, leaning on his axe, whose end +rested on the block, stood the executioner; on +her left hand stood the group of imperial officers, +with their offer of mercy; on her right knelt her +aged father with his grey locks streaming on the +wind, his face upturned to hers in the anguish of +supplication, holding towards her a babe of a +few days old—<em>her</em> babe, of which she had been +delivered in prison—appealing to her by the +venerableness of his own grey hairs, the innocence +of its infancy, and the helplessness of both, +to avoid death, to recant her faith, and to live for +<span class='pageno' id='Page_23'>23</span>them; but the eyes of the saint never fell from +their high glance, the look alike above the terror, +the bribe, and the love below her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, Miss Churchill, when you have contemplated +that saint, which the painter has martyred +worse than the Pagans, to your heart’s +content, you will give me an answer, perhaps, or +is it so familiar that you never see it?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is very familiar, sir, but it never wearies +me; and now that you remind me of it, I sometimes, +when I have nothing to do in the house, +and when the weather is too inclement for me +to go out, reproduce these scenes with a pencil +and paper, and sometimes,” said she, blushing +deeply, “illustrate them with pen and ink.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You draw, and write poetry; will you permit +me to see some of your productions?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I try, but fail in both, sir; and if you will +pardon me, I would prefer not to expose my folly +further.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The pastor urged his point in vain, Sophie +gently but firmly resisted.</p> + +<p class='c008'>But at this moment old Cumbo, who had hobbled +out of the room, hobbled back, and before +Sophie suspected her purpose, thrust into the pastor’s +hands a dilapidated old portfolio, grumbling +out,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I telled her so—wouldn’t b’lieve ole nigger, +how de church would be down on top ob her for +make de image ob ebery ting in heaben above, +in de earf beneaf, an’ de waters under de earf. +I telled her how ’twould be.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The minister examined the contents of the +portfolio with a critic’s eye; it was filled with +very mediocre drawings, and very common-place +versicles; in vain did the pastor look for one +single stray gleam of genius; no more flashes of +the fire divine were to be seen in her work than in +her own soft brown eyes. The minister returned +the papers to the portfolio, and handed it back +to the old negress, who stood leaning over her +stick in chuckling expectation of hearing her +young mistress soundly lectured upon breaking +the first commandment.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“This is idleness, this is play, this is not your +vocation, Miss Churchill,” and looking upon +Sophie’s round face, large soft eyes, and pouting +lips, he said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I think after all, those strong faculties that +want expression reside in your <em>heart</em>, not in your +<em>head</em>, Miss Churchill.” Then, as though he had +regretted his speech, he was suddenly silent.</p> + +<p class='c008'>After a while he arose to take leave, saying +as he left the house,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I will call at nine to-morrow, to take you +to church, Sophie.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The next morning he called in his vehicle. +He found Sophie seated at the window with little +Hagar on her lap. She was teaching her to read, +and her whole countenance was irradiated with +the love of her work. The child’s little wild +dark face was sparkling, too; she had succeeded +in arousing and riveting her mind. As the eyes +of the minister fell through the open window +upon this scene he made two silent comments: +“Her vocation is that of a teacher,” and “That +child has far more genius than her instructress;” +and then he passed by the window into the house.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Good morning, Miss Churchill. Come, we +are waiting for you. Mrs. Gardiner Green has +been kind enough to ride over with me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie gave little Hagar into the charge of +old Cumbo, and went away to put on her bonnet. +She was surprised that Mrs. Gardiner +Green, who had scarcely ever condescended to +notice her, should have been so kind upon this +occasion; had Sophie Churchill known a little +more of the world she would have seen nothing +strange in this change. Even when seated by +her side the affability of the lady became almost +oppressive.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER VI.<br> <span class='c009'>THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“A stalwart, active, soldier-looking stripling,</div> + <div class='line'>Handsome as Hercules ere his first labor,</div> + <div class='line'>With a brow of thought beyond his years,</div> + <div class='line'>When in repose, till his eye kindles up</div> + <div class='line'>In answering yours.”</div> + <div class='line in24'><span class='sc'>Werner.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Behind a darker hour ascends.”</div> + <div class='line in32'><span class='sc'>Marmion.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>The minister had discovered Sophie Churchill’s +vocation by the subtle sympathy that existed between +the instructress and the pupil, in the little +scene he had witnessed. He was not backward +in improving his discovery.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“We are very much in need of a parish-school, +Miss Churchill,” said he one evening as +he sat with her. “I do not mean by that a +free-school, but a school for the instruction of +the younger children connected with the congregation. +I have conversed with several of my +parishioners, and they all favor the plan of establishing +one. The circumstances of the surrounding +neighborhood point to Heath Hall +as its locality, and to the young lady of Heath +Hall as its mistress. This has also been named +and approved, and I come on the part of the +vestry, who will resolve themselves into a board +of school trustees, to lay the subject before you +for consideration. What do you think of it, +Miss Churchill?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, if I were only fit for it!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are the most proper person for it that I +know. The faculty of teaching is a natural +gift, like painting or poetry, and it is <em>your</em> gift; +you can infuse into the mind of a tolerably intelligent +child all your own knowledge, and not +only so, but if you possess the faculty in its perfection, +as I think you do, you can arouse the +mind of a dull child, and inspire that of a darkened +one with intelligence.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But I am really <em>so</em> ignorant.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That is a matter of secondary importance—knowledge +can be acquired. You possess the +first requisite, that which never <em>can</em> be acquired, +the natural adaptation for the profession. Why, +Sophie, I have known men of the finest talents +and the highest attainments in science and literature, +fine classical and mathematical scholars, +who could not for the soul of them convey into +a child’s mind the reason why you sometimes +borrow ten and carry one in the rule of subtraction; +and I have known such men at the head +of large academies, or filling professors’ chairs +in colleges, advanced to their post of responsibility +upon account of their vast acquirements in +knowledge and their unimpeachable morality. +Now this would seem to be all that is required, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_24'>24</span>yet people never take into account the attractions +a profession should have for its votary. +So these men of unimpeachable morality and +unexcelled intelligence pass their time and spend +their energies in beating the air, while their +pupils are unimproved, except, perhaps, by the +instruction of others.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That is strange,” said Sophie.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You think it is. So a musical genius of +acute ear wonders, until he understands how +another of no ear can sing out of tune.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I can certainly teach easily and quickly +everything that I know thoroughly, and some +things that I do not know thoroughly, for sometimes +when trying to explain to little Hagar a +subject whose boundaries are indistinct to me, a +gleam of light breaks into my mind, and all is +clear to my vision—clear to its fullest extent, +and my little pupil, at the end of her lesson, knows +more than her teacher did at its commencement.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, and yet you, Sophie, stand merely +upon the threshold of the temple of knowledge, +and can do what some of the high priests of the +altar would fail in attempting. Thus a teacher’s +efficiency should be judged not by his own reputation +for natural intelligence or acquired +knowledge, but by his ability to convey the +same to his pupils, to be tested by the actual progress +of his pupils. If people would only follow +the natural bent of their faculties, how +much swindling, cheating, idleness, humbuggery, +hypocrisy, <em>misery</em> would be saved; had <em>I</em> done +so how much—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He stopped and bit his lip.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Your pupils at first will be the youngest +children of the congregation who are old enough +to attend school. While instructing them you +will be cultivating your own mind and adding +to your stores of information; in this latter +part of the plan I shall assist you, Miss Churchill. +It will give me pleasure to be your teacher, for +though I have no particular vocation for the +profession, yet as it is so much easier to teach a +grown person than a child, for in the former +case the pupil meets one more than half way, +and in the latter case one has to go <em>all</em> the way +and charm the pupil <em>out and on</em>, I shall have +no great trouble with you. And by next year +you will be able to take a more advanced class +of young ladies.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Then with Sophie he explored the ruinous +apartments on the other side of the hall, selected +the old disused drawing-room as the future +school-room, and saying that he would send +carpenters and plasterers over in the morning, +he withdrew.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The next morning a carpenter, a plasterer, +and a glazier came, and they came every day +for a fortnight, and at the end of that time the +boarded up, close, dark old drawing-room looked +large, lightsome, and clean. In another week +the school furniture arrived—a nice little mahogany +desk for the teacher, and a dozen stained +and varnished pine forms for the pupils.</p> + +<p class='c008'>And now behold Sophie Churchill in her favorite +sober brown silk dress, with her smoothly braided +brown hair, seated at her desk presiding +over her school, her large soft brown eyes floating +serenely over the scene. Now no more +ennui, now quickly fled the day, now pleasantly +passed the week—the month. Is it a wonder +that Sophie cherished in her heart a warm sentiment +of gratitude towards the man who had +wrought this favorable change in her life? The +circle of her existence was vastly enlarged. +Every Friday evening a horse and side-saddle +would be sent by some one of her patrons to +convey her to their house, where she was ever +warmly welcomed, a loved and honored guest, +to remain until Monday morning recalled her to +her school duties. Once or twice during the +week Emily May would accompany Gusty to +school, and remain all day assisting Sophie at +her labor. Nearly every evening now the pastor +came, and gave her lessons in Greek and +mathematics. Sophie felt so little “vocation” +for these severe studies that nothing but the implacable +will of her minister could have kept +her to it. Worse than anything in her experience +she dreaded his frown and his sure and +stern rebuke when she had not accomplished +her task—worse than anything except the +steady searching gaze of his coldly brilliant +green-grey eyes. <em>This</em> froze the blood in her +heart. And yet she felt grateful towards him; +she blamed herself for her antipathy—her reason +assured her that the <em>fault</em> was not in <em>him</em>, +but the <em>folly</em> in <em>herself</em>. Her reason approved +the pastor, the philosopher, the teacher—her instincts +shrank from the man. With all this +there was sometimes something strangely fascinating +for her, even in his coldness, hardness, +and harshness—a feeling, that if some element, +she knew not what, were absent from his character, +she might then meet his friendship—that +something in utter discord with her own soul—that +something that, speaking through his green-grey +eyes, chilled and repelled her. Affairs were in +this state when one Friday morning, early in +June, Master Gusty May, on entering the school-room, +marched up to the teacher’s desk with an +air of importance, and handed her a note. It +was from Mrs. May, and ran thus:—</p> + +<p class='c014'>“Dearest Sophie, do return with Gusty this evening. +I have sent a pillion, and you can ride behind him. +There are to be grand doings at Grove Cottage this evening. +Kitty is beating eggs; and I am stoning raisins—all +this in honor of the expected arrival of Lieutenant +Augustus H. Wilde, United States Navy. My dear +brother Gusty, his ship has arrived at the Navy Yard at +Norfolk—he has received his promotion, and writes +that he will be with me this evening. Wear your <em>new</em> +brown silk dress, Sophie, for I want you to make a +conquest of Master Gusty, Senior, so that we can keep +him here while he is on shore. And I want <em>him</em> to cut +the minister out, <em>too</em>, although the whole country says +it will be such a ‘marvellous proper’ match—that is, +between you and the minister. Come.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c015'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>EMILY.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>There was another horse and side-saddle +brought by another pupil to carry Sophie home +with him that evening, but when school was +dismissed, Master Gusty (junior, as we must +call him now) marched up to the bringer of the +rival nag, and told the “fellow” that Miss +Churchill was going home with <em>him</em>, and that he +had better carry his “beast” back again.</p> + +<p class='c008'>During their ride to the Grove, Gusty informed +Miss Churchill that he was named after his +uncle, Augustus Wilde, that the latter was just +made a lieutenant, and that he was going to try +to procure a midshipman’s warrant for <em>him</em> when +he was a little bigger. They arrived at the +Grove at sunset. Lieutenant Wilde was already +there, and came out gallantly to lift Sophie from +her horse—she had never seen him before, and +as he came from the cottage door down the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_25'>25</span>long grape-vine covered walk to the gate where +her horse stood, she thought he was strikingly +like his sister, the same silky black hair, the same +dark grey eyes—he approached, addressed her +freely and cheerfully as his sister’s familiar +friend, and in lifting her off the pillion their eyes +met—their <em>eyes</em> met, their <em>souls</em> met. The soul +more or less plainly speaks through the eyes, +and I believe that ever the truest, purest, +strongest, and most lasting love begins with the +first meeting of the eyes, in a sort of mutual +recognition. Involuntarily his voice softened to +its lowest, sweetest tones in addressing her, and +tenderly, most tenderly he arranged her riding +habit as he stood her on the ground, and then +drawing her arm through his own, he gently led +her up the grape walk to the house. Emily +received her at the door with a hearty kiss, and +telling her that she looked unusually charming, +led her into the house. The pastor was within, +of course. Emily’s parlor glittered with its +clean, sober, drab-colored glory. The evening +passed delightfully, between Emily’s music, +Sophie’s songs, and the young lieutenant’s sea-stories, +anecdotes, and adventures. The pastor +alone was silent and moody. Never had Sophie +Churchill passed so delightful an evening. With +strangers generally, Sophie was as shy as the +wild fawn of her native woods, and her large +eyes would startle and dilate if she was addressed +by any one, yet now those wild shy eyes were +ever roving after another pair. As yet she was +utterly unconscious of this truantism. At last +they met that other pair, and she—<em>blushed, and +looked down? No!</em> That belongs to a more +sophisticated, a more conventional being than +our wild fawn of the Heath. No—a glad, +innocent, unconscious smile broke over her face. +There was one present who watched her with a +dark and lowering brow. Happily Sophie did +not perceive the evil eye glowering under it. +The evening closed. She retired to rest with an +elevated and happy heart. She and Emily slept +together in the same old room—the minister +occupied his own chamber alone, for Emily did +not like to thrust her brother in upon him. So +after everybody was gone to rest, Emily prepared +a sofa bed in the parlor for her brother.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Emily! Emily! she is charming, charming!” +said the young man, as his sister stooped to +receive his good night kiss.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That she is, Gusty! Charming! and I am +glad you find her so. Good-night.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“He loves you, darling—he loves you <em>dearly</em>, +<em>sweet</em> darling,” said Emily, hugging her friend +to her bosom, “and I am so glad.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER VII.<br> <span class='c009'>YOUNG LOVE.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in22'>“So gaze met gaze,</div> + <div class='line'>And heart saw heart, translucid through the rays,</div> + <div class='line'>One same, harmonious, universal law,</div> + <div class='line'>Atom to atom, star to star can draw,</div> + <div class='line'>And heart to heart! Swift darts, as from the sun,</div> + <div class='line'>The strong attraction, and the charm is done.”</div> + <div class='line in32'><span class='sc'>The New Timon.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>It was such a beautiful morning, such a holiday +seeming morning—the green foliage all +sparkling with dew in the rays of the early sun, the +air vocal, noisy with all sorts of merry sounds, +cheerful household sounds, gay woodland music, +the crowing of roosters, the cackling of hens, and +above all, the merry, merry, merry bursts +of melody from the birds. Augustus Wilde and +Sophie Churchill sat in the vine-clad porch of +Grove Cottage. (Emily was in the dining-room +washing up her breakfast things, and the +minister was writing his sermon in his room.)</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do you know, Miss Churchill, that I am +perpetually in danger of offending against the +rules of etiquette, and calling you Sophie, as my +sister calls you. Whenever I turn to address +you, ‘Sophie’ springs to my lips. I warn you +of it that you may not be offended when it +comes—why, ‘Sophie’—it just suits you—such +a little shy fawn as you are—in every soft wave +of your brown hair, in every floating beam of +your tender eyes, in every fold of your sober +dress ‘Sophie’ is revealed. I must call you +Sophie.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>They were sitting on the bench with their +backs against the open window of Emily’s bedroom +(the little chamber on the left front, +that I have described). He now felt his ears +grasped from behind and his head well shaken. +Sophie raised her eyes and saw the white dress, +black curls, and merry face of his sister stooping +from the window over him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sophie, is it? Impudence! Well, Sophie, +let him call you what he will—but don’t you call +him Augustus—there is nothing august about +him, call him ‘Gusty,’ or ‘Gusty Wilde,’ for +look you!” said she, pulling back his head, and +kissing his brow, “there is so much latent +strength and fire in this young man’s veins that +it is extremely apt to break out in storms—just +watch him in controversy with Mr. Withers—the +sudden anger will dart from his eyes like a +spring lancet from its sheath!” She shook him +again, and let him go.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! the atrocious medical simile!—like +‘lightning from a mountain cloud,’ you meant.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Like a pea from a pop-gun, more likely. +Now, Miss Churchill, he said your air and manner +<em>revealed</em> ‘Sophie’—very well—every glance, +and start, and spring, every interjection and +exclamation in his looks, gestures, and conversation +<em>exposes</em> ‘Gusty Wilde.’”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Now</em>, Miss Churchill, do you believe that?” +inquired he, with mock seriousness.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, I am sure—” began Sophie.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are sure of nothing—he is on his good +behavior now; wait and see. But that is not +what I broke in upon you for, Mr. Wilde—I +have come to invite you and Miss Churchill to +ride with me this morning. We will borrow +the parson’s gig, and come, I will be good. +You shall drive Sophie, and I will ride FireFly, +my pony. Come, run, Sophie, smoothe +your hair, it is a little blown about by the breeze, +and put on your bonnet. And <em>you</em>, Master +Lieutenant, be so kind as to don your undress uniform +at least—what is the good of having a brother +in the Navy, if he dress like an undertaker at a +funeral? Come! I want to show you off; +I want to get half the girls in the neighborhood +in love with you. Dear me! Am I not rich +just now? Two beaux—the best of beaux for +a country neighborhood—a preacher and an +officer. Mercy! I shouldn’t wonder if my +<span class='pageno' id='Page_26'>26</span>house became the resort of all the merry maidens +and manœuvring mammas in —— county.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>They made many calls that day before returning +to a late dinner. The last house they +called at was Mrs. Gardiner Green’s, where +they were received and entertained by that lady +and her pretty daughter Rose.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The next day was Sunday, and they all went +to church. Lieutenant Wilde sat between his +sister and Miss Churchill in the front pew; +there was an expression of serious joy upon the +faces of the youth and maiden never seen there +before—the minister, perhaps, never was less +happy in his written sermon or its delivery, than +upon this occasion. He had brought Sophie to +church in his gig; at the close of the service he +took her home to the Grove.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The afternoon and evening passed pleasantly. +Early the next morning Sophie returned to +Heath Hall, to recommence her school duties. +That day passed as usual; in the evening after +tea, Sophie sat by the open window; it was a +beautiful starlight night, and she delayed ordering +lights, preferring to enjoy the cool night air, +and listen to the pleasant night sounds by the +open window. Presently a tall dark figure +passed before the window, and in another moment +the minister had entered and was by her +side.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Good evening, Miss Churchill.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Good evening, Mr. Withers.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He took a seat by her side, and sat with his +head bowed upon his hands that rested upon the +top of a stick held between his knees; he was +silent a long time; at last Sophie arose to order +lights.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Where are you going, Miss Churchill?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“To have candles brought.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sit still, Miss Churchill.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie resumed her seat.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You have had a very pleasant visit to the +Grove, Miss Churchill?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Very, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Humph! you were very much pleased with +Mr. Wilde?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah! that is very candid. But do you think, +Miss Churchill, that I can altogether approve of +the marked preference shown by a young lady +in your circumstances for a young gentleman?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie looked bewildered, dismayed. The +poor girl, naturally timid, had been made quite +cowardly by the misconceptions, misconstructions, +and misrepresentations of others; she +grew pale, and replied with a faltering voice—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I—I did not know—I knew—I know that +my profession would seem to require more +steadiness, gravity, and circumspection than I +possess—but I was unconscious of any—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Her voice faltered, broke down, and she stopped +short, and burst into tears. He answered +sternly—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You know very well, Miss Churchill, that +it is not your ‘profession’ I speak of. What +can <em>that</em> be thought to have to do with your +preferences? No, Miss Churchill, you know +very well that I allude to the relations subsisting +between us.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The relations subsisting between us?” faltered +Sophie.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You certainly cannot successfully affect +ignorance of a fact with which the whole county +is acquainted, though it may <em>now</em> seem convenient +for you to attempt it.” He paused. +“Well, Miss Churchill?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not understand you at all, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then all the county understands and have +understood for two months past, that we are to +be married soon, Miss Churchill.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, my God, no! You never dreamed—<em>I</em> +never dreamed of that! Oh, no! I had rather +<em>die</em>! Oh! God knows I had!” exclaimed +Sophie, wildly, clasping her hands and rising.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He caught her hand, and pressed her trembling +into her seat again.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Your aversion to me is certainly flattering—<em>very</em> +flattering, Miss Churchill—but it is rather +late <em>now</em> to express it. You have received my +visits nightly for three months past—and now, +to-night, for the first time, you express a strong +and utter aversion to me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, because <em>I couldn’t help it</em>! How could +I help your coming here—how can I help this +aversion I feel—pardon me if I have expressed +it strongly. I have a high respect for you, and +I ought to feel honored by your preference—any +woman in the parish would. You are too good—too +wise for me, believe me you are! I am a +child—a fool! Oh! don’t think of it! <em>pray</em> +don’t think of it! Consider how many ladies—ladies +of family and fortune—would be proud +to wed the minister; who would throw himself +away upon a poor, lone girl, without connexions, +and without influence!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie had risen in her earnestness, and stood +before him with her clasped hands.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He closed his eyes and smiled; he stretched +forth his hand, and taking hers, drew her again +to her seat, and passed his arm around her waist +and whispered—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My little Sophie, my little fawn, you shall +be Mrs. Withers in three weeks, just as sure as +you live!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She shrank from the clasp of his arm, as +though it had been the clammy coil of a serpent.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I will not! cannot! durst not! Mr. Withers, +why don’t you marry Rose Green? She would +have you; or Mrs. Somerville, or Mrs. Slye, or +Mrs. Joshua Eversham, or Miss Polly Mortimer—any +of them would have, would be proud to +marry the minister of the parish.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I know that, Miss Churchill!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And any of these ladies would make you +a good wife.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not doubt it, Miss Churchill.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then why don’t you marry one of them?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Because they are each ready to fall into my +arms.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie was wounded and became silent—she +attempted to withdraw herself from the embrace +of his arm, but every attempt was punished by +a tighter fold.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Miss Churchill, do you know that there is +an instinct in human nature—to speak more correctly, +in <em>man’s</em> nature, or in speaking <em>most</em> correctly, +perhaps I should say in <em>my own</em> nature—to +pursue that which <em>flies</em>? Why, Sophie, when +I was a lad, I always preferred to play with +kittens that were scarey and spiteful, that would +kick, scratch, and bite, that would resist to the +death rather than with one that would cosily +and quietly nestle down in my lap—the latter I +should have shaken off.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But how,” said Sophie, “if the poor kitten +<span class='pageno' id='Page_27'>27</span>neither resisted nor caressed you—shrank and +shivered and died in your hands?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I should not give the weak thing a chance, +Sophie; when the shrinking and shivering commenced, +I should throw it heavily upon the +ground, and thereby kill it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie shuddered.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Both were silent for some time; then he +spoke—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What day, Miss Churchill, between this and +the first of next month will it please you to bestow +upon me the honor of your hand?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No day! no day! Don’t look at me so, +Mr. Withers, pray don’t; it makes me ill—<em>pray +don’t</em>—I am a mere girl, a mere child; it frightens +me, this idea of marrying you—indeed, believe +me, it does!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come! Miss Churchill, come! This will +not do—this fickleness and unfaithfulness on +your part will not answer; I cannot permit it. +I thought the footing we stood upon in relation +to each other well understood; you certainly +could <em>not</em> have misinterpreted the meaning of +my visits here; no one else has misconceived +them. Mrs. Gardiner Green inquired of me to-day +when our marriage was to come off. I told +her that it would take place some time this +month, that I would apprise her of the exact +day to-morrow. It is for the purpose of ascertaining +your day that I have called this evening. +Come, Sophie, satisfy me upon this point.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I cannot! I cannot! God <em>knows</em> I cannot! +Oh! <em>Why</em> do you persist in this? Why! +why love a girl who is in no respect, of age, +mind, education, or wealth, your equal?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Fiddlestick! have I said I loved you? No, +Sophie, thank God I have never yet been, never, +I trust, shall be, under the influence of that most +weak and puerile passion.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then, in the name of reason and of mercy, +why seek to marry a girl whom you do not +love, and who hates—no, does not <em>hate</em>, but +who fears and recoils from you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Precisely because she <em>does</em> fear and recoil +from me!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I will not marry you, then! I will not +marry you then! please God to give me strength. +Surely I am a free girl; no one has a right, or +will attempt, or could succeed in forcing my inclinations. +Come, I will be firm, and nothing +can compel me!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But destiny. You are in a net of circumstances +from whence there is no escape, Sophie +Churchill. Do not struggle, you will lacerate +your limbs and waste your strength only to entangle +yourself the more.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Again silence ensued. Sophie continued from +time to time to try to extricate herself from his +grasp, each attempt but serving to rivet his arm +about her waist—at last he said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The embrace of my arm is an emblem of +the surrounding of your fate; you can as easily +escape the one as the other.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie burst into tears, and wept long and +freely. He did not attempt to soothe or even to +speak to her. At last her fit of grief and terror +exhausted itself, and she became calm. Then +she said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, I might have guessed all this sorrow +from the first time I ever met your eye!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Flattering again!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The clock struck. Sophie struggled.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mr. Withers, it is ten o’clock.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, Miss Churchill, I only wait my +answer to return home.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I have given you the only one I can give—take +it again. I cannot give myself to you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then I can take you, that’s all, Sophie. +Mrs. Gardiner Green will call upon you to-morrow,” +and so saying, he arose and took his +leave.</p> + +<p class='c008'>When left alone Sophie paced uneasily up +and down the floor, saying, as she clasped her +temples—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Am I mad or going mad? am I dreaming? +Under a spell? Oh, <em>what</em> is this? What is +this closing around me like irresistible destiny? +Why cannot I awake, arouse from this? I know +I’m free; <em>why</em> can’t I use my freedom? What +a spell, what a mystery, what a horror! Oh! +my Heavenly Father! If I could awake! I +lose my free will! Oh, fate! fate! fate! thy hand +is on me, and there is no resisting it!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Thus the pinions of her weak will fluttered +in the iron grasp of a strong and implacable +one.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER VIII.<br> <span class='c009'>THE PHANTOM’S WARNING.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Let me gaze for a moment that e’er I die</div> + <div class='line'>I may read thee, lady, a prophecy,</div> + <div class='line'>That brow may beam in glory awhile,</div> + <div class='line'>That cheek may bloom and that lip may smile,</div> + <div class='line'>But clouds shall darken that brow of snow,</div> + <div class='line'>And sorrow blight that bosom’s glow.”</div> + <div class='line in28'><span class='sc'>Miss L. Davidson.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>Scarcely was the school dismissed the next +evening, before the carriage of Mrs. Gardiner +Green drew up before the door. The liveried +footman of Mrs. Gardiner Green descended from +behind and opened the door and let down the +steps, and Mrs. Gardiner Green hereby alighted +and entered the hall. Sophie received the pompous +lady at the door; Mrs. Gardiner Green +took the poor girl in her arms and kissed her, +then <em>conducted</em> rather than followed her into +the parlor. They sat down. After a little +preliminary conversation the lady began:</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My dearest Miss Churchill, I have come at +the suggestion of our mutual friend and reverend +pastor, Mr. Withers, to offer you any aid or +advice that the present crisis of your circumstances +may demand. Now no blushing, my +dear Miss Churchill; look upon me as a mother—as +a sister,” said the lady, quickly correcting +herself. “In short, Miss Churchill, I have +come to propose that you be married from our +house.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Now this was said so coolly, taking the premises +so much as a matter of course, that Sophie, +poor cowardly Sophie, had nothing at first to +say.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The lady went on with her proposals, entering +into all the details of wedding dresses, bridesmaids, +brides-cake, and a vast deal of matronly +information and advice. At last Sophie could +bear it no longer; she arose nervously from her +seat and turned to the window, every limb trembling, +and her voice faltering as she said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am not going to be married to Mr. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_28'>28</span>Withers, Mrs. Green—I am very sorry everybody +seems to think so—it is not true—will you +do me the favor to contradict it wherever you +may hear it?” And now she turned towards +her. Mrs. Gardiner Green looked perfectly +aghast; she evidently knew her part.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then, Miss Churchill, as your mother’s +oldest friend, may I ask,—<em>what</em> is the meaning +of the minister’s nightly visits to you?—for +know, Miss Churchill, that unless they portend +marriage, not even his sacred cloth will <em>prevent</em>, +but rather <em>augment</em> the scandal that will ensue. +Miss Churchill, I would not for the world that +any thoughtless or malicious person should hear +you say what you have just said; but, Miss +Churchill, again I ask you—why have you permitted +his nightly visits for three months past?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I could not help it—<em>how</em> could I help it?—should +I have thought of telling our minister to +keep away? I thought whatever our minister +said or did was right, and could not be misconstrued, +or I am afraid, I am <em>sure</em>, that until now, +I never thought about it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, Sophie, that is it—<em>you never thought +about it</em>—your thoughtlessness in permitting the +visits of gentlemen in your unprotected condition +had already nearly mined you, when the kindness +and candor of Mr. Withers rescued you +from the neglect and obscurity into which you +had fallen; and now his very kindness will +through your thoughtlessness be converted into a +greater misfortune to you and himself, that is, if +you do not marry him; but of course you will +do so, Sophie.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie Churchill was sitting before her; the +palms of her hands pressed together; her eyes +raised imploringly to the countenance of the +lady.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie was utterly unconscious of this attitude +of supplication. It was the involuntary +appeal of a weak will to a stronger one.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! I never can—I <em>never can</em> marry that +man—death—<em>death</em> would be better.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yet, Miss Churchill, you have seemed to +speak sometimes as if you took pleasure in his +society.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“When he reads or converses I like to hear, +or <em>have</em> liked—I shall never like it again; but +if his eye runs from his book and fixes on my +face—I—oh!—I can’t tell you, but at the very +idea of marrying him I grow deadly sick and +faint.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Mrs. Gardiner Green, with her obtuse sensibilities, +did not understand this, but she answered +coldly—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“There is no one to compel you to do justice +to Mr. Withers, Miss Churchill—no one to force +your inclinations in any way; still, as your mother’s +friend, I must advise you to bring no reproach +upon her memory by your lightness of +conduct; as your brother’s friend I must entreat +you not to injure the prospects of his young +daughter by your selfishness; and as the friend +of Mr. Withers, I must conjure you not to destroy +his usefulness by your fickleness and unfaithfulness.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She continued to talk, using all the arguments +of a hard woman of the world, with a +nervous, sensitive, and somewhat visionary girl, +and at the end of two hours more, left Sophie very +well prepared to receive, or <em>rather</em>, very incapable +of resisting her destiny and her master. It was +near sunset when the lady’s carriage rolled +away from the door. When she was gone Sophie +sank down on the steps of the piazza, and +resting her elbows on her knees, dropped her +face into the palms of her hands, and gave herself +up to despair. She sat there until the sun went +down—she sat until the stars came out—she sat +there until she felt a light hand fall upon the top +of her head. She looked up, and the phantom +of the forest dell stood before her, the same +wan, spectral face—the same large, intense, +blue eyes, blazing in their hollow sockets, surrounded +by their livid, bluish circle—the same +streaming yellow hair, with its streaks of grey—the +same emaciated claw-like fingers. Her intense +gaze sought and met Sophie’s eyes, and +she knew that her visitor was a denizen of +earth. She remained gazing into Sophie’s eyes +a minute, and then she broke forth with terrible +energy:—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Do not marry him!</em>—risk—suffer <em>anything</em> +but that! <em>Do not marry him!</em> Be true to your +instincts—they warned you at your first meeting, +they warn you <em>now</em>! Be true to your instincts! +They were given you of God for your +protection; it is a sin—it is a <em>sin</em> to disregard +them, and the punishment—the punishment will +be more than you can bear!—a broken heart!—a +maddened brain!—at least—<em>at least</em> a +blighted life! Look at me!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She tore the mantle from her breast and displayed +a skeleton form, to which the tight skin +clung.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Who are you, in the name of Heaven?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I <em>am</em> a shadow—a memory—a <em>warning</em>! +I <em>was</em> his wife!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Great God!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie raised her eyes just in time to see the +tall figure of the minister near the shadowy woman, +and his strong hand fell upon her shoulder. +He had approached unperceived. She shrieked—sprang +from under his grasp, and fled towards +the river. He looked after her in dismay, apparently +with an impulse of pursuit. When she +had disappeared over the cliff, and down the +bank, he turned to Sophie.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Who is that woman, Sophie?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<span class='sc'>Your wife!</span>” said the girl, raising her eyes +bravely now to meet his gaze.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You were always a little brainsick, Miss +Churchill, but really this—or perhaps you are +only jesting.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do I look like jesting? Is yonder unfortunate +a subject for jest?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then you are clearly insane—moon-struck +as your lunatic visitor. Pray can you tell me +what put such an extravagant idea into your +head?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Her own word.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Her own word—the mad fancy of a maniac!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“At least, Mr. Withers, you will not think +of pressing your suit, or even renewing a single +visit, after such a revelation.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will I not? I have two urgent duties to +perform now—one is to seek that lunatic, and +have her taken care of; the other to hasten our +marriage, Sophie, that everything seems to endanger, +from naval officers to strolling maniacs.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She is your wife!—I know she is! Every +glance into your face deepens the conviction I +feel.”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_29'>29</span>“Do you not know that I lost my wife while +living in the North?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You lost her, but how?—by <em>death</em>? Possessions +and persons are lost sometimes, and +<em>found</em> again. Nothing but the grave is inexorable. +Come, has the grave inclosed your +wife?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Insulting! insolent! Take care, Sophie, +you are heaping up wrath against a day of +wrath.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>You are!</em> Were this incident known in +the neighborhood—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You would be laughed to scorn for your +credulity. <em>Nonsense</em>, Sophie! Were the letters +I brought here of so little weight?—was the +approbation, the warm friendship of the venerable +and sainted May, of such little worth, that +the fancies of a moon-struck woman should be +able to injure me, or should change my views +and purposes towards you? Come, Sophie, it +is best that you understand me. <em>I have no +wife.</em> I assure you, upon my honor—my untarnished +truth, Sophie, that I have no wife, and +I <em>must</em> have you! Your hand is the <em>one</em> thing +that I wish on earth, and I <em>must, must</em> have it—<em>will</em> +have it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie was weeping bitterly. He stooped +down, took her chin in his hand, and raised her +tearful face, then sat beside her, and said, more +gently than he had yet spoken—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, Sophie Churchill, I am no hypocrite, +no villain, and God knows it. I have been the +most unfortunate and the most injured man, +perhaps, that ever lived; and some day, when +you are prepared for it, you shall know it. As +for the woman, poor creature, she must be cared +for; and now, lest you should perchance cherish +in your heart another suspicion, which yet +you would never breathe, I will volunteer to +say that I have never wronged that woman—never, +so help me Heaven! Dismiss her from +your mind, Sophie, and tell me, has Mrs. Gardiner +Green been to see you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, sir,” murmured Sophie.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And between you, you settled the day for +our marriage.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, sir, but—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Never mind <em>but</em>—what day did you fix?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mr. Withers, that is all over now—Mrs. +Green, herself, if she knew—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Never mind, my dear; what day <em>had</em> you +fixed?</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then we <em>had</em> fixed the fifteenth.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Thank you, Sophie!” and he sealed his +thanks upon her lips, arose, and bidding her +good night, left the spot.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER IX.<br> <span class='c009'>THE WANDERER’S DEATH.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Oh, ask me not to speak her fate,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Oh, tempt me not to tell</div> + <div class='line'>The sin that made her desolate,—</div> + <div class='line in2'>Passion she could not quell</div> + <div class='line'>Alas! the grave can only be</div> + <div class='line'>Fit refuge of her misery.”</div> + <div class='line in24'><span class='sc'>Anonymous.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>“Sophie, your cheeks are pale, and a livid +blue circle surrounds your eyes; you do not look +like yourself—you are ill; do not keep school +to-day—give a holiday and rest.” These were +the words addressed by Mrs. May to her friend +on the day succeeding the events related in the +last chapter. She had ridden over, attended by +Augustus Wilde, to spend the day with Sophie +and help her to teach. They were standing in +the school-room just before calling the pupils.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, Miss Churchill, <em>do</em> give a holiday to-day +for my sake, as well as for your own,” said +Lieutenant Augustus, setting his cap and riding-whip +down upon the desk. “On Thursday my +week’s leave of absence expires. This is the +last day I shall have an opportunity of spending +with you, and you look weary from confinement +and work; everything points to a holiday—come!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie smiled a sickly smile, and said she +was very well.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But I do not think so, and I never believe a +<em>smile</em> unless the <em>eyes</em> smile, too,” said Emily; +“now <em>I</em> am going to give a holiday;” and so +saying, she went into the yard, called the children +together by a bell, and told them to go +home, for there was to be no school that day. +Sophie Churchill was ever too yielding, and +now, in the languor of dejection, she made no +opposition.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now, Sophie, we will go a fishing,” said +Mrs. May, as she returned after dismissing the +children, “the fresh air off the bay will revive you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And I, Miss Churchill, feel very anxious for +a forenoon’s frolic on the waters, if that is any +argument,” said Lieutenant Gusty, and he sought +Sophie’s eyes; but <em>they</em> were bent upon the +ground, or, when raised, their intelligence, their +light, their sympathy for <em>him</em> was gone. He +<em>felt</em> this, and his heart sank. Had he offended +her? and how? He wished to speak to her, or +to his sister apart, and ask the reason, but he +could not speak to either upon the subject, in the +presence of the other. It is a feature in human +sympathy, that one may be in company with +two equally loved and trusted friends, to <em>either</em> +of whom <em>apart</em>, one would confide the secret +that oppresses—for there is a feeling of security, +exclusiveness, sacredness, between <em>two</em> friends +conversing, that is lost when a <em>third</em>, however +equally dear to both, enters in—the electric cord +of full sympathy and confidence has but <em>two</em> +ends. The Jesuits understand this, for by a +statute of their order it is forbidden that less +than <em>three</em> members go apart, or converse +together. Now, Augustus Wilde felt this without +reasoning upon it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Miss Churchill put on her bonnet, and they +were soon down upon the beach under the +promontory; the gravelly beach was clean and +cool, and the waters blue and clear, and +sparkling in the beams of the early sun, and all +the golden clouds were reflected on their bosom. +The little skiff was soon unmoored and they +were out upon the bay; as they receded from +the shore, Lieutenant Wilde stood up and turned +to look upon the promontory, or rather peak, +surmounted by the old hall; his eye rested a +moment upon the towering object, and then +wandered down to where the promontory +descended into the heath, and further on, where +the heath flattened into the moor. He had just +said, while gazing on the scene, “I am no agriculturist, +Miss Churchill, yet I never saw what +<span class='pageno' id='Page_30'>30</span><em>I</em> think to be so fine an estate in all the gifts of +nature as this—the moor with its wild fowl, the +river and the bay with their fish and their oyster-banks, +the forest in the background with its wood +and its game—it is inconceivable how the +property has been suffered to—” and then he +stopped, started, and gazed at an object on the +water between them and the land—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is the matter, Augustus?” said Emily, +attempting to rise. He pushed her down into +her seat again, while he continued to gaze upon +the floating object as it was borne upon the +waves towards the beach.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is the matter, Augustus? What are +you looking at; one would think you saw a +shark.” And now Sophie’s brown eyes were +raised in silent inquiry.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Augustus sat down, muttering “Nothing, +nothing,” and pulled for a distant part of the +shore, about midway the heath, between the +promontory and the moor.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Are you going to land?” asked Emily.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Be quiet, will you,” muttered he, pinching +her arm and glancing at Sophie, who had +relapsed into her abstraction.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Not until they had nearly reached the beach, +had Sophie noticed their altered course; then +she looked up and inquired, “Where are you +going? Why this is not a good place to fish.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Lieutenant Wilde answered, “We think we +have made it too late in the morning—that the +sun is too high and too hot for you, Miss +Churchill; and we think we will return to the +hall.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie remonstrated, declared she felt no ill +effects from the heat, &c.; but was overruled as +usual. Emily now asserting that she felt the +rays of the sun too strong, they landed and +walked to the hall. When they reached the +parlor, Emily <em>purposely</em> removed her bonnet and +scarf <em>there</em>, and Sophie taking them, carried +them up stairs to put away. When she had left +the room,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Now</em>, I followed your lead in coming home—tell +me <em>why</em> you came; what was the matter +with you—what did you see on the water?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You told me that Miss Churchill was very +nervous and sensitive, did you not?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I told you, that of late she is—naturally +Sophie has a strong mind.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, Emily, the object I saw upon the +water was a dead body.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Merciful Heaven! are you <em>sure</em>?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Certain.</em> I saw it distinctly—it was being +wafted towards the beach.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Heavenly Father! some poor negro, out +fishing, drunk perhaps, fell overboard.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No; a woman scantily clothed, with streaming +yellow hair clinging wet around her swollen +limbs. I am sure the body is by this time cast +upon the beach.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A woman with streaming yellow hair,” said +Emily, as the memory of Sophie’s vision in the +dell crossed her mind. “Can we, Augustus, +get away from Sophie in any way, and go down +to the beach?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“We must make an excuse of some sort,” +said Augustus.</p> + +<p class='c008'>His purpose was forestalled—for at that +moment the handsome blue carriage and grey +horses of Mrs. Gardiner Green stopped before +the door; and the lofty lady alighted and +entered the house. “How do you do, Mrs. +May—and Lieutenant Wilde—well, this is +delightful. I am so happy to see you. I must +positively have you at the Glade to-morrow +evening, to meet a few friends—quite an <em>improvised</em> +little affair; but where is Miss Churchill? +I am enacting ‘mamma’ to that young lady +just at the present crisis; and this morning I +wish a private interview with her.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Emily seized this chance—and calling to +little Hagar, sent her for Miss Churchill. When +Sophie entered the room, she arose, and leaving +Mrs. Green to explain her departure, took her +brother’s arm, and saying that she would return +in half an hour, threw her handkerchief over her +head and strolled out into the yard; then +quickening their steps, they hastened towards the +peak. Descending the cliff by a circuitous path, +they reached the beach; and there, immediately +under the point of the promontory, they decried +an object that, upon nearer approach, they found +to be the dead body of a woman. Emily May, +pale with awe, knelt down to examine the +body—her brother stood in silence by her +side. From its extreme emaciation, the body, +unlike those of most drowned persons, was not +much swollen, but lay slender and extended at +length—the arms confined to the waist, and the +slight limbs bound together by the winding and +clinging of the long yellow hair, that in beating +about the waters had got twisted around her. +With trembling fingers Emily removed the tress +of hair that, wet and sticking to her face, partly +concealed the features. She gazed earnestly and +sadly upon the extinguished lamp of that dead +countenance—the blue-white complexion, the +thin sharpened features, the round forehead +polished and shining, from very emaciation, the +ultra-marine blue eyes, stony and swollen—the +small elegant nose, with its delicate and half-transparent +nostril—the short and beautifully +curved upper lip, drawn up now blue and stiff, +and exposing the little pearly teeth—and lastly, +the long fine golden hair with its few commingling +threads of silver—the extremely small and +slender hands, thin now as birds’ claws—the +little naked foot, with its curved hollow and +proud high instep.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Who <em>can</em> she be?” asked Augustus; “do +you know, Emily?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>His sister shook her head; she was thinking +of the vision seen by Sophie in the forest dell, +but she deemed it best to be silent upon that +subject at present. There was a small house +under the shadow of the promontory, in which +sails, fishing-nets, and rods, &c., were kept; +into this house, for the present, Lieutenant Wilde +conveyed the body, and locking the door, took +possession of the key, and advising Emily to +return to the hall, he went off to Churchill +Point to summon the coroner.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>“Ridiculous, my dear! absurd, preposterous! +<em>utterly</em> preposterous! A crazy woman wandering +through the country, and saying that she is +our minister’s wife! and you to believe it! I +shall grow thoroughly ashamed of you, Miss +Churchill. Why, don’t you know, my dear, that +is always the way with these lunatic vagrants, +to fancy themselves some great personage, <em>always</em>; +<span class='pageno' id='Page_31'>31</span>all I wonder at, is that your maniac was +so moderate—they are generally queens, nothing +less will serve them; even old Suke Ennis, you +know, is the President’s wife—and carries her +bosom full of waste papers that she says are his +letters. A strolling lunatic suddenly appears +before you, in the full of the moon, announces +herself as the wife of the most important man she +knows of, flees away at his approach,—and <em>you</em>, +upon the strength of her moon-struck madness, +believe, or more probably <em>affect</em> to believe her +insane statement; you grow ridiculous. Oh! +do not, for <em>your own</em> reputation for good sense, +mention this to any one else. I am <em>mortified</em> at +you, <em>alarmed</em> for you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>This was the manner in which Mrs. Gardiner +Green received the news of Sophie’s strange +visitor from Miss Churchill’s lips, when they had +been left alone together.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not think that she was a lunatic,” said +Sophie, seriously. “I thought she spoke sense, +truth, sad, sorrowful truth.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Sense,’ ‘truth,’ the maddest of them can +speak sense and truth sometimes; but her very +<em>statement</em> proves her lunacy—do not we all +know better—don’t we know that the wife of +Mr. Withers died two years ago?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I think that is an impression that has been +generally received, but I think that the opinion +has no good foundation in fact; now that my +mind fixes itself upon the subject, I remember +that in his letter to Mr. May, he speaks of the +‘loss,’ never of the <em>death</em> of his wife.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! I have no <em>patience</em> with you! ‘Loss,’ +what could it have been but <em>death</em>! Think of +Mr. May’s warm regard—but I will <em>not</em> argue +with you upon this most injurious suspicion—it +is an insult to Mr. Withers to hear or reply to +such—pshaw! No, Miss Churchill, you have +seized this, as the drowning catch at straws, to +save you from fulfilling an engagement, which +only since the arrival of this gay young officer +has grown distasteful to you. But I tell you +plainly, Sophie—Miss Churchill, I should say—that +if you break this engagement, as you +will not, I think, venture to do—I shall be +obliged, however unwillingly, to abandon you. +I have a daughter,” here the proud lady drew +herself up,” and I must consult <em>her</em> interest +before anything else. Rose Green loves you, +Sophie Churchill, but if you wantonly trifle with +your good name, I must sever you. Mrs. May, +also, I think, could scarcely defy public opinion, +by continuing her friendly intercourse with you.” +Sophie Churchill was sitting with her face pale, +her features rigid, her eyes fixed unconsciously +upon her cold white fingers idly locked together +on her lap; one or two large tears gathered in +her set eyes, and slowly rolled down her cheeks. +“Do not weep, Miss Churchill, if I talk to you +plainly; it is to set things in a proper light before +you; I speak to you as I would speak to Rose, +under like circumstances. Your duty is very +plain; the day of your marriage is fixed, go forward +with the preparations for your wedding. +I am here to lend you assistance, not to tolerate +weakness, vacillation, and infidelity.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie remonstrated now no more; unresistingly +she suffered the circle of destiny to close +around her. More than the force of circumstances—more +than the <em>strength</em> of others—more +than our own <em>weakness</em> does our <em>indolence</em> +leave us at the mercy of fate. Adverse +external powers are at work upon us, surrounding +us, contracting their circle upon us; we feel +an inward reposing strength that, aroused, might +struggle and overcome; but we are inert, we yield +to their influence, they close upon us; we sigh, +and call it <em>fate</em>. It was thus with Sophie +Churchill. In vain the whisper of her true interests +arose from the deeps of her soul, saying—“Speak! +and break through this enchanted circle—<em>you</em> +are right, <em>she</em> is wrong. Have faith in God, +believe <em>yourself</em>, trust in the candor and friendship +of Emily, in the intelligence, goodness, and +<em>love</em>—yes, <em>love</em> of Augustus; awake! arise! and +save yourself.” Alas! the voice was heard in +vain. It could not be <em>stilled</em>, but it was not +obeyed. Still sat she there with cold clasped +hands and rigid features, letting fate encompass +her, but feeling in her profoundest soul the painful +consciousness that <em>she herself</em>, and not another, +was making her own misery.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Emily May now entered, but Sophie was too +much absorbed in her sorrow, Mrs. Green too +much interested in the subject on hand, to notice +the absence of Lieutenant Wilde, or the unusual +seriousness of her countenance and manner. +Emily silently took her seat, without mentioning +the occurrence of the hour. With an instinctive +fear of leaving Sophie alone with Emily then +and there, Mrs. Gardiner Green dismissed her +carriage and announced her intention of remaining +the day, and of returning in the afternoon +with Mrs. May. Emily observed the dejection +of Sophie, but silently attributed it to ill health, +weak nerves, &c., and dwelt slightly upon +the circumstance, her thoughts being engaged +with the drowned woman then lying in the fish-house.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>That morning Mr. Withers had been requested, +upon account of the sparse population, to form +one of a coroner’s jury, to sit upon the case of a +drowned <em>person</em>, at four o’clock in the afternoon, +at Heath Hall. The hasty summons conveyed no +further information. With a strange abstraction +of mind he had not looked deeply into the subject +of the note—and penning a hasty answer, he +promised to be on the spot at the appointed +hour.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The dinner-table had been cleared away at +Heath Hall. Mrs. Gardiner Green had sustained +the chief burden of the conversation all +day. Lieutenant Wilde had not returned; and +to the inquiry of Mrs. Green relative to his +absence (which, by the way, she rejoiced in), +Emily had replied that sudden business had recalled +him to the village, and there the subject +dropped. She still refrained from mentioning +the occurrence of the morning. Then Mrs. +Gardiner Green, taking advantage of the momentary +absence of Miss Churchill, informed Mrs. +May that the marriage day of her dear young +friend Sophie Churchill with Mr. Withers, was +fixed for the fifteenth of the current month; that +thus it would take place in little more than a +week from that day—that the ceremony would +be performed at her house, &c., &c. Emily +received this information with pain and surprise, +but was prevented replying by the re-entrance of +Sophie. She was no longer at a loss to guess +<span class='pageno' id='Page_32'>32</span>the reason of Miss Churchill’s ill looks; she +turned her head away, for her heart was swelling +and her eyes were filling with tears. They were +engaged then, she thought. Well! well! she +had hoped it would have been otherwise, but +they were engaged—the marriage near at hand. +As Emily looked from the window she started +on observing a small cavalcade approaching the +house, and muttering to herself—“Oh! how +thoughtless, how careless of Augustus,” went out +to meet it. It was the dead body of the drowned +woman borne along on a litter. “Oh, <em>why</em> have +you done this, Augustus?” she asked of her +brother, as the litter was set down in front of the +piazza.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, I could not very well prevent it,” said +he, pointing to the two or three old country +magistrates in the train, “besides Miss Churchill +cannot be shocked at what she is prepared to +see—you have surely informed her?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, I have not; I should have done so, +could I have guessed that they would have +brought the body here.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, dearest Emily, this was the nearest +house, the coroner’s inquest was appointed to +meet here, also.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Emily May requested them to pause with the +body until she could go in and announce their +arrival to the mistress of the mansion. She need +not have feared for Sophie’s nerves <em>then</em>. When +we are in deep trouble we are in excellent order +to receive <em>bad</em> news; it does not shock us, little +can shock us when in sorrow, except joy. Let +me illustrate, when we are already <em>cold</em> we +can bear a <em>cool</em> draught. Sophie gave her consent +almost indifferently for the corpse to be +brought in, and the three ladies withdrew to the +upper story. In another quarter of an hour it +was laid out in the parlor. Emily had dropped +no hint to Sophie of her suspicion of the identity +of the drowned woman with the wanderer she +had seen in the forest dell, and Miss Churchill +was entirely without suspicion as to who it could +be. Mrs. Gardiner Green was full of exclamations +of wonder, grief, and horror. Four o’clock +drew near, and the jury summoned by the coroner +began to assemble; many other persons impelled +by curiosity also came. When the room +was nearly full, and the hour appointed for holding +the inquest arrived, it entered the head of the +coroner to request the attendance of the lady of +the house as well as of Mrs. May, whose testimony, +as one present at the finding of the body, +was required. A message was sent upstairs, +and Mrs. May and Miss Churchill, accompanied +by Mrs. Gardiner Green, entered the room. The +corpse was laid out upon boards in the centre of +the room; it was covered by a black velvet pall—the +body had not been uncovered since the +assembling of the jury. The ladies entered and +took their seats.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What are we waiting for now?” inquired a +gentleman present.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“For Mr. Withers, who is on the jury,” +answered the coroner.</p> + +<p class='c008'>At this moment Mr. Withers entered, and the +inquest began. The coroner, going to the head +of the bier, turned down the pall, and summoned +Mr. Wilde to give in his evidence. At the first +uncovering of the corpse, many had bent forward +to obtain a glimpse of the face, Mr. Withers +among the rest; he had been standing near Sophie, +whom he had not omitted to greet, and now he +leaned forward. By reason of his height, he +obtained a good view, <em>for a single instant</em>, then +covering his face with his open palms, he +groaned forth in tones of bitter anguish—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“God! Oh, God! <em>Fanny</em>,” and dropped like +a lifeless mass into his chair. The intense curiosity +of all present directed to the corpse prevented +the agitation of the minister being observed. +Lieutenant Wilde identified the corpse +as the body found by himself in the morning. +Emily was then summoned, and corroborated the +statement of her brother. When she was about +to leave the stand she was asked—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Did you ever see or hear of this woman +before?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I never saw her before this morning, when I +saw her dead upon the beach.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Did you ever hear of her before?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes—no—yes!—<em>no</em>, I never—” said Emily, +confused between fact and fancy. Her confused +answer drew upon her a close cross-examination, +during which she alluded to the +vision seen in the dell by Miss Churchill. She +was then dismissed, and Sophie Churchill called +to the stand. Sophie had been sitting in a remote +part of the room—she had not bent forward +as others had to view the corpse—hence +she had not seen it at all; to the examination of +the witnesses she had paid slight attention. Not +one word of Emily’s testimony had she heard, +by reason of the low tone in which Emily +spoke. She arose when called, approached the +bier, and when told to look upon the body, and +say whether she had ever seen it before, she +languidly cast her eyes down upon it, and recognised +the apparition of the dell—the moonlight +visitor of the Hall—started—tottered—and +with a smothered cry sank back in the arms of +the coroner in a swoon. All the company +looked dismayed. Augustus Wilde sprang forward +to receive her, took her from the coroner’s +hold, and telling him angrily that he had exceeded +his authority, bore her into the air, and +sitting down with her on the steps of the piazza, +hastily loosened her dress and fanned her with +his cap. Emily was by his side, she had followed +them; Sophie opened her eyes, and then +resigning her to Emily’s care he returned to the +hall, meeting Mrs. Gardiner Green bustling out +to look after her protegée.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The verdict, “death by drowning,” was rendered, +and the jury broke up. The coroner and +magistrates had decided that the body should be +buried from the Hall in the family burial ground, +with the consent of Miss Churchill. The magistrates +were taking their hats and preparing to +depart, when the figure of Sophie Churchill, +pale and haggard as though newly arisen from +the grave, appeared among them.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I have testimony to give, and I <em>must</em> give +it,” she said.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The magistrates looked surprised, the company +eager—Mrs. Gardiner Green, frowning, +sat down. Emily, pale and expectant, stood by +Sophie’s side.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The inquest is over,” said Mrs. Green at +last. “Your testimony will be supererogatory, +Miss Churchill.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Her deposition can be taken by a magistrate,” +said Lieutenant Wilde.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Miss Churchill is not now of sound mind, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_33'>33</span>she is ill, her testimony cannot be taken,” persisted +the proud lady.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie Churchill was now standing by the +side of the corpse—all eyes were turned towards +her—<em>her</em> eyes were bent straight forward across +the room upon the bowed and shuddering figure +of the minister; he <em>felt</em> her gaze, he raised his +head; her eyes full of deep reproach and dire +determination encountered his—no longer cold +and glittering like ice, and freezing the blood in +her veins—oh, no! the anguish of a tortured +soul <em>groaned</em> through their glance—“<em>Mercy!</em> +Sophie.” That glance inspired Sophie’s heart +with pity, but it was too late now, or <em>she</em> +thought it was too late to retract. The magistrate +commenced his examination. To his +question—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“When did you first see this woman?” she +replied by relating the adventure in the dell. +“And her finger pointed at the—at the Rev. Mr. +Withers?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, sir,” replied Sophie, turning her head +to avoid looking at the tortured countenance of +the minister.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Did she speak?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What did she say?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Gazing intently at me, and pointing to the +minister, she said, ‘shun him!’”</p> + +<p class='c008'>All eyes now turned in wonder and curiosity +from Sophie to the minister.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Did you ever see her after this?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Once.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Where?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie now related the visit to the Hall.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And she claimed to be Mr. Withers’s wife?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Did she appear to you to be of unsound mind?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You may stand aside.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The magistrates conversed apart for a while, +then one of their number said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will Mr. Withers be kind enough to step +forward?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The minister arose, and collecting and composing +himself with an effort, approached the +table—all conversation was suspended—all eyes +were fixed upon him—he felt it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will Mr. Withers oblige us by telling all he +may know of this unfortunate young person—of +course we have no sort of right, <em>now</em>, to ask it—we +appeal to the courtesy of Mr. Withers to +satisfy an interest that we all feel in this most +unfortunate young stranger?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Mr. Withers bowed, and declared himself +ready to answer any question upon the subject.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“We have no intention or desire to subject +Mr. Withers to a legal examination,” said the +first speaker, “we merely wished, that if it were +not unpleasant, Mr. Withers would oblige us +by volunteering such information as might be in +his possession.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Is she your <em>wife</em>, Mr. Withers?” chucklingly +inquired an old country squire, who did not believe +what he asked, but whom neither time, +place, nor circumstance could debar from his +jest. “Is she your <em>wife</em>?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, sir,” answered Mr. Withers, with dignity, +“she is not my wife, gentlemen. I <em>do</em> know +this young woman, have known her from a +child; her life for the last three years has been +full of passion, sin, suffering, and sorrow that +eventuated in insanity, and has ended as you +may see in suicide. For the last year she has +been my pensioner, and an inmate of the —— +lunatic asylum. A few months ago I was informed +by letter that she had escaped; yesterday +evening I discovered that she was in this +neighborhood, by coming upon her suddenly +while she was conversing with Miss Churchill. +I believe she followed me to this neighborhood, +yet at my approach she fled. That was last +night, her body was found this morning. This +is all I have to tell, sirs.” He made a ceremonious +bow, and retired from the table. The +company gathered in groups to converse upon +the singular event—the strange statement of the +wanderer, given in the evidence of Miss Churchill, +was scarcely noticed—just set down as the raving +of a maniac. Withers approached Sophie, +and, stooping, hissed in her ear, “Most cruel +girl! do you deem what you have made me suffer? +I have been stretched upon the rack, but +you—you—<em>you</em> are piling up wrath against a +day of wrath. Mark <em>that</em>, Sophie Churchill!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The poor girl, after her extraordinary effort, +had relapsed into utter languor, but she raised +her languid eyes, and murmured,—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I think <em>you</em> are.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He stopped, glanced around—no one was +now observing him—stooped, and said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What do you mean, Sophie? Do you +think that I have ever wronged a hair of that +poor creature’s head? No, Sophie, no—no, as +I hoped to be saved, <em>never</em>!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He moved away from Sophie, and going to +Mrs. Green, said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My dear madam, I wish you to take Miss +Churchill home with you this evening, and keep +her there for the next two weeks; her health is +sadly shaken by these exciting events. As for +the school we must procure a substitute, or it +must for the present be disbanded. I will remain +here and attend to this interment.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The company were getting into their saddles +to depart. Mrs. May, Mrs. Green, Lieutenant +Wilde, and Mr. Withers, remained to tea.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The golden beams of the setting sun that were +shining through the foliage of the shade trees, +making their leaves glisten like emeralds, and +falling upon the piazza, were somewhat intercepted +by the figure of Lieutenant Gusty as +he walked up and down the piazza, ruminating +to this effect, “Shall I now, or shall I not? I +wonder if it is too early. I have known her +only a short time, it is true, but then, how dearly +I love her, and how wisely, the regard of my +excellent sister proves. I am going away in a +day, to stay three years; if I don’t speak now +some one else may speak before I have another +chance.” The entrance of Sophie from the +house decided him by inspiring a sudden impulse. +She had come out, and not seeing him, +walked slowly up to the further end of the +piazza, hung her head over the railing, and +remained fixed in that attitude. Gusty walked +rapidly up to her, and then back, and then up +again, and then back. The third time approaching +her, he said, while standing behind her,—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Hem!</em> Sophie, you <em>know</em> you rather like +me! and <em>I</em> know it too, because Emily says so. +And <em>I</em>, Sophie—well, never mind about me! +So, Sophie, when I come back from sea again in +three years from this, will you—will you—will +<span class='pageno' id='Page_34'>34</span>you <em>have</em> me? Now consider the circumstances, +and don’t say, my own dear Sophie, that my +proposal is <em>too soon</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>It is too late—too late</em>, dear Gusty,” she +said, turning round; her eyes were fixed and despairing.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Too late,” he echoed, looking stupidly at +her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Too late,” she repeated; “I am betrothed. +Even your sister—<em>my</em> dear sister Emily, thinks +that there is no escape <em>now</em>. I have just had a +conversation with her.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You—you are betrothed—to—to <em>whom</em>?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You surely guess—to Mr. Withers.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He walked up and down the piazza with +folded arms, chin bowed upon his bosom, eyes +bent to the ground. At last he paused before +her—bashfulness was gone now.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Look at me, Sophie! oh, my soul’s love, +look at me!” She raised her eyes to his fine +countenance—he <em>had</em> a fine countenance. Curls +black, silky, and shining, clustered around a +brow fair, round, and polished as a woman’s—his +dark eyes, now full of Heaven’s own love +and wisdom, were bent upon hers.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My own loved sister—my own heart’s darling, +<em>we</em> are betrothed. Oh, believe it, Sophie!—believe +it! <em>We</em> are betrothed, Sophie! Listen! +You have never loved before?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Never</em>, Gusty!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And mine also is a virgin heart; beyond a +general kindliness of feeling towards <em>all</em> women, +I have never loved before. Oh! Sophie, +are <em>we</em> not betrothed by God himself? Break +through this other engagement forced upon you +by circumstances, and give me your hand. Let +us marry <em>this evening</em>, Sophie, and let me leave +you with my sister until I come back—my own +dear Sophie, <em>do this</em>. I would not for my soul’s +salvation do anything or advise you to anything +wrong, but indeed, my Sophie, I feel such a <em>right</em> +to you, such a <em>claim</em> upon you, such a <em>property</em> +in you, that I should feel myself wronged and +ruined by any one who should wrest you from +me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She gazed unconsciously, entranced, up to his +pure clear brow—to her it seemed the brow of +an angel, and into his beautiful eyes, full of earnest +strength, half pleading, half commanding, +fixed upon her own. With an hysterical gasp +and sob she fell forward; he caught her, strained +her to his bosom. Her form was convulsed +with emotion, her breast heaved strongly, heavily, +and then her tears broke forth in floods; she +wept abundantly upon his bosom. At last her +emotion subsided. As the rain expends the +clouds, clears the atmosphere, and refreshes the +face of nature, so do tears relieve the heart, clear +the brain, and renovate the system. Sophie’s +emotion subsided, and then she quietly rose and +said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“There, Gusty, it is over. Oh, my dear brother—<em>my +brother</em>, let us be calmly wise. We +may meet in heaven, but here, upon this earth +below, we must never meet again, Gusty; we +must never see each other’s face—hear each +other’s voice again.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Here they were interrupted by the entrance of +Emily, who came to tell Sophie that Mrs. Green +was preparing to go. Sophie extended her +hand to Augustus, who caught and pressed it to +his lips. Then she re-entered the house.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No more of that, Augustus,” said Emily, +“you must think of her no more; she is to be +married in nine days to Mr. Withers.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The young man turned around hastily, and, +with the occasional impetuosity of his nature, replied,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Think of her no more! Confound you, +Emily! you talk as lightly, as composedly, of +thinking of her no more, as though you spoke of +a new coat—a visit. ‘Think of her no more!’ +why, in the name of Heaven, did you throw us +together—tell me that?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why? because I wished you to love and +marry. Alas! I did not know, though it was +rumored in the neighborhood, that Withers seriously +thought of her, and could not have believed +that they were engaged.” The young +man groaned. “You will get over this when +you are once more at sea. Come, Gusty, get +up our horses, we must return home.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Mrs. Green, with Miss Churchill and Mrs. +May, attended by her brother, left Heath Hall, +and rode on to the point where three roads +parted in company. Then Emily and her +brother rode up to the carriage door and took +leave. Augustus took Sophie’s hand in his own, +their eyes met—their <em>souls</em> met, in one intense +and agonizing gaze, and parted. He left the +neighborhood the next morning.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER X.<br> <span class='c009'>AN UNEXPECTED EVENT.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Yet it may be more lofty courage dwells</div> + <div class='line in2'>In one weak heart which braves an adverse fate,</div> + <div class='line'>Than his whose ardent soul indignant swells,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Warmed through the fight, or cheered through high debate.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Mrs. Norton.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>A wedding was Mrs. Gardiner Green’s delight. +In Maryland and Virginia, a country +wedding promises festivity for weeks to come. +The marriage ceremony takes place at <em>night</em>, in +the presence of the <em>élite</em> of all the neighboring +counties. Visitors from a distance remain all +night. The breakfast next morning is a state +affair; it is followed by a dinner-party and ball, +given at the house of the bridegroom’s parents +or that of some of his friends. Then the nearest +relations give balls in succession; then the +most intimate friends. Generally the bride and +bridegroom, with their attendants, remain all +night at the house where the dinner and the ball +are given. Thus a marriage in high life in the +country throws a quiet neighborhood into convulsions +for weeks, making it resemble a city in +the height of the “season.” It is a downright +windfall to the young men and girls, and it is a +country proverb that “One marriage makes +many.” In the approaching marriage of Miss +Churchill and Mr. Withers there was one serious +drawback to the pleasant anticipations of +the young men and maidens. The bridegroom +was a clergyman; therefore there could be no +balls, only the wedding and dinner parties. Mrs. +Green was in her glory—her preparations for +display were magnificent; the wedding dresses, +confectionery, &c., had been ordered from Baltimore +<span class='pageno' id='Page_35'>35</span>and were arrived. And Sophie, she was +now quite resigned; she had been the guest of +Mrs. Green since the day of the inquest. Mr. +Withers had recovered his composure, and was +with her, as usual, a part of every day. Sophie’s +brain and heart were in an apathy. The only +action of her mind was an indolent surprise at +the indifference she felt for everything going on +around her, the deadness of all sensibility, the +stillness of her nerves; even the frigid and formal +kiss of Withers imprinted on her hand at +meeting, or at parting, no longer sent an ague +thrill through all her veins—the contentment of +despair had come.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The evening of the marriage arrived; the +handsomely furnished house of Mrs. Gardiner +Green was elegantly decorated and thrown open +from attic to cellar to the numerous expected +visitors. Mrs. Green herself, elegantly attired, +was superintending the bridal toilet of Sophie in +the dressing-room of the latter. The dress of +Miss Churchill, prepared by the taste of Mrs. +Green, was a white satin skirt, and over that a +white gauze embroidered all over with silver +flowers, a large white lace veil, looped up above +her brow by a single small diamond star, leaving +room to the slight elegant wreath of orange buds +that lightly rested on her smoothly braided hair. +Rose Green and another young lady of the +neighborhood attended her as bridesmaids. A +murmur of admiration ran through the crowded +parlors as Sophie was led in by Mr. Withers, and +the bridal party took their stand in the centre of +the room. The bishop of the diocese, summoned +from Baltimore, was in attendance to perform +the ceremony. He wore the usual full wide +black gown of an Episcopal clergyman. The +bridal party stood before him cheerily; the young +bridesmaids and groomsmen stood in reverent +<em>attitude</em>, their eyes bent upon the ground, but +the corners of their lips full of dimples, scarcely +repressing their smiles—stern and solemn stood +the tall thin figure of the dark bridegroom, and +cold and pale and quiet Sophie waited. Once +she raised her eyelids, but her glance fell on the +black gown and solemn countenance of the clergyman +before her, and she quickly dropped them +again. He seemed to her the incarnation of +darkest doom. She felt a dreary sinking of the +heart as the first words of the ritual fell upon +her ear, as the sentence of death falls upon the +criminal hearing. It was over. It was over—friends +and neighbors crowded around her with +their congratulations. First, Emily May drew +her to her bosom, and imprinting a kiss upon her +brow, whispered hastily—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Courage, love! nothing is so illusory as the +emotions of a bride; many a reluctant bride has +become a loving and happy wife, many a hopeful +and joyous bride has seen her happiness decay +and die—courage, love.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie scarcely knew who spoke these hasty +words, or how she at last found herself seated +with her husband and attendants by her side. +Refreshments were served around, and that occupied +the company for the next hour; then a low +hum of suppressed gaiety was heard all over the +room, among the lively young people brought +together in the expectation of enjoyment, and +now growing uneasy under the restraint put upon +their gaiety. The young people voted the parson’s +wedding a stupid affair—a disappointment—quite +a failure. At last, Miss Rogers, the +second bridesmaid of Sophie, a merry little +maiden, not overladen with veneration, jumped +up from her seat, and standing before the solemn +bridegroom, said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now, Mr. Withers, you are very happy, or +you <em>ought</em> to be, as folks call the bridegroom +‘<em>the</em> happy man,’ and you ought to be willing +for other people who are not ‘happy’ at least to +be <em>merry</em>, poor souls. Now we young folks who +are not brides and bridegrooms want to console +ourselves by dancing—there! and you are worse +than ‘the dog in the manger’ if you don’t let us +dance.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Mr. Withers answered,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“There is a higher authority than my own, +present, Miss Rogers; I refer you to the bishop.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The girl’s head slightly started back, and her +eyes opened in an awe-struck gaze <em>an instant</em>, +as she turned to look upon the high dignitary of +the church. To Sophie’s sorrowing vision he +had seemed the dark minister of a dark fate; to +the merry maiden as she now looked at him, he +appeared a jolly old gentleman enough, so she +smiled merrily, and tripped up to him, and said +with saucy shyness,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I say, Dr. Otterback, we all—we girls—want +to dance; <em>Solomon</em> danced, you know; now +have you any objection?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The old gentleman took her chin in his fat +hand and made her little teeth chatter like a +pair of castanets, while looking down in her +young face with a merry, genial kindness, he +said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, child! a very <em>serious</em> objection.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! Dr. Otterback, <em>now</em>, I don’t believe it; +what is it? David danced, you know, and I +never feel so happy, or thank God so much for +making me, as when I am dancing; <em>now</em>, Dr. +Otterback, what objection <em>can</em> you have?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A very serious one, my child, I tell you—<em>this</em>—the +sound of a fiddle plays upon my feet +and legs like the fingers of little Miss Rogers +upon the piano keys—sets them in motion; +can’t help it; the merriment and the wickedness +bubbles up from the bottom of my heart, and the +old man Adam grows too strong for me; now +you wouldn’t have me pirouetting and pigeon-winging +it all around this room, would you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Wouldn’t I? I should love churches and +bishops better all my life after,” laughed the +maiden.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He shook his head, patted her rosy cheek, and +sent her off.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The rooms were crowded and close, though +all the windows and doors were open; the +night was warm, and the moon was shining +brightly out of doors. At last one and then +another couple began to stroll out into the lawn +and garden. As a matter of etiquette the bridal +party kept their seats much longer; all, except +the little bridesmaid, Miss Rogers, who never +minded etiquette; she mingled with the company +on the lawn, until Mrs. Gardiner Green +seeing her said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am astonished at you, Miss Rogers; return +to your post.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Then the little maiden ran up the marble +steps in front of the house, and there she paused, +unwilling to enter the warm rooms. The company +on the lawn had wandered off into the +grove, and she stood there watching their departed +<span class='pageno' id='Page_36'>36</span>footsteps. Her eyes wandered over the +scene, and at last were fixed by a figure on the +gravel walk approaching from the gate towards +the house. The figure hurried nervously forward, +sprang up the steps, and stood before her +taking breath. He was a youth of perhaps +seventeen, with a broad fair forehead and golden +hair. He caught her hand and inquired anxiously,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Are <em>you</em> Miss Churchill?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, indeed, thank Heaven, I am not Miss +Churchill,” replied the maiden, wondering.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Where is Miss Churchill—where is she? I +must see her immediately.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Miss Churchill is no more; Mrs. Withers +is in the drawing-room.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Good God! I am too late; it is all over +then!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Quite</em>; you should have come sooner; the +bride-cake is even eaten up.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Young lady—what is your name?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Blanche Rogers.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Miss Rogers, you can procure me an interview +with—with the bride.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I will take you in and present you with +great pleasure, if,” laughed the young lady, +“you will favor me with your credentials.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Miss Rogers, my name is Raymond—no, I +cannot tell you now; will you be kind enough +to go to Mrs. Withers, and tell her that one +wishes to see her for a moment at the door.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The maiden looked at him keenly, and saying +to herself, “Such a boy can have no evil +design,” replied, hesitatingly, “Yes,” and turned +slowly to do his bidding, looking back, once or +twice, suspiciously. She found Sophie alone +with Mrs. Green. Mr. Withers was in conversation +with the bishop in a distant part of the +room.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My dear Sophie,” said she, “there is a +young man out in the piazza that asks to see +you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A young man?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, yes; that is to say, a very young +man—a boy.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie arose and passed into the piazza, and, +except her cold pale face, like a radiant visitant +from the skies she looked, as her dazzling +raiment of white and silver flashed in the moonbeams. +At the further end of the piazza, the +moonlight fell upon a slight boyish figure clad +in deep mourning, and leaning upon the balustrade. +Sophie approached him; he raised his +head and stepped forward; she met his eyes and +started, suppressed a scream, and trembling +violently, leaned against the parapet, as she +recognised the slender form and wan face, the +intense gaze, the ultra-marine blue eyes, and the +floating golden locks of the wanderer, and—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Have you, indeed, unhappy one, risen from +the grave to reproach, to warn me?” involuntarily +escaped her lips.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Be calm, Miss Churchill; I do not know +what you mean by your question, since I have +never been dead, and do not remember even to +have seen, far less reproached or warned you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Who are you, then; I—I do not know +whether I am sane or not. I am afraid my brain +is reeling; who are you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dear young lady, I have startled you; <em>why</em> +I do not see; will you give me an interview in +some place where we cannot be interrupted?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Tell me who you are?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are not afraid of me?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No—oh, no; but I wish, of course, to know +the name and business of one who calls me out +at night for a private interview.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My name is Frank Raymond Withers; I +am the only son, the only <em>child</em> of the Reverend +John Huss Withers, and Fanny Raymond.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>There was a dash of bitterness in the mock +ceremonious manner with which he announced +himself. Sophie heard him with clasped hands +and earnest downcast brow. She remained in +deep thought a moment; then suddenly catching +his hand, she said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I <em>must</em> have an interview with you, +where none can overhear us. Come with me,” +and retaining his hand and drawing him after +her, she passed up the piazza, down the central +marble steps, across the lawn, and taking a narrow +path through the grove, led him down a +deep dell, into a rustic arbor built over the spring, +dropping into a seat, she said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dip me up some cold water, that I may drink, +and grow strong for this interview.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He performed her bidding. She bathed her +fevered hands and brow, she drank a deep draught +of the lifegiving beverage, and then she composed +herself, and said, as he stood before her,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sit down; I <em>too</em> have something to reveal, +as well as to learn.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He took a seat opposite to her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“First, what was your purpose in seeking me, +this evening?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“To save you from a marriage that could result +in nothing but wretchedness and ruin.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Explain yourself!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Your husband, John Huss Withers, is—a +lunatic!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A <em>lunatic</em>!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Gracious heavens! Oh, yes! I see it all—<em>all +now</em>!—that fearful light in his eyes!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And you will withdraw yourself from him +before it is too late; you will reveal this fact and +demand an immediate separation?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Stop, stop,” said Sophie, raising her hand to +her brow, “Stop, I am dizzy, bewildered; how +came this about? how has he so successfully +concealed it for the months that he has been +with us? and is it <em>hereditary</em>? Tell me all +about it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The malady is <em>not</em> hereditary; no member +of the family was ever known to have lost his +or her reason; severe domestic affliction—trials, +oh! trials that would have—that might have +riven the strongest, firmest heart in two, that +might have shaken into chaos the best regulated +mind, clouded the clearest reason. Listen, Miss +Churchill. Mr. Withers, my father, was morbidly +proud, his pride was brought to the dust; +he was delicately sensitive; he was stricken to +the heart; his health gave way; his reason +failed. With the strange cunning of a lunatic, +and under the favor of circumstances, he has +succeeded in concealing this malady from the +world. In his first one or two attacks, <em>I</em> was +his keeper by chance; <em>after</em> the first two or three, +he learned by the premonitory symptoms when +to seclude himself; and so, no symptom, no +effect of his malady has yet appeared but this: +the burning eloquence, the super-human power +of intellect revealed in his occasional sermons; +<span class='pageno' id='Page_37'>37</span>and, as long as it properly could be kept, in fact +up to this moment, I have kept his secret; believing +that if he knew it to be revealed, his proud +and sensitive nature would be so shocked and +wounded that the last light of reason would go +out; that he would become a raving maniac. +But, Miss Churchill, when I saw another person, +a young girl, about to be sacrificed to him (for +my father wrote to me, at college, of his approaching +marriage, not deeming that I would interfere), +I deemed it my duty to reveal his secret, +at least, to his affianced bride. Now, Miss +Churchill, you have your own fate and <em>his</em> in +your power; reveal his secret, save yourself. No +one in the world could blame you for separating +yourself from him.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie remained with her hand pressed upon +her brow, so still she might have been taken +for a statue.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am ready Miss Churchill, to aid your +release by my testimony. Your marriage can +be dissolved in a few days, by legislative action; +do not be cast down.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! stop, hush!” said Sophie, “let me think—let +me think. My God! help thy child!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She pressed her hand upon her brow tightly, +then she spoke.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Say! you think the revelation of this secret +would affect him very seriously?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It would destroy his reason utterly, irrevocably, +I think.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You say that this malady is accidental, +circumstantial, and not hereditary?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Entirely—entirely the result of overwhelming +affliction.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie sighed deeply; “It is hard to ask a son +to criminate his father; yet <em>justice</em>—tell me, +were these afflictions brought about by <em>his sin</em>?</p> + +<p class='c008'>The youth paused, looked down, groaned +heavily, and at last hesitatingly replied;—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No; not by <em>his sin</em>; that were too harsh a +term; by his error, or rather his <em>mistake</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie sighed more heavily than before, then +she said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Young man, you are the son of Fanny Raymond; +who <em>was</em> Fanny Raymond, your mother?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She was the wife of Mr. Withers, of course.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“When did she die, and where, and under +what circumstances?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The youth abruptly turned and hurried from +the arbor, walked distractedly up and down the +plat before it for some minutes, then returning, +said in faltering tones to Sophie—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do not ask me—<em>do not ask me</em>, I beg of you—be +at ease—you are the bride of Mr. Withers, +but you need not be his wife. Come, Sophie +Churchill, I am ready to go with you to the +house and say all, and if really needful, <em>more</em>, +to the assembled company there than I have +said to you. Come!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No,” said Sophie, passing her hand thoughtfully +before her brow; “Stop—stop,” then after +awhile she held out one hand behind her to +where the youth was standing, and said, “Raymond, +come to me—sit beside me—unlock your +inmost heart to me, poor boy. Come—I am +your friend; tell me now why do you wish to +save me by exposing your father?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He came and sat beside her, and fixing his sad +blue eyes upon her face said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That I might not be accessary to your +misery, Miss Churchill. I have kept his secret +and borne the risk of concealment myself; I had +no right to suffer the life of another to be risked +by my silence.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie sighed again, with her head bowed +upon her hand, and asked—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Is he ever so violent and dangerous, then?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, not positively violent, but <em>dangerous</em>, I +fear, Miss Churchill.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“He has never certainly had an attack since +he has been here.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You do not know—has he never been +absent?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, for days, when no one knew where he +was; for in his reserve he would not reveal his +business, and no one durst ask him.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah! at such times, warned by the premonitory +symptoms of his disease, he secluded himself—perhaps +in the depths of the forest—perhaps +threw himself on board of a packet and +slipped up to Baltimore.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! how wretched, how wretched he must +have been, must still be, with no one here to +whom he dare trust his dreadful secret.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And is it possible, Miss Churchill, that no +one suspected it here—that no eccentricity +of manner threatened to betray him to those +that were about him every day?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie took his delicate hand in hers, and +pressing it kindly, said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Raymond, do not call me Miss Churchill, +or speak to me as a stranger, or as an indifferent +acquaintance; I am so no longer; you must +love me, and confide in me, Raymond; you and +I have a mutual and a holy duty to perform.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes,” said he, with a bitter sigh, “we must +go and make this known. Oh, my unhappy +father!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Poor boy, you have misunderstood me; did +you think,” she said, passing her hand over his +troubled brow, smoothing away the golden +ringlets, and looking kindly in his face, “did +you think that I was going selfishly to expose +and abandon your father? No, Raymond—no, +poor boy—I am weak, and sometimes cowardly, +but never cruel or selfish—I never wantonly +destroyed the smallest insect, or wounded, purposely, +the worst or the lowest human being; +and since I have been sitting here, Raymond, I +know not what sort of a strange strength has +entered my soul! Yes, your arrival just now +is providential, and with your words the spirit +of God has descended upon me. The Lord +has given me something to do for His sake, and +endowed me with strength to do it. And you +are my co-laborer, Raymond. To dress the +wounds of this poor warrior, beaten and bruised, +bleeding and fainting on the field of the battle +of life; to raise and nurse him back to life and +health—this is our work.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>How beautiful she looked in her young devotion,—the +moonlight fell upon her fair, pure +brow, clothing it with an angelic radiance.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, but the sacrifice, will you immolate +yourself thus, Miss Churchill?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Strange! but I do not feel it as such; I feel +lifted up, elevated, strengthened, filled with +light and a strange joy.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Beautiful inspired one!” exclaimed the boy, +with enthusiasm.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come,” said Sophie, rising, “let us return to +the house, I shall be missed; did your father +expect you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_38'>38</span>“He wrote that I might come if I pleased; +but has he never mentioned me, Miss Churchill?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Never.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why was that?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Abstraction—forgetfulness—something.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come with me, then, I will present you to +him.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, Miss Churchill—gentle Sophie—do you +feel no inward resentment towards my unhappy +father, for the marriage into which he has led +you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“None in the world. Is not his reason clouded, +his thoughts all jarred and out of tune? No, +I feel that he was led by, to him, a blind impulse, +really by Providence, to the only one who could +nurse him back to health of mind and body. +Raymond, we can cure this sick heart, clear this +clouded brain, restore this ruin. Come!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And they left the arbor, and took their way +towards the house.</p> + +<p class='c008'>During the interview, a revolution had taken +place in Sophie’s soul; all her deep religious feeling, +her latent passion for self-devotion, her enthusiasm, +her benevolence, had been called forth. +Thus softened by pity, and inspired by her own +high ideal of duty, she determined to devote +herself to the tranquility of his shrunken and +tortured life, with one purpose—his restoration +to mental and physical health. She passed from +the arbor no joyous or reluctant bride, but a high-souled +devotee, in possession of duty for which +she must live. An hour before, she had seemed +a trembling, shrinking, suffering victim, offered +in <em>useless, objectless</em> sacrifice; now, she was a +cheerful, self-possessed human soul, who had +solved the problem of her life, and held the +answer in her hands.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Among the passions of the human soul is one +not often, if ever, mentioned as such by moralists +and metaphysicians: the passion of self-devotion. +Yet, that this certainly exists, and deserves to be +classed with the others, is proved by the large +number of human beings acting under its influence. +It acts in religion, in love, in benevolence, +in philanthropy, and patriotism—but it is totally +distinct from and independent of each—a separate +passion, sometimes acting alone.</p> + +<p class='c008'>This passion, in its right motion, inspires the +highly beneficial devotion of the Sister of Charity—in +its perverted action, kindles the barren +enthusiasm of the nun. A philanthropist, a patriot, +under the rational influence of this passion, +becomes as the Sister of Charity, one of the +greatest benefactors of his race; under its irrational +influence, becomes as the secluded nun or +monk, <em>lost</em>; or as the fanatic, mischievous or +dangerous to society.</p> + +<p class='c008'>They returned to the house. Meeting Mrs. +Green first, Sophie led the youth up to her, and +presented him as the son of Mr. Withers, just +arrived from college. The lady received him +with much courtesy, asked him where she should +send for his trunks, and whether he would not +prefer being shown into a dressing-room before +being introduced into the drawing-room. Expressing +his thanks with a gentle grace, he +named the village tavern as the place where his +baggage lay, and declining the use of a <em>chambre +de toilette</em>, bowed his leave, and giving his +arm to Sophie, passed into the room; the rooms +were thinned out considerably, most of the company +had strayed out into the garden and groves.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Mr. Withers was standing near the window in +conversation with the bishop. Sophie, leaving +Raymond at a short distance behind, walked up +to him, and laying her small hand upon his arm, +said gently and cheerfully—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mr. Withers, your son has come at last—you +expected him, I believe.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Withers started, more at the cheerful, genial +tone in which these words were spoken, than at +the news they conveyed. The bishop, also, +whose kindly affectionate nature scarcely let a +young person pass him without a caressing +word or gesture,—the bishop turned around, and +patting her chin, said archly:—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You have got over your terror, little lady; +you seemed to think I was going to hang you +when you stood up before me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>But Sophie stepped back, and beckoning +Raymond to approach, presented him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How do you do, Raymond? This is my +son, Dr. Otterback,” were the only words of +greeting or of introduction bestowed upon the +youth by his father. Dr. Otterback immediately +addressed his conversation to the young man, +and Withers turned and looked in Sophie’s face; +her countenance was serene, cheerful, kindly; +what <em>could</em> be the reason? he was at a loss to +account for it; yet he felt the shadow and the +weight lifting from his own heart, passing from +his own brain. Love, charity, the very sun of +the moral atmosphere when it shines out, how +the vapors are lifted, how the clouds disperse, +how all nature rises and smiles in its beams.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“All our friends are out upon the lawn—it is +pleasant there. Will you come out, Mr. +Withers?” she asked.</p> + +<p class='c008'>For the first time since she had known him, +with an air of graceful self-possession and +gallantry, he lifted her fair hand to his lips, drew +her arm within his own, and led her forth. +They sat down upon the bench in the piazza. +At first she talked cheerfully of the nearest topics +of conversation, the company, the night, the +weather, the moon; but seeing that he relapsed +into silence and dejection, she thought he felt +compunction for all the ill he had wrought her, +and that this compunction was awakened by her +own kindness to him. She was not sorry that +he felt this; yet now she wished to dissipate the +gloom. Laying her hand timidly, gently, upon +his brow, and raising from it the heavy mass of +black hair that seemed to rest there like a cloud, +she said:—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, clear your brow, Mr. Withers, or you +will make me fear that you regret taking under +your wing a little girl like me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And I <em>do</em> regret it, Sophie—I <em>do</em> regret it!” +he said, and sighing heavily, he arose and paced up +and down the piazza several times, and then threw +himself into a seat far from her. She watched +him there; at first from natural feelings of +delicacy she hesitated to approach him; but +when he dropped his head between his hands, +and sigh after sigh and groan after groan rent +his bosom, she paused no longer, but arising, +crossed the piazza, and taking the seat by +his side, and taking his hand, she pressed it +between her own. He turned and gazed +inquiringly into her eyes, his gaze no longer cold, +brilliant, and chilling, but still piercing, and full +of anguish. Suddenly he shut his eyes, and +groaning “Oh Sophie!” turned away his head +<span class='pageno' id='Page_39'>39</span>and attempted to withdraw his hand. She +retained and pressed it, and again passing her +soft, cool hand over his hot brow, she said, +gently—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, Mr. Withers, cheer up, have faith in +me. I love you.—I <em>do</em>—not, indeed, with the +glad love of a young bride for the young husband +of her choice, but with a feeling that will stand +you in better stead—that will perhaps last +longer and bear more—with the serious, thoughtful +love one earnest human soul that has known +isolation and sorrow can feel for another, desolated, +tortured, suffering, yet worthy in its +anguish, of admiration and respect.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He started up, then dropped into his seat +again, exclaiming—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sophie! I do not understand you; what is +the meaning of this? What has brought about +this strange, this—ah! but for <em>one</em> fact—blessed +change in your feelings towards me?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That very fact you allude to—that <em>very</em> +fact!” then dropping her voice to its softest, +gentlest tones she murmured—“You have a +secret that corrodes and burns your heart out—a +dreadful suffering that being suppressed has +gained depth, and strength, and intensity—a +fearful malady that being concealed has increased +in power; let it be so no longer; relieve your +overladen breast; pour all your sorrows into +your wife’s bosom—she will never betray or +forsake you. Oh! believe it. She partly knows +your secret—she knows that sometimes—under +some influences—a storm drives in your fine +mind—that the clouds gather thick and black—the +thunder roars and the lightnings flash, and +that all is confusion, danger, and terror for a +space—she also knows that when this storm has +passed through your soul, the sun of reason +shines out calm and bright. She knows all +this, and she loves you for these sufferings.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He had grown as pale as death while she +spoke, his features wearing the expression of +deepest despair; he dropped his head upon his +hands, his elbows resting on his knees, and +groaned.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then it is all at an end, this masquerade. +When was it discovered—when did I betray +myself, Sophie, and who knows of this besides +yourself?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Except your son, no one besides myself; and +it is indispensable that I should know it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And he told you—curse—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, do not say that!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I did not wish you to know it, Sophie; I +was merciful, or selfish, or proud, and firm and +cunning enough to keep it from you, Sophie, as I +have kept it from every one else.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, and increased your own suffering and +danger, and diminished the chances of cure. +And, Mr. Withers, you would have suffered +more in concealing your illness from me than +from any one else. You would have found +more difficulty in it, and dreaded more the +consequences of the constantly threatened discovery. +Now you have a friend and confidant—now +you will be at peace, will you not?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He drew her to his bosom and blessed her. A +summons to supper now called all the company +in. He arose, and drawing her arm through his +own, entered the house.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XI.<br> <span class='c009'>HAGAR.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“The wild sparkle of her eye seemed caught</div> + <div class='line'>From high—and lightened with electric thought—</div> + <div class='line'>And pleased not her the sports that please her age.”</div> + <div class='line in40'><span class='sc'>Byron.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>Let me pass briefly over the events of the +next few years. Four or five weeks of solemn +merry-making, dull dinners, and duller evening +parties, completed the wedding festivities of the +minister. An agreeable change had passed over +the appearance of the minister—his countenance +had lost somewhat of its gloom—his manners +of their austerity, and his tones their hard curtness. +Sophie’s demeanor revealed the sober +cheerfulness befitting a clergyman’s bride. Raymond +accompanied them everywhere, and everywhere +was the delicate beauty, and gentle grace, +and pensive air of the boy admired. Little +Hagar also accompanied them. Sophie and +Hagar had been so united—her care and attention +had been so exclusively devoted to Hagar, +that now that another claimed a larger share of +her time and thoughts, and now that she felt the +keen eyes of the sprite-like child jealously following +her every motion closely, she loved +Hagar with a remorseful tenderness—strange +but natural. Mothers sometimes feel the same +for the children to whom they have given even +a good and beloved step-father. This is an illusion, +and grows out of the false idea that our +love is like any material and mortal thing, +limited in quantity, and that what is given to one +is necessarily withdrawn from another. Sophie +took Hagar with her wherever they went, even +to evening parties, where the child, with the obstinacy +of spoiled children in general and her +own nature in particular, refused to go to bed as +long as Sophie sat up.</p> + +<p class='c008'>There she would sit—the only child in a +room crowded with grown people—alone, in a +corner, quite neglected, her glittering eyes glancing +around the room, and springing off in aversion +when they fell upon the figure of Mr. +Withers. She was beginning to hate him intensely, +merely because he occupied so much +of the time and attention of Sophie, whom she +passionately loved. Her first interview with +Raymond Withers is worthy of relation as characteristic +of both. It was the night after the +wedding, and a large party were crowded in the +sober-hued parlor of Emily May. Hagar had +been staying at the cottage for the last few days—and +this night she first rejoined Sophie after +her marriage. Here she was sitting, as I have +described, neglected and apparently forgotten in +a corner. Sophie could not well approach her, +and Emily, ever thoughtful as she was, this +evening had overlooked her, in her attention to +her guests. The child’s wild eyes were gleaming +brightly, fiercely, under her sharply projecting +brows; her preternaturally developed perceptive +faculties were at work. Refreshments +had been carried around twice or thrice by the +servants, and they had overlooked her. At +last she saw, it was the first time she had seen +him, a delicate, golden-haired youth, in deep +mourning, enter the room. He went directly up +to Sophie and remained by her side. The keen +eyes of the child were immediately riveted upon +<span class='pageno' id='Page_40'>40</span>him. There was a pensiveness, a thoughtfulness +upon his fair young brow that seemed to isolate +him even among the crowd. He stood by the +side and a little behind Sophie’s chair, and except +when he stooped to catch an occasional word +from her, he stood unmoved and almost unobservant +in the room. Once his eyes were raised, +and their sad gaze chanced to meet the wild eyes +of the little girl fixed with interest on his face. +He bent down, and pointing to Hagar spoke to +Sophie. Sophie’s glance followed the indication +of his finger, then raising her countenance +to his she answered him. He immediately separated +himself from the party, passed into the +supper room, and returning, walked up to the +child, spread her handkerchief over her lap, +poured into it a plateful of cakes and sweetmeats, +and took a seat by her side.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Did Sophie send me these?” inquired the +child.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why did you bring them, then?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You looked lonesome, and dull, and I +thought it would amuse you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah! I thought Sophie did not send them—she +never thinks of me now.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why do you say that?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Because it is true; she used to keep me always +by her side, or on her lap; now for two +or three days she has left me here with Mrs. +May, and now that she has come, she scarcely +speaks to me!” exclaimed the child, and her +black eyes flashed under her sharp brows, and +her white teeth gleamed under her upturned lip +as she spoke.</p> + +<p class='c008'>A soft smile hovered an instant around the +beautiful lips and under the golden eye-lashes of +the youth, as he said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You look so like a little playful, spiteful, +black kitten, that I am almost afraid of your +teeth and claws—however—” and stooping +down he daintily lifted the child and set her on +his lap. Then he said, “I think you are a jealous +little girl.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I don’t know what ‘jealous’ is, but I don’t +like to be robbed of what is mine.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are selfish, I am afraid, little one—who +has robbed you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mr. Withers has got Sophie, and now he +may have her, for I don’t care.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are a proud little lady.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He caressed her straight black hair, adjusted +her somewhat disordered dress, and began to +crack nuts for her, but her eyes were fixed upon +the group at the opposite end of the room, and +suddenly she said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I wish Mr. Withers was dead—I do so!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! horror!” said the young man, now +really shocked. “Revengeful, too, Hagar! +Mr. Withers is my father.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Is he? I did not know that—I am so sorry—but, +oh! he has taken Sophie away from me, +and now I am <em>so</em> lonesome,” and the child burst +out crying.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“And where have you been, my pretty lad,</div> + <div class='line'>Where have you been all day?”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c016'>sang little Miss Rogers, dancing up to them—“Come, +Raymond! or I beg your pardon—<em>Mr.</em> +Raymond Withers—for you hobble-de-hoys are +awful punctilious about your dignity—are you +going to stay here nursing that spoiled brat all +night? We are forming a round game at +forfeits in the other room, and we want you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Don’t go,” whispered the child.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Raymond set her off his lap, arose, and +apologizing to Miss Rogers, gracefully declined +her invitation. The maiden pouted, smiled, +threw up her head, and tripped away.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ain’t you good, to stay with me, instead of +going with her? take me up again,” and she held +out both her arms to him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He smiled gently, and raised her, and how +beautifully broke the glad smile over her dark, +wild countenance, as she looked up in his face. +From that hour the youth and infant were companions, +confidants, and friends.</p> + +<p class='c008'>At this time it was that the germ of a passion, +fraught with much evil to the whole of Hagar’s +life, took root in her heart—a passion destined +by mal-cultivation to be fostered into monstrous +growth—<span class='fss'>JEALOUSY</span>; and this grew out of +Sophie’s thoughtless concentration of mind upon +her new duty, just at this juncture; it is true +that this mood of mind lasted but a few days, +but in these days the seed of evil was sown.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>They were settled at Heath Hall. The time +occupied by them in the wedding festivities +while they were inmates of the Glade—the guests +of Mrs. Gardiner Green—was also improved at +the Heath. Workmen had been sent thither, +and the house put in some repair. The negroes +had been called home from hire, and set to work +in clearing up the grounds—piling the weeds, +briers, and rubbish up—drying and burning them +for manure—in repairing old and putting up new +fences, &c. The brick wall inclosing the garden, +and running round the very edge of the +promontory, had been mended, the garden put in +order, and the wild and desolate aspect of the +whole place somewhat ameliorated. On the +day of their return to Heath Hall, a dinner and +an evening party of course, had been given, and +that was the last. The next day they were left +quietly in possession of their own home.</p> + +<p class='c008'>There, reader! Northern reader, and city +reader, you have now some idea of country +weddings in middle life in Maryland and Virginia,—very +different, you will admit, from city +weddings. Raymond remained with them until +the first of September, when his college term +commencing, he returned to the North. Hagar +grieved wildly after him, and threw herself upon +her face when the packet in which he sailed +disappeared up the river. His return to college +had been doubtful, but was decided by an event +that had occurred about two weeks after their +return to the Heath. Up to the day of their +return, the health and spirits of Mr. Withers had +continued to improve. In a few days after their +arrival, however—after the new moon, and as it +increased to its full, the sleep of Withers became +disturbed, his nights were uneasy, and his days +gloomy—a deadly pallor settled on his face—his +features became haggard, his cheeks hollow, +and his eyes sunken and glowing in their deep +sockets. Now Sophie’s heart trembled with +uneasiness, now palpitated with alarm. Raymond +was now ever at her side with words of +gentle affection and cheerful encouragement—the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_41'>41</span>boy seemed old and wise beyond his years, +by the preternatural development by suffering;—he +requested Sophie not to permit his father to +perceive her knowledge that the terrible crisis of +his malady was at hand, and they both redoubled +their attentions to him. Daily his manner +became more eccentric and alarming; he would +sit at the table gloomy and glowering without +uttering a word during the meal—then rising up +he would walk off to the forest, or the beach—Raymond +following him at a safe distance. +Sometimes he would look back before leaving +the house, remorsefully at Sophie, would return, +take her hand, and then with a sudden change +of mood—his green eyes scintillating sparks of +fire—fling it from him with violence, and hurry +off. Raymond grew hourly more wretchedly +anxious on Sophie’s account. Day and night +she was exposed, alone, to the danger of his +violence. One morning when Sophie had come +down to prepare breakfast, she found Raymond +already in the breakfast-room—he advanced to +meet her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Where is my father, Sophie?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“In his chamber—he has not slept the whole +night.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sophie! I wish to say this to you—there is +a malignity in his madness now that I have +never seen before—it is a new feature, and it +excites my fears for you. Sophie, leave him +here in my care, and go and visit your friend, +Mrs. May, for a few days—<em>do</em>, Sophie.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How, Raymond! was my pledge given, my +mission undertaken only for easy and safe duty—was +there any proviso made that as soon as it +became onerous, or dangerous, it should be +abandoned? No, Raymond, I will be firm +through these dark days—they will soon be +past, and I shall feel repaid.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But your life—your <em>life</em> may be endangered.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Life’—why, Raymond, of what great value +is <em>my</em> life, that it should not be risked in a good +cause?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do believe, Sophie, that it was your being +brought up in that room papered with the martyrs, +that has given this singular bias to your +character—why, Sophie, the world knowing +your history in connexion with my father, would +consider <em>you</em> the most insane of the two.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>They were standing side by side at the window, +looking out upon the bay—its rippling +waves glittering in the morning sun, its dark +green bosom relieved by the white sails of a +packet moving up the river. They had not +heard the entrance of Withers, who approached +and stood behind them—his face pale, his livid +lips compressed, his eyes drawn in and glowing +in their deep sockets.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, dear Sophie,” continued the youth, +“we must think of some place for securing your +safety.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>In an instant the hands of Withers fell heavily +upon his neck.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Perfidious son of a perfidious mother!” he +exclaimed, shaking him violently, “her image +in heart and mind, as well as in person—traitor +and reprobate! would you wile the love of my +bride away from me? would you teach her your +vile mother’s sin?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The delicate youth was but as a reed in his +grasp. Sophie sank pale and helpless into a +chair. Now another figure appeared upon the +scene—little Hagar stamping and screaming, +upon the floor.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Let Raymond! let my brother alone! Let +him go, I say! you old Satan, you. I—I’ll <em>kill</em> +you—I’ll scratch your eyes out,” and clambering +upon a chair, and then upon a table, she +sprang cat-like upon the back of his neck. Now +he was obliged to drop his hold of Raymond a +moment to shake off the little wild-cat—he seized +her, and pulling her off, hurled her flying through +the open window! With a cry of anguish, +Raymond sprang from the spot—from the room, +and hurried around into the yard. The fall +was not deep—the turf was soft—and the lithe, +agile child had lighted on her feet and hands. +She sprang up as Raymond came, and running +to meet him asked anxiously,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Are you hurt? did he hurt you, Raymond?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He lifted her in his arms, and hurrying around +the back way, ran up stairs with her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, your poor neck—only see the marks of +his wicked claws on your pretty white neck!” +exclaimed the child, and she kissed and closely +clasped him, and wept as if her heart were +broken up and gushing through her tears. Then +raising her head with eyes flashing through her +tears, as the lightning gleams through the rain, +she said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! the bad—bad—<em>bad</em> man! I wonder +what God lets him stay here for?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hush—you must not ask such sinful questions.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But I <em>do</em> wonder—I’m sure I wouldn’t let +him stay here if I could help it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You must not think such wicked thoughts,” +said the youth; but he himself was excited and +anxious, and setting Hagar down on the foot of +her little bed said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now, Hagar, you must stay here—you must +not come near him again to-day—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I’m not afraid of him,” interrupted the child.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, you have the fire and courage of a +young tigress; but you would not make him +angry, and so endanger Sophie’s peace, would +you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No—he shan’t hurt Sophie; if he tries, the +next time I’ll get my claws in his eyes and +scratch them out—<em>right</em> out! and <em>then</em> see who +he can hurt!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But you are talking of my father, Hagar,” +said the young man, reproachfully.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! so I am; <em>that</em> is the worst of it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now, Hagar, promise me to stay here till I +come and fetch you, will you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes—I will do anything in the world <em>you</em> +want me to do, Raymond, just see if I don’t!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, then, I am going to look after Sophie, +and I will be back as soon as I can.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He found Sophie extended in a swoon upon +the floor. Withers was gone. He raised her +and bathed her face—she revived—he set her in +the deep arm-chair.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar?” inquired she, as soon as she could +speak.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Is not hurt—has neither scratch nor bruise; +she is in my chamber; I thought it best that she +should keep out of sight of my father for the +present.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is to be done—where is Mr. Withers?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not know where he is gone, but <em>you</em> +must seek a place of safety.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No—no—no—I will stay here; I think I +<span class='pageno' id='Page_42'>42</span>understand now why his lunacy takes this malignant +character towards you; you remind him +of—but no matter—but <em>you</em>, poor bereft boy, +you must return immediately to your college—I +can deal with him better alone, I am sure.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, Sophie, you are nervous, <em>unfit</em> for this; +the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh, the +<em>flesh</em> is weak; you swooned just now—you have +not even the firmness and courage of little +Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, not the firmness, or the <em>fierceness</em>; but +I have the courage. It must be as I say; you +must leave here; you are too much like—poor +boy, I did not mean to wound you, indeed I did +not—you must return to your college, and by +the time you have finished your course there, +the absence of exciting causes, tranquillity, and +sympathy will have restored your unfortunate +father to health; then you will return and we +shall all be happy together—courage, Raymond! +God is at the helm! we must not forget that. +He will yet guide us safely through this rough +sea and starless night; now, Raymond, go and +seek him, watch him, but keep out of his sight.” +He left her to do her bidding.</p> + +<p class='c008'>By a natural reaction the madness of Withers +now assumed another aspect. Late in the afternoon +he returned and entered not <em>his own</em>, but +Raymond’s chamber. Sophie was in their room, +and heard him come slowly up the stairs, enter +the adjoining chamber, and throw himself upon +Raymond’s bed. She determined to go to him, +though her every nerve from heart to extremities +was trembling and quivering. She arose and +entered the room; the white wrapper that she +wore was not whiter than her cheek, as she sat +down by the bedside, where his long thin figure, +in its black suit, lay extended upon the white +counterpane. But what a change had come +over him! never even in his most rational moments +had she seen him in such a mood; his +manner was subdued, the expression of his +countenance pensive, his tones gentle. No one +that had seen him in his ordinary manner, hard, +stern, harsh, and bitter, would have recognised +him now—alas! this mood was as unnatural to +him and as much a feature in his lunacy as was +the other of the morning; it was but the reaction +of his phrensy. He held his hand out to +her, she took it and pressed it between her own.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I would not go into your room, Sophie, for +fear of disturbing you, and you come to me. +Alas! and you are so pale, you tremble so +much, poor girl, I have nearly killed you, you +will give me up now!” and an expression of +anguish convulsed his countenance.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, no, I will not; my paleness, trembling, +swooning, is a matter of nerves, not of will; I +cannot help it, but I will not upon that account +leave you; my flesh shrinks, but my reason does +not convince me of any personal risk.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And there is none to <em>you</em>, none to <em>you</em>, Sophie, +believe it: in my maddest moments I could not +hurt <em>you</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>At this moment, Raymond, not knowing who +was in the room, entered, started slightly on +seeing his father on the bed with Sophie sitting +by him, but quickly recovering himself, walked +up to the bed, and inquired, as though nothing +had happened,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How are you now, sir?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Better, calmer, my boy—but oh! Raymond, +my son, why had you not kept out of my way? +You know, you <em>know</em> the risk you run; think if +in my phrensy I were to do you a fatal injury, +what would my after life be? Sophie, you see +how fair and wan he is: he was more robust +once, but in my first fit of phrensy while he was +trying to save me from rushing into the street +and exposing my madness, I dealt him a heavy +blow upon the chest, injured his lungs, and he has +never been well since.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But he will be well,” said Sophie, as, with +her eyes full of tears, she turned and laid her +hand caressingly on Raymond’s shoulder, “he +will get well when he has finished his studies +and returns home and finds his father restored +to health.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But will that ever be, Sophie?” sadly inquired +the unhappy man.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes, I am sure of it,” she said. “Why, +though I do not know much about such things, +yet it appears to me so reasonable that a malady +concealed as yours was, should increase and +strengthen, instead of subside, and that it should +darken your mind, I am not at all surprised; +and I believe that now, relieved by communication +and sympathy, it will gradually leave you.”</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>This mood also changed in a few hours. As +the moon waned he relapsed into the gloom and +reserve of his habitual manner. By the vigilance +of Sophie and Raymond, little Hagar had +been kept carefully out of his sight for some +days, and now when she came into his presence, +in his abstraction he scarcely observed her. Sophie +felt uneasy as the Sabbath approached. +From the relaxed nerves of the lately overstrained +brain, Sophie knew that he could not +prepare a sermon, and knew not what excuse +could be made, and wondered what had been his +course in former emergencies of this kind. She +knew <em>not</em>, that during the very fervor and exaltation +of insanity he had prepared a sermon, which +when delivered on the next Sabbath would electrify +the whole congregation with its soul-thrilling +eloquence. That sermon was the talk of +the whole county for weeks. This, the reader +knows, is not an uncommon feature in the exalted +stages of mania. The “Song of David,” +written during a fit of insanity by Christopher +Smart, a poet of the last century, with a rusty +nail on the walls of his cell in the madhouse, is +one of the most elevated and sublime strains of +sacred poetry I ever read.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The first of September arrived. Raymond +was gone, and the disbanded school of Sophie +Churchill, or as we must now call her Mrs. +Withers, re-assembled. It was continued for a +few months until the end of the year, when +Sophie found that she would have to give it up. +In one respect a healthful change had passed over +Mr. Withers. The violence of his periodical +attacks of lunacy gradually subsided, but with +this change grew another feature—an exclusive, +absorbing, and constantly increasing affection +for his gentle young wife. This, from his +idiosyncrasy, became daily more jealous and +exacting; he could not endure to have her out +of his sight; he grew jealous, not only of the +child who occupied a portion of her time, but of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_43'>43</span>the very <em>business</em> by which at least half their +income was provided.</p> + +<p class='c008'>At the commencement of the Christmas holidays, +Sophie broke up her school. Soon after +this she received a severe shock in the news of +the sudden death of her sister Rosalia and her +husband, both of whom were carried off by a +prevailing epidemic. This news was communicated +by a letter from a lawyer of Baltimore, +which letter also informed her that Mr. Withers +and herself had been appointed guardians of the +person and property of Rosalia Aguilar. This +letter happened to come when the mind of Mr. +Withers was in its least disturbed state, and +therefore in a few days from its reception, Sophie +left the Hall for Baltimore, with the purpose of +bringing home the little Rosalia Aguilar, the +second orphan niece committed to her charge.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XII.<br> <span class='c009'>ROSALIA.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“A lovely being scarcely formed or moulded,</div> + <div class='line'>A rose with all its sweetest leaves yet folded.”</div> + <div class='line in44'><span class='sc'>Byron.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>“Mind, Hagar, you must be attentive to your +uncle, he is not well, my love, and you must do +nothing to annoy him—now, will you promise +me, Hagar?” had been the earnest injunction +and question of Sophie as she was taking leave +of little Hagar the morning of her departure for +Baltimore. The child was silent and sulky. +This argued ill.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, Hagar! will you let me depart in +anxiety of mind when I may never see you +again?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar was still inexorable.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will you not be gentle and good with <em>Raymond’s</em> +father?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes!” said she, raising her flashing eyes, +“for Raymond’s sake.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Now it must not be inferred from this that +there was unmitigated antagonism between the +wild child and her solemn uncle-in-law, but there +was that which was far more exasperating, a +capricious and fretful attraction. Sometimes +highly amused or deeply interested in the child’s +strong, keen, and original genius, he would take +her into great favor for days together, keep her +always with him in his study, open to her +hungry and greedy mind stores of food, win her +affections, and then, at some fancied irreverence +or impropriety on her part, would shake her +from his hand as though she had been a viper, +and drive her from the room.<a id='r3'></a><a href='#f3' class='c012'><sup>[3]</sup></a> And she would +fly from the house, stung and suffering, to take +refuge in the dark woods, among the grey rocks, +or on the gravelly beach of the surging bay. +The wild child took to the wild scenes of nature, +as naturally as the squirrel takes to the trees, the +bird to the air, or the fish to the water; and +soon she was at home there, soon she learned to +climb a tree with the swiftness and agility of a +monkey; soon she learned, alone, to launch the +boat, and wield the oar with a skill and grace +that nothing but instinct could have taught, and +in the very spirit of adventure she would make +long voyages of discovery up and down the +shores of the bay. And if a storm was brewing, +if the sky was darkened and the thunder muttering +in the distance, if danger was ahead, so +much the more tempting and exciting was the +voyage to the fearless child. The same spirit +of adventure and inquiry would lead down a +darksome forest-path, into the deepest dells, and +most tangled thickets, and far away into the +wildest solitudes of the wilderness; and the close +hiss of a serpent, or the distant growl of a wolf, +would only send color to the lips and cheeks, +and light to the eyes of the girl, whose ardent +soul panted for excitement. Do you ask where +she got her fiery blood from? I do not know +exactly, perhaps the spark was transmitted from +some Egyptian long since. All I can tell is, +that the same wild spirit of adventure had +incited several of her ancestors from time to +time to rebellion against church and state, had +sent the founder of the American branch into the +new country, and now occasionally broke out +in a solitary member of the house, as in Hagar. +And where was Sophie while her little charge +roamed over river, creek, and bay, forest, moor, +and rock, at large? Absorbed in the care of her +lunatic husband, fancying Hagar safe at play, +she remained in total ignorance of the child’s +woodland sports and salt-water voyages.</p> + +<div class='footnote' id='f3'> +<p class='c008'><a href='#r3'>3</a>. Some people who are not lunatics treat their +children in a less degree in the same capricious way; +alternating unreasonable fondness with unmerited +harshness; and nothing can be more fatal to the +temper and character of a child.</p> +</div> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie had fallen into that dangerous error so +common to enthusiasts—the exclusive absorption +in one duty, to the neglect of others. Sophie’s +self-devotion would have been good as it seemed +beautiful, had it been governed by <em>moderation</em>. +It has been ingeniously said by Hassler that +“from its position in the solar system, neither +too close nor too far removed from the centre +of light and heat—<em>moderation</em> would seem to +be the peculiar virtue appropriate to our earth”—and +when one thinks of it, it would seem the one +thing needful for a better reason than mere +locality. Moderation is the moral gauge, the +moral regulator, and should be president of the +debating society of the passions, propensities, +sentiments, and virtues. Moderation is to +the heart what reason is to the head. Moderation +is just precisely that hair line, erroneously +said to be invisible, that divides the right from +the wrong, good from evil, and virtue from vice. +For see: courage is a good thing, but carried +beyond the bounds of moderation it becomes +rashness—which is a bad thing. Cautiousness is +also good, but beyond moderation it becomes +cowardice—which is bad. Liberality on the +other side of the line of moderation is prodigality. +Even religion, piety, which is most excellent, +stretched beyond the line of moderation +becomes fanaticism, superstition—which is anything +but worship and honor to the Creator. I +can quote Scripture for that, “Be not righteous +over much.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Poor Sophie was “over much,” and hence +her self-sacrifice was not, as it might have been, +productive of unmingled good. To Hagar it +brought much evil, not only by leaving her to +the pursuit of her own wild pleasures, but in +subjecting her before she could understand it to +<span class='pageno' id='Page_44'>44</span>the caprices of an unimpaired intellect excited +by a nervous and bilious temperament. Her +sentiments towards her uncle were at the time +of Sophie’s departure a singular and most exasperating +blending of affection and anger, if not +of positive love and hatred. He would take +her into favor for weeks, and just as she was +growing confident and easy in his affection, he +would throw her off without a cause, and treat +her with freezing coldness for other weeks; her +first feeling would be a mixed emotion of sorrow +and anger, and that would subside into a +cold dislike, fostered by his unkind manner; +and then just as she was getting to hate him +comfortably, feeling quite justified in entertaining +the sentiment and quite independent in consequence, +lo and behold, some unexpected, and as +it would seem to her, some undeserved act of +kindness or tenderness would melt the iceberg +in her bosom, and she could weep in very penitence +for all the coldness she had felt and +shown.</p> + +<p class='c008'>When Sophie left the Hall, Hagar, according +to her promise, tamed her heart of fire and gave +every gentle attention to her provoking uncle, +who was now in one of his morose fits by reason +of Sophie’s absence, and therefore was very +hard to be satisfied. A week passed away, +during which Hagar’s short stock of patience +was nearly exhausted by receiving in return for +all her attention cold looks, short replies, and +half-suppressed grumblings—the dark sky and +muttering thunder of an approaching storm.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Affairs were in this state at the Hall when +the day of Sophie’s expected return arrived. +The packet usually put out a little boat and +landed passengers for the Hall upon the beach +under the promontory. Early in the afternoon, +Hagar’s falcon eye descrying a sail upon the +bay, she ran down to the promontory, sped +down the rocky declivity with the agility and +swiftness of a kid, and stood upon the sunny +beach to await its approach. The packet +swiftly approached, stopped opposite the promontory, +and a boat put out from her side, and +was swiftly rowed to the beach.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar sprang to meet her aunt, who stepped +upon the sand, leading a little girl of about +three years of age, dressed in deep mourning. +Hagar had sprang up into Sophie’s arms and +given her a quick embrace, when the latter putting +her down, said—“Kiss your cousin, Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, kiss me, Hagar,” said the little one, +“kiss me, love me—I’ve got no mother.” And +the large bright tears rolled down her rosy +cheeks. Hagar caressed her as a kitten might +caress a young dove, with its claws out. And +the soft sensitive pet half evaded her wire-like +clasp. “Oh! she is a city baby, used to be +nursed by <em>white</em> nurses, and to step her little +soft feet upon pavements, and to play with dolls +in dressing-rooms; she shrinks from me, whose +play-grounds are the forest, rocks, and waters—and +whose toys are bows, arrows, and guns.” +And Hagar bent forward and gazed with her +keen eyes into the face of the timid child as +they walked side by side towards the ascent of +the cliff. Here even Sophie’s hand afforded little +assistance to the unpractised feet of the +infant as she toiled up the steep and dangerous +cliff, glancing with terror at the sharp projecting +points of the rocks sticking up ready to impale +her soft form if she missed her footing. Hagar +gazed at the little frightened toiler, half in pity, +half in amusement, until suddenly the devil +leaped into the eyes of the wild child, and seizing +her cousin, she swung her upon her shoulder, +and springing from the spot with the bound of a +kid, scarcely touching the points of the rocks +with her light feet, she flew up the steep knobs +of the cliff—while Rose clung to her neck in +deadly terror, and Sophie raised her hands in +awe-struck astonishment. Arrived at the top +safe, she set her down, panting, and tenderly as +she knew how soothed her alarm. But from +that moment through all her after life, Rosalia +feared and shrank from Hagar.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Mr. Withers received Sophie with visible +pleasure and affection; drawing her to his bosom +and pressing a kiss upon her lips. But +when he stooped to welcome her little charge +Rosalia, he suddenly drew back, shaded his +eyes with his hands, and gazed at her; then recovering +himself, he welcomed the orphan with +a few words of encouragement and re-assurance.</p> + +<p class='c008'>After the children were in bed that night, and +while Withers and Sophie sat by the parlor fire, +he said, as if half musing, “The same intense +blue eyes, the same golden hair, except that +both are softer.” Then suddenly turning to Sophie, +and speaking earnestly, he said—“Tell +me, my guardian angel, is it an illusion of my +wayward imagination, or does Rosalia resemble—resemble—?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Raymond?” suggested Sophie, with tact.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, Raymond,” he replied quickly. “You +have seen it then, too?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, she <em>does</em> resemble Raymond—but that +may be from her having the same colored hair +and eyes, and the same delicately fair skin—which +she takes from her mother, my sister Rosalia, +who was of that complexion.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes—but the features, the expression, that +peculiar arch of the delicate upper lip, that +sweeping curve of the upper lids falling over +‘eyes whose light might fix the glance of any +seraph gazing not on God,’ and the elegantly +carved hand and arm, and foot—the very form +and features of—of—” he paused and sighed +deeply—“of Fanny Raymond. Yes, of Fanny +Raymond, as I knew her when a child—except +that this child has more softness, tenderness—more +lymph, if one might use the expression.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why do you not tell me all about it, Mr. +Withers; then you would feel better, then there +would be freer conversation between us; no +starts, broken sentences and misapprehensions.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why do you wish to pry into my secrets?” +asked he angrily, and rising, paced the floor +with moody air and a dark brow. After a while +he returned and sat down. Sophie went and +sat beside him—and obtaining possession of his +hand caressed it as she said gently,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not wish to pry into your secrets, +believe me I do not—I only wish to give you +peace; after so long a time, do you not know +me for your friend?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, then, Sophie, do not exasperate me +by questions of my past life; at some periods I +have very little self-control, as you very well +know.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>His moroseness increased from this hour, +until a day or two after his disease broke out +in phrensy. His attack had reached its crisis, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_45'>45</span>passed it, and declined into gloom as before. +Sophie had successfully guarded him from +public exposure. Again as before, a sermon +written during the exalted stage of his insanity, +had electrified the whole country. It seemed +strange, but it was not unprecedented in the +annals of insanity, that one who had well nigh +lost his reason, should at some periods perceive +the points of his subject with microscopic distinctness, +and argue them with mathematical +closeness and precision. It was less strange, +that into this perfect body of logic, his burning +imagination should cast a soul of eloquence, fire, +and life. His fame was spread all through the +neighboring counties, and crowds flocked to +hear him preach. Could they at some seasons +have seen his heart, or even entered his home! +And yet they knew as much, and judged as +correctly of him, as many of us know and +judge of some around and near us every day. +Still he accomplished much good. Sophie felt +this, and took heart amid her troubles. Truth, +pure <em>truth</em>, loses none of its force and point +by any mode of conveyance through which it +reaches its object. Truth diluted with falsehood, +comes weak and faint through any medium.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It would be vain to try to give you any fair +idea of the winning beauty and gentle grace of +the little Rosalia Aguilar, whom but to look +upon was to love. She soon became the +favorite of the whole house, from its solemn +master down to old Cumbo in the kitchen. +Hagar loved her at first, and tried to teach her +to make and use little bows and arrows, and to +coax her off to her forest haunts, or out on the +bay; but when, after her repeated efforts, she +found the gentle and timorous child still <a id='t45'></a>shrank +from her offers of entertainment, she left her +alone—and afterwards, when she felt that the +loving little beauty was winning from her the +little hold she had upon the affections of the +household, her heart became bitter, and the +jealous trait in her character grew and strengthened. +More than ever she took to the desolate +scenes about her native hall. She made wider +excursions upon the bay, and deeper inroads into +the forest—in the wild wantonness of her nature +she would scale the most difficult rocks, and +skim along the very edge of the most fearful +precipices, or climb the tallest trees, and letting +herself out upon the frailest branches, rock up and +down between earth and sky, delighted to +tamper with danger; or if the branch beneath +her broke, save herself, monkey-like, by an agile +spring and catch at the nearest bough. Thus +the keen perceptive faculties of the child were +only employed in perfecting her animal strength +and agility. And Sophie? had Sophie quite +abandoned her? No; but occupied with her +unhappy and exacting husband, and with her +younger and more helpless niece, Sophie seeing +Hagar always well, left her very much to herself. +And indeed the wild child was always +rather beyond the control of her gentle relatives. +Thus passed the winter.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The close intimacy that had subsisted between +the little families of Heath Hall and Grove Cottage, +had been considerably interrupted since the +marriage of Sophie. She wished to preserve the +secret of her husband, and therefore rather discouraged +the continuance of the hitherto almost +daily intercourse between the families. Emily +also felt an aversion to the minister that had an +influence in severing the close intimacy of the +friends. And Augustus, too, being in daily +attendance upon a school three miles in the +opposite direction, found little chance to visit +his old playmate Hagar. Emily, however, +though her visits were few and far between, still +felt in all its devotion her warm affection for +Sophie. Other neighbors, mere acquaintances, +came occasionally to the Hall, and sometimes +spent a day there, or a day and night after the +manner of country neighborhood visiting, but from +these careless and uninterested observers Sophie +succeeded in keeping her misfortune secret. The +two children were objects of considerable attention +from these visitors, and the striking contrast +of their persons, manners, and characters, noted +and commented upon, <em>in their presence</em>. The +winning beauty and sweet confiding sociability +of the fair cherub, and the wild shy reserve of +the dark child, were compared, and sagely commented +upon—and conclusions very disparaging +to Hagar, drawn by these superficial critics who +did not understand her. Indeed the contrast +between these two children was so striking, that +they were never passed by strangers or servants +without some such remark as this—“Rosalia is +beautiful, lovely—but that other child is <em>very</em> +homely.” It is very wrong to make remarks on +the personal beauty or ugliness of children in +their hearing. The effect is invariably injurious. +It is highly reprehensible to draw <em>invidious comparisons</em> +between the beauty of children, especially +before their faces. This thoughtlessness +is fraught with the direst consequences. When +you say so carelessly in their presence, that +“Anne is prettier than Jane,” and look at Anne +as though her accidental beauty were a virtue, +and look at Jane as though she were in fault—think +that into the fertile soil of the children’s +hearts you have dropped the seeds of evil—the +seed of vanity in the heart of Anne, the seed of +envy into that of Jane, and the germ of discord +into both. Upon Rosalia and Hagar these +thoughtless remarks were producing the worst +effects. Rosalia, loved, petted and praised, by +the family, the servants and visitors, with all her +gentleness and sweetness, was growing vain, +selfish, and sensual—and loved best of all things +to lie in some old lady’s soft lap and suck sugarplums, +while the said old lady caressed and +praised her. And she was a most endearing +child; unlike other spoiled and petted children, +she never gave way to temper—she was much +too gentle for that. She was penetrable, sensitive, +not high spirited. Sometimes in his wilful moods +Mr. Withers would repulse her, though never +with the asperity with which he drove Hagar +from his presence; and she would weep, and +come back, and coax and caress him until the +madman, subdued by the power of love, would +take her to his bosom—where nestling herself +cosily, she would fall into the deep sleep—the +reaction of her excitement; while his own +stormy soul, mesmerized, would subside into +calmness. And daily his love for her and his +aversion to Hagar increased. Upon Hagar, too, +these influences were producing the worst effects. +Jealousy and suspicion of the few she loved, +scorn and contempt for the opinions of others—neglect +of her person as little worth attention, +and a morbid desire to be loved exclusively—these +<span class='pageno' id='Page_46'>46</span>were some of the evil fruits of her +mal-education.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XIII.<br> <span class='c009'>THE ATTIC.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“An old joy of childhood and youth, a cat-like love of garrets.”</div> + <div class='line in24'><span class='sc'>Emerson.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>One more circumstance, patient reader, and I +have done tiring you with the squabbles of children. +It was one that more particularly introduced +Hagar to the notice of Mrs. May, and +saved her from degenerating quite into a savage. +It occurred some time after the events recorded +in the last chapter. But just let me briefly sum +up the history of the intervening time. The disease +of Mr. Withers had changed in these +respects—he was no longer subject to violent +outbreaks; but his malady, wanting that vent, +had only deepened into gloom and moroseness. +He had lost his eloquence and power in the +pulpit to that degree, that a curate had to be +appointed to assist him, and his pay deducted +from the minister’s small salary. This curate +boarded with Emily. The farm, only partly reclaimed, +had been suffered to relapse into desolation. +The income arising from Sophie’s +school had been, of course, cut off at its discontinuance; +and the family at Heath Hall found +themselves in straitened circumstances. This +was felt more heavily, as the continued exactions +of Mr. Withers upon the time and attention of +his gentle and complying wife, left her little +opportunity for those economies and contrivances +by which a thrifty housekeeper makes the most +of a narrow income. Raymond had not once +visited the Hall, though he frequently wrote. +Emily May, repulsed by what she supposed the +coldness of Sophie, altogether absented herself.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty was absent on a voyage with his uncle, +Lieutenant Wilde, who had made one visit to +Grove Cottage, but without calling upon or +even inquiring after Sophie.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was just before the expected return of +Gusty, near the close of the winter, when Hagar +was driven in from her rambles by the arising of +a furious storm. She betook herself to the +garret, her place of refuge in times of trouble. +Poor little Rose, repulsed by the gloom and ill-temper +of “uncle,” had already hidden herself +there; and the children sat before the fireless +hearth—the desolate children in the desolate +scene. It was a large, low, square room, with +two deep dormer windows facing the east, and +looking far out upon the bay—with a dark +cuddie under the eaves of the western wall—with +a rude fire-place on the south, and opposite +on the north, the door leading from the room +into the narrow passage and down the stairs. +The walls were very dark, and the plastering +broken here and there. Between the two dormer +windows, and close to the floor, was a large +crevice in the wall, through which you might +look into the long dark space between the +wall and the edge of the roof, a space corresponding +to the cuddie on the opposite side. +Strange sounds were sometimes heard in this +place, and through the crevice. Hagar, that +child of shadows, would look with mysterious +awe—for with its boundaries lost in obscurity, +to her it seemed a dark profound sinking through +the house down to the centre of the earth, while +her imagination loved to people it with ghosts, +gnomes, and all the subterranean demons she +had read of in her favorite book, the Arabian +Nights. “Listen! listen to the spirits,” she +would sometimes whisper in wantonness to her +little cousin.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I hear nothing but the rats in the cuddie,” +would the matter of fact Rose reply. The +floor of the attic was bare, the planks rude and +rough, and worn apart in some places, leaving +dark apertures, down which Hagar would look +as into an interminable abyss, the haunt of her +favorite gnomes. There was no furniture in this +room except an old trunk without a top, that +sometimes served Rosalia for a baby-house, and +sometimes reversed, for a seat. Upon this trunk +the children were now seated. The storm still +raged around the old house-top—the shingles +were reft off, whirled aloft, and sent clattering +like hail-stones to the ground; the wind howled +and shrieked about the walls, and the old +windows and rafters writhed and groaned in the +blast, like the wail of lost souls, and the laugh +of exultant fiends. The rain was dashed in +floods against the crazy windows, and the +children sprinkled through their crevices. The +water began to stream from the leakages in the +ceiling, and to collect in puddles in the corners +of the room. These puddles enlarging and +approaching each other, threatened to overflow +the floor. The children drew their trunk upon +the fireless hearth. Rose’s little chubby arms +and legs were red with cold.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! how the wind’s a-blowing. I am +almost frozen,” wept Rose. And they were. +“Let’s go into the parlor,” suggested Rose.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar looked at her with astonishment, that +she should propose to “beard the lion” in his +present mood.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, into the parlor,” persisted the child. +“I’ll bet you anything that uncle will let us stay +in the parlor this evening, and warm ourselves +at the fire; it is so very cold, you know.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well! it is <em>my</em> house, anyhow, and so for +your sake, Rose, we <em>will</em> go down.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And hand in hand the shivering children left +the attic, passed down four flights of back stairs, +and went to the parlor door, and Rosalia peeped +timidly in. It was the same old parlor, papered +with the Christian martyrs that I have before +described; and there sat the tall thin figure of +Mr. Withers, dark, solemn, and lowering; and +opposite sat Sophie, with her soft brown eyes +bent over her knitting. And, oh! sight of +luxury to the half-frozen child,—there was a +glorious, glowing hickory fire, crackling, blazing, +and roaring in the chimney. The children +opened the door and passed in, carefully closing +it after them; they approached the fire, Hagar +with an air of defiance, Rose with a look of +deprecation. Sophie looked at the children with +remorseful tenderness, and made room for them, +unluckily, between herself and Withers, thereby +attracting his attention. He turned, and knitting +his brows until they met across his nose, and +fixing his eyes sternly on the children, he asked, +in a rough tone—</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_47'>47</span>“What are you doing here?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Warming ourselves!” exclaimed Hagar, +raising her eyes, flashing, to his face.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He frowned darkly on her, and half started +from his seat, while Rose cowered at her side, +and Sophie grew pale.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Be off with yourselves,” he said, in a stern +under tone.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar planted her feet firmly on the ground, +while Rosalia slunk away. Sophie arose, and +saying, in a low tone, “Take Rose to the kitchen +fire, dear Hagar,” prepared to follow them.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come back, Sophie!” exclaimed Withers, +in an excited tone. And she sat down with a +patient, despairing look, merely motioning to +Hagar by an imploring gesture, to leave the +room.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well! let’s go into the kitchen and warm +ourselves at Aunt Cumbo’s fire,” suggested the +ever hopeful Rosalia.</p> + +<p class='c008'>They left the parlor by a back door that led +through a sort of closet into the kitchen. The +storm was still raging, but a good fire was burning +on the kitchen hearth, and the tea-kettle was +singing over the blaze, and old Cumbo was +standing at a table kneading dough.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Are you going to have biscuits for supper, +Aunt Cumbo?” asked Rosalia, in a coaxing tone, +as she approached the table.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now, what you comin’ out here botherin’ +arter me for, when I am gettin’ supper—go ’long +in de house wid you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The old woman happened to be in a bad +humor.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, Aunt Cumbo, we are cold—we want to +warm ourselves,” coaxed Rose. “Mayn’t we +warm ourselves by your fire?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, no, no! kitchen ain’t no place for white +children, no how you can fix it, so go ’long in +wid you.” And the rough old woman came +bustling up to the fire-place, drove the little girls +away, and began to set her spider and spider lid +to heat.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No; this <em>is</em> no place for us,” said Hagar, +who disdained a controversy with a menial; and +the children left the passage.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia’s teeth were chattering, and she felt +as though the cold had reached her heart.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I wish that we were both dead, Hagar,” said +she, in a whimpering tone.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I don’t,” said Hagar, looking half in pity, +half in scorn, at the wailing child. “Nor must +you. You must live. You are to marry the +President of the United States, you know.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes!” exclaimed the vain child, suddenly +brightening up, “so I am! Cumbo, when +she ain’t cross, says I’m pretty enough to marry +him or his betters! And then, Hagar! oh, +Hagar! then I am going to have a good fire all +the time, in every room in the house; and I will +wear <em>whole</em> shoes and stockings <em>every</em> day, and +<em>always</em> have biscuits for supper. And—never +mind, Hagar, you shall live with me, too; and +when I think of that, oh, Hagar! When I +think of that, I have such a—such a—what do +you call it, that keeps people up, and keeps ’em +alive?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hope.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes! ‘never give up.’ You know Gusty +Wilde says ‘never give up,’ and I am agoing to +‘never give up.’ I am going down into the cellar, +now, to pick up chips. Tarquins has been +down there sawing wood, and I know there must +be chips there; and we can pick up enough to +make us a fire, and we can make a nice fire and +tell stories.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And with the elasticity of childhood she led +the way down to the cellar. It was a large, +dark, musty old place, with an area partitioned +off, in which milk, butter, fresh meat, &c., were +kept in summer; in winter it was usually two +feet deep in water; now, however, it was nearly +dry. It was originally intended for a kitchen, and +was built in the old-fashioned English style, with a +large grate in the fire-place, with ovens each side, +having heavy iron doors. These deep ovens, the +bounds of which were out of sight in the darkness, +seemed to Hagar like the entrances to subterranean +caverns, the abode of ghosts. To +Rose they were merely brick closets, that smelt +very musty and unpleasant. The brick pavement +of the cellar was decayed away, and green +with mould. It was, however, a favorite resort +with the children, for there they were free from +persecution. They entered, and Rosalia began +to fill her apron with chips, when Hagar spied an +old worn-out flag basket, and drew it towards +them. They both went to work, and soon filled +the little basket, and Rosalia, taking it up in her +chubby arms, began to toil up stairs with it. +Hagar would have taken it from—but “No, +Hagar,” said she, “I am afraid to go into the +kitchen again. I’ll carry this, and <em>you</em> go and +steal a coal of fire, and bring the broom, so that +we can sweep up the slop.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar went into the kitchen, which she found +vacant. Cumbo had gone to the spring. +Taking a coal of fire in the tongs, and seizing +the broom, she fled up stairs into the attic, where +little Rose was already busied in clearing the +damp rubbish from the fire-place. She received +the coal from Hagar, and kneeling down, placed +it on the hearth, collected around it the smallest +chips, and blew it. A little blaze soon flickered +on the hearth. She continued to add more chips +as the weak flame would bear it. In the meantime +Hagar had swept up the room. The storm +had subsided. The little fire was burning cheeringly. +The children drew the old trunk before +it, and sat down, their arms around each other’s +waist; their little toes stretched out to the fire; +their countenances wearing that satisfied consciousness +of having toiled for and won the +comforts they were enjoying. And after all, it +was but a little fire in a dreary old attic. They +were not permitted to enjoy this long. Steps +were heard approaching their retreat. The door +opened, and Tar, or as he called himself, Tarquinius +Superbus—the colored boy of all work—entered. +Rose ran to her basket of chips, and +placed herself before it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What you dem do wid dat broom you stole +from de kitchen, you little thieves, you? Nex’ +time you gim me trouble for come up here arter +you dem’s nonsense, I tell Mrs. Widders, an’ ef +dat don’t do I tell <em>Mr.</em> Widders—<em>you</em> see!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>With that he espied the broom, and in going +around to take it, his eyes fell upon the little fire, +and the small basket of chips. Poor Rose +looked guilty and dismayed, but held desperately +on to her property. Hagar watched him with a +steady eye.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My good gracious ‘live—did any <em>soul</em> ever +see de like? What <em>will</em> Mr. Widders say? +<span class='pageno' id='Page_48'>48</span>A-wastin’ all de wood! Here’s chips enough to +kindle all de fires in de mornin’.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And with a perspective glance at his morning’s +work, when the basket of chips would be very +convenient, the rude boy stooped down to take +possession of the prize. Rosalia held tight her +treasure. He jerked it from her, and in doing +so, tore her little tender arms with the rough +flags of the old basket. Having lost his temper +in the struggle, the boy then went to the chimney, +and taking the tongs, scattered the blazing +chips, and raking the damp rubbish from the corners, +extinguished the fire. Then with his prize +he marched out of the room. Rose was sobbing +and wiping the blood from her wounded arm. +Hagar was still and silent, but the fire was +kindling in her dark eyes; her gipsy blood was +rising; at last she started after him, overtook +him half way down the stairs, and seized the +basket; he pulled it from her hold and fled, she +pursuing him into the kitchen. To end the matter, +he went up to the chimney, turned up the +basket, and shook down the chips into the fire. +Her gipsy blood was up! She ran to him as he +was stooping over his work of wanton cruelty, +and giving him a sudden push, sent him into the +fire. The basket was crushed under his hands, +and saved them from being badly burnt. He +struggled, recovered himself, and arose. Just at +this moment Cumbo re-entered the kitchen, and +Rosalia, who had followed her cousin, came in.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What’s de matter now?” inquired the old +woman.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar was too proud and Rosalia too frightened +to speak.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Tar gave an exaggerated account of the whole +affair, as he brushed the smut and ashes from his +sleeves. He dwelt particularly on the <em>waste</em> +with which “de childer had burned up all de +light wood for kindlin’.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Cumbo turned up the whites of her eyes in +horror at the depredation.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It was only a few little chips that we picked +up, and they were damp; and see how he +scratched my arms!” said Rosalia, holding them +up to view.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Cumbo having sent in supper, felt herself in a +better humor; and thought herself prepared to +render judgment with marvellous impartiality +and wisdom, which, seating herself, and resting +her hands on her knees, she did to the following +effect:</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Tarquinus Perbus, you go right in house an’ +wait on table. Massa Widders, he callin’ for +you. An’ Rose, you putty little angel, you come +here an’ sit on old mammy’s lap, and toast your +poor little footy toes before dis nice fire; mammy’s +got a warm biscuit for you in her bosom, +too. An’ Hagar, you ugly, bad ting, go long +right trait out dis here kitchen wid yourself. +You’re so bad I can’t a-bear you—but ugly people +always <em>is</em> bad.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Now, if she had said bad people always are +ugly, she might have come nearer the truth, or +at least taught a better lesson.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I did not make myself, God made me,” said +Hagar.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“He didn’t! he never made anything half so +ugly and bad! De debil made you. <em>He</em> made +my beautiful, lovely, good little Rose. Some +ob dese days she shall be de Presiden’s wife, and +<em>you</em>—you shall be her waitin’ maid, cause nobody’s +ever gwine to marry <em>you</em>—you’re too +ugly and hateful. Go long straight out dis here +kitchen now, I don’t want nuffin ’tall to do wid +you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar left the kitchen, casting back a look of +inquiry at Rosalia; but the little girl was petted, +coaxed, flattered, and tempted by the warm fire, +and the prospect of the nice biscuit, and preferred +to keep her seat.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar took her lonely way up the four flights +of stairs that led to the attic. Arrived there she +sat down moodily upon the trunk, resting her +elbows upon her knees, and holding her thin face +between the palms of her hands; her black elf +locks were hanging wildly about her shoulders, +and her eyes were wide open, and fixed upon the +floor in a stare. She was bitterly reflecting that +with a really kind-hearted aunt she was suffering +all the evils of orphanage, abused by menials, +pinched with hunger, and half frozen with cold. +She was wondering, too, how it was that the +good God had made her so ugly that she could +not be loved, and therefore could not be good. +Poor child, she never dreamed of general admiration, +she only wished to be loved; and she had no +one to tell her that the beauty which wins permanent +affection is the beauty of goodness; that +goodness will soften the hardest, and intellect +light up the dullest features; that though physical +beauty may excite passion, and intellect attract +admiration, only goodness can win everlasting +love. Within the last few months, such scenes as +I have described were constantly occurring, and +their evil influence fell on all the children’s after +life. Some of the most serious defects in their +characters, some of the most deplorable errors in +their conduct, and the most dreadful misfortune of +their lives, might be traced back to the injudicious, +careless remarks of visitors, and the capricious +blame or praise of servants, to whose care or neglect +they were so much left. When I recollect +the strong and decided bias given in childhood to +my own character by people and circumstances +over which I had no sort of control, and against +whose evil influence I could make no sort of +resistance; when I suffer by the effect of impressions +received in infancy, which neither time, +reason, nor religion have been able to efface—which +only sorrow could impair by bruising +the tablet; knowing as I know the tender impressibility +of infancy, feeling as I feel the indelibility +of such impressions, I tremble for the +unseen influences that may surround my own +young children—aye, even for the chance word +dropped by stranger lips, and heard by infant +ears; for that word may be a fruitful seed that +shall spring up into a healthful vine, or a upas +tree, twenty years after it is sown. Infancy is +a fair page upon which you may write—goodness, +happiness, heaven, or—sin, misery, hell. +And the words once written, no chemical art +can erase them. The substance of the paper +itself must be rubbed through by the file of suffering +before the writing can be effaced. Infancy +is the soft metal in the moulder’s hands; he may +shape it in the image of a fiend, or the form of an +angel—and when finished, the statue hardens into +rock, which nothing but the hammer of God’s +providence can break; nothing but the fire of +God’s providence can melt for re-moulding.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_49'>49</span> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XIV.<br> <span class='c009'>GUSTY.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Thine was the shout! the song! the burst of joy!</div> + <div class='line in2'>Which sweet from childhood’s rosy lips resoundeth,</div> + <div class='line'>Thine was the eager spirit naught could cloy,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And the glad heart from which all grief reboundeth.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Mrs. Norton</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>There she sat motionless. The only sounds +were the beating of the rain against the windows, +and the racing of the rats through the cuddies. +At last the noise of footsteps tearing up the +stairs, and a voice shouting a sea-song startled +the wild girl—she looked up just as Gusty Wilde +burst into the room, and running up to her, +caught her around the neck, and gave her a +boisterous salute, exclaiming breathlessly,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I just got home last night, Hagar! and have +been wanting to run over and see you so much, +but mother detained me this morning, and I +couldn’t, but you see as soon as the storm subsided +a little I ran over here, ’specially as mother +gives me a tea-party this evening in honor +of my coming home. She has baked a plum +cake, and I have brought you home a monkey; +so, Hagar, you must return with me. I came +on purpose to fetch you; <em>you</em> won’t be afraid to +cross the swollen river.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He was a fine, noble looking boy, stoutly +built, with a full face, rosy complexion, clear +merry blue eyes, and an abundance of soft yellow +curls clustering thick around a brow of almost +feminine whiteness. He wore a sailor’s +blue jacket, white trousers, and tarpaulin hat. +He looked at Hagar for her answer. Observing +now for the first time the girl’s disconsolate +air, he sat down beside her, pulled off his tarpaulin +hat, and placing it between his knees, put +his arm quietly around the neck of the child, +and kissing her dark brow gently, inquired,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar, what is the matter?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She did not reply, but remained in her first +posture with her elbows on her knees, her chin +propped up by her hands, and her black elf +locks streaming down each side of her face. He +gently put her hair back from her face, and +tucking it behind her ears, asked kindly,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Where is Rosalia, Hagar, and why are you +up here in this cold, damp room alone?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How did you know that I was here?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I met Tarquinius in the entry as I came in +the house, and inquiring for you the first one, he +told me you were here—then I ran in, upset +Father Withers in my haste, kissed Sophie, and +breaking away ran up here to find you. But +where is Rosalia? I expected to find her with +you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia is in old Cumbo’s lap warming herself +before the kitchen fire, and eating biscuits—and +I—am I not always alone—when storms +and floods drive me to the house; but <em>they</em>,” +added she, “shall not send me in again; the +wild beasts bear their raging, and so will I.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why don’t you stay in the parlor?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“In the parlor?” laughed the girl, bitterly; +“Mr. Withers’s mastiffs and bulldogs stay in the +parlor, the old tabby cat reposes on the rug before +the parlor fire, and Aunt Sophie’s pet rabbit +has its cushion in the corner, but I, I am a parlor +ornament, ain’t I?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! Hagar, don’t do so! it is so very ugly +in a little girl to act that way, laughing and jibing +and jeering with so much scorn and bitterness. +Now tell me why you are banished from the +parlor, if you <em>are</em> banished.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Look at me! this is the best suit of clothes +I have in the world; do you think Mr. Withers +is going to let me stay in the parlor looking like +<em>this</em>, strict as <em>he</em> is?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty glanced down at her torn and rusty +calico dress—and at her, and at her little feet +protruding through her old stockings and shoes. +Then he said seriously, as he looked at her,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Lord, Hagar, I don’t know now how I shall +take you in that trim. But why, child, did you +not stay at the kitchen fire with Rose? That +would have been far more comfortable than this +wet, cold garret.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I was driven from the kitchen, Gusty—driven +from the kitchen because I paid Tarquin well +for hurting Rosalia—and only think, Gusty, <em>just</em> +think, Rosalia, who should have stuck to me, +remained with the old woman who drove me +off for protecting <em>her</em>,” and the girl turned her +eyes flashing with scorn and bitterness towards +the boy, who remarked—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rose did that, Hagar? It was not like Rose +to do that. I shall not love Rose if she becomes +mean and selfish; but it can’t be so; something +remains to be explained.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes,” laughed the wild child, “something +remains to be explained—she was hungry +and cold—and Cumbo offered to feed and warm +her.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>How unusual and how frightful is a sneer on +a child’s countenance, and oh! what a tale of +perverted nature it tells! After a while her +countenance relapsed into its serious cast, and +she said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Since you left, Gusty, I have been quite +alone; everybody has fallen away from me and +gone to Rosalia. Every one dislikes or forgets +me, and every one loves Rosalia.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I have not fallen away from you, Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No dear Gusty, <em>you</em> have not—perhaps you +<em>will</em>, though, when you see more of Rose—” +added she, sadly and doubtingly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>There was springing in her bosom the germ +of that doubt of all things and all persons that +in after life became a distinguishing and fatal +trait in her character. Children are born with +trust. The confidingness of childhood is proverbial, +but like all other childish instincts, it is +young and delicate, and easily crushed to death. +Children <em>feel</em> before they can <em>reason</em>, and the +impressions of childhood being well nigh ineffaceable, +the deceived and betrayed child is often +parent to the sceptical and scoffing man or woman.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I will <em>never</em> fall away from you, Hagar, nor +can I see how Rosalia can draw me away. +Can’t I love you <em>both</em>? And now, little Hagar, +you must let me comb your hair and take you +over to mother’s to tea. I should like to take +Rose, too, but she is too tender to brave the +weather this evening.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And in all simplicity he took from his pocket +a little comb, and began to comb out Hagar’s +elf locks. With wondrous skill he smoothed +and arranged her long hair into a simple knot +behind her head, and passing his hands two or +three times over the surface of her hair, said +cheerfully,</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_50'>50</span>“There, now, you little thing, why don’t you +take pains with yourself? You look so much +prettier, now that your hair is shining like blue-black +satin, so that I can see my face in it. +And, oh, Hagar! how I wish that they would let +you come and live with my mother; mother +wants a little girl so much, especially if I get +my midshipman’s warrant and go to sea again. +Oh, if you were only with mother, how good +and happy she would make you—and you would +grow pretty, too, for good girls always grow +pretty. There, you are smiling! do you happen +to know that you have the most beautiful smile +in the world, Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I know that Rosalia has, for everybody says +so.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, Rose has a sweet, soft smile, like summer +sunbeams on flowers; pretty enough, and +common enough; but <em>your</em> smile, Hagar—I’ll +tell you what your smile is like. I have been at +sea, near a wild coast full of frightful breakers, +shelving rocks, dark cliffs, and murky caverns, +with a stormy sea, a blackened sky, the whole +landscape dark, gloomy, and terrible, until suddenly +out breaks the sun, lighting up the scene +which then becomes wild, grand, sublime! +Such is your face, and such your smile, Hagar. +I gaze breathless at the wild beauty of both.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Just at this moment, into the room broke Rosalia, +and running up to Hagar threw her arms +about her neck, exclaiming, breathlessly, while +she thrust a biscuit into her hands,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Here, here, Hagar! I only just waited till +she gave me the biscuit she promised, and then +I came away and brought it to you! Here, +here, take it, Hagar! I ain’t hungry—no, not a +bit.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Thus would the sweet child’s native goodness +sometimes break through the shell of selfishness +that was crusting over it. Hagar, with one of +her quick revulsions of feeling, burst into tears, +and pressed the little one to her bosom, and +Gusty, snatching her up in his arms, gleefully +exclaimed while he ran around the room with +her,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“There, there, there! Hurrah! I knew it. +I could have sworn my soul away upon the +soundness of my little Rosebud! I knew there +was not a really selfish drop of blood in little +Rose’s tender heart!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Then returning and setting her down, he said, +“Come, the rain has quite ceased, the sun is setting +in golden glory, mother’s cake is done, and +her tea is ready, and she is waiting for me, I +know. Come, Rose shall go, too. I will carry +her in my arms. And Hagar, you little savage, +you can trip on before, and when I have got you +both safe at the cottage, I can send word to Sophie, +and keep you all night.” So saying he +led the children from the attic.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>Emily May was seated in the sober glory of +her neat parlor, awaiting the return of Gusty. +The round tea-table was covered with a white +damask cloth, and graced by a little silver tea +service. The plum cake stood in the centre. +It was with surprise and pain that she received +the children. Ignorant of the cause of Sophie’s +neglect of them, she blamed her in her heart for +it, and determined upon the next day to ride +over, and use an old friend’s privilege of speaking +to her upon the subject. The next day that +visit was made, and Emily saw the wasted, sorrowing, +patient look of her friend, the truth was +partly guessed, and she proposed to take the +children, and especially Hagar, under her own +surveillance. To this proposition, Sophie tearfully +and gratefully acceded. Encouraged by +having gained this point, and incited by her love +of children, she went a step further and proposed +that both the children should be sent to the cottage +as pupils, and share with Gusty the instructions +of the young curate, her boarder. This +plan was submitted to the decision of Mr. +Withers, and having received his acquiescence, +was immediately carried into effect. Soon the +most favorable change was apparent in the +children. Rosalia’s beauty bloomed like her +type, the rose, refreshed by showers and sunbeams. +Hagar’s black hair no longer hung rusty +with exposure, in tangled elf locks over her +shoulders, but was banded in satin-like folds. +Their characters also seemed to undergo modification. +Hagar retained all her individuality, +her brave, free, wild spirit, her rather amazonian +tastes, but lost the harshness and bitterness that +made no part of it. Rosalia retained all her +delicacy, her tenderness, yes, and sensuality, but +lost the selfishness not native to her gentle character, +or at least these things <em>seemed</em> so. The +evils growing in the children’s hearts were <em>cut +down</em>; whether they were <em>uprooted</em> or not is +doubtful. Seeds of evil once taking root in +children’s hearts are almost ineradicable. Years +pass away.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>There are times when the current of existence +frets and boils along the rocky channel of +anxiety, among the rugged crags of care, grief, +and wrong; there are times when it dashes +thundering over the precipice of some awful +crime or calamity—times when it stagnates in +the fœtid marshes of indolence and despair—times +when it winds on between the verdant +banks of peace and amid the blooming isles of +pleasure—and times when, scarce marked by +ragged crag or verdant isle, it flows on without +joy or sorrow, straight towards the ocean of +eternity. Even thus calmly flowed the lifestream +of Sophie. Relieved from gnawing +anxiety upon the children’s account, she was +able to give a more cheerful attention to her +husband, and soon the more happy effects were +apparent. The gloom into which he had fallen +was dissipated by the sunshine of her smiles. +She now became conscious of a calm, pure, and +holy affection for him, such as angels may be +supposed to feel for sorrowing man—such as we +feel for objects we have nursed and cherished. +This sentiment deepened into tenderness as she +saw—what she could not fail to see—that as +the rays of intellect emanated clearer and clearer +from his brain, they but served to reveal the +blackness of the shadow of death gathering +thick and thicker around him. And it was +beautiful yet sorrowful to see how as the sun of +reason shone forth, all those clouds and fogs of +selfishness and suspicion vanished from his +mind. This is not strange or even unusual in +the history of mental disease. It is a well +<span class='pageno' id='Page_51'>51</span>known fact that insanity frequently entirely reverses +the natural character; thus, under its influence +the disinterested grow selfish and exacting, +while the selfish become generous, the timid +bold, and the bold timid, and most frequently +the gentle and sensitive grow harsh and violent. +His gloom softened into sadness, into seriousness, +into resignation, which soon brightened +into gentle cheerfulness, which but one thing in +the world could ruffle, the sight of Rosalia +Aguilar; then indeed the tide of memory, +laden with bitterness, would flow over his soul +filling it with sorrow. Upon this account Rosalia +became a permanent inmate of Grove Cottage; +while Hagar, no longer repulsed by the caprices +of his disease, became his most assiduous, +and next to Sophie his best beloved nurse and +companion. Thus they “brightened the links +of love, of sympathy;” <em>and this returning +confidence and affection of her uncle, gave Hagar +the antidote for the poison of her soul</em>. +Thenceforth in Hagar’s vision “anger, hatred, +and malice, and all uncharitableness,” were +greater or less degrees of moral insanity.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XV.<br> <span class='c009'>THE MOOR.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“—October, heaven’s delicious breath,</div> + <div class='line'>When woods begin to wear the crimson leaf,</div> + <div class='line'>And suns grow meek, and the meek sun grows brief,</div> + <div class='line'>And the year smiles as drawing near its death.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Bryant.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>It was near the close of a day late in the +month of October. The level rays of the setting +sun glanced across the green waters of the bay, +tinting their rippling waves with emerald and jet—across +the brown waste of the heath, mottling +its rugged surface with gold and bronze upon +the decayed edifice of the old Hall, painting its +rusty walls in strongly contrasted colors of red +and black, while its tall windows flashed back in +lines of shining light the dazzling beams—and +upon the distant forest whose variegated foliage +reflected in topaz and in ruby light the day’s +declining glory. It was a still, refulgent scene, +the good night smile of nature. Presently the +still life of the landscape was enlivened by two +equestrian figures, descending the slope of the +heath from the Hall, while their shadows +stretched lengthening behind them over the dry +and burnished turf. The figure on the right +hand side was that of a youth of some eighteen +years, clad in the undress uniform of a midshipman—whom +on near view we recognise as our +old acquaintance, Gusty Wilde May. By his +side rode a beautiful girl of about fourteen years +of age, in a graceful riding habit of blue cloth. +She was rather full formed, very fair, with deep +blue eyes, and wavy hair of pale gold floating +about a forehead of transparent whiteness, with +a soft, gentle manner, and a pleading air in the +curve of her rosy lips and the downward sweep +of her snowy eyelids.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The youth and the maiden each rode a bay +horse. They—the youth and maiden—not the +bay horses—were conversing in a low tone as +they ambled over the heath—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And this is all that has occurred during my +long absence of three years.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“All, Augustus.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia, what do you suppose were my +emotions as I sailed down the bay this morning +towards Churchill Point?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, I suppose your heart was full of happiness!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No—every mile added more anxiety to the +weight oppressing my heart as I drew near home, +reflecting on the many and dreadful changes +that might have passed over those I loved in +these long three years, and <em>now</em> I am happy, for, +thank God,” said he, raising his cap reverently, +“nothing but agreeable changes have passed +over Grove Cottage and its inmates. I find you +the sweetest little turtle-dove that ever folded its +wings in a nest, domesticated with my mother, +and forming a large portion of her happiness. I +find my dear mother at thirty-five looking young +and fresh as Hebe—and about—I am very much +inclined to think—<em>tell</em> me, Rosalia, <em>is</em> my +mother going to be married to Mr. Buncombe?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I think so, Augustus—does that disturb +you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, Rosalia, it disturbs me—with <em>joy</em>! +Dear mother—how devoted she has been to us, +Rosalia! And now that we are all grown up, +and do not need her constant care, and now +that it may naturally be expected that before +long we will all be getting mar——be getting +separate establishments of <em>our own</em>—I am glad +that there is no prospect of mother’s spending +her life <em>alone</em>. And then to see how long the +curate has waited for her! Ever since the first +winter of his boarding with her while we were +his pupils—now that is what I call genuine +affection—very few men would have done +that!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, but, Gusty, he <em>boarded</em> with her all +the time—he had her society all the time—so +what odds?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“True—I do suppose that was the secret of +his patience. And now, Hagar, this singular +girl, where are we to find her?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She is out on the moor somewhere, with +horse and hounds—she has been out all day.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Just as they spoke the sunset rays were intercepted +by another equestrian figure. The slight, +elegant figure of a dark complexioned young +girl clad in a dark green riding habit, cap and +plume, mounted on a jet black courser, came +pricking over the heath, followed by a couple +of beautiful pointers. In her hand she held a +light fowling-piece, and at her saddle’s pommel +hung a game bag filled with birds. As her +falcon eye descried the youth and maiden, she +bounded forward to meet them—she was at their +side—and “Hagar!” “Gusty!” were the joyful +words of recognition that simultaneously broke +from their lips, as their horses nearly met in a +shock, and he bent from his saddle, caught her +to his bosom, and gave her a hearty kiss. It +was a brother’s greeting to the sister of his babyhood. +And—“How you have grown, Hagar!” +“How tall you are, Gusty!” were the next +words of surprise and pleasure that broke from +their lips as they backed their horses and gazed +at each other delightedly—“What a sportsman +you are, Hagar!” “When did you come, +Gusty?” were the next cross-question and remark +spoken in the same breath by both.</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_52'>52</span>“I came scarcely an hour ago,” answered +Augustus.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And you have been to the Hall?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, Rosalia and myself rode over to the +Hall to see you—hearing that you were out, +and we being impatient, could not await you +there, so we rode out in search of you—but +what a sportsman you are, Hagar! have you +bagged anything? or only scared the birds and +shot yourself?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Enough for your supper, Master Gusty—and +I guess that it will not be unwelcome—I +rather think, it is some time since you have enjoyed +the luxury of a canvas-back duck!” said +the girl, with a dash of pique in her tone. Then +raising her eagle eye to the sky, she quickly +touched Gusty, and pointing immediately over +head, exclaimed, “Quick, Gusty! look! do +you see that speck—like a speck of ink in the +dark blue zenith?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, no! Who could see a speck in the +zenith of such a dark sky as this—none but +you, Hagar, whose gaze would make the sun +bat his eyes!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She raised her fowling-piece, took aim, fired, +and in another instant a rush and whirr of +wings swooped down through the air, and a +white pigeon, the hapless laggard, or perhaps +the pioneer of some flock, dropped bleeding at +their feet.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Admirable!” exclaimed Augustus.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The wild girl’s dark eyes flashed under their +long lashes, and her white teeth gleamed between +her smiling lips as she noticed his surprise. +But Rosalia gazed in tearful sorrow at +the wounded and fluttering bird—and—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Poor, poor thing!” she said, “it was going +home, thinking of no harm or danger!” and +her tears fell mingling with and diluting the +blood that crimsoned the white feathers of its +bosom.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah! it was cruel in Hagar to kill the +pigeon, wasn’t it?” inquired Gusty, derisively, +relapsing into boyish rudeness.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No! I do not say it was cruel <em>in</em> Hagar +because she didn’t stop to think; but it was +cruel <em>to</em> the bird, poor, dear thing! Can’t you +do anything for it, Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Now this was asked so naively through her +tears, that Gusty, rude hobble-de-hoy, burst +into a loud laugh, and at its end assumed gravity +and answered,—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, we can send for a surgeon!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia alighted cautiously from her horse, +and kneeling down on the turf gazed mournfully +at the glazing eyes of the bird—it fluttered violently +once or twice, and then grew still. She +burst into tears and sobbed convulsively.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, Rose!” “Why, what a baby!” exclaimed +Hagar and Augustus in the same +breath.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! but, poor thing, what harm had it +done? It was sailing so blithely through the +sky, and now it is quite dead—not even gone to +Heaven, where I wish it could go. I am sorry +for you, too, Hagar, for I know you feel so bad +about shooting the poor bird, now that it is +done.” And suffering herself to be lifted into +her saddle by Gusty, who had alighted for the +purpose, she ambled up to the side of Hagar +and held out her hand—“I know you are sorry, +Hagar! are you not?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The face of the dark girl was sparkling with +mirth.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, my little white dove,” she answered, +“not at all; and as for your bird, though its +spirit is not probably yet in Heaven, it may be +on its way there!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is that you say, Hagar?” queried Gusty.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar reined up her horse, and stooping, lifted +the dead bird; she asked—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Where is the spirit, the life that animated +this bird, Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, <em>dead</em>, of course.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Pooh! <em>this</em> that I hold in my hand is dead, +but the life—the life—where is that?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Gone, of course, gone; where else should it +be?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Gone’—<em>where</em>?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Where?—why, where?—why, gone—<em>away</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Thank you! perfectly satisfactory,” said +Hagar, and her wild eyes flashed, and her white +teeth gleamed with suppressed mirth.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Tell me—tell me, Hagar!” said little +Rosalia, “do you think, <em>sure enough</em>, that birds +<em>do</em> go to Heaven? Sometimes <em>I</em> think so, too; +they are so beautiful and good, you know! But +then the Holy Bible says,—‘The beasts that +perish,’ therefore, of course, they must perish.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Your first expressed thought may be not unscriptural, +little angel—the <em>beasts</em> perish; their +<em>forms</em> perish; but their <em>life</em>, through other transmigrations, +may reach Heaven in the <em>human</em> +form!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, that is the old doctrine of transmigration +of souls,” said Gusty.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Not exactly, or rather, it is <em>more</em> than that; +for instance, I think that life continually <em>ascends</em>, +never <em>descends</em>. It looks to me very stupid to +suppose that a soul can <em>relapse</em> into the form of +a beast. No, life is never <em>lost</em>, but it continually +<em>changes its locality</em>, always <em>ascending</em>; the +various forms of life being the steps by which it +reaches humanity—then Heaven. I have lived +so much in the wildest solitudes of nature; I +have seen so much <em>more</em>, so much <em>stronger</em> life-spirit +<em>below</em>, than on a <em>level</em> with humanity; +I have felt it struggling up, through water, stones, +and clay; through lichen, herb, and tree; +through insects, birds, and beasts; up to its +highest visible form, humanity; and I have +grown to <em>dream</em> that life-spirit is elaborated from +matter; or if not so, that in the union of spirit +with matter, spirit may be first incarnated in the +lowest form of matter, and passing through its +various stages rise to human, to angelic nature. +I believe there is one life-God, and many lives; +the souls created in His image—that these souls +might not each have been created at a <em>word</em>, in a +<em>moment</em>—but created, or elaborated through <em>long +ages</em>. I believe that each soul retains its separate +existence, its separate features, its individual +self, unmixed as undivided through all its incarnations; +for instance the spirit of a rose in +ascending the scale of being will never enter the +form of an eagle, or a lion. To illustrate nearer +home—here is my gentle Rosalia, whose pure +spirit, ages ago, might have slept in the pale light +of a seed pearl; then, in the lapse of centuries, +lived in the fragrance of the wood violet; then, +through many transmigrations, reached the form +of the dove, then a lamb, and lastly, is incarnated +in the beautiful child before us.”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_53'>53</span>“Then, if that were so, why can I not remember +when I was a violet, and when I was a +dove?” pertinently inquired Rosalia.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You cannot even recollect when you were +an <em>infant</em>, little one—you cannot recollect all +that happened last year, or last month; how +should you be able to look back through a vista +of past lives that the doors of many deaths have +closed behind you. Perhaps at the close of your +present life the whole vista may be thrown open, +and you may be able to look back to the beginning. +Oh, Rosalia! I remember that in the +earliest years of conscious human existence, in +infancy, my mind struggled as much backward +for recollection, as forward for new knowledge.” +She was silent awhile, and then pursuing the +train of thought, she said,—“The analogy between +material and spiritual nature seems to me +to be perfect in all its particulars. I never saw +a human being who had not his type in the minerals, +in the vegetables, in the insects, in the birds, +and in the beasts.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is my type in each?” asked Augustus.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar laughed as she replied,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You, Gusty, are so much modified by education—the +widow’s petted child—that the stamp +is nearly effaced, or at least smeared over; however, +I can fancy you ascending the scale of +being by these steps: mineral, bloodstone; vegetable, +mustard; bird, the turkey; animal, the +mastiff. There is, with all your strength, spirit, +and courage, so much homeliness, domesticity +about you, dear Gusty.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And, Sophie, dearest Sophie, tell us all her +incarnations.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“An agate—the sober-hued stone of which +rosaries are made—then balm, so fragrant and +refreshing in sickness, then the brown partridge, +then the timid fawn, then <em>Sophie</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Good! that’s like her—now yourself, +Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The ruby, pepper, the falcon, the tiger. But +these are fancies.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>They rode on towards the Hall.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And oh!” said Hagar, “I tell you what +character I admire—a spirit that has ascended +through iron ore, oak, the elephant, into the +form of some square-built, strong-minded, large-hearted, +great-souled man!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Heaven send you such an one!” exclaimed +Gusty, dismounting to assist them from their +saddles at the gate of the Hall. A servant +approached to take charge of the horses, and +leaving them in his care, our little party entered +the house. Sophie received them at the door +and conducted them into the parlor.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was just dusk, yet Mr. Withers, exhausted +by illness, had retired to bed. It is years since +we have seen Sophie, and she is somewhat +changed—yet what her face had lost of infantile +roundness and freshness, it had gained in intelligence +and interest. She took her seat smilingly +at the head of the tea-table and called the +young people to seat themselves around her. +When they were seated and served each with a +cup of tea, she informed them that she had just +written, at Mr. Withers’s request, to recall +Raymond to the Hall, from the Theological +college at the North, the preparatory school +of which had been for two years under his +charge.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And is it possible that he has never been at +the Hall since he left it, the summer of your +marriage, Mrs. Withers?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Never, Gusty. He remained at college +until he took his degree, and then passed immediately +into his present business.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“He was a great friend of Hagar’s the little +time he remained with you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes,” said Hagar, “<em>he</em> loved me, <em>he</em> never +forgot or neglected me; even after he went away, +in his letters to my aunt he always sent me a +message until <em>I</em> learned to write, and we have +corresponded ever since.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And Rosalia has never seen him?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No,” said Hagar. “Rose did not arrive +until after he had left us, and, as we have just told +you, he has never been here since.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And Rose will not see him now,” said +Sophie, “for she leaves in one week for Boston +for Mrs. Tresham’s school.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And when,” inquired Gusty, “will Raymond +be here?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Not sooner than two or three weeks.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then Rose will <em>not</em> see him?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, and I shall be so sorry,” said Rose.</p> + +<p class='c008'>After further desultory conversation, they +finished tea and arose from the table. Rosalia +and Augustus remained all night, and early the +next morning departed for the Grove Cottage. +All the next week was occupied by Emily May +in preparations for Rosalia’s departure, and, if it +must out, in preparations for her own marriage +with the Rev. Mr. Buncombe, the curate of the +parish, the tutor of Hagar, Rosalia, and Gusty, +and the boarder and suitor for many years of +Emily May. It was for the purpose of getting +her dear son’s consent and presence that she had +waited these last three years, and it was for the +sake of gratifying her pet child, Rosalia, that she +now determined that the marriage should take +place before her departure to the North. Captain +Wilde, whose ship now lay at Norfolk, had +also been summoned to attend the wedding, and +arrived in due season. Of course Mr. Withers +and Sophie had been solicited, and were +expected to attend. Upon the evening of the +marriage day, however, as Rosalia was performing +for Emily the affectionate service of dressing +her for the ceremony, a note was handed the +latter, which on being opened and read was +found to be an apology from Sophie for nonattendance. +“Mr. Withers,” she said, “was +very much worse, and required her constant +care.” If there was another motive for her +absence it was not acknowledged to her own +mind, scarcely recognised by her own heart.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>The quiet wedding was over, the routine of +the quiet cottage scarcely disturbed by its occurrence, +and the quiet bride and bridegroom had +returned, the one to his studies, the other to her +household affairs, as though nothing had happened. +Captain Wilde had returned to his ship, +and the pleasant intercourse between the Hall +and the cottage resumed. The last night before +the departure of Rosalia was at hand, and at the +earnest request of Sophie, Mr. and Mrs. Buncombe +had agreed to bring her over and spend +it at the Hall. Augustus May was also of the +party. Rosalia’s trunks had been packed and +sent over early in the day, and in the afternoon +the family from Grove Cottage rode over. It +had been settled that Augustus May should +<span class='pageno' id='Page_54'>54</span>attend Rosalia to the North. The packet that +was to convey them to Baltimore lay at anchor +under the shadow of the promontory.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was late in the afternoon when the carryall +containing Mr. and Mrs. Buncombe, Rosalia, +and Augustus, drew up before the gate of the +Hall. Sophie met and conducted the party into +the dining-room, where a feast had been prepared +in honor of Rosalia’s departure. Mr. +Withers, pale and emaciated, and propped up in +a chair, was also present. It was her last evening +at the Hall for some time to come, and so +they sat up late. Mr. Withers, from extreme +fatigue, retired early, but it was midnight before +the remaining members of the party were in bed. +Morning dawned, breakfast was over, adieux +were wept and kissed, and as the first ray of the +rising sun gilded the waves of the bay, Augustus +handed and followed Rosalia into the packet for +Baltimore.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XVI.<br> <span class='c009'>THE STORY OF FANNY RAYMOND.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Have you seen but the bright lily grow</div> + <div class='line in2'>Before rude hands have touched it?</div> + <div class='line'>Have you marked but the fall o’ the snow</div> + <div class='line in2'>Before the soil hath smutched it?”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Ben Jonson.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>The disease of Mr. Withers daily advanced—his +health so rapidly declined that he became +exceedingly anxious for the arrival of Raymond, +who was now hourly expected.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, Sophie, my gentle nurse,” said he one +day, as she sat by his bedside, “your probation +is drawing to a close. You have devoted yourself +to me for eight long years, my guardian +angel—to what purpose?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“To what purpose?—you have done more +good in this parish than any minister who has +preceded you for many years; for even Mr. +May, with all his excellences, lacked that eloquence—that +power of persuasion—that profound +knowledge of and potent sway over the +human heart, that nothing but sorrow can lend +to intellect. Hearts have been moved and elevated, +minds aroused and inspired by your wisdom. +A spirit has been invoked in this dull +neighborhood that may never be still again. I +have often thought how infinitely productive is +<em>one</em> good word, or thought, or act, its influence +extending down generations, still augmenting +for ever.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah! Sophie, but while all the light was +shed abroad, the shadow was cast black and +thick at home; and how it has darkened our +home and your young life, Sophie!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Some <em>must</em> suffer for others,” said Sophie, +abstractedly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And <em>have</em> you suffered so much, Sophie?” +he inquired, sadly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No!—oh, no!—I was thinking of <em>your</em> suffering, +not of my own, and I thought aloud.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>While she spoke, Hagar entered from a ride, +and brought a letter from Rosalia. When it had +been read, and Hagar had left the room to +change her riding habit, he said,—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How much that girl—I mean Rosalia, writes +like one I know—her very spirit speaks through +Rosalia’s pen, as her form is again before me in +Rosalia’s person.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You mean Fanny?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I mean Fanny. You have never, until +this moment, mentioned her name to me since +the night of Rosalia’s arrival, when I angrily +forbade your doing so. Often since that I have +wished that you might, thus affording me the opportunity +of telling you our sad story. I will +tell you now, but first, will Hagar be occupied +for the next hour?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, she has gone to her chamber to answer +Rosalia’s letter.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Give me a cordial, Sophie?” She did so, +and revived by the stimulant, Withers commenced +his story.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I was the only son of my mother, and she a +widow, Sophie. She supported and schooled +me by her own exertions until I was eighteen +years old, when I fell under the notice of the +Rev. Lenox May, who received me into his +house to read theology with him. Subsequently +I entered college, and soon after taking +orders, I had the misfortune to lose my mother. +She had lived to see the desire of her +heart, however—her beloved son in holy orders. +She had seen the ceremony of his ordination, +heard him preach his first sermon, heard it universally +praised as a miracle of eloquence, thoroughly +believed it herself, and was ready to +exclaim—‘Now let thy servant depart in peace.’ +Sophie, I never was intended for a minister of +the Gospel. If I have made a tolerable one it +is because the hard blows of circumstances have +hammered me into shape. Accident and my +mother’s wishes made me one. However, soon +after my ordination, I was called to the charge +of a parish in a village on the Hudson, and the +adulation I there received reconciled me to the +profession. I was called handsome and eloquent. +The church certainly flourished under +my ministry. I was flattered by the circumstance +<em>then</em>; <em>now</em> I know such is ever the case +when a young clergyman of tolerable ability is +installed in a parish. But, Sophie, I was foster-nursed +by the old ladies of the parish, and +out of that grew all my sorrows. South of the +village, on an eminence overlooking the river, +stood the white granite villa of my wealthiest +and most important parishioner, General Raymond. +He was a widower, with one child—the +child of his old age—Fanny, the sole heiress +of his property. Religion, or rather, evangelical +theology, was his passion. How sonorous +rang his full-toned responses through the +church, as standing, his stout form erect, his +broad shoulders thrown back <em>à-la-militaire</em>, his +chest expanding with self-importance, he called +himself a ‘miserable sinner.’ On the first Sunday +of my installation he invited me home to +dinner with him, and with stately, old-fashioned +courtesy conducted me to his carriage that stood +waiting at the church-door, and there, as I +stepped in, I first saw Fanny Raymond, then a +child of twelve years of age, a lovely, little, +shrinking creature, who squeezed herself quite +into the corner as I took the seat by her side, +as you have often seen a playful white kitten +draw herself up between fear and defiance, and +I instantly felt the same impulse to catch the +lovely, shy thing to my bosom that you would +<span class='pageno' id='Page_55'>55</span>have felt to play with the said kitten. So +strong was this impulse that it must have spoken +through look and gesture, and might have been +obeyed but that the pompous old general followed +me immediately into the carriage, and +announced, “My daughter, Miss Raymond,” +with as much ceremony as though the sweet +child had been a woman of five-and-twenty. +She sat there, watching me furtively, her sweet +eyes flashing their soft shy light under the shadowy +lashes, and quickly averted when met by +mine, while rose clouds would roll up over her +snowy cheeks. That sweet, shy spirit, whether +in the violet, in the fawn, or in the timid girl, +always attracted me, Sophie. It was your eyes, +that meeting my glance, would startle and dilate +in beautiful haze that provoked <em>your</em> fate, Sophie. +I would have given anything—my parish—the +world, then and there to have caught the +shrinking child to my bosom, and hugged, and +kissed, and romped with her to my heart’s content. +From that day I was a frequent, and +always a welcome and an honored guest at the +villa. Time passed, and I rose in popularity, +winning golden opinions from all sorts of people, +and especially from women. As long as a +young minister remains unmarried, unappropriated, +unmonopolized, he is sure to be popular; +so <em>my</em> popularity continued to increase for three +years. While watching the development of +the child, Fanny Raymond, I had sought the +society of no woman. When Fanny was about +fifteen years of age, I was sent for one day to +the villa. It was to be put in possession of an +attested copy of General Raymond’s will, by a +clause of which I was appointed sole trustee of +the estate, until Fanny should come of age. It +was during this visit, and in the presence of one +of the old ladies of the parish, that General Raymond +remarked, ‘I am now upwards of eighty +years old—I am failing fast; I should like to +see Fanny married before my departure, but, +alas! that is a comfort for which I dare scarcely +pray.’ Up to that time I had not thought of +aspiring to the hand of General Raymond’s +heiress. It was my lot that evening to drive the +old lady, my fellow-visitor, back to the village +in the General’s carriage. It was during our +ride home that the old lady, one of my foster-mothers, +suggested to me the plan, the propriety +of my paying my addresses to Miss Raymond, +‘For,’ said she, ‘it is the duty of a young pastor +to consider in his marriage the welfare of his +parish.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I took her advice. I wooed Fanny Raymond—did +I love her? No; but her extreme youth, +her beauty and graceful shyness strongly attracted +me—through that idiosyncrasy that lured +me to the pursuit of such. I wooed her, but +she avoided, fled from me. That added zest to +the chase. I had her father’s interest, and I +married her. I married her, despite of her reluctance, +or rather <i><a id='t55'></a>because</i> of her reluctance, and +despite of tears, prayers, and resistance. (Here +notwithstanding the chastening of illness and +sorrow, his eye and lip glowed as with the +recollection of piquant joy.) I married her. +The wild shy creature, full of emotion as a +harp is of music, was in my power—in my +grasp. Oh! the wild beating of my heart, when +I had caught and held the fluttering bird! Did +I love her now? Yes! as the fire loves the +fuel it consumes. And <em>then</em> she loved <em>me</em>, Sophie! +or rather <em>no</em>, I will not profane the word +that expresses <em>your</em> pure affection for me, Sophie. +But she grew passionately, insanely fond +of me—she loved me as the drunkard loves the +bowl he feels is his destruction—as the moth +loves the flame that must consume it. And then, +Sophie! <em>then</em>, she lost all attractions for me! +From indifference I grew almost to loathe her. +I struggled against this growing disgust, but it +overmastered me. Poor Fanny! if she had not +been the simplest child on earth, if she had +possessed the slightest speck of coquetry, this +aversion might have been delayed. Poor Fanny!” +(Here, overcome by his feelings, he covered +his brow with his hand. How quickly varying +emotions chased each other through his heart; +but this belonged to the high action of his disease.) +“We lived with her father. Fanny +became a mother at sixteen. General Raymond +lived to bless his grandson, and then was gathered +to his fathers. We continued to reside +at the villa. I utterly neglected her. At the +slightest display of fondness on her part, I grew +freezingly cold. This was <em>real</em>, this was a feeling +it was useless to struggle against, as I had +found, and as at last she understood. Fanny +grieved, suffered, and sought solace in her child. +As years passed, she became calm, grew accustomed +and reconciled to her lot; and how beautiful +she grew as her day advanced from its +morning freshness towards the noonday glory it +was destined never to reach. How beautiful! +At least all the parish said so. <em>I</em> could not feel +her beauty. Years slid serenely, imperceptibly, +over us. We were prosperous. I had the +largest property, the most elegant house, and the +most beautiful wife in the parish. Besides which +I had a growing celebrity. I was vain-glorious, +Sophie, <em>not proud</em>. There is this difference between +pride and vainglory: pride does <em>not</em> depend +upon the external circumstances of rank, +wealth, fame; vainglory <em>does</em>. We sometimes +speak of <em>mortifying</em> pride; <em>pride</em> is <em>never</em> mortified; +it is impossible—it holds itself grandly +above all such influences; vanity, self-love, is +<em>often</em> humbled. I was vain-glorious, not only +of my wealth, of my celebrity, of my admired +wife—but most of all, of the <em>intact propriety</em> +of all things appertaining to me. Years slid +smoothly over us. I never saw so beautiful a +woman as Fanny was at thirty. Few of our +women bloom into the full flower—most of +them are withered in the bud. Fanny at thirty +was the perfect rose of beauty. Why, Sophie, +when I took her to New York city, or into any +strange company, there was always a half-suppressed +murmur of irrepressible admiration. +Though I was no longer <em>proud</em> of her, yet now +that for long years she had ceased to worry me +with her unwelcome caresses, there had grown +up a calm friendship and confidence between us—she +understood me, and <em>I thought</em> that I understood +her. I never guessed the latent force +of passion, augmenting while it slumbered in +her heart (sleep is the time for growth), or suspected +the burning lava, burning more fiercely +for suppression under the snowy exterior of that +volcanic bosom! As little dreamed I of impending +ruin as the city under the shadow of +Vesuvius! About this time the whole country +rang with the name of one man. A man distinguished +<span class='pageno' id='Page_56'>56</span>alike for the splendor of his genius, +the audacious flight of his ambition, the godlike +beauty of his person, and the satanic power +of fascination that neither the honor of man nor +the purity of woman ever withstood. You cannot +fail to identify the man—but <em>one</em> such is +born in a cycle of centuries. One day I received +an invitation to preach an ordination sermon +upon the next Sabbath, in the city. I had, +during the years of my ministry, received several +calls to take charge of large city parishes; +but always declined them, because our large +property and our home lay near our village. +Frequently I was invited to preach in the cities, +and then wherever I went crowds gathered. I +always took Fanny with me, for the beauty of +the woman attracted quite as much attention as +the genius of the man. Upon receiving this invitation +to preach the ordination sermon, therefore, +I procured a substitute to fill my pulpit, and +taking Fanny, stepped aboard a steamboat on +Saturday morning, and the afternoon of the +same day reached the city.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It had been advertised that I was to preach +at that church, and at an early hour it was +crowded, packed. As I entered the church and +led Fanny up the aisle, I do not know whether I +was most vain of her or of myself. I know +that my heart was swelling with vainglory as I +opened the door of one of the front central pews +under the pulpit, handed her in, and passed within +the altar to my place. I saw from my high +post that Fanny divided attention with me from +the few who, packed into the end pews, could +obtain a view of her. In the end pew nearest +the pulpit, on my right hand, I was surprised and +flattered to recognise the celebrated B. I had +never had him for an auditor before. I observed +that he did not seem to see Fanny, who sat immediately +in the angle of his vision, notwithstanding +<em>her</em> eyes were ever furtively raking him. +I was not surprised at this, for to say nothing of +his celebrity, he was by far the most distinguished +looking man present, both for the striking +beauty of his person and the grace and dignity +of his attitude and demeanor; but I <em>was</em> +slightly surprised that he had not seemed to +have seen the vision of loveliness and light that +was dazzling all other eyes. These were not +proper thoughts for a minister of the gospel in +the pulpit, but they were mine; and they produced +their bitter fruits, brought about their own +punishment.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“At the close of the sermon, a few minutes +after I had left the pulpit, B. came from his pew, +and a mutual friend introduced him to me. My +wife was hanging on my arm at the time of this +introduction. B. spoke of our village, of General +Raymond as having been a valued friend, +&c., and of his own intention soon to visit the +village. I, like every one else he ever set his +eyes upon, was fascinated by his looks and +manners. I pressed him to come—and <em>soon</em>—and +entreated him to come at once to the villa, +instead of stopping at a hotel, and to make our +house his home, while he should find it convenient +or agreeable to honor us with his presence.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, Sophie, I returned home on Monday. +In the course of the week, B. visited us. He +remained with us an honored guest for two +weeks, and in those two weeks, Sophie!——His +manner rather than his words seemed to reveal +a warm admiration for me and everything +about me. Our elegant house, well-chosen library, +our busts and pictures, our tastefully +planned grounds, everything seemed to give him +a quiet and graceful delight. His manner to me +seemed (for all was <em>seeming</em>) to reveal a charming +mixture of reverence and affection. I was +fascinated—drawn in. His manner seemed distant +to my wife, <em>so</em> distant that I never inclined +to <em>jealousy</em>, but often to <em>vanity</em>; felt piqued that +he did not appear to appreciate the merits of <em>her</em>, +my most brilliant appendage. He visited little +while he remained at our house; the charms of +our house seemed to rivet him to the place. +Parochial duty called me frequently from home; +he was left to the hospitable care of my wife. +They were much together.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The last day of his stay approached. And +up to that day I was utterly unsuspicious of the +cloud lowering black and heavy over my house! +utterly unprepared for the descent of the thunderbolt +that blasted my hearth! The day of +his departure dawned. It had been arranged +between us that I should drive him down to the +village, in the carriage, to meet the steamboat +that would pass in the evening. But early in +the afternoon I was summoned to attend the +bedside of a dying parishioner, at an opposite +point of the village. I was constrained, therefore, +to leave him, promising, however, to meet +him at the steamboat hotel, before his departure.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I left him with Fanny—Oh! let me recall +her image, as the last time I saw her in purity +and peace: She sat in a chair by the open window, +arrayed in a beautiful robe of light blue +silk; her air and attitude I noticed <em>then</em> was +pensive; her elbow rested on the window-sill, +and her arm, her beautiful arm, encircled by a +diamond bracelet, emerged from its sleeve of +silk and lace; her hand supported her drooping +head, from which her ringlets hung like spiral +curls of glittering gold. The other gemmed +and snow-like hand hung listless by her side. +Strange! I was then inspired with a warmth of +affection towards her I had not felt for years. I +stepped back as I was about leaving the room, +and lifted the snow-flake hand to my lips, and +then left the room and the house, for the first +time for years, with the wish that I might be +able to dispatch my business quickly and return +soon. This caprice pursued me, strengthening +every inch of the way, as I journeyed from her, +until at the solemn bed of death, it was interrupted +by the sight of my dying parishioner and +his weeping family. I administered the last consolations +of religion to the dying man, or at +least I read the service for the sick by his bedside, +and gave him the sacrament. I soon after +took leave, and rode towards the village, where I +expected to find B., awaiting the steamboat. I +found him in the parlor of the hotel. As the +hour of the boat’s passing had not quite arrived, +I ordered supper, and we supped together. Yes! +we sat down once more and broke bread together! +Oh! the power of duplicity in that bad +man! Had I been the most jealous, as I was +then the most unsuspicious of human beings, by +no sign in his countenance or manner could I +have detected a consciousness in him of the +blasting ruin he had wrought in my home! His +conversation was as brilliant, his manner as entertaining +as ever; and his eyes sought mine +<span class='pageno' id='Page_57'>57</span>with the same earnest sweetness that had ever +lived in their expression. At the end of half an +hour, the boat stopped at the landing, and I took +leave of him with more regret than I had ever +felt at parting with mortal man before or since. +I pressed him to repeat his visit soon, and make +it longer—and he promised! and bade me bear +his best wishes and his adieux to Mrs. Withers! +I mounted my horse and rode towards home, +my thoughts strangely haunted with Fanny—how +lovely she seemed in my thoughts! I hastened +onwards. I drew near the house.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That ride home! How distinctly, how indelibly +is every circumstance attending it imprinted +on my memory! That ride home through +the dark, cool woods, with the moonlight shimmering +down through the leaves, with the merry +chirp of insects in the trees, with the fresh dew +on the grass; with my heart warmer, lighter, +gladder, than it had been for years; nothing, +nothing to warn me of the ruin before me! I +was, except the stirring of a new and glad +emotion, as calm as Pompeii under the shadow +of Vesuvius. I passed through the iron gate in +front of our house—it swung to with a loud +clang behind me. To this day the clang of a +gate sends a pang to my heart. I passed up the +gravel walk between rows of violets whose +fragrance filled the air. I recollect it so distinctly. +To this hour the smell of violets makes +me ill. I jumped from my horse, and throwing +the bridle to a servant who came to take it, I +hastened up the marble stairs, and into the +house. The lamps were not lighted. ‘She is +enjoying the moonlight of this cool hour,’ I +said, and I passed into the parlor. The moon +was shining through the two large front windows +shaded with foliage, and shining in two +bright square patches, variegated with the black +shadows of the leaves on the carpet; and the +leaves in the window and their shadows on the +floor trembled in the rising breeze. At first I +thought the room was vacant, but looking +around, I presently discerned the form of Fanny +on a sofa in the back of the room. She lay +partly on the floor, partly on the sofa. Her +dress disordered, her hair dishevelled, her face +down, her arms thrown over her head in an +attitude of the uttermost despair—of the last +abandonment. Surprised, I approached her, +thinking her sick, or perhaps sleeping. I spoke +to her—she did not reply. I stooped, raised, +and kissed her. <em>Then</em> she bounded like a shot +from under my embrace, and sank cowering in a +distant part of the room. Wondering, I followed +her, but she raised, turned away her head, +grinding her face into the corner, while she +threw up both arms towards me in a frantic, +abjuring gesture! I now really fancied that in +the dubious light, I had mistaken some one <em>else</em> +for Fanny; that this could not be she, but +was probably some poor mad stroller. I +hastened into the hall and called for lights. +They were brought, set upon the mantel-piece, +and the servant retired. I turned towards her. +God! what a thing met my view! Ashy pale, +with a wild blaze in her blue eyes, haggard and +shuddering, she cowered in the corner, her hands +clasping her head, her gaze riveted in phrensied +despair upon me! I spoke to her, but she +changed not her attitude. I caressed her, and +she broke forth in raving madness. God! oh +God! Sophie, how can I describe to you the +grief, horror, <em>distraction</em>, with which I gathered +from her raving, the shameful story of <em>her</em> fall +and of my dishonor! Though earth and hell +swam together in my reeling reason, every fact +of the loathsome story betrayed in her phrensied +remorse struck distinctly on my ear. How the +snake had glided nearer to her every day, fascinating +her imagination by his brilliancy, stealing +into her bosom by his sweet tenderness, lulling +her fears and disarming her resistance by his +gentle mesmerism, winding coil after coil of his +serpent fold around her, and delaying until the +last hour—the tender parting hour, the safe hour +of sorrowful, tearful adieux, and non-resistance—the +<em>unguarded</em> hour, to strike his venomed fangs +deep in her heart! How sudden was her fall—how +quick her recovery! How terrible her remorse! +And I, Sophie! <em>I!</em>—I said that earth +and hell swam together in my reason! I felt a +rushing and roaring in my head and ears like +the coming of many waters; the earth rocked +under my feet, and I thought the end of all +things was at hand. I suppose I fell. **** +The next link in memory was a slow, feeble +returning to consciousness—more like a weak +babe’s first coming into existence than like a +man’s revival. The first glimmering of sensibility +found me extended prostrated on my bed, +unable to lift or turn; aye, even to <em>move</em> a limb. +The only fluttering life seeming to linger in my +languid eyes, and in the weak breath hovering +in my bosom and on my lips like a soul ready +for flight. A dreary, dreary weight that I could +then neither understand, nor throw off, lay heavy +on my soul. A sorrowful, shadowy face, like a +dream of Fanny, floated past my vision. It was +the face of Raymond, my son, my constant +attendant. Too slowly dawned reason and +memory on the night of my intellect to endanger +a shock and a relapse. Day by day, and hour +by hour, I picked up and restrung the broken and +scattered links in the chain of circumstances; +and in a few days, before my physical powers +were recovered sufficiently to allow me to speak +a consecutive sentence, or utter a word above +my breath, I understood the height and depth—the +full extent of my ruin. But <em>she</em>! where +was <em>she</em>? I saw nothing of her—heard nothing +of her. For many days I dared not inquire. +At last one day when Raymond was sitting by +me with his shame-bowed head leaned upon his +hands, my anxiety, by intense thought of her, had +become insupportable.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Raymond!’ said I.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He looked up sorrowfully.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Where is your mother, my boy?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Gone!’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘How!’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Fled!’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘When?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Upon the night of your attack.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Where? with whom?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘We do not know.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Has any one pursued her?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘No, sir.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Why did not you follow her—seek, save +her?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘My duty was by your bedside, my father?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Raymond! tell me! how far is this dreadful +tragedy known—how far has her frantic +remorse, <em>my</em> phrensied despair exposed us?’</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_58'>58</span>“He was silent, and when I repeated and pressed +the question he bowed his young face upon his +hands and wept. The tears trickled between +his fingers. I understood by his silent grief that +our shame was not hidden. After a while, +‘Raymond!’ said I. He raised his tearful face. +‘You loved your mother?’ He sobbed aloud.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Go and seek her.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘My place is by your side, my father.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Go and seek your mother.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘I cannot leave you yet, sir.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Go and seek and save your mother, lodge +her in a place of safety, and then return to me.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Alas! sir, you need me every moment—do +not command me to leave you.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Raymond! <em>now</em> I cannot rest until I know +she is found and safe, or <em>dead</em>, and so it is with +you, boy. Raymond, do you sleep at night?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“He shook his head mournfully—<em>so</em> mournfully. +Ah! if our betrayer could have seen our +sorrow, his heart—even <em>his</em> heart, would have +been melted in repentance for all the wreck he +had made.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Raymond,’ said I, ‘she has severed the tie +that bound her to <em>me</em>, but she is your mother +still—<em>that</em> tie nor life nor death can sever. <em>I</em> +may not—<em>must</em> not see her again; <em>you</em> must go +and seek her, find her, and find a distant, secluded +asylum for her. <em>You</em> must tend and +care for her, and make her life as tolerable as, +with her keen sensibilities, the memory of her +awful sin will permit it to be. I give her up to +you. To-morrow morning you must set out on +your search.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“He no longer opposed my wish, perhaps it +was <em>his</em> wish too, in fact. Utterly exhausted by +the conversation, I sank into silence.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The next morning I renewed my charge to +him, and, with some difficulty, got him off. +Now you will be surprised that I charged one so +young, for he was but fourteen, with such a mission, +but before any other would I have chosen +that lad. Raymond was ever an earnest, thoughtful, +and now a sorrow-stricken boy. He left +me the second day.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Upon my first return to consciousness, when I +was so weak, I would sometimes recognise a +neighbor, or a parishioner, by my bedside, +but, unwilling to meet his or her eye, I would +close mine, and lie still; and after that I gave +orders that no one should be admitted to my +chamber. Many days passed. At last Raymond +returned, with news of my poor fugitive. +Wandering towards the south, she had been arrested. +Her rare beauty, her insanity (for she +had lost her reason), the mystery that enveloped +her, excited interest. She had been lodged in +the —— Asylum for the insane, and there she +had been left.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Was it strange that I felt no resentment towards +her? Perhaps had I <em>loved</em> her more this +would have been otherwise; perhaps all feeling +of anger was drowned in <em>humiliation</em>. At +length I got down stairs. It was impossible +then to refuse myself to my visitors. They were +my oldest and gravest parishioners. They were +a long time in breaking the ice of the subject +congealing around my heart, but when at length +it <em>was</em> broken, the waters of sympathy flowed +freely. ‘Cut off this abomination from your +house!’ ‘Amputate this polluted—this putrid +limb, though it were your right hand!’ This +was their advice, and I followed it. The necessary +steps occupied me some time. The necessity +of settling my chaotic household and arranging +my future plan of living kept me busy +for some weeks. Still even then, between the +pauses of practical duty, my mind would suddenly +fall into stagnation, when neither memory +nor reason could be aroused, when only <em>instinct</em> +kept me silent or sententious, lest I should expose +myself; into that terrible state when the +mind hovers on the shadowy boundary of madness—the +twilight hour between the day of reason +and the night of insanity—upon the awful +line dividing <em>conscious</em> from <em>un</em>conscious madness! +But madness affects the whole system. +The blood was sent in rushing force and choking +volume to my heart, and forth again with +lightning speed, in lava streams, down my veins, +impelling me to leaping phrensy! Oh! how I +dreaded when this chained demon would burst +the weak fetters of my will! This dread!—this +dread! I dared not confide it to any one—dared +not consult a physician. I furtively +read all the books I could upon the subject, and +took all the means I could to avert the impending—the +hourly—the momentarily impending +horror! Oh, Sophie! on God’s earth there is +not a grief or terror like this; bearing a fiend +in your bosom, bound by the feeblest threads of +consciousness and will—threads that you fear +and feel may be burst asunder at any moment. +I walked with reeling brain upon the slippery +edge of a dizzy precipice!—I walked, as it were, +upon a mine that threatened every instant to +explode! Everywhere—at home, abroad, walking, +riding, in the full glory of noonday, in the +dark watches of the night, I bore this grenade +of the bosom! In the pulpit, Sophie—in the +midst of the most closely reasoned argument, +suddenly the blood would rush through my +veins, and into my head, impelling me to leap, +shouting, over the pulpit-top, and throttle some +of the people before me. This impending horror—the +constant <em>dread</em> of it, accelerated the +hour of its fall upon me. One day, late in the +evening, I was riding home with Raymond. +We were, as usual, <em>silent</em>, for oh, Sophie! we +sat together long hours at home in silence—we +rode together long miles without exchanging a +word. The forest-path through which we rode +was the same one I had passed in going home +upon the evening of my household wreck. The +shadows were as dark in the woods, the dew +was as fresh on the grass, the chirps of the insects +as blithe in the trees, and the silvery beams of +the moonlight shimmered as brightly through +the overhanging leaves. It was the same scene—the +same! Every instant the excitement was +rising higher in my bosom, growing irrepressible—uncontrollable; +until, as we emerged from +the forest-path, and passed into our yard—as the +iron gate swung to with a clang—as the perfume +of violets met me—as the dark front of the +house loomed up in the moonlight,—everything +reproducing the scene of that fatal evening, +insanity broke forth in phrensy, and I became a +raving maniac!</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I recovered my reason to learn the value of +poor Fanny’s son. I awoke one day from a +deep sleep—I awoke refreshed, with cooler +blood, calmer nerves, and clearer brain, than I +had known for weeks, and with a full consciousness +<span class='pageno' id='Page_59'>59</span>of all that had passed up to the hour of +my loss of self-control. Raymond was sitting +by me.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Raymond, what has happened?’ inquired I.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘You have been very ill, my father.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘I have been <span class='fss'>MAD</span>!—I know that right well, +my boy—but tell me, how long did it last? +what did I do? and who was with me?’ This +last was the most important question—my heart +stopped its pulsations until he answered:</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Your attack spent its <em>fury in half an +hour</em>, father—you hurt no one but yourself—and—no +one witnessed your—your <em>illness</em> but +myself and the waiter who assisted me in getting +you up to bed.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘And what did you then do? what did you +give me?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Nothing, father; nature did everything, +and did it well—art nothing. Your fury spent +itself as a storm spends itself—-by raging—and +then it subsided, as a storm subsides, into perfect +calmness; you fell into a deep sleep of exhaustion, +which lasted all last night and all to-day, +from which you have but just awaked; and you +feel better <em>for</em> the attack, do you not, father? +It has expended the gathering vapors and gloom +of many weeks, and you feel better?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Yes, yes, quite well, calm and clear-headed; +but, Raymond, with this interregnum in my +memory, and this great change in my feelings, +it seems to me that a long, long time, has intervened +since my attack; <em>how</em> long has the time +really been?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Not quite twenty-four hours.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Has any one called to-day?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘No one.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Then none know of this except yourself?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘No, sir, none know of this except myself +and the waiter, who does not more than half +comprehend it, and who, besides, is no gossip.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘You understand that I <em>wish</em> no one to +know of it?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘I understand that perfectly, my father; +and it shall be my care to guard your secret.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It was some time after this that I found how +much I had hurt Raymond by a furious blow +on the chest dealt in my phrensy.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“From that time, Sophie, my disease became +periodical; Raymond was my constant attendant. +These repeated attacks of lunacy impaired +my temper; I became gloomy, irascible, misanthropic. +My attacks of phrensy became less +frequent and violent, but my gloom deepened as +a natural consequence; for unless I could have +been <em>cured</em> it was even <em>better</em> that these regular +storms should disperse the unwholesome vapors +of my mind. There is a wonderful analogy between +the soul and the atmosphere—storms +clear both—though in storms, both mental and +atmospheric, there is sometimes much damage +done. Well! the storms had well nigh ceased, +but the gloom gathered thicker and thicker in my +mind, and working up through it was one irrational +wish—a desire to re-marry; and with +this returned in all its former force my idiosyncrasy—of +seeking the reluctant—pursuing the +flying—catching the resisting—and in the darkening +of my gloom this deepened into the desire +of <em>torturing the victim</em>! You shudder, Sophie! +but this was insanity. Every passion in +its excess is moral insanity—-every exaggerated +idiosyncrasy is mental insanity; and in madness, +brought about by any other external cause, +the master passion, or the distinguishing idiosyncrasy, +if not entirely <em>reversed</em>, is exaggerated to +phrensy. <em>My</em> idiosyncrasy was exaggerated—because +morbid. I had left my pulpit fearing +that if I did not my pulpit would eject <em>me</em>. I +had shut myself up in the villa, and brooded +over my wish, and the readiest way of accomplishing +it. At this time I received a letter +from Mr. May, inquiring the reason of my resignation +of my pulpit—a notice of which he had +seen in the ‘Church Organ.’ I replied ‘domestic +affliction,’—‘the <em>loss</em> of my wife,’—she <em>was</em> +lost—but need I blazon my dishonor by revealing +the <em>manner</em> of her loss? <em>He</em> understood, +simple old man! that she was <em>dead</em>, and there +he left it. The correspondence ceased. A few +months from that time I received at the same +moment the news of his death and a call to fill +his pulpit. I accepted it, glad to escape from +my neighborhood. I sent Raymond off to college—shut +up the villa, leaving it in charge of +old Jupiter, who lived at a porter’s lodge at the +gate, and I came down here, full of my purpose +of finding another wife. You, Sophie, at first +sight, struck my fancy; as usual with my peculiar +mood of love, your shrinking from me but +lured me to the chase—but added zest to the +idea of catching you; your avowed dislike and +shuddering antipathy but served to intensify the +desire to seize and torture you—forgive me, Sophie! +this was insanity. Though constantly +threatened with an attack of phrensy, I had not +one single one after leaving the scene of my sorrows. +I married you, Sophie, as I had married +Fanny—in spite of your tears and prayers—in +defiance of your antipathy and against your will. +When I had thought it was safe to let him +know it, when he could no longer interfere, or +at least when I thought that there was no <em>time</em> +left for him to reach here in season,—I wrote +and told Raymond—paying him the compliment +of the <em>form</em> of an invitation—and telling him in +the same letter of the escape, flight, and suicide +of his mother. He did not come in season, as +you know—though he grazed the edge of ‘the +nick of time.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now, Sophie, for another revulsion of feeling. +From the time I first saw you, as I said, +the idea of marrying you interested and amused +me—your aversion stimulated my stagnant blood +agreeably. I <em>lived</em> in the thought of getting you +into my power—life <em>came</em> and waned with this +thought. As the day of our marriage approached +your antipathy thoroughly aroused me—I gloated +over the idea of tormenting and torturing you. +But when our marriage day drew <em>very</em> near, you +fell into apathy! That disappointed me. I +thought you were going to die on my hands. +My interest in you waned with your non-resistance. +The wedding-day, the evening came, +and I married you. You were then so still in +your despair—so cold—so dead!—I felt swindled +out of my enjoyment, and half regretted +my bargain. I felt as the tyrant must feel when +his victim on the rack expires before half the +exquisite torments or the crowning torture is +tried and suffered. Don’t shudder now, Sophie! +I <em>was insane</em>!</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, Sophie, I left your side to have a conversation +with Dr. Otterback. I left you almost +expiring. When I saw you again, life and light +<span class='pageno' id='Page_60'>60</span>had returned to you. When you came up to me +and laid your fair hand on my arm, so softly, +and spoke to me so kindly, I gazed in wonder +on your face; and, Sophie, the angel looking +through your eyes subdued me. Your after +kindness melted me into penitence. Still there +were adverse influences at work. A mind shaken +to its foundation, as mine had been, was not to +be calmed soon, or stay calm long. The sudden +sight of Raymond, the image of his mother, in +her perfect beauty, connecting the present with +the past so painfully, affected me more than the +sight of Fanny herself had done. Alas! poor +Fanny had been scarcely recognisable. I could +scarcely realize the identity of that haggard wanderer +of the heath with the resplendent beauty of +the Villa. But her image lived again in Raymond. +Never had the extraordinary resemblance +struck me so forcibly, as when, after a long absence +from <em>both</em>, I again saw Raymond. The associations +conjured up, brought on that violent attack +of phrensy that seized me at the Hall. Well, +Sophie! my guardian angel, you have known +all my moods since then. You know how your +love has subdued my hate—your heaven redeemed +my hell—your angel converted my demon. +Enough, Sophie! your probation is almost over. +My earthly life is drawing near its close. When +I am gone, Raymond will be as a brother to you. +Raymond is wealthy. Never since her separation +from me have I appropriated a dollar of the +fortune that came with his mother. I could not +bear to do it. Now, dear Sophie! I am very +tired; close the shutters, draw the curtains and +leave the room, that I may sleep while you take +some relaxation and refreshment.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XVII.<br> <span class='c009'>THE STORM.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“The storm comes in fury! loud roars the wild blast—</div> + <div class='line'>Like a quivering reed, shakes the towering mast,</div> + <div class='line'>But on the bark dashes, proud, dauntless, and free,</div> + <div class='line'>She rides like a gull on the crest of the sea.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Charles H. Brainard.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>Hagar had gone to her chamber to write a +letter. Hagar’s room was on the third floor +front, at the angle of the old hall. Its front +and east windows overlooked the bay for many +miles up and down. Its north windows, the +bay, the moor, and forest. It was like the wild +girl to choose this eyrie! She selected it because +its lofty height commanded the bay,—because +it was far above the inhabited parts of the +house, no soul, except herself, occupying or +ever coming near that floor, or even the one beneath +it. Then it was very large and airy, and +furnished or <em>un</em>furnished, to suit the singular +girl’s fancy. The walls were papered with a +German landscape paper, representing parts of +the Black Forest, and the exploits of the Wild +Huntsman. The floor was painted dark green, +and the paint had been worn off here and there +in patches; so that in the dusky light the room +looked not unlike a wild and darksome forest +glade, the scene of some weird revel, shown in +silent pantomime. A tent bedstead, with hangings +of faded green damask, stood at the furthest +extremity of the room; the windows were also +curtained with the same material. Between the +front windows stood an old-fashioned escritoire, +full of innumerable drawers, closets, and +pigeon-holes, which, with one or two heavy old +chairs, completed the original furniture of the +room. With Hagar’s varying mood, her dark +and dreamy, or her free, wild mood, the singular +girl would close all the shutters, and draw +all the curtains, converting the room into a +shadowy scene of woodland romance, from +which the demon figure of the Wild Huntsman +would glimmer out in the gleam of some stray +ray of sunlight flickering through a crevice in +the closed shutters; or, throwing open the four +windows to the day, she would let in a flood of +light and air, and the prospect of half a hemisphere +of blue sky and salt water. Her room +now, as she sought it, was light, free, and exposed +as the highest peak of the promontory; +and the rising wind rushed through it in a strong, +fresh current, swelling and flapping the heavy +curtains like the heavy sails of a ship. She entered +her room, and before sitting down to write, +laid off and put away her riding habit in one of +the dark closets, and went to the windows and +drew aside, looped up and confined the curtains, +to keep them from flapping in the wind; <em>reefed</em> +them, as a sailor would say. Then she gazed +anxiously out upon the boundless bay, where the +freshening gale was rolling up the waves against +the advancing tide, and upon the darkening sky +where clouds were piled like ink-hued mountains +from horizon to zenith, and upon the distant +sail of a wave-tossed packet that gleamed +like a snow-flake on the black bosom of the water +an instant, and then, like a snow-flake, would +melt and disappear in the rise of an intervening +wave.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“God! if Raymond should be in that bark!” +she cried, as her falcon glance descried it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Seizing her small telescope (one of her toys +when a child, one of her jewels when a woman), +she levelled it at the distant bark. She gazed +eagerly. On struggled the frail vessel between +wind and wave, tacking from side to side, now +driven forward by the gale, now thrown back by +the tide. She gazed anxiously. The thunder +muttered in the distance. The gale quickened, +and now stronger than the tide, drove on the +fragile bark before it, reeling and pitching like a +drunken man. She left the window and the +room, and hurrying down stairs, hastened from +the house, fled to the promontory, and stood +upon the extreme point of the peak gazing out +upon the waters.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The sky was black as night. The bosom of +the bay heaved like a strong heart in a strong +agony. On came the vessel bounding and rebounding +before the wind, until it was brought +up suddenly by the strong current of the waves +that whirled around the point of the promontory; +and then it heaved and tossed between leaping +and flashing waters and buffeting winds! +There on that maelstrom it heaved and set like +a guilty wish in an ardent soul, driven on by +the gale of passion and opposed by the tide of +conscience, and nearly wrecked between them. +There it heaved and set, vainly struggling to +round the promontory, and enter the harbor of +Churchill’s Point. There it rolled and writhed +<span class='pageno' id='Page_61'>61</span>and groaned; now raised by a towering wave, +now thrown down a yawning ocean cavern, +while the lightning glared, and the thunder +breaking overhead rolled rumbling down the +abyss of distance! Upon the extreme point of +the peak, like the spirit of the storm, stood Hagar, +her hair and raiment flying in the gale +around her, her eyes fixed upon the writhing +vessel. Suddenly with a sharp cry, scarce +touching with her light foot the points of the +crags that served her for steps, she sped down +the dizzy precipice; she had recognised Raymond, +just at the moment when the slight vessel, +lifted by an uprearing giant wave, was pitched +upon the rocks at the base of the promontory! +Shot from the deck into the air by the sudden +concussion, three or four men dropped into the +sea at the distance. Hagar’s eyes with a rapid +glance traversed the bosom of the waters. She +saw one or two sturdy sailors rise, buffeting the +waves and struggling to reach the shore. But +she saw not Raymond, though with pausing +brain, breathless lungs, and bursting heart, she +watched the surface of the now subsiding waters. +At last at some distance up the coast she +saw him rise, struggle, catch at the air, half leap +from the water, fall, turn over and disappear +under the wave, that was colored with his blood! +She bounded forward and sprang upon her boat. +Unmooring it and casting the ropes behind her, +she seized the oar and dashed into the midst of +the boiling sea. Urging on her boat between +flashing foam and brine, she passed the eddy +around the point, and rode rocking forward +upon the rising and falling waves towards the +spot she had seen him sink at. Keeping her +eyes down the current where she supposed he +would be whirled, she again saw him rise and +struggle. She pulled swiftly for the spot, +reached it, while he, lashing the waves with his +arms, seized the side of the boat, and turned +himself suddenly and heavily in, his weight +pitching the light skiff upon one end. Hagar, +with her skill and presence of mind, threw her +whole weight upon the oar at the other end, and +thus righted the boat. With a look of earnest +gratitude to Hagar, Raymond seized the other +oar, and they pulled for the shore. The sudden +storm had spent its fury. It was now passing +off, like a woman’s fit of anger in a passion of +tears, in a heavy shower of rain. They pulled +for the shore, but Raymond pulled painfully. +They reached the beach where the captain, mate, +and two men that composed the whole crew of +the small craft, were waiting under the drenching +rain.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Are all here, all safe?” asked Raymond, as +he stepped upon the sand.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“All safe! thank God!” answered the skipper.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But you, Raymond, you are wounded!” +said Hagar, laying her hand upon a bloodstained +rent on the shoulder of his jacket. +Even at her light touch he involuntarily shrank +slightly as he replied—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Not much, dear Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But you <em>are</em>,” said she, speaking rapidly, +“you are pale and weak, you were thrown upon +a sharp rock, your shoulder was struck and +wounded; you have lost much blood; it +crimsoned the wave when you first rose, though +now it has been staunched by the cold water, +and the stains are almost effaced—come home! +oh, come! lean on my arm, Raymond, it is +strong if it is a little one,—for once let me assist +you as you have heretofore sustained me. +Come, Raymond! come, brother! come!” and +her wild eyes softened into gentleness, and her +proud eyes into pleading, as, standing on a point +of rock above him, she held down her hand +imploringly, to assist in the ascent. He smiled +gently, and man-like, scorned, while he could do +without it, to receive from her the help he so +much needed. Turning to the sailors, he told +them to seek the Hall, pointing out the shortest +path of ascent. They were quick in following +his direction, and had reached the top of the +heath and carried the news of the wreck, the +preservation of the crew, and announced the +arrival of Raymond Withers, while the latter +was yet toiling, pale and nearly fainting, at the +side of the cliff. Hagar climbed or waited, +beside him. At length they reached the top, +and paused. Raymond was breathless and +reeling—his wound, started by his toil, was +bleeding afresh.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My brother, why will you not let me help +you?” pleaded Hagar, again offering her hand. +He shook his head mournfully,—he was too +faint to talk, and signed for her to lead the way +to the hall, where he followed, painfully.</p> + +<p class='c008'>In the closed and curtained chamber Mr. +Withers slumbered. The noise of the storm +faintly murmured through that inner room, only +lulling him into deeper sleep. Sophie, in her +reveries, had not thought of the possibility of a +packet exposed to the storm, far less of +Raymond’s danger; so that before she had +thought of peril, the shipwrecked sailors stood +before her, claiming shelter.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar and Raymond slowly approached the +Hall, and entered it. “Now, dear Raymond, your +father is sleeping, I think; go and change your +clothes, and lie down and rest before you present +yourself to him; your clothes are lost, I suppose; +but come with me and I will show you into your +father’s dressing-room; you can furnish yourself +from his wardrobe.” Then seeing how pale +he looked and noticing his bleeding wound, she +hastily said;—“But oh! of what am I thinking? +Let me call Sophie to dress your wound.” And +conducting him into a dressing-room, she turned +to leave him to summon Sophie. He had sunk +exhausted into a deep chair, and holding out his +arms, said, very calmly—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, Hagar, my little sister, you have +given me no kiss of welcome since I came. +Come, Hagar!” She started, turned, made one +step towards him, paused, the blood rushed to +her brow, then recovered herself, waved him a +smiling denial, and left the room. And yet she +had met the kiss of Gusty May with saucy +cordiality.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_62'>62</span> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XVIII.<br> <span class='c009'>THE DEATH CHAMBER.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in17'>“Death is the crown of life:</div> + <div class='line'>Were death denied, poor man would live in vain.</div> + <div class='line'>Death wounds to cure; we fall: we rise; we reign;</div> + <div class='line'>Spring from our fetters; fasten to the skies;</div> + <div class='line'>When blooming Eden freshens on our sight</div> + <div class='line'>This king of terrors is the prince of peace.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Young.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>Autumn had deadened into winter. The +brilliant foliage of the autumn woods had been +hurtled off and whirled away in the winter wind. +The trees were bare, their branches like black +ink tracings against a background of white. +The river was frozen over, the creek was frozen +over, the bay near the shore was crusted with +ice. The ground was covered with snow—the +sky was misty-white with clouds. In very pale +colors was the winter landscape drawn—in very +pale colors, like the white, wan face, and the +blue-grey hair of a very old man. The pale +cloud-mottled grey sky above; the pale green +frozen bay and river, and the snowy ground with +its black ink tracery of bare trees and forests, +and its dark red square old Hall on the promontory. +The white snow-clouds thickened in the +air as the night fell on the 18th of December. +The wind arose, and a driving snow-storm came +on. And through the gathering darkness on the +heath shone one beacon—a light in an upper +chamber window of the hall. And towards it, +through the driving storm, toiled one traveller,—a +fat old gentleman on a fat old horse. It was +Dr. Otterback on his way to the sick bed of Mr. +Withers. The bishop had been on a tour of +confirmation through his diocese, and was at +that time sojourning over a Sabbath at Churchill’s +Point. In a quarter of an hour more he was at +the Hall, he was in the sick room. This was +the scene. It was a large room, carpeted with +a thick carpet that gave no sound to the footfall. +The windows were curtained with dark heavy +curtains, lined, that let no noise through them +from without. A dim lamp sat on the hearth, +and cast up high monstrous shadows to the +ceiling, that loomed black through the dimmer +darkness like shadows through the night, and +swayed to and fro, and up and down, in the flare +of the lamp. Without was softly heard the +smothered sough of the wind and snow, like the +sob of lost spirits wailing to enter. At the +furthest end of the room from the windows, stood +a tall, square, canopied bedstead, with the +heavy curtains looped back to the head-posts. +Upon it lies a dying man, and around him are +gathered his family. Draw near, though it is a +sight of anguish to see the death of a life that +has been much error, and <em>all</em> bitterness. Draw +near. His sallow face in its wreath of uncut +black hair and whiskers, is drawn in strong +relief against the pile of snow-white pillows that +support his head. His sallow hands are laid +out at length upon the dark coverlid. His eyes, +small and black in the death intensity, now burn +in the countenance of the bishop, who stands at +the foot of the bed, repeating at intervals, in +answer to that anguished gaze, such texts of +Scripture as promise redemption by faith. On +his right hand, within the shadow of the curtain, +sits Sophie, very pale and still, her hands clasped +with awe. On his left hand stands Raymond, +leaning his elbow on the head-board and bowing +his face upon his open hand, while the heave and +fall of his chest silently betray the son’s sorrow +for the father. By the side of Raymond, and +with her fingers clasped in his hand, which he +presses from time to time as a surge of emotion +agitates him, stands Hagar; but her crimson +cheek and glittering eye display more excitement +than awe, in the death scene she witnesses.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You love him, Hagar!” at last very low +whispered the dying man. Hagar’s cheek paled, +while her fingers quivered slightly in the hand +of Raymond. “Love him—<em>gently</em>, Hagar,” +then he said, and turned his eyes on Sophie, +while his sallow hand crept by the fingers towards +her. She saw and raised the hand, rubbed it, +pressed it between her own, but it grew colder +in her clasp.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Good-bye, my guardian angel,” he said very +softly, and turned his troubled eye again upon +the bishop. Sophie saw that troubled glance, +and silently prayed that the perturbed spirit +might pass in peace. At last at a motion from +the bishop all sank upon their knees. But Sophie, +while she knelt, could not withdraw her gaze +from the eyes that still hopeless sought comfort +in <em>her</em> eyes. The prayers for the dying were +commenced, and as they progressed Sophie loved +to see the anguish of expression soften away +from his face—his brow grew calm, his eye +steady, and she felt that at last his soul had +found peace in believing. It was in a smile his +eyes faded away from hers—in a smile that his +spirit passed away, as sometimes after a stormy +day the sun glances out beneath a bank of clouds, +and smiling a good night, sinks. When they +arose from their knees, the clay was vacant. +The bishop closed the empty eyes, and then by a +motion marshalled the family all from the room. +Raymond at once sought his own chamber. +The bishop followed Sophie into the parlor. +Hagar went out into the dining-room to assist +Mrs. Buncombe, who was now at the Hall, +taking charge of its housekeeping just at this +crisis. The tea-table was being set in great +style under her direction—this was in honor of +the bishop’s presence in the house. Hagar at +once lent her a cheerful assistance. She began +powdering some delicate tarts with loaf sugar. +Thus life and death, luxury and decay, the table +and the coffin, the most awful event of a lifetime, +the most trivial occurrences of the moment, +jostle each other, nor may either be entirely +crowded off the stage of existence. Mrs. Buncombe +looked very grave, and at last she said +half reprovingly to Hagar,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You seem very cheerful, Hagar, while your +uncle lies in the agonies of death!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I should not be cheerful if he were in the +agonies of death—he is released, and there was +no agony. I could not have believed that a +spirit could have been withdrawn from the body +with so little pain to either!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And so he is gone!” said Emily, in a tone +of pity. “So he is gone. Well, ‘after life’s +fitful fever he sleeps well!’ peace be with him!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, peace be with him. May his cradle be +soft—may his nurses be tender—may his parents +be gentle and wise, and may his present life—the +life just commenced—be happier than his past +pilgrimage, the life just closed!”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_63'>63</span>She had spoken earnestly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, what in the name of heaven are you +talking of, Hagar?” asked Emily, in astonishment.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Of the man just dead, and the babe just +born!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I believe you are crazy, Hagar!—at least +any one who did not know you as well as I +know you, would believe so. What do you +mean by such language?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She had finished setting the table, and had +now sat down by the fire. Hagar was standing +by her, leaning with her back against the side +of the mantel-piece.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“This is what I mean: there is no death, but +only change. I do not see death. I cannot find +death anywhere in the world. I see change, but +no destruction—no, not even loss of identity. +See how one principle—any principle in chemistry, +for instance, will pass through a thousand +media, assuming a thousand forms, but not losing +itself, not changing its own individuality. +Yes, one principle will pass through the mineral, +vegetable, and animal kingdoms, and pass again +circulating for ever without losing itself. And +so with our spirit, as it struggles up through +hardest, seemingly deadest forms of existence, +to its human form; and from the lowest human +nature up to the highest; from the savage to the +civilized man; and from a common-place civilized +man, up to a Howard or a Fenelon; and +from a Howard, perhaps, to an angel, but always +with more or less speed—<em>up! up!</em>—never falling, +never losing, never retrograding, relapsing. +Thus, a soul that has passed through the schooling +of civilization, never, never in its transmigrations, +relapses into the body of a savage. I +stood by and watched the passing away of uncle’s +spirit, and wondered to see Christians looking +so sad, as though it were annihilation and +not a journey; as though they did not see that +God was wise enough, and good enough, and +potent enough to take care of the soul He had +brought thus far in its course. I stood by, thinking +that around some other bed some other people +were gathered, awaiting the arrival of a newborn +infant, and that when the wail of sorrow +arose in this room for the dead, the voice of rejoicing +would be heard in that room for the +newborn! And I watched in eagerness, in +excitement, but not in sorrow, not in regret. +Could <em>I</em> regret that his spirit was withdrawn +from its present racked and ruined home? No, +I am glad!” she said, with dancing eyes.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And you really believe that, Hagar? I +mean your theory of transmigration?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Believe—believe,” said she, musing; “no, it +does not amount to belief, and yet it is <em>more</em>. It +is not a belief, a creed; it is a feeling, an impression, +and a very strong conviction. To me, +spiritual intuitions are more convincing than +rational deductions. Heart convictions stronger +than brain convictions.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Alas! Hagar, the neglect of your infancy +will never, <em>never</em> be made up to you. Poor girl, +your mind strays off into the wildest vagaries. +Hagar, you should read your Bible more.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do read my Bible,” said Hagar, “but no +<em>commentaries</em> on it; the Bible itself is my commentary +on nature; it interprets myself and the +universe to me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You find nothing like what you fancy in the +Bible.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I find nothing that contradicts it there.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I must get Mr. Buncombe to talk to you, +Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar smiled derisively.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I <em>will</em>, and I can talk to you myself; +‘There is an appointed time for man to die, and +<em>after death the judgment</em>;’ mind, it does not +say, after death a transmigration.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No,” said Hagar, “it says, ‘after death—<em>the +judgment</em>’—that very judgment may remand +the soul back to earth for another probation!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You horrify me, you positively do horrify +me, Hagar!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You horrify <em>me</em>, when you tell me that for +the sins, or errors, or <em>mistakes</em> even, of some +sixteen or sixty years, my soul must wail in perdition, +through the countless ages of eternity—no, +no!—no, no! My Father!” said the wild +girl, kindling into enthusiasm, “Thou never +did’st create a soul to let it drop into the abyss—<em>lost</em>! +It may take a long time to teach—a +long time to redeem that soul—to perfect that +soul—many times may it be remanded back to +the clay—many weary pilgrimages may it make +on earth, but the work will never be abandoned; +the work will be accomplished. Christ did not +live, and teach, and suffer, and die in vain—His +lesson will be learned at last.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My poor Hagar,” said Emily, fervently, +“may you yet learn <em>His</em> lesson! He who came +to light up that darkness of the grave which the +eye of man could not penetrate—to substitute for +the thousand wild fancies, such as yours, of +Heathenism, the holy Truth of God—He, whom +you so rashly invoke, has said—do you not +remember it, Hagar?—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘And he shall set the sheep on His right +hand, but the goats on the left.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Then shall the King say unto them on the +right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, +inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the +foundation of the world.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Then shall He also say unto them on the +left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting +fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘<em>And these shall go away into everlasting +punishment; but the righteous into life +eternal!</em>’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah, my poor, dear Hagar, how little these +wild fancies of yours will bestead you in the +trials and temptations of life. Oh! what an untrimmed +vine you are, Hagar! May the pruning +knife of God’s providence gently, very gently, +remove all this bad over-growth.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar’s fierce eyes flashed defiance at her +monitress; but just then a vision of Raymond, +in his lonely grief—of Raymond, the only heart-stricken +mourner for the dead, passed before her +mind’s eye; the fierceness softened in her eyes, +and she glided from the room. Just at that +moment tea was brought in, and Mr. Buncombe +and Dr. Otterback summoned to the table, and +with Emily, gathered around it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar glided like a spirit up the long staircase. +The storm had passed, and the moon +was shining through the windows. She passed +into an upper room. A dark figure intercepted +at the window the rays of the moon. A dark +figure sitting alone, with head dropped upon the +arms that, folded, rested on the window-sill. +Very softly she approached, and stood by him +in silence. He felt her approach, however, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_64'>64</span>turning around, passed his arm around her waist, +and, drawing her up to his side, murmured—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My own dear Hagar, you have come to me +at last; you are here at last; why did you not +come before?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Because <em>then</em>, Raymond, I was in no condition +to give you comfort in the mood <em>you</em> then +were; my mind was excited, enthusiastic. I +could not feel this passing away as anything but +a relief—a glory—could not think of it as anything +to mourn for, but rather to rejoice at. +Why, Raymond, death has been called a ‘leap +in the dark,’ but to me it seems a bound in the +light!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah, but Hagar,—the flesh—the flesh—I +loved my father so much; I loved him for all +his sorrows, and because he found favor in no +other heart. I suffered so much at the banishment +endured for his sake, and now I come +home only to light him down to the grave.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Raymond, when you left here, some years +ago, you left your cast off raiment in your chamber, +and they packed it down in a trunk. When +you stepped aboard the boat that carried you to +the packet, I, impatient child! threw myself +down, and screamed in anguish, at parting from +my brother, or stretching out my arms beseechingly, +called you to come back. Now, Raymond, +according to your creed, I had better +have gone and cast myself across your trunk—the +grave of your cast off dress, and howled for +Raymond, <em>coffined within</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Raymond again answered her, for his was not +after all that deep, <em>deep</em> grief which plunges its +victim into silence.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I loved that soul-raiment—I loved that thin +and wrinkled hand, that lately deprecated harsh +judgment while it caressed me—I loved that +tortured face, traversed as it was by its thousand +seams of thought or suffering, and that slow +pausing step. I loved it all—but <em>you</em>, Hagar, a +woman—a girl, a young girl, and yet you have +so little <em>tenderness</em>—the falcon, not the dove!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar, at once spirited and delicate, did not +repel this charge, nor did her mind fly back to +the many nights of sleeplessness she had passed +in the sick chamber of his father while Raymond +slumbered soundly in his bed; nor did she know +that though she had felt very <em>tenderly</em> she had +acted <em>kindly</em>, while the son who really loved his +father so tenderly loved <em>himself</em> as well, and +took his rest.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Have I hurt you, Hagar?” at last he said +gently.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, I do not know that you have.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Have</em> I hurt you, Hagar?” he said, now +sadly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, no; I am not sensitive—not very tender +of myself any more than of others. No, +you do not understand me—that I feel <em>life</em> so +much more than death—so much <em>life</em> everywhere. +Why, Raymond, my feeling about <em>my +own death</em> is that of escape, flight, revel in liberty +and light. I stand upon the banks of our river +sometimes, and feel like gathering myself up for +a leap across the flood; yet there I stand, fast +fettered by flesh. I stand some mornings at +early dawn at my chamber window, and, gazing +rapturously at the morning star, my spirit +uneasily flaps its wings for a flight! Yet there +I stand fast tied to the body; so wild and strong +is the spirit, and so heavy and fast its chains.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Yes, she spoke truly—so wild, and strong, +and fierce was the spirit, whose fire was to be +quenched in tears of blood dropped slowly from +the heart.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie now came in, and observing Hagar, +said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah! it is right for you to be here, my love; +we have a common sorrow, and I feel that <em>I</em> +should not have gone apart;” and she sat down +with them.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The funeral of John Huss Withers took place +on the fifth day from his death. Dr. Otterbuck +remained to officiate. Mr. Buncombe of course +succeeded him in the rectorship of the parish of +the Crucifixion. It was during this visit of the +bishop that the Parish Church, enlarged and repaired, +was re-christened and dedicated under the +name of the Ascension. This was done through +the suggestion of Mr. Buncombe and the vestry. +A year passed away.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XIX.<br> <span class='c009'>THE CHASE.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Listening how the hounds and horn</div> + <div class='line'>Cheerily rouse the slumbering morn,</div> + <div class='line'>From the side of some hoar hill</div> + <div class='line'>Through the high wood echoing shrill.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Milton.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>The forest rang with the cry of the hounds +and the shout of the huntsmen. And now the +sounds would die away and now peal out upon +the air as the chase still kept up the winding +course of the river towards its head. One foremost +in the chase drew rein upon the brink of +an awful chasm, a deep rocky gorge full of +pointed crags, among which the torrent roared +and whirled in an agony of haste to escape from +the torture. It was Hagar, who, with wild +heart, fierce eye, and crimsoned cheek, drew up +upon the brink. Behind her thundered the +steed of one, whom hearing, she looked behind, +reined back her hunter on his haunches, and +giving him a cheer and shout, cleared the chasm +at a bound. It was an awful leap. The hoofs +of the horse just grazed the edges of the rocks as +he planted them firmly and struggled up the +bank.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The other rider, who was no other than our +friend, Gusty May, paused breathless on the +rocky ledge and gazed at her. Her steed was +dancing on the opposite bluff, her form was exultant, +her eye flashing. Raising her riding cap +above her head, she waved it in the air, and, +with a joyous shout of defiance, shot down the +ravine and disappeared.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Devil fetch that girl!—God bless her!—she’ll +break my heart or her own neck, or both, +yet!—I know she will! Now what the deuce +is to be done? My horse can never take that +leap—never!—the attempt would be certain +death to both. But then if I shirk it, she will +say—I know she will—the little limb of Old +Scratch!—that I was afraid.” Gusty was in a +perfect puzzle. “If there were an <em>equal</em> chance +now of life and death one might venture, but as +it is—pshaw!” And so muttering, he turned +his horse’s head, and rode up the course of the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_65'>65</span>stream to where the chasm was narrow, and +over which a rude bridge had been constructed.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar was the first in at the death—down in +the dark ravine. Other hunters approached +rapidly from other points, and last, upon account +of his delay at the gorge, up rode Gusty May, +just in time to see the hunters separate, and to +attend Hagar to Heath Hall.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Seeing the intense mortification depicted in his +countenance, she turned her wild eyes on him +kindly, and said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You must get a better hunter, Gusty; I +could not have spurred that steed to the leap.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>They rode on up the dark ravine until it emerged +into the sunlight, then they ambled over the +heath towards the Hall; many clumps of trees +diversified the rolling surface of the heath, and +as they emerged from these, Gusty suddenly laid +his hand upon Hagar’s bridle and, growing very +red in the face, dropped it again, sighing like a +sough of wind in the main-sail. Surprised, Hagar +looked at him, which look did not recompose +his nerves at all. He stopped his horse. Hagar +shot on before. He set spurs to his horse and +bounded after her. With a sudden freak the wild +girl gave rein to her horse and fled over the +heath. Piqued, Gusty drew up and ambled along +at dignified leisure. After racing to the end of +her course, Hagar whirled about and came galloping +back. Gusty awaited her, and then they +paced on together in silence, until at length +Gusty spoke out with the air of a youth who had +made up his mind <em>to</em> speak, let the consequences +be what they might.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I <em>will</em> speak, Hagar! You <em>must</em> hear; +though you cut so many shines, it is very difficult +to get the chance to say a word. Hem! +Hagar!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, Master Gusty! I’m all attention.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, then, I like you!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, so I always flattered myself.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, but I’m not joking—I <em>do</em>—I <em>do indeed</em>. +I be whipped if I don’t!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Really!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes—and—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I like you more and more!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“’Pon honor, now?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I do, Hagar. Oh! don’t look at me, +you wicked witch! I like you so—so much! +God Almighty <em>knows</em> I do! better than I like +my ship!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come!” said Hagar, seriously, almost sadly, +“tell me what is there you like about me? +liking is not to be lightly thrown away, if it be +well based—come!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, there is a—a—an attraction—a something +in your face that fascinates—that—that +<em>draws</em>, that <em>pulls</em>, that <em>nails</em>, that <em>rivets</em>, as it +were!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The girl turned her sparkling face up to the +sun, to hide the smile that was breaking through +it, while she said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, say that over again! Let’s hear it +again, Gusty!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Pshaw! Hagar, be serious—I love you—by +my soul’s honor I do, Hagar!—truly, deeply, +fervently! Look at me, Hagar; let me see your +face. You are silent—you turn it quite away!” +and he suddenly wheeled around and confronted +her. “You are laughing, hard, hard girl! +Kite’s-heart, you are laughing!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And now she flashed the full light of her eyes +in his face, as she said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I don’t know how it is that I always laugh +when other people would cry. I believe I am a +lineal descendant of the laughing philosopher. +Now, Gusty, my childhood’s friend, I am laughing +at your phantasy. You do <em>not</em> love me; it +is a mere illusion of the imagination. Your heart +is cheating itself with the semblance of love, in +default of the substance.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How do you know that, Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“By my own heart. Love, <em>love</em> is always +mutual! and in my heart lives no love for you +beyond the sisterly affection I must ever feel; +but that, Gusty, is deeper and stronger than often +sisters feel for brothers. But when you talk to +me of other love, you shock and repulse me; +and that, Gusty, teaches me that <em>you</em> do not +really love me, but are only self-deceived by +‘the strong necessity of loving,’ that ‘strong necessity +of loving’ that leads so many impatient +hearts to ruin. Listen, Gusty. Marriages are +made in heaven, but most marriages are seldom +consummated. God, who doeth all things well, +places on earth the mutual instincts of attraction +in such souls as are intended for each other. In +the whirl and jostle of this world, it is often that +these souls never meet, but it is oftener that the +impatience of the heart to <em>love</em> and to <em>be</em> loved, +leads it into the delusion that it <em>does</em> love and <em>is</em> +loved. Wait, Gusty; do not add to the confusion +by marrying when you only fancy you +love. Wait, and your chance of meeting your +own will be greater!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, my heart, my heart!” said Gusty.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, your heart, your heart! <em>Still</em> the wailing +of the spoiled child if you can, but do not let +it have the serpent it cries for—illusory love!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You, who know so much about love, whom +do you love, Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The color deepened to crimson on the girl’s +dark cheek, and touching her horse, she rode +forward. He followed, and again overtaking +her, said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar, you have talked a great deal of nonsense. +You say that love is always mutual?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And that a one-sided love is an illusion?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How comes it, then, that this one-sided love, +this illusion, is sometimes so strong as to drive +its victim to madness or suicide?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“In the first place, Gusty, all that <em>appears</em> to +be one-sided love, is <em>not so</em>. Love is often +returned where it is not acknowledged—often +proffered where it is not felt; there is so much +false semblance in the world; and then again, +Gusty, the fact of the one-sided love <em>being</em> an +illusion is the great cause of its eventuating in +insanity. Moral illusions, mental illusions, are +only other names for insanity.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>They rode on towards the Hall in silence; then +suddenly out spoke Gusty with energy, and said</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar, this is all phantasy of <em>yours</em>, not of +mine. I love you—I wish to pass my life with +you—now do not tell me that my case is hopeless. +Hagar! do not—I will be so patient, +although mother used to say that I was Gusty +by name and Gusty by nature. Come, Hagar, +let me hope, and I will be so—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She wheeled her horse suddenly around, and, +confronting him, said, very earnestly,</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_66'>66</span>“Gusty, you must never think of me as a wife, +for I can never love you as a wife.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, Hagar, if you would only try to like +me a little—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Try!</em>” exclaimed the wild girl, and her laugh +rang out upon the air, awaking the echoes, “<em>Try!</em>—there, +I said you knew nothing about love—<em>Try!</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then <em>you</em> know something of it, you have +given your heart to another. Come, Hagar, if +you want to put me out of my misery by one +stunning blow, say that! say that!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>But Hagar sprang from his side, and trotted +quickly into the yard of the Hall, kissing her +hand to him as she went. He looked after her, +doubting whether to follow her in or not. Finally, +he slowly turned aside, and slowly paced +his horse off to his mother’s cottage.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>Grove Cottage was lighted up, and the lights +glimmered through the intervening trees, as he +rode up the grape walk, towards the door. Dismounting, +and giving his horse in charge of a +boy, he passed through the parlor into his own +room immediately, scarcely noticing by a bow +the rector or his mother, who were seated there. +But the eyes of his mother saw his disturbance. +She arose and followed him into the room. +Gusty was sitting down on the foot of his bed, +holding his temples together between his two +hands.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is the matter, Augustus, my dear? +does your head ache?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty did not reply.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>What</em> is the matter, Gusty?” again she inquired, +stooping down near him till the ends of +her ringlets (for she still wore her hair in ringlets) +brushed his cheek.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A <i><span lang="fr">coup-de-soleil, belle-mère, un coup-de-soleil</span></i>.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Gracious goodness! my dear, I never heard +of such a thing at this season of the year! You +must have your feet bathed, and ice on your +head,” and she was hurrying off to get the requisites.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come back, <i><span lang="fr">petite maman</span></i>, the <i><span lang="fr">coup-de-soleil</span></i> +flashed from Hagar Churchill’s eyes of +fire, and struck my heart; bring ice for my heart, +dear mother, or rather <em>no</em>, she administered +enough of that,” said he, in a lachrymose tone. +Emily Buncombe had stopped, turned round and +stood still to hear him. When he ceased, she +set the candle down on his dressing-table, and +sitting down by his side, she said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Indeed, I really was afraid of this—so you +have lost your affections to Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Couldn’t help it, mother dear.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Gusty! you know I love you.” Gusty +looked up inquiringly. “I am the best friend +you have in the world, am I not?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My dear mother.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And I would not call upon you to make a +sacrifice for <em>my</em> sake, or for anything except +duty, and your own happiness?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mother!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, Gusty, I beg that you will give up all +idea of Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Alas! mother, she has told me as much +herself.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am very glad of that.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, mother, <em>that</em> was the sun stroke.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You must not think of her any more, +Gusty.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is the use of telling me <em>that</em>, mother, +when she has rejected me?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh!” said the mother, with maternal pique, +“as to her <em>rejecting</em> you, Gusty, <em>that</em> was a +girlish air—nine girls out of ten reject their +lovers at first to try them—<em>you</em> must resign her.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>But Gusty heard nothing but the first part of +the speech—jumping up, he caught his mother +around the neck and gave her a boisterous kiss, +caught her up in his arms, ran around the room +with her, set her down, exclaiming,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Jupiter Tonnerre! mother, you have given +me so much life, strength, force—what shall I do +with it till to-morrow when I can carry it to +Heath Hall and lay it at Hagar’s feet, say, +mother! have you got a cord of wood to cut, a +forest to fell—a—a—Lord! mother, if I could +get hold of this earth I feel strong enough to +hurl it through space!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Now he was walking up and down with +glowing cheeks and dancing eye, swinging his +arms and bringing his hands together with a clap, +and turning off impatiently where the walls of +the short room arrested him, just as you have +seen a wild beast chafe in his cell. And Emily +walked up and down uneasily behind him. At +last he threw himself heavily in a chair. Emily +came to him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“So, mother, girls mean ‘yes’ when they say +‘no,’ you can vouch for that by your own +experience, hey, mother?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Emily had seen her mistake in having suggested +this, and it added to her uneasiness.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Gusty,” she said, “whatever Hagar might +have meant by her ‘no,’ that ‘no’ has fully exonerated +you, if your rather emphatic attentions +had raised hopes in her bosom. You must give +up all attentions to her for many reasons.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And how coolly you say that! Great God! +how coolly you say that! As if you had spoken +of the mere bagatelle of giving up my <em>life</em>, of +the mere trifle of losing my <em>soul</em>. <em>Hagar!</em> +Stop, mother, let me hold my head tightly—there! +so! now perhaps it won’t divide through +the top—now, mother, tell me why must I give +up Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“First and least, you are not rich, and Hagar +is poor. Miss Churchill is the sole heiress of +Heath Hall and the contiguous estate; that +sounds very grandly, but just consider that Heath +Hall is a ruin that daily threatens to topple down +upon and entomb alive its proprietor, and that +the Heath itself is now an irreclaimable desert.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dearest mother, that is not like you—Hagar’s +poverty! I wish—I wish she was nameless +as well as penniless, and I wish I was commander-in-chief +of the American army, so that I +might have everything to give her, and she +everything to receive from me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But it is not so, you see, Gusty; for though +she may have plenty of need, you have nothing +to bestow, you also are poor!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Poor! <em>me</em> poor! Mother, where am I poor +at?” exclaimed Gusty, starting up and stretching +himself—“<em>me poor!</em> with all this strength to +struggle, and the world to struggle against! +Oh! for God’s sake, stand out of my way everybody! +give me room! swing! sweep! lest I +hurt some one unintentionally! I feel like +<span class='pageno' id='Page_67'>67</span>Strong-back in the fairy tale, and I wish some +one would commission me to take an island up +out of the Atlantic and carry it across the +American continent to the Pacific; or, mother, +would you like an iceberg for a butter-cooler, or +mother, say the word and I’ll bring you the North +pole for a churning stick. And then, mother, I have +so much faith. Hurrah! Hallelujah! haven’t +I faith! God bless you, mother, I have ‘the +faith to move mountains,’ for look you, mother, +when I say to the mountain, ‘Be thou removed +and be thou cast into the midst of the sea,’ I lay +right hold of the mountain bodily and hurl it +into the water myself, to put life into faith, for +‘faith without work is dead,’ and ‘God helps +those who help themselves.’”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Emily looked at him gravely and said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That is from Hagar, that wild perverted +spirit will ruin you! Oh you irreverend boy, +what would your sainted father say if he could +see you and hear you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Don’t you suppose he <em>does</em> see and hear me, +mother? <em>I</em> do.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I hope he watches over you. I hope his +spirit will stand between you and that wild dark +girl.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That Hagar of the lightning! That electric +Hagar whose touch might kindle a statue to +life! Talk of a galvanic battery! Why, +mother, everything that passes from her hands +to mine is galvanized! That magnetic Hagar! +why, mother, everything of hers is magnetized +so that it sticks to my fingers, and I am obliged +to carry it off—her glove, her tiny shoe, the eagle +feather she wore in her riding cap. I shall be +taken up for petty larceny yet. Hagar the magnet! +Hagar the North star, who draws me +involuntarily, inevitably after her!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She did not draw you across Devil’s Gorge +this afternoon,” said Emily, maliciously. Gusty +wilted down all of a sudden.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mother, who told you <em>that</em>?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why everybody, it is all over the neighborhood, +how in <em>our</em> woods the witch didn’t pursue +Tam O’Shanter, but Tam O’Shanter the witch, +and how she carried all his courage with her +when she swept across the gorge. Come, Mr. +Gusty, you have been talking very grandly, sublimely, +about strength, and force, and impetuosity, +and irresistibility, but I have heard very +loud thunder before now that did very little +damage!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“So! but you never heard very loud thunder +that did not do a great deal of <em>good</em>! Ha! I +have you there, <em>maman</em>! but never mind, +mother, next time I ride a hunt with Hagar I’ll +follow her through fire and blood, now mind if +I don’t. I’ll purchase a hunter, then see!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then see you’ll break your neck; but I +have a worse fear for you than that, Gusty, a +far worse fear for you than that. This Hagar, +she is the talk of the whole neighborhood; her +eccentricity, her improprieties, expose her to severe +animadversions.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Her originality you mean; her independence; +her free, strong, glorious spirit! Oh! +Hagar is a chamois! you cannot expect her to +trot demurely to the music of her own grunting, +from trough to straw, like any pig! Hagar is +an eagle! you must not look to find her waddling +lazily and feeding fatly with barnyard +ducks and geese.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A pretty way to speak of your neighbors, +Mr. May.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, then, let them let Hagar alone! Mother!” +said Gusty, drawing in his breath <em>hard</em> +between his teeth, “the anger heats and swells +in my heart like kindling fire in a bombshell, till +it tears and splits and flashes, until I feel the +fire and see the lightning, and some of these +days it will explode and blow myself and some +others up! when I hear these domestic animals +sitting in sage judgment on my wild deer of the +mountains! these barn-door poultry cackling +their comments on my falcon sailing towards +the sun! Pish! pshaw! tush! tut!” exclaimed +Gusty, jumping up in a heat, and walking the +floor.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Pretty way to talk of your neighbors again, +I say, Mr. May!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, then, let them let Hagar <span class='fss'>ALONE</span>!” +thundered Gusty, bringing his hand down on the +table like a hammer on the anvil. “Beg your +pardon, mother, I did not mean that <em>to</em> you, but +<em>of</em> them; and if that old gander Gardiner Green +don’t make his goose and gosling stop cackling +about Hagar, he’ll get his neck twisted for him!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Now Emily laughed—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Poor Gardiner Green, it would be a sin and +a shame to persecute him for what he has no +hand in and can’t help. Don’t you know how +he fears his wife?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Does—does he? very well, I’ll meet fear +with fear; he shall fear something else worse +than his wife!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now, very seriously, Augustus, you will +afflict me very much, if you commit any folly +for the sake of Hagar Churchill.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But I love Hagar Churchill—love her! sympathize +with her.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She has no pity for herself, why should +others pity her?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Pity! pity!</em> did I say <em>pity</em>, mother? pity +Hagar Churchill! <em>pity</em> that proud, free, glad +spirit!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, <em>pity her</em>! that ‘proud, free, glad +spirit’ is clothed with woman’s deep affections, +prisoned in <em>woman’s</em> fragile form, environed by +woman’s circumstances, and chafes against +them all—would break through them all! +will break through them all! and then, +high as that proud spirit soars, though her +wings should glance in the atmosphere around +the sun’s disk, she will be beaten back and down—<em>down!</em> +Glad as that high heart throbs, it +will yet beat sobs that throw out tears for +blood! Wide as that wild spirit wanders, it will +yet cower, moaning upon the waste hearth of +home.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Good God, mother, what makes you talk +so? If I thought that, I would scale the eyrie +of the eagle, and carry off Hagar to some sweet +South sea summer isle, where she should reign +another Queen Eve over another Eden.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Are we to have any supper to-night, +Emily?” sang out Mr. Buncombe from the parlor.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes! I’m coming—think no more of this +Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, mother,” interrupted Gusty, “<em>why</em> do +you have such dreadful forebodings for Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I judge her fate by herself, her future by her +past and present, and I say that, unless Providence +interposes to save her as by fire, Hagar’s +<span class='pageno' id='Page_68'>68</span>fierce, strong spirit will break her own heart and +destroy her own soul! Come to supper.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Destroy her own soul—come to supper—that’s +a pretty brace of subjects to tie together, +is it not now?” said Gusty.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It must not be supposed that Emily had any +unfriendly feelings towards Hagar. She did not +love Hagar less, but Gusty more. And acting +like a sober, prudent mother, she did not choose +to permit Gusty to marry a girl who was fully +as much censured as admired in the neighborhood.</p> + +<p class='c008'>After supper she talked with him again, talked +earnestly and for a long time, until Gusty rising, +said,—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Seriously, mother, you ask too much—too +much of me; you, with your cool, temperate +nature, cannot sympathize with my ardent heart. +Alas! how should you?—you, who at eighteen +could marry a man of sixty (no disrespect, mother—I +venerate my sainted father’s memory—I +talk reason, but not disrespect)—you, I say, who +could at eighteen wed a man of sixty, and be +happy with him—you who at twenty-five, in +your young widowhood, could keep a young +lover waiting ten years, until your son grew up—you +with your cheerful, serene temperament, +how can you conceive my sufferings if severed +from Hagar? My love for Hagar, if die it +must, will die hard—dreadful will be its death throes; +but you, mother, how can your quiet +heart conceive of this—sympathize with this?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A still heart is not always a <em>cold</em> heart, +Gusty, or even a <em>quiet</em> heart. I have tamed my +heart to the will of Providence—I have learned +in His school, and thrown down in impatience +no task that He has set me—rebelled against no +discipline He has ordained for me; and my +life has gone smoothly, pleasantly, happily. I +have gained some calm wisdom; I am thirty-six +years old, yet my face is as smooth, my eye +as clear, my hair as black and moist as in girlhood. +I have minded God for my father, and +He has very gently led me up the steeps of life. +Believe me, Gusty, it is our rebellion against +Him that makes all our troubles. God’s will is +paramount, absolute, its end is our good, and He +will keep us in our path if it be by ‘a hedge of +thorns;’ seek to escape God’s providence and in +your struggle you break and bruise yourself, and +lose your strength. If, in the words of Scripture, +you ‘kick against the pricks,’ you will be +wounded. It rests with us, Gusty, to go God’s +way willingly and pleasantly, or to go in it rebelliously +and painfully, for go God’s way we +must. The further we stray from it the longer +and more fearful will be the forced journey back +to it and the more we wrestle against God’s +laws and will, the more fatigued and bruised we +will be, of course without the glory and the anguish +of coming off victors. Now, Gusty, <em>my</em> faith in +God was only lip-acknowledged, before a slight +circumstance made it heartfelt. It was this:—You +were an infant of six weeks old. You +had a tumor rising under your ear. It grew +very large and painful. When I had to dress +it it put you in an agony, and you would struggle +violently and look up into my face with an +imploring, reproachful expression, as though +you would inquire <em>why I</em> tortured you—<em>I</em> whom +you depended upon and whom you loved, and +who loved you—why <em>I</em>, your mother, tortured +you. That was your expression—I read it +plainly in your countenance, Gusty, and I wept +at your silent reproach. Your father was standing +by me, and he said, ‘Emily, what is it?’ I +replied, ‘I weep—I weep because this child cannot +understand that I <em>must</em> do this—that I +<em>pain</em> him to <em>cure</em> him.’ But while I spoke, +Gusty, darted down this truth into my heart-strings +from Heaven. And so God, the pitiful +father, wounds to heal His children, and would +make them understand, but that they are querulous +and still cry ‘why, why suffering? since +God has power and love?’ Alas! we cannot +understand, the dulness is ours, or we <em>must</em> not +understand, for the probation is ours, for some +reason that will one day be revealed. It may be +not from the deficiency of God’s power or will +to reveal, but from a deficiency of our ability +now to receive the revelation of the secret of +suffering; and we wait or rebel—struggle against +or reproach Providence for suffering, even as the +tortured, writhing, and screaming child silently +reproached its loving and grieving mother for +her tender dressing of its tumor. God doeth all +things well; that truth has calmed my heart, +made my life serene and happy.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XX.<br> <span class='c009'>THE LOVERS.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“A brow of beautiful, yet earnest thought,</div> + <div class='line'>A form of manly grace.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Sigourney.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“That fearful love which trembles in the eyes,</div> + <div class='line'>And with a silent earthquake shakes the soul.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Dryden.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>They sat under the shed of the piazza at +Heath Hall—Raymond and Hagar—in the same +piazza that had been the stage of so many scenes +of selfishness, tyranny, and violence—of weak +resistance, or of weaker compliance—across the +floor of which the long shadow of Withers had +been thrown as he passed in his ghostly wooing +of Sophie; before the steps of which the pale +wanderer had paused to warn in her flight +towards death—through which the corpse of the +sinner, sufferer, and suicide, had been borne to +the inquest—in which the declaration of love +and despairing parting had occurred between +Sophie Churchill and Augustus Wilde—through +which Raymond had flown to pick up Hagar, +when in maniac violence Mr. Withers had hurled +her through the open window—lastly, through +which the corpse of the poor lunatic had been +carried, the shadow seeming to pass from the +house at the same time. All was very quiet +now. It was Spring, and the moon was shining +down through the trellis work and vines, and the +moonlight, agitated by the shadows of the leaves +that quivered in the breeze, trembled on the floor. +They sat together on the bench at one of the +extremities of the piazza. Hagar sat erect—leaned +back against the balustrade; her fingers +were slightly clasped, and her fierce eyes burning +into the opposite vines. Yet the wild girl +was very gentle now; the brave girl timid; her +venture was—not life and limb—that Hagar +would at any time risk, with a kindling, not a +<span class='pageno' id='Page_69'>69</span>smouldering cheek; her venture was—her affections!—that +heart, once so keenly sensitive—that +heart which in infancy had been stung and +embittered until it had at last grown stiff as +any other muscle under the action of any other +bitter tonic poison! that among the forest rocks +and streams had grown so healthy! so joyous! +It was such a free, brave, leaping heart, that its +prison-chest would scarce contain it!—it would +leap, though, and soar to the clouds!—it did send +its owner on horseback bounding over awful +chasms, leaping five-barred gates, thundering +down frightful descents, and sing with gladness +when the feat was done! But now this jubilant +heart was slowly trembling like a balloon in its +descent to earth, or a wounded bird that slowly +flapping its wings falls, and falls. Its wild liberty +was going—gone. Yes, her liberty of thought +and action was gone; no one ventured to advise, +to reprove, to oppose the young mistress of Heath +Hall; yet she felt reproof, opposition, powerfully. +There were no substantial fetters of steel +or iron on her slender wrists and ankles, yet the +fetters encircled her free limbs notwithstanding! +Listen, dear reader, while I tell you how Hagar—queen +of woods and waves—Hagar, <em>là lionnesse +de chase</em>, discovered that though no one +rebuked her by word, gesture, or glance, she +was no longer her own mistress; that she had +to contend for her freedom, not “with flesh and +blood,” but with powers and principalities of—something +or other! There had been a high +day at the Heath; under the auspices of Master +Gusty May the hounds had met early. There +had been a great chase, quite a steeple chase; a +neck-or-nothing affair; and all day long, over +hill and dale, rock and brake, the hunting had +thundered, and still Hagar, the slight agile girl, +on her flying black steed, had kept the advance; +and still, with wild mirth and fearless defiance, +she had cheered them forward! down the most +precipitous steeps, through the most violent torrents, +over the most frightful chasms, until the +brush was taken. The hunters dispersed, and +many of them rode over to Heath Hall, in company +with Gusty May and Hagar. And there +when all lips were carelessly, mirthfully speaking +of her feats of horsemanship that day, and the dark +girl’s cheek kindled more with the proud consciousness +of power than with pleasure at their admiration, +she sought Raymond’s face. Raymond +never joined these hunts, his tastes did not lie +that way. She sought Raymond’s countenance +at the very moment that some one spoke of her +leap across “Devil’s Gorge.” She sought Raymond’s +countenance half in doubt. He heard—she +felt he did, although his eyes were fixed upon +the book before him. He disapproved—she felt, +with a strange pain, a strange sense of loss that +he did, although no glance, gesture, or frown +betrayed rebuke. And somehow, all Hagar’s +gladness escaped in a long drawn sigh! She +felt not quite so much of a young lioness as she +had a moment since; and the presence of the +company annoyed her, and she wished from her +soul that they would eat their suppers and go +along home; she wished to hear Raymond +speak to her alone, that she might know how +much she had lost, and perchance recover it. +Well, at last they did go, and Hagar, after, in +the Maryland manner, seeing the last guest to +the door herself, came back in her riding habit, +which she had not yet had time to change—she +came back, that slight, dark girl, looking so +elegant in her graceful black habit, her shining +blue-black ringlets glittering down her crimson +cheek; her gleaming eyes and teeth were veiled +and covered, one by the purple lips, the other by +the long black fringes; how gentle she seemed +now, gentle as the half-dozing leopardess, with +her tusks and claws covered with the softest fur. +And she <em>was</em> gentle just now, she glided softly +near Raymond and stood by him, so humbly! +He did not see her attitude or expression as she +stood a little behind and on one side of him, but +he felt her there, turned softly, and passing his +hand gently around her shoulders drew her down +to his side. They were on the sofa between the +two windows, and the light of the candles on +the mantel-piece fell upon the picture—he drew +her small and elegant head down upon his bosom +with the radiant face turned towards him, and he +gazed down on it as though his soul would +escape through breath and glance, and die upon +it. She could not meet those tender deep blue +eyes, fixed so earnestly on her face; her black +eye-lashes fell upon her crimson cheeks, and her +brow burned; he stooped till his golden curls +mingled with her black ringlets, and pressed his +lips to hers. Quickly she whirled her head from +under his arm, but continued to sit by him; he +was silent, thoughtful, while he held her hand +and pressed it from time to time.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Raymond!” at last she said. “Love!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is the matter?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, dearest Raymond, you are grave, +unusually grave—will you tell me the reason?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“If my Hagar, in her deepest heart, is conscious +of having given me cause for pain, is not +that enough?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The girl turned her glowing cheek and heaving +bosom away from him; her heart was struggling +violently with its chains, she did not speak +for some time. At last he said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Have I offended you; have I wounded you, +Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No—no—<em>neither</em>—you are too gentle and +generous to do either, but I have hurt myself in +your estimation.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He drew her to his bosom in the gentlest embrace, +and bowed his soft cheek upon her face +so slowly, tenderly; but she broke from his +loving hold with a strangled sob and escaped to +her eyrie. Yes, it was too true, her liberty was +gone. The caress of love had riveted the chain +of bondage about the maiden’s will—the kiss of +love had left the mark of ownership upon the +maiden’s cheek. Yes, the wild falcon was +caught in the jesses. True, hers was the most +gentle captor in the world, it was the gentleness +that disarmed her, the tenderness that subdued +her; still she <em>was</em> caught, disarmed, subdued, +and she did not like it—she could have reproached +her own heart as though it had been a +traitor, sitting up before her. Why, she softly +inquired of herself, why should Raymond’s good +or ill opinion bring <em>her</em> joy or pain who utterly +defied all other opinion? She could not tell, +she could neither break her fetters nor understand +how they came to be riveted so fast—verily, she +was like the young wild horse of the prairie +struggling with the lasso around her neck, unknowing +how it came there, unable to shake it +off. This feature in love was new to her; this +<span class='pageno' id='Page_70'>70</span>subjugation of the will, this thorn in the rose, +and it rankled not a little. She would do as +she pleased, she said to herself. Sophie had +never controlled her; Emily had never controlled +her; and her horse’s hoofs had naturally +and very unconsciously spurned dust and defiance +in the faces of those who had pursued her +with blame. Now comes this power stealing +into her bosom, and gently, so gently, yet so +tightly, winding round and round her free heart, +so that in its wild throbs it bruised itself against +the pressure. Yes, she <em>would</em> do as she pleased; +she would ride another hunt if only to convince +herself that she might do so. And she did so; +yet when flying over the moor or heath, when +thundering down some declivity, or spurring her +horse to some fearful leap, a hand of air would +seem to fall upon her wrist arresting it, a voice +of air fall on her ears forbidding her, and impatiently, +like a young courser throwing up his +head and champing the bit, she would shake off +the hand and voice of air, and take the leap; +but then—a pain would drop and sink heavily, +more heavily, upon her spirits, weighing them +utterly down—no more glad triumph! no more +waving of the cap, or <em>if</em> the cap was waved it +was in defiance of the heart sinking like a +plumb-weight through the bosom. “I <em>will</em> do +as I please,” many times she would say to herself. +“Well, who hinders you?” “herself,” +would say to her; “not Raymond, certainly, he +never attempts such a thing, he only <em>suffers</em> +when he sees you thus.” So Hagar struggled +against the power that was subduing her. It +was when this struggle was nearly over that +Hagar and Raymond sat in the piazza under the +moonbeams, shining through the trellis work. +Hagar, as I said, with her slight form erect, and +her glittering eyes fixed upon the opposite end +of the trellis. Raymond holding her small hand +that quivered in his palm like the heart of a captured +bird—Raymond with his graceful head +bowed to catch her words.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Not yet, dearest Raymond, not <em>just yet</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, Hagar, love, <em>why</em>, what <em>now</em> hinders +our marriage? Just see, dearest, how you have +put me off! bethink you, from the time of my +arrival at the Heath before my father’s death, I +began to love you, would have married you, my +father wished particularly to unite us and bless +our union before he died, but you, Hagar, came +daily with your ‘not yet’ weekly, monthly; +with your ‘not yet’ until the old man died without +seeing the desire of his eyes. Was that +kind, wild Hagar? Well! and since his death, +you have said ‘not yet, do not let us join our +hands over a scarcely closed grave,’ and I +agreed with you. I took leave of you and +returned to the charge of my preparatory school. +A year passed, and procuring a substitute to +take care of my school, I came again—again +renewed my entreaty, and again Hagar with +paling cheek insisted ‘not yet,’ and again I left +the Hall alone. Believing, although you would +not confess it, that your reluctance arose from an +unwillingness to leave your native place, without +consulting you I abandoned my business and +came down here; here I have lingered weeks, +and still Hagar pales and flushes and tells me +‘not yet.’ Now what am I to think of this, Hagar? +<em>why</em> not yet, do you not love me, will not +my love make you happy?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Most tenderly he raised that little dark and +fluttering hand to his lips, most gently he spoke +as he said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now, my Hagar, tell me why do you insist +upon this delay?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Not insist, oh! not insist, Raymond—<em>plead</em>—I +plead this delay—your love make me happy? +oh! yes, <em>so</em> happy I am afraid to stir for fear of +disturbing it. I feel like a dreamer who has +fallen asleep in foreign lands, and dreams that he +is standing in his own garden—afraid to stir lest +I wake up—not yet, dear Raymond—do not let +us wake yet, do not break this dream, dispel this +illusion, spoil this love yet!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Spoil this love,’ why what do you mean +by that, Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I mean that we are so happy as we are, +Raymond—now that I have partly tamed my +wild heart to your gentle hand—now that I no +longer grieve or wound you, or ride steeplechases, +or shock the neighborhood into electric +life by some galvanic feat of desperation; now +that I am winning ‘golden opinions from all +sorts of people,’ and no longer mortifying you—why +we are so happy, this is such a fairy-land, +dream-like happiness. Think, we are under the +same roof, sit daily at the same table, ride to +church together every Sunday, visit together, read +together, ramble together, my twin-brother,” said +she, suddenly yielding herself to his embrace with +affectionate abandonment. “So we are <em>so</em> +happy! alas! don’t spoil it, don’t let us become +a humdrum Mr. and Mrs. Withers yet—a +tobacco-planting, corn-growing, butter-churning +Mr. and Mrs. Withers! don’t! the very idea +‘withers’ my heart,” and the wild girl, wild +still! laughed like the explosion of a squib.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Raymond folded his long fair hands together +and fell into thought; at last he said:</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar, I have always heard, read, and +dreamed much about the <em>confiding</em> love of +woman, but I see little of it in you; how is this, +Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Have I want of confidence—is it that? +Perhaps it is,” said the girl seriously. “I who +neither fear to risk life, limb, nor good opinion; +I fear, oh! how I <em>do</em> fear to lose the affection +of one who loves me; I fear to be too much +with them, to ask anything of them; I feel as +though I would always rather serve them than +receive service from them. Raymond, young as +I am, I have already suffered so much from +wounded sensibilities; I know you would not +readily believe this, but oh! listen—the first +thing I loved in this wide world was Sophie; the +first thing I remember was sleeping on her bosom +every night with her sweet breath on my cheek; +I do suppose she spoiled me, I was always with +her, she was devoted to me, absorbed in me, +until a new enthusiasm seized her, and she—oh! +but, Raymond, forgive me, I suppose it was all +right, only I did not comprehend it, and when I +was suddenly severed from Sophie, I wept all +night, screamed all day, and then when she +continued to neglect me, and when after the +arrival of Rosalia, all the child spoilers in the +house and in the neighborhood left me altogether, +and clustered around Rosalia like bees around a +clover blossom; well, Raymond! perhaps it was +my nature after all, I took to the forest for my +home, and to animals for my companions; I +consoled myself at first for the want of affection, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_71'>71</span>and, afterwards, I grew really independent +of it! my heart was so high and strong, I did +not care for love—not I! I loved others in a +half contemptuous right royal way, but I asked +no sort of return; indeed, I think, it would have +annoyed me; but now, Raymond! now I love +you, and I have your love, and I tremble—I +tremble lest I lose <em>that</em> also; no heart has been +steady to me, no human heart I mean, up to this +time (it remains to be seen whether yours will +be, Raymond)—no human heart, I said—my +pointers, Remus and Romulus, have been, and +dog-like always will be. Do you know, Raymond, +by the way, why I called my two +favorites Remus and Romulus?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I guess you thought, bitter girl, that the +fate of the poor twins cast out to the wolf to +be nursed was not unlike that of little Hagar +rocked upon the tree tops.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, that was it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My dear Hagar, you must forget these +things; it were unmerciful to remember them +against my unhappy father, most cruel to remember +them against dearest Sophie, whose mild life +has been one offering for others.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not remember them ever. I only +recall them when forced to the recollection, and +when I have to account to myself, or to you, for +some strange trait foreign to a young girl’s +character, and then I recall them without bitterness +as facts, not as injuries.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then, Hagar, love,” said he, “I am now +perfectly serious in what I am about to say, I +must either marry you very soon or tear myself +away from you. Hagar, through the influence +of one of my father’s old friends, I have been +offered the situation of <em>attaché</em> to the new +embassy to the Court of Madrid; they sail in +three weeks from Brooklyn. Come, Hagar, +shall I go?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar was silent.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Listen, Hagar,—if I go it is probable I shall +remain three or four years—shall I go?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar’s eyes burned holes in the floor.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar, I am very weary of entreaty, hear +me! I must either marry you or tear myself +away from you! one or the other! and soon! +Come! which shall I do, Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“We are very happy as we are; remain with +us, this is your home, stay, you shall have as +much of my company as you wish, the more +the better; I will give up all my out-door +amusements when you cannot accompany me, I +will do anything in the world to gratify you—except +get married—oh, not yet.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He jumped up—it was strange to see the +gentle and graceful Raymond exhibit so much +emotion.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Not yet.’ Oh! for heaven’s sake do not +ring the changes on those two odious syllables +any longer, Hagar; I am getting restive under +it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Then he dropped down into his seat again +with a sigh, saying,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Bear with me; Hagar, it is not often that I +lose patience, but indeed, my wild love, you are +a trial! now hear me, Hagar. I shall write +and accept that situation, I shall make preparations +for my journey, and in two weeks from this +night I shall leave Heath Hall to join the embassy +that will sail in one week from that time. +I shall, unless dearest Hagar in that time places +her little hand in mine and trusts me with the +care of her future happiness—well, Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, Raymond?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What have you to say to that?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nothing.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nothing?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Nothing.</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ungentle! Unwomanly!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Perhaps <em>too</em> ungentle, <em>too</em> unwomanly to +be able to make you happy, Raymond!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mad girl! why do you act in this way?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What way? I beg you to remain with us; +I promise you to do everything to make you +happy, except marry you; and you should rest +content, especially as I wish to marry no one +else.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But why? why?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Because I am afraid!—afraid!” said the +girl.</p> + +<p class='c008'>And then she arose, and wishing him good +night, hurried into the room. As she passed in, +a pale figure intercepted her further progress—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Gusty!” she exclaimed.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, ‘Gusty!’”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I did not know that you were here.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I have been here for half an hour. I passed +right through the piazza, but you and Raymond +were too deeply engaged in conversation to hear +me. Perceiving your absorption, I would not +interrupt you; I came in here, and borne down +with fatigue, and stunned with despair (for, +Hagar, the first words of your conversation betrayed +the state of affairs between you and Raymond) +I threw myself upon the sofa and there I +lay until I heard you arise and enter the house—don’t +be disturbed, Hagar, I only heard the few +words as I passed through the piazza. I would +not, you may be assured, have heard one word +that I could have avoided hearing, and the words +I heard were providential—they have been good +for me, they have stunned, benumbed my senses +into a sort of peace. Well, Hagar, when is it +to come off?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What, Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You know—your marriage with Raymond!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>But Hagar, wafting him a good night, fled up +the stairs to bed. And Gusty, to avoid Raymond, +whom he had not the power just now to +meet in a friendly manner, Gusty having ascertained +that Sophie was not visible, slunk out +through the back way and disappeared.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Days passed at Heath Hall, and Gusty was +not seen. Raymond had written his letter of +acceptance, had gone to Hagar’s eyrie in the +fourth story, and leaning over the back of her +chair, had read it to her. She had heard it with +little visible emotion.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now, Hagar, I am about to seal it. +Tarquinius is mounted in the yard ready to take +it to the post-office;—tell me, Hagar, shall I +send it, or not?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Just as you please.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then I please <em>not</em> to send it on condition +that you give me your hand.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I cannot—yet I implore you to stay—do not +leave us—I—I shall be very unhappy when you +are gone.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Marriage or flight, Hagar; those are my +alternatives.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She said no more. He lingered.</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_72'>72</span>“Shall I send the letter, Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“As you please.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He took a wafer from her writing-desk, and +sealing the letter, directed it; then going to the +window, he beckoned Tarquinius. The boy +dismounted, and coming into the house ascended +the long flight of stairs, and in time entered the +room. Raymond looked at Hagar as he slowly +gave the letter into the hands of the boy. Hagar +did not offer to interfere. Tarquinius left the +room, and five minutes after she saw him ride +out of the yard, letter in hand. Their eyes met +then; there was sadness in the expression of +both—the sadness of reproach upon Raymond’s +face, the sadness of deprecation on Hagar’s. +Indeed either of them could have wept, but that +Raymond for his manhood, and Hagar for that +early in her brave childhood she had made a sort +of silent pledge of total abstinence from tears, +refrained. He left the room very soon.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie entered it. She paced it in her soft, +slow manner, and sinking down in one of the old +leathern chairs by the window at which Hagar +stood looking out upon the bay, she said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar, my love, I have come to have a talk +with you: my dear child, what is the matter +between you and Raymond? why have you +grieved and repulsed him again? and, if I am +not very much mistaken, permitted him to make +arrangements for that foreign mission?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Did he tell you that, Aunt Sophie?” said +Hagar, turning around.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Of course not, my love; I met him coming +down, I saw his face overshadowed, and I had +seen just before that, the superscription of the +letter in the hand of Tarquinius; now, what is it +all about? Trust me, Raymond looks distressed +to death.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar ran her slender, dark fingers, through her +glittering blue-black ringlets, and looked down +in perplexity into the soft brown eyes of Sophie, +raised to hers with their old look of pleading +love. Then turning her eyes quickly away, she +looked from the window; she did not wish to +speak upon the subject.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You want a loving trust, Hagar,” said Sophie, +sadly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Perhaps I do,” as sadly replied the girl.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I never saw one so young as you with so +little confidence, so little trust as you have—your +distrust is more like a hardened man or +woman of the world than a simple girl, a maiden +not yet eighteen.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But I am <em>not</em> a simple girl—love, hope, +trust, faith, were crushed out of me while I was +yet an infant, and you know it; or perhaps you +do not know it, Sophie; though you had some +hand in the work.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar, love! you afflict me—tell me what +you mean by that?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nothing! nothing!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nay, tell me, Hagar! I must know the +meaning of your sad words.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nothing! nothing! I will explain nothing! +account for nothing! investigate, analyse +nothing! I will accuse no one! I did not mean +to hint at a wrong! I was betrayed into it!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“This is growing very serious by your energy +of manner, Hagar—have I injured you in any +way?—my own dear child, do not turn away, +but answer me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, no; never lifted your finger, or raised +your voice, to hurt me the least. Oh! nonsense, +my dearest aunt! I am a scamp to make you +sad—nothing! only <em>this</em>, that <em>my</em> experience +has so schooled me, young as you think I am, +that I am afraid to launch my happiness in the +uncertain seas of other hearts.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You want faith, Hagar. Ah! Hagar, I +partly guess now what you mean; but if you +had known how much I loved you, all the time +you thought I was neglecting you! Have faith, +Hagar. Good Heavens!” said she, speaking +with unaccustomed energy, “have faith! the +world could not go on without faith. There is +a great deal of faith in the world—social faith, +and commercial faith; political faith, and domestic +faith, and Christian faith, which embraces +all the others; but there is not faith enough anywhere—and +you, Hagar, are deplorably deficient; +cultivate that small speck of faith that is +in your heart until it grows strong and gives you +happiness. You <em>cannot</em> live without faith—with +it you have all things, without it you have +nothing. Have faith first in God, in His wisdom, +goodness, power, and love, in His all-surrounding +con”—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, I do! you know I do, Sophie, and all +the sin and suffering I see on earth does not in +the least shake my faith in God—but—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But you have little or no faith in your fellow creatures; +cultivate that little then, Hagar. +Oh! trust, and its opposite, mistrust, how powerful +they are; the one for evil, the other for +good. Trust! why, Hagar, it is the moral +philosopher’s stone, that transmutes, not base +metals to gold, but better, evil to good. Believe +me; I think, Hagar, the story of the philosopher’s +stone was an allegory, and meant this same +faith. Why faith will convert the unfaithful by +the very appeal it makes to their better nature. +Faith plunges straight through all that is ill in +a heart, and seizes on that which is good, +though half smothered in sin, brings it out into +life and action, cherishes it until it is strong and +able to struggle with and perhaps to overcome +the evil. Why, Hagar, just take a case: suppose +a person whose interests are jostled with +yours in the conflict of this world becomes your +opponent, seems your enemy, gives you a great +deal of trouble, perhaps works you much woe +in one way or another, yet have faith in <em>him</em>, +believe that <em>his</em> heart is not <em>all</em> selfishness, +nor treat it as though it were; believe that +in that soul watches a <em>conscience</em> that speaks +for you, if it could be heard; in that heart a <em>human +sympathy</em> that still suffers for you, if it +could be felt; a spark of divine and human +love, in a word, that, however covered up and +crusted over by sin and selfishness, still lives, +may still be nursed into a healthful and regenerating +flame by your love. Have faith in the +human feeling, even of the selfish. Believe that +somewhere down in the deeps of their souls, +buried though it be, there lives some good that +<em>your</em> goodness might elicit; some love that +<em>your</em> love might arouse; some faith that <em>your</em> +faith might sustain; some conscience that your +forbearance or forgiveness may awaken. And +on the other hand, Hagar, mistrust of good, +doubt of good, how fraught with evil it is; +doubt chains the sinner to his sin, keeps the +weak man on his couch of weakness. Trust is +health, life; mistrust is illness, death.”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_73'>73</span>“But, aunt, if you had been robbed by a +person, for instance, would you trust that person +with your purse?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not mean superficial trust,” said Sophie; +“no, perhaps I would not leave my purse +in the way of a proved thief, unless I had some +guarantee of his reformation; but I would have +<em>trust</em> in <em>his capabilities for reformation</em>, and I +would run some risk of loss, if necessary, in advancing +his reformation.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>They were silent some time. Then Hagar +said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But you are mistaken, Sophie, if you think +that I doubt or mistrust Raymond; it is not exactly +that, it is a vague, undefined fear—dread.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is the same thing, arises from the same +thing, Hagar; but conquer it, my dear. Come, +Hagar, you love Raymond—long months ago +you promised him your hand—you were miserable +whenever he left the Hall, even for his +northern school; you will be wretched when +once he has left the shores of the United States—you +will nearly die. I know something of +that despair, Hagar,” said she, trembling; then +suddenly stopped, as though frightened at her +own words.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You, Sophie; why, who ever left you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hush, my love, hush!” said Sophie, growing +very pale.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah!” thought Hagar to herself, “see how +she loved <em>Rosalia</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, Hagar, let me recall Raymond—he +loves you, he deserves you—come, Hagar,” said +Sophie, laying her hand on the dark girl’s arm +and looking up into her face pleadingly, as +though <em>she</em> were the child, and Hagar the woman. +But the girl shook her head; that last +incident in the conversation, as she understood +it, was not a propitious one.</p> + +<p class='c008'>A few days rapidly slid away, and the morning +of Raymond’s departure arrived. It was a +very rainy day. His trunks had been corded, +and were carried down to the beach, to await +the passing of the packet in which he was to +sail.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Breakfast was over; and Sophie, Hagar, and +Raymond <a id='t73'></a>were standing at the window that overlooked +the bay. Raymond held a spy-glass in +his hand, which Hagar would sometimes take +from him and level at a distant object, and Raymond +would watch, momentarily hoping, expecting, +that she would drop a whisper, even at +this last moment, and say, “Stay, Raymond.” +But she did not. He thought her fingers quivered +slightly as she returned him the spy-glass, +and that her voice faltered as she said, “There +is the vessel in sight, Raymond; look and see if +it be not.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was the packet.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now she will relent,” he said to himself.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The packet bore rapidly down the bay.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Good-by, dearest Sophie, <i><span lang="fr">petite belle mère</span></i>,” +said he, drawing Sophie to his bosom, and kissing +her brow with an assumption of gay indifference.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“God bless and prosper you, Raymond—God +send you back to us, healthful in body, soul, and +spirit—good-by, poor, dear Raymond—I am so +sorry you are going again!” and Sophie sank +down in the corner of the sofa, bowed her head, +and sobbed.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now she <em>will</em> relent,” smiled Raymond to +himself, as he went to Hagar, held out his arms, +and said, “Farewell, love! farewell, dear, hard +Hagar!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am going down to the beach with you,” +said she.</p> + +<p class='c008'>And then Raymond smiled more to himself, +and again pressing the hand of the weeping +Sophie, he drew Hagar’s arm within his own, +and left the house. Hagar had thrown a large +cloak over her head and shoulders, and Raymond +hoisted a large umbrella—Tarquinius Superbus +strutting before them with his arms full of small +packets, &c. They arrived at the beach—stood +upon the sand, with the rain pouring down from +above, and the tide hurrying against their feet +below as the boat from the packet was rowed +towards them. He turned and looked in her +face—all its expression was turned inwards, it +was so pale, cold, blank. “<em>Ah! I said so</em>,” +thought Raymond, “relenting little queen!” He +could not take a lover’s leave of her there—not +before the rough boatmen, who were devouring +them with their eyes—but he took her hand and +pressed it; oh! it was so cold and clammy! +pressed it to his lips—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Farewell, dear Hagar!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>No answer.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Good-by, Hagar. Do you hear me? I say, +farewell!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes! Good-by!” said she, almost wildly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, it is <em>indeed</em> good-by, then, Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes! Good-by!” gulped Hagar.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He was disappointed—oh! how deeply—he +stooped, however, and said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar, I did not think that you would have +held out so firmly thus long; now! quick! in +mercy to me—in mercy to yourself—tell me to +stay—it is not too late—put your hand in mine—that +will be enough!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar withdrew both hands.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Boat waitin’, zur!” now broke in the hoarse +voice of the waterman.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, Hagar? Well?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Good-by!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Is that all?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes! Good-by!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He caught her—he could not help it then—he +strained her to his bosom, and kissed her—the +boatmen might laugh, he did not see them—and +tore himself away, stepped into the skiff, and +was rowed to the packet. Soon the packet had +resumed its course down the bay; and the rain +poured down as she stood there, with Tarquinius +holding the umbrella over her head. How +pale, and cold, and still she stood, with all the +fire of her temperament concentrated in her gaze, +which burned upon the sails of the receding +packet, until it was lost, even to her falcon +glance, while the rain poured down around her, +and the waves washed up to her. At last, +“just to see the obstinacy of men!” she said; +and turning, wandered listlessly home.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>The packet wended its way down the bay, it +was bound for the port of New York; the weather +was bad, and grew worse; contrary winds +kept it back, and it was many days longer than +usual on the voyage. At last it anchored in +the port of New York. Raymond went to a +hotel and called for paper, pen, and ink, with +<span class='pageno' id='Page_74'>74</span>which to write to his friends at Churchill Point. +Having finished his letters, he took them to the +Post Office, and after mailing them, ran his eye +down the published list of letters, as if by hundredth +hazard his name might be there. It was +not. Indeed he did not expect to see it. It was +an idle thing, he thought, but still he would ask +the clerk if there was a letter there for him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>What</em> name, sir?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Raymond Withers.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Here is your letter, sir, came in this morning’s +mail.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He seized the letter—just as you seized <em>that</em> +letter of yours, you know, reader. It—Raymond’s +letter, and not yours—was from Sophie, +and ran thus—</p> + +<p class='c014'>“Come home, dear Raymond. Hagar has been nearly +delirious since you have been gone, yet I believe she +would expire before she would recall you herself; however, +come home; I will engage to say that we will +have a bright little wedding at Heath Hall, yet; indeed, +so certain am I of that fact, that I have engaged extra +assistance, and have commenced preparations.”</p> + +<p class='c011'>The other part was in a different hand—a dear, +familiar, light, airy hand, that seemed to skim, +scarce touching the paper; it ran thus—</p> + +<p class='c014'>“I have come to Sophie’s writing-desk, and read +over her shoulder what she has just written—I, too, +say—Come home, Raymond!—I place my ‘little hand’ +in yours.”</p> + +<p class='c011'>In ten minutes Raymond had written an answer, +being an <em>avant courier</em> of himself; in ten +more he had penned a letter of resignation of +his appointment; and in an hour he had removed +his baggage from the packet to another bound +by the bay to Baltimore <em>viâ</em> Churchill Point.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>Just a week after sailing from New York, and +three weeks from the date of his leaving Churchill +Point, Raymond stepped from a boat upon +the beach under the promontory, and as true as +you live, reader, it was pouring rain just as fast +as it rained upon the day of his departure. And +there stood a slight dark girl, muffled in a black +cloak, and behind her, with the whites of his +eyes and teeth conspicuous, stood Tarquinius +Superbus, holding an umbrella over her. It +seemed to Raymond that he had only dozed a +minute, and dreamed the last three weeks. He +was by her side in an instant, had pressed her +hand and drawn it through his arm, and walking +on with her was bending forward and downward, +looking into her dark and sparkling face with an +expression, half affection, half triumph, on his +superb brow and beautiful lips; but the mirth +sparkling up from Hagar’s face defied him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do you know—does your little highness happen +to know, Princess Hagar, what inconvenience +you have put me to—what an agreeable +three weeks I have passed—two weeks confined +in the close cabin of a little sea-tossed packet, +drenched with rain and beset with easterly winds +which were of course contrary; then one week’s +voyage back, in weather a little worse than the +other, except that the wind was favorable; to +say nothing of the seeming folly of resigning +my appointment at the moment the embassy was +to sail. You have inconvenienced the administration +also, Hagar! think of their having to <em>improvise</em> +a successor for me at the last moment.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But who would have thought that you would +have been so stubborn?” laughed Hagar.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Stubborn! it was <em>you</em> who were stubborn, +Hagar. Good heavens! I never encountered +such a will in my life!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I could not have believed that you would +have gone!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I could not have believed that you would +have suffered me to go.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But I expected you to give up.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And I wished you to yield. Where is that +boy? Where is Tarquinius? Oh, immediately +behind us; I thought so. Come, Tarquinius! +come, Superbus! hurry home and get tea in—you +waited tea for me, Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, of course.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Tarquinius toiled with all his might and main +ahead; but hurrying home, up that steep, +slippery cliff, was not such sure and expeditious +work, and Tarquinius kept near them perforce, +while poor Raymond, still bending forward, +looked down into Hagar’s liquid eyes and lips, +like Tantalus looked at the spring that was +sparkling, leaping, and laughing invitation and +defiance in his face.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Oh-h!</em>” groaned and smiled Raymond.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Are you tired?” questioned Hagar, maliciously.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, you monkey.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am afraid you are,” said Hagar.</p> + +<p class='c008'>In reply to which Raymond stooped down, +and lifting her lightly in his arms, ran up the +steep with her, and set her down upon the top, +then smilingly drew her arm again within his +own, and they went to the house. How cheerfully +the firelight and the candle-light glowed +from the two windows under the shed of the piazza!</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I love to see a light within the house at +night so much!” said Raymond, “and I like it +better even in cities than in the country—it looks +so very cheerful; and then to go through long +streets at night, in which the houses are closed +up from top to bottom, and you only guess life +within through a chink in the shutter—it has to +me the most ungenial, unsocial, selfish look in +the world. I always kept the windows of my +lodgings open until I went to bed, would you +believe it of me, Hagar, just to add a little to +the cheerfulness of our dark back street.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie came out to meet them smiling, with +her brown eyes looking so loving, and conducted +them in.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Raymond had changed his clothes, and tea +was over, and they gathered around the fire, +Sophie with her needle-work, Hagar, the idle +one, with a spiteful black kitten on her lap, +whose antics amused her, and distressed Remus +and Romulus, who were <em>couchant</em> at her feet.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I love a chill, rainy evening just at this +season of the year,” said Sophie, “because it +makes it necessary to have a fire, and to gather +around it with our work.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And then Raymond, smiling, drew from his +pocket a book.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is it, Raymond?” exclaimed both +ladies in a breath,—(those were not the days of +cheap literature, reader, nor was that the neighborhood)—in +those days, and in that country, +all “books” were “books.” “What is it, +Raymond?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And Raymond turned the back, and held it to +them.</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_75'>75</span>Both read in a breath—“Childe Harold,”—and +both exclaimed in a breath, “Read to us, +Raymond.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And Raymond opened the book, while Hagar +pulled her kitten’s ear, and made it spit and +bite, and Sophie counted the stitches of her knitting, +and commenced reading, and there we will +leave them for the present.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXI.<br> <span class='c009'>HAGAR’S BRIDAL.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>‘Bride, upon thy marriage day,</div> + <div class='line'>Did the fluttering of thy breath</div> + <div class='line'>Speak of joy or woe beneath?</div> + <div class='line'>And the hue that went and came</div> + <div class='line'>O’er thy cheek like wavering flame,</div> + <div class='line'>Flowed that crimson from the unrest</div> + <div class='line'>Or the gladness of thy breast?’</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Hemans.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>Poor Gusty had walked about several days +in a stupor, “stunned by a sockdologer,” he said, +into a stupor from which nothing could arouse +him; he longed for the time when he should be +ordered to sea, but alas! that time was very +distant yet, he feared. He had never been at the +Hall since what he called “that fatal evening.” +Emily was happy that an end was put to his +hopes of Hagar at any cost of present pain to +him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Gusty,” said she one morning, “do you +know Hagar is to be married week after next?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, mother.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do you know that Sophie wants very much +to get Rosalia home to the wedding?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Does she?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes—but unluckily no one seems to be +travelling down in this direction from the neighborhood +of her school, so that she cannot get +an escort; Sophie cannot leave home to go after +her, and she has no one she can send.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Let me go! I carried her to school, you +know; let me go and bring her home!” exclaimed +Gusty, jumping up, very glad of a job +that would stir his blood into a little circulation.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then as soon as dinner, which is just ready, +is over, go to Heath Hall, and offer your services +to Mrs. Withers, Mr. May. God bless +this poor boy!” said she, taking his head between +her hands, “he thinks his sun has set, and +left his world in darkness, and he thinks that his +life is made a ‘howling wilderness,’ and he +thinks a great many horrible poetical things besides, +and he has a slight suspicion that if he +could put all that he feels upon paper, he +would make a great poet. Well, now, let me +advise you to improve the time, master poet; it +will be short—write while the fire is blazing in +the heart, and the brain boiling over it like a pot—do, +Gusty, for presently the fire will all be +out, and the brain quiet, and the clouds will +clear away from your sky, and the sun will rise +upon your stormy night and convert it into a +very humdrum forenoon, unsuggestive of anything +but dinner.”</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie and Hagar were in conversation together +in the chamber of the former, as Gusty +rode into the yard. Sophie was trimming the +white satin boddice of a beautiful dress that lay +over the bed.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And now I shall not wear that!” said Hagar. +“I do not like it, it does not suit me. I +shall feel in borrowed plumes if I wear that; it +no more suits me than the white feathers of the +dove would suit the kite.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, Hagar, my love, you would not wear +anything else than white, would you? I never +heard of a bride, a young bride, wearing colors +in her bride dress.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But <em>I</em> shall—I shall wear a black lace dress.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Black! mercy, Hagar, you would make +yourself so conspicuous, you would shock the +whole neighborhood!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar laughed wildly, “You know very well +that <em>that</em> is my besetting sin, Sophie; when this +inane neighborhood is falling into an apathy, I +feel a propensity to shock it into a little life!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! you will think more rationally of this, +I know it, for I know you would not willingly +shock Raymond—but tell me, does he seriously +intend writing to Dr. Otterback to come down?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Very seriously, for he <em>has</em> gone to his room +for that purpose now. You see, dear Sophie, +that I wished it myself. I am like that poor +fellow who was hanged at Churchill Point a +year ago; who, you recollect, would not receive +the services of a Jack Ketch in the arrangement +of his toilet, but insisted that the high sheriff +should officiate, exclaiming, with an expiring +flash of self-respect, ‘If I <em>am</em> to be hanged, I’ll +be hanged by a gentleman!’<a id='r4'></a><a href='#f4' class='c012'><sup>[4]</sup></a> Now if a halter +must be tied about my neck it shall be tied by a +bishop!”</p> + +<div class='footnote' id='f4'> +<p class='c008'><a href='#r4'>4</a>. A fact.</p> +</div> + +<p class='c008'>The girl’s manner was full of wild gaiety. +Sophie gently rebuked her for speaking of sad +and grave subjects with wanton lightness. But +the girl’s eyes flashed more mirth and fire than +before, as she said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dear Sophie, how can you expect of me +pity for others who have now none at all for +myself—when I have made up my mind to be +hanged or married I can do it; if hanging were +the dish, I should not think of the horror, the +agony, the death—my mind would leap straight +through that dark, quick passage to the light! +the joy! the immortality!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, Hagar! and you say that not reverently, +but triumphantly! oh, Hagar! what a heart you +have to break down. A young bit of a maiden, +yet with no gentleness, no tenderness, no sympathy—a +little, slight, dark creature, yet with the +fire, courage, and fierceness of a young panther. +Oh! Hagar, how much I fear for you!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Just at this moment a light rap was heard at +the door; Sophie arose and opened it. It was a +servant come to say that Mr. May was below +stairs and requested to see Mrs. Withers. Sophie +followed the messenger. She found Gusty +waiting in the parlor. Sophie was not unacquainted +with the secret that the poor fellow’s +despair had betrayed to all his friends, but this +was the first time, be it remembered, that he had +visited the Hall since the destruction of his hopes. +Sophie’s manner was unusually gentle and affectionate +to him, so much so that poor Gusty +<span class='pageno' id='Page_76'>76</span>whose heart was sadly suffering for sympathy, +said to her suddenly at the close of their interview, +and after all the arrangements relative to +his mission had been agreed upon,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How much older are you than I, Sophie?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Eight years,” answered Sophie, opening her +large eyes. “Why?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nothing—it is too much, I suppose! but may +be it is not, as I am sure I am a great deal taller +and twice as broad shouldered, and sun-burnt +and all that, so that I am sure I must look as +old as you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What are you thinking of, Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Be hanged if you do look more than a very +gentle little girl after all, not half so self-sustained +and womanly as Hagar!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I mean, Sophie, will you marry me? I am +very steady of my years—all to taking care of +mother—and I shall behave myself better than +you think for, indeed I shall.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, Gusty!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sophie, you’ll think it strange after all that +phrensy of mine for Hagar, that I now offer you +my hand, a boy’s hand; but, Sophie, I always +<em>did</em> love you and like to stay with you, and now +that Hagar has thrown me away, I feel weak, +suffering, as if I wanted some one to love me +protectingly, to nurse me, to pet me—you are +the very one, Sophie! I am so lonesome, so +miserable, feel so unnecessary in the world. I +am first person singular, nominative case to nothing +under the sun just now! I want some one +to love so much! some dear gentle girl that will +love me with all her heart and soul, and not feel +jealous of this anguish I must suffer for the loss +of Hagar. Come, Sophie, pity me—my manhood, +strength, spirit, impetuosity is all melting +out of me. I feel like a poor dog that has no +owner!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Your mother, Gusty.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! mother, has not she a husband, as well +as Hagar a lover? Come, Sophie, you spent +the first years of your youth in nursing a sick +brain—spend the rest in nursing a sick heart—love +me, Sophie. Oh, if you knew how I suffered, +you would love me,” and Gusty fairly +dropped his head down upon Sophie’s shoulder +and <em>almost</em> wept. She let it lie there—nay she +caressed that young grief-bowed head, as she +said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I always have loved you, Gusty, and always +shall, and will do anything in the world I can to +make you happy.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Thank you, dear Sophie. I thought you +were too good to be proud because you happened +to be the eldest; now, Sophie, how long will it +be first, for I want to live with you, and lay my +head upon your little shoulder, just so, while I +talk to you of my troubles and you soothe me—when +shall it be, Sophie?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What be, Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Our wedding!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nonsense, dear Gusty, <em>never</em>. You are mad +to think of such a thing, Gusty!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then you won’t.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Certainly not—-you were never surely serious +in such a strange proposition! no, of course +you were not! I was silly to give you a serious +reply!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“As the Lord in Heaven hears me, I am serious—I +must be loved—love me, Sophie.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I <em>do</em> love you, and <em>will</em> love you, how can I +help it? but as to marrying you, Gusty! nonsense! +Why, see here, when I was a little girl of eight +years old, you were a babe of a few weeks, and +I used to carry you in my arms all over the +house, and have helped to nurse and educate you +from infancy up, at least you knew I did until +of late years,” said Sophie, correcting herself; +“now do you feel as if you still would like to +marry your nurse, your little mother?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty was silent.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, Gusty, you will get over this in a few +days, you will see some one else. I know by +your professions to me that it is not <em>love</em>, but the +<em>want</em> of love, that makes you miserable—your +journey will help your cheerfulness, too. You +must set out to-morrow.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He took his hat and riding-whip to go.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sophie, won’t you come over to mother’s +and spend the evening this evening?—do, +Sophie, it is lonesome over there, and mother +and yourself can talk over the hundred thousand +subjects of interest you have in hand.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I will come, Gusty.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Don’t bring Hagar!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And, Sophie, mind, don’t let mother know +what a fool I have been making myself.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, no!” smiled Sophie, and the interview +closed.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty had to call at Churchill’s Point, it was +mail-day; and Gusty, though his correspondence +was far from extensive, always made a point of +being present at the opening of the mail.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Here is a letter for your ma, Mr. May,” +said the little old widow, who was post-mistress +for Churchill Point.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“From my Uncle Augustus,” exclaimed +Gusty, as he received it, “postmarked Boston—ha! +his ship is in port—wonder when he is +coming down.” So musing, Gusty quickened his +horse’s pace, and rode on towards the cottage.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A letter from uncle, mother,” said he, as he +laid it on the stand by her side, “and Sophie has +accepted my escort for her niece, and I am to set +off in the morning. Sophie will be here with us +to tea.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Emily nodded and nodded assent to everything +he said, though she heard not half while +devouring her brother’s letter.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How is he—what does he say, mother?” +exclaimed Gusty, when she had finished reading.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“He will visit us soon—he is going to be +married.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mar—married!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“To whom?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“To a young lady, he says, whom he has +known for a long time, and who has his warmest +affections and his highest respect.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“He married, too! well everybody gets +married but me—lend me the letter, mother, let +me see all about it,” and she handed him the +letter. While he was reading the letter, Emily +looked out, and exclaimed:—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“There is Sophie now! go and help her +from her saddle, Gusty!” and Gusty went. +Emily followed more at leisure, and received +her friend with her accustomed affection, whispering +in confidence, “I have made a cream +cake for your tea, darling,” and led her in, took +off her bonnet, and seated her near the pleasantest +<span class='pageno' id='Page_77'>77</span>window. When she had carried away her +things, and returned, sitting by her, she said +suddenly, in the midst of a gossipping conversation:—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, Sophie, you never ask me after my +brother Augustus!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Don’t I?” said Sophie, faintly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, <em>no</em>, you know you don’t—what ever +can be the reason?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How is he—have you a letter?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah! exactly—‘how is he,’ when I have +reminded you to ask.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Forgive my forgetfulness, Emily.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“His ship has returned, did you know it?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No,” said Sophie softly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, it <em>has</em>. Came in port nine days since—he +is coming down to visit us very soon—how +long has it been since you saw him, Sophie?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I don’t know,” answered Sophie reservedly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Let’s see, I can tell, he has only been here +three times since, and that was while you were +so taken up, that you never came near us—let’s +see, it will be exactly eight years next Tuesday +week since you met, and next Tuesday week I +am to give a party to our bride, Hagar. He +will be here on that day, and I fancy there will +be another bride. Why, Sophie, what a color +you have this evening—he is going to be married, +and will probably bring his wife down—no, +Sophie, it must have been the reflection of the +sunset, for now I see you are quite pale, paler +than usual—are you sick?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! no, no.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A little fatigued, I suppose. (Gusty rang +for tea.) Yes! a young lady to whom he has +long been attached—she’s fainted. I wonder +when Sophie will ever have any nerves?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How easily she swoons! Sophie never <em>was</em> +strong,” exclaimed Emily, as she raised and set +her back, reached a tumbler of water, and +bathed her temples. As Sophie opened her +eyes she met those of Emily, looking kindly, +sweetly, and with a new expression, into hers. +“How do you feel, love?” was Emily’s first +question.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Better.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What made you faint? was it fatigue?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>I once told you, reader, of Sophie’s deep +veneration for truth, that would never permit her +even to prevaricate. She was silent, and Emily +looking again into her eyes, refrained from +asking her any more questions, but smiled to +herself, as in a few minutes she said to Sophie:—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now, my love, I have got to answer my +brother’s letter by return mail; will you excuse +me? I will not leave your side, but draw the +stand to me, and write it here; it will not occupy +me more than fifteen minutes.” She drew her +writing-desk before her, and, selecting her paper, +commenced writing, while Kitty brought in the +tea-things. At last, looking up from her work, +she said:—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I have told Augustus that you are sitting by +my side while I write; now what shall I tell +him from <em>you</em>?” Sophie was still silent. “Come, +Sophie!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Give him my respects.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Fiddle-sticks! why did you not send your +<em>duty</em> at once, like a school-girl to her papa? +your respects!” but then she looked at Sophie +and saw her still so pale, so tremulous, that she +turned and quietly resumed her writing.</p> + +<p class='c008'>If you had been looking over her shoulder, +you might have read the following lines:</p> + +<p class='c014'>“Dearest brother—dearest Augustus—welcome! first +to your native shores, and then soon, very soon, I hope, +to your sister’s home and bosom. Now concerning the +subject of your letter, I must write cautiously, as I perceive +that <em>you</em> recollected to do—because our worthy +old post-mistress takes the liberty of peeping in at the +ends of all private and confidential letters that pass and +repass through her hands.<a id='r5'></a><a href='#f5' class='c012'><sup>[5]</sup></a> She will get something +indigestible if she pries into this; no matter for her! +About this other affair—yes, come! I have no <em>doubt</em> of +it, <em>never</em> have had from first to last, though nothing in +her manner, no look, word, or gesture, ever revealed +the fact to me until this afternoon; nay, I believe the +poor thing was unconscious herself, for you know I +think she is one of the excellent of the earth, one of +God’s peculiar favorites; and through all these dark +days I always had a faith in her eventual happiness +even in this world, for the promise, Augustus, is both +for <em>this</em> world and the next; hear it, ‘Godliness is profitable +unto <em>all things</em>, having the promise of <em>the life +that now is</em>, and of that which is to come;’ and listen +again! for I don’t think that you attend to these things +as much as you ought to: ‘No man hath left house, +or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the +kingdom of God’s sake, that shall not receive manifold +more in this <em>present time</em>, and in the world to come life +everlasting;’ and <em>her</em> martyrdom, poor girl, was so sincere, +however mistaken—so sincere and complete, for +she thought it for life! It was all rayless darkness to +her; the future illumined only by her Christian love +and faith. And she is so beautiful, Augustus; so much +more beautiful now at twenty-five, than she was at +seventeen, when you saw her last; her health and +spirits have suffered somewhat, but that has only lent +the inexpressible charm of delicacy and pensiveness to +her beauty. I rejoice in you both, Augustus! I rejoice +in you both, and I bless you from my full heart! I rejoice +in the ‘more than Roman virtue’ with which you +died to each other, fully believing it eternal separation—with +which you ever sternly wrested your thoughts +from the other. I, the friend of both, have never once +been made the medium of the slightest communication, +the slightest inquiry or message such as acquaintances +might interchange. You <em>died</em> to each other, believing +it for ever, and that was right. But <em>this</em> is not right; +it is not right that you should bind me to secresy about +the subject of this letter, upon the ground that you do +not know the state of her mind, or how she might receive +it. Come and see for yourself—and even now +she is looking up at me with her patient brown eyes, +and believing—Heaven forgive me!—no matter. +Come soon</p> + +<div class='footnote c015' id='f5'> +<p class='c008'><a href='#r5'>5</a>. Fact of a good old post-mistress in —— county, +Maryland, to my own serious discomfiture.</p> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-r c015'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>Emily</span>.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>“Please, madam! the tea will get cold,” exclaimed +Kitty, and Emily hastily sealed and directed +her letter, and they sat down to the table.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>The wedding-day of Hagar and Raymond +dawned. They were anxiously awaiting the +packet, which they expected would bring Rosalia +and Gusty, and perhaps, also, Dr. Otterback, +who was to come down from Baltimore. Afternoon +came, and Hagar, trying girl! instead of +secluding herself in the mystery of her own +room until it was time to dress, Hagar was +down on the beach with a telescope, watching +the approach of a distant vessel. While she +was intently gazing, she felt her arm twitched, +and looking back saw Blanche Rogers, who had +been domesticated for several days at the Hall, +employed in assisting Sophie with the bridal millinery +and confectionery.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, you torment! Come, you trial! it is +time to dress! <em>time!</em>—high time! both rooms are +full of company; and now I shall have to steal +you into the house through the back way! +Come!”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_78'>78</span>Blanche Rogers was fully her equal in social +position, besides being several years older than +Hagar, yet not for this would the wild, proud +girl, permit the familiarity of her address—lowering +her telescope, she said with spirit,—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The evening dews are chill, Miss Rogers; +perhaps you had better not expose yourself to +their influence, as you are not so well accustomed +to them as myself. <em>I</em> watch the approach of +yonder packet, and must see whether it contain +passengers for the Hall, before I leave the +beach.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, but my little self-willed, headstrong +bride, it is <em>late</em>; the company are assembled; +we have determined not to await the arrival of +the bishop, or of the laggards, Rose and Gusty; +we have settled that the ceremony shall proceed; +we cannot wait much longer for anybody.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I rather think you will have to wait some +time longer for the bride!” said the girl, “unless, +indeed, you could fancy the ‘tragedy of Hamlet, +with the part of the Prince of Denmark omitted.’”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, oh! Hagar, this is shocking!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Is it? So much the better; you need to be +shocked!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>While they spoke, the vessel bore down rapidly +towards the point—stopped—a boat was +put out and rowed towards the beach, and old +Dr. Otterback alone stepped upon the sand. +The old man came smilingly forward, rubbing +his hands and holding them out. Blanche +stepped forward to welcome him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hey, Miss—Miss ——, I remember you, you +monkey, though I don’t remember your name, or +know if you have changed it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Miss Rogers!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Miss—<em>what!</em> not married yet?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“La! no, Dr. Otterback, I was waiting for +<em>you</em>! Ain’t you a single man? You looked +so much at your ease, I really thought you were, +anyhow?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And you would put me out of my ease, +hey? No, I’ll tell you the reason you are not +married; the young men are afraid of you, that +is it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Not so, Dr. Otterback; I have twelve +beaux, but I should be afraid to marry one of +them for fear that eleven of them would hang +themselves.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Twelve</em> would hang themselves, my lady, +you may be sure of that! But, this is Miss +Churchill, if I am not mistaken,” said he, going +up to Hagar.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar curtsied, blushed with all her spirit; +she was embarrassed, abashed, as well as much +disappointed. This meeting Dr. Otterback alone, +under such circumstances, was not what she had +anticipated; not what it would have been, +covered with the shower of welcomes that would +have attended the reception of the <em>whole party</em>, +had Gusty and Rosalia been with him. One +thing, however, if Dr. Otterback recognised her +as the bride of the evening, he did not appear to +do so. They reached the Hall. The whole +yard and surrounding grounds of the Hall were +filled with carriages tied to the trees. Hagar +reached her room without encountering any of +the guests—though as she passed up the long +wide staircase, and through the passages, she +could hear the half-suppressed hum of voices in +the bed-rooms; the hushed voices of ladies who +had arrived late and were re-arranging their +toilet after their ride.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar did <em>not</em> wear the threatened black lace +dress; she wore just what she should have worn, +just what, with little variety, <em>all</em> brides wear; +viz. a white Mechlin lace over white satin; +pearls on her arms and neck, and a wreath of +orange blossom buds twined irregularly in and +out among her glittering blue-black tresses. But +she was the most fidgety little bride you ever +saw; her bosom rose and fell convulsively, and +her little dark fingers twirled and twitched spasmodically, +as the party stood before the bishop, +in the midst of the assembled company; and +more than once Raymond’s soft hand pressure +and reassuring whisper were needed.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was over. Sophie lifted the veil from her +head and whispered very softly,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“God bless you, my own dear child, my foster +child, my nursling. God make you happy.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And then Hagar’s wild eyes flew off from +Sophie’s face to light on Raymond’s countenance, +to meet his eyes; and then her expression +changed—tragedy and comedy, deep joy, foreboding +fear, comic humor and earnest affection +were blended in the blushing and sparkling face +she raised to meet his self-possessed and loving +smile. It was strange, queer—a few words had +been pattered over by a fat old gentleman in a +gown; and, lo! all their relations were changed. +It was curious; her very name and title were gone, +and the girl, two minutes since a wild, free +maiden, was now little better than a bondwoman; +and the gentle youth who two minutes since might +have sued humbly to raise the tips of her little dark +fingers to his lips, was now invested with a lifelong +authority over her. Yes, it <em>was so</em> curious! +and the spirited girl was in doubt whether to +laugh or cry; and the expression of mingled +emotions on her face blended into one of intense +interest and inquiry as she met his gaze and +smile, which she could not help fancying <em>patronizing +and condescending</em>, as well as protective and +loving! A new, extremely provoking feature in +his smile! but perhaps she only fancied it. But +this new relation, this new position, this new +owning and being owned—it was very unique! +very piquant! and Hagar felt it so! and her +wild dark face gleamed and sparkled more and +more all the evening; and every once in a while +she would furtively look at Raymond as though +he had been suddenly metamorphosed into something +very awful; and if Raymond caught her +stolen glance at such a time, her face and neck +would be dyed with crimson.</p> + +<p class='c008'>I do not mean to weary you with a description +of this wedding, nor tell you how the chambers +of Heath Hall were crowded with guests that +night, nor how old Cumbo fretted and fumed +over the preparation of the state dinner the next +day; nor how the dancing party came off in the +evening; nor how disappointed Sophie was at +the still prolonged absence of Rosalia and Gusty; +nor how her thoughts occasionally wandered—but +I will not even hint at <em>that</em>. None of +these things will I trouble you with—but come +to the Tuesday upon which Mrs. Buncombe was +to give her sober, clerical-like evening party to +the newly married pair—premising that Rosalia +and Gusty had not yet arrived. It was a beautiful +evening, and our party from Heath Hall +rode over to Grove Cottage by moonlight. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_79'>79</span>Emily’s rooms were well lighted and well filled—and +Emily herself, with her quiet gaiety moving +about, diffusing cheerfulness around. The +bridal party, as usual there, sat at the extremity +of the room opposite the entrance. Sophie sat +with them; her small soft hands folded lovingly +together on the lap of her brown satin dress, +and her large eyes bent in reverie upon them. +Very far from the scene must her thoughts have +wandered, as she did not hear the slight agitation +around the front door of the room, or see +the entrance of an officer in the full dress uniform +of a captain in the United States Navy, +who, conducted by Emily, approached, bowing +and smiling recognition on either side; she did +not even look up until a light finger dropped +softly on her hand, and she raised her large eyes +to behold Emily, and—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My brother, Captain Wilde, United States +Navy—Mrs. Withers!” said Emily, presenting +him with mock gravity. And Sophie mechanically +arose, curtsied, and sank into her seat +again, as though she had never set eyes upon +him before. She did so involuntarily, and without +again raising her eyes; a weight like destiny +seemed to weigh down the eyelids. Captain +Wilde looked right and left in search of a seat, +but found none, until a youth, one of Raymond’s +groomsmen, who was sitting by Sophie, politely +relinquished his seat, which was as politely +accepted by Captain Wilde. Emily moved off, +leaning on the arm of the boy. Captain Wilde +glanced all around the room—no! no one was +minding him—old men were talking politics and +agriculture, and old women gossipping scandal and +housewifery, and young men were courting seriously +or flirting flippantly, and young women +were being courted; no one was minding him—no +one seemed at all interested in the sayings and +doings of Captain Augustus Wilde, United States +Navy, in full dress uniform though he was. He +turned to look at Sophie; <em>she</em> was looking +straight down at a ring upon the third finger of +her left hand—<em>he</em> followed her eyes and looked +at it, too; and now, losing her presence of +mind, growing very much confused, and blushing +deeply, she began unconsciously to twist it +round and round—while he watched the operation. +At last, while apparently in doubt how to +address her, he made a remark, startling in its +profundity—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“There is quite an assembly here this evening, +madam.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Her reply, given in a very low tone, was +equally original:</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, sir, a large company for so sparse a +neighborhood.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, the neighborhood <em>is</em> sparse and not increasing +in population, I think; no new settlers +coming in, while a considerable number of the +old families are moving off. Is it not so?” said +he, stooping forward, and looking intently upon +Sophie’s varying cheek, as though life and death +were in the answer.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What do you suppose to be the reason?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I really do not know.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“One thing I know to be, the deterioration +of land here, owing to their dreadfully destructive +system of agriculture—the contrast between +New England and the Southern States is so +striking in this feature of agriculture; don’t you +think so?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Indeed, I never think about it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, you are not at all a <em>fermière</em>. Yes, the +contrast is very striking; the New Englanders +have raised, by the labor of their own hands, a +naturally ungenial soil to a high state of productiveness, +while your Maryland planters have, +even with the aid of their troops of negroes, exhausted +the fertility of a soil naturally very productive. +Why, Mrs. Withers, I am informed +that your planters, instead of manuring their +ground, plant one third of their land in rotation +every year, leaving two thirds to recover itself. +This must exhaust land very soon.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie was silent.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Warm climates and rich soils, where little +labor is required to gain a subsistence, engender +habits of indolence; now, though your climate +is not very warm, yet I think that the original +richness of your soil and the convenience of your +gangs of negroes, first seduced your planters into +their slovenly habits of <a id='t79'></a>cultivation—do you not +think so?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie burst into tears. Her soft heart had +been filling for the last half hour, and it ran over +in tears! First a start of surprise, then a bright +smile, then a quick glance around the room, and +a bowed head and a low whisper in Sophie’s ear.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Sophie!</em> the rooms are close and crowded, +come, walk in the grapery with me!” and drawing +her arm through his own, he led her forth +into the yard, down that long shaded grape walk +that led from the cottage porch through the yard +to the cottage gate. They paused at the gate, +separated, turned and looked at each other; the +moon was shining full upon their faces, they +could see each other serenely and distinctly. It +was no longer Captain Augustus Wilde, bristling +in his new uniform, and with a long string of U. +S. N.’s at the end of his name, and it was no +longer Mrs. Withers; but no—<em>she</em> had <em>never</em> +changed, or even <em>seemed</em> to change. It was the +Sophie and Gusty Wilde of eight years before! +and as he gazed at her, the light kept leaping in +his eyes, and,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Oh, Sophie! my Sophie!</em>” and opening his +arms he caught her to his bosom and kissed! +oh! he kissed her forehead, eyes, and lips, as +though his lips would have grown there! and +then holding her head a little off upon his arm, +the better to gaze upon her, he looked down +delightedly into her happy, smiling face, for it +<em>was</em> a happy, smiling face now, and he said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, my dear Sophie! this is <em>deep joy</em>, this +is <em>charming comicality</em>, too! It <em>is</em>, you little +brown-eyed witch! To think that scarcely five +minutes ago, you and I were sitting in yonder +crowded drawing-room, talking of <em>farming</em> and +<em>agriculture</em>, and calling each other ‘sir’ and +‘madam,’ ‘Mrs. Withers’ and ‘Captain Wilde,’ +with our bursting hearts covered over with conventional +trivialities, as people might cover a +mine with straw and stubble, with a paper wall +between us, which your flood of tears washed +down. God <em>bless</em> those tears! God <em>bless</em> those +eyes that had no single glance—those lips that +had no single tone for pride or deception, my +own dear Sophie! You are more affectionate, +more tender, more gentle, more natural than I +am, my own sweet-lipped, gentle-eyed Sophie!” +<span class='pageno' id='Page_80'>80</span>and he drew her closely and kissed her again, +but there was less ardor, more tenderness, and +less passion and more affection in this caress.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, this is sweet, it is sweet, <em>Sophie! Sophie!</em> +Why, her very name is something to breathe +one’s soul away upon; let us sit down, my +Sophie—this meeting, this fast-flooding joy overpowers +me!” and he sank down upon one of the +long benches that ran on either side of the whole +length of the walk, and he opened his arms again +and said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, gentle Sophie, come sit beside me; +lay your dear head under my arm, against my +bosom, and let me talk to you. I am growing +dizzier every moment; I thought I was prepared +for this meeting, but, oh! my Sophie, I am as +much stunned as though the thunder cloud of +joy had but just broken over me! Say something +rational to me, Sophie—<em>do</em>, dear child! +You cannot? No, you cannot; you are as silly +this moment, my gentle dove, as I am myself. +But why do not you talk to me, darling? Your +soft eyes are shining with love and joy, but you +have not a word for me—why?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am thinking of you so much,” said Sophie, +softly; “I am thinking, dearest friend, of the +long, long years you have passed in desolation +of heart, without a home, except your ship and +quarters, without a fireside of your own, without +a family circle, without affection; coming in +and going out of port, alike unblessed, unwelcomed, +and unwept, and all for me! for me! I +am thinking of that, and wondering if life and +soul could repay such love!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Understand me, dearest; it was <em>not</em> all for +you—it was not, God knows, in the hope of ever +possessing you! that would have been criminal, +Sophie. No, dearest, when I parted with you +at the carriage door upon that memorable evening, +I carried with me, it is true, a desperate +hope! but what am I talking of? I beg your +pardon, Sophie; I said I was dizzy! yet this +one thing permit me to say, dear Sophie; when +I received a letter from my somewhat coolheaded +sister, telling me that your marriage was +over, and all about it, I as completely, as +unreservedly, resigned you, as ever martyr at +the stake resigned the life that was forced from +him, without the least expectation of ever seeing +you again, far less of this, of this!” and Captain +Wilde went off into raptures again, kissing +her again at “this” and “this.”—“No, Sophie, I +made up my mind to turn you out of my heart. +I found it hard work; though I resolved to +banish the thought of you, I struggled with it in +vain! Struggling with a subject of thought—banishing +a subject of thought, is a contradiction +in terms; for while you have it by the head +and shoulders, trying to put it out, you are more +intertwined with it than ever, and it holds you +fast. And I found, Sophie, that the only way +to be rid of an inconvenient and intrusive image, +was to fly from it, and I wrenched my attention +off and riveted it upon another subject. It is a +great thing, this free will of ours; I just had +resolved to consider you as dead. I never +inquired after you; and Emily, soon guessing my +wish, never mentioned you in one of her letters. +I studied the ancient languages, and soon, in the +intervals of professional duty, I became quite +absorbed in digging out Greek roots. It is +an important duty, this government of the +thoughts; they are the avenues by which good +or evil approaches the soul. Only three weeks +since, Sophie, it was that I learned that you had +been free for nearly eighteen months. Only three +weeks since, when coming into Boston harbor, I +found a letter in the Post Office, long waiting +from Emily.” He fell into a reverie for a few +minutes, from which he started, exclaiming:—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Eight years! just think of it, Sophie! +Eight years! and you are so much more beautiful +and lovable—though once I did not think +that could possibly be—but you are <em>so</em> beautiful, +Sophie! Ah! indeed, I think that sorrow and +thought and time are sometimes great beautifiers. +You are <em>so</em> lovely—and I, Sophie! +Sophie, I am thirty years old, how do you find +me?”</p> + +<p class='c008'><em>She replied with her eyes!</em> Her head was on +his bosom, and her face upturned to his. His +arm was around her waist, and his hand fondly +nestling over both of hers. How long they sat +thus, and into what deep silence they would fall +while their spirits mingled! At last he said +slowly, gently breaking the holy silence, reverentially:—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My Sophie, I have but two or three days to +remain in this neighborhood. My leave of absence +was for three weeks. I was nine days in +coming from Boston. I have twelve days left +for my visit and voyage back. I must allow +myself ten days for my return to insure punctuality. +Now, it is demonstrated that I have but +two days, to-morrow and the next day, to +remain here.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But why?” inquired Sophie, tearfully, +“why? I always thought officers in returning +from a voyage had a long leisure before +them?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, but, my dear, I have just been appointed +to take command of a store-ship lying in Boston +Harbor.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes. So that I must leave. Let us see—this +is Tuesday—I must leave Friday morning. +You are not attending to me, Sophie?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes, I am indeed.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She had fallen into deep thought.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It may be six months before I can come +again.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh no, not so long as that!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Most probably <em>longer</em>, Sophie!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She turned her face down upon his bosom, +quietly weeping.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Will you leave here with me Friday morning, +Sophie?</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She did not answer.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Perhaps you think it an unlucky day. Will +you go with me <em>Thursday</em> morning?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She raised her head, but did not reply. He +drew it back upon his bosom, and looking down +upon her blushing face, where the tear-drops lay +like dew on the red rose, he said gently:—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I know where the trouble is, my Sophie; +you are thinking what your neighbors will be +likely to say if you marry so suddenly, to them +so strangely—is not that it? But, Sophie, you +will surely never weigh my affection and comfort +against the gossip of a set of thoughtless +neighbors? you will never do so,” said he +earnestly, alarmed at her continued silence, and +pressing her closely to his bosom,—“You will +not weigh our happiness with etiquette!”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_81'>81</span>“No,” she said, quietly, “not with etiquette +will I weigh it, for I wish to go with you, Augustus; +nor with duty <em>must</em> I weigh it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What do you mean, dearest Sophie?” exclaimed +he, anxiously.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Only this—there are some preliminaries to +be arranged, that cannot be settled without you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then, whatever they may be, they <em>are</em> settled—just +consider them settled, Sophie,” said he, +earnestly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But hear them; these are not things that can +be despatched and forgotten; they may attend +us some time. I would have you make no rash +vows about them, Augustus.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“They are <em>settled</em>, I tell you, Sophie! <em>settled!</em> +Your will, your wishes, are enough—are +paramount! Have I not confidence in you, +dearest Sophie? More, far more, than I have +in myself; they are <em>settled</em>!” exclaimed he, impetuously.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But you must know them to assist me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Very well; upon <em>that</em> account, I will listen, +darling; but first, mind you, Sophie, I am to +understand, am I not, that when I have settled +all these preliminaries, we are to be united, and +leave <em>together</em> on Thursday morning—ha! say, +Sophie?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes,” whispered Sophie, with a dying cadence.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Say! speak louder, Sophie. I mistrust my +ears—did you say ‘yes’?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, yes!” said Sophie, blushing scarlet, +with the tears in her eyes, “I said ‘yes.’”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes! Ah! stop, let me take time to take +in all this idea of ‘yes.’ Thursday morning, +Sophie my wife! There is a point at which joy +stuns one! Speak to me, Sophie!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I think that you forget I have not told you +my preliminaries.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, the preliminaries! any that <em>I</em> have anything +to do with? Never mind them, Sophie; +but you are sure that you will not disappoint +me Thursday morning? are you sure you will +not put me off—tell me about dresses to be made, +or a wedding party to be got up, or at least +make a delay about breaking up housekeeping +at Heath Hall? Ah, yes! certainly, I see now; +these are the very preliminaries of which you +speak; and how, alas! can we settle them in +two days!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dear Augustus!” said Sophie, “do you think +me so unconscious of the worth of your regard, +and so ungrateful for it, as to think of trifling +with it, or deferring our”—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Marriage?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes; upon any but grounds of <em>duty</em>”—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, dear, dear, dear! <em>what</em> is it, then, Sophie; +let us hear it quick! I listen, darling, +punctilious little brown-eyed darling!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, then, our Rosalia”—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, Rosalia Aguilar—<em>our</em> Rose, our beauty, +our moonbeam, our love!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are enthusiastic, my Sophie!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am when I think of <em>her</em>! Oh, she is the +very soul of love! My life became brighter, +warmer, richer, when she came to me. That +beautiful and loving child! her love bathes +everything she looks upon in light and heat, as +the sunbeams flood the landscapes! You will +love her so much! She, the sweet child, loves +all things—pities, spares, or ministers to all +things, from the broken rose-tree that wants +binding up, to the old negro toiling home at +noon from his hard day’s work. I have seen +the sweet child run and dip up a gourd of water +from the bucket at the well, and carry to such a +one, looking up so reverentially in his face, as +though old age, toil, and suffering in any form, +awoke her veneration. She is delicate and sensitive, +too; she cannot bear the least unkind +word or look; nor the least excess of cold or +heat. This susceptible temperament, I think it +is, that gives her such warm sympathies.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Captain Wilde was looking up with ardent +admiration into the eloquent face of Sophie.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah, I see,” she continued, “that you admire +her; and you will love her, oh! so much; your +soul will go forth and bathe her with love as +mine does. Oh, your soul will warm over her, +glow over her, live around her. Your life will +brighten into refulgence for loving Rosalia. Ah, +yes! I see you will love her—you do love her. +I see it in your speaking face.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My own dear Sophie! I love you—<em>you</em>—my +life brightens into refulgence in the light of +<em>your</em> love—<em>yours</em>, my Sophie, of the loving heart +and eloquent lip.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“People have blamed me for loving Rosalia, +but how can I help it? You will see how impossible +it will be.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, my beautiful Sophie (how radiant +your face becomes in the praise of one you love), +my beautiful Sophie! what has this little Rosalia +to do with the postponement of our union?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Merely this—Rosalia is my ward. She is +now daily expected. If she should not arrive +to-day, or to-morrow, I could not leave the +neighborhood finally, of course, without seeing +her—being assured of her safety—indeed, I +should not like to leave her with Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar is dangerous to one so tender as +Rosalia. Would you put a dove in the guardianship +of a young eagle? Hagar has a fine, high +spirit—she would go through fire or flood to +serve one she loved—but, mark you! she would +cast that one she loved back into fire or flood +if they should offend her. Therefore, with your +consent, dear Augustus, I should wish to await +Rosalia here, and take her with us to Boston.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Captain Wilde left her side and walked up and +down the grapery for awhile. Then coming to +her, he said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I will write to the Department to-night for +an extension of my leave of absence, Sophie.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will you? Oh! will you? I shall be so +glad! Of course you will get it?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Probably—yes; still these favors should be +charily solicited, Sophie.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I suppose so—well, if you do—I was about +to say that we shall have the company of Hagar +and Raymond, as well as that of Rosalia, on our +journey. Raymond is appointed assistant professor +at —— College, and they leave here in +ten days.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will not that be very agreeable?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not know, my dearest; I think I prefer +your undivided company. So, Hagar and Raymond +are going North?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And what is to be done with Heath Hall?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It <em>was</em> to have been the residence of Rosalia +<span class='pageno' id='Page_82'>82</span>and myself; now, I suppose, it is to be shut up +and left so. We do not like to sell it. Indeed, +it would bring but little; and some of us may +like to come back some time to live in it. However! +you know it will depend entirely upon the +will of Raymond, for the property is now his, in +right of his wife.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>They had arisen now from their seats, and +were sauntering slowly towards the house. The +evening was beautiful, and the house was +crowded, and spilling its company all over the +piazza and yards. They separated and mingled +with the guests. Once in her meandering about, +Sophie felt herself enfolded by a pair of gentle +arms and pressed to a soft, warm bosom. +She was in Emily’s embrace—who stooped and +murmured in her ear, “My sister! my sweet +sister at last!” and let her go. Next she met +Hagar’s wildly glancing eyes with a “Who’d +have thought it?” sort of smile on her crimson +lip, and then her hand was raised by Raymond +and softly pressed to his lips, while his gentle +eyes revealed the heartfelt congratulations it +was yet premature to speak. And at last she +rejoined Captain Wilde just as Hagar was giving +him a pressing invitation to breakfast and dine +at Heath Hall the next day, and just as he +smiled and bowed acceptance.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> +</div> +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“She is all simplicity,</div> + <div class='line in2'>A creature meek and mild,</div> + <div class='line'>Though on the eve of womanhood</div> + <div class='line in2'>In heart a very child.</div> + <div class='line'>She dwells among us like a star,</div> + <div class='line in2'>That from its bower of bliss,</div> + <div class='line'>Looks down, yet gathers not a stain</div> + <div class='line in2'>From aught it sees in this.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Mrs. Welby.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>There was going to be another great day at +Heath Hall; a breakfast, dinner, and ball. +Such was Hagar’s will, and of course no one +thought of opposing a bride in her honey-moon. +Only old Cumbo swore in her wrath that before +she would stay and cook for another such a +“weddin’,” she would be “sold to Georgy;” +which, in negro thought and dialect, expresses +the very extremity of perdition. It was a great +day at Heath Hall; the breakfast-table was set +out under the shade between the rows of poplar +trees, and it was loaded with the delicacies of +the season, the peculiar delicacies of that favored +neighborhood, game killed the day before, fresh +fish, oysters, and soft crabs, caught that morning, +&c., &c., &c. All the county, and—Captain +Wilde were there, and after breakfast +the company dispersed, and wandered over the +house or grounds, or rowed out upon the bay at +will.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar, Raymond, Sophie, and Captain Wilde +were grouped upon the point of the promontory. +The captain occasionally swept the whole expanse +of the bay within range of the telescope +he held to his eye, and dropped it with a sigh +and a shake of the head. There was no sail in +sight.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Have they not written to you, Mrs. +Withers?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No,” said Sophie, “not since Gusty left—we +did not expect <em>that</em>; we expected them to +hurry home with all possible expedition; oh, I +grow so uneasy.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nay, do not be anxious, Sophie,” exclaimed +Hagar, “if anything had happened you know +that Gusty would have written.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But I have been so fearful ever since that +wreck,” sighed Sophie, paling.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That is one reason why <em>I</em> am <em>not</em> anxious,” +said Hagar. “We have just had a wreck—such +things do not occur frequently; that wreck +will do for the next three or four years.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>While she spoke, Tarquinius Superbus was +seen strutting up the promontory from the hall; +he came up to Sophie, and ducking his head by +way of a salutation, said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mrs. Widders, madam, dere is an ’rival at +de Hall, and Mrs. Buncombe, she ’quests you to +come down.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“An arrival—have they breakfasted—who is +it? Mrs. Green!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is Miss Aguilar and Mr. May, madam!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia and Gusty! why did you not say so +before, you stupid fellow!” exclaimed Hagar, +“how could they have come, Sophie? They +must have dropped from the sky. How did they +come, Tarquin?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“In de poshay, Miss Rose, she ’fraid o’ +water.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah, that was it,” said Hagar, “I knew it +was some of Rosalia’s cowardice and selfishness +that has given you all this uneasiness, +Sophie!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>But Sophie was hurrying on, too happy to +speak, far too happy.</p> + +<p class='c008'>They reached the Hall.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Where is Rosalia? Where is she?” inquired +Sophie, anxiously hurrying along in front +of her party.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“In her chamber, changing her travelling +dress—go to her—I will attend her,” said Emily, +as, at the same moment starting from her side, +Gusty May sprang forward with strange gaiety +in his manner, considering what we know of his +then recent love-crosses, and grasped Sophie’s +hand, and then Hagar’s, and then Raymond’s, +and then Captain Wilde’s, shaking them all emphatically, +joyously, as asking after everybody’s +health, and explaining that he and Miss Aguilar +had had a delightful overland journey in a post-chaise, +because Rosalia was afraid of the water, +&c., &c.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie passed on up stairs, and Hagar was +about to follow her, when Emily laid her hand +on her shoulder, and murmured close to her +ear—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do not both of you leave your guests at the +same time again, Hagar; you should remember +the punctilious etiquette exacted by Mrs. Gardiner +Green, and others present.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The spring of Hagar’s upper lip started as the +spring of her foot was arrested; and with a +“Mrs. Gardiner Green,” repeated in no very reverential +tone, she stood still, especially as Raymond’s +hand very softly fell upon her own just +then.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie passed up stairs, and opened the door +of Rosalia’s chamber, catching for a single instant +a glimpse of this beautiful picture. The +lovely girl reposed in a large, easy chair; her +pale gold wavy hair, parted above her fair brow +floated down her blue-veined temples, down her +<span class='pageno' id='Page_83'>83</span>faint rose-tinted cheeks, down the tender undulations +of her dove-like throat and bosom, and +flowed upon the soft, white muslin that covered +her form. As the door opened and Sophie flew +towards her, she arose and dropped in her embrace; +the gentle arms were around Sophie’s +neck, the golden hair overflowing her, her soft +form folded to her bosom, the warm heart throbbing +against her heart, the warm lips pressed to +her lips, and tears of joy slowly falling.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My love, my baby, my dove-eyed darling, +welcome! welcome!” sobbed Sophie, pressing +her again and again to her bosom. “Oh! is it +possible that now I shall have you always with +me, to see you as much as I please, to love you +as much as I please, to kiss you! oh! my dove! +my beauty! as often as I <em>must</em>. How have you +been, Rose? how do you feel, Rose? are you +well? are you much tired? what will you have, +Rose? Come to the window and let me take a +good look at you;” and Sophie drew her to +the window, held her off and gazed upon her +beauty as though she could have quaffed it up, +and opening her arms, folded her again in an +embrace, murmuring “oh! my child, my nursling, +you are <em>so</em> fair. Look at me, Rose; look +at me, my darling! bless those dove eyes, with +their brooding tenderness!” Then she sat down +on the lounge, and drawing Rose to her side, +passed her arms around her waist and said, looking +down in her face lovingly, “I am going to +be married soon, Rosalia; to be married to one +whom I love, and who loves me above all +things.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia’s eyes started, dilated, and then softened +as she murmured, “And he loves you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And you love him?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, darling.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rose stole her hands up around Sophie’s, and +kissed her, exclaiming softly,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! I am so glad, so glad, Sophie, dear +Sophie!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>They were both silent, because Rose was bending +forward before her, holding both her hands +and gazing lovingly up into her face. At last +she inquired,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And is he gentle and kind—in a word, is he +<em>good</em>!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Very good, my little love.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And handsome?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie smilingly replied, “I think so, darling.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Is he young?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, <em>yes</em>!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How young?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Thirty!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, that is <em>old</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, no it is not, darling—except in the estimation +of ‘sweet sixteen.’”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And Hagar is married—how funny!—and—how +<em>serious</em>. What makes me feel so differently +about your marriage and about Hagar’s, Sophie? +Your marriage—the idea of it fills me with still +religious joy, like <em>church</em> music swelling from +the deep-toned organ, echoing through the lofty +arches and filling one’s soul full of love and awe, +tempered by faith. But Hagar’s marriage affects +me like martial music that attends the troops in +their embarkation—inspiring, animating, but sad, +but painful. Now, why is this, why does my +heart fill and overflow my eyes, when I think of +Hagar’s being a wife; surely it is a happy destiny; +and why, tell me why, when I kneel down +night and morning to say my prayers, it comes +into my head to pray <em>so earnestly</em> for Hagar’s +happiness—why do I weep now that Hagar is a +happy bride? she is a <em>happy</em> bride, is she not?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Just as happy as <em>Hagar</em> is capable of being, +my love.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“As happy as you are?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She should be.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then why do I feel so?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not know, my love; possibly you feel +that Hagar is too wild to make a quiet wife, too +fierce to make a loving one, and too self-willed +to become a complying one; while on the other +hand you rest in the assurance that I am sober +and common-place enough to make a quiet fireside +comfortable.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, that is not it, I never studied that much +in my whole life. But how do you feel about it, +Sophie?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My love, I had some of your forebodings, +but I had a better reason than instinct for them, +and now they are about dissipated. Hagar is +naturally wild, fierce, self-willed, and scornful—but +she has the very companion I should have +selected for her happiness. Raymond is wise, +gentle, and firm, or he impresses me in that way. +You have never seen Raymond?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, no! you know, never. Is he like +uncle?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The very opposite in many things.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“There! dear Sophie, now please send Hagar +to me. I want to see Hagar so much—but +stay! perhaps Hagar might think I ought to go to +<em>her</em>; she is so proud. But tell her, Sophie, that +I am not dressed yet, and that I want so much +for her to hug and kiss me here, before I go +down to all those strangers.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And Sophie pressed her hands and withdrew +from the room.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Soon after the door was thrown quickly open, +and Hagar sprang upon her cousin’s neck, half +cutting her soft shoulders in the wire-like embrace +of her slender arms, while the dark brow +bent over the fair one, the blue-black ringlets +glittered over the pale golden hair, and the deep +carnation cheek met the pale, rose-tinted face an +instant, and then she was released.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“So, Hagar, you are married! dear me, how +queer! is it not? Why, Hagar, you don’t look +at all different, not a bit like a married woman.” +And Rose got up and stood by her, and took +her hand affectionately and looked up merrily in +her face, “dear me, no! not at all like a married +woman; Mrs. Withers! goodness! do they +call you ‘Mrs. Withers,’ Hagar? and do you +always remember to answer to that name—and +how do you like being married, sure enough, +Hagar—Mrs. Withers, I mean? Don’t turn +your head away and crimson and darken so, +while scorn and mirth gleam and flash from +under your eye-lashes and upper lip; and don’t +laugh—don’t <em>you</em> laugh if I do; it is no laughing +matter; I feel it so most of the time when I +think of it. Oh, Hagar, my only sister that I +ever knew, I do pray for your happiness morning +and evening!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Thank you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now tell me about Raymond, he is young, +handsome, graceful, accomplished, and all that; +but tell me, is he <em>gentle</em>?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Gentle!</em> why do you ask, Rosalia? <em>Gentle!</em> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_84'>84</span>I gave him my hand—that is your fit answer, +dear.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I know—I asked because—I may say +it to you without blame now, Hagar—because +his <em>father</em> was not gentle, you know—and—and +we sometimes love those who are not gentle +with us, Hagar,” and her soft eyes were suffused.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes,” exclaimed Hagar, “and then there is +even in seeming gentleness, sometimes gentle +strength, gentle force, gentle firmness, more irresistible, +more inevitably enslaving, than rudeness, +roughness, violence could be,” and the dark +girl’s soul half gleamed from her countenance +like a dagger half-drawn from its sheath.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What do you mean, Hagar—dear Hagar, +what do you mean?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nothing! I mean that it is time for you to +dress and come down—and I mean that you +must not ask me any more questions. Come, +let me be your dressing-maid for once, and—but +no matter, I fear I should make a failure in the +essay,” and taking up a hand-bell, she rang it at +the door. A negro girl came in, and with her +assistance the toilet of Rosalia was soon made. +Her golden hair was arranged in ringlets; her +dress was a light blue silk; her fair neck and +arms were bare, and adorned with a pearl necklace +and bracelets. Hagar wore a black lace +dress. Now, as Hagar clasped the last bracelet +on her arm (she did that for her), standing with +her before the mirror, nothing could have been +more unlike in feminine beauty than these two +girls. Hagar, so small, straight, dark, and sparkling—Rosalia +so fair, soft, and gentle.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, now, let us go down into the drawing-room, +Rose.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But see here, dear Hagar, I must go in the +kitchen, and see Aunt<a id='r6'></a><a href='#f6' class='c012'><sup>[6]</sup></a> Cumbo first; I know +she wants to see me so much, so do I her.”</p> + +<div class='footnote' id='f6'> +<p class='c008'><a href='#r6'>6</a>. In the country parts of Maryland and Virginia, the +children and young people usually call the old negroes +“Aunt” or “Uncle.” Further south, “Mammy,” or +“Daddy” so and so.</p> +</div> + +<p class='c008'>“But, my dear—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, but <em>please</em> let me, dear Hagar; for poor +old Cumbo, you know, we must not slight her, +because she is old and—no, we must not slight +her;” and looking pleadingly at Hagar she +passed out slowly before her, and stole down the +back stairs. Hagar followed her. They went +through an end door, and making a circuit to +avoid meeting any one, reached the kitchen. +The old woman was busy, and grumbling over +her culinary operations before the fire, as Rose +stood in her blooming loveliness in the door.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Aunt Cumbo, how do you do?” said she, +approaching. At the sound of her voice the old +woman dropped ladle and pan, and turning +around, gazed at her through bleared eyes.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, Aunt Cumbo, don’t you know me? +It’s me—Rose,” said she, going and taking the +black old withered hand in her own.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, it’s my baby! it’s my baby! it’s my +sweet, lovely baby come back to its old mammy +again!” and the old creature fell weeping over +her shoulders.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, Rose, shake her off—don’t you see she +is ruining your dress.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, no! would you hurt her poor old feelings +about a dress? her poor old feelings!” said +Rose, raising her hands and stroking her withered +cheeks, and looking kindly into the dim face.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My baby! Oh, de little soft cotton wool +hands!—bress Gor A’mighty for lettin’ old nigger +lib to see her baby once more ‘fore she go—see +if old mammy ain’t got anoder biscuit in her +bosom for it—no, dey ain’t bake yet; nebber +min’ she’ll save one, and you set down dere, on +dat ‘tool, while mammy roas’ a sweet tatoe for +you;” and the old creature put her gently down +on a stool, and went to rummaging under an old +locker. Again Rose’s eyes were full of tears, +and she said in a low tone to Hagar—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She is in her second childhood, Hagar; you +did not prepare her for this; poor old human +being; nothing at all left of her but the loving +heart. They tell me that it is the first thing that +lives, and the last that dies.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You had better look at your dress.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How can she do her work?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mechanically—we do not wish her to work; +but I believe she would die if she had not the +privilege of cooking and grumbling; and Rose, +don’t be a fool—she is well enough; you know +it is so with all these Guinea negroes; they have +such tenacity of vitality, that their strength of +body outlives for years the decay of their mental +faculties; besides, she is seldom so confused as +this. Your sudden arrival has startled her, and +jostled past and present together in her apprehension; +but come now, Rosalia, you must +come into the house;” and Rosalia went up to +the fire and said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Aunty!—mammy!—you will let me go into +the parlor with the other ladies; you know—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, honey, de tatoe ain’t roas’ yet!” replied +the old woman, as she raked the ashes over the +sweet root.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, aunty, when the potatoe is done you +send Tarquinius for me, and I’ll come out here +and eat it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, honey! yes, my baby! and when you +go in house you jes speak to Miss Sophie ’bout +’Quinius ’Perbus; he too much mun—don’t min’ +nuffin ‘tall I say, till I have to switch him some +ob dese days; you min’ now.” And they left +the kitchen.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia Aguilar had come home to no very +near relations, to no mother, father, sister, or +brother; yet never did <a id='t84'></a>any child returning to +idolizing parents meet with a more tender and +enthusiastic reception, from Sophie down to old +Cumbo, and thence down to the cat that ran +between her feet, crossing before them, rubbing +her sides against them, and impeding her steps +as she walked into the drawing-room. A low +murmur of irrepressible admiration saluted her +as she entered—old friends then crowded around, +and new acquaintances were introduced to her, +and it was half an hour before the beauty and +the pet was left in quiet possession of her +sofa. Sophie sat on one side of her, Captain +Wilde on the other. At this moment Raymond +Withers entered the room bowing and smiling, +and passing up to Hagar, who stood by one of +the open windows, he said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Which is your cousin?—I have not been +introduced to her yet.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Have you not?—I will present you, then,—but +first,” said Hagar, covertly watching his +countenance, “look at her and tell me what you +think of her. There, now you have a good +opportunity of observing her without attracting +her notice; there she is, seated between +<span class='pageno' id='Page_85'>85</span>Sophie and Captain Wilde, talking with the +latter.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Raymond’s eyes followed the indication of her +glance. Rosalia’s form was slightly bent +towards Captain Wilde, and her face was softening +and glowing under the inspiration of their +conversation. Raymond slightly started—his +gaze became fixed—absorbed—Hagar’s eyes +burned into his countenance, but he did not feel it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well,” at last she said, “what do you think +of her?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He did not reply—his eyes were riveted upon +the group on the sofa. Hagar’s eyes were fixed +on his face—her lips compressed until the blood +left them pale.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well,” she said, again, speaking very slowly +and distinctly, “what do you think of Rosalia?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He did not seem to hear her; his soul was +absorbed. Now all the fire seemed to have left +Hagar’s lips and cheeks, and to be concentrated +in the intensely glowing eyes that burned into +the face of her husband, and he did not feel it!</p> + +<p class='c008'>At last a motion, a change of attitude, a raising +of Rosalia’s eyes, dissolved the spell, and he +turned to Hagar.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well,” said she, with pale lips, “how do you +like her?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She is beautiful! beautiful! the most perfectly +beautiful living thing I ever saw. In all +my dreams of beauty, I never saw a vision of +loveliness like that! Do but see, Hagar!—the +heavenly love and tenderness in her air and +manner; one looking at her, fears that she may +fade into air like a vision of poetry.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Shall I take you up and present you?” she +asked, in a low voice.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He might have observed—<em>must</em> have observed, +the painful constraint of her manner, but that his +attention was so concentrated.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Shall I take you up and present you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, no, love! not yet—I wish to observe +her from this point a little longer.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She bit her lips until the blood started—her +eyes seemed drawn inwards in their intense +burning.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, then, will you excuse me, Raymond? +I wish to leave the room.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, love! no! I cannot spare you—you +have been away from me too long this morning +already,” and he closed his hand firmly upon +hers, while he still poured his gaze upon the sofa +group.</p> + +<p class='c008'>At last she spoke again—“Raymond,” and +pressed his hand to call his attention,—“<em>Raymond!</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, love!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She spoke so low that he had to stoop to catch +her words.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do you not think that if before our union +you had seen Ro—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nothing—nothing—I had better not—see! +they are looking over here—come! now let me +introduce you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He now first observed her pallor.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It seems to me you do not look well to-day, +Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She smiled bitterly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Perhaps not—<em>to you!</em>” she added, mentally.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Are you not well?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why do you look so haggard, then?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>To you?</em> The force of contrast!—and your +eyes are dazzled.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I must know what you mean, Hagar, but +here we are,” he whispered, as they paused before +the sofa.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar presented him, and Rosalia arose, in +her simple, affectionate way, and offered her rosy +cheek to the kiss of Raymond, as her relative. +Captain Wilde, starting from his seat, exclaimed,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, Withers, I will do the magnanimous, +although it costs some self-denial, I assure you, +yet you shall have my place—come, Mrs. +Withers, senior!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And going round to Sophie he drew her arm +through his own, and walked her away to the +piazza, leaving her place to Hagar, who immediately +assumed it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now!” said Sophie, her brown eyes dilated, +blazing with light and joy, “what do you think +of my Rose—is she not beautiful?—is she not +sweet, blooming, fragrant?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Beautiful!—stop, Sophie! don’t set me off!—you +know I am ‘gusty’ (<em>stormy</em>), when I get +an imposing subject! Beautiful!—why she +<em>radiates</em> beauty—no one can sit by her or talk +with her without catching beauty! growing +beautiful! Did you observe that poor old +Gardiner Green, how, as he talked with her, all +the latent goodness and gladness that were +smouldering in the bottom of his heart, was +kindled up and broke through his face, lighting +up his winter-apple cheeks and black eye-brows +until they glowed with beauty, as an autumn +landscape glows in the sunbeams!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, you admire her; you love her; you are +a poet!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She has made me one!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I <em>knew</em> you would love her—still I am so +glad to <em>feel</em> it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Love her! dearest Sophie! I was prepared +to love her for your sake; now I love her for her +own!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And I <em>knew</em> you would, as I said, and now +I rejoice to feel it; now, then, you feel the same +pleasure that I do in the thought of having the +sweet girl with us?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Have her with us! Yes, that is the best of +it—we shall have her with us—by our fireside +in winter, and about our piazza in summer, and +all around us—so we can see her always, and +caress her as much as we please, and love her +as dearly, and make her beautiful being as happy +as possible—have her with us—see here, Sophie, +I am afraid I should be tempted to kick any +fellow who should come courting her—yet of +course it must come to that, and it will come +very soon to that. Beauty and sensibility and +susceptibility like hers will not long remain unwooed, +unwed, in a naval station full of gay and +romantic young officers; and even now I am +afraid Hagar will be wanting her, and that +Rosalia will prefer to go with the companion of +her childhood—and that chap, Raymond, will +take sides with them, and we shall lose the dear +girl after all.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You need not be afraid of that. Hagar +does not want her. Hagar loves no human +being, neither man, woman, nor child, no one +except Raymond. Hagar’s affections are very +concentrative. She has never loved any creature +but Raymond, and she has loved him +intensely from childhood, and indeed I fear +<span class='pageno' id='Page_86'>86</span>there is as much tyranny as tenderness in her +affection for her husband.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! well! never mind them, Sophie; let +them torture and transport each other in turn, +as young lovers of their temperament must for a +while; only let them leave this charming +Rosalia to light our sober, quiet home. What +are you laughing at, you partridge?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Thinking how very sober any home is going +to be that calls such a boisterous fellow as you +are, master.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Humph! but, Sophie, but it will be <em>you</em> that +will make it quiet, my love! my dove! <em>you</em>, +Sophie—come! does not my boisterousness subside +into gentle joy by your side? Say, am I +not quiet enough?—I can get quieter!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, don’t—I—I think—perhaps I like you +all the more for being just what you are.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Are you really contented with me, Sophie?—I +have been so much afraid, sometimes, that +my ‘boisterousness’ should shock and alarm you—now +does it, ever?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Never—never—it is never rude or violent, +you know, Gusty, and it only lifts my own +sober cheerfulness into agreeable gaiety.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>You do not care to hear all that was said by +the partners in this “mutual admiration” firm—they +walked and talked, as long as <em>you</em> walked +and talked, with you remember whom—or as +long as you <em>expect</em> to walk and talk with, perhaps +you <em>do not</em> know whom. They did not +return to the house until summoned to dinner. +A large company sat down at table. A dancing +party in the evening closed the day, and the +guests dispersed.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXIII.<br> <span class='c009'>THE BRIDE’S PARTING.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“From the home of childhood’s glee,</div> + <div class='line'>From the days of laughter free,</div> + <div class='line'>From the love of many years,</div> + <div class='line'>Thou art gone to cares and fears;</div> + <div class='line'>To another path and guide,</div> + <div class='line'>To a bosom yet untried!</div> + <div class='line'>Bright one, oh! there well may be</div> + <div class='line'>Trembling ’midst our joy for thee.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Mrs. Hemans.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>“Mother! is not Rosalia to stay with you?” +asked Gusty May, as he lingered over a late +breakfast with his mother.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, <em>no</em>, Gusty, certainly not! what put +such a thing in your head?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, mother, it came there naturally +enough, as Rose lived with us many years before +she went to school, and as you always seemed +so fond of her, and she also seemed so necessary +to you, I thought, of course, you would like to +have her again.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But you know, my dear, <em>why</em> Rose lived +with us; that reason no longer exists, and Rose +goes with her natural guardians.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And, mother, who <em>are</em> her natural guardians? +Two new brides, quite lost in the glory of their +bridehood; have <em>they</em> thought or care for Rosalia?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sophie has.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, but Sophie! Sophie is so innocent. +Sophie is going to live—didn’t you know it? on +board the store-ship.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ship!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Lord bless you, <em>yes</em>, mother! aboard the +store-ship uncle commands. There is an elegant +cabin, furnished luxuriously as any city drawing-room, +and far beyond anything you see down in +this neighborhood. Well, as I was saying, +Sophie will live there—now is that a desirable +home for a young girl like Rosalia, among all +those gay, young officers, with a chaperone no +wider awake than Sophie is, with a guardian +merry and wild as Uncle Gusty?—and I tell +you, mother, those young officers are devils of +fellows—you know I know them.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Emily fell into thought a moment, and then +she said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sophie is indeed very abstracted, and my +brother, as you say, is wild; but then there is +Hagar; I think that it were better she resided +with Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What, mother, with Hagar! don’t you know +that Raymond proposes to board the first year? +and with the narrow salary of an under professor, +will Raymond be able to take her? Besides, +a girl dependent, as she is, should be made +to feel that she has quite a choice of homes, that +many hearts and doors are ready to fly open to +her.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You know that I should love to have her +with me, Gusty. I will invite her, press her to +come. I do not think, however, that either +Sophie or my brother will be willing to resign +her.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Thank you, dear mother! thank you!” exclaimed +Gusty, jumping up and kissing her, “oh! +thank you—‘willing!’ no, I don’t indeed suppose +they will be willing to resign her—who <em>could</em>, +in fact? nevertheless, we must try to overrule +them.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You run quite enthusiastic upon the subject, +Master Gusty!” exclaimed Emily, looking at +him attentively.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Enthusiastic, mother! Gracious Heavens, +mother! one must be cold, dead, yes, a <em>corpse</em>—a +corpse! I mean a <em>statue</em>—one must never +have <em>had</em> life—a statue! I should rather have +said a <em>block of marble</em>—one must never have +had <em>form</em> not to be inspired with enthusiasm by +that girl—that seraph!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hey! Master Gusty! have you fallen in love +with Rosalia?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Speak low, mother! Oh! breathe her name +in flute-like tones—for, mother! when I speak +of enthusiasm, I mean the rapt enthusiasm of the +adoring saint for his guardian angel! the silent +enthusiasm with bended knees, clasped hands, +and upraised eyes, mother!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Humph! not the enthusiasm for instance that +Hagar inspired some weeks ago—a passion that +was going to compel you to send the planets +whirling against each other!” archly smiled +Emily.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mother, no more of that ‘an you love me.’”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“So you have got over your phrensy for +Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, mother,—<em>of course</em>,” said Gusty, +assuming a look of shocked propriety, “<em>of course</em>—you +did not suppose I was going to keep on +loving her <em>now</em>, did you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I should hope not, certainly; and I am glad +your lips confirm my hope.”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_87'>87</span>“I am a man of honor, mother!” said Gusty, +dilating.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Certainly you are, my love! I am very sure +of that—nevertheless, Master Gusty, I cannot +really give you credit for the exertion of +any great moral power in this affair. I think +that your passion has been conquered as the +Indians conquer danger when pursued by the +flames of a burning prairie—fire by fire—love +by love.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Stop, mother! be just—despair and conscience +did much for me even before I left +her.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And yet that was a great infatuation of +yours, and now here is another quite as great—I +am afraid you are fickle, Gusty! Have you +really quite ceased to regret Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Quite, mother.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And care nothing at all about her?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! stop—<em>yes</em>, I care a great deal about +her in—in a brotherly way, you understand! in +fact, just as I always <em>did</em>, until I had to go mad +about her, you know. Care about Hagar? yes! +I guess I do! Let any fellow crook his finger +at Hagar, and see if he don’t get his neck +twisted, that’s all? It is singular that I should +have got into such a delirium, is it not, though? +and more singular that I should have got out of +it—don’t you think so, mother?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, indeed—it is perfectly natural—the +‘harder it storms the sooner it is over’ is an +acknowledged atmospherical fact, and by all that +ever I have seen, it is as true of passionate as it +is of atmospheric storms. I hope that you will +never marry during the raging of any phrensy +of passion—for, if you do, you will be very apt +to make yourself and another miserable for the +rest of your lives.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You may well call it a phrensy—a storm, +mother! Gracious Heavens! yes! That intoxicating +Hagar! I used to reel away from +her whirling, spinning, tipsy! That electric +Hagar! she would flash into my soul blaze after +blaze, like the lightning of a dark, tempestuous +night, dazzling, blinding, stunning me!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And this other?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>And this other</em>—oh! stop, mother; put a +long pause between <em>that</em> and—‘this other,’ and +sink your voice low, like you were whispering +in a church—this other dawns on my soul like a +soft, rosy morn, faintly, gently, sweetly, and +bright and brightening! Hagar broke the silence +of my heart as with a laugh, a shout, a whoop, +a halloa! ‘This other’ <em>steals</em> upon the ear like +a soft note of music, rising and swelling into +harmony and volume!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My poet!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, mother, not your <em>poet</em>; I feel more like +your <em>apostle</em>—I feel when I think of her more +like saying my prayers—I feel while sitting by +her as if I were doing a meritorious thing; my +heart is hushed into a holy content and calm, +such as one feels when taking a seat in the +church while the organ is pealing ‘gloria in +excelsis,’ or the preacher is reading ‘The Lord +is in His holy temple—let all the earth keep silence +before Him.’”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do not be irreverent, Gusty.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, I am not, mother; indeed, so far from +it, that I never thought of the Lord so much, +worshipped the Lord so much, felt the Lord’s +presence in all the beautiful sights and sounds of +nature so much, as during that heavenly journey +with Rosalia. Let me tell you about it, mother—good, +best mother, you know I tell you +everything—always did ever since I was a boy.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Everything, Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, yes—that is—<em>almost</em> everything. +Well, you know after I set out from here, I tried +not to think of Hagar, but the more I struggled +with the image, the more intensely I thought of +her.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Of course; you should have <em>fled</em> from the +subject, fixed your attention on something else—never +let your thoughts struggle with a sinful +subject—fly from it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes. Well, I was a little shy of meeting +Rose—she always <em>was</em> delicate, sensitive, and +refined—and I thought two years in a boarding-school +had educated and refined her tastes and +manners up to the highest fine lady standard. +Well, when I got to Boston, and when I reached +the outskirts of the town, and when I passed the +gate in front of Mrs. Tresham’s marble and +stuccoed mansion, I felt embarrassed. I had to +recollect that I was an officer in the United +States Navy, mother! I had to turn all the way +back to my hotel, wait half a day to get a card +engraved, put on my best new uniform, get a +pair of lavender-colored gloves, and a cambric +handkerchief—throw myself into a carriage and +ride there (I had walked before), and all for fear +Miss Aguilar should think me rough, countryfied. +Well, I made coachee get down and ring +the bell, take in my card, ‘Augustus W. May, +U. S. N.’ Come, I thought, that would do—that +was going it <em>en grand seignior</em>. Presently +I alighted, and was shown into the parlor. Magnificent, +mother! precisely like a wealthy merchant’s +drawing-room; and while I was waiting +there—sitting on a fine crimson velvet seat, lolling +back with one arm grandly thrown over the +back of the chair, throwing back my shoulders, +expanding my chest; in fact, enlarging and dilating +generally and sublimely! telling myself +all the time that I was Aug. W. May, U. S. N.,—the +door swung noiselessly open, and a tall +lady, in stiff black satin and a turban, entered, +followed by a lovely girl, with golden ringlets +flashing down upon her light blue silk dress. +While I arose and was flourishing my grandest +bow, and the lady elaborating her profoundest +curtsey, Rosalia, the dear girl! floated towards +me, holding out her dear white arms, and warbling, +‘Gusty, Gusty!’ just as when she was a +baby, and I a lad. I forgot that I was Aug. W. +May, U. S. N. I forgot Madam Tresham—and +Gusty Wilde started—sprang—clasped Rosy in +his arms, to his bosom, and kissed her eyes, and +nose, and mouth, while the room spun round for +joy! and he was just about to whirl Rosy all +around the room in a reel, when he was arrested +by the sight of her Royal Highness, Madam +Tresham, sinking superbly into a chair, elevating +her double chin with slow haughtiness; then he +dropped Rose, and blushed, and bowed and sat +down.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Your <em>brother</em>, of course, I presume, Miss +Aguilar?’ she said, elevating her chin sublimely.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now, she <em>knew</em> better, of course she did; +she said that out of an air.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“In rebuke, Gusty, and she was right; you +behaved indecorously.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“See here, mother, can I help it? When my +<span class='pageno' id='Page_88'>88</span>blood gives one jump from my heart to the top +of my head and the tips of my fingers!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, what did Rosalia reply?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She said, ‘Oh, no, dear madam, he is not +my brother; but we were brought up together,’ +and the old lady said ‘Ah!’ and then I handed +my credentials, Sophie’s letter requesting the +presence of Miss Aguilar. I swear madam did +not seem inclined to comply! however, next +day we set off by stage for New York, because +Rose was afraid of water, and we travelled by +coach as far as Baltimore, and then, as no stage +runs this route, we were obliged to take a chaise, +and oh! was not that a delightful journey,—a +glimpse of Heaven, mother! a specimen of life +in Paradise, those three days’ journey in the +chaise! I and Rose alone; the dear girl, how +many times she would get out to rest the horse +and walk by my side while I led him up the +hill! Now, mother, don’t forget; you’ll invite +Rose, won’t you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Of course.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You love Rose, don’t you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, as a daughter.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And you would take her for a daughter, +wouldn’t you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Most willingly.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That’s you, mother.”</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia was in demand. That same morning +Raymond Withers stood by the mantel-piece, +his elbow resting upon the top, his head leaned +upon his hand, his eyes bent down upon the +slight figure of Hagar, whom he held in a half +embrace with the other arm.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar, love,” he said, in his flute-like tones.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, Raymond!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What disposition is to be made of your +cousin?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Of course, Rosalia.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She is to reside with Captain Wilde and +Sophie.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I want you to invite her to accompany us—to +live with us, in fact,—to make one of our +family.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar was silent.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She did not reply.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will you invite her to-day, Hagar? we +have but a few days left, and the child should +know where she is going. Invite her to-day, +Hagar—now!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar’s eyes were rooted to the rug.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You do not reply, Hagar: perhaps you +would rather <em>I</em> should speak to her myself, and +yet methinks it would beseem <em>you</em> more; shall +I invite Rosalia, or you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Just as you please.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then you speak to her, and let me know her +decision, will you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“When?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“At the first opportunity.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You speak coldly, I had almost said sullenly, +Hagar. Do you not like this plan?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do not press me for a reason, Raymond; +why should <em>you</em> be so anxious for Rosalia to become +an inmate of our family?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“First, because it is only common kindness to +a young relative who is depending upon some of +us to offer her a home; and secondly, because I +am very much pleased with Rosalia, and think +that she will be quite an acquisition to our fireside.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Her hand was in his as she stood by his side; +but her forehead was bent forward against the +lower part of the chimney-piece, so that her long, +extremely long blue-black ringlets hung down +below her stomacher, like a veil concealing her +face, hiding the corrugating brow, gleaming +eyes, flushed cheek, and quivering lips.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Miss Aguilar is not dependent for a home—her +father left her a small property.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not say and did not mean that she was +dependent for a roof to shelter her fair head, or a +board to sit at, but if she has ever such a fortune +she is a young, delicate, sensitive girl, and she <em>is</em> +dependent on some of us for a <em>home</em>, for kindness, +tenderness, affection.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She has all that, or will have all that with +Sophie and Captain Wilde.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nevertheless let her feel that she is encompassed +with affection—poor girl, she has no <em>parents</em>, +let her feel that she has <em>friends</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar was again silent. Then he spoke.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is your objection to our plan?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“We are going to board, as I understand, and +so we have after all no home of our own to offer +her.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But we are <em>not</em> going to board—I have +changed my plan.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Since when?” inquired Hagar, with a slightly +sarcastic tone.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Since my tenant moved out of my house on +the Hudson!” replied Raymond, coldly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! I did not know you owned a house +anywhere.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Probably <em>not</em>! you have no <em>means</em> of knowing—you +have just learned <em>that</em> fact for the first +time, as you will soon learn <em>others</em>, my love!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What others?” sneered Hagar.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No matter now—invite Rosalia to come +with us as I requested you, my dear, will you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I will—Raymond.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, love?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You seem very much charmed with +Rosalia!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am—I could not tell you <em>how</em> much +charmed with her—she is a seraph!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Raymond!” she spoke huskily now, “suppose +you had met Rosalia before our marriage, +even before our engagement?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do you not think that you would have +rather loved and wooed <em>her</em> than <em>me</em>—that you, +even now, were we free, would prefer her?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Prefer her!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Prefer her to <em>me</em>—could you not love +Rosalia better than Hagar?” said she, speaking +with great rapidity. “She is fair, full formed. +I am small, thin, and dark. She is soft, gentle, +sensitive. I am wild, fierce, and proud, proud to +every one but <em>you</em>, Raymond. She is tender. I +am hard. She is graceful. I am rude. She is +all that is lovely, fascinating in form, features, +temper, and manners. I am all that is repellent +in person, character, and deportment—every +one loves her—all dislike me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Tell me, Raymond, have you not followed +<span class='pageno' id='Page_89'>89</span>the stream in this general, this inevitable admiration +and love?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Have you not claimed my hand too hastily? +Do you not now regret it, wishing that you had +waited longer and looked further—lamenting +that you had not seen Rosalia while you were +yet disengaged?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Hagar!</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You do not deny it! You only echo and +re-echo, ‘Hagar!’ ‘Hagar.’ Yes, <em>Hagar</em>! that +is my name, my fit name—what strange prophetic +inspiration was it that made them drop +my proper name of Agatha and call me +‘Hagar?’ Alas! I might have known it, Raymond! +Oh! did I not <em>beg</em> you to defer our +marriage? Alas! what forebodings were mine! +Truly coming events cast their shadows before! +Oh! Raymond, I might have known—Rosalia +has won in succession every heart from me—first +Sophie’s, then Mr. Withers’s, the servants’, +the neighbors’, Mrs. May’s, and lately, think of +it! I <em>was</em> really glad of <em>that</em>, not knowing +what an omen it was! lately, <em>Gusty’s</em>. A +month ago Gusty was perfectly infatuated with +my poor face, raved, talked of blowing his +brains out. Well! two weeks ago he set out +for Rosalia, met her again, brought her home, +and now he raves more about Rosalia’s shoe or +glove than he ever did about my whole being! +And then! and then! oh! God, you, Raymond, +<em>you</em>! If you could have seen yourself when I +first pointed her out to you, as <em>I</em> saw you, drunk +with her beauty!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Her blood was kindling in her veins, while +her bosom heaved and set with the motion of +the hidden fire that blazed and died and blazed +upon her cheeks, as you have seen a red flame +in the night rise and fall waved by the wind—while +her eyes scintillated sparks.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I wish,” she said, “that as I am so much +smaller, I were soft and weak like other women! +that I had more lymph, and so could easily +melt! could weep! I can <em>not</em>—I am <em>hard</em>—my +muscles are like tempered <em>steel</em>—they imprison +a strong grief that rages, burns, and rends, finding +no escape, no vent, no expression! I wish +that I could weep! could die! like other women.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>During all this rhapsody, Raymond had been +looking down on her with the greatest calmness +of attitude and expression—his head still supported +by the arm that rested on the mantel-piece—his +eyes quietly observing her. Now he +took her hot and quivering hand and led her to +the window—there were two chairs facing each +other at this open window. He motioned her +into one, dropping into the other himself—he +took both of her hands into his own and gazed +into her agonized countenance a minute, and +then said:</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar! look me in the face, look me +straight in the eyes, come!” and as she raised +her eyes piercing with anguish to <em>his</em> eyes, there +was a sedative influence emanating from his +manner that acted upon her nerves, reducing her +to quiet, she knew not how or wherefore. He +held her hands thus, looking straight into her +fascinated eyes thus for a few moments, and +then his flute-like tones gently stole on the +silence as he said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar! I love peace, quietude, repose, +benign repose. I love low tones, soft footsteps, +gentle manners, sweet smiles, and complying +tempers around me, and I must have them—look +straight in my eyes and see if you do not +feel that I <em>will</em> have them? So, Hagar, no +more of this tragic acting, if you please, my +love.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Her eyes were fixed full on his, in a vague +but painful surprise; she did not attempt yet to +reply.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is this harmonious repose that charms me +so in Rosalia.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then why,” she murmured at last, “why +were you ever attracted to one so every way +opposite as myself?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Because you can be made every way better; +one don’t want a character <em>all</em> cotton wool; a +good steel spring that rebounds from pressure is +not unpleasant in your organization. I like to +know that there is a strength, force, energy in +you when required, but I like it—<em>latent</em>—under +perfect <em>command</em>—do you mark! and you are +not, because you happen to have a whole magazine +of artillery and ammunition, to fire and flame +and blaze away at such a rate! <em>or in the least +degree</em>; you must grow tame, my wild love.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My peculiarities, then, are not altogether +repulsive to you; you love me, despite of them +all!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I love you <em>because</em> of them all, my Hagar; +and—but <em>mind</em>!” and here his voice sank to a +lower key and deeper tone than she had ever +heard, and his gaze was steadily fixed on hers, +“<em>You must place confidence in me</em>; that I demand! +without that your love is worthless to +me; mine to you. I love Rosalia, but not in +the way you imagine, foolish girl. I would not +marry her if I could. You spoke of my admiration +of her last evening. I was ‘drunk’ with +gazing on her beauty—a delicate word for a lady, +by the way—never let me hear it from your lips +again, Hagar! I was ‘entranced,’ &c.—now +observe, I will illustrate—last week you and I +rode out together; it was a beautiful evening, +and the sun was sinking like a world in flames, +lighting up into flashing splendor half a hemisphere +of crimson purple and gold sky, of blue +water, and green hills and vales; and you, +drawing rein upon the brink of a lofty cliff, gazed +rapt upon the scene until your face was as a +small mirror reflecting all the glow of the sunset—your +soul seemed pouring from your eyes, +until the sun sank behind a bank of clouds that +lay like a low range of blue mountains immediately +on the horizon, and then the spell that +bound your revery was dissolved.” Oh! how +intensely her eyes burned into <em>his</em> eyes while he +spoke; he continued speaking slowly. “As +you, upon the brow of the cliff gazed, gazed on +the sun-set’s glory; so <em>I</em> gazed upon the young +girl’s beauty!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah! ah!” said she, with wild energy, “but +I was upon <em>the brow of the cliff</em>! the brink of +destruction, where a single mis-step would have +precipitated me into ruin; and I was pouring my +soul out through my eyes, I was entranced +until the glory was lost in clouds, the light +in darkness. Alas! <em>wail</em> for your illustration, +Raymond!” and suddenly springing from him +she fled up the stairs to her eyrie. He stood +looking after her a moment, and then followed +her leisurely. He found her in an excited stillness, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_90'>90</span>gazing “too earnestly for seeing” out upon +the bay. He went up to the window, and leaning +his arm upon the flap of the escritoire, looked +down at her, looked steadily at her—and spoke:</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She started, turned, impatiently exclaiming, +“Can I not escape your eye and voice anywhere, +<em>anywhere</em>?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why <em>no</em>, love, of course not!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She was turning away—“Nay, pause. Hagar, +how long have we been married?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not exactly know, and I do not want +to calculate now; it seems to me much longer +than it really is—a long, long time!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Something less than six weeks? Is not this +a promising beginning?” Hagar suppressed a +groan. He drew her away to a lounge, and they +sat down. “Hagar, do you remember the night +of our first meeting? when I was a youth and +you an infant?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Do I not?</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Your first words to me—it was at Sophie’s +wedding party, you recollect—your first words +to me formed a <em>jealous question</em>, and I knew +that you were strong and fierce and jealous, +though so little even for your years; and your +first question was a <em>jealous</em> question.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You have a good memory.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I <em>have</em>! therefore do not store it with facts +that will be likely to injure you in my estimation. +Well, to go back to that evening—I loved +the little, fierce child—it was piquant to see so +much intense fire concentrated in so small a +space. I felt that it would be interesting to subdue +this fierceness into gentleness. I was called +away from home; but I never forgot the +interest she gave me. I returned, and the +little girl had become a little woman—and +was wilder, fiercer, more piquant than ever; +she interested me, attracted me more than +ever—and I wished to possess her—I do possess +her. I wanted her for interest, amusement, +occupation, use—not for <em>torture</em>! I wish her +<i><span lang="fr">esprit malin</span></i> to stop just when and where it +ceases to be <em>agreeable</em>—do you hear, love? For, +Hagar, I have extremely keen nerves and senses; +as most people of my complexion enjoy a moderate +degree of any sort of pleasure thrillingly, +but do not like to be shocked and stunned; +things that would scarcely act upon a lower +organization put me in pain. And now another +picture, Hagar. Do you remember the monkey +Augustus May brought you from sea, when you +were a little girl? You kept it years until my +return; you had educated it almost up to human +intelligence; and showed it to me with so +much pride and pleasure. I was so amused with +its antics—not so much with what you had <em>taught</em> +it as with its <em>own primal</em> nature, breaking +through all. <em>Yes, look at me, Hagar!</em> keep +your eye <em>so</em>—for I want you to read all in my +<em>soul</em> that you find upon my <em>tongue</em>. You +remember the day we stood upon the point of +rocks between the river and bay, on the other +side; you remember you had your monkey in +your arms; you set it down, and I made it bound +and bound for a chestnut, while we both laughed +at its antics, until the thing, exasperated to anger, +sprang upon my chest and set its teeth and claws +into my flesh, and then! Ah! you grow pale, +proud one! <em>what then, Hagar?</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She answered, and spoke low and slowly, as +though the words were drawn from her involuntarily. +“You tore it from my bosom by the +heels, and dashed its brains out on the rocks.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It was an involuntary impulse, Hagar, deplored, +perhaps, the moment after; nevertheless, +Hagar, you monkey!” and here he smiled a +strange smile,—“be as spirited, fiery, and piquant +as you please, but never set your teeth and nails +into my flesh <em>again</em>—and Hagar!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I want a mark of confidence from you. Invite +Miss Aguilar to stay with us—do you hear?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Yes,’ what is that? Yes you hear, or yes +you will do it?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I hear, and I will do it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“This day?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He kissed her forehead, arose, and sauntered +out of the room. And Hagar sprang upon her +feet with a snap of her teeth, exclaiming, +“Powers and principalities of darkness! is this +I? is this I? What is this? am I bewitched, +enslaved? I—<em>I</em>—<em>I</em>! pale, and tremble, and +obey—<em>I</em>! Come, Hagar!” said she, to herself, +“let us go to the glass and see if we have +changed as much in person as we have in manner +during the last ten minutes!” and she went +to the glass and glared at herself. “Would I +submit to this, if I did not love him, if I did not +want him to love <em>me</em>? Raymond! oh! you +who looked <em>so</em> gentle, so fair—who could think +that under those golden lashes, in those soft eyes, +lurked such spring lancets! And Rosalia! +Was he sincere? or was he self-deceived? or +perchance am I mistaken?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The dinner bell rang, and hastily arranging +her dress, she descended the stairs and entered +the dining-room. Raymond came forward to +meet her, and led her to her seat at the table, +whispering as he went,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Your cheek is flushed, love, and your ringlets +a little dishevelled. I am sorry to see that; +take time in future, love, even though you should +keep people waiting a few minutes; take time to +compose yourself and arrange your toilet.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>That afternoon Rosalia Aguilar had three distinct +invitations to make her home under the +room of three distinct friends. She gratefully +declined two—that is Emily’s and Hagar’s, in +favor of Captain Wilde and Sophie.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The next Sabbath, the whole family from +Heath Hall attended divine service at the parish +Church of the Ascension—Rev. Mr. Buncombe +in the pulpit. It was to be the last Sunday of +their stay. Mrs. Withers’s pew, in which sat +Hagar, Raymond, Rosalia, Sophie, and Captain +Wilde; and Mrs. Buncombe’s pew, occupied by +herself and Gusty, were the two front pews of +the middle aisle, immediately under the pulpit. +After the morning service was over, the benediction +pronounced, and the congregation had +retired, the occupants of these front pews filed +out, and placed themselves before the altar in +the following order: Captain Wilde, with Sophie +on his left hand, and next to her Rosalia; on his +right hand, Gusty, while Emily, Hagar, and Raymond +were grouped near. The preacher opened +his book, and in the holy stillness of the empty +church, commenced the marriage rites that were +to unite for life Sophie and Augustus; he went +on, finished them, the names of bride, bridegroom, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_91'>91</span>and attendants and witnesses were affixed +to the register; kisses were given and received; +heartfelt, low-toned congratulations breathed, +and the little party slowly left the church, got +into their saddles, and rode over to Heath Hall, +where a small party were assembled to dinner.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Dear girls, have I given you love, courtship, +and marriage enough in this and the last? Whatever +you may think, there is “more truth than +poetry” in the story I am telling you, and more +sadness than either.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty rode by the side of Rosalia Aguilar—Rosalia +was in one of her softest moods, and +tears and smiles and blushes chased each other +over her cheeks. She was thinking of “dearest +Sophie,” and sympathizing with her happiness. +Gusty was sighing like the wind in the main-sail. +His mother’s invitation, backed by his own eloquence, +had been inefficient in persuading Rosalia +to remain in the neighborhood.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, dearest Gusty,” she had said, “I should +love so much to have you all with me; it grieves +me to part with any of you, but you know, +Gusty, that I must mind what Sophie says, and +Sophie says that I must go with <em>her</em>; besides, +as I cannot stay with all, I prefer to stay with +Sophie and with Captain Wilde, who loves me +also.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“See here, Rosalia, I—I—I—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Don’t cry, Gusty, don’t cry—I will write to +you every week, and can’t you come and see +me?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Cry!</em> am <em>I</em> crying?—it’s—it’s the wind +blowing in my eyes that makes them water—pshaw! +fiddle-de-dee! <em>me</em> cry, indeed!—but, +Rosalia—stop—don’t ride so fast; let the folks +get along before.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! because—because—because it will tire +the <em>horse</em>, you know, poor fellow.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, will it?” said Rosalia, reining up, and +falling into a walk.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, to be sure it will, walk him slow,—there!” +and then he rode up close to the side +of Rosalia, and said, “Rose, stop, little darling,” +and she stopped, and turned her gentle face towards +him. “Rose, look at me, darling,” and +she looked straight in his face, with her large +innocent eyes. “How do you like me, altogether, +Rose?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! so much, so dearly, you <em>know</em> I do, +Gusty!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah, my seraph!—but, Rose, could you <em>love</em> +me?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Could I, Gusty? Why, I <em>do</em> love you +dearly.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Then he sank his voice to a low whisper, and +said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, loving darling! you love <em>everybody</em>!—Raymond +and Augustus included.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But I love you better than them, Gusty—oh, +ever so much better. You know I have known +you all my life, and never knew them until last +week; so good as they are, dear Gusty, and +much as I love them, I love <em>you</em> the most!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Love! love! love! Ah, my little angel, I +am afraid you do not love me as I would have +you. Do you love me well enough to <em>marry</em> me—now—soon? +My pay is enough to support +us, and mother has consented. Sophie has a +good opinion of me, and—and—well! what do +you say, my Rosalia?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She was smiling and blushing.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, Rosalia?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, it would be too curious! too queer! +so funny. Sophie would laugh at us, and all the +girls would make fun of us. You know I am +nothing but a child yet—but oh! I know you +are only joking.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“As the Lord in heaven hears me speak, I +never was more in earnest in my life.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! no, Gusty! not in earnest! I do hope +not in earnest.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“As the Lord lives I am, Rosalia—come, Rosalia! +I see you will not drive me to despair—you +will give me your hand, and instead of +going North, you will just cosily settle down +here, with mother. Come, put your hand in +mine, and I will take that for yes!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, I am sorry to vex you, Gusty; indeed +I am, dear Gusty, but I can’t get married, it is +too funny!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do you not love me, then?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, indeed I do, Gusty.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You <em>love</em> me, dearest Rose?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, indeed I do, Gusty, the angels know I +do!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then why not marry me, my sweet love?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“So! Gusty, I had just as soon marry you as +any one else, only I do not like to marry one—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Good heavens!—oh, gracious Providence, +<em>hear her</em>!—she had as lief have me as <em>anybody +else</em>!” roared Gusty, striking spurs to his horse +and making him bound in the air.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The girl grew pale, and hastily exclaimed,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, well! maybe if I was obliged to +marry, I would <em>rather</em> have you than anybody. +Oh! don’t scare me so, Gusty! you make me +weak all over, and—and—I feel like falling +from my saddle!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And he saw, indeed, that his violence had +nearly overwhelmed the delicate girl, who was +trembling very much. He rode to her saddlebow, +and said gently,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia, I beg your forgiveness; I have +startled you by my rudeness; the fact is, Rosalia, +I have been accustomed to Hagar, who, with +reverence be it said, is as rough as an unripe +persimmon, as sour as a lime, and as bitter as an +aloe, and she has spoiled me for such gentle society +as yours; now compose yourself, Rosalia, +and hear me, and believe me when I say that if +you refuse my hand—if you leave me here and +go to the North—I—well! perhaps I shall not +go mad, or blow my brains out, or break my +heart, and die, but I shall be utterly wretched, +and make every one miserable around me, I +<em>know</em> I shall! I begin to feel it now. So, Rosalia, +I have to propose to you to break this +matter to Sophie, or let me do it, and to beg +you, if she shall see no improper haste in the +project of our marriage, that you will accept +me; Rosalia, you make me talk <em>so</em> much, darling!—now, +Rosalia, what do you say?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The girl paused, not in reflection, but in hesitation.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dearest Rose, you give me so much pain. +Rose! Rose!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do I? I did not mean to.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will you give a reply, Rose?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Wait, Gusty, till I talk to Sophie; but, oh! +no, I do not like to, either—it is too queer. You, +Gusty, you may talk to her.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do you, do you say that, Rose! Tell me! +<span class='pageno' id='Page_92'>92</span>tell me over again, Rose! I may ask your hand +of Sophie and Wilde?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes,” whispered Rose, the blood rising to +the edges of her hair.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, glory, hallelujah! God bless you, Rose! +God Almighty bless you, Rose. Hey! stop, +Lightning!” said he, suddenly jerking the bit, +though in fact it was not the horse but Master +Gusty that was bounding. “There, I am +frightening you again, Rose! Be easy, Lightning!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Won’t you ride on? Sophie will be waiting +for us.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes! yes! my angel Rose,” and they cantered +on through the forest-path. It was the +same forest-path leading from the village to the +church so often mentioned in this story. They +overtook Sophie Wilde and their party. Sophie +was buried in thought; she was in fact just passing +the spot where she had, eight years before, +seen the apparition of the wanderer, and now +passing the road for the last time, and under her +peculiar circumstances, the fact was forcibly recalled +to her mind. Rosalia paced up lovingly +to her side, and kept there during her ride home.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Soon after dinner Gusty May found an opportunity +of taking Sophie aside and making known +his wishes. His embarrassment under <em>all</em> the +circumstances of which <em>we</em> are cognisant, you +know, was very natural and amusing. Sophie +Wilde (I love to call her Sophie Wilde) was not +perhaps the person of all others to consult in +such a case; it did, however, vaguely dawn +upon her mind that a little delay might not be +unadvisable in the proposed marriage of a youth +of nineteen with a girl of fifteen and a half; so +she said dreamily that she would “Talk with +Captain Wilde.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Up shot Gusty, exclaiming,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘<em>Talk with Captain Wilde!</em>’ ‘talk with +Captain Wilde;’ yes! that’s it! that’s the tune! +‘talk with Captain Wilde.’ What’s Captain +Wilde to do with it? I asked <em>you</em>, because she +insisted you should be consulted, and you are +her little mamma. Seems to me that you have +quite unnecessarily elevated him to the throne. +‘Captain Wilde!’ he’s a great fellow, isn’t he? +Captain Fiddlestick’s end! I should just like to +hear <em>him</em> object—I just <em>should</em>. Shouldn’t be +surprised though if he didn’t. ‘Talk to Captain +Wilde!’ oh! <em>de</em>-cidedly. <em>She</em> said ‘Talk to +Sophie,’ you say, ‘Talk to Captain Wilde,’ <em>he’ll</em> +‘talk’ to Parson Buncombe; and while you are +all ‘talk’-ing, my prospect of getting a pair of +white kid gloves grows</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“‘Small by degrees and beautifully less!’”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c016'>exclaimed Gusty, ranting up and down the piazza, +and flinging his coat-tails about. “I was +born under the lost pleiad! I <em>know</em> I was! to +be always crossed in love! to be hammered into +a poet or something by hard blows! I be hanged +if I will. I’m to be put in the still as roses +are, and the essence of soul, the double extract +of soul distilled from me by fire, while flesh and +muscle, life and health shrivel up like rose leaves +in the heat! No, I be hanged if I will. Cast +me into the furnace and see if I don’t turn out +to be gunpowder, and blow somebody up! or +spirit-gas, and set some one on fire! <em>that’s</em> all!” +and blowing, he sat down.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Look here, my dear Gusty,” said our bride, +“don’t talk nonsense. You have a long leave +of absence; come! go with us North. You indeed +have the best excuse; you may be said to +be in duty bound to go, as our groomsman, and +in that capacity you must constantly attend +Rosalia, and who knows, you may be appointed +to our ship; the set of officers is not yet complete.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“So I may! oh, God bless you, Sophie, it +took just <em>you</em> to think of that! though you may +not be as sensible as mother, or as brilliant as +Hagar—yet you are better. I wish the comparative +had been <em>good</em>er than <em>either</em> of them! anything +that is to make anybody happy, dear +Sophie! I shall not leave it to ‘who knows’ +and ‘perhaps,’ I shall beg uncle to get me +appointed to his ship, if he can—where is he? +I am going to him! in the meantime consider +me enlisted for this Northern bridal cruise,” and +off he went to seek Captain Wilde.</p> + +<p class='c008'>I leave it to any gentleman or lady present +whether it was in Captain Wilde’s power just +that day to look rationally, sensibly, coldly, +upon a young lover’s passion.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, Gusty, my boy,” he said, “you know +very well that I have very little influence; however, +I will exert that in procuring your appointment +to my ship, and Gusty, in the meantime +come on with us and remain until you receive +orders somewhere. Rosalia is a treasure, and if +I had the power of bestowing her, I do not +know to whom I could give her with so much +pleasure as yourself. But you must wait, +Gusty, for a year or two—you are both somewhat +too young to think of this marriage yet a +while.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, uncle, this ‘wait’-ing might be endurable +if the time were passed with you all, and in +daily company of Rosalia, to be sure.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>This arrangement was finally concluded. +And Emily, who loved Rosalia, and preferred +her above all others as a future daughter-in-law, +readily consented to forego the society of her +son for the present, merely saying—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>When</em> you marry, if you ever marry Rosalia, +you must bring her home here and leave her +with me while you are at sea, Gusty, and that is +the only condition upon which I can consent to +part with you, Gusty, for this term.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Of course Gusty consented and promised.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>“And so, my little dove-eyed darling is +scarcely out of school, before she is betrothed—do +you know the meaning of your vows, my +little love?” asked Sophie, very seriously, the +same afternoon as Rosalia nestled on a stool at +her feet. And Rose dropped her blushing face +in the lap of Sophie, and was silent. “Do you?—tell +me, Rose?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dear Sophie, I had rather not get married—only, +you know, poor Gusty, it would be a pity +to hurt his feelings!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You child!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, Sophie, I am not—not betrothed, as +you suppose—no indeed, I gave no positive +answer until I could hear what you would have +to say.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You did not!” said Sophie, suddenly. “Oh, +then, my dear Rose, I beg—I entreat that you +<span class='pageno' id='Page_93'>93</span>will bind yourself by no rash vows now—wait—you +are heart-whole yet—wait—Gusty is going +on with us—you will see more of him—he of +you—and you will both find out whether you +are fitted for each other. Will you promise me +not to engage your hand ever without my consent, +Rose?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dear Sophie, to be sure I will—I never +once thought of doing otherwise.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>This was perfectly easy for Rose, for her +own inclinations were uninterested in the matter.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Breaking up an old home, the home of many +years—I had nearly said centuries, is not like a +modern city May day flitting. A home like old +Heath Hall, with its accumulations, its secretions +of many years and many hearts, with its innumerable +old closets, cupboards, wardrobes, escritoires, +and “old oak chests,” with their inexhaustible +treasures, relics, and curiosities—from +the doublet and hose that the founder of the +American branch of the family wore—with his +point and ruffles and bonnet and plume—to the +cocked hat and rusty sword of great-great-grandfather, +and the hooped petticoat and high +heeled shoes of his wife—from the first baby cap +that the first American Churchill baby wore, to +the lock of grey hair that was cut from his +coffined head just before the lid was screwed +down—from the veil that fell around the maiden +at her bridal to the cap the grandmother died in—from +the bullet extracted from the fiery-hearted +son who had perished in battle, to the clerical +black silk gown his gentle bosomed brother had +worn in his ministry when he married, christened +or blessed. Truly the organ of veneration must +be largely developed in these old Maryland and +Virginian families—all things linked with family +associations are relics it would be little short of +sacrilege to destroy. The cast off bridal wreath +and veil that a northern or a city belle would +generously and properly bestow upon some +young sister or cousin, is gently lifted from her +daughter’s brow by a Maryland mother—reverentially +lifted as you have seen a minister raise +the cloth from a communion table, and laid +away a sacred treasure, a relic to be handled +with awe and love by the children in future ages. +The wardrobe of the dead that many northern +and city families send to the proper destination, +the backs of the ragged living, in Maryland and +Virginia is carefully collected and packed away +in chests and locked, and hermetically sealed as +it were to moulder away to dust in long years. +These old houses—how the very smell of their +musty mysterious old closets and closely shaded +rooms, for dreaming carries us back to the days +when people did not understand that ventilation +was necessary to health, to the days when we +lay across grandmother’s soft lap, watching +through our winking eyes grandmother’s dear +good face, and, vibrating between angel dream +land and her capped and spectacled face, dimly +wondered what we were, and slipped from this +vague feeling into sleep. These old houses +have no antiquities carrying us back to the very +ancient feudal times, it is true; but they have that +which comes more warmly, <em>so</em> warmly! home +to the heart, all the signs of <em>long inhabitedness</em>. +The old windows may creak in the wintry blast, +and the wind whistle up from crevices at the very +foot of the old mantel-pieces beside the blazing +hickory fire, yet the heart is all the warmer for +its old age, because grandfather and grandmother +lived there and <em>their</em> grandparents before them. +These old houses scattered at wide intervals up +and down the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and +its tributaries, and under the Easterly shadow of +the Blue Ridge Mountains, and in and out among +the hills and through the forests between them—these +old houses, spotting the verdure of new +settlements like iron-mould—these old houses, +many of them still inhabited by the old families, +while both decay together, still blossoming out +occasionally with young life, young children, remind +me strongly of old mouldering tombs from +which fresh blooming flowers are springing.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Let’s leave all things just <em>so</em>, Hagar, love,” +said Sophie, as the two were making a tour of +the old Hall, opening and examining old closets +and chests with a view of determining what +should be taken, what left, what burnt and what +given away. “We will lock up all the rest +without examination. I have not nerves for it, +Hagar. It is like dissecting a heart, to explore +the treasures and memorials and relics of the +long ago dead. Let us leave them so.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Let’s make a general bonfire of them,” said +Hagar, “I never like these relics, they come +across me unpleasantly, very—why should +people accumulate them—storing up pangs +against some day of pangs. ‘Let the dead past +bury its dead;’ <i><span lang="fr">en avant</span></i> is my motto.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie looked at her with her brown eyes +dilating in reverie.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Perhaps you are right after all—these relics +awaken mournful, not to say maudlin feelings +that might sleep but for their sight; nevertheless, +<em>I</em> could not destroy these things, neither can I +consent to their destruction.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was finally agreed in consultation that all +things should remain just as they were, that the +Hall should be closed, and left in charge of old +Cumbo and Tarquinius.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>“Where are you going, Hagar?” said Raymond, +as she sauntered from the breakfast-room +off into the yard.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“To see Starlight. I have not seen him +since our marriage, and I was accustomed to go +to his stall every morning when Tarquinius carried +his oats.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why did you not ask me to attend you?” +inquired Raymond, as he drew her hand under +his arm.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Because, Mr. Raymond,” flashed Hagar’s +eyes and teeth, “I love to shake you <em>off</em> some +time! when you set like a trammel—besides you +do not like Starlight.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Raymond replied by drawing her arm closer +and holding her hand tighter, while her pointers, +Remus and Romulus, seeing her, sprang to her, +bounded around her, and she stopped to caress +them with her free hand. Raymond an instant +looked annoyed, then raising the loaded end of +his riding-whip, struck them away. Hagar +snatched her hand from his arm, and all the fire +of her race and nation was burning in the indignant +gaze she flashed upon his brow that still +remained unfurrowed by a frown in its superb +calmness.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, Hagar, I am not scathed, blasted +by that lightning stroke, am I? Nonsense, Hagar, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_94'>94</span>do you suppose I am going to permit a hand +I love to kiss to be licked over by those two +curs?—pooh! go wash it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“They are <em>not</em> curs, they are fine splendid +pointers! Look at their shining black coats and +eyes like coals! and their <em>love</em> has more generous +disinterestedness than—” And here she paused, +her expiring flash of spirit died out beneath the +steady inquiring gaze of the soft, deep blue eyes, +striking up through which came a will, a purpose, +the strength of which was dimly guessed +from the depths from which it seemed to come.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Than <em>what</em>, Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nothing!” said Hagar, as her high heart-throbbing +subsided. He drew her arm again +within his own, and they proceeded to the +stables. At the sight of his mistress, Starlight +neighed loud for joy, and breaking away, cantered +up to meet her, pawed the ground, stretched +out his head, and couched it in the open palms +she held to receive it. Hagar smiled in his eyes, +full of the earnestness she could not speak, and +stroking his jet black neck, let him lay his chin +upon her shoulders alternately, and rub his +mouth upon her neck and cheek, snorting with +joy between times.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“See, Raymond! see,” she said, with her +momentary anger all conjured away. “See +how the very <em>want</em> of the gift of speech makes +his eyes and motions so eloquent! See how +glad he is to see me! don’t I understand you, +Starlight? and don’t you know every word I am +saying?” said she, caressing him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>But now her eyes fell upon Raymond, who +was standing with folded arms, curling lip, and +scornful eyes, regarding her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why do you look at me in that way, Raymond?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You have no refinement, no delicacy. Your +dress pawed over and soiled by your canine pets—your +ringlets snuffed at, and your neck rubbed +by the nose of your pony. I am glad that in a +few days I shall be able to remove you from all +these things.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But I wish to take Starlight and Remus and +Romulus with me,” said Hagar, as she turned +away from the stable, and they sauntered on.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You cannot do so.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why?” she asked, anxiously.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not like dogs and horses myself, and I +very much <em>dis</em>like your attachment to them, and +I utterly disapprove of your use of them; when +you cannot walk there are carriages to be had!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You never told me that you disapproved of +my habits before!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I had no right to <em>express</em> it before, and yet +you learned it from my silence, and now I say it +explicitly, and expect that my tastes be consulted +in the matter.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And you have no right to express it <em>now</em>! +sir,” exclaimed the mad girl, with the fire flaming +in her eyes. “No right to express it <em>now</em>! +<em>what</em> right have you <em>now</em>, more than you ever +had over me? None that I acknowledge! +None that I will bear to have you assume! +None, Raymond! <em>none!</em> All love! all compliance +that I yield you now I would have +yielded you before! and you know it! you +know it! of my own free will! of my own +glorious free will!—not from constraint! God +in Heaven! you exasperate—you madden me—by +attempts at constraint! Raymond! what do +you mean by this? I do not like it. No! I +will turn away, I will not look at your cold, +spirit-killing eyes. I will not let your cold, +damping, implacable will extinguish my life and +soul as the rain puts out the fire. <em>I</em> have a will! +and tastes, and habits, and propensities! and +loves and hates! yes, and conscience! that all +go to make up the sum total of a separate individuality! +a distinct life! for which <em>I alone</em> am +accountable, and <em>only</em> to God! How weak and +worthless would my obedience to God be if it +were fettered through a submission to <em>any</em> lower +will. No, I will <em>not</em> bear to have you assume +any right over my freedom of action, and I shall +take my favorites with me to the North.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>A sarcastic smile fluttered around the beautiful +lips and gleamed under the golden eye-lashes +of Raymond Withers as he slightly raised +his hat from his head with a mock bow, and +sauntered away from her side, quoting for her +benefit the very last clause of Genesis iii. and 16. +It only needed his sarcasm to exasperate the +girl to phrensy. She snapped and ground her +teeth together, and stamped with both little feet, +springing to the ground as though they would +take root there—while anger rocked and flamed +to and fro in her bosom like a sea of fire lashing +its shores. Suddenly—veiling her flashing eyes +and setting her gleaming teeth with a look of +resolution, she went to the stables and calling +Tarquinius, bade him saddle Starlight.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“We will have another day together, my old +friends,” said she, as the horse neighed joyously, +and the dogs bounded around her each in intelligent +anticipation; and in ten minutes from this +Hagar was flying over the heath towards the +forest attended by her favorites.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The sun was setting in golden glory as Hagar +rode into the yard at Heath Hall, sprang from +her horse, and throwing the reins to Tarquinius +walked leisurely towards the house, smiled and +bowed salutation to the company assembled to +enjoy the evening air in the piazza, and passed on +into the Hall—Sophie followed her, and with +the tears welling up to her eyes exclaimed,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! Hagar, what have you done?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar threw up her little glittering head of +ringlets and replied with laughing defiance,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I have been taking one of my old days +among the hills! I wished to feel my freedom +a little, that is all! I have been galled by the +too close pressure of my chains lately, and have +broken them through for once, that’s all.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How will you meet Raymond after this +escapade?” said she, sadly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nonsense, Sophie, how will he meet <em>me</em>?” +and she ran up stairs.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Be quick, dear, trying Hagar, tea is nearly +ready,” said Sophie, gazing earnestly after her—then +with a second thought, inspired by this second +and closer glance, Sophie went up stairs to +her room, found her standing leaning her elbow +on her dressing-table, while her forehead rested +upon the palm of her hand, and her long glittering +ringlets fell half way to her girdle—her little +figure was visibly throbbing with emotion. +Sophie went and took the hand that was hanging +down; it was burning, hot, and dry.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are wretched, poor child, and indeed I do +not wonder. Hagar, will you take my advice?”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_95'>95</span>“What is it?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Tell</em> your husband when you meet him that +you are so—<em>you</em> have sinned, Hagar, and <em>you</em> +must atone for your sin; lay your small hand +gently on his arm, and look into his face, catch +his eyes, and ask him to forgive you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<span class='sc'>What!</span>” snapped the proud girl, bounding +like a little bombshell; “hold out my wrists +humbly for the gyves, and ask my master please +to fasten them on again! No! may I die if I +do!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! don’t look at it in that light, Hagar; +you have wronged, outraged, insulted Raymond.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Did he tell you so?” sneered Hagar.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Can I not see it, Hagar? No, he did not tell +me so—do you not know enough of Raymond’s +proud and fastidious nature to see that he <em>could</em> +not tell me so, Hagar? No, poor misguided +child, your day’s absence was enough. Come, +Hagar, seek a reconciliation with him—you +<em>have</em> been wrong—say so to him at once. You +will have not a moment’s peace until you are +reconciled to your husband—seek that reconciliation +at any price of your own sinful pride.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I will not! cannot!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, Hagar, you <em>do</em> regret this, you suffer +torture.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I can <em>bear</em> torture! but not humiliation! +degradation!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Alas! look at you, the very flame of mental +fever flickering through your cheeks and eyes—the +freshness of your lips scorched by the dry +heat of your breath. What a day you have had +to-day, Hagar! how much your defiance has +cost you! Come, come, bathe your eyes; after +tea I will, if I can, talk with you again. You +will be wise.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The supper bell rang, and Sophie, with a +hasty charge to Hagar to make her toilet +quickly, arose and left the room. And Hagar +sprang to her feet with a determination to look +very regal, happy, and defiant. She bathed her +burning eyes and brow, but without cooling their +fever. She smoothed her long glittering ringlets, +and collected them under a jewelled comb. +She changed her black riding-dress for a crimson +satin, with full and falling sleeves, fastened +a ruby bracelet on her slender but rounded arm, +and descended the stairs, trying to draw her +heart up blithe and high; she entered the drawing-room +with head erect, expanded brow, and +elastic step, and was passing on proudly alone, +behind the company, who were going to the +supper room, when quickly and softly at her side +was Raymond, his graceful head, with its wavy +golden hair, bending forward, smiling up into +her face; his soft eyes radiant under their +golden lashes, and his delicate hand seeking +hers, to draw it through his arm, just as if nothing +had happened. Her own Raymond!—her +pride was disarmed in a moment. Sunbright +was the smile of surprise, joy, love, and +gratitude she flashed up in his gentle face, and +suddenly it softened into tenderness; how could +she have defied a gentle soul like his?—in truth, +she would have given everything she possessed +on earth, except Remus, Romulus, and Starlight, +to have blotted out for ever the offence of the +day. She had not expected this; she had prepared +herself to defy the storm, not the sunshine, +and her defences were all melted off. She was +subdued, and quietly and generously resolved in +her own mind not to shock and wound his fastidious +delicacy again, and so they sat down to +supper. The neighborhood gossip of a tea-table +occupied the company. But Hagar continued +to watch Raymond with a new feeling, new interest; +it seemed his character was now constantly +unfolding itself to her; new leaf after leaf was +turned; she watched him covertly but closely. +His manner was just precisely as usual; and, +though she often caught his full eyes, not the +slightest consciousness of remembering that anything +unpleasant had occurred was to be detected +in their glance. His countenance and manner +wore their usual air of graceful self-possession +and elegant repose, and she would have thought +that, indeed, the occurrence of the day had +dropped from his memory, but that once, quickly, +under his breath, he had said, “Your restlessness +of manner, your anxiety of expression, will +draw attention—be at ease.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Be at ease”—these words, though spoken in +the softest key, and with the sweetest smile, +somehow did not set her at ease; and “You +will draw attention,” raised an anxiety that she +had not felt before. Was it the dislike of drawing +attention?—but she would wait. Oh, how +she longed for the stupid evening to be over; it +is so hard to bear calmly, cheerfully, a toothache +or a heart-ache in company. It was long +before they left the tea-table, and then it was +long before they got ready to go home, and after +they were all in their saddles and in their carriages +on the road, it was long before Sophie’s +smiling good night broke up the family circle +for the evening. Sophie left the room with a +congratulatory smile to Hagar, happy in the +thought that their quarrel was made up. Raymond +followed her, smiling, to the door, opened +it, bowed her out, closed it, and returned; then +with a sudden impulse went back, re-opened it, +and passed out.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar awaited his return half an hour, and +then sought her chamber. She expected him +joyously, yet with a little undefinable anxiety. +At last she heard his steps ascending the stairs, +he opened the door, and came in; she turned +quickly, and going to meet him, holding out +both hands, exclaimed,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dearest Raymond, I am so glad that we are +alone, together at last, my heart has been ready +to burst all the—” She stopped short, and +gazed in surprise at him. How changed his +aspect! was it the same Raymond that an hour +ago was smiling, bowing, glancing, gliding +through the lighted drawing-rooms? He stood +with folded arms and curling lip; his cold eye +crawling over her from head to foot, yet so fascinating +in his beautiful scorn, that she could +have uttered a death-cry of anguish, as love and +pride tugged at her heart-strings. He passed +her and threw himself upon a lounge. She had +been prepared for this scorn and anger three +hours before, but she was not now—not after +having been subdued by soft smiles, sweet words, +and gentle tones, that she had received in all trust—no, +not now—the touch of the soft fingers +that had sought and pressed her hand in drawing +it through his arm; the touch of those soft fingers +was yet quivering on <em>her</em> fingers; the rays +of those gentle eyes were yet beaming in <em>her</em> +eyes; the tones of that low, love-pitched voice yet +<span class='pageno' id='Page_96'>96</span>breathing in her ear—no, she could not believe +in this harshness, at <em>least</em> she could not bear it. +He was now sitting on the lounge, making entries +in a note-book, with his usual air of elegant +ease. She looked at him an instant, and then +going up to him she stood before him; he continued +his writing, without looking up; the flame +flickered in and out upon her dark cheek; soon +she dropped both hands upon his shoulders, and +dropped her proud head until the long glittering +ringlets fell each side of his cheeks, and sitting +down beside him and dropping her face upon his +bosom, she whispered softly,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Raymond, make friends with me! I will do +anything in the world you wish me to do—come! +I will leave undone all you wish me so to +leave, if you will make friends with me again;” +and a tearless heart-sob breaking from her lips +showed how great had been the pang of her +vanquished pride.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He lifted her head from its resting-place, +smoothed back the ringlets of her hair, and holding +her face between the palms of his hands, +gazed smilingly into her eyes, with a look, half +of love, half triumph, and said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You will? but then your ‘separate soul—will—individuality’—what +are you to do with it +all? Answer me—I want a literal reply, in +words—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I don’t know!—how do <em>I</em> know?—don’t +seek to humble me, dear Raymond—I am tortured!—tortured!—tortured!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Tortured?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes!—yes!” exclaimed she, wildly,—“<em>tortured!</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Who tortures you, my piquant little love, my +little vial of sal-volatile?” said he, condescendingly, +caressing her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You do, Raymond!—and myself!—myself +tortures me!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, so it seems.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, Raymond, understand me, and help +me to understand myself. I only lately began +to know myself. I am a strange blending of +pride and aspiration!—and of love, and through +love, fear!—the eagle and the dove!—alas, +bear with me!—hold my throbbing temples between +your cool hands, Raymond—<em>your</em> hands +are <em>always</em> cool—so!—now calmly, I do not +know that there is anything to make me wild, +or angry, just now—yet these clashing and conflicting +elements do so war in my nature—listen, +Raymond! when you angered me this +morning, and left me, the aroused passion of +my soul heaved and set like the sea in a storm, +leaping from its bed and lashing the shores! I +could not have believed it possible that you +<em>could</em> have angered me so—or being angered so, +that I could have got over it so; and now that +is gone, and—never wound my poor dove because +my eagle has stuck her beak and claws into +you—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, love, the dove shall never be wounded, +but <em>the claws and wings of the eagle shall be +clipped</em>,” said he, looking steadily in her anguished +eyes. “Don’t reply to me yet, Hagar, you +are about to say something that will make more +trouble between us.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Then with a dry sob and gasp, Hagar’s heart +shrank into silence, and he smiled to see it, and +all this while he was lightly caressing her—running +his fair fingers through her glossy hair, and +kissing her lips from time to time. At last she +said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I have been thinking what to do with my +favorites, Starlight and the pointers.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And has your unassisted wisdom arrived at +any conclusion, my love?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I will leave them here, in the care of +Tarquinius, for a while; then, perhaps, after a +while, when we get settled, you will not object +to have them.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am sorry, love, that our thoughts did not +happen to run in the same channel, very sorry. +I made a sale of the horse and dogs to Gardiner +Green, this morning, while you were taking your +last ride with them, and to-night, after you came +home, I sent them over to his farm by Tarquinius.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“NO!” exclaimed Hagar, starting violently.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He held her tightly, gently compressing his +arm about her waist, and replied, softly,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, love—nay, do not start and struggle, +I cannot spare you, yet—yes, love, they are +sold.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>My</em> horse!—<em>mine?</em>—<em>my own!</em>—my dear +Starlight!—and my dogs—and without my +leave!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, come!—come, come! be still, Hagar, +no phrensy,” said he, smilingly, tauntingly +caressing her, while a gentle, cruel strength +struck out from the pressure of the soft arms +that held her in a fast embrace; “if your +eagle flaps its wings and beats its cage so +violently, I am afraid clipping its pinions and +claws will not be enough—I am afraid I shall +have to crush it altogether,” said he, looking +down into her eyes.</p> + +<p class='c008'>She ceased to struggle, and dropped her hands +clasped upon her lap—dropped her head upon +her chest, while the color all faded from her +cheeks, and the light from her eyes.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is the matter, love?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>What you please</em> shall be the matter!” exclaimed +she, laughing bitterly, while light and +color suddenly flashed back into her sparkling +face.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, love, you are a spirited little thing, +but you will be docile by and by, and then—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I wish you joy of your automaton!”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXIV.<br> <span class='c009'>THE FORSAKEN HOUSE.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Gloom is upon thy lonely hearth,</div> + <div class='line'>Oh, silent house! once filled with mirth,</div> + <div class='line'>Sorrow is in the breezy sound</div> + <div class='line'>Of thy tall poplars whispering round.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Hemans.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>The family met at breakfast the morning succeeding +the events of the last chapter. The +family—that is, with the exception of Rosalia, +who had been spending a week at Grove +Cottage, consoling Emily for the disappointment +of losing her company for the winter, by remaining +with her as long as possible, and indeed up +to the day of the proposed departure. Hagar +entered the breakfast-room, escorted, as usual, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_97'>97</span>with the gentle and assiduous attention always +given her, in public, by her husband. He led +her to her place, and seated her with a graceful +bow and sweet smile, and then assumed his own +chair—smiling the morning salutation to Captain +Wilde, who just entered the room. But Sophie +looked at Hagar,—looked at her in astonishment. +The spirited, springy little figure was +almost languid, though she sat erect; the +healthy crimson glow of her dark complexion +had concentrated in a circumscribed purple spot +on her <a id='t97'></a>cheek, leaving her contracted brow and +quivering lip pallid; her strained glance expressed +a mingled anguish and defiance. And +then Sophie’s glance turned off from Hagar to +Raymond; but his fine brow was perfectly +smooth, his eyes smiling and his lips composed +as he received the cup of coffee from the waiter +held by Tarquinius. Sophie was so disturbed, +upon the whole, that she could not eat her +breakfast. This was the last day of their stay +at Heath Hall. The packet that was to convey +them to Baltimore was moored under the +shadow of the promontory. Immediately after +breakfast, both gentlemen left the house to +superintend the removal of their baggage. Hagar +arose from the table and went into the large old +drawing-room, Sophie’s whilom school-room. +Sophie, leaving her table in charge of the +servants, followed her. She was walking +uneasily about the floor, and seeing Sophie +enter, she paused before the window. Sophie +stole gently to her side, and passing her soft +arms over the girl’s shoulder, stooped forward +and looked seriously and lovingly into her anguished +face, as she murmured in her low, sweet +voice,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I must not ask you <em>now</em>, Hagar, my former +question of ‘What is the matter between you +and Raymond?’ but let me comfort you in some +way. Oh, it is dreadful, indeed, my love, that +you, a wife of scarcely two months—but I will +say nothing of that—only I see,” said she, dropping +her voice very low, “it is your <em>pride</em>, +Hagar—don’t start, love, or repulse me, for you +know we shall be separated very soon—it is +your <em>pride</em>, love, that rebels against a rule every +way gentle, just, and reasonable. Subdue it, +Hagar. Your husband has been educated +among the refinements of cultivated city society. +He, himself, perhaps, among the most fastidious +of that class. His taste is offended, his delicacy +shocked by your wildness.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“He knew all this before. Why did he +mar—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hush! hush! Hagar! Never think such +thoughts—ask such questions. He loves you, +Hagar—has loved you long with a constancy I +have never seen equalled but in one instance. +He loved you—let me speak plainly, Hagar, for +your sake and his—he loved you when you were +a very <em>un</em>lovely child—at least to every one but +me.—Well, he loved you, and sought and +gained your love. You gave yourself away to +him, and now he very naturally expects you to +conform your manners to his tastes. Hagar, if +liberty were dearer to you than love, you should +never have given yourself to a husband. But +that is not so—you know it—it is only your +struggle, now—and, Hagar, this struggle, this +resistance of your pride, <em>must cease</em>. Listen! +Oh, Hagar!” said she, with unaccustomed energy, +“listen to me—to <em>me</em>. I love you, and +have no possible interest except your own welfare, +in what I say to you. Your pride must be +subdued—it must!—<em>must!</em> If you do not subdue +it <em>yourself</em>, <em>he</em> will, with cruel pain to you. +Raymond’s demands are all reasonable; such +requirements are usual—in your case any man +would make them—but in one thing Raymond +differs from most men that I know—in the possession +of an indomitable <span class='fss'>WILL</span>. In my long +acquaintance with him, when my faculties were +mature, and yours in the green bud, I have had +an opportunity of seeing and knowing this. I +am afraid <em>you</em> have mistaken him—with all his +fair complexion and golden hair; in that beautiful +form lives calmly an immensity of force, an +eternity of purpose, almost omnipotent in its repose, +and that it would be vain to look for in +more impetuous, seemingly stronger natures; a +power that is calmly, silently surrounding you. +You feel it—do not struggle against it—you +cannot overcome it, cannot escape from it, and +it will never be withdrawn—it will close around +you.—Yield gracefully to it! To your submission +it will be a loving embrace—to your proud +resistance it will be a galling chain; cease the +struggle, Hagar, and be still.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Never! never! never!” exclaimed the proud +girl, while her brow flushed to crimson as by the +smite of shame.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But you have a traitor in your bosom that +continually betrays you; or rather, I should say, +your husband holds your heart-strings in his +hand. You love him—yes, Hagar, <em>him</em> only, +of all the world! You do not love me, or anybody +else. From infancy the stream of your +affections has run in one deep and narrow channel. +Let that be checked, and the waves, turned +to flame, will roll back upon your heart consuming +it. Why, see, Hagar, see! when your wills +clash, your pride is in arms—you oppose him, +defy him, and he meets such defiance with a +calm, quiet strength, not yielding an inch, and +you suffer, as you are suffering now. Why +suffer, Hagar? Tame that wild heart of yours. +Hagar, the great secret of the power he possesses +over you is this: he is calm, while you are impetuous—he +can control <em>himself</em>, and thereby +<em>you</em>—he can stifle, as you can not, that ‘mighty +hunger of the heart,’ that craves a return of love—he +can look coldly, sternly on you for days, +weeks, while his very soul wails for your love. +You cannot do this yourself, or bear it from him +long; in a word, dear Hagar, you have neither +might nor right on your side.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>During all this speech Hagar had been standing +with her face to the window, with her eyes +burning and burning through the glass, and +Sophie had been standing by her side with her +arm around her waist caressingly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, Hagar!” she whispered low, “let me +confide to you some of my own feelings,” and +while she spoke she slightly smiled, her voice +slightly quivered as with bashfulness or happiness, +and the rose clouds rolled up over her +cheeks, and even flushed her brow,—“I love my +husband so much, so much, so much, with a fulness +of tenderness that it seems to me could not +be expressed, except by suffering something—sacrificing +something for his sake. I am sure +sometimes I wish he would ask me to do something +naturally repugnant to my feelings, that I +<span class='pageno' id='Page_98'>98</span>might have one opportunity of showing him how +much I do love; to give up my very dearest +wish for his pleasure would give me exquisite +joy—a joy that I crave. I do not comprehend +this, dear, but so it is.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, <em>I</em> comprehend it, Sophie, perfectly; it is +the very same principle that led the saints +ages ago to scourge and starve themselves to +testify their love to God—God forgive them the +blasphemy! You, Sophie, have a propensity to +worship, and a very decided vocation for martyrdom, +which, unfortunately, under existing circumstances, +<em>I</em> have not!” sneered the scornful +girl.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie’s brow was crimson now, and the tears +swam in her eyes an instant, and she remained +silent. At last she said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar, I must go away now; I have some +arrangements to make for old Cumbo before we +go. But before I leave you, Hagar, let me say +again, you love your husband, and he loves you; +he can stifle his affection, you cannot yours; his +will is strong and fixed, yours impulsive and +erratic. Your tastes and habits are in some +respects opposed, and he requires you to conform +yours to his; and, Hagar, you will have to yield—to +love now, or to force, without love, hereafter. +Yield now, dear, yield. There is no +degradation in making a sacrifice to love.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The high-spirited girl turned flashing around +upon her—pride and scorn seemed sparkling, +scintillating from face and figure, by glance and +gesture.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, there is degradation in sacrificing <em>freedom</em> +to love—freedom to <em>anything</em> but God’s +law!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie paused, as if in doubt whether to go +on, or to return and speak again. Finally she +went out.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia returned that evening, accompanied +by Gusty and the Buncombes. The family expected +to leave Heath Hall the next morning, +after an early breakfast. The Buncombes were +to remain all night to see them off, and to shut +up the house after their departure. Rosalia +happened soon to perceive the cloud upon Hagar’s +brow, and watching her attentively, saw +that there was something wrong between her +and Raymond; and the simple girl, remarking +that <em>her</em> brow was angry and <em>his</em> serene, assumed +immediately that he was the injured party, and +so, through her benevolence, it happened quite +naturally that her voice and smile softened into +more than kindliness, into sisterly affection as +she frequently addressed him. What a contrast +to Hagar’s dark brow, curled lip, and bitter +tones! It was morning and midnight, sunshine +and storm, discord and harmony, fierceness and +gentleness, scorn and reverence, hate and love—I +had nearly said Heaven and Hell contrasted.</p> + +<p class='c008'>That evening! To Hagar it was an evening +to remember, to date from. While she sat +there watching the innocent, the childlike maiden, +with her gentle beauty and winning grace, +smiling so sweetly, kindly, in Raymond’s face, +lighting his countenance up with <em>real</em> and not +conventional smiles, her mind flew back to the +past, and all her childhood came before her; +she recalled the day of Rosalia’s arrival at the +Hall, and recollected how, from that day, she +had drawn away all the love of the household +from herself; she remembered that lately +Augustus May had well nigh adored her, until +the beauty and tenderness of Rosalia stole his +heart away—and now! now! now!—oh “<em>that</em> +way madness lay”—she watched them covertly +through her tortured eyes, and with a gnawing +pain at the heart—distinct as any physical pain, +sharp as though a scorpion living there stung it +to agony. Thus the seeds of evil, sown in her +heart ten years before, were springing up into a +thorn tree, that, lacerating her own bosom, +should wound all near her. And Rosalia, too, +with all her sweet, endearing qualities, she was +vain, and often selfish. It was difficult to perceive +this in the dear girl whose caressing hands +and tender eyes seemed always pleading for +your love.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>The next morning early the family assembled at +the breakfast-table for the last time at Heath Hall. +And that last breakfast was over, and they arose +and went down to the beach under the promontory, +where the packet lay already laden with +their personal effects. They reached the water’s +edge, took an affectionate leave of Emily and +Mr. Buncombe, entered the boat that lay waiting +to receive them, and were rowed to the +packet. As soon as she had seen them safely +embarked, and the vessel on her way, Emily +took her husband’s arm, saying,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, let us return; we have enough to do +to close up everything at the Hall, for one day.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The packet wended on her way, in time reaching +Baltimore, where another vessel, bound for +New York, received them.</p> + +<p class='c008'>At the end of a week from leaving Churchill’s +Point, they arrived safely in New York harbor, +where the U. S. store-ship Rainbow waited to +receive Captain Wilde and his party.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>Before entering upon the new scenes and +deeper life of our story, let me recall distinctly +the facts of history, and daguerreotype a set of +pictures upon which the sun shone on Saturday, +the 28th of September, 18—. First:</p> + +<p class='c008'>CHURCHILL’S POINT—HEATH HALL.</p> + +<p class='c008'>On Saturday, the 28th of September, the sun +shone down on the waters of the Chesapeake +Bay, as they washed sleepily up towards the +shore; on the lazy and shabby little village of +Churchill’s Point, with its steep-roofed old houses, +with its small interests and dead-alive look; +upon the burnished surface of the heath bronzing +under the dry heat; upon the changing foliage +of the distant forest dropping its leaves—and the +sun shone down warm and still upon the dark red +crumbling walls, the closed doors and boarded +windows of the old Hall, and the tall dark poplar +trees that waved like funeral plumes around it. Old +Cumbo sat in the kitchen door, with the accustomed +red handkerchief tied over her white and +woolly hair, while her face, black, hard, and +seamed with wrinkles, like an Indian walnut, +was bent over her work, the tying up of dried +herbs—fit guardian of such a desolation. It +was a still, deserted scene, filled with low sad +music—the waters moaned as they washed the +shore—the wind sighed in the distant forest, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_99'>99</span>rushing over the heath, wailed through the poplar +trees that rocked to and fro round the deserted +house. Nature seemed to mourn the loss of the +joyous worshipper, the exultant young life that +had vanished from the scene. Keep this picture +in your mind for a while, for years passed and +brought no change, but change of seasons, to it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>GROVE COTTAGE.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The same morning the sun shone upon the +Grove, refulgent in its still autumn glory, and +falling upon the dry leaves and red berries of the +rose trees, stole into the quiet parlor of the Cottage, +still glittering in its sober, polished steel-like +splendor, and smiled a morning smile upon +the parson and his calm wife, sitting within. +They were seated at opposite sides of a round +table. The parson with his manuscript upon a +small portable writing-desk, busy in correcting +his sermons for the next day, while he carried on +a desultory chat with his wife. Emily with her +work-box before her, embroidering a very minute +cap, and sustaining at her leisure her part in the +quiet conversation. There they sat with no +children to bind them together, yet loving and +contented as a pair of partridges. They could +not work apart, and the parson had abandoned +his well appointed study and handsome writing-table, +and Emily had forsaken her elegant workstand, +and he had brought his manuscript, and +she had brought her sewing to the small, round +table, large enough, though, for the convenience +of loving partners. And every day as soon as +he arose, the sun looked full through the front +window and laughed good morning, and every +evening he glanced obliquely through the end +window and smiled good night, with a promise +to return. Remember this picture also, dear +reader; for years passed away and brought no +change to the Buncombes, except a baby to Emily, +a little girl, born when she was thirty-seven, and +two grey hairs to the parson, which Emily +kissed when she saw them.</p> + +<p class='c008'>THE U. S. STORE SHIP RAINBOW.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The sun arose the same day upon the harbor, +shipping, and city of New York, upon Brooklyn +and its Navy Yard, and upon the store-ship Rainbow +stationed there, and shining down upon the +snowy sails, the well polished deck, the varnished +tarpaulin hats and blue jackets of the sailors, the +red coats and glittering bayoneted muskets of +the marines, upon the flashing epaulets of the +officers, at last stole down the gangway into +the captain’s cabin, where around an elegantly +appointed breakfast sat our party from Heath +Hall, in the following order: Sophie at the +head of the table, blushingly doing the honors +of the coffee and tea—on her left sat Hagar, +with Raymond by her side—on her right sat +Rosalia, and next below her Gusty; then came +several young officers of the crew, and at the +foot of the table Captain Wilde presided over +the dish before him. It was a novel sight and +scene for our visitors. Hagar’s lightning eyes +and apprehension had taken in all the wonders +of the ship at a glance, and she had no more to +learn and nothing to wonder at. Sophie seemed +to defer her curiosity and govern her glances, +until the absence of her guests and the settlement +of herself and effects, gave her full opportunity +of satisfying it. But Rosalia seemed as though +her eyes would never weary of wandering over +the strange new scene. Captain Wilde was in +the finest spirits, as well he might be; Raymond +serene as usual—but poor Gusty looked cloudy. +A disappointment had overshadowed him. +Another passed-midshipman was appointed to the +Rainbow, and he was ordered to sea, and to +sail in five weeks, for a voyage of three years. +So Gusty was cast down, as well <em>he</em> might be. +Rosalia, with her sweet benevolence, was doing +all that in her lay to soothe and comfort him. +She promised to marry him when he came +back; she would have promised anything in the +world to have raised his spirits; and she continued +to remind him that at least they had five +weeks to spend together yet—a long, long time, +she said; and at last Gusty got over the first +shock of his disappointment, and became cheerful. +Forget this picture as quickly as you +please, for it changed and vanished like the +shifting combinations of the kaleidoscope, and +was never re-produced.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Immediately after breakfast, Raymond and +Hagar took leave of their friends, and entered a +steamboat bound up the river.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXV.<br> <span class='c009'>THE RIALTO.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in18'>“Amongst the hills,</div> + <div class='line'>Seest thou not where the villa stands? The moonbeam</div> + <div class='line'>Strikes on the granite column, and mountains</div> + <div class='line'>Rise sheltering round it.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Lady Flora Hastings.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>The sun was setting on the evening of the +third day from their departure from New York, +as Mr. and Mrs. Withers stood upon the deck +of the steamboat Venture, and watched the +approach of a village on the eastern bank of the +Hudson. It was a village of considerable +importance as to size, and of great beauty of +locality. Nearly all the houses were painted +white, and nestled in and out among the trees +and hills. Many of their windows faced the +river, and flashed back the golden fire of the +setting sun. While Hagar watched the distant, +but fast approaching village, Raymond called +her attention to a mansion-house on the same +side of the river, and which being some quarter +of a mile below the village, was now quite +opposite to them. Hagar turned and gazed +with all a rustic’s admiration, at the splendid +mansion. Let me describe it as she then saw it. +It stood half way up a forest-covered hill, which +formed a background to the oblong square front +of white freestone, with its eight upper windows +and four lower windows separated by the handsome +marble portico, and blazing in the sunbeams, +presented to the view.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That is an elegant villa!” exclaimed Hagar.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And it is beautiful on a nearer view,” replied +her husband.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I wonder whose it is?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is called ‘The Rialto,’ and belongs to a +gentleman who is now travelling.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then it is unoccupied.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It has been shut up a long time, and left in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_100'>100</span>the care of a porter who lives at the gate, <em>but</em> +at the time I was last in this neighborhood, +which, Hagar, was when I was returning, +recalled by you, the house was undergoing +repairs, cleaning, painting, &c., preparing for +the reception of the owner, who was about to be +married and bring home his young bride. I +suppose by this time the coverings are all +removed from the furniture, pictures, &c., that +everything is in perfect readiness for the reception +of the master.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>While he spoke the sun sank below the horizon, +and the blaze faded from the long windows of +the villa just as the boat shot past. In ten more +minutes she had reached the village of W——.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Mr. Withers conducted his wife to the nearest +hotel, and leaving her there, returned to attend +to his baggage.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar sought a bed-chamber with a view of +arranging her dress and smoothing her hair, that +had been ruffled by the river breeze.</p> + +<p class='c008'>What were Hagar’s feelings now that she was +launched alone with her husband, out into a +strange new scene? With one who was to be +her constant companion for perhaps fifty or +sixty years—for Hagar was but eighteen, and +Raymond twenty-eight. High spirited, but +forgiving, her fiery anger had expended itself long +since, and her pride was quiet, as nothing new +occurred to alarm it. But another feeling was +alarmed and aroused—her latent and deep-seated +jealousy—in a silent but deadly fear of losing +value in his estimation by comparison with the +beautiful and gentle Rosalia, she had lost something +of her proud self-confidence. Besides, +severed from the home and friends of her childhood, +from all early habits and associations; in +a new and untried scene, a stranger and alone +with him, she felt her dependence upon him—all +this, and the deep, strong, and exclusive love +she bore him, conspired with <em>another</em> circumstance +to soften the fierceness of her spirit, and +tame the wildness of her manners. Hagar +arranged her travelling dress, and smoothed her +glossy ringlets, and sat down by the window to +watch the coming of Raymond. Could you +have seen her then you would have loved her for +the new and strange tenderness shining softly +in her eyes, and blushing faintly through her +cheeks and lips as she leaned her face upon her +hand, while her elbow rested on the window-sill. +At last the quick light step of Raymond was +heard upon the stairs, and he entered, saying—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, love! are you ready?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She arose and tied her bonnet.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, and impatient to see our little home, +dear Raymond—for a sweet <em>little</em> home I +suppose it will be, to accord with your salary.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He smiled and drew her arm in his, led her +down stairs, and through the principal entrance +to where a carriage stood before the door. A +coachman sat upon the box; a footman in livery +stood holding the door open; Raymond handed +her in, followed her, and took a seat by her side. +The footman put up the steps, closed the door, +and sprang up behind. The carriage was driven +off. It rolled through the village, and leaving +its lights behind, entered a broad but dark forest +road.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Where are we going?” inquired Hagar.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Home</em>, my love!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I thought that we were to reside in the +village?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Did you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, yes, certainly I did.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He drew her head down upon his bosom, and +smoothing back her hair, kissed her forehead and +then her lips; he seemed more inclined to caress +than to converse, so she asked him no more +questions then. He seemed to love her so tenderly +and truly now, that she no longer defied +him. And she was sinking into a sort of luxurious +repose—which, we hope, may last. The +carriage had been winding up a wooded hill, +where the branches of the tall trees met overhead, +so that Hagar, looking out, could scarcely +see the stars glimmer through the foliage; at +last it emerged from the woods and stopped; the +steps were let down, the door opened. Raymond +sprang out and held his hand to assist Hagar; +then conducted her through a wide gate. It was +dark, and she could see only trees, with glimpses +of sward between them; and off to her left flitting +in and out glimpses of a white house, whose +size and shape it was impossible to detect. Their +path formed a half circle and ascended; presently +emerging from it, they stood before a large and +elegant mansion, whose appearance corresponded +with that of the villa she had so much admired on +her way up the river. He led her up the broad +marble stairs that led to the front door—opened +the door, from which a flood of light poured, +letting go her hand, stepped in before her, +turned, opened his arms, and said, in a voice of +deep emotion,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, dear Hagar! Let me welcome you +to your long, future home—welcome! welcome! +dear wife, to arms, and bosom, and home.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar threw herself into his embrace, and then +he led her through a door opening from the left +into a superb drawing-room, furnished in the old, +gorgeous style, with a rich Turkey carpet “that +stole all noises from the feet,” with crimson velvet, +gold fringed curtains hanging from the windows, +and opposite from the lofty arch that divided +the front from the back room; with heavy +chairs and sofas, whose crimson coverings harmonized +with the curtains; with crystal mirrors +reaching from ceiling to floor; with rare paintings +from the old masters; with costly and curious +lamps, whose light glowing through the stained +glass shades upon the crimson appointments of +the room, diffused a rich, subdued refulgence +through the scene. Raymond led Hagar to one +of the deep arm-chairs, and seating her, pulled +the bell-rope. The door opened, and the footman +who had attended them, stood a step within +the room.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Request Mrs. Collins to come to us.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The man bowed and withdrew. Soon the +door again opened, and a small, elderly woman, +in a black silk dress and a neat cap, made her +appearance.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My dear Hagar, this is our housekeeper—the +excellent Mrs. Collins—she will show you your +dressing-room; you will find your trunks all +there, or near at hand, and will have ample time +to change your travelling dress before supper, +and we have still a long evening before us. To-morrow +I will take you over the house,” said +he, in a low voice, as Mrs. Collins approached +them—then, “Be so good as to show Mrs. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_101'>101</span>Withers to her rooms, Mrs. Collins,” he said +aloud, and the nice little woman smiled, withdrew, +reappeared with a lamp, and conducted +our Hagar, silently wondering, through the passage +and up the broad staircase to a front room +immediately over the drawing-room. It was a +large, light, airy room, with two tall front windows +curtained with white dimity, between which +stood a dressing-table with a tall, swinging mirror. +At the opposite end of the room was a +mahogany door leading into her bed-chamber, +and on each side of the door stood two large, +tall mahogany wardrobes; the coverings of the +lounge, easy chair, &c., were white, and the +walls were covered with paper of a white ground, +over which ran a vine of green leaves, with here +and there a small, scarlet flower. The carpet +on the floor was of the same cheerful pattern; +the room had an inexpressibly clean, pure, and +fragrant character. Placing her keys in the +hands of Mrs. Collins, Hagar requested her to +unpack, and arrange her wardrobe, and then proceeded +to make her toilet. And Hagar resolving +to look her best, to do honor to the first evening +passed with her husband in their own home, +arranged her beautiful ringlets in their most becoming +fall, arrayed herself in rich amber-colored +satin, and clasped topaz bracelets on her arms—rubies +and topazes were the only jewels Hagar +owned—the only ones in fact that her Egypt +complexion would bear. Her present dress and +ornaments harmonized beautifully with her dark +complexion, while her jetty brows, black eyes +and eye-lashes, and long, black, glittering ringlets, +relieved the amber-hued complexion and +dress from sameness. She descended to the +drawing-room, at the door of which Raymond +received her, led her smiling to the sofa, and +took a seat beside her, just as the crimson curtains +were drawn each side from the centre of the +arch, exposing a small, but elegant supper-table, +with covers for two. Raymond arose, and offering +his arm again with a smile, said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You see I have to do all the honors of reception +and introduction, dear Hagar;” and +passing to the other room, placed her at the head +of the table, before a glittering tea service of +elegantly-chased silver, and of Sevres porcelain. +“I see that you are wondering, Hagar, to find +me in possession of a comfortable home; suspend +your curiosity, dearest, until after supper, +when I will make the very simple explanation.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And after supper, when they were seated together +in the drawing-room, he said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am not wealthy, which is the second mistake +which you have made about me; neither +am I poor, as you supposed when you married +me, dear girl. This house, just as it is, was the +country-seat of my grandfather, General Raymond, +who, holding a high office under the +Government, was in the receipt of an ample +income that enabled him to keep up this style of +living. This income of course died with him. +This house, with its grounds of about twenty-five +acres, and a small amount of bank stock, was +left to me. That money was withdrawn and +profitably invested, and its proceeds bring me an +annual amount equal to the salary I receive for +conducting the Newton School. It is true that +it will take every cent of my salary to support +this style. And if you ask me, Hagar, why I, a +young professor, choose to live in a princely +house, with a complete establishment of servants, +I tell you that it is not from ostentation—you +know me to be too really proud for that—but +from a constitutional love and necessity of luxury. +I told you before that my senses were keen +and delicate—I had almost said intellectual—not +strong, or gross. Forms and colors must be +agreeably contrasted, or harmoniously blended +and grouped for my eye; sounds must be music, +or those that are not must come subdued through +the hushings of soft carpets and velvet curtains; +all scents, but the scent of fresh and growing +flowers, must be kept far from the rooms I occupy; +my table must be supplied with food delicate +and nutritious; and lastly, nothing but soft or +elastic substances must come in contact with my +touch—at least in my home.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But how, with your delicate tastes, can you +bear your school-room?” asked Hagar.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My school-room, lecture rooms, hall, &c., +among which I pass just five hours a day, are +each large, airy, clean, and <em>bare</em>; that is, bare +of every article of furniture not strictly necessary; +so that if there is nothing to <em>delight</em>, there is +nothing to <em>offend</em>—for the rest, you know that +teaching is my vocation, my passion. I give +myself fully up to it during the hours of instruction, +and when they are over, I return with revived +relish for the luxuries of home—enjoyments +that would pall upon the taste if they were not +relieved by their absence during the hours of intellectual +labor, which goes on in another place, +and which is itself another keen enjoyment of a +different and higher order; as it is, each relieves +and enhances the other.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But why,” asked Hagar, “keep so many +and such expensive servants, to wait on two +young people who are not rich?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“For many reasons, Hagar; for one thing it +requires all of them, each in his or her appropriate +place, to keep the house in the perfect order we +wish, and in the second, I like to receive the +services and veneration—not of Colonel A, B, +and C, or Judge D, E, or F, but of people who +live with me—by the way, remember that, love.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But then,” persisted Hagar, “why keep Mrs. +Collins, whose salary must be large?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“To oversee the others, and keep everything +upon velvet, of course.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I could do that, dear Raymond.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But you shall not, dear Hagar. You are +the lady of the mansion; but forget the house. +I could not bear to see your brow corrugated by +the thousand and one cares of housekeeping, or +to have you come near me with the odor of pantries +or stove-rooms hanging about you, for I +should be sure to detect it through any disguise +of perfume; and that is the great reason why I +keep Mrs. Collins. You have nothing to do +with the house, love. Cultivate your beauty, +Hagar; refine it; you have nothing else to do, +except to take lessons on the harp, which lessons +and practice will help to fill up the hours of my +<em>absence</em>, Hagar; for indeed, love, I think it would +give me a brain fever to hear your unpractised +fingers strumming discord in my ears.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will you permit me to inquire,” asked Hagar, +“why, with your sensitive, delicate, and +luxurious tastes, you could fancy”—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Such a wild, dark little savage as yourself?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He raised her from the sofa, and turning +<span class='pageno' id='Page_102'>102</span>around, faced the full length mirror that occupied +the space between the two windows behind +it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Look at your reflection, Hagar,” her eyes +and <em>color</em> raised at the same moment. “You +are a little dark, sparkling creature, your effect +is exhilarating. A languishing beauty in these +languishing rooms would have been softness to +flatness. Are not the perfumes more piquant +when conveyed through the medium of spirits of +wine? You are just <em>l’esprit</em> that gives life to all +this soft luxury; and look again, Hagar—survey +yourself—see, this amber dress and amber complexion +suit well together; and this is harmony. +Suppose your hair was of the same hue, then the +<em>tout ensemble</em> would be dull, flat, wearisome. +But your ringlets fall black and glittering upon +the amber-hued neck and bosom, and this is +contrast. Thus contrast and harmony form +the perfection of your toilet.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am sure I never thought of that,” said +Hagar, “when wishing to do honor to your fine +house I put on a fine dress: but now I suppose—though +I do not care to have my mind skewered +down to such trifles—I must think a little more +of it, as I suspect that in this grand house you +receive grand company sometimes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Never</em>, Hagar; how do you suppose I could +afford it? for if I received grand company I +should be invited to grand dinners, and have to +give them in return, and that would disturb the +luxurious repose of our house and life—no, Hagar, +I am too self-indulgent to be ostentatious, +or even hospitable. I like everything upon +velvet, all downy, reposing, silent, or breathing +low music”—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Except me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Not <em>always</em> excepting you—I like your spirit +tempered a little—thus—look again into the mirror, +Hagar; I said your glittering blue-black +ringlets, smoothed and gemmed as they are, form +an agreeable contrast to the harmony of your +dress; but now suppose that black hair hung in +the wild elf locks of the little savage of the +heath, as I first knew her—would that be agreeable +any way?—no—well! govern—as it were, +smoothe and gem your piquancy; in a word, use +your wildness as you do your hair,” and they +turned and reseated themselves.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The next morning, after breakfast, Raymond +took her all over the house; there were two +floors besides the basement and attic—on each +floor four large rooms handsomely furnished. +Through the middle of each floor ran a hall, +from front to back, dividing the rooms in pairs; +on the lower floor on the left hand side of the +hall were the drawing-room and dining-room we +have seen them use on the first evening of their +arrival; on the right hand side was a large saloon, +once used for balls, but now closed as useless. +He took her through the grounds, all +handsomely laid out; a vineyard on the right, a +kitchen garden in the middle, and an orchard on +the left, occupying the ground behind the house, +and further behind ascended the wooded hills. +A smooth lawn descending the hill towards the +river, was dotted here and there with trees, which +were now dropping their leaves. The orchard +was laden with the finest fruit—apples, peaches, +pears, &c., under the highest cultivation; the +vineyard rich in clustering grapes, brought to the +nearest possible state of perfection. This was +Wednesday; on the following Monday Raymond +resumed his professional labors, and Hagar wandered +up and down the fine house, with every +part of which she was now quite familiar, very +weary and lonesome. She felt confined, restrained, +and oppressed by her new state. True, +she was still in the country, but not on her wild +heath, with her horse and dogs. <em>This</em> country +was thickly settled, well cultivated, and closely +studded with gentlemen’s seats.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXVI.<br> <span class='c009'>THE LOVE ANGEL.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“She is soft as the dew-drops that fall</div> + <div class='line in2'>From the lips of the sweet scented pea;</div> + <div class='line'>But then when she smiles upon <em>all</em>!</div> + <div class='line in2'>Can I joy that she smiles upon <em>me</em>?”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Mackenzie.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>Our dear Sophie, with her quiet adaptiveness, +had easily and gracefully passed from rustic life +into city life, into naval life, without losing any +of her individuality. Her country every-day +dress of brown stuff was now changed for a +brown satin, her seal-skin shoes for patent +morocco slippers, and her muslin collar for one +of fine lace. Her smooth brown hair, instead of +being knotted into a neat twist behind her head, +was arranged in a beautiful braid.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The inevitable knitting-needles <em>had</em> to be +plied, in sad old hall or in gay new state room; +they were a part of Sophie, and she could as +well have dispensed with her fingers; they were +necessary to keep time with the music of +Sophie’s serene temperament—only now they +knit silken nets and purses instead of woollen +socks. This was all the change you could +perceive in Sophie, looking at her half across +the cabin; but if you went and sat down beside +her, you would then see that her eye was bright, +her cheek lively, and her lip fresh, with an +inward and emanating joy. She sat quiet +enough in her cabin, with Rosalia seated on a +cushion by her side. Rosalia loved cushions +and low seats, where she could sit and loll upon +Sophie lazily and lovingly, like a petted baby-girl, +as she was. And Sophie loved to have her +there with her golden hair floating over her lap. +Sometimes, tired of repose, Rosalia would bring +out her portfolio or sketch book, embroidery +frame or guitar, or pursue some of the thousand +occupations by which girls contrive to destroy +time. These were during the morning hours +before it was time to dress for dinner, where +Captain Wilde received daily, several of the +officers. They (Sophie and Rosalia) were quiet +enough, yet Captain Wilde seemed to be haunted +with a fear that some hour he should wake from +a dream, and find his happiness vanished into +thin air, by the number of times while on deck, +that he would come to the gangway, and looking +down upon his treasures, exclaim gladly, “Oh! +you are there!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Most frequently Gusty May made a third in +the cabin, his impetuous mirth rattling along like +thunder, and then suddenly smothered with a +sigh like a big sough of wind in the sails, and +sometimes darkened by great clouds between his +<span class='pageno' id='Page_103'>103</span>eyes and nose that threatened rain; nay, sometimes +as he looked at Rosalia’s serene joy +the rain-drops would gather in his eyes—though +I have an idea that Gusty would have challenged +any man who would have told him so.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sometimes when the weather was inviting, +Sophie and Rosalia, attended by Captain Wilde +or Gusty May, or both, would visit the city.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Time glided swiftly away. Two weeks of +Gusty’s visit were over, but three weeks remained +before he would have to go to sea, and the +clouds daily gathered thicker over the Gusty sky, +when one day the young midshipman who had +been appointed to take the post poor Gusty +coveted so much, came on board for the first +time. It was not in Gusty’s large, generous, and +trusting soul, to be easily jealous, neither was +it in his human nature to look indifferently upon +the young officer, who, during his own absence, +was to fill a post near the person of his beloved, +so ardently desired by himself. The staff of +officers on board the ship was small, consisting +of Captain Wilde, Lieutenant Graves, a married +man, solemn and repulsive as his name, a little +freckle-faced midshipman, and now this new +officer, this young passed-midshipman, this +<em>Misther</em> Murphy, as Gusty maliciously emphasized +his title, what was he going to look like? +Gusty wished in his heart that he might be +knock-kneed and cross-eyed. Alas for Gusty! +Mr. Murphy, Mr. Patrick Murphy O’Murphy, a +Southerner of Irish descent—stood six feet six +inches in his boots! had the handsomest leg, the +broadest shoulders, the fullest chest, the blackest +whiskers, and the whitest teeth, in the service. +Alas for Gusty! it was too much! he filled right +up! he could have sobbed, gushed out, liquidated, +deliquesced, fallen upon and overflowed +the shoulders of the first friend that came in his +way, but for his self-esteem that striking up +through all this softness, stiffened and sustained +him! Poor Gusty! he was in the briers until +he could hear what Rosalia thought of “Mister +Murphy,” yet he had an invincible repugnance to +name him to her, and to ask her in so many +words, what she thought of “Mr. Murphy”—<em>no!</em> +<em>thumb-screws</em> would not have wrung such +a question from him! nevertheless he must arrive +at her opinion of “Mr. Murphy,” or die. Mr. +Murphy had been presented to the ladies about +half an hour before dinner, and had dined with the +Captain. After the ladies had retired from the +table and while the gentlemen still lingered over +their wine, Gusty slipped away and followed +them into the cabin. Sophie was away somewhere. +Rosalia was alone. He went up to +her, sat down, and drew her on a seat by his +side. After all sorts of a desultory, wild, and +nonsensical conversation, he suddenly said to her:</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia, do you like handsome men?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes,” said Rosalia, calmly, “I like handsome +folks.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Pshaw! that is just like you. Who is the +handsomest man now you ever saw in your life, +Rosalia?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! <em>Captain Murphy, certainly</em>—far the +handsomest person I ever saw in all my life!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The d—l! I said so—Irish bog-trotter.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, don’t use profane language, dear Gusty, +please.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Captain</em>, indeed, you simple girl—<em>he’s</em> no +captain!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ain’t he? I thought he was; indeed he <em>looks</em> +like one.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, he looks like a prince, a king, an emperor, +a demi-god, don’t he? Ain’t he like +Apollo Belvidere, now?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I think he is,” said Rose, quietly, “just +my idea of the Apollo.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Set fire to him!” blazed Gusty.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! don’t swear—please don’t”—pleaded +Rose. “Why do you not like him, dear Gusty? +<em>I</em> do, I like him, and I am sure you ought to +like him <em>because I do</em>—and you ought to be +kind to him because, poor fellow! look at his +melancholy blue eyes—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! his melancholy blue devils!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! Gusty, hush!” said she, softly, putting +her hand on his lips.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But this is too trying! I be <em>whipped</em> if it +ain’t! I do believe the devil has taken my +affairs under his own particular care! but I won’t +put up with it! I be <em>whipped</em> if I do! I’ll call +this fellow out!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Call him where?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Call him <em>out</em>! fight him! thrash him! jump +through him—crush him—grind him—down into +an ink spot, and then erase him!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What has he done to you, Gusty, that you +hate him so, and he so beautiful, too?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Done to me!” snapped Gusty. “Oh, Rose, +shut up! you are such a fool!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>This was too much for Rosalia—she had been +growing softer every instant, and now melted +into tears. Then Gusty’s indignation turned +upon himself, called himself a barbarian, a brute, +a monster, and begged Rosy to knock him down. +Rose dried her morning dew tears and smiled +again just as Sophie entered. A week passed +away, and now but two weeks remained of the +visit. A week, during which Gusty had contrived +to circulate around his sun so rapidly and +constantly as to prevent the comet Murphy from +crossing his orbit. Still he was very unhappy +in the idea of leaving his treasure unguarded—had +serious thoughts of throwing up his commission—when +one day on deck the young passed-midshipman, +whom, by the way, he had treated +very coldly at all times, placed himself by his +side, and drawing his arm within his own, began +to promenade the deck, saying,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, my fine fellow! I know all about it, +and may be can do something for you. Wilde +told me all about it—your love—and hopes, and +disappointments, and everything. Now, I am +going to perpetrate a real Irish blunder—going—what +do you think—<em>to sea in your place</em>, and +to let you stay here with this sweet girl—easy—easy, +man! steady! so! hear me out. My +father is a senator from the state of ——, is a +particular friend of the Secretary of War. I +have written to him to get our appointments +reversed. Hush! hush! no gratitude, my <em>dear</em> +fellow, it is all selfishness—<em>Irish</em> selfishness!” +and his blue eyes and white teeth shone radiantly +in the kind smile he turned upon Gusty, and +Gusty, oh! his emotion, his joy, gratitude, and +remorse, is <em>unreportable</em>!—no, not to be set +down against him! At last, to moderate the +raptures of his gratitude, blue eyes and white +teeth assured him that <em>he</em> wished (blue eyes, &c.,) +particularly to visit the port of ——, whither the +ship to which Gusty had been appointed, was +bound, and that therefore he <em>had</em> a selfish reason +<span class='pageno' id='Page_104'>104</span>for his seeming generosity. Later in the week, +Gusty became the repository of a love-confidence +from Midshipman Murphy. At the end of the +week the appointments were reversed. Mr. +Murphy was ordered to the Mediterranean, and +Mr. May appointed passed-midshipman of the +good ship Rainbow.</p> + +<p class='c008'>These orders were received early one morning. +In the afternoon Gusty and the young +Irishman were on deck together. They were +great friends, you may rest assured. The following +conversation occurred. Rosalia had +just left them. She had been conversing with +Gusty with all her usual calm and guileless +affection.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It does me good to think that you will remain +here with that sweet girl, May.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You’re a good fellow, Murphy. God bless +you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And you’re a <em>happy</em> fellow, May. God <em>has</em> +blessed you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Happy! yes, by Jove! I only wish you +knew how devilish ‘happy’ I am,” said Gusty, +with a bitter sneer.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, what is the matter? jealous again, +another rival?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, no! it is not that.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is it then?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty had one great failing, an inability to +keep his troubles to himself, a propensity to melt +like a snow-drift in the sun at the first sympathy +that shone on him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She is very fond of you,” said Mr. Murphy.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes! that is just exactly what troubles me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come! you are very reasonable!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! for the Lord’s sake don’t make fun +of me! <em>don’t</em>! It is no jesting matter!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Poor fellow! how he is to be pitied because +a sweet girl annoys him with her love.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“See here! now don’t! I can’t stand it. +Love me? <em>Yes, she does.</em> She loves her old, +poor blind nurse Cumbo—uncle’s Newfoundland +dog, Juno, and <em>me</em> about in the same proportion, +and in the same manner.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Whew-ew-w!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Fact</em> I am telling you—listen now again. I +have watched her—<em>have I not?</em> She will +caress <em>me</em> right before her aunt’s face, freely and +calmly as though I were her grandmother—then +dropping her arms from around my neck, she +will call Juno and caress <em>her</em> with equal affection! +and then my uncle, she always runs to +meet him and throws herself in his arms when +he comes! and yourself, you remember how she +received you, with a gentle affectionate welcome, +as though you were an accredited candidate for +a share of her universal love.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Are you betrothed?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Certainly, these many weeks, and when I +talk of marriage she blushes and smiles, it is +true, but not with love! only with a bashful +repugnance to make herself a prominent object +of attention as a bride. Yet she tells me she +loves me! Oh, yes, she loves me! and the next +minute she will throw her arms around Juno’s +neck and tell her she loves <em>her</em>! and with <em>equal +fervor</em>. And if ever I complain to her that she +does not love me, she weeps as though I did her +an injury. Nearly three months have I spent +in trying to kindle one spark, to touch one chord +of responsive passion in her bosom. I have +poured my whole soul forth at her feet, and she +looks at me with her calm, sweet eyes, and +wonders at me, I know she does, for a sort of +Orlando Furioso, and drives me nearly distracted +by insisting that she <em>does</em> love me, when +I feel that she does <em>not</em>, or even know what she +is talking about. I would give my commission +to see her blush, tremble, shrink when I caress +her—the devil of it is that she loves me like a +baby loves her grandmother, nor does she dream +of, nor can I awaken her to any other love! +Her affections, her caresses are freely bestowed +upon man, woman, child, or beast alike. I have +never seen her shrink with averted eyes from the +eye or conversation of but <em>one</em> man, and <em>that</em> +was not in the first part of their acquaintance, it +was only just before they parted, and now that I +recall it, great God! it comes up before me in a +new light,” said Gusty, in his impetuosity forgetting +to whom he was talking—“they were +standing where we now stand. I was near +them. He was speaking to her of unimportant +matters, the names of the ships, &c., he was +looking at her. I being on the other side of him +could not see his eyes, but suddenly she raised +<em>her</em> eyes. I felt that she met <em>his</em>—her color +came and went, her bosom rose and fell, then +turning around she held her hand out to me, +with her face averted. I drew it through my +arm and carried her off for a promenade. That +hour I quietly ascribed her disturbance to bashfulness +or fear, but <em>now</em> that I recall it in connexion +with the subject of our conversation, a +new, a dreadful light seems to break over it, but +no! Oh, God! <em>that</em> would be too dreadful!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But what man was this, then?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty had suddenly grown quite white, and +now the color rushed into his face, crimsoning +his brow, and swelling the veins like cords.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What man was it, then, that possessed the +power of agitating this calm beauty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<span class='sc'>Don’t</span> ask me!” broke forth Gusty, “I am +mad! Oh, it is just madness now for me to +dream such horrors! stay, let me hold my +head! Murphy, don’t mind <em>me</em>,—I am crazy! +the girl’s coldness has just set me beside myself!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>They were silent some time, and then Gusty, +suddenly seizing Murphy’s arm, exclaimed,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Murphy, forget all my raving, will you? I +am a fool! I shall be jealous next of her embroidery +frame!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was not so easy to forget his agitation during +the half-confiding of the slight suspicion. +The friends soon after separated.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty went into the cabin. He found Rosalia +happy over a pair of doves, a parting present +left for her by Mr. Murphy.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, Gusty,” she said, “come look at my +beautiful young doves—this white one is a boy, +and his name is Snowflake, and this silver-grey +one is a girl, and her name is Dewdrop!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Umph! two new claimants for a few of the +infinitesimal atoms of your divided heart,” said +Gusty, sitting down beside her. He was indisposed +for conversation,—he was feeling too bitterly +that the profound heart of the beautiful +and gentle girl was still unmoved.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Girls who virtually pledge their affections +where they cannot love, do not so often commit +this grievous error from the authority and +commands of parents or guardians, from the persuasion +of friends, from ambition, or for convenience, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_105'>105</span>as from a different, a more amiable, yet +still more improper set of motives, inspired by +benevolence and love of approbation—thus: A +young girl, with the deeps of her heart yet undisturbed, +becomes the object of an ardent admiration—her +vanity is stimulated and gratified—she +may even mistake this pleasure for affection, and +from pure ignorance of her own and her lover’s +nature, and of the misery she may bring upon +herself and others, she continues to receive and +encourage his attentions. His admiration deepens +into love, then her pity is moved, and though +she cannot return the affection, she cannot resist +the suit, and the hand is bestowed without the +heart. As far as my limited experience extends, +I have reason to believe that benevolence, love +of approbation, together with a want of firmness, +mislead more girls into the formation of ill-considered +engagements than any other set of causes +whatsoever.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXVII.<br> <span class='c009'>AGNES AND AGATHA.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Oh, Heaven of bliss, when the heart overflows</div> + <div class='line'>With the rapture a <em>mother</em> only knows.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Henry Ware.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>Something less than a year had passed since +the settlement of Mr. and Mrs. Withers in their +new home. It was now early autumn. Let me +introduce you into that large, beautiful, and fragrant +dressing-room into which Mrs. Collins had +conducted our Hagar upon the first night of her +arrival. The room wears the same pure and +elegant appearance that it presented nearly a +year since—nothing is changed, except by the +addition of one article of furniture—near the +right hand front corner of the room stands a +large rose-wood crib, with beautifully embroidered +thin white muslin curtains drawn around +it. Let us draw back the curtains and look +within—upon a downy pillow, covered with the +finest, smoothest lawn, repose two babes of a +few weeks old; we can only see their beautiful +heads and faces, for their tiny forms are lightly +covered by the white silk eider down quilt. But +look at their sleeping faces, and tell me who +they resemble—their fine blue-black hair looks +like floss silk—we may be sure that their eyes +are black by the slender eye-brows traced like a +black pencil curve, and by the long black lashes +that repose upon the crimson cheeks; look at +the noble foreheads, at the elegant features; look +at the delicate crimson lips, with the spirited +curve of the upper one. They are our Hagar’s +children! would you not have recognised and +claimed them if you had found them in the +wilderness? They are our Hagar’s twins—duplicate +miniatures of herself—and now her bedroom +door opens and she comes in, pacing slowly +in an India muslin wrapper, with her ringlets +glittering down as we used to see them; she +comes and pauses softly, bending over the infant +sleepers. Now, whether it is the reflection of +the white muslin curtains, together with her +white dressing robe, or whether her many months +sedentary in-door life, and her recent illness had +bleached her into a blonde, is not known; but +certainly she is many shades fairer, and much +thinner than when we saw her last; her carnation +cheek has faded to a pale rose tint, her eyes +are not so wild and bright, they are larger, sadder; +instead of a lightning glance, they have +now an earnest gaze; and see while she stoops +over them till the ends of her bright ringlets rest +upon the counterpane, her bosom heaves, her +cheek flushes, her lips glow and open, her eyes +grow bright and brighter, and her soul, pouring +from her countenance, bathes the sleepers in a +libation of love and blessing. How earnest her +eyes are! how devotional her whole air, as her +lips move in silent heart-worship! Now the +passage door opened, and Raymond enters, going +up to his wife’s side; he stood contemplating +the children in silence, until she took his hand, +and drawing his arm around her waist, turned +and buried her face passionately in his bosom, +while her ringlets fell over his circling arms. +Then raising her head, she pointed to the sleeping +infants, and exclaimed with enthusiasm,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Are they not beautiful, dearest?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, love, yes—but you have asked me that +question every few days for the last month, and +I have always answered you in the same words; +when they grow ugly, love, I will tell you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar’s eyes were again turned on her children—her +soul was again bathing them with love.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Shall I not have to grow jealous of these +little girls, who take up so much of your time +and thoughts, love?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Jealous of these children? of these children +who make me love you?” exclaimed Hagar, +embracing him fervently. “Oh! my husband! so +much more than ever I loved you before! they +have deepened and widened my love. Ah, my +own! my own Raymond—<em>try</em> my love now, +and see how much stronger its texture is—it will +bear a great deal of pulling now, Raymond—ask +me to give up anything <em>now</em>, Raymond, and +see if I make a fuss about my pride and dignity—my +pride! as if I could set up a separate establishment +of pride—and my dignity, as if I could +not trust it in your keeping, Raymond, dear Raymond!—as +if I <em>could</em> have a separate interest or +a separate will—but you loved the unblessed +maiden—will you not love more, a great deal +more, the blessed mother—say, Raymond! say!” +Her ardent soul, inspired by her passionate affections, +was kindling into exalted enthusiasm, and +glowing through all the features of her beautiful +face; breaking through and bearing down all +screens of reserve or pride. “Say, Raymond! +say! oh, I love you so much now—I crave such +a fulness of return—say, Raymond! say, how +much more than the unblessed maiden do you +love the doubly blessed mother?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My Hagar!” said he, softly, “try to be calm, +love; moderate your enthusiasm, get used to +your joy; these children have been with you +long enough for that.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah! but every time I look at them again a +new joy breaks up from the bottom of my heart—just +as though they were newly given me. +And then to think that there are <em>two</em>—so perfectly +beautiful—<em>two!</em> God not satisfied to give us +<em>one</em>, gives us two. Oh, blessed be God! When +I forget to thank, to worship Him, may these +dear ones forget me. Two!” said she, panting, +and taking breath, while her color came and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_106'>106</span>went—“two love-angels!—and so perfectly beautiful—and +so perfectly alike—and so loving! +look, Raymond!” and she turned down the +counterpane, “see, lay them as I will, in a few +minutes they are sure to attract each other, to +subside together, as it were, until shoulder touches +shoulder and cheek meets cheek.” And then +she placed their little hands together softly, without +waking them, her lips parted and glowed +over them an instant, she kissed them lightly +and covered them again. “And oh, what a +charge! God has given me two pure angels to +guard from contamination! I must pray more; +I must pray a great deal; I must get the Lord +to take me into his confidence about these children, +these cherubs. Oh, thank, dearest, thank +the Lord for the gift of these two spotless angels, +and pray, pray that we may be enabled to present +them before his throne, pure as we received +them from his hands.” Her face was inspired, +was radiant with love, awe, and worship, as she +continued, “I receive these babes as the deposit +of a special trust from God; he has given me +two of his own most beautiful children, shall I +not try to be worthy of his confidence? Yes! +yes! my two angels,” said she, bending over +them again. “How beautiful are the works of +his hands! Raymond, do but look how perfectly +beautiful they are! These little black, silky +heads; these fine brows and delicate features.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“They are very much like <em>you</em>, love.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“They are very much like each other.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“They are duplicate copies. I cannot tell +one from the other by the closest examination.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Can you not, indeed, now—oh ! it is easy—I +never made a mistake about them; this is Agnes +and this is Agatha, you know.” And then she +began to point out some infinitesimal marks of +distinction, that none but a mother’s eye could +possibly have detected. “Now do you not +see?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not, love; you will have to dress them +differently.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! never!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Or tie some badge upon the eldest, that I +may know them apart,” smiled Raymond, shaking +his head with all its golden waves.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And you are so handsome, Raymond!” exclaimed +she, clasping his form, and burying her +face again in his bosom. “And, oh! are we +not happy? are we not God-blessed—are we not +so entirely united—can we have an interest or a +wish apart now? Oh, dearest Raymond, through +all the ages of eternity you and I—are we not +one?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dear love, be quiet, you talk so much,” +said he, softly and smilingly lifting her head from +his bosom.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Talk! oh! how can I help it, dearest Raymond, +when my God-given life and love grows +too strong for suppression? I have seen the +emotions of other women escape in quiet tears +of joy, but I am not given to tears, you know; +there is too much fire in my composition—oh! +how can I help talking, Raymond? I <em>must</em> +speak or consume, Raymond! Does not the +horse neigh for joy when he feels his strong life—and +what volumes of music, filling earth and +sky, the little bird throws from his tiny chest for +joy; the flowers bloom for joy; the trees <em>wave</em> +for joy; the streams <em>run</em> for joy; the cataract +leaps over its rocky precipice with a <em>shout</em> of +joy; nay, the <em>earth</em>—the earth <em>whirls</em> around +the sun in a reel of joy; and shall I, shall I with +all this God-given life, this love, this joy, this +gladness, this glory, kindling, burning, and glowing, +striking up from my bosom—shall I suppress +it? turning back to cold silence and ingratitude? +No, Father. No, angels. No, husband. No, +children. You shall <em>hear</em> how happy I am in +the worship of joy!—in the worship of joy!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>You might see the fire of her ardent soul, as +the flame glowed upon her lips, wavered over +her crimson cheek, and shot in radiant glances +from her eyes, as she spoke; now gazing with +rapt inspiration on her children; now turning, +and fervently embracing her husband, with a +<em>pure</em>, though passionate love!</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You would make a good camp-meeting subject, +love,” said he, smiling.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, Raymond, <em>now</em> I understand the enthusiasm +of camp-meetings; the ecstasy of conversion. +Say they sometimes fall, or seem to fall, +from grace, from bliss; why that is human, that +is natural; the spring sometimes backslides into +winter for days, yet we do not upon that account +deny the presence of spring, or the approach of +summer; both seasons, summer to the year, +sanctification to the soul—with all impediments, +all relapses and collapses; all weaknesses and +falls; all wanderings and retrogradings—still +advance—on! and up! under the guidance of +Divinity.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are strangely changed, Hagar—not in +your individuality, but in your proportions—from +the positive of wild to the superlative of +wildest.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am not wilder. Oh, Raymond! my life is +deeper, higher, broader, fuller—for these children, +for these messengers from Heaven. Let my +heart sing its song of joy. Oh, Raymond! when +we are <em>un</em>happy, even when we ourselves have +brought the unhappiness upon us, the calmest of +us cry out in tones of grief, bitterness, and reproach, +‘God! God!’ and no one complains of +its extravagance! Shall we not, when we are +blessed and happy, sing in tones of grateful rapture, +‘God! God!’”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You must be quiet, love! be calm. I just +looked in to bid you good morning before going +out. Shall you be able to come down into the +drawing-room this evening?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes,” replied Hagar, softly, and half abstractedly.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>The lamps were lighted in the drawing-room. +Hagar was seated at her piano, practising a piece +of new music. She was attired with taste and +elegance in a crimson satin, that the coolness of +the evening rendered appropriate at this season. +Her hair was gemmed and braided so that the +long ringlets held away from her cheeks and +brow fell behind. In the first months of their +marriage it had been Raymond’s pleasure to have +her elegantly attired to receive him in the evening, +and of late, it had grown into a habit and +a necessity to herself. She sat now awaiting +him. Presently he entered softly, and she arose, +sprung, and then, with a sudden thought, controlled +her eagerness, and went quietly to meet +him. When he had saluted her, and they were +seated, she blushingly unrolled a piece of manuscript +music, and said,</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_107'>107</span>“See here, dear Raymond! I have got something +here for you, something that you will like, +something that you will glory in. I did not know +until to-day that I could compose music; did +not even suspect that I could; but to-day my +soul has been so full of music, so bursting with +music, that it has found expression! The hallelujahs +of Christopher Smart, the very poet of +worship, were resounding through my spirit ears; +I wished to sing them, <em>had</em> to sing them. I +came down here, and seating myself before the +piano, struck the keys, and in a fit of inspiration, +set them to music—here is the music. I could +not do it again; and now the music is infinitely +inferior to the words. Oh! the words are sublime—a +splendid pageant—a magnificent march +of grand and gorgeous imagery, that nothing but +an intellect inspired by love, and exalted by +worship to a power of conception and expression +that men call insanity, could have produced. +They called <em>him</em> mad! and shut him up in the +narrow cell of a lunatic asylum, debarring him +the use of books, pens, and ink; but even there +the jubilant soul found expression. With a rusty +nail upon the white-washed walls of his cell, he +wrote his glorious ‘Song of David,’ worthy to +be bound up with the psalms of David. It is +from this song that I have taken out these words +that I have set to music. Oh! how I wish some +great master would set them. Hear my attempt, +Raymond, and worship with me through the +words.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She went and seated herself at the piano. He +followed and stood leaning over her chair. She +played an inspiring prelude, and then her voice +broke forth in sudden rapture that filled with +volume as it soared, until the very atmosphere +seemed inspired with life, became sentient and +vocal, and shuddered with the burden of the +grand harmony it bore!</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Glorious the sun in mid-career;</div> + <div class='line'>Glorious the assembled fires appear;</div> + <div class='line in8'>Glorious the comet’s train:</div> + <div class='line'>Glorious the trumpet and alarm;</div> + <div class='line'>Glorious the Almighty’s stretched-out arm;</div> + <div class='line in8'>Glorious the enraptured main:</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Glorious the Northern lights astream;</div> + <div class='line'>Glorious the song when God’s the theme;</div> + <div class='line in8'>Glorious the thunder’s roar;</div> + <div class='line'>Glorious hosannas from the den;</div> + <div class='line'>Glorious the catholic amen;</div> + <div class='line in8'>Glorious the martyr’s gore:</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Glorious, more glorious is the crown</div> + <div class='line'>Of Him that brought salvation down,</div> + <div class='line in8'>By meekness called thy son;</div> + <div class='line'>Thou that stupendous truth believed,</div> + <div class='line'>And now the matchless deed’s achieved,</div> + <div class='line in8'><span class='sc'>Determined</span>, <span class='fss'>DARED</span>, and <span class='fss'>DONE</span>.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c008'>The music shuddering, fell into silence. She +remained rapt in ecstasy long after the last notes +subsided, and until Raymond, laying his hand +softly on her head, said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar! this will not do, love; you excite +yourself too much—the action is too high—your +system is getting to be all blood—fever—fire.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! is it not grand, this song? Does any +psalm of David transcend it; does any hymn of +Watts come up to it?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is grand, sublime, stunning—and I do not +like to be stunned, you know, love! Besides, I +am afraid you are not very far from the state +and fate of its author, wild Hagar! wild in your +love, wild in your worship, and wild in your devotions, +as once in your mad revels. Will you +never grow tame? Never, I believe unless your +heart be broken.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And must the poor heart be knocked on the +head, before it can behave itself to please people? +That was the song of boding ever sung to me by +Sophie and by Emily, when I grew too happy to +contain myself. Now, why must my heart be +broken? What harm has it done that it must +be broken? The Lord will not break it, I feel +sure; nay, if my fellow creatures in their error +break it, my Father will bind it up again. But +now, then, dear Raymond, what does it all +mean?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It means, Hagar, that by a happy exemption +from illness, grief, or temptation, in fact from +all the common miseries of human nature, you +have grown arrogant in your joy, and hence your +jubilant spirit.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Have</em> I been so exempted! ‘The heart +knoweth its own bitterness;’ but I will not recall +past human wrongs, in the midst of present Divine +blessings.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Your past wrongs, like your present blessings, +are greatly exaggerated by imagination, +Hagar—but here is supper,” said he, arising and +giving her his arm, just as the crimson curtains +were noiselessly withdrawn from the arch, displaying +the glittering service awaiting them.</p> + +<p class='c008'>This was the last day of Hagar’s Worship of +Joy. The Baptism of Grief—the Worship of +Sorrow—did she dream that such could be?</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXVIII.<br> <span class='c009'>CLOUDS.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Life treads on life, and heart on heart,</div> + <div class='line'>We press too close in church and mart,</div> + <div class='line'>To keep a dream or grave apart.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Elizabeth B. Barrett.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>The next evening when Raymond returned +home, he placed in the hands of his wife an open +letter, addressed to herself in Sophie’s hand-writing. +A year ago, Hagar would have fiercely +resented this cool violation of her seal—now her +soul was too large and joyous to cavil about her +personal dignity, or even to think about it at all. +Pressing and kissing the hand that brought her +the letter, she sat down to read it. It was +short. Our dear Sophie was no scribe. It ran +thus:</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>U.S. Store Ship Rainbow</span>,</div> + <div class='line in12'>“October 13th, 18—.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>“<span class='sc'>Dearest Hagar</span>,—We, Augustus and myself, wish +you and Raymond much joy of your young daughters. +We gladly accept your affectionate invitation to visit +you, and shall be with you on the first of November. +Not, however, as you kindly insist upon our doing, to +remain with you for any length of time. The fact is, +that Captain Wilde is ordered to the Mediterranean; +and as I have no babies to prevent me, I am going out +with him: it is his wish, and <em>mine</em>. We cannot take +Rosalia with us, because being still ‘afraid of the water,’ +she refuses to go. Gusty has been ordered to the +same service, and will sail of course at the same time. +He will accompany us on our visit to you, as also of +course will Rosalia. If you can keep Rosalia, we wish +to leave her with you—if not, we shall be compelled to +take the dear girl to the South, and place her in charge +of her future mother-in-law, Emily Buncombe. In +either case, Captain Wilde wishes to be held responsible +for her board and all other expenses—as we have +<span class='pageno' id='Page_108'>108</span>resolved to leave her small patrimony untouched, to +accumulate at compound interest. Once more accept +our heartfelt congratulations, and believe me always</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c015'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Your affectionate aunt,</div> + <div class='line in8'>“<span class='sc'>Sophie Wilde</span>.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>Hagar’s hands, with her letter, dropped upon +her lap, and she fell into thought.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You will write by the return mail, and accept +the charge of your cousin, Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Y-es,” said she, “certainly”—but a shadow +fell upon her brow.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He did not observe it, or appear to observe it, +and continued, “And <em>when</em> you write, Hagar, +give them gently to understand that their hint +concerning the payment of board was a little +impertinent, to say the <em>least</em>, even if it were not, +as I hope and wish to believe it <em>was</em> not, a piece +of intentional arrogance on the part of Captain +Wilde.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I can tell them it was unnecessary. But I +am sure no arrogance was meant or felt—how +could they be arrogant towards <em>us</em>! If they +spoke to us of payment, they made the mistake +in the simple, straightforward spirit of their +hearts, unsuspicious of the chance of giving offence; +but,” said she, pondering, “I wonder +when Rosalia and Gusty are to be married. +Sophie has not given me the least idea of the +time.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia is yet too young, not quite seventeen, +I believe; and Gusty not yet twenty—<em>both</em> are +too young; three years from the time of their +engagement, that is two years hence, was the +period assigned for their marriage, was it not?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes,” said Hagar, still in thought.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That is, if the young lovers remained in the +same mind?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes,” said Hagar, and then, suddenly, she +exclaimed, “You recollect these details better +than I do; you have a good memory, Raymond.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I always plead guilty to the charge, love.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar fell deeper into thought, then sank into +gloom. Was it the natural reaction of so much +and such great excitement? Was it the rational +sorrow at the thought of soon parting with +Sophie, knowing her to be bound for a long and +perilous sea voyage? Was it either or all these +causes combined, that oppressed her heart and +darkened her countenance?</p> + +<p class='c008'>Reader, it was none of these things. A +dread of the winsome beauty’s approach, a dread, +not reasonable enough to justify her in opposing +the measure—a dread for which she blamed +herself, yet a dread that she could not shake off—a +dread that fell dark on her brow, and struck +cold to her bosom. A deep, up-piercing instinct; +will it rise through the stages of doubt, suspicion, +to jealousy in all its phrensy? The sin sown +and nurtured by the wrongs of her neglected +infancy, her besetting sin and sorrow—not dead, +but long coiled in serpent-torpor in the bottom +of her heart now revives, now rears its head.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, love, write your letter now before +tea, so that it may go out in this evening’s mail,” +were the words that aroused her from her abstraction, +and she arose and left the room to do his +bidding.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>Immediately on rising the next morning, Hagar +had, as usual, thrown on her dressing-gown and +gone to the side of the crib to gaze upon her +sleeping beauties. She bent over them in her +morning beauty, with her black hair escaping +from the little lace <em>coiffe de nuit</em>, and dropping +in shining rings around her—she bent over them +breathing her morning blessing, when her husband, +having completed his toilet, came in and +sank into an easy chair on the opposite side. He +sat there looking at her very intently some +minutes; at length he said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar, you are pale this morning.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Am I?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, and you lose flesh daily.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do I?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do you not <em>perceive</em> that you do?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, indeed, I never thought of it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, you never thought of it, mind and body +are alike absorbed, entirely absorbed by one object—the +nursing of your children; flesh and +beauty, health and life are leaving you unnoted, +these children are killing you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“These! these dear children, Raymond? Oh, +do not bring such a charge against these sleeping +innocents. They give me life and joy, the +angels!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“There, love! do not go off into raptures this +morning, I do implore you. Yes, Hagar, they +are killing you; you are very delicate, always +were, and within the last few weeks you have +lost flesh and color very rapidly; the nursing +of these two children is too great a draught +upon your strength, it will break down your +health.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, dear Raymond, you are mistaken. I +am well and strong! thank God! <em>indeed</em> I am. +It is true that I am thin, I always <em>was</em>. I never +was calm enough to get fat, but I do not think +that want of flesh argues want of health <em>always</em>—in +me I <em>know</em> it does not. I have sound, unbroken +health. I never had an ache or a pain +in all my life—oh! except once,” she said, laughing +and blushing—“nor even a feeling of +languor. Fatigue after violent and long-continued +exercise has only been a slight weariness +soon agreeably lost in repose. God clothed my +spirit in a good strong garment, and I have +treated it well; though I have worn it every +day, it is as fresh and new as a Maryland girl’s +best Sunday frock.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“They are killing you, nevertheless, Hagar, I +say! Your features are growing sharp, your +hands,” and he took her delicate hand in his +own, “your hands are nearly transparent, amberlike, +and indeed the knuckles are growing prominent—come! +Hagar, dear, you are growing +ugly as well as ill, and, Hagar, it will not do. +There is a feverishness in your manner also that +is not healthful. Your devotion to these children +is destroying you, and it must be moderated.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She looked at him with an expression of +anxiety striking up through her brilliant eyes +piercingly. He continued,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And, Hagar, it must be arrested.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How? why? in what manner? in what degree? +What <em>do</em> you mean?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I mean, love, that you must procure a substitute.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A—<em>substitute</em>,” repeated she.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, love, that is to say you must put the +children out to nurse.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Put them—put my two babies out to nurse—away +<span class='pageno' id='Page_109'>109</span>from me,” faltered the young mother, +growing very pale.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, love, it is not an unusual thing among +ladies in this section of the country—ladies especially +of delicate organization as yourself; and +in this case of <em>two</em> children, Hagar, it is too +much for you, and must not be thought of. Do +not look so distressed, dear, it will be better for +<em>you</em>, and better for them. Mrs. Collins will find +some healthy and reliable woman who will be +willing to take charge of them at a reasonable +compensation, and who can be required to bring +them often to see you. She must attend to it +to-day. Come, Hagar, do not look so dejected; +in a day or two you will grow accustomed to it, +and be contented with knowing that they are +well.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And he arose and was sauntering away. Now +all the blood rushed back to her face, and starting +up she caught his hand and drew him back +to the side of the crib. Her bosom was heaving +and setting, the color flashing in and out upon +her cheek, but she controlled herself by a great +effort, as, pointing to the children, she said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You do not love babies, Raymond; no, not +even your <em>own</em>, not even these beautiful cherubs; +alas! I have not <em>that</em> to learn now! but, Raymond, +<em>I</em> love them as the tigress loves her young, +and as the soul loves her angels, and soul from +body could be severed with less of pain and less +of regret than these children from my bosom. +Raymond, I know your indomitable strength of +will; alas! I have not <em>that</em> to learn either! I +know your persevering inflexibility of purpose, +and the power of carrying your purpose into +effect. I know that when you make a proposition, +or express a wish, you virtually <em>give a command</em>! +and one you mean to have obeyed. I +know all this, and I know, Raymond, your +power of torturing me, do I not? I know that +this hour is opened a controversy between us in +which <em>you</em> will never yield, never to my <em>opposition</em>, +never to my prayers; never, unless I can +awaken your parental love. Oh! Raymond, +where in your soul slumbers this parental love—<em>sleeps</em> +your parental love in such a death-like +sleep that the innocence and beauty of these +children cannot awaken it—look at your children, +Raymond, and withdraw your proposition, +your command rather!” pleaded Hagar, with +clasped hands and straining eyes. “Do not +separate this beautiful little family, this perfect +little family that we four form.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He composedly resumed his seat, looking +quietly at her while she spoke; when she had +ceased, he said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar, I make you a proposition, give you +what I think a sufficient reason, and you answer +me with a torrent of sentimental rhapsody; now +have you said all that you have to say in opposition +to my wishes? Come, I await your reply.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Said all I have to say!’ Oh, I could talk +a month, a year, until time exhausted the subject, +if it would convince you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But it will not, as you rightly guess, my love, +for now what does it all amount to, after all that +you may have to say, is said? The question +simply resolves itself into this: whether you will +comply with my wishes, or defy the consequences +of a non-compliance.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She dropped her head upon the side of the crib, +and remained silent for some moments, and then, +without raising it, she said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Raymond, please tell me <em>why</em>, give me some +reason for your wish to have the children sent +away?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Your health and beauty are decaying.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But they are not!—they are not! You are +<em>utterly</em> mistaken. God knows that you are!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are feverish and excitable.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Not feverish—it is the overflowing exuberance +of health and joy!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, love! contradict me in everything I +say, of course. There is one thing, however, too +harassingly plain to be covered; it is <em>this</em>—your +suite of private apartments is converted into a +nursery, of which you have constituted yourself +chief nurse. I have borne with this for five or +six weeks, Hagar, and now it is growing insufferable, +and I must have a change, <em>will</em> have a +change, love! So reconcile yourself to the temporary +loss of these children as well as you +can. They are to be sent away for <em>their own</em> +sakes as well as for yours. <em>They</em> must have a +stout, hearty nurse, and <em>you</em> must be relieved +of their care; you must get flesh and beauty +again.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Oh, the immense power of resistance that was +rising and throbbing as though it would break +through Hagar’s chest! Yet she suppressed its +violent outbreak; she wished now, above all +things, to secure her place in her husband’s affections; +she would have yielded anything on +earth to his wishes now, except this; nor did she +understand his apparent indifference to their +children.</p> + +<p class='c008'>With a sudden impulse she threw herself in +his arms, and amid kisses and caresses implored +him to spare her the anguish of this trial. Smilingly +he returned her caresses, smilingly he refused +her prayer, and smilingly withdrew himself +from her clasp, and was sauntering away, leaving +her pale and trembling, when again she recalled +him with a gesture. He returned.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Where are you going now, Raymond?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“To charge Mrs. Collins with this same business +of procuring a nursing-place for the children.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do not so misconceive me, Raymond; if I +am now pale and weak, it is by a foretaste of +all I know that I must suffer in opposing your +wishes—for, Raymond, I <em>must</em> oppose them—I +have no choice; none! I cannot put these +children from my bosom—<em>can</em> not; you must +know it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“We shall see, love!” said he, with a beautiful, +but mocking smile, as he left her side.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah, I know your power of torturing me, +Raymond—know it too well—but I must brace +myself to bear it in this instance.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Half an hour after she met him at breakfast. +He wore his usual air of elegant ease. He did +not resume the conversation of the dressing-room, +and when he saw that <em>she</em> was about to speak of +the subject, he arrested her by saying, emphatically,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar, love, I will not have one word of +controversy with you upon <em>this</em> or any other +subject—I dislike conflict. You either will or +will not comply with my wishes; without being +subjected to any action in the matter yourself +you will, in the course of the week, have an opportunity +<span class='pageno' id='Page_110'>110</span>of submitting to, or rebelling against, +my will in this matter.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And Hagar was silenced. A few days passed, +with no perceptible change in Raymond’s manner, +and the subject was not again mentioned +between them. Hagar’s secret uneasiness was +perpetually betraying itself, and its expression +continually repressed by the will of Raymond.</p> + +<p class='c008'>At length she grew to hope that this project +was abandoned, when one day a respectable-looking +woman presented herself at the door, inquiring +for Mrs. Withers. She was shown up +into Hagar’s dressing-room. She introduced +herself as Mrs. Barnes, the person Mr. Withers +had engaged to take the charge of the twins, if +Mrs. Withers should approve her. Hagar received +the woman with kindness, but told her +that she had no intention of parting with her +children now, or as long as her life and health +held out. The woman assured her that she possessed, +and could produce, the highest credentials +of respectability, capacity, &c. Hagar assured +her that her objection was not particular, but +general; that she could never resign the children +to the care of any one; that Mr. Withers’s too +great care for her health had induced him to +mention the plan to her, but that she had declined +it. Mrs. Barnes seemed difficult to be +convinced that Hagar’s refusal did not arise from +personal objections to herself; but at last took a +reluctant leave. With her knowledge of his +character and disposition, Hagar dreaded the +return of Raymond that evening. With the wish +to please him, and to disarm his resentment, she +arrayed herself charmingly, and had everything +prepared agreeably to his tastes and wishes, and +awaited him in the drawing-room as usual. He +came in, smiling, with his usual graceful saunter, +just as the servants brought in the tea; the curtains +were up from the arch, so that the two +rooms were thrown into one. He met her as +usual, and they sat down at the table apparently +with their usual cheerfulness and affection. <em>He</em> +seemed more than usually attentive to her wants. +At last she said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I have seen the woman you sent me for a +nurse.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, love, I know it; she has reported to me +her rejection.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>This was said in a tone of cheerful content +that entirely dissipated Hagar’s anxiety; her spirits, +rebounding, arose, and she was happy.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The servants were, however, in attendance, +and further conversation on the subject ceased. +Presently they arose from the table and passed +into the drawing-room.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Shall I give you some music?” said Hagar, +taking up her guitar. “I have been practising +one of those low, lulling strains that I know +you like—shall I give it you?” and she sank +into a velvet chair and began to tune the instrument.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You shall give me nothing—not a song, not +a caress, not a word, when we are alone, until +you give me your <em>will</em>. If I have condescended +to answer your questions at table, it was to prevent +servants from talking.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He was standing before her in his dazzling +beauty, looking down upon her with an audacious +assertion of invincible power of attraction +and torture striking up through the brilliant softness +of his eyes, hovering around the beautiful +curves of his lips, and irradiating his whole countenance. +Hagar turned away, veiling her eyes +with her jewelled fingers, while she rested her +head upon her hand. When she looked up +again he was gone. He did not reappear that +evening. It was the first evening they had spent +apart. Unwilling to give him any new cause +of offence she had remained in the drawing-room +until their usual hour for retiring, when she at +length sought her own chamber. He came up +after a while with his usual gay and graceful +nonchalance of manner, but without noticing +her by word or look until she spoke to him; +then he turned and flashed upon her a smile, +beautiful even in its taunting scorn, that called +the indignant blood in flames to her cheeks and +brow, and she became silent. Thus days passed. +He knew how to torture her. At table—at the +time the embargo was taken off their conversation—ostensibly +to deceive the servants, really +to afford him an opportunity of tantalizing her +by the fascination, he assumed his usual manner +of affection. Thus weeks passed, until the time +approached for the arrival of their visitors. One +evening he came home and threw a letter in her +lap; it was directed in the hand-writing of Sophie. +<em>This</em> seal was <em>not</em> broken; she almost +wished it had been; she opened it. It contained +but a few lines from Sophie, informing her that +their party would be at The Rialto the next +morning. She held her letter out to her husband, +but he, with a taunting smile and graceful +gesture of the hand, declined her confidence. A +sickening faintness came over her. An unwillingness, +nay, a strong and growing repugnance +to the idea of meeting any of her friends—for +whom, indeed, she had never possessed any very +strong affection—just at the time she was suffering +mortal anguish by this estrangement from +her husband—a dread of the approach of the +fair and gentle girl—her rival from infancy—a +fearful presentiment of falling still lower in his +esteem by the side of the loving and love-winning +Rosalia, these causes all conspired to tempt, +to overpower her; she arose, and falling upon +his shoulder, with her hair dropping all over him, +with a bursting sob, exclaimed,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Raymond! oh, <em>do</em> make up with me! I +suffer <em>so</em> much! <em>so</em> much from the loss of your +love! If I could <em>weep</em> and expend a portion of +my grief—if I could <em>swoon</em> and lose consciousness +of it—<em>sleep</em> and forget it—<em>die</em> and leave it—<em>go +mad</em> and defy it—I should suffer less! I can +do <em>neither</em>—since I am not soft and weak! I am +strong and hard—and the strong live through and +suffer tortures that the weak would <em>die</em> under, and +so escape! Yet the weak have all the sympathy, +while the sufferings of the strong are not credited +because not manifested. Raymond! oh, +make up with me. I shall—not <em>die</em>—but suffer +more than death if you do not! I am exiled—take +me home to your bosom—to my home in +your bosom again, Raymond!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He supported her on his arm, and smiled +down a flash of triumphant love into her face, +lighting a smile in <em>her</em> countenance, too! She +raised her hand, passing it gently around his +neck to the back of his golden head, and drew +his face down to meet hers; but with a quick +and graceful toss, waving all his curls, he released +his head, and smilingly inquired,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And so you lay down your arms, and strike +<span class='pageno' id='Page_111'>111</span>your colors, my beautiful rebel? You subscribe +to all required articles in my treaty of peace? +In a word, you will place confidence in my +ability to take care of you, and follow my advice +in the management of our children?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She did not reply. The smile faded from +her countenance. He continued,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You will place our children where they can +receive better care than you can possibly bestow +upon them.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She opened her mouth to speak—he arrested +her purpose by placing his hand softly and +smilingly on her lips, as he whispered,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Stop!—no more arguments—no more controversy—no +more talk about health, strength, +and ability—about maternal love and duty—<em>not +one word</em>, dearest! I did not bring you here, +my beauty, for debate and opposition, but for +harmony, love, and joy. So, in one word, +Hagar, do you yield or maintain your opposition?—yes, +or no.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I cannot! cannot!” groaned Hagar.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He raised his arm, slowly stretching it out +from the shoulder, while he turned away his +head, and gently, but firmly and steadily repulsed +her, pushing her quite away, saying, +calmly, as she sank upon the sofa—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Any overtures for a reconciliation, Hagar, +must in future be prefaced by the unconditional +surrender of this point.” And he leisurely sauntered +from the room. Not one word was exchanged +between them, from that moment until +the next morning at the breakfast-table, when +he said—“If you are not going to use the carriage, +Hagar, I will send it to meet your relatives—it +is nearly time for the morning boat to +pass.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not want it,” said Hagar, and the brief +conversation dropped.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He soon after left the house, merely mentioning +as he went out, that he should be home to +dinner at four. In half an hour from this the +carriage was dispatched to the steamboat landing—at +the same time that Hagar went into her +room attended by Mrs. Collins, to dress her +twins for exhibition to her expected relatives.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Following the bent of her delicate poetic +fancy she would never dress them in anything +but white, of the finest and softest material—nor +ever place about them coral, amber, or gold, or +any hard or heavy substance; and when she +had dressed them, very lovely they looked with +their little black, silky heads, and small features +full of soft repose, as she laid them to sleep in +the crib, so that they might wake up bright and +beautiful when Sophie should arrive. But a +deep-drawn sigh chased the smile from the +young mother’s face, as she looked upon her +treasures, writhing in the thought that the duties +of the wife and mother should ever be supposed +to conflict—that the happiness of the wife and +mother should ever be placed in opposition.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Then Hagar arranged her own dress, and +sighed again to observe by her mirror how haggard +she was looking—knowing this to be the +effect not of her maternal devotion, as Raymond +insisted, but of wasting anxiety caused by his +tantalizing alternate affection and coldness—by +her nights without sleep, and days without appetite, +and consequently without nourishment. +She had even to gather away from her face her +beautiful ringlets; their falling, long and black, +each side of her pale thin face, increased its +pallor by contrast, while they gave it a hatchetlike +sharpness. She had just completed her +unsatisfactory toilet, when the roll of carriage +wheels on the gravel walk leading to the house, +the ring of the street-door bell, and soon the +hushed sound of several softly mingling voices +in the hall, announced to her the arrival of her +guests. She hurried down to receive them. To +receive them! They received <em>her</em> in their full +affection rather! for soon as gliding down the +broad staircase, she saw the group advancing +in the amber-hued light of the hall, she felt herself +caught to the soft bosom of Sophie, while +the arms of Rosalia were folded around her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Run here, uncle! give us your hands,” exclaimed +Gusty May, holding out both his hands +to Captain Wilde, who caught them, and they +laughingly formed a ring round the three women, +clasping them all together in a close embrace. +Sophie smilingly loosened the knot, dispersing +the group; and Hagar giving her hand to Captain +Wilde, and then to Gusty, opened the +drawing-room door, showing them in—begging +them to excuse her absence and amuse themselves, +while she showed Sophie and Rosalia to +their rooms. Then as she turned to attend +them, Rose’s arms were around her again, and +she said as they went up stairs,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And so you have two babies, Hagar! dear +Hagar! Show them to us quickly. I do want +to see them so much. I shall love them so +dearly. I have done nothing but embroider +caps and frocks for them since you wrote to us +about them; so glad I was to have two dear, +dear baby-cousins to sew for. Now I have +come to be your nursery maid, Hagar, dear Hagar; +not a useless parlor-figure, but your little +nursery maid.” So warbled the affectionate girl +in her bird-like tones, while Hagar, won by her +loving enthusiasm, turned and caressed her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>I said the house on each floor was divided by +a broad central hall. The rooms on the right +hand, first floor, were those of Hagar and Raymond, +those on the left hand had been fitted up +for the reception of their visitors. Hagar conducted +them into their apartments; and when +they had laid off their bonnets, brought them into +her own room, to see the children. Their little +nap was over, and the babies had waked up fresh +and bright. Rose raised one, softly, tenderly, +as though she were afraid of its falling to pieces +even in her gentle hands; and Sophie took up +the other. Rosalia went into her gentle love +ecstasies over them, and even our serene Sophie +was enthusiastic in her admiration of the children’s +remarkable beauty.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But I should never be able to know the one +little black-haired darling from the other,” said +Sophie.</p> + +<p class='c008'>And so said Rosalia.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Put your finger on the cheek of Agnes—now +upon the cheek of Agatha; don’t you perceive +that Agnes has firmer muscle, and, therefore, +I think a stronger constitution than her +sister.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am not sure that I can detect the difference,” +said Sophie.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia declared that <em>she</em> could, and that she +should never make a mistake between the babies.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Raymond returned at four in the afternoon. +He met his relatives with his habitual air of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_112'>112</span>graceful gaiety. The evening passed in social +festivity and cheerfulness. Captain Wilde and +Mr. Withers were, or seemed very gay. Sophie +and Rosalia serenely joyous. Gusty, boisterous. +Hagar’s manner was restless and gloomy. Sophie +at last perceived this, and lost her own +cheerfulness; and soon after, as they were +grouped around a table, examining some fine +prints, Hagar felt her arm grasped tightly from +behind, and Raymond’s voice in her ear, muttering +low and quickly,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are making your well merited wretchedness +apparent to Sophie—be more natural; +for as God in Heaven hears me, if by word, look, +or gesture you reveal your miseries, making me +a subject of speculation to these people—you +shall suffer for it in every nerve of your body to +the last day of your life,” and he let go her arm.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Her cheek flushed, and her eye brightened with +pleasure,—yes, with <em>pleasure</em>. To hear him +break the death-like silence that even amidst +general conversation reigned in her heart—to +hear him speak to her alone, close to her ear, +even <em>harsh</em> words, seemed like a renewal of +their confidential relations—seemed the more so +because they <em>were</em> harsh words, because they +expressed a command at last with which she +could comply—conveyed a threat which implied +a position, a right not yet abandoned; it +was more <em>husband</em>-like, and she nestled closer +under his shoulder, and taking the hand, the very +hand that had grasped her arm, she stole it behind +her, around her waist, as she whispered,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dearest Raymond, how could you think that +I would willingly betray uneasiness—have I been +gloomy? I will be so no longer—you shall see—dear +Raymond, smile on me—say <em>one</em> gentle +word to me; my heart has been starving—even +the bitter bread was welcome—give me a sweet +word, Raymond!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Don’t be ridiculous,” were the sweet words +granted to her prayer, as he withdrew his arm, +and turned gaily to make a remark about a picture +to Rosalia, fascinating the gentle girl’s attention +by his brilliant smiles and glances. Hagar +observed this, and her evil in ambush, her strong +waylaying foe, began to give her trouble; nevertheless +she struggled against its manifestation, and +strove to assume cheerfulness, feeling that now +was not the time to alienate him by offence. +Her manner changed—flashing fitful lightnings +of forced mirth across the dark gloom of her +prevailing mood. Hagar was no actress—<em>this</em> +was worse than before! and soon she caught the +eyes of Raymond fixed upon her—a dire menace +striking out through their softness, and perceiving +her failure, she grew alternately more gloomy +and excited as the evening advanced—so that +every one, even the simple-hearted Rosalia, +noticed it, and turning her dove eyes on Raymond +to read the explanation on his face, saw +there the calmness of his superb brow, and set +him down as the blameless and injured party.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The family party broke up at an early hour. +The ladies left the room first, and Hagar, +accompanied by Sophie, attended Rosalia to the +chamber appropriated to her use, and after seeing +the timid girl in bed, and promising that the +housemaid should sleep on a pallet in the room +with her, because she was afraid “to stay in the +dark alone,” they passed out into the next room, +the front room, which was Sophie’s chamber. +Hagar setting the candle upon the dressing-table, +was about to bid her good night, when +Sophie, taking her hand, detained her, looked +earnestly, steadily, in her haggard face, and +passing her arm around her waist, drew her up +in a close but sad embrace, and said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar, my poor girl, what is the matter; are +you ill in body or mind, or both?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am well,” said Hagar, withdrawing herself +from her arms.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yet I never saw you look so wretchedly, +act so strangely in my life; what is the cause? +<em>Do</em> tell me, and let me see if I can aid you by +sympathy or advice.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You can do me no good,” said Hagar, +pausing in perplexity a moment, as Sophie still +held her hand and gazed pleadingly in her +anguished countenance, “and Sophie, do not, if +you please, take any further notice of my looks; +is it not natural, by the way, that I should look +rather thin after my illness, and with the care of +two infants?” and coldly returning Sophie’s embrace, +she bade her good night and left the +room. Several days passed in this manner.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The next Sabbath the family all went to +church—all except Sophie, who stopped at home +with the headache, Hagar, who stayed to keep +her company, and Raymond, who remained for +some purpose of his own. They were sitting in +Hagar’s dressing-room, grouped near one of the +front windows. The babies were awake; Sophie +held Agnes, and Hagar kept the other, Agatha, +whom she fancied to be the more delicate, on +her lap. Hagar was looking very attentively at +her child. It seemed to her that for days the +children, especially this little one, had been declining +in flesh; she was beginning to believe +that the disturbance of her own health was reacting +upon the children, and so maternal anxiety +was added to her other causes of uneasiness.</p> + +<p class='c008'>At this moment, Raymond entered the room, +and throwing himself into an easy chair, inquired +after Sophie’s headache, and then looking at +Hagar, who, sitting in the cross-light, looked +ten degrees thinner and ghastlier than ever, he +said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sophie, will you look at your niece, and then +at her children, and will you inform her of the +fate to which she is dooming <em>them</em>, to say +nothing of herself, by her obstinacy?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie’s large eyes started, dilated, and turned +in apprehension from Raymond to Hagar, from +Hagar to the children, and she remained silent +from perplexity. Then Raymond put her calmly +in possession of the disputed point between himself +and Hagar—keeping Hagar silent, meanwhile, +by an occasional menace piercing through +his gentle eyes; at ending, he said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now, ever since you have been here, Sophie, +do you not perceive that all three have declined +in health?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes,” said Sophie, “that is too palpable to +be denied.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Then turning to Hagar, she said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Your health, and consequently your children’s +health, is suffering, my dear Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is from <em>anxiety</em>,” began Hagar, when, +meeting her husband’s eye, and recollecting herself, +she ceased.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“From <em>whatever</em> cause, dear Hagar,” said he, +“your health <em>is</em> sinking, and you will have at +length to succumb to circumstances.”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_113'>113</span>A message now summoned Raymond from the +room, and the two ladies were left alone.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, dear Hagar, for the children’s sake you +will have to give them up.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>All mothers love their children, of course; +Hagar’s love for her babies was fired with all the +natural fierceness of her temperament; she would +as soon have died as have had them severed +from her. She answered,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You do not know what you are talking +about, Sophie; if you were a mother, you would +know that between my heart and these children +is an invisible cord, and the nearer I am to them, +the more natural and comfortable it feels; the +further I am off from them, the tighter and more +painful becomes the tension. It is uneasiness +one room off—anxiety one flight of stairs off—I +know it would be agony one street off. In short, +I cannot bear to be severed from them.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You need not be severed from them; get a +nurse in the house.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But Raymond does not like that idea; he +does not want the fuss of a nurse in the house; +he wishes me to put them out.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then Raymond is cruel and unnatural, and +his plan is not to be thought of for a moment,” +said Sophie; then she suddenly stopped, as +though she regretted her hasty speech—a speech +that Hagar immediately and indignantly took up, +however.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sophie, it is not like you to be so very unjust +and harsh. Raymond is <em>not</em> cruel!—could +not <em>become</em> so, and you know it! If he does not +love these children very tenderly yet, why he +<em>will</em> love them, when they are old enough to +notice and respond to his love; <em>besides</em>, I never +<em>did</em> see a man who cared much about very +<em>young</em> children, as we do. No! you must do +him justice, Sophie; Raymond has very delicate +and sensitive nerves; he cannot bear roughness, +discord, or any other jar of the nerves that more +obtuse senses could brave. He is not like <em>me</em>, +who have nerves and sinews strung for endurance +rather than for enjoyment. He is an <em>epicurean</em> +by constitution and temperament, and I +do not know that there is any vice in that!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No? Do you not think that when the indulgence +and cultivation of these delicate and luxurious +habits are made the study and object of +life, to the neglect, and perchance to the positive +violation of high duties, that it <em>is</em> vice, and <em>may +be</em> crime; already you see it has made him forget +not only his children’s welfare, but <em>your</em> +happiness.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It has <em>not</em>!” replied Hagar, indignantly; +“how often must I tell you, Sophie, that he does +not see how much he makes me suffer—at least +that he cannot see a just reason for my suffering, +because he is utterly blind in this—how <em>can</em> he +be expected to sympathize in a feeling in which he +does not as yet participate? You must excuse +my warmth, Sophie, when you exasperate me!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie smilingly caressed her, as she replied,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Forgive! I sympathize with your warm +partizanship, dear Hagar; besides, to put you in +a good humor, I will say, I fully believe that +half smothered in this down of effeminacy is a +spirit of goodness that will never be wholly +quenched, if <em>you</em> knew how to get at it. Now <em>I</em> +can, always could, elicit this good spirit. You +shall see.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar did not altogether like Sophie’s insinuation +of possessing the ability to manage her +husband; it seemed to impair the <em>prestige</em> of +dignity by which her love had surrounded him; +nevertheless she permitted her to leave the room, +Sophie saying as she left,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am his mamma, you know, Hagar! I +have a right to interfere, especially since he has +honored me with his confidence this morning; +besides, he loves me dearly, and always did, ever +since he knew me, and always will as long as +we both live.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>This was true; from the first moment of their +acquaintance, Sophie, by her serene temperament, +disinterested affections, and quiet wisdom, had +gained, not an ascendency over his mind exactly, +but a modified influence in his heart. She sought +him out, and going to work in her calm, matronly +manner, arranged the difficulty.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The room occupied just now by herself and +Captain Wilde was, after their departure, to be +converted into a nursery, both upon account of +its separation by the wide, central hall, from the +apartments of Hagar and Raymond, and from its +communication with the chamber of Rosalia, +whose fear of sleeping alone, and whose love for +the near neighborhood of the children and their +nurse, combined to make the arrangement agreeable +to her, as well as to others.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The visitors remained a week after this. Gusty +May had kept so close to his little lady love, in +view of the impending separation, as to give +others very little opportunity of cultivating her +friendship. And as Rosalia was strongly attracted +to the babies, and as Gusty was as strongly +attracted to Rosalia, much of their time was +passed in Hagar’s dressing-room.</p> + +<p class='c008'>You should have seen them there in their +innocent affection and familiarity, blending childlike +frolic with droll, old-fashioned solicitude in +their care of Hagar’s children. There Gusty +would sit with Agnes across his knees, and a silk +handkerchief spread over his arm, for fear the +rougher broadcloth would irritate her cheek, +chirruping to the infant, and calling himself “its +Uncle Gusty;” and there Rosalia, with Agatha, +whom she always would hold on her <em>own</em> lap, +because she persisted that this babe was the more +delicate—yes! you <em>should</em> have seen <em>her</em>, with +her beautiful Virgin Mary face, brooding over the +babe.</p> + +<p class='c008'>And Gusty again! what an old granny he <em>did</em> +make of himself! feeling the baby’s fingers and +toes, to see if they were warm enough, or cool +enough, &c., &c., &c. One day Gusty’s heart +was filling with a jest that was bubbling up to +the corners of his mouth and eye, and leaking +out of every crevice of his countenance. Agnes +had gone to sleep in his arms—at last as he laid +her in the crib, and while he was covering her +up, his joke overflowed as he looked at the serene +little madonna before him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Don’t you wish these were <em>our</em> babies, +Rose?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I do <em>so</em> wish they were our babies—God +love them! they are so sweet,” said Rosalia, +raising her large eyes to his and looking him +straight through the head, with her vague azure +gaze!</p> + +<p class='c008'>Up sprang Gusty stamping and dancing about +the floor and swearing—no, exclaiming,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are a baby yourself! a <em>snow</em> baby you +are! or, a fool! or both! why don’t you get +<span class='pageno' id='Page_114'>114</span>mad? why don’t you box my ears? will <em>nothing</em> +arouse you? do you know I have been saying +something very impudent to you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Have you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! you go to Guinea! ‘<em>have you</em>.’ Yes, +I have! <em>You</em> don’t love me, Rose—no, not a +bit!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I do, Gusty; don’t wake the babies!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<span class='sc'>You don’t</span>,” thundered Gusty, “and I +wouldn’t have you to save your life.” Then he +came and fell into a chair, and looking at her +wrathfully, said, “See here, Rose; I won’t have +you! I’ll court the first pretty girl I come +across. Why don’t you answer me? what do +you say to that? I say I’ll court the first pretty +girl I come across!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will you?” said Rose, vaguely.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I will! and I’ll <em>marry</em> her!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Yes</em>, I will; and I know several pretty girls—you +need not think I don’t! sweet girls! that +would give their eyes for me! And one lives at +Havana, and one at Rio, and one at Genoa, and +one at Havre, and one at Marseilles, and one at +Mahon, and one at Gibraltar, and one at Constantinople, +besides several others! Come! +Now! What do you think of that?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is very natural they should all love you, +Gusty, I am sure.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Humph! is it? Well, I am going to court +and marry one of them before I come home! +What do you think of <em>that</em>?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I think that will be very nice.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And you’ll have no objection?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why no, dear Gusty, how should I?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And you’d be very well contented?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, dear Gusty, if you were happy; I should +be <em>so</em> contented; and if you would move over to +this country and come to see us very often—for, +Gusty, I should weep if you should go away to +live for ever!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Up jumped Gusty again—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! my God! this—this—this—<em>creature</em> +will be the death of me!” then suddenly he +dropped down upon the carpet by her side, dropped +his face in her lap, spread up his arms over +her shoulders, and sobbed, “oh! Rosalia—darling +rose! I would not marry a <em>princess</em> +while you remained on earth! my pure angel! +Oh, Rose, love me! love me! <em>please</em> love me!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I <em>do</em> love you, Gusty—as hard as ever I +can!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You don’t—<em>don’t</em>—<span class='fss'>DON’T</span>! you little fool, +you don’t love me a bit better than you love old +Cumbo!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Poor old Cumbo!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah, ha! there it is; you say that in the +same key with which you would say ‘Poor +young Gusty!’ if a cannon ball should carry off +my head next month! Love me! no, that you +don’t! Oh, Lord! oh, dear!” groaned Gusty, +getting up and sinking into a chair, “oh, Lord! +oh, dear!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Are you sick, Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I am!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Whereabouts, dear Gusty? shall I get you +anything?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sick at heart.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, the heart-burn!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You shut up!” snapped Gusty, so loud as to +wake both the babies, that immediately set up a +squall of alarm.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar came in, broke up the conversation, and +quieted the children. Hagar was recovering her +good looks, she was fully reconciled with her +husband. So full, so complete was their reconciliation,—so +happy was she in their renewed +love, that her latent jealousy withdrew itself +out of sight, away down in the deep caves of her +spirit, until she nearly lost consciousness of its +existence. Sophie had informed her that the +marriage of Gusty and Rosalia would take place +immediately after his return, and that circumstance +gave her pleasure. And the last ashes +were thrown upon the smouldering fire of her +jealousy, by her observation of the full and free +manifestations of mutual admiration and affection +between Captain Wilde and Rosalia, and +the loving sympathy of Sophie with both. Hagar +would now have made a strenuous effort to cast +out the devil from her soul, but that the wily +demon withdrew itself into the deeps, until a +more convenient season.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The period of their visit drew to a close. +Gusty and Rosalia had a long parting talk the +evening previous to their separation, and the +usual amount of vows of eternal fidelity were +exchanged. The next day, Sophie, Captain +Wilde and Gusty took leave of their friends, embarked +on board the steamboat, and in a few +hours arrived at New York. In a week from +their arrival at that city they sailed from its harbor +for a cruise on the Mediterranean. The +routine of the Rialto was resumed. The nursery +was established upon the plan arranged by +Sophie, and a woman engaged to take sole +charge of the children. Rosalia wept a week +for the loss of her friends, and then installed herself +a self-constituted nursery governess in her +chamber next the children. Everything went +smoothly, harmoniously; Hagar’s serenity was +restored—Rosalia’s tears dried—Raymond’s +gaiety returned now, and everything “upon +velvet.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Reader, do but look at this family; the members +of which were beautiful in their kind as the +hand of God pleased to make them, each one, +from the youthful father to the children. Raymond, +with his elegant form, charming face, and +graceful and fascinating manners, Hagar, with +her brilliant beauty and wit, and Rosalia, with +her tenderness, formed a group an artist or an +angel would have loved to contemplate. Alas! +that the angel sentinels could not prevent the +passage of the evil spirit to their Eden! Satan, +wishing to enter Paradise, took the form of a +“stripling cherub,” and so deceived Uriel, the +Archangel himself; deceived “Uriel, one of the +seven,” that stood before the throne of God.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXIX.<br> <span class='c009'>JEALOUSY.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Foul jealousy! thou turnest love divine</div> + <div class='line in2'>To joyless dread, and mak’st the loving heart</div> + <div class='line'>With hateful thoughts to languish and to pine,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And feed itself with self consuming smart:</div> + <div class='line in2'>Of all the passions of the soul thou vilest art.</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Spenser’s Fairy Queen.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>From a strong reluctance to take you into the +deep caves of the soul, where evil is forged, I +<span class='pageno' id='Page_115'>115</span>have paused with my pen for hours. One can +scarcely descend into the deep hell of passion +and guilt without becoming saturated with the +brimstone, scorched in the flames. As we enter +the mystery of iniquity let us invoke the angels +to guard us.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>There is no meaner passion than jealousy. +Exclusive, concentrated, intense love does not +always and necessarily include jealousy, and +very ill does that base emotion accord with the +high spirit, dashing pride—the pride of strength +that distinguished Hagar. Yet, reader, have you +never seen a fine man or woman with one physical +deformity, infirmity? and have you never +been told that such a blemish on God’s perfect +work was the effect of injury sustained in infancy. +I have seen a man—a Hercules in strength, an +Apollo in beauty and grace—<em>crippled</em>—from an +injury sustained in infancy through the thoughtlessness +of parents. I have seen a woman beautiful +as Venus, graceful as Euphrosyne—<em>blind</em>—from +an injury sustained in infancy through the +carelessness of nurses. How ill the shrunk and +halting limb accorded with the handsome and +manly figure! how ill the extinguished eye harmonized +with the beautiful face! These misfortunes +were not the faults of the sufferers, yet the +effects of these wounds were felt through life, +their scars were carried to the grave.</p> + +<p class='c008'>And, reader, there are mental and moral deformities, +infirmities—<em>the effects of injuries sustained +in infancy!</em> more baleful than any physical +calamity can be, for they are the cause not +only of much sorrow and suffering—as physical +ills <em>may</em> be—but of much <em>sin</em>, as moral and mental +wounds and scars <em>must</em> be, whose fatal influence +pursues through life unto death and beyond +the grave. Thus a spark of jealousy is dropped +into an infant’s heart, it smoulders through long +years, and finally bursts out into a destructive +flame in the woman’s bosom.</p> + +<p class='c008'>A little, dark, wild, shy child, whose peculiar +organization demanded that her shyness should +be conquered by kindness, her wildness tamed by +gentleness, her self-distrust reassured by confidence, +is disparaged and neglected, while her +more beautiful companion and playmate, whose +extreme tenderness and sensibility required the +bracing process of a sterner training, is flattered +and caressed; until wounded by the loss of love, +the slighted child grows doubtful of herself, distrustful +of others, and jealous of her more attractive +rival, hard, proud and defiant to all she +did <em>not</em> love, suspicious and exacting towards the +only one she adored; and the favored child, +enervated by indulgence, grows more and more +dependent on the love of those about her, more +and more incapable of resisting any temptation +that appeals to her through her affections; and +these evils have grown with the growth, and +strengthened with the strength of the children, +of the girls, of the women. Alas! who can +see the end of the interminable evil resulting from +one small mistake in education; and from what +wanton carelessness, even in well meaning parents +and teachers, these mistakes are made; +and sometimes how intentionally and in what +good faith they are committed! Heaven knows +there would seem to be enough to do to eradicate +<em>hereditary</em> evil, the roots of sin indigenous +in the hearts of children, without laboring to sow +there the seeds of errors foreign to the soil. The +low vice of jealousy was foreign to the high +temperament of our Hagar; yet how it had been +planted, sunk, trodden deep, and stamped into +the bottom of her heart. The mean sins of indolence, +selfishness, and vanity were not native +to the pure soil of our Rosalia’s bosom, yet how +sedulously they had been cultivated there!</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia, the petted favorite, whose soft nature, +while it pleaded for indulgence, really needed +the hardening process of a strict training—Rosalia, +still further enfeebled by fondness, has grown +softer and weaker year by year; softer and +weaker, until from very tenderness she is rendered +incapable of resisting the solicitations of +any evil that may tempt her through her sympathies. +Rosalia has grown up gentle, tender, +lovely, but vain, infirm, and unprincipled. Hagar, +whose wild and shy temper needed to be +wooed and won, and ameliorated by tenderness—Hagar +still further repulsed, hardened, and +alienated by neglect, harshness, and caprice—Hagar +is still high spirited and faithful, but inclined +to entertain envy, suspicion, and jealousy; +foul blots on a fine character.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Her jealousy of Rosalia was especially natural, +and logical—I had nearly said inevitable—not +only from the fascinating beauty of her rival +from infancy up to womanhood, but from the +very character of her <span class='fss'>ONE</span> affection.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia, then, the beauty, the pet, and the rival, +is domesticated with Hagar, the jealous and the +slighted girl—and with Raymond, the poetic and +the artistic epicurean—Rosalia equally fascinating +in her extreme beauty, in her artless grace, +and in the affectionate tenderness of her manner +and her tone, soon won the warm friendship of +Raymond Withers as she had won the affection +of every man, woman, child, and beast, that fell +in her way. She would have been a delightful +addition to the circle at the Rialto, a delightful +fireside companion in the autumn evenings, could +Hagar have rid herself of the vulture of jealousy +gnawing in the bottom of her heart. Yet do +not mistake Hagar, do not think more meanly +of her than she deserves—she was not <em>generally</em>, +but only <em>particularly</em> envious of Rosalia; thus, +had they both been in general society together, +Hagar could have sympathized with, could have +rejoiced in the highest success of her lifelong +rival, could have been contented to be obscured +by, to be lost under the glory of Rosalia’s +charms and conquests; but here in her own domestic +circle, here where she had “garnered up +her heart,” she could brook no intrusion, no +partnership, no rival; and as in this boundless +universe, there <em>was</em> but <span class='fss'>ONE</span>, there ever <em>had +been</em> but <span class='fss'>ONE</span> whom her whole soul worshipped—<span class='sc'>God</span>—so +on this wide earth there was but +<em>one</em>, there had been but <em>one</em> whom her whole +heart adored—her <em>husband</em>. This was Hagar’s +religion and her love. In almost every respect +she was as opposite to Rosalia in mind and heart +as she was in person and appearance. Rosalia, +with a generous benevolence, radiating from +her heart as the beams from the sun, knew no +exclusive affection, was “innocent of the knowledge” +of any particular love. Hagar’s soul, +nearly destitute of general benevolence, was absorbed +in one intense passion. Had a city been +swallowed by an earthquake, overflowed by the +boiling lava thrown from the crater of a burning +<span class='pageno' id='Page_116'>116</span>volcano, carried away by an inundation of the +sea, or reduced to ashes by a general conflagration; +had a nation been exterminated by war, +pestilence, or famine, the news would have impressed +Hagar very slightly. <em>But!</em> had the +lightest sabre cut but marked the fair and regal +brow of her loved one, her very heart would +have dropped blood. Yet much as she desired +his <em>happiness</em>, much she desired his <em>affections</em> +more! she could have borne his <em>death</em> better +than the <em>loss of his love</em>! she wished to be all +in all to the man who was everything to her. +Her jealousy was morbid as her love was extravagant. +For her, his broad and high white forehead, +in its superb amplitude and repose, expressed +more majesty than the wild expanse of +heaven itself—for her, his soft and deep blue +eyes revealed more spiritual life than the purest +dreams of her own soul—for her every expression +of the face, every gesture of the figure, +every tone of the voice revealed more poetry, +religion, love, than the whole universe besides. +Often when he would be writing or reading, or +in any other manner occupied so as to prevent +conversation, she would sit upon the corner of +the sofa, and veiling the splendid fire of her +eyes under their long lashes, gaze upon his form +or face, watching its varying expression with all +the enthusiasm of an artist, with all the inspiration +of a poet, with all the adoration of a devotee, +with all the love of a woman, a silent and +unnoticed but enraptured worshipper! At such +times, carried away, she would not think of herself +at all—at other times a painful feeling or +fancy of self-deficiency would torture her. All +who love, who worship, think more or less +humbly of themselves—this feeling is often morbid +in excess or irrationality, and often itself +engenders jealousy. In Hagar this was natural—she +was not in her own estimation a tithe so +handsome or <em>accomplished</em> as Raymond, and in +the same proportion that she adored his perfections +she depreciated her own attractions. For +him she desired to possess all the gifts of beauty +and genius, that she might meet and supply the +wants of his being at every avenue, that she +might be the whole world to him, as he undoubtedly +was the whole universe to her. To her +every face looked mean, expressionless, or sensual, +compared to his glorious countenance, in +which every passion, malign or benign, became +godlike! to her every tone was harsh and +rough, or flat and dull, compared to his love-tuned +voice—he was her music, her poetry, her +love, her religion, her life, soul, and final destiny—her +spirit sought unison with his spirit, +ardently, impetuously; she knew in heaven, their +redeemed souls would blend in one—in heaven +they would be—<em>one angel</em>. Call this morbid, +call this extravagant, reader, yet acknowledge +that it was no <em>sudden</em> passion, that this intense +love of one ardent soul had been growing from +the moment that the beautiful youth had lifted +the little ugly infant to his knee, and thenceforth +become her adoration, her idol, her dream of +heaven. This passion had increased with years, +every circumstance had only served to augment +it, association and absence, meeting and parting, +until their marriage, and then all the requirements +of his regal will, all the sacrifices of her +own wishes, all the struggles of her independence +before it was subdued, all the death throes +of her mighty pride before it was annihilated, +served but to draw tighter, to rivet faster the +chains that bound her heart to <em>his</em>; her separate +soul, will, individuality of which she had boasted +in her haughtiness, fled to him, cleaved to him, +seemed blissfully, divinely lost in him—in heaven +they would be one angel, that was her love, +hope, faith, religion, her conception of heaven. +Call it insanity, reader! many minds that pass +for sane have in a greater or a less degree their +insanity, in other words their master passion, or +their besetting sin, or both in one.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Her conjugal love was her master passion—jealousy +her besetting sin—and her jealousy was +morbid as her love was extravagant. In losing +her very soul in his heart, she wished to <span class='fss'>FILL</span> +that heart to the exclusion of every other object. +I repeat it here, she wished to be everything to +the being who was everything to her—she wished +for matchless beauty, peerless genius, not that +she might be generally admired, but that she +might meet and supply every demand of his soul. +But now! but now! here was one more richly +and rarely endowed by nature with the power +of pleasing than herself, one who charmed all +the world, and who must, she fancied, charm <em>her</em> +world, her universe away from her life. She +wished to be—oh! <em>not</em> from vanity, but from +love to please <em>his</em> poet-mind—she wished to be +the fairest in her husband’s sight—but here was +one fairer, oh, how much fairer than herself—she +wished to be the most graceful, yet here was +one whose every movement was the very “poetry +of motion”—she wished that <em>her</em> voice in +household cadences, or in song, might fall the +sweetest on his ears; yet here was one, whose +artless tones were melodious as the fall of +waters or the notes of birds.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Their evenings!</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia would sit at the piano singing the +low, sweet melodies he loved, while he stood at +the back of her chair, turning over the music, +bending above her, smiling benignly on her, forgetful +of everything but of her and her song, +sometimes joining his voice to hers—and she! +how often at the end of a song she would turn +around and give him a soft, beaming smile of +affectionate pleasure, when she felt that she had +pleased him. How little the innocent girl +dreamed of the mischief she was doing—how +indeed should she have suspected it? Had she +not played and sung for Captain Wilde every +evening on the Rainbow, and had she not always +been rewarded by smiles, praises, caresses, and +kisses, from Sophie and from Captain Wilde, +too? No, she did not guess the evil she was +causing—she did not guess it even when she saw, +evening after evening, that Hagar withdrew herself +from the instrument and buried herself in a +distant deep arm-chair, or left the room. +There <em>was one</em> who observed and defied her +displeasure—Raymond, who occasionally raising +himself from his recumbent posture over +Rosalia’s chair, would turn, and darting his eyes +fiercely into the obscurity of Hagar’s retreat, and +fixing them sternly upon her, would bring her by +a look back to his side, sighing, trembling, dejected—then +smiling sweetly on her, and passing +his arm around her little waist, would hold her +there, and look supremely blessed while thus +caressing <em>her</em> and listening to Rosalia’s music.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Alas! that Hagar was not wise! Alas! for +<span class='pageno' id='Page_117'>117</span>the mental cripple, for the moral blind, for the +injury received in infancy, for the faith crushed +out! Hagar was not wise, did not understand—she +continued, whenever she was permitted, +sullenly to withdraw herself from the group, +making the trio a couple, and oh! fatal sign, at +last she was more and more frequently <em>allowed</em> +to absent herself. Hagar was insane—yes, +reader, in recalling the circumstances of this +period of her life, in trying to understand them, +I am constrained to say that Hagar was insane, +not to have seen that <em>her</em> presence, <em>her</em> sympathy, +together with Rosalia’s perfect innocence +and artlessness, would have been the immediate +antidote to any poison that <em>might</em> have crept +into the intercourse of these two friends—the +antidote! it would have prevented the most +distant approach of an evil thought.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Jealousy seldom or never prevents, frequently +suggests and causes, the very infidelity it fears. +No evil passion is stationary, it must increase or +decrease. Hagar’s disease was growing. At +first she had only been jealous of his admiration, +of his affection—<em>now</em> she was growing doubtful +of his faith. Now, because wearied out by her +sullenness, indignant at her unjust suspicions, +even while obstinate in the pursuit of the pleasures +and gratification of the tastes that excited +her envy, he permitted her to withdraw from his +side and isolate herself in a distant corner. As +yet Rosalia’s bosom was at perfect peace—the +slight shadow of the evil thought, the thought +now ever gnawing at Hagar’s heart, ever by her +insane jealousy <em>kept before Raymond’s mind</em>, +had not darkened its brightness, had not breathed +on its purity. Will the evil retrograde, or will +it advance until it shall overwhelm the gentle +girl? Hagar, deeply as she cherished this envy, +this jealousy, was yet too proud to breathe it to +her rival; besides, it was Raymond upon whom +her doubts fastened, not as yet upon Rosalia. +The perfect simplicity, the maidenly frankness, +the childlike affection of Rosalia, was too apparent +and <em>transparent</em> to expose <em>her</em> to doubt or +suspicion.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Reader, how I loathe this part of my work! +this analisation of an evil passion is as detestable +a task as I should judge the dissection and +anatomy of a putrid heart to be. If you dislike +to read it as I to write it, you will skip it all.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sometimes Hagar would arouse herself, and +throwing off at least all manifestation of gloom +or sullenness, would make an effort to regain +her fast ebbing power of pleasing; she also +cultivated her rare talent for music; but she +could seldom succeed in giving Raymond +pleasure. He loved melody, and her forte was +grand harmony. The grand anthems of Haydn, +Handel, and Beethoven, lost none of their +grandeur in her apprehension and expression. +But her soul was strung upon too high a key, to +give out sweetly the low breathing music of the +melodies he loved. Thus he luxuriated in the +bright, soft shower of Rosalia, full of melody, +and writhed when the sublime storm of Hagar’s +grand harmony flashed and thundered around +him. Hagar saw this with anguish, oh! and +this very anguish gave inspiration, gave additional +force and expression to her passionate, to her +gorgeous, to her awful conceptions of music! +At last, however, she gave up the hope of ever +inspiring him with admiration of her fierce +tempests of harmony, and tried her voice and +her touch upon the airs he loved, but here she +failed—failed entirely. This was not her proper +forte, and she had, as yet, too little control over +her voice to manage it mechanically—to reduce +it to the minor keys—she depended for much of +her grand performance upon inspiration, and she +had no inspiration for those low breathing melodies. +Even suffering did not give it her; for in +her hours of anguish her soul found its only expression +in the sharp cry, the deep roar, the +thunder of the grand harmony,—not in the sob +and wail of melody. So Hagar abandoned the +seemingly vain attempt to make her music +agreeable in the drawing. She cultivated the +art—<em>her</em> art now by vocation and adoption—with +all the passionate enthusiasm of her ardent +nature; it became her solace, her soul’s expression. +Her days were divided between her music +and her children. At length, not being able to +find sufficient expression, her soul began to +struggle for freer, fuller utterance—for the revelation +of its <em>own</em> individual life and love, poetry +and music—and Hagar became a poet and a +musician by these steps; first she set the finest +passages of her best loved poets to the sublimest +strains of her most admired composers wherever +they could be adapted; where they could not, +she essayed to set the poetry to music of her +own composition, as in the instance of Smart’s +song; and then to compose words to her favorite +strains of harmony. At last she attained +the power of revealing her <em>own</em> poetry—breathing +her <em>own</em> music. She was but nineteen. +Her music and her poetry were all impromptus +of sudden, irresistible inspiration—the expression +of her life at the moment—the electric flash of +soul, bright and gone in an instant—they were +unwritten, inspired, expressed, and forgotten. +They would come, these spasms of inspiration, +as the blast comes, and go as it subsides; come +as the tide comes, and go as it ebbs; come, +waking the stillness of her soul as the thunder +comes, and go as it rolls into silence; come, +lighting up the blindness of her mind as the +lightning comes, and go as it flashes out into +darkness; come as the storm comes, and pass as +it passes. They would come at first unexpected, +unbidden, impetuous, and irresistible,—nor could +she send them away till a more convenient season, +nor could she at will summon them. At +length she found the spell to call these</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Spirits from the vasty deep.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c016'>She found her power, though now she played +with it only for her pleasure. The pent-up fire +of her soul—that burned in her bosom, rocking +to and fro, lashing its shores as a sea of flame in +storm—the soul that blazed in and out upon her +cheek, and flamed through her eyes until their +gaze seemed to scorch you; the soul found vent +in poetry and in music.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>And she would have been happy, <em>but</em></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c016'>in the grand diapason of her life was one broken +chord, that left a blank, or gave out discord—her +jealousy.</p> + +<p class='c008'>One evening, as usual, Rosalia was seated at +the piano, playing and singing one of Moore’s +melodies. Raymond was seated near her, and +his very soul seemed floating out upon the waves +<span class='pageno' id='Page_118'>118</span>of the music; presently he arose and went to +the back of her chair where he stood bending +over her, unconsciously half embracing her. +She raised her eyes and welcomed him by a +beaming smile, without pausing in her music. +Soon, however, he turned and looked for Hagar; +she was sitting in a distant part of the room, +buried in the shades of a deep arm-chair—her +head bent forward and resting on her hand, +while her profile was concealed by the veil of +her ringlets. She did not look up or +notice his glance. He spoke to her; she raised +her eyes—he beckoned her to come, but with a +bitter smile, she shook her head in refusal; then +his eyes fastened on her with a fierce anger, +piercing through their tenderness, which now for +the first time she did not heed; then with a +quick and threatening nod, he turned away and +gave his attention up to the music. Not one +whit of this dumb show had Rosalia noticed. +At last her song was over, and rising she left +the piano.</p> + +<p class='c008'>An hour after, Raymond Withers entered the +dressing-room of his wife. She had thrown herself +upon the lounge, and her head was drooped +over one end, while all her ringlets falling down +shaded her face. He approached—and standing +over her with folded arms, he said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She did not speak or move.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Hagar!</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She looked up, silently.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Hagar!</em> I say.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is the matter?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nothing.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Nothing!</em>—do not speak falsely, Hagar! +tell me at once, what is the matter?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She smiled a haggard smile, and rising, went +to her dressing-glass and began to unclasp her +bracelets. He followed, and taking her hand, +led her back to the sofa, seated her, and stood +before her, folded his arms, and looking steadily +at her, said, sternly,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“This folly must be ended just at this point; +and when I ask you a question, Hagar, you are +to reply, and not evade it. Tell me, now, the +cause of your gloom—tell me at once, without +prevarication, for I will know it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You <em>do</em> know it,” said she, looking up +through her anguished eyes at his calm, stern, +yet beautiful face. “You do know it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do <em>not</em> know it, and I wait your answer.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You <em>suspect</em> it, then?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am not given to <em>suspicion</em>,” sneered Raymond, +“and I want to hear the cause of your +sullenness from your own lips. Come, reply!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She relapsed into silence.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Am I to have an answer from you, Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Alas! why do you press the question? I am +gloomy, I cannot conceal it, but I do not complain—do +not <em>wish</em> to complain.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Of <em>what</em> have you to ‘complain?’”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nothing.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘<em>Nothing!</em>’—false, again! for though it is +true, in fact, that you <em>have</em> nothing of which to +complain, it is false on your lips.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She did not repel this charge, but sat with +head bowed, with chin rested on her breast, with +clasped hands on her lap, he still standing before +her with folded arms.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why did you not come up to the piano +when I beckoned you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Because I did not wish to come.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>You ‘did not wish to come’</em>—insolent! but +passing over the impertinence of your reply, Hagar, +<em>why</em> did you ‘not wish to come?’”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I was not wanted.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I called you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yet I was not needed.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That was no business of yours; I beckoned +you!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And I am not a slave, to come at your +beck!” flashed Hagar, suddenly raising her eyes, +blazing with defiance, to meet his steady gaze.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, you are not a slave, Hagar; you are a +proud, fierce woman—yet Hagar, to-morrow, +when I call you to my side, <em>you will come</em>!” +and his hand dropped heavily upon her shoulder.</p> + +<p class='c008'>We will drop the curtain here; these scenes +are disgraceful, disgusting.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>The next evening they were grouped around +the piano again, Rosalia was singing her evening +song, Raymond Withers standing at the back of +her chair, a little on the right, and Hagar stood +on the other side, leaning with her elbow on the +end of the piano, her forehead bowed upon the +palm of her hand. Rosalia, without raising her +eyes from her music, moved the light so that its +beams fell more directly upon her notes—its +beams fell also upon the countenance of Hagar, +exposing a face so ghastly in its pallor, eyes so +fierce in their anguish, that Raymond, evidently +fearing lest Rosalia should notice her agony of +expression, brought her, by a look and gesture, +out of the light and into the shade of the background +by his side; and passing his arm around +her waist, drew her up to him, smiling down in +her face, as he whispered, quickly, under his +breath—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Be gentle, tender, complying, Hagar, and +you shall be happy; be the reverse, be rude, +angry, rebellious, and you shall be wretched. +Yet I love you, Hagar, and would prefer to +make you happy; do not, while I love you, constrain +me to deeds of hate.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She did not reply; she stood still and pale +within the embrace of his arm, and remained +there all the remainder of the evening, until Rosalia +had finished her songs.</p> + +<p class='c008'>As the girl shut down the lid of the instrument, +arose and turned towards them, she noticed +Hagar, and starting, exclaimed,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, Hagar! how frightfully pale you are! +Are you ill?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No”—began Hagar, but Raymond, by a +tight pressure of her arm, arrested her speech, +and answered for her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Yes</em>—she is indisposed, but a night’s rest +will restore her; go to your chamber, love,” and +taking a lamp from a side-table he gave it to her, +and opening the door, held it for her to pass out. +She went. Rosalia, springing up at the same +moment, exclaimed,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Let me go with you to your room, dear +Hagar, if you are not well!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>No!</em> I am going with her. Good-night, +dear Rosalia,” said Raymond, suddenly starting +up to follow his wife. Rosalia looked distressed, +perplexed, and finally paced slowly and thoughtfully +<span class='pageno' id='Page_119'>119</span>away to the chamber next the nursery, +where she slept.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar,” said Raymond, as soon as he +reached her chamber.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How did you spend the day after I left the +house this morning?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I kept my room with a headache, with a <em>real</em> +headache, the first I ever had in my life.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Is that an intended reproach?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, I only mentioned it as a fact.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Where was your cousin?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She went to town shopping with Mrs. Collins +in the forenoon, and drove out with the children +in the afternoon.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then she was not with you all day?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Had no opportunity of questioning you about +your ill looks?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No; I said I had the headache, and so I +really had; and when I kept my room she understood +it to be from a slight indisposition.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But now her suspicions are excited—she sees +that your misery rises from a deeper source than +a slight physical indisposition—take care, Hagar, +that she does not see the <em>cause</em>. She sees that +there is trouble between us; be sure that you do +not betray the reason, or, rather, the <em>un</em>reason of +this trouble, my lady.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar did not reply to this covert threat. She +was not herself; a heaviness, a stupor, weighed +down her spirit; a reaction of the excitement of +her ardent temperament, an ebb in the high tide +of her life, left her weak and powerless. She +lay there upon the lounge in her dressing-room; +it was yet too early to think of retiring, and +Raymond, taking advantage of the temporary +torpor of her faculties, perhaps mistaking her +apathy for utter submission, sat down by her +side, and said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar, I am very tired of this, very thoroughly +worn out with this; we have been beating +the air long enough, let us come to something +substantial. I will probe this wound of +yours—extract the bullet that is festering in your +bosom; tell me now, in so many words, of what +have you to complain?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not complain.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You <em>do</em>; not in words, certainly, but in +manner; now what is it all about—why are you +growing more sullen, ugly, and repulsive every +day?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Do</em> not ask me! Alas! have I not tried to +be patient? <em>I</em> have kept my thoughts and feelings +down, like wronged, suffering, and desperate +captives in the hold of a slave ship, fearing +to lift the hatches even, lest they should break +forth, spreading pestilence and death!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She looked so <em>unutterably wretched</em> as she +lay there, with her small hands pressed tightly +upon her brow, and as her lips, quivering, sprang +apart and closed; that Raymond, pitying her, +stooped, and placing his hands under her arms, +raised her up, and laid her head upon his bosom, +looking kindly in her face all the while, as he +said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar, I <em>do</em> love you—always shall, always +<em>did</em>, Hagar, from the first instant that my eye +fell upon you and caught yours—from the first +moment that I, a youth, singled you, an infant, +out from all the world as my own—for life, past +death, and through eternity, recognising you for +my own, knowing you for my own—<em>claiming</em> +you for my own, preferring you, a little, ugly, +perverse infant, to all the fair and gentle maidens +of my own age, because I knew that into your +little bit of a body was crowded and pressed the +soul and life, the fire and spirit of twenty women—<em>claiming</em> +you for my own, and waiting +until you should grow up to womanhood, and +never fearing or dreaming that any one would +ever cleave my life down through the middle, +and bear off the other half of it—<em>my Hagar</em>—for +when was ever <em>I</em> jealous, Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She clasped her arms tightly around his neck, +and buried her face in his bosom as she answered,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But my own, <em>own</em>—you know that I was +not attractive,—that no one would wish to dispute +your claim to me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“On the contrary, I knew that you <em>were</em> +attractive, and that Gusty May set up a very +clamorous claim to you, and that you only +needed to be further known, to raise many +aspirants to your hand among superficial and +impetuous young men like Gusty, who, if their +eye is pleased and fancy tickled, believe themselves +in love. No, Hagar! I trusted <em>in you</em>—not +out of you—<span class='fss'>IN YOU</span>, for the security of our +love and life.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My own! my own! you <em>might</em> well have +trusted in me—<em>may</em> well trust in me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I did, and shall <em>always</em>. I married the +little infant when I raised her on my knee at +that wedding party given to Sophie and my +father; I found my little wife then, and knew +that she acknowledged my claim, saw in her +splendid eyes, fascinated to my own, that she +felt and acknowledged me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, I did! I did! Looking up into your +face I saw a soul radiating there that seemed to +draw my spirit up to meet it! and I felt, Raymond, +I felt that I had for the first time met a +spirit that I had neither the power nor the will +to resist in anything <em>long</em>; for see, Raymond! I, +who defied Sophie and your father, told <em>you</em> +the same moment, with my face in your bosom, +that I would do anything in the world you +wished me to do. Don’t you remember?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, love, I remember every single item.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And I, who laughed and shouted defiance +to society in following my wild tastes,—I, who +so desperately resisted the growing and surrounding +influence of your will, how I permitted it to +close upon me at last.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You did <em>not</em> permit it: you had no choice +of permitting. You could not help it, love; +<em>that</em> makes you my own, and my own for ever, +Hagar!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, but are you <em>mine</em>! as surely, oh! +Raymond?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I love you, Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You love me—you say so—will you tell, +then, since this is an hour of tender reminiscences, +of confidences, and explanation—will +you tell me why, since you love me, you torture +me so much; tell me why, when loving me, you +make me suffer so much, and I will forgive it—indeed, +I <em>have</em> forgiven it—could not help forgiving +it!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You have nothing to forgive, love, and you +must not use the word in reference to me. Yes, +I will tell you, Hagar, for just now I am loving +you very much, my own especial Hagar, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_120'>120</span>perhaps I may never be in a mood to tell you +again. Listen, then: I believe I am naturally, +or rather apparently, very gentle and tender, am +I not?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, very; but—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“At least! I have very keen and sensitive +nerves, delicate features, fair complexion, and +all that go to make up the idea of softness and +sensibility?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That I got from my mother.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Your mother! Ah! you never mentioned +her to me before!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And shall never mention her again—hush! +let us resume—I <em>have</em> sensibility, sensitiveness—<em>but!</em> +away down in the deeps of my soul have +a perverse spirit of great strength, power, and +malice—where it came from I do not know; +how it got there I do not know—but, Hagar, +you are rather apt to arouse it—this spirit +aroused, oppresses, seeks to subdue even those +I love, when they resist me—this spirit in its +awakened strength takes pleasure in its calm force +of resistance, of overbearing and bearing down +opposition, and the stronger and fiercer the opposition +the greater the pleasure of the victory. +It was that spirit that incited me last night, but +it is not always in the ascendant—there, Hagar! +that is the secret of the attraction your strong, +fierce, proud nature had for me! it gives me +plenty of employment, life, you see. Yet, Hagar, +I love you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>While he spoke, Hagar’s face had changed—one +might say she was transfigured before him! +her countenance grew radiant in inspiration as +an angel’s, and her voice was softer, sweeter +than you ever heard it, as she said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am glad you told me, Raymond, it has +saved me and you—it is well you have told me. +That spirit! it is, as you say, a <em>perverse</em> spirit, +an <em>evil</em> spirit, a spirit from hell; and I will give +it no further employment, no further life, Raymond—no +more food; I will not nurture it by +pride or anger. It is a spirit of hate; I will +meet it by a spirit of love; when it comes to +war with me it shall find so little resistance, so +little to do, that it shall fall into death from inactivity.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You, too, have your bosom’s foe, Hagar—but +it is not now, as you would say, ‘in the ascendant.’ +Yes! you are jealous! jealous of +Rosalia! Oh! <em>shameful</em>, Hagar!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Alas! it is true; I wish it were not; how +can I help it?” said she, as the cloud came over +her face, obscuring its glory—“<em>how</em> can I help +it? It is gone now, the jealousy—but it will +come back again, and nearly madden me! I +know it will; and how can I help it, when I see +that I cannot give you any pleasure, by all my +efforts; you do not like my singing nor my +playing—you hang over Rosalia’s chair all the +evening, and forget my very existence.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not, Hagar! I never forget you for a +single instant; how <em>can</em> I ever forget you, when +your spirit clings so closely about me always?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Does it?” smiled Hagar. “<em>I</em> know it does, +and I am glad you feel it, Raymond—glad you +feel it, even at her side.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nonsense, Hagar! I love Rosalia—or +rather I should say I <em>like</em> Rosalia, the fair, +gentle girl, as I like her soft music, as I like a +summer prospect, as I like the fragrance of +growing flowers—as <em>she</em> loves her pet doves. I +like her because, like all other fair, sweet, and +melodious things, her presence gives me pleasure—a +pleasure that I do not choose to give up for +your jealousy, Hagar! So I charge you, love, +if you cannot exterminate the ‘green-eyed monster,’ +do not let him appear before Rosalia, and +frighten the poor girl away from me. God! +Hagar, if it comes to that, you will exasperate +me to phrensy.” He spoke with unwonted +energy, but quickly controlling himself, he said +in a more gentle tone, “Be on your guard, love—be +on your guard; this is extremely absurd, +very ridiculous, not to say unjust to me; how +you worry yourself and me! Kiss me, my +Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Kiss’ you, Raymond! a thousand, thousand +times!” exclaimed she; all her natural +wildness rebounding in the spring of her spirits, +“a thousand times, dear Raymond; and I will +try never to doubt you again,” and she clasped +her arms about his neck, and drawing down his +head, caressed him freely and gladly as a joyous +child might. Her jealousy seemed gone for +the time—a weight was lifted off, and that evening +and the next day she went about with +dancing eyes and with an exultant step, as if +the spring of her little foot impelled the earth +forward in its orbit! It was the first time Raymond +had fully opened his heart to her, and she +felt grateful for the confidence; she understood +many things that had before been dark to her, +she <em>thought</em> she understood <em>all</em>.</p> + +<p class='c008'><em>Had</em> he indeed opened and revealed his <em>whole</em> +heart? and if so, what had induced him, with his +proud reserve, to be so communicative? Reader, +had Raymond Withers spoken what we have +heard him speak, <em>two weeks before</em>, it would +have been “the truth, the whole truth, and +nothing <em>but</em> the truth;” <em>now</em>, however, in the recesses +of his bosom lurked a sentiment as yet +revealed in words to no one, as yet unrecognised +by himself; <em>but</em> yet a sentiment that was growing +stronger day by day, that was already beginning +to betray itself in unguarded moments.</p> + +<p class='c008'>I repeat it, jealousy seldom prevents, frequently +suggests the very infidelity it fears. It has been +said that “Unjust suspicion is apt to lead to that +which is well founded. It is often very dangerous +to hint an evil, though to warn against it: +for constant suspicion of harm puts an idea into +the head that otherwise might never have occurred; +and this idea once fairly in is not so +easily got out. Thus it is that unjust jealousy +gives rise to real unfaithfulness. Can there be +a stronger argument against too ready suspicion?”<a id='r7'></a><a href='#f7' class='c012'><sup>[7]</sup></a></p> + +<div class='footnote' id='f7'> +<p class='c008'><a href='#r7'>7</a>. Ramsay on Human Happiness.</p> +</div> + +<p class='c008'>Poor Hagar! through her besetting sin, through +her unjust suspicion, she had kept the evil before +his eyes until he had grown familiar with it. +This was the more dangerous, not only from his +peculiar temperament, and from the extreme +beauty, grace, tenderness, and artlessness of the +rival she dreaded; but also from the fact of their +isolation from the moderating and correcting influence +of general society. But incited by a vague +consciousness of this scarcely acknowledged +sentiment, he had opened his heart to Hagar, +exposing “almost” <em>all</em> its secrets, and now +could she have continued to trust him, <em>her</em> faith +<span class='pageno' id='Page_121'>121</span>might have saved his fidelity—could she have +<em>continued</em> to trust him! but she could not—her +waylaying sin could not be so promptly driven +away for ever. Could an evil thought be dismissed, +a guilty wish repressed, or a sinful passion +crushed by one effort of the will, by one fell +blow, many a moral victory we should see, +many a moral hero hail, and the road to perdition +be no longer paved with good intentions; +but when blow after blow has been struck upon +the waylaying foe, when after each repulsion it +has retired only to rest, to gather force, to renew +the attack, nothing but the highest moral courage +and perseverance can keep up the warfare, can +insure the victory. Hagar’s waylaying foe had +only been beaten back for a time; a few days +passed and it returned in power, in ferocity, with +violence; for <em>now</em> Hagar’s doubts of her husband’s +fidelity of heart were becoming but too +reasonable!</p> + +<p class='c008'>Reader, shall I shock <em>you</em>, and distress myself, +by a recital of some of the scenes that disgraced +the next two or three weeks? Hagar’s confirmed +suspicions, anguish, and terror? Raymond’s +stern, calm, implacable repression of her passion? +The death throes of her suppressed and smothered +rage? The indomitable strength of will by +which he held her down—so that through all +this, for many weeks, the innocent and artless +Rosalia had no suspicion of <em>his</em> guilty passion, +or of <em>her</em> racking jealousy! The poor girl +wandered distressed and perplexed over the +house, wondering in vain at a sorrow and an +anger of which she could see no reasonable +cause. If she inquired of Raymond, he would +smile gaily and give her a light or an indifferent +answer, and ask her for a song. If she inquired +of Hagar, she would turn from her with a burning +cheek and heaving bosom, without reply; if +she pressed the question, Hagar would exclaim, +in an agony,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nothing! nothing! don’t ask me, Rosalia,” +and leave the room; for Raymond had said to +his wife, while his hand, talon-like, grasped her +little shoulder, and his eye struck fiercely into +hers,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Alarm this girl, give her one single inkling +of the diabolical suspicions you cherish, and, as +Heaven hears me, I will never see or speak to +you thenceforth!” and she saw and felt that he +would have kept his word. Yet, though she +concealed the cause of her sorrow from Rosalia, +she could not act the part of a hypocrite; she +could not bring herself to feel kindly, or to act +kindly, towards the girl who, however unconsciously, +was wiling away her husband’s affections.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia grew daily more dejected—pining for +the love, the tenderness, the sympathy and confidence, +the free and affectionate intercourse with +her friends, to which she had been accustomed; +which was the great necessity of her life; without +which she could not exist. She confined +herself as much as possible to the nursery, and +to Hagar’s two children, who were just beginning +to notice and to love her. She longed for +Sophie and Captain Wilde, and for the sweet +home like feeling she enjoyed with them. She +was beginning to dream of them frequently, and +to wake weeping for them. She was beginning +to regret the tears that prevented her accompanying +them, to wonder whether it were possible +now to go to them. She was very unhappy +here. She felt herself in an atmosphere of coldness +and vague censure, that chilled and depressed +her. She felt strange and lonesome +now, yet she tried to make herself agreeable to +all, exerted herself to cheer Hagar when she +saw her depressed, to amuse Raymond when he +was grave.</p> + +<p class='c008'>One evening, after a particularly unsuccessful +attempt to disperse the gloom of the drawing-room +by her sweet music, she had sought her +own chamber in despair; finding Mrs. Collins +there engaged in sorting linen, she fell weeping +bitterly upon the bed, and exclaiming through +her sobs,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mrs. Collins! what <em>is</em> the matter in this +house, can you tell me?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is not my place to tell you, Miss Aguilar, +and perhaps I even do not know.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But what do you <em>think</em>, then, Mrs. Collins? +oh! please tell me, it is not from idle curiosity, +but because, because I do love Hagar and Raymond +<em>so</em> much, and they are both <em>so</em> unhappy, +especially Hagar, and they will not either of +them give me a bit of satisfaction, and I want so +much to know if I can do anything to mend it; +tell me what is the matter, Mrs. Collins?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Young ladies should be very particular, Miss +Aguilar; they may give trouble where they little +think it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Particular,’ why, I <em>am</em> particular, am I not? +I dress myself carefully and practise my music +every day, and that is all Sophie and Captain +Wilde required of me; and, lo! if I were <em>ever</em> so +slovenly and idle, I should not think <em>that</em> would +make so much trouble; and even if it did, I +should think that they would tell me of it—but +it can never be <em>that</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You do not understand me, Miss Aguilar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is it then you mean, Mrs. Collins?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I mean young ladies should not make too +free,” said the old lady, looking solemnly +through her spectacles at the girl. “No, they +should not make too free.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Too free,’ ‘too free,’ <em>how</em> too free?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Too free—<em>with gentlemen</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Too free with gentlemen! who is too free +with gentlemen? You don’t mean <em>me</em>, do you, +Mrs. Collins; oh! no, you can’t mean me, because +I do not see any gentlemen to be free +with, you know! No, of course you don’t mean +<em>me</em>; what do you mean, Mrs. Collins?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I mean <em>you</em>, Miss Aguilar; I mean that <em>you</em> +must not be too free with gentlemen.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But I don’t <em>see</em> any.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>None?</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, indeed! to be sure none—oh! except +Raymond, but then I love <em>him</em> because he is dear +Hagar’s husband and my relative, and because +<em>he</em> is <em>always</em> good to me; so good! so gentle! +so tender <em>always</em>! but of course you do not +mean <em>him</em>, oh no! and I should like to know +what you <em>do</em> mean, dear Mrs. Collins?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Have I not heard you speak of a lady, the +mother of your betrothed?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, Mrs. Buncombe; why?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You had better write to Mrs. Buncombe to +come for you, and you had better return and remain +with her until your people come back from +foreign parts.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! I should like that, if Hagar would let +me go.”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_122'>122</span>“She will let you go, depend upon it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But now that I come to think of it, I cannot +leave Hagar either; poor Hagar! while she is +so sad, it would be a sin.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Miss Aguilar, your cousin would prefer you +to go, I am sure, and you had better take my +advice.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am sure I should be glad to go if I thought +Hagar could spare me, and I will see about it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Do</em>, my dear child—and—do not mention +that <em>I</em> suggested it to you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why not, Mrs. Collins, why must I not? I +don’t love secrets, I never keep secrets—now +why must I not say that you told me?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well! say so then, my dear, and say at the +same time that I think you sickly and <em>weak</em>, <em>very</em> +weak, and that I think a visit South would +benefit your health.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The old lady had finished folding and packing +away her bed and table linen, and locking the +clothes press she took up her candle and bidding +Rosalia good night, left the room.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Poor Rosalia! by the miserable failure of her +education she had been sent into the world, into +life, beautiful, fragrant, tempting, and defenceless +as the conservatory exotic. Nurtured in the +warm atmosphere of an enervating tenderness, +she lived only in the love of those around her, +and pined when it was withdrawn as the flowers +languish in the cold. Rosalia was drooping—winter +was approaching, yet the face of nature +was not fading, withering from the withdrawal +of the sun’s direct rays, faster than was Rosalia’s +heart in the surrounding atmosphere of coldness. +The whole house was a chill clime, in which +there was but one spot of warmth, the crib of +Hagar’s children. The whole day was a dreary +blank, until the evening hour of music came, +when she would try to please and cheer by her +little songs. The whole family seemed strange, +cold, or indifferent to her with one exception, +Raymond Withers. <em>His</em> manner was always +affectionate, his glance always fell gently on +her eye, his tones smoothly, softly on her ear, +his hand tenderly on her arm, and the doomed +girl began, if not to love him only of all the +family, at least to find return only in his love. +As yet this affection of Rosalia was as pure as +the maiden’s love for all others.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Had Rosalia’s intellect and conscience, her +moral accountability for the use of time and +talent, been cultivated in the same proportion as +her sensibilities and affections, she would not +have been thrown thus helpless upon the tenderness +and sympathy of others; she would have +possessed a self-sustaining principle, would have +found occupation in mental resources. But this +was not so; she had been fondled, praised, and +spoiled, until intellect was half drowned in sensibility, +mind enervated nearly to fatuity.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Days passed. Raymond Withers now too +surely, terribly felt that his love for Rosalia was +no longer pure brotherly affection. It was an +intense and an absorbing passion. He began to +struggle against its nearly overwhelming power—he +began to avoid the charming girl. <em>Now</em> +could Hagar have trusted him; could she have +believed in the <em>power</em> of redeeming qualities that +really existed in his heart; the solid substratum +of good that lay beneath all this superficial alluvion +of wilfulness and effeminacy; her faith +might yet have saved him; saved herself from +much anguish. As it was, Raymond Withers +struggled on alone against the advancing power +of his great temptation. He might have struggled +longer, he might have struggled successfully, +but that the very means he took accelerated the +crisis, the catastrophe. He began to avoid Rosalia; +declined her music; evaded her questions; +repulsed her gentle attentions, until the guileless +girl, utterly unable to comprehend her position, +grew wretched, more wretched every day, in +the thought that her <em>last friend, her only present +friend</em>, as in her heart she began to style +Raymond, had fallen from her; and by the +fatality that makes us set a higher value upon a +possession that is passing away, Rosalia began +to prize his affection exceedingly—to desire its +continuance more than all things—to lament its +seeming loss passionately—to strive to win it +back. “The clouds came on slow—slower;” +the clouds whose vapors had been collected in, +and evolved from their own bosoms, and raised +to gather black and heavy in their sky, to break +in thunder on their heads!</p> + +<p class='c008'>Three circumstances combined to bring on the +catastrophe of this household wreck, three circumstances, +reader, that I wish you to notice, as +I desire particularly to call attention here, and +now, to the great importance of the formation of +character in childhood and youth, and to the +awful truth that the blackest treachery, the deepest +guilt, the direst misery, the utmost perdition +of men and women may sometimes be traced to +the smallest, seemingly the most harmless mistakes +in the education of boys and girls. Perhaps +I have already been tedious upon this subject; +perhaps I have dealt “in vain repetitions;” +yet, in tracing the rise and progress of a guilty +passion, can I be too emphatic in forcing the +causes that produced this upon attention? These +causes, then, I said there were three that conspired +to bring down this impending thunderbolt.</p> + +<p class='c008'>First, Hagar’s jealousy. We have seen how +inevitably that jealousy sprang from a want of +the faith that had been chilled to death in her +heart by the coldness and neglect of her guardians +in infancy. We have seen how that jealousy, +by its violence, exasperated the anger of +her husband; by its injustice (for in its commencement +it was unjust), alienated his affections; by +its pertinacity, suggested and kept before him the +evil thought until it grew familiar. So much for +the baleful effect of her jealousy upon Raymond. +Its influence upon Rosalia may be summed up +in a very few words—by manifesting itself in +coldness and aversion, it threw the tender-hearted +and guileless girl upon the ready sympathy and +affection of Raymond for consolation. Do you +now see the madness of this jealousy, and its +powerful agency in bringing on the desolation +of heart and home it feared and dreaded?</p> + +<p class='c008'>Second, Rosalia’s tenderness—tenderness unsupported +by strength of principle, heart unprotected +by mind. We have seen that this softness +was no more nor less than the feebleness of a +character enervated by fond and foolish indulgence +in her infancy. We have seen that this +weakness made her dependent upon the love of +those around her as the very breath of life; we +have seen that when repulsed by Hagar’s coldness, +it threw her for sympathy upon the affections +of the only friend at hand; one whom, of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_123'>123</span>all others, just at this crisis she should have been +guarded against.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Third, the self-indulgence of Raymond. A +delicacy cultivated and refined for years into an +effeminacy that <em>seemed</em> harmless enough, yet +that, as time passed, insidiously undermined his +moral strength, rendering him daily more averse +to self-denial, until he became incapable of self-resistance.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Could either of several good principles now +have been brought into exercise, it would have, +even <em>now</em>, arrested the impending catastrophe; +could Hagar, by prayer, by effort, have thrown +off her jealousy, have practised faith, candor, +charity—could she have shown kindness to Rosalia, +who was, as yet, entirely innocent in +thought, word, and deed—could she have pitied +and forgiven Raymond, who, as yet, was guiltless +in act or intention. Or, could Rosalia have +sought aid from heaven, and balanced her gentleness +by self-sustaining strength upon its feet. +Or, lastly, could Raymond have awakened and +aroused his great latent moral strength from the +bathos of luxury in which it was half drowned; +could he have risen and shaken himself like a +lion in his strength, throwing off the moral +lethargy stealing upon him; could he have +risen as Samson arose in his might, breaking the +fetters that bound him, they might yet have been +saved.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Alas! They seemed all under a spell, while +the cloud of destiny came on, and on. A gloom +settled on their hearth that nothing could dispel, +a deep darkness stole through the house that +neither sunlight nor firelight could brighten, a +coldness gathered in their home that neither sun +heat nor fire heat could warm, a silence fell +around them that music itself could not break—moral +gloom, moral darkness, moral cold, moral +silence. The darkness, the shadow of the overhanging +cloud of impending fate; the silence, +the stillness that precedes the earthquake, while +the fires rage and leap beneath; the awful stillness +of the coming typhoon.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXX.<br> <span class='c009'>TREACHERY.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in18'>“He, in whom</div> + <div class='line'>My heart had treasured all its boast and pride,</div> + <div class='line'>Proves faithless.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Euripides’ Medea.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>It was the first of November; a Sabbath +day; it had rained all night; the dawn of +morning found the rain still pouring down in +torrents; it was a dark, dark day; <em>so</em> dark that +a twilight gloom hung over all the rooms; so +cold and wet that a damp chill pervaded the +house. The family met at breakfast in the back +drawing-room; a good fire had been kindled, +but neither the cheerful fire nor the exhilarating +coffee, could raise the spirits of the little party. +Hagar was wretchedly pale and haggard; +Raymond’s gaiety was so evidently assumed as +not to be mistaken, even by the unsuspicious +Rosalia. Rose looked from one to the other in +unconcealable distress. Seeing that Raymond +tried to make himself agreeable, while Hagar +fully indulged her gloom, Rose again, as usual, +settled it in her own mind that Hagar was the +offending, and Raymond the suffering party. +When they arose from the table, when Raymond +walked to the front drawing-room window and +stood there looking out upon the black sky and +pouring rain, and when Hagar rising withdrew +from the room and went up stairs, Rose looked +around in perplexity, in a sort of sad lostness, +not knowing what to do with herself, scarce +feeling able to keep her feet, for loneliness and +dreariness. At length with sudden inspiration +she ran up stairs to seek Hagar. She entered +her bed-chamber without knocking, and found +her seated alone by the window, in an attitude +of deep dejection. She went up to her, and +throwing her arms around her neck, burst into +tears, weeping freely over her shoulder. Hagar +quietly disengaged her arms, and gently pushed +her off. Rosalia sank upon a cushion at her +feet, and dropping her head upon her lap, sobbed +out—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar! oh! what <em>is</em> the matter? Hagar! +tell me, what <em>is</em> the matter? Oh! dear me! +The house grows more sorrowful every day! +Time passes like a funeral train leading shortly +to the grave. Oh! I feel faint, sick, dying of +gloom, of coldness and darkness in seeing your +sorrow and not being admitted to share it, and +not being able to do anything to alleviate it. +Hagar! tell me; perhaps I <em>can</em> do something for +you; I love you so much, dear Hagar! and +surely <em>love</em> can help sorrow to bear her burden. +Oh! Hagar! let me do something for you!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She was looking <em>so</em> beautiful! <em>so</em> winsome! +with her pleading, coaxing attitude and expression, +with her soft white fingers pressed together, +with her blue eyes raised floating in tenderness +and love to her face. She was looking so +beautiful! so graceful! so irresistibly charming +in her childlike humility and gentleness! Hagar +thought of her husband’s heart, and looked at +Rosalia. The fire flamed in and out upon her +cheeks, burned on her lips, and shot lightning +through her eyes;—rising, she pushed Rosalia +off, and walked away.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! it is I! It is <em>I</em>, who have offended +you somehow! what have I done, Hagar? dear +Hagar!” exclaimed Rose, following her, weeping.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nothing! nothing! Oh! go away!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Have I not done something to offend you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nothing, Rosalia! Oh leave the room; +do!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are angry with me!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No! no! not with <em>you</em>!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“With whom, then?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia! leave the room this moment when +I tell you; haven’t I said that I would not be +questioned?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar! yes, I will go. One word, let me +say one word, and then I <em>will</em> go. Hagar, I +suppose it is Raymond—you are angry with him. +Hagar! oh! <em>do not</em> treat him so badly, cruelly; +make up with him; please <em>do</em>; see how unhappy +he is! see how hard he tries to be pleasant; but +he cannot disguise his sorrow. Oh! dear me! +what <em>does</em> make you two fall out so? Oh! dear +me! I do wish I was in Heaven—<em>all I love here +do make me suffer so much! so much!</em>” and she +fell sobbing into a chair, while the dark clouds +<span class='pageno' id='Page_124'>124</span>lowered, and the rain pattered heavily upon the +window.</p> + +<p class='c008'>At last Rosalia arose and left the chamber, +crossed the hall, and entered the nursery. Mrs. +Barnes and the housekeeper were both engaged +dressing the children; they were now nearly five +months old, and when they saw Rosalia enter, +both began to bound in their nurse’s arms, to +crow and laugh, and hold out their hands joyously +to Rosalia. The clouds fled from the young girl’s +face before the morning sun of their innocence +and love, and a tender smile softened her gentle +countenance as she floated towards them, murmuring +in low music—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“God bless my darlings! God love my +angels! <em>they</em> are glad to see me <em>always</em>!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>As the children were now dressed she sat +down in a large chair, and received them both +into her arms, saying, as they fondled on her—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now, Mrs. Collins, and Mrs. Barnes, <em>both</em> +of you go down to breakfast <em>together</em>—you must +breakfast together sociably such a dreary day as +this; I will mind the babies till you come back.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was the custom for one of the two matrons to +remain in the nursery while the other took her +meals. This morning, glad to be relieved by +Rosalia’s kindness, they set the room in order, +mended the fire, making it blaze cheerfully, and +then, while Rose stood up with the children, they +wheeled the easy chair in front of it, and left the +room together. Rose resumed her seat in front +of the blazing fire; it was a large, deep, soft +chair, whose wide arms held the maiden and the +babies very comfortably. Rose loved luxury, +and she revelled with the babies in that easy +chair, while the fire glowed before her, and the +rain pattered without.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Let me strike out a bird’s-eye view of this +family as they now stood. It is but daguerreotyping +the sky before the descent of the thunderbolt. +Raymond walked gloomily up and down +the dim vista of the two drawing-rooms, pausing +now and then at the windows to look out upon +the dense, dark clouds that hung like a pall over +all things, and to listen to the beating rain. +Hagar sat gloomily in her dressing-room, gloomily +as we once saw her sit in her childhood in the +attic of Heath Hall. Her elbows propped upon +her knees, her pale face dropped in the palms of +her hands, while her hair fell out of curl all over +her; it was an attitude and expression of utter +desolation.—The blackened sky, the beating +rain, were unheeded in the deeper darkness of her +own heart, in this deep darkness where was +gathering the lightning, was lurking the thunderbolt. +Rosalia still sat in the large chair playing +with the babies, fondled by them, talking that +sweet baby-talk, melodious, but unintelligible as +a bird-song to any one but women and children.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Then the door was thrown widely back, and +Hagar stood within it, with her thin face thrown +out in ghastly relief by her black hair and black +dress; she came towards Rosalia and paused, +gazing with an expression of anguish striking +fiercely through her set eyes. Rosalia looked up +in surprise and distress.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Give me the children, Rosalia! give them +to me! they are mine! they are like me! they +are <em>all</em> mine! Give them here! You shall not +wile <em>their</em> love from me also! Give! give +them to me! they are my only consolation. +<em>Why</em> don’t you give them to me?” exclaimed +she, wildly holding out her arms. Rosalia, in +fear and bewilderment, gazed on her with dilated +and dilating eyes, scarcely distinguishing, certainly +not comprehending, one word of her wild +appeal. “Give! give them to me!” again +exclaimed Hagar, snatching the children to her +bosom, “and go, Rosalia! go! go! go!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia got up from the chair, and pressing +both small hands upon her white temples, stood +in amazement.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<span class='sc'>Will</span> you go?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia dropped her hands, clasping them +together, and so left the room, passed down stairs +in a dreary, bewildering sorrow, and entered the +dusky drawing-room. <em>Raymond Withers was +reclining with veiled eyes, in a day-dream on +the lounge.</em> Seeing him she went and sank +down on the carpet by his side, dropping her +head upon the side of the lounge in childlike +sorrow and humility, exclaiming—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! Raymond, my heart is broken, <em>broken</em>! +I am chilled to death in this cold, <em>cold</em> place—oh! +Raymond, where on the wide sea are my +friends? Send me to them—<em>do</em>, Raymond; I +shall <em>die</em> if I stay here—<em>die—die</em>! I shall!” +and heart-breaking sobs burst from her lips +between every sentence. Up sprang Raymond +from his recumbent position, exclaiming as the +fire shot through his spirit-piercing blue eyes—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Has Hagar! has that kite, that wild-cat of +mine been teasing you, poor dove?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Don’t! hush! no!—oh, don’t call her ill +names! don’t—it is so dreadful in <em>you two</em> to +quarrel so!” He was looking straight in her +face. “It kills me to see it, Raymond! Oh! +do send me to Captain Wilde and Sophie. I +cannot please you two, though I have tried so +hard to be good—oh! haven’t I? But you +don’t love me, and you don’t seem to love each +other; and you make each other suffer so much—<em>you +two!</em> and you make <em>me</em> suffer so much—and +great God! what is it all about?” Her +tears gushed forth again, she buried her face in +the cushions of the lounge, and sobbed as though +her heart were struggling in its death throes. +<em>His</em> manner changed; he governed himself, or +rather he resumed his usual tranquillity of attitude +and expression, leaning over her fair head, while +his elbow rested on the end of the lounge, and +his moist and dishevelled golden locks trailed +over the delicate white hand that supported his +cheek; with the other hand he stroked her hair, +stroked it down and down, while her bosom rose +and fell, and sobbed itself into quietness. She +was at rest—sweetly at rest. It seemed as if, +baby-like, she had wept herself sleepy there, +kneeling on the carpet by his side, with her face +upon the cushions of his lounge, his delicate hand +stroking her head. She was going to sleep; the +sobs and sighs came deeper and at long and +longer intervals; at last they ceased entirely, +her head gradually turned upon its side, and she +lay there in the sweet, deep slumber of a child +that has cried itself to sleep. How beautiful she +was in her unconscious innocence! Her hands +lay folded one over the other upon the cushion, +and her side face rested upon them; tear-drops +sparkled on her drooping eye-lashes and on her +glowing cheeks like bright dew on the red rose; +her fresh lips were slightly apart, revealing the +small pearly teeth, and her golden hair fell in +moist and tangled ringlets over her.</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_125'>125</span>He had tranquillized <em>her</em> passion of grief, but +now as he gazed down on her sweet face, watching +the color deepen in her cheeks, watching the +regular rise and fall of her beautiful bosom, and +the quiver of her crimson lip, moved by her +breathing, an emotion arose swelling, heaving in +his breast, like the mighty power of the subterranean +fire rising in the volcano. It was +advancing upon, it was overwhelming him; he +must escape—he called her—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia! Rosalia!” She started out of her +slumber, and gazed up bewildered for a moment. +“You must go to your own room, Rosalia; you +are not well,” said he, looking away from her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Alas! are you angry with me too? <em>You</em>, +Raymond? Every one drives me away, every +one! Oh! Father in heaven, what have I done? +Hagar sent me away from her, and then from +the children, and now <em>you</em> send me off.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And the child dropped her head, and wept +again.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Go to your room, Rose, go,” exclaimed +Raymond, rising and walking away in strong +agitation.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! Raymond, you! <em>you, too!</em> to grow cruel +to me! Oh, Raymond, what have I done that +every one should repulse me—every one that I +love!” she cried, following him; “oh, Raymond, +if I have done anything wrong, scold me; +I had rather stay here with you and be scolded, +than go away by myself; tell me what I have +done, that you all should repulse me so much, +that all I love should drive me from them?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He waved her a gesture of desperate rejection +as he still walked away, until he reached the +window, where he stood, setting his teeth sternly, +folding his arms in a strong rivet, bracing every +nerve, and staring with set eyes unconsciously +through the panes; she followed him, stood by +his side, pleading, cooing in her dove-like tones.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Girl! you will madden me! go! go!” he +exclaimed, without turning around.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Tell me! just tell me how I have offended +you all, Raymond? Oh! I am <em>so</em> unhappy! so +lonesome—no one loves me now! tell me why?” +She laid her soft hand upon his arm, and, bending +forward, looked up in his face with her tender +and coaxing gaze.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The effect was electrical! Turning, he suddenly +caught and strained her to his bosom, exclaiming, +“My flower! my dove! my lamb! +my angel! Rose! <em>oh, Rose!</em>” and pressing +burning kisses upon her brow and lips between +every breath and word. “Love you! I love +you; more than life, soul, Heaven, God! Love +you! my joy, my destiny! <em>love you!</em> let me +have you and die! give yourself to me, and the +next hour let me die, die!” His arm encircled +her beautiful and shuddering form like a chain +of fire, and hot kisses rained upon her face.</p> + +<p class='c008'>And she! Tides of blood rolled up and over +bosom, cheek, and brow, like flame, and passed, +and then she grew faint and weak in his grasp, +the color all paled in her cheeks, leaving them +snowy white; the light fled from her eyes, leaving +them dim and heavy with drooping lids—aye, +the very brightness seemed to fade from her +golden ringlets, leaving the pale yellow hair +falling away from ashy brows and temples—she +seemed fainting, dying in his embrace; alarmed, +he looked at her—his reason returned—he bore +her to the sofa, and laying her on it knelt by her +side, gazed mournfully at her, half believing her +to be expiring.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia! oh, God! what have I done!” +She shuddered from head to foot. “Rosalia! +oh, I am <em>so</em> sorry, <em>so</em> sorry, Rose!” She raised +her heavy eyelids languidly, and fixed them +sorrowfully on his face, then dropped them as a +quick flush spread over her face, faded, and left +her pale, paler than ever. “Rose! Rose! forgive +me, I was mad, mad.” Again she looked +at him mournfully, her pale lips moved, but no +sound came thence. “Rosalia! oh, Rosalia! +speak to me—say that you forgive me, or put +your hand in mine in token of forgiveness!” +She raised one pale hand feebly, but it fell heavily +upon the sofa again. “You <em>do</em> forgive me, +Rosalia, my pure angel! my holy angel! you +<em>do</em> forgive me!” Rosalia shook her head sadly—Raymond +dropped his face into his hands and +groaned; soon he felt his hands touched by a soft +hand that struck the whole “electric chain” of his +being; dropping his hands he saw Rosalia looking +sadly, lovingly at him, murmuring very faintly,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Forgive <em>me</em>, the fault was <em>mine</em>—mine <em>first</em>, +mine <em>only</em>; the sin of ignorance—alas! I have +nothing to forgive! forgive <em>me</em>!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rose! my Rose!” She sighed deeply. He +knelt by her side and gazed mournfully in her +face. She could not bear that gaze; raising her +hands feebly she spread them over her face. He +groaned “God! my God! why do I love you +so! she was right after all—poor Hagar!” +Deep sighs broke from Rosalia’s bosom; she +made many feeble attempts to rise and go away; +he did not attempt to prevent her; but an overpowering +weakness overcame her; she yielded +to the spell that held her enchained, and so she +lay—her face concealed by the veil of golden +curls she had dragged across it; her frame shuddering +from time to time until she sank in the +collapse of exhaustion. And there he knelt—reproaching +himself bitterly, yet sinning on—gazing +eagerly with his lips struck apart at her +pale cheek through its glittering veil of hair, +watching, silently praying for a responsive +glance. At last, he said, “Rosalia! darling +Rose, go to your room, love; it is not safe or +well to stay here—go, Rose,” she gave him her +hand, and he raised her up.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He raised her up—she stood pale, trembling, +bewildered, weak; and walked with tottering +steps towards the door. He went and opened it—held +it open for her—she passed; and as she +passed, raised her eyes to his face, met his eyes +full of anguish looking down upon hers, turned, +and threw herself in his arms, exclaiming,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, Raymond! Raymond! you are <em>so</em> unhappy!—<em>I</em> +am so miserable to see you thus! Oh! +Raymond, is it I? is it I that have made you so? +Tell me! tell me! can I dissipate it?—can I +drive your sadness away? Would my death do +it, Raymond? I would <em>die</em> for you! Oh! Raymond, +it does not seem to me to be wrong to +love you, love you so!—to love you so!” She +hung heavily upon his bosom.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Go! go! go! go, Rose!—go, mad girl!” +he cried, tearing her away from his bosom, and +almost fiercely pushing her through the door, +and shutting it abruptly upon her—then walking +wildly up and down the floor, like a chafed tiger +in his cage, grinding together his teeth, and exclaiming,</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_126'>126</span>“She loves me!—loves me!—loves me!—me +first!—me only!—as she never loved before!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia crept slowly up the stairs—reached +her own room, and threw herself upon her bed, +her senses whirling in a bewildered maze. The +sound of the pouring rain became painfully distinct +in the dead silence. The dinner hour +arrived. The servants came in to lay the cloth. +Raymond Withers walked to the window to +conceal his still unsubdued agitation. When all +was ready, the ladies were, as usual, summoned +by a message. Soon Hagar entered. Raymond +met her at the door, with a troubled, gloomy +look, and giving her his arm, conducted her to +the table. He looked around, and uneasily +watched the door, but did not inquire for Rosalia. +She, also, waited for the entrance of the girl, +expecting her every instant. At last she said to +the servant in attendance,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Let Miss Aguilar know that dinner is +ready.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The man left the room and soon returned—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Miss Aguilar is not well, and begs to be +excused,” he said.</p> + +<p class='c008'>They raised their eyes, and met each other’s +gaze of inquiry at the same moment, but neither +asked a question, or made a comment upon her +absence—each was silent from a private motive +of his or her own. Hagar supposed that her +harshness had deeply wounded the sensitive girl +(as it really had), and that that was the reason +of her absence—while Raymond, of course, +<em>knew</em> the real cause.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The dreary meal was over—they arose from +the table—Hagar was preparing to leave the +room. Raymond went after her, and took her +hand, looking with a troubled expression into her +face—she met that strange look with a sad, inquiring +gaze.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Where are you going, Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Up stairs.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will you not stay, and pass the afternoon +with <em>me</em>, Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She looked at him in anxious, in sorrowful +perplexity.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Do</em>, Hagar—I need you so much now!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah! for want of more attractive company!” +exclaimed she; and laughing bitterly, threw off +his hand, and left the room.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar, half repenting her harshness to Rosalia, +and entirely ignorant of the scene that followed, +went to the girl’s room, to inquire concerning +her health. She entered it. Rosalia +was lying on the bed, with both open hands +spread over her face—pressed upon her face—she +did not remove them as Hagar entered. This +Hagar attributed to resentment. She went and +stood by her bed in silence an instant, and then +called to her—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She started—shuddered.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Are you ill, Rosalia?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>A silent nod was her reply.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Can I do anything for you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She shook her head, in mournful negation.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will you have anything?—speak!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nothing.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Where are you ill?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“All over.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What <em>will</em> you have, Rosalia?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Solitude!</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Are you angry, Rose?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I suspect you are!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar went up to her, and drew her hands +away from her face. The hands were icy cold—the +face snowy pale. To avoid Hagar’s +glance, she closed her eyes, while a shudder ran +all over her frame. Hagar went into her own +room, poured out a glass of wine, and brought it +to her. She waved it off, and turned her face to +the wall. After some further fruitless attempts +to aid her, and after finding that all her efforts +increased the girl’s distress, Hagar left the room, +thoroughly persuaded that Rosalia was sulking +with <em>her</em>, and determining to send Mrs. Collins +in to her. The housekeeper entered—there was +a sternness about the expression of her shut +mouth and solid-looking chin, that we have +never seen there before, as she looked at the +languid girl.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is the matter, Miss Aguilar?” she inquired, +rather abruptly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rose uncovered her face, and looking up +with an agonized, an imploring expression, +said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am sick all over, and I want to go to +Sophie!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I think if that were possible it would be very +well.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Is it not possible, then—can’t I—oh, <em>can’t</em> I +go?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Your friends are on the sea, Miss Aguilar, I +presume.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And is there <em>no</em> way to get to them—no +way, oh, my God! to escape?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not know much of these things, Miss +Aguilar, but I should think it were quite out of +the question.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No way, oh! my God, to escape!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What do you mean, Miss Aguilar, by that?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I mean—oh! I mean—that I am <em>crazy</em>—and +have no one to love me and take care of +me <em>till I come to my senses</em>!” said Rose, pressing +her temples. “I am done to death—<em>done +to death</em>!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not understand you, Miss Aguilar,” +said the old lady, seating herself, and looking +steadily and severely at the pale girl.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Don’t look so hard at me, Mrs. Collins, +please don’t—oh! I am <em>crazy</em>!—yes, I must be!—yes, +I must be! Oh! Mrs. Collins, I have +been delirious—delirious within the last hour, +and I am insane still!—<em>Insane still!</em> I—oh! +my God!—I did not know before that people +<em>could</em> be crazy and <em>know</em>, and not be able to +get well!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>What has turned you crazy, Miss +Aguilar?</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! don’t call me ‘Miss Aguilar,’ <em>every +time</em>, and don’t look so hard at me!” cried +Rose, covering her face with her hands.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<span class='sc'>God</span> is looking at you, Miss Aguilar, and +you cannot cover your face from Him!” said +the old lady, severely.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not wish to, indeed,” replied Rose, +meekly, uncovering her face again, “I do not +wish to; but I <em>do</em> wish He would take me away—would +catch me up from the earth—would +send my angel mother to fetch me!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Mrs. Collins did not reply to this; she sat +the bed, seemingly unwilling to converse with +her. At last she said—</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_127'>127</span>“Did you ever mention to your cousin your +wish to return to Maryland, Miss Aguilar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, I did not.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The old lady looked disapprobation, but inquired—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“May I presume to ask <em>why</em>, Miss Aguilar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I have made several attempts, but Hagar +gives me no opportunity of speaking to her at +all!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Not to-day, Miss Aguilar?—not a half hour +before this?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, to-day—to-day—I <em>could</em> not talk to +her—could not <em>look</em> at her or bear her look!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The old lady now grew positively pale, and +shrank away from the side of the girl. Rosalia +followed the gesture with deprecating eyes.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You must excuse me, Miss Aguilar, but all +this is very horrible—very!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She was silent again for a long time, and then +she said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You spoke, Miss Aguilar, of your wish to +follow your friend, Mrs. Wilde; as that is quite +impossible, why not now go back to Maryland +to your future moth—to Mrs. Buncombe?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, yes; I will do that, if they will let +me—I wish to do it!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mrs. Withers will very gladly assist your +departure, Miss Aguilar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will <em>you</em> ask her?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I will.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Go now and do it; let it all be arranged +during these rainy days, so that as soon as the +bad weather is over I shall be able to set out; +it is no use to put off the journey until we can +write to Emily and she can reply to our letter or +come after me; <em>that</em> would make the interval +too long. Some one will be travelling down to +Washington just at this season. Yes, members +of Congress will be going soon, and Hagar can +send me with some gentleman’s family; or, at +all events, I can travel alone—I am not afraid +of water now! not now! My God! not of +death in any shape or form. Go now! go to +Hagar, Mrs. Collins!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The old lady arose and left the room, full of +the darkest suspicions; she found Hagar in the +nursery. After a little desultory conversation, +she remarked, as composedly as she could—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I have just come from the chamber of Miss +Aguilar; I think there is nothing as yet the matter +with her health of body; her mind seems +disturbed, disordered, depressed.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar, of course, knew <em>that</em>; but attributed it +to the wounded spirit—wounded by her own recent +harshness. The old lady continued—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And she expresses a wish to return to Maryland!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Indeed! Does she?” exclaimed Hagar, looking +up.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, and I think the change of air and scene +would benefit her spirits.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The color was coming back to Hagar’s cheek, +and the light to her eye. The old lady went on +to say—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Her health is delicate, I think, and our climate +is severe—very severe—and if I might +venture, I should advise that she be sent down +without delay to Maryland, to spend the winter.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar was sitting in an attitude of aroused and +hopeful thought, with her elbow resting on the +crib, finger on her lip and eyes raised, while life +and light were tiding back, till face and ringlets +flashed bright again.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And she really wishes this, Mrs. Collins?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She really does.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Does she complain of her position here?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“N-no, not exactly—certainly she complains +of <em>no one</em>—so far from that, she speaks as usual +with the utmost affection of all.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Mrs. Collins, noticing the eloquent expression +of returning hope upon Hagar’s face, ventured to +remark—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And there are <em>other</em> reasons why this journey +should be hurried, Mrs. Withers”—</p> + +<p class='c008'>But, with a dignified gesture of the hand, Hagar +arrested her speech.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No matter for other reasons, Mrs. Collins; +you have given enough. I will write immediately +to Mrs. Buncombe, and you will be so +kind as to go to Miss Aguilar’s room, and tell +her that every arrangement shall be made for her +journey without delay; tell her I should like to +see and converse with her as soon as she feels +well enough to receive me; and as you go, send +the housemaid in to me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The housekeeper left the room, and soon the +maid entered it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sarah, go to Miss Aguilar, and tell her that +you are ready to assist her in preparing her +wardrobe for her journey—she is going to make +a visit.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Raymond received the news of Rosalia’s intended +departure in gloomy silence. It was a +strange thing to see Raymond Withers gloomy—he +who had borne himself through all scenes +with such gay nonchalance. Rosalia appeared +at the breakfast-table next morning, looking pale +and pensive, and withdrew from it as soon as +she possibly could.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That girl looks badly,” remarked Raymond, +making an effort at conversation.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes,” replied Hagar.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Have you taken it into consideration that +she cannot travel alone down South?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes; she wishes you to inquire and procure +for her an escort.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I will do so,” said he, and turned to receive +the packet of letters and papers from the servant, +who had just brought them from the Post-office. +He opened one or two letters, ran his eyes over +them, and carelessly threw them aside. One, +however, caught his particular attention; he +started on seeing it—he read it with great care. +Hagar arose to leave the room, but he arrested +her by a gesture; she returned and sat down; +he continued his reading carefully to the end, +folded the letter, and holding it in his hand, fell +into thought, lost consciousness of his wife’s presence, +and was only aroused from his lethargy +by her rising a second time to leave the room.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Stay, Hagar,” said he.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But wherefore? I wish to go to the children, +and you seem quite absorbed in thought; no bad +news I trust, though indeed there is no one from +whom it is likely we should hear bad news.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, there is no bad news—but this <em>is</em> rather +an important mail,” said he, laying the letter on +the table before her. “You may remember that +Wilde has been teasing me for a long time to +accept his influence in procuring me a post under +the present administration, with which his political +friends have considerable influence. I laughingly +accepted his kind offer when he was here +<span class='pageno' id='Page_128'>128</span>last fall, and permitted him to write his friends, +Secretary ——, and Judge ——, about me. +Here is the result. I need not say that it was +wholly unexpected by me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He handed her the letter—it was a notification +of his appointment to the post of Consul at the +port of ——, in the Mediterranean.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And you will accept it?” inquired she.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And I will accept it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And take your family with you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“By no means, love—what should I do with +you and the children on the voyage? in your +present condition of nervous irritability too? It +is not to be thought of for an instant!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! Raymond,” she pleaded, involuntarily +clasping her hands and raising her eyes imploringly +to his face; “oh! Raymond!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, <em>nonsense</em>, love! no extravagance, now, +I beg of you—not one word, Hagar! I cannot +bear it, cannot be annoyed, cannot!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, Raymond!” she persisted, laying her +small hand gently on his arm, and looking up in +his face seeking to catch his eye—“but, Raymond!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But <em>folly</em>, Hagar! do not trouble me; I will +have no controversy about this—I hate controversy, +as you very well know—I will do what I +think best for us all—and you must be content +with that—or <em>appear</em> content, and stop troubling +me!” said he, averting his face.</p> + +<p class='c008'>She was standing by his side, leaning over his +arm, and now she passed her hand up around his +head, and trying gently to turn it around, said, +“Raymond, look at me; <em>please</em> look in my face.” +He looked down in her eyes inquiringly. She +said lowly, gently, “I have a secret to tell you, +Raymond; before you come back, I shall be a +mother <em>again</em>,” and dropped her head upon his +bosom too soon to see the slightly startled eye +and the frown of vexation that contracted his +smooth brow as he held her there; presently he +led her to a chair and seated her—stood by her +half embracing her shoulder, stroking her head. +“<em>Now</em> you will not go, Raymond; or if you go, +you will take us with you, will you not?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He did not reply for some time, and then he +replied gently, “Be reasonable, Hagar, always. +I am sorry, Hagar, for this—yet you know, love, +that men frequently have to leave their wives +under such circumstances; men of the army and +navy all have this trial to bear.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But it is <em>their</em> profession, <em>their</em> duty, <em>they</em> +cannot avoid it; but you can, can you not, dear +Raymond? You can, <em>at least</em>, take us with +you; a privilege which, with very rare exceptions, +is not enjoyed by those in the professions +you name.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dear Hagar, you try my patience! Come, +you are taking advantage of my sympathies at +this moment, to worry me; have done with it—listen +to me! this administration is in its third +year—I shall probably hold this office nearly +two years; if the same party remain in power, +I shall probably continue to hold it—in which +case I shall send for you and your children.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And you <em>will</em> go?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, love.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And it will be rather more than a year, +nearly two years, before you return or send for +us?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, love, but what is that? Officers commonly +leave their wives for <em>three</em> years at a time. +Come, Hagar! do not be selfish, brace yourself +to bear a little trial that is not an unusual one +among your sex.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! but this is so sudden! Great God!” +and Hagar, clasping her hands, left the drawing-room +and went to the nursery. Raymond Withers +walked up and down the two rooms, with +his hands clasped behind his back, with a fixed +eye and a curdled cheek, not noticing the boy +who entered to clear the table, and who was +watching him attentively, and who on going to +the kitchen, remarked in a suppressed whisper to +the cook,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well! I never did see any man look so +much as though he were making a sale of himself +to the devil, as our Mr. Withers does!”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXXI.<br> <span class='c009'>THE LONE ONE.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>What is the worst of woes that wait on age?</div> + <div class='line in2'>What stamps the wrinkle deepest on the brow?</div> + <div class='line'>To view each loved one blighted on life’s page,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And be alone on earth—as I am now.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>The preparations for Rosalia’s departure for +Maryland went on rapidly. A letter had been +received from Emily Buncombe, in reply to the +one written by Hagar, in which she expressed +the great degree of pleasure with which she +should expect the arrival of her dear adopted +daughter Rosalia. Rose had wept over the letter—there +was none of the pleasure expressed in +her countenance, that might naturally have been +expected. Raymond observed it, but <em>he</em> appeared +fully occupied with the winding up of his +business, and with making arrangements for a +visit to Washington, to receive his credentials +previous to his departure on his foreign mission. +It seemed the most natural thing in the world, +that Raymond Withers should propose to take +his young ward and cousin under his escort for +the journey, and to see her safe in the house of +her future mother-in-law—so perfectly natural +and proper, that Hagar could find no word to +say in objection—and Rosalia—but when did +Rose ever object to any course proposed for her +by another? She went on sorrowfully with her +quiet preparations, and in a few days these were +completed. The day of their departure drew +near, and Hagar sank deeper into despair, that +sometimes broke out into expressions of wildest +anguish. Raymond wore a dark cloud of +gloomy abstraction, of morose determination, +from which the lightnings of a sudden anger +would sometimes flash, when he would be exasperated +by the wild and passionate grief and resistance +of Hagar—sudden outbreaks of phrensied +opposition to the overwhelming destiny +coming on, slowly coming on, surely coming on—she +felt it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is unreasonable, Hagar, this wild grief at +the thoughts of an absence of but two weeks, +Hagar, only two weeks. I shall be back again +in even <em>less</em> time, probably, and remain with you +a month before my final departure.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah! ah!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do you not believe me, then?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I believe you! I believe you! but—”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_129'>129</span>“But, <em>what</em>?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I cannot! cannot shake off this avalanche +of cold horror from my soul—it seems like direst +doom bearing me down and down to perdition; +it seems as though the end of all things were at +hand.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar, it is your health, morbid nerves—you +will get over this in a few days, after I am +gone.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“After you are gone—yes, after you are gone, +when all is silent for want of your voice, when +all is dark for want of your glance, when my +whole soul will starve for your presence—but +you will no longer see my paleness, hear my +moaning, or be troubled with my heart’s sorrow!” +she would exclaim wildly and bitterly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No more of this! you <span class='fss'>SHALL NOT</span> excite +yourself thus in my presence. I <span class='fss'>WILL NOT</span> have +it, you selfish and absurd woman! bah! why do +you compel me to speak to you in this manner? +be easy, love! go play with the babies, sing a +song, take a ride, practise a piece of music, +swallow an opiate, read a novel—do anything, +rather than cling about and around me so +tightly, that I shall have to hurt you in shaking +you off. Go! go lie down, read a play.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Read a play!” exclaimed she, bitterly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, go hang yourself, then!” exclaimed +he, savagely, breaking from her, flinging himself +out of the room, and slamming the door +after him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar stood where he had left her, transfixed +with astonishment; this was the first occasion +upon which she had ever seen him depart from +the Chesterfieldian propriety of his usual self-possession. +Slowly she recovered her senses; +slowly left the room and sought her children. +A death-like calmness settled on her pallid brow, +she made no further opposition to his plans, +asked no further questions of his purposes.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The night before the parting came. Their +trunks were all down in the piazza—the carriage +was even packed with the small bundles, so that +there should be as little delay as possible in the +morning, as they wished to reach the village in +time to meet the morning boat, which passed +about the break of day. Supper was served an +hour earlier, so that they might all retire to rest +sooner, and be up in time. At that supper and +during that evening, Hagar’s manner was quiet—quiet +as death, except that from under her heavy +pallid eyelids, flamed out a gloomy, baleful fire, +as she would fix her eyes upon Rosalia; in her +cheek came in and out a flickering fire; her bosom +would heave, her teeth snap with a spring, +and her hand clinch convulsively, while a spasm +would convulse her form. Raymond watched +her with visible anxiety, sought to catch her now +murky and fiery eye; in vain—he could not +control or affect her in any way. They arose +from the table.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Give us one more song in this room, +Rosalia, before you leave it,” said Raymond +Withers, leading her to the instrument—at the +touch of his hand, waves of blood bathed the +girl’s bosom, neck, and face, as a fire bath, and +then receding, left her ashy pale—and tottering +on the verge of a swoon, she sank into the +music-chair, ran her fingers feebly and mechanically +over the keys, striking a faint prelude, +opened her lips to sing, stopped, dropped her +head upon the music, and burst into tears—then +rising suddenly, left the room. Neither Raymond +nor Hagar attempted to prevent her—they +looked at each other.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What an evening!—my last evening at +home!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Your <em>last</em>!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well! my last for a week or two.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is the matter with <em>you</em> this evening, +Mistress Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I want a ride, an opiate, or a novel!” laughed +she, sardonically, then suddenly she sank into a +chair, and subsided into the gloom of her former +manner—an excited gloom like a smouldering +fire—he watched her uneasily.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Where are your children?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Asleep in the nursery, of course; where +else should they be?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do you not usually see them to bed yourself +at this hour?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes! but to-night I put them to sleep an +hour earlier, that <em>I</em> might spend the evening—<em>your +last evening</em>, Raymond, with you!” exclaimed +she, sarcastically.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar! there is a lurking phrensy in your +look and manner that annoys me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Makes me uneasy.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“At last!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“There is danger in you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<span class='sc'>There is!</span>” she exclaimed, starting with +wild energy.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<span class='sc'>Hagar!</span>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He caught her burning hands and held them +with the strength of a vice, trying to catch her +fiery and flying glances; at last they fell and +struck into his own, quenching their fire in the +cold, calm, liquid gaze of his mesmerizing eyes, +then—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar!” he said, very softly, “why, what a +temperament you have—will <em>nothing</em> quiet +you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She kept her gloomy eyes fixed upon him, +and was about to reply, when the door opened +softly, and Rosalia re-entered the room. Hagar +started violently, and shuddered at her sudden +apparition, but Raymond continued to hold one +hand to prevent her moving, as Rosalia passed +up to the piano, and resuming her seat, with an +air of forced calmness, said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I have come back to sing you the song, as +this is the last evening of my stay.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>There was an air of effort, of painful effort, +about her singing and her deportment generally, +very distressing to see, as if the poor girl had forced +herself to a measure exceedingly repugnant to +herself, for the sake of giving pleasure, or of +deprecating blame. Raymond did not approach +her while she sang; indeed he dared not yet +leave the side of Hagar, who was now looking +more like a half mesmerized maniac than anything +else. By the time Rosalia had ceased +singing, a servant entered with the chamber +lamps on a waiter, and accepting that as a signal +for breaking up, Raymond handed one to Rose, +and bidding her good night, opened the door +and dismissed her. Hagar, with wild eyes, +sprang suddenly past him, and arresting Rose by +grasping her arm, exclaimed,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia! secure your door on the inside to-night! +<span class='pageno' id='Page_130'>130</span><em>do it!</em>” and letting fall her arm she +returned to the room, and sank into her seat. +Raymond was standing before her with folded +arms and severe brow.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is the meaning of this new phrensy, +Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She looked up at him with fiery and bloodshot +eyes.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Raymond! I am mad! I am terrified! I +am in the power of a passion I cannot control! +a fiend I cannot resist! All this evening! all +this evening! I have been impelled by an almost +irresistible impulse! attracted by a terrible fascination! +<em>to a crime!</em> <em>to a</em> <span class='fss'>CRIME!</span> hold me, hold +me, Raymond! keep me away from myself—I +am going mad! I am! I am!” her eyes were +fiercely blazing wide, and every vein and nerve +visibly throbbing. He went to the side-board, +poured out and handed her a large glass of water, +which she immediately drained. Then he +leaned his elbow on the table, and bending forward, +spoke to her—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“See here, Hagar, you <em>are not</em> mad, and you +<em>shall not</em> go mad! Listen to me, and I will +bring you to your reason very soon, and very +thoroughly. You give way to all sorts of wild +impulses—always <em>did</em>, always <em>will</em>—extravagant +in every emotion, frantic in every passion; from +the love of your children to the hatred of your +fancied rival; from the adoration visited upon +me to the worship tendered God; from your +taste for horses, to your talent for harmony; all, +all extravagance; I naturally expect it from +you; but there is a limit to your license, mistress; +you are not to grow malignant or dangerous in +any way; harmless and quiet lunatics may go at +large; phrensied, mad women must be confined; +harmless lunatics may be permitted to remain in +the house with children, maniacs must be kept +away from them. I am going to leave the +country. I cannot think of leaving my children +within reach of a woman, subject to visitations +of irresistible impulses and terrible fascinations +to deeds of blood—I must see her calm. You +are calm now, I think, Hagar! quite cooled +down, are you not? Say, Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She was. The color had all faded away +from her face, and she sat with haggard eyes +fixed upon her clasped hands.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will you retire to rest now, as we leave so +early in the morning?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She arose and walked quietly to her room—he +followed her after a while. She did not sleep +all night, but lay quietly with her fingers pressed +around her forehead. Before the first faint grey +of morning dawned, Mrs. Collins rapped at their +door to say that breakfast was ready. In half +an hour from that the travellers had dressed, +breakfasted, and stood grouped in the chilly hall, +while the carriage was rolling up to the door. +It stood still—the driver jumped down, opened +the door, let down the steps, and remained waiting +by its side.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar!” said Raymond Withers, turning +pale, as he went to her and opened his arms.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You last—you last!” she exclaimed, hastily +kissing Rosalia, and turning, throwing herself into +his arms.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, Rosalia,” said he, and drawing her +arm through his own, and descending the stone +stairs, he handed the pale and trembling girl into +the carriage—she turned around to take a last +view of her late home, and her eye fell upon <em>this +picture</em>, a picture ever after distinctly present to +her mind—the portico, with its slender white +marble pillars visible in the grey of the morning, +the front door partly open, revealing the +lamplight in the passage-way, which struck +across the stone floor and fell upon the haggard +form and face of Hagar, as she stood there in her +desolation, as she stood there leaning against the +pillar, with her pale countenance struck out into +ghastly relief by the dishevelled black hair falling +down each side of her cheeks, and meeting the +black boddice of her dress; but one glimpse Rosalia +caught of that death-like face seen through +the cold grey morning light, and against and intercepting +the glancing and oblique rays of the +gleaming lamplight, but one glimpse as the carriage +door closed upon her, yet that despairing +look was never absent from her mind; it went +with her on her journey, pursued her through +life, and unto death. The carriage rolled away, +and Hagar, turning, fell lifeless upon the threshold +of her own door!</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXXII.<br> <span class='c009'>THE TEMPTED ANGEL.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in10'>“A spirit pure as hers</div> + <div class='line'>Is always pure, e’en when it errs,</div> + <div class='line'>As sunshine broken in the rill,</div> + <div class='line'>Though turned astray is sunshine still.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Moore.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>“You are weeping, Rosalia; why do you +weep?” asked Raymond Withers, taking the seat +by her side as soon as the carriage door was +closed upon them; “why do you weep so, dear +Rosalia?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Alas!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And why ‘alas,’ Rose?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar! Hagar!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And what about her?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She suffers so! she suffers so!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Can</em> she suffer, Rosalia? <em>can</em> her fierce, high +nature suffer <em>at all</em>, Rosalia?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, can’t you see it; can’t you see it?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I can see she is angry and defiant; but for +the rest, Rosalia, I never saw her shed a tear in +my life; did you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“When <em>you</em> suffer you weep, do you not?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Always?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Very well then, Rose; when you see or hear +that Hagar Withers <em>weeps</em>, believe that she sorrows, +and not <em>till</em> then; you are weeping still; +weep on my bosom, Rose!” and he drew her +within his arms and laid her head against his +breast.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The carriage stopped at the steamboat hotel +upon the river’s side, the boat had not yet arrived, +though day was breaking fast, and the +Eastern horizon already looking rosy. Raymond +Withers took Rosalia into the parlor of +the hotel, and having seated her, went out and +dismissed the carriage, and returning to her, said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Remain here, dear Rosalia, until I step to +the Post-office to see if there be any letter come +<span class='pageno' id='Page_131'>131</span>in last night’s mail for any of us. I will return +in five minutes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He went out. The Post-office was near at +hand; he reached it, and had just received a +packet of letters and papers, when the sound of +the approaching boat warned him to hurry on. +Giving orders to a porter to carry their baggage +on board, he hurried in, took Rosalia under his +arm, hastened down to the beach, went on board, +and the next moment they were carried rapidly +down the river. Rosalia went into the ladies’ +cabin to put off her bonnet, and Raymond retired +to read his letters. One letter fixed his attention; +it was directed in a well known hand, and postmarked +Norfolk; he walked up and down the +guards of the boat buried in deep thought; at +length he went to the door of the ladies’ cabin, +and calling the stewardess, told her to request +Miss Aguilar to throw on her shawl and come +up. Rosalia soon appeared at the head of the +gangway. He offered her his arm and carried +her up to the hurricane deck, that was at this +hour vacant; they sat down on one of the rude +benches (steamboats were not the floating palaces +<em>then</em> that they are <em>now</em>), the sun was just rising, +and lighting up into flashing splendor the gorgeous +glories of the landscape, the river flowed +like liquid gold between high banks of agate and +of emerald; but it was not upon the magnificent +river scenery that he looked.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia, I have a letter here from Gusty +May.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She changed color.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“His ship, or rather Captain Wilde’s ship, has +been in an engagement!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, my God!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hush—all your friends are safe.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, oh! <em>somebody’s</em> friends are killed, or +wounded!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Probably, my sweet girl; but they have +been in an engagement and taken a prize—captured +a slave ship!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, sweet Providence! Sophie exposed in a +battle with a pirate!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, my gentle girl, Sophie is <em>well</em>—but they +have captured a prize, and Gusty May has been +intrusted with the command of the vessel, and +has brought it home—that is, to Norfolk!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“To Norfolk! Gusty now in Norfolk!” exclaimed +Rosalia, growing pale.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes; and he writes that just as soon as he +can obtain leave of absence, he is coming to see +you”—</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia trembled so much that he had to pass +his arm around her waist to keep her in her seat.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“He says that he intends to call at Churchill’s +Point to see his mother on his way to see us”—</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia seemed upon the verge of a swoon; +he tightened his hold around her waist and went +on speaking—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“He incloses this letter to you,” and opening +his own envelope, Raymond Withers took out a +delicately folded letter and handed it to her; she +received it with a trembling hand, broke the seal, +glanced over the contents, the letter dropped +from her stiffening fingers, her face grew white +as death, her lips paled and fell apart, her eyes +closed, and she sank into a swoon upon his bosom. +He held her there without alarm or embarrassment; +he stooped and picked up the letter +she had let fall. He glanced over it—it was +full of the youthful lover’s exultant young life; +one page was filled with glowing accounts of the +battle, the victory, the prize; another with passionate +protestations of love, fervent aspirations +after a speedy re-union, &c., &c.; but upon the +page upon which her eyes had been fixed when +she swooned, was an expression of a hope that +she would bestow her hand upon him during his +present visit, assuring her that he bore with him +letters to that effect from Captain Wilde and +from Sophie. Rosalia opened her eyes just before +he finished reading it. He raised her partly off +his arm, and said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, Rosalia, I have read your letter or the +greater part of it, do you care?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No—oh, no!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, Rosalia, you will probably meet your +betrothed at the house of your intended mother-in-law.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, I had rather die! die!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, I had! I had a <em>thousand times</em> rather +die than <em>meet</em> him! much less marry him!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia, there is one way to avoid it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She looked at him in painful inquiry.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Go with me to the Mediterranean!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She started violently—again the blood rushed +in torrents to her face, and passing, left it pale as +marble. She did not attempt a reply in words—he +continued,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Captain Wilde is cruising in the Mediterranean. +Sophie is either with him or residing with +the family of some English or American Consul +at some convenient seaport. I can easily +find out. I can very easily take you to them, +to Captain and Mrs. Wilde, if you would prefer +that to living with Mrs. Buncombe.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes, indeed I should so prefer it, greatly +prefer it, but could it be done? is it right that it +should be done? Will Mrs. Buncombe think it +proper? and will Hagar approve of it? I wish +this letter had come a day sooner, so that we +might have consulted Hagar!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Raymond Withers smiled a strange smile as +he said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Whatever Mrs. Buncombe may say or think, +I do not imagine that Hagar will be much surprised, +or that Sophie Wilde will fail to give +you a most enthusiastic welcome <em>when she sees +you</em>!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“If I thought it were possible, that is to say, +convenient and agreeable all around, and perfectly +right and proper in every respect, I—oh, I +should be so happy to go! but though I do not +know <em>why</em>, indeed, I am afraid it is not right.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Would <em>I</em> suggest a measure to you, Rosalia, +that is not right?” he asked, reproachfully.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, no—oh, certainly not—I did not mean +<em>that</em>.” He looked at her steadily.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And yet I don’t know! I don’t know! +Why do you look at me so? Why do you look +at me so—growing beautiful and more beautiful +every instant—growing bright and brighter until +you seem, not a man, but a star, a sun flashing +into my very <em>brain</em>, bewildering, making me +dizzy! striking me blind with light! Ah! I am +delirious again! Save me, Sophie! save me, +mother!” and with a sharp cry, half laugh, half +shriek, she fell into his arms. He stooped his +head and whispered,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are mine, <em>mine</em>, <span class='fss'>MINE</span>! Rosalia, I have +manœuvred, intrigued, and waited for this hour. +I have brought a high heart to the earth, trodden +<span class='pageno' id='Page_132'>132</span>a proud heart to the dust, crushed a strong heart +to death in pursuit of this hour. You are mine, +<span class='fss'>MINE</span>, girl! I have bought you with a price, a +high price! I have given up country, home, +wife, and children; resigned integrity, pride, and +ambition, and risked fair fame. Ah, God! I +pay dearly for you, Rosalia!”</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>Three weeks from this day Rosalia sat alone +in a private parlor in one of the principal hotels +in Washington. It was mid-winter, yet the +room was warm, and she reclined in a snowy +white muslin robe upon a crimson sofa that was +drawn up in front of the glowing coal fire; her +head rested on her arm upon the end of the +lounge. She was changed even in these three +weeks. The round, elastic rosy cheeks, whose +bloom was shaded faintly and fairly off towards +the transparent and azure veined temples, and +the snowy chin and brow were changed, all +were changed—the beautiful faint rose glow that +had overspread her lovely baby-face, had now +withdrawn and collected itself in one burning +fever spot in either cheek, leaving her brow and +temples pallid; and the liquid and floating light +of her soft blue eyes, had now concentrated in +one intense fiery spark in the centre of either +pupil. Her attitude was still as death, yet an +air of suppressed excitement was visible in every +feature. The door opened, and she started up into +a sitting position, as Raymond Withers entered; +<em>he</em> had changed <em>back again</em>, having regained all +his old accustomed ease and eloquence; he +wheeled a large easy chair to the fire and sank +down among its cushions.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia, we leave Washington in the Norfolk +boat at six o’clock to-morrow morning.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Have you heard from Hagar?” asked she, +faintly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, not a word—she is sulking, never mind +her, Rose,” replied he, an expression of pain traversing +his countenance, nevertheless. “<em>Why</em> +recall her?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not—she is ever, ever, <em>ever</em> before me! +her pale face! oh! pale like that of a victim +strained upon the rack! I believe Hagar is dead +and haunts me! Oh, let me go away, Raymond! +let me leave you!” and her face suddenly +grew sharp and white in anguish. He looked at +her uneasily.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rose!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She raised her eyes to his beautiful and resplendent +countenance, and her own softened. +He went and sat down by her side, and caressing +her gently, said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rose, dear, I am no kidnapper, no pirate. I +will take with me no unwilling companion. +Speak, Rose, you shall have your will in this. +Listen, dear, the Arrow steamboat in which we +embark to-morrow morning, the boat that is to +take me to Norfolk where the brig Argus awaits +to convey me across the Atlantic to my destination +on the Mediterranean—that boat you will +recollect passes immediately by Churchill Point—how +easy, Rose, to put you ashore there, where +you are already expected—where Mrs. Buncombe +already looks for you with impatience.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia shook as with an ague fit.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Where your betrothed, who has, no doubt, +already reached there on his way to the Rialto, +and who, having heard of your hourly expected +arrival, awaits you with all a lover’s ardor, will +meet you with all a lover’s enthusiasm—come, +what do you say, Rose? come, Rose, come? I +have a letter to write in which I must be guided +by your decision! Come, Rose! come! Shall +I put you on shore at Churchill Point?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Now</em>!” she exclaimed, in a tone of bitterest +anguish. “<em>Now!</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, then go back to the Rialto, return to +Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“To Hagar!” she gasped, as a sharp spasm +convulsed her features. “To Hagar! great +God! death, <em>death</em> rather.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He waited until her fearful excitement subsided, +and then, while he gently and softly caressed +and soothed her into quietude, he murmured in a +low, sedative tone,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I know it all, dear—I know how utterly impossible +it is for you to go to either. I only set +the plans before you, that you might <em>feel</em> the +impossibility as deeply as I knew the impracticability +of either project—and now you <em>do</em> feel +it! and now, my gentle dove, be quiet—nestle +sweetly in the only bosom open to you in the +whole world;” and he drew her within his arms +and kissed away her tears. Presently, arising, +he said, “Now I must leave you, to write a +letter, love.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And going to his chamber he sat down and +penned a short missive to Hagar. It was as +follows:—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in2'><span class='sc'>Indian Queen Hotel</span>, }</div> + <div class='line'>Washington City, Jan. 22, 182-. }</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-l c015'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Dearest Hagar, mine only one—</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>Yes, mine <em>only</em> Hagar—there is but one Hagar, can be +but one Hagar in the world—after all. I shall be obliged +to disappoint you and myself cruelly, by leaving the +country without being able to see you first. The truth is +this—for the last three weeks I have been dancing daily +attendance between the President’s mansion and the +State Department, in daily expectation of receiving my +credentials—they were at last placed in my hands only +four days ago—and I am to go out in the Argus, that sails +from Norfolk within a week; so you see, love, the utter +impossibility of our meeting again before my departure—best +so, perhaps—I do not like parting scenes. I wrote +to you that your cousin, Miss Aguilar, had decided to +embrace the opportunity offered by my escort, to go out +and rejoin her friends, Captain and Mrs. Wilde. Now, +Hagar, do not take any absurd fancies about this, I do +implore you. I have taken the greatest care of the +<em>proprieties</em>, love, I assure you. The day after we arrived +in this city, I happened to meet Lieutenant Graves, +who was formerly on the store-ship Rainbow with Captain +Wilde—we met him there, you will recollect—well, +now he is stationed at the Navy Yard in this city, +where he has a comfortable private residence, with his +wife; he invited me to his house, knowing that his +wife had been an almost daily companion of Mrs. +Wilde and Miss Aguilar while they were in Boston +harbor; I mentioned the presence of Rosalia in this +city, and her intention of going out to the Mediterranean +under my protection, to rejoin her friends. As I +expected, the next day brought Mrs. Graves to our hotel +to see Miss Aguilar, whom she invited home with her +to spend the weeks of her sojourn in this city; nothing +could have been more proper, more conventional, more +completely <i><span lang="fr">comme-il-faut</span></i> than this arrangement; nothing +could have been more <em>fortunate</em>, in fact. I bade +Rosalia accept the courtesy, which she did at once, and +Mrs. Graves carried Miss Aguilar home, within the walls +of the Navy Yard, where she has remained up to this +day. This evening Lieutenant Graves brought her back +to our hotel, because we leave at a very early hour to-morrow +morning. Rosalia is the bearer of many letters +and presents from Mrs. Graves to Mrs. Wilde. All right. +Now, Hagar, again—indulge no absurd fancies about +this! Do not make me savage! you have not answered +any of my letters—are you putting on airs, mistress? +Well, you will get out of them. I am exasperated into +writing sharply to you, by knowing instinctively what +you will think, how you will feel, perhaps what you +will <em>say</em>; but hold there, Hagar. Do not make me a +<span class='pageno' id='Page_133'>133</span>by-word, by giving language to your suspicions. Whatever +may be the broodings of your insanity, do not let +it break forth in ravings that will subject us to calumny. +You know my fastidiousness upon this point—please +remember it, Hagar; and remember, <em>too</em>, that your +eccentricities and wildness leave your sanity <em>questionable</em> +to some minds; that your jealousies will be the +<em>ravings of madness, and that mad women are not to be +trusted at large, or with the care of children</em>! So, for +your own sake, Hagar—for the sake of all you hold +most dear, be reasonable, cautious, and calm. It distresses +me to write to you so, love, just upon the eve of +my departure, but you are <em>so</em> crazy—and I want you to +try and retain the possession of your senses. Rouse +yourself, love! go into society, cultivate and indulge all +your favorite tastes; repurchase your little Arabian, +and be again the gay, glad Hagar you were at the +Heath; cultivate your music, give concerts, in which +you shall be the prima donna—collect a congenial +circle around you—purchase all your favorite books, +and everything that suits your fancy—exhaust the little +fund I have in bank, and let me know when it is gone. +When you are weary of everything else, go and visit +Mrs. Buncombe, at Churchill Point. Come, love, you +have enough to occupy you during my absence. Take +care of the babies. Rosalia sends her love to you—you +know her aversion to writing, or any other work that +requires mental application, and will therefore excuse +her. Do <em>you</em> write to me immediately—direct your +letters to Port Mahon, and send them through the State +Department. Why do you <em>not</em> write to me?”</p> + +<p class='c011'>In an hour from the moment of closing and +mailing his letter, Raymond Withers placed +Rosalia in a hack, drove to the steamboat-wharf, +and embarked upon the Arrow, which left for +Norfolk the next morning at six.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXXIII.<br> <span class='c009'>THE DESOLATED.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Thou knowest well what once I was to thee;</div> + <div class='line'>One who for love of one I loved—<em>for thee!</em>—</div> + <div class='line'>Would have done, or borne the sins of all the world;</div> + <div class='line'>Who did thy bidding at thy lightest look;</div> + <div class='line'>And had it been to have snatched an angel’s crown</div> + <div class='line'>Off her bright brow as she sat singing, throned,</div> + <div class='line'>I would have cut these heart-strings that tie down</div> + <div class='line'>My soul, and let it sail to Heaven to do it—</div> + <div class='line'>’Spite of the thunder and the sacrilege,</div> + <div class='line'>And laid it at thy feet. I loved thee, lady!</div> + <div class='line'>I am one whose love is greater than the world’s,</div> + <div class='line'>And might have vied with God’s; a boundless ring,</div> + <div class='line'>All pressing on one point—that point, thy heart.</div> + <div class='line'>——But, for the future,</div> + <div class='line'>I will as soon attempt to entice a star</div> + <div class='line'>To perch upon my finger, or the wind</div> + <div class='line'>To follow me like a dog, as think to keep</div> + <div class='line'>A woman’s heart again.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Festus</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>“Well, just once more, mother!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But this is expensive and inconvenient, +please to remember, Mr. Gusty, and we are not +rich.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Not rich—oh! mother, I wish you would +take something from <em>me</em>—which you never will.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, Gusty, I had rather be extravagant with +my own funds than with yours. I wish you to +accumulate property, Gusty—that is to say only +<em>this</em>—spend as little of your limited income as +possible, lay by the balance until you get enough +to purchase a piece of land and build a house. +I do think that every young man should do that—I +mean every young man with a fixed salary—of +course men engaged in commerce may use +their money to better advantage by investing it in +trade. But, oh, Gusty, I do wish to see you +have a house of your own so much; a home +that you can improve and beautify to your own +taste; and I do wish to see your Rosalia presiding +over it. Come and kiss me, dear Gusty! +dear fellow, don’t you think that I sympathize +with your hopes?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty laughingly sprang to his mother, and +catching her around the neck, kissed her uproariously, +saying—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<i><span lang="fr">Ah, mais, maman maligne</span></i>, you will not +make a feast for Rose, this evening!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! but, Gusty, see here! we have been +making feasts every evening for a week past, and +she has not come to eat them—and may not +come this evening—and, Gusty, besides, if I take +this little bride of yours here, and wish to keep +her for four or five years, to save some hundred +dollars of your salary annually, I must not make +her too expensive to Buncombe. Dear Buncombe, +he is so wise! so good! and so unobtrusive +in his wisdom and goodness—I have already +too much overlooked his interests and comfort +in my economies and sacrifices for you and Rosalia—I +must”—</p> + +<p class='c008'>Up sprang Gusty, exclaiming—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“If I thought that, mother, my honor”—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Is <em>safe</em> in your mother’s keeping, Gusty, believe that.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, mother!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, Gusty, nonsense—no high points of +honor with the woman that brought you into the +world, or with her husband either—Buncombe +suffers many privations that you know nothing +of, and could not sympathize with, if you did +know—he wants certain books, scientific and +mathematical instruments, &c., that he can never +purchase, because he spills his money all over +the parish; lavishing his slender means upon the +poor, instead of influencing the rich to relieve +them from their ample store—for Buncombe can +give, but he cannot beg, even for others—that +requires a high moral heroism in a sensitive +heart like his. I have had to pick his pockets +before he goes out, every day, else they would +come home empty. He never economizes; +never thinks of expense—not he—and when Rosalia +is seated by our fireside, he will never think +whether she costs us a hundred cents or a hundred +dollars a year—the blessed soul!—nonsense, +Gusty,” said she, with tears in her eyes, “you +will break my heart if you get upon your dignity +with Buncombe.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Getting upon my impertinence, it would be, +mother,” said Gusty, seriously, “only—well!—yes, +I am sure, mother, I can leave it all to you—must +do it, in fact—for until my marriage, I +have no right to object, and after my marriage, +there is no place where I would leave Rosalia +but here with you; and if you will not receive +any compensation, it cannot be helped for the +present.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You must appreciate Mr. Buncombe, +Gusty!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! I <em>do</em>, mother, I <em>do</em>! I think he is an +admirable—Crichton, or Christian—which is it, +mother?—I do, indeed—I really do—your appreciation +and affection endears him, mother! +But now, mother, indeed it is almost four +o’clock, and there is no certainty about these +evening boats—they pass any time between five +and ten—come, mother, tell Kitty to make a +nice little supper, and not to forget the rice +cakes, with honey sauce, that Rose likes, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_134'>134</span>then, mother, get your shawl and muff, and <em>do</em> +come along with me to the cliff, to watch for +the boat—come, mother, oh, <em>do</em> come!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Emily arose with a smile and a sigh.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mothers with marriageable daughters make +heavy complaints—the egotists!—but a mother +with a marriageable son—a great loblolly boy, +in love, who is always melting over her!—has +not <em>she</em> a trial? As for those rice cakes, Mr. +Gusty, they are very well once in a long time, +but we have had them prepared every week for +your Rosalia, who has not appeared to partake +of them; and we have had to eat them all up +ourselves, to keep them from being wasted, and +we are all getting the dyspepsia, and I am losing +my complexion from indigestion, and whatever +you may think, I assure you, Master Gusty, that +I value the beauty of my complexion for the +sake of my good man, quite as much, and perhaps +more than your Rosalia values hers, for +the sake of you—and as for this trip to the +beach, Master Gusty, every afternoon, through +the cold, and over the snow, it does not help to +counteract the ill effects of the cakes quite as +much as I could wish, because, Master Gusty, I +have to stand upon the wet beach, in the current +of wind too long, Master Gusty—and so, Master +Gusty, you will please to be a trifle more +reasonable in your love, if love and reason ever +can coalesce in you—but, however, Master +Gusty, I will once more take cakes and cold for +your sake,” and going out into the kitchen, she +gave the necessary orders, and returned enveloped +in a large hood, shawl, and muff. Gusty +buttoned up his great coat, and they set out. +The walk from Grove Cottage to the promontory +was rather long. The afternoon was clear, +bright, and cold, and the snow, slightly crusted, +crackled under their feet as they pursued their +way towards the cliff. They reached its summit, +and stood upon the extreme point of the +peak. Emily took out her watch to note the +time, gaily grumbling at its waste, while her son +adjusted his pocket-telescope, and took sight up +the river.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is five o’clock, Gusty, and nearly dark +besides, or would be, if it were not for the full +moon, helping the twilight.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is coming, mother—the boat is coming!” +exclaimed Gusty, still keeping his telescope +pointed up the river. “It is the Arrow, mother, +I can see the name.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The boat bore down rapidly. They turned +to descend the steep and slippery sides of the +cliff, and stood upon the frozen beach as the +boat flew swiftly on. His heart paused as it +neared—stood still as it passed. Let <em>me</em> pause +here. Reader, notice this party on the cold +beach, and now cast a magician’s glance into +the cabin of the boat that is passing. In a +small state room opening from that cabin, upon +the floor by the side of the berth, kneels Rosalia +Aguilar, with her face pressed down upon the +pillow, with the ends of the pillow held up +against her head, to shut out every sight and +sound of the shore and home she is passing, +which is yet distinctly and fearfully present to +her mind’s eye and ear. She sees the village, +the dividing river, the heath, with its forest in +the background; the promontory, the old Hall, +with its broken garden wall and poplar trees; +lastly, the beach, and the party on the beach. +Emily and Gusty—she knows, she feels, that +they are there waiting her—she knows, she feels, +that they were there yesterday, and that they +will be there to-morrow. She knows, she feels, +how they will both wait and wonder—how one +will sicken and suffer with “hope deferred”—and +ah! reverting to another home upon the +banks of a Northern river,—another desolated +home, desolated by herself, she sees <em>another</em> +bleeding heart and burning brain, as she presses +the pillow closer about her ears to shut out +sights and sounds that her spirit-eyes and ears +must see and hear—how long? Rosalia was +not one to enjoy a single hour’s impunity in +singing—yet she went on.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Behold the insanity of passion that, through all +the accumulating anguish of remorse, perseveres +in sin!</p> + +<p class='c008'>The boat has passed.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Again, mother!” exclaimed Gusty, with a +look of deep disappointment.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, and again many times, perhaps, my +dear boy! Something detains her; perhaps we +shall hear by to-night’s mail,” and they turned +to leave the cliff.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty saw his mother home, and, without +stopping to take supper, hurried off to Churchill +Point, to await the arrival of the evening’s mail. +He returned in two hours—there was no letter. +The next night, and the next, and every night +for a week longer, Emily and her son watched +for Rosalia in vain. The mail came in twice a +week, and every mail-day Gusty was waiting a +letter at the post-office, and Emily waiting him +at home. At last, one night, Gusty hurried +in with a letter. Throwing it in his mother’s +lap, he exclaimed,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is for <em>you</em>; open it quick, mother, do; +there is something odd about it; a letter addressed +in Raymond Withers’s hand, and postmarked +Norfolk. What can it mean? Do read +it, mother!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Emily glanced her eyes over it, while Gusty +stood pawing and champing in his impatience. +It was merely a formal announcement from Raymond +Withers of the change in Miss Aguilar’s +plans; of her determination to go out under his +protection and rejoin Captain Wilde and Sophie, +&c., &c. Emily handed him the letter in silence, +and watched him as he read it. Fearful was the +picture of passion presented by Gusty! his bosom +heaved in fierce convulsions—the blood rushed +to his head, his face grew scarlet, the veins on +his temples and forehead swelled like cords, his +teeth ground together, his eyes glared and +flashed. Crushing the letter in his hand, he +raised it above his head, threw it hard upon the +floor, set his foot upon the paper as though he +would grind it to powder, and strode up and +down the room shaking his clenched fist, gnashing +his teeth, and exclaiming, as he foamed at +the mouth,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Villain! wretch! dastard! God! oh, God! +that months, that days, that even <em>minutes</em> should +pass before my heel is on his neck! my sword’s +point in his heart!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Amazed, alarmed at his terrible excitement, +Emily followed him up and down the room.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Gusty! dear Gusty! in the name of Heaven +sit down—be calm!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>But, foaming and shaking, Gusty did not heed, +or even hear her.</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_135'>135</span>“If I had him here! If I had him here, with +my foot upon his chest, my hands around his +throat—he would be but as a reed in my grasp—a +fox’s cub in a lion’s claws! Oh! if I had him +here beneath my feet! <em>Oh!</em> if I had him here! +<em>Oh!</em> if I could get at him now! <em>Why</em> can I +not clear the distance between us at a bound!—spring +upon him! bear him down to the ground!—God! +oh, God! I shall dash my desperate +brains out before I can get at him!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Emily had sunk pale and trembling into her +chair, quite overwhelmed by his frightful passion, +while, like a man in a fit of hydrophobia, like a +maniac in the height of his phrensy, like a wild +beast maddened in his cage, he raved, and shook, +and foamed!</p> + +<p class='c008'>Passions, like tempests, by their own fury, +soon exhaust themselves. Fits of passion, in +some natures, spend their last fury in tears as +the storm passes off in rain. He raged until the +exasperating image of Raymond Withers was +replaced by the subduing form of Rosalia, and +anger was drowned in sorrow for the time. He +dropped heavily upon the sofa, and burying his +face in its large cushions, sobbed—yes, <em>sobbed</em>—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia! Oh, <em>Rose</em>, <em>Rose</em>!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Emily, much wondering at, and alarmed by, +the great degree of emotion raised by a seemingly +insufficient cause, arose, and tottering, came and +sat beside him. He remained unconscious of +her presence. She sat there half an hour, waiting +for him to look up, before he seemed to observe +her; at length he turned over, and revealed +a face pale and ghastly, as by a recent fit of illness. +He looked up, with an appeal for sympathy +straining through his bloodshot eyes, piercing +up to the gentle face of his mother.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“In the name of Heaven, now, Gusty, what +<em>does</em> all this mean?” she inquired, anxiously.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Mean</em>, mother! Ah, Heaven! <em>yes</em>, what +does it mean!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Surely, Gusty, it is extravagant to manifest +all this frightful passion at this disappointment. +I own that it was rather unkind in Rosalia to go +off to Sophie when we were expecting her, and +that it was thoughtless in Raymond to omit +writing until the last hour, very thoughtless; but”—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Thought<em>less</em>! the calculating, forecasting +demon! it was just the contrary—it was thought<em>ful</em> +of him!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What do you mean, Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Could he reveal to her the fearful light that +had broken upon <em>his</em> mind? the terrible truth +that had overwhelmed him? Oh, no! at least +not now; he remained silent, and she continued +to misunderstand him. She went on to say—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Your disappointment blinds you—makes +you unjust, Gusty; it was thoughtlessness, or +much occupation, that prevented Raymond +Withers from writing, to give you an opportunity +of seeing Rosalia before their departure; and for +the rest, if you can only get over the present disappointment, +this arrangement will be better for +your <em>pleasure</em>, whatever it may be for your +purse; for look you, Gusty: suppose Rose had +really come, as she promised, and you had married +her, and, at the expiration of your leave of +absence, left her here, as arranged; you would +have spent only a fortnight with her, and then +been separated from her for two or three years. +Now, by this new plan, you are for the present +disappointed, but then you will soon go out, +meet her and be near her all the time. Nonsense, +dear Gusty! You have nothing really to +regret.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And so, in her happy blindness, she continued +to talk to the despairing boy before her; and so, +uninterruptedly, he let her talk on, while he lay +there with his hands clasped upon his corrugated +brow. At last, aroused by the laughing and +crowing of a wakening baby in the next room, +she went and brought her little girl out and sat +down with her by Gusty’s side, thinking the glee +of the babe, of whom he was very fond, would +enliven him. On the contrary he became very +much agitated. Presently he said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mother, dear, if it will not be too much inconvenience, +put a shirt or two, and a pair of +socks, &c., into my valise; I’m off by the morning’s +boat for the North.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, Gusty!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dear mother, <em>yes</em>!—I must see Hagar!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why must you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I <em>want</em> to see her, mother—<em>must</em> see her! +I am <em>anxious</em> about her!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Anxious about her?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, <em>very</em> anxious!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And why are you so?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Without replying, Gusty arose and walked +the floor with his arms folded and his chin +bowed upon his breast.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What makes you so anxious to see Hagar, +Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He paused, and looked perplexed for a few +minutes, then suddenly replied—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Is it not natural that I should wish to see +Hagar after so long an absence?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But it is not so long an absence, and your +resolution is so sudden.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, besides, mother, finding now that it is +useless to try to see Rosalia—for that was a +ship-letter dated at Hampton Roads, and brought +in by the pilot, you know—I wish to dissipate +my chagrin, mother; is not that natural?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes! Well, I suppose you do,” said +Emily.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The next morning, early, Gusty May set out +for the Rialto.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXXIV.<br> <span class='c009'>CHANGES.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in16'>“When sorrows come,</div> + <div class='line'>They come not single spies but in battalions.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Shakspeare.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“An eagle with a broken wing,</div> + <div class='line'>A harp with many a broken string.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Sybil’s Leaves.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>From Lieutenant Augustus May to Mrs. +Emily Buncombe.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>The Rialto</span>, February 21st, 182-.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>“<span class='sc'>Dearest Mother</span>:—Come to Hagar. Yes, come. +Whatever you may have in hand, put it down, pack up, +and come to Hagar. You will do so when I have told +you all I have to tell you—alas! the worst you will +not know until you reach this place. I arrived at —— +on the 15th of the current month, early in the morning, +and proceeded at once to The Rialto, reached the house +at about eleven o’clock, was ushered into the drawing-room, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_136'>136</span>and inquired after the health of the family. I +was told by the servant who admitted me, that Mrs. +Withers had been extremely ill for the last six weeks, +but that she was now better, and able to leave her +room. I sent up to know if she could receive me—the +man returning told me that Mrs. Withers would be +down in a few minutes. Well, mother! I waited perhaps +half an hour, at the end of which time the door +opened, and a figure—as Heaven hears me, mother, I +did not recognise it for Hagar! the once elegant and +brilliant Hagar! a figure shrouded in a black wrapper, +with the hair all pushed back under a sharp cornered +muslin cap, that marked the outline of a countenance +never to be forgotten!—the pallid forehead was doubled +in a dark fold between the eye-brows, and above eyes +strained out into such startling and piercing brightness, +that I shuddered and dropped my gaze before them! +she came on slowly, trembling, tottering, and sank into +a chair, in such utter feebleness; she attempted to +speak, to greet me, but the words died on her white +lips. To see Hagar thus! our beautiful, resplendent +Hagar! our strong, proud, exultant Hagar! Mother, I +have seen death in all its phases, the soldier struck +down in battle, the criminal swung off from the yardarm, +the old man give up the ghost in his bed, and the +infant fall into its last sleep in its mother’s arms, yet I +never realized <span class='fss'>DEATH</span>; never! until I saw this high +soul brought low, this fiery soul quenched, this eagle +of the sun lying wounded on the earth, weltering in +blood and dust. My proud sister Hagar! my high-souled +Hagar! would that I had suffered alone! would +that I could have died to have saved her! You do not +comprehend her grief, or my deep sympathy, mother—alas! +you will understand it but too well by-and-bye. +Oh! well, I went to her, sat beside her, took her hand—I +felt that I was her brother—I pitied her, loved her, +would have soothed her, caressed her as when she was +a little girl; but with a haggard look and an adjuring +gesture she repelled me, as she murmured, in a hollow, +church-yard voice, ‘I have been ill—ill.’ ‘I know it, +dearest Hagar; dearest sister, I know it all—everything—I +am a fellow sufferer, but no matter for that; what +is my grief to your great sorrow! Hagar, I am your +friend—your brother for life and to death! I will do +anything you wish me to do—I am at your command—I +will even throw up my commission and come and live +near you, if, by doing so, I can be of any use to you. +Yes, Hagar, I will do that, even if I have to mend clocks +for a living.’ She looked at me and faltered a reply; +but, oh! the words fell from her ashen lips unnatural +and unintelligible, like those from an automaton, and +few as they were, they seemed to have exhausted the +small remnant of her strength, for she sank back in her +chair in a swoon. I flew to the bell and rung it violently, +and Mrs. Collins came in—seeing the state of +Hagar, she immediately summoned a female domestic, +and bore her back to her chamber. I followed them +up stairs. I could not, would not stay away. I followed +them into her room—saw them lay her upon her +bed—waited until they had recovered her—saw her +open her eyes, and then, and not till then, I withdrew +and left her to repose. She was worse the next morning—the +agitation occasioned by our interview had +caused a relapse—and, mother, that very next day, the +day succeeding my arrival, while she lay at the point +of death, <em>an execution</em> was brought into the house, and +everything swept off! all that splendid furniture, together +with the valuable library, and rare collections of +pictures, statuary, and virtue accumulated by the late +General Raymond—all went! I repurchased the furniture +of her suite of private apartments; but she shall +not know that; she will naturally think, and I shall +permit her to think, that they were spared by creditors—and, +mother, if you come on here, take care that you +do not undeceive her. It seems that for the last two +years, Mr. Raymond Withers—curse him! has been +living far above his income, and that as soon as his +creditors knew him to have left the country, they came +down upon his property. Hagar does not yet know the +new misfortune that has fallen upon her, as she was +lying insensible when the sheriff’s officer took the inventory +of her bed-chamber, and I took the precaution +that none of its furniture should be disturbed. Mother, +come quickly to Hagar. The servants are all leaving +the house, because there is no money to pay them their +wages. I have exceeded my furlough. I do not know +what will be the consequence, and cannot help it. I +am cited to appear before a court martial—cannot do it, +of course. The devil himself would not leave Hagar in +her present situation. Thank God! I have got a few +thousand dollars in bank, and that will keep the wolf +from Hagar’s door for some years to come, any how! +Oh, mother! do come quickly. Hagar is still confined +to her bed—she wants a lady with her—a friend with +her. Mrs. Collins, the housekeeper, and Barnes, the +nurse, leave at the first of March; that is close at hand, +so do not delay.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c015'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Your affectionate son,</div> + <div class='line in8'>“<span class='sc'>Augustus W. May</span>.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<hr class='c018'> + +<p class='c008'>From Mrs. Buncombe to Lieutenant May.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>Grove Cottage</span>, March 1st, 182-.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>“You are mad, unlucky boy! I have just this moment +got your letter—and I am exactly horrified to +death at its contents. Gusty! is this the way in which +you repay all my care of you? Return immediately to +your post, as you value my blessing. Do you not know, +wretched boy, that you run the risk of having your +commission taken from you? Do you not know, oh! +dolt of a child, that you will be scandalized to death, if +you remain a day where you are? and all the servants +leaving the house, too! Oh, Heavens, Gusty! am <em>I</em> +who never risked the chance of a breath of calumny, +am <em>I</em> now to suffer through the imprudence of my son? +What would your blessed father say if he were here +to know of this? If you have not already left the +house, leave it immediately on the receipt of this letter. +I <em>command</em> you, Gusty! return to your post, and write +me that you have done so, as you value my blessing, +Gusty! Nay, dear Gusty, I withdraw the command; +I have no right to make it to a grown up man—and, I +<em>entreat</em>, Gusty, that you will return immediately to your +post, as you value my peace, Gusty.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“As to my coming to Hagar, it is not possible just now; +Buncombe has the rheumatism, and baby is cutting her +eye-teeth; besides which, Kitty has scalded her hand +so badly as to be nearly useless—so that you see I am +the sole dependence of the family.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“As for Hagar’s anguish, it is as inexplicable as your +past fury was. I can well imagine her regret at parting +with her husband, but as for the rest, it is all mystery, +and you know it has been said by them of old time, that +where there is mystery it is fair to presume guilt, or at +least some grave error. This unhappy Hagar had ever +possessed the unenviable gift of drawing down upon +her head the ban of society—but she must not pull +others down with her. It is all inexplicable to me—I +do not understand it in the least; but I fear all is not +right. Write to me immediately, Gusty, and tell me +that you are off. I am so uneasy that I have no appetite +for my dinner.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c015'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Your anxious and affectionate mother,</div> + <div class='line in20'>“<span class='sc'>Emily Buncombe</span>.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<hr class='c018'> + +<p class='c008'>Mr. May to Mrs. Buncombe.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>The Rialto</span>, March 7th, 182-.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>“<span class='sc'>Dear Mother</span>:—I received your letter to-day. I +am here yet, you see. In all things that are right I will +obey you always, if I get as big as Goliath and old as +Methuselah. But! when I forsake Hagar in her utmost +need, may God forsake me then and for ever +Amen—so be it. Selah. Hagar is still too ill to leave +her room; still ignorant of the execution. Collins, +Barnes, and the rest have left the house—<em>all</em> have left +except a maid-of-all-work, whose wages <em>I</em> have engaged +to pay. A second execution at the suit of another +creditor has been levied, and a second time I have had +to redeem from confiscation, the furniture of her rooms. +As soon as Hagar is able to travel, I must get her away +from this; I cannot stay here for ever, paying that infernal +fellow’s debts, as I am now obliged to do, to keep +poor Hagar from being shocked to death.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“Well, mother! it is as you feared—I am cashiered! +dismissed the service! Well, what of it? The service +has lost more than I have, by the arrangement! The +service has lost a gallant officer! a noble fellow! a +whole hearted man! <em>I</em> say it! Moreover, they cannot +cashier my bones and muscles, my heart and brain, +my faith, hope, and energy! Besides, the blow Rosalia +dealt me, has stunned, numbed me into a sort of insensibility +to all wounds inflicted upon myself. I am +vulnerable now only through Hagar.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“Well, I am cashiered! Grieve for the service, +mother! not for me.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c015'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Your affectionate son,</div> + <div class='line in8'>“<span class='sc'>Augustus W. May</span>.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<hr class='c018'> + +<p class='c008'>Mr. May to Mrs. Buncombe.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>The Rialto</span>, March 14th.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>“<span class='sc'>Dear Mother</span>:—I wrote to you a week ago, but I +<span class='pageno' id='Page_137'>137</span>cannot await your answer, as I am in great haste. In +naming this homestead ‘The Rialto,’ I presume they +merely had an allusion to its locality above the river—but +it is appropriate in its sadder association, too. This +is, indeed, a ‘bridge of sighs.’ The house was sold to-day +for taxes. Poor Hagar is up at last—but oh! such +a wreck; her beautiful hair that I thought concealed +under her cap, has been all cut off. She bears her new +trials better than I expected. Like me, her one great +sorrow has rendered her insensible to minor griefs. +She wishes to return to her own home, Heath Hall. It +is upon this matter that I write to you. Do, mother, +have it made comfortable for her reception. She has +sold all her own jewels to defray the expenses of her +journey. There is a balance to the credit of Raymond +Withers—perdition catch his soul!—at the bank, but +Hagar will not draw it. Prepare to receive the stricken +one kindly, mother, I entreat you, as you value my +peace, mother!</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c015'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Your affectionate son,</div> + <div class='line in8'>“<span class='sc'>A. W. May</span>.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXXV.<br> <span class='c009'>THE RETURN.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in14'>“Oh! if indeed to <em>part</em></div> + <div class='line'>With the soul’s loved ones be a bitter thing,</div> + <div class='line'>When we go forth in buoyancy of heart,</div> + <div class='line'>And bearing all the glories of our spring,</div> + <div class='line in14'>Is it less so to <em>meet</em></div> + <div class='line'>When these are withered? Who shall call it sweet?”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Hemans.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>The 20th of March, 182-, was a day to be +remembered for the terrible storm of wind, snow, +and hail that visited the earth, and raged through +these latitudes all that tremendous day and +night!</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was in the height of this furious tempest, +that a packet might <em>not</em> have been seen as it +toiled against wind and tide, on its way down +Chesapeake Bay,—might <em>not</em> have been seen, for +it was as difficult to <em>see</em> through the dense fall +of snow, as it was to <em>breathe</em> against the driving, +piercing sleet that struck into every pore of the +skin and thorax like millions of needle points.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Could you have discerned that packet boat +through the shrouds of falling snow, you would +have looked upon a bark apparently carved in +ice. The deck was blocked up with drifting +snow, freezing as it fell, and still increasing +against all the efforts of the crew. The masts +struck up like shafts of ice, between which the +crossing ropes formed a crystal lattice-work. +The sails were stiff, stark, and glittering with +sleet. And all—ropes, masts, and sails, grew +thicker every instant,—losing their distinctness +of form as the snow fell fast, congealing on +them, until the bark seemed the nucleus of an +avalanche, or the skeleton upon which the body +of an iceberg was being formed.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The cabin of that little packet was small, +deep, and dark, and lighted even in the day by +a tiny lamp nailed against the wall. In this +low cabin, by the side of the narrow coffin-like +berth, sat a pale and ghastly little woman, +clothed in a black dress and simple cap, whom +you would never recognise to be Hagar. Upon +the berth lay two sleeping infants, of nearly +twelve months old. She leans heavily with both +elbows upon the side of the berth, and supports +her drooping head upon her hands. She has sat +thus for hours, while the tempest has raged above +and around her. She will probably sit there for +hours longer unless the children wake, or some +one enters to rouse her from her dreamy trance. +She does not hear the howling wind, though it +beats among the ice-bound and rattling sails and +ropes, a thundering accompaniment to its fierce +song. She does not see the snow, though it has +nearly blocked up the narrow gangway leading +down into her cabin. She does not feel the +penetrating and piercing cold, though her hands +are purple, stiff, and numb. Towards the evening, +Gusty May entered the cabin.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How are you now, Hagar, and how are the +children?” inquired he, coming up to her side.</p> + +<p class='c008'>She did not seem to see or hear him. He +repeated his question earnestly. She raised her +pallid brow and straining glance, and answered, +mechanically,—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well—we are well.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do the children fatigue you, Hagar? You +look so weary; why do you not call me to help +to take care of them when they tire you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“They never tire me,” replied Hagar.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Have they brought you any dinner, Hagar? +I really do not believe they have. No!—and +your fire has been suffered to go out, while I have +been on deck all day helping to work the vessel +or clear the deck. What a thing it is to see a +poor, dear sick girl, with two children, on the +water in such a scuttled tub as this bark, without +even a female attendant!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>So lamenting, Gusty bustled about, replenished +the fire, and going to a locker, brought out a glass +of cordial and a cracker, which he compelled +her to swallow, saying,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is a ‘round, unvarnished’ truth that, if I +were not here to kindle your fire and to hold a +morsel to your lips, you would starve to death, +Hagar! I wonder how long this dreadful apathy +is going to last!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Then setting away the glass and plate, he +went to shovelling away the snow from the +gangway.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Passengers for Heath Hall!” sang out a voice +from above.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty dropped the shovel and rushed up on +deck. Hagar, her children, and himself, were +certainly the only passengers for Heath Hall. +After an absence of five minutes he returned.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar! rouse yourself, now, dear Hagar, +and answer me; we are nearly opposite to +<em>Heath Hall</em>!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The sound of that name was sufficient to +arouse her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Speak on, Gusty, I am neither dead, deaf, +asleep, nor crazy, Gusty, though I must often seem +to you to be one or the other. Well, what were +you saying about Heath Hall?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“We are nearly opposite to the promontory, +Hagar, and we must now go ashore, or keep on +down the bay to the Capes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, go on shore by all means! What suggested +the other alternative?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What? Poor thing, you know nothing! It +is a frightful night to go on shore, Hagar. We +stand out a mile from the land, and cannot even +see the shore through thick and driving hail and +sleet. Then, the beach must be covered knee-deep +with snow, and the ascent to the promontory +nearly impracticable from ice—that is to +say, for <em>you</em>, Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“For <em>me</em>—you forget, Gusty, overwhelmed, +as you see me, by mental troubles, you know +that I am nearly invincible before physical ills +<span class='pageno' id='Page_138'>138</span>and obstacles. I can see my way through the +darkest night that ever shrouded earth—keep my +footing firm in the ascent of the most slippery +and dangerous precipice in the world. Thank +God! my physical powers are not destroyed +yet.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are feeling better—your spirits are +rising, Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, they are, they are, to be under the +shadow of my old Hall again! I think that I +shall no sooner step upon my native heath, than +I shall feel life and spirits strike up through my +feet, filling my whole frame with strength and +power.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Passengers for Heath Hall, get ready,” yelled +a voice from the deck.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, Hagar, get the children and yourself +ready quickly, while I see the trunks lowered to +the skiff.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, oh! these children! these children! +after all, perhaps we had better stay here, than +expose <em>them</em> to the storm.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“They shall not suffer from exposure to the +storm; <em>I</em> will carry the babies, and take care of +that—so if you think that you can get along and +keep your footing ascending the cliff, we had +better go ashore notwithstanding all I have said; +for it threatens to be a horrible night, and God +Almighty only knows what may be the fate of +the packet before day.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar said no more, and Gusty left the cabin. +Hagar wrapped her children up in their little +warm light blankets and long cloaks, and then +put on her own close travelling dress, and had +scarcely completed her preparations when Gusty +came down again, and assisted her with the children +by taking charge of one while she insisted +on keeping the other on deck. And what a +deck it was! She toiled up the gangway knee-deep +in snow, while the sharp and driving sleet +cut into her face, nearly blinding and smothering +her; it was almost impossible to see a foot in +advance; in an instant her whole dress was +covered white and stiff with snow, that froze as +it fell. It was only her warm breath that kept +mouth and nostrils free for breathing, and saved +her from a freezing suffocation. Gusty kept +hold of one hand; drawing her through the snow-drifts +beneath, and the falling avalanche of sleet +around, he guided her to the edge of the vessel, +lowered the two children half smothered in their +wrappings, to the oarsmen in the skiff, handed +Hagar down, and descended after her; while +the sleet whirling thick around them threatened +to convert the little boat with its freight into a +huge snowball. The two oarsmen pulled swiftly +through the white tempest for the shore—providentially +wind and tide were in their favor; they +soon reached the beach—but, oh! what a howling +wilderness of a shore it was upon this tremendous +night! On their left the promontory, like +some huge ice-peak of the arctic regions, loomed +horribly through storm and darkness; while +towards the right the white shore stretched away +in a dim horizontal line—a half-guessed vague +terror like the shores of the frozen ocean seen +through the night. Using their oars as poles +they pushed the boat through the rushing water +and crusted ice, and landed it upon the beach +immediately under the promontory. Pausing a +moment to gather breath after their great exertions, +the two men took each of them a child, +and Gusty drew Hagar’s frost-crusted arm within +his own, and they stepped from the boat, and +struggled on through the deep snow and against +the driving storm to the little fishing-house +against the side of the promontory. The wind +and sleet were in their face, blowing from behind +the other side of the promontory. As they toiled +on towards it they found the snow less and less +deep, until coming under its cover they trod upon +bare though frozen ground, and reaching the +fishing-house found it perfectly dry, as the +ground was for many yards around it; a better +protected place than was the cabin of the ship +they had left. Taking away the prop that fastened +the door, they entered. The men stood +holding the children. Hagar dropped upon an +upturned fishing-tub; while Gusty, taking a small +wax candle and tinder-box from the pocket of +his great coat, struck a light, and holding it +about surveyed the premises, as the men, giving +the children to Hagar, returned to the boat to +fetch the trunks. It was a small but tight and +well-finished, weather-proof little place, built +against the side of the promontory of rocks +cut from its bosom; the walls were plastered, +the floor paved, and an ample fire-place on the +right of the entrance, faced a large window on +the left. It had been built as a place of deposit +for fishing tackle, and as a kitchen for dressing +the freshly caught fish, crabs, and oysters, when +the Churchills varied their hospitality by an improvised +fish feast upon the beach.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty surveyed the capabilities of the place, +poked the candle and his nose into holes and +corners, among broken fishing-rods, old flag-baskets, +staves of fallen down tubs, footless pots, +and topless kettles, &c., and then sticking the +candle against the side of the chimney, he collected +some of the old flag-baskets, and breaking +them up, piled them in the fire-place and set +fire to them—they blazed and roared delightfully +up the chimney, diffusing agreeable light and +warmth. Then drawing a rude stool to the +chimney-corner, and going up to Hagar, he took +the two children from her arms, and told her to +pull off her snow-covered riding habit and sit +there. She did so, and held out her arms to +receive the children back. He set them in her +lap, and going to the pile of staves, brought and +threw them on the burning embers of the flag-baskets, +making a great fire, whose light glowed +all over the small room, heating it pleasantly. +Then he hung up her riding habit to dry, and +digging out an old tea-kettle from the pile of +rubbish, he clapped his hat upon his head and +went out to fill it at a spring that bubbled from +the rock by the side of the house; returning he +set it on the fire, just as the voices of the men +were heard approaching the cabin. They came +in, each with a large trunk upon his shoulder, +and bearing another by the handles between +them. They came in and setting down their +burdens prepared to depart and return to the +packet—but Gusty, with a gesture, detained them, +as he knelt at the side of one of the trunks, and +opening it, took out a bottle of brandy, some +spices, and a mug, and gave “something to protect +them against suffering through the inclemency +of the weather.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>They then departed, leaving Gusty, Hagar, +and the children, sole occupants of the cabin.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is vain to think of trying to reach the Hall +<span class='pageno' id='Page_139'>139</span>to-night, Hagar,” said Gusty, as he pulled off +his greatcoat and hung it near the fire to thaw and +dry. “And we must just stay here till morning,” +he continued, and turning a tub bottom upwards +he drew it up to the fire and seated himself, +watching and tending the kettle as it progressed +towards boiling. “If the men could possibly +have stopped and lent us their assistance in carrying +the children, I might have helped you, and—but, +no! even then it would have been impossible +on this frightful night! We should have +got lost, and floundered about in snow-drifts +until morning, if we had not perished before +then; the snow is so much deeper than I had +any idea of before leaving the packet,” and +Gusty, taking a stick, and passing it through the +handle, lifted the boiling kettle from the fire, and +set it on the hearth, saying, “I am going to +make you some spice tea, Hagar, to restore your +circulation and send out a perspiration; you are +chilled to death, your hands are livid,” and putting +some cloves into the mug, he poured some +of the boiling water upon it and set it down to +steep.</p> + +<p class='c008'>All this time, Hagar had heard his remarks +without replying to them—seen his efforts for her +comfort without acknowledging them; because, +after her sudden rise of spirits, she had again +sunk into apathy. Soon he took a little rude +table—once used in cooking operations—and +turning it bottom upwards, and gathering all their +outside coverings that were now dried, he made +a little warm bed for the babies, and begged Hagar +to lay them in it. She did so, covered them +up snugly, and resumed her seat.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I wish, Hagar,” said he, as he handed her the +mug of spice tea, “I <em>do</em> wish that there was a +place where you could lie down and take some +sleep.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She smiled sadly and shook her head faintly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I know <em>now</em> what to do,” he said, receiving +the empty mug from her hand and setting it on +the hearth; “yes, I know what to do now,” and +taking her riding habit, he hung it from the corner +of the mantel-piece down against the wall +behind her, and said, “Now, adjust your stool +comfortably, Hagar, and lean upon that; you +will rest better, and perhaps you will sleep. I +shall sit here in front of the hearth, and watch to +keep the fire going.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And so the party remained through all that +stormy night. <em>But!</em> Hagar had better have +braved the fearful ascent of the precipice through +that terrible storm—had better have perished in the +snow—on that horrible night, than have lived to +defy the more fatal tempest of calumny raised by +her lodging in the fishing-house, and that soon +roared and raved around her, striking thunderbolts +upon her devoted head.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXXVI.<br> <span class='c009'>HAGAR AT HEATH HALL.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in6'>“<a id='t139'></a><span lang="it">Nessun maggior dolore,</span></div> + <div class='line'><span lang="it">Che ricordarsi del tempo felice</span></div> + <div class='line'><span lang="it">Nella miseria.</span>”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Dante.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>All night the children slept on their rude +pallet, lulled by the howling of the storm, as it +came dulled through the thick walls of the fishing-house. +All night Hagar slumbered a fitful +and uninterrupted slumber, more like a succession +of fainting fits than a natural sleep, for overpowered +by fatigue, she would fall into a state +of deep insensibility, from which she would often +start in terror, aroused by a sudden consciousness +or dream of wrong, danger, or censure, of a terrible +and impending destiny. All night Gusty +sat upon the inverted tub drawn up between the +fire-dogs, guarding his charges and keeping up +the fire. Gusty, in whom the animal so largely +predominated, found it very hard to keep awake—yet +Gusty, who had never lost a meal’s victuals +or a night’s sleep for any grief or disappointment +he had ever suffered—Gusty, now that the health +and comfort of others made it necessary for him +to do so—propped his eyes open with heroic perseverance. +Every one knows how difficult it is +to keep from going to sleep, alone, in a quiet +room over a good fire; there is something soporific +in its genial heat, even in the day time. +Gusty could have sworn he had not closed his +eyes the whole night, yet by some inexplicable +magic he had, or dreamed he had taken up a stick +to mend the fire—at deep, dark, stormy midnight—and +when he put it down, or when it fell +from his hand—the instant after—it was broad, +bright, glorious daylight! with the sun beaming +a blinding light through the window, whose form +was traced in amber radiance upon the opposite +wall, near which Hagar stood in her travelling +dress, ready for a walk, with the two babies +standing clinging to her skirts, and gazing with +baby wonder upon the strange scene in which +they found themselves.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Lord!—yes!—well!—I declare!—so it is!” +exclaimed Gusty, starting up.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am glad you slept well, Gusty, dear, kind +friend,” said Hagar.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I never <span class='fss'>SLEPT</span>!” averred Gusty, with his eyes +still wide open with astonishment, thinking himself +bewitched.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar smiled sadly to herself, and did not contradict +him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty arose, and shook himself, like a great +honest dog roused from slumber, and walking to +the door opened it and looked out.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! Hagar, come!” said he, “look out—what +a glorious morning!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She went up to his side. It was indeed a gorgeous +scene! The heath and hills were covered +with crusted and brilliant snow, glittering with +diamond dust. The forest trees carved in ice, +with icicles for foliage. From every bough and +bud dropped millions of pendent jewels. Earth +wore a gorgeous bridal dress, bedecked with +diamonds, and the morning sun kindled up into +dazzling splendor the icy glories of the scene, +until the snow flashed back to heaven, in lines +of blinding light, a glory brilliant as the sun +himself. Gusty shaded his eyes from the blinding +radiance. Hagar gazed unwinking with her +eagle eyes upon the landscape, until the fire +kindled in her cheek and burned on her lips. +When they had breathed the pure air, and enjoyed +the prospect a few minutes, Gusty said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You must remain here an hour, Hagar, until +I go to the Hall and fetch a horse—it is almost +impossible for you to get over these slippery and +mountainous snow-drifts yet.”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_140'>140</span>“But it will be quite impossible to get over it +with a horse.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, just now it will, but in an hour or two +the crust will be melted. Oh! this snow, deep +as it is, will not last long; it comes too late in +the season; the last offering of old winter, who +turned back to make it. Yes, there is a great +change since last night, I should think the +thermometer had risen thirty degrees. I declare +the sun begins to feel warm on my shoulders. +Well, Hagar, stay here till I come. Oh! there +are some crackers in my trunk, if you want +them for the children, here are the keys,” and +throwing them to her, he buttoned up his great +coat, drew on his gloves, clapped his hat upon +his head, and set out. He might have been gone +an hour, but she heard no trampling of horse +feet upon the snow, and so was unconscious of +their approach until Gusty opened the door, and +stood smilingly with his broad good-humored +face within it. Behind him—standing on tiptoe, +to look over his shoulder, was Tarquinius, +grinning with delight from ear to ear, and breaking +past them, yelping defiance like fire and +sword, sprang two pointers straight upon Hagar, +whom they overwhelmed with welcome caresses! +She started with brightening eyes, and returned +their honest fondling. Then how they bounded, +leaped, and fell into convulsions of joy! or lay +their muzzles out upon her lap, every hair +vibrating with a still delight.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, Mrs. Withers, are you quite ready?” +said Gusty, drawing off his gloves and putting +them into his pocket.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes, quite ready.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How do you do, Tarquinius?” said she, +kindly holding out her hand to the man that had +been standing smiling and bowing his reverential +welcome (making his <em>obedience</em>, he called it), +through all this scene. “How is old Cumbo—how +is your grandmother, Tarquin?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Putty much de same, I tank you, ma’am—I +does not see any changes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yet she is very aged.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, ma’am, but her ages does not get any +wusser, but commiserably better.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Can she do anything for herself?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes, ma’am! she deforms de cookinary +boderations as well as ever she did,” and making +two or three deep bows, Tarquinius Superbus +retired from the conference.</p> + +<p class='c008'>There was an unusual kindliness in Hagar’s +manner while inquiring after the welfare of her +old nurse; one of the blessed influences of sorrow +was beginning to manifest itself—her heart +was softening, becoming capable of being impressed +by the afflictions of others.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar, come!” said Gusty, lifting up a child +in each arm, and preceding her from the door.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar followed, and no sooner had she +emerged into the dazzling sunlight upon the +crusted snow, than with a neigh of joy her little +jet black pony Starlight, bounded to meet her. +She fell upon his neck, caressing him, as if he +had been her brother, too surprised and glad to +ask an explanation of his arrival. She patted, +talked to him, and laying her hand upon his +mane, sprang into the saddle with something of +her former agility and gladness. She had +thought the coming of the dogs accidental, she +thought that Gusty had met them on an early +hunt, and that they had naturally recognised an +old friend and followed him to the house; but +now that she felt herself again upon Starlight’s +back, with the dogs at her feet, she wondered +how it came so.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sit Agatha here before me, Gusty, I can +hold her with one hand, and guide Starlight with +the other. I mean to accustom the children +early to riding.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And which <em>is</em> Agatha, and which is Agnes?—hang +me if I can tell, though I have a preference! +for this little one on my left arm loves +me the most, presses close to me, looks up in my +face, and seeks my eyes; and if I turn away my +head, she puts up her little dimpled hand upon +my chin, and turns my face around again, till +she can see my eyes. God love her! God bless +her! the loving darling! while this other child +sits perched upon my arm, as if it were a high +chair, with closed lips and level gaze, with all +the composed dignity of an infant princess. +Now, which is Agatha, and which is Agnes? +If my loving darling is Agatha, I won’t give +her up.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, your favorite is Agnes—the other is +Agatha; hand her to me; and, Gusty, I wish +you would not manifest the slightest preference +for one child above the other—it is a fatal +cruelty. Agatha is still, because she has less +vitality than her sister; she is more delicate, +dear child. I discovered it the first moment I +had an opportunity of comparing them.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty placed the sedate infant in her mother’s +care, and seemed very well pleased to be relieved +from the burden, and at liberty to devote his +whole care to the “loving darling” in his arms. +And so the party set out over the brilliant snow, +under the glorious sunshine. They reached the +old Hall in twenty minutes’ ride. Agatha had +fallen asleep on her mother’s bosom. They entered +through the broken gate, and Hagar rode +quite up to the piazza, and handing the sleeping +babe to Tarquinius, she sprang from her saddle, +took back the child, and entering the doorway, +stood one moment in silent prayer, and passed +on into the parlor, where stood old Cumbo leaning +on her stick, with a red handkerchief on her +head, tied under her chin, and forming a brilliant +red frame around a face, black, wrinkled, and +shining as a dried prune. Awed by the memory +of Hagar’s pride and hardness, the old woman +did not advance to welcome her, but when Hagar +approached and spoke to her gently and +kindly, she fell to crying and calling her dear +“piccaninni.” Hagar looked around upon the +scene; it appeared to her strange that everything +had remained unchanged during the long century +that her two years’ absence seemed to be. It +was the same old parlor papered with the +martyrs—with the shadows of the same poplar +trees intercepting the sun at the windows that +looked out upon the piazza. A good hickory +fire was burning on the ample hearth, and a +good breakfast smoking on the table. Hagar +set her child down upon the carpet, and began +to take off her travelling dress, just as Gusty +entered, followed by Tarquinius, bearing a dish +of fine white perch, fried, which he had just +brought from the kitchen, and now set upon the +table. They sat down to breakfast.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“These are very nice, Tarquin—did you +catch them?” asked Gusty, placing a perch upon +the plate before him.</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_141'>141</span>“Yes, sir! I did, sir; I most in general confuses +my ledger hours by angulating in the bay, +whenever the perdition of the hemisphere commits.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah, that’s right; has my mother—has Mrs. +Buncombe been over at the Hall to give any +directions?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, sor, but de reverend gen’lem’n, sir, he +come ober, and dejected us to have ebery ting +impaired, and all the molestic confairs deranged +for Mrs. Widders, an’ so we have conveyed his +ardors to de best of our debility.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Thank you—you are a valuable agent!—Hagar!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I shall have to take leave of you immediately +after breakfast; I must see my mother—she +is uneasy, I know—perhaps sick. Say, are +they all well over to the Grove, Tarquin?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, sir, de reveren gen’lem’n, he has got +over his room-atism, and goes all over the +house; but he is inflicted with a dog-matism in +his ear, owing to Mr. Green’s big dog, Silver, +jumpin’ up and bitin’ him.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Speaking of dogs, will you tell me, Gusty, +how Starlight, and Remus, and Romulus came +here?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Came here? Why, they have been here all +the time; did not you know it?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, indeed; tell me about it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“In the first place, the dogs would not stay +anywhere else. Gardiner Green tied them up, +but they gnawed their rope in two and fled to +the Hall; and then he caught them and chained +them, but they kept such a dismal howling—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Poor dogs!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That Mrs. Green, who is very superstitious, +insisted on their being set at liberty, and they +immediately returned to the Hall!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dear, true dogs! Well, but Starlight?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, Starlight! <em>he</em> was worse, it was a regular +conspiracy. Star behaved like a comet—like +a devil let loose. Gardiner Green mounted him +on Sunday to ride to church, but no sooner was +he prisoned on the saddle, than Star shot forward +like a meteor, while Green fell upon his neck and +grasped his mane; Star fled across the meadow, +making the turf fly beneath his digging feet, fled +towards the river, plunged in, swam it, climbed +the opposite side, and took the way towards the +forest. Soon the pointers came baying behind +him. On fled Star, with Green clinging in +deadly terror to his neck, bent on a regular +steeple chase, bounding over the hills, tearing +through the forest, springing over gates, leaping +across chasms, till at last reaching and clearing +Devil’s Gorge at a bound, he sent Gardiner +Green spinning from his back like a shot from a +pop-gun! and keeping on his course, arrived in +a somewhat excited state of mind at his own stall +at Heath Hall, where the pointers soon overtook +him. Gardiner Green was picked up by those +who went to look for him, battered, bruised, and +terrified nearly to death, but not lamed, dead, or +otherwise injured. The next morning they sent +over and had Starlight led back; and Starlight +stepped statelily forth with the indignant air and +threatening eye of a captive king led in triumph, +who expects yet to rise and crush his enemies.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My noble Starlight!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! he was a hero—he was not born to be +a slave, or to serve any master except for +love.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Like his mistress,” thought Hagar, and her +brow grew dark with recollection.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, they carried him home and geared him +up into Mistress Green’s gig—but he ran away +with that, threw Mrs. Green out, spoiling her +beauty but not seriously injuring her—kicked the +gig to flinders, and brought the remnant of his +gearing as a trophy home to the stables of Heath +Hall that very evening. Then they put him in a +cart, which he served in the same manner. Then +they put him in a plough with another horse.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Poor, dear Starlight—to degrade my elegant +Starlight so!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Exactly! but his highness, Prince Starlight, +the Black Prince, would not stand it—he kicked, +and reared, and plunged, and tried to excite his +comrade to run away. And when his small-souled +comrade would not, he bit him severely +on the neck, as a punishment for helping to keep +him prisoner. And then Gardiner Green offered +‘the black fiend’ to any one for half the price +he gave for him. It was just at this juncture of +affairs that I had run down here to see mother +again before going the voyage I expected to sail +on, and hearing of this, I gladly purchased the +horse at half-price, and returned him to the +stables at Heath Hall, for the use of Hagar if +ever she should return—for, Hagar, it is demonstrated +that he will not serve man, woman, or +child, but you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I know that,” said Hagar, “and Gusty, I +thank you, very sincerely—but I must repay +you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Be hanged if you shall! I will give him to +you, but as for <em>selling him to you</em>! I’d cut his +throat first! I was very willing to pay a good +price for him, only I was enraged with that old +brute, Gardiner Green, for having the atrocious +assurance to buy your horse and dogs without +your consent; for, of course, Hagar, I knew perfectly +well that you would never have agreed to +the sale, and so I would not be generous! I was +too glad to punish his fault through his tenderest +point, his pocket.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But,” said Hagar, choking with the unavailing +effort to speak <em>a name</em> that had not passed +her lips since its owner was lost to her sight, “<em>he</em> +sold them, and of course my consent was understood +or unnecessary.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>This was the first occasion upon which even +the most distant allusion was made between +Hagar and Gusty to the party that was nevertheless +ever present to the minds of both. Gusty +soon after arose from the table, and in taking +leave of Hagar, promised that if it were possible +for his mother to venture through the deep snow, +he would bring her over in the afternoon.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>The family of Grove Cottage had just arisen +from breakfast. The parson had just buttoned +up his greatcoat, set his hat upon his head, and +was drawing on his wool-lined gloves for a walk +to the village, when the door opened, and Gusty +entered.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! how do you do?” exclaimed Mr. Buncombe, +slightly starting back with surprise, and +then cordially shaking his hand. Gusty, returning +his salute, passed on to where his mother sat +at the head of the table. Emily arose with tears +<span class='pageno' id='Page_142'>142</span>in her eyes. Gusty caught and folded her warmly +to his bosom.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Mr. Buncombe returned, and laying his hand +upon his step-son’s shoulder, said—“Gusty, my +boy, I am called to the sick bed of one of my +parishioners, and must leave you. I am sorry, +but I shall meet you here at dinner?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, sir. Oh! never mind me, my dear sir.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The parson departed, and Gusty releasing his +mother, snatched up his infant sister, Rose, and +began to cover her with caresses and praises by +way of diverting the storm of maternal grief and +resentment, that he felt too ready to break over +his head. Emily was weeping bitterly, until, seeing +<em>his</em> grief and embarrassment, she arose and +fell upon his shoulder, exclaiming,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, Gusty! Gusty! you have destroyed the +labor and the hopes of many years and cares. +You have nearly broken my heart—but you are +welcome, nevertheless! Welcome, welcome, my +boy!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mother! <em>don’t</em>, now <em>don’t</em>—don’t make me +<em>feel</em> like a brute, when I <em>know</em> I have behaved +like a man!” said Gusty, setting down the child, +and returning his mother’s embrace. “I have +not merited this misfortune, mother; and I know +that therefore, sooner or later, it will turn out +well!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah! but, Gusty, it is <em>such</em> a blow! and you +did nothing to avert, and will do nothing to +remedy it! <em>Why</em> did you not, why <em>do</em> you not, +even now, hasten to Washington, and petition to +be reinstated?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I would see the whole United States Navy +swamped first, mother! No, much as I honor +my flag, I honor myself more! and God most!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah, Gusty! ‘God helps those who help +themselves,’ is a very true proverb.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“May be so—but I’ll improve upon that, ‘God +helps those who help their neighbors!’ I have +Scripture for <em>that</em>, mother; ‘Cast thy bread upon +the waters, and after many days it shall return, +and whoso giveth, <em>lendeth</em> to the Lord.’ Come, +mother, I lost my commission by doing a higher +duty than any I owed my flag, and so I am not +uneasy; but, mother, you have not once inquired +after Hagar, who landed last night in the midst +of the storm, and who is now at the Hall.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well! how should I be able to think of +Hagar, when I have so many anxieties on your +account, unfortunate boy? but how is Hagar, +then?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Recovering slowly, but <em>very</em> slowly; will +you not go over to see her, then, this afternoon?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Emily was silent and thoughtful, and sooth to +say, rather displeased at the proposition.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will you not, mother? Come, mother; when +you see Hagar, so wretched, so ill, so changed, +your unjust displeasure with her will be dissipated; +you should not indeed feel angry with +her because she was the involuntary, the unconscious +cause of my misfortune, which she does +not even know of yet—thinking I am on furlough—and +do not tell her, mother.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, but I see no <em>reason</em> for all this wretchedness. +I knew that Hagar madly loved her +husband, but I do not see why his leaving her +for two years should cause her to lose the power +of directing her own life, and so cause you to +lose all the hopes and prospects of yours.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty mused. Could he, he thought, enlighten +his mother as to the <em>real</em> state of affairs? After +some minutes’ reflection, he determined to keep +the secret of the elopement, veiled as it was by +the foreign mission; both because, though his +suspicions came as near truth as suspicions <em>could</em> +come, yet they were not fully proved—<em>he</em> might +feel very sure himself, yet he might not he able +to assure another mind—and because he did not +wish to inflict upon his mother another sorrow, +in addition to the one she was now almost sinking +under. He felt sure that she would never +receive a hint from Hagar, whom self-esteem, as +well as her continued and inevitable love for her +husband, would keep silent upon the subject of +his perfidy, and her own wrongs and sufferings.</p> + +<p class='c008'>After dinner, Emily, attended by her son, rode +towards Heath Hall.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>When Gusty May had left the breakfast-table +for his walk to Grove Cottage, Hagar took her +two children up to her own chamber—to her old +eyrie in the third story. This room also was +unchanged—except—yes! there sat her children’s +little rose-wood crib, with all its furniture, +just as it was before it had been sold at the third +execution. There could be but <em>one</em> to whom she +was indebted for this delicate attention, and +though her morbid pride was at first startled, yet +her affections were touched by this instance of +disinterested friendship.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Without any pretensions, Gusty was doing +everything to sanctify the uses of adversity to +the heart of Hagar. It was impossible not to +be softened by the kind offices of a friendship +that gave everything without hope or even +thought of return. This was Hagar’s first, her +<em>very</em> first experience of disinterested affection—the +love of Raymond was intensely selfish, craving +only the possession of its object, regardless +of her affections or her happiness—and Hagar +had felt that bitterly through all her married life, +and most bitterly in her desertion. The effect +of this selfish and cruel abandonment on the +character of Hagar’s mind and heart, must have +been most deleterious, fatal, but that the antidote +was provided in a new phase of human sympathy +revealed to her in the disinterested affection +of one—an alien by blood—a rejected and humbled +lover of her girlhood, a sufferer by the same +treachery that laid her own hopes in the dust; +one who, without pretending to any fine feelings, +or expressing any fine sentiments, had quietly +suppressed and concealed his own griefs, in ministering +to her wants, in trying to alleviate her +sorrows. Hagar’s maternity had first inspired +her deepest prayer—her children had been the +angels sent to conduct her heart to God—to +whom, ever since, with an almost hearing, seeing, +touching faith, she had offered all her joys, +gratitudes, and praises, and where, alas! she had +also impiously carried all her fears, complaints, +and reproaches. But now she must ask a boon +of Providence, that He would bless and prosper +the kind soul that she was unable to benefit. +This was the silent prayer—the silent fragrance +rising from the bruised heart to heaven—while +she loosened her babies’ clothes, and laid them +in the crib to take their forenoon nap. And +then she looked around the pleasant room with +its agreeable associations, the extensive prospect +from the windows of the broad river, the village +<span class='pageno' id='Page_143'>143</span>with its little stir and bustle on the opposite side, +the boundless bay with its occasional passing +packet, all inspiring the feeling of life, liberty, +and strength. If God is a kind father, as all his +children devoutly feel and acknowledge, <em>Nature</em> +is a good nursing mother, and under the care of +both, Hagar was even now beginning to feel her +torpid life stir again. She was at <em>home</em>, under +her own roof; what if the house were half a +ruin—it was <span class='fss'>HER OWN</span>. She was upon her own +land, and though it was only a desert heath, it +was <span class='fss'>HER OWN</span>. There was a sense of independence +in that, and of pride in the thought that +for this home she was not indebted to Mr. +Withers—for, though she still <em>must</em> love him, in +her high self-appreciation she now felt an unconquerable +reluctance to receive anything from him +who had withdrawn his love and personal protection. +And then there was a sense of returning +power in the new life that was tiding in and +filling all her veins. Turning from the window, +from which she had been gazing, her eye fell +upon her own image in the glass; that glass +which had so often reflected the slight dark figure +of the high-spirited maiden, whose long blue-black +ringlets glittered down a crimson cheek +blushing with pride, <em>now</em> gave back the form of +the matron, whose fair, wan, spiritual face was +faintly flushed with returning life, and softly +shaded by the tiny black ringlets of the young +hair just visible under the delicate lace border +of her little cap. Hagar scarcely knew herself. +It was so strange to see that changed picture in +that frame.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Returning and looking again at her children, +she drew the light muslin curtain around them, +and left the room to take a look through the +house. She went into the large, old drawing-room +hall, as it was called in those days, and +there the first thing that met her eyes was her +grand piano, and her harp, from the Rialto. +Hagar started in surprise and embarrassment—the +burden of obligation was beginning to feel +oppressive—she called Tarquin in.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“When did these arrive, and who brought +them here?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“They ’riv’ ’tother day, ma’am, by the packet +‘Future,’ Cap’n Hope, who sent ’em up to the +Hall by two sailors.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“With any message?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, ma’am, freight paid in advance—dinner +is ready, Mrs. Withers,” said the man, throwing +open the parlor door with all the ceremonious +observance of “better days.” Hagar passed in +and sat down to her solitary meal. It was a +well served, delicate little repast, purveyed by +the affectionate care of Cumbo and Tarquin from +the rich resources of the Heath and bay, which +were always abundantly supplied with wild +game, water fowl, fish, crabs, oysters, &c., in +their respective seasons. There was no danger +of our Hagar starving, and that was one comfort; +nor of her freezing, as long as the forest stood +behind the Heath, and that was another consolation. +Her dinner was scarcely over and the +things removed from the table, when looking +through the window, she saw Emily on her little +mare with her little girl before her, and Gusty +riding by her side. This of course was the first +sight she had had of Emily for two years past; she +hastened out to meet her. Gusty had dismounted, +and was lifting his little sister from his mother’s +lap, previous to assisting her from the saddle. She +greeted Hagar with as much cordiality as could +be expected under the circumstances. Hagar +immediately ran, and lifting, caressed the little +girl that was but a few months older than her +own children. Emily’s sullen anger was somewhat +softened by witnessing the sincere interest +manifested by the youthful mother in <em>her</em> child, +and so they went into the house. Soon Hagar +led her babies, who could now walk, into the +room, and the two women for a time forgot—the +one her pride, the other her anger, and both their +antagonism, in comparing and admiring the three +babies as they toddled about. Emily remained +to tea, and forgot her displeasure so far as not +only to suppress the fact of her son’s having +been cashiered, but also to invite Hagar to come +and spend a week at Grove cottage, as soon as +she should be able to go out.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The next morning, directly after breakfast, +Gusty came over to Heath Hall to inquire after +Hagar and the babies, and to know if she wanted +anything.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, Gusty, I want to speak to you. Come +in here, Gusty,” and taking his hand she drew +him into the drawing-room and pointed to the +piano and harp.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah, yes! certainly! give me a tune!” said +Gusty, blushing and stammering with embarrassment.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, Gusty, <em>you</em> sent these here!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh—yes—well—what of it?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Only <em>this</em>, Gusty, that you are <em>very good, too +good</em> for your own sake—but, Gusty, dear friend, +you must not lavish such presents upon me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! nonsense! oh, pshaw! they were sold +at auction, and I bought them in for a mere +trifle.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, but, dear friend, there are many reasons +why you should not offer and I receive costly +presents like these. Much as I dislike to do it +I shall have to draw—upon—upon <em>his</em> banker +and pay you for them as well as for the horse +and dogs.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<span class='sc'>Hagar!</span>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dear Gusty, now listen to me quietly, <em>it +must be so</em>; and moreover, dear Gusty, you must +not get into the habit of visiting me every day as +you appear inclined to do. You must never +come to see me, Gusty, except in company with +your mother.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<span class='sc'>Thunder!</span>” roared Gusty. “Hagar, how +have I deserved that sentence? I can’t stand +that!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Listen, Gusty! when I was a girl you know I +did not care at all what people said or thought of +me. I cared for nothing but to keep my Maker’s +laws, because no one cared for me then.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And no one cares for you <em>now</em> as I can +see!” said Gusty, rudely.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No—<em>but I care for others</em>! I care for the +honor of one whose honor is more vulnerable +through <em>me</em> than through <em>himself</em>! Once I was +unconnected, and if society had misunderstood, +judged, and condemned me, I should have fallen +alone! and so I had courage to do as I pleased +and defy the fate! <em>now</em> I am closely entwined +with others, who, when <em>I</em> am struck down, fall +with me. I am weak, fettered, enslaved through +them, Gusty. I cannot do as I please, and +though I esteem and respect you beyond all +other people in the world with one exception, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_144'>144</span>and though your society would be the greatest +solace in my reach, yet I must forego it, dear +Gusty.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You have no faith in my honor, in your own +purity, or in God! that is just the amount of it,” +growled Gusty, straightening himself up with +tears in his eyes as he buttoned up his greatcoat. +“It seems to me you are not yourself; you are +weak.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am weak <em>through those I love</em>, Gusty!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And do you, Hagar, really <em>hope</em> to propitiate +the gossips of —— county by this course? and +do you, a deserted wife!—there it’s out! well! +it has been <em>in</em> both our minds continually, so it +had as well come out. I say, do you expect to +be let alone? Do you not know that the old +grudge against your wild girlhood will be +remembered, and now that an opportunity is +offered, will be visited with fury on your head. +You will be cast forth from here, Hagar; a +ground-swell of slander and persecution will lift +and lift you, Hagar, until you take wing. Did +you think when I brought you to be nursed into +health and strength by the bracing air of your +native heath, that I thought that <span class='fss'>YOU</span> would stay +<em>here</em>? No, Hagar! I could prophesy <em>more</em> +for you, but I will not now. I will leave you to +the force of circumstances; to the inspirations of +your own genius—to God in fine. But you are +wrong to discard me. I have not deserved it. +<em>I</em> say it! But I charge all this weakness of +yours upon bodily ill health. Good morning, +Hagar;” and shaking her hand affectionately, +he clapped his hat upon his head and went out.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>It happened as Gusty had predicted. Hagar +remained weeks, months at Heath Hall, and no +one visited her—not a soul had come to welcome +her back to her native neighborhood except the +Buncombes. All sorts of evil reports got into +circulation against her. She was, as Gusty said, +a rich waif for the gossips of —— county. +Some were contented with repeating that her +husband had left her, that “of course he had +good reason,” asserting that they “had always +expected it.” Others declared that <em>she</em> had +eloped from <em>him</em>, and averred that they had +“said so long ago.” Some said positively that +he had left her upon account of the intimacy +subsisting between herself and Lieutenant May—others +had discovered that Lieutenant May had +been cashiered upon her account, &c., &c., &c. +Many other and more fatal rumors got into +circulation, and though they never reached the +ears of Hagar, she felt them in the utter abandonment +and solitude into which she was +suffered to fall; for even Emily’s visits became +shorter and colder, and “few and far between,” +until they ceased altogether, and Hagar Withers +was left <em>alone</em>! And it was under these +circumstances, and when her twins were little +over a year old, that her third child was born. +It was a little, fair-skinned, blue-eyed, golden-haired +boy—with the very soul of Raymond +Withers reposing on his features; and Hagar, if +she could not love the babe more upon that +account, was happier in her love, because the +face of the baby gave her back the features of +her absent and lost one.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXXVII.<br> <span class='c009'>REMORSE.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Pangs more corrosive and severe,</div> + <div class='line in2'>More fierce, more poignant and intense</div> + <div class='line'>Than ever hostile sword or spear</div> + <div class='line in2'>Waked in the breast of innocence.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Margaret of Anjou.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>Rosalia Aguilar was not one to enjoy an +hour’s impunity in sinning. From the time of her +passing Churchill’s Point—through all the days +of her passage down the bay to Norfolk—up to +the time of her embarkation—and through all +the weeks of her long sea voyage, she had +remained in a sort of horrid waking dream—with +her life broken off in the middle, and its +innocence and happiness wafted away—receding +with the receding shores of her native country. +Raymond vainly waited for the struggle to cease, +when she might repose calmly in his power. +The struggle <em>had</em> ceased, but the issue had not +been what he hoped and expected. The struggle +had ceased—passion was conquered, and remorse +was the victor, the judge, and the executioner. +Her health declined daily; her features +grew sharp, and her complexion of a blue transparent +paleness. She became so feeble at last +as to be almost unable to go upon deck. Every +day she expressed an earnest wish to reach the +end of her voyage. Every hour she besought +Raymond when he should land, to place her in +some quiet, obscure retreat, and leave her for ever—leave +her to die alone—to die in peace. And +Raymond would endeavour to soothe her, while +evading her despairing entreaties. At last +Rosalia ceased to make them, and seemed +resigned to her destiny. And Raymond deceived +himself with the fond belief that she was content, +and pleased himself with the hope that once upon +the shores of sunny Italy her health and spirits +would return, especially when towards the end +of the voyage, and after they had entered the +Mediterranean, she revived so much as to be able +to come on deck every morning and evening. +In this seemingly promising state of affairs, they +arrived at Genoa—the post of Raymond Withers’s +consulship. On the voyage out Miss +Aguilar had passed for what she really was—the +ward of Captain and Mrs. Wilde—going out +under the protection of the new Consul, to +rejoin them. It had been the design of +Raymond Withers, on reaching the shores of +Italy, to find some convenient and obscure, but +beautiful palazzo, buried in some fragrant grove +by the side of some lovely stream—furnish and +adorn it to please his own luxurious taste, and +enshrine his idol there, where the privacy of the +retreat would prevent exposure for some time. +How he expected to meet the further difficulties +that make “the way of the transgressors so hard” +does not appear.</p> + +<p class='c008'>They landed at Genoa. Raymond Withers +took his ward at once to a hotel, saw her +comfortably ensconced in her own apartment, +and promising to meet her at dinner, left her for +the purpose of presenting his credentials in the +proper quarter.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was about three o’clock when he left the +hotel—it was five when he returned, sought his +own chamber, changed his dress, and sent a +waiter to the apartment of Miss Aguilar, to +<span class='pageno' id='Page_145'>145</span>know if she were ready for dinner. The man +returned after some time, saying that he supposed +the young lady was sleeping, as he had knocked +loudly but received no answer. Raymond +settled it in his own mind that she was taking an +afternoon’s nap, and waited patiently for an hour, +then touching the bell, he sent the waiter that +answered it again to the chamber of Rosalia, +and again the man returned in a few minutes, +with the information that the young lady was +still sleeping. Raymond thought that Rosalia +was taking a very long sleep, and hoped she +might awake refreshed and cheerful, and be able +to spend the evening pleasantly with him. He +ordered dinner and ate it alone. Then selecting +a delightful little private parlor, which contained, +among other luxuries, a grand piano, he +took possession of it, giving directions that an +elegant little supper should be prepared and set +on the table there at ten o’clock.</p> + +<p class='c008'>And there he sat waiting, promising himself an +evening of delight, with Rosalia’s society, and +his long lost luxury—music. At nine o’clock +he sent a third time to the chamber-door, and a +third time the waiter returned to say that no +answer was given to his knock. Now, for the +first time, a feeling of uneasiness arose in +Raymond Withers’s bosom; and reluctant as he +was to violate any of the external proprieties of +life, whatever he might do with its moralities, he +determined to go to her room and see what was +the matter. He went, rapped at her door, +received no answer—rapped a second time and +louder, and waited, listening with his ear to the +lock; <em>all was silent as death!</em> Then he tried +the lock and found it fast. In real alarm now +he knocked loudly, beating and shaking the door, +and calling on the name of Rosalia—then +suddenly stopping while the sounds died away +in silence, he put his ear to the key-hole and +listened—<em>the stillness of the grave was within!</em> +Terrified now, he hastened from the door to the +nearest bell-rope, jerked it down, and broke the +wires with his energetic pull, sending peals of +alarm through the house that brought the landlord +and half the servants in the establishment +to his presence.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Are you sure that this is the room in which +the young American lady was placed?” he +inquired of the host.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Si, Signore.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Are you <em>certain</em>?” he again asked in Italian.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Si, Signore, <em>certainly</em>,” replied the landlord +in the same language.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then I must have the door forced—the +young lady entered this chamber at three o’clock, +and though summoned both to dinner and to +supper, has not made her appearance or replied +to the call, or given, in fact, the slightest sign of +her presence, or even of her existence! and it is +now ten o’clock. I am extremely anxious concerning +her, and must have the door forced. +Clear away all these people, signor landlord; +I did not want the whole establishment about my +ears—and bring an instrument to force this lock. +I tell you that I am consumed with anxiety!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Si, Signore; what does Signore think may +be the matter?” inquired the host, as with a wave +of his hand he dismissed all his attendants and +took a master key from his girdle.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Matter! how can I tell? the lady may be +ill, dead, in a lethargy; open the door; <em>do!</em> +without more delay.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The landlord placed the key in the door, +turned it, and throwing open the door, bowed, +and was about to withdraw, when Raymond +Withers recalled him by a gesture, and both +entered the chamber. The room was unoccupied, +the bed empty, and its perfectly smooth and +neat appearance proved that it had not been +slept in. Yet Rosalia’s trunks were on the floor; +her pet doves, released from their cage, were +perched upon the top of the dressing-glass; and +even her dark blue velvet travelling dress and +close beaver bonnet, lay upon the white Marseilles +counterpane that covered the bed. Raymond +gazed around in perplexity and distress. +There was no other mode of exit from the room +except the door by which they had entered, and +the windows; he went to one and raised it; +pshaw! the fall to the ground was fifty feet; a +bird would have risked its neck in taking the +flight; and Raymond turned away from the +window in despair, to detect the landlord’s smile, +which was quickly drawn in as he met his guest’s +anxious gaze of inquiry, and replied to it by +saying—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The young lady could only have left the +room by the door at which we entered, sir—and +she must have locked her door, and taken the key +with her; and to prove it, see—there is no other +means of exit from the room; and when we +came we found the door fastened, the room +vacant, and the key gone,” said he, pointing to +the lock. Raymond Withers was half stupified +with astonishment at her absence, and alarm for +her fate.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Had she any acquaintance in the city?” inquired +the host.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, of course not—<em>not one</em>—she was a perfect +stranger.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She <em>may</em> be in the house; I will inquire,” +said the landlord.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Do</em>, and be quick, will you?” said Raymond +Withers, lifting the lamp from the dressing-table, +where he had set it at first entering the room. +As he raised up the light, his eyes fell on a small +white note that, lying upon the white cover of +the table, had escaped his first glance, so that he +had set the lamp down upon it and concealed it +until this instant. Snatching it up now, he saw +that it was directed to himself in the hand-writing +of Rosalia; he tore it open and read—</p> + +<p class='c014'>“Good-bye, Raymond—I am gone. Forgive me, Raymond, +all the sin I have caused you to commit—all the +suffering I have made you undergo—and when I dare to +pray, I will implore the God of Mercy to bless and heal +you. I have left you in this abrupt manner, Raymond, +because I knew that you would not have suffered me +to depart had you suspected my intentions; nor, to tell +the truth, had I the courage to brave the anguish of a +parting scene. I had long resolved on this. Indeed, +had it not been for this resolution, I should never have +lived to reach the land, Raymond. This resolution was +the secret of my recovery at sea; a temporary recovery +only, I begin now to think it was, Raymond, for to-night +a mortal languor overpowers me; I can scarcely raise +myself from my chair, or draw one weary foot after the +other; yet must their last strength be spent in bearing +me away from you, as surely as my last breath shall be +spent in praying for you, Raymond. I do not know +where I am going—towards what point of the compass +my failing steps will stray—to some quiet spot where I +can lie down and go to sleep—I have not been to sleep +since <em>that day</em>!—that day when I kneeled down by the +side of your lounge, and, with my head upon your +cushion, sobbed myself to sleep, while you looked gently +in my face and stroked my hair, soothing into stillness +<span class='pageno' id='Page_146'>146</span>the tempest in my bosom. Ah, that day, when waking +up, I, unfortunate! became your Eve, tempting you to +sin! No more, alas! I have not slept since then; for +though I have laid down and shut my eyes, I have never +lost myself—never lost consciousness of my sin—my +remorse—and never lost sight of one image—the image +of Hagar! oh! I feel it sacrilege for me to trace the letters +that form her name!—of Hagar, as she stood pale +in the grey morning light, with her black hair streaming +down her wan cheeks. In that form her spirit always +stands before me night and day, and I cannot shut it +out and sleep. I shall escape this image in leaving you, +Raymond, and so I shall be permitted to go to sleep and +die; for it was you she followed, cleaved to, not me; +and this is the reason, I know it, she never looks indignant +and reproachful as she used to look at me, even +when I did not understand her look—but deprecating, +loving, imploring, and most wretched as she used to +look at you when in her anguish she forgot that other +eyes than yours were on her. Good-bye, Raymond! +my tears are falling fast—thank God, they can flow once +more! they have been scorching up in their fountains +so long! Ah, now I understand poor Hagar’s dry sobs! +and the untold agony breaking forth through them! as +much more awful than the grief of tears as the burning +sirocco of the desert is more terrible than the April +shower. Well, I can weep now, thank God! Come, I +shall be able to sleep soon; perhaps I shall even grow +calm enough to die. Good-bye—take care of my doves; +I would like to take them with me, but they would +perish where I shall go to sleep. Give them to Hagar’s +children—there! now the tears are raining from my +eyes again. Oh, Raymond, I would lose my soul to +save, to redeem yours! would descend into hell to purchase +you a place among the archangels! Good-bye! +good-bye! Alas! I shall write all night; I cannot tear +myself from the paper that yet connects me with you. +Good-night, Raymond! I pour my whole heart and +soul, my life and immortality in one blessing, and +breathe it in the words, <em>Good-Night</em>!</p> + +<p class='c017'>“Why has a revolution passed through my soul +within the last minute, and since writing the last good night? +Why do I feel now as though it were a sin to +leave you? Am I going crazy again? Oh, my God! +Let me escape while a ray of reason is left to light my +path! Good-night, again, and yet again! Bless, <em>bless</em> +you, Raymond! Oh, if I could dissolve my being into a +fragrance of blessing, and envelope you in it!—into a +halo of blessing, and crown you with it!—that I could +do what I please with my own soul, and lose it in your +heart to give you fuller life! Yes, I would annihilate +myself and give my spirit to enlarge your life; and yet +I cannot do a <em>less</em> thing—I cannot, <em>cannot</em> break the +heart of a sister woman—of Hagar—even for <em>you</em>. Raymond! +<span class='sc'>Cannot!</span> do you hear and understand, Raymond? +For though I would give my body to be burned, +and my soul to perdition for your sake, I have <span class='fss'>NO RIGHT +TO SACRIFICE ANOTHER</span>! and that truth has been thundered +in my ears until my very brain is stunned. My +senses are reeling, whirling. I scarcely know where I +am, what I write, where I go; I only feel, oh God! that +I leave you for ever—that my whole soul sobs forth in +bitterest anguish its wail—<em>Good-Night</em>!”</p> + +<p class='c011'>The first part of this passionate and incoherent +letter was nearly illegible with the marks of +tears; the last sentences were traced wildly and +scrawlingly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Seeing the excitement, the insanity under +which this letter must have been written, and in +the deepest grief for her loss, and the utmost +alarm for her safety, he hastened from the room, +and caused the strictest inquiries to be set on +foot, that resulted, however, in nothing satisfactory. +The chambermaid who had attended her +on her first arrival was questioned, but could only +say that just as soon as she had assisted the +young lady in removing her travelling dress, she +had been dismissed by her. The porter was examined, +but had seen no one pass answering to +the description of the young American lady. So +all the people about the establishment were interrogated +without any information being elicited. +A fruitless search was kept up through all the +night—no trace of the fugitive could be discovered. +This was perhaps the very first night’s +rest that Raymond Withers, the systematic voluptuary, +had ever lost. Towards sunrise, after +having given directions for the search to be kept +up, he threw himself upon his bed, and overcome +by anxiety, watching, and fatigue, slept the sleep +of exhaustion. Late in the day he awoke, with +that dreary sense of vague weight that oppresses +the head and brain at the first awakening after a +great sorrow. It was some minutes before the +fact was clear before his eyes. Rosalia fled—Rosalia +lost—wandering, and exposed, in all her +tenderness and delicacy, to all the horrors of unsheltered +life. This was the first time that the +benevolence of Raymond Withers had been +awakened for his victim. Her mental and moral +throes and struggles he had not pitied, because +he had not understood them; but the epicurean +fully comprehended and greatly exaggerated the +importance of the physical sufferings she might +have to endure. He dressed in haste, and going +out inquired anxiously if news had been received +of Miss Aguilar. He was told that no clue had +been found by which to trace her course. All +that day was spent in a vain search through the +city and its suburbs—all that week was devoted +to sending messengers down all the public roads, +and to the neighboring villages seeking the lost +one; but the end of the week—the end of the +month, found them as far from the attainment of +their object as they were at its commencement. +Once or twice it had occurred to Raymond +Withers that she might have fled to Captain +Wilde and Sophie, “her young heart’s cynosure,” +but then he quickly recollected that Captain and +Mrs. Wilde were a thousand miles off, at Constantinople. +At last he determined on sending +off the letters and packets that had been intrusted +to Rosalia for Sophie, to write to Captain +Wilde, and to mention merely the facts that Miss +Aguilar had come out under his protection with +the purpose of joining them at Constantinople—that +immediately upon landing at Genoa she had +mysteriously disappeared, and that though the +most vigilant search had been instituted, and kept +up even to the present moment, no clue to her +retreat had been found.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It has been said by some philosopher that +“Without disease and pain, we should never +know that we have a body—and without sin and +remorse, never feel that we have a spirit.” Raymond +Withers could have controverted the first +part of this proposition by his own experiences—he +was deliciously conscious of his bodily existence +through its perfect health and keen enjoyments; +but he could have endorsed the latter +clause with a pen dipped in tears of blood. +Through all its downy coverings of soft voluptuousness, +his spirit had been reached and +wounded to the very quick; and the method of +his remorse was quite characteristic.</p> + +<p class='c008'>By his own agony at the loss of Rosalia, he was +enabled for the first time to understand and +sympathize with the just and the greater anguish +of Hagar at his desertion, and to comprehend in +a word, the enormity of his offence. He might +have gone on in his luxurious self-indulgence +and self-enjoyment for years, had he not yielded +to a strong temptation, and wounded his spirit +with sin. Now all luxury palled upon his +senses—he turned, sickened, from the choicest +viands of his table—despairing from the most +delightful prospects of nature, and from the most +beautiful specimens of art—music was torture, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_147'>147</span>and even in the deepest repose of his body the +wounds of his spirit were most keenly felt, until +the sensitive epicurean, who would have shrunk +from the slightest abrasion of his delicate skin—invoked +bodily pain as a relief from spiritual anguish.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Was this illicit love cured, then? Ah, no! +not when just as the cup of guilty pleasure had +been raised to his lips, it had been dashed untasted +to the ground—not when just as the prize +was within his grasp it had been snatched away. +Nay, that very disappointment of his hopes at +the moment of their expected realization +sharpened and intensified his desire, while the +sin—the sin, as well as the remorse he suffered, +gave power and depth to his passion! The +boon for which he had bartered his soul, defied +God, and lost Heaven, became by the costly +purchase a priceless treasure.</p> + +<p class='c008'>There is a crisis in the rise and progress of +an evil passion, when its victim becomes morally +insane, I had nearly written morally irresponsible.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It is the period described in the beautiful +language of Scripture, as the time when the +Spirit of God ceases to strive with the heart of +man—when he is given over to reprobacy of +mind—when Ephraim, joined to his idols, is left +alone—when the prodigal son receives his portion +and is suffered to go forth and seek the +desire of his heart, and find by bitter experience, +that forbidden things may be bright to the vision +but scorching to the touch—as the restless and +eager infant permitted at last to catch at the +coveted flame of the candle, learns by its own +suffering that pain follows the contact of fire—in +a word, when the unbeliever is suffered to prove +for himself the bitterness of sin. Is this utter +abandonment then? Ah, no! The heart that +has sinned, suffered, and repents, is forgiven. +The babe has burned its fingers, and learned +that the flame is not to be touched with impunity, +and we may be sure it will not be touched +again. The returning prodigal is received half +way without a single reproach for the past, +without the exaction of a single pledge for the +future; is received upon his experience and his +penitence. Ephraim turning from his idols, is +accepted; and the Spirit of God comes again +to dwell in the heart that is opened to receive +him. I say again, when a violator of the moral +law suffers, it is not by the vengeance of a God +of infinite love and mercy—but it is by a pain he +finds in the sin itself. But this by the way.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The downward progress of evil has been +aptly called a gently inclined plane, of so +gradual a descent that the sinner believes himself +to be walking on level ground all the while. +“Easy is the descent to hell,” said Horace, and +doubtless such is most frequently the case; but +there are instances in which the downward +course is very rapid; where the sinner has started +in a run, and after a while—and this answers to +the crisis, the insanity of passion—<em>gets an impetus</em> +that makes a pause <em>impossible</em>, until he falls +prostrate at the bottom of the abyss.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Such was the case with Raymond Withers—he +had reached the crisis of his moral disorder—the +insanity of passion—when he was scarcely +responsible for his acts; yet not upon this +account shall he enjoy impunity for he could, +by a little timely self-discipline, have saved himself +from moral mania.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He is answerable for the loss of his moral +sanity, if not for acts of his phrensy. But to +those acts: With the fatuity of passion, he +fancied that were he free to seek the hand of +Rosalia, her conscience would be quieted, her +reluctance overcome, and that she would give a +cheerful response to his love. He brooded over +this idea of freedom from his matrimonial bonds +with the pertinacity of monomania, until it +seemed possible—next probable—then every way +natural, proper, and desirable—finally inevitable. +A savage resolution, by fair means or foul, to +divorce his wife,—or, what was more feasible in +his apprehension, to compel her to divorce him—a +morose determination to recover and marry +Rosalia, at any cost of his own integrity and +peace, and others’ rights and happiness, occupied +his whole thoughts. It was just at this crisis +that he received a letter from Hagar. It was +dated from Heath Hall, just after the birth of +her son. It announced that fact, and gave a +short but full account of all that happened since +he left home, as well as of all her plans for the +future, as far as she had laid them out. Could +you have seen the succession of quick, short, +self-congratulatory nods with which he read +this letter, the smile of fiendish inspiration with +which he folded it up and placed it in his desk, +you would have given him up for lost, though +you had been his very guardian angel!</p> + +<p class='c008'>With this diabolical grimace still upon his +face, Raymond Withers took pen and paper, sat +down and wrote a reply, sealed and sent it off +that same day by a homeward-bound vessel.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXXVIII.<br> <span class='c009'>THE WOUNDED EAGLE.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Eagle, this is not thy sphere!</div> + <div class='line'>Warrior bird! what dost thou here?</div> + <div class='line'>Wherefore by the fountain’s brink</div> + <div class='line'>Dost thy royal pinion sink?</div> + <div class='line'>Wherefore on the violet’s bed</div> + <div class='line'>Lay’st thou thus thy drooping head?</div> + <div class='line'>Thou, that hold’st the blast in scorn—</div> + <div class='line'>Thou, that bear’st the wings of morn!</div> + <div class='line'>Lift thy glance! The fiery sun</div> + <div class='line'>Now his pride of place hath won!</div> + <div class='line'>And sweet sound hath filled the air,</div> + <div class='line'>For the mountain lark is there.</div> + <div class='line'>Looking on thine own bright skies—</div> + <div class='line'>Eagle! wilt thou not arise?”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Hemans.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>The spring and summer had passed, and +autumn was at hand, yet Hagar had received no +letter, or message, or news of her husband. +True, the foreign mail was very irregular, interrupted, +and uncertain, for those were not the +days of steamships, and Emily had not heard +from her brother for several months. Hagar +bore the slow torture of suspense as well as she +could, occupying herself with the care of her +three children. She was abandoned to a life +that would have been utter solitude, but for the +society of her children and the attendance of +her servants. At first coming home, she had +regularly attended divine service at the parish +church; but seeing that her presence there merely +drew off the attention of the congregation +from their ritual to gaze her out of countenance, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_148'>148</span>as though she had been a monster, and feeling, +besides, a difficulty in worshipping among a set +of people, who, from malice or thoughtlessness, +had slandered and forsaken her, she discontinued +her attendance upon the preaching, thereby +giving occasion for fresh calumny. The hours +not occupied with her family cares were occasionally +spent in the pursuits of her old and favorite +pastimes, her forest hunts with horse and +hounds, or her fishing excursions in a light skiff +propelled by one oar. But she liked best her +exhilarating woodland sports with their lifegiving +power. The resumption of these healthful but +half savage habits, gave additional offence to the +conventional autocrats of —— county. In her +rides she seldom met any one, because her excursions +were confined to the Heath and woodlands +of her own ruined plantation; so seldom, +that when it happened, the person who had seen +her would say, “I have met Hagar Withers,” +in much the same tone that you might exclaim, +“I have encountered the sea-serpent.” And the +hearer would cry “Indeed! where?” with as +much astonishment in the first case as they +might be supposed to feel in the last. It happened +that the first person who had met her in +her riding costume was that princess of propriety, +Mrs. Gardiner Green, who, taking a hasty inventory +of her short, black, boyish looking curls +clustering around her forehead and under her +little riding cap, and the rolling collar, steel +buttons, and coat-sleeves of her habit, had gone +away and reported as follows: “She has cut off +her hair, and dresses like <em>a man</em>!” In her perfect +isolation, Hagar heard nothing of all this +latter talk.</p> + +<p class='c008'>I said that God was a kind father and Nature +a tender, nursing mother; and that our Hagar +was getting well under their care. And so it +was. In spite of all her past wrongs, griefs, and +sufferings, in defiance of all her present regrets, +suspense, and anxieties, her spirits had rebounded +from their long pressure; health, strength, and +life were tiding back. The first of October +found her form erect and robust, her limbs full +and rounded, her cheeks crimson, and her eye +brilliant with high health; and Hagar, in her +returning joy, blessed her native air, woods, and +waters; praised nature, and worshipped God for +her resurrection from the dead, her restoration to +the young exultant life of her glad childhood. +And what were her plans for the future, and +what were her thoughts of her husband? Perhaps +wearied with the weight of the incessant +thoughts, her mind had thrown off the burden; +perhaps rebounding from the long and heavy +pressure, her spirits had sprung away from the +painful subject; perhaps with the natural wildness +of her character she had yielded herself up +with childish carelessness to the enjoyments of +the present moment. She was disturbed in the +midst of her enjoyments by the arrival of a letter +bearing a foreign stamp. She found it lying +on her plate when she took her seat at the breakfast-table +one morning. It had been brought by +Tarquinius from the Post Office late on the previous +night, after she had gone to rest. She +snatched the letter hastily, and tearing open its +seal, read—why do Hagar’s cheeks flush, her +eyes blaze with indignation? The letter conveyed +a gross and degrading charge, a humiliating +and cruel proposition, and a startling and +alarming threat! yet withal, so cautiously written, +as were it produced in any court, it would be +difficult to convict the <em>writer</em> of any more serious +offence than outraged affection and injured confidence. +It ran thus:</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>Genoa</span>, July 15th, 182-.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>“<span class='sc'>Hagar</span>:—I have just received your letter, with its +strange communications—<em>confessions</em>, I should rather +call them; had such a blow fallen on me a year ago, +when I did not know you so well, when I esteemed and +loved you, it would have gone nigh to destroy me! even +now when I can esteem you no longer, it has given me +the deepest pain, more for your sake than for my own, +and more upon our children’s account than either. +Hagar, was it that Satan, after having tempted you to +evil, abandoned you to idiocy; was it fatuity? or, was +it the goading of a wounded conscience that drove you +to make these shameful revelations to me? Or, as is +most likely, did you hope by being the <em>first</em> to tell me +of what was inevitable, that with or without your +communications, I must soon hear, and by giving your +own version of the doings at the Rialto, you could thus +blind me as to the <em>real</em> state of the case? If you thought +so, Hagar, you yourself were the victim of gross self-deception. +I will not reproach while judging and condemning +you, Hagar; that were vain and unworthy, but +before pronouncing sentence, I will sum up the evidence +of your guilt as given in your own unconscious confession, +and out of your own mouth condemn you, for, +however you may attempt to glaze over the facts, they +stand thus: No sooner has your husband quitted his +home, upon his official duties, than lo! his place in +your house is filled by the lover of your girlhood, Lieutenant +May, who, without delay, hastens over five hundred +miles of sea and land to join you: he remains +with you domesticated under your roof for weeks, and +until the house is sold over your heads, while every +respectable female servant quits the premises. He takes +you from the neighborhood where I had left you, and +where I expected when I should return to find you, and +carries you off to Maryland. On the night of your arrival, +under favor of the storm, you pass the night alone +together in the old fishing-house, within an eighth of +a mile of Heath Hall, which you might have reached in +ten minutes. Then your neighbors, shocked and justly +indignant at the audacious effrontery of this shameless +disregard of public sentiment, have very properly abandoned +you.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“Now, then, Hagar, hear me! Since your betrayal +of these disgraceful circumstances to my knowledge, I +feel a re-union between us to be impossible. <em>You</em> must +see and feel this also—nay, you yourself could not desire +it. Our marriage must be annulled. <em>I</em> could do it +by widely exposing your guilt, and bringing you to open +shame. I am unwilling to take this course, unless by +rejecting the only alternative that I have to offer, you +leave me no other. This alternative will veil your +guilt from the general eye—it is a self immolating proposition +on my part, as I prefer to suffer in myself the +unmerited condemnation of society, rather than have +the mother of my children, however well she may deserve +the fate, consigned to ignominy. My proposition, +in a word, is <em>this</em>—that <em>you yourself</em> annul our marriage—that +you divorce <em>me</em>—you can do it upon the plea of +my desertion of you—suppose that plea was false when +I left the country, it is true <em>now</em> that I have detected +your infidelity—urge that plea—your suit will not be +rejected, for the reason that I shall not oppose it—<em>Do</em> +it, Hagar! and in return, after it <em>is</em> done, I will bind +myself to leave you in quiet possession of your home +and children for the remainder of our lives—<em>Refuse</em> to +do it, Hagar! and I will return to the United States, +and with the terrible array of circumstances that can +be marshalled against you, I will overwhelm you, +divorce and degrade you, and when that is effected, +remove my children from the care of a dishonored woman, +whom private experience, public sentiment, legal +justice, and legislative wisdom shall have alike condemned, +as unworthy of their charge. I await your +reply, Hagar.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c015'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>R. W.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>I wish you could have seen Hagar as she read +this letter—how much more courageous she was +in the endurance than in the anticipation of this +evil. You would have felt how strong she had +grown in her sorrows, how nobly she had struggled, +and how grandly she had soared above +them. How, after the first start and flash of +indignation, she had read the letter through, and +holding it open on her lap, looked straight before +<span class='pageno' id='Page_149'>149</span>her with that air of calm superiority, of +grave rebuke, with which one regards the ravings +of intoxication.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I will not reply to this just yet,” said Hagar, +to herself—and folding the letter, she put it in +her pocket and fell into a reverie. It was during +this reverie that Hagar was inspired with a +resolution, and formed a highly important plan, +which, in a few weeks, she prepared to carry into +effect.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXXIX.<br> <span class='c009'>A REVELATION.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in14'>“With wild surprise</div> + <div class='line'>As if to marble struck, devoid of sense,</div> + <div class='line'>A stupid moment motionless he stood</div> + <div class='line'>Pierced by severe amazement, hating life,</div> + <div class='line'>Speechless and fixed in all the death of woe.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Thomson’s Seasons.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in16'>“Oh! thou lost</div> + <div class='line'>And ever gentle victim—whose most fearful</div> + <div class='line'>Fate darkens earth and heaven—what thou now art</div> + <div class='line'>I know not, but if thou saw’st what I am,</div> + <div class='line'>I think thou would’st forgive him—whom his God</div> + <div class='line'>May ne’er forgive—nor his own soul.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Byron’s Cain.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>From the time of his sending the letter to Hagar, +Raymond Withers had renewed his search +after Rosalia Aguilar with augmented hope and +zeal. For the result of his proposition to her he +scarcely felt a doubt. Over that high and proud +nature, which had bowed before no will beneath +the Supreme, he had, through the power of her +strong affections, ever held despotic sway. Now +indeed he had undertaken a more difficult task, +to set in antagonism the two strongest, fiercest +passions of her soul, to oppose her motherly love +to her wifely affection; and though even by her +maternal fears he should fail to extinguish her +conjugal love, at least to silence the cry of its +claims—to subdue the wife by the mother. But +Raymond Withers was soon to learn that he had +not sounded the depths, measured the extent, or +tested the strength of the soul he wished to subdue; +and how a few months of peace and +stormy struggle and suffering had revolutionized +her nature; that the tempest into which he had +lashed her strong soul had only revealed from +what an abyss the waves rolled up in their +mighty power, and then subsided into passionless +and profound calm; that the conflagration he +had kindled in her high heart had only served to +consume the dross and leave it pure and cool.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was while waiting with great impatience to +receive letters from two opposite quarters of the +world, namely, from Hagar at the Heath, and +from Captain Wilde at Constantinople, and +while expecting with extreme anxiety to hear +news from that terra incognita, the retreat of +Rosalia, that he received in a packet of despatches +from the State Department, a letter from +Hagar.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now then!” exclaimed Raymond Withers, +as he hastened to his own chamber, and shutting +himself up in its privacy, broke the seal of the +letter, running his eyes eagerly over its contents—they +were as follows:</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>Washington City</span>, Oct. 15th, 182-.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>“<span class='sc'>Dearest Raymond</span>:—Your letter, with all its insanities, +is lying before me. I received it two weeks +since at Heath Hall, I reply to it from my present residence, +Washington City. Yes, I have left Heath Hall +for many years’ absence and wanderings perhaps, and +this city is only my transient home: passing over the +reasons and the objects of this course, I will come at +once to the subjects more interesting to your heart than +any chance of time or tide that may happen to me can +be now, unless indeed such chance should remove me +from the world, which would be ‘a consummation devoutly +to be wished,’ you think, in your present state +of mind. Passing also over all that is false in your letter, +through all that is superficial in your nature, I lay +my hand upon your naked heart and assert that it does +not cherish one single suspicion of my purity, that no +man in earth or in hell could infuse there one single +doubt of my fidelity, because I am true—that is truth—real +in your convictions as in my experience, and that +truth will bind us together, that truth will bring you +back to me. You once told me that during your long +and frequent absences before our marriage, you trusted—to +me—the spirit that even in the form of an infant +attracted, fascinated, and delighted you—and until passion +subverted my reason, and your soul was drowned +in voluptuousness, raised us both as one almost to +Heaven. How high, how godlike you appeared to me +then, Raymond; aye, in very truth the image of God; +your tone could still the wildest tumult, your glance +subdue the fiercest tempest that ever arose in my stormy +bosom.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“You told me that then you had trusted <em>in</em> me, not +<em>out</em> of me; <em>in</em> me, for our future union and joy. I quote +your own words to assure you that you may <em>now</em> trust +<em>not out</em> of me, but <em>in</em> me, for our <em>final</em> <em>re</em>union and happiness. +Your faith in me will save you, Raymond; +will make you whole, will redeem you, will bring you +back. Does this seem strange language to you, and wide +of the subject of your letter? So must ever the words +of truth and soberness seem to one bereft of his reason—as +you are now—and how can one reply satisfactorily +to the ravings of insanity! <em>You</em> are insane, Raymond, +as ever your father was in a different way; his insanity +was derangement of the brain, yours a disorder of the +heart; his madness was mental aberration, yours is +moral illusion. Ah, Raymond! how much more frequent, +how much more horrible, how much more dangerous +is moral than mental insanity! and how much +more heavily visited of man, however it may be met by +God! You are insane, Raymond! yes, brainsick, as +well as heartsick <em>now</em>; and in your delirium you would +exact that which I must not give you, and you threaten +to visit an awful vengeance on my head if I do not +comply with your demands. I am smiling, Raymond! +smiling to recall a scene between a slight and fair-haired +youth and his father in one of his fits of lunacy; the +figure of the lunatic stood up, tall, dark, and threatening; +the youth had dispossessed him of a razor, with which +he was about to cut his own throat, ‘Give it me! or I +will tear your heart out!!’ yelled the madman, stamping +and shaking with fury, while flakes of foam started +from his lips. The beautiful boy stood before him pale, +calm, and resolute; with that spirit of indomitable firmness, +of invincible courage, piercing strongly, steadily +through the soft fire of his eyes, keeping his gaze fixed +upon the lunatic, until the mighty force of his <em>sane</em> soul +cast out the devil, and subdued the ‘embodied storm’ +before him! Do <em>you</em> remember that scene, Raymond? +I was an infant of seven years old then; but, oh! how +my soul worshipped that sublime boy! How my spirit, +that soared proudly above every other sublunary authority, +bowed before that godlike boy! But now that +lofty soul is itself struck down, that fine spirit wounded, +that great heart inflamed, fevered, delirious, and soars +in its phrensy for a weapon of self-destruction, which I +will as soon give, Raymond, as you would have yielded +to the demands and threats of the madman the razor +that you withheld at the imminent peril of your life. +Ask me for a divorce a year hence, when you are sane, +Raymond, and I will give it to you—for I would not +hold an unwilling mate—no, my God! my whole soul +recoils from the idea; but I cannot <em>now</em> obey you, +Raymond; painful and humiliating as it is to me, as it +<em>must</em> be to me to refuse you this! and more than that, +disregard your <em>alleged</em> reasons, and addressing myself +to your consciousness, reply to your <em>real</em> motives.—You +do not wish to be free from your matrimonial engagements +for the cause you have expressed; namely, a +doubt of my fidelity—no, Raymond! you trust in my +honor as you believe in God!—No, Raymond; there +was an even stronger motive, if such could be, for your +wish. In the whole course of your letter you did not +once mention the name of your <em>compagnon-du-voyage</em>, +Rosalia Aguilar; yet was <em>she</em> the Alpha and Omega of +your thoughts? Come! I can think, speak, and write +<span class='pageno' id='Page_150'>150</span>of her very calmly now. You wish to marry Rosalia. +Why, Raymond, you will tire of her in a year, even if +she lives. She is a sweet and lovable girl, yet you do +not love her as you <em>have</em> loved and <em>will</em> love me. You +will sicken of her sweetness as a child sickens of a +surfeit of honey. You will loathe her very charms and +graces, her lovely and artless smiles and tones and gestures—that +very melody of motion which entrances +you <em>now</em>—as only a voluptuary <em>can</em> loathe the poor +beauty that he has humbled and grown sick of. And +were you married to her then, why then there would +be <em>another</em> deserted wife, and where would it stop? +Forgive me that I speak to you so, Raymond—it costs +me much pain—much more pain than it costs you. To +take this tone towards you humbles <em>me</em> in my own +estimation, more than it can you. I cannot bear to look +at you with any but an upraised glance. Alas! to see +you <em>now</em>, I have to look down with veiled eyes. Rise, +Raymond, rise! I want to see you aloft! my heart +<em>needs</em> to worship, as it <em>must</em> always love—<em>must</em>, Raymond! +annihilate my soul, and the last spark that will +go out will be its love.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“I said that you would tire of that poor girl in a year +if <em>she lives</em>, but she will <em>not</em> live, Raymond; the tempest +of passion that you have raised in her tender bosom, the +hell of remorse that you have kindled in her gentle soul +will destroy her; she will not survive the loss of her +purity one year. I do not know what she feels, how +she looks now, but I know that she had frightfully +changed even before she left the Rialto, before she +guessed what I even <em>then</em> knew. But <em>you</em> know how +she looks, you, perhaps, see the rose you have plucked +and bruised for its fragrance, withering in your hands. +You see her dying before you, and you fancy that if you +could marry her she would be at peace, get well and live. +You think you could cure a conscience-stricken soul by +satisfying a conventional law. But such would not be +the case, nor can I now obey you in this matter of a +divorce. Ask it of me this day twelve months, or any +day thereafter, and I will do it. I pledge myself to that. +Ask it of me sanely, honestly, dispassionately, and I +will do it. Could I then hold you bound, if you wished +to go? No! though my heart-strings are your only +fetters, I will snap them to free you.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“But you will not ask me to do this <em>when you come +to yourself</em>. I look for this result, confidently, as I +expect the storm now beating against my windows to +cease, and the moon to shine out; quietly, as I watch +for the night now hanging over the earth to vanish +before the rising sun; patiently, as I wait for this cold, +dreary winter to pass away and the spring to come back. +The storm in <em>my</em> bosom has subsided, the night also of +my soul is passed. I have suffered and outlived the +greatest sorrow a human heart could feel, the worst is +over, and my existence is now a winter day,</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“‘Frosty but kindly.’</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c019'>I am very quiet now; do you wonder at this, and that +I write to you so calmly—I who was an embodied +whirlwind, so coolly—I whom you called incarnated +lightning! Listen, Raymond—the carriage wheels that +carried you away, seemed to have rolled over my bosom, +crushing it nearly to death. I felt the crush distinctly +as any other physical agony—the dividing crush of +flesh and muscle, nerve and sinew, while with a sharp +cry I rolled over like a divided and quivering worm. I +was picked up by Mrs. Collins, who asked me what +was the matter. I told her that, lying in your path, an +obstruction, your carriage had passed over my body, +cutting it in two; that one half, with my heart, was +dragged away with the wheels. They put me to bed, +and said that I was delirious—sent for a doctor, who +bled, blistered, and drugged me. I was ill a very long +time. I moaned and laughed, prayed and blasphemed +by turns; they said that I was mad, but I was not, not +for one moment. Ah! if I had been mad, I should not +have raved so! for what in all the imaginings of +insanity could equal the horrors of my real experience, +my sane consciousness? When my veins seemed running +fire—when I burned and burned, and held up my +hands to see why they did not fall to pieces in cinders +and white ashes, consuming as they were in a dry heat. +That ‘lake of fire and brimstone!’ it was within and +around me! Often I threw myself out of the bed as out +of a pit of coals, and in my strong agony grasped and +tore at the floor like one shot through the heart might +do. Oh! what a rack existence was then! I wished +to take vengeance on all who had a hand in giving me +life-God and my parents. Suddenly in the midst of +that horrible feeling, I was struck with its awful blasphemy, +penetrated with the truth of God’s goodness +and mercy—lastly of his omnipotence; and then falling +again out of my bed, I rolled upon my face on the carpet +and implored God in mercy to take back the life He had +given, the life that was consuming fire—to give me the +profound repose of non-existence—and if this prayer +was sinful, at least to annihilate the <em>hell</em> in my heart. +And now, Raymond, for a strange experience. As I +prayed all things seemed changing around me—the air +seemed stirred with angel wings, I could hear their +hushed flapping as they waved a delicious cold dampness +that seemed to cool my fevered and burning frame +while it solicited sleep; and all this time my heart’s +wild hot throbs were subsiding coolly, while it filled +and filled as a reservoir with peace; and every influence +around me said gently, lovingly, ‘Sleep, sleep,’ and the +hot stringency of my eyelids was loosened, and they +fell cool and moist over the burning balls. And I slept +and dreamed, a dream of infancy—it seemed to me that +I lay across grandmother’s dear, soft lap, that it was +summer and she was fanning me, while a delicious +coolness ran through all my veins, and filtered through +all my flesh, exhaling vapor-like from the pores of my +skin, as I felt myself luxuriously sleeping, breathing, and +growing. Then came unconsciousness—and then I +woke up renewed, the fever and the agony were gone, I +was so cool, so quiet, that but for an aching, throbbing +nerve in the centre of my heart I should have thought +that I was happy; some element was gone, the fangs +of the serpent seemed to have been withdrawn, the +vulture had taken wing and left my heart to grow; this +was only a pause in the torture, like an interval of +repose in travail. Soon your letter came; and, your +letter written just on the eve of departure, and it +cast me back into the fire, and the same suffering was +undergone again. But the same relief came at last. I +was getting well. I was up, though scarcely able to +stand or to speak, and quivering all over like the +recoiling muscles of a torn off limb, when Gusty May +came to see me, and the shock of his arrival threw me +back a third time into death and hell, for I saw that <em>he +knew all!</em> that killed the last faint lingering hope I had. +It was during this third and worst relapse, that the +executions were levied on your property. Well, Raymond, +I recovered of this attack also! but it was not +until I reached Heath Hall, and until after my third child, +our boy, was born, that my health was fully re-established. +I am in high health, now, Raymond! and cool, +composed, cheerful, strong, and mistress of myself. The +storm of hail and snow that was raging with fury when +I commenced this letter, has passed, and the moon is +shining bright, full, and clear as a mammoth diamond, +and glistening on the silvery snow, its beams fall on my +paper and around my head like a halo, a benediction of +God, a promise of happier and holier days. Farewell +for the present, Raymond; my home and heart are ever +open for your return. I do not love you too fiercely +now, Raymond, for I have all eternity to love you in. +You are not just now my Raymond, but I am now and +ever thy</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c015'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Hagar</span>.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>It was curious—the effect of this letter upon +Raymond Withers. The first page he had perused +with a frowning brow—opening the sheet +with a twitch, the second page he read with +many a “pish!” and “pshaw!”—the third was +conned over with a softening countenance, and +at the end of the fourth and last he exclaimed—“What +the devil sent that infernal temptation +across my path?—poor Hagar!” And then +holding the letter behind him, he paced slowly +up and down the room, with his head bowed +upon his chest, while remorse, tenderness, disappointment, +and regret, mingled in the expression +of his once serene countenance. This was +strange in the fact, but natural in the circumstances. +His affection for Hagar had engaged +his whole soul. She was one to be loved long, +as well as deeply; her unique beauty, brilliant +intellect, and high spirit, from her very childhood, +had supplied to him an inexhaustible subject of +occupation, interest, and amusement—she had +met and satisfied every want of his nature. It +was impossible, with her strong and ardent temperament +and ever-varying emotions, that she +could become flat and uninteresting. His passion +for Rosalia was another matter, a mere delirium +of the senses, a moral insanity, as Hagar had at +last understood and described it to be, and as he +<span class='pageno' id='Page_151'>151</span>himself now knew it to have been—to <em>have been</em>—for +this passion, stimulated and increased as it +had at first been by her flight, by her continued +absence, was already receding into the past. +Raymond Withers was too much of a sensualist, +and his love for Rosalia too much an affair of +the senses to last long after she was lost to sight +and hearing; therefore for many weeks past his +passion had been declining, slowly, almost imperceptibly, +but it was reserved for Hagar’s letter +to reveal to him the true state of his heart. Now +he felt that his search for Rosalia had of late +been conducted from the habit of looking for her +until he should have found her, from a fear that +she was lost, had perished by exposure, and from +a remorse not to be shaken off while her fate +was enveloped in mystery. He was conscious +now, especially after reading Hagar’s letter, that +he was more anxious to hear of Rosalia’s safety +than even to see her—and the more he pondered +upon this subject, the more convinced did he feel +that he no longer desired her presence. A +strongly setting-in tide of returning affection for +Hagar filled his bosom to the expulsion of every +other love—an affection purified by repentance, +softened by pity, and elevated by respect. It +was strange how slowly, imperceptibly, but how +thoroughly he had come to his senses. He read +Hagar’s letter over again, and sighed many times +during its perusal, and sometimes paused and +held it on his knee while he tried to recollect +the atrocities of his letter to her, and endeavored +to persuade himself that it was not quite so diabolical +as he knew it to have been. He arose +and walked up and down the floor, with his +hands holding the letter clasped behind him, and +his head bowed upon his breast—deeply perplexed; +and then he went up to the full length +mirror that stood at one end of his luxurious +dressing-room, and contemplating his elegant +figure and really dazzling style of beauty, wondered +impulsively if Hagar would not be very +glad to get him back upon any terms; and then +feeling ashamed of his thought, he resumed his +walk, deeply congratulating himself that they +had been preserved from the last degree of guilt, +and that at least the door was at all times open +for a man’s return to duty, however sternly it +might be barred against a repenting woman, and +at that thought, again he thanked God that +Rosalia Aguilar had been snatched from him, +before she had fallen to the lowest stage of +crime. But where <em>was</em> Rosalia? Ah! that +was the thorn that rankled most; but there were +others—how should he write to Hagar until she +was found? and in what terms should he write?—how +apologize for that “infernal letter,” as he +called it, as he tried to recollect that it was not +quite so bad as he remembered it to have been, +and then, whither should he direct his letter? +Where would it be likely to find her? Hagar +was on the wing; at this last thought, he experienced +a satisfaction in the reflection that here +was something at last on her part to find fault +with—she had no right to roam up and down +the world without having previously informed +him of her views and intentions, and obtained +his approbation and consent. He tried to convince +himself that this was an infringement of +his rights, a rebellion against his authority; it +was a useless effort—his heart and reason acquitted +her of all blame, and he was left to support +his own load of guilt, remorse, and shame, +unsustained by any counterbalancing sin on her +side.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He was conscious of a vague but strong desire +that Hagar might fall into some imprudence, +misery, or disgrace, from which he might have the +honor of rescuing her, so that he might be entitled +to her gratitude and respect, and so approach her +with some remnant of self-respect. The idea of +going to her in any other character than that of +protector, benefactor—to receive her love upon +any other terms than those of honor, esteem—oh! +this was too humiliating, and not to be thought +of. He did not want her generosity, magnanimity, +forgiveness; oh! nothing of the kind—the +idea repulsed, revolted him—he would <a id='t151'></a>do nothing +of the sort—no, he must have her love, coupled +as it had been with the high respect reaching +almost to adoration, such as she had yielded him +as his due even from her infancy up. He felt +that it was no small thing to have held the +sovereignty over Hagar’s high spirit, and that it +was no small humiliation to have lost it by his +folly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>There was now a strong attraction and as +strong a repulsion about the idea of Hagar—the +most tantalizing that could be conceived, and +that chained him to the rack. Her letter had +struck away, as by the stroke of a strong arm, +all that stood between them, and he saw her in +all her beauty, in her fearful but fascinating +beauty!—he desired of all things on earth to +seek her, and could scarcely restrain his impatience; +but he could not go, it seemed impossible. +True, she had written, “My heart and +home are ever open for your return,” and though +no word of <em>penitence</em> might be spoken by him, +no tone of <em>pardon</em> breathed by her, yet the +<em>thought</em>—the <em>fact</em>, would exist in the experience +of both, and the <em>humiliation</em> for him—he could +not dare it, or bear it! The difficulties that obstructed +his return to Hagar, all growing out of +his own bosom as they did, only provoked by +opposition his strong desire to see her. He +might now with more truth than formerly have +written her down, “Hagar, mine only one;” for +now it seemed that there was but “one Hagar +in the universe.” After the manner of all +awakened sinners, how he deplored his sin!—after +the manner of all restored maniacs, how he +cursed his folly!—yea, after the manner of all +sobered drunkards, how he blushed for his degradation! +And could he appear before Hagar in +that guise? before Hagar in her recovered and +greatly increased strength and pride? Days +passed, and the strongly turning stream of feeling +was increased in force and volume by every +circumstance and every thought. Still he continued +uneasy upon the account of Rosalia; still +extremely desirous of hearing from Captain +Wilde; but, higher, deeper, and broader—covering +all these, was the thought of Hagar. Ah, +God! the more he contemplated it, the more +alarming it became.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar, not quite twenty years old, young, yet +strong, high spirited, audacious, proud of <em>herself</em>, +apart from social position or the estimation of +others—of Hagar, beautiful, piquant, and provoking +beyond every other woman he ever saw—of +Hagar, ardent, enthusiastic, and impulsive—but, +no! he could not receive the idea suggested by +this last circumstance; he could not conceive +<span class='pageno' id='Page_152'>152</span>that his high-souled Hagar <em>could</em> become the victim +of her ardent temperament. No, he believed +as she had said, in her honor, as he believed in +God. But some other man’s sacrilegious eyes +might covet <em>her</em> as he had coveted Rosalia—and +she was human and might be tempted. At this +thought Raymond sprang up from the sofa, upon +which he had been reclining, with a sudden love +and anger striving in his heart, as Hagar’s irresistibly +charming face, with its crimson cheeks +and lips and eyes of splendid fire, flashed in upon +his brain, as in the days of her highest glory.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“After all, she is mine—my <em>own</em>—I have not +given her up <em>yet</em>! and never will—<em>never</em>! I +will resist to the death any effort that may be +made to tear her from my possession! Yes, +Hagar, I may lose your heart, but I will even +<em>slay</em>, rather than give you up. What right has +she to leave her home and travel over the world +exposing herself in this manner? and where +does <a id='t152'></a>she find the means? I know that she travels +with her family, for she would die rather than be +severed from one of her children, and above all, +what is her object? I should fancy that she +were seeking me—God grant it!—I could face +her, if she humbled herself to seek me—but no, +she will never do that. No, if I ever hope to +possess Hagar again, I shall have to <em>woo</em> her +again.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He was interrupted in the midst of his confused +thoughts by the entrance of his page, who +brought him the post-bag: emptying it, his eye +fell upon a letter directed in the hand-writing of +Sophie Wilde. The letter bore date two months +back; it had evidently been detained on its passage. +It was short, nearly illegible, and evidently +written in the most excruciating anguish +of mind. It ran thus:—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>Constantinople</span>, Oct. 1st, 182-.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>“<span class='sc'>Dear Raymond</span>:—The receipt of your letter, with +its most terrible intelligence, made me ill; so ill that for +three weeks I have not been able to rise from my bed, +and so could not, before this, answer it. Captain Wilde +was not with me at the time of its receipt, and is not +here now. I had no one but foreigners around me—so +that there was none to act as my amanuensis, even +had I been capable of dictating. In the name of God, +where is Rosalia? I have been looking, and am still +looking with anxiety, daily, for another letter from you, +telling me that she is found. A thousand fears and +anxieties torture my breast. Tell me, did she form any +ill-judged attachment on her voyage out?—and was +any one else missing when she went? Tell me why +did you not write daily to keep me advised of your progress +towards the discovery of her fate? Raymond, I +can scarcely hold you blameless! I require her at your +hands! never face me again without Rosalia’s insured +safety! Yet, how cruel in me to write to you thus; to +you, who must be severely afflicted at her loss. Oh, +Raymond! you do not know how much right you have +to be so! You are the nearest, the only relative, she +has on earth! I have lately received, and now possess, +incontestable proof of what I am about to reveal to +you:—<em>Rosalia Withers is your own sister, Raymond!</em>—the +daughter of both your parents——”</p> + +<p class='c011'>He read no further; the paper fell from his stiffening +fingers; a mortal sickness, <em>nausea</em>, seized +him, horror swam in upon his brain, and barely +murmuring—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, my God! what a sink of crime and infamy +I have narrowly escaped!” he fell forward +upon his face!</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XL.<br> <span class='c009'>HAGAR’S RESOLVE.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Once more alone—and desolate, now, for ever</div> + <div class='line in2'>In truth the heart whose home was once in thine:</div> + <div class='line'>Once more alone on life’s terrific river,</div> + <div class='line in2'>All human hope, exulting I resign.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Alone I brave the tempest and the terror,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Alone I guide my being’s fragile bark,</div> + <div class='line'>And bless the past with all its grief and error,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Since Heaven still bends above my pathway dark.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“At last I taste the joy of self-reliance;</div> + <div class='line in2'>At last I reverence calmly my own soul;</div> + <div class='line'>At last I glory in serene defiance</div> + <div class='line in2'>Of all the wrong that would my fate control.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Frances S. Osgood.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>I must remind you that Hagar, after reading +her husband’s letter, had fallen into a reverie +that terminated in a resolve. It was inspired by +a reflection upon her position and circumstances. +She had three children, be it remembered, and +all under three years old. She had no visible +means of supporting herself and these children, +for whom especially she wished to procure every +comfort and every luxury that was desirable. +She had drawn out the little balance left with his +banker by Raymond Withers, and had used the +greater part of it in paying her debts contracted +with Gusty May; and what remained went to +defray the expenses attending her last accouchement. +She had nothing left. Winter was approaching, +and the winters at Heath Hall, from +its remarkably bleak and exposed situation, as +well as from the ruinous state of the building, +were felt very severely. Her own and her children’s +wardrobe was becoming very much the +worse for wear, and it was highly necessary that +it should be replenished. In fact, poverty, absolute +want, was staring Hagar in the face. It +was proper that something should be done to +supply her necessities before they became importunate. +It was too late in the season now to +apply to her husband for relief, even if she could +have bowed her pride to do so. A letter could +not reach him and its reply come to her before +the spring. What should she do? To remain +at Heath Hall through the winter was impossible. +Little as the place <em>looked</em> to be changed, +every cold and windy day and every rainy day +proved that no room in the house was weather-tight. +When it rained the water streamed down +into the very best room, as though it would set +the carpet afloat. In cold weather it was even +worse—the air poured in from all quarters, and +no quantity of fire could warm the rooms. Tarquinius +asserted with great truth, that to make a +fire in the parlor was like trying to heat “all +out of doors.” I should say, that from the +bleakness of its situation the winter came a +month sooner and remained a month later at the +Heath, than at any other place within the same +latitude.</p> + +<p class='c008'>On that particular morning, when Hagar sat +at the breakfast-table cogitating, it was cold and +frosty everywhere, but it was <em>very</em> cold and +bleak at Heath Hall; and the old lady whom +Hagar had engaged as a companion, leaving the +table and seating herself before the immense +blazing hickory fire, declared that while her +knees were scorching off, her back “friz.” Hagar +<span class='pageno' id='Page_153'>153</span>at first thought of disposing of some of her +most salable property—these were her piano and +harp; they might be sold in the neighborhood at +about a tenth of their value; but how long +would the money hold out in supplying the necessities +of her family? and what was to be done +when it was gone? Hagar next wondered if +there were nothing she could herself do for a +living; but she was forced to reject every plan +that presented itself. Was it needle-work? +How should <em>she</em> live by her needle, who had not +sufficient knowledge of that branch of industry +to serve her in making and repairing her own +wardrobe? Teaching? Ah! that was even +<em>worse</em>. If to live by needle-work was difficult, +to live by teaching was impossible. Hagar’s +intellect was like her own favorite forest haunts, +strong, vigorous, and brilliant, but wild, tangled, +and uncultivated. She had especially laughed +Lindley Murray’s grammar out of countenance, +asserting that she could never comprehend it, and +as for arithmetic, she refused to <em>try</em>—so that in +these two highly “important branches of a good +English education,” Hagar was wofully deficient, +but far too honest to attempt to teach what she +did not know. Still her thoughts recurred to +her piano and harp, and it was while thinking +of their sale that it occurred to her that she was +in possession of one splendid and unemployed +talent—and the sudden thought sent a thrill of +joy through her heart, as she blessed God for +the gift and for the present inspiration.</p> + +<p class='c008'>She recollected hearing Raymond often say +that her voice was admirably suited for concert +practice—that he had heard all the celebrated +singers of the day, and had never heard a voice +or an execution like hers. She recollected to +have heard that professional singers frequently +made large fortunes. She remembered also +hearing that several of these <em>artistes</em> were deeply +respected for the virtue and even for the piety of +their private lives. There was nothing in Hagar’s +pride to prevent her from embracing this +career—her pride was strictly <em>personal</em>. She +could not have been proud of her descent, of +wealth, had she possessed it, of social position, +or of any other external circumstance whatever—but +she was proud of herself, that self that +came alone into the world, and would go alone +out of it. Hagar quickly decided upon her +course. She was not one to renounce all the +comforts, refinements, and elegances of life that +had grown into a habit and a necessity, without +an effort to retain them, and which she must +resign without this or some equally lucrative +plan of life. To this career she was drawn by +her peculiar taste and genius; this would give +her an opportunity of seeing that “world” so +attractive to her eager and inquiring mind, and +hitherto so completely hidden from her. In five +minutes from the first inspiration of the idea, +Hagar had laid out and matured all her plans. +She determined, on her own responsibility, to +have a sale and dispose of all her personal +property that could be got rid of at any price, +and with the proceeds to take her children and +remove to Washington or Baltimore, and in one +or the other of those cities to employ her musical +talent in the most profitable manner. While +thinking over these matters, and before rising +from the table, she was startled by a rap at the +door, apparently given with the butt-end of a +riding-whip. To her quick “Come in!” Gusty +May opened the door, looking half savage in his +shaggy, white, box greatcoat, leather leggings, +and foraging cap, and carrying in his hands a +brace of canvas-back ducks. This was the +first time he had been at the Hall since his +banishment thence. She started up gladly to +welcome him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Good morning, Hagar! may I come in?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes, dear Gusty!—I am so delighted to +see you!” exclaimed she, with brightening eyes, +extending both hands to him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Humph!—sight of me is good for sore eyes, +ain’t it?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, indeed, Gusty, my best friend, why +have not you been to see me all this dismal long +time?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why have not I been to see you?—come, +that will do. What did you tell me the last +time I was over here!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“True! I recollect—I told you not to come +again, unless you came with your mother, and I +was right, Gusty; it was proper, both for <em>your</em> +sake and for mine that this should be so; only +just now, Gusty, surprised and pleased at seeing +you, I forgot myself for an instant.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes! well! I came over here this morning, +and took the liberty, Hagar, of shooting a pair +of ducks on your moor. The bishop has come +down to confirm at the church next Sunday, to-morrow, +you know, and I thought that I would +like to carry mother a pair of ducks to help out +with the dinner, as the old bishop is very fond +of our canvas-back ducks, and so, Hagar, having +bagged my game, I could not pass the Hall +like a poacher, without looking in.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am glad to see you, Gusty, notwithstanding +all that I have said—do not I look so?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! yes, dear Hagar,” said Gusty, now for +the first time seating himself in a chair near the +fire, and setting his hat upon one side, and the +pair of ducks on the other.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“We caught—at least Tarquinius did—a fine +drum yesterday evening; it is more than we shall +use in a week, won’t you take half of it over to +the cottage, Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty mused a moment, and then replied—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No! I be hanged if I do, Hagar! You are +very good, and <em>I</em> thank you, but the inmates of +Grove Cottage have used you too badly, Hagar! +God forgive me for remembering and repeating +it; but they have not deserved the slightest favor +from your hands, Hagar!—I do not know how +you can forgive them!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“See here, Gusty!” said she, laying her small +hand affectionately on his arm, “they acted as +their nature made it necessary for them to act, +and their conduct does not grieve or anger me +in the least; perhaps it inspires some contempt—but +no, I take that back, for your sake, Gusty, +and I assure you that their treatment gives me no +pain. It is only those whom I love that possess +any power over me, to torture me! if <em>you</em>, +Gusty, had turned rascal on my hands, that circumstance +would have caused me some suffering—but +people I care little about! nonsense!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is <em>my mother</em>, though!” said Gusty, with +a look of deep distress.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, it is <em>your mother</em>, poor boy! Never +mind, Gusty, take heart; she <em>is</em> an excellent woman +for all; and not the less so because she +cannot comprehend <em>me</em>!”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_154'>154</span>“Don’t let us talk any more about it, please!” +said Gusty, with a look of deep humiliation.</p> + +<p class='c008'>After a few minutes Gusty arose to go, saying, +in an imploring voice, as he put on his hat +and took up his ducks—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar, if I can <em>ever</em> be of any sort of service +to you, for the Lord in Heaven’s sake, <em>do</em> +let me know, will you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar mused a moment, and then replied—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You <em>can</em> be of great service to me, Gusty!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah! can I? Tell me how? where? +when?” exclaimed Gusty, gladly, dropping his +ducks, doffing his hat, and reseating himself.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Not now, this is Saturday; come over and spend +Monday evening with me, and I will tell you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Thank you, Hagar, thank you for this mark +of confidence. I will certainly come. Good-by, +dear Hagar.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He caught her hand, shook it heartily, and +left the house. Even that day Hagar employed +with the preliminaries of her preparations. +Gusty May was faithful to his appointment, and +Monday afternoon found him at Heath Hall. +Hagar’s tea-table was waiting, and the old lady, +her companion, was with her. She invited +Gusty to take a seat at the board, and immediately +after tea, when they had turned their chairs +to the fire, and the old woman had left the +room to put the children to bed, Hagar imparted +her plan of public singing to Gusty. He was +surprised, even to astonishment. Not understanding +the nature of Hagar’s pride, he had +deemed her <em>too</em> proud for this career, and even +ventured to hint that such had been his impression. +Hagar smilingly disabused him of this +erroneous idea; and then he hastened to say +that as far as he himself was concerned he +heartily approved of her plan, and pledged himself +to do everything in his power to promote +her object. The assistance she required from +him was very slight, being only to act as her +agent in the sale of several articles of her property. +She requested him also not to reveal to +any one her purpose in leaving the neighborhood. +“Not that I care a great deal about it, +Gusty, though I do not wish for ever to be on +the lips of the gossips of Churchill’s Point, but, +because,” said she, smiling archly, “it will be +such a charity to afford Mrs. Gardiner Green +and her <em>clique</em> a subject of speculation, that will +keep their tongues for some time off some poor +unfortunate, who might otherwise have been +their next victim, and also, because this racking +and unsatisfied curiosity will be such a well +merited punishment of their slandering propensities!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty freely promised that he would not betray +her confidence, and soon after took his +leave. In a fortnight from this time, Hagar’s +preparations were all complete. It was a glorious +day in October, when, with her three children, +she stepped aboard a packet bound up the +bay to the mouth of the Potomac River and to +Washington City. She had left Heath Hall as +she had found it—namely, in the care of Cumbo +and Tarquinius. She had not engaged a nurse +or a waiting maid in the country, because she +wished to cut off for the present all trace of her +course, and to sink for at least a year or two to +come, her old in her new existence. After mature +deliberation she decided that Washington +and Baltimore were both too near home for the +commencement of her professional labors. An +invincible repugnance kept her from the North, +where she had taken her first lessons in suffering. +Merely staying long enough in Washington to +procure a nurse and a travelling maid, she +turned her steps southward. It was under a +<i><span lang="fr">nom de guerre</span></i> that Hagar Withers commenced +her brilliant professional career at New +Orleans in the year 182-. Every one who lived in +that city at that time remembers the splendid concerts +of Mrs. ——, a lady as remarkable for the +stern asceticism of her private manners as for +the brilliant success of her public career. Hagar’s +greatest motive in entering upon this profession +had been to achieve by the only means in her +power an independence, and she had made a +stern resolution of reserve, self-denial, and solitude, +as the only way of preserving her from +falling into her besetting sins of wildness and +reckless gaiety, and towards which everything in +her present life would conspire to draw her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Once or twice before taking the final step that +was to place her so conspicuously before the +world, while doubtful of the light in which her +extremely fastidious husband might look upon +this when it came to his knowledge, and while +an instinct of <em>family</em> pride, a rare thing with +Hagar, prompted her, she thought, that she +would do better to become a private teacher of +music; but the idea was so repulsive that she +quickly shrank from it. Her <em>personal</em> pride, her +independence, would suffer too much in this latter +position. Her prejudices, the very few with +which her mind was trammelled, were all +against the profession; and that circumstance, +taken with her unprotected condition, and the +experience she had gained by the gossipping propensities +of her old neighbors at Churchill’s +Point, had fixed her firmly in the resolution she +had formed, namely, of isolating herself with +her young family during the hours not devoted +to her public professional duties. Her winter at +New Orleans was one chain of splendid successes, +each more brilliant than the last. In the +spring of 182-, she, still accompanied by her +babies as a guard of cherubim, sailed from New +Orleans for Havre, intending to make a professional +tour of Europe for one year before returning +to her native country.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>“Mother!” said Gusty May to Mrs. Buncombe, +as they sat together in the parlor at +Grove Cottage, a few days after Hagar’s departure +from Heath Hall, “what do the good folks +about here say of Hagar now?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“All that I have heard speak upon the subject, +say that they are very glad she is gone to her +husband—<em>if he can receive her</em>. And I am +glad also. It has been a grief to me to absent +myself from Hagar; but, really, you know, +Gusty, she had cost me already too much, in +your misfortunes.—I could not risk compromising +my own position by her.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It was not her fault, mother. But I am +thinking of the wonderful charity of the folks in +putting such a kind construction upon Hagar’s +journey; strange they had not thought of accusing +her of eloping with the captain of the packet +in which she sailed! ’Pon honor, I shall +begin to have some hope for the people of +Churchill’s Point yet!” said Gusty, really surprised +<span class='pageno' id='Page_155'>155</span>at the explanation they had given of her +journey.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar has given room for talk by getting +into an anomalous position; why <em>should</em> people +find themselves in inconceivable situations? <em>I</em> +never did, yet I was an unprotected girl.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty looked at her in grave perplexity, +divided between his wish to defend Hagar and +his reverence for her; at last he said, smiling +sadly—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dear mother, Lewis Stephens, poor fellow! +was drowned last summer, in a gale of wind!—Now, +why <em>should</em> people be drowned in a gale +of wind? <em>I</em> never was, and <em>I</em> have been in a +gale of wind!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Gusty, <em>hush</em>! you talk like—like a young +man.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And if I am to talk differently, I hope to +God I may never live to be an old one.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I deserve this from you, Gusty!” said his +mother, with the tears welling up to her eyes.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty’s arms were around her neck in a moment.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dear mother, forgive me! I meant no disrespect +to you, indeed; but it is <em>so</em> trying to see +one of your excellent heart, so uncompromising +to Hagar, for whom I have, God knows, a +higher respect, deeper esteem, than for the whole +world besides.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>While they were conversing thus, the door +opened, and Mr. Buncombe entered the parlor, and +throwing a letter into his wife’s hand, exclaimed—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, here is the long-looked-for come at +last!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was a letter bearing a foreign stamp, and +directed in the hand of Captain Wilde. Emily +opened it hastily. Soon as she read, her face +grew pale in consternation.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is it, mother?” asked Gusty, approaching +her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is it, dear Emily?” inquired her husband, +leaning over her chair.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I hardly know myself; oh, heaven!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Read it! tell us!” cried Gusty.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No one ill, I hope?” whispered the parson.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia is lost!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<span class='sc'>Lost!</span>” exclaimed Mr. Buncombe, in astonishment.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty sank upon a chair, his cheek turning +white as death.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Lost! fled!” gasped Emily, still gazing on +the sheet before her; “fled no one knows +wherefore or whither!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Inexplicable!” cried Mr. Buncombe.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty was devouring his mother’s face with +his great eyes.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Fled</em>, did you say—say <em>fled</em>, mother?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<span class='sc'>Fled</span>, Gusty!” sobbed Emily, “fled, my +poor, dear, unfortunate boy!—<em>fled</em>—fled from +the protection of Mr. Withers the very afternoon +of their landing at Genoa!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty jerked the letter out of his mother’s +hand impulsively, and forgetting to apologize, +ran up stairs with it, while Mr. Buncombe set +himself to soothe and comfort Emily, and to win +from her an account of the flight of Rosalia, +with which the reader is already acquainted. +Both were thrown into the utmost consternation +by the news. To them it was a mystery of rayless +darkness, for so far from having cast any +light upon the subject of the flight it had announced, +Captain Wilde’s letter expressed a +faint hope that Emily might possess some clue +to the fate of her adopted daughter.</p> + +<p class='c008'>At last Emily thought of Gusty, and was preparing +to go and try to soothe the anguish she +believed he must be suffering, when the door +was suddenly thrown open, and Gusty ran in +with his countenance and manner highly excited +as by a strange joy, exclaiming, screaming, as he +waved the letter in circles above his head—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hip! hip! hur-ra-a-a-a-a-a, mother! three +times three now, mother! and special thanksgiving +next Sunday, for this good, this great, this +glorious news! Hurrah!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Good News!</em> oh, my God, he is mad!” exclaimed +Emily in extreme terror; “hold him, +Buncombe!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, hold him, Buncombe! hold him, Buncombe! +lest in his joy he bound like a cannon +ball through the roof of the house! Hold him, +Buncombe!” yelled Gusty, jumping into the +arms of the reverend gentleman, seizing him +about the waist, and whirling him round and +round the room in a brisk gallopading waltz! +Shriek after shriek burst from Emily’s terrified +bosom, and brought all the household (being +Kitty and a horse-boy) running into the room, +just as Gusty had dropped the startled parson, +and was standing panting with exertion, weeping +for joy, and laughing for fun at the same time.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Take him into custody! secure him! before +he hurts himself or somebody else!” exclaimed +Emily, palpitating.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Take <em>who</em> into custody?” exclaimed Gusty, +looking round, “what’s done?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, heaven! will nobody bind him?” +sobbed Emily, edging towards her son, cautiously.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty caught her to his bosom, and kissed her +heartily, as he stooped and whispered breathlessly, +his brain sobered a little by the alarm he +had caused, but his heart still wildly throbbing +with ecstatic joy—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Mother!</em> pshaw—<em>you</em> know me! I’ll—I’ll—perhaps +I’ll tell you why I’m overjoyed just +presently; send all these gapers and starers +away, and go and reassure his reverence, who, +not being a fighting man, is bolstering himself +up against the wall, not knowing what I am +going to do next; there, <em>do</em>, mother! my blood +is so unmanageable, it is getting up again! yes, +here it comes! it’s going to boil over! I declare +it is! I can’t help it! get out of my way! +I won’t hurt anybody! hip! hip! hurrah!” and +with that he bounded forward into the air, cut +four or five capers more extravagant than the +others, and ran from the room, leaving the assembled +family dumb with astonishment.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Having reached his own room, Gusty began to +empty his drawers, wardrobe, &c., and to pack +his clothing into a sea chest with great haste and +zeal. While he was employed in this manner +his mother came in, and tearfully sat down by +him; seeing his occupation, a deeper shade of +perplexity and anxiety came over her countenance, +as she inquired:—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And what are you trying to do now, my +poor, deluded boy?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty took his hand out of his chest, and +still resting upon one knee, assumed a look of +profound composure, thinking doubtless that by +this time his character for sanity was in serious +danger, and replied,</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_156'>156</span>“Ahem! hem! Mother, as it is now near +the opening of the session of Congress, and +many of my own and my uncle’s professional +and political friends are in Washington City, I +think of going thither, and while they are on +the spot, getting them to use their influence with +the President to procure my reinstatement. You +know, mother, this is the first good chance, because +personal solicitation is so much more +powerful than epistolary application.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Struck with the rationality of this reply, Emily +was a little staggered in her opinion of his madness: +however, she would try him further.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But this is a very sudden resolution, Gusty!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! I had been thinking of it for some days +past, and the arrival of uncle’s letter, and the +reminiscences of our naval life that it awakened, +you know, suddenly inspired me with a strong +desire to return to it—wasn’t that natural?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes! and I am glad! I had feared +that you would have held to your resolution, +never to apply for reinstatement.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah! that resolution was one of my hasty +impulses, mother! times and <em>motives</em> have changed +since then!” exclaimed Gusty, and he resumed +his packing with renewed zeal.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But why pack your sea chest, Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, mother, if I am reinstated, as I shall +be, for my case is very strong, and the Hon. +Chevy Chase, of New York, who lives near +the Rialto, the scenes of my labors and sorrows, +knows all about it, and is a friend of the +President—if I am reinstated, of course, as usual, +I shall immediately be ordered on active service, +and shall need to be all ready.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nonsense, Gusty! take a change of linen in +your valise, and go to Washington. I will +prepare and pack your wardrobe and send it to +you in a day or two, or as soon as you want it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes! that will be better! thank you, mother!” +said Gusty, rising and seating himself on +his trunk.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And Rosalia!” sighed Emily, looking in his +face, “what can have become of her, and how +do you feel about her, Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty mused. He felt glad that he had never +breathed to his mother a word of the elopement +he had suspected; and now that its object had +been defeated by Rosalia’s flight, he could not +bring himself to mention it. He felt very little +fear of Rosalia’s fate <em>now</em>. Her unexpected deliverance +from evil at the last moment greatly +strengthened his faith in her guardian angel, and +Gusty had a great deal of faith, as we have seen. +That Rosalia was somewhere in safety, and +that she would make her retreat known as soon +as she should hear of the arrival of any of her +friends at Genoa, he fully believed; and it was +his determination, in case of his being reinstated, +to solicit orders on the Mediterranean service, +and in any other case, to go out privateering in +a search for the lost girl.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, Gusty, what are you thinking of?” +asked Emily at last.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am thinking, mother, that Rosalia is <em>safe</em>, +and that we shall soon <em>hear</em> that she is so!” +said he.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The next morning Gusty May set out for +Washington City, where he arrived within the +week. After a few weeks’ petitioning, struggling, +and delaying—during which Gusty’s hopes +fell and anger rose a dozen times at least—and +during which his friends persevered while his +own patience gave out—at “long last,” Gusty +May was duly authorized to mount the anchor +and eagle buttons and epaulette, and empowered +to write himself down, Lieut. Aug. W. May, U. +S. N. He ran down to Churchill’s Point to +hug and kiss his mother upon this good news, +and to get his chest, for he was ordered to join +his old ship, the Rainbow, about to sail from +Boston for the Mediterranean.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Within the month, Gusty was “Once more +upon the waters.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XLI.<br> <span class='c009'>CONSTANTINOPLE.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Once more upon the waters! yet once more,</div> + <div class='line'>And the waves bound beneath me as a steed</div> + <div class='line'>That knows its rider.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Childe Harold.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>The good ship Rainbow weighed anchor on +the 1st of January, and bore away from Boston +harbor before a fair wind. The voyage across +the Atlantic ocean was rather tempestuous, but +in due time the vessel passed through the Straits +of Gibraltar, and entered the Mediterranean, +where she continued to cruise for some months, +stopping at almost every other port but that +Gusty May was so anxious to enter, namely, +Genoa. Gusty had deluded himself with the +fond idea that once in the Mediterranean he +must come upon Rosalia Aguilar <em>somewhere</em>. +He had written to Captain Wilde, and had also +swallowed his rage and compelled himself to +write to Raymond Withers. He had not received +a line in reply from either of them up to +the 1st of April, at which time his ship was +ordered to Constantinople. On the 15th of +April they entered the Archipelago, on the 25th +passed through the straits of the Dardanelles, +and on the 1st of May entered the straits of +Constantinople, and anchored among a thousand +other ships of all nations before the City of +Mosques and of the Sultan.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He inquired and found that Captain Wilde’s +ship, the Cornucopia, was still there, though expected +to sail in a few weeks.</p> + +<p class='c008'>As soon as he could obtain leave of absence, +he hastened in search of it. The ship lay opposite +the lower part of the city. He found it and +hurried on board. Captain Wilde was on deck, +and hastened to receive his nephew—they met—clasped +each other in a warm, fraternal embrace, +and <em>both</em> exclaimed, in <em>one voice</em>,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia! have you heard from Rosalia?” +and each looked blankly and sadly at the other, +as he murmured,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No—I was in hopes that <em>you</em> could have +given me news of her,” and then the final answer +was simultaneously spoken by both,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah, <em>no</em>! all inquiries have been fruitless.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How is my sister Emily?” asked Captain +Wilde.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well in health; but dreadfully anxious +about Rosalia, of course, as we all are,” replied +Gusty, with a deep sigh, “and Sophie—how is +Sophie?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Not well—indeed very far from it; the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_157'>157</span>sudden news of Rosalia’s flight, or abduction, +for we do not know which to suppose it, threw +her into a fit of illness, from which she has +never fully recovered?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Poor, dear Sophie—where is she now?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Here on board the ship with me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<span class='sc'>Here!</span> has she lived here all the time?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Certainly.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And through her long illness?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes—do you not know that the Turkish +Government will not permit a foreigner to reside +in the city?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And is there no exception to this rigid exclusion?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“None, even in favor of ministers of friendly +nations; <em>they</em> are not permitted to reside within +the walls of the city.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And Sophie is here—introduce me to her.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Wait, my dear Gusty, a few minutes; I +must prepare her for your visit,” and so saying, +Captain Wilde went down into the cabin, whence +he returned in a few minutes, saying,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come, Gusty! Sophie expects you, and she +has a strange story for your ear also.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty followed his uncle down the gangway +into a large cabin, fitted up in the most luxurious +style. The berth or sleeping apartment, at +the upper end, opposite the entrance or gangway, +was concealed by curtains of purple velvet, +fringed with gold, and festooned with golden +cord. The side walls were wainscoted with +mahogany, and the floor covered with a Turkey +carpet, of colors so brilliant and life-like, and +texture so yielding, that you seemed to be stepping +upon flowers. In the centre of the cabin +stood a rose-wood table made fast to its place, +and above it hung a splendid chandelier of cut +glass and gold. Ottomans covered with purple +velvet and fringed with gold, like the curtains, +were ranged around the walls upon the carpet.</p> + +<p class='c008'>A beautiful spring-bottomed sofa, whose upper +cushions were of down, covered also with purple +velvet to match the other hangings, was placed +against the walls on the left hand as you entered, +and facing it upon the opposite side, hung a large +cheval mirror. About upon the walls hung +several rare oil paintings in rich frames, and the +rose-wood table was littered with books.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“This is Sophie’s own particular retreat,” said +Captain Wilde, as he introduced Gusty, and +pointed him to a seat on the sofa. In a few +seconds the purple velvet curtains opened, and +Sophie entered. The very same Sophie, whom +time seemed to forget to mar. The same little +round looking figure, in its sober dress of brown +satin, the same little sedate head with its simply +braided, glossy brown hair, the same soft, pale +face with its large, tender brown eyes, the same +pensive countenance, and gentle manners, the +same low sweet voice, the same every way +except—yes! there <em>is</em> a tone of deep, deep +sorrow in her whole bearing as she approaches to +greet Gusty, who rises and meets her more than +half way. She offers her cheek to Gusty, who +kisses it as he embraces her, and they look in +each other’s face with a heart-broken expression +of countenance, and sit down without a word +spoken on either side! At last, trying to utter +the name of Rosalia, Sophie chokes and bursts +into tears, and weeps convulsively.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah! well—yes—this is it!” exclaimed Captain +Wilde, sitting down and taking her in his +arms, forgetting or disregarding the presence of +Gusty, and muttering <i><span lang="it">sotto voce</span></i> as he soothed her, +“I sometimes wish we could hear that this poor +girl was dead, for then Sophie would know that +she was in Heaven, and cease to break her heart +about it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie wept abundantly, and, as a fit of free +weeping always acts, it subsided and left her +heart clear, her mind refreshed, and her nerves +calm—<em>temporarily</em>—just as an April shower +leaves, <em>for the time</em>, the sky bright, and the +earth refreshed. Then as she recovered, she +recounted all the little she knew from Raymond +Withers of Rosalia’s flight, and ended by reiterating +that no news had been heard of her; nor +the slightest clue had been found to her fate or +her retreat.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty saw that neither Captain Wilde nor +Sophie had the slightest suspicion of the elopement, +well veiled as it had been; and he, on his +part, determined not to enlighten them. On his +inquiring when they had last heard from Raymond, +he was informed that they had received +but one letter from him, namely, the letter +announcing Rosalia’s flight, but that they had +lately heard, by a vessel direct from Genoa, that +the American Consul was lying extremely ill of +a brain fever, and that his life was despaired of.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Of course that is the reason he has not written +to us,” said Sophie.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And I suppose that is why he has not replied +to my letter, either,” observed Gusty.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Then Sophie asked her thousand and one +questions about Emily and her family, about +Heath Hall and its inmates, and about Hagar +and her children. To all these questions Gusty +gave satisfactory replies. When she inquired +about Hagar he merely told her that she was in +high health and beauty, and the mother of a fine +boy, thus revealing only what was agreeable in +the truth, without afflicting Sophie by saying one +word of the sorrow of which it was evident that +she had not the slightest idea. If this partial concealment +was not in<em>genu</em>ous, it was at least +in<em>geni</em>ous; but I am not defending Gusty.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I have something strange to tell you about +our poor dear Rosalia, but I am not able to tell +you to-day, Gusty,” said Sophie.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Is it about anything that has occurred since +you parted with her?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes—and—no,” said Sophie,” but I am not +strong enough for the task now. Come to-morrow, +Gusty, and I will tell you—I must lie +down now.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And indeed she looked so languid, so much as +if about to faint, that Gusty, mentally reproaching +himself for having stayed so long, arose to take +leave.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come and dine with us to-morrow at five, +if you can leave the ship,” said Captain Wilde.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, do Gusty,” added Sophie.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I will, certainly, with great pleasure, if I can +get off,” replied Gusty; and raising Sophie’s pale +and languid hand to his lips he turned and left +the cabin, accompanied by Captain Wilde.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come in the morning for the story, however, +Gusty, for Sophie is too feeble to be worried +later in the day.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The next morning as soon as he was off duty, +Gusty hastened on board the Cornucopia. Captain +Wilde met him as before, and telling him +that Sophie was ready to receive him, conducted +<span class='pageno' id='Page_158'>158</span>him into the cabin. Sophie reclined upon the +sofa, but arose, and greeting Gusty, pointed him +to the seat by her side. He took it, and after +making several kind inquiries about her health, +he awaited the revelation she had to make him—his +interest and his curiosity whetted up to the +keenest edge. At length she said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I suppose, Gusty, you are waiting for this +story?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, dear Sophie, with as much <em>im</em>patience +as I dare to feel, seeing you so feeble.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am much stronger in the morning—well—dear +knows, I hardly know where to commence, +for I am no narrator. I suppose, Gusty, you +always thought that Rosalia—poor Rose!—was +my niece, did you not?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Of course—<em>yes</em>!</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My sister, Rosalia Churchill’s child?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Certainly!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, she is not either the one or the other!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She is no kin to me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<span class='sc'>Sophie!</span>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is true.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You astound me!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“So was I astounded when the fact was +revealed to me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Are you sure of this?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Certain of it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Beyond a doubt?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘There is not a peg to hang a doubt upon.’”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Who is she then, in the name of Heaven?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The daughter of my late husband, Mr. +Withers, by his first wife—Fanny Raymond, and +the sister of Raymond Withers!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty turned all colors, and lost his voice for +a time; at last seeing that Sophie remained +silent, he exclaimed—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Great God! this cannot be true!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I <em>know</em> it to be true. I have incontestable +proof that it is true.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And does <em>he</em>—Raymond Withers, know +this?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I presume so.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And how long has he known it?” asked +Gusty, with a strange joy breaking over his face.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Only since her flight.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty’s countenance fell suddenly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Does <em>she</em> know or suspect it?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I presume not—poor child!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How long have <em>you</em> known it?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“About eight months.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And how did you discover it?—who told +you?—and why has the fact been kept concealed +so long?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Stay, Gusty, it was to tell you the whole +story that I requested your visit this morning. I +am about to do so.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am all attention—begin.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“In the first place, I do not wish to enter +further upon the details of the early life of Mr. +Withers than is absolutely necessary to make +this story clear.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Of course not,” winced Gusty, with a countenance +expressive of having bitten an unripe +persimmon.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You have sometimes heard the name of +Fanny Raymond?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes—though long</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“‘Banished from each lip and ear,</div> + <div class='line'>Like words of wantonness or fear;’</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c016'>—I <em>have</em> heard it—and I remember her sad +fate.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You will understand, then, why it is unpleasant +to me to allude to her dark story.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, of course.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Further than is positively unavoidable?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I know! I know!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then these are the facts lately revealed to +me by my deceased brother-in-law’s attorney—and +this was the manner of it. We had been +out here something like four or five months, +when I received a packet of letters and papers +from Mr. Linton, my late brother-in-law’s +attorney, and my colleague in the guardianship +of Rosalia and her little property. With +this packet of letters came <em>one</em> letter, sealed +and superscribed in a hand-writing, the sight +of which made my heart leap to my throat—the +hand-writing, in fine, of my only sister—my +dead sister, Rosalia. In truth, it seemed +like a missive from the grave. It was directed +‘To Sophie Withers—care of T. Linton, attorney +at law—to be delivered according to its address, +on the 1st June, 182-.’ <em>That was Rosalia’s +eighteenth birthday.</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie paused. Gusty waited in breathless +impatience. She seemed strongly disinclined +to recommence the recital that she had abandoned +at the very outset.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well?” at last ventured Gusty—“Well, +Sophie?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Alas! why have I to tell this story—I do +so revolt from it, Gusty! I walk around and +around it, fearing to approach it!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Don’t then, Sophie,” said Gusty, with an +effort at magnanimity, but looking very anxious.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I shall have to tell it—and may as well +brace myself to the task now as at any other +time. Listen then, Gusty, and I will endeavor +to condense the story that was revealed to me +through some half-a-dozen long letters, and +proved by some half a score of tedious documents. +You remember my sister Rosalia, +Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Like one of the glorious visions of my morning +of life—<em>yes</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, she <em>was</em> gloriously beautiful—of your +Rosalia’s complexion and style of beauty, but +with a sparkling vivacity, flashing like sunlight +through every look, and tone, and gesture—Rosalia +Churchill’s first effect upon a stranger +was electrical. Well! soon after we were left +alone by the death of our brother, Mr. Aguilar, +a young merchant of Baltimore, came down to +make or finish a large contract for tobacco, from +Mr. Gardiner Green—he saw Rosalia at church +on Sunday; on Monday got himself presented +to her by Mr. Green, who brought him to the +Hall. He came every day to see us. At the +end of a week he returned to Baltimore, but +came back in a few days. At last he proposed +for Rosalia, married her, and carried her off to +his city home. Rosalia was very young and +very thoughtless, and perhaps her husband was a +little selfish, and did not wish to be troubled +by the poor country relations of his beautiful +but penniless young wife—at least that is the +only way in which I can account for the +estrangement between us that followed her +marriage. I wrote to my sister frequently, and +at first her replies were copious, her letters filled +with vivacious descriptions of gay city life—of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_159'>159</span>dress, visiting and receiving company—of balls, +plays, and concerts, &c., &c., &c. This continued +a few months, and then our correspondence +began to die out. Her letters were short +and few, and filled with apologies. I never +remonstrated against this, because, you know, +that is not my disposition. At last—and this +was near the close of the second year—a longer +interval of silence than usual followed my letter +to her. I felt a <em>diffidence</em> in troubling her with +two letters at a time, for I felt that she was a +fine, fashionable lady, and just then I was almost +a pauper.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I guess it was your quiet <em>pride</em>, Sophie.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am no moral philosopher, and I do not +know whether it was pride or humility that prevented +me for some time from writing a second +letter to her; but at last I grew so restless about +her—I felt so interested in her domestic affairs—she +had been married more than a year, and I +was anxious to know whether she had a baby. +Sometimes I thought she <em>had</em>, and that the care +of it prevented her writing to me, so I wrote and +asked her in so many words. Her reply came, +after a long time. She told me she had a little +snowy-skinned, golden-haired, sapphire-eyed girl, +who was said to be the picture of herself. Of +course I thought, naturally enough, that the +child was her own. I could think nothing else. +She had not <em>said</em> so, but could I infer anything +else, Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Certainly not.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You see she entered into no details except +very minute ones about the baby’s beauty, dresses, +habits, and christening. This revived our correspondence +for a little while—only for a little +while—it died out, and finally ceased altogether. +It was a year from this that I was married to +Mr. Withers; and it was in the second year of +my marriage that I was so unfortunate as to lose +my only sister and her husband by the then prevailing +epidemic. I was appointed by will, +guardian, in conjunction with Mr. Linton, of the +infant orphan, Rosalia, and was summoned to +Baltimore, to receive her into my care. I went, +and brought home the baby, Rosalia, without a +single suspicion of who she really was. I was +attracted to the child; I loved her, but not for +anything of my sister that I saw in her, for there +was really nothing. Superficial observers might +fancy a likeness, because they both had the same +snowy skin, tinged with a faint rose-color on +the cheeks; the same glittering gold hair, and +the same azure eyes; but to my searching eyes +there was not a single look of my sister about +her. There was a startling likeness to another—an +unfortunate, whose strange sad fate was +as incomprehensible to me as this child’s alarming +resemblance of her. Still—so far was I +from suspicion—so little given, as you know, +Gusty, to marvellousness or romancery, that I +considered this extraordinary likeness as mere +fancy in me, until Mr. Withers also remarked it, +in great agitation, and even <em>then</em>, I set it down +as accidental. Mr. Withers grew very fond of +her, and she of him. She was the only one +who could subdue the tiger in his heart during +his fits of phrensy. You know we brought her +up as our niece, and loved her so much that had +we heard that she was the child of the bitterest +enemy in the world, we could not have loved her +less. The panic caused by the extraordinary +likeness passed away with years, because, in +fact, as she grew up this resemblance declined, +and her air and manner became assimilated to +mine, so much so that people saw, even through +the marked difference of complexion—what they +called ‘a family likeness’ between two of no kin. +Children <em>do</em> thus grow to resemble those who +bring them up—in case they love them. I believed +her to be my niece, and only regretted that +she had not been my daughter. You may judge, +then, with what surprise I received this packet +of papers from my coadjutor, Mr. Linton, accompanied +by his own letter—shall I read it to +you, or tell you of its contents?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Is it long?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, tell me.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well then, listen; it appears that a few +days before the death of Mr. Aguilar, he sent +for his lawyer, T. Linton, and requested him to +draw up a will, in which he left the remnant of +his wrecked property to his wife Rosalia. Within +a fortnight after the funeral of her husband, +my sister was struck down by the epidemic to +which he had fallen a victim. On the day previous +to her decease she requested an interview +with Mr. Linton. He obeyed her summons, and +at her desire, drew up a second will, by which +she bequeathed to <em>her daughter, Rosalia Aguilar</em>, +all the property so lately devised to herself. +She signed this will, and returning it to him, +requested him to keep it <em>for exhibition to her relatives</em>, +and to draw her up a copy, substituting +the name of <em>Rosalia Aguilar Withers</em>, and to +keep this in reserve, for, said she,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘The <em>first</em> will, will not give her any +right to the bequest, because she is not my +daughter.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Then why say so in the first will?’ inquired +the lawyer.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Because I do not wish to send the orphan, +<em>orphaned</em> into the world. As my own child, +my relatives will naturally receive Rosalia with +affection—the <em>prestige</em> of family will be about +her. As my adopted daughter, they may possibly +look upon her with aversion as an interloper, +who has deprived them of an inheritance. I do +not say that it <em>will</em> be so, but I <em>do</em> say that this +is so natural, so human a possibility, that I do +not wish to risk it. I wish to cover my baby, +my child; she <em>is</em> my child in affection, if not in +love—I wish, I say, to shelter her with <em>love</em> +during the years of her infancy and childhood, +and during these years you must only produce +the <em>first</em> will, unless the discovery of her real +parentage makes it necessary to produce the +second, which will secure to her the property +under <em>all</em> circumstances. I have prepared a +letter, in which I have given the history of my +adoption of Rosalia Withers, and which I shall +confide to you, to be delivered to my sister on +Rosalia’s eighteenth birth day, or before, if unexpected +circumstances should make it proper to +do so.’ Well, she intrusted him with both wills, +the real and ostensible one, and with the letter +explanatory of the whole matter. Gusty, I am +exhausted; shall I give you the letter to read, +while I take a little repose?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty looked at Sophie—she was pale and +trembling with nervous exhaustion.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! I am a brute! a brute! not to have +noticed your fatigue; but I was so interested in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_160'>160</span>Rosalia—give me the letter, Sophie, and lie +down.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It will tell you all that you wish to know, +Gusty,” said she, rising, and handing him the +letter.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He received it, and left the cabin, saying to +himself, “Sophie is not so strong to endure as +she was—her heart is breaking under reiterated +blows.” Passing Captain Wilde, and promising +to be back to dinner, Gusty hastened to his own +ship, and retired to read his letter, which, with +its revelations, reader, shall be reserved for the +next chapter.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XLII.<br> <span class='c009'>THE LETTER.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Oh, what a tangled web we weave</div> + <div class='line'>When first we practise to deceive.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Scott.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>Gusty found himself in his own “caboose,” +and opened the letter. Its contents were as +follows:</p> + +<p class='c008'>From Rosalia Aguilar to Sophie Withers.</p> + +<p class='c014'>“<span class='sc'>My Dear and Only Sister</span>:—Long before your +eye follows these lines, the hand that now traces them +will have moulded into dust. I write now propped up +in bed, and my pen drops from my hand, and my hand +falls from the paper every instant—ah! how difficult to +write with the life in my bosom palpitating, sinking, fluttering +into death! yet I must write. There is a secret that +I must leave revealed for you, although for awhile it will +yet be kept from you. Hear my confession. There is +a little child whom never having seen, you yet love +from my description, and from her supposed relationship +to you. And you must, for years to come, still believe +in her kindred claim. That little girl is no child of +mine—no relative of yours. Listen! this is her history.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“From the first year of my married life, I wished +above all things for a child—but when, in the passage +of time, I knew that Heaven had written me childless, I +wished to <em>adopt</em> an infant—one without parents, friends, +or relatives—an orphan from its very birth, whom I +would make all my own—whom I could pass, not only +upon the world, but upon my relatives, as my own; for +I was morbidly sensitive upon the subject of my childlessness, +and felt my misfortune to be a mortification of +which I wish to keep even you ignorant. (Now, if I +continue to keep even you in ignorance, it is from a less +selfish motive, namely, the welfare of my adopted +daughter.)</p> + +<p class='c017'>“Well, Sophie! such a child as I wished to find was +not so easily to be discovered; but the more difficult +the attainment, the more desirable was the object. I +brooded over the plan continually. I used to drive in +my carriage to alms-houses, orphan asylums, &c., and +became a sort of amateur baby-fancier; only I never +saw a baby that struck my fancy. I never betrayed +even to the matrons of these institutions my secret purpose +in visiting them so frequently. I thought it was +quite time enough to make known my wishes when +their object, namely an eligible child for adoption, should +be found. I was in the habit of visiting these asylums +at least once a fortnight, and I got the name of being +very charitable, for I had to give alms to account for +my visits. I grew quite into the confidence of the +matrons and directors, although, living as I did, quite at +the opposite end of the city, they knew nothing of me +beyond my ‘charities,’ as they called them. One day, +however, the matron of the almshouse met me at the +door, and conducting me into the parlor, told me that +she had a singular circumstance to reveal, and then +gave me the following particulars. ‘That late on the +preceding night, a woman had been seen wandering +bare-footed, and with wild eyes, streaming hair, +tattered dress, and frantic manners, through the streets +of the city. When accosted by passengers she would +answer wildly, or turn and flee. At last, that morning, +she was brought before a magistrate, who, seeing her +lunacy, had her sent to this asylum.’</p> + +<p class='c017'>“‘She was brought here about eleven o’clock,’ continued +the matron; ‘she is a very remarkable looking +young person, and I should think within a very +few days of her confinement. Will you see her?’ I +assented, and followed the matron to the ward in which +the stranger was placed. We entered a small room +apart, and there I saw such a wreck of a human being! +an extremely emaciated figure sitting doubled up on the +foot of the low bed—from her thin limbs hung tattered +raiment, bearing the marks and stains of much travel +and exposure. Her elbows rested on her knees, and her +talon-like hands supported her wan, white face, which +formed a death-like contrast to the brilliant hair of +mingled gold and silver threads that streamed down +each side. Her eyes were strained out straight before +her, but fell as she saw us. She was now enjoying—no, +not enjoying, suffering a lucid interval. I saw it in +the set despair—the too rational despair of those terrible +eyes. I felt strongly and most painfully interested in +her—I fully believed her to be one of the too numerous +victims of trust and perfidy. I wished to talk to her—to +learn, if possible, something of her history—to do, if +possible, something to alleviate her sufferings. I could +not, somehow, bring myself to speak to her confidentially +in the presence of the matron. I fancied that if I +were left alone with the poor stranger, I might win +some information from her, and learn if I could in any +manner ameliorate her condition. I requested the +matron aside, to withdraw for a few minutes, to give me +this opportunity. She did so, and I went after her, +closed the door behind her and returned, drew the only +chair in the room to the side of the bed, and sat down +in it very near her. She was sitting in the same attitude—her +side face was towards me—she did not notice +me.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“‘I am very sorry to see you looking so unhappy,’ +said I, softly as I could speak, and watching her face +steadily.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“She did not reply, but I saw the blue lips spring +quivering apart, and the white teeth glisten between +them.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“‘Are you married?’ inquired I, after a long, painful +pause.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“I immediately regretted my indiscreet question +when I saw her turn her gaze haughtily upon me, +while something like scorn kindled on her cheeks, +writhed on her lips, flashed from her eyes, as she answered, +in a low and measured tone,</p> + +<p class='c017'>“‘Do you not <em>perceive</em> that I am married?’</p> + +<p class='c017'>“I felt humbled—like a repulsed intruder—still I did +wish so much to benefit her that I ventured again.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“‘Can I do anything for you?’</p> + +<p class='c017'>“‘Yes!’</p> + +<p class='c017'>“‘Tell me what?’</p> + +<p class='c017'>“‘You can leave the room!’</p> + +<p class='c017'>“‘I will do so,’ said I, ‘certainly, as I do not wish, +upon any account to add to your discomfort,’ and rising, +I left the chamber.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“The matron met me in the gallery, and in commenting +upon my account of my interview, she informed +me that no one had been able to gain the +slightest intelligence of her past life, her friends, or her +condition, from her.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“I felt distressingly concerned for this woman. I +drove over every day to see her. She became accustomed +to my visits—somewhat reconciled to me—though +her moods were variable; sometimes bitter and sullen, +as I had found her in my first interview; sometimes +so wild and frantic as to make restraint necessary; +sometimes she was calm and rational. For several +days I made no further effort to elicit from her the +story of her sins, wrongs, or misfortunes. It was evident +from every lineament of her classic face and form, +beautiful even in their extreme emaciation, and from +every tone and gesture in her voice and manner—free +from coarseness even in her sullenest or fiercest mood—that +she was a woman of high breeding—that she had +fallen from a lofty place.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“But it was not until my pity for the poor creature +was changing into love, and she saw it, that I could get +her to take anything from me, or accept any, even the +most delicate, personal service.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“‘No,’ she would say, with a sardonic smile, ‘I will +accept nothing; I have a right to my place in this almshouse, +because I have helped to build and support these +institutions.’</p> + +<p class='c017'>“Pity is allied to love on the one hand, and to contempt +on the other; and in proportion as it approaches +love, it recedes from contempt. When she saw that +the arrogant and offensive element in my pity was +gone, she began to grow a little more grateful for the +care I was bestowing upon her. Once she said to me, +in one of her few lucid intervals—</p> + +<p class='c017'><span class='pageno' id='Page_161'>161</span>“‘For months I have been a wanderer on the face of +the earth; for months I have never slept under a roof, +or eaten anything cooked—the forest has been my home—its +bed of grass or under-growth my couch, its foliage +my curtains, the overhanging sky has been my roof, and +its millions of stars my lights: nuts and wild berries +my food, water my drink, and the side of some brook +my dining-room. I had fled from the cold pity and the +colder alms of society to wild nature, the rough but +honest mother. And it was the coming on of winter, +severe winter, and the approach of the period of my +accouchement, that drove me again into the haunts of +civilization for assistance.’</p> + +<p class='c017'>“The ‘mind and heart diseased’ might be detected +in her most lucid conversation. She was not one to +reason with—I could only love her into calmness and +sanity. I brought over some of my own clothing, and +after soothing, coaxing, and caressing, administered with +the most delicate tact of which I was capable (for it +was dangerous to let her think that I considered her a +child, or a fool who was to be wheedled), I prevailed on +her to take a bath, have her hair combed, and put on +comfortable clothing. It was a light blue, soft, warm, +French merino that I had brought her, and she looked +so beautiful after I had dressed her, that then I first +conceived the idea of bringing her home to my house. +It was almost a selfish feeling in me—she would occupy +and interest me—nay, she had done so to the extent of +exorcising my familiar demon, ennui. Mr. Aguilar had +sailed for Liverpool, on mercantile business, a few weeks +previous—it was too late to consult him—I thought I +would take this poor forlornity home, and ask his permission +when he returned. Fearful of alarming her +morbid pride, and her hatred of dependence, I did not +name my project to her then, but returned home full of +it. I went busily to work and prepared a chamber next +to my own—I was so happy and interested in fitting it +up—I said to myself, as I superintended the arrangement +of the furniture, ‘Her emaciated and wearied +limbs will repose so nicely on this white, clean, downy +bed; she will sit so nicely in this deep, soft chair,’ and +my own heart filled with a sort of delicious emotion, +that flowed through every vein, breathing through +every pore, dilating as a sponge filling with water, or a +child growing as it sleeps. I became deeply interested +in preparing baby-linen, just as if it were for myself. +‘Come,’ said I to myself, ‘I will be Pharaoh’s daughter, +and she shall be the mother of Moses.’ In the midst +of these occupations an evil thought came to me, and +said, ‘You are doing all this for—<em>whom?</em>—a fallen and +guilty woman—a degraded outcast!’ And I stopped in +the middle of the floor aghast at the sudden recollection, +and terrified at the question of what Mr. Aguilar might +say to this contemplated act when he should hear of it. +And as I stood, these lines, read in my school days, came +into my head—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“‘Vice is a monster of such hideous mien,</div> + <div class='line'>That to be hated needs but to be seen;</div> + <div class='line'>But seen too oft, familiar with its face—</div> + <div class='line'>We first endure, then <em>pity</em>, then embrace.’</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c019'>“Yes, I had got to the pitying stage! I was in danger! +in the whirl of the maelstrom! I turned giddy, and +dropped into the very easy chair I was preparing for +her. You used to say, Sophie, that I never prayed to +God until I got into trouble—which was as true then as +it is now. I was now in trouble—I did not wish to be +disappointed of my benevolence—my amusement, then, +if you will call it so; and I did not wish to see that +poor creature suffer in the bleak chamber of the +wretchedly <em>un</em>provided almshouse. I was broken upon +a wheel of conflicting opinions and emotions. And I +prayed to God, that if a baleful, moral miasma was +evolved from the presence of this poor fellow-creature, +His grace might be the purifying antidote to save +me, and I got up from this prayer loathing myself for a +self-righteous pharisee, standing afar off from the poor +publican, and I saw how far above the authority of the +poets, philosophers and moralists, whom I consulted +and worshipped, was the perfect law of love—the law +of Christ that I had forgotten. Later in the day when +this fervor had subsided, as all fervor must, and when +I looked at the <em>rationale</em> of the affair, it was suggested +to me that if the poor creature were guilty, she appeared +impenitent—but I replied, ‘She is outcast, +beggared, and crazed—that is all I know—if she is +guilty, it is known to God; if she is also impenitent, +she is mad; and has most likely been driven so by +cruelty and despair, and I will try to love her back to +sanity and to penitence. And in this case I have no +right to judge her—to pronounce her guilty. Still, Sophie, +I must say, that between old prejudices and new +sympathy, between ill-regulated feelings and unsettled +opinions, I was very much in doubt as to the propriety +of what I was about to do in my husband’s absence. +Inclination, as is but too usually the case with me, +weighed down the scale, and I went to bring my +protegé. I had some difficulty with her. I found her +in a very lucid state of mind. I congratulated her upon +her calmness, and she smiled a sad, strange smile, and +said,</p> + +<p class='c017'>“‘Ah! you think me sane, rational <em>now</em>! But when +I rave, rant and scream! when I tear my hair and +clothes! throw myself with violence on the ground! +call on God to strike me dead! and blaspheme because +He does not do it! <em>then</em> you call me mad! phrensied! +Alas! <em>then only</em> am I sane, <em>then only</em> conscious of my +situation, of all I <em>have</em> been, <em>am</em>, and <em>shall</em> be; of my +past, present, and future, in their horrid reality; and my +raving is but too reasonable! No, madam!’ she said, +with sorrowful bitterness, ‘it is <em>now</em>, <em>now</em> that I am +dull, stupid, collapsed, <em>calm</em> as you call it, that I am +<em>really</em> insane, for I am now insensible to my condition +in all its woe.’</p> + +<p class='c017'>“I asked for no explanation. I had given up that +habit long ago. But after a while I proposed my plan +to her. She hesitated even when I urged her with +tears of sympathy.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“‘If I become an inmate of your house, it is right that +you should know my whole story, yet that I will never +divulge.’</p> + +<p class='c017'>“‘No! no!’ said I, impatiently, alarmed, ‘I wish to +hear nothing, will hear nothing—I have nothing to do +with your past—your future only concerns me,’ for I +was now beginning to fear her story as a revelation of +horrors that I should not have the courage to face.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“In short, Sophie, I took her home with me that +very evening to the chamber where I had had a fire +already made for her reception, and I spent the evening +there with her.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“I kept her there two months. She grew calmer +every day under my nursing. At the end of two +months her child was born, and from that time it +seemed to me that she sank every day. It is true that +she recovered from her accouchement, and was able to +leave her room, but I could see that a hectic fever had +taken a deep hold of her system. I was expecting Mr. +Aguilar home every day literally with fear and +trembling. I devised a thousand excuses to make for +what I had done, and in the end hoped that the joy of +meeting me again would lead him to pardon the indiscretion +of which I felt that he would accuse me. Fanny +Raymond (that was the name of my protegé), sometimes +with her quick, unusually quick perceptions, +noticed my anxiety, and questioned me about it. But +I would smile and tell her that my sources of uneasiness +were like hers, incommunicable. In the midst of +this, Mr. Aguilar arrived. It was night when he came +home. He did not see Fanny that night. Early the +next morning before we arose, I told him all about it. +He was deeply displeased; nothing but the circumstance +of our having just met, after an absence, could have +saved me from a very severe rebuke. He said that she +must leave the house immediately. I pleaded with +him that it was the depth of winter—that she was dying +of consumption, or a broken heart, for they are often +synonyms. He was inexorable. I arose and dressed +myself and wept very much, and then I went to Fanny’s +room and took up her child in its soft, white night +dress, and returning to my own chamber, went up to +the bed and laid the babe upon his bosom.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“‘What am I to do with the brat? Do you expect +me to nurse it?’ said he, as he rose up on his elbow.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“I was not afraid of his throwing it out of the window. +He was passionately fond of children. It was +his weakness. He could not pass a babe in its nurse’s +arms in the street. That was one reason why I was so +anxious for children.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“‘It is a beautiful baby,’ said he, smoothing out its +hair, that looked like bright, pale yellow floss silk. +‘But here, take it! Why do you bother <em>me</em> with it?’</p> + +<p class='c017'>“The struggle in his mind was so evident.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“‘Because,’ said I, ‘its mother is dying—it has no +relatives, I suspect, and no one will claim it—you will +adopt it I think—and I hope, I pray, I do implore that +you will let its poor heart-broken mother pass the few +days of life that remain to her under this roof with her +baby.’</p> + +<p class='c017'>“Useless all my prayers and tears. He was sternly +determined to send her off with the child back to the +almshouse, he said. He admitted that were the mother +out of the question he would cheerfully keep the child. +At last I raised the infant and carried it into the next +room. Fanny was standing before the dressing-glass +writing on the table. She looked up as I came in. I +never shall forget the expression of her face in this +world or the next, it was whiter than chalk, sterner +than marble. She came to me, took the child from my +arms and laid it on the bed without a word said, then +<span class='pageno' id='Page_162'>162</span>turning to me she embraced me, kissed my hands, +pressed me to her bosom, and opening the door pushed +me gently out of her own, into my own room. <em>That +was the last time I ever saw Fanny Raymond.</em> An hour +after that Mr. Aguilar and myself sat down to the +breakfast-table. I sent up word for Fanny to come +down. The servant returned with the news that she +was out. I breakfasted without any presentiment of +what had occurred. After breakfast Mr. Aguilar went +to his counting-room and I ran up stairs to see Fanny +and her child. Fanny was not to be seen. The child +lay in her cradle. Going up to look at her I saw a +folded note pinned to her bosom and directed to me. I +took it off, opened and read it, as well as I <em>could</em> read +the scrawl. It was as follows:</p> + +<p class='c014'>“‘Mrs. Aguilar, your partitions are thin, or my senses +very acute—at all events, lying in my bed this morning, +I have heard without intending it, every word of your +conversation with your husband. I heard his stern but +well meant decision, your generous defence and benevolent +pleading, and I blessed and bless you, kind angel, +from my breaking heart. “If the mother were dead +‘he’ would take the child,” very well, so be it, the mother +will die to secure a home for her child—no weak +hesitation or weaker regrets <em>now</em>. I go and leave you +my child. Take her, Mrs. Aguilar, and give her to your +husband as his daughter. Like the Jewish matron +whom the Lord had written childless, take the child of +your handmaiden and rear it as your own. She was +born under your roof, she is yours. I will never return +to see or reclaim her. Do you know how much it has +cost me to write that? But I will not think! bear on, +heart, a few days or hours more. This child—you have +been fearing all this time that she was the offspring of +guilt and shame, <em>she is not</em>. I said that I would not tell +you my story, and I will not, because it would involve +others. If I were guilty would I be likely to reveal my +own shame? If I were to say that I am innocent, +should I be likely to obtain credence? But this baby, +I must tell the truth of her, she is my husband’s child, +for I have a husband, though I do not know how long +I may have one, nor is he in a condition to claim or +take care of his daughter or even of himself; nor does +he suspect the existence of this child, for I have been +a fugitive from his house five months before she was +born. Therefore keep her yourself, she will be a loss +to no one but me who resign her. Give her your name, +it will make her more your own. Call her Rosalia +Aguilar <em>Withers</em>. Why Withers, do you ask? Well, +no matter why, perhaps, because she is the bud of a +<em>wither</em>-ed tree.’”</p> + +<p class='c011'>“That was all! The mother had given up her child +and fled, apparently without a single regret, at least you +would judge so from the <em>words</em> of her letter; but that +letter was nearly illegible with wild and scrawling characters, +and almost blotted out with tears. A lock of her +babe’s hair was cut off from its forehead, and one of its +little socks taken away, nothing else was missing. The +poor mother had left bareheaded and without outside +covering, for her bonnet and shawl were left behind. I +was nearly wild with distress, and the poor forsaken babe +was wailing dismally for its mother, and I could not comfort +it. You know, Sophie, that though I am rather gentle, +yet when other people’s cruelties to their fellow creatures +have very much distressed and grieved me, that I +end in getting very <em>angry</em>. Well, I sent a footman to +the counting-house for Mr. Aguilar, who answered my +summons immediately. It was the first time in all our +married life that I had ever had occasion to send for him, +and he was alarmed. He came running up stairs. I +thrust the note into his hands, and it was <em>my</em> turn to look +daggers at him while he read it, and it was <em>his</em> turn to +cower before me.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘We must have her pursued, looked up, and taken +care of,’ said he, in a trembling voice.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Oh, yes!’ said I, ‘now that she is drowned—you +could find no room in the house for her dying form, perhaps +you will be able to find some spot on God’s earth +for her grave.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“In short, Sophie, I went on in the insolent way in +which, when I became excited and reckless of consequences, +I sometimes indulged myself towards him, +and which he always met with a dignified forbearance +that at last quite disarmed me.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Do you take care of the child, my dear,’ said he, +‘while I take measures to recover the unhappy mother,’ +and he left the room.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“All search proved unavailing—we heard nothing of +her for several days, and then we heard that a person answering +to her description had been seen walking wildly +on the bridge across the river, and the next morning a +handkerchief and a shoe were found floating, that when +brought to me I recognised as having belonged to her. +These created a suspicion that she perished by her own +act. Well, Sophie, Mr. Aguilar fell into very low spirits +about it, and we redoubled our care of the infant. We +procured a wet-nurse, and spared no pains or expense +in her nurture and education. She is now four years +old; she has been reared in the very lap of love and +luxury; but, Sophie, death is near me, at least I fear so, +and I must leave my poor dove, my delicate little hothouse +rose, to the rough ground and rude blast that make +the life of the orphan so hard. And, Sophie, I dare not +yet let you know that she is not my child in the flesh, +as she is my child by adoption and by an affection that +could not be deeper than it is, had I brought her into +the world. She was born in my bed, reared in my lap, +from the time she was weaned she has slept with me +every night. She is the delight of my eyes, the rapture +of my heart, she is so beautiful, so angelic! But, Sophie, +you will, perhaps, see <em>none</em> of this unless you +think she is your <em>niece</em>, you will see only a little interloper +who has feloniously entered your sister’s home +and heart and carried away her affections and your +inheritance, and so, Sophie, I will not for some years +permit you to know who she is. Not until her loveliness +has won a home in your love, of which prejudice +and injustice cannot deprive her. Oh, may God forgive +me if this is sin.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It occurs to me now, Sophie, that as your husband +is named Withers, there may be some connexion between +the circumstance and the wild fancy name of +Withers bestowed by Fanny Raymond on her child. +Still it is not likely that there is, at least circumstances +forbid me now to investigate it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sophie, this letter has been the work of a week, it +has been written in pain of body and pain of mind. +To-morrow I must make my will. I shall at the same +time place this letter in the hands of Mr. Linton, to be +forwarded to you upon the date of the superscription, +which will be the eighteenth anniversary of Rosalia’s +birthday, and before that if necessary.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sophie, all is done—and the sands of life run very +low. How much I would give to die on your bosom, +my only sister! but it may not be. Stranger faces are +around me—menial hands wipe the death dew from my +brow.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well! to-night perhaps my spirit may be freed and, +cleaving the distance between us, hover over your head +as you sit chatting merrily by your fireside, thinking of +your gay city sister, dancing in some brilliant ball-room. +Then I will whisper to your spirit, a dream of our loving +infant years, and you shall fall into a sweet pensive +trance that shall last until your husband asks,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘What makes you so silent, Sophie?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And you will reply, ‘I was thinking of my sister +Rose.’ And I shall disappear in the thick facts around +you. Shall it be so? Yes, Sophie! if my freed spirit +shall be <em>indeed</em> free, it will seek you before it seeks +Heaven.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I stopped, because weak tears blinded me—but a +little child is sitting on my bed, close to my pillow, and +she is wiping with her little dimpled hands, the damp +dew from my brow, and her soft lips kiss away the fast +falling tears from my eyes—let <em>these</em> tears be the only +draughts of sorrow that she drinks! Love my child, +Sophie! Oh, God, Sophie! if you want a guardian +angel in heaven, love my child!</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>Rosalia Aguilar.</span>”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>Gusty had finished the perusal of this letter. +Gusty was no moralist—he was given to emotion +rather than to reflection. Yet Gusty fell into +deep thought, and the fruit of his reverie dropped +in these words,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Behold the great tangled thicket of sin and +misery springing from one small seedling of error. +Behold the terrible consequences of one small +deception—consequences so nearly fatal! <span class='fss'>FATAL!</span> +Oh, Heaven, is there a word in earth’s, or in +hell’s vocabulary, strong enough to express the +horror of the fate into which this deception had +nearly plunged its victim!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And in deep thought, and with a brow of +gloomy gravity, Gusty went over to the Cornucopia, +to keep his appointment to dine. He did +not get an opportunity of speaking to Sophie before +dinner, for the officers were already assembled +and waiting. As he entered one door, +Sophie came in at another, and they sat down +to the table. Sophie was the only lady at the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_163'>163</span>board, and she was looking very pale and languid. +Captain Wilde mentioned that this was +her first appearance at the table since her long +illness. Immediately after the dessert was placed +upon the table, she arose and withdrew to her +cabin. Lieutenant May made an apology, and +followed her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You have read the letter, Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And what do you think of it? Strange +story, is it not?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Very.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I regret that Rosalia made any concealment +from me. I do not know myself very well, but +I do not think the knowledge of the facts would +have affected my feelings towards Rosalia. The +child that my sister loved as her own, would +have been very dear to me for my sister’s sake +as well as for her own, being as lovely as Rosalia.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I am very sure of that, Sophie; and I +also exceedingly regret this concealment; it +might have led to the most horrible end.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not see that.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, perhaps not; still it strikes me as having +been very wrong, and wrong doing is <em>always</em> +dangerous, and sooner or later it brings its retribution.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It <em>was</em> wrong. I do not defend it. Still her +motive was affection; her intention good. She +judged me by the known characters of our neighbors, +who are proverbially clannish—who intermarry, +who have strong family prejudices, who +would be likely to hate an alien by blood, where +property is concerned, and that alien has been +the means of disinheriting the family; it was the +fear that I would look upon the child with dislike, +which induced my sister to conceal her +origin until now.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Still, I say people ought not to be so concerned +for the results of things—people ought to +do <em>right</em>, and leave the event to God. I am +learning and proving the good of that every day. +Why, Sophie! that’s what <em>I</em> did when I got +into a scrape for doing good. I said ‘God is +above all,’ and I grabbed right hold of the promises! +with a good <em>will</em>, and held on to them! +and <a id='t163'></a>you see the upshot! <em>Why, I’m reinstated.</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are <em>what</em>, Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, nothing! nothing! only the devil got +me into a cursed scrape, and the Lord got me +out of it, that’s all!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It strikes me, Gusty, that you are irreverent +in your faith and gratitude.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Lord! just hear you! do you suppose now +the Lord wants to be worshipped <em>all</em> the time +with tears, and groans, and prayers, with long +faces, drawling voices, and melancholy psalms? +<em>No!</em> I believe He likes variety, or we should +not see so much of it in His works. Besides, I +think the cheerful incense of a jolly good fellow’s +faith and worship must refresh the angels sometimes! +See, Sophie! remember how David +danced before the Ark. Listen! the Jewish historian +says, ‘he danced with all <em>his</em> might.’ +And one can still better imagine the antics he +cut, when they read that Michal, Saul’s daughter, +‘saw King David leaping and dancing before the +Lord, and she <em>despised</em> him in her heart!’ met +him with scorn and biting sarcasm—exclaiming +with provoking irony, ‘how <em>glorious</em> was the +King of Israel to-day!’ &c., &c.; you know +the rest. Nonsense, Sophie, the Lord don’t +want to be always worshipped with a solemn +physiognomy; at least it is not my ‘<em>gift</em>’ so to +worship Him. Listen, Sophie! this is my theory +and practice:—If any fellow-creature wrongs +or outrages me, I walk right on board of him! +thrash him like a man! and then forgive him +like an angel! If any inevitable misfortune falls +upon me without human agency, I blame the +devil liberally! And if any good befalls me, +I praise the Lord with all my soul! There, +that’s <em>my</em> orthodoxy—and if any heretic don’t +like it, he needn’t subscribe to it. Dear me, +Sophie, when I <em>am</em> thankful, I am thankful sure +enough; my bosom is a jolly big ball-room, +and my heart dances a tarantula all over it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not know how you can be so thoughtlessly +gay while the fate of Rosalia remains +shrouded in mystery!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“God love your gentle sober bosom, Sophie; +I have been in the deliriums, in the agonies, in +the blues, the horrors, and the dumps, about +Rosalia, for six months past, until—I got your—never +mind—well, anyway, now it is <em>all +changed</em>, and I feel such a faith, such a profound +and joyful conviction of her safety, that I cannot +be anxious from <em>doubt</em>, but only from <em>impatience</em>! +Cheer up, Sophie! I wish I could infuse some +of my own confidence into you! Go or send to +Genoa. I wish <em>I</em> could get leave of absence! +Rosalia will turn up soon! She is not dead: +if she <em>had</em> been—much inquiry as has been made +for her, large rewards as have been offered for +information about her, it would have been known. +She has found friends somewhere! and they +help to conceal her, that is all! God is above +all!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Conceal</em> her! of what are you dreaming. +Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“There it is again! I shall let the cat out of +the bag, if I stay here another minute. Good-bye, +Sophie.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But what <em>did</em> you mean?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dear Sophie, nothing! my hour is up! I +<em>must</em> go—good-bye!”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XLIII.<br> <span class='c009'>ROSALIA’S WANDERINGS.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“There’s a divinity that shapes our ends,</div> + <div class='line'>Rough hew them as we will.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Shakspeare.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>I do not know how <em>you</em> feel, but I am fatigued +with chasing up and down the world, from Maryland +to the Mediterranean, and from the Balize +to the Bosphorus, my eccentric set of people, who +have exploded in their passion and blown themselves +to the four winds of Heaven! I feel like +an admiral at sea with a squadron, in which +<em>each</em> ship is in a mutiny, and <em>all</em> in a storm—or +like a shepherdess with a very short crook, a +very wild watch-dog, and a very unruly flock.</p> + +<p class='c008'>And now I must leave the ninety-and-nine in +the wilderness, and go after the one that is lost—our +pet-lamb, Rosalia—who, if she has escaped +the wolf, has withal wandered too far from the +fold in going out of sight.</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_164'>164</span>Upon the evening of her arrival at Genoa, +Rosalia had been shown into her chamber, had +been assisted off with her travelling dress by the +chambermaid, had been supplied with some warm +water for bathing; and then, at her own request, +had been left alone. Finding herself in solitude, +she had taken a pencil and paper, and traced the +lines of her farewell letter to Raymond Withers. +Then like one in a dream, driven by one force, +the instinct of flight from Raymond, led by one +attraction, the wish for distance and sleep, she +began her hasty preparations for escape. Selecting +from her wardrobe a dress that Raymond +had never seen her wear, and therefore would +be unable to describe, one also that would attract +the least possible attention, and in which +she would be able to glide, spirit-like and unobserved, +through the gloaming—namely, a +black velvet pelisse, black beaver bonnet, and +black lace veil—she arrayed herself, and taking her +guitar, with a vague idea of its being serviceable +to her, she opened her door and looked cautiously +out. It was the hour of dinner throughout +the house, and the servants were all away from +this division of the establishment. She hurried +cautiously down the stairs, watching her opportunity, +and eluding observation now by passing +vacant galleries, now by gliding through a crowd +of busy and hurrying waiters, she escaped from +the house and stepped out into the street—into +a broad, grand, spacious street, built up on either +side with princely palaces, so magnificent that +any one of them might have been considered +the chief ornament of any other city. Terrified, +almost crushed by the stupendous magnificence +around her, the timid girl hurried through the +stately streets of the gorgeous city, “Genoa the +Proud,” as it has been styled for its grandeur. +Hurrying along under the shadows of the palaces, +gliding through the crowds of lazzaroni, the poor, +frightened girl approached the north-western +rampart. She met many country people coming +through the gates, with tall baskets of fruit upon +their heads, and in the crowd that was passing +<em>into</em> the city, she passed <em>out</em> unchallenged and +unnoticed. She found herself upon the high +road leading through the plains, through the +forest, and lastly through a defile of the Appenines +to the city of Parma. She went on.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The sun had set before she had emerged from +the city, and now as she went up the pleasant +road, bordered by beautiful herbage and fragrant +flowers, by citron and orange groves, the soft +and purple evening of Italy, with its clear sky +and brilliant stars, was around her. The delicious +coolness of the atmosphere stole all the +heat from her veins as she wandered on. There +seemed something in the air, or the ground, that +strengthened her, for as she walked, her faintness +and languor left her, and peace fell into her heart +and all around her. Oh, yes! it must have been +the pure air,—the fresh earth,—the hum of insects,—the +hushed flutterings of birds’ wings, +as they settled on their nests,—the distant murmur +of the bay, and the nearer whisper of the +breeze—in other words, the influence of nature, +the mercy of God that was quieting her excited +nerves, cooling her burning fever and composing +her stormy bosom. True that she <em>knew</em> she was +a delicate, a houseless, friendless, penniless, and +helpless wanderer in a strange country—she +<em>knew</em> this, but somehow she could not <em>feel</em> it! +She only felt the delicious influence of the evening +air. A great deal of the anguish she had +experienced at parting with Raymond had been +expended in the passionate letter she had written, +in the passionate tears she had shed. The gathered +force of the storm had burst and was +over! She was now refreshed. Instead of +fainting on the road at every step she took, +coolness and strength seemed to strike up from +the living earth through her feet, passing into +all her limbs. And it seemed to her childish +fancy that in the low music of the insects, of +the waters and the winds, she heard the angels +whisper, “Come along! come along! be a good +girl! we are with you!” and she toiled on, <em>led</em> +on, not knowing where, until the road declined +and narrowed into a deep, cool, green forest +dell, when, overpowered by a delicious drowsiness, +she lay down to sleep. She did not feel +alone or wretched—it was strange, but she did +<em>not</em>. Nature seemed to embrace her in a loving, +maternal, <em>conscious</em> embrace; God seemed +bending over her in blessing. She lay down in +the green and growing leaves that seemed to +close over her like kindred arms. She fancied +in her dreamy, sleepy half-consciousness, that +the leaves which kissed her cheek <em>knew</em> what +they were doing—that the large, bright, solitary +star that gazed at her through the overhanging +foliage, <em>loved</em> as it watched her; only half +awake, she stretched her hand up towards it, +gratefully smiled, dropped her arms, and fell +asleep!—into a sweet, healthful sleep, and +dreamed a heavenly dream. She saw the Heath, +the bay, and the river. The heath no longer a +desert, but covered with fields of waving grain +and pastures, that fed flocks of sheep and +droves of kine. She saw the forest glittering +green in morning dew, and the river flowing +brightly on to the bay that flashed in the morning +sun. She saw the Hall, no more a ruin, but +rebuilt upon the old model—an imposing, yet +beautiful villa of white freestone, with verandas +running all around it; with vines twined +about its pillars; with birds singing in their +leaves, and children sporting under their shade. +She saw Hagar in the high, bright bloom of +health and happiness. She saw Raymond seated +at his wife’s side, with one arm enfolding her +form; she saw or <em>felt</em> herself seated at their feet, +her head reposing upon Hagar’s lap, and Raymond’s +sedative, white fingers running through +her ringlets; and she knew that she loved them +<em>both</em> well enough to give her life for them, nor +could she distinguish any difference in the affection +she bore to either. Her heart was filling +and rising with a strange joy; she awoke. What +was before her? The sky of Italy still bent +above her—the bright star still looked down +through the foliage upon her,—the flowers and +herbs of Italy still bloomed around her—the +high road to Parma lay before her,—but what +was on that road? A group of men with torches, +bending over her. She gazed in startled wonder +for a moment,—she was awake and conscious +again!—an unpardoned sinner—a fugitive and a +wanderer far from her native country. Were +these grim-looking men with torches come in +pursuit of her, and would they carry her back +to Genoa? or were they a band of the dreadful +banditti that, inhabiting the fastnesses of the Appenines, +sometimes poured down in hordes, +scourging the country with fire and sword, even +to the city gates? Quick as lightning all this +<span class='pageno' id='Page_165'>165</span>flashed through her brain, and she fainted from +terror before the tones of a very sweet voice +from a carriage on the high road could reassure +her, in the following question, apparently addressed +to the men around her—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is it, Signor Guillio?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A woman, a young lady, I should judge, +your Highness.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>A young lady?</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, your Highness.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Is she hurt?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I’m afraid so, madam! I am nearly sure +that the carriage wheels passed over her limb, +and that she has fainted from the pain.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, I am <em>very</em> sorry!—but how could she +have come there? and how very careless to +drive over her. Signora Morchero, will you +have the kindness to alight and examine into the +extent of the mischief done?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>A lady now descended from the carriage, and +stepping up to the recumbent form of the fainting +girl, stooped and examined her—noticing the +richness of her dress, the rareness of her beauty, +the delicacy of her hands and feet, and the highbred +expression of every lineament while trying +to discover where she might have received injury.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will you not examine her limbs, to see if they +have been fractured, Signora?” again inquired +or rather commanded the voice from the carriage.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The lady bent down, and feeling her ankles, +arose again and said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Her limbs are not fractured, madam, I think, +and the obstruction that the wheels passed over +may have been only her guitar; still she is in a +swoon.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“This is very extraordinary—what does she +look like?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She has the appearance of a young person +of rank.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Signor Guillio, give me your hand—I wish +to alight,” said the lady in the carriage.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The gentleman, who held a torch, passed it +to a page, and went up to the vehicle, reverently +assisting the lady to descend from her carriage. +Leaning on his arm, she approached the prostrate +girl; bidding the page hold the torch lower +and nearer her face, the lady examined her features +attentively. She seemed struck,—deeply +interested. Indeed, it was a strange, beautiful +picture, upon which no one could look with +indifference; the lovely, snowy face, with its +delicate Grecian profile, half-shaded by the luxuriant +tresses of bright golden hair, and both +thrown out into strong relief by the black velvet +dress and the dark green pillow of leaves.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Lift her up, Signor Guillio, and place her in +the hindmost carriage, with our page and tirewoman; +lift her gently,” said the lady, “we +cannot leave her here.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The gentleman obeyed; but just as he raised +her in his arms, Rosalia opened her eyes; she +shuddered and closed them again in fear; but +the lady addressed her in a soothing tone, and +she looked up once more.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You have lost your way, probably, young +lady?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia looked up into the lady’s gentle face—she +understood Italian imperfectly, so she answered +in the affirmative, not knowing what +else to say.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Are you hurt?” inquired the lady.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia replied that she was not.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Were you going on to Parma?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Again, in her surprise and uncertainty, Rosalia +replied affirmatively.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then we can take you there,” said the lady, +and turning again to the gentleman whom she +had addressed as Signor Guillio, she said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Put her into the carriage with the Signora +Bianca, and let us proceed on our journey; it is +late, and the air is chill.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Signor Guillio assisted the girl to arise, and, +lifting her guitar, led her on to a plain, dark carriage, +that, standing some yards behind the foremost +one, was out of sight from the spot on +which she had been lying. Lifting and placing +her in it, he merely said to the occupant already +there—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A traveller, Signora, whom the Grand Duchess +has picked up, and intends carrying on with +her to Parma,” and handing in the guitar, he +closed the door, and returned to the carriage of +the lady, who had already resumed her seat. +The party moved on.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The carriages rolled on. Rosalia seemed to +herself to be still sleeping, still dreaming. Nay, +<em>this</em> position seemed more unreal than the dream +from which she had been awakened. At length +she said to her silent, and sulky, or weary companion—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will you have the goodness to inform me, +Signora, to whom I am indebted for this kindness?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do you not know, then?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Indeed, I do not. I seem to myself to be +dreaming, and have only a dim notion of how I +came here; who was the benevolent lady who +spoke so kindly to me?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are a very new comer into this neighborhood, +as well as a foreigner, if you do not +recognise Her Royal Highness, Maria Louisa, +Grand Duchess of Parma, who has been spending +some weeks at the sea side, and is now +returning to her own capital.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The simple girl was struck into silence by +astonishment and awe.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was near midnight when the carriages +entered the gates of a fortified city, and rolling +through the streets, at length paused before a +magnificent palace. The party entered its portals. +Rosalia was provided with a lodging within +its precincts, by the woman who had been her +fellow-passenger.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was about eleven o’clock the next day +when she was summoned to the presence of the +Grand Duchess. Maria Louisa was in her +dressing-room under the hands of her ladies, +who were arranging her morning toilet. Rosalia +entered the sumptuous apartment and the +august presence with downcast eyes and hands +simply folded upon her bosom; her golden ringlets, +parted above her high, pure brow, fell glittering +down upon the black velvet boddice of +her dress. Everything in her looks and motions +repelled suspicion and disarmed prejudice as she +floated gracefully on and paused meekly before +the Grand Duchess.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Who and what are you—whence come you, +and whither are you going, young girl?” inquired +Maria Louisa.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia raised her gentle lids to meet the noble +but haughty eyes of the Grand Duchess, and, +inspired by a sudden impulse, in meek accents +begged permission to tell her little tale.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Maria Louisa, seeing her languid appearance, +pointed to a low ottoman at her feet, bade her +<span class='pageno' id='Page_166'>166</span>seat herself and proceed. But <em>how</em> to proceed +without deeply inculpating Raymond, she did +not know; at last she thought—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“This great lady is so far above us, and so +far away from us, that the full knowledge of the +facts put in her possession cannot hurt Raymond—and +at least, if I speak at all, I <em>must</em> tell +the truth,” and then Rosalia, in her imperfect +Italian, “broken music,” told her story, told it +truly, weeping and blushing, but not concealing +her own errors, or sparing her own feelings. +Maria Louisa listened with close attention and +deep interest. Now, whether it was that, by +reason of the narrator’s broken language, the +Grand Duchess did not understand her errors, +or whether because of her ingenuous confession, +Maria Louisa was inclined to overlook or forgive +them, is not known; but it is certain, that +having fully ascertained the perfect destitution +of the friendless young stranger, and her entire +willingness to enter her service, the Grand Duchess, +in rising to leave her dressing-room, said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I appoint the Signora Rozzallia second assistant +to my lady of the wardrobe,” and dismissed +her. Later in the day, Her Royal Highness +was heard to say,—“That young maiden +has a perfect cherub’s face. Truth and goodness +radiate from it.” Later in the <em>week</em>, Rosalia +was called to sing and play before Maria +Louisa; and later in the month, she became the +favorite attendant of the Grand Duchess.</p> + +<p class='c008'>A strange, vague fear and doubt kept Rosalia +from writing to any of her friends at present. +After the lapse of some weeks, she began writing +to Sophie; but a strong dislike to expose +the vice of Raymond to any of his own friends, +caused her to destroy the letter on finding it to +be impossible to give any true account of herself +without compromising him with his family.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Thus months elapsed, while she remained in +the service of Maria Louisa, Grand Duchess of +Parma, where we will leave her for the present.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XLIV.<br> <span class='c009'>THE QUEEN OF SONG.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Radiant daughter of the sun!</div> + <div class='line'>Now thy living wreath is won.</div> + <div class='line'>Crowned of Fame!—oh!—art thou not</div> + <div class='line'>Happy in that glorious lot?—</div> + <div class='line'>Happier, happier far than thou,</div> + <div class='line'>With the laurel on thy brow,</div> + <div class='line'>She that makes the humblest hearth</div> + <div class='line'>Lovely but to one on earth!”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Hemans.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>Two months have passed since the arrival of +Gusty May at the “City of the Sultan,” and +Captain Wilde is ordered to take command of +the Rainbow, and carry her home—Gusty May +remaining attached to the ship as third Lieutenant; +and they sail from Constantinople, intending +to touch at Genoa, to bring away the +American Consul, who is recalled to Washington. +It was on the first of June that the Rainbow +cast anchor in the Gulf of Genoa, before +“the City of Palaces.” Gusty’s heart was throbbing +with anxiety to prosecute in that city and +neighborhood his search for Rosalia, of whom +they had not as yet received one word of intelligence. +The first man that came on board to +greet him on his arrival, was—who but Lieutenant +Murphy, who was attached to the Phœnix, +then at that port.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, my finest fellow in the service, how +does the world treat you nowadays? Got +struck from the navy list, for running away with +a pretty widow, hey? You miserable sinner for +getting found out! Well, where is this new +Cleopatra, for whom this modern Marc Antony +lost the world? And beyond all the rest, where +is the ‘golden girl?‘—aye, where is <em>she?</em> D—l +burn me if I don’t court her myself if you have +failed. I’ll see if I can’t wake her up just a little +bit—for—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“‘Oh, she is a golden girl,</div> + <div class='line'>But a man—a <em>man</em> should woo her;</div> + <div class='line'>They who seek her shrink aback,</div> + <div class='line'>When they should like storms pursue her!’”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c016'>“May I be court-martialed, keel-hauled, and +dismissed the service, if I don’t make her Mrs. +Patrick Murphy O’Murphy, and place her at the +head of one of the handsomest establishments in +fair Louisiana, if you don’t prevent me quickly, +my boy!—for—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>”‘Oh, she is a golden girl!’—</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c016'>“By the way, talking about beauties, have you +seen the St. Cecilia yet?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Saint who?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Saint who,’ just hear him! where have you +been all these months that all Europe has been +sung into ecstasies, trances, hallucinations, heavens, +by a new Orpheus—by St. Cecilia—by +Hagar, the Egyptian!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What?—who—which?—where?—when?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Whither?—why?—wherefore?—come, go +on, give us the whole list of interrogatories, and +when you get through, I’ll begin to answer. I +said, Hagar, the Egyptian—the Spirit of Music—the +Queen of Song—Hagar of the Lightning, +as her admirers call her—Hagar, the Gipsy—Hagar, +the Indian—the Miser—the Prude, as her +mortified lovers call her. If you have not seen +her you must go to see her to-day; she has been +in the city only twenty-four hours. I who saw +her at Venice and at Paris, and was introduced +to her as a countryman, I have the entrée, and +will present you—but where the devil have you +been all this time, never to have heard of +Mrs. ——, for that is her name?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty was divided between his joy and surprise +at finding his old friend Hagar so near him, and +hearing of her success, and his perplexity in untangling +the wisp of illusions with which Mr. +Murphy’s perceptions were fettered. They were +now standing on the deck—Gusty being on duty +could not leave the ship; Gusty looked around—sailors +were passing about—this was no spot +for a confidential communication, so he remained +silent.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“When I told you that I had the entrée to this +lady’s apartments, Gusty—I mean to say, that +I called on her once in Paris, once in Venice, +and that I have left my card at her door to-day; +she was out. She sings this evening, and the +Grand Duchess of Parma, now on a visit to this +city, is expected to honor her concert to-night +with her presence. I will take you to her house +this afternoon, if you wish it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Can you do so without her permission?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Surely—yes. One does not need to ask +permission of a lady in a foreign land to present +a respectable countryman of her own to her.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A countrywoman of ours,” said Gusty, willing +to draw him out without divulging any truth +there; “how is that?—have I ever heard of her?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, I suppose not—this is something like her +<span class='pageno' id='Page_167'>167</span>career though:—last fall she suddenly appeared +in New Orleans, gave a concert which succeeded +brilliantly, and which was followed by a succession +of splendid musical entertainments, each +more astonishing than the last; and just as +people began to inquire and ferret out her history, +she withdrew herself from the city, suddenly +and quietly, as though she had sunk through +the ground—which she probably did. She arose +to the surface again in the midst of the city of +Paris—threw the musical world there into ecstasies, +and passed on to Vienna, Venice, Naples, +Genoa, tracking her way with music, light, and +glory. She has avoided England, as she is +said to have avoided the Northern states of her +native country. She has tended southward, +towards the sun.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You seem to be strongly interested in this +lady,” suggested Gusty, with a view of setting +him off again, for he had paused, and fallen into +a reverie.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well! yes, and no—that is, I admire her—wonder +at her—get absorbed in her—but it is an +emotion of terror, awe, and admiration—such as +one may feel in a grand storm, in the midst of +sublime scenery, or, at best, under the canopy +of a splendid starry night—but—as for what <em>I</em> +call being interested in a woman—that is to say, +in love with her—I, or, in fact, anybody else, I +suppose, should as soon get in love with Vesuvius +burning.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yet you spoke of the malice of her disappointed +lovers.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Calling her ‘the miser,’ ‘the prude,’ ‘the +Indian,’ &c., &c.,—yes, but man! they were +not lovers of anything else but themselves. The +truth is, this lady’s private life is one of utter +<em>se</em>clusion and <em>ex</em>clusion, and all the <i><span lang="fr">petits maitres</span></i> +in the world are piqued at the <i><span lang="fr">caprice bizarre</span></i> +that shuts up this divine cantatrice with her +children, when she should be giving <i><span lang="fr">petits-soupers</span></i> +to their elegancies—and the vanity of +each is interested in constituting himself an +exception to this rule, and he is proportionately +wounded and indignant when his overtures of +acquaintanceship are rejected.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then the life of this singular woman is +divided between her professional labors and her +children?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No—not her whole life—she is, among other +extraordinary things, ‘a mighty hunter before the +Lord’—and when she was in Germany last +spring, is said to have achieved wonders in that +line. But I am tired of this—where in thunder +is the Captain? and are you to be pinned to the +main-mast all day?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Gone on shore to have a conference with +Raymond Withers, the American Consul, who +you know, or perhaps you do not know, is a +family connexion, worse luck!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, I did not know that, but I do know +that the new administration has recalled him.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, and we are to take him home—d—l +fetch me if I think it is safe—doubt if the ship +can reasonably be expected to go safe into port +with such a load of sin and misery aboard!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, what is the matter!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, nothing, only I hate the fellow, and +cannot be expected to speak well of him.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, about this American nightingale; will +you be off duty, and shall I come to fetch you +this afternoon?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“N-n-o, Murphy, not this afternoon,” said Gusty.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“When, then?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I’ll let you know to-morrow.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And the friends separated—the rattle-pated +Murphy returning to his own ship, the Phœnix, +then preparing to sail from the Gulf of Genoa—and +Gusty, remaining where he was left, pacing +the deck, chafing and fuming, and cursing the +delay that kept him chained to the spot, when he +was dying to go on shore and seek Hagar. It +was late in the afternoon before the return of +Captain Wilde released him from duty, and +merely pausing long enough to hear that Raymond +Withers was still suffering from the effects +of his long illness, as well as from severe anxiety +to hear tidings of his lost sister, to whose strange +fate no clue had as yet been obtained—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Did he mention Hagar?” inquired Gusty.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes—that is, he said that it had been some +time since he had heard from her, and wished +particularly to know whether we had received a +letter from her lately; of course I told him +that we had not—that in fact we never heard from +her at all—that she seemed to have dropped us—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Did he say when he had heard from Hagar +last?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No—I inquired, but he said, vaguely, that +he could not be precise to a day—that it had +been—something over a month.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes! I should think it had been—<em>something +over a month</em>!” said Gusty.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What do you mean by <em>that</em>, Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, nothing! only it has been something +over a month since mother wrote to me, and +women seem to be lazier with their pens than +with their tongues, that is all.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The truth is that now Gusty was in the Mediterranean, +Emily Buncombe wrote to him only, +making him the medium of her affectionate messages +to the rest of her absent relatives, and +Gusty, in “giving her love,” always suppressed +any allusion to Hagar, or merely said “Hagar +is well,” leaving it to be inferred that she was +still at the Rialto. Raymond Withers had, as +has been seen, so artfully avoided the subject of +his domestic affairs as to leave Captain Wilde +still ignorant of the estrangement between himself +and his family. The streets were bathed in +moonlight, as Gusty May passed through them +on his way to that quarter of the city in which +he had ascertained the residence of Hagar to be +situated. She occupied a suite of apartments in +an old palazza inhabited by a venerable Genoese +couple. Gusty knocked loudly at the porter’s +lodge before he could make himself heard. At +last a grey-haired man opened the door.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Can I see Mrs. ——?” inquired he, giving +the <i><span lang="fr">nom de guerre</span></i> by which she was professionally +known.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The old man shook his head, and was about +to close the door in Gusty’s face, when he took +out his card and placing it in the hands of the +aged servitor, requested him to take it up to the +lady. He did so; and in a few minutes returned +and bidding Gusty follow him, led the way up +the paved walk to the main entrance into the +hall of the palazza, and throwing open a door +on the right showed him in, and retired. The +room was empty, and Gusty had ample time to +notice its lofty ceiling, spacious extent, and the +decayed splendor of its old-fashioned hangings +and furniture before a door at the upper end +opened, and a regal looking woman, that he +scarcely recognised for Hagar, entered. She +<span class='pageno' id='Page_168'>168</span>was evidently arrayed for the evening’s exhibition. +Her dress of black velvet was thickly +embroidered with gold; her tresses, grown out +rich and beautiful again, were held back from +her brow by a serpent whose scales were formed +of overlapping emeralds, and whose eyes were +rubies, and fell in long, glittering, blue-black +ringlets far below her waist; her arms were bare, +but serpent bracelets twined around them. Over +her whole figure and costume, except that it +was thrown back from her face, depended a +large, black lace veil wrought with gold. She +advanced towards the middle of the floor, and +Gusty, starting up to meet her, held out his hand.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am so happy to see you, Gusty, my dear +friend, it is such a joyful surprise. How long +have you been at this port?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Only came in this morning.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sit down, Gusty,” said she, taking a seat +herself.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty followed her example, and turned to +note the change that had passed over her pale +but noble features.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Gusty, I have been highly successful in my +art since I left home, as, perhaps, you have +heard. I have made a professional tour of Europe, +and have only been twenty-four hours in +this city. To-night I sing, and the Grand +Duchess of Parma will honor the concert with +her presence. I tell you all this, my dear friend, +because I know you will care as much as I do +for my little victories. I was about completing +my toilet when you sent up your card, Gusty, +and I had given orders that all persons should +be denied. I would have admitted no soul but +yourself, Gusty, and in very truth I am not +pleased that you should see me tricked out in +this way, but to-night I bring out Athenais, a +composition of my own, and have to sustain the +principal part, that is it! Come to me to-morrow, +Gusty, and you shall see me, <em>myself</em>, you +shall see my children, they are both with me; +my little girls,—they are three years old, you +know,—can sing better than they can talk, they +are in bed now, and I am obliged to leave the +house in half an hour to go to the music-rooms. +I am usually attended by a matron who is my +children’s nurse, and my own maid, but on this +occasion will you make one of the party, Gusty?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“With great pleasure, dearest Hagar! but it +is so strange to meet you thus; and if one may +ask, why do you come to Genoa of all cities in +the world?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“For the reason for which you would suppose +that I would keep away, Gusty, namely, +because—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Mr. Withers is here.</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty sighed deeply, and Hagar unconsciously +echoed the sigh.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Does he know that you are here, Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I presume not.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will you advise him of your presence?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Certainly not.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then what was your object in coming +here—but—pardon me, Hagar; the interest that +I feel in you makes me impertinent, I fear.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, dear Gusty, not impertinent. Well! I +will tell you,” she said, turning, and looking away +from him, as a shadow overswept her forehead +and her voice choked. “It was—unseen by him—to +look upon his face and form once more, unheard +by him, to hear his voice once more, there! +that is it—condemn, despise me if you please—but +that was my motive in coming to Genoa.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty looked upon her high, pale brow, and +remained in silent thought for the space of several +minutes, and then he said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I suppose you have heard very little from +your friends during your travels, Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Friends!</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well! family connexions, then.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I have heard <em>nothing</em> from them.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Captain Wilde and Sophie are in port here.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes—I am attached to Captain Wilde’s ship.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And we are to take the American Consul +home.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Indeed!</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Certainly—did you not know of his recall?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Not one word,” replied Hagar, and she fell +into profound thought.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now I dare be sworn that you have heard +nothing from Ros—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! for God’s sake, hush! exclaimed Hagar, +as a spasm contracted her whitening features.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I must finish if it knocks you down, Hagar! +so brace yourself! I say that you have not +heard that Rosalia is the own sister of Raymond +Withers!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! my God, <em>no</em>!” exclaimed Hagar, growing +dreadfully sick.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Hush! stop!</em> be easy, listen. Rosalia is +<em>innocent</em>—<em>do</em> keep still, Hagar! <em>innocent</em>. I address +myself to your <em>thought</em>, not to your word! +Rosalia is pure! she fled the day of her arrival +at Genoa, and has hidden herself ever since!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What do you tell me, Gusty? Am I dreaming?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am telling you the truth, and you are not +dreaming.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And where is she? And what has put it +into your head that she is Raymond’s sister, for +<em>that</em> part of the story I cannot believe?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty looking at his watch and finding that +there were at least twenty minutes to spare, began +and told her the whole story, promising to +bring her the documents that would prove it +true the next day.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Say nothing, however, to Captain Wilde or +Sophie of my presence in the city.</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty promised that he would not, and they +soon left the house for the concert-rooms, which +they reached in ten minutes’ drive.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>The concert hall was crowded—crammed. +It is with only a few of the large and elegant +audience that we have to do. The Grand Duchess +of Parma and her suite occupied a box near +the stage, and at her feet sat her favorite attendant, +Rosalia, fanning her with a fan of ostrich +feathers. The blue silk curtains of her box +were closely drawn, concealing her party from +the eyes of the audience, while they left a good +view of the stage. Gusty May had a motive of +his own for what he did upon arriving at the +Hall, namely: he accompanied Hagar in at the +side door, to the rooms in communication with +the stage, and concealing himself behind the +curtain, took a sheltered view of the audience. +He wished to see if the American Consul was in +the house. His eye fell upon Raymond Withers, +seated in the most distant part of the house. +He was the sole occupant of the box. With a +quick nod of his head, Gusty retired, and meeting +<span class='pageno' id='Page_169'>169</span>Hagar, who was seating herself before the harp, +preparatory to the rising of the curtain, he said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mr. Withers is in the house, Hagar, but +perhaps you anticipated this contingency?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar turned very pale, and said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I thought of it—where does he sit? for <em>I +must not turn my eyes towards that quarter of +the house</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty told her, adding—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I took pains to ascertain, Hagar, so that I +might inform and prepare you, for I know that +with all your strength and self-possession, the +sudden and unexpected sight of Raymond Withers—if +it did not overwhelm you, would at +least endanger your success this evening.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar thanked and dismissed him. He turned +at the wing to note Hagar. The pallor of death +was on her brow, and the arm that half embraced +the harp trembled visibly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, this will <em>never</em> do,” he said, “Hagar! +let me bring you a glass of wine, or that curtain, +now about to rise, will fall upon your <em>failure</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, no, not wine, my heart and lungs are on +fire now!—bring me ice-water—a large glass of +ice-water; it is the only sedative for my feverish +temperament.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty departed, and returned with the desired +restorative, and stood by her while she quaffed +it,—stood by her until she was calm.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I must not fail before him, Gusty. Now +leave me, and—<em>pray</em> for me!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now,” thought Gusty, as he left her presence, +and took his way around to the boxes, +“I will go and take the vacant place by Mr. +Raymond Withers’s side. It will be interesting +to notice how he will look when that curtain +rises, and gives to his view one whom he as little +expects to see—as <em>I</em> expect to see my poor hidden +dove, Rosalia.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>As Gusty said this, he passed behind a curtained +box, between the fluttering silken drapery +of which, he caught a glimpse of golden ringlets, +flashing down the sweet, low forehead of a +quickly averted Grecian profile, that shocked +his heart into stillness an instant, then muttering +to himself—“Why what a fool I am! That is +the box of Her Royal Highness Maria Louisa,” +passed on, and entered the box occupied by Raymond +Withers. Gusty had not told Hagar so, +but he had observed that the Consul was fearfully +changed—his beautifully fair complexion +was now sallow; his elegantly carved profile +was now angular; from weakness or depression +of spirits he had contracted a stoop. His dress +was still elegant—for it was habitually so—of +black throughout, relieved only by wristbands +and collar of the most delicate linen, by a very +minute but pure diamond pin, and by a glimpse +of a watch chain that crossed his bosom. He +was looking straight before him, towards the +curtain, as though a strange attraction drew his +eyes and thoughts there. Gusty entered without +arresting his attention, until he said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How do you do, Mr. Withers?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The Consul turned and greeted him with his +habitually elegant self-possession, as though +they had but parted an hour before, and nothing +had occurred in the interval, and then gave his +attention again to the curtain.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Very well, my prince of self-possession, sustain +the character, but if the rising of that curtain +don’t ruffle the down of your serene highness, +I shall be in despair.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty thought he would try him a little, and, +as by way of opening a conversation with his +quiet neighbor, he observed, carelessly—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You have seen this <em>chanteuse célèbre</em> before?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Never,” replied the Consul.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>No!</em>—I really thought you had, frequently.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Raymond Withers did not reply to this observation, +and the attention of both was arrested +by the rising of the curtain.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty looked first quickly, anxiously, upon the +stage. Hagar was commencing her song with +perfect self-possession; he next covertly glanced +at Raymond Withers. He, with face pale as +white ashes, set teeth, knitted brow, and fiery +eye, was gazing at the songstress, who never +turned her eyes towards him. The vast room +was filling with music. The song was rising, +swelling into a fierce tempest of grand harmony, +like the rushing of many waters; then receding +like the memory of a murmuring rivulet heard +in infancy; now thundering on like the storm of +battle “hurtling on the plains;” then dying away +and away, distant, but yet distinct, like the retiring +steps of spirits gliding down the steeps of +space. The song was ended; a dead stillness, +a long pause followed. The audience had forgotten +the artist in her art—had forgotten to +applaud until some one, perhaps really the least +affected of all, recollected to break the tranced +silence, and an avalanche of applause falling, +shook the house to its foundation. But Gusty +May looked at the Consul. He was sitting still +and pale as an image carved in marble. Silence +again fell upon the scene.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The cantatrice had retired. Now a gentleman +presenting himself before the audience bowed +and waited to be heard. He announced that the +sudden indisposition of Mrs. —— had for the +moment, arrested the progress of the oratorio, +but that she hoped to have the honor of appearing +before them on the next evening—that +in the meantime the entertainment would proceed +without her. The gentleman bowed and retired. +Many of the audience arose to leave the house, +among the rest the American Consul, accompanied +by Gusty May—whose proximity, whose +very existence he seemed to have forgotten in +the absorption of his thoughts. Raymond Withers, +still followed by Gusty May, took his way +round towards the stage door. Passing the box +of the Grand Duchess Maria Louisa, he found +it empty—and heard one lounger tell another, +that the party had retired <em>because one of the +ladies of her Royal Highness’ suite</em> had fainted. +They reached the saloon at the back of the stage. +Raymond Withers, going up to the gentleman +who had announced the illness of the <em>chanteuse</em>, +inquired for Mrs. —— (giving her professional +name).</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She has just this moment left the house, +signore,” replied the gentleman, courteously.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will you furnish me with her address?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I regret to say, signore, that it is not in my +possession.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Does any one here know where the lady lives?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I fear not, signore.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Strongly suspecting some deception, Raymond +Withers prosecuted his inquiries further without +success. Beginning to feel ashamed of his position +as a self-constituted spy, Gusty May now +withdrew, leaving the Consul to pursue his investigations +alone.</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_170'>170</span>Gusty hurried at once to the Palazzo Marinelli, +the temporary abode of Hagar.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Where is Mrs. ——?” inquired he of the +porter.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do not know, signore, but she gave orders +that you should be admitted when you called; +will il signore follow me?” said the old man in +Italian, as he preceded him to the palazzo, into +the hall, and throwing open a door that led into +a private room, retired.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Where is Mrs. ——?” again inquired +Gusty, of the matron that came to meet him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She was summoned from the concert, in +haste, to the hotel of the Grand Duchess, and +has gone thither. She merely stopped here an +instant to say that if you called, I was to ask +you to have the goodness to come again to-morrow +morning.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The room was littered all over with trunks +and boxes and disordered wearing apparel, that +seemed to have been hastily thrown out of +presses, bureaus, wardrobes, etc. Gusty thought, +“This looks like a sudden journey, a flight,” +but he said nothing, deferring his curiosity until +the next day.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“She told me that you would like to see her +children, and that I was to show them to you,” +said the woman.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty assented, and at her request followed +her to the upper end of the room, where, withdrawing +a white lace curtain that draped a large +crib, she revealed the three sleeping cherubs. +Gusty looked at them with a tender and growing +interest, and then drawing back the curtain with +his own hands, he breathed a sigh and a silent +prayer for their welfare, and left the room and +the house.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was late, very late, when Gusty returned to +his ship, so that he found a difficulty in hiring a +boat to take him thither. On his way, while +gliding among the numerous shipping, he saw +one small craft so remarkable for its elegance, +that he could not fail to notice it; he saw the +sailors very busy on the deck.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That is a beautiful little bark,” he said to +the boatman.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Si, signore; she is the Compensation, bound +for Baltimore, with the first tide to-morrow; +they say a lady had her built; and that she +carries away a band of German emigrants.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>They were now by the side of the Rainbow, +and Gusty, who in his relapse of abstraction had +perhaps missed the latter clause of the boatman’s +speech, paid his fare, and hastily sprang on board.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Very early the next morning Gusty May arose +and dressed. He came on deck, resolved to ask +leave to go on shore immediately. The first +object he saw was the Compensation getting under +weigh. He stopped and watched her until, +flowing before a fair wind, she was out of sight. +Then, meeting Captain Wilde, he named his wish +to go on shore, obtained leave, and hurried away.</p> + +<p class='c008'>An hour’s hasty walk brought him to the Palazzo +Marinelli.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will you inform Mrs. —— that I have called, +and let me know if she can receive so early?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mrs. —— has left the city with all her family, +signore, and desired me to hand you this,” replied +the porter, placing a thick letter in his hand.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Gone?—left the city—when?—where?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“At the dawn of day, signore.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty looked at his letter, hastily opened it, +and caught two smaller letters that fell from out +of the large one, as he devoured its contents +with his eyes and brain:</p> + +<p class='c014'>“<span class='sc'>Dear Gusty</span>:—Meet me this day two months, at +eight o’clock in the evening, at Heath Hall. Bring with +you Captain Wilde and Sophie, and come prepared to +receive from <em>my</em> hand, the hand of Rosalia Withers, +whose best praise is, that she is worthy of <em>you</em>—whose +best testimonial of that fact is, that <em>I</em> offer her to you. +You bring out the late Consul: I charge you, Gusty, as +you value my friendship, to make peace with him; nay, +Gusty, as you value the blessing of God, giving a long +future of halcyon days, extend to your brother the right +hand of fellowship. I inclose two letters that I request +you to deliver to their respective addresses. <em>Au revoir</em>, +dearest Gusty. I shall precede you to Heath Hall only +by a very few days.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c015'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Hagar.</span>”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>The two inclosed letters were directed, one +to F. Raymond Withers, Esq., American Consul +for the city and port of Genoa—the other simply +to Sophie Wilde.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Divided between astonishment, joy, and regret, +Gusty stood rooted to the spot for the space of +five minutes after reading this letter. Then it +flashed upon him like lightning that he had seen +the ship that carried Hagar and her family from +the shores of Italy, and such indeed was the fact, +as upon a further investigation he proved. He +hurried away to deliver the letter at the hotel of +the American Consul, murmuring to himself,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rosalia safe, found; well, I said so!—I positively +<em>did</em>, the Lord knows it, although no one +else would believe what a prophet I am!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gusty gave the first letter to the porter at the +hotel of the Consul, and carried the other on +board the Rainbow.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“F. Raymond Withers, Esq., American Consul +for the port and city of Genoa,” had upon the +previous evening returned, disappointed, fevered, +and weary, to his sumptuous lodgings. Hastily +divesting himself of his raiment, he fell exhausted +upon his bed, and sank to sleep with a determination +to find Hagar, and take possession of her +early in the morning—a resolution which he carried +out—in his dreams. At dawn the next day +Raymond Withers arose, and only paused to +arrange his toilet and to breakfast, because it was +impossible to find anybody or any place one +had to look for at such an early hour of the +morning. Immediately after breakfast he hastened +to the music-rooms to renew his inquiries; +there he met the same gentleman who had answered +his questions in such an unsatisfactory +manner on the previous evening, but who now +hastened to say that he had been so fortunate as +to ascertain the address of the signora—she lived +in the Palazzo Marinelli, in the north-western +quarter of the city. The Consul, bowing his +thanks, hastened thither. He was met by the +old porter, who, in reply to his inquiries, informed +him that the lady, with her whole family, had that +morning sailed for the United States. Stunned +with disappointment, nearly overwhelmed by +despair, Raymond Withers returned to his hotel, +there to find a present consolation and a future +hope in the note addressed in the hand of Hagar, +that had been left during his absence by an officer +in uniform, as his page said. He tore the +note open; it ran thus:</p> + +<p class='c014'>“<span class='sc'>Dearest Raymond</span>:—Meet me this day two +months, at eight o’clock in the evening, at Heath Hall. +Come prepared to meet a new found relative—your own +and only sister, Rosalia,—and to unite with me in +bestowing her hand on one who loves her and is worthy +of her. Measure my wish to be reconciled with you, +by your own anxiety to meet me. If you ask why I +have now fled your presence, and appoint a meeting of +some weeks’ distance—I reply, that under all the circumstances, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_171'>171</span>it is best. We must all be prepared by anticipation +for our general re-union, and I prefer to receive +you in our own home, and under the happiest +auspices.</p> + +<p class='c017'>“<span class='sc'>Hagar.</span>”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XLV.<br> <span class='c009'>AN EVENING AT HEATH HALL.</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c010'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Forgive and forget! why the world would be lonely,</div> + <div class='line in2'>The garden a wilderness left to deform,</div> + <div class='line'>If the flowers but remembered the chilling winds only,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And the fields gave no verdure for fear of the storm.</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Charles Swain.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c004'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“I cannot think of sorrow now; and doubt</div> + <div class='line'>If e’er I felt it—’tis so dazzled from</div> + <div class='line'>My memory by this oblivious transport.”</div> + <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>Byron.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>For three months previous to the events recorded +in our last chapter, the gossips of Churchill’s +Point and its environs were thrown into a +state of feverish conjecture as to the meaning of +the new doings at Heath Hall.</p> + +<p class='c008'>At first those who passed in sight of the old +ruin, observed that a part of it had been pulled +down, or had at last, as long predicted, <em>fallen</em> +down, and went on their way without giving the +circumstance a second thought. Then, as the +season advanced, those who were in the habit +of shooting water fowl on the moor belonging +to the estate, or drawing a net for fish upon its +beach, passing very near the Hall, noticed +workmen engaged in pulling down the building. +Upon being questioned, these men replied in a +foreign language unintelligible to the inquirers. +This news being carried straight to the village +post-office, the country store, the tavern, and +other resorts of male gossips, arrested the discussion +of agricultural, commercial, and political +subjects for the space of an hour. Conveyed +thence to the tea-tables at home, it did not tend +to quiet the nerves or incline to sleep the ladies +of Churchill’s Point. There could be no intercommunication +among neighbors that evening; +but early the next morning every one went +“a-visiting.” The disappointment was, that +everybody having gone abroad in search of +everybody <em>else</em>, nobody was at home to receive +anybody. They missed each other. There +could be no comparing of notes that day. In +their rising excitement, they tried it next day +without much better success, and dodged about +the remainder of the week like two persons +getting out of each other’s way on the pavement, +and missing their object. At church, on Sunday, +however, the neighbors assembled. Mrs. Buncombe +was beset with questions that she could +not answer. Mrs. Buncombe had a nervous +dread of being supposed to be implicated in anything +that might be going on at Heath Hall; +and begged her friends to recollect that the +family of that estate were not her blood relations, +though every one seemed to be under the illusion +that such was the case. In very truth the +character of Emily had sadly degenerated since +the death of the good and wise old parson, and +since her marriage with a weaker, if not a worse +man. But Mrs. Gardiner Green gave an improvised +verbal invitation to “the ladies” to meet +at tea at her house on the next evening. Sewing +circles and other useful and agreeable Yankee +inventions, had not then, and have not yet, +travelled down to Maryland and Virginia. The +Southern States are far behind the “Far West” +in this respect. But to Mrs. Gardiner Green’s +tea-drinking! par parenthèse, Mrs. Gardiner +Green <em>now</em> calls her evening assemblies “re-unions,” +“at homes.” The ladies began to drop +in at an hour that would be considered too early +for <em>dinner</em> now a days. Emily Buncombe went, +in mood as nearly approaching the irascible as +her indifferent nature would permit. I am not +about to tell you of a Maryland tea-party with +the tea-equipage of chased silver, upon which +the crest and initials of the English ancestry +have been religiously or pretendingly engraved, +or of the inconceivable amount of <em>substantial</em> +confectionery (none of your vaporish cakes and +spiritual ices), all prepared under the eye of the +mistress—no, nor of the baked canvas-back +ducks, devilled crabs, fried oysters as large as +the palm of your hand, or anything else, that made +the ladies’ tea-drinking look like a public dinner +given to a board of aldermen. I will not, because +the bill of fare would run to the end of +the chapter, and besides, it would make me +hungry and I should have to stop to eat, and +then I could not write. But I will <em>proceed</em> to +the <em>proceedings</em> of the party. The “mysteries +of Udolpho,” and Heath Hall were talked over, +and it was decided that the one was as deep as +the other. Emily Buncombe’s voice grew loud +and sharp in disclaiming the least knowledge of +the subject. Finally, as the weather was genial, +it was agreed that the neighbors should get up a +fishing festival upon the beach, and that being +on the spot, they could take notes. Fish feasts, +picnics, etc., at Heath Hall, were liberties that +the neighborhood took without the slightest +hesitation or compunction in the absence of the +proprietor.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The last of the week was fixed for the projected +festival, and upon the day appointed the +company assembled. They passed, in going to +the beach, immediately through the grounds inclosed +around the Hall. So rapid had been the +progress of the work, that they looked upon the +once damp cellars, now no longer damp, but +excavated, cleaned, paved, and built up—and +the foundations of the house relaid anew. Some +half-dozen foreign looking men were at work +under the direction of one in authority, who +seemed to be an experienced architect. To all +inquiries these workmen replied in a torrent of +civil but unintelligible jargon. Tarquinius Superbus +issued from the building covered with +plaster and sawdust, and seeing the company, +hastened away, donned his Sunday clothes, and +went down to the beach to render assistance to +the visitors that had honored Heath Hall with +their presence. He had always been accustomed +to do this at the command of the ever-hospitable +and courteous proprietors of the Hall. When +Tarquinius appeared, bowing and smirking his +“obedience” to the company assembled upon +the beach, he presented a fine opportunity to those +in “pursuit of knowledge under difficulties.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He was inundated with inquiries. Tarquinius +stood perplexed, bewildered. Tarquinius knew +as little as any one on the ground; but it did not +suit the self-conceit of Superbus to seem ignorant. +Tarquinius mused—he thought of several +lies to tell, but discarded one after the other as +inadmissible. He seriously thought of telling +the gaping listeners that “Mrs. Withers was +drowned in the irruption of a whirlwind, and +that Mr. Withers had married the daughter of +the Pope of Rome, who had a gold mine for a +<span class='pageno' id='Page_172'>172</span>dowager, and that they were coming to keep +house at Heath Hall.” But he was afraid <em>this</em> +tale might be soon disproved, and substituted a +more credible story—namely, that a large fortune +had been left to Mr. Withers, and that Mr. +and Mrs. Withers were about to return to Heath +Hall, and had sent a staff of workmen under a +German architect to rebuild the house. This, +divested of its absurdly pompous mistakes of +language, was about the amount of information +gleaned by the picnickers. And this story in +fine obtained credence, implicit credence. Everything +confirmed it. Were not the workmen +there? and was not the Hall being rebuilt in +more than its pristine magnificence? With +every circumstance that marked the progress of +the redemption of the Heath and the rebuilding +of the Hall, the esteem and respect of the +neighbors for its proprietor increased. Every +one began now to say what a sin it was to have +slandered Hagar so—Hagar, too, who in her +whole life had never been known to retail an +item of scandal. This was not unnatural; +calumny is more frequently the result of +thoughtlessness than of malice. It was singular +that each one now forgot that himself or herself +had been most ingenious in his or her +suspicions and explanations, and loudest in condemnation. +There was a little “leaven of unrighteousness” +in the “envy, hatred, and malice” +of the few whose nature made them jealous of +their friends’ prosperity; but upon the whole, the +tide of popular feeling was setting in strongly in +favor of the expected family at Heath Hall. +The work progressed rapidly. At the end of +three months you would not have recognised +the place. From the foundation stones to the +chimney summits, the Hall was entirely rebuilt +of fine <em>red sandstone</em>, a beautiful dark, purplish +red stone found in Maryland and Virginia. The +walls around it were rebuilt, and the walks +paved of the same material. The yards and +gardens were cleared up, the trees trimmed, and +the grass shaved down until it looked like velvet. +The Heath was metamorphosed into a beautiful, +clean, green sward, upon which children +might roll and play with delight; the tangled +thickets crowding here and there among the +rolling hills were converted into beautiful groves; +the muddy brooklets at their roots were changed +into clear fountains or limpid springs, and seats +were fixed there for the convenience of the +weary or the contemplative passenger. At the +Hall, the out-buildings were of the neatest and +most convenient form, and every minutia of use +or elegance received its due meed of attention. +In a word, the ruin, the desolation, was redeemed, +the wilderness reclaimed and “bloomed +and blossomed like the rose.” People came +from “far and near” to see the delightful change, +and “Alto Rio,” the new name of the estate, +cut in old English characters and half concealed +in the oak foliage carved under the eaves of the +house, became the synonyme for elegance and +comfort through the whole neighborhood.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was three months from the first appearance +of the workmen to the morning upon which a +beautiful little bark was discovered moored under +the shadow of the promontory. Her snowy +sails were reefed, and a few neatly dressed sailors +were engaged in removing a portion of the cargo +from her polished deck to the boat that was to +carry it to the beach, where a cart and horse +waited to transport it by a circuitous path to the +Hall. The sailors seemed to be foreigners. A great +part of the cargo appeared to consist of elegant +furniture, statuary, pictures, and articles of virtue, for +many of the boxes, for convenience, were opened +upon the beach. All day the little crew and +the assistants from the Hall were engaged in +unloading the vessel and conveying its freight +on shore, and in conveying and arranging furniture +in the Hall. From the moment that the +first sight of these proceedings had been caught, +a crowd of all the idlers and gossips of Churchill’s +Point began to gather on the brow of the +cliff to watch the operations of those upon the +beach below, and many “Oh’s” and “Lords!” +were ejaculated with gaping wonder as one +splendid article after another was revealed to +their view by the knockings up of the boxes upon +the beach. But they were watching, if perchance +Mr. and Mrs. Withers, with their family, were +to be seen, or if they had come, or when they +were coming. They watched and waited in +vain. There <em>was</em> a lady down in the luxurious +cabin of that little craft, in which she was as +much at home as in her native halls, but this +lady waited patiently an opportunity of landing +quietly after the crowd of gapers and starers +should have dispersed. Day declined. The +cargo was all disembarked, and even carried +away. The beach was clear—the clean looking +sailors resting on their nice deck. All was +silent, still. There was nothing more to be +seen, and the loungers began to think of their +suppers and the marvels they had to relate +thereat, and to disperse.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The next morning at dawn, a little boat was +brought around to the side of the vessel, and a +lady assisted to descend into it. Then a maiden +and three children were lowered one after the +other into the skiff. Two sailors entered it, and +taking the oars, rowed swiftly to the beach. +The lady stepped upon the sand, the children +dancing around her for joy to be released. +Sending the youngest child, the little golden +haired boy, before her to insure his safety, and +leading the little dark-browed girls, the lady, +followed by the maiden, began to ascend the +side of the promontory by a flight of stone steps +recently cut for the convenience of passengers. +As the lady, with her children, reached the top +of the flight of stairs, and stepped upon the +highest point of the promontory, the first rays +of the rising sun fell upon the head of Hagar +like a blessing! a salutation! that her countenance +flashed back in gratitude, in joy, as she +bowed her head and knee, and reverently returned +thanks.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Let no one sneer. It was the overflowing +love and worship of a profound soul deeply +grateful for <em>past sufferings</em> as for present happiness. +She arose and led the children on to +the Hall.</p> + +<p class='c008'>What a different return was this to her landing +in the stormy winter’s night more than two years +before!</p> + +<p class='c008'>All that day was occupied in a delightful +review of the house and the grounds. The +arrangements seemed to give Hagar the utmost +pleasure. All the next day was spent in her +elegant library, and devoted to business, looking +into the accounts of her workmen, paying their +wages, and so on. She gave up the third day +of her arrival to pleasure, or rather to the preparation +<span class='pageno' id='Page_173'>173</span>and anticipation of it; and while the +children were left in the care of the maiden who +loved them, Hagar employed herself in writing +some hundred cards of invitation to all her old +neighbors of the three nearest counties, to a +festival to be given at Heath Hall on the evening +of that day week.</p> + +<p class='c008'>All these invitations were written in pale, blue +ink, upon silver edged paper, and sealed with +white wax by a seal of two doves. This is the +Maryland fashion of announcing a marriage.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Now, tell me, dear Rosalia; are you quite +satisfied—happy?” inquired Hagar of the gentle +girl, who had looked in upon her occupation a +moment.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dearest Hagar! my saviour! I will call +you my <em>sister</em>, when I dare! dearest Hagar! I +have given myself to you, do with me as you +please—make me your waiting maid—anything! +I am in your hands—I am <em>yours</em>. I accept any +destiny from you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar looked steadily with her calm eyes at +the child, then said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, Rose—<em>Gusty</em>—do you not love him as +he loves, and as he deserves to be loved?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dearest Hagar, I love <em>you</em>, wish to love you +<em>only</em>, to worship, to serve you: dearest Hagar, +what can I do for you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Be happy, Rose, and tell me about Gusty—do +you not love him?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes! yes! I always <em>did</em>, you know—Hagar—” +the child paused, trembled, grew pale; +then lowering her voice, whispered, “Hagar, +stoop down; there is something I have been dying +to say to you, and never found courage to +say it—” she paused again; Hagar’s brow grew +crimson, and,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do not say it then, Rose,” she murmured low.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But I must, I must; it is a rankling thorn +that must be plucked out,” said the girl, in a +suffocating voice, paling and fainting.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar laid down her pen, and drawing the +child upon her lap, laid her head upon her bosom, +and whispered, soothingly,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“There! now say what you wish, Rosalia; +as though you spoke to your mother, or—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My guardian angel! You give me courage, +dear Hagar! Well, listen! I loved—<em>everybody +and everything</em>—indeed I did! the poor +old negroes coming from their work, the blind +old horses, and the crippled chickens, just as +warmly as I loved you, beautiful Hagar! and +Gusty, and Sophie—and—and—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Your brother Raymond.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, I loved everybody and everything, because—because—I +don’t know why.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You loved the poor, ugly, and wretched, because +you <em>pitied</em> them; and the beautiful and +happy because you <em>admired</em> them, my child!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“May be so—I do not know—I only <em>love</em>. +Well, I loved Gusty and Raymond <em>both</em>, and +both <em>alike</em>—God knows I did! until—oh! Hagar, +now listen—everybody seemed to forsake, +or to hate me, and then I loved <em>him</em> only—until—oh, +now it comes—<em>now</em> listen!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The girl buried her burning face in Hagar’s +bosom, and lost her voice. Hagar stooped and +caressed her. Rosalia resumed, whispering very +low,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Until one day on the boat, very beautiful and +bright he looked, and I threw myself in his arms, +thinking no evil, only loving him dearly, and—<em>he +kissed me</em>—it was not a <em>good</em> kiss, like Captain +Wilde’s and Sophie’s; it was a <em>dreadful</em> +kiss—it burned down through my cheek to the +very centre of my spirit—it hurt me to the very +heart—to the very quick of my soul! I got +away and felt sick and guilty; felt changed and +fallen. I was dizzy, reeling, and kept feeling at +my cheek with my fingers, as if there was a scar +there. I seemed to feel it. I was ill, and possessed +with a mysterious fear and aversion of +Raymond; yet when I saw my distance wounded +him, I felt remorseful, and conquering my aversion, +forced myself to keep near him. Wretched +as I was, I could not bear to give him pain; +and so, Hagar, I remained with him, and he +kissed me so, again and again! and each kiss +seemed to sink me lower and lower in a pit of +infamy, until I could not bear the thought of +ever facing any of my friends again. I was already +fallen—lost in my own eyes. Oh! Hagar, +listen! listen, my sister Hagar! I might +have been insane, but I do not urge that in extenuation +of my weakness. I was drawn in, +and drawn in, like one in the whirl of a maelstrom—feeling +the danger, the fatality—yet unable +to stop myself—yet, Hagar, it was <em>all</em> suffering—<em>all</em>, +Hagar! <em>all</em>. I felt already fallen +below redemption. I was in the power of a +will stronger than my own—and, oh! worse +than all, I was afraid to pray; afraid to touch +the bible, for fear something dreadful would happen +to me as a judgment. I felt so sinful, <em>so +sinful</em>. I felt ill on the voyage out. And <em>then</em> +I thought of Mary Magdalen, and I said, ‘If +God, the Father, is of too pure eyes to behold +iniquity, Christ will surely pity and deliver me.’”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But you should not have lost faith in God, +dear Rosalia. You are the work of His hands, +and you could not have fallen so low that the +Father’s arm was not long enough to reach you, +the Father’s hand strong enough to lift you, the +Father’s love great enough to redeem you! +Never, <em>never</em> doubt it! The <span class='sc'>Father’s love</span> is +the greatest reality of my experience. Oh, +Rosalia! to doubt the love of God is to grieve +the heart of God—believe it!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, I prayed—<em>I prayed!</em>—and then it +came into my head to run away when I should +get to Genoa—and even if I perished from want +indeed, Hagar, I was <em>willing</em> to perish! But +then—now here is a strange thing. After taking +this resolution to leave him secretly, I felt a remorse +at the idea of deceiving him, and giving +him pain, and I could not bear to look on his +confiding face. I <em>knew</em> I was doing right in +leaving him, yet <em>felt</em> as if I were doing wrong!—explain +this to me, Hagar—was I crazy?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No, dear Rosalia; you were sane—<em>your</em> +love for him was pure and holy—<em>his</em> passion for +you was an illusion, an insanity. <em>Your</em> love +for him would have blessed and elevated him to +heaven; his passion for you would have drawn +you down to hell. Yours was divine love—his +was fiendish passion. All powers of good and +evil were striving in your bosom, poor Rosalia; +but your angel saved you! But, Rose; do you +still love your brother?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh yes! yes! how can I help it?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That is well, Rose—he is your only brother—he +does not love you in any sort just now, I +know; because sinful thoughts killed his love—but, +Rose, <em>you</em> must love him back to purity, to +health and life, and <em>then</em> he will love you rightly. +This will be difficult at first, but it will grow +<span class='pageno' id='Page_174'>174</span>more easy every day. And Gusty, Rose! that +noble man. Just give your whole heart, soul, and +life, up to him, and think the gift—not enough!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah, Hagar! Do I not esteem, reverence +him for all you have told me of his goodness and +greatness—only I am not worthy of him.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“He thinks you are, Rose, and you must try +not to disappoint him.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, now, dear Hagar, I have told you all—and +you do not reproach me; alas! if you +were to drive me away I could not complain.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar caressed her fondly but gravely, and +remained silent, continuing to write, fold, and +seal her cards. At length they were all finished, +and she requested Rosalia to ring the bell. Tarquinius +answered it. Hagar collected her cards +into a packet, and giving them to Tarquinius, +gave orders that he should saddle a horse and +ride to deliver to their address as many as could +be forwarded that day—and to resume his circuit +with the morning, until all should be disposed +of. Then rising and calling Rosalia to follow +her, she went into her chamber and sat down +with the maiden to work on a beautiful white +satin dress.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Tarquinius Superbus mounted the most superb +horse in the stable, and sat forth upon his mission. +Never did a highland runner with the crois-taradh +kindle a greater excitement among the rocks +and glens of Scotland, than did Tarquinius with +his missives. The first card was delivered at +Mrs. Gardiner Green’s plantation. Mrs. Buncombe +was taking tea with her (Emily had not +called on Hagar since her arrival; but then, be +it known, Hagar had given her no intimation of +her return). The card was sent in and the messenger +called in. He obeyed the summons, and +stood, hat in hand, bowing and smiling, at the +parlor door, where Mrs. Green and her guests +sat at table.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A wedding at Heath Hall—and who is to +be married?” was the question addressed to him +by three or four ladies in a breath.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Tarquinius did not know. He said he believed +“that Mr. Withers had been killed in a +duel with the King of Camshatka, and that Mrs. +Withers was going to be married to the Prince +of Patagonia;” and seeing several of the ladies +for whom he had cards, present, Tarquinius, in +a very unconventional manner, proceeded to deliver +them, to save himself some miles of travel. +Seriously doubting Tarquinius’ report and explanation +of the mystery, the ladies all determined +to accept the invitations to <i><span lang="fr">le mariage inconnu</span></i> +to come off at Alto Rio.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The day of the festival arrived.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia was awakened from her morning’s +dream by a soft kiss dropped on her forehead, +and she raised her lids to see Hagar standing by +her bedside, with brilliant eyes, arched brows, +and smiling lips.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Good morning, dear Rosalia! <em>Good</em> morning! +Rise! it is a glorious day—see! the sun +is smiling a salutation through your windows.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia, putting her two white arms up from +the bed, lovingly drew down Hagar’s head and +embraced her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come,” said Hagar, assisting her to rise and +leading her to a window. “Look forth! It is +an auspicious morning! All nature smiles upon +your bridal day.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was indeed a glad, jubilant morning! The +sun had risen in cloudless splendor, tinting with +a golden radiance the gauze-like vapor that rested +as a veil over forest, heath, and Hall, river, cliff, +and bay! The scene was full of freshness, light, +and music!</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! look and listen, Rosalia, woods and +waters sing and the birds pause to hear! listen!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, dearest Hagar,” said Rose, gazing forth +upon the bay—“after all, suppose our friends do +not come; a meeting appointed two months beforehand +in a foreign country! So many things +may have happened!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Look, Rosalia!” replied Hagar, holding a +letter, “they were in Baltimore a week ago; +this letter is from Gusty, it came late last night. +I did not get it until this morning; it is an +<em>avant-coureur</em> of our party. They will be with +us by this evening’s boat.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia did not reply in words, but still happiness +was beaming on her face.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Listen again, Rosalia, my darling—Emily +will be over this morning to breakfast with us. +Shame kept <em>her</em> and pride kept <em>me</em> from making +any advances towards a renewal of friendly intercourse—but +this morning I arose in a better +mood. I could not feel resentment (that, however, +I <em>never</em> felt), but I could not feel indifference +towards the mother of my dear, noble +Gusty, and the future mother-in-law of my +Rosalia. So, love, I wrote her a kind letter, +explaining the whole affair. I told her that +Gusty would be here this evening to fulfil an appointment, +and begged her to come over this +morning. Could we cherish a cold feeling towards +any one to-day, love! She wrote me a +line back to say that she would come with pleasure, +and to say—what do you think, Rosalia?—that +she would have been to see us before—wished +to come, but doubted if her visit would +be welcome? Come! I sent Tarquin immediately +back with the carriage to bring her over to +breakfast, for you know, love, that Emily has +no conveyance but her horse—I expect her every +minute—so dress yourself quickly, Rose, for +breakfast.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Rosalia threw her arms around Hagar’s neck +and thanked her. She was soon ready, and left +her chamber accompanied by Hagar, and descended +the stairs in time to see through the front +door, Emily Buncombe alight from the carriage. +Rosalia went timidly to meet her. Emily folded +her to her bosom in a warm embrace, and then +turned to receive Hagar’s offered hand. They +went in to breakfast; but when Emily would +have pushed a thousand questions as to Rosalia’s +flight or abduction, and Hagar’s absence, the +latter gravely replied that Rosalia had passed +the whole of her time, from her landing at Genoa, +first in the service of the Grand Duchess Maria +Louisa, and afterwards with herself, and ended +with the announcement that Rosalia was the +sister of Raymond. In the stupor of astonishment +into which this news threw Emily, she +forgot to push her investigations about the flight +any further; but made many inquiries concerning +Rosalia’s newly discovered relationship. Hagar +gave her all the information in her possession, +and ended with announcing the fact, that Rosalia’s +fortune, left to accumulate at compound interest +as it had been, now amounted to the snug little +sum of twenty-five thousand dollars; no plum, +certainly, but still enough, taken with his income, +to give Gusty a fair start in the world, at least +to purchase that small estate, and build, ornament, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_175'>175</span>and furnish that beautiful little home Emily was +so anxious to secure for her son. These matters +Hagar freely discussed with her, because she admitted +that Emily had a personal interest in them. +But when Mrs. Buncombe would have pried into +her own private matters, Hagar gravely waived +all interrogation, and Emily, in default of better +information, was forced to take Tarquin’s account +of matters and things—namely, the great fortune +left to Mr. Withers in England. Notwithstanding +this, the day was spent pleasantly, very +pleasantly, in preparing for the evening; and +Hagar, our Hagar! how can I describe her +waiting for the evening! and how, as the hours +passed, her brow became more and more arched +and expanded, until it was open as the brow of +hope! and how her steps became lighter and +more light, until the spring of her little foot +seemed to impel the earth upon its orbit!</p> + +<p class='c008'>Day declined. Twilight was falling cool and +purple over the forest, heath, and bay, as a packet +boat wended its way down the Chesapeake, +drawing near to Churchill’s Point. A party of +passengers were collected on the deck—a party +consisting of Captain and Mrs. Wilde, Lieutenant +May and Raymond Withers. They were +conversing gaily. The boat neared Churchill’s +Point. The village was nearly dark and deserted; +doubling Churchill’s Point they came in sight of +Alto Rio, the new Heath Hall. It was brilliantly +illuminated from attic to cellar. The +lights streamed from its many windows—streamed +across its lawn, revealing scores of carriages +filling up the space between it and the water’s +edge,—and streamed across the bay, throwing a +flood of light upon the spot where the boat at +last anchored, close by the side of another +beautiful little craft, the Compensation, moored +under the promontory. The travellers landed, +and taking their way up the new stone steps that +led up the ascent of the promontory, proceeded +on their way towards the house, struck with +admiration and astonishment at the marvellous +changes they everywhere witnessed. It is true +that Raymond Withers and Gusty May knew +perfectly well the source of this sudden wealth, +and even Captain Wilde and Sophie, since +Hagar’s letter to the latter, divined it. The +emotions of Raymond Withers were soon all +merged in one strong feeling—a heart-burning +impatience to clasp Hagar to his bosom. He +thought that were he about to meet her in poverty, +ill health, and humiliation, he should embrace +her with as <em>much</em> affection and with <em>more</em> self-respect—upon +the whole, however, he was not +anxious to have his disinterestedness submitted to +this test. He had, before leaving the boat, bestowed +the utmost attention upon his toilet, and +his dress was now the very ideal of taste and +elegance, as his person was of manly beauty. +In the grand diapason of the reconciliation was +trilling this one little absurd note.</p> + +<p class='c008'>We will precede the party to the Hall.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The lights from the Hall streamed from every +window over the scene; the grounds in front of +the Hall were blocked up with carriages. The +verandas running around the Hall were crowded +with coachmen and footmen, the attendants of +the guests; the lower rooms of the Hall superbly +furnished, beautifully ornamented, and brilliantly +lighted, were filled with splendidly dressed company. +An upper chamber of the house was +occupied by three ladies; one, a young maiden, +sat upon a dressing stool in front of a full length +mirror, and two stood, one on each side, adorning +her for the altar. Emily Buncombe looked very +fine—in a straw-colored satin, with a pretty lace +cap, trimmed with white snowdrops; our Hagar +looked the princess that she was, in her delicate +white lace, over a rich white satin, with her +brilliant black ringlets collected at the back of +her head by a diamond-set comb, and dropping +gracefully upon her crimson cheeks, undulating +neck and bosom. Diamond bracelets flashed +upon her rounded arms, and a diamond necklace +encircled her throat. It was Hagar who looked +like a royal bride. But she was decking a bride. +Not a jewel would Hagar permit to desecrate +the maiden’s beauty. A chaste and simple dress +of white silk, trimmed with narrow lace, leaving +the full, rounded, and snowy neck and arms +bare, and a very slight wreath of young orange +blossom buds crowning her golden ringlets, completed +her beautifully simple toilet.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Two young girls from the neighborhood—young +girls of twelve years old, selected that +evening from the company below, were waiting +to attend her. Her toilet was only just completed +when a rap was heard at the chamber-door, and +Hagar’s housekeeper entering said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mrs. Withers—Captain Wilde, Lieutenant +May, Mr. Withers, and their party, have arrived.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar had supposed that she would be prepared +for this meeting, anticipated for two +months past, and momentarily expected now. +She had thought to have received him there, in +her beauty, glory, and pride, with her regal self-possession,—but +when the words “Mr. Withers +has arrived” fell on her ear, her heart <em>sank down—stopped—the +hand of death seemed on her</em>! +Intense frost burns like fire in contact—extreme +joy is so like pain as to be undistinguishable.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ask him to come up,” said Hagar in a +dying voice, as she stood leaning upon the +shoulder of Rosalia for support—Rosalia still +sitting on her dressing stool.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hagar felt that life and death were striving in +her bosom—nay, she thought that death had come—and +only prayed that her last breath might +flow past Raymond’s cheek and hair, with her +head upon his breast—as she leaned more heavily +upon Rosalia, until her long black ringlets overswept +and half concealed her form. Now she +thought to receive him there! dying there! But +lo! a light, quick footstep is on the stairs!—each +footfall strikes a chord that vibrates to the +centre of her heart! shocking all her nerves into +electric life!—she started—sprang—color flowed +richly back to her cheeks—light radiantly to her +eyes! Like lightning she flashed from the room +out into the dark passage.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He was coming up the stairs, wondering how +he should present himself before her, when, as he +reached the landing, he saw a brilliant white-clad +spirit gleam out across the darkness, and the next +instant the angel was in his arms—<em>her</em> arms +about his neck—pressed to his bosom—her heart +throbbing warmly, humanly against his own.</p> + +<p class='c008'>No word was spoken yet. They had met +unpremeditatedly—in silence and darkness—in +that <em>pure</em>, though passionate embrace!</p> + +<p class='c008'>What to them was all the wrong and woe of +the last two dreadful years? Forgotten! as it +had ever been. A dark background, only throwing +out into stronger light the rapture of the +present meeting—<em>for an instant</em>—but ah! when +<span class='pageno' id='Page_176'>176</span>recollection came to one! He stooped over her +and whispered—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hagar! I have not one word to say for myself! +not one excuse to offer for my weakness! +not one syllable to breathe in palliation of my +fault! Hagar, I am bankrupt!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>But she drew him to a seat, for emotion was +overpowering her, dropped upon his lap, her +arms around his neck, her head upon his shoulder, +her ringlets sweeping over him, and wept! +wept!—she, from whose proud eyes of fiery light, +bitterest <em>grief</em> had never wrung one tear—<em>wept!</em>—as +though the fountains of her life were broken +up and gushing through her eyes! For <em>joy</em>, +reader?—Not altogether; was not her king—<em>her</em> +king, discrowned before her? and though she +loved him! loved him! as only high hearts like +hers <em>can</em> love—no <em>worship</em> mingled with that love!</p> + +<p class='c008'>But a bride was waiting to be led before the +bishop. Rising, Hagar took his hand, and conducted +him silently into the room, led him +silently to Rosalia’s side, and laying her hand +upon her shoulder, said softly,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Turn and greet your brother, Rosalia!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>She arose, blushing, trembling, and Raymond +Withers opening his arms, folded in one embrace +his wife and sister to his bosom.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Ten minutes after this a bridal party stood up +in the middle of the gorgeous drawing-rooms +below. Bishop Otterback performed the ceremony. +Raymond Withers gave away the +bride. Sophie Wilde removed the veil from the +maiden’s head at the conclusion of the rites.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The wedding was the most splendid festival +ever given in —— county. Many of the +guests from a distance remained all night. It +was near the dawn of day before the visitors, +those who left the house at all, dispersed, and +those who remained had retired to rest.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The sun was rising when Hagar, followed by +her husband, entered the nursery. She led him +to one little bed where the twin girls were still +sleeping in loveliness. He stooped and kissed +each brow without waking either. And then she +drew him off to a crib, where slumbered the boy +he had never seen. She stepped ahead of him, +and lifting this child up from his morning sleep, +stood him upon the floor in the sunlight to +waken up in his beauty! And how sparklingly +beautiful he looked with his pink feet on the rich +carpet, and his golden curls falling in rippling, +glittering disorder about his temples and throat, +and flashing in the sunlight, as he stood there +waking up, with his graceful head stooped sideways +like a bird’s looking archly, shily, and half +loving, half afraid at the handsome stranger +standing near his mother. Raymond stooped and +lifted him in his arms, and then the child, with +a shout of clear, sweet laughter, recognised the +father he had never seen before, expressing his +delight in these words,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! <em>you</em> are beauty—like mamma!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>With infants <em>love</em> and <em>beauty</em> are synonyms—everything +they love is beautiful, and everything +that is beautiful they love.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And what is his name, mine own Hagar?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Raymond!</em> but for distinction sake, as well +as that because he is a sunbeam, we will call him +Ray!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The little girls now waking, and hearing +their mother’s voice, arose and ran to greet her, +and they too shared the caresses bestowed upon +their infant brother.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The beautiful family were all now united in +love and joy.</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>Later in the day, Hagar gave her husband an +explanation that the reader must also have—she +said,</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You have not asked me, Raymond, about +the foreigners around us; yet you must have +wondered why I employed a dozen foreigners +rather than my own country people—I will tell +you in a very few words. All the money we +possess was made in <em>Europe</em>, from ministering +to the luxury of the wealthy aristocrats. But +I saw numerous wretchedly poor and suffering +peasants—many of them I found upon inquiry to +be excellent artisans and agriculturists, who +would work if they could obtain employment, +and I said to myself, I am about to spend the +money I have made here in rebuilding a ruin, +and in reclaiming a wilderness. It will be a +great labor, and it will only be justice to give +this work to a few of the people among whom +I made this money. I thought that if I could +bring a dozen workmen over to this country, and +give them employment for a while as a start, it +would be but right. I had a little vessel built out +there—I called it the ‘Compensation.’ I got a +skipper and one or two experienced seamen—the +rest of the crew consisted of the artisan emigrants +I was to bring out. I paid them some +money in advance to leave with their families, +until they got settled in this country, and rich +enough to send for them. I had previously sent +out half-a-dozen mechanics under an architect, +to rebuild the Hall; and in three months from +the day of their sailing, and only one week ago, +I arrived with my emigrant agriculturists. They +are at work. I know this was right, Raymond, +and I hope you think so.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My noble Hagar!”</p> + +<hr class='c013'> + +<p class='c008'>Alto Rio is now the most fertile and productive +plantation in Maryland. The Hall is the +seat of elegant hospitality. Hagar is now in the +meridian of her life, and of her well preserved +beauty. Her daughters, Agnes and Agatha, are +grown up; they are called the twin beauties; +her son is a noble boy, he is a cadet at ——; +they have no other children.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Not very far from Alto Rio is another handsome +villa, it is the residence of Captain Augustus +W. May, U. S. N., and is presided over by +a lady who would be thought surpassingly beautiful +and elegant in any neighborhood not +adorned by the presence of Hagar Withers. +They have a numerous family of girls and boys.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sophie is again in the Mediterranean, with +Captain Wilde. They have no family, and +assert that they are contented that such is their +lot, and I thoroughly believe them, for they love +each other devotedly, and are never separated, +Sophie going with him on all his voyages.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Our old friend, Blanche Rogers—have you +forgotten her?—is now at last the Right Rev. +Mrs. Otterback; she got the bishop at last. It +was at Gusty and Rosalia May’s wedding that +the final blow that brought him to her feet was +struck.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Emily Buncombe is still mistress of Grove +Cottage, and Mr. Buncombe is still pastor of +the Church of the Ascension.</p> + +<div class='pbb'> + <hr class='pb c003'> +</div> +<div class='tnotes x-ebookmaker'> + +<div class='chapter ph2'> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c005'> + <div>TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES</div> + </div> +</div> + +</div> + +<table class='table0'> + <tr> + <th class='c020'>Page</th> + <th class='c020'>Changed from</th> + <th class='c021'>Changed to</th> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c022'><a href='#t6'>6</a></td> + <td class='c023'>Tidarsi è bene, e non fidarse e meglio</td> + <td class='c024'>Fidarsi è bene, e non fidarse e meglio</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c022'><a href='#t19'>19</a></td> + <td class='c023'>But Sophie only gazed at him with a started</td> + <td class='c024'>But Sophie only gazed at him with a startled</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c022'><a href='#t45'>45</a></td> + <td class='c023'>found the gentle and timorous child still shrink</td> + <td class='c024'>found the gentle and timorous child still shrank</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c022'><a href='#t55'>55</a></td> + <td class='c023'>or rather became of her reluctance, and</td> + <td class='c024'>or rather because of her reluctance, and</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c022'><a href='#t73'>73</a></td> + <td class='c023'>Raymond, standing at the window that overlooked</td> + <td class='c024'>Raymond, were standing at the window that overlooked</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c022'><a href='#t79'>79</a></td> + <td class='c023'>their slovenly habits of cultivatic.—do you not</td> + <td class='c024'>their slovenly habits of cultivation—do you not</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c022'><a href='#t84'>84</a></td> + <td class='c023'>brother; yet never did only child returning to</td> + <td class='c024'>brother; yet never did any child returning to</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c022'><a href='#t97'>97</a></td> + <td class='c023'>on her sheek, leaving her contracted brow and</td> + <td class='c024'>on her cheek, leaving her contracted brow and</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c022'><a href='#t139'>139</a></td> + <td class='c023'>Nessum maggior dolore,</td> + <td class='c024'>Nessun maggior dolore,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c022'><a href='#t151'>151</a></td> + <td class='c023'>idea repulsed, revolted him—he would nothing</td> + <td class='c024'>idea repulsed, revolted him—he would do nothing</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c022'><a href='#t152'>152</a></td> + <td class='c023'>does find the means? I know that she travels</td> + <td class='c024'>does she find the means? I know that she travels</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c022'><a href='#t163'>163</a></td> + <td class='c023'>and yon see the upshot! Why, I’m reinstated</td> + <td class='c024'>and you see the upshot! Why, I’m reinstated</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c022'>unchanged</td> + <td class='c023'>protegé</td> + <td class='c024'>protegé</td> + </tr> +</table> + + <ul class='ul_1'> + <li>Typos fixed; non-standard spelling and dialect retained. + + </li> + <li>Used numbers for footnotes. + </li> + </ul> + +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76591 ***</div> + </body> + <!-- created with ppgen.py 3.57e (with regex) on 2025-07-29 21:36:41 GMT --> +</html> + diff --git a/76591-h/images/cover.jpg b/76591-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4f2dcbe --- /dev/null +++ b/76591-h/images/cover.jpg |
