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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/8883-8.txt b/8883-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..30fc4a0 --- /dev/null +++ b/8883-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10666 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Love Story, by A Bushman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most +other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: A Love Story + +Author: A Bushman + +Posting Date: September 8, 2014 [EBook #8883] +Release Date: September, 2005 +First Posted: August 20, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LOVE STORY *** + + + + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + + + + +A Love Story + +by + +A Bushman. + +Vol. I. + + + "My thoughts, like swallows, skim the main, + And bear my spirit back again + Over the earth, and through the air, + A wild bird and a wanderer." + + +1841. + + + +To +Lady Gipps +This Work Is Respectfully Inscribed, +By +A Grateful Friend. + + + + +Preface. + + + +The author of these pages considered that a lengthened explanation might +be necessary to account for the present work. + +He had therefore, at some length, detailed the motives that influenced +him in its composition. He had shown that as a solitary companionless +bushman, it had been a pleasure to him in his lone evenings + + "To create, and in creating live + A being more intense." + +He had expatiated on the love he bears his adopted country, and had +stated that he was greatly influenced by the hope that although + + "Sparta hath many a worthier son than he," + +this work might be the humble cornerstone to some enduring and highly +ornamented structure. + +The author however fortunately remembered, that readers have but little +sympathy with the motives of authors; but expect that their works should +amuse or instruct them. He will therefore content himself, with giving a +quotation from one of those old authors, whose "well of English +undefined" shames our modern writers. + +He intreats that the indulgence prayed for by the learned Cowell may be +accorded to his humble efforts. + +"My true end is the advancement of knowledge, and therefore have I +published this poor work, not only to impart the good thereof, to those +young ones that want it, but also to draw from the learned, the supply +of my defects. + +"Whosoever will charge these travails with many oversights, he shall need +no solemn pains to prove them. + +"And upon the view taken of this book sithence the impression, I dare +assure them, that shall observe most faults therein, that I, by gleaning +after him, will gather as many omitted by him, as he shall shew +committed by me. + +"What a man saith well is not, however, to be rejected, because he hath +some errors; reprehend who will, in God's name, that is, with sweetness, +and without reproach. + +"So shall he reap hearty thanks at my hands, and thus more soundly help +in a few months, than I by tossing and tumbling my books at home, could +possibly have done in some years." + + + + +A Love Story + + + + +Chapter I. + +The Family. + + + + "It was a vast and venerable pile." + + "Oh, may'st thou ever be as now thou art, + Nor unbeseem the promise of thy spring." + + +The mansion in which dwelt the Delmés was one of wide and extensive +range. Its centre slightly receded, leaving a wing on either side. +Fluted ledges, extending the whole length of the building, protruded +above each story. These were supported by quaint heads of satyr, martyr, +or laughing triton. The upper ledge, which concealed the roof from +casual observers, was of considerably greater projection. Placed above +it, at intervals, were balls of marble, which, once of pure white, had +now caught the time-worn hue of the edifice itself. At each corner of +the front and wings, the balls were surmounted by the family device--the +eagle with extended wing. One claw closed over the stone, and the bird +rode it proudly an' it had been the globe. The portico, of a pointed +Gothic, would have seemed heavy, had it not been lightened by glass +doors, the vivid colours of which were not of modern date. These +admitted to a capacious hall, where, reposing on the wide-spreading +antlers of some pristine tenant of the park, gleamed many a piece of +armour that in days of yore had not been worn ingloriously. + +The Delmé family was an old Norman one, on whose antiquity a peerage +could have conferred no new lustre. At the period when the aristocracy +of Great Britain lent themselves to their own diminution of +importance, by the prevalent system of rejecting the poorer class of +tenantry, in many instances the most attached,--the consequence was +foreseen by the then proprietor of Delmé Park, who, spurning the +advice of some interested few around him, continued to foster those +whose ancestors had served his. The Delmés were thus enabled to +retain--and they deserved it--that fair homage which rank and property +should ever command. As a family they were popular, and as individuals +universally beloved. + +At the period we speak of, the Delmé family consisted but of three +members: the baronet, Sir Henry Delmé; his brother George, some ten +years his junior, a lieutenant in a light infantry regiment at Malta; +and one sister, Emily, Emily Delmé was the youngest child; her mother +dying shortly after her birth. The father, Sir Reginald Delmé, a man of +strong feelings and social habits, never recovered this blow. Henry +Delmé was barely fifteen when he was called to the baronetcy and to the +possession of the Delmé estates. It was found that Sir Reginald had been +more generous than the world had given him credit for, and that his +estates were much encumbered. The trustees were disposed to rest +contented with paying off the strictly legal claims during Sir Henry's +minority. This the young heir would not accede to. He waited on his +most influential guardian--told him he was aware his father, from +hospitality and good nature, had incurred obligations which the law did +not compel his son to pay; but which he could not but think that equity +and good feeling did. He begged that these might be added to the other +claims, and that the trustees would endeavour to procure him a +commission in the army. He was gazetted to a cornetcy; and entered life +at an age when, if the manlier traits are ready to be developed, the +worthless ones are equally sure to unfold themselves. Few of us that +have not found the first draught of life intoxicate! Few of us that have +not then run wild, as colts that have slipped their bridle! +Experience--that mystic word--is wanting; the retrospect of past years +wakes no sigh; expectant youth looks forward to future ones without a +shade of distrust. The mind is elastic--the body vigorous and free from +pain; and it is then youth inwardly feels, although not daring to avow +it, the almost total impossibility that the mind should wax less +vigorous, or the body grow helpless, and decay. + +But Sir Henry was cast in a finer mould, nor did his conduct at this +dangerous period detract from this his trait of boyhood. He joined his +regiment when before the enemy, and, until he came of age, never drew on +his guardians for a shilling. Delmé's firmness of purpose, and his after +prudence, met with their due reward. The family estates became wholly +unencumbered, and Sir Henry was enabled to add to the too scanty +provision of his sister, as well as to make up to George, on his +entering the army, a sum more than adequate to all his wants. These +circumstances were enough to endear him to his family; and, in truth, +amidst all its members, there prevailed a confidence and an unanimity +which were never for an instant impaired. There was one consequence, +however, of Sir Henry Delmé's conduct that _he_, at the least, foresaw +not, but which was gradually and unconsciously developed. In pursuing +the line of duty he had marked out--in acting up to what he knew was +right--his mind became _too_ deeply impressed with the circumstances +which had given rise to his determination. It overstepped its object. +The train of thought, to which necessity gave birth, continued to +pervade when that necessity no longer existed. His wish to re-establish +his house grew into an ardent desire to aggrandize it. His ambition +appeared a legitimate one. It grew with his years, and increased with +his strength. + +Many a time, on the lone bivouac, when home presents itself in its +fairest colours to the soldier's mind, would Delmé's prayer be embodied, +that his house might again be elevated, and that his descendants might +know _him_ as the one to whom they were indebted for its rise. Delmé's +ambitious thoughts were created amidst dangers and toil, in a foreign +land, and far from those who shared his name. But his heart swelled high +with them as he again trod his native soil in peace--as he gazed on the +home of his fathers, and communed with those nearest and dearest to him +on earth. Sir Henry considered it incumbent on him to exert every means +that lay in his power to promote his grand object. A connection that +promised rank and honours, seemed to him an absolute essential that was +worth any sacrifice. Sir Henry never allowed himself to look for, or +give way to, those sacred sympathies, which the God of nature hath +implanted in the breasts of all of us. Delmé had arrived at middle age +ere a feeling incompatible with his views arose. But his had been a +dangerous experiment. Our hearts or minds, or whatever it may be that +takes the impression, resemble some crystalline lake that mirrors the +smallest object, and heightens its beauty; but if it once gets muddied +or ruffled, the most lovely object ceases to be reflected in its waters. +By the time that lake is clear again, the fairy form that ere while +lingered on its bosom is fled for ever. + +Thus much in introducing the head of the family. Let us now attempt to +sketch the gentle Emily. + +Emily Delmé was not an ordinary being. To uncommon talents, and a mind +of most refined order, she united great feminine propriety, and a total +absence of those arts which sometimes characterise those to whom the +accident of birth has given importance. With unerring discrimination, +she drew the exact line between vivacity and satire, true religion and +its semblance. She saw through and pitied those who, pluming themselves +on the faults of others, and imparting to the outward man the ascetic +inflexibility of the inner one, would fain propagate on all sides their +rigid creed, forbidding the more favoured commoners of nature even to +sip joy's chalice. If not a saint, however, but a fair, confiding, and +romantic girl, she was good without misanthropy, pure without +pretension, and joyous, as youth and hopes not crushed might make her. +She was one of those of whom society might justly be proud. She obeyed +its dictates without question, but her feelings underwent no debasement +from the contact. If not a child of nature, she was by no means the +slave of art. + +Emily Delmé was more beautiful than striking. She impressed more than +she exacted. Her violet eye gleamed with feeling; her smile few could +gaze on without sympathy--happy he who might revel in its brightness! +If aught gave a peculiar tinge to her character, it was the pride she +felt in the name she bore,--this she might have caught from Sir +Henry,--the interest she took in the legends connected with that name, +and the gratification which the thought gave her, that by her ancestors, +its character had been but rarely sullied, and never disgraced. + +These things, it may be, she had accustomed herself to look on in a +light too glowing: for these things and all mundane ones are vain; but +her character did not consequently suffer. Her lip curled not with +hauteur, nor was her brow raised one shadow the more. The remembrance of +the old Baronetcy were on the ensanguined plain,--of the matchless +loyalty of a father and five valiant sons in the cause of the Royal +Charles,--the pondering over tomes, which in language obsolete, but +true, spoke of the grandeur--the deserved grandeur of her house; these +might be recollections and pursuits, followed with an ardour too +enthusiastic, but they stayed not the hand of charity, nor could they +check pity's tear. If her eye flashed as she gazed on the ancient +device of her family, reposing on its time worn pedestal, it could melt +to the tale of the houseless wanderer, and sympathise with the sorrows +of the fatherless. + + + + +Chapter II. + +The Album. + + + + "Oh that the desert were my dwelling place, + With one fair spirit for my minister; + That I might all forget the human race, + And, hating no one, love but only her." + + +A cheerful party were met in the drawing room of Delmé. Clarendon Gage, +a neighbouring land proprietor, to whom Emily had for a twelvemonth been +betrothed, had the night previous returned from a continental tour. In +consequence, Emily looked especially radiant, Delmé much pleased, and +Clarendon superlatively happy. Nor must we pass over Mrs. Glenallan, +Miss Delmé's worthy aunt, who had supplied the place of a mother to +Emily, and who now sat in her accustomed chair, with an almost sunny +brow, quietly pursuing her monotonous tambouring. At times she turned to +admire her niece, who occasionally walked to the glass window, to caress +and feed an impudent white peacock; which one moment strutted on the +wide terrace, and at another lustily tapped for his bread at ne of the +lower panes. + +"I am glad to see you looking so well, Clarendon!" + +"And I can return the compliment, Delmé! Few, looking at you now, would +take you for an old campaigner." + +The style of feature in Delmé and Clarendon was very dissimilar. Sir +Henry was many years Gage's senior; but his manly bearing, and dark +decided features, would bear a contrast with even the tall and elegant, +although slight form of Clarendon. The latter was very fair, and what we +are accustomed to call English-looking. His hair almost, but not quite, +flaxen, hung in thick curls over his forehead, and would have given an +effeminate expression to the face, were it not for the peculiar flash of +the clear blue eye. + +"Come! Clarendon," said Emily, "I will impose a task. You have written +twice in my album; once, years ago, and the second time on the eve of +our parting. Come! you shall read us both effusions, and then write a +sonnet to our happy meeting. Would that dear George were here now!" + +Gage took up the book. It was a moderately-sized volume, bound in +crimson velvet. It was the fashion to keep albums _then_. It glittered +not in a binding of azure and gold, nor were its momentous secrets +enclosed by one of Bramah's locks. The Spanish proverb says, "Tell me +who you are with, and I will tell you what you are." Ours, in that album +age, used to be, "Show me your scrap book, I will tell you your +character." Emily's was not one commencing with-- + + "I never loved a dear gazelle!" + +and ending with stanzas on the "Forget-me-not." It had not those +hackneyed but beautiful lines addressed by Mr. Spencer to Lady Crewe-- + + "I stay'd too late: forgive the crime! + Unheeded flew the hours; + For noiseless falls the foot of Time. + That only treads on flowers." + +Nor contained it those sublime, but yet more common ones, on Sir John +Moore's death; which lines, by the bye, have suffered more from that +mischief-making, laughter-loving creature, Parody, than any lines we +know. It was not one of these books. Nor was it the splendid scrap book, +replete with superb engravings and proof-impression prints; nor at all +allied to the sentimental one of a garrison flirt, containing locks of +hair of at least five gentlemen, three of whom are officers in the army. +Nor, lastly, was it of that genus which has vulgarity in its very +title-page, and is here and there interspersed with devilish imps, or +caricatured likenesses of the little proprietress, all done in most +infinite humour, and marking the familiar friendship, of some half-dozen +whiskered cubs, having what is technically called the run of the house. +No! it was a repository for feeling and for memory, and, in its fair +pages, presented an image of Emily's heart. Many of these were marked, +it is true; and what human being's character is unchequered? But it was +blotless; and the virgin page looks not so white as when the contrast of +the sable ink is there. + +Clarendon read aloud his first contribution--who knows it not? The very +words form a music, and that music is Metastasio's, + + "Placido zeffiretto, + Se trovi il caro oggetto, + Digli che sei sospiro + Ma non gli dir di chi, + Limpido ruscelletto, + Se mai t'incontri in lei, + Digli che pianto sei, + Ma non le dir qual' eiglio + Crescer ti fe cosi." + +"And now, Emily! for my parting tribute--if I remember right, it was +sorrowful enough." + +Gage read, with tremulous voice, the following, which we will christen + + THE FAREWELL. + + I will not be the lightsome lark, + That carols to the rising morn,-- + I'd rather be some plaintive bird + Lulling night's ear forlorn. + + I will not be the green, green leaf, + Mingling 'midst thousand leaves and flowers + That shed their fairy charms around + To deck Spring's joyous bowers. + + I'd rather be the one red leaf, + Waving 'midst Autumn's sombre groves:-- + On the heart to breathe that sadness + Which contemplation loves. + + I will not be the morning ray, + Dancing upon the river's crest, + All light, all motion, when the stream + Turns to the sun her breast. + + I'd rather be the gentle shade, + Lengthening as eve comes stealing on, + And rest in pensive sadness there, + When those bright rays are gone. + + I will not be a smile to play + Upon thy coral lip, and shed + Around it sweetness, like the sun + Risen from his crimson bed. + + Oh, no! I'll be the tear that steals + In pity from that eye of blue, + Making the cheek more lovely red, + Like rose-leaf dipp'd in dew. + + I will not be remember'd when + Mirth shall her pageant joys impart,-- + A dream to sparkle in thine eye, + Yet vanish from thy heart. + + But when pensive sadness clouds thee, + When thoughts, half pain, half pleasure, steal + Upon the heart, and memory doth + The shadowy past reveal. + + When seems the bliss of former years,-- + Too sweet, too pure, to feel again,-- + And long lost hours, scenes, friends, return, + Remember me, love--then! + +"Ah, Clarendon! how often have I read those lines, and thought--but I +will not think now! Here come the letters! Henry will soon be busy--I +shall finish my drawing--and aunt will finish--no! she never _can_ +finish her tambour work. Take my portfolio and give me another +contribution!" Gage now wrote "The Return," which we insert for the +reader's approval:-- + + THE RETURN. + + When the blue-eyed morn doth peep + Over the soft hill's verdant steep, + Lighting up its shadows deep, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + When the lightsome lark doth sing + Her grateful song to Nature's King, + Making all the woodlands ring, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + Or when plaintive Philomel + Shall mourn her mate in some lone dell, + And to the night her sorrows tell, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + When the first green leaf of spring + Shall promise of the summer bring, + And all around its fragrance fling, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + Or when the last red leaf shall fall, + And winter spread its icy pall, + To mind me of the death of all, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + When the lively morning ray + Is dancing on the river's spray, + And sunshine gilds the joyous day, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + And when the shades of eve steal on, + Lengthening as life's sun goes down, + Like sweetest constancy alone, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + When I see a sweet smile play + On coral lips, like Phoebus' ray, + Making all look warm and gay, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + When steals the tear of pity, too, + O'er a cheek, whose crimson hue + Looks like rose-leaf dipp'd in dew, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + When mirth's pageant joys unbind + The gloomy spells that chain my mind, + And make me dream of all that's kind, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + And when pensive sadness clouds me, + When the host of memory crowds me, + When the shadowy past enshrouds me, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + When seems the bliss of former years,-- + Too sweet, too pure, to feel again,-- + And long lost hours, scenes, friends, return, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + + + +Chapter III. + +The Dinner. + + + + "Hues which have words, and speak to ye of heaven." + + "Away! there need no words or terms precise, + The paltry jargon of the marble mart, + Where pedantry gulls folly: we have eyes." + + +We are told by the members of the silver-fork school, that no tale of +fiction can be complete unless it embody the description of a dinner. +Let us, therefore, shutting from our view that white-limbed gum-tree, +and dismissing from our table tea and damper, [Footnote: _Damper_. +Bushman's fare--unleavened bread] call on memory's fading powers, and +feast once more with the rich, the munificent, the intellectual +Belliston Grĉme. + +Dinner! immortal faculty of eating! to what glorious sense or +pre-eminent passion dost thou not contribute? Is not love half fed by +thy attractions? Beams ever the eye of lover more bright than when, +after gazing with enraptured glance at the coveted haunch, whose fat--a +pure white; whose lean--a rich brown--invitingly await the assault. When +doth lover's eye sparkle more, than when, at such a moment, it lights on +the features of the loved fair one? Is not the supper quadrille the most +dangerous and the dearest of all? + +Cherished venison! delicate white soup! spare young susceptible bosoms! +Again we ask, is not dinner the very aliment of friendship? the hinge on +which it turns? Does a man's heart expand to you ere you have returned +his dinner? It would be folly to assert it. Cabinet dinners--corporation +dinners--election dinners--and vestry dinners--and rail-road +dinners--we pass by these things, and triumphantly ask--does not _the_ +Ship par excellence--the Ship of Greenwich--annually assemble under its +revered roof the luminaries of the nation? Oh, whitebait! called so +early to your last account! a tear is all we give, but it flows +spontaneously at the memory of your sorrows! + +As Mr. Belliston Grĉme was much talked of in his day, it may not be +amiss to say a few words regarding him. He was an only child, and at an +early age lost his parents. The expense of his education was defrayed +by a wealthy uncle, the second partner in a celebrated banking house. +His tutor, with whom he may be said to have lived from boyhood--for his +uncle had little communication with him, except to write to him one +letter half-yearly, when he paid his school bill--was a shy retiring +clergyman--a man of very extensive acquirements, and a first rate +classical scholar. After a short time, the curate and young Grĉme +became attached to each other. The tutor was a bachelor, and Grĉme was +his only pupil. The latter was soon inoculated with the classical mania +of his preceptor; and, as he grew up, it was quite a treat to hear the +pair discourse of Greeks and Romans. A stranger who had _then_ heard +them would have imagined that Themistocles and Scipio Africanus were +stars of the present generation. When Grĉme was nineteen, his uncle +invited him to town for a month--a most unusual proceeding. During this +period he studied closely his nephew's character. At the end of this +term, Mr. Hargrave and his young charge were on their way to the +classical regions, where their fancy had been so long straying. They +explored France, and the northern parts of Italy--came on the shores of +the Adriatic--resided and secretly made excavations near the +amphitheatre of Polo--and finally reached the Morea. Not a crag, +valley, or brook, that they were not conversant with before they left +it. They at length tore themselves away; and found themselves at the +ancient Parthenope. It was at Pompeii Mr. Grĉme first saw the +beautiful Miss Vignoles, the Mrs. Glenallan of our story; and, in a +strange adventure with some Neapolitan guides, was of some service to +her party. They saw his designs of some tombs, and took the trouble of +drawing him out. The young man now for the first time basked in the +sweets of society; in a fortnight, to Mr. Hargrave's horror, was +rolling in its vortex; in a couple of months found himself indulging +in, and avowing, a hopeless passion; and in three, was once again in +his native land, falsely deeming that his peace of mind had fled for +ever. He was shortly, however, called upon to exert his energies. The +death of his uncle suddenly made him, to his very great surprise, one +of the wealthiest commoners of England. At this period he was quite +unknown. In a short time Mr. Hargrave and himself were lodged +luxuriously--were deep in the pursuit of science, literature, and the +belle arte--and on terms of friendship with the cleverest and most +original men of the day. Mr. Grĉme's occupations being sedentary, and +his habits very regular, he shortly found that his great wealth enabled +him, not only to indulge in every personal luxury at Rendlesham Park, +but to patronise largely every literary work of merit. In him the needy +man of genius found a friend, the man of wit a companion, and the +publisher a generous customer. He became famous for his house, his +library, his exclusive society. But he did not become spoilt by his +prosperity, and never neglected his old tutor. + +Our party from Delmé were ushered into a large drawing-room, the sole +light of which was from an immense bow window, looking out on the +extensive lawn. The panes were of enormous size, and beautiful specimens +of classique plated glass. The only articles of furniture, were some +crimson ottomans which served to set off the splendid paintings; and one +table of the Florentine manufacture of pietra dura, on which stood a +carved bijou of Benvenuto Cellini's. Our party were early. They were +welcomed by Mr. Grĉme with great cordiality, and by Mr. Hargrave with +some embarrassment, for the tutor was still the bashful man of former +days. Mr. Grĉme's dress shamed these degenerate days of black stock and +loose trowser. Diamond buckles adorned his knees, and fastened his +shoes. His clear blue eye--the high polished forehead--the deep lines of +the countenance--revealed the man of thought and intellect. The playful +lip shewed he could yet appreciate a flash of wit or spark of humour. + +"Miss Delmé, you are looking at my paintings; let me show you my late +purchases. Observe this sweet Madonna, by Murillo! I prefer it to the +one in the Munich Gallery. It may not boast Titian's glow of colour, or +Raphael's grandeur of design,--in delicate angelic beauty, it may yield +to the delightful efforts of Guido's or Correggio's pencil,--but surely +no human conception can ever have more touchingly portrayed the +beauteous resigned mother. The infant, too! how inimitably blended is +the God-like serenity of the Saviour, with the fond and graceful +witcheries of the loving child! How little we know of the beauties of +the Spanish school! Would I could ransack their ancient monasteries, and +bring a few of them to light! + +"You are a chess player! Pass not by this check-mate of Caravaggio's. +What undisguised triumph in one countenance! What a struggle to repress +nature's feelings in the other! Here is a Guido! sweet, as his ever are! +He may justly be styled the female laureat. What artist can compete with +him in delineating the blooming expression, or the tender, but lighter, +shades of female loveliness? who can pause between even the Fornarina, +and that divine effort, the Beatrice Cenci of the Barberini?" + +The party were by this time assembled. Besides our immediate friends, +there was his Grace the Duke of Gatten, a good-natured fox-hunting +nobleman, whose estate adjoined Mr. Grĉme's; there was the Viscount +Chambéry, who had penned a pamphlet on finance--indited a folio on +architecture--and astonished Europe with an elaborate dissertation on +modern cookery; there was Charles Selby, the poet and essayist; +Daintrey, the sculptor--a wonderful Ornithologist--a deep read +Historian--a learned Orientalist--and a novelist, from France; whose +works exhibited such unheard of horrors, and made man and woman so +irremediably vicious, as to make this young gentleman celebrated, even +in Paris--that Babylonian sink of iniquity. + +Dinner was announced, and our host, giving his arm very stoically to +Mrs. Glenallan, his love of former days, led the way to the dining-room. +Round the table were placed beautifully carved oaken fauteuils, of a +very old pattern. The service of plate was extremely plain, but of +massive gold. But the lamp! It was of magnificent dimensions! The light +chains hanging from the frescoed ceiling, the links of which were hardly +perceptible, were of silver, manufactured in Venice; the lower part was +of opal-tinted glass, exactly portraying some voluptuous couch, on which +the beautiful Amphitrite might have reclined, as she hastened through +beds of coral to crystal grot, starred with transparent stalactites. In +the centre of this shell, were sockets, whence verged small hollow +golden tubes, resembling in shape and size the stalks of a flower. At +the drooping ends of these, were lamps shaped and coloured to imitate +the most beauteous flowers of the parterre. This bouquet of light had +been designed by Mr. Grĉme. Few novelties had acquired greater +celebrity than the Grĉme astrale. The room was warmed by heating the +pedestals of the statues. + +"Potage à la fantôme, and à l'ourika." + +"I will trouble you, Grĉme," said my Lord Chambéry, "for the fantôme. I +have dined on la pritannière for the last three months, and a novel soup +is a novel pleasure." + +Of the fish, the soles were à la Rowena, the salmon à l'amour. Emily +flirted with the wing of a chicken sauté au suprême, coquetted with +perdrix perdu masqué à la Montmorenci, and tasted a boudin à la +Diebitsch. The wines were excellent--the Geisenheim delicious--the +Champagne sparkling like a pun of Jekyll's. But nothing aroused the +attention of the Viscount Chambéry so much as a liqueur, which Mr. +Grĉme assured him was new, and had just been sent him by the Conte de +Desir. The dessert had been some time on the table, when the Viscount +addressed his host. + +"Grĉme! I am delighted to find that you at length agree with me as to +the monstrous superiority of a French repast. Your omelette imaginaire +was faultless, and as for your liqueur, I shall certainly order a supply +on my return to Paris." + +"That liqueur, my dear lord," replied Mr. Grĉme, "is good old cowslip +mead, with a flask of Maraschino di Zara infused in it. For the rest, +the dinner has been almost as imaginaire as the omelet. The greater part +of the recipes are in an old English volume in my library, or perhaps +some owe their origin to the fertile invention of my housekeeper. Let +us style them à la Dorothée." + +"Capital! I thank you, Grĉme!" said his Grace of Gatten, as he shook +his host by the hand, till the tears stood in his eyes. + +The prescient Chambéry had made a good dinner, and bore the joke +philosophically. Coffee awaited the gentlemen in a small octagonal +chamber, adjoining the music room. There stood Mr. Grĉme's three +favourite modern statues:--a Venus, by Canova--a Discobole, by +Thorwaldson--and a late acquisition--the Ariadne, of Dannecker. + +"This is the work of an artist," said Mr. Grĉme, "little known in +this country, but in Germany ranking quite as high as Thorwaldson. +This is almost a duplicate of his Ariadne at Frankfort, but the +marble is much more pure. How wonderfully fine the execution! Pray +notice the bold profile of the face; how energetic her action as she +sits on the panther!" + +Mr. Grĉme touched the spring of a window frame. A curtain of crimson +gauze fell over a globe lamp, and threw a rich shade on the marble. +The features remained as finely chiselled, but their expression was +totally changed. + +They adjourned to the music-room, which deserved its title. Save some +seats, which were artfully formed to resemble lyres, nothing broke the +continuity of music's tones, which ascended majestically to the lofty +dome, there to blend and wreath, and fall again. At one extremity of +music's hall was an organ; at the other a grand piano, built by a German +composer. Ranged on carved slabs, at intermediate distances, was placed +almost every instrument that may claim a votary. Of viols, from the violin +to the double bass,--of instruments of brass, from trombones and bass +kettledrums even unto trumpet and cymbal,--of instruments of wood, from +winding serpents to octave flute,--and of fiddles of parchment, from the +grosse caisse to the tambourine. Nor were ancient instruments wanting. +These were of quaint forms and diverse constructions. Mr. Grĉme would +descant for hours on an antique species of spinnet, which he procured from +the East, and which he vehemently averred, was the veritable dulcimer. He +would display with great gusto, his specimens of harps of Israel; whose +deep-toned chorus, had perchance thrilled through the breast of more than +one of Judea's dark-haired daughters. Greece, too, had her +representatives, to remind the spectators that there had been an Orpheus. +There were flutes of the Doric and of the Phrygian mode, and--let us +forget not--the Tyrrhenian trumpet, with its brazen-cleft pavilion. But by +far the greater part of his musical relics he had acquired during his stay +in Italy. He could show the litui with their carved clarions--the twisted +cornua--the tuba, a trumpet so long and taper,--the concha wound by +Tritons--and eke the buccina, a short and brattling horn. + +Belliston Grĉme was an enthusiastic musician; and was in this peculiar, +that he loved the science for its simplicity. Musicians are but too apt +to give to music's detail and music's difficulties the homage that +should be paid to music's self: in this resembling the habitual man of +law, who occasionally forgetteth the great principles of jurisprudence, +and invests with mysterious agency such words as latitat and certiorari. +The soul of music may not have fled;--for we cultivate her +assiduously,--worship Handel--and appreciate Mozart. But music _now_ +springs from the head, not the heart; is not for the mass, but for +individuals. With our increased researches, and cares, and troubles, we +have lost the faculty of being pleased. Past are those careless days, +when the shrill musette, or plain cittern and virginals, could with +their first strain give motion to the blythe foot of joy, or call from +its cell the prompt tear of pity. Those days are gone! Music may affect +some of us as deeply, but none as readily! + +Mr. Grĉme had received from Paris an unpublished opera of Auber's. +Emily seated herself at the piano--her host took the violin--Clarendon +was an excellent flute player--and the tinkle of the Viscount's guitar +came in very harmoniously. By the time refreshments were introduced, +Charles Selby too was in his glory. He had already nearly convulsed the +Orientalist by a theory which he said he had formed, of a gradual +metempsychosis, or, at all events, perceptible amalgamation, of the +yellow Qui Hi to the darker Hindoo; which said theory he supported by +the most ingenious arguments. + +"How did you like your stay in Scotland, Mr. Selby?" said Sir +Henry Delmé. + +"I am a terrible Cockney, Sir Henry,--found it very cold, and was very +sulky. The only man I cared to see in Scotland was at the Lakes; but I +kept a register of events, which is now on the table in my +dressing-room. If Grĉme will read it, for I am but a stammerer, it is +at your service." + +The paper was soon produced, and Mr. Grĉme read the following:-- + + +"THE BRAHMIN. + +"A stranger arrived from a far and foreign country. His was a mind +peculiarly humble, tremblingly alive to its own deficiencies. Yet, +endowed with this mistrust, he sighed for information, and his soul +thirsted in the pursuit of knowledge. Thus constituted, he sought the +city he had long dreamingly looked up to as the site of truth--Scotia's +capital, the modern Athens. In endeavouring to explore the mazes of +literature, he by no means expected to discover novel paths, but sought +to traverse beauteous ones; feeling he could rest content, could he meet +with but one flower, which some bolder and more experienced adventurer +might have allowed to escape him. He arrived, and cast around an anxious +eye. He found himself involved in an apparent chaos--the whirl of +distraction--imbedded amidst a ceaseless turmoil of would-be knowing +students, endeavouring to catch the aroma of the pharmacopaeia, or dive +to the deep recesses of Scotch law. He sought and cultivated the +friendship of the literati; and anticipated a perpetual feast of soul, +from a banquet to which one of the most distinguished members of a +learned body had invited him. He went with his mind braced up for the +subtleties of argument--with hopes excited, heart elate. He deemed that +the authenticity of Champolion's hieroglyphics might now be permanently +established, or a doubt thrown on them which would for ever extinguish +curiosity. He heard a doubt raised as to the probability of Dr. Knox's +connection with Burke's murders! Disappointed and annoyed, he returned +to his hotel, determined to seek other means of improvement; and to +carefully observe the manners, customs, and habits of the beings he was +among. He enquired first as to their habits, and was presented with +scones, kippered salmon, and a gallon of Glenlivet; as to their manners +and ancient costume, and was pointed out a short fat man, the head of +his clan, who promenaded the streets without trousers. Neither did he +find the delineation of their customs more satisfactory. He was made +nearly tipsy at a funeral--was shown how to carve haggis--and a fit of +bile was the consequence, of his too plentifully partaking of a +superabundantly rich currant bun. He mused over these defeats of his +object, and, unwilling to relinquish his hitherto fruitless +search,--reluctant to despair,--he bent his steps to that city, where +utility preponderates over ornament; that city which so early encouraged +that most glorious of inventions, by the aid of which he hoped, that the +diminutive barks of his countrymen might yet be propelled, thus +superseding the ponderous paddle of teak, He here expected to be +involved in an intricate labyrinth of mechanical inventions,--in a +stormy discussion on the comparative merits of rival machinery,--to be +immersed in speculative but gigantic theories. He was elected an +honorary member of a news-room; had his coat whitened with cotton; and +was obliged to confess that he knew of no beverage that could equal +their superb cold punch. Our philosopher now gave himself up to despair; +but before returning to his own warm clime, he sought to discover the +reason of his finding the flesh creep, where he had deemed the spirit +would soar. He at length came to the conclusion that we are all slaves +to the world and to circumstances; and as, with his peculiar belief, he +could look on our sacred volume with the eye of a philosopher, felt +impressed with the conviction that the history of Babel's tower is but +an allegory, which says to the pride of man, + + "'Thus far shall ye go, and no farther.'" + +The Brahmin's adventures elicited much amusement. In a short time, +Selby was in a hot argument with the French novelist. Every now and +then, as the Frenchman answered him, he stirred his negus, and hummed a +translation of + + "I'd be a butterfly." + + "Erim papilio, + Natus in flosculo." + + + + +Chapter IV. + +The Postman. + + + + "Not in those visions, to the heart displaying + Forms which it sighs but to have only dream'd, + Hath aught like thee in truth or fancy seem'd; + Or, having seen thee, shall I vainly seek + To paint those charms which, imaged as they beam'd, + To such as see thee not, my words were weak; + To those who gaze on thee, what language could they speak?" + + +Delmé had long designed some internal improvements in the mansion; +and as workmen would necessarily be employed, had proposed that our +family party should pass a few weeks at a watering place, until these +were completed. They were not without hopes, that George might there +join them, as Emily had written to Malta, pressing him to be present +at her wedding. + +We have elsewhere said, that Sir Henry had arrived at middle age, +before one feeling incompatible with his ambitious thoughts arose. It +was at Leamington this feeling had imperceptibly sprung up; and to +Leamington they were now going. + +Is there an electric chain binding hearts predestined to love? + +Hath Providence ordained, that on our first interview with that being, +framed to meet our wishes and our desires--the rainbow to our cloud, and +the sun to our noon-day--hath it ordained that there should also be +given us some undefinable token--some unconscious whispering from the +heart's inmost spirit? + +Who may fathom these inscrutable mysteries? + +Sir Henry had been visiting an old schoolfellow, who had a country seat +near Leamington. He was riding homewards, through a sequestered and +wooded part of the park, when he was aware of the presence of two +ladies, evidently a mother and daughter. They sate on one side of the +rude path, on an old prostrate beech tree. The daughter, who was very +beautiful, was sketching a piece of fern for a foreground: the mother +was looking over the drawing. Neither saw the equestrian. + +It was a fair sight to regard the young artist, with her fine profile +and drooping eyelid, bending over the drawing, like a Grecian statue; +then to note the calm features upturn, and forget the statue in the +breathing woman. At intervals, her auburn tresses would fall on the +paper, and sweep the pencil's efforts. At such times, she would remove +them with her small hand, with such a soft smile, and gentle grace, that +the very action seemed to speak volumes for her feminine sympathies. +Delmé disturbed them not, but making a tour through the grove of beech +trees, reached Leamington in thoughtful mood. + +It was not long before he met them in society. The mother was a Mrs. +Vernon, a widow, with a large family and small means. Of that family +Julia was the fairest flower. As Sir Henry made her acquaintance, and +her character unfolded itself, he acknowledged that few could study it +without deriving advantage; few without loving her to adoration. That +character it would be hard to describe without our description +appearing high-flown and exaggerated. It bore an impress of loftiness, +totally removed from pride; a moral superiority, which impressed all. +With this was united an innate purity, that seemed her birthright; a +purity that could not for an instant be doubted. If the libertine gazed +on her features, it awoke in him recollections that had long slumbered; +of the time when his heart beat but for one. If, in her immediate +sphere, any littleness of feeling was brought to her notice, it was met +with an intuitive doubt, followed by painful surprise, that such +feeling, foreign as she felt it to be to her own nature, could really +have existence in that of another. + +Thank God! she had seen few of the trickeries of this restless world, in +which most of us are struggling against our neighbours; and, if we could +look forward with certainty, to the nature of the world beyond this, it +is most likely that we should breathe a fervent prayer that she should +never witness more. + +Her person was a fit receptacle for such a mind. A face all softness, +seemed and _was_ the index to a heart all pity. Taller than her +compeers,--in all she said or did, a native dignity and a witching +grace were exquisitely blended. She was one not easily seen without +admiration; but when known, clung Cydippe-like to the heart's mirror, an +image over which neither time nor absence possessed controul. + +The Delmés resided at Leamington the remainder of the winter, which +passed fleetly and happily. Emily, for the first time, gave way to that +one feeling, which, to a woman, is the all-important and engrossing one, +enjoying her happiness in that full spirit of content, which basking in +present joys, attempts not to mar them by ideal disquietudes. The Delmés +cultivated the society of the Vernons; Emily and Julia became great +friends; and Sir Henry, with all his stoicism, was nourishing an +attachment, whose force, had he been aware of it, he would have been at +some pains to repress. As it was, he totally overlooked the possibility +of his trifling with the feelings of another. He had a number of sage +aphorisms to urge against his own entanglement, and, with a moral +perverseness, from which the best of us are not free, chose to forget +that it was possible his convincing arguments, might neither be known +to, nor appreciated by one, on whom their effect might be far from +unimportant. + +At this stage, Clarendon thought it his duty to warn Delmé; and, to his +credit be it said, shrunk not from it. + +"Excuse me, Delmé," said he, "will you allow me to say one word to you +on a subject that nearly concerns yourself?" + +Sir Henry briefly assented. + +"You see a great deal of Miss Vernon. She is a very fascinating and a +very amiable person; but from something you once said to me, it has +struck me that in some respects she might not suit you." + +"I like her society," replied his friend; "but you are right. She would +_not_ suit me. _You_ know me pretty well. My hope has ever been to +increase, and not diminish the importance of my house. It once stood +higher both in wealth and consideration. I see many families springing +up around me, that can hardly lay claim to a descent so unblemished I +speak not in a spirit of intolerance, nor found my family claim solely +on its pedigree; but my ancestors have done good in their generation, +and it is a proud thing to be 'the scion of a noble race!'" + +"It may be;" said Clarendon quietly, "but I cannot help thinking, that +with your affluence, you have every right to follow your own +inclination. I know that few of my acquaintances are so independent of +the world." + +Sir Henry shook his head. + +"The day is not very distant, Gage, when a Dacre would hardly have +returned two members for my county, if a Delmé had willed it otherwise. +But there is little occasion for me to have said thus much. Miss Vernon, +I trust, has other plans; and I believe my own feelings are not enlisted +deep enough, to make me forget the hopes and purposes of half a +life-time." + +It was some few days after this, when Emily had almost given up looking +with interest to the postman's visit, that a letter at last came, +directed to Sir Henry; not indeed in George's hand-writing, but with +the Malta post mark. Delmé read it over thoughtfully, and, assuring +Emily that there was nothing to alarm her, left the room to consider +its contents. + +By the way, we have thought over heartless professions, and cannot help +conceiving that of a postman, (it may be conceit!) the most callous and +unfeeling of all. He is waited for with more anxiety than any guest of +the morning; for his visits invariably convey something new to the mind. +He is not love! but he bears it in his pocket; he cannot be friendship! +but he daily hawks about its assurances. With all this, knowing his +importance, aware of the sensation his appearance calls forth, his very +knock is heartless--the tones of his voice cold. Feeling seems denied +him; his head is a debtor and creditor account, his departure the +receipt, and time alone can say, whether your bargain has been a good or +a bad one. He has certainly no assumption--it is one of his few good +traits; he walks with his arms in motion, but attempts not a swagger; +his knock is unassuming, and his words, though much attended to, are +few, and to the point. Why, then, abuse him? We know not, but believe it +originates in fear. An intuitive feeling of dread--a rushing +presentiment of evil--crosses our mind, as our eye dwells on his +thread-bare coat, with its capacious pockets. News of a death--or a +marriage--the tender valentine--the remorseless dun--your having been +left an estate, or cut off with a shilling--fortune, and misfortune--he +quietly dispenses, as if totally unconscious. Surely such a man--his +round performed--cannot quietly sink to the private individual. Can such +a man caress his wife, or kiss his child, when he knows not how many +hearts are bursting with joy, or breaking with sorrow, from the tidings +_he_ has conveyed? To our mind, a postman should be an abstracted +visionary being, endowed with a peculiar countenance, betraying the +unnatural sparkle of the opium-eater, and evincing intense anxiety at +the delivery of each sheet. But these,--they wait not to hear the joyful +shout, or heart-rending moan--to know if hope deferred be at length +joyful certainty, or bitter only half-expected woe. We dread a postman. +Our hand shook, as we last year paid the man of many destinies his +demanded Christmas box. + +The amount was double that we gave to the minister of our corporeal +necessities--the butcher's boy--not from a conviction of the superior +services or merit of the former, but from an uneasy desire to bribe, if +we could, that Mercury of fate. + +The letter to Sir Henry, was from the surgeon of George's regiment. It +stated that George had been severely ill, and that connected with his +illness, were symptoms which made it imperative on the medical adviser, +to recommend the immediate presence of his nearest male relative. +Apologies were made for the apparent mystery of the communication, with +a promise that this would be at once cleared up, if Sir Henry would but +consent to make the voyage; which would not only enable him to be of +essential service to his brother, but also to acquire much information +regarding him, which could only be obtained on the spot. A note from +George was enclosed in this letter. It was written with an unsteady +hand, and made no mention of his illness. He earnestly begged his +brother to come to Malta, if he could possibly so arrange it, and +transmitted his kindest love and blessing to Emily. + +Sir Henry at once made up his mind, to leave Leamington for town on the +morrow, trusting that he might there meet with information which would +be more satisfactory. He concealed for the time the true state of the +case from all but Clarendon; nor did he even allude to his proposed +departure. + +It was Emily's birth-day, and Gage had arranged that the whole party +should attend a little fête on that night. Sir Henry could not find it +in his heart to disturb his sister's dream of happiness. + + + + +Chapter V + +The Fête. + + + + "Ye stars! which are the poetry of heaven! + If, in your bright leaves, we would read the fate + Of men and empires,--'tis to be forgiven, + That, in our aspirations to be great, + Our destinies o'erleap their mortal state, + And claim a kindred with you." + + +The night came on with its crescent moon and its myriads of stars: just +such a night as might have been wished for such a fête. It was in the +month of April. April dews, in Britain's variable clime; are not the +most salubrious, and April's night air is too often keen and piercing; +but the season was an unusually mild one; and the ladies, with their +cloaks and their furs, promenaded the well-lighted walks, determined to +be pleased and happy. + +The giver of the fête was an enterprising Italian. Winter's +amusements were over, or neglected--summer's delights were not +arrived; and Signor Pacini conceived, that during the dull and +monotonous interval, a speculation of his own might prove welcome to +the public and beneficial to himself. To do the little man justice, he +was indefatigable in his exertions. From door to door he wended his +smiling way,--here praising the mother's French, there the daughter's +Italian. He gained hosts of partisans. "Of course you patronise +Pacini!" was in every one's mouth. The Signor's prospectus stated, +that "through the kindness of the steward of an influential nobleman, +who was now on the continent, he was enabled to give his fete in the +grounds of the Earl of W----; where a full quadrille band would be in +attendance, a pavilion pitched on the smooth lawn facing the river, +and a comfortable ball room thrown open to a fashionable and +enlightened public. The performance would be most various, novel, and +exciting. Brilliant fireworks from Vauxhall would delight the eye, and +shed a charm on the fairy scene; whilst the car would be regaled with +the unequalled harmony of the Styrian brethren, Messrs. Schezer, +Lobau, and Berdan, who had very kindly deferred their proposed return +to Styria, in order to honour the fete of Signor Pacini." + +As night drew on, the mimic thunder of carriages hastening to the scene +of action, bespoke the Signor's success. After the ninth hour, his +numbers swelled rapidly. Pacini assumed an amusing importance, and his +very myrmidons gave out their brass tickets with an air. At ten, a +rocket was fired. At this preconcerted signal, the pavilion, hitherto +purposely concealed, blazed in a flood of light. On its balcony stood +the three Styrian brethren,--although, by the way, they were not +brethren at all,--and, striking their harmonious guitars, wooed +attention to their strains. The crowd hurried down the walk, and formed +round the pavilion. Our party suddenly found themselves near the +Vernons. As the gentlemen endeavoured to obtain chairs for the ladies, a +crush took place, and Sir Henry was obliged to offer his arm to Julia, +who happened to be the nearest of her party. It was with pain Miss +Vernon noted his clouded brow, and look of abstraction; but hardly one +word of recognition had passed, before the deep voices of the Styrians +silenced all. After singing some effective songs, accompanied by a +zither, and performing a melodious symphony on a variety of Jew's-harps; +Pacini, the manager, advanced to address his auditors, with that air of +smiling confidence which no one can assume with better grace than a +clever Italian. His dark eye flashed, and his whole features irradiated, +as he delivered the following harangue. + +"Ladies and gentlemen! me trust you well satisfied wid de former +musical entertainment; but, if you permit, me mention one leetle +circonstance. Monsieur Schezer propose to give de song; but it require +much vat you call stage management: all must be silent as de grave. It +ver pretty morceau." + +The applause at the end of this speech was very great. Signor Pacini +bowed, till his face rivalled, in its hue, the rosy under-waistcoat in +which he rejoiced. + +Schezer stepped forward. He was attired as a mountaineer. His hat +tapered to the top, and was crowned by a single heron feather. Hussars +might have envied him his moustaches. From his right side protruded a +couteau de chasse; and his legs were not a little set off by the +tight-laced boots, which, coming up some way beyond the ancle, displayed +his calf to the very best advantage. + +The singer's voice was a fine manly tenor, and did ample justice to the +words, of which the following may be taken as a free version. + +"Mountains! dear mountains! on you have I passed my green youth; to me +your breeze has been fragrant from childhood. When may I see the chamois +bounding o'er your toppling crags? When, oh when, may I see my +fair-haired Mary?" + +The minstrel paused--a sound was heard from behind the pavilion. It was +the mountain's echo. It continued the air--then died away in the +softest harmony. All were charmed. Again the singer stepped +forward--the utmost silence prevailed--his tones became more +impassioned--they breathed of love. + +"Thanks! thanks to thee, gentle echo! Oft hast thou responded to the +strains of love my soul poured to--ah me! how beautiful was the +fair-haired Mary!" + +Again the echo spoke--again all were hushed. The minstrel's voice rose +again; but its tones were not akin to joy. + +"Why remember this, deceitful echo? War's blast hath blown, and hushed +are the notes of love. The foe hath polluted my hearth--I wander an +exile. Where, where is Mary?" + +The echo faintly but plaintively replied. There were some imagined that +a tear really started to the eye of the singer. He struck the guitar +wildly--his voice became more agitated--he advanced to the extremity of +the balcony. + +"My sword! my sword! May my right hand be withered ere it forget to +grasp its hilt! One blow for freedom. Freedom--sweet as was the +lip--Yes! I'll revenge my Mary!" + +Schezer paused, apparently overcome by his emotion. The echo wildly +replied, as if registering the patriot's vow. For a moment all was +still! A thundering burst of applause ensued. + +The mountain music was succeeded by a sweep of guitars, accompanying a +Venetian serenade, whose burthen was the apostrophising the cruelty of +"la cara Nina." + +It was near midnight, when all eyes were directed to a ball of fire, +which, rising majestically upward, soared amid the tall elm trees. For a +moment, the balloon became entangled in the boughs, revealing by its +transparent light the green buds of spring, which variegated and cheered +the scathed bark. It broke loose from their embrace--hovered +irresolutely above them--then swept rapidly before the wind, rising till +it became as a speck in the firmament. + +This was the signal for Mr. Robinson's fireworks, which did not shame +Vauxhall's reputation. At one moment, a salamander courted notice; at +another, a train of fiery honours, festooned round four wooden pillars, +was fired at different places, by as many doves practised to the task. +Here, an imitation of a jet d'eau elicited applause--there, the +gyrations of a Catherine's wheel were suddenly interrupted by the rapid +ascent of a Roman candle. + +Directly after the ascent of the balloon, Emily and Clarendon had +turned towards the ball room. Julia's sisters had a group of laughing +beaux round their chairs,--Mrs. Glenallan and Mrs. Vernon were +discussing bygone days,--and no one seemed disposed to leave the +pavilion. Sir Henry, in his silent mood, was glad to escape from the +party; and engaging Julia in a search for Emily, made his way to the +crowded ball room. He there found his sister spinning round with +Clarendon to one of Strauss's waltzes; and Sir Henry and his partner +seated themselves on one of the benches, watching the smiling faces as +they whirled past them. It was a melancholy thought to Delmé, how soon +Emily's brow would be clouded, were he to breathe one word of George's +illness and despondency. The waltz concluded, a quadrille was quickly +formed. Miss Vernon declined dancing, and they rose to join Emily and +Clarendon; but the lovers were flown. The ball room became still more +thronged; and Delmé was glad to turn once more towards the pavilion. The +party they had left there had also vanished, and strangers usurped their +seats. In this dilemma, Miss Vernon proposed seeking their party in the +long walk. They took one or two turns down this, but saw not those for +whom they were in search. + +"If you do not dislike leaving this busy scene," said Sir Henry, "I +think we shall have a better chance of meeting Emily and Clarendon, if +we turn down one of these winding paths." + +They turned to their left, and walked on. How beautiful was that night! +Its calm tranquillity, as they receded from the giddy throng, could not +but subdue them. We have said that the moon was not riding the heavens +in her full robe of majesty, nor was there a sombre darkness. The purple +vault was spangled thick with stars; and there reigned that dubious, +glimmering light, by which you can note a face, but not mark its blush. +The walks wound fantastically. They were lit by festoons of coloured +lamps, attached to the neighbouring trees, so as to resemble the pendent +grape-clusters, that the traveller meets with just previous to the +Bolognese vintage. Occasionally, a path would be encountered where no +light met the eye save that of the prying stars overhead. In the +distant vista, might be seen a part of the crowded promenade, where +music held its court; whilst at intervals, a voice's swell or guitar's +tinkle would be borne on the ear. There was the hum of men, too--the +laugh of the idlers without the sanctum, as they indulged in the +delights of the mischievous fire-ball--and the sudden whizz, followed by +an upward glare of light, as a rocket shot into the air. But the hour, +and the nameless feeling that hour invoked, brought with them a subduing +influence, which overpowered these intruding sounds, attuning the heart +to love and praise. They paced the walk in mutual and embarrassed +silence. Sir Henry's thoughts would at one time revert to his brother, +and at another to that parting, which the morrow would assuredly bring +with it. He was lost in reverie, and almost forgot who it was that leant +thus heavily upon his arm. Julia had loved but once. She saw his +abstraction, and knew not the cause; and her timid heart beat quicker +than was its wont, as undefined images of coming evil and sorrow, chased +each other through her excited fancy. At length she essayed to speak, +although conscious that her voice faltered. + +"What a lovely night! Are you a believer in the language of the stars?" + +This was said with such simplicity of manner, that Delmé, as he turned +to answer her, felt truly for the first time the full force of his +attachment. He felt it the more strongly, that his mind previously had +been wandering more than it had done for years. + +There are times and seasons when we are engrossed in a train of deep and +unconscious thought. Suddenly recalled to ourselves, we start from our +mental aberration, and a clearer insight into the immediate purposes and +machinery of our lives, is afforded us. We seem endowed with a more +accurate knowledge of self; the inmost workings of our souls are +abruptly revealed--feeling's mysteries stand developed--our weaknesses +stare us in the face--and our vices appear to gnaw the very vitals of +our hope. The veil was indeed withdrawn,--and Delmé's heart +acknowledged, that the fair being who leant on him for support, was +dearer--far dearer, than all beside. But he saw too, ambition in that +heart's deep recess, and knew that its dictates, unopposed for years, +were totally incompatible with such a love. He saw and trembled. + +Julia's question was repeated, before Sir Henry could reply. + +"A soldier, Miss Vernon, is particularly susceptible of visionary ideas. +On the lone bivouac, or remote piquet, duty must frequently chase sleep +from his eyelids. At such times, I have, I confess, indulged in wild +speculations, on their possible influence on our wayward destinies. I +was then a youth, and should not now, I much fear me, pursue with such +unchecked ardour, the dreams of romance in which I could then +unrestrainedly revel. Perhaps I should not think it wise to do so, even +had not sober reality stolen from imagination her brightest pinion." + +"I would fain hope, Sir Henry," replied Julia, "that all your mind's +elasticity is not thus flown. Why blame such fanciful theories? I cannot +think them wrong, and I have often passed happy hours in forming them." + +"Simply because they remove us too much from our natural sphere of +usefulness. They may impart us pleasure; but I question whether, by +dulling our mundane delights, they do not steal pleasure quite +equivalent. Besides, they cannot assist us in conferring happiness on +others, or in gleaning improvement for ourselves. I am not quite +certain, enviable as appears the distinction, whether the _too_ +feelingly appreciating even nature's beauties, does not bear with it its +own retribution." + +"Ah! do not say so! I cannot think that it _should_ be so with minds +properly regulated. I cannot think that _such_ can ever gaze on the +wonders revealed us, without these imparting their lesson of gratitude +and adoration. If, full of hope, our eye turns to some glorious planet, +and we fondly deem that _there_, may our dreams of happiness _here,_ be +perpetuated; surely in such poetical fancy, there is little to condemn, +and much that may wean us from folly's idle cravings. + +"If in melancholy's hour, we mourn for one who hath been dear, and sorrow +for the perishable nature of all that may here claim our earthly +affections; is it not sweet to think that in another world--perhaps in +some bright star--we may again commune with what we have _so_ +loved--once more be united in those kindly bonds--and in a kingdom where +those bonds may not thus lightly be severed?" + +Julia's voice failed her; for she thought of one who had preceded her to +"the last sad bourne." + +Delmé was much affected. He turned towards her, and his hand +touched hers. + +"Angelic being!" + +As he spoke, darker, more worldly thoughts arose. A fearful struggle, +which convulsed his features, ensued. The world triumphed. + +Julia Vernon saw much of this, and maiden delicacy told her it was not +meet they should be alone. + +"Let us join the crowd!" said she. "We shall probably meet our party in +the long walk: if not, we will try the ball room." + +Poor Julia! little was her heart in unison with that joyous scene! + +By the eve of the morrow, Delmé was many leagues from her and his +family. + +Restless man, with travel, ambition, and excitement, can woo and almost +win oblivion;--but poor, weak, confiding woman--what is left to her? + +In secret to mourn, and in secret still to love. + + + + +Chapter III. + +The Journey. + + + + "Adieu! adieu! My native land + Fades o'er the ocean blue; + The night winds sigh--the breakers roar-- + And shrieks the wild sea mew. + Yon sun that sets upon the sea, + We follow in his flight: + Farewell awhile to him and thee! + My native land! good night!" + + +We have rapidly sketched the dénouement of the preceding chapter; but it +must not be forgotten, that Delmé had been residing some months at +Leamington, and that Emily and Julia were friends. In his own familiar +circle--a severe but true test--Sir Henry had every opportunity of +becoming acquainted with Miss Vernon's sweetness of disposition, and of +appreciating the many excellencies of her character. For the rest, +their intercourse had been of that nature, that it need excite no +surprise, that a walk on a gala night, had the power of extracting an +avowal, which, crude, undigested, and hastily withdrawn as it was, was +certainly more the effusion of the heart--more consonant with Sir +Henry's original nature--than the sage reasonings on his part, which +preceded and followed that event. + +On Delmé's arrival in town, he prosecuted with energy his enquiries as +to his brother. He called on the regimental agents, who could give him +no information. George's military friends had lost sight of him since he +had sailed for the Mediterranean; and of the few persons, whom he could +hear of, who had lately left Malta; some were passing travellers, who +had made no acquaintances there, others, English merchants, who had met +George at the Opera and in the streets, but nowhere else. It is true, +there was an exception to this, in the case of a hair-brained young +midshipman; who stated that he had dined at George's regimental mess, +and had there heard that George "had fallen in love with some young +lady, and had fought with her brother or uncle, or a soldier-officer, he +did not know which." + +Meagre as all this information was, it decided Sir Henry Delmé. + +He wrote a long letter to Emily, in which he expressed a hope that both +George and himself would soon be with her, and immediately prepared for +his departure. + +Ere we follow him on his lonely journey, let us turn to those he left +behind. Mrs. Glenallan and Emily decided on at once leaving Leamington +for their own home. The marriage of the latter was deferred; and as +Clarendon confessed that his period of probation was a very happy one, +he acquiesced cheerfully in the arrangement. Emily called on the +Vernons, and finding that Julia was not at home, wrote her a kind +farewell; secretly hoping that at some future period they might be more +nearly related. The sun was sinking, as the travellers neared Delmé. The +old mansion looked as calm as ever. The blue smoke curled above its +sombre roof; and the rooks sailed over the chimneys, flapping their +wings, and cawing rejoicefully, as they caught the first glimpse of +their lofty homes. Emily let down the carriage window, and with sunshiny +tear, looked out on the home of her ancestors. + +There let us leave her; and turn to bid adieu for a season, to one, who +for many a weary day, was doomed to undergo the pangs of blighted +affection. Such pangs are but too poignant and enduring, let the +worldly man say what he may. Could we but read the history of the +snarling cynic, blind to this world's good--of him, who from being the +deceived, has become the deceiver--of the rash sensualist, who plunging +into vice, thinks he can forget;--could we but know the train of +events, that have brought the stamping madman to his bars--and his +cell--and his realms of phantasy;--or search the breast of her, who +lets concealment "feed on her damask cheek"--who prays blessings on +him, who hath wasted her youthful charms--then mounts with virgin soul +to heaven:--we, in our turn, might sneer at the worldling, and pin our +fate on the tale of the peasant girl, who discourses so glibly of +crossed love and broken hearts. + +Sir Henry Delmé left England with very unenviable sensations. A cloud +seemed to hang over the fate of his brother, which no speculations of +his could pierce. Numberless were the conjectures he formed, as to the +real causes of George's sickness and mental depression. It was in vain +he re-read the letters, and varied his comments on their contents. It +was evident, that nothing but his actual presence in Malta, could +unravel the mystery. Sir Henry had _one_ consolation; how great, let +those judge who have had aught dear placed in circumstances at all +similar. He had a confidence in George's character, which entirely +relieved him from any fear that the slightest taint could have infected +it. But an act of imprudence might have destroyed his peace of +mind--sickness have wasted his body. Nor was his uncertainty regarding +George, Delmé's only cause of disquiet. When he thought of Julia +Vernon, there was a consequent internal emotion, that he could not +subdue. He endeavoured to forget her--her image haunted him. He +meditated on his past conduct; and at times it occurred to him, that +the resolutions he had formed, were not the result of reason, but were +based on pride and prejudice. He thought of her as he had last seen +her. _Now_ she spoke with enthusiasm of the bright stars of heaven; +anon, her eye glistened with piety, as she showed how the feeling these +created, was but subservient to a nobler one still. Again, he was +beside her in the moment of maiden agony; when low accents faltered +from her quivering lip, and the hand that rested on his arm, trembled +from her heart's emotion. + +Such were the bitter fancies that assailed him, as he left his own, and +reached a foreign land. They cast a shadow on his brow, which change of +scene possessed no charm to dispel. He hurried on to France's capital, +and only delaying till he could get his passports signed, hastened from +Paris to Marseilles. + +On his arrival at the latter place, his first enquiries were, as to the +earliest period that a vessel would sail for Malta. He was pointed out a +small yacht in the harbour, which belonging to the British government, +had lately brought over a staff officer with despatches. + +A courier from England had that morning arrived--the vessel was about to +return--her canvas was already loosened--the blue Peter streaming in the +wind. Delmé hesitated not an instant, but threw himself into a boat, and +was rowed alongside. The yacht's commander was a lieutenant in our +service, although a Maltese by birth. He at once entered into Sir +Henry's views, and felt delighted at the prospect of a companion in his +voyage. A short time elapsed--the anchor was up--the white sails began +to fill--Sir Henry was once more on the wide sea. + +What a feeling of loneliness, almost of despair, infects the landsman's +mind, as he recedes from an unfamiliar port--sees crowds watching +listlessly his vessel's departure--crowds, of whom not one feels an +interest in _his_ fate; and then, turning to the little world within, +beholds but faces he knows not, persons he wots not of! + +But to one whose home is the ocean, such are not the emotions which +its expanse of broad waters calls forth. To such an one, each plank +seems a friend; the vessel, a refuge from the world and its cares. +Trusting himself to its guidance, deceit wounds him no +more--hollow-hearted friendship proffers not its hand to sting--love +exercises not its fatal sorcery--foes are afar--and his heart, if not +the waves, is comparatively at peace. And oh! the wonders of the deep! +Ocean! tame is the soul that loves not thee! grovelling the mind that +scorns the joys thou impartest! To lean our head on the vessel's side, +and in idleness of spirit ponder on bygone scene, that has brought us +anything but happiness,--to gaze on the curling waves, as impelled by +the boisterous wind, we ride o'er the angry waters, lashed by the sable +keel to a yeasty madness,--to look afar upon the disturbed billow, +presenting its crested head like the curved neck of the war +horse,--_then_ to mark the screaming sea bird, as, his bright eye +scanning the waters, he soars above the stormy main--its wide tumult +his delight--the roaring of the winds his melody--the shrieks of the +drowned an harmonious symphony to the hoarse diapason of the deep! All +these things may awake reflections, which are alike futile and +transitory; but they are accompanied by a mental excitement, which land +scenes, however glorious, always fail to impart. + +Delmé's voyage was not unpropitious, although the yacht was frequently +baffled by contrary winds, which prevented the passage being very +speedy. During the day, the weather was ordinarily blustering, at times +stormy; but with the setting sun, it seemed that tranquillity came; for +during the nights, which were uncommonly fine, gentle breezes continued +to fill the sails, and their vessel made tardy but sure progress. Henry +would sit on deck till a late hour, lost in reverie. _There_ would he +remain, until each idle mariner was sunk to rest; and nothing but the +distant tread of the wakeful watch, or the short cough of the helmsman, +bespoke a sentinel over the habitation on the waters. How would the +recollections of his life crowd upon him!--the loss of his parent--the +world's first opening--bitter partings--painful misgivings--the lone +bivouac--the marshalling of squadrons--the fierce charge--the +excitement of victory, whose charm was all but flown, for where were the +comrades who had fought beside him? These things were recalled, and +brought with them alternate pain and pleasure. And a less remote era of +his life would be presented him; when he tasted the welcome of home--saw +hands uplifted in gratitude--was cheered by a brother's greeting, and +subdued by a sister's kiss. But there _was_ a thought, which let him +dwell as he might on others, remained the uppermost of all. It was of +Julia Vernon, and met him as a reproach. If his feelings were not of +that enthusiastic nature, which they might have been were he now in his +green youth, they were not on this account the less intense. They were +coloured by the energy of manhood. He had lost a portion of his +self-respect: for he knew that his conduct had been vacillating with +regard to one, whom each traversed league, each fleeting hour, proved to +be yet dearer than he had deemed her. + +In the first few days of their passage, the winds shaped their vessel's +course towards the Genoese gulf. They then took a direction nearly +south, steering between Corsica and Sardinia on the one hand--Italy on +the other. + +Delmé had an opportunity of noting the outward aspect of Napoleon's +birth-place; and still more nearly, that of its opposite island, which +also forms so memorable a link in the history of that demi-god of modern +times. How could weaker spirits deem that _there_, invested with +monarchy's semblance, the ruler of the petty isle could forget that he +had been master of the world? + +How think that diplomacy's cobweb fibre could hold the eagle, panting +for an upward flight? + +They fearfully misjudged! What a transcendent light did his star give, +as it shot through the appalled heavens, ere it sunk for ever in +endless night! + +The commander of the yacht pointed out the rock, which is traditionally +said to be the one, on which Napoleon has been represented--his arms +folded--watching intently the ocean--and ambition's votary gleaning his +moral from the stormy waves below. As they advanced farther in their +course, other associations were not wanting; and Delmé, whose mind, +like that of most Englishmen, was deeply tinctured with classic lore, +was not insensible to their charms. They swept by the Latian coast. +Every creek and promontory, attested the fidelity of the poet's +description, by vividly recalling it to the mind. On the seventh day, +they doubled Cape Maritime, on the western coast of Sicily; and two +days afterwards, the vessel neared what has been styled the abode of +Calypso, the island of Gozzo. As they continued to advance, picturesque +trading boats, with awnings and numerous rowers, became more +frequent--the low land appeared--they were signalled from the +palace--the point of St. Elmo was turned--and a wide forest of masts +met the gaze. The vessel took up her moorings; and in the novelty of +the scene, and surrounding bustle, Sir Henry for a time rested from +misgivings, and forgot his real causes for melancholy. The harbour of +Malta is not easily forgotten. The sun was just sinking, tinging with +hues of amber, the usually purple waters of the harbour, and bronzing +with its fiery orb, the batteries and lofty Baraca, where lie entombed +the remains of Sir Thomas Maitland. Between the Baraca's pillars, +might be discerned many a faldette, with pretty face beneath, peering +over to mark the little yacht, as she took her station, amidst the more +gigantic line of battle ships. + +The native boatmen, in their gilded barks with high prows, were seen +surrounding the vessel; and as they exerted themselves in passing each +other, their dress and action had the most picturesque appearance. Their +language, a corrupted Arabic, is not unpleasing to the ear; and their +costume is remarkably graceful. A red turban hangs droopingly on one +side, and their waistcoats are loaded with large silver buttons, the +only remains of their uncommon wealth during the war, when this little +island was endowed with a fictitious importance, it can never hope to +resume. Just as the yacht cast anchor, a gun from the saluting battery +was fired. It was the signal for sunset, and every flag was lowered. +Down came in most seaman-like style the proud flag of merry England--the +_then_ spotless banner of France--and the great cross, hanging +ungracefully, over the stout, but clumsy, Russian man of war. All these +flags were then in the harbour of Valletta, although it was not at that +eventful time when--the Moslem humbled--they met with the cordiality of +colleagues in victory. + +The harbour was full of vessels. Every nation had its representative. +The intermediate spaces were studded by Maltese boats, crowded with +passengers indiscriminately mingled. The careless English soldier, with +scarlet coat and pipe-clayed belt--priests and friars--Maltese women in +national costume sat side by side. Occasionally, a gig, pulled by man of +war's men, might be seen making towards the town, with one or more +officers astern, whose glittering epaulettes announced them as either +diners out, or amateurs of the opera. The scene to Delmé was entirely +novel; although it had previously been his lot to scan more than one +foreign country. + +The arrival of the health officers was the first circumstance that +diverted his mind from the surrounding scene. There had been an epidemic +disease at Marseilles, and there appeared to be some doubts, whether, as +a precaution, some quarantine would not be imposed. The superintendent +of quarantine was rowed alongside, chiefly for the purpose of regulating +this. The spirited little commander of the yacht, however, was not at +all desirous of any such arrangement; and after some energetic appeals +on his part, met by cautious remonstrances on the part of the other, +their pratique was duly accorded. + +During the discussion with the superintendent, Sir Henry had enquired +from the health officer, as to where he should find George, and was +informed that his regiment was quartered at Floriana, one of Valletta's +suburbs. In a short time a boat from the yacht was lowered, and the +commander prepared to accompany the government courier with his +dispatches to the palace. + +Previous to leaving the deck, he hailed a boat alongside--addressed the +boatmen in their native language--and consigned Sir Henry to their +charge. Twilight was deepening into night as Delmé left the vessel. The +harbour had lost much of its bustle; lights were already gleaming from +the town, and as seen in some of the loftiest houses, looked as if +suspended in the air above. Our traveller folded his cloak around him, +and was rowed swiftly towards the shore. + + + + +Chapter VII. + +The Young Greek. + + + + "But not in silence pass Calypso's isles, + The sister tenants of the middle deep." + + * * * * * + + "Her reign is past, her gentle glories gone, + But trust not this; too easy youth, beware! + A mortal sovereign holds her dangerous throne. + And thou mayst find a new Calypso there." + + +Night had set in before Sir Henry reached the shore. The boatmen, in +broken, but intelligible English, took the trouble of explaining, that +they must row him to a point higher up the harbour, than the landing +place towards which the commander's gig was directing its course, on +account of his brother's regiment being quartered at Floriana. Landing +on the quay, they took charge of Delmé's portmanteau, and conducted him +through an ascending road, which seemed to form a part of the +fortifications, till they arrived in front of a closed gate. They were +challenged by the sentinel, and obliged to explain their business to a +non-commissioned officer, before they were admitted. + +This form having been gone through, a narrow wicket was opened for their +passage. They crossed a species of common, and, after a few minutes' +walk, found themselves in front of the barrack. This was a plain stone +building, enclosing a small court, in the centre of which stood a marble +bason. The taste of some of the officers had peopled this with golden +fish; whilst on the bason's brim were placed stands for exotics, whose +fragrance charmed our sea-worn traveller, so lately emancipated from +those sad drawbacks to a voyage, the odours of tar and bilge water. + +On either side, were staircases leading to the rooms above. A sentry was +slowly pacing the court, and gave Delmé the necessary directions for +finding George's room. Delmé's hand was on the latch, but he paused for +a moment ere he pressed it, for he pictured to himself his brother lying +on the bed of sickness. This temporary irresolution soon gave way to the +impulse of affection, and he hastily entered the chamber. George was +reading, and had his back turned towards him. As he heard the footsteps, +he half turned round; an enquiry was on his lip, when his eye caught +Henry's figure--a hectic flush suffused his cheek--he rose eagerly, and +threw himself into his brother's arms. + +Ah! sweet is fraternal affection! As boys, we own its just, its +proper influence; but as men--how few of us can lay our hands on our +hearts, and in the time of manhood feel, that the thought of a +brother, still calls up the kindly glow which it did in earlier +years. Delmé strained his brother to his heart, whilst poor George's +tears flowed like a woman's. + +"Ah, how," he exclaimed, "can I ever repay you for this?" + +The first burst of joyful meeting over--Sir Henry scanned his brother's +features, and was shocked at the apparent havoc a few short years had +wrought. It was not that the cheek--whose carnation tint had once drawn +a comment from all who saw it--it was not that the cheek was bronzed by +an eastern sun. The alabaster forehead, showed that this was the natural +result, of exposure to climate. But the wan, the sunken features--the +unnatural brilliancy of the eye--the almost impetuous agitation of +manner--all these bespoke that more than even sickness had produced the +change:--that the mind, as well as body, must have had its sufferings. + +"My dear, dear brother," said Henry, "tell me, I implore you, the +meaning of this. You look ill and distressed, and yet from you I did not +hear of sickness, nor do I know any reason for grief." George smiled +evasively; then, as if recollecting himself, struck his forehead. He +pressed his brother's arm, and led him towards a room adjoining the one +in which they were. + +"It were in vain to tell you now, Henry, the eventful history of the +last few months; but see!" said he, as they together entered, "the +innocent cause of much that I have gone through." + +Sir Henry Delmé started at the sight that greeted him. The room was +dimly lighted by a lamp, but the moon was up, and shed her full light +through part of the chamber. On a small French bed, whose silken linings +threw their rosy hue on the face of its fair occupant, lay as lovely a +girl as ever eye reposed on. + +The heat had already commenced to become oppressive; the jalousies and +windows were thrown open. As the night breeze swept over the curtains, +and the tint these gave, trembled on that youthful beauty; Delmé might +well be forgiven, for deeming it was very long since he had seen a +countenance so exquisitely lovely. The face did indeed bear the stamp of +youth. Delmé would have guessed that the being before him, had barely +attained her fifteenth year, but that her bosom heaved like playful +billows, as she breathed her sighs in a profound slumber. Her style of +beauty for a girl was most rare. It had an almost infantine simplicity +of character, which in sleep was still more remarkable; for awake, those +eyes, now so still, did not throw unmeaning glances. + +Such as these must Guarini have apostrophised, as he looked at his +slumbering love. + + "Occhi! stelle mortale! + Ministri de miei mali! + Se chiusi m'uccidete, + Aperti,--che farete?" + +Or, as Clarendon Gage translated it. + + "Ye mortal stars! ye eyes that, e'en in sleep, + Can thus my senses chain'd in wonder keep, + Say, if when closed, your beauties thus I feel, + Oh, what when open, would ye not reveal?" + +Her beauty owed not its peculiar charm to any regularity of feature; but +to an ineffable sweetness of expression, and to youth's freshest bloom. +Hafiz would have compared that smooth cheek to the tulip's flower. Her +eye-lashes, of the deepest jet, and silken gloss, were of uncommon +length. Her lips were apart, and disclosed small but exquisitely formed +teeth. Their hue was not that of ivory, but the more delicate though +more transient one of the pearl. One arm supported her head--its hand +tangled in the raven tresses--of the other, the snowy rounded elbow was +alone visible. + +She met the eye, like a vision conjured up by fervid youth; when, ere +our waking thoughts dare to run riot in beauty's contemplation--sleep, +the tempter, gives to our disordered imaginations, forms and scenes, +which in after life we pant for, but meet them--never! + +George put his finger to his lips, as Delmé regarded her--kissed her +silken cheek, and whispered, + +"Acmé, carissima mia!" + +The slumberer started--the envious eye-lid shrouded no more its lustrous +jewel--the wondering eyes dilated, as they met her lover's--and she +murmured something with that sweet Venetian lisp, in which the Greek +women breathe their Italian. But, as she saw the stranger, her face and +neck became suffused with crimson, and her small hand wrapped the snowy +sheet round her beauteous form. + +Sir Henry, who felt equally embarrassed, returned to the room they +had left; whilst George lingered by the bedside of his mistress, and +told her it was his brother. Once more together, Sir Henry turned +towards George. + +"For God's sake," said he, "unravel this mystery! Who is this young +creature?" + +"Not now!" said his brother, "let us reserve it for to-morrow, and talk +only of home. Acmé has retired earlier than usual--she has been +complaining." And he commenced with a flushed brow and rapid voice, to +ask after those he loved. + +"And so, dearest Emily will soon be married. I am glad of it; you speak +so well of Gage! I wish I had stayed three weeks longer in England, and +I should have seen him. We shall miss her in the flower garden, Henry! +Yes! and every where else! And how is my kind aunt? I forgot to thank +her when I last wrote to Delmé, for making Fidèle a parlour inmate!--and +I don't think she likes dogs generally either!--And Mrs. Wilcox! as +demure as ever?--Do you recollect the trick I played her the last April +I was at home?--And my favourite pony! does _he_ still adorn the +paddock, or is he gone at last? Emily wrote me he could hardly support +himself out of the shed. And the old oak--have you railed it round as I +advised? And the deer--Is my aunt still as tenacious of killing them? I +suppose Emily's pet fawn is a fine antlered gentleman by this time. And +your charger, Henry--how is he? And Mr. Sims? and the new green house? +Does the aviary succeed? did you get my slips of the blood orange? have +the Zante melon seeds answered? And the daisy of Delmé, Fanny Porter--is +she married? I stole a kiss the day I left. And so the coachman is dead? +and you have given the reins to Jenkins, and have taken my little fellow +on your own establishment? And Ponto? and Ranger? and my friend Guess?" + +Here George paused, quite out of breath; and his brother, viewing with +some alarm his nervous agitation, attempted to answer his many queries; +determined in his own mind, not to seek the explanation he so much +longed for, until a more favourable period for demanding it arrived. The +brothers continued conversing on English topics till a late hour, when +Henry rose to retire. + +"I cannot," said George, "give you a bed here to-night; but my servant +shall show you the way to an hotel; and in the course of to-morrow, we +will take care to have a room provided for you. You must feel harassed: +will nine be too early an hour for breakfast?" + +It was a beautiful night, still and starry. Till they arrived in the +busy street, no sound could be heard, but the cautious opening of the +lattice, answering the signal of the guitar. Escorted by his guide, +Delmé entered Valletta, which is bustling always, even at night; but was +more than usually so, as there happened to be a fête at the palace. As +they passed through the Strado Teatro, the soldier pointed out the +Opera-house; although from the lateness of the hour, Rossini's melodies +were hushed. From a neighbouring café, however, festive sounds +proceeded; and Delmé, catching the words of an unfamiliar language, +paused before the door to recognise the singer. The table at which he +sat, was so densely enveloped in smoke, that it was some time before he +could make out the forms of the party, which consisted of some jovial +British midshipmen, and some Tartar-looking Russians. One of the Russian +officers was charming his audience with a chanson à boire, acquired on +the banks of the Vistula, His compatriots were yelling the chorus most +unmercifully. A few calèche drivers, waiting for their fares, and two or +three idle Maltese, were pacing outside the cafe, and appeared to regard +the scene as one of frequent occurrence, and calculated to excite but +little interest. His guide showed Delmé the hotel, and was dismissed; +and Sir Henry, preceded by an obsequious waiter, was introduced to a +spacious apartment facing the street. + +It was long ere sleep visited him. He had many subjects on which to +ruminate; there were many points which the morrow would clear up. His +mind was too busy to permit him to rest. + +When he did, however, close his eyes; he slept soundly, and did not +awake till the broad glare of day, penetrating through the Venetian +blinds, disclosed to him the unfamiliar apartment at Beverley's. + + + + +Chapter VIII. + +The Invalid. + + + + "'Mid many things most new to ear and eye, + The pilgrim rested here his weary feet." + + +As Sir Henry Delmé stepped from the hotel into the street, the sun's +rays commenced to be oppressive, and, although it was only entering the +month of May, served to remind him that he was in a warmer clime. The +scene was already a bustling one. The shopkeepers were throwing water +on the hot flag stones, and erecting canvas awnings in front of their +doors. In the various cafés might be seen the subservient waiters, +handing round the small gilded cup, which contained thick Turkish +coffee, or carrying to some old smoker the little pipkin, whence he was +to light his genial cigar. In front of one of these cafés, some +English officers were collected, sipping ices, and criticising the +relieving of the guard. Turning a corner of the principal street, a +group of half black and three-parts naked children assaulted our +traveller, and vociferously invoked carità. They accompanied this +demand by the corrupted cry of "nix munjay"--nothing to eat,--which +they enforced by most expressive gestures, extending their mouths, and +exhibiting rows of ravenous-looking teeth. The calèche drivers, too, +were on the alert, and respectfully taking off their turbans, proffered +their services to convey the Signore to Floriana. Delmé declined their +offers, and, passing a draw-bridge which divides Valletta from the +country, made his way through an embrasure, and descending some half +worn stone steps--during which operation he was again surrounded by +beggars--he found himself within sight of the barracks. Acmé and George +were ready to receive him. The latter's eye lit, as it was wont to do, +on seeing his brother, whilst the young Greek appeared in doubt, +whether to rejoice at what gave him pleasure, or to stand in awe of a +relation, whose influence over George might shake her own. This did +not, however, prevent her offering Delmé her hand, with an air of great +frankness and grace. Nor was he less struck with her peculiar beauty +than he had been on the night previous. Her dress was well adapted to +exhibit her charms to the greatest advantage. Her hair was parted in +front, and smoothly combed over her neck and shoulders, descending to +her waist. Over her bosom, and fastened by a chased silver clasp, was +one of the saffron handkerchiefs worn by the Parganot women. A jacket +of purple velvet, embroidered with gold, fitted closely to her figure. +Round her waist was a crimson girdle, fastened by another enormous +broach, or rather embossed plate of silver. A Maltese gold rose chain +of exquisite workmanship was flung round her neck, to which depended a +locket, one side of which held, encased in glass, George's hair braided +with her own; the other had a cameo, representing the death of the +patriot Marco Bozzaris. + +"Giorgio tells me," said she, "that you speak Italian, at which I am +very glad; for his efforts to teach me English have quite failed. Do you +know you quite alarmed me last night, and I really think it was too bad +of George introducing you when he did;" and she placed her hand on her +lover's shoulder, and looked in his face confidingly. In spite of the +substance of her speech, and the circumstances under which Delmé saw +her, he could not avoid feeling an involuntary prepossession in her +favour. Her manner had little of the polish of art, but much of nature's +witching simplicity; and Sir Henry felt surprised at the ease and +animation of the whole party. Acmé presided at the breakfast table, with +a grace which many a modern lady of fashion might envy; and during the +meal, her conversation, far from being dull or listless, showed that she +had much talent, and that to a quick perception of nature's charms, she +united great enthusiasm in their pursuit. The meal was over, when the +surgeon of the regiment was announced, and introduced by George to Sir +Henry. After making a few inquiries as to the invalid's state of health, +he proposed to Delmé, taking a turn in the botanical garden, which was +immediately in front of their windows. + +Sir Henry eagerly grasped at the proposition; anxious, as he felt +himself, to ascertain the real circumstances connected with his +brother's indisposition. They strolled through the garden, which was +almost deserted--for none but dogs and Englishmen, to use the expression +of the natives, court the Maltese noon-day sun,--and the surgeon at once +entered into George's history. He was a man of most refined manners, and +a cultivated intellect, and his professional familiarity with horrors, +had not diminished his natural delicacy of feeling. His narrative was +briefly thus:-- + +George Delmé's bosom companion had been an officer of his own age and +standing in the service, with whom he had embarked when leaving England. +Their intercourse had ripened into the closest friendship. George had +met Acmé, although the surgeon knew not the particulars of the +rencontre,--had confided to his friend the acquaintance he had made--and +had himself introduced Delancey at the house where Acmé resided. Whether +her charms really tempted the friend to endeavour to supplant George, +or whether he considered the latter's attentions to the young Greek to +be without definite object, and undertaken in a spirit of indifference, +the narrator could not explain; but it was not long before Delancey +considered himself as a principal in the transaction. Acmé, whose +knowledge of the world was slight, and whose previous seclusion from +society, had rendered her timidity excessive, considered that her best +mode of avoiding importunities she disliked, and attentions that were +painful to her, would be to speak to George himself on the subject. + +By this time, the latter, quite fascinated by her beauty and +simplicity, and deeming, as was indeed the fact, that his love was +returned, needed not other inquietudes than those his attachment gave +him. The pride of ancestry and station on the one hand--on the other, +a deep affection, and a wish to act nobly by Acmé--caused an internal +struggle which made him open to any excitement, nervously alive to any +wrong. He sought his friend, and used reproaches, which rendered it +imperative that they should meet as foes. Delancey was wounded; and +as _he_ thought--and it was long doubtful whether it _were_ +so--_mortally_. He beckoned George Delmé to his bedside--begged him to +forgive him--told him that his friendship had been the greatest source +of delight to him--a friendship which in his dying moments he begged +to renew--that far from feeling pain at his approaching dissolution, +he conceived that he had merited all, and only waited his full and +entire forgiveness to die happy. George Delmé wrung his hands in the +bitterness of despair--prayed him to live for his sake--told him, that +did he not, his own life hereafter would be one of the deepest +misery,--that the horrors of remorse would weigh him down to his +grave. The surgeon was the first to terminate a scene, which he +assured Delmé was one of the most painful it had ever been his lot to +witness. This meeting, though of so agitating a nature, seemed to have +a beneficial effect on the wounded man. He sunk into a sweet sleep; +and on awaking, his pulse was lower, and his symptoms less critical. +He improved gradually, and was now convalescent. But it was otherwise +with George Delmé. He sought the solitude of his chamber, a prey to +the agonies of a self-reproaching spirit. He considered himself +instrumental in taking the life of his best friend--of one, richly +endowed with the loftiest feelings humanity can boast. His nerves +previously had been unstrung; body and mind sank under the picture his +imagination had conjured up. His servant was alarmed by startling +screams, entered his room, and found his master in fearful +convulsions. A fever ensued, during which George's life hung by a +thread. To this succeeded a long state of unconsciousness, +occasionally broken by wild delirium. + +During his illness, there was one who never left him--who smoothed his +pillow--who supported his head on her breast--who watched him as a +mother watches her first-born. It was the youthful Greek, Acmé Frascati. +The instant she heard of his danger, she left her home to tend him. No +entreaties could influence her, no arguments persuade. She would sit by +his bedside for hours, his feverish hand locked in hers, and implore him +to recover, to bless one who loved him so dearly. They could not part +them; for George, even in his delirious state, seemed to be conscious +that some one was near him, and, did she leave his side, would rise in +his bed, and look around him as if missing some accustomed object. In +his wilder flights, he would call passionately upon her, and beg her to +save his friend, who was lying so dead and still. + +For a length of time, neither care nor professional skill availed. +Fearful was the struggle, between his disease, and a naturally hardy +constitution. Reason at last resumed her dominion. "I know not," said +the surgeon, "the particulars of the first dawning of consciousness. It +appears that Acmé was alone with him, and that it was at night. I found +him on my professional visit one morning, clear and collected, and his +mistress sobbing her thanks. I need perhaps hardly inform you," said the +narrator, "that George's gratitude to Acmé was vividly expressed. It was +in vain I urged on her the propriety of now leaving her lover. This was +met on both sides by an equal disinclination, and indeed obstinate +refusal; and I feared the responsibility I should incur, by enforcing a +separation which might have proved of dangerous consequence to my +patient. Alas! for human nature, Sir Henry! need it surprise you that +the consequences were what they are? Loving him with the fervency of one +born under an eastern sun--with the warm devotion of woman's first +love--with slender ideas of Christian morality--and with a mind +accustomed to obey its every impulse--need it, I say, surprise you, that +the one fell, and that remorse visited the other? To that remorse, do I +attribute what my previous communication may not have sufficiently +prepared you for; namely, the little dependence to be placed on the tone +of the invalid's mind. Reason is but as a glimmering in a socket; and +painful as my professional opinion may be to you, it is my duty to avow +it; and I frankly confess, that I entertain serious apprehensions, as to +the stability of his mind's restoration. It is on this account, that I +have felt so anxious that one of his relations should be near him. +Change of scene is absolutely necessary, as soon as change of scene can +be safely adopted. Every distracting thought must be avoided, and the +utmost care taken that no agitating topic is discussed in his presence. +These precautions may do much; but should they have no effect, which I +think possible; as a medical man, I should then recommend, what as a +member of his family may startle you. My advice would be, that if it be +ultimately found, that his feelings as regard this young girl, are such +as are likely to prevent or impede his mind's recovery; why I would then +at once allow him to make her any reparation he may think just. + +"To what do you allude?" enquired Sir Henry. + +"Why," continued the surgeon, "that if his feelings appear deeply +enlisted on that side of the question, and all our other modes have +failed in obtaining their object; that he should be permitted to marry +her as soon as he pleases. I see you look grave. I am not surprised you +should do so; but life is worth preserving, and Acmé, if not entirely to +our notions, is a good, a very good girl--warm-hearted and affectionate; +and it is not fair to judge her by our English standard. You will +however have time and scope, to watch yourself the progress and extent +of his disorder. I fear this is more serious than you are at present +aware of; but from your own observations, would I recommend and wish +your future line of conduct to be formed. May I trust my frankness has +not offended you?" + +Sir Henry assured him, that far from this being the case, he owed +him many thanks for being thus explicit. Shaking him by the hand, +he returned to George's room with a clouded brow; perplexed how to +act, or how best discuss with his brother, the points connected +with his history. + + + + +Chapter IX. + +The Narrative. + + + + "The seal Love's dimpling finger hath impress'd, + Denotes how soft that chin which bears his touch, + Her lips whose kisses pout to leave their nest, + Bid man be valiant ere he merit such; + Her glance how wildly beautiful--how much + Hath Phoebus woo'd in vain to spoil her cheek, + Which grows yet smoother from his amorous clutch, + Who round the north for paler dames would seek? + How poor their forms appear! how languid, wan, and weak." + + +Love! Heavenly love! by Plato's mind conceived, and Sicyon's artist +chiselled! not thou! night's offspring, springing on golden wing from +the dark bosom of Erebus! the first created, and the first creating: but +thou! immaculate deity; effluence of unspotted thought, and child of a +chaster age! where, oh where is now thy resting place? + +Pensile in mid-heaven, gazest thou yet with seraphic sorrow on this, +the guilty abode of guilty man?--with pity's tear still mournest thou, +as yoked to the car of young desire, we bow the neck in degrading and +slavish bondage? Or dost thou, the habitant of some bright star, where +frailty such as ours is yet unknown, lend to lovers a rapture unalloyed +by passion's grosser sense; as, symphonious with the tremulous zephyr, +chastened vows of constancy are there exchanged? Ah! vainly does one +solitary enthusiast, in his balmy youth, for a moment conceive he really +grasps thee! 'tis but a fleeting phantasy, doomed to fade at the first +sneer of derision--and for ever vanish, as a false and fascinating world +stamps its dogmas on his heart! Celestial love! oh where may he yet find +thee? and a clear voice whispers, ETERNITY! + +Hope! guide the fainting pilgrim! undying soul! shield him from the +world's venomed darts, as he painfully wends his toilsome way! + +When Delmé returned to his brother, he found the latter anxiously +expecting him, and desirous of ascertaining the impression, which his +conversation with the surgeon had created. + +But Delmé thought it more prudent, to defer the discussion of those +points, till he had heard from George himself, as to many circumstances +connected with Acmé's history, and had been able to form some personal +opinion regarding the health of the invalid. He therefore begged +George, if he felt equal to the task, to avail himself of the +opportunity of Acmé's absence, to tell him how he had first met her. To +this George willingly assented; and as there is ever a peculiarity in +foreign scenes and habits, which awakens interest, we give his story in +his own language. + +"There are some old families here, Henry," began the invalid, "whose +names are connected with some of the proudest, which the annals of the +Knights of St. John of Jerusalem can boast. They are for the most part +sunk in poverty, and possess but little of the outward trappings of +rank. But their pride is not therefore the less; and rather than have it +wounded, by being put in collision with those with whom in worldly +wealth they are unable to compete, they prefer the privacy of +retirement; and are rarely seen, and more rarely known, by any of the +English residents, whom they distrust and dislike. It is true, there are +a few families, some of the male members of which have accepted +subordinate situations under government: and these have become +habituated to English society, and meet on terms of tolerable +cordiality, the English whose acquaintance they have thus made. But +there are others, as I have said, whose existence is hardly recognised, +and who vegetate in some lone palazzo; brooding over the decay of their +fortunes--never crossing the threshold of their mansions--except when +religious feelings command them to attend a mass, or public procession. +Of such a family was Acmé a member. By birth a Greek, she was a witness +to many of the bloody scenes which took place at the commencement of the +struggle for Grecian freedom. She was herself present at the murder of +both her parents. Her beauty alone saved her from sharing their fate. +One of the Turks, struck with, her expression of childish sorrow, +interfered in her behalf, and permitted a friend and neighbour to save +her life and his own, by taking shipping for one of the islands in our +possession. After residing in Corfu for some months, she received an +invitation from her father's brother-in-law, a member of an ancient +Maltese family; and for the last few years has spent a life, if not gay, +at least free from a repetition of those sanguinary scenes, which have +lent their impress to a sensitive mind, and at moments impart a +melancholy tinge, to a disposition by nature unusually joyous. It was on +a festa day, dedicated to the patron saint of the island, when no +Maltese not absolutely bed-ridden, but would deem it a duty, to witness +the solemn and lengthy procession which such a day calls forth; that I +first met Acmé Frascati. + +"I was alone in the Strada Reale, and strolling towards the Piazza, when +my attention was directed to what struck me as the loveliest face I had +ever seen. + +"Acmé, for it was her, was drest in the costume of the island; and, +although a faldette is not the best dress for exhibiting a figure, +there was a grace and lightness in her carriage, that would have +arrested my attention, even had I not been riveted by her countenance. +She was on the opposite side of the street to myself, and was attended +by an old Moorish woman, who carried an illumined missal. Of these +women, several may yet be seen in Malta, looking very Oriental and +duenna-like. As I stopped to admire her, she suddenly attempted to +cross to the side of the street where I stood. At the same moment, I +observed a horse attached to a calèche galloping furiously towards her. +It was almost upon her ere Acmé saw her danger. The driver, anxious to +pass before the procession formed, had whipped his horse till it became +unmanageable, and it was now in vain that he tried to arrest its +progress. A natural impulse induced me to rush forward, and endeavour +to save her. She was pale and trembling, as I caught her and placed her +out of the reach of danger; but before I could touch the pavement, I +felt myself struck by the wheel of the carriage, was thrown down, and +taken up insensible. When consciousness returned, I found they had +conveyed me to a neighbouring shop, and that medical attendance had +been procured. But more than all, I noticed the solicitude of Acmé. +Until the surgeon had given a favourable report, she could not address +me, but when this had been pronounced, she overwhelmed me with thanks, +begged to know where I would wish to be taken, and rested not until her +own family calèche came up, and she saw me, attended by the Moorish +woman, on the road to Floriana. + +"My accident, though not a very serious one, proved of sufficient +consequence, to confine me to my room for some time; and during that +period, not a day passed, that did not give me proof of the anxiety of +the young Greek for my restoration. I need not say that one of my +first visits was to her. Her family received me as they would an +absent brother. The obligations they considered I had conferred, +outweighed all prejudices which they might have imbibed against my +nation. On _my_ part, charmed with my adventure, delighted with Acmé, +and gratified by the kindness of her relations, I endeavoured to +increase their favourable opinion by all the means in my power. Acmé +and myself were soon more than friends, and I found my visits gave and +imparted pleasure. + +"I now arrive at the unhappy part of my narrative. How do I wish it were +effaced from my memory. You may remember how, in all my letters to +Delmé, I made mention of my dear friend Delancey. We were indeed dear +friends. We joined at the same time, lived together in England, +embarked together, and when, one dreadful night off the African coast, +the captain of the transport thought we must inevitably drift on the +lee shore, we solaced each other, and agreed that, if it came to the +worst, on one plank would we embark our fortunes. On our landing in +Malta, we were inseparable, and my first impulse was to inform Delancey +of all that had occurred, and to introduce him to a house where I felt +so happy. I must here do him the justice to state, that whether I was +partly unaware of the extent of my own feelings towards Acmé, or +whether I felt a morbid sense of delicacy, in alluding to what I knew +to be the first attachment I had ever formed, I am unable to inform +you! but the only circumstance I concealed from my friend was my +attachment to the young Greek. Perhaps to this may be mainly attributed +what happened. God, who knows all secrets, knows this; but I may now +aver, that my friend, with many faults, has proved himself to have as +frank and ingenuous a spirit, as noble ideas of friendship, as can +exist in the human breast. For some time, matters continued thus. We +were both constant visitors at Acmé's house. With unparalleled +blindness, I never mistrusted the feelings of my friend. I never +contemplated that _he_ also might become entangled with the young +beauty. I considered her as my own prize, and was more engaged in +analysing my own sensations, and in vainly struggling against a +passion, which I was certain could not meet my family's approval, than +at all suspicious that fresh causes of uneasiness might arise in +another quarter. As Acmé's heart opened to mine, I found her with +feelings guileless and unsuspecting as a child's; although these were +warm, and their expression but little restrained. There was a confiding +simplicity in her manner, that threw an air over all she said or did, +which quite forbade censure, and excited admiration. My passion became +a violent and an all-absorbing one. I had made up my mind, to throw +myself on the kindness of my family, and endeavour to obtain all your +consents. Thus was I situated, when one day Acmé came up to me with +frankness of manner, but a tremulous voice, to beg I would use my +interest with my friend, to prevent his coming to see her. + +"'Indeed, indeed,' said she, 'I have tried to love him as a friend, as +the friend of my life's preserver, but ever since he has spoken as he +now does, his visits are quite unpleasant. My family begged me to tell +you. They would have asked him to come no more, but were afraid you +might be angry. Will you still come to us, and love us all, if they tell +him this? If you will not, he shall still come; for indeed we could not +offend one to whom we owe so much.' + +"'_I_, too,' said I to Acmé, '_I_, too, dearest, ought perhaps to leave +you, _I_, too'-- + +"'Oh, never! never!' said she, as she turned to me her dark eyes, bright +with humid radiance. 'We cannot thus part!' + +"She _did_, then, love me! I clasped her to my arms--our lips clung +together in one rapturous intoxicating embrace. + +"Yet, even in that moment of delirium, Henry, I told her of you, and of +the many obstacles which still presented themselves to retard or even +prevent our union. I sought my friend Delancey, and remonstrated with +him. He appeared to doubt my right to question his motives. Success made +me feel still more injured. I showered down reproaches. He could not +have acted differently. We met! and I saw him fall! Till then, I had +considered myself as the injured man; but as I heard him on the ground +name his mother, and one dearer still--as he took from his breast the +last gift _she_ had made him--as he begged of _me_ to be its bearer; I +then first felt remorse. He was taken to his room. Even the surgeon +entertained no hopes. He again called me to his side; I heard his noble +acknowledgment, his reiterated vows of friendship, the mournful tones of +his farewell. I entered this room a heart-broken man. I felt my pulse +throb fearfully, a gasping sensation was in my throat, my head swam +round, and I clung to the wall for support. The next thing of which I +have any recollection, was the dawn of reason breaking through my +troubled dreams. It was midnight--all was still. The fitful lamp shone +dimly through my chamber. I turned on my side--and, oh! by its light, I +saw the face I most loved--that face, whose gentle lineaments, were each +deeply and separately engraven on my heart. I saw her bending over me +with a maiden's love and a mother's solicitude. As I essayed to +speak--as my conscious eye met her's--as the soft words of affection +were involuntarily breathed by my feeble lips--how her features lit up +with joy! Oh, say not, Henry, till you have experienced such a moment of +transport, say not that the lips which then vowed eternal fidelity, that +the young hearts which _then_ plighted their truth, and vowed to love +for ever--oh call not these guilty! + +"Since that time my health has been extremely precarious. Whether the +events crowded too thickly on me, or that I have not fully recovered my +health, or--which I confess I think is the case--that my compunctions +for my conduct to Acmé weigh me down, I know not; but it is not always, +my dear Henry, that I can thus address you. There are hours when I am +hardly sensible of what I do, when my brain reels from its oppression. +At such times, Acmé is my guardian angel--my tender nurse--my +affectionate attendant! In my lucid intervals, she is what you see +her--the gentle companion--the confiding friend. I love her, Henry, more +than I can tell you! I shall never be able to leave her! From Acmé you +may learn more of those dreary hours, which appear to me like waste +dreams in my existence. She has watched by my bed of sickness, till she +knows every turn of the disorder. From her, Henry, may you learn all." + +Thus did George conclude his tale of passion; which Delmé mused over, +but refrained from commenting on. + +Soon afterwards, George's calèche, in which he daily took exercise, was +announced as being at the door. The brothers entered, and left Floriana. + + + + +Chapter X. + +The Calèche. + + + + "The car rattling through the stony street." + + +For an easy conveyance, commend us to a Maltese calèche! Many a time, +assaulted by the blue devils, have we taken refuge in its solacing +interior--have pulled down its silken blinds, and unseeing and unseen, +the motion, like that of the rocking-cradle to the petulant child of +less mature growth, has restored complacency, and lulled us to good +humour. The calèche, the real calèche, is, we believe, peculiar to +Malta. It is the carriage of the rich and poor--Lady Woodford may be +seen employing it, to visit her gardens at St. Antonio; and in the +service of the humblest of her subjects, will it be enlisted, as they +wend their way to a picnic in the campagna. Every variety of steed is +put in requisition for its draught. + +We may see the barb, with nostril of fire, and mane playing with the +wind, perform a curvet, as he draws our aristocratic +countrywoman--aristocratic and haughty at least in Malta, although, +in England, perhaps a star of much less magnitude. + +We may view too the over-burthened donkey, as he drags along some aged +vehicle, in which four fat smiling women, and one lean weeping child, +look forward to his emaciated carcase, and yet blame him for being slow. + +And thou! patient and suffering animal, whose name has passed into a +proverb, until each vulgar wight looks on thee as the emblem of +obstinacy,--maligned mule! when dost thou appear to more advantage, more +joyous, or more self-satisfied, than when yoked to the Maltese calèche? +Who that has witnessed thee, taking the scanty meal from the hand of +thine accustomed driver, with whinnying voice, waving tail, thy long +ears pricked upwards, and thy head rubbing his breast, who that has +seen thee thus, will deny thee the spirit of gratitude? + +Most injured of quadrupeds! if we ascend the rugged mountain's path, +where on either side, precipices frown, and the pines wave far--far +beneath--when one false step would plunge us, with our hopes, our fears, +and our vices, into the abyss of eternity; is it not to thee we trust? + +Calumniated mule! go on thy way. + +This world's standard is but little to be relied on, whether it be for +good, or whether it be for evil. + +The motion of a calèche, such as we patronised, is an easy and luxurious +one--the pace, a fast trot or smooth canter, of seven miles an hour--and +with the blinds down, we have communed with ourselves, with as great +freedom, and as little fear of interruption, as if we had been crossing +the Zahara. The calèche men too are a peculiar and happy race--attentive +to their fares--masters of their profession--and with a cigar in their +cheek dexter, will troll you Maltese ditties till your head aches. Their +costume is striking. Their long red caps are thrown back over their +necks--their black curls hang down on each side of the face--and a +crimson, many-folded sash, girds in a waist usually extremely small. +Their neck, face, and breast, from continued exposure to the sun, are a +red copper colour. They are always without shoes and stockings; and even +our countrywomen, who pay much attention to the costume of their +drivers, have not yet ventured to encase their brawny feet in the +mysteries of leather. They run by the side of their calèches, the reins +in one hand--the whip in the other--cheering on their animals by a +constant succession of epithets, oaths, and invocations to their +favourite saint. + +They are rarely fatigued, and may be seen beside their vehicles, urging +the horses, with the thermometer at 110°, and perhaps a stout-looking +Englishman inside, with white kerchief to his face, the image of languor +and lassitude. + +Their horses gallop down steeps, which no English Jehu dare attempt; and +ascend and descend with safety and hardihood, stone steps which occur in +many parts of Valletta; and which would certainly present an +insurmountable obstacle to our steeds at home. + +The proper period, however, to see a calèche man in his glory, is during +the carnival. Every calèche is in employ; and many a one which has +reposed for the twelvemonth previous, is at that time wheeled from its +accustomed shed, and put in requisition for some of pleasure's votaries. +Long lines of them continue to pass and repass in the principal street. +Their inmates are almost universally of the fair sex, and of the best +part of it, the young and beautiful. Cavaliers, with silken bags, +containing bon-bons, slung on their left arm, stand at intervals, ready +to discharge the harmless missiles, at those whom their taste approves +worthy of the compliment. Happy the young beauty, who, returning +homewards, sees the carpet of her calèche thickly strewn with these +dulcet favours! The driver is now in his element! He ducks his head, as +the misdirected sweetmeat approaches; he has an apt remark prompt for +the occasion. As he nears too the favoured inamorato, for whom he well +knows his mistress' sweetest smile is reserved--who already with his +right hand grasping the sugared favours, is prepared to lavish his whole +store on this one venture--how arch his look--how roguish his eye--as he +turns towards his donna, and speaks as plainly as words could do, "See! +there he is, he whom you love best!" + +Ah! well may we delight to recal once more those minute details! ah! +well may we remember how--when our brow was smoothed with youth, as it +is now furrowed with care--when our eye sparkled from pleasure, as it is +now dimmed from time, or mayhap, tears--well may we love to remember, +how our whole hearts were engrossed in that mimic warfare. How +impatiently did we watch for _one_, amidst that crowded throng, for +one--whose beauty haunted us by day, and whose smile we dreamt over by +night. Well do we recal with what unexampled ingenuity, we laboured to +befit the snow white egg for a rare tenant--attar-gul. Well do we +remember how that face, usually so cloudless, became darkened almost to +a frown, as our heart's mistress saw the missile approach her. What a +radiant smile bewitched us, as it burst on her lap, and filled the air +with its fragrance! Truly we had our reward! + +Delmé and George took a quiet drive, and enjoyed that sweet interchange +of ideas, that characterises the meeting of two brothers long absent +from each other. + +They went in the direction of St. Julian's, a drive all our Maltese +friends will be familiar with. The road lay almost wholly by the sea +side. A gentle breeze was crisping the waters, and served to allay the +heat, which, at a more advanced period of the season, is by no means an +enviable one. Sun-shine seemed to beam on George's mind, as he once more +spoke of home ties, to one to whom those home ties were equally dear. +And gratefully did he bask in its rays! Long used to the verdant but +tame, beautiful but romantic landscapes, which the part of England he +resided in presented; the scenery around him, novel and picturesque, +struck Sir Henry forcibly. To one who has resided long in Malta, its +scenes may wear an aspect somewhat different. The limited country--the +ceaseless glare--the dust, or rather the pulverised rock--the +ever-present lizard, wary and quick, peeping out at each crevice--the +buzzing mosquito, inviting the moody philosopher to smite his own +cheek,--these things may come to be regarded as real grievances. + +But Delmé, as a visitor, was pleased with what he saw. The promising +vineyards--the orange groves, with their glowing fruit and ample +foliage, "looking like golden lamps" in a dark night of leaves--the +thick leaves of the prickly pear--the purple sky above him, lending its +rich hue to the sea beside--the architectural beauties of the +cottages--the wide portico of the mansions--the flat terrace with its +balustrade, over which might be seen a fair face, half concealed by the +faldette, smilingly peering, and through whose pillars might be noted a +pretty ancle, and siesta-looking slipper--these were novelties, and +pleasing ones! Their drive over, Delmé felt more tranquil as to George's +state of mind, and more inclined to look on the bright side, as to his +future fortunes. + +Acmé was waiting to receive them, and as she scanned George's features, +Delmé could not but observe the affectionate solicitude that marked her +glance and manner. + +Let it not be thought we would make vice seductive! + +Fair above all things is the pure affection of woman! happy he who may +regard it his! he may bask without a shade of distrust in its glorious +splendour, and permanently adore its holy beauty. + +While, fascinating though be the concentred love of woman, whether +struggling in its passion--enraptured in its madness--or clinging and +loving on in its guilt: Man--that more selfish wanderer from virtue's +pale, that destroyer of his own best sympathies--will find too late that +a day of bitterest regret must arrive: a day when love shall exist no +more, or, linked with remorse, shall tear--a fierce vulture--at his very +heart strings. + + + + +Chapter XI. + +The Colonel. + + + + "Not such as prate of war, but skulk in peace." + + +Delmé strolled out half an hour before his brother's dinner hour, with +the intention of paying a visit of ceremony to the Colonel of George's +regiment. His house was not far distant. It had been the palazzo of one +of the redoubted Knights of St. John; and the massive gate at which Sir +Henry knocked for admittance, seemed an earnest, that the family, who +had owned the mansion, had been a powerful and important one. The door +was opened, and the servant informed Delmé, that Colonel Vavasour was on +the terrace. + +The court yard through which they passed was extensive; and a spring + + "Of living water from its centre rose, + Whose bubbling did a genial softness fling." + +Ascending a lofty marble staircase, along which were placed a few +bronzed urns, Delmé crossed a suite of apartments--thrown open in the +Italian mode--and passing through a glass door, found himself on a wide +stone terrace, edged by pillars. + +Immediately beneath this, was an orange grove, whose odours perfumed the +air. Colonel Vavasour was employed in reading a German treatise on light +infantry tactics. He received Sir Henry with great cordiality, and +proposed adjourning to the library. Delmé was pleased to observe, for it +corresponded with what he had heard of the man; that, with the exception +of the chef d'oeuvres of the English and German poets, the Colonel's +library, which was an extensive one, almost wholly consisted of such +books as immediately related to military subjects, or might be able to +bear on some branch of science connected with military warfare. Pagan, +and his follower Vauban, and the more matured treatises of Cormontaigne, +were backed by the works of that boast of the Low Countries, Coehorn; +and by the ingenious theories, as yet _but_ theories, of Napoleon's +minister of war, Carnot. + +Military historians, too, crowded the shelves. _There_ might be noted +the veracious Polybius--the classic Xenophon--the scientific +Cĉsar--the amusing Froissart, with his quaint designs, and quainter +discourses--and many an author unknown to fame, who in lengthy quarto, +luxuriated on the lengthy campaigns of Marlborough or Eugene; those wise +commanders, who flourished in an era, when war was a well debated +scientific game of chess; when the rival opponents took their time, +before making their moves; and the loss of a pawn was followed by the +loss of a kingdom. _There_ might you be enamoured with even a soldier's +hardships, as your eye glanced on the glowing circumstantial details of +Kincaid;--or you might glory in your country's Thucydides, as you read +the nervous impassioned language of a Napier. _Thou_, too, Trant! our +friend! wert there! Ah, why cut off in thy prime? Did not thy spirit +glow with martial fire? Did not thy conduct give promise, that not in +vain were those talents accorded thee? What hadst _thou_ done, to sink +thus early to a premature inglorious grave? Nor were our friends Folard +and Jomini absent; nor eke the minute essays of a Jarry, who taught the +aspiring youths of Great Britain all the arts of castrametation. With +what gusto does he show how to attack Reading; or how, with the greatest +chance of success, to defend the tranquil town of Egham. _Here_ would he +sink trous de loup on the ancient Runnimede, whereby the advance of the +enemy's cavalry would be frustrated; _there_ would he cut down an +abattis, or plant chevaux de frise. At _this_ winding of England's +noblest river, would he establish a pontoon bridge; the approaches to +which he would enfilade, by a battery placed on yonder height. + +Before relating the conversation between Delmé and Colonel Vavasour, it +may not be improper to say a few words as to the character of the +latter. When we say that he was looked up to as an officer, and adored +as a man, by the regiment he had commanded for years; we are not +according light praise. + +Those who have worn a coat of red, or been much conversant with +military affairs, will appreciate the difficult, the ungrateful task, +devolving on a commanding officer. + +How few, how very few are those, who can command respect, and ensure +love. How many, beloved as men, are imposed on, and disregarded as +officers. How many are there, whose presence on the parade ground awes +the most daring hearts, who are passed by in private life, with +something like contumely, and of whom, in their private relations, few +speak, and yet fewer are those who wish kindly. When deserving in each +relation, how frequently do we see those who want the manner, the tact, +to show themselves in their true colours. An ungracious refusal--ay! or +an ungraciously accorded favour! may raise a foe who will be a bar to a +man's popularity for years:--whilst how many a free and independent +spirit is there, who criticises with a keener eye than is his wont, the +sayings and doings of his commanding officer, solely because he _is_ +such. How apt is such an one to misrepresent a word, or create a wrong +motive for an action! how slow in giving praise, lest _he_ should be +deemed one of the servile train! Pass we over the host of petty +intrigues--the myriads of conflicting interests:--show not how the +partial report of a favourite, may make the one in authority unjust to +him below him; or how the false tale-bearer may induce the one below to +be unjust to his superior. Colonel Vavasour was not only considered in +the field, as one of England's bravest soldiers; but was yet more +remarkable for his gentlemanly deportment, and for the attention he ever +paid to the interior economy of his corps. This gave a tone to the ---- +mess, almost incredible to one, who has not witnessed, what the constant +presence of a commanding officer, if he be a real gentleman, is enabled +to effect. Colonel Vavasour had ideas on the duties of a soldier, which +to many appeared original. We cannot but think, that the Colonel's +ideas, in the main, were right. He disliked his officers marrying; often +stating that he considered a sword and a wife as totally incompatible. + +"Where," would he say, "is _then_ that boasted readiness of purpose, +that spirit of enterprise? Can an officer _then_, with half a dozen +shirts in his portmanteau, and a moderate quantity of cigars, if he be a +smoker, declare himself ready to sail over half the world?" + +The Colonel would smile as he said this, but would continue with a +graver tone. + +"No, there is a choice, and I blame no one for making his election:--a +soldier's hardships and a soldier's joys;--or domestic happiness, and an +inglorious life:--but to attempt to blend the two, is, I think, +injudicious." + +On regimental subjects, he was what is technically called, a regulation +man. No innovations ever crept into his regiment, wanting the sanction +of the Horse Guards; whilst every order emanating from thence, was as +scrupulously adopted and adhered to, as if his own taste had prompted +the change. On parade, Colonel Vavasour was a strict disciplinarian;--but +his sword in the scabbard, he dropped the officer in his manner,--it +was impossible to do so in his appearance,--and no one ever heard him +discuss military points in a place inappropriate. He knew well how to +make the distinction between his public and his private duties. On an +officer under his command, being guilty of any dereliction of duty, he +would send for him, and reprimand him before the assembled corps, if he +deemed that such reprimand would be productive of good effect to others; +but--the parade dismissed--he would probably take this very officer's +arm, or ask to accompany him in his country ride. + +Colonel Vavasour had once a young and an only brother under his command. +In no way did he relax discipline in his favour. Young Vavasour had +committed a breach of military etiquette. He was immediately ordered by +his brother to be placed in arrest, and would inevitably have been +brought to a court martial, had not the commanding officer of the +station interfered. During the whole of this time, the Colonel's manner +towards him continued precisely the same. They lived together as usual; +and no man, without a knowledge of the circumstance, could have been +aware that any other but a fraternal tie bound them together. What was +more extraordinary, the younger brother saw all this in its proper +light; and whilst he clung to and loved his brother, looked up with awe +and respect to his commanding officer. + +As for Colonel Vavasour, no one who saw his convulsed features, as his +brother fell heading a gallant charge of his company at Waterloo, could +have doubted for a moment his deep-rooted affection. From that period, a +gloomy melancholy hung about him, which, though shaken off in public, +gave a shade to his brow, which was very perceptible. + +In person, he was particularly neat; being always the best dressed +officer in his regiment, "How can we expect the men to pay attention to +_their_ dress, when we give them reason to suppose we pay but little +attention to our own?" was a constant remark of his. And here we may +observe, that no class of men have a stricter idea of the propriety of +dress, than private soldiers. To dress well is half a passport to a +soldier's respect; whilst on the other hand, it requires many excellent +qualities, to counterbalance in his mind a careless and slovenly +exterior. Colonel Vavasour had an independent fortune, which he spent at +the head of his regiment. Many a dinner party was given by him, for +which the corps he commanded obtained the credit; many a young officer +owed relief from pecuniary embarrassments, which might otherwise have +overwhelmed him, to the generosity of his Colonel. He appeared not to +have a wish, beyond the military circle around him, although those who +knew him best, said he had greater talent, and possessed the art of +fascinating in general society, more than most men. + +"I am glad to see you here, Sir Henry," said he to Delmé, "although I +cannot but wish that happier circumstances had brought you to us. I have +a very great esteem for your brother, and am one of his warmest well +wishers. But I must not neglect the duties of hospitality. You must +allow me to present you to my officers at mess this evening. Our dinner +hour is late; but were it otherwise, we should miss that delightful hour +for our ride, when the sun's rays have no longer power to harm us, and +the sea breezes waft us a freshness, which almost compensates for the +languor attending the summer's heat." + +Delmé declined his invitation, stating his wish to dine with his brother +on that day; but expressed himself ready to accept his kind offer on the +ensuing one. + +"Thank you!" said Colonel Vavasour, "it is natural you should wish to +see your brother; and it pains me to think that poor George cannot yet +dine with his old friends. Have you seen Mr. Graham?" + +Delmé replied in the affirmative; adding, that he could not but feel +obliged to him for his frankness. + +"I am glad you feel thus," said Vavasour, "it emboldens me to address +you with equal candour; and, painful as our advice must be, I confess I +am inclined to side with George's medical attendant. I have myself been +witness to such lamentable proofs of George's state of mind--he has so +often, with the tears in his eyes, spoken to me of his feelings with +regard to Acmé Frascati, that I certainly consider these as in a great +measure the cause, and his state of mind the effect. I speak to you, +Sir Henry, without disguise. I had once a brother--the apple of my +eye--I loved him as I shall never love human being more; and, as God is +my witness, under similar circumstances, frankness is what I should have +prayed for,--my first wish would have been at once to know the worst. +Mr. Graham has told you of his long illness--his delirium--and has, I +conclude, touched upon the present state of his patient. Shall I shock +you, when I add that his lucid intervals are not to be depended upon; +that occasionally the wildest ideas, the most extraordinary projects, +are conceived by him? I wish you not, to act on any thing that Mr. +Graham, or that I may tell you, but to judge for yourself. Without this, +indeed, you would hardly understand the danger of these mental +paroxysms. So fearful are they, that I confess I should be inclined to +adopt any remedy, make any sacrifices which promised the remotest +possibility of success." + +"I trust," said Sir Henry, "there are no sacrifices I would not +personally make for my only brother, were I once convinced these were +for his real benefit." + +"I frankly mean," said Vavasour, "that I think almost the only chance of +restoring him, is by allowing him to marry Acmé Frascati." + +Delmé's brow clouded. + +"Think not," continued he, "that I am ignorant of what such a +determination must cost you. _I_, too, Sir Henry,"--and the old man drew +his commanding form to its utmost height,--"_I_ too, know what must be +the feelings of a descendant of noble ancestors. I know them well; and +in more youthful days, the blood boiled in my veins as I thought of the +name they had left me. Thank heaven! I have never disgraced it. But were +_I_ situated as _you_ are, and the dead Augustus Vavasour in the place +of the living George Delmé, I would act as I am now advising you to do. +I speak solely as to the expediency of the measure. From what I have +stated--from my situation in life--from my character--you may easily +imagine that all my prejudices are enlisted on the other side of the +question. But I must here confess that I see something inexpressibly +touching in the devotion which that young Greek girl displayed, during +the whole of George's illness. But putting this on one side, and +considering the affair as one of mere expediency, I think you will +finally agree with me, that however desperate the remedy, some such must +be applied. And now, let me assure you, that nothing could have induced +me to obtrude thus, my feelings and opinions on a comparative stranger, +were it not that that stranger is the brother of one in whose welfare I +feel the liveliest interest." + +Sir Henry Delmé expressed his thanks, and inwardly determined that he +would form no opinion till he had himself been witness to some act of +mental aberration. It is true, he had heard the medical attendant give a +decided opinion,--from George's own lips he had an avowal of much that +had been stated,--and now he had heard one, for whom he could not but +feel great respect--one who had evidently no interest in the +question--declare his sentiments as strongly. We are all sanguine as to +what we wish. It may be, that a hope yet lurked in Delmé's breast, that +these accounts might be unconsciously exaggerated, or that his brother's +state of health was now more established than heretofore. + +On returning to Floriana, Delmé found George and the blushing Acmé +awaiting him. A delightful feeling is that, of again finding ourselves +with those from whom we have long been parted, once more engaged in the +same round of familiar avocations, once more re-acting the thousand +little trifles of life which we have so often acted before, and that, +too, in company with those who now sit beside us, as if to mock the +lapse of intervening years. These meetings seem to steal a pinion from +time's wing, and hard indeed were it if the sensations they called forth +were not pleasurable ones; for oh! how rudely and frequently, on the +other hand, are we reminded of the changes which the progress of years +brings with it: the bereavement of loved ones--the prostration of what +we revered--our buoyant elasticity of body and mind departed--all things +changing and changed. + +We sigh, and gaze back. How few are the scenes, which memory's +kaleidoscope presents in their pristine bright colours, of that +journey, performed so slowly, as it once appeared, but which, to the +eye of retrospection, seems to have hurried to its end with the rapid +wings of the wind! + +Imbued with an association, what a trivial circumstance will please! As +the brothers touched each other's glass; and drank to mutual happiness, +what grateful recollections were called up by that act! How did these +manifest their power, as they lighted up the wan features of George +Delmé. Acmé looked on smilingly; her hair flowing about her neck--her +dark eyes flashing with unusual brilliancy. Delmé felt it would be +unsocial were he alone to look grave; and although many foreboding +thoughts crowded on him, _he_ too seemed to be happy. It was twilight +when the dinner was over. The windows were open, and the party placed +themselves near the jalousies. They here commanded a view of the public +gardens, where groups of Maltese were enjoying the coolness of the hour, +and the fragrance of the flowers. The walk had a roof of lattice work +supported by wooden pillars; round which, an image of woman's love, the +honeysuckle clingingly twined, diffusing sweets. + +Immediately before them, the principal outlet of the town presented +itself. Laughing parties of English sailors were passing, mounted on +steeds of every size, which they were urging forward, in spite of the +piteous remonstrances of the menials of their owners. The latter, for +the most part, held by the tails of their animals, and uttered a +jargon composed of English, Italian, and Maltese. The only words +however, that met the unregarding ears of the sailors, were some such +exclamations as these. + +"Not you go so fast, Signore; he good horse, but much tire." + +The riders sat in their saddles swinging from side to side, evidently +thinking their tenure more precarious than that on the giddy mast; and +wholly unmindful of the expressive gestures, and mournful ejaculations +of the bare-legged pursuers. At another time, their antics and +buffoonery, as they made unmerciful use of the short sticks with which +they were armed, would have provoked a smile. _Now_ our party gazed on +these things as they move the wise. They felt calm and happy; and +deceptive hope whispered they might yet remain so. Acmé took up her +guitar, and throwing her fingers over it, as she gave a soft prelude, +warbled that sweet although common song, "Buona notte, amato bene." She +sung with great feeling, and feeling is the soul of music. + +How plaintively! how tenderly did her lips breathe the + + "ricordati! ricordati di me!" + +There was something extremely witching in her precocious charms. She +resembled some beauteous bud, just ready to burst into light and bloom. +It is not yet the rose,--but a moment more may make it such. Her +beauties were thus ripe for maturity. It seemed as if the sunshine of +love were already upon them--they were basking in its rays. A brief +space--and the girl shall no longer be such. What was promise shall be +beauty. She shall meet the charmed eye a woman; rich in grace and +loveliness. As Delmé marked her sympathising glance at George--her +beaming features--her innocent simplicity;--as he thought of all she had +lost, all she had suffered for his brother's sake,--as he thought of the +scorn of the many--the pity of the few--the unwearied watching--the +sleepless nights--the day of sorrow passed by the bed of sickness--all +so cheerfully encountered for _him_--he could not reproach her. No! he +took her hand, and the brothers whispered consolation to her, and to +each other. + +Late that evening, they were joined by Colonel Vavasour, and Mr. Graham. +George's spirits rose hourly. Never had his Colonel appeared to such +advantage--Acmé so lovely--or Henry so kind--as they did to George Delmé +that night. + +It was with a sigh at the past pleasures that George retired to +his chamber. + + + + +Chapter XII. + +The Mess. + + + + "Red coats and redder faces." + + +The following day, a room having been given up to Delmé, he discharged +his bill at Beverley's; and moved to Floriana. He again accompanied +George in his drive; and they had on this occasion, the advantage of +Acmé's society, who amused them with her artless description of the +manners of the lower orders of Maltese. + +Pursuant to his promise, at the bugle's signal Delmé entered the mess +room; and the Colonel immediately introduced him to the assembled +officers. To his disappointment, for he felt curious to see one, who had +exercised such an influence over his brother, Delancey was not amongst +them. Sir Henry was much pleased with the feeling that appeared to +exist, between Colonel Vavasour and his corps of officers:--respect on +one side--and the utmost confidence on both. We think it is the talented +author of Pelham, who describes a mess table as comprising "cold dishes +and hot wines, where the conversation is of Johnson of ours and Thomson +of jours." + +This, though severe, is near the truth; and if, to this description, be +added _lots_ of plate of that pattern called the Queen's--ungainly +servants in stiff mess liveries--and a perpetual recurrence to Mr. Vice; +we have certainly caught the most glaring features of a commonplace +regimental dinner. Vavasour was well aware of this, and had directed +unremitting attention, to give a tone to the conversation at the mess +table, more nearly approaching to that of private life; one which should +embrace topics of general interest, and convey some general information. +Even in _his_ well ordered regiment, there were some, whose nature would +have led them, to confine their attention to thoughts of the daily +military routine. This inclination was repressed by the example of +their Colonel; and these, if not debaters, were at least patient +listeners, as the conversation dealt of matters, to them uncongenial, +and the value of the discussion of which they could not themselves +perceive. Not that military subjects were interdicted; the contrary was +the case. But these subjects took a somewhat loftier tone, than the +contemplation of an exchange of orderly duty, or an overslaugh of guard. + +When dinner was announced, Colonel Vavasour placed his hand on the +shoulder of a boy near him. + +"Come, Cholmondeley!" said he, "sit near me, and give me an account of +your match. You must not fail to write your Yorkshire friends every +particular. Major Clifford, will you sit on the other side of Sir Henry? +You are both Peninsula men, and will find, I doubt not, that you have +many friends in common. + +"There is something," said he to Delmé, as he took his seat, +"revivifying to an old soldier, in noting the exhilaration of spirit of +these boys. It reminds us of the zeal with which _we_ too buckled on +our coat of red. It is a great misfortune these youngsters labour under, +that they have no outlet for their ambition, no scene on which they can +display their talents. Never were youthful aspirants for service more +worthy, or more zealous, and yet it is probable their country will not +need them, until they arrive at an age, when neither body nor mind are +attuned for _commencing_ a life of hardship, however well adapted to +_continue_ in it. _We_ have had the advantage there--_we_ trod the +soldier's proudest stage when our hopes and buoyancy of heart were at +their highest; and for myself, I am satisfied that much of my present +happiness, arises from the very different life of my earlier years." + +The conversation took a military turn; and Delmé could not help +observing the attention, with which the younger members of the corps +heard the anecdotes, related by those who had been actually engaged. +Occasionally, the superior reading of the juniors would peep out, and +give them the advantage of knowledge, even with regard to +circumstances, over those who had been personal actors in the affairs +they spoke of. The most zealous of these detail narrators, were the +quarter-master of the regiment, and Delmé's right-hand neighbour, Major +Clifford. The former owed his appointment to his gallantry, in saving +the colours of his regiment, when the ensign who bore them was killed, +and the enemy's cavalry were making a sudden charge, before the +regiment could form its square. + +His was a bluff purple face, denoting the bon vivant. Indeed, it was +with uncommon celerity, that his previous reputation of being the best +maker of rum punch in the serjeants' mess, had changed into his present +one of being the first concoctor of sangaree at the officers'. + +Major Clifford merits more especial notice. He was a man hardly +appreciated in his own profession; out of it, he was misrepresented, and +voted a bore. He had spent all the years of his life, since the down +mantled his upper lip, in the service of his country; and for _its_ +good, as he conceived it, he had sacrificed all his little fortune. It +is true his liberality had not had a very comprehensive range: he had +sunk his money in the improvement of the personal appearance of his +company--in purchasing pompons--or new feathers--or whistles, when he +was a voltigeur--in establishing his serjeants' mess on a more +respectable footing--in giving his poor comrade a better coffin, or a +richer pall:--these had been his foibles; and in indulging them, he had +expended the wealth, that might have purchased him on to rank and +honours. His eagle glance, his aquiline nose, and noble person, showed +what he must have been in youth. His hair was now silvered, but his coat +was as glossy as formerly--his zeal was unabated--his pride in his +profession the same--and what he could spare, still went, to adorn the +persons of the soldiers he still loved. He remained a captain, although +his long standing in the army had brought him in for the last brevet. It +is true every one had a word for poor Clifford. "Such a fine fellow! +what a shame!" But _this_ did not help him on. At the Horse Guards, too, +his services were freely acknowledged. The Military Secretary had always +a smile for him at his levee, and an assurance that "he had his eye on +him" The Commander in Chief, too, the last time he had inspected the +regiment, attracted by his Waterloo badge, and Portuguese cross, had +stopped as he passed in front of the ranks, and conversed with him most +affably, for nearly two minutes and a half; as his colour serjeant with +some degree of pride used to tell the story. But yet, somehow or other, +although Major Clifford was an universal favourite, they always forgot +to reward him. A man of the world, would have deemed the Major's ideas +to be rather contracted; and to confess the truth, there were two +halcyon periods of his life, to which he was fond of recurring. The one +was, when he commanded a light company, attached to General Crauford's +light brigade;--the other, when he had the temporary command of the +regimental depot, and at his own expense, had dressed out its little +band, as it had never been dressed out before. + +Do you sneer at the old soldier, courtly reader? + +There breathes not a man who dare arraign that man's courage;--there is +not one who knows him, who would not cheerfully stake his life as a gage +for his stainless honour. + +The soup and fish had been removed, when Delmé observed a young officer +glide in, with that inexpressible air of fashion, which appears to shun +notice, whilst it attracts it. His arm was in a sling, and his +attenuated face seemed to bespeak ill health. Sir Henry addressed +Colonel Vavasour, and begged to know if the person who had just entered +the room was Delancey. He was answered in the affirmative; and he again +turned to scrutinise his features. These rivetted attention; and were +such as could not be seen once, without being gazed at again. His eyes +were dark and large, and rested for minutes on one object, with an +almost mournful expression; nor was it until they turned from its +contemplation, that the discriminating observer might read in their +momentary flash, that their possessor had passions deep and +uncontrollable. His dark hair hung in profusion over his forehead, which +it almost hid; though from the slight separation of a curl, the form of +brow became visible; which was remarkable for its projection, and for +its pallid hue, which offered a strong contrast to the swart and +sunburnt face. + +"Are you aware of his history?" said the Colonel. + +"Not in the slightest," replied Delmé. "I felt curious to see him, on +account of the way in which he has been mixed up with George's affair; +and think his features extraordinary--very extraordinary ones." + +"He is son," said Vavasour, "to the once celebrated Lady Harriet D----, +who made a marriage so disgracefully low. He is the only child by that +union. His parents lived for many years on the continent, in obscurity, +and under an assumed name. They are both dead. It is possible Delancey +may play a lofty role in the world, as he has only a stripling between +him and the earldom of D----, which descends in the female line. I am +sure he will not be a common character; but I have great fears about +him. In the regiment he is considered proud and unsocial; and indeed it +was your brother's friendship that appeared to retain him in our circle. +He has great talents, and some good qualities; but from his uncommon +impetuosity of temper, and his impatience of being thwarted, I should be +inclined to predict, that the first check he receives in life, will +either make him a misanthrope, or a pest to society." + +At a later period of his life, Delmé again encountered Delancey; and +this prophecy of the Colonel's was vividly recalled. + +In the ensuing chapter, we purpose giving Oliver Delancey's history, as +a not uninstructive episode; although we are aware that episodes are +impatiently tolerated, and it is in nowise allied to the purpose of our +story. But before doing so, we must detail a conversation which occurred +between Delancey and Delmé, at the table of the ---- mess. The latter was +scanning the features of the former, when their eyes met. A conviction +seemed to flash on Delancey, that Delmé was George's brother; for the +blood rushed to his cheek--his colour went and came--and as he turned +away his head, he made a half involuntary bow. Delmé was struck with his +manner, and apparent emotion; and in returning the salute, ventured "to +hope he was somewhat recovered." + +When Major Clifford left the table, Delancey took his vacant seat. + +"Sir Henry Delmé," said he, "I have before this wished to see you, to +implore the forgiveness of your family for the misery I have +occasioned. How often have I cursed my folly! I acted on an impulse, +which at the time I could not withstand. I had never serious views +with regard to Acmé Frascati. Indeed, I may here tell you,--to no +other man have I ever named it,--that I have ties in my own country +far dearer, and more imperatively binding. I knew I had erred. The +laws of society could alone have made me meet George Belmé as a foe; +but even then--on the ground--God and my second know that my weapon +was never directed at my friend. I am an unsocial being, Sir Henry, +and, from my habits, not likely to be popular. Your brother knew this, +and saved me from petty contentions and invidious calumnies. He was +the best and only friend I possessed. I purpose soon to leave Malta +and the army. The former is become painful to me,--for the latter I +have a distaste, A feeling of delicacy to Acmé Frascati would prevent +my seeing your brother, even if Mr. Graham had not forbidden the +interview, as likely to harass his mind. Will you, then, assure him of +my unabated attachment, and tell me that _you_ forgive me for the +part I have taken in this unhappy affair." + +Delmé was much moved as he assured him he would do all he wished; that +he could see little to blame him for--that George's excited feelings had +brought on the present crisis, and that _he_ had amply atoned for any +share he might have had in the transaction. Delancey pressed his hand +gratefully. + +It was at a somewhat late hour that Delmé joined Acmé and his brother; +declining the hearty invitation of the Quartermaster to come down to +his quarters. + +"He could give him a devilled turkey and a capital cigar." + + + + +Chapter XIII. + +Oliver Delancey. + + + + "Then the few, whose spirits float above the wreck of happiness, + Are driven o'er the shoals of guilt, or ocean of excess; + The magnet of their course is gone, or only points in vain + The shore to which their shiver'd sail shall never reach again." + + +We have said that Delmé saw Delancey once more. It was at a later period +of our story, when business had taken Sir Henry to Bath. He had been +dining with Mr. Belliston Grĉme, who possessed a villa in the +neighbourhood. Tempted by the beauty of the night, he dismissed his +carriage, and, turning from the high road, took a by-path which led to +the city. The air was serene and mild. The moon-light was sufficiently +clear to chase away night's dank vapours. The ground had imperceptibly +risen, until having ascended a grassy eminence, over which the path +stretched, the well-lighted city burst upon the eye. + +Immediately in front of the view, a principal street presented itself, +the lamps on either side stretching in regular succession, until they +gradually narrowed and joined in the perspective. Nearer to the +spectator, the flickering lights of the detached villas, and the moving +ones of the carriages in the public road, relieved the stillness of the +scene. Delmé paused to regard it, with that subdued feeling with which +men, arrived at a certain period of life, scan the aspect of nature. The +moon at the moment was enveloped in light clouds. As it broke through +them, its shimmering light revealed a face and form that Delmé at once +recognised as Delancey's. It was with a consciousness of pain he did so, +for it brought before him recollections of scenes, whose impressions had +still power to subdue him. All emotions, however, soon became absorbed +in that of curiosity, as he noted the still figure and agitated +features before him. A block of granite lay near the path. Delancey +leant back over it--his right hand nearly touched the ground--his hat +lay beside him. The dark hair, wet with the dews of night, was blown +back by the breeze. His high forehead was fully shewn. His vest and +shirt were open, as he gazed with an air of fixedness on the city, and +conversed to himself. His teeth were firmly clenched, and it seemed that +the lips moved not, but the words were fearfully distinct. We often hear +of these soliloquies,--they afford scope to the dramatist, food for the +poet, a chapter for the narrator of fiction,--but we rarely witness +them. When we do, they are eminently calculated to thrill and alarm. It +was evident that Delancey saw him not; but had it been otherwise, +Delmé's interest was so aroused that he could not have left the spot. + +"Hail! sympathising night!" thus spoke the young man, "the calm of thy +silent hour seems in unison with my lone heart--thy dewy breeze imparts +a freshness to this languid and darkened spirit, Sweet night! how I +love thee! And moon, too! fair moon! how abruptly!--how chastely!--how +gloriously!--dost thou break through the variegated and fleecy clouds, +which would impede thy progress, and deny me to gaze on thy white orb +unshrouded. And thou, too! radiant star of eve! oh that woman's love but +resembled thee! that it were gentle, constant, and pure as thy holy +gleam. That _that_ should dazzle to bring in its train--oh God! what +misery." He raised his hand to his brow, as if a poignant thought had +stung him. + +Sir Henry Delmé stole away, and ruminated long that night, on the +distress that could thus convulse those fine features. Afterwards, when +Delancey's name was no longer the humble one he had first known it, but +became bruited in loftier circles,--for Vavasour's prediction became +realised,--Delmé heard it whispered, that his affections had suffered +an early blight, from the infidelity of one to whom he had been +affianced. We may relate the circumstances as they occurred. Blanche +Allen was the daughter of a country gentleman of some wealth, whose +estate joined that of the Earl of D----'s, where Delancey's boyhood +had been spent. For years Blanche and Oliver considered themselves as +more than friends. Each selected the other as the companion in the +solitary walk, or partner in the joyous dance. Not a country girl but +had her significant smile, as young Delancey's horse's head was turned +towards Hatton Grange. + +Delancey joined the army at an early age. Blanche was some eighteen +months his junior. They parted with tears, and thus they continued to do +for the two following years, during which Oliver frequently got leave to +run down to his uncle's. This was while he was serving with part of the +regiment at home. When it came to his turn to embark for foreign +service, it was natural from this circumstance, as well as from their +riper age, that their farewell should be of a more solemn nature. They +bade adieu by the side of the streamlet that divided the two properties. +It was where this made a small fall, down which it gushed in crystal +brightness, and then meandered with gentle murmur through a succession +of rich meadows. A narrow bridge was below the fall, while beside it, a +rustic seat had been placed, on which the sobbing Blanche sat, with her +lover's arm round her waist. For the first time he had talked seriously +of their attachment, and it was with youthful earnestness, that they +mutually plighted their troth. Nor did Blanche hesitate, though blushing +deeply as she did so, to place in his hand a trivial gage d'amour, and +that which has so long solaced absent lovers, a lock of her sunny hair. +Blanche was very beautiful, but she had a character common to many +English women--more so, we think, than to foreign ones. + +As a girl, Blanche was nature's self, warm, gentle, confiding,--as an +unmarried woman, she was a heartless coquette,--as a matron, an +exemplary mother and an affectionate wife. During the time Delancey was +abroad, he heard of Blanche but seldom, for the lovers were not of that +age in which a correspondence would be tolerated by Blanche's family. +She once managed to send him, by the hands of a young cousin, some +trifling present, with a few lines accompanying it, informing him that +she had not forgotten him. His uncle--his only correspondent in +England--was not exactly the person to make a confidant of; but he +would, in an occasional postscript, let him know that he had seen +Blanche Allen lately--that "she was very gay, prettier than ever, and +always blushing when spoken to of a certain person." + +To do Oliver justice, he at all times thought of Blanche. We have seen +him, with regard to Acme, apparently disregarding her, but in that +affair he had been actuated by a mere spirit of adventure. His heart was +but slightly enlisted, and his feelings partook of any thing but those +of a serious attachment. + +Oliver Delancey left Malta soon after his conversation with +Delmé. Previous to doing so, he had forwarded his resignation to +Colonel Vavasour. + +He passed some time in Italy, and, as the season arrived, found himself +a denizen in that gayest of cities, Vienna. Pleasure is truly there +enshrouded in her liveliest robes. As regards Delancey, not in vain was +she thus clothed. Just relieved from the dull monotony of a military +life--dull as it ever must be without war's excitement, and peculiarly +distasteful to one constituted like Delancey, who refused to make +allowance for the commonplace uncongenial spirits with whom he found +himself obliged to herd--he was quite prepared to embrace with avidity +any life that promised an agreeable change. Austria's capital holds out +many inducements to dissipation, and to none are these more freely +tendered, than to young and handsome Englishmen. The women, over the +dangerous sentimentality of their nation, throw such an air of ease and +frankness, that their victims resemble the finny tribe in the famous +tunny fishery. While they conceive the whole ocean is at their +command--disport here and there in imagined freedom--they are already +encased by the insidious nets; the harpoon is already pointed, which +shall surely pierce them. Delancey plunged headlong into pleasure's +vortex--touched each link between gaiety and crime. He wandered from the +paths of virtue from the infatuation of folly, and continued to err from +the fascinations of sin. He was suddenly recalled to himself, by one of +those catastrophes often sent by Providence, to awaken us from +intoxicating dreams. His companion, with whom he had resided during his +stay in Vienna, lost his all at a gaming table. Although he had not the +firmness of mind to face his misfortunes, yet had he the rashness to +meet his God unbidden. Sobered and appalled, Oliver left Germany for +England. There was a thought, which even in the height of his follies +obtruded, and which now came on him with a force that surprised himself. +That thought was of Blanche Allen. He turned from the image of his +expiring friend to dwell unsated on hers. A new vista of life seemed to +open--thoughts which had long slept came thronging on his mind--he was +once more the love-sick boy. The more, too, he brooded over his late +unworthiness, the more did his imagination ennoble the one he loved. He +now looked to the moment of meeting her, as that whence he would date +his moral regeneration. "Thank God!" thought he, "a sure haven is yet +mine. There will I--my feelings steadied, my affections +concentrated--enjoy a purified and unruffled peace. What a consolation +to be loved by one so good and gentle!" + +He hurried towards England, travelled day and night, and only wondered +that he could have rested any where, while he had the power of flying to +her he had loved from childhood. Occasionally a feeling of apprehension +would cross him. It was many months since he had heard of her--she might +be ill. His love was of that confiding nature, that he could not +conceive her changed. As he came near his home, happier thoughts +succeeded. In fancy, he again saw her enjoying the innocent pleasures in +which he had been her constant companion,--health on her +cheek--affection in her glance. He had to pass that well known lodge. +His voice shook, as he told the driver to stop at its gate. As he drove +through the avenue of elms, he threw himself back in the carriage, and +every limb quivered from his agitation. He could hardly make himself +understood to the domestic--he waited not an answer to his enquiry--but +bounded up the stairs, and with faltering step entered the room. +Blanche was there, and not alone but oh! how passing fair! Even Delancey +had not dared to think, that the beauty of the girl could have been so +eclipsed by the ripe graces of the woman. She recognised him, and rose +to meet him with a burst of unfeigned surprise. She held out her hand +with an air of winning frankness; and yet for an instant,--and his hand +as it pressed hers, trembled with that thought,--he deemed there was a +hesitating blush on her cheek, which should not have been there. But it +passed away, and radiant with smiles, she turned to the one beside her. + +"My dear," said she, as she gave him a confiding look, which haunts +Delancey yet, "this is a great friend of Papa's, and an old playmate of +mine--Mr. Delancey;" and as the stranger stepped forward to shake his +hand, Blanche looked at her old lover, with a glance that seemed to say, +"How foolish were we, to deem we were ever more than friends." Oliver +Delancey turned deadly pale; but pride bade him scorn her, and his hand +shook not, as it touched that of him, who had robbed him of a treasure, +he would have died to have called his. + +"And you have been to D---- Castle, I suppose, and found your uncle had +left it for Bath. Indeed, _we_ only arrived the day before yesterday; +but Papa wrote us, saying he had got one of his attacks of rheumatism, +from the late fishing, and begged us to take this on our way to +Habberton, Did you see my marriage in the papers, or did your uncle +write you, Oliver?" + +Delancey's lips quivered, but his countenance did not change, as he +looked her in the face, and told her he had not known it until now. + +And now her husband spoke: "It was very late, and he must want +refreshment; and Mr. Allen intended to be wheeled to the dinner table; +and they could so easily send up to D---- Castle to tell them to get a +bed aired; and he could dismiss the chaise now, and their carriage could +take him there at night." + +And Delancey _did_ stay, although unable to analyse the feeling that +made him do so. + +And during dinner, _he_ was the life of that little party. He spoke of +foreign lands--related strange incidents of travel--dwelt with animation +on his schoolboy exploits. The old man was delighted--the husband forgot +his wife;--and she, the false one, sat silent, and for the moment +disregarded. She gazed and gazed again on that familiar face--drank in +the tones of that accustomed voice--and the chill of compunction crept +over her frame. + +But Delancey's brain was on fire; and in the solitude of his +chamber--no! he was not calm there. He paced hurriedly across the oaken +floor; and he opened wide his window, and looked out on the bright +stars, spangling heaven's blue vault; and then beneath him, where the +cypress trees bowed their heads to the wind, and the moon's light fell +on the marble statues on the terrace. + +And he turned to his bed-side, and hid his tearless face in his hands; +and in the fulness of his despair, he knelt and prayed, that though he +had long neglected his God, his God would not now forsake him. And, as +if to mock his sufferings, sleep came; but it was short, very short; and +a weight, a leaden weight, oppressed his eye-lids even in slumber. And +he gave one start, and awoke a prey to mental agony. His despair flashed +on him--he sprung up wildly in his bed. "Liar! liar!" said he, as with +clenched teeth, and hand upraised, he recalled that fond look given to +another. Drops of sweat started to his brow--his pulse beat quick and +audibly--quicker--quicker yet. A feeling of suffocation came over +him--and God forgive him! Oliver Delancey deemed that hour his last. He +staggered blindly to the bell, and with fearful energy pulled its cord, +till it fell clattering on the marble hearth stone. The domestics found +him speechless and insensible on the floor--the blood oozing from his +mouth and ears. + +It may be said that this picture is overcharged; that no vitiated mind +could have thus felt. But it is not so. In life's spring we all feel +acutely: and to the effects of disappointed love, and wounded pride, +there are few limits. + +Woman! dearest woman! born to alleviate our sorrow, and soothe our +anguish! who canst bid feeling's tear trickle down the obdurate cheek, +or mould the iron heart, till it be pliable as a child's--why stain thy +gentle dominion by inconstancy? why dismiss the first form that haunted +thy maiden pillow, until--or that vision is a dear reality beside +thee--or thou liest pale and hushed, on thy last couch of repose? + +And then--shall not thy virgin spirit hail him? Why first fetter us, +slaves to virtue and to thee; _then_ become the malevolent Typhoon, on +whose wings our good genius flies for ever? In this--far worse than the +iconoclasts of yore art thou! _They_ but disfigured images of man's rude +fashioning: whilst _thou_ wouldst injure the _once_ loved form of God's +high creation,--wouldst entail on the body a premature decay--and on +that which dieth not, an irradicable blight. + + "Then the mortal coldness of the soul, like death itself comes down; + It cannot feel for others woes--it dares not dream its own. + That heavy chill has frozen o'er the fountain of our tears; + And though the eye may sparkle still, 'tis where the ice appears." + +On such a character as was Delancey's, the blow did indeed fall heavy. +Not that his paroxysms of grief were more lasting, or his pangs more +acute, than is usual in similar cases; but to his moral worth it was +death. An infliction of this nature, falling on a comparatively virtuous +man, is productive of few evil consequences. It may give a holier turn +to his thoughts--wean him from sublunary vanities--and purify his +nature. On an utterly depraved man, its effects may be fleeting also; +for few can _here_ expect a moral regeneration. But falling on Delancey, +it was not thus. The slender thread that bound him to virtue, was snapt +asunder; the germ whence the good of his nature might have sprung, +destroyed for ever. Such a man could not love purely again. To expect +him to wander to another font, and imbibe from as clear a stream, would +be madness. The love of a man of the world, let it be the first and +best, is gross and earthly enough; but let him be betrayed in that +love--let him see the staff on which he confidingly leant, break from +under him--and he becomes from henceforth the deceiver--but never the +deceived. When Delmé saw him, Delancey was writhing under his +affliction. When he again entered the world, and it was soon, he +regarded it as a wide mart, where he might gratify his appetites, and +unrestrainedly indulge his evil propensities. He believed not that +virtue and true nobility were there; could he but find them. He looked +at the blow his happiness had sustained, and thought it afforded a fair +sample of human nature. Oliver Delancey became a selfish and a +profligate man. + +He was to be pitied; and from his soul did Delmé pity him. He had been +one of promise and of talent; but _now_ his lot is cast on the die of +apathy;--and it is to be feared--without a miracle intervene--and +should his life be spared--that when the wavy locks of youth are +changed to the silver hairs of age--that he will then be that thing of +all others to be scoffed at--the hoary sensualist. Let us hope not! Let +us hope that she who hath brought him to this, may rest her head on the +bosom of her right lord, and forget the one, whose hand used to be +locked in her own, for hours--hours which flew quick as summer's +evening shadows! Let us trust that remorse may be absent from her; +that she may never know that worst of reflections--the having injured +one who had loved her, irremediably; that she may gaze on her +fair-haired children, and her cheek blanch not as she recals another +form than the father's; that her life may be irreproachable, her end +calm and dignified; that dutiful children may attend the inanimate clay +to its resting place; that filial tears may bedew her grave; and, when +the immortal stands appalled before its Judge, that the destruction of +that soul may not be laid to her charge. + + + + +Chapter XIV. + +The Spitfire. + + + + "And I have loved thee! Ocean! and my joy + Of youthful sports was on thy breast to be + Borne like thy bubbles onward." + + * * * * * + + "Pull away! yo ho! boys!" + + +Delmé continued to reside with his brother, whose health seemed to amend +daily. George generally managed to accompany him in his sight-seeing, +from which Henry derived great gratification. + +He mused over the antique tombs of some of the departed knights; and +admired the rich mosaics in that splendid church, dedicated to Saint +John; than which the traveller may voyage long, and meet nothing +worthier his notice. He visited the ancient armoury--dined at the +palace, and at the different messes--inspected the laborious +travailings of the silkworm at the boschetto--conversed with the +original of Byron's Leila--a sweet creature she is!--looked with +wondering eye on the ostrich of Fort Manuel--and heard the then +commandant's wife relate her tale thereanent. He went to Gozzo too--shot +rabbits--and crossed in a basket to the fungus rock. He saw a festa in +the town, and a festa in the country--rode to St. Antonio, and St. +Paul's Bay--and was told he had seen the lions. Nor must we pass over +that most interesting of spectacles; viz., some figures enveloped in +monkish cowl, and placed in convenient niches; but beneath the close +hood, the blood mounts not with devotion's glow, nor do eyes glare from +sockets shrunk by abstinence. Skeletons alone are there! + +These, curious reader, are the bodies of saintly Capuchins; thus +exhibited--dried and baked--to excite beholders to a life of virtue! + +One morning, George said he felt rather unwell, and would stay at home. +An oar happened to be wanted in the regimental gig, which Sir Henry +offered to take. He was soon accoutred in the dress of an absent +member, and in a short time was discharging the duties of his office to +the satisfaction of all; for he knew every secret of _feathering,_ and +had not _caught a crab_ for years. + +It was a beautifully calm day--not a speck in the azure heaven. It was +hot too--but for this they cared not. They had porter; and on such +occasions, what better beverage would you ask? Swiftly and gaily did the +slim bark cleave through the glassy sea. Its hue was a dark crimson, +with one black stripe--its nom de guerre, the Spitfire. + +As the ------ regiment particularly prided itself on its aquatic costume, +we shall describe it. Small chased pearl buttons on the blue jacket and +white shirt; a black band round the neck, to match the one on the +narrow-brimmed thick straw hat; white trousers; couleur de rose silk +collar, fastened to the throat by a golden clasp; and stockings of the +same colour. How joyously did the gig hold her course! What a thrilling +sensation expanded the soul, as the steersman, a handsome little fellow +with large black whiskers, gave the encouraging word, "Stroke! my good +ones!" Then were exerted all the energies of the body--then was +developed each straining muscle--then were the arms thrown back in +sympathy, to give a long pull, and a strong pull--till the bark reeled +beneath them, and shot through the wave. + +The tall ship--the slender mole--the busy deck--the porticoed +palace--the strong fort--the bristling battery--the astonished fisher's +bark as it sluggishly crept on--were all cheeringly swept by, as the +bending oars in perfect unison, kissed the erst slumbering water. What +sensation can be more glorious? The only thing to compete with it, is +the being in a crack coach on the western road; the opposition slightly +in front--a knowing whip driving--when the horses are at their utmost +speed--the traces tight as traces can be--the ladies inside pale and +screaming--one little child cramming out her head, her mouth stuffed +with Banbury cakes, adding her shrill affetuoso--whilst the odd-looking +man in the white hat, seated behind, is blue from terror, and with +chattering teeth, mumbles undistinguishable sentences of furious +driving and prosecution. Surely such moments half redeem our miseries! +What bitter thought can travel twelve miles an hour? + +And ever and anon would the Spitfire dart into some little creek, and +the thirsty rowers would rest on their oars, whose light drip fell on +purple ocean, tinged by a purple sky. And now would the jovial steersman +introduce the accommodating corkscrew, first into one bottle and then +into another, as these were successively emptied, and thrown overboard, +to give the finny philosophers somewhat to speculate on. + +Delmé landed weary; but it was a beneficial weariness. He felt he had +taken manly exercise, and that it would do him good. He was walking +towards the barrack, with his jacket slung over his shoulder, when he +was met by George's servant. + +"Oh, Sir!" said the man, "I am so glad you are come. The Signora is +terribly afraid for my young master. I fear, Sir, he is in one of +his fits." + +Delmé hurried forward, and entered his brother's room. George held a +riding whip in his hand. He had thrown off his cravat--his throat was +bare--his eyes glanced wildly. + +"And who are you, Sir?" said he, as Henry entered. + +"What! not know me, dearest George?" replied his brother, in agony. + +"I do not understand your insolence, Sir; but if you are a dun, go to my +servant. Thompson," continued he, "give me my spurs! I shall ride." + +"Ride!" said Delmé. + +Thompson made him a quiet sign. "I am very sorry, Sir," said he, "but +the Arab is quite lame, and is not fit for the saddle." + +"Give me a glass of sangaree then, you rascal! Port--do you hear?" + +The glass was brought him. He drained its contents at a draught. + +"Now, kick that scoundrel out of the room, Thompson, and let me sleep." + +He threw himself listlessly on the sofa. Acmé was weeping bitterly, +but he seemed not to notice her. It was late in the day. The surgeon +had been sent for. He now arrived, and stated that nothing could be +done; but recommended his being watched closely, and the removing +all dangerous weapons. He begged Henry, however, to indulge him in +all his caprices, in order that he might the better observe the +state of his mind. + +While George slept, Delmé entered another room, and ordering the servant +to inform him when he awoke, he sat down to dinner alone and dispirited; +for Acmé refused to leave George. It was indeed a sad, and to Sir Henry +Delmé an unforeseen shock. + +In a couple of hours, Thompson came with a message from Acmé. "Master +is awake, Sir--knows the Signora--and seems much better. He has +desired me to brush his cloak, as he intends going out. Shall I do so, +Sir, or not?" + +"Do so!" said Delmé, "but fail not to inform me when he is about to go; +and be yourself in readiness. We will watch him." + + + + +Chapter XV. + +The Charnel House. + + + + "And when at length the mind shall be all free, + From what it hates in this degraded form, + Reft of its carnal life, save what shall be + Existent happier in the fly or worm; + When elements to elements conform, + And dust is as it should be." + + +The last grey tinge of twilight, was fast giving place to the sombre +hues of night, as a figure, enveloped in a military cloak, issued from +the barrack at Floriana. + +Henry at once recognised George; and only delaying till a short distance +had intervened between his brother and himself, Delmé and Thompson +followed his footsteps. + +George Delmé walked swiftly, as if intent on some deep design. The long +shadow thrown out by his figure, enabled his pursuers to distinguish him +very clearly. He did not turn his head, but, with hurried step, strode +the species of common which divides Floriana from La Valette. Crossing +the drawbridge, and passing through the porch which guards the entrance +to the town, he turned down an obscure street, and, folding his cloak +closer around him, rapidly--yet with an appearance of caution--continued +his route, diving from one street to another, till he entered a small +court-yard, in which stood an isolated gloomy-looking house. No light +appeared in the windows, and its exterior bespoke it uninhabited. Henry +and the domestic paused, expecting George either to knock or return to +the street. He walked on, however, and, turning to one side of the +porch, descended a flight of stone steps, and entered the lower part of +the house. + +"Perhaps we had better not both follow him," said the servant. + +"No, Thompson! do you remain here, only taking care that your master +does not pass you: and I think you may as well go round the house, and +see if there is any other way of leaving it." + +Sir Henry descended the steps in silence. Arrived at the foot of the +descent, a narrow passage, diverging to the left, presented itself. +Beyond appeared a distant glimmering of light. Delmé groped along the +passage, using the precaution to crouch as low as possible, until he +came before a large comfortless room in the centre of which, was placed +a brass lamp, whose light was what he had discerned at the extremity of +the passage. He could distinctly observe the furniture and inmates of +the room. Of the former, the only articles were a table--on which were +placed the remains of a homely meal--an iron bedstead, and a barrel, +turned upside down, which served as a substitute for a chair. The +bedstead had no curtains, but in lieu of them, there were hangings +around it, which struck Delmé as resembling mourning habiliments. +Whilst the light operated thus favourably, in enabling Sir Henry to +note the interior of the apartment, it was hardly possible, from its +situation, that he himself could be observed. Its rays did not reach +the passage; and he was also shrouded in some degree by a door, which +was off its hinges, and which was placed against the wall. Fastened to +the side of the room were two deep shelves--the lower one containing +some bottles and plates; the upper, a number of human sculls. In a +corner were some more of these, intermingled in a careless heap, with a +few bleached bones. + +George Delmé was standing opposite the door, conversing earnestly with a +Maltese, evidently of the lowest caste. The latter was seated on the +barrel we have mentioned, and was listening with apparently a mixture of +surprise and exultation to what George was saying. George's voice sunk +to an inaudible whisper, as the conversation continued, and he was +evidently trying to remove some scruples, which this man either affected +to feel, or really felt. The man's answers were given in a gruff and +loud tone of voice, but from the Maltese dialect of his Italian, Sir +Henry could not understand what was said. His countenance was very +peculiar. It was of that derisive character rarely met with in one of +his class of life, except when called forth by peculiar habits, or +extraordinary circumstances. His eyes were very small, but bright and +deeply set. His lips wore a constant sarcastic smile, which gave him the +air of a bold but cunning man. His throat and bosom were bare, and of a +deep copper colour; and his muscular chest was covered with short curly +hair. The conversation on George's part became more animated, and he at +length made use of what seemed an unanswerable argument. Taking out a +beaded purse, which Sir Henry knew well--it had been Emily's last +present to George--he emptied the contents into the bronzed hand of his +companion, who grasped the money with avidity. The Maltese _now_ +appeared to acquiesce in all George's wishes; and rising, went towards +the bed, and selected some of the articles of wearing apparel Delmé had +already noticed. He addressed some words to George, who sat on the +bedside quiescently, while the man went to the table, and took up a +knife that was upon it. For a moment, Delmé felt alarm lest his design +might be a murderous one; but it was not so. He laughed savagely, as he +made use of the knife, to cut off the luxuriant chestnut ringlets, which +shaded George's eyes and forehead. He then applied to the face some +darkening liquid, and commenced choosing a sable dress. George threw off +his cloak, and was attired by the Maltese, in a long black cotton robe +of the coarsest material, which, descending to the feet, came in a hood +over his face, which it almost entirely concealed. During the whole of +this scene, George Delmé's features wore an air of dogged apathy, which +alarmed his brother, even more than his agitation in the earlier part of +the day. After his being metamorphosed in the way we have described, it +would have been next to an impossibility to have recognised him. His +companion put on a dress of the same nature, and Sir Henry was preparing +to make his retreat, presuming that they would now leave the building, +when he was induced to stay for the purpose of remarking the conduct of +the Maltese. He took up a scull, and placing his finger through an +eyeless hole, whence _once_ love beamed or hate flashed, he made some +savage comment, which he accompanied by a long and malignant laugh. This +would at another time have shocked Sir Henry, but there was another +laugh, wilder and more discordant, that curdled the blood in Delmé's +veins. It proceeded from his brother, the gay--the happy George Delmé; +and as it re-echoed through the gloomy passage, it seemed that of a +remorseless demon, gloating on the misfortunes of the human race. Delmé +turned away in agony, and, unperceived, regained the anxious domestic. +Screened by an angle of the building, they saw George and his companion +ascend the stone steps, cross the yard, and turn into the street. They +followed him cautiously--Delmé's ears ringing with that fiendish laugh. +George's companion stopped for a moment, at a house in the street, where +they were joined by a sallow-looking priest, apparently one of the most +disgusting of his tribe. He was accompanied by a boy, also drest in +sacerdotal robes, in one hand bearing a silver-ornamented staff, of the +kind frequently used in processions, and in other observances of the +Catholic religion; and in the other, a rude lanthorn, whose light +enabled Delmé to note these particulars. As the four figures swept +through the streets, the lower orders prostrated themselves, before the +figure of the crucified and dying Saviour which surmounted the staff. +They again stopped, and the priest entered a house alone. On coming +back, he was followed by a coffin, borne on the shoulders of four of the +lower order of Maltese. At the moment these were leaving the house, +Henry heard a solitary scream, apparently of a woman. It was wild and +thrilling; such an one as we hear from the hovering sea bird, as the +tempest gathers to a head. To Delmé, coming as it did at that lone hour +from one he saw not, it seemed superhuman. In the front of the house +stood two calèches, the last of which, Sir Henry observed was without +doors. At a sign from the Maltese, George and his strange companion +entered it. They were followed by the coffin, which was placed +lengthways, with the two ends projecting into the street. In the +_leading_ calèche were the priest and boy, the latter of whom thrust +the figure of the bleeding Jesus out at the window, whilst with the +other hand he held up the lanthorn. Twice more did the calèche +stop--twice receive corpses. Another light was produced, and placed in +the last conveyance, and Delmé took the opportunity of their arranging +this, to pass by the calèche. The light that had been placed in it shone +full on George. The coffins were on a level with the lower part of his +face. Nothing of his body, which was jammed in between the seat and the +coffins, could be seen. But the features, which glared over the pall, +were indeed terrific; apathy no longer marked them. George seemed wound +up to an extraordinary state of excitement. Gone was the glazed +expression of his eye, which now gleamed like that of a famished eagle. +The Maltese leant back in the carriage, with a sardonic smile, his dark +face affording a strange contrast to the stained, but yet ghastly hue of +George Delmé's. + +"They intend to take them to the vault at Floriana, your honor," said +the servant, "shall I call a calèche, and we can follow them?" + +Without waiting a reply, for the man saw that Sir Henry's faculties, +were totally absorbed in the strange scene he had witnessed; Thompson +called a carriage, which passed the other two--now commencing at a +funeral pace to proceed to the vault--and, taking the same direction +which they had done on entering the town, a short time sufficed to put +them down immediately opposite the church. They had time allowed them to +dismiss their carriage, and screen themselves from observation, before +the funeral procession arrived. + +This stopped in front of the vault, and Delmé anxiously scrutinised the +proceedings. Another man--probably the one whose place George had +supplied--had joined them outside the town, and now walked by the side +of the calèche. He assisted George's companion in bearing out the +coffins. The huge door grated on its hinges, as they opened it. The +coffins were borne in, and the whole party entered; the priest mumbling +a short Latin prayer. In a short time, the priest alone returned; and +looking cautiously around, and seeing no one, struck a light from a +tinder box, and lighted his cigar. The other two men brought back the +coffins, evidently relieved of their weight; and the priest--the +boy--with the man who had last joined them, and who had also lit his +cigar--entered the first calèche, after exchanging some jokes with +George's companion, and returned at a rapid pace towards the town. +During this time, George Delmé had been left alone in the vault. His +companion returned to him, after taking the precaution to fasten its +doors inside. + +Sir Henry was now at a loss what plan to adopt; but Thompson, after a +moment's hesitation, suggested one. + +"There is an iron grating, Sir, over part of the vault, through which, +when a bar was loose, I know one of our soldiers went down. Shall I +get a cord?" + +The man ran towards his barrack, and returned with it. To wrench by +their united efforts, one bar from its place, and to fasten the rope to +another, was the work of an instant. Space was just left them to creep +through the aperture. Sir Henry was the first to breathe the confined +air of the sepulchre. A voice warned him in what direction to proceed; +and not waiting for the domestic, he groped his way forward through a +narrow passage. At first, Delmé thought there was a wall on either side +him; but as he made a false step, and the bones crumbled beneath, he +knew that it was a wall, formed of the bleached remains of the bygone +dead. As he drew nearer the voice, he was guided by the lanthorn brought +by George's companion; and towards this he proceeded, almost overpowered +by the horrible stench of the charnel house, As he drew near enough to +distinguish objects, what a scene presented itself! In one corner of the +vault, lay a quantity of lime used to consume the bodies, whilst nearer +the light, lay corpses in every stage of putrefaction. In some, the lime +had but half accomplished its purpose; and while in parts of the body, +the bones lay bare and exposed; in others, corruption in its most +loathsome form prevailed. Here the meaner reptiles--active and +prolific--might be seen busily at work, battening on human decay. Sir +Henry stepped over a dead body, and started, as a rat, scared from its +prey, rustled through a wreath of withered flowers, and hid itself amid +a mouldering heap of bones. But there were some forms lovely still! In +them the pulse of life had that day ceased to beat. The rigidity of +Death--his impressive stillness was there--but he had not yet "swept the +lines where beauty lingers." + +The Maltese stood with folded arms, closely regarding George Delmé. + +George leant against a pillar, with one knee bent. Over it was stretched +the corpse of a girl, with the face horribly decomposed. The dull and +flagging winds of the vault moved her dank and matted hair. + +"Acmé," said he, as he parted the dry hair from the blackened brow, +"_do_ but speak to your own George! Be not angry with me, dearest!" He +held the disgusting object to his lips, and lavished endearments on the +putrid corpse. + +Delmé staggered--and Thompson supported him--as he gasped for breath +in the extremity of his agony. At this moment his eye caught the face of +the Maltese. He had advanced towards George--his arms were still +folded--his eyes were sparkling with joy--and his features wore the +malignant expression of gratified revenge. Sir Henry sprang to his feet +and rushed forward. + +"George! my brother! my brother!" + +The maniac raised his pallid brow--his eye flashed consciousness--the +blue veins in his forehead swelled almost to bursting--he tossed his +arms wildly--and sunk powerless on the corpses around--his convulsive +shrieks re-echoing in that lonely vault. Thompson seized the Maltese, +and making him unlock the door, bore the brothers into the open air; for +Henry, at the time, was as much overpowered as George himself. + +A clear solution to that curious scene was never given, for George could +not give the clue to his train of mental aberration. + +With regard to his companion's share in the transaction, the man was +closely questioned, and other means of information resorted to, but the +only facts elicited were these: + +His son had been executed some years before for a desperate attempt to +assassinate a British soldier, with whom he had had an altercation +during the carnival. + +The man himself said, that he had no recollection of ever having +seen George before, but that he certainly _did_ remember some +officers questioning him on two occasions somewhat minutely as to +his mode of life. + +This part of his story was confirmed by another officer of the regiment, +who remembered George and Delancey being with him on one occasion, when +the latter had taken much interest in the questioning of this man. The +Maltese declared, that on the night in question he was taken entirely by +surprise--that George entered the room abruptly--offered him money to be +allowed to accompany him to the vault--and told him that he had just +placed a young lady there whom he wished to see. + +Colonel Vavasour, who took some trouble in arriving at the truth, was +satisfied that the man was well aware of George's insanity, but that +he felt too happy in being able to wreak an ignoble revenge on a +British officer. + + + + +Chapter XVI. + +The Marriage. + + + + "The child of love, though born in bitterness, + And nurtured in convulsion." + + +For many days, George Delmé lay on his couch unconscious and +immoveable. If his eye looked calm, it was the tranquillity of +apathetic ignorance, the fixedness of idiotcy. He spoke if he was +addressed, but recognised no one, and his answers were not to the +purpose. He took his food, and would then turn on his side, and close +his eyes as if in sleep. In vain did Acmé watch over him--in vain did +her tears bedew his couch--in vain did Delmé take his hand, and +endeavour to draw his attention to passing objects. + +George had never been so long without a lucid interval. The surgeon's +voice grew less cheering every day, as he saw the little amendment in +his patient, and remarked that the pulse was gradually sinking. Colonel +Vavasour never allowed a day to elapse without visiting the invalid; and +in the regiment, his illness excited great commiseration, and drew forth +many expressions of kindness. + +"Oh God! oh God!" said Delmé, "he must not sink thus. Just as I am with +him--just as--oh, poor Emily! what will _she_ feel? Can nothing be done, +Mr. Graham?" + +"Nothing! Sir: we must now put our whole trust in an all-seeing +Providence. _My_ skill can neither foresee nor hasten the result." + +One soft summer's evening, when the wind blew in the scent of flowers +from the opposite gardens--and the ceaseless hum of the insects--those +twilight revellers--sounded happily on the ear, Acmé started from the +couch as a thought crossed her. + +"We have never tried music," said she, "I have been too unhappy to +think of it." + +Her tears fell fast on the guitar, as she tuned its strings. She sung a +plaintive Greek air. It was the first George ever heard her sing, and +was the favourite. He heard it, when watching; lover-like beneath her +balcony during the first vernal days of their attachment. The song was +gone through sadly, and without hope. George's face was from her, and +she laid down the guitar, weary of life. + +George gently turned his head. His eyes wore a subdued melancholy +expression, bespeaking consciousness. Down his cheek one big drop was +trickling. + +"Acmé!" said he, "dearest Acmé!" + +Delmé, who had left the room, was recalled by the hysterical sobs of the +poor girl, as she fell back on the chair, her hands clasped in joyful +gratitude. + +The surgeon, who had immediately been sent for, ordered that George +should converse as little as possible. + +What he did say was rational. What a solace was that to Henry and Acmé! +The invalid too appeared well aware of his previous illness, although he +alluded to it but seldom. To those about him, his manner was femininely +soft, as he whispered his thanks, and sense of their kindness. + +Immediately after the horrible scene he had witnessed, Sir Henry's mind +had been made up, as to the line of conduct he ought to pursue. The +affectionate solicitude of the young Greek, during George's illness, +gave him no reason to regret his determination. + +"Now," said Mr. Graham, one day as George was rapidly recovering, +"now, Sir Henry, I would recommend you to break all you have to say to +George. For God's sake, let them be married; and although, mark me! I +by no means assert that it will quite re-establish George's health, +yet I think such a measure _may_ effectually do so, and at all events +will calm him for the present; which, after all, is the great object +we have in view." + +The same day, Delmé went to his brother's bed-side. "George," said he, +"let me take the present opportunity of Acmé's absence, to tell you what +I had only deferred till you were somewhat stronger. She is a good girl, +George, a very good girl. I wish she had been English--it would have +been better!--but this we cannot help. You must marry her, George! I +will be a kind brother-in-law, and Emily shall love her for your sake." + +The invalid sat up in his bed--his eyes swam in tears. He twice essayed +to speak, ere he could express his gratitude. + +"Thank you! a thousand times thank you! my kind brother! Even _you_ +cannot tell the weight of suffering, you have this day taken from my +mind. My conduct towards Acmé has been bowing me to the earth; and yet +I feared your consent would never be obtained. I feared that coldness +from you and Emily would have met her; and that I should have had but +_her_ smile to comfort me for the loss of what I so value. God bless +you for this!" + +Delmé was much affected. + +To complete his good work, he waited till Acmé had returned from a visit +she had just made to her relations; and taking her aside, told her his +wishes, and detailed his late conversation with George. + +"Never! never!" said the young Greek, "I am too happy as I am. I have +heard you all make better lovers than husbands. I cannot be happier! +No! no! I will never consent to it." + +All remonstrances were fruitless--no arguments could affect her--no +entreaties persuade. + +Delmé, quite perplexed at finding such a difficulty, where he had so +little expected to find one,--pitying her simplicity, but admiring her +disinterestedness,--went to George, and told him Acmé's objections. + +"I feared it," said his brother, "but perhaps I may induce her to think +differently. Were I to take advantage of her unsophisticated feelings, +and want of knowledge of the world, I should indeed be a villain." + +Acmé was sent for, and came weeping in--took Georg's hand--and gazed +earnestly in his face as he addressed her. + +"You must change your mind, dearest," said he. And he told her of the +world's opinion--the contumely she might have to endure--the slights to +which she would be subjected. Still she heeded not. + +"Why mention these things?" said she. "Who would insult me, were _you_ +near? or if they did, should I regard them while _you_ were kind?" + +And her lover's words took a loftier tone; and he spoke of religion, and +of the duties it imposes; of the feelings of his countrywomen; and the +all-seeing eye of their God. Still the fond girl wept bitterly, but +spoke not. + +"My own Acmé! consider _my_ health too, dearest! Were you now to +consent, I might never again be ill. It would be cruelty to me to +refuse. Say you consent for _my_ sake, sweet!" + +"For your sake, then!" said Acme, as she twined her snowy arms round his +neck, "for _your_ sake, Giorgio, I do so! But oh! when I am yours for +ever by that tie; when--if this be possible--our present raptures are +less fervent--our mutual affections less devoted--do not, dearest +George--do not, I implore you--treat me with coldness. It would break my +heart, indeed it would." + +They were married according to the rites of both the Protestant and +Catholic Church. Few were present. George had been lifted to the sofa, +and sat up during the ceremony; and although his features were pale and +emaciated, they brightened with internal satisfaction, as he heard those +words pronounced, which made his love a legitimate one. Acmé was silent +and thoughtful; and tears quenched the fire of her usually sparkling +eye. George Delmé's recovery from this date became more rapid. + +He was able to resume his wonted exercise--his step faltered +less--his eye became clearer. His convalescence was so decided, that +the surgeon recommended his at once travelling, and for the present +relinquishing the army. + +"Perhaps the excessive heat may not be beneficial. I would, if possible, +get him to Switzerland for the summer months. I will enquire what +outward-bound vessels there are. If there is one for Leghorn, so much +the better. But the sooner he tries change of scene, the more +advantageous it is likely to be; and after all, the climate is but a +secondary consideration." + +An American vessel bound to Palermo, happened to be the only one in the +harbour, whose destination would serve their purpose; and determined +not to postpone George's removal, Sir Henry at once engaged its cabin. +Colonel Vavasour obtained George leave for the present, and promised to +arrange as to his exchanging from full pay. He likewise enabled him, +which George felt as a great boon, to take his old and attached servant +with him; with the promise that he would use all his interest to have +the man's discharge forwarded him, before the expiration of his leave. + +"He may be useful to you, my dear boy, if you get ill again, which God +forbid! He is an old soldier, and a good man--well deserving the +indulgence. And remember! if you should be better, and feel a returning +penchant for the red coat, write to me--we will do our best to work an +exchange for you." + + + + +Chapter XVII. + +The Departure. + + + + "Farewell! a word that must be, and hath been, + A sound that makes us linger, yet farewell." + + +The day of departure at length arrived. Thompson had been busy the +greater part of the night in getting every thing ready for the voyage. +It was a lovely morning, and the wind, although light, was propitious. + +Acmé had parted with her relations and friends the day previous. + +She was henceforward to share the destiny of one, who was to supply the +place of both to her. Attached to them as she was, and grateful as she +felt for their kindness in the hour of need, there was nothing in that +parting to throw a permanent gloom on the hopes of the youthful bride. + +Her love, and the feelings it engendered, were of that confiding nature, +that she could have followed George anywhere, and been happy still. As +it was, her lot seemed cast "in pleasant places," and no foreboding of +evil, except indeed for George, ever marred the waking dreams of Acmé. +Her simple heart had already learnt, to look up with respect and +affection to Sir Henry, and yearned with fond longing for the period +when she should return a sister's love. + +She had that lively talent too, which, miniatured as it was, allowed of +her fully appreciating the superiority of the English she had lately +met, to the general run of those with whom she had hitherto associated. +An English home had none but charms for her. + +"Come Acmé," said George, as he assisted her in adjusting the first +bonnet that had ever confined her wavy curls, "wish good bye to your +ring-dove, dear! Mrs. Graham will take good care of it; and Thompson has +just finished the packing." + +The boat which was to convey them to the vessel was so near, that they +had agreed to walk down to the place of embarkation. + +As George left the room, a tall figure presented itself on the +staircase. + +"Ah, Clark!" said George, "my good fellow! I am very sorry to part with +you. I do not know what I shall do without my pay serjeant!" and he held +out his hand. + +It was grasped gratefully. + +"Thank you, your honour!" + +The old soldier stood erect, and put his hand to his cap. + +"God bless you! Mr. Delmé. I have served under many officers, but never +under a kinder. May the Almighty bless you, Sir, in all your +wanderings." + +The soldier turned away--one large drop burst o'er the lid, and trickled +down his sun-burnt cheek. + +With the back of his hand, he brushed it off indignantly. + +His converse may be rough--his manner rude--his hand ever ready for +quarrel;--but, believe us! ye who deem the soldier beneath his +fellow-men,--that the life of change--of chance--of hardship--and of +danger--which is his, freezes not the kindlier emotions of the soul, if +it sweep away its sicklier refinements. Beneath the red vest, beat +hearts as warm and true, as ever throbbed beneath operative apron, or +swelled under softest robe of ermine. + +George was moved by the man's evidently sincere grief. He reached the +bottom of the stairs. The company to which he belonged was drawn up in +the court yard. + +In front of it, the four tallest men supported a chair, and almost +before George Delmé was aware of their purpose, bore him to it, and +lifted him on their shoulders, amidst the huzzas of their comrades. The +band, too, which had voluntarily attended, now struck up the march which +George delighted to hear; and, followed by his company, he was carried +triumphantly towards the mole. + +George's heart was full. + +Sir Henry felt deeply interested in the scene; and poor Acmé leant on +his arm, and wept with joy. + +Yes! there are moments in life, and this was one, when the approval of +our inferiors awakens a degree of pride and mental satisfaction, that +no panegyric of our superiors, no expressions of esteem from our +equals, could have ever called forth. Such approval meets us, as the +spontaneous effusion of hearts that have looked up to ours, and have +_not_ been deceived. + +This pride was it that flushed George's cheek, and illumed with +brightness his swimming eye. He was thus carried till he arrived at the +spot where his boat should have been. It was already, with Thompson and +their baggage, half way towards the vessel. In its place was the +regimental gig, manned by George's best friends. Its steersman was +Colonel Vavasour, drest in the fanciful aquatic costume his regiment +had adopted. + +Trifling as this may appear, this act of his Colonel, seemed to George +the very highest compliment that had ever been paid him. + +George Delmé turned to his company, and with choking voice thanked them +for this last mark of attention. We are very certain that a shake of +the hand from a prince, would not have delighted him as much, as did +the hearty farewell greeting of his rough comrades. + +Even Acmé blushingly went up to the chair-supporters, and, with a +winning smile, extended her small hand. Vavasour assisted her into the +gig, and it was with a bounding elasticity of spirit, to which he had +long been a stranger, that George followed. As the boat cut through the +water, they were greeted with a last and deafening huzza. + +In a short time they were alongside the vessel. The captain was pacing +the deck, and marking the signs of the wind, with the keen eye of the +sailor. A chair was lowered for Acmé. She shook hands with the rowers. +George parted from them as if they had been brothers, and from Colonel +Vavasour last of all. + +"Take care of yourself, my dear boy," said the latter, "do not +forget to write us; we shall all be anxious to know how you have +stood the voyage." + +As the gig once more shot its way homewards, and many a friendly +handkerchief waved its adieu, George felt, that sad as the parting was, +he should have felt it more _bitterly_ if they had loved him less. + +To divert their minds from thoughts of a melancholy nature, Sir Henry, +as the boat made a turn of the land, and was no longer visible, proposed +exploring the cabin. This they found small, but cleanly. Some hampers of +fruit, and a quantity of ice, exhibited agreable proofs of the attention +of Acmé's relations. We may, by the way, observe, that rarely does the +sense of the palate assert its supremacy with greater force than on +board-ship. There will the _thought_--much more the _reality_--of a +mellow pine--or juicy pomegranate--cause the mouth to water for the best +part of a long summer's day. On their ascending the deck, the captain +approached Sir Henry. + +"No offence! Sir; but I guess the wind is fair. If you want nothing +ashore, we will off, Sir, _now_! if you please." + +Delmé acquiesced. + +How disagreable is the act of leaving harbour in a merchant ship! + +Even sailors dislike it, and growl between their teeth, like captive +bears. The chains of the anchor clank gratingly on the ear. The very +chorus of the seamen smacks of the land, and wants the rich and free +tone that characterises it in mid-sea. Hoarse are the mandates of the +boat-swain! his whistle painfully shrill! The captain walks the deck +thoughtfully, and frowningly ruminates on his bill of lading--or on some +over-charge in the dock duties--or, it may be, on his dispute on shore +with a part owner of the vessel. + +And anon, he shakes off these thoughts, and looks on the +weather-side--then upwards at the the masts--and, as he notes the +proceedings, his orders are delivered fiercely, and his passions seem +ungovernable. + +The vessel, too, seems to share the general feeling--is loath to +leave the port. + +She unsteadily answers the call of her canvas--her rigging creaks--and +her strong sides groan--as she begins lazily and slowly to make her way. + +Glad to turn their attention to anything rather than the scene around, +George began conversing on the effect the attentions of his company and +brother officers had had on him. + +"Their kindness," said George, "was wholly unexpected by me, and I felt +it very deeply. An hour before, I fancied that Acmé and my own family +monopolised every sympathy I possessed. But, thank God! the heart has +many hidden channels through which kindness may steal, and infuse its +genial balm." + +"_I_ felt it, too, George!" said his brother, "and was anxious as to the +effect the scene might have on you. I am glad it _was_ unexpected. We +are sometimes better enabled to enact our parts improvising them, than +when we have schooled ourselves, and braced all our energies to the one +particular purpose. + +"Acmé, how did you like the way George's men behaved?" + +"It made me weep with joy," replied the young Greek, "for I love all who +love my Giorgio." + + + + +Chapter XVIII. + +The Adieu. + + + + "Adieu! the joys of La Valette." + + * * * * * + + "No more! no more! No! never more on me + The freshness of the heart shall fall like dew." + + * * * * * + + "Absence makes the heart grow fonder, + Isle of Beauty! fare thee well." + + +Malta! the snowy sail shivers in the wind--the waves, chafed by our +intruding keel, are proudly foaming--sea birds soar, screaming their +farewell aloft--as we wave our hand to thee for ever! What is our +feeling, as we see thee diminish hourly? + +Regret! unfeigned regret! + +Albeit we speed to our native land, on the wing of a bark as fleet as +ever--but it matters not--_thou_ hast seen the best of our days. + +Visions conjured up by thee, have the unusual power, to banish +anticipations of Almack's glories, and of home flirtations. + +We are recalling balls enjoyed in thee, loved island! the valse spun +round with the darling fleet-footed Maltese, who during its pauses leant +back on our arm, against which her spangled zone throbbed, from the +pulsations of her heart. + +Dreams of turtle and of grand master--the _fish_, not the +_official_--and of consecutive iced champagne, mock our sight! But +more--yes! far more than all, are we reminded of thy abode--thou +dispenser of cheering liquids! thou promoter of convivial happiness! +meek Saverio! How swiftly glided the mirth-loving nights as--the +enchanting strains of the prima donna hushed--we adjourned to thy ever +to be praised bottegua! + +With what precision didst thou there mete out the many varied +ingredients--the exact relative proportions--which can alone embody our +conception of the nectar of the Gods, punch à la Romaine! + +Whose cigars ever equalled thine, thou prince of Ganymedes? and when +were cigars more justly appreciated, than as our puffs kept time with +the trolling ditty, resounding through the walls of thy domain? + +The luxury of those days! + +Then would Sol come peeping in upon us; as unwelcome and unlooked-for +a visitant, as to the enamoured Juliet, when she sighing told her +lover that + + "'Twas but a meteor that the sun exhaled, + To be to him that night a torch-bearer, + And light him on his way to Mantua." + +Then, with head dizzy from its gladness, with heart unduly elate, has +the Strada Teatro seen us, imperiously calling for the submissive +calèche. Arrived in our chamber, how gravely did we close its shutters! +With what a feeling of satisfied enjoyment, did we court the downy +freshness of the snow-white sheet! + +Sweet and deep were our slumbers--for youth's spell was upon us, and +our fifth lustre had not _yet_ heralded us to serious thoughts and +anxious cares. + +Awoke by the officious valet, and remorseless friend, deemest though +our debauch was felt? No! an effervescent draught of soda calmed us; we +ate a blood orange, and smoked a cigar! + +We often hear Malta abused. Byron is the stale authority; and every +snub-nosed cynic turns up his prominent organ, and talks of "sirocco, +sun, and sweat." Byron disliked it--he had cause. He was there at a bad +season, and was suffering from an attack of bile. _We_ know of no place +abroad, where the English eye will meet with so little to offend it, and +so much to please and impress. + +There is such a blending together of European, Asiatic, and African +customs; there is such a variety in the costumes one meets; there is +such grandeur in their palaces--such glory in their annals; such novelty +in their manners and habits; such devotion in their religious +observances; such simplicity and yet such beauty, in the dress of the +women; and their wearers possess such fascinations; that we defy the +most fastidious of critics, who has really resided there, to deny to +Malta many of those attributes, with which he would invest that place, +on whose beauty and agrémens, he may prefer of all others to descant. + +With the commonplace observer, its superb harbour, studded with gilded +boats; its powerful fortifications, where art towers over nature, and +where the eye looks up a rock, and catches a bristling battery; the +glare of its scenery, with no foliage to cover the white stone;--all +these, together with the different way in which the minutiae of life are +transacted,--will call forth his attention, and demand his notice. + +Art thou a poet, or a fancied warrior? What scene has been more replete +with noble exploits? In whose breasts did the flame of chivalry burn +brighter, than in those of the knights of St. John of Jerusalem? Not a +name meets thee, that has not belonged to a hero! If thou grievest to +find all dissimilar _but_ the name; yet mayest thou still muse, +contemplative, over the tomb and ashes of him, whom thy mind has +shadowed forth, as a noble light in a more romantic age. + +Art thou a moralist, a thinking Christian? Thou mayest there trace--and +the pursuit shall profit thee--the steps of the sainted apostle; he who +was so signally called forth, to hear witness to the truth of ONE, whom +he had erst reviled. Yon cordelier will show you the bay, where his +vessel took refuge in its distress; and will tell you, that yon jagged +rock first gave its dangerous welcome, to the bark of his patron saint. + +Lovest thou music? hast loved? or been beloved? or both perchance? + +Steal forth when night holds her starry court, and the guitars around +are tinkling, as more than one rich voice deplores his mistress's +cruelty, in hopes she may now relent. But see! _there_ is one, who puts +in requisition neither music's spell, nor flattery's lay. + +See! he approaches. His cloak wrapped around him, he cautiously treads +the tranquil street. + +He gains the portico--the signal is given. Who but an expectant maiden +could hear one so slight? + +Hark! a sound! cautiously the lattice opens--above him blushes the fair +one! How brightly her dark eye flashes! how silver soft the tones of +her voice! + +The stern father--the querulous mother--the tricked duenna--all--all +are slumbering. She leans forward, and her ear drinks in his honied +words; as her head is supported by her snowy arm. + +And now he whispers more passionately. She answers not, but hides her +face in her hands. She starts! she throws back her hair from her brow; +she waves a white fazzolet, and is gone. + +Not thus flies the lover. He crouches beneath the Ionic portico, his +figure hardly discernible. A bolt--the last bolt is withdrawn. A form is +dimly seen within--retiring, timid, repentant. + +Sweet the task to calm that throbbing heart, or teach it to throb no +more with fear! + +But let him of melancholy mood, wander to the deserted village. A more +fearful calamity has befallen it, than ever attended the soft shades, of +the one conjured up by the poet. + +_Here_ the demon Plague, with baneful wing, and pestilential influence, +tarried for many days; till not one--no! not one soul of that village +train--that did not join his bygone fathers. + +Stray along its grass-grown roofless tenements! where _your_ echo alone +breaks the silence, as it startles from its resting-place the slumbering +owl--for who would dwell in abodes so marked for destruction? Stray +there! think of the gentle contadina diffusing happiness around her! +_then_ think of her as she supports the youth she loves--as she clasps +his faint form--and drinks in a poisonous contagion from his pallid lip. + +Think of her as the disease seizes on its new victim--still +attempting to prop up his head--to reach the cup, that may relieve +his maddening thirst,--until, giddy and overpowered, she sinks at +last; but--beside him! + +Think of their dying together! _that_ at least is a solace. + +Do not the scene and the thought draw a tear? + +If your eye be dry, come--come away--_your_ step should not sound there! + +The wind continued fair during the whole of the first day. Every trace +of Valletta was soon lost; and the good barque Boston swept by the rocky +coast of the island, where few human habitations meet the eye, swiftly +and cheerily. The sea birds sported round the tall masts--the canvas +bulged out bravely--the Captain forgot his shore griefs, and commenced a +colloquy with Sir Henry. The sailors sung in chorus; whilst poor +Acmé,--we grieve to confess the fact, for never was a Mediterranean sea +looked down on by brighter sun, or more cloudless sky,--retired to her +cabin, supported by George, a prey to that unsentimental malady, sea +sickness. The following day, the wind shifted some points; and the +Captain judged it most prudent to forego his original intention of +steering direct for Palermo; but to take advantage of the breeze, and +adopt the passage through the Faro of Messina. + +Delmé felt glad of this change; for Scylla and Charybdis to an +Englishman, are as familiar as Whittington and his cat. For the first +two days Acmé continued unwell; and George, who already appeared +improved by the sea air, never left her side. + +Delmé had therefore a dull time of it; which he strove to enliven by +conversing, one after the other, with the Captain and his two mates. +From all of them, he learnt something; but from all he turned away, as +they commenced discussing the comparative merits of the United States, +and the old country; a subject he had neither the wish to enter on, nor +fortitude to prosecute. Not daunted, he attacked mate the third; and was +led to infer better things, as the young gentleman commenced expatiating +on the "purple sky," and "dark blue sea." This hope did not last long; +for this lover of nature turned round to Sir Henry, and asked him in a +nasal twang, if he preferred Cooper's or Mr. Scott's novels? Delmè was +not naturally a rude man, but as he turned away, he hummed something +very like Yankee-doodle. + +And then the moon got up; and Sir Henry felt lonely and sentimental. He +leant over the vessel's side, and watched it pictured on the ocean, and +quivering as the transient billow swept onwards. And he thought of home, +and Emily. He thought of his brother, his heir,--if he died, the only +male to inherit the ancient honours of his house,--married to a +stranger, and--but Acmé was too sweet a being, not to have already +enlisted all his sympathies with her. And as if all these thoughts, like +rays converged in a burning glass, did but tend to one object, the image +of Julia Vernon suddenly rose before him. + +He saw her beautiful as ever--gentleness in her eye--fascination in +her smile! + +And the air got cold--and he went to bed. + + + + +Chapter XIX. + +A Dream and a Ghost Story. + + + + "Touching this eye-creation; + What is it to surprise us? Here we are + Engendered out of nothing cognisable-- + If this were not a wonder, nothing is; + If this be wonderful, then all is so. + Man's grosser attributes can generate + What _is_ not, and has never been at all; + What should forbid his fancy to restore + A being pass'd away? The wonder lies + In the mind merely of the wondering man." + + +It was the fourth evening of the voyage. Hardly a breath fanned the +sails, as the vessel slowly glided between the Calabrian and Sicilian +coasts, approaching quite close to the former. + +The party, seated on chairs placed on the deck, gazed in a spirit of +placid enjoyment on one of those scenes, which the enthusiastic +traveller often recals, as in his native clime, he pines for foreign +lands, and for novel impressions. The sun was setting over the purple +peaks of the Calabrian mountains, smiling in sunny gladness on deep +ravines, whose echoes few human feet now woke, save those of simple +peasant, or lawless bandit. Where the orb of day held its declining +course, the sky wore a hue of burnished gold; its rich tint alone +varied, by one fleecy violet cloud, whose outline of rounded beauty, was +marked by a clear cincture of white, + +On their right, beneath the mountain, lay the little village of Capo del +Marte, a perfect specimen of Italian scenery. + +Its sandy beach, against which the tide beat in dalliance--the chafed +spray catching and reflecting the glories of the setting sun--ran +smoothly up a slope of some thirty yards; beyond which, the orange +trees, in their greenest foliage, chequered with their shade the white +cottages scattered above them. + +The busy hum of the fishermen on the coast--the splash of the casting +net--and the drip of the oar--were appropriate accompaniments to the +simple scene. + +On the Sicilian side, a different view wooed attention. There, old Etna +upreared his encumbered head, around which the smoke clung in dense +majesty; and--not contemptible rivals of the declining deity--the moon's +silvery crescent, and the evening star's quiet splendour, were bedecking +the cloudless blue of the firmament. + +Acmé gazed enraptured on the scene--her long tresses hanging back on the +chair, across which one hand was languidly thrown. + +"Giorgio," said she, "do you see this beautiful bird close to the +ship--swimming so steadily--its snowy plumage apparently unwet from its +contact with the wave? To what can you compare it?" + +"That bright-eyed gull, love!" replied he, "riding on the water as if +all regardless that he is on the wide--wide sea--whose billows may so +soon be lashed up to madness;--where may I find a resemblance more +close, than my Acmé's simplicity, which guides her through a troubled +world, unknowing its treacheries, and happily ignorant of its dangers +and its woes?" + +"Ah!" said the blushing girl, "how poetical you are this evening; will +you tell us a story, Giorgio?" + +"_I_ will tell you one," said Delmé, interrupting her. "Do you recollect +old Featherstone, who had been in the civil service in India, and who +lived so near Delmé Park, George?" + +"Perfectly," said his brother, "I remember I used to think him mad, +because he always looked so melancholy, and used to send us word in the +morning when he contemplated a visit; in order that all cats might be +kept out of his way." + +"The very man! I am glad you know so much about him, for it is on this +subject I was going to speak. I cannot tell you where he picked up the +idea originally--but I believe in a dream--that a cat would occasion +his death. + +"Well! he was at Ascot one year, when a gipsy woman came up to him on +the course--told him his fortune--and, to his utter astonishment, warned +him to beware of the wild cat. + +"From that moment, I understand his habits changed. From being a +tolerably cheerful companion, he became a wretched hypochondriac; all +his energies being directed to the avoiding a contact with any of the +feline race. + +"Featherstone, two or three years ago, embarked in one of the mining +speculations--lost great part of his fortune--and found it necessary to +try and retrieve his affairs, by a second voyage to India. + +"I heard nothing more of him, till just before leaving England, when +my old school-fellow, Lockhart, who went as a cadet to the East, +called on me--reminded me of our old whimsical friend--and related +his tragic death. + +"Lockhart says that one day he and some mutual friends, persuaded +Featherstone to accompany them into the interior of the country, to +enjoy the diversion of a boar hunt. + +"They had had good sport, and were returning homewards, when they +suddenly came on a party of natives, headed by the Rajah. + +"They were mounted on elephants, and surrounding a jungle, in which, as +some sepoys had reported, lay a tiger. + +"You know Lockhart's manner--animated and enthusiastic--making one see +the scene he is describing. + +"I will try and clothe the rest of the story in his own words, although I +can hardly hope it will make the same impression on you, that its +recital did on me. + +"'Well, Sir! we all said we would see the sport--all but +Featherstone--who said something about coming on. + +"'We were engaged to dine with Sir John M----, who was in that part of +the world, on some six-and-eightpenny mission about indigo. + +"'The beaters went in, firing and shouting--intending to make him break +towards the hunting party. + +"'We all drew up on one side, to be in view, but out of the way; +Featherstone was next me. He suddenly grasped my arm, and pointed to the +jungle, his teeth chattering--his face ashy pale. I turned and saw the +tiger!--a splendid beast--certainly! + +"'He seemed not to notice us, and stalked on with an innocent yep! yep! +like a sick hound's, more than anything else. + +"'Suddenly his eye caught us, and flashed fire. At the first view, he +crouched to the earth, then came on us, bounding like a tost foot-ball. +More magnificent leaps I never beheld! We were struck dumb--but +fired--and turned our horses' heads!--all but Featherstone. + +"'I shall remember the tones of his voice to my dying hour. + +"'"The cat! Lockhart! the cat!" + +"'I don't know whether his horse refused the spur--or whether the rider's +nerve was gone: but neither appeared to make an effort, till the animal +was close on them. + +"'The horse gave one plunge--and had hardly recovered his feet, when down +went horse and rider. + +"'Featherstone gave a piercing scream! Some of the sepoys were by this +time up--and fired. + +"'The tiger trailed off--the blood spouting down his striped side. + +"'We came up--it was all over! + +"'The first stroke of that terrific paw had laid the unfortunate man's +scull bare. On his shoulder, were the marks of the animal's teeth. + +"'The horse was still writhing in agony. One of my pistols relieved him. + +"'We bore Featherstone to the nearest cantonment, and buried him there.'" + +"How terrible!" said Acmé, as she gave a slight shudder. "Englishmen are +generally more sceptical on these points than we are; and disbelieve +supernatural appearances, which we are accustomed to think are not +unfrequent. I could tell you many stories, which, in my native island, +were believed by our enemies the Turks, as well as by ourselves: but if +you would like it, I will tell you a circumstance that occurred to +myself, the reality of which I dare not doubt. + +"You have often, Giorgio! heard me revert with pain, to the horrible +scene which took place, on the recapture of our little isle by the +infidel Turks; when my family were massacred, and only poor Acmé left to +tell their tale." + +Here the young bride put her handkerchief to her face, and wept +bitterly. George put his arm round her and soothed her. She continued +her narrative. + +"You know my escape, and how I was sent to a kinsman, who had promised +to have me sent to my kind friends in Malta. He was a Corfuote, and it +was in Corfu I remained for a long--a very long time--and there first +met my dear friend, Zöe Scalvo-Forressi. I was then very young. We lived +in the Campagna--about four miles from each other. + +"We had both our Greek ponies, and used often to pass the evenings +together; and at length knew our road so well, that often it was night +before we parted. + +"One night, we had been singing together at her house, and it was later +than usual when I cantered home. + +"About four months had elapsed previous to my landing in Corfu, and I had +been eight months there; although at the time, I paid little attention +to these circumstances. + +"My road lay through an olive grove. I had arrived in its centre, where +a small knoll stretched away on my right; on whose summit, was a white +Greek monastery, backed by some dark cypress trees. + +"The moon was shining brightly--dancing on the silver side of the olive +trees--and illuminating the green sward. + +"This was smooth and verdant. + +"My spirits were more than usually buoyant, when suddenly my pony +stopped. + +"I could not conceive the reason. + +"I looked before me. Immediately in front of me, was the shattered trunk +of an old olive tree--it had been blasted by lightning--and sitting +quietly at its foot--I saw my own mother, Giorgio! as clearly as I see +you now. I could not be mistaken. She wore the same embroidered vest and +Albanian shawl, as when I had last seen her. + +"She conversed with me calmly for many minutes, and--which surprised me +much at the time--I felt no dread, and asked her and answered many +questions. + +"She told me I should die early, in a foreign land; and many--many more +things, which I dare not repeat; for I cannot contemplate the +possibility of their being true. + +"At the time, I told you I felt composed: without any sense of alarm +or surprise. For many days afterwards, however, I never left my bed +of sickness. + +"I told my kinsman all the circumstances, and he discovered beyond a +doubt, that it was on that very day, the twelve-month previous, that my +poor mother had been murdered." + +Sir Henry and George tried to smile at Acmé's story, and account for +what she had seen;--but her manner was so impressive, and her ingenious +reasonings--delivered in the most earnest tone--seemed to confute so +entirely all their speculations, that they were at length content to +deem it "wondrous strange." + +In the best and wisest of us, there is such a tendency to believe in a +mysterious link, connecting the living and the departed; that a story +of this nature, in exciting our feelings, serves to paralyse our +reasoning faculties, and leaves us half converts, to the doctrines that +we faintly combat. + +They looked forth again on the scene. The mountains of Calabria were +frowning on them. The village was far behind--and not a straggling light +marked its situation. + +Numberless stars were reflected on the glassy water, whose serenity was +no longer ruffled by wing of sea bird, which long ere now had returned +to its "wave girded nest." + +Our party and the watch were the only lingerers on deck. + +George wrapped Acmé's silk cloak around her, and then carefully assisted +her in her descent to the cabin. + + + + +Chapter XX. + +The Mad House. + + + "And see the mind's convulsion leave it weak." + + +The land breeze continued to freshen, and the first dawn of morning saw +our party on deck, scanning with near view, the opposite coasts of +Sicily and Italy, as their vessel glided through the Faro of Messina. + +Some pilot boats,--how unlike those which greet the homeward-bound +voyager, as he first hails Britain's chalky cliffs--crowded around the +vessel, offering their services to guide it through the strait. + +Avarice--one incentive to language--had endowed these Sicilian mariners +with a competent knowledge of English, which they dealt out +vociferously. + +As the Captain made his selection, the rejected candidates failed not +to use that familiar English salâm; half the gusto of which is lost, +when used by foreign lip. + +On the Calabrian coast, the sea-port town of Reggio wore an unusual air +of bustle and animation. + +It was a festa day there; and groups of peasants, in many-coloured +costumes, paced up and down the mole; emitting that joyous hum, which +is the never-failing concomitant of a happy crowd. Passing through +the Faro, the vessel's course lay by the northern coast of Sicily. +The current and wind were alike favourable, as it swept on by Melazzo +and Lascari. + +Etna, towering over the lesser mountains, became once more visible; its +summit buried in the clouds of heaven. + +On the right, a luminous crimson ring revealed Stromboli, whose fitful +volcano was more than usually active. + +The following day our party arrived at Palermo. So pleasurable had been +their voyage, that it was with a feeling akin to regret, that they heard +the rumbling chains of the anchor, rush through the hawse-hole, as +their vessel took her station in the bay. + +After going through those wearisome forms, which a foreign sea-port +exacts; and which appear purposely intended, to temper the rapture of +the sea-worn voyager, as he congratulates himself on once more treading +terra firma; our party found themselves the inmates of the English +hotel; and spent the remainder of the day in engaging a cicerone, and in +discussing plans for the morrow. + +The morrow came--sunny and cloudless--and the cicerone bowed to the +ground, as he opened the door of the commodious fiacre. + +"Where shall I drive to, Sir?" + +"What were our plans, George?" said Sir Henry. + +"I think," replied George, "that we only formed one plan to change it +for another. Let the cicerone decide for us." + +_He,_ nothing loath, accepted the charge; and taking his station on the +box of the carriage, directed the driver. + +The carriage first stopped before a large stone building. The bell was +rung--a veteran porter presented himself--and our party entered the +court yard. + +"What place is this?" said Delmé. + +"This," rejoined his guide, with the true cicerone fluency, "is the +famous lunatic asylum, instituted by the illustrious Baron Pisani. This, +gentlemen, is the Baron!" + +Here a benevolent-looking little man with a large nose, took off his +hat. + +"So much approved of was his beneficent design, that our noble King, and +our paternal Government, have not only adopted it; but have graciously +permitted the Baron, to continue to preside over that institution, which +he so happily commenced, and which he so refulgently adorns." + +During this announcement, the Baron's face flushed with a simple, but +honest pride. + +These praises did not to him appear exaggerated; for his intentions had +been of the purest, and in this institution was his whole soul wrapt up. +Acmé became somewhat pale, as she heard where they were, and looked +nervously at George; who could not forbear smiling, as he begged they +would be under no apprehensions. + +"Yes! gentlemen," said the Baron, "circumstances in early life made me +regard mental disease as the most fearful of all. I observed its victims +struggling between reason and insanity; goaded on by the ignorance of +empirics, and the harsh treatment of those about them, until light fled +the tortured brain, and madness directed its every impulse. You, +gentlemen, are English travellers, I perceive! In _your_ happy land, +where generosity and wealth go hand in hand, there are, I doubt not, +many humane institutions, where those, who--bowed down by misfortunes, +or preyed on by disease--have lost the power to take care of themselves, +may find a home, where they may be anxiously tended, and carefully +provided for. + +"Here we knew not of such things. + +"I have said, gentlemen, that chance made me feel a deep interest in +these unfortunates. I sunk the greater part of my fortune, in +constructing this mansion, trusting that the subscriptions of +individuals, would enable me to prosecute the good work. + +"In this I was disappointed; but our worthy Viceroy, who took an interest +in my plans, laid the matter before the Government, which--as Signer +Guiseppe observes--has not only undertaken to support my asylum, but +also permits me to preside over the establishment. _That_, gentlemen, is +my apartment, with the mignionette boxes in front, and without iron bars +in the window; though indeed these very bars are painted, at my +suggestion, such a delicate green, that you might not have been aware +that they were such. + +"This is our first chamber--cheerful and snug. Here are the patients +first brought. We indulge them in all their caprices, until we are +enabled to decide with certainty, on the fantasy the brain has conjured +up. From this room, we take them to the adjacent bed-room, where we +administer such remedies as we think the best fitted to restore reason. + +"If these fail, we apportion the patient a cell, and consider the case as +beyond our immediate relief. We cure, on an average, two-thirds of the +cases forwarded to us; and there have been instances of the mind's +recovering its tone, after a confinement of some years." + +"How many inmates have you in the asylum at present?" said Acmé. + +"One hundred and thirty-six, eighty-six of whom are males. These are our +baths, to which they are daily taken; this the refectory; this the +parlatorio, where they see their friends; and now, if the lady is not +afraid, we will descend to the court yard, and see my charges." + +"There is no fear?" said George. + +"Not in the least. Our punishment is so formidable, that few will incur +it by being refractory." + +"What! then you are obliged to punish them?" said Acmé, with a shudder. + +"Sometimes, but not often. I will show you what our punishment consists +in. You see this room without furniture! Observe the walls and floor; +and even the door as it closes. All these are carefully stuffed; and if +you walk across the room, there is no sound. + +"We cautiously search violent lunatics; who are then dressed in a plain +flannel suit, and left alone. It is seldom we have occasion to retain +them longer than twenty-four hours. They soon find they cannot injure +themselves; their most violent efforts cannot elicit a sound. Their +minds become calmed; and when released, they are perfectly quiet, and +generally inclined to melancholy." + +They descended to the court yard, set apart for the men. Its inmates +were pacing it hurriedly; some jabbering to themselves; others with +groups round them, to whom they addressed some quickly delivered jargon. +With one or two exceptions, all noticed the entrance of the strangers; +and some of them bowed to them, with mock gravity. One man, who wore an +old cocked hat with a shabby feather, tapped Sir Henry on the shoulder. + +"Vous me reconnaissez--Napoleon! votre Empereur!" + +He wheeled round, and called for his Mamelukes. + +The next moment, a young and interesting looking person came forward, +the tears standing in his, eyes, and extended his hand to Acmé. + +"Give me yours," said he, "as a great favour. I was a painter once in +Naples--and I went to Rome--and I loved Gianetta Cantieri!" + +A more ludicrous incident now occurred. At and since their entrance, +our party had heard what seemed the continued bark of a dog. A man on +all fours came forward from behind a group, and with unmeaning face, +and nostril snuffing up the wind, imitated to perfection the deep bay +of a mastiff. + +"That man's peculiarity," observed the Baron, "is an extraordinary one. +He had a cottage near Catania, and had saved some little wealth. His +house was one night robbed of all it contained. This misfortune preyed +on the man's reason, and he now conceives himself a watch dog. He knows +the step of every inmate of the asylum, and only barks at strangers." + +From the male court yard, the Baron ushered them to the female, where +insanity assumed a yet more melancholy shape. + +A pale-faced maniac, with quivering frame, and glaring eye-balls, +continued to cry, in a low and piteous tone, "Murder! murder!! +murder!!!" + +One woman, reclining on the cold pavement, dandled a straw, and called +it her sweet child; while another hugged a misshapen block of wood to +her bared breast, and deemed it her true love. + +A third was on her knees, and at regular intervals, bent down her +shrivelled body, and devoured the gravel beneath her. + +Acmé was happy to leave the scene, and move towards the garden; which +was extensive, and beautifully laid out. + +As they turned down one of the alleys, they encountered five or six men, +drawn up in line, and armed with wooden muskets. + +In front stood Napoleon, who, with stentorian voice, gave the word to +"present arms!" then dropping his stick, and taking off his hat to +Delmé, began to converse familiarly with him, as with his friend Emperor +Alexander, as to the efficiency of Poniatowski and his Polish lancers. + +"Poor fellow!" said the Baron, as they moved on. "Never was insanity +more harmless! He was once brigade major to Murat. This is his hour for +exercise. Exactly at two, he goes through the scene of Fontainbleau, +What will appear to you extraordinary is, that over the five or six men +you saw around him, whose madness has been marked by few distinguishing +traits, he has gradually assumed a superiority, until they now believe +him to be, in reality, the Emperor he so unconsciously personates." + +In the garden, which was of considerable size, were placed a number of +swings and whirligigs, in full motion and occupancy. + +On a stuccoed wall, were represented grotesque figures of animals +dancing; opposite to which, one of Terpsichore's votaries, with a +paper cap on his head, shaped like a pyramid, was executing agile +capers, whose zeal of purpose would have found infinite favour in the +eyes of Laporte. + +Having explored the garden, Delmé accompanied the Baron to a small room, +where the sculls of the deceased maniacs were ranged on shelves, with a +small biographical note attached to each; and heard with attention, the +old man's energetic reasoning, as to these fully demonstrating the truth +of Spurzheim's theory. + +Acmé, meantime, remained on George's arm, talking to a girl of +thirteen, who had been selected to conduct them to the carriage. + +They entered their names in a book at the lodge, and then, turning to +the benevolent director, paid him some well deserved compliments, for +which he bowed low and often. + +The young girl, who had been conversing most rationally with Acmé, moved +forward, and made a signal for the carriage to drive up. + +She was a fair-haired gentle-looking creature, with quiet eye, and +silvery voice. She assisted Acmé to step into the carriage, who +dropped a piece of silver into her hand, for which she gave a sweet +smile and a curtsey. + +She stood a moment motionless. Suddenly her eye lighted up--she darted +into the carriage, and clapped her hands together joyfully. + +"Viva! viva! we shall soon be home at Trapani!" + +The tears sprang to the eyes of the young Greek. + +Even the driver and cicerone were moved. + +Acmé took some flowers from her zone--kissed her cheek--and tried to +change the current of her thoughts; but it was not till the driver +promised he would call again, at the same hour the following day, that +she consented with a sigh to relinquish her journey home. + +From the Lunatic Asylum, our party adjourned to the Duomo, and beheld +the coffin, where the revered body of the Palermitan Saint, attracts +many a devout Catholic. + +Sweet Rosalia! thy story is a pretty one--thy festa beauteous--the +fireworks in thy honour most bright. No wonder the fair Sicilians adore +thy memory. + +In the cool of the evening, our travellers drove to the Marina; where +custom--the crowded assemblage--and the grateful sea breeze--nightly +attract the gay inhabitants of Palermo. + +The carriages, with their epauletted chasseurs, swept on in giddy +succession, and made a scene quite as imposing as is witnessed in most +European capitals. + +Delmé did not think it advisable, to remain too long in the metropolis +of Sicily; and the travellers contented themselves, with the +sight-seeing of the immediate neighbourhood. + +They admired the mosaics of the Chiesa di Monte Reale; and fed the +pheasants, at that beautiful royal villa, well styled "the Favourite." +They took a boat to witness the tunny fishery; and Sir Henry explored +alone the vast catacombs--that city of the dead. + +After a few days thus passed--the weather continuing uncommonly +fine--they did not hesitate to engage one of the small vessels of the +place, to convey them to Naples. + +After enjoying their evening drive as usual, they embarked on board the +Sparonara, one fine starry night, in order to get the full advantage of +the favouring night breeze. + + + +End of the First Volume. + + + +A Love Story + +by + +A Bushman. + +Vol. II. + + + "My thoughts, like swallows, skim the main, + And bear my spirit back again + Over the earth, and through the air, + A wild bird and a wanderer." + + +1841. + + + + +A Love Story. + + + +Chapter I. + +Naples. + + + + "And be it mine to muse there, mine to glide + From day-break when the mountain pales his fire, + Yet more and more, and from the mountain top, + Till then invisible, a smoke ascends, + Solemn and slow." + + "Vedi Napoli! e poi muori!" + + +Memory! beloved memory! to us thou art as hope to other men. The +present--solitary, unexciting--where are its charms? The future hath no +joys in store for us; and may bereave us of some of the few faint +pleasures that still are ours. + +What then is left us--old before our time--but to banquet on the past? + +Memory! thou art in us, as the basil of the enamoured +Florentine. [Footnote 1: See Keats' poem taken from Boccaccio.] Thy +blossoms, thy leaves,--green, fresh, and fragrant,--draw their nurture, +receive their every colouring, from what was dearest to us on earth. And +are they not watered by our tears? + +The poet tells us-- + + "Nessun maggior dolore + Che ricordarsi del tempo felice + Nella miseria." + +But it is not so. Where is he of the tribe of the unfortunate, who would +not gladly barter the contemplation of present wretchedness, for the +remembrance, clogged as it is by a thousand woes, of a time when joyous +visions flitted across life's path? + +Yes! though the contrast, the succeeding moment, should cut him to the +soul. + +But + + "Joy's recollection is no longer joy, + Whilst sorrow's memory is a sorrow still." + +Ah! there's the rub! yet, better to think it _was_ joy, than gaze unveiled +on the cold reality around; than view the wreck--the grievous wreck--a +few short years have made. + +We care not,--and, alas! to such as we have in our mind's eye, these are +the only cases allowed,--we care not! whether rapture has been succeeded +by apathy, or whether the feelings continue as deeply enlisted--the +thoughts as intensely concentrated;--but--in the servitude of despair! + +And again we say--gentle memory! let us dream over our past joys! ay! and +brood over our sorrows--undeserved--as in this hour of solitude, we may +justly deem them. + +Yes! let us again live over our days of suffering, and deem it wiser to +steep our soul in tears, than let it freeze with an iced coating of cynic +miscalled philosophy. + +And shall adversity--that touchstone--softened as our hearts shall thus +be--shall it pass over us, and improve us not? + +No! it has purifying and cleansing qualities; and for us, it has them +not in vain. + +We are not dust, to be more defiled by water; nor are we as the turbid +stream, which passing over driven snow, becomes more impure by the +close contact. + +Thee, Mnemosyne! let us still adore; content rather to droop, fade, and +die--martyrs to thee! than linger on as beasts of the forest, that know +thee not. No hope may be ours to animate the future: let us still cling to +thee, though thine influence sadden the past. + +Away! we are on the placid sea! and Naples lies before us. + +The sun had just risen from ocean's bed, attired in his robe of gold; as +our travellers watched from the deck of their Sparonara, to catch the +first view of the "garden of the world," as the Neapolitans fondly style +their city, + +A dim haze was abroad, the mists were slowly stealing up the mountains, as +their vessel glided on; a light breeze anon filling its canvas, then dying +away, and leaving the sails to flap against the loosened cordage. + +On their left, extended the charming heights of Posilipo---the classic +site of Baia--Pozzuoli--Nisida--and Ischia, to be reverenced for its wine. + +On their right, Capra's isle and Portici--and Vesuvius--wreathed in +vapour, presented themselves. + +As their vessel held on her way, Naples became visible--its turrets capt +by a solitary cloud, which had not yet acknowledged the supremacy of the +rising deity. + +The effulgence of the city was dimmed, but it was lovely still,--as a +diamond, obscured by a passing breath; or woman's eye, humid from +pity's tear. + +"And this," said Sir Henry, for it happened that his travels in Italy had +not extended so far south, "this is Naples! and this sea view the second +finest in the world!" + +"Which is the first?" said Acmé, laughing, "not in England, I trust; for +we foreigners do not invest your island with beauty's attributes." + +"My dear Acmé!" replied Sir Henry, somewhat gravely, "I trust the day may +arrive, when you will deem Delmé Park, with its mansion bronzed by +time--its many hillocks studded with ancient trees--its glistening brook, +and hoary gateways--its wooded avenue, where the rooks have built for +generations--its verdant glades, where the deer have long found a +home:--when you will consider all these, as forming as fair a prospect, as +ever eye reposed on. But I did not allude at the time to England; but to +the Turkish capital. George! I remember your glowing description of your +trip in Mildmay's frigate, up the Dardanelles. What comparison would you +make between the two scenes?" + +"I confess to have been much disappointed," replied George, "in my first +view of Stamboul; and even the beauty of the passage to the Dardanelles, +seemed to me to have been exaggerated. But what really _did_ strike me, as +being the most varied, the most interesting scenery I had ever witnessed, +was that which greeted us, on an excursion we made in a row boat, from the +Bosphorus into the Black Sea. + +"There all my floating conceptions of Oriental luxury, and of Moslem pomp, +were more than realised. + +"The elegant kiosks--the ornamented gardens--the pinnacled harems, the +entrance to which lofty barriers jealously guarded--the number of the +tombs in their silent cities---gave an intense interest to the Turkish +coast;--while sumptuous barges, filled with veiled women, swept by us, and +gave a fairy charm to the sea. On our return, we were nearly lost from our +ignorance of the current, which is rapid and dangerous." + +"Well! I am glad to hear such a smiling account of Stamboul," rejoined +Acmé. "My feelings regarding it have been quite Grecian. It has always +been to me a sort of Ogre city." + +The breeze began to freshen, and the vessel made way fast. + +As they neared the termination of their voyage, some church, or casino +bedecked with statues, or fertile glen, whose sides blushed with the +luscious grape, opened at every instant, and drew forth their admiration. + +Their little vessel swung to her anchor. + +The busy hum of the restless inhabitants, and the joyous toll of the +churches, announcing one of the never-failing Neapolitan processions, was +borne on the breeze. + +The whole party embarked for the quarantine office, and--once authorised +to join the throng of Naples--soon found themselves in the Strada Toledo, +moving towards the Santa Lucia. + +Their hotel was near the mole; its windows commanding an extensive view of +the purple sea, beyond which the eye took in the changeful volcano; and +many a vista--sunny, smiling, and beauteous enough, for the exacting fancy +of an Englishman, who conjures up for an Italian landscape, marble-like +villas--and porticoes, where grapes cluster, in festoons of the +vine--heaving mountains--a purple sky--faces bronzed, but oh how +fair!--and song, revelry, and grace. + +But what struck Acmé, and even Sir Henry, who was more inured to the whirl +of cities, as the characteristical feature of Naples, was its moving life. +In the streets, there was an incessant bustle from morning until midnight. +Each passer by wore an air of importance, almost amounting to a +consciousness of happiness. There was fire in the glance--speech in the +action--on the lip a ready smile. + +In no city of Italy, does care seem more misplaced. The noble rolls on in +his vehicle on the Corso, with features gay and self-possessed; while the +merry laugh of the beggar--as he feasts on the lengthened honors of his +Macaroni--greets the ear at every turn. Stray not there! oh thou with brow +furrowed by anguish! + +If thy young affections have been blighted--if hope fondly indulged, be +replaced by despair--if feelings that lent their roseate hue, to the +commonest occurrences of life, now darken every scene--if thou knowest +thyself the accessary to this, thy misery, stray not in Naples, all too +joyous for thee! + +Rather haunt the shrines of the world's ancient mistress! Perchance the +sunken pillar--and the marble torso--and the moss-grown edifice--and the +sepulchre, with the owl as tenant--and the thought that the great, the +good, and the talented, who reared these fading monuments--are silent and +mouldering below: mayhap these things will speak to thy heart, and repress +the full gush of a sorrow that may not be controlled! And if--the martyr +to o'er-sicklied refinement--to sentiment too etherialised for the world, +where God hath placed thee--ideal woes have stamped a wrinkle on the brow, +and ideal dreams now constitute thy pleasure and thy bane: for such as +thou art! living on feeling's excess--soaring to rapture's heights--or +sinking to despair's abyss--Naples is not fitting! + +Visit the city of the sea! there indulge thy shapeless imaginings--with no +sound to break thy day dreams--save the shrill cry of the gondolier, and +the splash of his busy oar. + +The young Greek, Delmé, and George, were soon immersed in the round of +sight seeing. + +Visits to the ancient palace of Queen Joanna--to the modern villa of the +Margravine--to the Sibyl's Cave, and to Maro's Tomb--to _some_ sites that +owed their interest to classic associations--to _others_ that claimed it +from present beauty--wiled away days swiftly and pleasurably. + +What with youth, change of scene, and an Italian sky, George was no +longer an invalid. His eye wore neither the film of apathy, nor the +unnatural flush of delirium; but smiled its happiness on all, and beamed +its love on Acmé. + +One night they were at the Fondo, and after listening delightedly to +Lalande, and following with quick glance, the rapid movements of the agile +ballerina, and after George had been honoured by a bow--which greatly +amused Acmé--from the beautiful princess; who, poor girl! _then_ felt a +penchant for Englishmen, which she failed not to avow from her opera +box--the party agreed to walk home to the hotel. On their way, they turned +into a coffee-room to take ice. + +The fluent waiter prattled over his catalogue; and Acmé selected his +"sorbetto Maltese," because the name reminded her of the loved island. + +Leaving the coffee-room, they were accosted by a driver of one of the +public coaches. + +"Now, Signore! just in time for Vesuvius! See the sun rise! superb sight! +elegant carriage!" + +"Do let us go!" said Acmé, clapping her hands with youthful enthusiasm. + +"No, no! my dear!" said Sir Henry, "we must not think of it! you would be +so tired." + +"No, no! you do not know how strong I am; and I intend sleeping on +George's shoulder all the way--and we are all in such high spirits--and +these improvised excursions you yourself granted were always best--and +besides, you know we must always start at this hour, if we expect to see +the sunrise from the mountain. What do _you_ say, Giorgio?" + +The discussion ended, by the driver taking the direction of the hotel; +whence, after making arrangements as to provisions and change of dress, +the party started for the mountain. + +The warm cheek of Acmé was reposing on that of her husband; and the wanton +night air was disporting with her wavy tresses, as the loud halloo of the +driver, warned them that they were in Portici, and in the act of arousing +Salvador, the guide to the mountain. After some short delay, they procured +mules. Each brother armed himself with a long staff, and leaving the +carriage, they wended their way towards the Hermitage. + +It was a clear night. The moon was majestically gliding on her path, +vassalled by myriads of stars. + +There was something in the hour--and the scene--and the novelty of the +excursion--that enjoined silence. + +Arrived at the Hermitage, the party dismounted. Acmé clung to the strap, +fastened round their guide, and they commenced the ascent. In a short +time, they had manifest proofs of their vicinity to the volcano. The +ashy lava gave way at each footstep, and it was only by taking short and +quick steps, and perseveringly toiling on, that they were enabled to +make any progress. + +More than once, was Acmé inclined to stop, and take breath, but the guide +assured them they were already late, and that they would only just be in +time for the sunrise. + +As the last of the party reached the summit, the sun became +perceptible--and rose in glory indescribable. The scene afar how gorgeous! +around them how grand! + +Panting from their exertions, they sat on a cloak of Salvador's, and gazed +with astonishment at the novelties bursting on the eye. + +Each succeeding moment, gusts of flame issued forth from the crater. + +They looked down on the bason, above which they were. From a conical +pyramid of lava, were emitted volumes of smoke, which rolled up to heaven +in rounded and fantastic shapes of beauty. Below, a deep azure--above, of +a clear amber hue--the clouds wreathed and ascended majestically, as if +in time to the rumbling thunder--the accompaniments of nature's +subterraneous throes. + +Their fatigues were amply repaid. Sir Henry's curiosity was aroused, and +he descended with the guide to the crater. George and Acmé, delighted with +the excursion, remained on the summit, partaking of Salvador's provisions. + +The descent they found easy and rapid; the lava now assisting, as much as +it had formerly impeded them. + +At Portici, Salvador introduced them to his apartment, embellished with +specimens of lava. They purchased some memorials of their visit--partook +of some fruit--and, after rewarding the guide, they returned to Naples. + +Another of their excursions, and it is one than which there are few more +interesting, was to that city--which, like the fabulous one of the eastern +tale, rears its temples, but there are none to worship; its theatres, but +there are none to applaud; its marble statues, where are the eyes that +should dwell on them with pride? Its mansions are many--its walls and +tesselated pavements, show colours of vivid hue, and describe tales +familiar from our boyhood. The priest is at his altar--the soldiers in +their guard-room--the citizen in his bath. It is indeed difficult, as our +step re-echoes through the silent streets, to divest ourselves of the +impression, that we are wandering where the enchanter's wand has been all +powerful, that he has waved it, and lo! the city sleeps for a season, +until some event shall have been fulfilled. + +Our party were in the Via Appia of Pompeii, when Acmé turned aside, to +remark one tomb more particularly. It was an extensive one, surrounded +with a species of iron net work, through which might be seen ranges of red +earthen vases. Acme turned to the custode, and asked if this was the +burial place of some noble family. + +"No! Signora! this is where the ashes of the gladiators are preserved." + +From the Appian Way, they entered through the public gate; and passing +many shops, whose signs yet draw notice, if they no longer attract custom, +they came to the private houses, and entered one--that called +Sallust's--for the purpose of a more minute inspection. + +"Nothing appears to be more strange," said George, "on looking at these +frescoed paintings, and on such mosaics as we have yet seen; than the +extraordinary familiarity of their subjects. + +"There are many depicted on these walls, and I do not think, Henry, _we_ +are first rate classics;--and yet it would be difficult to puzzle us, in +naming the story whence these frescoes have their birth. Look at this +Latona--and Leda--and the Ariadne abbandonata--and this must certainly be +the blooming Hebe. Ah! and look at this little niche! This grinning little +deity--the facsimile of an Indian idol--must express their idea of the +Penates. Strange! is it not?" + +"But are you not," rejoined Sir Henry, "somewhat disappointed in the +dwelling-houses? This seems one of the most extensive, and yet, how +diminutive the rooms! and how little of attraction in the whole +arrangement, if we except this classic fountain. + +"This I think is a proof, that the ancient Romans must have chiefly passed +their day abroad--in the temples--the forum--or the baths--and have left +as home tenants none but women, and those unadorned with the toga virilis. + +"These habits may have tended to engender a manlier independence; and +to impart to their designs a loftier spirit of enterprise. What say +you, Acmé?" + +"I might perhaps answer," replied Acmé, "that the happiness gained, is +well worth the glory lost. But I must not fail to remind you, that--grand +as this nation must have been--my poor fallen one was its precursor--its +tutor--and its model." + +Hence they wandered to the theatre--the forum--the pantheon--and +amphitheatre:--which last, from their converse in the earlier part of the +day--fancy failed not to fill with daring combatants. As the guide +pointed out the dens for the wild beasts--the passages through which they +came--and the arena for the combat--Sir Henry, like most British +travellers, recalled the inimitable story of Thraso, and his lion fight. +[Footnote: In Valerius.] + +The following day was devoted to the Studio, and to the inspection of the +relics of Pompeii. + +These relics, interesting as they are, yet convey a melancholy lesson to +the contemplative mind. Each modern vanity here has its parallel--each +luxury its archetype. Here may be found the cameoed ring--and the signet +seal--and the bodkin--and paint for the frail one's cheek--a cuirass, that +a life guardsman might envy--weights--whose elegance of shape charm the +eye. Not an article of modern convenience or of domestic comfort, that has +not its representative. They teach us the trite French lesson. + + "L'histoire se répète." + +With the exception of these two excursions, and one to Poestum; our +travellers passed their mornings sight-seeing in Naples, and chiefly at +the Studio, whose grand attraction is the thrilling group of the +Taureau Farnese. + +In the cool of the evening, until twilight's hour was past, they drove +into the country, or promenaded in the gardens of the Villa Reale, to the +sound of the military band. + +Each night they turned their footsteps towards the Mole; where they +embarked on the unruffled bay. To a young and loving heart--the heart of a +bride--no pleasure can equal that, of being next the one loved best on +earth--at night's still witching hour. The peculiar scenery of Naples, yet +more enhances such pleasure. + +Elsewhere night may boast its azure vault and its silver stars. Cynthia +may ride the heavens in majesty--the water may be serene--and the heart +attuned to the night's beauty:--but from the _land_, if discernible--we +can rarely expect much addition to the charms of the scene, and can never +expect it to form its chief attraction. At Naples it is otherwise. + +Our eyes turn to the Volcano, whose flame, crowning the mountain's summit, +crimsons the sky. + +We watch with undiminished interest, its fitful action--now bursting out +brilliantly--now fading, as if about to be extinguished for ever. Seated +beside George, and thus gazing, what pleasure was Acmé's! We need not say +time flew swiftly. Never did happiness meet with more ardent votary than +in that young bride--or find a more ready mirror, on which to reflect her +beaming attributes--than on the features of that bride's husband. + +Their swimming eyes would fill with tears--and their voices sink to the +lowest whisper. + +Sir Henry rarely interrupted their converse; but leant his head on the +boat's side, and thoughtfully gazed on the placid waters, till he almost +deemed he saw reflected on its surface, the face of one, in whose society +_he_ felt he too might be blest. + +But these fancies would not endure long. Delmé would quickly arouse +himself; and, warned by the lateness of the hour, and feeling the +necessity that existed, for his thinking for the all-engrossed pair, would +order the rowers to direct the boat's course homewards. + +Returned to their hotel, it may be that orisons more heavenward, have +issued from hearts more pure. + +Few prayers more full of gratitude, have been whispered by earthly +lips, than were breathed by George and his young wife in the solitude +of their chamber. + +How often is such uncommon happiness as this the precursor of evil! + + + + +Chapter II. + +The Doctor. + + + + "Son port, son air de suffisance, + Marquent dans son savoir sa noble confiance. + Dans les doctes debats ferme et rempli de coeur, + Même après sa défaite il tient tête an vainqueur. + Voyez, pour gagner temps, quelles lenteurs savantes, + Prolongent de ses mots les syllabes traînantes! + Tout le monde l'admire, et ne peut concevoir + Que dans un cerveau seul loge tant de savoir." + + +It was soon after the excursion to Poestum, that a packet of letters +reached the travellers from Malta. These letters had been forwarded from +England, on the intelligence reaching Emily, of George's intended +marriage. They had been redirected to Naples, by Colonel Vavasour, and +were accompanied by a few lines from himself. + +In Sir Henry's communication with his sister, he had prudently thrown a +veil, over the distressing part of George's story, and had dwelt warmly, +on the beauty and sweetness of temper of Acmé Frascati. He could hardly +hope that the proposed marriage, would meet with the entire approval of +those, to whom he addressed himself. + +The letters in reply, however, only breathed the affectionate overflowings +of kind hearts. Mrs. Glenallan sent her motherly blessing to George; and +Emily, in addition to a long communication to her brother, wrote to Acmé +as to a beloved sister; begging her to hasten George's return to England, +that they might meet one, in whom they must henceforward feel the +liveliest interest. + +"How kind they all are," said George. "I only wish we _were_ with them." + +"And so do I," said Acmé. "How dearly I shall love them all." + +"George!" said Sir Henry, abruptly, "do you know, I think it is quite time +we should move farther north. The weather is getting most oppressive; and +we have nearly exhausted the lions of Naples." + +"With all my heart," replied George. "I am ready to leave it whenever +you please." + +On Sir Henry's considering the best mode of conveyance, it occurred to +him, that some danger might arise from the malaria of the Pontine marshes; +and indeed, Rome and its environs were represented, at that time, as being +by no means free from this unwelcome visitant. + +Sir Henry enquired if there were any English physicians resident in +Naples; and having heard a high eulogium passed by the waiter, on a Doctor +Pormont, "who attended the noble Consul, and my Lord Rimington," ventured +to enclose his card, with a note, stating that he would be glad of five +minutes' conversation with that gentleman. + +In a short time, Doctor Pormont was introduced. + +He was a tall man, with very marked features, and a deeply furrowed brow; +whose longitudinal folds, however, seemed rather the result of thought or +of study, than of age. The length of his nose was rivalled by the width of +his mouth. When he spoke, he displayed two rows of very clean and very +regular teeth, but which individually narrowed to a sharp point, and gave +his whole features a peculiarly unpleasing expression. His voice was +husky--his manners chilling--his converse that of a pedant. + +Doctor Pormont was in many respects a singular man. From childhood, he had +been remarkable for stoicism of character. He possessed none of the weak +frailties, or gentle sympathies, which ordinarily belong to human nature. +His blood ran cold, like that of a fish. Never had he been known to lose +his equanimity of deportment. + +A species of stern principle, however, governed his conduct; and his very +absence of feeling, made him an impartial physician, and one of the most +successful anatomists of the day. + +What brought him to bustling, sunny Naples, was an unfathomed +mystery. Once there, he acquired wealth without anxiety, and patients +without friends. + +Amongst the many anecdotes, current amongst his professional brethren, as +to the blunted feelings of Doctor Pormont, was one,--related of him when +he was lecturer at a popular London institution. A subject had been +placed on the anatomist's table, for the purpose of allowing the lecturer, +to elucidate to the young students, the advantages of a post mortem +examination, in the determination of diseases. The lecturer dissected as +he proceeded, and was particularly clear and luminous. He even threw light +on the previous habits of the deceased, and showed at what period of life, +the germ of decay was probably forming. + +A friend casually enquired, as they left the lecture room, whether the +subject had been a patient of his own. + +"No!" replied the learned lecturer, "the body is that of my cousin and +schoolfellow, Harry Welborne. I attended his funeral, at some little +distance from town, a couple of days ago. My servant must have given +information to the exhumer. It is clear the body was removed from the +vault on the same evening." + +Sir Henry Delmé briefly explained to Doctor Pormont, his purpose in +sending for him. He stated that he was anxious to take his advice, as to +the best mode of proceeding to Rome, and also as to the best sleeping +place for the party;--that he had a wholesome dread of the malaria, but +that one of his party being a female, and another an invalid, he thought +it might be as well to sleep one night on the road. Regarding all this, he +deferred to the advice and superior judgment of the physician. + +"Judgment," said Doctor Pormont, "is two-fold. It may be defined, either +as the faculty of arriving at the knowledge of things, which may be +effected by the synthetic or analytic method; or it may be considered as +the just perception of them, when they are fully indagated. + +"Our problem seems to resolve itself into two cases. + +"First: does malaria exist to an unusual and alarming extent, on the route +you purpose taking? + +"Secondly: the existence conceded--what is the best method to escape the +evil effects that might attend its inhibition into the human system? + +"Let us apply the synthetic method to our first case." + +The Doctor prefaced his arguments, by a long statement, as to the gradual +commencement, and progress of malaria;--showed how the atmosphere, +polluted by exhalations of water, impregnated with decaying and putrified +vegetable matter, gave forth miasmata; which he described as being +particles of poison in a volatile state. + +He alluded to the opinion held by many, that the disease owed its origin +to the ravages of the barbarians, who destroying the Roman farms and +villas, had made _desert_ what were _fertile_ regions. + +He traced it from the time of the late Roman Emperors, to that of the +dominion of the Popes, whose legislative enactments to arrest the malady, +he failed not to comment on at length. + +He explained the uncertainty which continued to exist, as to the +boundaries of the tract of country, in which the disease was rife; and +then plunged into his argument. + +George, at this crisis, quietly took the opportunity of gliding from the +room. Sir Henry stretched his legs on an ottoman, and appeared immersed in +the study of a print--the Europa of Paul Veronese--which hung over the +mantel-piece. + +"The Diario di Roma," continued the Doctor, "received this day, decidedly +states that malaria is fearfully raging on the Neapolitan road. Pray +forgive me, if I occasionally glide into the vulgar error, of confounding +the disease itself, with the causes of that disease. + +"On the other hand, a young collegian, who arrived in Naples from Rome +yesterday evening, states that he smoked and slept the whole journey, and +suffered no inconvenience whatever. + +"Here two considerations present themselves. While sleep has been +considered by the best authorities, as predisposing the human frame to +infection, by opening the pores, relaxing the integuments, and retarding +the circulation of the blood; I cannot overlook the virtues of tobacco, +narcotic--aromatic--disinfecting--as we must grant them to be. + +"Here then may I place in juxta-position, the testimony of the Diario, and +that of a young gentleman, half of his time asleep--the other half, under +the influence of the fumes of tobacco. + +"Synthetically, I opine, that we may conclude that malaria does exist, and +to a great degree, in the Campagna di Roma. Will you now allow me, to +submit the question under dispute, to the analytic process? By many, in +the present age, though not by me, it is considered the more philosophical +mode of reasoning." + +"I am extremely obliged to you, Doctor," said Sir Henry, in a quiet tone +of voice, "but you have raised the synthetic structure so admirably, +that I think that in this instance we may dispense with your analysis. +Pray proceed!" + +"Having already shown, then--although your kindness has allowed me to do +so but partially--that malaria does indeed exist, it becomes me to show, +which is the best mode of avoiding its baneful effects. + +"Injurious as are the miasmata in general, and fatal as are the effects of +that peculiar form in this country, termed malaria; the diseases they +engender, I apprehend to be rather endemic than epidemic. + +"It would be difficult to determine, to what part of the Campagna, the +disease is at present confined; but I should certainly not advise you, to +sleep within the bounds of contagion, for the predisposing effects of +sleep I have already hinted at. + +"Rapid travelling is, in my opinion, the best prophylactic I can prescribe, +as besides a certain exhilarating effect on the spirits, the swift passage +through the air, will remove any spiculĉ of the marsh miasmata, which may +be hovering near your persons. Air, cheerfulness, and exercise, however, +predispose to, and are the results of sleep: and to an invalid especially, +sleep is indispensable. + +"In Mr. Delmé's case, therefore, I would recommend a temporary halt." + +Dr. Pormont then gave an account of the length of the stages, the nature +of the post-house accommodations, and the probable degree of danger +attached to each site. + +From all this, Delmé gathered, that malaria existed to some extent, on the +line of road they were to travel--that sleep would be necessary for +George--and that, on the whole, it would be most desirable to sleep at an +inn, situated at a hamlet between Molo di Gaetà and Terracina, somewhat +removed from the central point of danger. + +But the truth is, that Sir Henry Delmé was disposed to consider Dr. +Pormont, with his pomposity, and wordy arguments, as a mere superficial +thinker; and he half laughed at himself, for having ever thought it +necessary to consult him. This class of men influence less than they +ought. Sensible persons are apt to set them down, as either fools or +pedants. Their very magniloquence condemns them; for, in the present day, +it seems an axiom, that simplicity and genius are invariably allied. + +This rule, like most others, has its exceptions; and it would be well for +all of us, if we thought less of the manner, in which advice may be +delivered, and more of the matter which it may contain. + +The Doctor rose to take leave,--Sir Henry witnessed his departure with +lively satisfaction; and, with the exception of enjoying a hearty laugh, +at his expense, with George and Acmé, ceased to recollect that such a +personage existed. + +Delmé, however, had cause to remember that Doctor Pormont. + +Were it not so, he would not have figured in these pages. + +The last evening they were at Naples, they proceeded, as was their +custom, to the Mole; and there engaging a boat, directed it to be rowed +across the bay. + +The volcano was more than usually brilliant, and the villages at its base, +appeared as clear as at noonday. + +The water's surface was not ruffled by a ripple. A bridal party was +following in the wake of their boat--and nuptial music was floating past +them in subdued cadence. + +A nameless regret filled their minds, as they thought of the journey on +the coming morrow. They had been so happy in Naples. Could they hope to be +happier elsewhere? + +It was midnight, when they returned to the hotel. As they neared its +portico, the round cold moon fell on the forms of the lazzaroni, who were +lying in groups round the pillars. + +One of the party sprang to his feet, alarming the slumberers. The whole +of them rose with admirable cheerfulness--took off their hats +respectfully--and made way for the forestieri. + +During the momentary pause that ensued, Acmé turned to the volcano, and +playfully waved her hand in token of farewell. + +Her eyes filled with tears, and she clung heavily to George's arm. + +She was doomed never to look on that scene again. + + + + +Chapter III. + +The Beginning of the End. + + + + "Thou too, art gone! thou loved and lovely one, + Whom youth and youth's affections bound to me." + + +At an early hour, rich aureate hues yet streaking the east, our party were +duly seated in a roomy carriage of Angrasani's, on their way to Rome. + +They had hopes of arriving at the capital, in time to witness that unique +sight, the illumination of Saint Peter's; a sight which few can remember, +without deeming its anticipation well worthy, to urge on the jaded +traveller, to his journey's termination. + +Who can forget the play of the fountains in front of the Vatican, the +music of whose descending water is most distinctly audible, although +crowds throng the wide and noble space. + +Breathless--silent all--is the assembled multitude, as the clock of Saint +Peter's gives its long expected signal. + +Away! darkness is light! a fairy palace springs before us! its +beautiful proportions starting into life, until the giddy brain reels, +from the excess of that splendour, on which the eye suddenly and +delightedly feasts! + +With the exception of a short halt, which afforded the travellers time for +an early dinner at the Albergo di Cicerone, which is about half a mile +from the Molo di Gaeta, they prosecuted their journey without +intermission, till arrived within sight of their resting place. + +This bore the aspect of an extensive, but dilapidated mansion, evidently +designed for some other purpose. + +Its proprietor had erected it, at a period, when malaria was either less +prevalent or less dreaded; and his descendants had quitted it, for some +more salubrious site. + +The albergo itself, occupied but a small portion of the building, +immediately on the right and left of the porch. + +The other apartments, which formed the wings, were either wholly +tenantless, or were fitted up as hay-lofts, granaries, or receptacles for +farming utensils. + +In the upper rooms, the panes of glass were broken; and the whole aspect +of the place betokened desolation and decay. + +As they drove to the door, a throng of mendicants and squalid peasants +came forth. Their faces had a cadaverous hue, which could not but be +remarked. Their eyes, too, seemed heavy, and deep set in the head; while +many had their throats bandaged, from the effects of glandular swellings, +brought on by the marshy exhalations. + +Acmé threw some small pieces of Neapolitan money amongst them; and their +gratitude in consequence was boundless. + +She sprang from the carriage like a young fawn. + +"Come, come, Giorgio! look at that sweet sun-set--and at the blue clouds +edged with burnished gold! Would it not be a sin to remain in-doors on +such an evening? and besides," added she, in a whisper--"is it not a +pleasure to leave behind us these sickly faces, to muse on an Italian +landscape, and admire an Italian sky? Driver! will you order supper? We +will take a stroll while it is preparing. + +"Come! Henry! come away! do not look so grave, or you will make me think +of your amusing friend--Dr. Pormont." + +"Thompson!" said George, as the smiling bride bore off the brothers in +triumph, "do not forget your mistress' guitar case!" + +The travellers passed a paved court, in rear of the building; whence a +wicket gate admitted them to a kitchen garden, well stocked with the +requisites for an Italian salad. + +Behind this, enclosed with embankments, was a small vineyard. The vines +twined round long poles, these again being connected with thin cords, +which the tendrils were already clasping. + +Thus far, there was nothing that seemed indicative of an unwholesome +situation. As they extended their walk, however, pursuing the +continuation of the path, that had led them through the vineyard, they +arrived at the edge of a dark sluggish stream, whose surface was nearly on +a level with them; and which, gradually becoming broader, at length +emptied itself into what might be styled a wide and luxuriant marsh, which +abounded with water-fowl. This was studded with small round lakes, and +with islets of an emerald verdure. + +From the bosom of the marsh itself, rose bulrushes and pollard willows, +towered over by gigantic noisy reeds. + +The stream was thickly strewn with the pure honours of the water lily. + +If--as Eastern poets tell us--these snowy flowers bathe their charms, +when the sun is absent, but lift up their virgin heads, when he looks +down approvingly:--but that, sometimes deceived, on some peerless +damsel's approaching, they mistake her eye for their loved luminary, and +pay to her beauty an abrupt and involuntary homage:--_now_ might they +indeed gaze upward, to greet as fair a face as ever looked down on the +water they bedecked. + +They approached the edge of the marsh, and discovered a rural arbour +of faded boughs--the work of children--placed around a couple of +willow trees. + +Within it, was a rude seat; and some parasitical plant with a deep red +flower, had twined round the withered boughs, and mingled fantastically +with the dead leaves. + +Below the arbour, was a small stone embankment, which prevented the +waters from encroaching, and made the immediate site comparatively free +from dampness. + +Acme arranged her cloak--took one hand of each of the brothers in +hers--and in the exuberance of health and youth--commenced prattling in +that charming domestic strain, which only household intimacy can beget +or justify. George leant back in silence, but could have clasped her to +his heart. + +Memory! memory! who that hath a soul, cannot conjure up one such gentle +being,--while the blood for one moment responds to thy call, and rolls +through the veins with the tide of earlier and of happier days? + +At the extremity of the horizon, was a more extensive lake, than any near +them. Over this, the sun was setting; tinting its waters with a clear rich +amber, save in its centre, where, the lake serving as a halo to its glory, +a blood-red sun was vividly reflected. + +As the sun descended, one slender ray of light, came quivering and +trembling through the leaves of the arbour. + +This little incident gave rise to a thousand fanciful illustrations on the +part of Acmé. Her spirits were as buoyant as a child's; and her playful +mood soon communicated itself to her travelling companions. + +They compared the solitary ray to virtue in loneliness--to the flickering +of a lamp in a tomb--to a star reflected on quicksilver--to the flash of a +sword cutting through a host of foes--and to the light of genius illuming +scenes of poverty and distress. + +Thompson made his appearance, and announced the supper as being ready. + +"This," said George, good-naturedly, "is an odd place, is it not, +Thompson? Is it anything like the Lincolnshire Fens?" + +"Not exactly, your honour!" replied the domestic, with perfect gravity, +"but there ought to be capital snipe shooting here." + +"Ah! che vero Inglese!" said the laughing Acmé. + +They retraced their steps to the inn, and were ushered into the supper +room, which was neither more nor less than the kitchen, although formerly, +perhaps, the show room of the mansion. Around the deep-set fireplace, +watching the simmering of the cauldron, were grouped some peasants. + +The supper table was laid in one corner of the room; and although neither +the accommodation nor the viands were very tempting, there was such a +disposition to be happy, that the meal was as much enjoyed as if served up +in a palace. + +The repast concluded, Acmé rose; and observing a countryman with his arm +bound up, enquired if he had met with an accident; and patiently listened +to the prosy narrative of age. + +An old bronzed husbandman, too, was smoking his short earthen pipe, near +the window sill. + +"What a study for Lanfranc!" said the happy wife, as she took up a burnt +stick, and sketched his dried visage to the life. + +The old man regarded his portrait on the wall, with intense satisfaction; +and commenced dilating on what he had been in youth. + +How different, thought Sir Henry, is all this from the conduct of a well +bred English girl! yet how natural and amiable does it appear in Acmé! +With what an endearing manner--with what sweet frankness--does this young +foreigner wile away--what would otherwise have been--a tedious evening in +an uncomfortable inn! + +As the night advanced, George brought out the guitar; and Acmé warbled to +its accompaniment like a fairy bird. + +It was a late hour, before Delmé ventured to remind the songstress, that +they must prosecute their journey early on the following morning. + +"I will take your hint," said Acmé, as she shook his hand, and tripped +out of the room; "buona sera! miei Signori." + +"She is a dear creature!" said Delmé, + +"She is indeed!" replied his brother, "and I am a fortunate man. Henry! I +think I shall be jealous of you, one of these days. I do believe she loves +you as well as she does me!" + +The brothers retired. + +Sir Henry's repose was unbroken, until morning dawned; when George entered +his room in the greatest agitation, and with a face as pale as death, told +him Acmé was ill. + +Delmé arose immediately; and at George's earnest solicitation, +entered the room. + +Her left cheek, suffused with hectic, rested on one small hand. The other +arm was thrown over the bed-clothes. Her eyes sparkled like diamonds. Her +lips murmured indistinctly--the mind was evidently wandering. + +A man and horse were sent express to Naples. The whole of that weary day, +George Delmé was by Acmé's side, preparing cooling drinks, and vainly +endeavouring to be calm. + +As the delirium continued, she seemed to be transported to the scenes of +her early youth, + +As night wore on, the fever, if it were such, gradually increased. + +George's state of mind bordered on distraction. Sir Henry became +exceedingly alarmed, and anxious for the presence of the medical +attendant. + +At about four o'clock the following morning, Doctor Pormont was announced, + +Cold and forbidding as was his aspect, George hailed him as his tutelary +angel, and burst into tears, as he implored him to exert his skill to the +uttermost. + +The physician approached the invalid, and in a moment saw that the case +was a critical one. + +His patient was bled twice during the day, and strong opiates +administered. + +Towards evening, she slept; and awoke with restored consciousness, but +with feelings keenly alive to her own danger. + +The following night and day she lingered on, speaking but little. + +During the whole of that time, even, when she slept, George's hand +remained locked in hers. On this, her tears would sometimes fall, but +these she strove to restrain. + +To the others around her, she spoke gratefully, and with feminine +softness; but her whole heart seemed to be with George. + +Doctor Pormont, to do him justice, was unremitting in his exertions, and +hardly took rest. + +All his professional skill was called to her aid; but from the second day, +he saw it was in vain. + +The strength of the invalid failed her more and more. + +Doctor Pormont at length called Sir Henry on one side, and informed him +that he entertained no doubt of a fatal result; and recommended his at +once procuring such religious consolation as might be in his power. + +No Protestant clergyman was near at hand, even had Delmé thought it +adviseable to procure one. + +But he was well aware, that however Acme might have sympathised with +George, her earlier religious impressions would now in all probability +be revived. + +A Catholic priest was sent for, and arrived quickly. He was habited in +the brown garb of his order, his waist girt with a knotted cord. He bore +in his hand the sainted pyx, and commenced to shrive the dying girl. + +It was the soft hour of sunset, and the prospect in rear of the mansion, +presented a wide sea of rich coloured splendour. + +Over the window, had been placed a sheet, in order to exclude the light +from the invalid's chamber. The priest knelt by her bedside; and folding +his hands together, began to pray. + +The rays of the setting sun, fitfully flickered on the sheet, over whose +surface, light shadows swiftly played, ever and anon glancing on the shorn +head of the kneeling friar. + +His intelligent face was expressive of firm belief. + +His eye turned reverentially to heaven, as in deep and sonorous accents, +he implored forgiveness for the sufferer, for the sins committed during +her mortal coil. + +Acmé sat up in her bed. On her countenance, calm devotion seemed to usurp +the place of earthly affections, and earthly passions. + +The soul was preparing for its upward flight. Delmé led away the sorrowing +husband, and the minister of Christ was left alone, to hear the contrite +outpourings of a weak departing sinner. + +The priest left the chamber, but spoke not, either to the physician, or +the expecting brothers. His impassioned glance belonged to another and a +higher world. + +He made one low obeisance--his robes swept the passage quickly--and the +Franciscan friar sought his lonely cell to reflect on death. + +The brothers re-entered. They found Acmé in the attitude in which they had +left her--her features wearing an expression at once radiant and resigned. + +But--as her eye met George's--as she saw the havoc grief had already +made--the feelings of the woman resumed the mastery. + +She extended her arms--she brought his lip to hers--as if she would have +made _that_ its resting place for ever. + +Alas! an inward pang told her to be brief. She drew away her face, +crimsoned with her passion's flush--tremblingly grasped his hand---and, +with voice choked by emotion, gave her last farewell. + +"Giorgio, my dearest! my own! I shall soon join my parents. I feel +this--and my mother's words, as she met me by the olive tree, ring +in my ear. + +"She told me I should die thus; but she told me, too, that I should kill +the one dearest to me on earth. Thank God! this cannot be--for I know my +life to be ebbing fast. + +"Dearest I do not mourn for me too much. You may find another Acmé--as +true. But, oh! sometimes--yes! even when your hearts cling fondly +together, as ours were wont to do--think of your own Acmé--who loved you +first--and only--and does it now! oh! how well! Giorgio! dear! dearest! +adieu! My feet are _so, so_ cold--and ice seems"-- + +A change shadowed the face, as from some corporeal pang. + +She tried to raise an ebony cross hung round her neck. + +In the effort, her features became convulsed--and George heard a low +gurgling in the throat, as from suffocation. + +Ah! that awful precursor of "the first dark hour of nothingness." + +George Delmé sprang to his feet, and was supporting her head, when the +physician grasped his arm. + +"Stop! stop! you are preventing"---- + +The lower lip quivered--and drooped--slightly! very slightly! + +The head fell back. + +One long deep drawn sigh shook the exhausted frame. + +The face seemed to become fixed. + +Doctor Pormont extended his hand, and silently closed those dark +fringed lids. + +The cold finger, with its harsh touch, once more brought consciousness. + +Once more the lid trembled! there was an upward glance that looked +reproachful! + +Another short sigh! Another! + +Lustreless and glaring was that once bright eye! + +Again the physician extended his hand. + +"Assuredly, gentlemen! vitality hath departed!" + +A deep--solemn--awful silence--which not a breath disturbed--came over +that chamber of death. + +It seemed as if the insects had ceased their hum--that twilight had +suddenly turned to night--that an odour, as of clay, was floating around +them, and impregnating the very atmosphere. + +George took the guitar, whose chords were never more to be woke to harmony +by that loved hand, and dashed it to the ground. + +Ere Delmé could clasp him, he had staggered to the bedside--and fallen +over Acmé's still form. + +And did her frame thrill with rapture? did she bound to his caress? did +her lip falter from her grateful emotion?--did she bury his cheek in her +raven tresses? + +No, no! still--still--still were all these! still as death! + + + + +Chapter IV. + +Rome. + + + + "Woe unto us, not her; for she sleeps well." + + * * * * * + + "The Niobe of nations! there she stands, + Childless and crownless, in her voiceless woe; + An empty urn within her wither'd hands, + Whose holy dust was scatter'd long ago. + The Scipios' tomb contains no ashes now; + The very sepulchres lie tenantless + Of their heroic dwellers; dost thou flow, + Old Tiber! through a marble wilderness? + Rise, with thy yellow waves, and mantle her distress." + + +Undertakers! not one word shall henceforth pass our lips in your +dispraise! + +An useful and meritorious tribe are you! + +What! though sleek and rosy cheeked, you seem to have little in common +with the wreck of our hopes? + +What! if our ears be shocked by profane jests on the weight of your +burden, as you bear away from the accustomed mansion, what _was_ its +light and its load star--but what _is_--pent up in your dark, narrow +tenement, but-- + + "A heap, + To make men tremble, that never weep." + +What! if our swimming eye--as we follow those dear--dear remains to their +last lone resting place--glance on the heartless myrmidons, who salute the +passer by with nods of recognition, and smiles of indifference? + +What! if, returning homewards--choked with bitter recollections, which +rise fantastic, quick, and ill-defined--the very ghosts of departed +scenes and years--what if we start as we then perceive you--lightsome of +heart, and glib of speech--clustered and smirking, on that roof of +nodding plumes--neath which, one short hour since--lay what was dearest +to us on earth? + +Let us not heed these things! for--light as is the task to traders in +death's dark trappings; painful and soul-subduing are those withering +details to the grieving and heart-struck mourner! + +We left George lying half insensible by the side of his dead wife. + +Sir Henry and Thompson carried him to the apartment of the former, and +while Thompson hung over his master, attempting to restore +consciousness--Delmé had a short conference with Doctor Pormont as to +their ulterior proceedings. + +Doctor Pormont--as might be expected--enjoined the greatest promptitude, +and recommended that poor Acmé's remains, should be consigned to the +burial place of the hamlet. + +George's objections to this, however, as soon as he was well enough to +comprehend what was going forward, seemed quite insurmountable; and after +Sir Henry had sought the place by moonlight, and found it wild and open, +with goats browsing on the unpicturesque graves, and with nothing to mark +the sanctity of the spot, save a glaring painted picture of the Virgin, +his own prejudices became enlisted, and he consented to proceed to Rome. + +After this decision was made, he found it utterly impossible, to procure +a separate conveyance for the corpse; and was equally unsuccessful in his +attempt to procure that--which from being a common want, he had been +disposed to consider of every day attainment--a coffin. + +While his brother made what arrangements he best might, poor George +returned to the chamber of death, and gazed long and fixedly--with the +despair of the widower--on those hushed familiar features. + +Her hair was now turned back, and was bound with white ribbon, and +festooned with some of the very water lilies that Acmé had admired. A +snow-white wreath bound her brow. It was formed of the white convolvulus. +We have said the features were familiar; but oh! how different! The yellow +waxen hue--the heavy stiffened lid--how they affected George Delmé, who +had never looked on death before! + +First he would gaze with stupid awe--then turn to the window, and attempt +to repress his sobs--return again--and refuse to credit his bereavement. +Surely the hand moved? No! of its free will shall it never move more! The +eye! was there not a slight convulsion in that long dark lash? + +No! over it may crawl the busy fly, and creep the destructive worm, +without let, and without hindrance! + +No finger shall be raised in its behalf--that lid shall remain closed +and passive! + +The insect and the reptile shall extend their wanderings over the +smooth cheek, and revel on the lips, whose red once rivalled that of +the Indian shell. + +Moveless! moveless shall all be! + +The long--long night wore on. + +An Italian sunrise was gilding the heavens. + +Acmé was never to see a sunrise more; and even this reflection--trite as +it may seem, occurring to one, who had watched through the night, by the +side of the dead--even this reflection, convulsed again the haggard +features of the mourner. + +Delmé had made the requisite arrangements during the night, for their +early departure. + +Just previous to the carriage being announced, he led George out of the +room; whilst the physician, aided by the women, took such precautions as +the heat of the climate rendered necessary. + +Linen cloths, steeped in a solution of chlorate of lime, were closely +wound round the body--a rude couch was placed in the inside of the +carriage, which was supported by the two seats--and the carriage itself +was darkened. + +These preparations concluded--and having parted with Doctor +Pormont---whose attentions, in spite of his freezing manner, had been very +great--the brothers commenced their painful task. + +George knelt at the head of the corpse--ejaculated one short fervent +prayer--and then, assisted by his brother, bore it in his arms to +the vehicle. + +The Italian peasants, with rare delicacy, witnessed the scene from the +windows of the inn, but did not intrude their presence. + +The body was placed crosswise in the carriage. George sat next the +corpse. Delmé sat opposite, regarding his brother with anxious eye. + +Most distressing was that silent journey! It made an impression on Sir +Henry's mind, that no after events could ever efface; and yet it had +already been his lot, to witness many scenes of horror, and ride over +fields of blood. + +We have said it was a silent journey. George's despair was too deep +for words. + +The first motion of the carriage affected the position of the corpse. +George put one arm round it, and kept it immoveable. Sometimes, his +scalding tears would fall on that cold face, whose outline yet preserved +its beautiful roundness. + +It appeared to Sir Henry, that he had never seen life and death, so +closely and painfully contrasted. There sat his brother, in the full +energies of manhood and despair; his features convulsed--his frame +quivering--his sobs frequent--his pulse quick and disturbed. + +There lay extended his mistress--cold--colourless--silent--unimpassioned. +There was life in the breeze that played on her raven tresses--grim death +was enthroned on the face those tresses swept. + +Not that decay's finger had yet really assailed it; but one of the +peculiar properties of the preservative used by Doctor Pormont, is its +pervading sepulchral odour. + +They reached Rome; and the consummation of their task drew nigh. + +Pass we over the husband's last earthly farewell. Pass we over that +subduing scene, in which Henry assisted George to sever long ringlets, and +rob the cold finger, of affection's dearest pledge. + +Alas! these might be retained as the legacy of love. + +They were useless as love's memento. Memory, the faithful mirror, forbade +the relic gatherer ever to forget! + +Would you know where Acmé reposes? + +A beautiful burial ground looks towards Rome. It is on a gentle declivity +leaning to the south-east, and situated between Mount Aventine and the +Monte Testaccio. + +Its avenue is lined with high bushes of marsh roses; and the cemetery +itself, is divided into three rude and impressive terraces. + +_There_ sleeps--in a modest nook, surmounted by the wall-flower, and by +creeping ivy, and by many-coloured shrubs, and by one simple yellow +flower, of very peculiar and rare fragrance; a type, as the author of +these pages deemed, of the wonderful etherialised genius of the +man--_there_ sleeps, as posterity will judge him, the first of the poets +of the age we live in--Percy Bysshe Shelley! There too, moulders that +wonderful boy author--John Keats. + +Who can pass his grave, and read that bitter inscription, dictated on his +deathbed, by the heart-broken enthusiast, without the liveliest emotion? + + "Here lies one, whose name was writ in water. + February 4th, 1821." + +The ancient wall of Rome, crowns the ridge of the slope we have described. +Above it, stands the pyramid of Caius Cĉstius, constructed some twenty +centuries since. + +Immediately beneath it, in a line with a round tower buried with ivy, and +near the vault of our beautiful countrywoman, Miss Bathurst, who was +thrown from her horse and drowned in the Tiber, may be seen a sarcophagus +of rough granite, surmounted by a black marble slab. + +Luxuriant with wild flowers, and studded even in the winter season, with +daisies and violets, the sides of the tomb are now almost concealed. Over +the slab, one rose tree gracefully droops. + +When seen in the dew of the morning, when the cups of the roses are full, +and crystal drops, distilling from leaves and flowers, are slowly +trickling on the dark stone, you might think that inanimate nature was +weeping for the doom of beauty. + +Only one word is engraved on that slab. Should you visit Rome, and read +it, recollect this story. + +That word is--"Acmé!" + + * * * * * + +Sir Henry and his brother remained at Rome nearly a month. + +The former, with hopes that the exertion might be useful, in distracting +George from the constant contemplation of his loss, plunged at once into +the sight-seeing of "the eternal city." + +Their days were busily passed--in visiting the classic sites of Rome and +its neighbourhood--in wandering through the churches and convents--and +loitering through the long galleries of the Vatican. + +Delmé, fearfully looking back on the scenes that had occurred in Malta, +was apprehensive, that George's despair might lead to some violent +outbreak of feeling; and that mind and body might sink simultaneously. + +It was not so. + +That heavy infliction appeared to bear with it a torpedo-like power. The +first blow, abrupt and stunning, had paralysed. Afterwards, it seemed to +carry with it a benumbing faculty, which repressed external display. We +say _seemed_; for there were not wanting indications, even to Sir Henry's +partial eye, that the wound had sunk very deep, + +The mourner _might_ sink, although he did not writhe. + +In the mornings, George, followed by Thompson, would find his way to +the Protestant burial ground; and weep over the spot where his wife +lay interred. + +During the day, he was Sir Henry's constant and gentle companion; giving +vent to no passionate display, and uttering few unavailing complaints. Yet +it was now, that a symptom of disease first showed itself, which Delmé +could not account for. + +George would suddenly lean back, and complain of a spasm on the left side +of the chest. This would occasionally, but rarely, affect the circulation. +George's sleep too, was disturbed, and he frequently had to rise from his +bed, and pace the apartment; but this last circumstance, perhaps, was the +mere result of anxiety of mind. + +Sir Henry, without informing George, consulted a medical gentleman, who +was well known to him, and who happened to be at Rome at the time, +regarding these novel symptoms. + +He was reassured by being informed, that these pains were probably of a +neuralgic character, and not at all likely to proceed from any organic +affection. + +George Delmé's mind was perfectly clear and collected; with the +exception, that he would occasionally allude to his loss, in connection +with some scene or subject of interest before them; and in a tone, and +with language, that, appeared to his brother eccentric, but +inexpressibly touching. + +For instance, they were at Tivoli, and in the Syren's grotto, looking up +to the foaming fall, which dashes down a rude cleft, formed of +fantastically shaped rocks. + +Immediately below this, the waters make a semicircular bend. + +On their surface, a mimic rainbow was depicted in vivid colours. + +"Not for me!" burst forth the mourner, "not for me! does the arc of +promise wear those radiant hues. Prismatic rays once gilded my existence. +With Acmé they are for ever fled. But look! how the stream dashes on! Thus +have the waters of bitterness passed over my soul!" + +In the gallery of the Vatican, too, the very statues seemed to speak to +him of his loss. + +"I like not," would he exclaim, "that disdainful Apollo. Thus cold, +callous, and triumphing in the work of destruction, must be the angel of +death, who winged the shaft at my bright Acmé. + +"May the launching of his arrow, have been but the signal, for her +translation to a sphere, more pure than this. + +"Let us believe her the habitant of some bright planet, such as she +pointed out to us in the Bay of Naples--a seraph with a golden lyre--and +shrouded in a white cymar! No, no!" would he continue, turning his +footsteps towards the adjacent room, where the suffering pangs of +Apollo's high priest are painfully told in marble, "let let me rather +contemplate the Laocoon! His agony seems to sympathise with mine--but was +his fate as hard? _He_ saw his sons dying before him; could a son, or +sons, be as the wife of one's bosom? The serpent twines around him, too, +awaking exquisite corporeal pangs, but would it not have been luxury to +have died with my Acmé? + +"Can the body suffer as the mind?" + +At night, reposing from the fatigues of the day, might the brothers +frequently be seen at the fountain of Trevi; George listlessly swinging +on the chains near it, and steadfastly watching the water, as it gurgled +over the fantastic devices beneath--while his mind wandered back to +Malta, and to Acmé. + +Sir Henry's conduct during this trying period was most exemplary. Like the +mother, who lavishes her tenderest endearments on her sickliest child, +did he now endeavour to support his brother in his afflictions. + +As the bleak night wind came on, he would arouse George from his +reverie--would make him lean his tall form on his--would wrap closely +the folds of his cloak around him--would speak _so_ softly--and soothe +_so_ tenderly. + +And gratefully did George's heart respond to his kindness. He knew that +the sorrow which bowed _him_ to the earth, was also blanching the cheek of +his brother, and he loved him doubly for his solicitude. + +Ah! few brothers have thus made sweet the fraternal tie! + + + + +Chapter V. + +The East Indian. + + + + "Would I not stem + A tide of suffering, rather than forego + Such feelings for the hard and worldly phlegm + Of those whose thoughts are only turn'd below, + Gazing upon the ground, with thoughts that dare not glow?" + + +From Rome and our care-worn travellers, let us turn to Mrs. Vernon's +drawing-room at Leamington. + +An unforeseen event suddenly made a considerable change in the hopes and +prospects of our fair friend Julia. + +One warm summer's morning--it was on the very day, that the brothers, with +Acmé, were sailing close to the Calabrian mountains, and the latter was +telling her ghost story, within view of the sweet village of Capo del +Marte--one balmy summer's morning, the Miss Vernons were seated in a room, +furnished like most English drawing-rooms; that is to say, it had tables +for trinkets--a superb mirror--a Broadwood piano--an Erard harp--a +reclining sofa--and a woolly rug, on which slept, dreamt, and snored, a +small Blenheim spaniel. + +Julia had a mahogany frame before her, and was thoughtfully working a +beaded purse. + +The hue of health had left her cheek. Its complexion was akin to that of +translucent alabaster. The features wore a more fixed and regular aspect, +and their play was less buoyant and quick changing than heretofore. + +Deep thought! thus has been thy warfare for ever. First, thou stealest +from the rotund face its joyous dimples; then, dost thou gradually imprint +remorseless furrows on the anxious brow. + +A servant entered the room, and bore on a salver a letter addressed to +Miss Vernon. + +Its deep black binding--its large coat of arms--bespoke it death's +official messenger. + +Julia's cheek blanched as she glanced over its first page. + +Her sisters laid down their work, and looked towards her with some +curiosity. + +Julia burst into tears. + +"Poor uncle Vernon!" + +Her sisters seemed surprised at the announcement, but not to participate +in Julia's feelings on the occasion. + +One of them took up the letter, which had fallen to the ground, and the +two read its contents. + +"How very odd!" said they together, "uncle has left you Hornby, and +Catesfield, and almost all the property!" + +"Has he?" replied Julia, "I could not read it all, for however he may +have behaved to mamma, I ever found him good and kind; and had always +hoped, that we might have yet seen him with us once more. Poor old man! +and the letter says a lingering illness--how sad to think that we were +not with him to soothe his pillow, and cheer his death bed!" + +"Well!" said one of the sisters reddening, "I must say it was his own +fault. He would not live with his nearest relations, who loved him, and +tried to make his a happy home--but showed his caprice _then_, as he has +_now_. But I will go up stairs, and break it to mamma, and will tell her +you are an heiress." + +"An heiress!" replied Julia, with heart-broken tone! "an heiress!" The +tear quivered in her eye; but before the moisture had formed its liquid +bead, to course down her pallid cheek; a thought flashed across her, which +had almost the power to recal it to its cell. + +That thought comprised the fervency and timidity--the hopes and fears of +woman's first love. She thought of her last meeting with Sir Henry Delmé: +of the objections which might now be removed. + +A new vista of happiness seemed to open before her. + +It was but for a moment. + +The blush which that thought called up, faded away--the tear trickled +on--her features recovered their serenity--and she turned with a sweet +smile to her sisters. + +"My dear--dear sisters! it is long since we have seen my poor uncle. + +"Affection's ties may have been somewhat loosened. They cannot--I am +sure--have been dissolved. + +"Do not think me selfish enough to retain this generous bequest. + +"It may yet be in my power, and it no doubt is, to amend its too partial +provisions. + +"Let us be sisters still--sisters in equality--sisters in love and +affection." + +Julia Vernon was a very noble girl. She lived to become of age, and she +acted up to this her resolve. + +And, now, a few words as to the individual, by whose death the Miss +Vernons acquired such an accession of property. + +The Miss Vernons' father had an only and a younger brother, who at an +early age had embarked for the East, in the civil service. He had +acquired great wealth, and, after a residence of twenty-five years in the +Bengal Presidency, had returned to England a confirmed bachelor, and a +wealthy nabob. His brother died, while Mr. Benjamin Vernon was on his +passage home. He arrived in England, and found himself a stranger in his +native land. + +He shouldered his cane through Regent Street, and wandered in the +Quadrant's shade;--and in spite of the novelties that every where met +him--in spite of cabs and plated glass--felt perfectly isolated and +miserable. + +It is true, his Indian friends found him out at the Burlington, and their +cards adorned his mantelpiece--for Mr. Benjamin Vernon was said to be +worth a plum, and to be on the look out for a vacancy in the Directory. + +But although these were indisputably his Indian friends, it appeared to +Mr. Vernon, that they were no longer his friends of India. They seemed to +him to live in a constant state of unnatural excitement. + +_Some_ prided themselves on being stars in fashion's gayest +circle--others, whom he had hardly known, _were_ fathers--for their +families were educating in England---he now found surrounded by children, +on whose provision they were wholly intent. + +These were off at a tangent, "to see Peter Auber, at the India House," +or, "could not wait an instant; they were to meet Josh: Alexander +precisely at two." + +And then their flippant sons! taking wine with him, forsooth--adjusting +their neckcloths--and asking "whether he had met their father at Madras or +Calcutta?" + +This to a true Bengalee! + +Nor was this all! + +The young renegades ate their curry with a knife! + +Others, from whom he had parted years before, shook hands with him at the +Oriental, as if his presence there was a matter of course; and then asked +him "what he thought of Stanley's speech?" + +Now, there are few men breathing, who have their sympathies so keenly +alive--who show and who look for, such warmth of heart---who are so +chilled and hurt by indifference--as your bachelor East Indian. + +The married one may solace himself for coldness abroad, by sunny smiles at +home;--but the friendless bachelor is sick at heart, unless he encounter a +hearty pressure of the hand--an eye that sparkles, as it catches his--an +interested listener to his thousand and one tales of Oriental scenes, and +of Oriental good fellowship. + +Mr. Benjamin Vernon soon found this London solitude--it was worse than +solitude--quite insupportable. + +He determined to visit his brother's widow, and left town for Leamington. +The brother-in-law felt more than gratified at the cordial welcome that +there met him. + +His heart responded to their tones of kindness, and the old Indian, in the +warmth of his gratitude, thought he had at length discovered a congenial +home. He plunged into the extreme of dangerous intimacy; and was soon +domiciled in Mrs. Vernon's small mansion. + +It is absurd what trifles can extinguish friendships, and estrange +affection. Mr. Vernon had always had the controul of his hours--loved his +hookah, and his after-dinner dose. + +His brother's widow was an amiable person, but a great deal too +independent, to humour any person's foibles. + +She liked activity, and disliked smoking; and was too matter-of-fact in +her ideas, to conceive that these indulgences, merely from force of habit, +might have now become absolute necessities. + +Mrs. Vernon first used arguments; which were listened to very patiently, +and as systematically disregarded. + +As she thought she knew her ground better, she would occasionally secrete +the hookah, and indulge in eloquent discourse, on the injurious effects, +and waste of time, that the said hookah entailed. + +Nor could the old man enjoy in peace, his evening slumber. + +One of his nieces was always ready to shake him by the elbow, and address +him with an expostulatory "Oh! dear uncle!" which, though delivered with +silvery voice, seemed to him deuced provoking. + +For some time, the old Indian good-naturedly acquiesced in these +arrangements; and was far too polite at any time to scold, or +hazard a scene. + +Mrs. Vernon was all complacency, and imagined her triumph assured. + +Suddenly the tempest gathered to a head. Bachelor habits regained their +ascendancy; and Mrs. Vernon was thunderstruck, when it was one morning +duly announced to her, that her brother-in-law had purchased a large +estate in Monmouthshire, and that he intended permanently to reside there. + +Mrs. Vernon was deeply chagrined. + +She thought him ungrateful, and told him so. + +At the outset, our East Indian was anxious that his niece Julia, who had +been by far the most tolerant of his bachelor vices, should preside over +his new establishment; but the feelings of the mother and daughter were +alike opposed to this arrangement. + +This was the last rock on which he and his brother's widow split; and it +was decisive. + +From that hour, all correspondence between them ceased. + +Arrived in Wales, our nabob endeavoured to attach himself to country +pursuits--purchased adjoining estates--employed many labourers--and +greatly improved his property. But his rural occupations were quite at +variance with his acquired habits. + +He pined away--became hypochondriacal--and died, just three years after +leaving Mrs. Vernon, for want of an Eastern sun, and something to love. + + + + +Chapter VI. + +Veil + + +"The seal is set." + +On the day fixed for the departure of Sir Henry Delmé and his brother, +they together visited once more the sumptuous pile of St. Peter's, and +heard the voices of the practised choristers swell through the mighty +dome, as the impressive service of the Catholic Church was performed by +the Pope and his conclave. + +The morning dawn had seen George, as was his daily custom in Rome, +kneeling beside the grave of Acmé, and breathing a prayer for their +blissful reunion in heaven. + +As the widower staggered from that spot, the thought crossed him, and +bitterly poignant was that thought, that now might he bid a second +earthly farewell, to what had been his pride, and household solace. + +Now, indeed, "was the last link broken." Each hour--each traversed +league--was to bear him away from even the remains of his heart's +treasure. + +Their bones must moulder in a different soil. + +It was Sir Henry's choice that they should on that day visit Saint +Peter's; and well might the travellers leave Rome with so unequalled an +object fresh in the mind's eye. + +Whether we gaze on its exterior of faultless proportions--or on the +internal arrangement, where perfect symmetry reigns;--whether we consider +the glowing canvas--or the inspired marble,--or the rich mosaics;--whether +with the enthusiasm of the devotee, we bend before those gorgeous shrines; +or with the comparative apathy of a cosmopolite, reflect on the historical +recollections with which that edifice--the focus of the rays of +Catholicism--teems and must teem forever;--we must in truth acknowledge, +that _there_ alone is the one matchless temple, in strict and perfect +harmony with Imperial Rome. + +Gazing there--or recalling in after years its unclouded majesty--the +delighted pilgrim knows neither shade of disappointment--nor doth he +harbour one thought of decay. + +Where is the other building in the "eternal city," of which we can say +thus much? + +Sir Henry Delmé had engaged a vettura, which was to convey them with the +same horses as far as Florence. + +This arrangement made them masters of their own time, and was perhaps in +their case, the best that could be adopted; for slowness of progress, +which is its greatest objection, was rather desirable in George's then +state of health. + +As is customary, Delmé made an advance to the vetturino, who usually binds +himself to defray all the expenses at the inns on the road. + +The travellers dined early--left Rome in the afternoon--and proposed +pushing on to Neppi during the night. + +When about four miles on their journey, Delmé observed a mausoleum on the +side of the road, which appeared of ancient date, and rather curious +construction. + +On consulting his guide-book, he found it designated as the tomb of Nero. + +On examining its inscription, he saw that it was erected to the memory of +a Prefect of Sardinia; and he inwardly determined to distrust his +guide-book on all future occasions. + +The moon was up as they reached the post-house of Storta. + +The inn, or rather tavern, was a small wretched looking building, with a +large courtyard attached, but the stables appeared nearly--if not +quite--untenanted. + +Sir Henry's surprise and anger were great, when the driver, coolly +stopping his horses, commenced taking off their harness;--and informed the +travellers, that _there_ must they remain, until he had received some +instructions from his owner, which he expected by a vettura leaving Rome +at a later hour. + +It was in vain that the brothers expostulated, and reminded him of +his agreement to stop when they pleased, expressing their +determination to proceed. + +The driver was dogged and unmoved; and the travellers had neglected +to draw up a written bargain, which is a precaution absolutely +necessary in Italy. + +They soon found they had no alternative but to submit. It was with a very +bad grace they did so, for Englishmen have a due abhorrence of imposition. + +They at length stepped from the vehicle--indulged in some vehement +remonstrances--smiled at Thompson's voluble execrations, which they found +were equally unavailing--and were finally obliged to give up the point. + +They were shown into a small room. The chief inmates were some Papal +soldiers of ruffianly air, engaged in the clamorous game of moro. Unlike +the close shorn Englishmen, their beards and mustachios, were allowed to +grow to such length, as to hide the greater part of the face. + +Their animated gestures and savage countenances, would have accorded well +with a bandit group by Salvator. + +The landlord, an obsequious little man, with face pregnant with +mischievous cunning, was watching with interest, the turns of the game; +and assisting his guests, to quaff his vino ordinario, which Sir Henry +afterwards found was ordinary enough. + +Delmé's equanimity of temper was already considerably disturbed. + +The scanty accommodation afforded them, by no means diminished his choler; +which he began to expend on the obstinate driver, who had followed them +into the room, and was busily placing chairs round one of the tables. + +"See what you can get for supper, you rascal!" + +"Signore! there are some excellent fowls, and the very best wine of +Velletri." + +The wine was produced and proved vinegar. + +The host bustled away loud in its praise, and a few seconds afterwards, +the dying shriek of a veteran tenant of the poultry yard, warned them that +supper was preparing. + +"Thompson!" said George, rather languidly, "do, like a good fellow, see +that they put no garlic with the fowl!" + +"I will, Sir," replied the domestic; "and the wine, Mr. George, seems none +of the best. I have a flask of brandy in the rumble." + +"Just the thing!" said Sir Henry. + +To their surprise, the landlord proffered sugar and lemons. + +Sir Henry's countenance somewhat brightened, and he declared he would +make punch. + +Punch! thou just type of matrimony! thy ingredients of sweets and bitters +so artfully blended, that we know not which predominate,--so deceptive, +too, that we imbibe long and potent draughts, nor awake to a consciousness +of thy power, till awoke by headache. + +Hail to thee! all hail! + +Thy very name, eked out by thine appropriate receptacle, recals raptures +past--bids us appreciate joys present--and enjoins us duly to reverence +thee, if we hope for joys in futurity. + +A bowl of punch! each merry bacchanal rises at the call! + +Moderate bacchanals all! for where is the abandoned sot, who would not +rather dole out his filthy lucre, on an increase of the mere +alchohol--than expend it on those grateful adjuncts, which, throwing a +graceful veil over that spirit's grossness, impart to it its chief and its +best attraction. + +Up rises then each hearty bacchanal! thrice waving the clear tinkling +crystal, ere he emits that joyful burst, fresh from the heart, which from +his uncontrolled emotion, meets the ear husky and indistinct. + +Delmé squeezed the lemons into not a bad substitute for a bowl, viz. a red +earthen vase of rough workmanship, but elegant shape, somewhat resembling +a modern wine cooler. + +George stood at the inn door, wistfully looking upward; when he remarked +an intelligent boy of fourteen, with dark piercing eyes, observing him +somewhat earnestly. + +On finding he was noticed, he approached with an air of ingenuous +embarrassment--pulled off his cap--and said in a tone of enquiry, + +"Un Signore Inglese?" + +"Yes! my fine fellow! Do you know anything of me or the English?" + +"Oh yes!" replied the boy with vivacity, replacing his cap, "I have +travelled in England, and like London very much." + +George conversed with him for some time; and found him to be one of that +class, whose numbers make us unmindful of their wants or their +loneliness; who eke out a miserable pittance, by carrying busts of +plaster-of-Paris--grinding on an organ--or displaying through Europe, +the tricks of some poodle dog, or the eccentricities of a monkey +disguised in scarlet. + +It is rare that these come from a part of Italy so far south; but it +appeared in this instance, that Giuseppe's father being a carrier, had +taken him with him to Milan--had there met a friend, rich in an organ and +porcupine--and had entrusted the boy to his care, in order that he might +see the world, and make his fortune. + +Giuseppe gave a narrative of some little events, that had occurred to him +during his wanderings, which greatly interested George; and he finally +concluded, by saying that his father had now retired to his native place +at Barberini, where many strangers came to see the "antichità." George, +on referring to the guide book, found that this was indeed the case; and +that Isola Barberini is marked as the site of ancient Veii, the rival of +young Rome. + +"And when do you go there, youngster, and how far is it from this?" + +"I am going now, Signore, to be in time for supper. It is only a +'piccolo giro' across the fields; and looks as well by moonlight as at +any other time." + +"Ah!" replied George, "I would be glad to accompany you. Henry," said he, +as he entered the room of the inn, "I am away on a classic excursion to +Veii. The night is lovely--I have an excellent guide--and shall be back +before you have finished your punch making. + +"_Do_ let me go!" and he lowered his voice, and the tears swam in his eyes, +"I cannot endure these rude sounds of merriment, and a moonlight walk will +at least afford nothing that can _thus_ pain me." + +Sir Henry looked out. The night was perfectly fine. The young peasant, +all willingness, had already shouldered his bundle, and was preparing to +move forward. + +"You must not be late, George," said his brother, assenting to his +proposal. "Do not stay too long about the ruins. Remember that you are +still delicate, and that I shall wait supper for you." + +As the boy led on, George followed him in a foot path, which led through +fields of meadow land, corn, and rye. + +The fire-flies--mimic meteors--were giddily winging their way from bush to +bush,--illuming the atmosphere, and imparting to the scene a glittering +beauty, which a summer night in a northern clime cannot boast. + +As they approached somewhat nearer to the hamlet, their course was over +ground more rugged; and the disjointed fragments of rocks strewed, and at +intervals obstructed, the path. + +The cottages were soon reached. + +The villagers were all in front of their dwellings, taking their last meal +for the day, in the open air. + +The young guide stopped in front of a cottage, a little apart from the +rest. The family party were seated round a rude table, on which were +plates and napkins. + +Before the master of the house--a wrinkled old man, with long grey +hair--was a smoking tureen of bread soup, over which he was in the act of +sprinkling some grated Parmesan cheese. + +A plate of green figs, and a large water melon--the cocomero--made up +the repast. + +"Giuseppe! you are late for supper," said the old patriarch, as the boy +approached to whisper his introduction of the stranger. + +The old man waved his hand courteously--made a short apology for the +humble viands--and pointed to a vacant seat. + +"Many thanks," said George, "but my supper already awaits me. I will not, +however, interfere with my young guide. Show me the ruins, Giuseppe, and I +will trouble you no further." + +The boy moved on towards what were indeed ruins, or rather the +vestige of such. + +Here a misshapen stone--there a shattered column--decaying walls, +overgrown with nettles--arches and caves, choked up with rank +vegetation--bespoke remains unheeded, and but rarely visited. + +George threw the boy a piece of silver--heard his repeated cautions as +to his way to Storta--and wished him good night, as he hurried back to +the cottage. + +George Delmé sat on the shaft of a broken pillar, his face almost buried +in his hands, as he looked around him on a scene once so famous. + +But with him classic feelings were not upper-most. The widowed +heart mourned its loneliness; and in that calm hour found the full +relief of tears. + +The mourner rose, and turned his face homeward, slowly--sadly--but +resignedly. + +The heavens had become more overcast--and clouds occasionally were +hiding the moon. + +It was with some difficulty that George avoided the pieces of rock which +obstructed the path. + +The road seemed longer, and wilder, than he had previously thought it. + +Suddenly the loud bay of dogs was borne to his ear; and almost, before he +had time to turn from the path, two large hounds brushed past him, +followed by a rider--his gun slung before his saddle--and his horse +fearlessly clattering over the loose stones. + +The horseman seemed a young Roman farmer. He did not salute, and probably +did not observe our traveller. As the sound from the horse receded, and +the clamour of the dogs died away, a feeling almost akin to alarm crossed +George's mind. + +George was one, however, who rarely gave way to vague fears. + +It so happened that he was armed. + +Delancey had made him a present of a brace of pocket pistols, during the +days of their friendship; and, very much to Sir Henry's annoyance, George +had been in the habit, since leaving Malta, of constantly carrying these +about him. + +He strode on without adventure, until entering the field of rye. + +The pathway became very narrow--so that on either side him, he grazed +against the bearded ears. + +Suddenly he heard a rustling sound. The moon at the moment broke from +a dark cloud, and he fancied he discerned a figure near him half hid +by the rye. + +Again the moon was shrouded. + +A rustling again ensued. + +George felt a ponderous blow, which, aimed at the left shoulder, struck +his left arm. + +The collar of his coat was instantaneously grasped. + +For a moment, George Delmé felt irresolute--then drew a pistol from his +pocket and fired. + +The hold was loosened--a man fell at his feet. + +The pistol's flash revealed another figure, which diving into the +corn--fled precipitately. + +Let us turn to Sir Henry Delmé and to Thompson. + +For some time after George's departure, they were busily engaged in +preparing supper. + +While they were thus occupied, they noticed that the Papal soldiers +whispered much together--but this gave rise to no suspicion on +their part. + +One by one the soldiers strolled out, and the landlord betook himself to +the kitchen. + +The punch was duly made, and Sir Henry, leaving the room, paced +thoughtfully in front of the inn. + +At length it struck him, that it was almost time for his brother to +return. + +He was entering the inn, for the purpose of making some enquiries; when he +saw one of the soldiers cross the road hurriedly, and go into the +courtyard, where he was immediately joined by the vetturino. + +Delmé turned in to the house, and called for the landlord. + +Before the latter could appear, George rushed into the room. + +His hat was off--his eyes glared wildly--his long hair streamed back, +wet with the dews of night. He dragged with him the body of one of the +soldiers; and threw it with supernatural strength into the very centre +of the room. + +"Supper!" said he, "ha, ha, ha! _I_ have brought you supper!" + +The man was quite dead. + +The bullet had pierced his neck and throat. The blood was yet flowing, and +had dabbled the white vest. His beard and hair were clotted with gore. + +Shocked as Sir Henry was, the truth flashed on him. He lost not a moment +in beckoning to Thompson, and rushing towards the stable. The driver was +still there, conversing with the soldier. + +As Sir Henry approached, they evinced involuntary confusion; and the +vetturino---at once unmanned--fell on his knees, and commenced a +confession. + +They were dragged into the inn, and the officers of justice were sent for. + +Sir Henry Delmé's anxious regards were now directed to his brother. + +George had taken a seat near the corpse; and was sternly regarding it with +fixed, steady, and unflinching gaze. + +It is certainly very fearful to mark the dead--with pallid +complexion--glazed eye--limbs fast stiffening--and gouts of +blood--standing from out the face, like crimson excrescences on a +diseased leaf. + +But it is far more fearful than even this, to look on one, who is bound +to us by the nearest and most cherished ties--with cheek yet +glowing--expression's flush mantling still--and yet to doubt whether the +intellect, which adorned that frame--the jewel in the casket--hath not for +ever left its earthly tenement. + + + + +Chapter VII. + +The Vetturini. + + + "Far other scene is Thrasymene now." + + * * * * * + + "Fair Florence! at thy day's decline + When came the shade from Appennine, + And suddenly on blade and bower + The fire-flies shed the sparkling shower, + As if all heaven to earth had sent + Each star that gems the firmament; + 'Twas sweet at that enchanting hour, + To bathe in fragrance of the Italian clime, + By Arno's stream." + + +The brothers were detained a few days at Storta; while the Roman police, +who, to do them justice, were active on the occasion, and showed every +anxiety to give the travellers as little trouble as possible--were +investigating the occurrences we have described. It appeared that some +suspicion had previously attached itself to Vittore Santado, and that the +eyes of the police had been on him for some time. + +It now became evident, both from his own confession, and subsequent +discoveries, that this man had for years trafficked in the lives and +property of others;--and that the charge connected with George, was one of +the least grave, that would be brought against him. + +It was shown that he was an active agent, in aiding the infamous designs +of that inn, on the Italian frontier, whose enormities have given rise to +more than one thrilling tale of fiction, far out-done by the +reality--that inn--where the traveller retired to rest--but rose not +refreshed to prosecute his journey:--where--if he slumbered but once, +that sleep was his last. + +Until now, his career had been more than usually successful. + +The crafty vetturino had had the art to glean a fair reputation even from +his crimes. + +More than once, had he induced a solitary traveller to leave the high road +and his carriage, for the purpose of visiting some ruin, or viewing some +famous prospect. + +On such occasions, Vittore's accomplices were in waiting; and the +unsuspecting stranger--pillaged and alarmed, would return to the vettura +penniless. + +Vittore would be foremost in his commiseration; and with an air of blunt +sincerity, would proffer the use of his purse; such conduct ensuring the +gratitude, and the after recommendations of his dupe. + +It is supposed that the vetturino had contemplated rifling the carriage in +the inn yard; but some suspicion as to the servant's not leaving the +luggage, and the sort of dog fidelity displayed by Thompson towards the +brothers; had induced him rather to sanction an attempt on George during +his imprudent excursion to Barberini. + +Vittore Santado was executed near the Piazza del Popolo, and to this day, +over the chimney-piece of many a Roman peasant, may be seen the tale of +his crimes--his confessions--and his death; which perused by casual +neighbour guests--calls up many a sign of the cross--and devout look of +rustic terror. + +After the incident we have related in the last chapter, George Delmé, +contrary to Sir Henry's previous misgivings, enjoyed a good night's rest, +and arose tolerably calm and refreshed. + +The following night he was attacked with palpitation of the heart. + +His brother and Thompson felt greatly alarmed; but after an hour's severe +suffering, the paroxysm left him. + +Nothing further occurred at Storta, to induce them to attach very great +importance to the shock George's nerves had experienced; but in after +life, Sir Henry always thought, he could date many fatal symptoms from +that hour of intense excitement. + +Delmé was in Rome two days; during which period, his depositions, as +connected with Santado, were taken down; and he was informed that his +presence during the trial would not be insisted on. + +Delmé took that opportunity again to consult his medical friend; who +accompanied him to Storta, to visit George; and prescribed a regimen +calculated to invigorate the general system. + +He directed Delmé not to be alarmed, should the paroxysm return; and +recommended, that during the attack, George should lie down quietly--and +take twenty drops of Battley's solution of opium in a wine glass of water. + +As his friend did not appear alarmed, Delmé's mind was once more +assured; and he prepared to continue their journey to Florence, by the +way of Perugia. + +Punctual to his time, the new vetturino--as to whose selection Sir Henry +had been very particular--arrived at Storta; and the whole party, with +great willingness left the wretched inn, and its suspicious inmates. + +There certainly could not be a greater contrast, than between the two +Vetturini. + +Vittore Santado was a Roman; young--inclined to corpulency---oily +faced--plausible--and a most consummate rascal. + +Pietro Molini was a Milanese;--elderly--with hardly an ounce of flesh on +his body--with face scored and furrowed like the surface of the hedge +pippin--rough in his manners--and the most honest of his tribe. + +Poor Pietro Molini! never did driver give more cheering halloo to +four-footed beast! or with spirit more elate, deliver in the drawling +patois of his native paesi, some ditty commemorative of Northern liberty! +Honest Pietro! thy wishes were contained within a small compass! thy +little brown cur, snarling and bandy-legged--thy raw-boned steeds--these +were thy first care;--the safety of thy conveyance, and its various +inmates, the second. + +To thee--the most delightful melody in this wide world, was the jingling +of thy horses' bells, as all cautiously and slowly they jogged on their +way:--the most discordant sound in nature, the short husky cough, emitted +from the carcase of one of these, as disease and continued fatigue made +their sure inroads. + +Poor simple Pietro! his only pride was encased in his breeches pocket, and +it lay in a few scraps of paper--remembrances of his passengers. + +One and all lavished praise on Pietro! + +Yes! we have him again before us as we write--his ill-looking, but easy +carriage--his three steeds--the rude harness, eked out with clustering +knots of rope--and the happy driver, seated on a narrow bench, jutting +over the backs of his wheelers, as he contentedly whiffs from his small +red clay pipe--at intervals dropping off in a dose, with his cur on his +lap. At such a time, with what perfect nonchalance would he open his large +grey eyes, when recalled to the sense of his duties, by the volubly +breathed execration of some rival whip--and with what a silent look of +ineffable contempt, would he direct his horses to the side of the road, +and again steep his senses in quiescent repose. + +At night, Pietro's importance would sensibly increase, as after rubbing +down the hides of his favourites, and dropping into the capacious manger +the variegated oats; he would wait on his passengers to arrange the hour +of departure--would accept the proffered glass of wine, and give utterance +to his ready joke. + +A King might have envied Pietro Molini, as---the straw rustling beneath +him--he laid down in his hairy capote, almost between the legs of his +favourite horse. + +To do so will be to anticipate some years! + +Yet we would fain relate the end of the Vetturino. + +Crossing from Basle to Strasbourg, in the depth of winter, and descending +an undulated valley, Pietro slept as usual. + +Implicitly relying on the sure footedness of his horses, a fond dream of +German beer, German tobacco, and German sauerkraut, soothed his slumbers. + +A fragment of rock had been loosened from its ancient bed, and lay +across the road. + +Against this the leader tripped and fell. + +The shock threw Pietro and his dog from their exalted station. + +The pipe, which--whether he were sleeping or waking--had long decked the +cheek of the honest driver, now fell from it, and was dashed into a +thousand pieces. + +It was an evil omen. + +When the carriage was stopped, Pietro Molini was found quite lifeless. He +had received a kick from the ungrateful heel of his friend Bruno, and the +wheel of the carriage, it had been his delight to clean, had passed over +the body of the hapless vetturino. + +Ah! as that news spread! many an ostler of many a nation, shook his head +mournfully, and with saddened voice, wondered that the same thing had not +occurred years before. + +At the time, however, to which we allude--viz., the commencement of the +acquaintance between our English travellers, and Pietro; the latter +thought of anything rather than of leaving a world for which he had an +uncommon affection. + +He and Thompson soon became staunch allies; and the want of a common +language seemed only to cement their union. + +Not Noblet, in her inimitable performance of the Muette, threw more +expression into her sweet face--than did Pietro, into the furrowed lines +of his bronzed visage, as he endeavoured to explain to his friend some +Italian custom, or the reason why he had selected another dish, or +other wine; rather than that, to which they had done such justice the +previous day. + +Thompson's gestures and countenance in reply, partook of a more stoical +character; but he was never found wanting, when a companion was needed for +a bottle or a pipe. + +Their friendship was not an uninstructive one. + +It would have edified him, who prides himself on his deep knowledge of +human nature, or who seizes with avidity on the minuter traits of a +nation, to note with what attention the English valet, would listen to a +Milanese arietta; whose love notes, delivered by the unmusical Pietro, +were about as effectively pathetic as the croak of the bull frog in a +marsh, or screech of owl sentimentalising in ivied ruin; and to mark +with what gravity, the Italian driver would beat his hand against the +table; in tune to "Ben Baxter," or "The British Grenadiers," roared out +more Anglico. + +There are two grand routes from Home to Florence:--the one is by Perugia, +the other passes through Sienna. The former, which is the one Sir Henry +selected, is the most attractive to the ordinary traveller; who is enabled +to visit the fall of Terni, Thrasymene, and the temple of Clitumnuss The +first, despite its being artificial, is equal in our opinion, to the +vaunted Schaffhausen;--the second is hallowed in story;--and the third has +been illustrated by Byron. + + "Pass not unblest the genius of the place! + If through the air a zephyr more serene + Win to the brow, 'tis his; and if ye trace + Along the margin a more eloquent green, + If on the heart, the freshness of the scene + Sprinkle its coolness, and from the dry dust + Of weary life a moment lave it clean + With nature's baptism,--'tis to him ye must + Pay orisons for this suspension of disgust." + +Poor George Delmé showed little interest in anything connected with +this journey. Sir Henry embarked on the lake above, in order to see the +cascade of Terni in every point of view; and afterwards took his +station with George, on various ledges of rock below the fall--whence +the eye looks upward, on that mystic scene of havoc, turbulence, and +mighty rush of water. + +But the cataract fell in snowy sheet--the waves hissed round the sable +rocks--and the rainbow played on the torrent's foam;--but these +possessed not a charm, to rouse to a sense of their beauty, the sad +heart of the invalid. + +Near the lake of Thrasymene, they passed some hours; allowing Pietro to +put up his horses at Casa di Piano. Sir Henry, with a Livy in his hand, +first proceeded to the small eminence, looking down on the round tower of +Borghetto; and on that insidious pass, which his fancy peopled once more, +with the advancing troops of the Consul. + +The soldier felt much interested, and attempted to impart that interest to +George; but the widowed husband shook his head mournfully; and it was +evident, that his thoughts were not with Flaminius and his entrapped +soldiers, but with the gentle Acmé, mouldering in her lonely grave. + +From Borghetto, they proceeded to the village of Torre, where Delmé was +glad to accept the hospitable offer of its Priest, and procure seats for +himself and George, in the balcony of his little cottage. From this +point, they looked down on the arena of war. + +There it lay, serene and basking in the rays of the meridian sun. + +On either side, were the purple summits of the Gualandra hills. + +Beneath flowed the little rivulet, once choked by the bodies of the +combatants; but which now sparkled gaily through the valley, although at +intervals, almost dried up by the fierce heat of summer. + +The lake was tranquil and unruffled--all on its margin, hushed and +moveless. What a contrast to that exciting hour, which Sir Henry was +conjuring up again; when the clang of arms, and crash of squadrons, +commingled with the exulting shout, that bespoke the confident hope of the +wily Carthaginian; and with that sterner response, which hurled back the +indomitable spirit of the unyielding, but despairing Roman! + +Our travellers quitted the Papal territories; and entering Tuscany, passed +through Arezzo, the birth-place of Petrarch; arriving at Florence just +previous to sunset. + +As they reached the Lung' Arno, Pietro put his horses to a fast trot, and +rattling over the flagged road, drew up in front of Schneidorff's with an +air of greater importance, than his sorry vehicle seemed to warrant. + +The following morning, George Delmé was taken by his brother, to visit +the English physician resident at Florence; and again was Delmé informed, +that change of scene, quiet, and peace of mind, were what his brother +most required. + +George was thinner perhaps, than when at Rome, and his lip had lost its +lustrous red; but he concealed his physical sufferings, and always met +Henry with the same soft undeviating smile. + +On their first visit to the Tribune, George was struck with the Samian +Sibyl of Guercino. + +In the glowing lip--the silken cheek--the ivory temple--the eye of +inspiration--the bereaved mourner thought he could trace, some faint +resemblance to the lost Acmé. Henceforward, it was his greatest pleasure, +to remain with eyes fixed on that masterpiece of art. + +Sir Henry Delmé, accompanied by the custode, would make himself +acquainted with the wonders of the Florentine gallery; and every now and +then, return to whisper some sentence, in the soothing tones of brotherly +kindness. At night, their usual haunt was the public square--where the +loggio of Andrea Orcagna presents so much, that may claim attention. + +There stands the David! in the freshness of his youth! proudly regarding +his adversary--ere he overthrow, with the weapon of the herdsman, the +haughty giant. + +The inimitable Perseus, too! the idol of that versatile genius, Benvenuto +Cellini:--an author! a goldsmith! a cunning artificer in jewels! a founder +in bronze! a sculptor in marble! the prince of good fellows! the favored +of princes! the warm friend and daring lover! as we gaze on his glorious +performance, and see beside it the Hercules, and Cacus of his rival Baccio +Bandanelli,--we seem to live again in those days, with which Cellini has +made us so familiar:--and almost naturally regard the back of the bending +figure, to note if its muscles warrant the stinging sarcasm of Cellini, +which we are told at once dispelled the pride of the aspiring +artist--"that they resembled cucumbers!" + +The rape of the Sabines, too! the white marble glistening in the +obscurity, until the rounded shape of the maiden seems to elude the strong +grasp of the Roman! + +Will she ever fly from him thus? will the home of her childhood be ever as +dear? No! the husband's love shall replace the father's blessing; and the +affections of the daughter, shall yield to the tender yearnings of the +mother's bosom. + +We marvel not that George's footsteps lingered there! + +How often have _we_--martyrs to a hopeless nympholepsy--strayed through +that piazza, at the self same hour--there deemed that the heart would +break--but never thought that it might slowly wither. + +How often have _we_ gleaned from those beauteous objects around, but +aliment to our morbid griefs;--and turning towards the gurgling fountain +of Ammonati, and gazing on its trickling waters, have vainly tried to +arrest our trickling tears! + + + + +Chapter VIII. + +Arguà. + + + + "There is a tomb in Arquà: rear'd in air, + Pillar'd in their sarcophagus, repose + The bones of Laura's lover." + + * * * * * + + "I stood in Venice on the Bridge of Sighs." + + +How glorious is the thrill, which shoots through our frame, as we first +wake to the consciousness of our intellectual power; as we feel the +spirit--the undying spirit--ready to burst the gross bonds of flesh, and +soar triumphant, over the sneers of others, and our own mistrust. + +How does each thought seem to swell in our bosom, as if impatient of the +confined tenement--how do the floating ideas congregate--how does each +impassioned feeling subdue us in turn, and long for a worthy utterance! + +This is a very bright moment in the history of our lives. It is one in +which we feel--indubitably feel--that we are of the fashioning of +God;--that the light which intellect darts around us, is not the result of +education--of maxims inculcated--or of principles instilled;--but that it +is a ray caught from the brightness of eternity--that when our wavering +pulse has ceased to beat, and the etherialised elements have left the +baser and the useless dust--that ray shall not be quenched; but shall +again be absorbed in the full effulgence from which it emanated. + +Surely then, if such a glorious moment as this, be accorded to even the +inferior votaries of knowledge--to the meaner pilgrims, struggling on +towards the resplendent shrines of science:--how must _he_--the divine +Petrarch, who could so exquisitely delineate love's hopes and story, as to +clothe an earthly passion, with half the attributes of an immortal +affection:--how must _he_ have revelled in the proud sensations called +forth at such a moment! + +It is the curse of the poet, that he must perforce leave the golden +atmosphere of loftiest aspirations--step from the magic circle, where all +is pure and etherial--and find himself the impotent denizen, of a sombre +and an earthly world, + +It was in the early part of September, that the brothers turned their +backs on the Etrurian Athens. Their destination was Venice, and their +route lay through Bologna and Arquà. + +They had been so satisfied, under the guidance of their old vetturino, +that Sir Henry made an arrangement, which induced him to be at Florence, +at the time of their departure;--and Pietro and Thompson were once more +seated beside each other. + +Before commencing the ascent of the Appennines, our travellers visited the +country seat of the Archduke; saw the gigantic statue executed by John of +Bologna, which frowns over the lake; and at Fonte-buona, cast a farewell +glance on Florence, and the ancient Fiesole. + +As they advanced towards Caravigliojo, the mountains began to be more +formidable, and the scenery to lose its smiling character. + +Each step seemed to add to the barrenness of the landscape. + +The wind came howling down from the black volcanic looking ridges--then +swept tempestuously through some deep ravine. + +On either side the road, tall red poles presented themselves, a guide to +the traveller during winter's snows; while, in one exposed gully, were +built large stone embankments for his protection--as a Latin inscription +intimated--from the violence of the gales. + +Few signs of life appeared. + +Here and there, her white kerchief shading a sun-burnt face, a young +Bolognese shepherd girl might be seen on some grassy ledge, waving her +hand coquettishly; while her neglected flock, with tinkling bell, browsed +on the edge of the precipice. As they neared Bologna, however, the +scenery changed. + +Festoons of grapes, trained to leafy elms, began to appear--white villas +chequered the suburbs--and it was with a pleasurable feeling, that they +neared the peculiar looking city, with its leaning towers, and old +façades. It is the only one, where the Englishman recals Mrs. Ratcliffe's +harrowing tales; and half expects to see a Schedoni, advancing from some +covered portico. + +The next day found them in the Bolognese gallery, which is the first which +duly impresses the traveller, coming from the north, with the full powers +of the art. + +The soul of music seems to dwell in the face of the St. Cecilia; and the +cup of maternal anguish to be filled to the brim, as in Guide's Murder of +the Innocents, the mother clasps to her arms the terrified babe, and +strives to flee from the ruthless destroyer. + +It was on the fourth morning from their arrival in Bologna, that they +approached the poet's "mansion and his sepulchre." + +As they threaded the green windings of vine covered hills, these gradually +assumed a bolder outline, and, rising in separate cones, formed a sylvan +amphitheatre round the lovely village of Arquà. + +The road made an abrupt ascent to the Fontana Petrarca. A large ruined +arch spanned a fine spring, that rushes down the green slope. + +In the church-yard, on the right, is the tomb of Petrarch. + +Its peculiarly bold elevation--the numberless thrilling associations +connected with the poet--gave a tone and character to the whole scene. The +chiaro-scuro of the landscape, was from the light of his genius--the shade +of his tomb. + +The day was lovely--warm, but not oppressive. The soft green of the hills +and foliage, checked the glare of the flaunting sunbeams. + +The brothers left the carriage to gaze on the sarcophagus of red marble, +raised on pilasters; and could not help deeming even the indifferent +bronze bust of Petrarch, which surmounts this, to be a superfluous +ornament in such a scene. + +The surrounding landscape--the dwelling place of the poet--his tomb facing +the heavens, and disdaining even the shadow of trees--the half-effaced +inscription of that hallowed shrine--all these seemed appropriate, and +melted the gazer's heart. + +How useless! how intrusive! are the superfluous decorations of art, amid +the simpler scenes of nature. + +Ornament is here misplaced. The feeling heart regrets its presence at the +time, and attempts, albeit in vain, to banish it from after recollections. + +George could not restrain his tears, for he thought of the dead; and they +silently followed their guide to Petrarch's house, now partly used as a +granary. Passing through two or three unfinished rooms, whose walls were +adorned with rude frescoes of the lover and his mistress, they were shown +into Petrarch's chamber, damp and untenanted. + +In the closet adjoining, were the chair and table consecrated by the poet. + +There did he sit--and write--and muse--and die! + +George turned to a tall narrow window, and looked out on a scene, fair and +luxuriant as the garden of Eden. + +The rich fig trees, with their peculiar small, high scented fruit, mixed +with the vines that clustered round the lattice. + +The round heads of the full bearing peach trees, dipped down in a leafy +slope beneath a grassy walk;--and this thicket of fruit was charmingly +enlivened, by bunches of the scarlet pomegranate, now in the pride of +their blossom. + +The poet's garden alone was neglected--rank herbage choking up its +uncultivated flowers. + +A thousand thoughts filled the mind of George Delmé. + +He thought of Laura! of his own Acmé! + +With swimming glance, he looked round the chamber. + +It was almost without furniture, and without ornament. In a niche, and +within a glass case, was placed the skeleton of a dumb favourite of +Petrarch's. + +Suddenly George Delmé felt a faintness stealing over him:--and he +turned to bare his forehead, to catch the slight breeze from below +redolent of sweets. + +This did not relieve him. + +A sharp pain across the chest, and a fluttering at the heart, as of a bird +struggling to be free, succeeded this faintness. + +Another rush of blood to the head:--and a snap, as of some tendon, was +distinctly felt by the sufferer. + +His mouth filled with blood. + +A small blood-vessel had burst, and temporary insensibility ensued. + +Sir Henry was wholly unprepared for this scene. + +Assisted by Thompson, he bore him to the carriage--sprinkled his face with +water--and administered cordials. + +George's recovery was speedy; and it almost seemed, as if the rupture of +the vessel had been caused by the irregular circulation, for no further +bad effects were felt at the time. + +The loss of blood, however, evidently weakened him; and his spasms +henceforward were more frequent. + +He became less able to undergo fatigue; and his mind, probably in +connection with the nervous system, became more than ordinarily excited. + +There was no longer wildness in his actions; but in his thoughts and +language, was developed a poetical eccentricity--a morbid sympathy with +surrounding scenes and impressions, which kept Sir Henry Delmé in a +constant state of alarm,--and which was very remarkable. + + * * * * * + +"What! at Mestré already, Pietro?" said Sir Henry. + +"Even so, Signore! and here is the gondola to take you on to Venice." + +"Well, Pietro! you must not fail to come and see us at the inn." + +The vetturino touched his hat, with the air of a man who would be very +sorry _not_ to see them. + +It was not long ere the glittering prow of the gondola pointed to Venice. + +Before the travellers, rose ocean's Cybele; springing from the waters, +like some fairy city, described to youthful ear by aged lip. + +The fantastic dome of St. Mark--the Palladian churches--the columned +palaces--the sable gondolas shooting through the canals--made its aspect, +as is its reality, unique in the world. + +"Beautiful, beautiful city!" said George, his eye lighting up as he spoke, +"thou dost indeed look a city of the heart--a resting place for a wearied +spirit. And our gondola, Henry, should be of burnished silver; and those +afar--so noiselessly cutting their way through the glassy surface--those +should be angels with golden wings; and, instead of an oar flashing +freely, a snowy wand of mercy should beat back the kissing billows. + +"And Acmé, with her George, should sit on the crystal cushion of glory--and +we would wait expectant for you a long long time--and then you should join +us, Henry, with dear Emily. + +"And Thompson should be with us, too, and recline on the steps of our bark +as he does now. + +"And together we would sail loving and happy through an amethystine sea." + +During their stay in Venice, George, in spite of his increasing languor, +continued to accompany his brother, in his visits to the various objects +of interest which the city can boast. + +The motion of the gondola appeared to have a soothing influence on the +mind of the invalid. + +He would recline on the cushions, and the fast flowing tears would course +down his wan cheeks. + +These, however, were far from being a proof of suffering;--they were +evidently a relief to the surcharged spirit. + +One evening, a little before sunset, they found themselves in the crowded +piazza of Saint Mark. The cafés were thronged with noble Venetians, come +to witness the evening parade of an Austrian regiment. The sounds of +martial music, swelled above the hum of the multitude; and few could +listen to those strains, without participating in some degree, in the +military enthusiasm of the hour. + +But the brothers turned from the pageantry of war, as their eyes fell on +the emblems of Venice free--the minarets of St. Mark, with the horses of +Lysippus, a spoil from Byzantium--the flagless poles that once bore the +banners of three tributary states--the highly adorned azure clock--the +palaces of the proud Doges--where Faliero reigned--where Faliero +suffered:--these were before them. + +Their steps mechanically turned to the beautiful Campanile. + +George, leaning heavily on Sir Henry's arm, succeeded in gaining the +summit: and they looked down from thence, on that wonderful city. + +They saw the parade dismissed--they heard the bugle's fitful blast +proclaim the hour of sunset. The richest hues of crimson and of gold, +tinted the opposite heavens; while on those waters, over which the +gondolas were swiftly gliding, quivered another city, the magic reflection +of the one beneath them. + +They gazed on the scene in silence, till the grey twilight came on. + +"Now, George! it is getting late," said Sir Henry. "I wonder whether we +could find some old mariner, who could give us a chaunt from Tasso?" + +Descending from the Campanile, Sir Henry made enquiries on the quay, and +with some difficulty found gondoliers, who could still recite from their +favourite bard. + +Engaging a couple of boats, and placing a singer in each, the brothers +were rowed down the Canale Giudecca--skirted many of the small islands, +studding the lagoons; and proceeded towards the Adriatic. + +Gradually the boats parted company, and just as Sir Henry was about to +speak, thinking there might be a mistake as to the directions; the +gondolier in the other boat commenced his song,--its deep bass mellowed by +distance, and the intervening waves. The sound was electric. + +It was so exquisitely appropriate to the scene, and harmonised so +admirably, with the associations which Venice is apt to awaken, that one +longed to be able to embody that fleeting sound--to renew its magic +influence in after years. The pen may depict man's stormy feelings: the +sensitive caprice of woman:--the most vivid tints may be imitated on the +glowing canvas:--the inspired marble may realise our every idea of the +beauty of form:--a scroll may give us at will, the divine inspiration, of +Handel:--but there are sounds, as there are subtle thoughts, which, away +from the scenes, where they have charmed us, can never delight us more. + +It was not until the second boatman answered the song, that the brothers +felt how little the charm lay, in the voice of the gondolier, and that, +heard nearer, the sounds were harsh and inharmonious. + +They recited the death of Clorinda; the one renewing the stanza, whenever +there was a momentary forgetfulness on the part of the other. + +The clock of St. Mark had struck twelve, before the travellers had reached +the hotel. George had not complained of fatigue, during a day which even +Sir Henry thought a trying one; and the latter was willing to hope that +his strength was now increasing. + +Their first design had been to proceed though Switzerland, resting for +some time at Geneva. Their plans were now changed, and Sir Henry Belme +determined, that their homeward route should be through the Tyrol and +Bavaria, and eventually down the Rhine. + +He considered that the water carriage, and the very scenes themselves, +might prove beneficial to the invalid. + +Thompson was sent over to Mestré, to inform Pietro; and they prepared to +take their departure. + +"You have been better in Venice," said Sir Henry, as they entered the +gondola, that was to bear them from the city. "God grant that you may long +remain so!" + +George shook his head doubtingly. + +"My illness, Henry, is not of the frame alone, although that is fragile +and shattered. + +"The body lingers on without suffering; but the mind--a very bright sword +in a worthless sheath--is forcing its way through. Some feelings must +remain to the last--gratitude to you--love to dear Emily! Acmé, wife of my +bosom! when may I join you?" + + + + +Chapter IX. + +Inspruck. + + + + "Oh there is sweetness in the mountain air, + And life, that bloated ease can never hope to share." + + +Inspruck! a thousand recollections flash across us, as we pronounce the +word! + +We were there at a memorable period; when the body of the hero of the +Tyrol--the brave, the simple-minded Anderl Hofer--was removed from Mantua, +where he so nobly met a patriot's death, to the capital of the country, +which he had so gallantly defended. + +The event was one, that could not fail to be impressive; and to us it was +doubly so, for that very period formed an epoch in our lives. + +We had lost! we had suffered! we had mourned! Our mind's strength was +shook. Ordinary remedies were worse than futile. + +We threw ourselves into the heart of the Tyrol, and became resigned if +not happy. + +Romantic country! did not duty whisper otherwise, how would we fly to thy +rugged mountains, and find in the kindly virtues of thine inhabitants, +wherewithal to banish misanthropy, and it may be purchase oblivion. + +Noble land! where the chief in his hall--the peasant in his hut--alike +open their arms with sheltering hospitality, to welcome the +stranger--where kindness springs from the heart, and dreams not of sordid +gain--where courtesy attends superior rank, without question, but without +debasement--where the men are valiant, the women virtuous--where it needed +but a few home-spun heroes--an innkeeper and a friar--to rouse up to arms +an entire population, and in a brief space to drive back the Gallic +foeman! Oh! how do we revert with choking sense of gratitude, to the years +we have spent in thy bosom! + +Oh! would that we were again treading the mountain's summit--the rifle +our comrade--and a rude countryman, our guide and our companion. + +In vain! in vain! the net of circumstance is over us! + +We may struggle! but cannot escape from its close meshes. + +We have said that we were at Inspruck at this period. + +It was our purpose, on the following morning, to take our departure. + +With renewed health, and nerves rebraced, we hoped to combat successfully, +a world that had already stung us. + +There was a group near the golden-roofed palace, that attracted our +attention. It consisted of a father and his five sons. + +They were dressed in the costume of the country; wearing a tapering +hat, with black ribbons and feather--a short green jerkin--a red vest +surmounted by broad green braces--and short boots tightly laced to +the ancle. + +They formed a picture of free mountaineers. + +We left our lodging, and passed them irresolutely twice or thrice. + +The old man took off his hat to the stranger. + +"Sir! I am of Sand, in Passeyer. + +"Anderl Hofer was my schoolfellow; and these are my boys, whom I have +brought to see all that remains of him. Oh! Sir! they did not conquer him, +although the murderers shot him on the bastion; but, as he wrote to +Pulher--_his_ friend and mine--it was indeed 'in the name, and by the help +of the Lord, that he undertook the voyage,'" + +We paced through the city sorrowfully. It was night, as we passed by the +church of the Holy Cross. + +Solemn music there arrested our footsteps; and we remembered, that high +mass would that night be performed, for the soul of the deceased patriot. + +We entered, and drew near the mausoleum of Maximilian the First:--leaning +against a colossal statue in bronze, and fixing our eyes on a bas relief +on the tomb: one of twenty-four tablets, wrought from Carrara's whitest +marble, by the unrivalled hand of Colin of Malines! + +One blaze of glory enveloped the grand altar:--vapours of incense floated +above:--and the music! oh it went to the soul! + +Down! down knelt the assembled throng! + +Our mind had been previously attuned to melancholy; it now reeled under +its oppression. + +We looked around with tearful eye. Old Theodoric of the Goths seemed to +frown from his pedestal. + +We turned to the statue against which we had leant. + +It was that of a youthful and sinewy warrior. + +We read its inscription. + +Artur, Konig Von England + +"Ah! hast _thou_ too thy representative, my country?" + +We looked around once more. + +The congregation were prostrate before the mysterious Host; and we alone +stood up, gazing with profound awe and reverence on the mystic rite. + +The rough caps of the women almost hid their fair brows. In the upturned +features of the men, what a manly, yet what a devout expression reigned! + +Melodiously did the strains proceed from the brazen-balustraded +orchestra; while sweet young girls smiled in the chapel of silver, as +they turned to Heaven their deeply-fringed eyes, and invoked pardon for +their sins. + +Alas! alas! that such as these _should_ err, even in thought! that our +feelings should so often mislead us,--that our very refinement, should +bring temptation in its train,--and our fervent enthusiasm, but too +frequently terminate in vice and crime! + +Our whole soul was unmanned! and well do we remember the morbid prayer, +that we that night offered to the throne of mercy. + +"Pity us! pity us! Creator of all! + +"With thousands around, who love--who reverence--whose hearts, in unison +with ours, tremble at death, yet sigh for eternity;--who gaze with eye +aspiring, although dazzled--as, the curtain of futurity uplifted, fancy +revels in the glorious visions of beatitude:--even here, oh God! hear our +prayer and pity us! + +"We are moulded, though faintly, in an angel's form. Endow us with an +angel's principles. For ever hush the impure swellings of passion! lull +the stormy tide of contending emotions! let not circumstances overwhelm! + +"Receive our past griefs: the griefs of manhood, engrafted on youth; accept +these tears, falling fast and bitterly! take them as past atonement,--as +mute witnesses that we feel:--that reason slumbers not, although passion +may mislead:--that gilded temptation may overcome, and gorgeous pleasure +intoxicate:--but that sincere repentance, and bitter remorse, are +visitants too. + +"Oh guide and pity us!" + +A cheerless dawn was breaking, and a thick damp mist was lazily hanging on +the water's surface, as our travellers waved the hand to Venice. + +"Fare thee well!" said George, as he rose in the gondola to catch a last +glimpse of the Piazzetta, "sea girt city! decayed memorial of patrician +splendour, and plebeian debasement! of national glory, blended with +individual degradation!--fallen art thou, but fair! It was not with +freshness of heart, I reached thee:--I dwelt not in thee, with that +jocund spirit, whose every working or gives the lip a smile, or moistens +the eye of feeling with a tear. + +"Sad were my emotions! but sadder still, as I recede from thy shores, bound +on a distant pilgrimage. Acmé! dear Acmé! would I were with thee!" + +Passing through Treviso, they stopped at Castel Franco, which presents one +of the best specimens of an Italian town, and Italian peasantry, that a +stranger can meet with. + +At Bassano, they failed not to visit the Municipal Hall, where are the +principal pictures of Giacomo da Ponte, called after his native town. + +His style is peculiar. + +His pictures are dark to an excess, with here and there a vivid light, +introduced with wonderful effect. + +From this town, the ascent of the mountains towards Ospedale is commenced; +and the route is one full of interest. + +On the right, lay a low range of country, adorned with vineyards; beyond +which, the mountains rose in a precipitous ridge, and closed the scene +magnificently. + +The Brenta was then reached, and continued to flow parallel with the road, +as far as eye could extend. + +Farther advanced, the mountains presented a landscape more varied:--_here_ +chequered with hamlets, whose church hells re-echoed in mellow harmony: +there--the only break to their majesty, being the rush of the river, as it +formed rolling cascades in its rapid route; or beat in sparkling foam, +against the large jagged rocks, which opposed its progress. + +At one while, came shooting down the stream, some large raft of timber, +manned by adventurous navigators, who, with graceful dexterity, guided +their rough bark, clear of the steep banks, and frequent fragments of +rock;--at another--as if to mark a road little frequented, a sharp turn +would bring them on some sandalled damsel, sitting by the road side, +adjusting her ringlets. Detected in her toilet, there was a mixture of +frankness and modesty, in the way in which she would turn away a blushing +face, yet neglect not, with native courtesy, to incline the head, and +wave the sun-burnt hand. + +From Ospedale, nearing the bold castle of Pergini, which effectually +commands the pass; the travellers descended through regions of beauty, to +the ancient Tridentum of Council celebrity. + +The metal roof of its Duomo was glittering in the sunshine; and the Adige +was swiftly sweeping by its fortified walls. + +Leaving Trent, they reached San Michele, nominally the last Italian town +on the frontier; but the German language had already prepared them for a +change of country. + +The road continued to wind by the Adige, and passing through Lavis, and +Bronzoli, the brothers halted for the night at Botzen, a clean German +town, watered by the Eisach. + +The following day's journey, was one that few can take, and deem their +time misspent. + +Mossy cliffs--flowing cascades--"chiefless castles breaking stern +farewells"--all these were met, and met again, as through Brixen, they +reached the village of Mülks. + +They had intended to have continued their route; but on drawing up at the +post-house, were so struck with the gaiety of the scene, that they +determined to remain for the night. + +Immediately in rear of the small garden of the inn, and with a gentle +slope upwards, a wide piece of meadow land extended. On its brow, was +pitched a tent, or rather, a many-coloured awning; and, beside it, a pole +adorned with flags. This was the station for expert riflemen, who aimed in +succession at a fluttering bird, held by a silken cord. + +The sloping bank of the hill was covered with spectators. + +Age looked on with sadness, and mourned for departed manhood--youth with +envy, and sighed for its arrival. + +After seeing their bedrooms, George leant on Henry's arm, and, crossing +the garden, they took a by-path, which led towards the tent. + +The strangers were received with respect and cordiality. + +Seats were brought, and placed near the scene of contest. + +The trial of skill over, the victor took advantage, of his right, and +selected his partner from the fairest of the peasant girls. + +Shrill pipes struck up a waltz--a little blind boy accompanied these on a +mandolin--and in a brief space, the hill's flat summit was swarming with +laughing dancers. + +Nor was youth alone enlisted in Terpsichore's service. + +The mother joined in the same dance with the daughter; and not +unfrequently tripped with foot as light. + +Twilight came on, and the patriarchs of the village, and with them our +travellers, adjourned to the inn. + +The matrons led away their reluctant charges, and the youth of the village +alone protracted the revels. + +The brothers seated themselves at a separate table, and watched the +village supper party, with some interest. + +Bowls of thick soup, with fish swimming in butter, and fruit floating in +cream, were successively placed in the middle of the table. + +Each old man produced his family spoon, and helped himself with primitive +simplicity:--then lighted his pipe, and told his long tale, till he had +exhausted himself and his hearers. + +Nor must we forget the comely waiter. + +A bunch of keys hanging on one side,--a large leathern purse on the +other--with a long boddice, and something like a hoop--she really +resembled, save that her costume was more homely, one of the portraits +of Vandyke. + +The brothers left Mülks by sunrise, and were not long, ere they reached +the summit of the Brenner, the loftiest point of the Tyrol. + +From the beautiful town of Gries, embosomed in the deep valley, until they +trod the steep Steinach, the mountain scenery at each step become more +interesting. The road was cut on the face of a mountain. On one side, +frowned the mountain's dark slope; on the other, lay a deep precipice, +down which the eye fearfully gazed, and saw naught but the dark fir trees +far far beneath. Dividing that dense wood, a small stream, entangled in +the dark ravine, glided on in graceful windings, and looked more silvery +from its contrast with the sombre forest. + +At the Steinach Pietro pulled up, to show the travellers the capital +of the Tyrol, and to point in the distance to Hall, famous for its +salt works. + +Casting a hasty glance, on the romantic vale beneath them:--the fairest +and most extensive in the northern recesses of the Alps, Sir Henry desired +his driver to continue his journey. + +They rapidly descended, and passing by the column, commemorative of the +repulse of the French and Bavarian armies, soon found themselves the +inmates of an hotel in Inspruck. + + + + +Chapter X. + +The Students' Stories. + + + + "The lilacs, where the robins built, + And where my brother set + The laburnum on his birth-day-- + _The tree_ is living yet." + + +At Inspruck, Delmé had the advantage of a zealous, if not an appropriate +guide, in the red-faced landlord of the hotel, whose youth had been passed +in stirring times, which had more than once, required the aid of his arm, +and which promised to tax his tongue, to the last day of his life. + +He knew all the heroes of the Tyrolese revolution--if revolution it can be +called--and had his tale to tell of each. + +He had got drunk with Hofer,--had visited Joseph Speckbacker, when hid in +his own stable,--and had confessed more than once to Haspinger, the +fighting Capuchin. + +His stories were very characteristic; and, if they did not breathe all the +poetry of patriotism, were at least honest versions, of exploits performed +in as pure and disinterested a spirit, as any that have ever graced the +sacred name of Liberty. + +After seeing all its sights, and making an excursion to some glaciers in +its neighbourhood, Delmé and George left the capital of the Tyrol, to +proceed by easy stages to Munich. + +In the first day's route, they made the passage of the Zirl, which has +justly been lauded; and Pietro failed not to point to a crucifix, placed +on a jutting rock, which serves to mark the site of Maximilian's cave. + +The travellers took a somewhat late breakfast, at the guitar-making +Mittelwald, where chance detained them later than usual. They were still +at some distance from their sleeping place, the hamlet of Wallensee, when +the rich hues of sunset warned Pietro, that if he would not be benighted, +he must urge on his jaded horses. + +The sun's decline was glorious. For a time, vivid streaks of crimson and +of gold, crowned the summits of the heaving purple mountains. Gradually, +these streaks became fainter, and died away, and rolling, slate-coloured +clouds, hung heavily in the west. + +The scene and the air seemed to turn on a sudden, both cold and grey; and, +as the road wound through umbrageous forests of pine, night came abruptly +upon them; and it was a relief to the eye, to note the many bright stars, +as they shone above the tops of the lofty trees. + +A boding stillness reigned, on which the sound of their carriage wheels +ungratefully broke. The rustling of each individual bough had an +intonation of its own; and the deep notes of the woodman, endeavouring to +forget the thrilling legends of his land, mingled fitfully with the hollow +gusts, which came moaning through the leafless branches below. + +Hist! can it be the boisterous revel of the _forst geister_, that meets +his ear? or is it but the chirp of insects, replying from brake to +underwood? + +Woodman! stay not thy carol! + +Yon sound _may_ be the wild laugh of the Holz König! Better for thee, to +deem it the whine of thine own dog, looking from the cottage door, and +awaiting but thy presence, to share in the homely meal. + +Arrived on the summit of the hill, the lights of the hamlet at length +glistened beneath them. The tired steeds, as if aware of the near +termination of their labours, shook their rough manes, and jingled their +bells in gladness. + +An abrupt descent--and they halted, at the inn facing the lake. + +And here may we notice, that it has been a source of wonder to us, that +English tourists, whose ubiquity is great, have not oftener been seen +straying, by the side of the lake of Wallensee. + +A sweeter spot exists not;--whether we rove by its margin, and perpetrate +a sonnet; limn some graceful tree, hanging over its waters; or gaze on its +unruffled surface, and, noting its aspect so serene, preach from that +placid text, peace to the wearied breast. + +They were shown into a room in the inn, already thronged with strangers. +These were students on their way to Heidelberg. + +They were sitting round a table, almost enveloped in smoke; and were +hymning praises to their loved companion--beer. + +As being in harmony with the moustaches, beard, and bandit +propensities--which true bürschen delight to cultivate--they received +the strangers with an unfriendly stare, and continued to vociferate +their chorus. + +Sir Henry, a little dismayed at the prospect before them, called for the +landlord and his bill of fare; and had the pleasure of discovering, that +the provisions had been consumed, and that two hours would elapse, before +more could be procured. + +At this announcement, Delmé looked somewhat blank. One of the students, +observing this, approached, and apologising, in English, for their +voracity, commenced conversing with the landlord, as to the best course to +be pursued towards obtaining supper. + +His comrades, seeing one of their number speaking with the travellers, +threw off some part of their reserve, and made way for them at the table. + +George and Henry accepted the proffered seats, although they declined +joining the drinking party. + +The students, however, did not appear at ease. As if to relieve their +embarrassment, one of them addressed the young man, with whom Sir Henry +had conversed. + +"Carl! it is your turn now! if you have not a song, we must have an +original story." + +Carl at once complied, and related the following. + + + +The First Story. + + +Perhaps some of you remember Fritz Hartmann and his friend Leichtberg. +They were the founders of the last new liberty club, and were famous at +_renowning_. + +These patriots became officers of the Imperial Guard, and at Vienna were +soon known for their friendship and their gallantries. + +Fritz had much sentiment and imagination; but some how or other, this did +not preserve him from inconstancy. + +If he was always kind and gentle, he was not always faithful. + +His old college chums had the privilege of joking him on these subjects; +and we always did so without mercy. Fritz would sometimes combat our +assertions, but they ordinarily made him laugh so much, that a stranger +would have deemed he assented to their truth. + +One night after the opera, the friends supped together at Fritz's. + +I was of the party, and brought for my share a few bottles of +Johannisberg, that had been sent me by my uncle from the last vintage. +Over these we got more than usually merry, and sang all the songs and +choruses of Mother Heidelberg, till the small hours arrived. The sitting +room we were in, communicated on one side with the bedroom;--on the other, +with a little closet, containing nothing but some old trunks. + +This last was closed, but there was a small aperture in the door, over +which was a slight iron lattice work. + +The officer who had last tenanted Fritz's quarters, had kept pheasants +there, and had had this made on purpose. + +After one of our songs, Leichtberg attacked Fritz on the old score. + +"Fritz! you very Werter of sentiment! I was amazed to see you with no +loves to-night at the opera. Where is the widow with sandy hair? or the +actress who gave your _kirschenwasser_ such a benefit? where our +sallow-faced friend? or more than all, where may the fair Pole be who +sells such charming fruit? Fritz! Fritz! your sudden attachment to grapes +is too ominous." + +"Come, Leichtberg!" said Hartmann, laughing, "this is really not fair. Do +you know I think myself very constant, and as to the Pole, I have thought +of little else for these three months." + +"Not so fast! not so fast! Master Hartmann. Was it not on Wednesday week I +met you arm in arm with the actress? Were you not waltzing with the widow +at the Tivoli? have you not"-- + +"Come, come!" said Fritz, reddening, "let us say no more. I confess to +having made a fool of myself with the actress, but she begged and prayed +to see me once more, ere we parted for ever. With this exception----" + +"Yes, yes!" interrupted Leichtberg, "I know you, Master Fritz, and all +your evil doings. Have you heard of our Polish affaire de coeur, Carl?", +and he turned to me. + +"No!" replied I, "let me hear it." + +"Well, you must know that a certain friend of ours is very economical, and +markets for himself. He bargains for fruit and flowers with the peasant +girls, and the prettiest always get his orders, and bring up their +baskets, and--we will say no more. Well! our friend meets a foreign face, +dark eye--Greek contour--and figure indescribable. She brings him home her +well arranged bouquets. He swears her lips are redder than her roses--her +brow whiter than lilies--and her breath--which he stoops to inhale--far +sweeter than her jasmines. To his amazement, the young flower girl sees no +such great attractions in the Imperial Guardsman; leaves her +nosegays,--throws his Napoleon, which he had asked her to change, in his +face,--and makes her indignant exit. Our sentimental friend finds out her +home, and half her history;--renews his flattering tales--piques her +pride,--rouses her jealousy;--and makes her love him, bon gré--mal gré, +better than either fruit or flowers. + +"Fritz swears eternal constancy, and keeps it, as I have already told you, +with the actress and the sandy haired widow." + +Leichtberg told this story inimitably, and Fritz laughed as much as I did. +At length we rose to wish him good night, and saw him turn to his bedroom +door, followed by a Swiss dog, which always slept under his bed. The rest +of the story we heard from his dying lips. + +It was as near as he could guess, between two and three in the morning, +that he awoke with the impression that some one was near him. For a time +he lay restless and ill at ease; with the vague helpless feeling, that +often attacks one, after a good supper. + +Fritz had just made up his mind to ascribe to this cause, all his +nervousness; when something seemed to drop in the adjoining room; and his +dog, starting to its feet, commenced barking furiously. + +Again all was still. + +He got up for a moment, but fancying he heard a footstep on the stair, +concluded that the noise proceeded from one of the inmates of the house, +who was come home later than usual. + +But Fritz could not sleep; and his dog seemed to share his feelings; +for he turned on his side restlessly, and occasionally gave a quick +solitary bark. + +Suddenly a conviction flashed across Hartmann, that there was indeed some +one in the chamber. + +His curtain stirred. + +He sprang from his bed, and reached his tinder box. As the steel struck +sparks from the flint, these revealed the face of the intruder. + +It was the young Polish girl. + +A fur cloak was closely folded around her;--her face was deadly +pale;--with one hand she drew back her long dark hair, while she silently +uplifted the other. + +Our friend's last impression was his falling back, at the moment his dog +made a spring at the girl. + +The inmates of the house were alarmed. His friends were all sent for. + +I arrived among the earliest. What a sight met me! + +The members of the household were so stupefied that they had done nothing. +Fritz Hartmann lay on the floor insensible:--his night shirt steeped in +blood, still flowing from a mortal wound in his breast. + +At his feet, moaning bitterly, its fangs and mouth filled with mingled fur +and gore, lay the Swiss dog, with two or three deep gashes across the +throat. In the adjoining room, thrown near the door, was the instrument of +Fritz's death--one of the knives we had used the evening before. + +Beside it, lay a woman's cloak, the fur literally dripping with blood. + +Fritz lingered for five hours. Before death, he was sensible, and told us +what I have stated:--and acknowledged that he had loved the girl, more +than her station in life might seem to warrant. + +Of course, the young Pole had been concealed in the closet, and heard +Leichtberg's sallies. Love and jealousy effected the rest. + +We never caught her, although we had all the Vienna police at our beck; +and accurate descriptions of her person were forwarded to the frontiers. + +We were not quite certain as to her fate, but we rather suppose her to +have escaped by a back garden; in which case she must have made a most +dangerous leap; and then to have passed as a courier, riding as such +into Livonia. + +Where she obtained the money or means to effect this, God knows. She must +have been a heroine in her way, for this dog is not easily overpowered, +and yet--look here! these scars were given him by that young girl. + +The student whistled to a dog at his feet, which came and licked his hand, +while he showed the wounds in his throat. + +"I call him Hartmann," continued he, "after my old friend. His father sent +him to me just after the funeral, and Leichtberg has got his meershaum." + + * * * * * + +The students listened attentively to the story, refilling their pipes +during its progress, with becoming gravity. Carl turned towards his right +hand neighbour. "Wilhelm! I call on you!" + +The student, whom he addressed, passed his hand through his long heard, +and thus commenced. + + + +The Second Story. + + +My father's brother married at Lausanne, in the Canton de Vaud, and +resided there. He died early, and left one son; who, as you may suppose, +was half a Frenchman. In spite of that, I thought Caspar von Hazenfeldt a +very handsome fellow. His chestnut hair knotted in curls over his +shoulders. His eyes, the veins of his temples, and I would almost say, his +very teeth, had a blueish tint, that I have noticed in few men; and which +must, I think, be the peculiar characteristic of his complexion. When +engaged in pleasure parties, either pic-nicing at the signal, or +promenading in the evening on Mont Benon, or sitting tête-à-tête at +Languedoc, he had no eyes or ears but for Caroline de Werner. + +He waltzed with her--he talked with her--and he walked with her--until he +had fairly talked, walked, and waltzed himself into love. + +She was the daughter of a rich old colonel of the Empire:--he was the +poor son of a poorer widow. What could he do? Caspar von Hazenfeldt could +gaze on the house of the old soldier; but the avenue of elms, the waving +corn-fields, and the luxuriant gardens, told him that the heiress of +Beau-Séjour could never be his. + +He was one evening sitting on a stone, in a little ruined chapel, near the +house of his beloved; ruminating as usual on his ill fate, and considering +which would be the better plan, to mend his fortunes by travel, or mar +them by suicide;--when an elderly gentleman, dressed in a plain suit of +black, appeared hat in hand before him. + +After the usual compliments, they entered into conversation, and at last, +having walked for some distance, towards Hazenfeldt's house, agreed to +meet again at the chapel on the next evening. + +Suffice it to say that they often met, and as often parted, on the margin +of the little stream, that ran before the door of Caspar's mother's +house:--that they became great friends;--and that the young man confided +the tale of his love, hopes, and miseries, to the sympathising senior. + +At last _the old gentleman_, for such he really was, told Caspar that he +would help him in a trice, through all his difficulties. + +"There is one condition, Caspar!" said he, "but that is a mere trifle. You +are young, and would be quite happy, were it not for this love affair of +yours:--you sleep soundly, you seek and quit your bed early, and you care +not for night-roving. Henceforth, lend me your body from ten at night, +until two in the morning, and I promise that Caroline de Werner shall be +yours. Here she is!" continued he, as he opened his snuff box, and showed +the lid to Caspar, "here she is!" + +And sure enough, there she was on the inside of the lid, apparently +reading to the gouty old colonel, as he sat in his easy chair in the petit +salon of Beau-Sejour. + +One evening, the old gentleman delighted Caspar, by telling him that he +had authority from Colonel de Werner, to bring a guest to a ball at +Beau-Séjour, and by begging Caspar to be his shade--to use our +Continental expression--on the occasion. + +Caspar von Hazenfeldt and he became greater friends than ever, since their +singular contract had been made; for made it was in a thoughtless +unguarded moment. + +Hazenfeldt was introduced to Caroline in due form, and engaged her for the +first dance. + +Before the quadrille began, his friend in black came to present his +compliments, and to say that he had never seen a more beautiful pair. + +"Caspar!" continued he, "when your dance is over, give me a few minutes in +the next room. We will chat together, and sip our negus." + +Caspar _did_ so, and _did_ sip his negus. The little gentleman in black, +was very facetious, and very affable. + +"Are you not going to dance again, Caspar? Look at all those pretty girls, +waiting for partners! Why do you not lead one to the country dance?" + +As he ended speaking, a sylph-like figure, with long golden ringlets, +floated past them. + +"I can, and I will," replied Caspar, laughing, as he took the fair-haired +girl by the hand, and led her to the dance. + +He turned to address his friend in triumph, but he had disappeared. + +The dance was over, and Caspar led the stranger towards a silken ottoman. + +"Will you not try one waltz?" said the beautiful girl, as she shook +her ringlets, over his flushed cheek; "but I must not ask you, if you +are tired." + +"How can I refuse?" rejoined Caspar. + +Caroline was forgotten, as his partner's golden hair floated on his +shoulders, and her soft white arms were twined around him, as they danced +the mazy coquettish waltz, which was then the fashion in Lausanne. + +"How warm these rooms are!" she exclaimed at last. "The moon is up: let us +walk in the avenue." + +Caspar assented; for he grew fonder of his new partner, and more forgetful +of Caroline. She pressed closer and closer to his side. A distant clock +struck ten. Entwined in her tresses, encircled in her arms, he sunk +senseless to the ground. + +When Caspar recovered from the trance, into which he had fallen, the cold +morning breeze, that precedes the dawn, was freshening his cheek; a few +faint streaks on the horizon, reflected the colours of the coming sun; and +the night birds were returning tired to the woods, as the day birds were +merrily preparing for their flight. He was not where he had fallen: he was +sitting on a rustic bench, beneath a moss-grown rock. + +Caroline de Werner was beside him. + +Her white frock was torn; her hair was hanging in Bacchante curls, twined +with the ivy that had wreathed it; her eyes glared wildly, and blood +bubbled from her mouth. Her hand was fast locked in that of Hazenfeldt. + +"Caroline!" he exclaimed, in a tone of wonderment, as one who awakes from +a deep sleep, "Caroline! why are we here? what means this disorder?" + +"You now speak," said she, "as did my Caspar," + +Caroline de Werner is in a mad-house near Vevay:--the man in black has not +been seen since he disappeared from the ball room of Beau-Séjour:--my +cousin, Caspar von Hazenfeldt, took to wandering alone over the Swiss +mountains; and before three months had elapsed, from the time he met _the +old gentleman_, was buried in the fall of an avalanche, near the pass of +the Gemmi. + + * * * * * + +Supper was not ready as the student finished this story; and George +proposed a stroll. The change from the heated room to the margin of the +lake, was a most refreshing one. As the brothers silently gazed upwards, a +young lad approached, and accosted them. + +"Gentlemen! I have seen the horses fed, and they are now lying down." + +"Have you?" said Delmé, drily. + +"A very fine night! gentlemen! Perhaps you have heard of the famous echo, +on the other side of the lake. It will be a good hour, I am sure, before +your supper is ready. My boat lies under that old tree. If you like it, I +will loose the chain, and row you over." + +The brothers acquiesced. They were just in the frame of mind for an +unforeseen excursion. The motion of the boat, too, would be easy for +George, and he might there unrestrainedly give way to his excited +feelings, or commune ungazed on, with the current of his thoughts. + +A thin crescent of a moon had risen. It was silvering the tops of the +overhanging boughs, and was quiveringly mirrored on the light ripple. +George leant against the side of the boat, and listened to the liquid +music, as the broad paddle threw back the resisting waters. + +How soothing is the hour of night to the wounded spirit! + +The obscurity which shrouds nature, seems to veil even man's woes--the +harsh outline of his sufferings is discerned no more. Grief takes the +place of despair--pensive melancholy of sorrow. + +As we gaze around, and feel the chill air damp each ringlet on the pallid +brow; know that _that_ hour hath cast a shade on each inanimate thing +around us; we feel resigned to our bereavements, and confess, in our +heart's humility, that no changes _should_ overwhelm, and that no grief +_should_ awaken repinings. + +To many a bruised and stricken spirit, night imparts a grateful balm. + +In the morning, the feelings are too fresh;--oblivion is exchanged for +conscious suffering;--the merriment of the feathered songsters seems to us +as a taunt;--our sympathies are not with waking nature. The glare and +splendour of noon, bid us recal _our_ hopes, and their signal overthrow. +The zenith of day's lustre meets us as a wilful mockery. + +Eve may bring rest, but on her breast is memory. But at night! when the +mental and bodily energies are alike worn out by the internal +struggle;--when hushed is each sound--softened each feature--dimmed each +glaring hue;--a calm which is not deceptive, steals over us, and we regard +our woes as the exacted penalty of our erring humanity. + +Calumniated night! to one revelling in the full noon-tide of hope and +gladness:--to the one, to whom a guilty conscience incessantly whispers, +"Think! but sleep not!"--to such as these, horrors may appear to bound thy +reign!--but to him who hath loved, and who hath lost,--to many a gentle +but tried spirit, thou comest in the guise of a sober, and true friend. + +The boat for some time, kept by the steep bank, under the shadows of the +trees. As it emerged from this, towards where the moon-beams cast their +light on the water, the night breeze rustled through the foliage, and +swept a yet green leaf from one of the drooping boughs. + +It fell on the surface of the lake, and George's eye quickly followed it. + +"Look at that unfaded leaf! Henry. What a gentle breeze it was, that +parted it from its fellows! To me it resembles a youthful soul, cut off in +its prime, and wandering mateless in eternity." + +Sir Henry only sighed. + +The young rower silently pursued his course across the lake; running his +boat aground, on a small pebbly strand near a white cottage. + +Jumping nimbly from his seat, and fastening the boat to a large stone, the +guide, followed by the brothers, shouted to the inmates of the cottage, +and violently kicked at its frail door. + +An upper window was opened, and the guardian of the echo--a valorous +divine in a black night-cap--demanded their business. This was soon told. +The priest descended--struck a light--unbarred the door--and with the +prospect of gain before him, fairly forgot that he had been aroused from a +deep slumber. + +They were soon ushered into the kitchen. An aged crone descended, and +raking the charcoal embers, kindled a flame, by which the rower was +enabled to light his pipe. + +The young gentleman threw himself into an arm chair, and puffed away with +true German phlegm. The old man bustled about, in order to obtain the +necessary materials for loading an ancient cannon; and occupied himself +for some minutes, in driving the charge into the barrel. + +This business arranged, he led the way towards the beach; and aided by the +old woman, pointed his warlike weapon. A short pause--it was fired! +Rebounding from hill to hill, the echo took its course, startling the +peasant from his couch, and the wolf from his lair. + +Again all was still;--then came its distant reverberation--a tone deep and +subdued--dying away mournfully on the ear. + +"How wonderfully fine!" said George, "but let us embark, for I feel +quite chilled." + +"I will run for the youngster," replied his brother. As he moved towards +the cottage, the priest seized him by the collar of the coat, and held up +the torch, by which he had fired the cannon. + +"This echo is indeed a wonderful one! It has nineteen distinct +repetitions; the first twelve being heard from _this_ side of a valley, +which, were it day, I would point out; the other seven, on the opposite +side. Tradition tells us, that nineteen castles in ancient times, stood +near the spot; that each of these laid claim to the echo; and that, as it +passes the ruin, where once dwelt Sigismund of the Bloody Hand, the chief +springs from the round ivied tower--waves his sword thrice, the drops of +blood falling from its hilt as he does so--and proclaims aloud, that +whosoever dare gainsay"-- + +"I am sorry to leave you," interrupted Sir Henry, as he shook him off, +"particularly at this interesting part of the story; but it is late, +and my brother feels unwell, and I wish to go to the cottage to call +our guide." + +Delmé was pursued by the echo's elucidator, who being duly remunerated, +allowed Sir Henry to accompany the guide towards the boat. George was not +standing where he had left him. Delmé stepped forward, and nearly fell +over a prostrate body. + +It was the motionless one of his brother. + +He gave a shriek of anguish; flew towards the house, and in a moment, was +again on the spot, bearing the priest's torch. He raised his brother's +head. One hand was extended over the body, and fell to the earth like a +clod of clay as it was. + +He gazed on that loved face. In that gaze, how much was there to arrest +his attention. + +On those features, death had stamped his seal. + +But there was a thought, which bore the ascendancy over this in Delmé's +mind. It was a thought which rose involuntarily,--one for which he could +not _then_ account, and cannot now. For some seconds, it swayed his every +emotion. He felt the conviction--deep, undefinable--that there was indeed +a soul, to "shame the doctrine of the Sadducee." + +He deemed that on those lineaments, this was the language forcibly +engraven! The features were still and fixed:--the brow alone revealed a +dying sense of pain. + +The lips! how purple were they! and the eye, that erst flashed so +freely:--the yellow film of death had dimmed its lustre. + +The legs were apart, and one of the feet was in the lake. Henry tried to +chafe his brother's forehead. + +In vain! in vain! he knew it was in vain! + +He let the head fall, and buried his face in his hands. + +He turned reproachfully, to gaze on that cloudless Heaven, where the moon, +and the brilliant stars, and the falling meteor, seemed to hold a bright +and giddy festival. + +He clasped his hands in mute agony. For a brief moment--his dark eye +seeming to invite His wrath--he dared to arraign the mercy of God, who had +taken what he had made. + +It was but for a moment he thus thought. + +He had watched that light of life, until its existence was almost +identified with his own. He had seen it flicker--had viewed it +reillumed--blaze with increased brilliancy--fade--glimmer--and fade. Now! +where was it? + +A bitter cry escaped! his limbs trembled convulsively, and could no longer +support him. + +He fell senseless beside his brother. + + + + +Chapter XI + +The Student + + + + "What is my being? _thou_ hast ceased to be." + + +Carl Obers was as enthusiastic a being as ever Germany sent forth. Brought +up in a lone recess in the Hartz mountains, with neither superiors nor +equals to commune with, he first entered the miniature world, as a student +at Heidelberg. + +His education had been miserably neglected. He had read much; but his +reading had been without order and without system. + +The deepest metaphysics, and the wildest romances had been devoured in +succession; until the young man hardly knew which was the real, or which +was the visionary world:--the one he actually lived in, or the one he was +always brooding over:--where souls are bound together by mysterious and +hidden links, and where men sell themselves to Satan;--the penalty merely +being:--to walk through life, and throw no shadow. + +Enrolled amongst a select corps of brüschen, warm and true; his ear was +caught by the imposing jargon of patriotism; and his imagination dwelt on +those high sounding words, "the rights of man;"--until he became the +staunch advocate and unflinching votary of a state of things, which, for +aught we know, _may_ exist in one of the planets, but which never can, and +which never will exist on this earth of ours. + +"What!" would exclaim our enthusiast, "have we not all our bodily and our +mental, energies? Doth not dame Nature, in our birth, as in our death, +deal out impartial justice? She may endow me with stronger limbs, than +another:--our feelings as we grow up, may not be chained down to one +servile monotony;--the lip of the precocious cynic"--this was addressed to +a young matter of fact Englishman--"who sneers at my present animation, +may not curl with a smile as often as my own; but let our powers of +acting be equal,--our prerogatives the same." + +Carl Obers, with his youth and his vivacity, carried his auditors--a +little knot of beer drinking liberty-mongers--_with_ him, and _for_ him, +in all he said; and the orator would look round, with conscious power, and +considerable satisfaction; and flatter himself, that his specious +arguments were as unanswerable, as they were then unanswered. + +Many of our generation may remember the unparalleled enthusiasm, which, +like an electric flash, spread over the civilised world; as Greece armed +herself, to shake off her Moslem ruler. + +It was one that few could help sharing. + +To almost all, is Greece a magic word. Her romantic history--the legacies +she has left us--our early recollections, identifying with her existence +as a nation, all that is good and glorious;--no wonder these things should +have shed a bright halo around her,--and have made each breast deeply +sympathise with her in her unwonted struggle for freedom. + +Carl Obers did not hear of this struggle with indifference. He at once +determined to give Greece the benefit of his co-operation, and the aid of +his slender means. He immediately commenced an active canvass amongst his +personal friends, in order to form a band of volunteers, who might be +efficient, and worthy of the cause on which his heart was set. + +He now first read an useful lesson from life's unrolled volume. + +Many a voice, that had rung triumphantly the changes on liberty, was +silent now, or deprecated the active attempt to establish it. + +The hands that waved freely in the debating room, were not the readiest to +grasp the sword's hilt. Many who had poetically expatiated on the +splendours of modern Greece; on reflection preferred the sunny views of +the Neckar, to the prospect of eating honey on Hymettus. + +Youth, however, is the season for enterprise; and Carl, with twenty-three +comrades, was at length on his way to Trieste. + +He had been offered the command of the little band, but had declined it, +with the sage remark, that "as they were about to fight for equality, it +was their business to preserve it amongst themselves." + +A slight delay in procuring a vessel, took place at Trieste. This delay +caused a defection of eight of the party. + +The remaining students embarked in a miserable Greek brigantine, and after +encountering some storms in the Adriatic, thought themselves amply repaid, +as the purple hills of Greece rose before them. + +On their landing, they felt disappointed. + +No plaudits met them; no vivas rung in the air: but a Greek soldier +filched Carl's valise, and on repairing to the commandant of the town, +they were told that no redress could be afforded them. + +Willing to hope that the scum of the irregular troops was left behind, and +that better feeling, and stricter discipline, existed nearer the main +body; our students left on the morrow;--placed themselves under the +command of one of the noted leaders of the Revolution:--and had shortly +the satisfaction of crossing swords with the Turk. + +For some months, the party went through extraordinary hardships;--engaged +in a series of desultory but sanguinary expeditions;--and gradually learnt +to despise the nation, in whose behalf they were zealously combating. + +At the end of these few months, what a change in the hopes and prospects +of the little band! Some had rotted in battle field, food for vultures; +others had died of malaria in Greek hamlets, without one friend to close +their eyes, or one hand to proffer the cooling draught to quench the dying +thirst;--two were missing--had perhaps been murdered by the peasants;--and +five only remained, greatly disheartened, cursing the nation, and their +own individual folly. + +Four of the five turned homewards. + +Carl was left alone, but fought on. + +Now there was a Greek, Achilles Metaxà by name, who had attached himself +to Carl's fortunes. In person, he was the very model of an ancient hero. +He had the capacious brow, the eye of fire, and the full black beard, +descending in wavy curls to his chest. + +The man was brave, too, for Carl and he had fought together. + +It so happened, that they slept one night in a retired convent. Their +hardships latterly had been great, and the complaints of Achilles had been +unceasing in consequence. In the morning Carl rose, and found that his +clothes and arms had vanished, and that his friend was absent also. + +Carl remained long enough to satisfy himself, that his friend was the +culprit; and then turned towards the sea coast, determined at all hazards +to leave Greece. + +He succeeded in reaching Missolonghi, in the early part of 1823, shortly +after the death of Marco Botzaris--being then in a state of perfect +destitution, and his mental sufferings greatly aggravated by the +consciousness, that he had induced so many of his comrades to sacrifice +their lives and prospects in an unworthy cause. + +At Missolonghi, where Mavrocordato reigned supreme, he was grudged the +paltry ration of a Suliote soldier, and might have died of starvation, had +it not been for the timely interposition of a stranger. + +Moved by that stranger's persuasion, Carl consented to form one of a +contemplated expedition against Lepanto; and, had his illustrious +benefactor lived, might have found a steady friend. + +As it was, he waited not to hear the funeral oration, delivered by +Spiridion Tricoupi; but was on the deck of the vessel that was to bear him +homewards, and shed tears of mingled grief, admiration, and gratitude, as +thirty-seven minute guns, fired from the battery, told Greece and Carl +Obers, that they had lost Byron, their best friend. + +Carl reached Germany, a wiser man than when he left it. + +He found his father dead, and he came into possession of his small +patrimony; but felt greatly, as all men do who are suddenly removed from +active pursuits, the want of regular and constant employment. + +He was glad to renew his intercourse with his old University; and found +himself greatly looked up to by the students, who were never wearied with +listening to his accounts of the Morea, and of the privations he had there +encountered. + +We need hardly inform our readers, that Carl Obers was one of the +pedestrian students at Wallensee, and was indeed the identical narrator of +the Vienna story. + +We left George and his brother, on the shore below the priest's +cottage. The one was laid cold and motionless--the other wished that +_he_ also were so. + +Immediately on Delmé's falling, the young guide alarmed the +priest--brought him down to the spot--pointed to the brothers--threw +himself into the boat--and paddled swiftly across the lake, to alarm the +guests at the inn. + +It was with feelings of deep commiseration, that Carl looked on the two +brothers. He was the only person present, whose time was comparatively his +own; he spoke English, although imperfectly; and he owed a deep debt of +gratitude to an Englishman. + +These circumstances seemed to point him out, as the proper person to +attend to the wants of the unfortunate traveller; and Carl Obers mentally +determined, that he would not leave Delmé, as long as he had it in his +power to befriend him, Sir Henry Delmé was completely unmanned by his +bereavement. He had been little prepared for such a severe loss; although +it is more than probable, that George's life had long been hanging on a +thread, which a single moment might snap. + +The medical men had been singularly sanguine in his case, for it is rarely +that disease of the heart attacks one so young; but it now seemed evident, +that even had not anxiety of mind, and great constitutional irritability, +hastened the fatal result, that poor George could never have hoped to have +survived to a ripe old age. + +There was much in his character at any time, to endear him to an only +brother. As it was, Delmé had seen George under such trying +circumstances--had entered so fully into his feelings and sufferings--that +this abrupt termination to his brother's sorrows, appeared to Sir Henry +Delmé, to bring with it a sable pall, that enveloped in darkness his own +future life and prospects. + +The remains of poor George were placed in a small room, communicating with +one intended for Sir Henry. + +Here Delmé shut himself up, brooding over his loss, and permitting no one +to intrude on his privacy. + +Carl had offered his services, which were gratefully accepted, in making +the necessary arrangements for his brother's obsequies; and Sir Henry, in +the solitude of the dead man's chamber, could give free scope to a flood +of bitter recollections. + +It may be, that those silent hours of agony, when the brother looked +fixedly on that moveless face, and implored the departed spirit to breathe +its dread and awful secret, were not without their improving tendency; for +haggard and wan as was the mourner's aspect, there was no outward sign of +quivering, even as he saw the rude coffin lowered, and as fell on his ear, +the creaking of cords, and that harsh jarring sound, to which there is +nothing parallel on earth, the heavy clods falling on the coffin lid. + +The general arrangements had been simple; but Carl's directions had been +given in such a sympathising spirit, that they could not be otherwise than +acceptable. + +About the church-yard itself, there is nothing very striking. It is +formed round a small knoll, on the summit of which stands a sarcophagus +literally buried in ivy. + +Beneath this, is the vault of the baronial family, that for centuries +swayed the destinies of the little hamlet; but which family has been +extinct for some years. + +Round it are grouped the humbler osiered graves; over which, in lieu of +tomb stones, are placed large black iron crosses, ornamented with brass, +and bearing the simple initials of the bygone dead. + +Even Delmé, with all his ancestral pride, felt that George "slept well." + +It is true no leaden coffin enclosed his relics, nor did the murky vault +of his ancestors, open with creaking hinge to receive another of the race. +No escutcheon darkened the porch whence they bore him; and no long train +of mourners followed his remains to their last home. + +But there was something in the quiet of the spot, that seemed to Delmé in +harmony with his history; and to promise, that a sorrowless world had +already opened, on one who had loved so truly, and felt so deeply in this. + +Sir Henry returned to the inn, and darkened his chamber. + +He had not the heart to prosecute his journey, nor to leave the spot, +which held what was to him so dear. + +Carl Obers attempted to combat his despondency; but observing how useless +were his arguments, wisely allowed his grief to take its course. + +There was one point, in which Delmé was decidedly wrong. + +He could not bring himself, to communicate their loss to his sister. + +Carl pressed this duty frequently on him, but was always met by the +same reply. + +"No! no! how can I inflict such a pang?" + +It is possible the intelligence might have been very long in reaching +England, had it not been for a providential circumstance, that occurred +shortly after George's funeral. + +A carriage, whose style and appointments bespoke it English, changed +horses at the inn at Wallensee. The courier, while ordering the relays, +had heard George's story; and touching his hat to the inmates of the +vehicle, retailed it with natural pathos. + +On hearing the name of Delmé, the lady was visibly affected. She was +an old friend of the family; and as Melicent Dashwood, had known +George as a boy. + +It was not without emotion, that she heard of one so young, and to her so +familiar, being thus prematurely called to his last account. + +The lady and her husband alighted, and sending up their cards, begged to +see the mourner. + +The message was delivered; but Delmé, without comment or enquiry, at once +declined the offer; and it was thought better not to persist. They were +too deeply interested, however, not to attempt to be of use. They saw Carl +and Thompson,--satisfied themselves that Sir Henry was in friendly hands; +and thanking the student with warmth and sincerity, for his attention to +the sufferer, exacted a promise, that he would not leave him, as long as +he could in any way be useful. + +The husband and wife prepared to continue their journey; but not before +the former had left his address in Florence, with directions to Carl to +write immediately, in case he required the assistance of a friend; and the +latter had written a long letter to Mrs. Glenallan, in which she broke as +delicately as she could, the melancholy and unlooked-for tidings. + + + + +Chapter XII + +The Letter. + + + + "And from a foreign shore + Well to that heart might _hers_ these absent greetings pour." + + +Three weeks had elapsed since George's death. + +It would be difficult to depict satisfactorily, the state of Sir Henry +Delmé's mind during that period. The pride of life appeared crushed within +him. He rarely took exercise, and when he did, his step was slow, and his +gait tottering. + +That one terrible loss was ever present to his mind; and yet his +imagination, as if disconnected with his feelings, or his memory, was +constantly running riot over varying scenes of death, and conjuring up +revolting pictures of putrescence and decay. + +A black pall, and an odour of corruption, seemed to commingle with each +quick-springing fantasy; and Delmé would start with affright from his own +morbid conceptions, as he found himself involuntarily dwelling on the +waxen rigidity of death,--following the white worm in its unseemly +wanderings,--and finally stripping the frail and disgusting coat from the +disjointed skeleton. + +Sir Henry Delmé had in truth gone through arduous and trying scenes. + +The very circumstance that he had to conceal his own feelings, and +support George through his deeper trials, made the present reaction the +more to be dreaded. + +Certain are we, that trials such as his, are frequently the prevailing +causes, of moral and intellectual insanity. Fortunately, Sir Henry was +endued with a firm mind, and with nerves of great power of endurance. + +One morning, at an early hour, Thompson brought in a letter. + +It was from Emily Delmé; and as Sir Henry noted the familiar address, and +the broad black edge, which told that the news of his brother's death had +reached his sister, he cast it from him with a feeling akin to pain. + +The next moment, however, he sprang from the bed, threw open the shutters, +and commenced reading its contents. + + + +EMILY'S LETTER. + + +My own dear brother, + +My heart bleeds for you! But yesterday, we received the sad, sad letter. +To-day, although blinded with tears, I implore you to remember, that you +have not lost your all! Our bereavement has been great! our loss heavy +indeed. But if a link in the family love-chain be broken--shall not the +remaining ones cling to each other the closer? + +My aunt is heart-broken. Clarendon, kind as he is, did not know our +George! Alas! that he should be ours no more! + +My only brother! dwell not with strangers! A sister's arms are ready to +clasp you:--a sister's sympathy must lighten the load of your sufferings. + +Think of your conduct! your devotedness! Should not these comfort you? + +Did you not love and cherish him? did you not--happier than I--soothe his +last days? were you not present to the end? + +From this moment, I shall count each hour that divides us. + +On my knees both night and morning, will I pray the Almighty God, who has +chastened us, to protect my brother in his travels by sea and land. + +May we be spared, my dearest Henry, to pray together, that HE may bestow +on us present resignation, and make us duly thankful for blessings which +still are ours. + +Your affectionate sister, + +EMILY. + +Delmé read the letter with tearless eye. For some time he leant his head +on his hand, and thought of his sister, and of the dead. + +He shook, and laughed wildly, as he beat his hand convulsively +against the wall. + +Carl Obers and Thompson held him down, while this strong paroxysm lasted. + +His sobs became fainter, and he sunk into a placid slumber. The student +watched anxiously by his side. He awoke; called for Emily's letter; and as +he read it once more, the tears coursed down his sunken cheeks. + +Ah! what a relief to the excited man, is the fall of tears. + +It would seem as if the very feelings, benumbed and congealed as they may +hitherto have been, were suddenly dissolving under some happier influence, +and that,--with the external sign--the weakness and pliability of +childhood--we were magically regaining its singleness of feeling, and its +gentleness of heart. + +Sir Henry swerved no more from the path of manly duty. He saw the +vetturino, and arranged his departure for the morrow. On that evening, he +took Carl's arm, and sauntered through the village church-yard. + +Already seemed it, that the sods had taken root over George's grave. + +The interstices of the turf were hidden;--a white paper basket, which +still held some flowers, had been suspended by some kind stranger hand +over the grave;--from it had dropped a wreath of yellow amaranths. + +There was great repose in the scene. The birds appeared to chirp softly +and cautiously;--the tufts of grass, as they bowed their heads against the +monumental crosses, seemed careful not to rustle too drearily. + +Sir Henry's sleep was more placid, on _that_, his last night at Wallensee, +than it had been for many a night before. + + * * * * * + +Acting up to his original design, Delmé passed through the capitals of +Bavaria and Wurtemburg; and quickly traversing the picturesque country +round Heilbron, reached the romantic Heidelberg, washed by the Neckar. + +The student, as might be expected, did not arrive at his old University, +with feelings of indifference; but he insisted, previous to visiting his +college companions, on showing Sir Henry the objects of interest. + +The two friends, for such they might now be styled, walked towards the +castle, arm in arm; and stood on the terrace, adorned with headless +statues, and backed by a part of the mouldering ruin, half hid by the +thick ivy. + +They looked down on the many winding river, murmuringly gliding through +its vine covered banks. + +Beyond this, stretched a wide expanse of country; while beneath them +lay the town of Heidelberg--the blue smoke hanging over it like a +magic diadem. + +"Here, here!" said Carl Obers, as he gazed on the scene, with mournful +sensations, "_here_ were my youthful visions conceived and +embodied--_here_ did I form vows, to break the bonds of enslaved +mankind--_here_ did I dream of grateful thousands, standing erect for the +first time as free men--_here_ did I brood over, the possible happiness of +my fellow men, and in attempting to realise it, have wrecked my own." + +"My kind friend!" replied Delmé, "your error, if it be such, has been +of the head, and not the heart. It is one, natural to your age and your +country. Far from being irreparable, it is possible it may have taught +you a lesson, that may ultimately greatly benefit you. This is the +first time we have conversed regarding your prospects. What are your +present views?" + +"I have none. My friends regard me as one, who has improvidently thrown +away his chance of advancement. My knowledge of any _one_ branch of +science is so superficial, that this precludes my ever hoping to succeed +in a learned profession. I cannot enter the military service in my own +country, without commencing in the lowest grade. This I can hardly bring +my mind to." + +"What would you say to the Hanoverian army?" replied Delmé. + +"I would say," rejoined Carl: "for I see through your kind motive in +asking, that I esteem myself fortunate, if I have been in any way useful +to you; but that I cannot, and ought not, to think, of accepting a favour +at your hands." + +Sir Henry said no more at that time: and they reached the inn in silence. + +Delmé retired for the night. Carl Obers sought his old chums; and, +exhilarated by his meershaum, and the excellent beer--rivalling the famous +Lubeck beer, sent to Martin Luther, during his trial, by the Elector of +Saxony--triumphantly placed "young Germany" at the head of nations. + +Early the following morning, they were again en route. + +They passed through Manheim, where the Rhine and Neckar meet,--through +Erpach,--through Darmstadt, that cleanest of Continental towns,--and +finally reached Frankfort-on-the-Maine, where it was agreed that Sir Henry +and Thompson were to part from their travelling companions. + +Sir Henry in his distress of mind, felt that theirs was not a casual +farewell. On reaching the quay, he pressed the student's hand with +grateful warmth, but dared not trust to words. + +On the deck of the steamer, assisting Thompson to arrange the +portmanteaux, stood Pietro Molini. + +The natural gaiety of the old driver had received a considerable check at +George's death. + +He could not now meet Sir Henry, without an embarrassment of manner; and +even in his intercourse with Thompson, his former jocularity seemed to +have deserted him. + +"Good bye, Pietro!" said Delmé, extending his hand. "I trust we may one +day or other meet again." + +The vetturino grasped it,--his colour went and came,--he looked down at +his whip,--then felt in his vest for his pipe, As he saw Delmé turn +towards the poop, and as Thompson warned him it was time to leave the +vessel,--his feelings fairly gave way. + +He threw his arms round the Englishman's neck and blubbered like a child. + +We have elsewhere detailed the luckless end of the vetturino. + +As for Carl Obers, that zealous patriot; the last we heard of him, was +that he was holding a commission in the Hanoverian Jägers, obtained for +him by Sir Henry's intervention. He was at that period, in high favour +with that liberal monarch, King Ernest. + + + + +Chapter XIII. + +Home. + + + + "'Tis sweet to hear the watchdog's honest bark + Bay deep-mouth'd welcome as we draw near home, + 'Tis sweet to know there is an eye will mark + Our coming, and look brighter when we come." + + +Embarking on its tributary stream, Delmé reached the Rhine--passed through +the land of snug Treckschut, and wooden-shoed housemaid--and arrived at +Rotterdam, whence he purposed sailing for England. + +To that river, pay we no passing tribute! The Rhine--with breast of +pride--laving fertile vineyards, cities of picturesque beauty, +beetling crags, and majestic ruins; hath found its bard to hymn an +eulogy, in matchless strains, which will be co-existent, with the +language they adorn. + +Sir Henry was once more on the wide sea. Where were they who were his +companions when his vessel last rode it? where the young bride breathing +her devotion? where the youthful husband whispering his love? + +The sea yet glistened like a chrysolite; the waves yet laughed in the +playful sunbeams--the bright-eyed gull yet dipped his wing in the billow, +fearless as heretofore;--where was the one, who from that text had deduced +so fair a moral? + +Sir Henry wished not to dwell on the thought, but as it flashed across +him, his features quivered, and his brow darkened. + +He threw himself into the chaise which was to bear him to his home, with +alternate emotions of bitterness and despair! + +Hurrah for merry England! Click, clack! click, clack! thus cheerily +let us roll! + +Great are the joys of an English valet, freshly emancipated from +sauerkraut, and the horrors of silence! + +Sweet is purl, and sonorous is an English oath. Bright is the steel, +arming each clattering hoof! Leather strap and shining buckle, replace +musty rope and ponderous knot! The carriage is easier than a +Landgravine's,--the horses more sleek,--the driver as civil,--the road is +like a bowling green,--the axletree and under-spring, of Collinge's latest +patent. But the heart! the heart! _that_ may be sad still. + +Delmé's voyage and journey were alike a blank. On the ocean, breeze +followed calm;--on the river, ship succeeded ship;--on the road, house and +tree were passed, and house and tree again presented themselves. He drew +his cap over his eyes, and his arms continued folded. + +His first moment of full consciousness, was as a sharp turn, followed by a +sudden pause, brought him in front of the lodge at Delmé. + +On the two moss-grown pillars, reposed the well known crest of his family. +The porter's daughter, George's friend, issued from the lodge, and threw +open the iron gates. + +She was dressed in black. How this recalled his loss. + +"My dear--dear--dear brother!" + +Emily bounded to his embrace, and her cheek fell on his shoulder. He felt +the warm tear trickle on his cheek. He clasped her waist,--gazed on her +pallid brow,--and held her lip to his. + +How it trembled from her emotion! + +"My own brother! how pale--how ill you look!" + +"Emily! my sister! I have something yet left me on earth! and my worthy +kind aunt, too!" + +He kissed Mrs. Glenallan's forehead, and tried to soothe her. She pressed +her handkerchief to her eyes, and checked her tears; but continued to sob, +with the deep measured sob of age. + +How mournful, yet how consoling, is the first family meeting, after death +has swept away one of its members! How the presence of each, calls up +sorrow, and yet assists to repress it,--awakes remembrances full of grief, +yet brings to life indefinable hopes, that rob that grief of its most +poignant sting! The very garb of woe, whose mournful effect is felt to the +full, only when each one sees it worn by the other--the very garb +paralyses, and brings impressively before us, the awful truth, that for +our loss, in this world, there is no remedy. How holy, how chaste is the +affection, which we feel disposed to lavish, on those who are left us. + +Surely if there be a guardian spirit, which deigns to flit through this +wayward world, to cheer the stricken breast, and purify feelings, whose +every chord vibrates to the touch of woe; surely such presides, and throws +a sunny halo, on the group, that blood has united--on which family love +has shed its genial influence--and of which, each member, albeit bowed +down by sympathetic grief, attempts to lift his drooping head, and to +others open some source of comfort, which to the kind speaker, is +inefficient and valueless indeed! + +For many months, Sir Henry continued to reside with his family. Clarendon +Gage was a constant visitor, and companion to the brother and sister in +their daily walks and rides. + +He had never met poor George, but loved Emily so well, that he could not +but sympathise in their heavy loss; and as Delmé noted this quiet +sympathy, he felt deeply thankful to Providence, for the fair prospect of +the happiness, that awaited his sister. + +Winter passed away. The fragile snowdrop, offspring of a night--the +mute herald of a coming and welcome guest--might be seen peering +beneath the gnarled oak, or enlivening the emerald circle beneath the +wide-spreading elm. + +Spring too glided by, and another messenger came. The migratory swallow, +returned from foreign travel, sought the ancient gable, and rejoicing in +safety, commenced building a home. At twilight's hour might she be seen, +unscared by the truant's stone, repairing to the placid pool--skimming +over its glassy surface, in rapid circle and with humid wing--and +returning in triumph, bearing wherewithal to build her nest. + +Summer too went by; and as the leaves of Autumn rustled at his feet, Delmé +started, as he felt that the sting and poignancy of his grief was gone. It +was with something like reproach, that he did so. There is a dignity in +grief--a pride in perpetuating it--and his had been no common affliction. + +It is a trite, but true remark, that time scatters our sorrows, as it +scatters our joys. + +The heat of fever and the delirium of love, have their gradations; and so +has grief. The impetuous throbbing of the pulse abates;--the influence of +years makes us remember the extravagance of passion, with something +approaching to a smile;--and Time--mysterious Time--wounding, but healing +all, leads us to look at past bereavements, as through a darkened glass. + +We do not forget; but our memory is as a dream, which awoke us in terror, +but over which we have slept. The outline is still present, but the +fearful details, which in the darkness of the hour, and the freshness of +conception, so scared and alarmed us,--these have vanished with the night. + +Emily's wedding day drew nigh, and the faces of the household once more +looked bright and cheerful. + + + + +Chapter XIV. + +A Wedding. + + + + "'Tis time this heart should be unmoved, + Since others it has ceased to move, + But though I may not be beloved, + Still let me love!" + + "I saw her but a moment, + Yet methinks I see her now, + With a wreath of orange blossoms + Upon her beauteous brow." + + +Spring of life! whither art thou flown? + +A few hot sighs--and scalding tears--fleeting raptures and still fading +hopes--and then--thou art gone for ever. Lovelorn we look on beauty: no +blush now answers to our glance; for cold is our gaze, as the deadened +emotions of our heart. + +Fresh garlands bedeck the lap of Spring. Faded as the shrivelled flowers, +that withering sink beneath her rosy feet: yet we exclaim:--Spring of +life! how and whither art thou flown? + +Clarendon Gage was a happy man. He had entered upon the world with very +bright prospects. The glorious visions of his youth were still unclouded, +and his heart beat as high with hope as ever. + +Experience had not yet instilled that sober truth, that Time will darken +the sunniest, as well as the least inviting anticipations; and that the +visions of his youth were unclouded, because they were undimmed by the +reflections of age. + +Clarendon Gage was happy and grateful; and so might he well be! Few of us +are there, who, on our first loving, have met with a love, fervent, +confiding, and unsuspecting as our own,--fewer are there, who in +reflection's calm hour, have recognised in the form that has captivated +the eye, the mind on which their own can fully and unhesitatingly +rely,--and fewest of all are they, who having encountered such a treasure, +can control adverse circumstances--can overcome obstacles that oppose--and +finally call it their own. + +Passionate, imaginative, and fickle as man may be, this is a living +treasure beyond a price: than which this world has none more pure--none as +enduring, to offer. + +Ah! say and act as we may--money-making--worldly--ambitious as we may +become--who among us that will not allow, that in the success of his +honest suit--that in his possession of the one first loved--and which +first truly loved him--a kind ray from heaven, seems lent to this +changeful world. Such affection as this, lends a new charm to man's +existence. It lulls him in his anger--it soothes him in his sorrow--calms +him in his fears--cheers him in his hopes--it deadens his grief--it +enlivens his joy. + +It was a lovely morning in May--the first of the month. Not a cloud +veiled the sun's splendour--the birds strained their throats in praise +of day--and the rural May-pole, which was in the broad avenue of +walnut trees, immediately at the foot of the lawn, was already +encircled with flowers. Half way up this, was the station of the +rustic orchestra--a green bower, which effectually concealed them +from the view of the dancers. + +On the lawn itself, tents were pitched in a line facing the house. Behind +these, between the tents and the May-pole, extended a long range of +tables, for the coming village feast. + +Emily Delmé looked out on the fair sunrise, and noted the gay +preparations with some dismay. Her eye fell on her favourite bed of +roses, the rarest and most costly that wealth and extreme care could +produce; and she mournfully thought, that ere those buds were blown, a +very great change would have taken place in her future prospects. She +thought of all she was to leave. + +Will _he_ be this, and more to me? + +How many a poor girl, when it is all too late, has fearfully asked herself +the same question, and how deeply must the answer which time alone can +give, affect the happiness of after years! + +Emily took her mother's miniature, and gazing on that face, of which her +own appeared a beautiful transcript; she prayed to God to support him who +was still present to her every thought. + +The family chapel of the Delmés was a beautiful and picturesque place of +worship. With the exception of one massive door-way, whose circular arch +and peculiar zig-zag ornament bespoke it co-eval with, or of an earlier +date than, the reign of Stephen--and said to have belonged to a ruin apart +from the chapel, whose foundations an antiquary could hardly trace--Delmé +chapel might be considered a well preserved specimen of the florid Gothic, +of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. + +The progress of the edifice, had been greatly retarded during the wars of +the Roses; but it was fortunately completed, before, the doctrine of the +Cinquecentists--who saw no beauty save in the revived dogmas of +Vitruvius--had so far gained ground, as to make obsolete and +unfashionable, the most captivating and harmonious style of Architecture, +that has yet flourished in England. + +Its outer appearance was comparatively simple--it had neither spire, +lantern, or transepts--and its ivy-hidden belfry was a detached tower. + +The walls of the aisles were supported by massive buttresses, and +surmounted by carved pinnacles; and from them sprung flying buttresses, +ornamented with traced machicolations, to bear the weight of the embattled +roof of the nave. + +The interior was more striking. As the stranger entered by the western +door, and proceeded up the nave, each step was re-echoed from the crypt +below:--as he trod on strange images, and inscriptions in brass; +commemorative of the dead, whose bones were mouldering in the subterranean +chapel. On them, many coloured tints fantastically played, through +gorgeously stained panes--the workmanship of the Middle Ages. + +The richly carved oaken confessional--now a reading desk--first attracted +the attention. + +In the very centre of the chapel, stood a white marble font, whose chaplet +of the flower of the Tudors, encircled by a fillet, sufficiently bespoke +its date. Between the altar and this font was a tomb, which merits special +attention. It was the chantry of Sir Reginald Delmé, the chief of his +house in the reign of Harry Monmouth. It was a mimic chapel, raised on +three massive steps of grey stone. The clustered columns, that bore the +light and fretted roof, were divided by mullions, rosettes, and trefoils +in open work; except where the interstices were filled up below, to bear +the sculptured, and once emblazoned shields of the Delmés, and their +cognate families. The entrance to the chantry, was through a little turret +at its north-eastern corner, the oaken door of which, studded with +quarrel-headed nails, was at one time never opened, but when the priests +ascended the six steep and spiral steps, and stood around the tomb to +chant masses for the dead. + +The diminutive font, and the sarcophagus itself, had once been painted. On +this, lay the figure of Sir Reginald Delmé. + +On a stone cushion--once red--supported by figures of angels in the +attitude of prayer, veiling their eyes with their wings, reposed the +unarmed head of the warrior:--his feet uncrossed rested on the image of a +dog, crouching on a broken horn, seeming faithfully to gaze at the face of +his master. + +The arms were not crossed--the hands were not clasped; but were joined as +in prayer. Sir Reginald had not died in battle. Above the head of the +sleeping warrior, hung his gorget, and his helmet, with its beaver, and +vizor open; and the banner he himself had won, on the field of Shrewsbury, +heavily shook its thick folds in the air. The fading colours on the +surcoat of the recumbent knight, still faintly showed the lilies and +leopards of England;--and Sir Henry himself was willing to believe, that +the jagged marks made in that banner by the tooth of Time, were but cuts, +left by the sword of the Herald, as at the royal Henry's command, he +curtailed the pennon of the knight; and again restored it to Sir Reginald +Delmé--a banner. + +The altar, which extended the whole width of the chapel, was enclosed by a +marble screen, and was still flanked by the hallowed niche, built to +receive the drainings of the sacred cup. + +The aisles were divided from the nave, by lancet arches, springing from +clustered columns. But how describe the expansive windows, with their rich +mullions, and richer rosettes--their deeply moulded labels, following the +form of the arch, and resting for support on the quaintest masks--how +describe the matchless hues of the glass--valued mementoes of a bygone +age, and of an art that has perished? + +The walls of the chapel were profusely ornamented with the richest +carving; and the oaken panels of the chancel, were adorned with those +exquisite festoons of fruit and flowers, so peculiarly English. The very +ceiling exacted admiration. It closed no lantern--it obstructed no +view--and its light ribs, springing from voluted corbels, bore at each +intersection, an emblazoned escutcheon, or painted heraldic device. The +intricate fan-like tracery of the roof--the enriched bosses at each +meeting of the gilded ribs--gave an airy charm and lightness to the whole, +which well accorded with the florid Architecture, and with the chivalrous +associations, with which it is identified. + +And here, beneath this spangled canopy, in this ancient shrine, whose +every ornament was as a memory of her ancestors; stood Emily Delmé, as +fair as the fairest of her race, changeful and trembling, a faint smile +on her lip, and a quivering tear in her eye. + +Clarendon Gage took her hand in his, and placed on her finger the golden +pledge of truth, and as he did so, an approving sunbeam burst through the +crimson-stained pane, and before lightening the tomb of Sir Reginald, fell +on her silvery veil--her snowy robe--her beautiful face. + +There was a very gay scene on the lawn, as they returned from the chapel. + +The dancing had already commenced--strains of music were heard from on +high--the ever moving circle became one moment contracted, then expanded +to the full length of the arms of the dancers, as they actively footed it +round the garlanded May-pole. + +At the first sight of the leading carriage, however, a signal was +given--the music suddenly ceased--and the whole party below, with the +exception of one individual, proceeded in great state towards an arch, +composed of flowers and white thorn, which o'ercanopied the road. + +The carriage stopped to greet the procession. + +On came the blushing May-Queen, and Maid Marian--both armed with wands +wreathed with cowslips--followed by a jovial retinue of morrice dancers +with drawn swords--guisers in many-coloured ribbons--and a full train of +simple peasants, in white smock-frocks. + +The May Queen advanced to the carriage, followed by the peasant girls, and +timidly dropped a choice wreath into the lap of the bride. Loud hurras +rung in the air, as Sir Henry gave his steward some welcome instructions +as to the village feast; and the cavalcade continued its route. + +We have said that one individual lingered near the May-pole. As he was +especially active, we may describe him and his employment. He was +apparently about fifteen. He had coarse straight white hair--a face that +denoted stupidity--but with a cunning leer, which seemed to belie his +other features. + +He was taking advantage of the cessation of dancing, to supply the +aspiring musicians with sundry articles of good cheer. A rope, armed with +a hook, was dropped from their lofty aërie, and promptly drawn up, on the +youngster's obtaining from the neighbouring tents, wherewithal to fill +satisfactorily the basket which he attached. + +Sir Henry Delmé and George had been so much abroad, and Emily's attachment +to Clarendon was of so early a date, that it happened that the members of +the Delmé family had mixed little in the festivities of the county in +which they resided; and were not intimately known, nor perhaps fully +appreciated, in the neighbourhood. + +But the family was one of high standing, and had ever been remarkable for +its kind-heartedness; and what _was_ known of its individuals, was so much +to their credit, that it kept alive the respect and consideration that +these circumstances might of themselves warrant. + +Sir Henry, on the other hand, regarded his sister's marriage as an event, +at which it might be proper to show, that neither hauteur nor want of +sociability, had precluded their friendly intercourse with the +neighbouring magnates; and consequently, most of the principal families +were present at Emily's wedding. + +While this large assemblage increased the gaiety of the scene, it was +somewhat wearisome to Delmé, who was too truly attached to his sister, to +be otherwise than thoughtful during the ceremony, and the breakfast that +succeeded it. + +At length the time came when Emily could escape from the gay throng; and +endeavour, in the quiet of her own room, to be once more calm, before she +prepared to leave her much-loved home. + +The preparations made, a note was despatched to her brother, begging him +to meet her in the library. As he did so, a fresh pang shot through +Delmé's heart. + +As he looked on Emily's flushed face--her dewy cheek--and noted her +agitated manner; he for the first time perceived, her very strong +resemblance to poor George, and wondered that he had never observed +this before. + +Clarendon announced the carriage. + +"God bless you! dear Henry!" + +"God bless and preserve you! my sweet! Clarendon! good bye! I am sure you +will take every care of her!" + +In another moment, the carriage was whirling past the library window; and +Sir Henry felt little inclined, to join the formal party in the +drawing-room. Sending therefore a brief message to Mrs. Glenallan, he +threw open the library window, and with hurried steps reached a +summer-house, half hidden in the shrubbery. He there fell into a deep +reverie, which was by no means a pleasurable one. + +He thought of Emily--of George--of Acmé,--and felt that he was becoming an +isolated being. + +And had _he_ not loved too? As this thought crossed him, his ambitious +dreams were almost forgotten. + +Sir Henry Delmé was aroused by the sound of voices. A loving couple, too +much engaged to observe _him_, passed close to the summer-house. + +It was the "Queen of the May," the prettiest and one of the poorest +girls in the parish, walking arm in arm with her rural swain. They had +left the "roasted beeves," and the "broached casks," for one half-hour's +delicious converse. + +There was some little coquettish resistance on the part of the girl, as +they sat down together at the foot of a fir tree. + +Her lover put his arm round her waist. + +"Oh! Mary! if father would but give us a cow or so!" + +This little incident decided the matter. Delmé at once resolved that Mary +Smith _should_ have a cow or so; and also that his own health would be +greatly benefited, by a short sojourn at Leamington. + + + + +Chapter XV. + +The Meeting. + + + + "Oh ever loving, lovely, and beloved! + How selfish sorrow ponders on the past, + And clings to thoughts now better far removed, + But Time shall tear thy shadow from me last." + + +We know not whether our readers have followed us with due attention, as we +have incidentally, and at various intervals, made our brief allusion to +the gradual change of character, wrought on Delmé, by the eventful scenes +in which he so lately played a prominent part. + +When we first introduced him to our reader's notice, we endeavoured to +depict him as he then really was,--a man of strong principles, warm +heart, and many noble qualities; but one, prone to over-estimate the +value of birth and fortune--with a large proportion of pride and +reserve--and with ideas greatly tinctured with the absurd fallacies of +the mere man of the world. + +But there was much in the family events we have described, to shake +Delmé's previous convictions, and to induce him to recal many of his +former opinions. + +He had seen his brother form a connection, which set at naught all those +convenances, which _he_ had been accustomed to regard as essential to, and +as indeed forming the very ingredient of, domestic happiness. + +And yet Sir Henry Delmé could not disguise from himself, that if, in +George's short-lived career, there had been much of pain and sorrow, they +were chiefly engendered by George's mental struggle, to uphold those very +opinions to which he himself was wedded; and that to this alone, might be +traced much of the suffering he had undergone. This was it that had so +weakened mind and body, as to render change of scene necessary;--this was +it that exposed Acmé to the air of the pestiferous marshes, and which left +George himself--a broken hearted man--totally incapable of bearing his +bereavement. + +On the other hand, the sunny happiness his brother had basked in,--and it +was very great,--had sprung from the natural out-pourings of an +affection, which,--unfettered as it had been by prudential +considerations,--had yet the power to make earth a heaven while Acmé +shared it with him, and the dark grave an object of bright promise, when +hailed as the portal, through which _he_ must pass, ere he gazed once +more on the load-star of his hopes. + +In the case, too, of Emily and Clarendon, although their union was far +more in accordance with his earlier theories, yet he could not but note, +how little their happiness seemed to rest on their position in society, +and how greatly was it based on their love for each other. + +These considerations were strengthened, by a growing feeling of +isolation, which the death of George and of Acmé,--the marriage of his +sister,--and probably the time of life he had arrived at, were all +calculated to awaken. + +With the knowledge of his disease, sprung up the hope of an antidote; and +it may be, that the little episode of the May Queen in our last chapter, +came but as a running comment, to reflections that had long been cherished +and indulged. + +The thoughts of Sir Henry Delmé anxiously centred in Julia Vernon; and as +he recalled her graceful emotion when they last parted, the unfrequent +blush,--it might be of shame, it might be of consciousness,--coloured his +sun-burnt cheek. + +At length,--the guests being dismissed, Delmé was at leisure to renew an +acquaintance, which had already proved an eventful one to him. He had +heard little of Miss Vernon since his return to England. His sister had +thought it better to let matters take their own course; and Julia, who +knew that in the eyes of the world, her circumstances were very different +to what they had been previous to her uncle's death; had from motives of +delicacy, shunned any intercourse that might lead to a renewed intimacy +with the family. + +Her health, too, had been precarious, and her elasticity of mind was gone. +Slowly wasting from day to day, she had sought to banish all thoughts +that were not of a world less vain than this--and her very languor of +body--while it gave her an apology for declining all gaieties, induced a +resigned spirit, and a quiet frame of mind. + +When Sir Henry Delmé was announced, Julia was alone in the drawing-room. +At that name, she attempted to rise from the sofa; but she was weak, and +her head fell back on the white pillow. + +Delmé stood for a moment irresolute,--a prey to the deepest pangs +of remorse. + +Well might he be shocked at that altered form! + +Her figure was greatly attenuated,--her cheeks sunken,--her eyes bright +and large; while over the forehead and drooping eyelid branched the +sapphire veins, with their intricate windings so clearly marked, that +Delmé almost thought, that he could trace the motion of the blood beneath. +That momentary pause, and the one mutual glance of recognition, told a +more accurate tale than words could convey. + +As Sir Henry pressed that small transparent hand, Julia's thin lip +quivered convulsively. She attempted to speak, but the exertion of +utterance was too great, and she burst into a flood of tears. + +"Julia! my own Julia! forgive me! we will never part more!" + +After this interview, it is needless to say that there was little else to +be explained. Mrs. Vernon was delighted at Julia's happy prospects, and it +was settled that their marriage should take place in the ensuing August. +Such arrangements as could be made on the spot to facilitate this, were at +once entered on. + +At the end of two months, it became necessary that Delmé should proceed to +town, for the purpose of seeing the Commander-in-Chief, in order to +withdraw a previous application to be employed on active service. He was +anxious also to consult a friend, whom he proposed appointing one of the +trustees for his marriage settlement; and Clarendon and Emily had exacted +a promise, that he would pay them a visit on his way to Delmé Park; which +he had determined to take on his route to town, that he might personally +inspect some alterations he had lately planned there. + +It was with bright prospects before him, that Delmé kissed off the big +tear that coursed down Julia's cheek; as she bade him farewell, with as +much earnestness, as if years, instead of a short fortnight, were to +elapse before they met again. + +Miss Vernon's health had decidedly improved. She was capable of much +greater exertion; and her spirits were sometimes as buoyant as in +other days. + +When Sir Henry first reached Leamington, the only exercise that Julia +could take was in a wheel chair; and great was her delight at seeing a +hand present itself over its side, and know that it was _his_. Latterly, +however, she had been able to lean on his arm, and take a few turns on the +lawn, and had on one occasion even reached the public gardens. + +Mrs. Vernon, with the deceptive hope common to those, who watch day by day +by the side of an invalid's couch, and in the very gradual loss of +strength, lose sight of the real extent of danger, had never been +desponding as to her daughter's ultimate recovery; and was now quite +satisfied that a few weeks more would restore her completely to health. + +Sir Henry Delmé, with the gaze of a lover, would note each flush of +animation, and mistake it for the hue of health; while Julia herself _felt +her love, and thought it strength_. + +There was only one person who looked somewhat grave at these joyous +preparations. This was Dr. Jephson, who noticed that Julia's voice +continued very weak, and that she could not get rid of a low hollow cough, +that had long distressed her. + +Clarendon and his wife were resident at a beautiful cottage near Malvern, +on the road to Eastnor Castle. The cottage itself was small, and half +hidden with fragrant honey-suckles, but had well appointed extensive +grounds behind it. _They_ were not of the very many, who after the first +fortnight of a forced seclusion,--the treacle moon, as some one has called +it,--find their own society, both wearisome and unprofitable. _Theirs_ was +a lover felt but by superior and congenial minds--a love, neither sensual +nor transient--a love on which affection and reflection shed their +glow,--which could bear the test of scrutiny,--and which owed its chief +charm to the presence of truth. + +Delmé passed a week at Malvern, and then proceeded towards town, with the +pleasing conviction that his sister's happiness was assured. + +Twenty-four hours at Delmé sufficed to inspect the alterations, and to +give orders as to Lady Delmé's rooms. + +Sir Henry had received two letters from Julia, while at Malvern, and both +were written in great spirits. At his club in London another awaited him, +which stated that she had not been quite so well, and that she was writing +from her room. A postscript from Mrs. Vernon quite did away with any alarm +that Sir Henry might otherwise have felt. + +Delmé attended Lord Hill's levee; and immediately afterwards proceeded to +his friend's office. To his disappointment, he was informed that his +friend had left for Bath; and thinking it essential that he should see +him; he went thither at an early hour the following day. + +At Bath he was again doomed to be disappointed, for his friend had gone +to Clifton. Sir Henry dined that day with Mr. Belliston Grĉme; and on +returning to the hotel, had the interview with Oliver Delancey, that has +been described in the thirteenth chapter of our first volume. + +On the succeeding morning, Delmé was with the future trustee; and finally +arranged the affair to his entire satisfaction. His absence from +Leamington, had been a day or two more protracted than he had anticipated, +and his not finding his friend in London, had prevented his hearing from +Miss Vernon so lately as he could have wished. + +Sir Henry had posted all night, and it was ten in the morning when he +reached Leamington. He directed the postilion to drive to his hotel, but +it happened that on his way he had to pass Mrs. Vernon's door. + +As the carriage turned a corner, which was distant some hundred yards from +Mrs. Vernon's house, Sir Henry was surprised by a momentary check on the +part of his driver. + +It had rained heavily during the early part of the day. The glasses were +up, and so bespattered with the mud and rain, that it was impossible to +see through them. Sir Henry let them down; saw a confused mass of +carriages; and could clearly discern a mourning coach. + +He did not give himself time to breathe his misgivings; but flung the door +open, and sprang from his seat into the road. It was still three or four +doors from Mrs. Vernon's house, and he prayed to God that his fears might +be groundless. + +As he approached nearer, it was evident that there was unusual bustle +about _that_ house. Delmé grasped the iron railing, and clung to it for +support; but with every sense keenly alive to aught that might dispel, or +confirm that horrible suspicion. + +Two old women, dressed in the characteristic red cloak of the English +peasant, were earnestly conversing together--their baskets of eggs and +flowers being laid on a step of one of the adjacent houses. + +"So you knowed her, Betsy Farmer?" + +"Lord a mercy!" responded the other, "I ha' knowed Miss July since she +wa' the height of my basket. Ay! and many's the bunch of flowers she ha' +had from me. That was afore the family went to the sea side. Well! it's a +matter o' five year, sin' she comed up to me one morning--so grown as I'd +never ha' known her. But she knowed me, and asked all about me. And I just +told her all my troubles, and how I had lost my good man. And sure enough +sin' that day she ha' stood my friend, and gived me soup and flannels for +the little uns, and put my Bess to service, and took me through all the +bad Christmas'. Poor dear soul! she ha' gone now! and may the Lord bless +her and all as good as she!" + +The poor woman, who felt the loss of her benefactress, put the corner of +her apron to her eyes. + +Sir Henry strode forward. + +Mutes were on each side of the front step. A servant threw open the door +of the breakfast room, and Delmé mechanically entered it. It was filled +with strangers; on some of these the spruce undertaker was fitting silk +scarfs; while others were busy at the breakfast table. + +An ominous whisper ran through the apartment. + +"Sir Henry Delmé?" said the rosy-cheeked clergyman, enquiringly, as he +laid down his egg spoon, and turned towards him. + +"I trust you received my letter. Women are so utterly helpless in these +matters; and poor Mrs. Vernon was quite overpowered." + +Delmé turned away to master his emotion. + +At this moment, a friendly hand was laid on his shoulder, and Mrs. +Vernon's maid, with her eyes red from weeping, beckoned him up stairs. + +He mechanically obeyed her--reeled into an inner drawing room--and stood +in the presence of the bereaved mother. + +Mrs. Vernon was ordinarily the very picture of neatness. _Now_ she sat +with her feet on a footstool--her head almost touching her lap--her silver +hair all loose and dishevelled. It seemed to Delmé as if age had suddenly +come upon her. + +She rose as he entered, and with wild hysterical sobs, threw herself +into his arms. + +"My son I my son! that _should_ have been. Our angel is gone--gone!" + +Delmé tried to speak, but his tongue clove to his mouth, and the hysteric +globe rose to his throat. + +Suddenly he heard the sound of wheels, and of heavy footsteps on +the stairs. + +He imprinted a kiss on the old woman's forehead--it was his farewell for +ever!--gave her to the care of the maid servant--and rushed from the room. + +He was stopped on the landing of the staircase by the coffin of her he +loved so well. The bearers stopped for an instant; they felt that this was +no common greeting. Part of the pall was already turned back. Delmé +removed its head with trembling hand. + + "Julia Vernon. ĉtate 22." + +He dropped the velvet with a groan, and was only saved from falling by the +timely aid of the old butler, whose face was as sorrowful as his own. + +But there was a duty yet to be performed, and Delmé followed the corpse. + +The first mourning coach was just drawn up. An intended occupant had +already his foot on the step. + +"This place is mine!" said Sir Henry in a hollow voice. + +The cortege proceeded; and Delmé, giddy and confused, heard solemn words +spoken over his affianced one, and he waited, till even the coffin could +be discerned no more. + +Thompson, who had followed his master, assisted him into his carriage, +placed himself beside him, and ordered the driver to proceed to the hotel. +But Delmé gave a quick impetuous motion of the hand, which the domestic +understood well; and the horses' heads were turned towards the metropolis. + +The mourner tarried not, even to bid his sister farewell; but sought +once more his brother's grave. Some friendly hand had kept its turf +smooth; no footsteps, save the innocent ones of children, had pressed +its grassy mound. It was clothed with soft daisies and drooping +harebells. The sun seemed to shine on that spot, to bid the wanderer be +contented and at rest. + +But as yet there was no rest for Delmé. And he stood beside the marble +slab, beneath which lay Acmé Frascati. The downy moss--soft as +herself--was luxuriating there; and the cry of the cicalas was pleasant +to the ear; and the image of the young Greek girl, as in a vivid +picture, rose to his mind's eye. She was not attired in her white cymar; +nor was her head wreathed with monumental amaranths;--health was on her +cheek, fond smiles on her pouting lip, and tender love swimming in her +melting glance. + +His own griefs came back on Delmé; he groaned aloud. He traversed the +deserts, he crossed lofty mountains, he knew thirst and privations. He was +scoffed at and spat upon in an infidel country--he was tossed on the +ocean--he shook hands with danger. + +He visited our wide Oriental possessions; and sojourned amid the spicy +islands of the Indian Archipelago, where vegetation attains a magnificence +unknown elsewhere, and animal life partakes of this unexampled +exuberance,--where flowers of the most exquisite colours and fragrance +charm the senses by day, and delicious plants saturate the air with their +odours by night. + +Delmé extended his wanderings to the rarely visited "many isles," which +stud the vast Pacific, and found that there too were fruitful and +smiling regions. + +But not on the desert--nor on the mountains--nor in the land of the +Moslem---nor on tempestuous seas--nor in those verdant islets, which seem +to breathe of Paradise, to greet the wearied traveller; could Delmé's +restless spirit find an abiding place, his thirst for foreign travel be +slaked, or his heart know peace. + +He madly sought oblivion, which could not be accorded him. + + + + +Chapter XVI. + +The Wanderer. + + + + "Then I consider'd life in all its forms, + Of vegetables first, next zoophytes, + The tribe that dwells upon the confine strange + 'Twixt plants and fish; some are there from their mouth + Spit out their progeny, and some that breed, + By suckers from their base or tubercles, + Sea-hedgehog, madrepore, sea-ruff, or pad, + Fungus, or sponge, or that gelatinous fish, + That taken from its element at once + Stinks, melts, and dies a fluid; so from these, + Through many a tribe of less equivocal life, + Dividual or insect, up I ranged, + From sentient to percipient, small advance, + Next to intelligent, to rational next, + So to half spiritual human kind, + And what is more, is more than man may know. + Last came the troublesome question--What am I?" + + * * * * * + + "And vain were the hat, the staff, and stole, + And all outward signs were a snare, + Unless the pilgrim's endanger'd soul + Were inwardly clothed with prayer. + + "But the pilgrim prays--and then trials are light-- + For prayer to him on his way, + Resembles the pillar of fire by night, + And the guiding cloud by day. + + "And salvation's helm the pilgrim wears, + Or vain were all other dress; + And the shield of faith the pilgrim bears, + With the breastplate of righteousness. + + "At length his tears all wiped away; + He enters the City of Light; + And how gladly he changes his gown of grey, + For Zion's robe of white." + + +It was on the 22nd of October, 1836, that an emissary from his sister, +sought Sir Henry Delmé. It was at the antipodes to his ancestral home; in +Australia, that wonderful country, which--belied and calumniated, as she +has hitherto been--presents some anomalous and creditable features. + +For her population, she is the wealthiest, the most enterprising, the most +orderly and loyal, of our British possessions. There, is the aristocracy +of wealth, to an unprecedented degree, subservient to the aristocracy of +virtue. While she is stigmatised as the cloacĉ of Britain, the philosopher +looks into the future, and already beholds a nation, perpetuating the +language of the brave and free; when the parent stock has perhaps ceased +to be an empire; or is lingering on, like modern Greece, in the hopeless +languor of decay and decrepitude. + +This agent had arrived from England, a very short period before; and, +accredited with a packet, containing various communications from Emily and +Clarendon, accompanied by the miniatures of their children, with little +silky curls attached to each, proceeded an expectant guest, to Sir Henry +Delmé's temporary residence. Early dawn saw him pacing the deck of a steam +vessel; and regarding with great surprise, the opposite banks of Hunter's +River, up which the vessel was gliding. + +A rich dark soil, of great depth, bespoke uncommon fertility; while the +varieties of the gum tree--then quite new to him--with their bark of every +diversity of colour, gave a primeval grandeur to the scene. + +Each moment brought in sight the location of some enterprising settler, +which, ever varying in appearance, in importance, and in extent yet told +the same tale of difficulties overcome, and success ensuing. + +On his reaching the township, near the head of the navigation, this agent +found horses waiting for him:--he was addressed by a well-appointed +groom--our old friend Thompson--who touched his hat respectfully, and +mentioned the name, he was already prepared for by his Sydney advices. + +Suffice it, that Sir Henry was no longer the Baronet, and that the name of +Delmé was a strange one in his household. + +Their route skirted the banks of one of those rivers, which, diverging +from that mine of wealth, the Hunter, wind into the bowels of the land, +like a vein of gold. + +That emissary will not soon forget his lovely ride. His eye, wearied with +gazing on the wide expanse of ocean, feasted on the rich and novel +landscape. They rode alternately, through cleared lands, studded with rich +farms, waving with luxuriant crops of wheat and rye; and again, through +regions, where the axe had never resounded, but where eucalypti, and +bastard box, and forest oak with its rough acorn, towered above beauteous +wild flowers, whose forms and varieties were associated in the mind of +the stranger, with some of the most precious and valued flowers which +adorn British conservatories. + +The russet Certhia, with outspread fluttering wing, pecked at the smooth +bark, and preying on some destructive insect, really preserved what it +seemed to injure. The larger parrots, travelling in pairs, screamed their +passing salutation, as they displayed their bright plumage to the sun; +while hundreds, of a smaller kind, with crimson shoulder, were concealed +amid the green leaves; and, as they rode beneath them, babbled--like +frolicsome children of the forest--a rude, but to themselves a not +unmeaning dialogue. + +The superb warblers, ornaments alike to the bush or the garden, flitted +cheerily from bough to bough. Strangely mated are they! The male, in suit +of black velvet, trimmed with sky blue, looks like a knight, attired for a +palace festival:--while his lady-love--she resembles some peasant girl, +silent and grateful, clothed in modest kirtle of sober brown. + +As he reined in his horse, to examine these at leisure, how melodiously +came on his ear, the clear, ceaseless, silver tinkle of the bell-bird; +this sound ever and anon chequered by the bold chock-ee-chock! of the +bald-headed friar. They had proceeded very leisurely, and the sun was +already declining, when Thompson, pointing to an abrupt path, motioned +him to descend, and at the same time, gave the peculiar cry, known in the +colony as the cooï; a cry which was as promptly answered. It was not +until he was close to the edge of the river, that the stranger understood +its purport. + +A punt was rapidly approaching from the opposite bank. An athletic +aboriginal native, in an attitude that seemed studiedly graceful, was +bending to the stout rope, which, attached to either side of the river, +served to propel the punt. He had been spearing fish; for his wife, or +gin, or queen--for she was born such, and contradicted in her person the +old adage, + + "There's a difference between + A beggar and a queen"-- + +was drawing the barb of a spear from the bleeding side of a struggling +mullet. She sat at the bottom of the boat, with a blanket closely wound +round her. She was young, and her looks were not unpleasing. Her +thickly-matted hair was ornamented with kangaroo teeth; and to her +shoulder, closely clung a native tailless bear, whose appearance could not +do otherwise than excite a smile. With convex staring eyes--hairless +nose--and white ruff of fur round his face--he very closely resembled in +physiognomy, some grey-whiskered guzzling citizen. The well-trained horses +gave no trouble, as they entered the punt; and the smiling boatman, +displaying his teeth to Thompson, but without speaking, commenced warping +the punt to the opposite side of the river. They were half way across, ere +the guest observed the mansion of the friend he sought. It stood on the +summit of the hill, on the left; beneath which the river made a very +abrupt bend. The house itself resembled the common weather-boarded cottage +of the early settler,--wide verandah was over the front entrance,--and two +small rooms, the exact width of this, jutted out on either side of it. + +Its site however was commanding. The house stood on an eminence, and from +the windows, a long reach of the river was visible. At the top of the brow +of the hill, extended a range of English rose trees, in full flower. The +bank, which might be about thirty yards in front of these, was clothed +with foliage to the water's edge. + +There might be seen the fragrant mimosa--the abundant acacia--the swamp +oak, which would have been styled a fir, had not the first exiles to +Australia found twined round its boughs, the misletoe, with its many home +associations--the elegant cedar--the close-growing mangrove--and strange +parasitical plants, pushing through huge fungi, and clasping with the +remorseless strength of the wrestler, and with the round crunching folds +of the boa, the trees they were gradually to supplant and destroy. + +Suddenly, the quick finger of the black pointed to an object close beside +the punt. A bill, as of a bird, and apparently of the duck tribe, +protruded above the surface of the water. For an instant, small, black, +piercing eyes peered towards them: but as the quadruped, for such it was, +prepared to dive in affright, the unerring shot of a rifle splashed the +water on the cheek of the stranger--the body rolled slowly over--the legs +stiffened--a sluggish stream of dark blood tainted the surrounding +wave--and the ferryman, extending his careless hand, threw the victim to +his companion, at the same time addressing a few words to her in their +native language. + +The guest had little difficulty, in recognising the uncouth form of the +ornithorhynchus, or water-mole; but he turned with yet more eagerness, +towards the spot, whence that shot had proceeded. On the summit of the +steep bank, leaning on his rifle, stood Sir Henry Delmé. + +His form was still commanding--there was something in the air with which +the cap was worn--and in the strap round his Swiss blouse--that bespoke +the soldier and the gentleman: but his face was sadly attenuated--the +lower jaw appeared to have fallen in--and his hair was very grey. + +He received his guest with a cordial and sincere welcome. While the latter +delivered his packet the native who had warped the punt over, came up +with the dead platypus, + +"Well, Boomeroo! is it a female?" + +"No, massa! full grown--with large spur!" + +Sir Henry saw that his guest was puzzled by this dialogue, and +good-naturedly showed him the distinguishing characteristic of the male +ornithorhynchus--the spur on the hinder foot, which is hollow, and +transmits an envenomed liquid, secreted by a gland on the inner surface of +the thigh. + +In November, of the year preceding, a burrow of the animal had been +opened on the bank of the river, which contained the dam, and three +live young ones;--there were many points, yet to be determined relative +to its interior organization; and it was on this account, that Sir +Henry was anxious to obtain a female specimen at this particular +period. As he spoke, Delmé introduced the stranger to his study, which +might more aptly be styled a museum;--applied some spirits of wine to +the platypus, and placing it under a bell-glass for the morrow's +examination, left him turning over his collection of birds, while he +perused his valued home letters. + +It was with unmixed pleasure, knowing as he did his melancholy history, +that the stranger found Sir Henry Delmé engaged in pursuits, which it was +evident he was following up with no common enthusiasm. In truth, a mere +accidental circumstance,--the difficulty of obtaining a vessel at one of +the Indian Islands for any port,--had at first brought him to Australia, a +country regarding which he had felt little curiosity. The strange +varieties, however, of its animal kingdom, had interested him;--he was +struck with the rapid strides that that country has made in half a +century--and he continued from month to month to occupy the house where +his friend had now found him. + +To the stranger's eye, the eye of a novice, the well arranged specimens of +birds of the most beautiful plumage--of animals, chiefly marsupial, of the +most singular developement--of glittering insects--and of deep coloured +shells; were attractive wonders enough; but from the skeletons beside +these, it was quite clear, that Delmé had acquired considerable knowledge +as to the internal construction of the animals themselves--that he had +studied the subsisting relations, between the mechanism and the +movements--the structure, and its varied functions. + +After dinner, Sir Henry Delmé, who appeared to think that the bearer of +his despatches had conferred on him a lasting favour, threw off his +habitual reserve, and delighted and interested him with his tales of +foreign travel. + +As the night wore on, the conversation reverted to his sister and his +home. It was evident, that what remained for the living of that crushed +heart, was with Emily and Clarendon, and their children; perhaps more than +all, with his young heir and god-son, Henry Delmé Gage. The very colour of +that sunny lock of hair, gave rise to much speculation: and it seemed as +if he would never be wearied, of listening to the minutest description of +the dawning of intellect, in a precocious little fellow of barely five +years of age. + +Encouraged by his evident feeling, and observing many more comforts +about him, than he had been led to expect from his previous errant +habits; his guest ventured to express his hope, that Sir Henry might yet +return to England. + +"My good friend!" replied he, "for I must call you such now, for I know +not when I have experienced such unalloyed satisfaction, as you have +conferred on me this night, by conversing so freely of those I love; I +certainly never can forget that I am the last male of an ancient race, and +that those who are nearest and dearest to me, are divided from me by a +wide waste of waters. I have learnt to suffer with more patience than I +had ever hoped for; and, it may be,--although I have hardly breathed the +thought to myself--it may yet be accorded me to revisit that ancient +chapel, and to dwell once more in that familiar mansion." + +His guest was overcome by his emotion, and pressed his hand with warmth, +as he made his day's journey the excuse for an early retirement. + +Sleep soon visited his eyelids, for the ride, to one fresh from a sea +voyage, had brought with it a wholesome weariness. He was aroused from +his slumbers, by the deep sonorous accents as of a man reading Spanish. + +The light streamed from an adjacent room, through the chinks of a +partition. He started up alike forgetful of Delmé, his ride, and his +arrival in Australia; conceiving that he was again at the mercy of the +waves, in his narrow comfortless cabin. + +That light, however, brought the stranger back to the wanderer, and +his griefs. + +Beside a small table, strewn with his lately received English letters, +knelt Sir Henry Delmé. The stranger had seen condemned criminals pray with +becoming fervour; and devotees of many a creed lift up their hearts to +heaven; but never had he witnessed a more contrite or a humbler spirit +imprinted on the features of mortal man, than then shed its radiance on +that sorrowful, but noble face. + +Strange as it may appear, he knew not whether the words themselves really +caught his ear, or whether the motion of the lips expressed them--but +this he _did_ know, that every syllable seemed to reach his heart, and +impress him with a mystic thrill, + +"OR EVER THE SILVER CORD BE LOOSED, OR THE GOLDEN BOWL BE BROKEN, OR THE +PITCHER BE BROKEN AT THE FOUNTAIN, OR THE WHEEL BROKEN AT THE CISTERN. +THEN SHALL THE DUST RETURN TO THE EARTH AS IT WAS: AND THE SPIRIT SHALL +RETURN UNTO GOD WHO GAVE IT." + + + + +Chapter XVII + +The Wanderer's Return. + + + + "And he had learn'd to love--I know not why, + For this in such as him seems strange of mood,-- + The helpless looks of blooming infancy, + Even in its earliest nurture; what subdued, + To change like this, a mind so far imbued + With scorn of man, it little boots to know; + But thus it was; and though in solitude + Small power the nipp'd affections have to grow, + In him this glow'd when all beside had ceased to glow." + + +Within a period of two months, from the interview we have described, the +stranger found that his arguments had not been thrown away; as he shook +Sir Henry's hand on the deck of a vessel bound for Valparaiso. His love of +travel and of excitement, had induced such an habitual restlessness, that +Delmé was not prepared at once to embark for England. He crossed the +Cordillera de los Andes--traversed the Pampas of Buenos Ayres--and +finally embarked for his native land. + +It was the height of summer, when the carriage which bore the long absent +owner to his ancestral home, neared the ancient moss-grown lodge. + +Fanny Porter, who was now married, and had a thriving babe at her breast, +started with surprise; as, throwing open the gate, she recognised in the +care-worn man with bronzed face and silver hair, her well known and +beloved master. As the carriage neared the chapel, it struck Sir Henry, +that it would be but prudent, to inform Clarendon of his near approach; in +order that he might prepare Emily for the meeting. He ordered the +postilion to pull up--tore a leaf from his memorandum book--and wrote a +few lines to Clarendon, despatching Thompson in advance. He turned into +the chapel, and as he approached its altar, the bridal scene, enacted +there nearly seven years back, seemed to rise palpably before him. + +But the tomb of Sir Reginald Delmé, with its velvet dusty banner--the +marble monument of his mother, with the bust above it, whose naked eye +seemed turned towards him--his withered heart and hopes soon darkened his +recollections of that bright hour. With agitated emotions, Sir Henry left +the chapel; and in a spirit of impatience, strode towards the mansion, +intending to meet the returning domestic. His feelings were strange, +various, and not easily defined. + +He was awakened from his day-dream by the sound of children's voices, +which sound he instinctively followed, until he reached the old orchard. +It was such an orchard, as might be planted by an old Delmé, ere any +Linnean or Loudonean horticulturist had decided that slopes are best for +the sun, that terraces are an economical saving of ground, that valleys +must be swamps, and that blights are vulgar errors. The orchard at Delmé +was strikingly unscientific; but the old stock contrived to bear good +fruit. The pippins, golden and russet--the pears, jargonelle and +good-christian--the cherries, both black and white heart--still thrived; +while under their shade, grew hips, haws, crabs, sloes, and blackberries, +happy to be shaded from rain, dews, and fierce sun-shine, and unenvious +of roses, cherries, apples, damsons, and mulberries; their self-defended, +and more aristocratic cousins. + +Sir Henry stopped unseen at the gate of the orchard, and for some minutes +looked on the almost fairy group, whose voices had led him thither. + +Lying on the bank, which enclosed the orchard, was a blue-eyed +rosy-cheeked little girl;--the ground ashes had been cut down; and her +laughing face was pillowed on the violets and oxlips, that burst from +between the roots. She was preparing to take another roll into the clayey +ditch below. Another little girl was gazing at the child from within the +orchard; half doubtful whether she should encourage or check her. One +pale-blue slipper and her little sock were half sunk in the clay, while +the veiny and pink-soled foot, the large lids half closed over her deep +blue eyes, the finger thrust between her red and pouting lips, her bonnet +thrown back and hanging by the strings round her swelling throat, her hair +dishevelled and stuck with oxlips, primroses, cowslips, violets, and +daisies; and wreathed with the spring-holly, or butcher's-broom--made her +a perfect picture of English beauty, and of childish anxiety and +indecision. + +Beside her stood a boy older than herself, and evidently as perplexed. +There was Julia perched cock-horse on the bank--there was Emily, her hair +undone, her bonnet crashed, with one shoe and stocking lost--and yet he +had promised Mamma, that if she would but once trust his sisters to him, +that he would bring them home, "with such a pretty basket of +spring-flowers." + +The beautiful blossoms of the cherry hung around the boy--the bees buzzed +in its bells--the apple and pear blossoms shook their fragrance in the +warm air--and the shadows of the flying clouds hurried like wings over the +bright green grass. The boy had dropped his basket of fresh-blown flowers +at his feet--tears were trembling in his eye-lids, as he gazed on his +sisters. His look was that of George. + +"Childhood too has its sorrows," said Sir Henry, half aloud, "even when +seeking joy on a bank of primroses. Why should _I_ then repine?" + +The boy started as he heard and saw the stranger:--he involuntarily put +one foot forward in an attitude of childish defiance: but children are +keen physiognomists, and there was nothing but affection beaming from that +mournful face. + +"My boy!" said Delmé, and his eyes were moist, "did you ever hear of your +Uncle Henry?" + +"Emily! Emily! Julia!" exclaimed the little fellow, as he rushed into Sir +Henry's arms, "here is Uncle Henry, my god-papa, and he will help us to +reach the blackberries." + +We need follow the wanderer no further. It is true that in his youth he +had not known sympathy; in his manhood he had experienced sorrow; but +it is a pleasure to us to reflect, that despair is not the companion of +his old age. + + + +The End. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Love Story, by A Bushman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LOVE STORY *** + +***** This file should be named 8883-8.txt or 8883-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/8/8/8883/ + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: A Love Story + +Author: A Bushman + +Posting Date: September 8, 2014 [EBook #8883] +Release Date: September, 2005 +First Posted: August 20, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LOVE STORY *** + + + + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1>A Love Story</h1> + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">by</p> + +<h2>A Bushman.</h2> + +<h3>Vol. I.</h3> + +<blockquote> + "My thoughts, like swallows, skim the main,<br /> + And bear my spirit back again<br /> + Over the earth, and through the air,<br /> + A wild bird and a wanderer." +</blockquote> + +<h4>1841.</h4> + + + +<p align="center">To<br /> +Lady Gipps<br /> +This Work Is Respectfully Inscribed,<br /> +By<br /> +A Grateful Friend.</p> + + + + +<h1>Preface.</h1> + + + +<p>The author of these pages considered that a lengthened explanation might +be necessary to account for the present work.</p> + +<p>He had therefore, at some length, detailed the motives that influenced +him in its composition. He had shown that as a solitary companionless +bushman, it had been a pleasure to him in his lone evenings</p> + +<p> "To create, and in creating live + A being more intense."</p> + +<p>He had expatiated on the love he bears his adopted country, and had +stated that he was greatly influenced by the hope that although</p> + +<p> "Sparta hath many a worthier son than he,"</p> + +<p>this work might be the humble cornerstone to some enduring and highly +ornamented structure.</p> + +<p>The author however fortunately remembered, that readers have but little +sympathy with the motives of authors; but expect that their works should +amuse or instruct them. He will therefore content himself, with giving a +quotation from one of those old authors, whose "well of English +undefined" shames our modern writers.</p> + +<p>He intreats that the indulgence prayed for by the learned Cowell may be +accorded to his humble efforts.</p> + +<p>"My true end is the advancement of knowledge, and therefore have I +published this poor work, not only to impart the good thereof, to those +young ones that want it, but also to draw from the learned, the supply +of my defects.</p> + +<p>"Whosoever will charge these travails with many oversights, he shall need +no solemn pains to prove them.</p> + +<p>"And upon the view taken of this book sithence the impression, I dare +assure them, that shall observe most faults therein, that I, by gleaning +after him, will gather as many omitted by him, as he shall shew +committed by me.</p> + +<p>"What a man saith well is not, however, to be rejected, because he hath +some errors; reprehend who will, in God's name, that is, with sweetness, +and without reproach.</p> + +<p>"So shall he reap hearty thanks at my hands, and thus more soundly help +in a few months, than I by tossing and tumbling my books at home, could +possibly have done in some years."</p> + + + + +<h1>A Love Story</h1> + + + + +<h1>Chapter I.</h1> + +<h2>The Family.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "It was a vast and venerable pile."</blockquote> + +<blockquote> "Oh, may'st thou ever be as now thou art,<br /> +Nor unbeseem the promise of thy spring."</blockquote> + + +<p>The mansion in which dwelt the Delmés was one of wide and extensive +range. Its centre slightly receded, leaving a wing on either side. +Fluted ledges, extending the whole length of the building, protruded +above each story. These were supported by quaint heads of satyr, martyr, +or laughing triton. The upper ledge, which concealed the roof from +casual observers, was of considerably greater projection. Placed above +it, at intervals, were balls of marble, which, once of pure white, had +now caught the time-worn hue of the edifice itself. At each corner of +the front and wings, the balls were surmounted by the family device--the +eagle with extended wing. One claw closed over the stone, and the bird +rode it proudly an' it had been the globe. The portico, of a pointed +Gothic, would have seemed heavy, had it not been lightened by glass +doors, the vivid colours of which were not of modern date. These +admitted to a capacious hall, where, reposing on the wide-spreading +antlers of some pristine tenant of the park, gleamed many a piece of +armour that in days of yore had not been worn ingloriously.</p> + +<p>The Delmé family was an old Norman one, on whose antiquity a peerage +could have conferred no new lustre. At the period when the aristocracy +of Great Britain lent themselves to their own diminution of +importance, by the prevalent system of rejecting the poorer class of +tenantry, in many instances the most attached,--the consequence was +foreseen by the then proprietor of Delmé Park, who, spurning the +advice of some interested few around him, continued to foster those +whose ancestors had served his. The Delmés were thus enabled to +retain--and they deserved it--that fair homage which rank and property +should ever command. As a family they were popular, and as individuals +universally beloved.</p> + +<p>At the period we speak of, the Delmé family consisted but of three +members: the baronet, Sir Henry Delmé; his brother George, some ten +years his junior, a lieutenant in a light infantry regiment at Malta; +and one sister, Emily, Emily Delmé was the youngest child; her mother +dying shortly after her birth. The father, Sir Reginald Delmé, a man of +strong feelings and social habits, never recovered this blow. Henry +Delmé was barely fifteen when he was called to the baronetcy and to the +possession of the Delmé estates. It was found that Sir Reginald had been +more generous than the world had given him credit for, and that his +estates were much encumbered. The trustees were disposed to rest +contented with paying off the strictly legal claims during Sir Henry's +minority. This the young heir would not accede to. He waited on his +most influential guardian--told him he was aware his father, from +hospitality and good nature, had incurred obligations which the law did +not compel his son to pay; but which he could not but think that equity +and good feeling did. He begged that these might be added to the other +claims, and that the trustees would endeavour to procure him a +commission in the army. He was gazetted to a cornetcy; and entered life +at an age when, if the manlier traits are ready to be developed, the +worthless ones are equally sure to unfold themselves. Few of us that +have not found the first draught of life intoxicate! Few of us that have +not then run wild, as colts that have slipped their bridle! +Experience--that mystic word--is wanting; the retrospect of past years +wakes no sigh; expectant youth looks forward to future ones without a +shade of distrust. The mind is elastic--the body vigorous and free from +pain; and it is then youth inwardly feels, although not daring to avow +it, the almost total impossibility that the mind should wax less +vigorous, or the body grow helpless, and decay.</p> + +<p>But Sir Henry was cast in a finer mould, nor did his conduct at this +dangerous period detract from this his trait of boyhood. He joined his +regiment when before the enemy, and, until he came of age, never drew on +his guardians for a shilling. Delmé's firmness of purpose, and his after +prudence, met with their due reward. The family estates became wholly +unencumbered, and Sir Henry was enabled to add to the too scanty +provision of his sister, as well as to make up to George, on his +entering the army, a sum more than adequate to all his wants. These +circumstances were enough to endear him to his family; and, in truth, +amidst all its members, there prevailed a confidence and an unanimity +which were never for an instant impaired. There was one consequence, +however, of Sir Henry Delmé's conduct that <i>he</i>, at the least, foresaw +not, but which was gradually and unconsciously developed. In pursuing +the line of duty he had marked out--in acting up to what he knew was +right--his mind became <i>too</i> deeply impressed with the circumstances +which had given rise to his determination. It overstepped its object. +The train of thought, to which necessity gave birth, continued to +pervade when that necessity no longer existed. His wish to re-establish +his house grew into an ardent desire to aggrandize it. His ambition +appeared a legitimate one. It grew with his years, and increased with +his strength.</p> + +<p>Many a time, on the lone bivouac, when home presents itself in its +fairest colours to the soldier's mind, would Delmé's prayer be embodied, +that his house might again be elevated, and that his descendants might +know <i>him</i> as the one to whom they were indebted for its rise. Delmé's +ambitious thoughts were created amidst dangers and toil, in a foreign +land, and far from those who shared his name. But his heart swelled high +with them as he again trod his native soil in peace--as he gazed on the +home of his fathers, and communed with those nearest and dearest to him +on earth. Sir Henry considered it incumbent on him to exert every means +that lay in his power to promote his grand object. A connection that +promised rank and honours, seemed to him an absolute essential that was +worth any sacrifice. Sir Henry never allowed himself to look for, or +give way to, those sacred sympathies, which the God of nature hath +implanted in the breasts of all of us. Delmé had arrived at middle age +ere a feeling incompatible with his views arose. But his had been a +dangerous experiment. Our hearts or minds, or whatever it may be that +takes the impression, resemble some crystalline lake that mirrors the +smallest object, and heightens its beauty; but if it once gets muddied +or ruffled, the most lovely object ceases to be reflected in its waters. +By the time that lake is clear again, the fairy form that ere while +lingered on its bosom is fled for ever.</p> + +<p>Thus much in introducing the head of the family. Let us now attempt to +sketch the gentle Emily.</p> + +<p>Emily Delmé was not an ordinary being. To uncommon talents, and a mind +of most refined order, she united great feminine propriety, and a total +absence of those arts which sometimes characterise those to whom the +accident of birth has given importance. With unerring discrimination, +she drew the exact line between vivacity and satire, true religion and +its semblance. She saw through and pitied those who, pluming themselves +on the faults of others, and imparting to the outward man the ascetic +inflexibility of the inner one, would fain propagate on all sides their +rigid creed, forbidding the more favoured commoners of nature even to +sip joy's chalice. If not a saint, however, but a fair, confiding, and +romantic girl, she was good without misanthropy, pure without +pretension, and joyous, as youth and hopes not crushed might make her. +She was one of those of whom society might justly be proud. She obeyed +its dictates without question, but her feelings underwent no debasement +from the contact. If not a child of nature, she was by no means the +slave of art.</p> + +<p>Emily Delmé was more beautiful than striking. She impressed more than +she exacted. Her violet eye gleamed with feeling; her smile few could +gaze on without sympathy--happy he who might revel in its brightness! +If aught gave a peculiar tinge to her character, it was the pride she +felt in the name she bore,--this she might have caught from Sir +Henry,--the interest she took in the legends connected with that name, +and the gratification which the thought gave her, that by her ancestors, +its character had been but rarely sullied, and never disgraced.</p> + +<p>These things, it may be, she had accustomed herself to look on in a +light too glowing: for these things and all mundane ones are vain; but +her character did not consequently suffer. Her lip curled not with +hauteur, nor was her brow raised one shadow the more. The remembrance of +the old Baronetcy were on the ensanguined plain,--of the matchless +loyalty of a father and five valiant sons in the cause of the Royal +Charles,--the pondering over tomes, which in language obsolete, but +true, spoke of the grandeur--the deserved grandeur of her house; these +might be recollections and pursuits, followed with an ardour too +enthusiastic, but they stayed not the hand of charity, nor could they +check pity's tear. If her eye flashed as she gazed on the ancient +device of her family, reposing on its time worn pedestal, it could melt +to the tale of the houseless wanderer, and sympathise with the sorrows +of the fatherless.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter II.</h1> + +<h2>The Album.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Oh that the desert were my dwelling place,<br /> +With one fair spirit for my minister;<br /> +That I might all forget the human race,<br /> +And, hating no one, love but only her."</blockquote> + + +<p>A cheerful party were met in the drawing room of Delmé. Clarendon Gage, +a neighbouring land proprietor, to whom Emily had for a twelvemonth been +betrothed, had the night previous returned from a continental tour. In +consequence, Emily looked especially radiant, Delmé much pleased, and +Clarendon superlatively happy. Nor must we pass over Mrs. Glenallan, +Miss Delmé's worthy aunt, who had supplied the place of a mother to +Emily, and who now sat in her accustomed chair, with an almost sunny +brow, quietly pursuing her monotonous tambouring. At times she turned to +admire her niece, who occasionally walked to the glass window, to caress +and feed an impudent white peacock; which one moment strutted on the +wide terrace, and at another lustily tapped for his bread at ne of the +lower panes.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to see you looking so well, Clarendon!"</p> + +<p>"And I can return the compliment, Delmé! Few, looking at you now, would +take you for an old campaigner."</p> + +<p>The style of feature in Delmé and Clarendon was very dissimilar. Sir +Henry was many years Gage's senior; but his manly bearing, and dark +decided features, would bear a contrast with even the tall and elegant, +although slight form of Clarendon. The latter was very fair, and what we +are accustomed to call English-looking. His hair almost, but not quite, +flaxen, hung in thick curls over his forehead, and would have given an +effeminate expression to the face, were it not for the peculiar flash of +the clear blue eye.</p> + +<p>"Come! Clarendon," said Emily, "I will impose a task. You have written +twice in my album; once, years ago, and the second time on the eve of +our parting. Come! you shall read us both effusions, and then write a +sonnet to our happy meeting. Would that dear George were here now!"</p> + +<p>Gage took up the book. It was a moderately-sized volume, bound in +crimson velvet. It was the fashion to keep albums <i>then</i>. It glittered +not in a binding of azure and gold, nor were its momentous secrets +enclosed by one of Bramah's locks. The Spanish proverb says, "Tell me +who you are with, and I will tell you what you are." Ours, in that album +age, used to be, "Show me your scrap book, I will tell you your +character." Emily's was not one commencing with--</p> + +<p> "I never loved a dear gazelle!"</p> + +<p>and ending with stanzas on the "Forget-me-not." It had not those +hackneyed but beautiful lines addressed by Mr. Spencer to Lady Crewe--</p> + +<blockquote>"I stay'd too late: forgive the crime!<br /> + Unheeded flew the hours;<br /> +For noiseless falls the foot of Time.<br /> + That only treads on flowers."</blockquote> + +<p>Nor contained it those sublime, but yet more common ones, on Sir John +Moore's death; which lines, by the bye, have suffered more from that +mischief-making, laughter-loving creature, Parody, than any lines we +know. It was not one of these books. Nor was it the splendid scrap book, +replete with superb engravings and proof-impression prints; nor at all +allied to the sentimental one of a garrison flirt, containing locks of +hair of at least five gentlemen, three of whom are officers in the army. +Nor, lastly, was it of that genus which has vulgarity in its very +title-page, and is here and there interspersed with devilish imps, or +caricatured likenesses of the little proprietress, all done in most +infinite humour, and marking the familiar friendship, of some half-dozen +whiskered cubs, having what is technically called the run of the house. +No! it was a repository for feeling and for memory, and, in its fair +pages, presented an image of Emily's heart. Many of these were marked, +it is true; and what human being's character is unchequered? But it was +blotless; and the virgin page looks not so white as when the contrast of +the sable ink is there.</p> + +<p>Clarendon read aloud his first contribution--who knows it not? The very +words form a music, and that music is Metastasio's,</p> + +<blockquote>"Placido zeffiretto,<br /> +Se trovi il caro oggetto,<br /> +Digli che sei sospiro<br /> +Ma non gli dir di chi,<br /> +Limpido ruscelletto,<br /> +Se mai t'incontri in lei,<br /> +Digli che pianto sei,<br /> +Ma non le dir qual' eiglio<br /> +Crescer ti fe cosi."</blockquote> + +<p>"And now, Emily! for my parting tribute--if I remember right, it was +sorrowful enough."</p> + +<p>Gage read, with tremulous voice, the following, which we will christen</p> + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">The Farewell.</p> + +<blockquote>I will not be the lightsome lark,<br /> + That carols to the rising morn,--<br /> +I'd rather be some plaintive bird<br /> + Lulling night's ear forlorn.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>I will not be the green, green leaf,<br /> + Mingling 'midst thousand leaves and flowers<br /> +That shed their fairy charms around<br /> + To deck Spring's joyous bowers.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>I'd rather be the one red leaf,<br /> + Waving 'midst Autumn's sombre groves:--<br /> +On the heart to breathe that sadness<br /> + Which contemplation loves.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>I will not be the morning ray,<br /> + Dancing upon the river's crest,<br /> +All light, all motion, when the stream<br /> + Turns to the sun her breast.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>I'd rather be the gentle shade,<br /> + Lengthening as eve comes stealing on,<br /> +And rest in pensive sadness there,<br /> + When those bright rays are gone.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>I will not be a smile to play<br /> + Upon thy coral lip, and shed<br /> +Around it sweetness, like the sun<br /> + Risen from his crimson bed.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>Oh, no! I'll be the tear that steals<br /> + In pity from that eye of blue,<br /> +Making the cheek more lovely red,<br /> + Like rose-leaf dipp'd in dew.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>I will not be remember'd when<br /> + Mirth shall her pageant joys impart,--<br /> +A dream to sparkle in thine eye,<br /> + Yet vanish from thy heart.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>But when pensive sadness clouds thee,<br /> + When thoughts, half pain, half pleasure, steal<br /> +Upon the heart, and memory doth<br /> + The shadowy past reveal.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>When seems the bliss of former years,--<br /> + Too sweet, too pure, to feel again,--<br /> +And long lost hours, scenes, friends, return,<br /> + Remember me, love--then!</blockquote> + +<p>"Ah, Clarendon! how often have I read those lines, and thought--but I +will not think now! Here come the letters! Henry will soon be busy--I +shall finish my drawing--and aunt will finish--no! she never <i>can</i> +finish her tambour work. Take my portfolio and give me another +contribution!" Gage now wrote "The Return," which we insert for the +reader's approval:--</p> + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">The Return.</p> + +<blockquote>When the blue-eyed morn doth peep<br /> +Over the soft hill's verdant steep,<br /> +Lighting up its shadows deep,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then!</i></blockquote> + +<blockquote>When the lightsome lark doth sing<br /> +Her grateful song to Nature's King,<br /> +Making all the woodlands ring,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then!</i></blockquote> + +<blockquote>Or when plaintive Philomel<br /> +Shall mourn her mate in some lone dell,<br /> +And to the night her sorrows tell,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then!</i></blockquote> + +<blockquote>When the first green leaf of spring<br /> +Shall promise of the summer bring,<br /> +And all around its fragrance fling,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then!</i></blockquote> + +<blockquote>Or when the last red leaf shall fall,<br /> +And winter spread its icy pall,<br /> +To mind me of the death of all,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then!</i></blockquote> + +<blockquote>When the lively morning ray<br /> +Is dancing on the river's spray,<br /> +And sunshine gilds the joyous day,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then</i>!</blockquote> + +<blockquote>And when the shades of eve steal on,<br /> +Lengthening as life's sun goes down,<br /> +Like sweetest constancy alone,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then</i>!</blockquote> + +<blockquote>When I see a sweet smile play<br /> +On coral lips, like Phoebus' ray,<br /> +Making all look warm and gay,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then</i>!</blockquote> + +<blockquote>When steals the tear of pity, too,<br /> +O'er a cheek, whose crimson hue<br /> +Looks like rose-leaf dipp'd in dew,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then</i>!</blockquote> + +<blockquote>When mirth's pageant joys unbind<br /> +The gloomy spells that chain my mind,<br /> +And make me dream of all that's kind,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then</i>!</blockquote> + +<blockquote>And when pensive sadness clouds me,<br /> +When the host of memory crowds me,<br /> +When the shadowy past enshrouds me,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then</i>!</blockquote> + +<blockquote>When seems the bliss of former years,--<br /> +Too sweet, too pure, to feel again,--<br /> +And long lost hours, scenes, friends, return,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then</i>!</blockquote> + + + + +<h1>Chapter III.</h1> + +<h2>The Dinner.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Hues which have words, and speak to ye of heaven."</blockquote> + +<blockquote> "Away! there need no words or terms precise,<br /> +The paltry jargon of the marble mart,<br /> +Where pedantry gulls folly: we have eyes."</blockquote> + + +<p>We are told by the members of the silver-fork school, that no tale of +fiction can be complete unless it embody the description of a dinner. +Let us, therefore, shutting from our view that white-limbed gum-tree, +and dismissing from our table tea and damper, [Footnote: <i>Damper</i>. +Bushman's fare--unleavened bread] call on memory's fading powers, and +feast once more with the rich, the munificent, the intellectual +Belliston Græme.</p> + +<p>Dinner! immortal faculty of eating! to what glorious sense or +pre-eminent passion dost thou not contribute? Is not love half fed by +thy attractions? Beams ever the eye of lover more bright than when, +after gazing with enraptured glance at the coveted haunch, whose fat--a +pure white; whose lean--a rich brown--invitingly await the assault. When +doth lover's eye sparkle more, than when, at such a moment, it lights on +the features of the loved fair one? Is not the supper quadrille the most +dangerous and the dearest of all?</p> + +<p>Cherished venison! delicate white soup! spare young susceptible bosoms! +Again we ask, is not dinner the very aliment of friendship? the hinge on +which it turns? Does a man's heart expand to you ere you have returned +his dinner? It would be folly to assert it. Cabinet dinners--corporation +dinners--election dinners--and vestry dinners--and rail-road +dinners--we pass by these things, and triumphantly ask--does not <i>the</i> +Ship par excellence--the Ship of Greenwich--annually assemble under its +revered roof the luminaries of the nation? Oh, whitebait! called so +early to your last account! a tear is all we give, but it flows +spontaneously at the memory of your sorrows!</p> + +<p>As Mr. Belliston Græme was much talked of in his day, it may not be +amiss to say a few words regarding him. He was an only child, and at an +early age lost his parents. The expense of his education was defrayed +by a wealthy uncle, the second partner in a celebrated banking house. +His tutor, with whom he may be said to have lived from boyhood--for his +uncle had little communication with him, except to write to him one +letter half-yearly, when he paid his school bill--was a shy retiring +clergyman--a man of very extensive acquirements, and a first rate +classical scholar. After a short time, the curate and young Græme +became attached to each other. The tutor was a bachelor, and Græme was +his only pupil. The latter was soon inoculated with the classical mania +of his preceptor; and, as he grew up, it was quite a treat to hear the +pair discourse of Greeks and Romans. A stranger who had <i>then</i> heard +them would have imagined that Themistocles and Scipio Africanus were +stars of the present generation. When Græme was nineteen, his uncle +invited him to town for a month--a most unusual proceeding. During this +period he studied closely his nephew's character. At the end of this +term, Mr. Hargrave and his young charge were on their way to the +classical regions, where their fancy had been so long straying. They +explored France, and the northern parts of Italy--came on the shores of +the Adriatic--resided and secretly made excavations near the +amphitheatre of Polo--and finally reached the Morea. Not a crag, +valley, or brook, that they were not conversant with before they left +it. They at length tore themselves away; and found themselves at the +ancient Parthenope. It was at Pompeii Mr. Græme first saw the +beautiful Miss Vignoles, the Mrs. Glenallan of our story; and, in a +strange adventure with some Neapolitan guides, was of some service to +her party. They saw his designs of some tombs, and took the trouble of +drawing him out. The young man now for the first time basked in the +sweets of society; in a fortnight, to Mr. Hargrave's horror, was +rolling in its vortex; in a couple of months found himself indulging +in, and avowing, a hopeless passion; and in three, was once again in +his native land, falsely deeming that his peace of mind had fled for +ever. He was shortly, however, called upon to exert his energies. The +death of his uncle suddenly made him, to his very great surprise, one +of the wealthiest commoners of England. At this period he was quite +unknown. In a short time Mr. Hargrave and himself were lodged +luxuriously--were deep in the pursuit of science, literature, and the +belle arte--and on terms of friendship with the cleverest and most +original men of the day. Mr. Græme's occupations being sedentary, and +his habits very regular, he shortly found that his great wealth enabled +him, not only to indulge in every personal luxury at Rendlesham Park, +but to patronise largely every literary work of merit. In him the needy +man of genius found a friend, the man of wit a companion, and the +publisher a generous customer. He became famous for his house, his +library, his exclusive society. But he did not become spoilt by his +prosperity, and never neglected his old tutor.</p> + +<p>Our party from Delmé were ushered into a large drawing-room, the sole +light of which was from an immense bow window, looking out on the +extensive lawn. The panes were of enormous size, and beautiful specimens +of classique plated glass. The only articles of furniture, were some +crimson ottomans which served to set off the splendid paintings; and one +table of the Florentine manufacture of pietra dura, on which stood a +carved bijou of Benvenuto Cellini's. Our party were early. They were +welcomed by Mr. Græme with great cordiality, and by Mr. Hargrave with +some embarrassment, for the tutor was still the bashful man of former +days. Mr. Græme's dress shamed these degenerate days of black stock and +loose trowser. Diamond buckles adorned his knees, and fastened his +shoes. His clear blue eye--the high polished forehead--the deep lines of +the countenance--revealed the man of thought and intellect. The playful +lip shewed he could yet appreciate a flash of wit or spark of humour.</p> + +<p>"Miss Delmé, you are looking at my paintings; let me show you my late +purchases. Observe this sweet Madonna, by Murillo! I prefer it to the +one in the Munich Gallery. It may not boast Titian's glow of colour, or +Raphael's grandeur of design,--in delicate angelic beauty, it may yield +to the delightful efforts of Guido's or Correggio's pencil,--but surely +no human conception can ever have more touchingly portrayed the +beauteous resigned mother. The infant, too! how inimitably blended is +the God-like serenity of the Saviour, with the fond and graceful +witcheries of the loving child! How little we know of the beauties of +the Spanish school! Would I could ransack their ancient monasteries, and +bring a few of them to light!</p> + +<p>"You are a chess player! Pass not by this check-mate of Caravaggio's. +What undisguised triumph in one countenance! What a struggle to repress +nature's feelings in the other! Here is a Guido! sweet, as his ever are! +He may justly be styled the female laureat. What artist can compete with +him in delineating the blooming expression, or the tender, but lighter, +shades of female loveliness? who can pause between even the Fornarina, +and that divine effort, the Beatrice Cenci of the Barberini?"</p> + +<p>The party were by this time assembled. Besides our immediate friends, +there was his Grace the Duke of Gatten, a good-natured fox-hunting +nobleman, whose estate adjoined Mr. Græme's; there was the Viscount +Chambéry, who had penned a pamphlet on finance--indited a folio on +architecture--and astonished Europe with an elaborate dissertation on +modern cookery; there was Charles Selby, the poet and essayist; +Daintrey, the sculptor--a wonderful Ornithologist--a deep read +Historian--a learned Orientalist--and a novelist, from France; whose +works exhibited such unheard of horrors, and made man and woman so +irremediably vicious, as to make this young gentleman celebrated, even +in Paris--that Babylonian sink of iniquity.</p> + +<p>Dinner was announced, and our host, giving his arm very stoically to +Mrs. Glenallan, his love of former days, led the way to the dining-room. +Round the table were placed beautifully carved oaken fauteuils, of a +very old pattern. The service of plate was extremely plain, but of +massive gold. But the lamp! It was of magnificent dimensions! The light +chains hanging from the frescoed ceiling, the links of which were hardly +perceptible, were of silver, manufactured in Venice; the lower part was +of opal-tinted glass, exactly portraying some voluptuous couch, on which +the beautiful Amphitrite might have reclined, as she hastened through +beds of coral to crystal grot, starred with transparent stalactites. In +the centre of this shell, were sockets, whence verged small hollow +golden tubes, resembling in shape and size the stalks of a flower. At +the drooping ends of these, were lamps shaped and coloured to imitate +the most beauteous flowers of the parterre. This bouquet of light had +been designed by Mr. Græme. Few novelties had acquired greater +celebrity than the Græme astrale. The room was warmed by heating the +pedestals of the statues.</p> + +<p>"Potage à la fantôme, and à l'ourika."</p> + +<p>"I will trouble you, Græme," said my Lord Chambéry, "for the fantôme. I +have dined on la pritannière for the last three months, and a novel soup +is a novel pleasure."</p> + +<p>Of the fish, the soles were à la Rowena, the salmon à l'amour. Emily +flirted with the wing of a chicken sauté au suprême, coquetted with +perdrix perdu masqué à la Montmorenci, and tasted a boudin à la +Diebitsch. The wines were excellent--the Geisenheim delicious--the +Champagne sparkling like a pun of Jekyll's. But nothing aroused the +attention of the Viscount Chambéry so much as a liqueur, which Mr. +Græme assured him was new, and had just been sent him by the Conte de +Desir. The dessert had been some time on the table, when the Viscount +addressed his host.</p> + +<p>"Græme! I am delighted to find that you at length agree with me as to +the monstrous superiority of a French repast. Your omelette imaginaire +was faultless, and as for your liqueur, I shall certainly order a supply +on my return to Paris."</p> + +<p>"That liqueur, my dear lord," replied Mr. Græme, "is good old cowslip +mead, with a flask of Maraschino di Zara infused in it. For the rest, +the dinner has been almost as imaginaire as the omelet. The greater part +of the recipes are in an old English volume in my library, or perhaps +some owe their origin to the fertile invention of my housekeeper. Let +us style them à la Dorothée."</p> + +<p>"Capital! I thank you, Græme!" said his Grace of Gatten, as he shook +his host by the hand, till the tears stood in his eyes.</p> + +<p>The prescient Chambéry had made a good dinner, and bore the joke +philosophically. Coffee awaited the gentlemen in a small octagonal +chamber, adjoining the music room. There stood Mr. Græme's three +favourite modern statues:--a Venus, by Canova--a Discobole, by +Thorwaldson--and a late acquisition--the Ariadne, of Dannecker.</p> + +<p>"This is the work of an artist," said Mr. Græme, "little known in +this country, but in Germany ranking quite as high as Thorwaldson. +This is almost a duplicate of his Ariadne at Frankfort, but the +marble is much more pure. How wonderfully fine the execution! Pray +notice the bold profile of the face; how energetic her action as she +sits on the panther!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Græme touched the spring of a window frame. A curtain of crimson +gauze fell over a globe lamp, and threw a rich shade on the marble. +The features remained as finely chiselled, but their expression was +totally changed.</p> + +<p>They adjourned to the music-room, which deserved its title. Save some +seats, which were artfully formed to resemble lyres, nothing broke the +continuity of music's tones, which ascended majestically to the lofty +dome, there to blend and wreath, and fall again. At one extremity of +music's hall was an organ; at the other a grand piano, built by a German +composer. Ranged on carved slabs, at intermediate distances, was placed +almost every instrument that may claim a votary. Of viols, from the violin +to the double bass,--of instruments of brass, from trombones and bass +kettledrums even unto trumpet and cymbal,--of instruments of wood, from +winding serpents to octave flute,--and of fiddles of parchment, from the +grosse caisse to the tambourine. Nor were ancient instruments wanting. +These were of quaint forms and diverse constructions. Mr. Græme would +descant for hours on an antique species of spinnet, which he procured from +the East, and which he vehemently averred, was the veritable dulcimer. He +would display with great gusto, his specimens of harps of Israel; whose +deep-toned chorus, had perchance thrilled through the breast of more than +one of Judea's dark-haired daughters. Greece, too, had her +representatives, to remind the spectators that there had been an Orpheus. +There were flutes of the Doric and of the Phrygian mode, and--let us +forget not--the Tyrrhenian trumpet, with its brazen-cleft pavilion. But by +far the greater part of his musical relics he had acquired during his stay +in Italy. He could show the litui with their carved clarions--the twisted +cornua--the tuba, a trumpet so long and taper,--the concha wound by +Tritons--and eke the buccina, a short and brattling horn.</p> + +<p>Belliston Græme was an enthusiastic musician; and was in this peculiar, +that he loved the science for its simplicity. Musicians are but too apt +to give to music's detail and music's difficulties the homage that +should be paid to music's self: in this resembling the habitual man of +law, who occasionally forgetteth the great principles of jurisprudence, +and invests with mysterious agency such words as latitat and certiorari. +The soul of music may not have fled;--for we cultivate her +assiduously,--worship Handel--and appreciate Mozart. But music <i>now</i> +springs from the head, not the heart; is not for the mass, but for +individuals. With our increased researches, and cares, and troubles, we +have lost the faculty of being pleased. Past are those careless days, +when the shrill musette, or plain cittern and virginals, could with +their first strain give motion to the blythe foot of joy, or call from +its cell the prompt tear of pity. Those days are gone! Music may affect +some of us as deeply, but none as readily!</p> + +<p>Mr. Græme had received from Paris an unpublished opera of Auber's. +Emily seated herself at the piano--her host took the violin--Clarendon +was an excellent flute player--and the tinkle of the Viscount's guitar +came in very harmoniously. By the time refreshments were introduced, +Charles Selby too was in his glory. He had already nearly convulsed the +Orientalist by a theory which he said he had formed, of a gradual +metempsychosis, or, at all events, perceptible amalgamation, of the +yellow Qui Hi to the darker Hindoo; which said theory he supported by +the most ingenious arguments.</p> + +<p>"How did you like your stay in Scotland, Mr. Selby?" said Sir +Henry Delmé.</p> + +<p>"I am a terrible Cockney, Sir Henry,--found it very cold, and was very +sulky. The only man I cared to see in Scotland was at the Lakes; but I +kept a register of events, which is now on the table in my +dressing-room. If Græme will read it, for I am but a stammerer, it is +at your service."</p> + +<p>The paper was soon produced, and Mr. Græme read the following:--</p> + + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">"The Brahmin.</p> + +<p>"A stranger arrived from a far and foreign country. His was a mind +peculiarly humble, tremblingly alive to its own deficiencies. Yet, +endowed with this mistrust, he sighed for information, and his soul +thirsted in the pursuit of knowledge. Thus constituted, he sought the +city he had long dreamingly looked up to as the site of truth--Scotia's +capital, the modern Athens. In endeavouring to explore the mazes of +literature, he by no means expected to discover novel paths, but sought +to traverse beauteous ones; feeling he could rest content, could he meet +with but one flower, which some bolder and more experienced adventurer +might have allowed to escape him. He arrived, and cast around an anxious +eye. He found himself involved in an apparent chaos--the whirl of +distraction--imbedded amidst a ceaseless turmoil of would-be knowing +students, endeavouring to catch the aroma of the pharmacopaeia, or dive +to the deep recesses of Scotch law. He sought and cultivated the +friendship of the literati; and anticipated a perpetual feast of soul, +from a banquet to which one of the most distinguished members of a +learned body had invited him. He went with his mind braced up for the +subtleties of argument--with hopes excited, heart elate. He deemed that +the authenticity of Champolion's hieroglyphics might now be permanently +established, or a doubt thrown on them which would for ever extinguish +curiosity. He heard a doubt raised as to the probability of Dr. Knox's +connection with Burke's murders! Disappointed and annoyed, he returned +to his hotel, determined to seek other means of improvement; and to +carefully observe the manners, customs, and habits of the beings he was +among. He enquired first as to their habits, and was presented with +scones, kippered salmon, and a gallon of Glenlivet; as to their manners +and ancient costume, and was pointed out a short fat man, the head of +his clan, who promenaded the streets without trousers. Neither did he +find the delineation of their customs more satisfactory. He was made +nearly tipsy at a funeral--was shown how to carve haggis--and a fit of +bile was the consequence, of his too plentifully partaking of a +superabundantly rich currant bun. He mused over these defeats of his +object, and, unwilling to relinquish his hitherto fruitless +search,--reluctant to despair,--he bent his steps to that city, where +utility preponderates over ornament; that city which so early encouraged +that most glorious of inventions, by the aid of which he hoped, that the +diminutive barks of his countrymen might yet be propelled, thus +superseding the ponderous paddle of teak, He here expected to be +involved in an intricate labyrinth of mechanical inventions,--in a +stormy discussion on the comparative merits of rival machinery,--to be +immersed in speculative but gigantic theories. He was elected an +honorary member of a news-room; had his coat whitened with cotton; and +was obliged to confess that he knew of no beverage that could equal +their superb cold punch. Our philosopher now gave himself up to despair; +but before returning to his own warm clime, he sought to discover the +reason of his finding the flesh creep, where he had deemed the spirit +would soar. He at length came to the conclusion that we are all slaves +to the world and to circumstances; and as, with his peculiar belief, he +could look on our sacred volume with the eye of a philosopher, felt +impressed with the conviction that the history of Babel's tower is but +an allegory, which says to the pride of man,</p> + +<blockquote> "'Thus far shall ye go, and no farther.'"</blockquote> + +<p>The Brahmin's adventures elicited much amusement. In a short time, +Selby was in a hot argument with the French novelist. Every now and +then, as the Frenchman answered him, he stirred his negus, and hummed a +translation of</p> + +<blockquote> "I'd be a butterfly."</blockquote> + +<blockquote> "Erim papilio,<br /> +Natus in flosculo."</blockquote> + + + + +<h1>Chapter IV.</h1> + +<h2>The Postman.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Not in those visions, to the heart displaying<br /> +Forms which it sighs but to have only dream'd,<br /> +Hath aught like thee in truth or fancy seem'd;<br /> +Or, having seen thee, shall I vainly seek<br /> +To paint those charms which, imaged as they beam'd,<br /> +To such as see thee not, my words were weak;<br /> +To those who gaze on thee, what language could they speak?"</blockquote> + + +<p>Delmé had long designed some internal improvements in the mansion; +and as workmen would necessarily be employed, had proposed that our +family party should pass a few weeks at a watering place, until these +were completed. They were not without hopes, that George might there +join them, as Emily had written to Malta, pressing him to be present +at her wedding.</p> + +<p>We have elsewhere said, that Sir Henry had arrived at middle age, +before one feeling incompatible with his ambitious thoughts arose. It +was at Leamington this feeling had imperceptibly sprung up; and to +Leamington they were now going.</p> + +<p>Is there an electric chain binding hearts predestined to love?</p> + +<p>Hath Providence ordained, that on our first interview with that being, +framed to meet our wishes and our desires--the rainbow to our cloud, and +the sun to our noon-day--hath it ordained that there should also be +given us some undefinable token--some unconscious whispering from the +heart's inmost spirit?</p> + +<p>Who may fathom these inscrutable mysteries?</p> + +<p>Sir Henry had been visiting an old schoolfellow, who had a country seat +near Leamington. He was riding homewards, through a sequestered and +wooded part of the park, when he was aware of the presence of two +ladies, evidently a mother and daughter. They sate on one side of the +rude path, on an old prostrate beech tree. The daughter, who was very +beautiful, was sketching a piece of fern for a foreground: the mother +was looking over the drawing. Neither saw the equestrian.</p> + +<p>It was a fair sight to regard the young artist, with her fine profile +and drooping eyelid, bending over the drawing, like a Grecian statue; +then to note the calm features upturn, and forget the statue in the +breathing woman. At intervals, her auburn tresses would fall on the +paper, and sweep the pencil's efforts. At such times, she would remove +them with her small hand, with such a soft smile, and gentle grace, that +the very action seemed to speak volumes for her feminine sympathies. +Delmé disturbed them not, but making a tour through the grove of beech +trees, reached Leamington in thoughtful mood.</p> + +<p>It was not long before he met them in society. The mother was a Mrs. +Vernon, a widow, with a large family and small means. Of that family +Julia was the fairest flower. As Sir Henry made her acquaintance, and +her character unfolded itself, he acknowledged that few could study it +without deriving advantage; few without loving her to adoration. That +character it would be hard to describe without our description +appearing high-flown and exaggerated. It bore an impress of loftiness, +totally removed from pride; a moral superiority, which impressed all. +With this was united an innate purity, that seemed her birthright; a +purity that could not for an instant be doubted. If the libertine gazed +on her features, it awoke in him recollections that had long slumbered; +of the time when his heart beat but for one. If, in her immediate +sphere, any littleness of feeling was brought to her notice, it was met +with an intuitive doubt, followed by painful surprise, that such +feeling, foreign as she felt it to be to her own nature, could really +have existence in that of another.</p> + +<p>Thank God! she had seen few of the trickeries of this restless world, in +which most of us are struggling against our neighbours; and, if we could +look forward with certainty, to the nature of the world beyond this, it +is most likely that we should breathe a fervent prayer that she should +never witness more.</p> + +<p>Her person was a fit receptacle for such a mind. A face all softness, +seemed and <i>was</i> the index to a heart all pity. Taller than her +compeers,--in all she said or did, a native dignity and a witching +grace were exquisitely blended. She was one not easily seen without +admiration; but when known, clung Cydippe-like to the heart's mirror, an +image over which neither time nor absence possessed controul.</p> + +<p>The Delmés resided at Leamington the remainder of the winter, which +passed fleetly and happily. Emily, for the first time, gave way to that +one feeling, which, to a woman, is the all-important and engrossing one, +enjoying her happiness in that full spirit of content, which basking in +present joys, attempts not to mar them by ideal disquietudes. The Delmés +cultivated the society of the Vernons; Emily and Julia became great +friends; and Sir Henry, with all his stoicism, was nourishing an +attachment, whose force, had he been aware of it, he would have been at +some pains to repress. As it was, he totally overlooked the possibility +of his trifling with the feelings of another. He had a number of sage +aphorisms to urge against his own entanglement, and, with a moral +perverseness, from which the best of us are not free, chose to forget +that it was possible his convincing arguments, might neither be known +to, nor appreciated by one, on whom their effect might be far from +unimportant.</p> + +<p>At this stage, Clarendon thought it his duty to warn Delmé; and, to his +credit be it said, shrunk not from it.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, Delmé," said he, "will you allow me to say one word to you +on a subject that nearly concerns yourself?"</p> + +<p>Sir Henry briefly assented.</p> + +<p>"You see a great deal of Miss Vernon. She is a very fascinating and a +very amiable person; but from something you once said to me, it has +struck me that in some respects she might not suit you."</p> + +<p>"I like her society," replied his friend; "but you are right. She would +<i>not</i> suit me. <i>You</i> know me pretty well. My hope has ever been to +increase, and not diminish the importance of my house. It once stood +higher both in wealth and consideration. I see many families springing +up around me, that can hardly lay claim to a descent so unblemished I +speak not in a spirit of intolerance, nor found my family claim solely +on its pedigree; but my ancestors have done good in their generation, +and it is a proud thing to be 'the scion of a noble race!'"</p> + +<p>"It may be;" said Clarendon quietly, "but I cannot help thinking, that +with your affluence, you have every right to follow your own +inclination. I know that few of my acquaintances are so independent of +the world."</p> + +<p>Sir Henry shook his head.</p> + +<p>"The day is not very distant, Gage, when a Dacre would hardly have +returned two members for my county, if a Delmé had willed it otherwise. +But there is little occasion for me to have said thus much. Miss Vernon, +I trust, has other plans; and I believe my own feelings are not enlisted +deep enough, to make me forget the hopes and purposes of half a +life-time."</p> + +<p>It was some few days after this, when Emily had almost given up looking +with interest to the postman's visit, that a letter at last came, +directed to Sir Henry; not indeed in George's hand-writing, but with +the Malta post mark. Delmé read it over thoughtfully, and, assuring +Emily that there was nothing to alarm her, left the room to consider +its contents.</p> + +<p>By the way, we have thought over heartless professions, and cannot help +conceiving that of a postman, (it may be conceit!) the most callous and +unfeeling of all. He is waited for with more anxiety than any guest of +the morning; for his visits invariably convey something new to the mind. +He is not love! but he bears it in his pocket; he cannot be friendship! +but he daily hawks about its assurances. With all this, knowing his +importance, aware of the sensation his appearance calls forth, his very +knock is heartless--the tones of his voice cold. Feeling seems denied +him; his head is a debtor and creditor account, his departure the +receipt, and time alone can say, whether your bargain has been a good or +a bad one. He has certainly no assumption--it is one of his few good +traits; he walks with his arms in motion, but attempts not a swagger; +his knock is unassuming, and his words, though much attended to, are +few, and to the point. Why, then, abuse him? We know not, but believe it +originates in fear. An intuitive feeling of dread--a rushing +presentiment of evil--crosses our mind, as our eye dwells on his +thread-bare coat, with its capacious pockets. News of a death--or a +marriage--the tender valentine--the remorseless dun--your having been +left an estate, or cut off with a shilling--fortune, and misfortune--he +quietly dispenses, as if totally unconscious. Surely such a man--his +round performed--cannot quietly sink to the private individual. Can such +a man caress his wife, or kiss his child, when he knows not how many +hearts are bursting with joy, or breaking with sorrow, from the tidings +<i>he</i> has conveyed? To our mind, a postman should be an abstracted +visionary being, endowed with a peculiar countenance, betraying the +unnatural sparkle of the opium-eater, and evincing intense anxiety at +the delivery of each sheet. But these,--they wait not to hear the joyful +shout, or heart-rending moan--to know if hope deferred be at length +joyful certainty, or bitter only half-expected woe. We dread a postman. +Our hand shook, as we last year paid the man of many destinies his +demanded Christmas box.</p> + +<p>The amount was double that we gave to the minister of our corporeal +necessities--the butcher's boy--not from a conviction of the superior +services or merit of the former, but from an uneasy desire to bribe, if +we could, that Mercury of fate.</p> + +<p>The letter to Sir Henry, was from the surgeon of George's regiment. It +stated that George had been severely ill, and that connected with his +illness, were symptoms which made it imperative on the medical adviser, +to recommend the immediate presence of his nearest male relative. +Apologies were made for the apparent mystery of the communication, with +a promise that this would be at once cleared up, if Sir Henry would but +consent to make the voyage; which would not only enable him to be of +essential service to his brother, but also to acquire much information +regarding him, which could only be obtained on the spot. A note from +George was enclosed in this letter. It was written with an unsteady +hand, and made no mention of his illness. He earnestly begged his +brother to come to Malta, if he could possibly so arrange it, and +transmitted his kindest love and blessing to Emily.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry at once made up his mind, to leave Leamington for town on the +morrow, trusting that he might there meet with information which would +be more satisfactory. He concealed for the time the true state of the +case from all but Clarendon; nor did he even allude to his proposed +departure.</p> + +<p>It was Emily's birth-day, and Gage had arranged that the whole party +should attend a little fête on that night. Sir Henry could not find it +in his heart to disturb his sister's dream of happiness.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter V</h1> + +<h2>The Fête.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Ye stars! which are the poetry of heaven!<br /> +If, in your bright leaves, we would read the fate<br /> +Of men and empires,--'tis to be forgiven,<br /> +That, in our aspirations to be great,<br /> +Our destinies o'erleap their mortal state,<br /> +And claim a kindred with you."</blockquote> + + +<p>The night came on with its crescent moon and its myriads of stars: just +such a night as might have been wished for such a fête. It was in the +month of April. April dews, in Britain's variable clime; are not the +most salubrious, and April's night air is too often keen and piercing; +but the season was an unusually mild one; and the ladies, with their +cloaks and their furs, promenaded the well-lighted walks, determined to +be pleased and happy.</p> + +<p>The giver of the fête was an enterprising Italian. Winter's +amusements were over, or neglected--summer's delights were not +arrived; and Signor Pacini conceived, that during the dull and +monotonous interval, a speculation of his own might prove welcome to +the public and beneficial to himself. To do the little man justice, he +was indefatigable in his exertions. From door to door he wended his +smiling way,--here praising the mother's French, there the daughter's +Italian. He gained hosts of partisans. "Of course you patronise +Pacini!" was in every one's mouth. The Signor's prospectus stated, +that "through the kindness of the steward of an influential nobleman, +who was now on the continent, he was enabled to give his fete in the +grounds of the Earl of W----; where a full quadrille band would be in +attendance, a pavilion pitched on the smooth lawn facing the river, +and a comfortable ball room thrown open to a fashionable and +enlightened public. The performance would be most various, novel, and +exciting. Brilliant fireworks from Vauxhall would delight the eye, and +shed a charm on the fairy scene; whilst the car would be regaled with +the unequalled harmony of the Styrian brethren, Messrs. Schezer, +Lobau, and Berdan, who had very kindly deferred their proposed return +to Styria, in order to honour the fete of Signor Pacini."</p> + +<p>As night drew on, the mimic thunder of carriages hastening to the scene +of action, bespoke the Signor's success. After the ninth hour, his +numbers swelled rapidly. Pacini assumed an amusing importance, and his +very myrmidons gave out their brass tickets with an air. At ten, a +rocket was fired. At this preconcerted signal, the pavilion, hitherto +purposely concealed, blazed in a flood of light. On its balcony stood +the three Styrian brethren,--although, by the way, they were not +brethren at all,--and, striking their harmonious guitars, wooed +attention to their strains. The crowd hurried down the walk, and formed +round the pavilion. Our party suddenly found themselves near the +Vernons. As the gentlemen endeavoured to obtain chairs for the ladies, a +crush took place, and Sir Henry was obliged to offer his arm to Julia, +who happened to be the nearest of her party. It was with pain Miss +Vernon noted his clouded brow, and look of abstraction; but hardly one +word of recognition had passed, before the deep voices of the Styrians +silenced all. After singing some effective songs, accompanied by a +zither, and performing a melodious symphony on a variety of Jew's-harps; +Pacini, the manager, advanced to address his auditors, with that air of +smiling confidence which no one can assume with better grace than a +clever Italian. His dark eye flashed, and his whole features irradiated, +as he delivered the following harangue.</p> + +<p>"Ladies and gentlemen! me trust you well satisfied wid de former +musical entertainment; but, if you permit, me mention one leetle +circonstance. Monsieur Schezer propose to give de song; but it require +much vat you call stage management: all must be silent as de grave. It +ver pretty morceau."</p> + +<p>The applause at the end of this speech was very great. Signor Pacini +bowed, till his face rivalled, in its hue, the rosy under-waistcoat in +which he rejoiced.</p> + +<p>Schezer stepped forward. He was attired as a mountaineer. His hat +tapered to the top, and was crowned by a single heron feather. Hussars +might have envied him his moustaches. From his right side protruded a +couteau de chasse; and his legs were not a little set off by the +tight-laced boots, which, coming up some way beyond the ancle, displayed +his calf to the very best advantage.</p> + +<p>The singer's voice was a fine manly tenor, and did ample justice to the +words, of which the following may be taken as a free version.</p> + +<p>"Mountains! dear mountains! on you have I passed my green youth; to me +your breeze has been fragrant from childhood. When may I see the chamois +bounding o'er your toppling crags? When, oh when, may I see my +fair-haired Mary?"</p> + +<p>The minstrel paused--a sound was heard from behind the pavilion. It was +the mountain's echo. It continued the air--then died away in the +softest harmony. All were charmed. Again the singer stepped +forward--the utmost silence prevailed--his tones became more +impassioned--they breathed of love.</p> + +<p>"Thanks! thanks to thee, gentle echo! Oft hast thou responded to the +strains of love my soul poured to--ah me! how beautiful was the +fair-haired Mary!"</p> + +<p>Again the echo spoke--again all were hushed. The minstrel's voice rose +again; but its tones were not akin to joy.</p> + +<p>"Why remember this, deceitful echo? War's blast hath blown, and hushed +are the notes of love. The foe hath polluted my hearth--I wander an +exile. Where, where is Mary?"</p> + +<p>The echo faintly but plaintively replied. There were some imagined that +a tear really started to the eye of the singer. He struck the guitar +wildly--his voice became more agitated--he advanced to the extremity of +the balcony.</p> + +<p>"My sword! my sword! May my right hand be withered ere it forget to +grasp its hilt! One blow for freedom. Freedom--sweet as was the +lip--Yes! I'll revenge my Mary!"</p> + +<p>Schezer paused, apparently overcome by his emotion. The echo wildly +replied, as if registering the patriot's vow. For a moment all was +still! A thundering burst of applause ensued.</p> + +<p>The mountain music was succeeded by a sweep of guitars, accompanying a +Venetian serenade, whose burthen was the apostrophising the cruelty of +"la cara Nina."</p> + +<p>It was near midnight, when all eyes were directed to a ball of fire, +which, rising majestically upward, soared amid the tall elm trees. For a +moment, the balloon became entangled in the boughs, revealing by its +transparent light the green buds of spring, which variegated and cheered +the scathed bark. It broke loose from their embrace--hovered +irresolutely above them--then swept rapidly before the wind, rising till +it became as a speck in the firmament.</p> + +<p>This was the signal for Mr. Robinson's fireworks, which did not shame +Vauxhall's reputation. At one moment, a salamander courted notice; at +another, a train of fiery honours, festooned round four wooden pillars, +was fired at different places, by as many doves practised to the task. +Here, an imitation of a jet d'eau elicited applause--there, the +gyrations of a Catherine's wheel were suddenly interrupted by the rapid +ascent of a Roman candle.</p> + +<p>Directly after the ascent of the balloon, Emily and Clarendon had +turned towards the ball room. Julia's sisters had a group of laughing +beaux round their chairs,--Mrs. Glenallan and Mrs. Vernon were +discussing bygone days,--and no one seemed disposed to leave the +pavilion. Sir Henry, in his silent mood, was glad to escape from the +party; and engaging Julia in a search for Emily, made his way to the +crowded ball room. He there found his sister spinning round with +Clarendon to one of Strauss's waltzes; and Sir Henry and his partner +seated themselves on one of the benches, watching the smiling faces as +they whirled past them. It was a melancholy thought to Delmé, how soon +Emily's brow would be clouded, were he to breathe one word of George's +illness and despondency. The waltz concluded, a quadrille was quickly +formed. Miss Vernon declined dancing, and they rose to join Emily and +Clarendon; but the lovers were flown. The ball room became still more +thronged; and Delmé was glad to turn once more towards the pavilion. The +party they had left there had also vanished, and strangers usurped their +seats. In this dilemma, Miss Vernon proposed seeking their party in the +long walk. They took one or two turns down this, but saw not those for +whom they were in search.</p> + +<p>"If you do not dislike leaving this busy scene," said Sir Henry, "I +think we shall have a better chance of meeting Emily and Clarendon, if +we turn down one of these winding paths."</p> + +<p>They turned to their left, and walked on. How beautiful was that night! +Its calm tranquillity, as they receded from the giddy throng, could not +but subdue them. We have said that the moon was not riding the heavens +in her full robe of majesty, nor was there a sombre darkness. The purple +vault was spangled thick with stars; and there reigned that dubious, +glimmering light, by which you can note a face, but not mark its blush. +The walks wound fantastically. They were lit by festoons of coloured +lamps, attached to the neighbouring trees, so as to resemble the pendent +grape-clusters, that the traveller meets with just previous to the +Bolognese vintage. Occasionally, a path would be encountered where no +light met the eye save that of the prying stars overhead. In the +distant vista, might be seen a part of the crowded promenade, where +music held its court; whilst at intervals, a voice's swell or guitar's +tinkle would be borne on the ear. There was the hum of men, too--the +laugh of the idlers without the sanctum, as they indulged in the +delights of the mischievous fire-ball--and the sudden whizz, followed by +an upward glare of light, as a rocket shot into the air. But the hour, +and the nameless feeling that hour invoked, brought with them a subduing +influence, which overpowered these intruding sounds, attuning the heart +to love and praise. They paced the walk in mutual and embarrassed +silence. Sir Henry's thoughts would at one time revert to his brother, +and at another to that parting, which the morrow would assuredly bring +with it. He was lost in reverie, and almost forgot who it was that leant +thus heavily upon his arm. Julia had loved but once. She saw his +abstraction, and knew not the cause; and her timid heart beat quicker +than was its wont, as undefined images of coming evil and sorrow, chased +each other through her excited fancy. At length she essayed to speak, +although conscious that her voice faltered.</p> + +<p>"What a lovely night! Are you a believer in the language of the stars?"</p> + +<p>This was said with such simplicity of manner, that Delmé, as he turned +to answer her, felt truly for the first time the full force of his +attachment. He felt it the more strongly, that his mind previously had +been wandering more than it had done for years.</p> + +<p>There are times and seasons when we are engrossed in a train of deep and +unconscious thought. Suddenly recalled to ourselves, we start from our +mental aberration, and a clearer insight into the immediate purposes and +machinery of our lives, is afforded us. We seem endowed with a more +accurate knowledge of self; the inmost workings of our souls are +abruptly revealed--feeling's mysteries stand developed--our weaknesses +stare us in the face--and our vices appear to gnaw the very vitals of +our hope. The veil was indeed withdrawn,--and Delmé's heart +acknowledged, that the fair being who leant on him for support, was +dearer--far dearer, than all beside. But he saw too, ambition in that +heart's deep recess, and knew that its dictates, unopposed for years, +were totally incompatible with such a love. He saw and trembled.</p> + +<p>Julia's question was repeated, before Sir Henry could reply.</p> + +<p>"A soldier, Miss Vernon, is particularly susceptible of visionary ideas. +On the lone bivouac, or remote piquet, duty must frequently chase sleep +from his eyelids. At such times, I have, I confess, indulged in wild +speculations, on their possible influence on our wayward destinies. I +was then a youth, and should not now, I much fear me, pursue with such +unchecked ardour, the dreams of romance in which I could then +unrestrainedly revel. Perhaps I should not think it wise to do so, even +had not sober reality stolen from imagination her brightest pinion."</p> + +<p>"I would fain hope, Sir Henry," replied Julia, "that all your mind's +elasticity is not thus flown. Why blame such fanciful theories? I cannot +think them wrong, and I have often passed happy hours in forming them."</p> + +<p>"Simply because they remove us too much from our natural sphere of +usefulness. They may impart us pleasure; but I question whether, by +dulling our mundane delights, they do not steal pleasure quite +equivalent. Besides, they cannot assist us in conferring happiness on +others, or in gleaning improvement for ourselves. I am not quite +certain, enviable as appears the distinction, whether the <i>too</i> +feelingly appreciating even nature's beauties, does not bear with it its +own retribution."</p> + +<p>"Ah! do not say so! I cannot think that it <i>should</i> be so with minds +properly regulated. I cannot think that <i>such</i> can ever gaze on the +wonders revealed us, without these imparting their lesson of gratitude +and adoration. If, full of hope, our eye turns to some glorious planet, +and we fondly deem that <i>there</i>, may our dreams of happiness <i>here,</i> be +perpetuated; surely in such poetical fancy, there is little to condemn, +and much that may wean us from folly's idle cravings.</p> + +<p>"If in melancholy's hour, we mourn for one who hath been dear, and sorrow +for the perishable nature of all that may here claim our earthly +affections; is it not sweet to think that in another world--perhaps in +some bright star--we may again commune with what we have <i>so</i> +loved--once more be united in those kindly bonds--and in a kingdom where +those bonds may not thus lightly be severed?"</p> + +<p>Julia's voice failed her; for she thought of one who had preceded her to +"the last sad bourne."</p> + +<p>Delmé was much affected. He turned towards her, and his hand +touched hers.</p> + +<p>"Angelic being!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke, darker, more worldly thoughts arose. A fearful struggle, +which convulsed his features, ensued. The world triumphed.</p> + +<p>Julia Vernon saw much of this, and maiden delicacy told her it was not +meet they should be alone.</p> + +<p>"Let us join the crowd!" said she. "We shall probably meet our party in +the long walk: if not, we will try the ball room."</p> + +<p>Poor Julia! little was her heart in unison with that joyous scene!</p> + +<p>By the eve of the morrow, Delmé was many leagues from her and his +family.</p> + +<p>Restless man, with travel, ambition, and excitement, can woo and almost +win oblivion;--but poor, weak, confiding woman--what is left to her?</p> + +<p>In secret to mourn, and in secret still to love.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter III.</h1> + +<h2>The Journey.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Adieu! adieu! My native land<br /> + Fades o'er the ocean blue;<br /> +The night winds sigh--the breakers roar--<br /> + And shrieks the wild sea mew.<br /> +Yon sun that sets upon the sea,<br /> + We follow in his flight:<br /> +Farewell awhile to him and thee!<br /> + My native land! good night!"</blockquote> + + +<p>We have rapidly sketched the dénouement of the preceding chapter; but it +must not be forgotten, that Delmé had been residing some months at +Leamington, and that Emily and Julia were friends. In his own familiar +circle--a severe but true test--Sir Henry had every opportunity of +becoming acquainted with Miss Vernon's sweetness of disposition, and of +appreciating the many excellencies of her character. For the rest, +their intercourse had been of that nature, that it need excite no +surprise, that a walk on a gala night, had the power of extracting an +avowal, which, crude, undigested, and hastily withdrawn as it was, was +certainly more the effusion of the heart--more consonant with Sir +Henry's original nature--than the sage reasonings on his part, which +preceded and followed that event.</p> + +<p>On Delmé's arrival in town, he prosecuted with energy his enquiries as +to his brother. He called on the regimental agents, who could give him +no information. George's military friends had lost sight of him since he +had sailed for the Mediterranean; and of the few persons, whom he could +hear of, who had lately left Malta; some were passing travellers, who +had made no acquaintances there, others, English merchants, who had met +George at the Opera and in the streets, but nowhere else. It is true, +there was an exception to this, in the case of a hair-brained young +midshipman; who stated that he had dined at George's regimental mess, +and had there heard that George "had fallen in love with some young +lady, and had fought with her brother or uncle, or a soldier-officer, he +did not know which."</p> + +<p>Meagre as all this information was, it decided Sir Henry Delmé.</p> + +<p>He wrote a long letter to Emily, in which he expressed a hope that both +George and himself would soon be with her, and immediately prepared for +his departure.</p> + +<p>Ere we follow him on his lonely journey, let us turn to those he left +behind. Mrs. Glenallan and Emily decided on at once leaving Leamington +for their own home. The marriage of the latter was deferred; and as +Clarendon confessed that his period of probation was a very happy one, +he acquiesced cheerfully in the arrangement. Emily called on the +Vernons, and finding that Julia was not at home, wrote her a kind +farewell; secretly hoping that at some future period they might be more +nearly related. The sun was sinking, as the travellers neared Delmé. The +old mansion looked as calm as ever. The blue smoke curled above its +sombre roof; and the rooks sailed over the chimneys, flapping their +wings, and cawing rejoicefully, as they caught the first glimpse of +their lofty homes. Emily let down the carriage window, and with sunshiny +tear, looked out on the home of her ancestors.</p> + +<p>There let us leave her; and turn to bid adieu for a season, to one, who +for many a weary day, was doomed to undergo the pangs of blighted +affection. Such pangs are but too poignant and enduring, let the +worldly man say what he may. Could we but read the history of the +snarling cynic, blind to this world's good--of him, who from being the +deceived, has become the deceiver--of the rash sensualist, who plunging +into vice, thinks he can forget;--could we but know the train of +events, that have brought the stamping madman to his bars--and his +cell--and his realms of phantasy;--or search the breast of her, who +lets concealment "feed on her damask cheek"--who prays blessings on +him, who hath wasted her youthful charms--then mounts with virgin soul +to heaven:--we, in our turn, might sneer at the worldling, and pin our +fate on the tale of the peasant girl, who discourses so glibly of +crossed love and broken hearts.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé left England with very unenviable sensations. A cloud +seemed to hang over the fate of his brother, which no speculations of +his could pierce. Numberless were the conjectures he formed, as to the +real causes of George's sickness and mental depression. It was in vain +he re-read the letters, and varied his comments on their contents. It +was evident, that nothing but his actual presence in Malta, could +unravel the mystery. Sir Henry had <i>one</i> consolation; how great, let +those judge who have had aught dear placed in circumstances at all +similar. He had a confidence in George's character, which entirely +relieved him from any fear that the slightest taint could have infected +it. But an act of imprudence might have destroyed his peace of +mind--sickness have wasted his body. Nor was his uncertainty regarding +George, Delmé's only cause of disquiet. When he thought of Julia +Vernon, there was a consequent internal emotion, that he could not +subdue. He endeavoured to forget her--her image haunted him. He +meditated on his past conduct; and at times it occurred to him, that +the resolutions he had formed, were not the result of reason, but were +based on pride and prejudice. He thought of her as he had last seen +her. <i>Now</i> she spoke with enthusiasm of the bright stars of heaven; +anon, her eye glistened with piety, as she showed how the feeling these +created, was but subservient to a nobler one still. Again, he was +beside her in the moment of maiden agony; when low accents faltered +from her quivering lip, and the hand that rested on his arm, trembled +from her heart's emotion.</p> + +<p>Such were the bitter fancies that assailed him, as he left his own, and +reached a foreign land. They cast a shadow on his brow, which change of +scene possessed no charm to dispel. He hurried on to France's capital, +and only delaying till he could get his passports signed, hastened from +Paris to Marseilles.</p> + +<p>On his arrival at the latter place, his first enquiries were, as to the +earliest period that a vessel would sail for Malta. He was pointed out a +small yacht in the harbour, which belonging to the British government, +had lately brought over a staff officer with despatches.</p> + +<p>A courier from England had that morning arrived--the vessel was about to +return--her canvas was already loosened--the blue Peter streaming in the +wind. Delmé hesitated not an instant, but threw himself into a boat, and +was rowed alongside. The yacht's commander was a lieutenant in our +service, although a Maltese by birth. He at once entered into Sir +Henry's views, and felt delighted at the prospect of a companion in his +voyage. A short time elapsed--the anchor was up--the white sails began +to fill--Sir Henry was once more on the wide sea.</p> + +<p>What a feeling of loneliness, almost of despair, infects the landsman's +mind, as he recedes from an unfamiliar port--sees crowds watching +listlessly his vessel's departure--crowds, of whom not one feels an +interest in <i>his</i> fate; and then, turning to the little world within, +beholds but faces he knows not, persons he wots not of!</p> + +<p>But to one whose home is the ocean, such are not the emotions which +its expanse of broad waters calls forth. To such an one, each plank +seems a friend; the vessel, a refuge from the world and its cares. +Trusting himself to its guidance, deceit wounds him no +more--hollow-hearted friendship proffers not its hand to sting--love +exercises not its fatal sorcery--foes are afar--and his heart, if not +the waves, is comparatively at peace. And oh! the wonders of the deep! +Ocean! tame is the soul that loves not thee! grovelling the mind that +scorns the joys thou impartest! To lean our head on the vessel's side, +and in idleness of spirit ponder on bygone scene, that has brought us +anything but happiness,--to gaze on the curling waves, as impelled by +the boisterous wind, we ride o'er the angry waters, lashed by the sable +keel to a yeasty madness,--to look afar upon the disturbed billow, +presenting its crested head like the curved neck of the war +horse,--<i>then</i> to mark the screaming sea bird, as, his bright eye +scanning the waters, he soars above the stormy main--its wide tumult +his delight--the roaring of the winds his melody--the shrieks of the +drowned an harmonious symphony to the hoarse diapason of the deep! All +these things may awake reflections, which are alike futile and +transitory; but they are accompanied by a mental excitement, which land +scenes, however glorious, always fail to impart.</p> + +<p>Delmé's voyage was not unpropitious, although the yacht was frequently +baffled by contrary winds, which prevented the passage being very +speedy. During the day, the weather was ordinarily blustering, at times +stormy; but with the setting sun, it seemed that tranquillity came; for +during the nights, which were uncommonly fine, gentle breezes continued +to fill the sails, and their vessel made tardy but sure progress. Henry +would sit on deck till a late hour, lost in reverie. <i>There</i> would he +remain, until each idle mariner was sunk to rest; and nothing but the +distant tread of the wakeful watch, or the short cough of the helmsman, +bespoke a sentinel over the habitation on the waters. How would the +recollections of his life crowd upon him!--the loss of his parent--the +world's first opening--bitter partings--painful misgivings--the lone +bivouac--the marshalling of squadrons--the fierce charge--the +excitement of victory, whose charm was all but flown, for where were the +comrades who had fought beside him? These things were recalled, and +brought with them alternate pain and pleasure. And a less remote era of +his life would be presented him; when he tasted the welcome of home--saw +hands uplifted in gratitude--was cheered by a brother's greeting, and +subdued by a sister's kiss. But there <i>was</i> a thought, which let him +dwell as he might on others, remained the uppermost of all. It was of +Julia Vernon, and met him as a reproach. If his feelings were not of +that enthusiastic nature, which they might have been were he now in his +green youth, they were not on this account the less intense. They were +coloured by the energy of manhood. He had lost a portion of his +self-respect: for he knew that his conduct had been vacillating with +regard to one, whom each traversed league, each fleeting hour, proved to +be yet dearer than he had deemed her.</p> + +<p>In the first few days of their passage, the winds shaped their vessel's +course towards the Genoese gulf. They then took a direction nearly +south, steering between Corsica and Sardinia on the one hand--Italy on +the other.</p> + +<p>Delmé had an opportunity of noting the outward aspect of Napoleon's +birth-place; and still more nearly, that of its opposite island, which +also forms so memorable a link in the history of that demi-god of modern +times. How could weaker spirits deem that <i>there</i>, invested with +monarchy's semblance, the ruler of the petty isle could forget that he +had been master of the world?</p> + +<p>How think that diplomacy's cobweb fibre could hold the eagle, panting +for an upward flight?</p> + +<p>They fearfully misjudged! What a transcendent light did his star give, +as it shot through the appalled heavens, ere it sunk for ever in +endless night!</p> + +<p>The commander of the yacht pointed out the rock, which is traditionally +said to be the one, on which Napoleon has been represented--his arms +folded--watching intently the ocean--and ambition's votary gleaning his +moral from the stormy waves below. As they advanced farther in their +course, other associations were not wanting; and Delmé, whose mind, +like that of most Englishmen, was deeply tinctured with classic lore, +was not insensible to their charms. They swept by the Latian coast. +Every creek and promontory, attested the fidelity of the poet's +description, by vividly recalling it to the mind. On the seventh day, +they doubled Cape Maritime, on the western coast of Sicily; and two +days afterwards, the vessel neared what has been styled the abode of +Calypso, the island of Gozzo. As they continued to advance, picturesque +trading boats, with awnings and numerous rowers, became more +frequent--the low land appeared--they were signalled from the +palace--the point of St. Elmo was turned--and a wide forest of masts +met the gaze. The vessel took up her moorings; and in the novelty of +the scene, and surrounding bustle, Sir Henry for a time rested from +misgivings, and forgot his real causes for melancholy. The harbour of +Malta is not easily forgotten. The sun was just sinking, tinging with +hues of amber, the usually purple waters of the harbour, and bronzing +with its fiery orb, the batteries and lofty Baraca, where lie entombed +the remains of Sir Thomas Maitland. Between the Baraca's pillars, +might be discerned many a faldette, with pretty face beneath, peering +over to mark the little yacht, as she took her station, amidst the more +gigantic line of battle ships.</p> + +<p>The native boatmen, in their gilded barks with high prows, were seen +surrounding the vessel; and as they exerted themselves in passing each +other, their dress and action had the most picturesque appearance. Their +language, a corrupted Arabic, is not unpleasing to the ear; and their +costume is remarkably graceful. A red turban hangs droopingly on one +side, and their waistcoats are loaded with large silver buttons, the +only remains of their uncommon wealth during the war, when this little +island was endowed with a fictitious importance, it can never hope to +resume. Just as the yacht cast anchor, a gun from the saluting battery +was fired. It was the signal for sunset, and every flag was lowered. +Down came in most seaman-like style the proud flag of merry England--the +<i>then</i> spotless banner of France--and the great cross, hanging +ungracefully, over the stout, but clumsy, Russian man of war. All these +flags were then in the harbour of Valletta, although it was not at that +eventful time when--the Moslem humbled--they met with the cordiality of +colleagues in victory.</p> + +<p>The harbour was full of vessels. Every nation had its representative. +The intermediate spaces were studded by Maltese boats, crowded with +passengers indiscriminately mingled. The careless English soldier, with +scarlet coat and pipe-clayed belt--priests and friars--Maltese women in +national costume sat side by side. Occasionally, a gig, pulled by man of +war's men, might be seen making towards the town, with one or more +officers astern, whose glittering epaulettes announced them as either +diners out, or amateurs of the opera. The scene to Delmé was entirely +novel; although it had previously been his lot to scan more than one +foreign country.</p> + +<p>The arrival of the health officers was the first circumstance that +diverted his mind from the surrounding scene. There had been an epidemic +disease at Marseilles, and there appeared to be some doubts, whether, as +a precaution, some quarantine would not be imposed. The superintendent +of quarantine was rowed alongside, chiefly for the purpose of regulating +this. The spirited little commander of the yacht, however, was not at +all desirous of any such arrangement; and after some energetic appeals +on his part, met by cautious remonstrances on the part of the other, +their pratique was duly accorded.</p> + +<p>During the discussion with the superintendent, Sir Henry had enquired +from the health officer, as to where he should find George, and was +informed that his regiment was quartered at Floriana, one of Valletta's +suburbs. In a short time a boat from the yacht was lowered, and the +commander prepared to accompany the government courier with his +dispatches to the palace.</p> + +<p>Previous to leaving the deck, he hailed a boat alongside--addressed the +boatmen in their native language--and consigned Sir Henry to their +charge. Twilight was deepening into night as Delmé left the vessel. The +harbour had lost much of its bustle; lights were already gleaming from +the town, and as seen in some of the loftiest houses, looked as if +suspended in the air above. Our traveller folded his cloak around him, +and was rowed swiftly towards the shore.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter VII.</h1> + +<h2>The Young Greek.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "But not in silence pass Calypso's isles, +The sister tenants of the middle deep."</blockquote> + +<hr width="200" align="left" size="1" /> + +<blockquote> "Her reign is past, her gentle glories gone,<br /> +But trust not this; too easy youth, beware!<br /> +A mortal sovereign holds her dangerous throne.<br /> +And thou mayst find a new Calypso there."</blockquote> + + +<p>Night had set in before Sir Henry reached the shore. The boatmen, in +broken, but intelligible English, took the trouble of explaining, that +they must row him to a point higher up the harbour, than the landing +place towards which the commander's gig was directing its course, on +account of his brother's regiment being quartered at Floriana. Landing +on the quay, they took charge of Delmé's portmanteau, and conducted him +through an ascending road, which seemed to form a part of the +fortifications, till they arrived in front of a closed gate. They were +challenged by the sentinel, and obliged to explain their business to a +non-commissioned officer, before they were admitted.</p> + +<p>This form having been gone through, a narrow wicket was opened for their +passage. They crossed a species of common, and, after a few minutes' +walk, found themselves in front of the barrack. This was a plain stone +building, enclosing a small court, in the centre of which stood a marble +bason. The taste of some of the officers had peopled this with golden +fish; whilst on the bason's brim were placed stands for exotics, whose +fragrance charmed our sea-worn traveller, so lately emancipated from +those sad drawbacks to a voyage, the odours of tar and bilge water.</p> + +<p>On either side, were staircases leading to the rooms above. A sentry was +slowly pacing the court, and gave Delmé the necessary directions for +finding George's room. Delmé's hand was on the latch, but he paused for +a moment ere he pressed it, for he pictured to himself his brother lying +on the bed of sickness. This temporary irresolution soon gave way to the +impulse of affection, and he hastily entered the chamber. George was +reading, and had his back turned towards him. As he heard the footsteps, +he half turned round; an enquiry was on his lip, when his eye caught +Henry's figure--a hectic flush suffused his cheek--he rose eagerly, and +threw himself into his brother's arms.</p> + +<p>Ah! sweet is fraternal affection! As boys, we own its just, its +proper influence; but as men--how few of us can lay our hands on our +hearts, and in the time of manhood feel, that the thought of a +brother, still calls up the kindly glow which it did in earlier +years. Delmé strained his brother to his heart, whilst poor George's +tears flowed like a woman's.</p> + +<p>"Ah, how," he exclaimed, "can I ever repay you for this?"</p> + +<p>The first burst of joyful meeting over--Sir Henry scanned his brother's +features, and was shocked at the apparent havoc a few short years had +wrought. It was not that the cheek--whose carnation tint had once drawn +a comment from all who saw it--it was not that the cheek was bronzed by +an eastern sun. The alabaster forehead, showed that this was the natural +result, of exposure to climate. But the wan, the sunken features--the +unnatural brilliancy of the eye--the almost impetuous agitation of +manner--all these bespoke that more than even sickness had produced the +change:--that the mind, as well as body, must have had its sufferings.</p> + +<p>"My dear, dear brother," said Henry, "tell me, I implore you, the +meaning of this. You look ill and distressed, and yet from you I did not +hear of sickness, nor do I know any reason for grief." George smiled +evasively; then, as if recollecting himself, struck his forehead. He +pressed his brother's arm, and led him towards a room adjoining the one +in which they were.</p> + +<p>"It were in vain to tell you now, Henry, the eventful history of the +last few months; but see!" said he, as they together entered, "the +innocent cause of much that I have gone through."</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé started at the sight that greeted him. The room was +dimly lighted by a lamp, but the moon was up, and shed her full light +through part of the chamber. On a small French bed, whose silken linings +threw their rosy hue on the face of its fair occupant, lay as lovely a +girl as ever eye reposed on.</p> + +<p>The heat had already commenced to become oppressive; the jalousies and +windows were thrown open. As the night breeze swept over the curtains, +and the tint these gave, trembled on that youthful beauty; Delmé might +well be forgiven, for deeming it was very long since he had seen a +countenance so exquisitely lovely. The face did indeed bear the stamp of +youth. Delmé would have guessed that the being before him, had barely +attained her fifteenth year, but that her bosom heaved like playful +billows, as she breathed her sighs in a profound slumber. Her style of +beauty for a girl was most rare. It had an almost infantine simplicity +of character, which in sleep was still more remarkable; for awake, those +eyes, now so still, did not throw unmeaning glances.</p> + +<p>Such as these must Guarini have apostrophised, as he looked at his +slumbering love.</p> + +<blockquote> "Occhi! stelle mortale!<br /> +Ministri de miei mali!<br /> +Se chiusi m'uccidete,<br /> +Aperti,--che farete?"</blockquote> + +<p>Or, as Clarendon Gage translated it.</p> + +<blockquote>"Ye mortal stars! ye eyes that, e'en in sleep,<br /> +Can thus my senses chain'd in wonder keep,<br /> +Say, if when closed, your beauties thus I feel,<br /> +Oh, what when open, would ye not reveal?"</blockquote> + +<p>Her beauty owed not its peculiar charm to any regularity of feature; but +to an ineffable sweetness of expression, and to youth's freshest bloom. +Hafiz would have compared that smooth cheek to the tulip's flower. Her +eye-lashes, of the deepest jet, and silken gloss, were of uncommon +length. Her lips were apart, and disclosed small but exquisitely formed +teeth. Their hue was not that of ivory, but the more delicate though +more transient one of the pearl. One arm supported her head--its hand +tangled in the raven tresses--of the other, the snowy rounded elbow was +alone visible.</p> + +<p>She met the eye, like a vision conjured up by fervid youth; when, ere +our waking thoughts dare to run riot in beauty's contemplation--sleep, +the tempter, gives to our disordered imaginations, forms and scenes, +which in after life we pant for, but meet them--never!</p> + +<p>George put his finger to his lips, as Delmé regarded her--kissed her +silken cheek, and whispered,</p> + +<p>"Acmé, carissima mia!"</p> + +<p>The slumberer started--the envious eye-lid shrouded no more its lustrous +jewel--the wondering eyes dilated, as they met her lover's--and she +murmured something with that sweet Venetian lisp, in which the Greek +women breathe their Italian. But, as she saw the stranger, her face and +neck became suffused with crimson, and her small hand wrapped the snowy +sheet round her beauteous form.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry, who felt equally embarrassed, returned to the room they +had left; whilst George lingered by the bedside of his mistress, and +told her it was his brother. Once more together, Sir Henry turned +towards George.</p> + +<p>"For God's sake," said he, "unravel this mystery! Who is this young +creature?"</p> + +<p>"Not now!" said his brother, "let us reserve it for to-morrow, and talk +only of home. Acmé has retired earlier than usual--she has been +complaining." And he commenced with a flushed brow and rapid voice, to +ask after those he loved.</p> + +<p>"And so, dearest Emily will soon be married. I am glad of it; you speak +so well of Gage! I wish I had stayed three weeks longer in England, and +I should have seen him. We shall miss her in the flower garden, Henry! +Yes! and every where else! And how is my kind aunt? I forgot to thank +her when I last wrote to Delmé, for making Fidèle a parlour inmate!--and +I don't think she likes dogs generally either!--And Mrs. Wilcox! as +demure as ever?--Do you recollect the trick I played her the last April +I was at home?--And my favourite pony! does <i>he</i> still adorn the +paddock, or is he gone at last? Emily wrote me he could hardly support +himself out of the shed. And the old oak--have you railed it round as I +advised? And the deer--Is my aunt still as tenacious of killing them? I +suppose Emily's pet fawn is a fine antlered gentleman by this time. And +your charger, Henry--how is he? And Mr. Sims? and the new green house? +Does the aviary succeed? did you get my slips of the blood orange? have +the Zante melon seeds answered? And the daisy of Delmé, Fanny Porter--is +she married? I stole a kiss the day I left. And so the coachman is dead? +and you have given the reins to Jenkins, and have taken my little fellow +on your own establishment? And Ponto? and Ranger? and my friend Guess?"</p> + +<p>Here George paused, quite out of breath; and his brother, viewing with +some alarm his nervous agitation, attempted to answer his many queries; +determined in his own mind, not to seek the explanation he so much +longed for, until a more favourable period for demanding it arrived. The +brothers continued conversing on English topics till a late hour, when +Henry rose to retire.</p> + +<p>"I cannot," said George, "give you a bed here to-night; but my servant +shall show you the way to an hotel; and in the course of to-morrow, we +will take care to have a room provided for you. You must feel harassed: +will nine be too early an hour for breakfast?"</p> + +<p>It was a beautiful night, still and starry. Till they arrived in the +busy street, no sound could be heard, but the cautious opening of the +lattice, answering the signal of the guitar. Escorted by his guide, +Delmé entered Valletta, which is bustling always, even at night; but was +more than usually so, as there happened to be a fête at the palace. As +they passed through the Strado Teatro, the soldier pointed out the +Opera-house; although from the lateness of the hour, Rossini's melodies +were hushed. From a neighbouring café, however, festive sounds +proceeded; and Delmé, catching the words of an unfamiliar language, +paused before the door to recognise the singer. The table at which he +sat, was so densely enveloped in smoke, that it was some time before he +could make out the forms of the party, which consisted of some jovial +British midshipmen, and some Tartar-looking Russians. One of the Russian +officers was charming his audience with a chanson à boire, acquired on +the banks of the Vistula, His compatriots were yelling the chorus most +unmercifully. A few calèche drivers, waiting for their fares, and two or +three idle Maltese, were pacing outside the cafe, and appeared to regard +the scene as one of frequent occurrence, and calculated to excite but +little interest. His guide showed Delmé the hotel, and was dismissed; +and Sir Henry, preceded by an obsequious waiter, was introduced to a +spacious apartment facing the street.</p> + +<p>It was long ere sleep visited him. He had many subjects on which to +ruminate; there were many points which the morrow would clear up. His +mind was too busy to permit him to rest.</p> + +<p>When he did, however, close his eyes; he slept soundly, and did not +awake till the broad glare of day, penetrating through the Venetian +blinds, disclosed to him the unfamiliar apartment at Beverley's.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter VIII.</h1> + +<h2>The Invalid.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "'Mid many things most new to ear and eye,<br /> +The pilgrim rested here his weary feet."</blockquote> + + +<p>As Sir Henry Delmé stepped from the hotel into the street, the sun's +rays commenced to be oppressive, and, although it was only entering the +month of May, served to remind him that he was in a warmer clime. The +scene was already a bustling one. The shopkeepers were throwing water +on the hot flag stones, and erecting canvas awnings in front of their +doors. In the various cafés might be seen the subservient waiters, +handing round the small gilded cup, which contained thick Turkish +coffee, or carrying to some old smoker the little pipkin, whence he was +to light his genial cigar. In front of one of these cafés, some +English officers were collected, sipping ices, and criticising the +relieving of the guard. Turning a corner of the principal street, a +group of half black and three-parts naked children assaulted our +traveller, and vociferously invoked carità. They accompanied this +demand by the corrupted cry of "nix munjay"--nothing to eat,--which +they enforced by most expressive gestures, extending their mouths, and +exhibiting rows of ravenous-looking teeth. The calèche drivers, too, +were on the alert, and respectfully taking off their turbans, proffered +their services to convey the Signore to Floriana. Delmé declined their +offers, and, passing a draw-bridge which divides Valletta from the +country, made his way through an embrasure, and descending some half +worn stone steps--during which operation he was again surrounded by +beggars--he found himself within sight of the barracks. Acmé and George +were ready to receive him. The latter's eye lit, as it was wont to do, +on seeing his brother, whilst the young Greek appeared in doubt, +whether to rejoice at what gave him pleasure, or to stand in awe of a +relation, whose influence over George might shake her own. This did +not, however, prevent her offering Delmé her hand, with an air of great +frankness and grace. Nor was he less struck with her peculiar beauty +than he had been on the night previous. Her dress was well adapted to +exhibit her charms to the greatest advantage. Her hair was parted in +front, and smoothly combed over her neck and shoulders, descending to +her waist. Over her bosom, and fastened by a chased silver clasp, was +one of the saffron handkerchiefs worn by the Parganot women. A jacket +of purple velvet, embroidered with gold, fitted closely to her figure. +Round her waist was a crimson girdle, fastened by another enormous +broach, or rather embossed plate of silver. A Maltese gold rose chain +of exquisite workmanship was flung round her neck, to which depended a +locket, one side of which held, encased in glass, George's hair braided +with her own; the other had a cameo, representing the death of the +patriot Marco Bozzaris.</p> + +<p>"Giorgio tells me," said she, "that you speak Italian, at which I am +very glad; for his efforts to teach me English have quite failed. Do you +know you quite alarmed me last night, and I really think it was too bad +of George introducing you when he did;" and she placed her hand on her +lover's shoulder, and looked in his face confidingly. In spite of the +substance of her speech, and the circumstances under which Delmé saw +her, he could not avoid feeling an involuntary prepossession in her +favour. Her manner had little of the polish of art, but much of nature's +witching simplicity; and Sir Henry felt surprised at the ease and +animation of the whole party. Acmé presided at the breakfast table, with +a grace which many a modern lady of fashion might envy; and during the +meal, her conversation, far from being dull or listless, showed that she +had much talent, and that to a quick perception of nature's charms, she +united great enthusiasm in their pursuit. The meal was over, when the +surgeon of the regiment was announced, and introduced by George to Sir +Henry. After making a few inquiries as to the invalid's state of health, +he proposed to Delmé, taking a turn in the botanical garden, which was +immediately in front of their windows.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry eagerly grasped at the proposition; anxious, as he felt +himself, to ascertain the real circumstances connected with his +brother's indisposition. They strolled through the garden, which was +almost deserted--for none but dogs and Englishmen, to use the expression +of the natives, court the Maltese noon-day sun,--and the surgeon at once +entered into George's history. He was a man of most refined manners, and +a cultivated intellect, and his professional familiarity with horrors, +had not diminished his natural delicacy of feeling. His narrative was +briefly thus:--</p> + +<p>George Delmé's bosom companion had been an officer of his own age and +standing in the service, with whom he had embarked when leaving England. +Their intercourse had ripened into the closest friendship. George had +met Acmé, although the surgeon knew not the particulars of the +rencontre,--had confided to his friend the acquaintance he had made--and +had himself introduced Delancey at the house where Acmé resided. Whether +her charms really tempted the friend to endeavour to supplant George, +or whether he considered the latter's attentions to the young Greek to +be without definite object, and undertaken in a spirit of indifference, +the narrator could not explain; but it was not long before Delancey +considered himself as a principal in the transaction. Acmé, whose +knowledge of the world was slight, and whose previous seclusion from +society, had rendered her timidity excessive, considered that her best +mode of avoiding importunities she disliked, and attentions that were +painful to her, would be to speak to George himself on the subject.</p> + +<p>By this time, the latter, quite fascinated by her beauty and +simplicity, and deeming, as was indeed the fact, that his love was +returned, needed not other inquietudes than those his attachment gave +him. The pride of ancestry and station on the one hand--on the other, +a deep affection, and a wish to act nobly by Acmé--caused an internal +struggle which made him open to any excitement, nervously alive to any +wrong. He sought his friend, and used reproaches, which rendered it +imperative that they should meet as foes. Delancey was wounded; and +as <i>he</i> thought--and it was long doubtful whether it <i>were</i> +so--<i>mortally</i>. He beckoned George Delmé to his bedside--begged him to +forgive him--told him that his friendship had been the greatest source +of delight to him--a friendship which in his dying moments he begged +to renew--that far from feeling pain at his approaching dissolution, +he conceived that he had merited all, and only waited his full and +entire forgiveness to die happy. George Delmé wrung his hands in the +bitterness of despair--prayed him to live for his sake--told him, that +did he not, his own life hereafter would be one of the deepest +misery,--that the horrors of remorse would weigh him down to his +grave. The surgeon was the first to terminate a scene, which he +assured Delmé was one of the most painful it had ever been his lot to +witness. This meeting, though of so agitating a nature, seemed to have +a beneficial effect on the wounded man. He sunk into a sweet sleep; +and on awaking, his pulse was lower, and his symptoms less critical. +He improved gradually, and was now convalescent. But it was otherwise +with George Delmé. He sought the solitude of his chamber, a prey to +the agonies of a self-reproaching spirit. He considered himself +instrumental in taking the life of his best friend--of one, richly +endowed with the loftiest feelings humanity can boast. His nerves +previously had been unstrung; body and mind sank under the picture his +imagination had conjured up. His servant was alarmed by startling +screams, entered his room, and found his master in fearful +convulsions. A fever ensued, during which George's life hung by a +thread. To this succeeded a long state of unconsciousness, +occasionally broken by wild delirium.</p> + +<p>During his illness, there was one who never left him--who smoothed his +pillow--who supported his head on her breast--who watched him as a +mother watches her first-born. It was the youthful Greek, Acmé Frascati. +The instant she heard of his danger, she left her home to tend him. No +entreaties could influence her, no arguments persuade. She would sit by +his bedside for hours, his feverish hand locked in hers, and implore him +to recover, to bless one who loved him so dearly. They could not part +them; for George, even in his delirious state, seemed to be conscious +that some one was near him, and, did she leave his side, would rise in +his bed, and look around him as if missing some accustomed object. In +his wilder flights, he would call passionately upon her, and beg her to +save his friend, who was lying so dead and still.</p> + +<p>For a length of time, neither care nor professional skill availed. +Fearful was the struggle, between his disease, and a naturally hardy +constitution. Reason at last resumed her dominion. "I know not," said +the surgeon, "the particulars of the first dawning of consciousness. It +appears that Acmé was alone with him, and that it was at night. I found +him on my professional visit one morning, clear and collected, and his +mistress sobbing her thanks. I need perhaps hardly inform you," said the +narrator, "that George's gratitude to Acmé was vividly expressed. It was +in vain I urged on her the propriety of now leaving her lover. This was +met on both sides by an equal disinclination, and indeed obstinate +refusal; and I feared the responsibility I should incur, by enforcing a +separation which might have proved of dangerous consequence to my +patient. Alas! for human nature, Sir Henry! need it surprise you that +the consequences were what they are? Loving him with the fervency of one +born under an eastern sun--with the warm devotion of woman's first +love--with slender ideas of Christian morality--and with a mind +accustomed to obey its every impulse--need it, I say, surprise you, that +the one fell, and that remorse visited the other? To that remorse, do I +attribute what my previous communication may not have sufficiently +prepared you for; namely, the little dependence to be placed on the tone +of the invalid's mind. Reason is but as a glimmering in a socket; and +painful as my professional opinion may be to you, it is my duty to avow +it; and I frankly confess, that I entertain serious apprehensions, as to +the stability of his mind's restoration. It is on this account, that I +have felt so anxious that one of his relations should be near him. +Change of scene is absolutely necessary, as soon as change of scene can +be safely adopted. Every distracting thought must be avoided, and the +utmost care taken that no agitating topic is discussed in his presence. +These precautions may do much; but should they have no effect, which I +think possible; as a medical man, I should then recommend, what as a +member of his family may startle you. My advice would be, that if it be +ultimately found, that his feelings as regard this young girl, are such +as are likely to prevent or impede his mind's recovery; why I would then +at once allow him to make her any reparation he may think just.</p> + +<p>"To what do you allude?" enquired Sir Henry.</p> + +<p>"Why," continued the surgeon, "that if his feelings appear deeply +enlisted on that side of the question, and all our other modes have +failed in obtaining their object; that he should be permitted to marry +her as soon as he pleases. I see you look grave. I am not surprised you +should do so; but life is worth preserving, and Acmé, if not entirely to +our notions, is a good, a very good girl--warm-hearted and affectionate; +and it is not fair to judge her by our English standard. You will +however have time and scope, to watch yourself the progress and extent +of his disorder. I fear this is more serious than you are at present +aware of; but from your own observations, would I recommend and wish +your future line of conduct to be formed. May I trust my frankness has +not offended you?"</p> + +<p>Sir Henry assured him, that far from this being the case, he owed +him many thanks for being thus explicit. Shaking him by the hand, +he returned to George's room with a clouded brow; perplexed how to +act, or how best discuss with his brother, the points connected +with his history.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter IX.</h1> + +<h2>The Narrative.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "The seal Love's dimpling finger hath impress'd,<br /> +Denotes how soft that chin which bears his touch,<br /> +Her lips whose kisses pout to leave their nest,<br /> +Bid man be valiant ere he merit such;<br /> +Her glance how wildly beautiful--how much<br /> +Hath Phoebus woo'd in vain to spoil her cheek,<br /> +Which grows yet smoother from his amorous clutch,<br /> +Who round the north for paler dames would seek?<br /> +How poor their forms appear! how languid, wan, and weak."</blockquote> + + +<p>Love! Heavenly love! by Plato's mind conceived, and Sicyon's artist +chiselled! not thou! night's offspring, springing on golden wing from +the dark bosom of Erebus! the first created, and the first creating: but +thou! immaculate deity; effluence of unspotted thought, and child of a +chaster age! where, oh where is now thy resting place?</p> + +<p>Pensile in mid-heaven, gazest thou yet with seraphic sorrow on this, +the guilty abode of guilty man?--with pity's tear still mournest thou, +as yoked to the car of young desire, we bow the neck in degrading and +slavish bondage? Or dost thou, the habitant of some bright star, where +frailty such as ours is yet unknown, lend to lovers a rapture unalloyed +by passion's grosser sense; as, symphonious with the tremulous zephyr, +chastened vows of constancy are there exchanged? Ah! vainly does one +solitary enthusiast, in his balmy youth, for a moment conceive he really +grasps thee! 'tis but a fleeting phantasy, doomed to fade at the first +sneer of derision--and for ever vanish, as a false and fascinating world +stamps its dogmas on his heart! Celestial love! oh where may he yet find +thee? and a clear voice whispers, ETERNITY!</p> + +<p>Hope! guide the fainting pilgrim! undying soul! shield him from the +world's venomed darts, as he painfully wends his toilsome way!</p> + +<p>When Delmé returned to his brother, he found the latter anxiously +expecting him, and desirous of ascertaining the impression, which his +conversation with the surgeon had created.</p> + +<p>But Delmé thought it more prudent, to defer the discussion of those +points, till he had heard from George himself, as to many circumstances +connected with Acmé's history, and had been able to form some personal +opinion regarding the health of the invalid. He therefore begged +George, if he felt equal to the task, to avail himself of the +opportunity of Acmé's absence, to tell him how he had first met her. To +this George willingly assented; and as there is ever a peculiarity in +foreign scenes and habits, which awakens interest, we give his story in +his own language.</p> + +<p>"There are some old families here, Henry," began the invalid, "whose +names are connected with some of the proudest, which the annals of the +Knights of St. John of Jerusalem can boast. They are for the most part +sunk in poverty, and possess but little of the outward trappings of +rank. But their pride is not therefore the less; and rather than have it +wounded, by being put in collision with those with whom in worldly +wealth they are unable to compete, they prefer the privacy of +retirement; and are rarely seen, and more rarely known, by any of the +English residents, whom they distrust and dislike. It is true, there are +a few families, some of the male members of which have accepted +subordinate situations under government: and these have become +habituated to English society, and meet on terms of tolerable +cordiality, the English whose acquaintance they have thus made. But +there are others, as I have said, whose existence is hardly recognised, +and who vegetate in some lone palazzo; brooding over the decay of their +fortunes--never crossing the threshold of their mansions--except when +religious feelings command them to attend a mass, or public procession. +Of such a family was Acmé a member. By birth a Greek, she was a witness +to many of the bloody scenes which took place at the commencement of the +struggle for Grecian freedom. She was herself present at the murder of +both her parents. Her beauty alone saved her from sharing their fate. +One of the Turks, struck with, her expression of childish sorrow, +interfered in her behalf, and permitted a friend and neighbour to save +her life and his own, by taking shipping for one of the islands in our +possession. After residing in Corfu for some months, she received an +invitation from her father's brother-in-law, a member of an ancient +Maltese family; and for the last few years has spent a life, if not gay, +at least free from a repetition of those sanguinary scenes, which have +lent their impress to a sensitive mind, and at moments impart a +melancholy tinge, to a disposition by nature unusually joyous. It was on +a festa day, dedicated to the patron saint of the island, when no +Maltese not absolutely bed-ridden, but would deem it a duty, to witness +the solemn and lengthy procession which such a day calls forth; that I +first met Acmé Frascati.</p> + +<p>"I was alone in the Strada Reale, and strolling towards the Piazza, when +my attention was directed to what struck me as the loveliest face I had +ever seen.</p> + +<p>"Acmé, for it was her, was drest in the costume of the island; and, +although a faldette is not the best dress for exhibiting a figure, +there was a grace and lightness in her carriage, that would have +arrested my attention, even had I not been riveted by her countenance. +She was on the opposite side of the street to myself, and was attended +by an old Moorish woman, who carried an illumined missal. Of these +women, several may yet be seen in Malta, looking very Oriental and +duenna-like. As I stopped to admire her, she suddenly attempted to +cross to the side of the street where I stood. At the same moment, I +observed a horse attached to a calèche galloping furiously towards her. +It was almost upon her ere Acmé saw her danger. The driver, anxious to +pass before the procession formed, had whipped his horse till it became +unmanageable, and it was now in vain that he tried to arrest its +progress. A natural impulse induced me to rush forward, and endeavour +to save her. She was pale and trembling, as I caught her and placed her +out of the reach of danger; but before I could touch the pavement, I +felt myself struck by the wheel of the carriage, was thrown down, and +taken up insensible. When consciousness returned, I found they had +conveyed me to a neighbouring shop, and that medical attendance had +been procured. But more than all, I noticed the solicitude of Acmé. +Until the surgeon had given a favourable report, she could not address +me, but when this had been pronounced, she overwhelmed me with thanks, +begged to know where I would wish to be taken, and rested not until her +own family calèche came up, and she saw me, attended by the Moorish +woman, on the road to Floriana.</p> + +<p>"My accident, though not a very serious one, proved of sufficient +consequence, to confine me to my room for some time; and during that +period, not a day passed, that did not give me proof of the anxiety of +the young Greek for my restoration. I need not say that one of my +first visits was to her. Her family received me as they would an +absent brother. The obligations they considered I had conferred, +outweighed all prejudices which they might have imbibed against my +nation. On <i>my</i> part, charmed with my adventure, delighted with Acmé, +and gratified by the kindness of her relations, I endeavoured to +increase their favourable opinion by all the means in my power. Acmé +and myself were soon more than friends, and I found my visits gave and +imparted pleasure.</p> + +<p>"I now arrive at the unhappy part of my narrative. How do I wish it were +effaced from my memory. You may remember how, in all my letters to +Delmé, I made mention of my dear friend Delancey. We were indeed dear +friends. We joined at the same time, lived together in England, +embarked together, and when, one dreadful night off the African coast, +the captain of the transport thought we must inevitably drift on the +lee shore, we solaced each other, and agreed that, if it came to the +worst, on one plank would we embark our fortunes. On our landing in +Malta, we were inseparable, and my first impulse was to inform Delancey +of all that had occurred, and to introduce him to a house where I felt +so happy. I must here do him the justice to state, that whether I was +partly unaware of the extent of my own feelings towards Acmé, or +whether I felt a morbid sense of delicacy, in alluding to what I knew +to be the first attachment I had ever formed, I am unable to inform +you! but the only circumstance I concealed from my friend was my +attachment to the young Greek. Perhaps to this may be mainly attributed +what happened. God, who knows all secrets, knows this; but I may now +aver, that my friend, with many faults, has proved himself to have as +frank and ingenuous a spirit, as noble ideas of friendship, as can +exist in the human breast. For some time, matters continued thus. We +were both constant visitors at Acmé's house. With unparalleled +blindness, I never mistrusted the feelings of my friend. I never +contemplated that <i>he</i> also might become entangled with the young +beauty. I considered her as my own prize, and was more engaged in +analysing my own sensations, and in vainly struggling against a +passion, which I was certain could not meet my family's approval, than +at all suspicious that fresh causes of uneasiness might arise in +another quarter. As Acmé's heart opened to mine, I found her with +feelings guileless and unsuspecting as a child's; although these were +warm, and their expression but little restrained. There was a confiding +simplicity in her manner, that threw an air over all she said or did, +which quite forbade censure, and excited admiration. My passion became +a violent and an all-absorbing one. I had made up my mind, to throw +myself on the kindness of my family, and endeavour to obtain all your +consents. Thus was I situated, when one day Acmé came up to me with +frankness of manner, but a tremulous voice, to beg I would use my +interest with my friend, to prevent his coming to see her.</p> + +<p>"'Indeed, indeed,' said she, 'I have tried to love him as a friend, as +the friend of my life's preserver, but ever since he has spoken as he +now does, his visits are quite unpleasant. My family begged me to tell +you. They would have asked him to come no more, but were afraid you +might be angry. Will you still come to us, and love us all, if they tell +him this? If you will not, he shall still come; for indeed we could not +offend one to whom we owe so much.'</p> + +<p>"'<i>I</i>, too,' said I to Acmé, '<i>I</i>, too, dearest, ought perhaps to leave +you, <i>I</i>, too'--</p> + +<p>"'Oh, never! never!' said she, as she turned to me her dark eyes, bright +with humid radiance. 'We cannot thus part!'</p> + +<p>"She <i>did</i>, then, love me! I clasped her to my arms--our lips clung +together in one rapturous intoxicating embrace.</p> + +<p>"Yet, even in that moment of delirium, Henry, I told her of you, and of +the many obstacles which still presented themselves to retard or even +prevent our union. I sought my friend Delancey, and remonstrated with +him. He appeared to doubt my right to question his motives. Success made +me feel still more injured. I showered down reproaches. He could not +have acted differently. We met! and I saw him fall! Till then, I had +considered myself as the injured man; but as I heard him on the ground +name his mother, and one dearer still--as he took from his breast the +last gift <i>she</i> had made him--as he begged of <i>me</i> to be its bearer; I +then first felt remorse. He was taken to his room. Even the surgeon +entertained no hopes. He again called me to his side; I heard his noble +acknowledgment, his reiterated vows of friendship, the mournful tones of +his farewell. I entered this room a heart-broken man. I felt my pulse +throb fearfully, a gasping sensation was in my throat, my head swam +round, and I clung to the wall for support. The next thing of which I +have any recollection, was the dawn of reason breaking through my +troubled dreams. It was midnight--all was still. The fitful lamp shone +dimly through my chamber. I turned on my side--and, oh! by its light, I +saw the face I most loved--that face, whose gentle lineaments, were each +deeply and separately engraven on my heart. I saw her bending over me +with a maiden's love and a mother's solicitude. As I essayed to +speak--as my conscious eye met her's--as the soft words of affection +were involuntarily breathed by my feeble lips--how her features lit up +with joy! Oh, say not, Henry, till you have experienced such a moment of +transport, say not that the lips which then vowed eternal fidelity, that +the young hearts which <i>then</i> plighted their truth, and vowed to love +for ever--oh call not these guilty!</p> + +<p>"Since that time my health has been extremely precarious. Whether the +events crowded too thickly on me, or that I have not fully recovered my +health, or--which I confess I think is the case--that my compunctions +for my conduct to Acmé weigh me down, I know not; but it is not always, +my dear Henry, that I can thus address you. There are hours when I am +hardly sensible of what I do, when my brain reels from its oppression. +At such times, Acmé is my guardian angel--my tender nurse--my +affectionate attendant! In my lucid intervals, she is what you see +her--the gentle companion--the confiding friend. I love her, Henry, more +than I can tell you! I shall never be able to leave her! From Acmé you +may learn more of those dreary hours, which appear to me like waste +dreams in my existence. She has watched by my bed of sickness, till she +knows every turn of the disorder. From her, Henry, may you learn all."</p> + +<p>Thus did George conclude his tale of passion; which Delmé mused over, +but refrained from commenting on.</p> + +<p>Soon afterwards, George's calèche, in which he daily took exercise, was +announced as being at the door. The brothers entered, and left Floriana.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter X.</h1> + +<h2>The Calèche.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "The car rattling through the stony street."</blockquote> + + +<p>For an easy conveyance, commend us to a Maltese calèche! Many a time, +assaulted by the blue devils, have we taken refuge in its solacing +interior--have pulled down its silken blinds, and unseeing and unseen, +the motion, like that of the rocking-cradle to the petulant child of +less mature growth, has restored complacency, and lulled us to good +humour. The calèche, the real calèche, is, we believe, peculiar to +Malta. It is the carriage of the rich and poor--Lady Woodford may be +seen employing it, to visit her gardens at St. Antonio; and in the +service of the humblest of her subjects, will it be enlisted, as they +wend their way to a picnic in the campagna. Every variety of steed is +put in requisition for its draught.</p> + +<p>We may see the barb, with nostril of fire, and mane playing with the +wind, perform a curvet, as he draws our aristocratic +countrywoman--aristocratic and haughty at least in Malta, although, +in England, perhaps a star of much less magnitude.</p> + +<p>We may view too the over-burthened donkey, as he drags along some aged +vehicle, in which four fat smiling women, and one lean weeping child, +look forward to his emaciated carcase, and yet blame him for being slow.</p> + +<p>And thou! patient and suffering animal, whose name has passed into a +proverb, until each vulgar wight looks on thee as the emblem of +obstinacy,--maligned mule! when dost thou appear to more advantage, more +joyous, or more self-satisfied, than when yoked to the Maltese calèche? +Who that has witnessed thee, taking the scanty meal from the hand of +thine accustomed driver, with whinnying voice, waving tail, thy long +ears pricked upwards, and thy head rubbing his breast, who that has +seen thee thus, will deny thee the spirit of gratitude?</p> + +<p>Most injured of quadrupeds! if we ascend the rugged mountain's path, +where on either side, precipices frown, and the pines wave far--far +beneath--when one false step would plunge us, with our hopes, our fears, +and our vices, into the abyss of eternity; is it not to thee we trust?</p> + +<p>Calumniated mule! go on thy way.</p> + +<p>This world's standard is but little to be relied on, whether it be for +good, or whether it be for evil.</p> + +<p>The motion of a calèche, such as we patronised, is an easy and luxurious +one--the pace, a fast trot or smooth canter, of seven miles an hour--and +with the blinds down, we have communed with ourselves, with as great +freedom, and as little fear of interruption, as if we had been crossing +the Zahara. The calèche men too are a peculiar and happy race--attentive +to their fares--masters of their profession--and with a cigar in their +cheek dexter, will troll you Maltese ditties till your head aches. Their +costume is striking. Their long red caps are thrown back over their +necks--their black curls hang down on each side of the face--and a +crimson, many-folded sash, girds in a waist usually extremely small. +Their neck, face, and breast, from continued exposure to the sun, are a +red copper colour. They are always without shoes and stockings; and even +our countrywomen, who pay much attention to the costume of their +drivers, have not yet ventured to encase their brawny feet in the +mysteries of leather. They run by the side of their calèches, the reins +in one hand--the whip in the other--cheering on their animals by a +constant succession of epithets, oaths, and invocations to their +favourite saint.</p> + +<p>They are rarely fatigued, and may be seen beside their vehicles, urging +the horses, with the thermometer at 110°, and perhaps a stout-looking +Englishman inside, with white kerchief to his face, the image of languor +and lassitude.</p> + +<p>Their horses gallop down steeps, which no English Jehu dare attempt; and +ascend and descend with safety and hardihood, stone steps which occur in +many parts of Valletta; and which would certainly present an +insurmountable obstacle to our steeds at home.</p> + +<p>The proper period, however, to see a calèche man in his glory, is during +the carnival. Every calèche is in employ; and many a one which has +reposed for the twelvemonth previous, is at that time wheeled from its +accustomed shed, and put in requisition for some of pleasure's votaries. +Long lines of them continue to pass and repass in the principal street. +Their inmates are almost universally of the fair sex, and of the best +part of it, the young and beautiful. Cavaliers, with silken bags, +containing bon-bons, slung on their left arm, stand at intervals, ready +to discharge the harmless missiles, at those whom their taste approves +worthy of the compliment. Happy the young beauty, who, returning +homewards, sees the carpet of her calèche thickly strewn with these +dulcet favours! The driver is now in his element! He ducks his head, as +the misdirected sweetmeat approaches; he has an apt remark prompt for +the occasion. As he nears too the favoured inamorato, for whom he well +knows his mistress' sweetest smile is reserved--who already with his +right hand grasping the sugared favours, is prepared to lavish his whole +store on this one venture--how arch his look--how roguish his eye--as he +turns towards his donna, and speaks as plainly as words could do, "See! +there he is, he whom you love best!"</p> + +<p>Ah! well may we delight to recal once more those minute details! ah! +well may we remember how--when our brow was smoothed with youth, as it +is now furrowed with care--when our eye sparkled from pleasure, as it is +now dimmed from time, or mayhap, tears--well may we love to remember, +how our whole hearts were engrossed in that mimic warfare. How +impatiently did we watch for <i>one</i>, amidst that crowded throng, for +one--whose beauty haunted us by day, and whose smile we dreamt over by +night. Well do we recal with what unexampled ingenuity, we laboured to +befit the snow white egg for a rare tenant--attar-gul. Well do we +remember how that face, usually so cloudless, became darkened almost to +a frown, as our heart's mistress saw the missile approach her. What a +radiant smile bewitched us, as it burst on her lap, and filled the air +with its fragrance! Truly we had our reward!</p> + +<p>Delmé and George took a quiet drive, and enjoyed that sweet interchange +of ideas, that characterises the meeting of two brothers long absent +from each other.</p> + +<p>They went in the direction of St. Julian's, a drive all our Maltese +friends will be familiar with. The road lay almost wholly by the sea +side. A gentle breeze was crisping the waters, and served to allay the +heat, which, at a more advanced period of the season, is by no means an +enviable one. Sun-shine seemed to beam on George's mind, as he once more +spoke of home ties, to one to whom those home ties were equally dear. +And gratefully did he bask in its rays! Long used to the verdant but +tame, beautiful but romantic landscapes, which the part of England he +resided in presented; the scenery around him, novel and picturesque, +struck Sir Henry forcibly. To one who has resided long in Malta, its +scenes may wear an aspect somewhat different. The limited country--the +ceaseless glare--the dust, or rather the pulverised rock--the +ever-present lizard, wary and quick, peeping out at each crevice--the +buzzing mosquito, inviting the moody philosopher to smite his own +cheek,--these things may come to be regarded as real grievances.</p> + +<p>But Delmé, as a visitor, was pleased with what he saw. The promising +vineyards--the orange groves, with their glowing fruit and ample +foliage, "looking like golden lamps" in a dark night of leaves--the +thick leaves of the prickly pear--the purple sky above him, lending its +rich hue to the sea beside--the architectural beauties of the +cottages--the wide portico of the mansions--the flat terrace with its +balustrade, over which might be seen a fair face, half concealed by the +faldette, smilingly peering, and through whose pillars might be noted a +pretty ancle, and siesta-looking slipper--these were novelties, and +pleasing ones! Their drive over, Delmé felt more tranquil as to George's +state of mind, and more inclined to look on the bright side, as to his +future fortunes.</p> + +<p>Acmé was waiting to receive them, and as she scanned George's features, +Delmé could not but observe the affectionate solicitude that marked her +glance and manner.</p> + +<p>Let it not be thought we would make vice seductive!</p> + +<p>Fair above all things is the pure affection of woman! happy he who may +regard it his! he may bask without a shade of distrust in its glorious +splendour, and permanently adore its holy beauty.</p> + +<p>While, fascinating though be the concentred love of woman, whether +struggling in its passion--enraptured in its madness--or clinging and +loving on in its guilt: Man--that more selfish wanderer from virtue's +pale, that destroyer of his own best sympathies--will find too late that +a day of bitterest regret must arrive: a day when love shall exist no +more, or, linked with remorse, shall tear--a fierce vulture--at his very +heart strings.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XI.</h1> + +<h2>The Colonel.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Not such as prate of war, but skulk in peace."<br /></blockquote> + + +<p>Delmé strolled out half an hour before his brother's dinner hour, with +the intention of paying a visit of ceremony to the Colonel of George's +regiment. His house was not far distant. It had been the palazzo of one +of the redoubted Knights of St. John; and the massive gate at which Sir +Henry knocked for admittance, seemed an earnest, that the family, who +had owned the mansion, had been a powerful and important one. The door +was opened, and the servant informed Delmé, that Colonel Vavasour was on +the terrace.</p> + +<p>The court yard through which they passed was extensive; and a spring</p> + +<p> "Of living water from its centre rose, + Whose bubbling did a genial softness fling."</p> + +<p>Ascending a lofty marble staircase, along which were placed a few +bronzed urns, Delmé crossed a suite of apartments--thrown open in the +Italian mode--and passing through a glass door, found himself on a wide +stone terrace, edged by pillars.</p> + +<p>Immediately beneath this, was an orange grove, whose odours perfumed the +air. Colonel Vavasour was employed in reading a German treatise on light +infantry tactics. He received Sir Henry with great cordiality, and +proposed adjourning to the library. Delmé was pleased to observe, for it +corresponded with what he had heard of the man; that, with the exception +of the chef d'oeuvres of the English and German poets, the Colonel's +library, which was an extensive one, almost wholly consisted of such +books as immediately related to military subjects, or might be able to +bear on some branch of science connected with military warfare. Pagan, +and his follower Vauban, and the more matured treatises of Cormontaigne, +were backed by the works of that boast of the Low Countries, Coehorn; +and by the ingenious theories, as yet <i>but</i> theories, of Napoleon's +minister of war, Carnot.</p> + +<p>Military historians, too, crowded the shelves. <i>There</i> might be noted +the veracious Polybius--the classic Xenophon--the scientific +Cæsar--the amusing Froissart, with his quaint designs, and quainter +discourses--and many an author unknown to fame, who in lengthy quarto, +luxuriated on the lengthy campaigns of Marlborough or Eugene; those wise +commanders, who flourished in an era, when war was a well debated +scientific game of chess; when the rival opponents took their time, +before making their moves; and the loss of a pawn was followed by the +loss of a kingdom. <i>There</i> might you be enamoured with even a soldier's +hardships, as your eye glanced on the glowing circumstantial details of +Kincaid;--or you might glory in your country's Thucydides, as you read +the nervous impassioned language of a Napier. <i>Thou</i>, too, Trant! our +friend! wert there! Ah, why cut off in thy prime? Did not thy spirit +glow with martial fire? Did not thy conduct give promise, that not in +vain were those talents accorded thee? What hadst <i>thou</i> done, to sink +thus early to a premature inglorious grave? Nor were our friends Folard +and Jomini absent; nor eke the minute essays of a Jarry, who taught the +aspiring youths of Great Britain all the arts of castrametation. With +what gusto does he show how to attack Reading; or how, with the greatest +chance of success, to defend the tranquil town of Egham. <i>Here</i> would he +sink trous de loup on the ancient Runnimede, whereby the advance of the +enemy's cavalry would be frustrated; <i>there</i> would he cut down an +abattis, or plant chevaux de frise. At <i>this</i> winding of England's +noblest river, would he establish a pontoon bridge; the approaches to +which he would enfilade, by a battery placed on yonder height.</p> + +<p>Before relating the conversation between Delmé and Colonel Vavasour, it +may not be improper to say a few words as to the character of the +latter. When we say that he was looked up to as an officer, and adored +as a man, by the regiment he had commanded for years; we are not +according light praise.</p> + +<p>Those who have worn a coat of red, or been much conversant with +military affairs, will appreciate the difficult, the ungrateful task, +devolving on a commanding officer.</p> + +<p>How few, how very few are those, who can command respect, and ensure +love. How many, beloved as men, are imposed on, and disregarded as +officers. How many are there, whose presence on the parade ground awes +the most daring hearts, who are passed by in private life, with +something like contumely, and of whom, in their private relations, few +speak, and yet fewer are those who wish kindly. When deserving in each +relation, how frequently do we see those who want the manner, the tact, +to show themselves in their true colours. An ungracious refusal--ay! or +an ungraciously accorded favour! may raise a foe who will be a bar to a +man's popularity for years:--whilst how many a free and independent +spirit is there, who criticises with a keener eye than is his wont, the +sayings and doings of his commanding officer, solely because he <i>is</i> +such. How apt is such an one to misrepresent a word, or create a wrong +motive for an action! how slow in giving praise, lest <i>he</i> should be +deemed one of the servile train! Pass we over the host of petty +intrigues--the myriads of conflicting interests:--show not how the +partial report of a favourite, may make the one in authority unjust to +him below him; or how the false tale-bearer may induce the one below to +be unjust to his superior. Colonel Vavasour was not only considered in +the field, as one of England's bravest soldiers; but was yet more +remarkable for his gentlemanly deportment, and for the attention he ever +paid to the interior economy of his corps. This gave a tone to the ---- +mess, almost incredible to one, who has not witnessed, what the constant +presence of a commanding officer, if he be a real gentleman, is enabled +to effect. Colonel Vavasour had ideas on the duties of a soldier, which +to many appeared original. We cannot but think, that the Colonel's +ideas, in the main, were right. He disliked his officers marrying; often +stating that he considered a sword and a wife as totally incompatible.</p> + +<p>"Where," would he say, "is <i>then</i> that boasted readiness of purpose, +that spirit of enterprise? Can an officer <i>then</i>, with half a dozen +shirts in his portmanteau, and a moderate quantity of cigars, if he be a +smoker, declare himself ready to sail over half the world?"</p> + +<p>The Colonel would smile as he said this, but would continue with a +graver tone.</p> + +<p>"No, there is a choice, and I blame no one for making his election:--a +soldier's hardships and a soldier's joys;--or domestic happiness, and an +inglorious life:--but to attempt to blend the two, is, I think, +injudicious."</p> + +<p>On regimental subjects, he was what is technically called, a regulation +man. No innovations ever crept into his regiment, wanting the sanction +of the Horse Guards; whilst every order emanating from thence, was as +scrupulously adopted and adhered to, as if his own taste had prompted +the change. On parade, Colonel Vavasour was a strict disciplinarian;--but +his sword in the scabbard, he dropped the officer in his manner,--it +was impossible to do so in his appearance,--and no one ever heard him +discuss military points in a place inappropriate. He knew well how to +make the distinction between his public and his private duties. On an +officer under his command, being guilty of any dereliction of duty, he +would send for him, and reprimand him before the assembled corps, if he +deemed that such reprimand would be productive of good effect to others; +but--the parade dismissed--he would probably take this very officer's +arm, or ask to accompany him in his country ride.</p> + +<p>Colonel Vavasour had once a young and an only brother under his command. +In no way did he relax discipline in his favour. Young Vavasour had +committed a breach of military etiquette. He was immediately ordered by +his brother to be placed in arrest, and would inevitably have been +brought to a court martial, had not the commanding officer of the +station interfered. During the whole of this time, the Colonel's manner +towards him continued precisely the same. They lived together as usual; +and no man, without a knowledge of the circumstance, could have been +aware that any other but a fraternal tie bound them together. What was +more extraordinary, the younger brother saw all this in its proper +light; and whilst he clung to and loved his brother, looked up with awe +and respect to his commanding officer.</p> + +<p>As for Colonel Vavasour, no one who saw his convulsed features, as his +brother fell heading a gallant charge of his company at Waterloo, could +have doubted for a moment his deep-rooted affection. From that period, a +gloomy melancholy hung about him, which, though shaken off in public, +gave a shade to his brow, which was very perceptible.</p> + +<p>In person, he was particularly neat; being always the best dressed +officer in his regiment, "How can we expect the men to pay attention to +<i>their</i> dress, when we give them reason to suppose we pay but little +attention to our own?" was a constant remark of his. And here we may +observe, that no class of men have a stricter idea of the propriety of +dress, than private soldiers. To dress well is half a passport to a +soldier's respect; whilst on the other hand, it requires many excellent +qualities, to counterbalance in his mind a careless and slovenly +exterior. Colonel Vavasour had an independent fortune, which he spent at +the head of his regiment. Many a dinner party was given by him, for +which the corps he commanded obtained the credit; many a young officer +owed relief from pecuniary embarrassments, which might otherwise have +overwhelmed him, to the generosity of his Colonel. He appeared not to +have a wish, beyond the military circle around him, although those who +knew him best, said he had greater talent, and possessed the art of +fascinating in general society, more than most men.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to see you here, Sir Henry," said he to Delmé, "although I +cannot but wish that happier circumstances had brought you to us. I have +a very great esteem for your brother, and am one of his warmest well +wishers. But I must not neglect the duties of hospitality. You must +allow me to present you to my officers at mess this evening. Our dinner +hour is late; but were it otherwise, we should miss that delightful hour +for our ride, when the sun's rays have no longer power to harm us, and +the sea breezes waft us a freshness, which almost compensates for the +languor attending the summer's heat."</p> + +<p>Delmé declined his invitation, stating his wish to dine with his brother +on that day; but expressed himself ready to accept his kind offer on the +ensuing one.</p> + +<p>"Thank you!" said Colonel Vavasour, "it is natural you should wish to +see your brother; and it pains me to think that poor George cannot yet +dine with his old friends. Have you seen Mr. Graham?"</p> + +<p>Delmé replied in the affirmative; adding, that he could not but feel +obliged to him for his frankness.</p> + +<p>"I am glad you feel thus," said Vavasour, "it emboldens me to address +you with equal candour; and, painful as our advice must be, I confess I +am inclined to side with George's medical attendant. I have myself been +witness to such lamentable proofs of George's state of mind--he has so +often, with the tears in his eyes, spoken to me of his feelings with +regard to Acmé Frascati, that I certainly consider these as in a great +measure the cause, and his state of mind the effect. I speak to you, +Sir Henry, without disguise. I had once a brother--the apple of my +eye--I loved him as I shall never love human being more; and, as God is +my witness, under similar circumstances, frankness is what I should have +prayed for,--my first wish would have been at once to know the worst. +Mr. Graham has told you of his long illness--his delirium--and has, I +conclude, touched upon the present state of his patient. Shall I shock +you, when I add that his lucid intervals are not to be depended upon; +that occasionally the wildest ideas, the most extraordinary projects, +are conceived by him? I wish you not, to act on any thing that Mr. +Graham, or that I may tell you, but to judge for yourself. Without this, +indeed, you would hardly understand the danger of these mental +paroxysms. So fearful are they, that I confess I should be inclined to +adopt any remedy, make any sacrifices which promised the remotest +possibility of success."</p> + +<p>"I trust," said Sir Henry, "there are no sacrifices I would not +personally make for my only brother, were I once convinced these were +for his real benefit."</p> + +<p>"I frankly mean," said Vavasour, "that I think almost the only chance of +restoring him, is by allowing him to marry Acmé Frascati."</p> + +<p>Delmé's brow clouded.</p> + +<p>"Think not," continued he, "that I am ignorant of what such a +determination must cost you. <i>I</i>, too, Sir Henry,"--and the old man drew +his commanding form to its utmost height,--"<i>I</i> too, know what must be +the feelings of a descendant of noble ancestors. I know them well; and +in more youthful days, the blood boiled in my veins as I thought of the +name they had left me. Thank heaven! I have never disgraced it. But were +<i>I</i> situated as <i>you</i> are, and the dead Augustus Vavasour in the place +of the living George Delmé, I would act as I am now advising you to do. +I speak solely as to the expediency of the measure. From what I have +stated--from my situation in life--from my character--you may easily +imagine that all my prejudices are enlisted on the other side of the +question. But I must here confess that I see something inexpressibly +touching in the devotion which that young Greek girl displayed, during +the whole of George's illness. But putting this on one side, and +considering the affair as one of mere expediency, I think you will +finally agree with me, that however desperate the remedy, some such must +be applied. And now, let me assure you, that nothing could have induced +me to obtrude thus, my feelings and opinions on a comparative stranger, +were it not that that stranger is the brother of one in whose welfare I +feel the liveliest interest."</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé expressed his thanks, and inwardly determined that he +would form no opinion till he had himself been witness to some act of +mental aberration. It is true, he had heard the medical attendant give a +decided opinion,--from George's own lips he had an avowal of much that +had been stated,--and now he had heard one, for whom he could not but +feel great respect--one who had evidently no interest in the +question--declare his sentiments as strongly. We are all sanguine as to +what we wish. It may be, that a hope yet lurked in Delmé's breast, that +these accounts might be unconsciously exaggerated, or that his brother's +state of health was now more established than heretofore.</p> + +<p>On returning to Floriana, Delmé found George and the blushing Acmé +awaiting him. A delightful feeling is that, of again finding ourselves +with those from whom we have long been parted, once more engaged in the +same round of familiar avocations, once more re-acting the thousand +little trifles of life which we have so often acted before, and that, +too, in company with those who now sit beside us, as if to mock the +lapse of intervening years. These meetings seem to steal a pinion from +time's wing, and hard indeed were it if the sensations they called forth +were not pleasurable ones; for oh! how rudely and frequently, on the +other hand, are we reminded of the changes which the progress of years +brings with it: the bereavement of loved ones--the prostration of what +we revered--our buoyant elasticity of body and mind departed--all things +changing and changed.</p> + +<p>We sigh, and gaze back. How few are the scenes, which memory's +kaleidoscope presents in their pristine bright colours, of that +journey, performed so slowly, as it once appeared, but which, to the +eye of retrospection, seems to have hurried to its end with the rapid +wings of the wind!</p> + +<p>Imbued with an association, what a trivial circumstance will please! As +the brothers touched each other's glass; and drank to mutual happiness, +what grateful recollections were called up by that act! How did these +manifest their power, as they lighted up the wan features of George +Delmé. Acmé looked on smilingly; her hair flowing about her neck--her +dark eyes flashing with unusual brilliancy. Delmé felt it would be +unsocial were he alone to look grave; and although many foreboding +thoughts crowded on him, <i>he</i> too seemed to be happy. It was twilight +when the dinner was over. The windows were open, and the party placed +themselves near the jalousies. They here commanded a view of the public +gardens, where groups of Maltese were enjoying the coolness of the hour, +and the fragrance of the flowers. The walk had a roof of lattice work +supported by wooden pillars; round which, an image of woman's love, the +honeysuckle clingingly twined, diffusing sweets.</p> + +<p>Immediately before them, the principal outlet of the town presented +itself. Laughing parties of English sailors were passing, mounted on +steeds of every size, which they were urging forward, in spite of the +piteous remonstrances of the menials of their owners. The latter, for +the most part, held by the tails of their animals, and uttered a +jargon composed of English, Italian, and Maltese. The only words +however, that met the unregarding ears of the sailors, were some such +exclamations as these.</p> + +<p>"Not you go so fast, Signore; he good horse, but much tire."</p> + +<p>The riders sat in their saddles swinging from side to side, evidently +thinking their tenure more precarious than that on the giddy mast; and +wholly unmindful of the expressive gestures, and mournful ejaculations +of the bare-legged pursuers. At another time, their antics and +buffoonery, as they made unmerciful use of the short sticks with which +they were armed, would have provoked a smile. <i>Now</i> our party gazed on +these things as they move the wise. They felt calm and happy; and +deceptive hope whispered they might yet remain so. Acmé took up her +guitar, and throwing her fingers over it, as she gave a soft prelude, +warbled that sweet although common song, "Buona notte, amato bene." She +sung with great feeling, and feeling is the soul of music.</p> + +<p>How plaintively! how tenderly did her lips breathe the</p> + +<p> "ricordati! ricordati di me!"</p> + +<p>There was something extremely witching in her precocious charms. She +resembled some beauteous bud, just ready to burst into light and bloom. +It is not yet the rose,--but a moment more may make it such. Her +beauties were thus ripe for maturity. It seemed as if the sunshine of +love were already upon them--they were basking in its rays. A brief +space--and the girl shall no longer be such. What was promise shall be +beauty. She shall meet the charmed eye a woman; rich in grace and +loveliness. As Delmé marked her sympathising glance at George--her +beaming features--her innocent simplicity;--as he thought of all she had +lost, all she had suffered for his brother's sake,--as he thought of the +scorn of the many--the pity of the few--the unwearied watching--the +sleepless nights--the day of sorrow passed by the bed of sickness--all +so cheerfully encountered for <i>him</i>--he could not reproach her. No! he +took her hand, and the brothers whispered consolation to her, and to +each other.</p> + +<p>Late that evening, they were joined by Colonel Vavasour, and Mr. Graham. +George's spirits rose hourly. Never had his Colonel appeared to such +advantage--Acmé so lovely--or Henry so kind--as they did to George Delmé +that night.</p> + +<p>It was with a sigh at the past pleasures that George retired to +his chamber.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XII.</h1> + +<h2>The Mess.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Red coats and redder faces."</blockquote> + + +<p>The following day, a room having been given up to Delmé, he discharged +his bill at Beverley's; and moved to Floriana. He again accompanied +George in his drive; and they had on this occasion, the advantage of +Acmé's society, who amused them with her artless description of the +manners of the lower orders of Maltese.</p> + +<p>Pursuant to his promise, at the bugle's signal Delmé entered the mess +room; and the Colonel immediately introduced him to the assembled +officers. To his disappointment, for he felt curious to see one, who had +exercised such an influence over his brother, Delancey was not amongst +them. Sir Henry was much pleased with the feeling that appeared to +exist, between Colonel Vavasour and his corps of officers:--respect on +one side--and the utmost confidence on both. We think it is the talented +author of Pelham, who describes a mess table as comprising "cold dishes +and hot wines, where the conversation is of Johnson of ours and Thomson +of jours."</p> + +<p>This, though severe, is near the truth; and if, to this description, be +added <i>lots</i> of plate of that pattern called the Queen's--ungainly +servants in stiff mess liveries--and a perpetual recurrence to Mr. Vice; +we have certainly caught the most glaring features of a commonplace +regimental dinner. Vavasour was well aware of this, and had directed +unremitting attention, to give a tone to the conversation at the mess +table, more nearly approaching to that of private life; one which should +embrace topics of general interest, and convey some general information. +Even in <i>his</i> well ordered regiment, there were some, whose nature would +have led them, to confine their attention to thoughts of the daily +military routine. This inclination was repressed by the example of +their Colonel; and these, if not debaters, were at least patient +listeners, as the conversation dealt of matters, to them uncongenial, +and the value of the discussion of which they could not themselves +perceive. Not that military subjects were interdicted; the contrary was +the case. But these subjects took a somewhat loftier tone, than the +contemplation of an exchange of orderly duty, or an overslaugh of guard.</p> + +<p>When dinner was announced, Colonel Vavasour placed his hand on the +shoulder of a boy near him.</p> + +<p>"Come, Cholmondeley!" said he, "sit near me, and give me an account of +your match. You must not fail to write your Yorkshire friends every +particular. Major Clifford, will you sit on the other side of Sir Henry? +You are both Peninsula men, and will find, I doubt not, that you have +many friends in common.</p> + +<p>"There is something," said he to Delmé, as he took his seat, +"revivifying to an old soldier, in noting the exhilaration of spirit of +these boys. It reminds us of the zeal with which <i>we</i> too buckled on +our coat of red. It is a great misfortune these youngsters labour under, +that they have no outlet for their ambition, no scene on which they can +display their talents. Never were youthful aspirants for service more +worthy, or more zealous, and yet it is probable their country will not +need them, until they arrive at an age, when neither body nor mind are +attuned for <i>commencing</i> a life of hardship, however well adapted to +<i>continue</i> in it. <i>We</i> have had the advantage there--<i>we</i> trod the +soldier's proudest stage when our hopes and buoyancy of heart were at +their highest; and for myself, I am satisfied that much of my present +happiness, arises from the very different life of my earlier years."</p> + +<p>The conversation took a military turn; and Delmé could not help +observing the attention, with which the younger members of the corps +heard the anecdotes, related by those who had been actually engaged. +Occasionally, the superior reading of the juniors would peep out, and +give them the advantage of knowledge, even with regard to +circumstances, over those who had been personal actors in the affairs +they spoke of. The most zealous of these detail narrators, were the +quarter-master of the regiment, and Delmé's right-hand neighbour, Major +Clifford. The former owed his appointment to his gallantry, in saving +the colours of his regiment, when the ensign who bore them was killed, +and the enemy's cavalry were making a sudden charge, before the +regiment could form its square.</p> + +<p>His was a bluff purple face, denoting the bon vivant. Indeed, it was +with uncommon celerity, that his previous reputation of being the best +maker of rum punch in the serjeants' mess, had changed into his present +one of being the first concoctor of sangaree at the officers'.</p> + +<p>Major Clifford merits more especial notice. He was a man hardly +appreciated in his own profession; out of it, he was misrepresented, and +voted a bore. He had spent all the years of his life, since the down +mantled his upper lip, in the service of his country; and for <i>its</i> +good, as he conceived it, he had sacrificed all his little fortune. It +is true his liberality had not had a very comprehensive range: he had +sunk his money in the improvement of the personal appearance of his +company--in purchasing pompons--or new feathers--or whistles, when he +was a voltigeur--in establishing his serjeants' mess on a more +respectable footing--in giving his poor comrade a better coffin, or a +richer pall:--these had been his foibles; and in indulging them, he had +expended the wealth, that might have purchased him on to rank and +honours. His eagle glance, his aquiline nose, and noble person, showed +what he must have been in youth. His hair was now silvered, but his coat +was as glossy as formerly--his zeal was unabated--his pride in his +profession the same--and what he could spare, still went, to adorn the +persons of the soldiers he still loved. He remained a captain, although +his long standing in the army had brought him in for the last brevet. It +is true every one had a word for poor Clifford. "Such a fine fellow! +what a shame!" But <i>this</i> did not help him on. At the Horse Guards, too, +his services were freely acknowledged. The Military Secretary had always +a smile for him at his levee, and an assurance that "he had his eye on +him" The Commander in Chief, too, the last time he had inspected the +regiment, attracted by his Waterloo badge, and Portuguese cross, had +stopped as he passed in front of the ranks, and conversed with him most +affably, for nearly two minutes and a half; as his colour serjeant with +some degree of pride used to tell the story. But yet, somehow or other, +although Major Clifford was an universal favourite, they always forgot +to reward him. A man of the world, would have deemed the Major's ideas +to be rather contracted; and to confess the truth, there were two +halcyon periods of his life, to which he was fond of recurring. The one +was, when he commanded a light company, attached to General Crauford's +light brigade;--the other, when he had the temporary command of the +regimental depot, and at his own expense, had dressed out its little +band, as it had never been dressed out before.</p> + +<p>Do you sneer at the old soldier, courtly reader?</p> + +<p>There breathes not a man who dare arraign that man's courage;--there is +not one who knows him, who would not cheerfully stake his life as a gage +for his stainless honour.</p> + +<p>The soup and fish had been removed, when Delmé observed a young officer +glide in, with that inexpressible air of fashion, which appears to shun +notice, whilst it attracts it. His arm was in a sling, and his +attenuated face seemed to bespeak ill health. Sir Henry addressed +Colonel Vavasour, and begged to know if the person who had just entered +the room was Delancey. He was answered in the affirmative; and he again +turned to scrutinise his features. These rivetted attention; and were +such as could not be seen once, without being gazed at again. His eyes +were dark and large, and rested for minutes on one object, with an +almost mournful expression; nor was it until they turned from its +contemplation, that the discriminating observer might read in their +momentary flash, that their possessor had passions deep and +uncontrollable. His dark hair hung in profusion over his forehead, which +it almost hid; though from the slight separation of a curl, the form of +brow became visible; which was remarkable for its projection, and for +its pallid hue, which offered a strong contrast to the swart and +sunburnt face.</p> + +<p>"Are you aware of his history?" said the Colonel.</p> + +<p>"Not in the slightest," replied Delmé. "I felt curious to see him, on +account of the way in which he has been mixed up with George's affair; +and think his features extraordinary--very extraordinary ones."</p> + +<p>"He is son," said Vavasour, "to the once celebrated Lady Harriet D----, +who made a marriage so disgracefully low. He is the only child by that +union. His parents lived for many years on the continent, in obscurity, +and under an assumed name. They are both dead. It is possible Delancey +may play a lofty role in the world, as he has only a stripling between +him and the earldom of D----, which descends in the female line. I am +sure he will not be a common character; but I have great fears about +him. In the regiment he is considered proud and unsocial; and indeed it +was your brother's friendship that appeared to retain him in our circle. +He has great talents, and some good qualities; but from his uncommon +impetuosity of temper, and his impatience of being thwarted, I should be +inclined to predict, that the first check he receives in life, will +either make him a misanthrope, or a pest to society."</p> + +<p>At a later period of his life, Delmé again encountered Delancey; and +this prophecy of the Colonel's was vividly recalled.</p> + +<p>In the ensuing chapter, we purpose giving Oliver Delancey's history, as +a not uninstructive episode; although we are aware that episodes are +impatiently tolerated, and it is in nowise allied to the purpose of our +story. But before doing so, we must detail a conversation which occurred +between Delancey and Delmé, at the table of the ---- mess. The latter was +scanning the features of the former, when their eyes met. A conviction +seemed to flash on Delancey, that Delmé was George's brother; for the +blood rushed to his cheek--his colour went and came--and as he turned +away his head, he made a half involuntary bow. Delmé was struck with his +manner, and apparent emotion; and in returning the salute, ventured "to +hope he was somewhat recovered."</p> + +<p>When Major Clifford left the table, Delancey took his vacant seat.</p> + +<p>"Sir Henry Delmé," said he, "I have before this wished to see you, to +implore the forgiveness of your family for the misery I have +occasioned. How often have I cursed my folly! I acted on an impulse, +which at the time I could not withstand. I had never serious views +with regard to Acmé Frascati. Indeed, I may here tell you,--to no +other man have I ever named it,--that I have ties in my own country +far dearer, and more imperatively binding. I knew I had erred. The +laws of society could alone have made me meet George Belmé as a foe; +but even then--on the ground--God and my second know that my weapon +was never directed at my friend. I am an unsocial being, Sir Henry, +and, from my habits, not likely to be popular. Your brother knew this, +and saved me from petty contentions and invidious calumnies. He was +the best and only friend I possessed. I purpose soon to leave Malta +and the army. The former is become painful to me,--for the latter I +have a distaste, A feeling of delicacy to Acmé Frascati would prevent +my seeing your brother, even if Mr. Graham had not forbidden the +interview, as likely to harass his mind. Will you, then, assure him of +my unabated attachment, and tell me that <i>you</i> forgive me for the +part I have taken in this unhappy affair."</p> + +<p>Delmé was much moved as he assured him he would do all he wished; that +he could see little to blame him for--that George's excited feelings had +brought on the present crisis, and that <i>he</i> had amply atoned for any +share he might have had in the transaction. Delancey pressed his hand +gratefully.</p> + +<p>It was at a somewhat late hour that Delmé joined Acmé and his brother; +declining the hearty invitation of the Quartermaster to come down to +his quarters.</p> + +<p>"He could give him a devilled turkey and a capital cigar."</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XIII.</h1> + +<h2>Oliver Delancey.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Then the few, whose spirits float above the wreck of happiness,<br /> +Are driven o'er the shoals of guilt, or ocean of excess;<br /> +The magnet of their course is gone, or only points in vain<br /> +The shore to which their shiver'd sail shall never reach again."</blockquote> + + +<p>We have said that Delmé saw Delancey once more. It was at a later period +of our story, when business had taken Sir Henry to Bath. He had been +dining with Mr. Belliston Græme, who possessed a villa in the +neighbourhood. Tempted by the beauty of the night, he dismissed his +carriage, and, turning from the high road, took a by-path which led to +the city. The air was serene and mild. The moon-light was sufficiently +clear to chase away night's dank vapours. The ground had imperceptibly +risen, until having ascended a grassy eminence, over which the path +stretched, the well-lighted city burst upon the eye.</p> + +<p>Immediately in front of the view, a principal street presented itself, +the lamps on either side stretching in regular succession, until they +gradually narrowed and joined in the perspective. Nearer to the +spectator, the flickering lights of the detached villas, and the moving +ones of the carriages in the public road, relieved the stillness of the +scene. Delmé paused to regard it, with that subdued feeling with which +men, arrived at a certain period of life, scan the aspect of nature. The +moon at the moment was enveloped in light clouds. As it broke through +them, its shimmering light revealed a face and form that Delmé at once +recognised as Delancey's. It was with a consciousness of pain he did so, +for it brought before him recollections of scenes, whose impressions had +still power to subdue him. All emotions, however, soon became absorbed +in that of curiosity, as he noted the still figure and agitated +features before him. A block of granite lay near the path. Delancey +leant back over it--his right hand nearly touched the ground--his hat +lay beside him. The dark hair, wet with the dews of night, was blown +back by the breeze. His high forehead was fully shewn. His vest and +shirt were open, as he gazed with an air of fixedness on the city, and +conversed to himself. His teeth were firmly clenched, and it seemed that +the lips moved not, but the words were fearfully distinct. We often hear +of these soliloquies,--they afford scope to the dramatist, food for the +poet, a chapter for the narrator of fiction,--but we rarely witness +them. When we do, they are eminently calculated to thrill and alarm. It +was evident that Delancey saw him not; but had it been otherwise, +Delmé's interest was so aroused that he could not have left the spot.</p> + +<p>"Hail! sympathising night!" thus spoke the young man, "the calm of thy +silent hour seems in unison with my lone heart--thy dewy breeze imparts +a freshness to this languid and darkened spirit, Sweet night! how I +love thee! And moon, too! fair moon! how abruptly!--how chastely!--how +gloriously!--dost thou break through the variegated and fleecy clouds, +which would impede thy progress, and deny me to gaze on thy white orb +unshrouded. And thou, too! radiant star of eve! oh that woman's love but +resembled thee! that it were gentle, constant, and pure as thy holy +gleam. That <i>that</i> should dazzle to bring in its train--oh God! what +misery." He raised his hand to his brow, as if a poignant thought had +stung him.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé stole away, and ruminated long that night, on the +distress that could thus convulse those fine features. Afterwards, when +Delancey's name was no longer the humble one he had first known it, but +became bruited in loftier circles,--for Vavasour's prediction became +realised,--Delmé heard it whispered, that his affections had suffered +an early blight, from the infidelity of one to whom he had been +affianced. We may relate the circumstances as they occurred. Blanche +Allen was the daughter of a country gentleman of some wealth, whose +estate joined that of the Earl of D----'s, where Delancey's boyhood +had been spent. For years Blanche and Oliver considered themselves as +more than friends. Each selected the other as the companion in the +solitary walk, or partner in the joyous dance. Not a country girl but +had her significant smile, as young Delancey's horse's head was turned +towards Hatton Grange.</p> + +<p>Delancey joined the army at an early age. Blanche was some eighteen +months his junior. They parted with tears, and thus they continued to do +for the two following years, during which Oliver frequently got leave to +run down to his uncle's. This was while he was serving with part of the +regiment at home. When it came to his turn to embark for foreign +service, it was natural from this circumstance, as well as from their +riper age, that their farewell should be of a more solemn nature. They +bade adieu by the side of the streamlet that divided the two properties. +It was where this made a small fall, down which it gushed in crystal +brightness, and then meandered with gentle murmur through a succession +of rich meadows. A narrow bridge was below the fall, while beside it, a +rustic seat had been placed, on which the sobbing Blanche sat, with her +lover's arm round her waist. For the first time he had talked seriously +of their attachment, and it was with youthful earnestness, that they +mutually plighted their troth. Nor did Blanche hesitate, though blushing +deeply as she did so, to place in his hand a trivial gage d'amour, and +that which has so long solaced absent lovers, a lock of her sunny hair. +Blanche was very beautiful, but she had a character common to many +English women--more so, we think, than to foreign ones.</p> + +<p>As a girl, Blanche was nature's self, warm, gentle, confiding,--as an +unmarried woman, she was a heartless coquette,--as a matron, an +exemplary mother and an affectionate wife. During the time Delancey was +abroad, he heard of Blanche but seldom, for the lovers were not of that +age in which a correspondence would be tolerated by Blanche's family. +She once managed to send him, by the hands of a young cousin, some +trifling present, with a few lines accompanying it, informing him that +she had not forgotten him. His uncle--his only correspondent in +England--was not exactly the person to make a confidant of; but he +would, in an occasional postscript, let him know that he had seen +Blanche Allen lately--that "she was very gay, prettier than ever, and +always blushing when spoken to of a certain person."</p> + +<p>To do Oliver justice, he at all times thought of Blanche. We have seen +him, with regard to Acme, apparently disregarding her, but in that +affair he had been actuated by a mere spirit of adventure. His heart was +but slightly enlisted, and his feelings partook of any thing but those +of a serious attachment.</p> + +<p>Oliver Delancey left Malta soon after his conversation with +Delmé. Previous to doing so, he had forwarded his resignation to +Colonel Vavasour.</p> + +<p>He passed some time in Italy, and, as the season arrived, found himself +a denizen in that gayest of cities, Vienna. Pleasure is truly there +enshrouded in her liveliest robes. As regards Delancey, not in vain was +she thus clothed. Just relieved from the dull monotony of a military +life--dull as it ever must be without war's excitement, and peculiarly +distasteful to one constituted like Delancey, who refused to make +allowance for the commonplace uncongenial spirits with whom he found +himself obliged to herd--he was quite prepared to embrace with avidity +any life that promised an agreeable change. Austria's capital holds out +many inducements to dissipation, and to none are these more freely +tendered, than to young and handsome Englishmen. The women, over the +dangerous sentimentality of their nation, throw such an air of ease and +frankness, that their victims resemble the finny tribe in the famous +tunny fishery. While they conceive the whole ocean is at their +command--disport here and there in imagined freedom--they are already +encased by the insidious nets; the harpoon is already pointed, which +shall surely pierce them. Delancey plunged headlong into pleasure's +vortex--touched each link between gaiety and crime. He wandered from the +paths of virtue from the infatuation of folly, and continued to err from +the fascinations of sin. He was suddenly recalled to himself, by one of +those catastrophes often sent by Providence, to awaken us from +intoxicating dreams. His companion, with whom he had resided during his +stay in Vienna, lost his all at a gaming table. Although he had not the +firmness of mind to face his misfortunes, yet had he the rashness to +meet his God unbidden. Sobered and appalled, Oliver left Germany for +England. There was a thought, which even in the height of his follies +obtruded, and which now came on him with a force that surprised himself. +That thought was of Blanche Allen. He turned from the image of his +expiring friend to dwell unsated on hers. A new vista of life seemed to +open--thoughts which had long slept came thronging on his mind--he was +once more the love-sick boy. The more, too, he brooded over his late +unworthiness, the more did his imagination ennoble the one he loved. He +now looked to the moment of meeting her, as that whence he would date +his moral regeneration. "Thank God!" thought he, "a sure haven is yet +mine. There will I--my feelings steadied, my affections +concentrated--enjoy a purified and unruffled peace. What a consolation +to be loved by one so good and gentle!"</p> + +<p>He hurried towards England, travelled day and night, and only wondered +that he could have rested any where, while he had the power of flying to +her he had loved from childhood. Occasionally a feeling of apprehension +would cross him. It was many months since he had heard of her--she might +be ill. His love was of that confiding nature, that he could not +conceive her changed. As he came near his home, happier thoughts +succeeded. In fancy, he again saw her enjoying the innocent pleasures in +which he had been her constant companion,--health on her +cheek--affection in her glance. He had to pass that well known lodge. +His voice shook, as he told the driver to stop at its gate. As he drove +through the avenue of elms, he threw himself back in the carriage, and +every limb quivered from his agitation. He could hardly make himself +understood to the domestic--he waited not an answer to his enquiry--but +bounded up the stairs, and with faltering step entered the room. +Blanche was there, and not alone but oh! how passing fair! Even Delancey +had not dared to think, that the beauty of the girl could have been so +eclipsed by the ripe graces of the woman. She recognised him, and rose +to meet him with a burst of unfeigned surprise. She held out her hand +with an air of winning frankness; and yet for an instant,--and his hand +as it pressed hers, trembled with that thought,--he deemed there was a +hesitating blush on her cheek, which should not have been there. But it +passed away, and radiant with smiles, she turned to the one beside her.</p> + +<p>"My dear," said she, as she gave him a confiding look, which haunts +Delancey yet, "this is a great friend of Papa's, and an old playmate of +mine--Mr. Delancey;" and as the stranger stepped forward to shake his +hand, Blanche looked at her old lover, with a glance that seemed to say, +"How foolish were we, to deem we were ever more than friends." Oliver +Delancey turned deadly pale; but pride bade him scorn her, and his hand +shook not, as it touched that of him, who had robbed him of a treasure, +he would have died to have called his.</p> + +<p>"And you have been to D---- Castle, I suppose, and found your uncle had +left it for Bath. Indeed, <i>we</i> only arrived the day before yesterday; +but Papa wrote us, saying he had got one of his attacks of rheumatism, +from the late fishing, and begged us to take this on our way to +Habberton, Did you see my marriage in the papers, or did your uncle +write you, Oliver?"</p> + +<p>Delancey's lips quivered, but his countenance did not change, as he +looked her in the face, and told her he had not known it until now.</p> + +<p>And now her husband spoke: "It was very late, and he must want +refreshment; and Mr. Allen intended to be wheeled to the dinner table; +and they could so easily send up to D---- Castle to tell them to get a +bed aired; and he could dismiss the chaise now, and their carriage could +take him there at night."</p> + +<p>And Delancey <i>did</i> stay, although unable to analyse the feeling that +made him do so.</p> + +<p>And during dinner, <i>he</i> was the life of that little party. He spoke of +foreign lands--related strange incidents of travel--dwelt with animation +on his schoolboy exploits. The old man was delighted--the husband forgot +his wife;--and she, the false one, sat silent, and for the moment +disregarded. She gazed and gazed again on that familiar face--drank in +the tones of that accustomed voice--and the chill of compunction crept +over her frame.</p> + +<p>But Delancey's brain was on fire; and in the solitude of his +chamber--no! he was not calm there. He paced hurriedly across the oaken +floor; and he opened wide his window, and looked out on the bright +stars, spangling heaven's blue vault; and then beneath him, where the +cypress trees bowed their heads to the wind, and the moon's light fell +on the marble statues on the terrace.</p> + +<p>And he turned to his bed-side, and hid his tearless face in his hands; +and in the fulness of his despair, he knelt and prayed, that though he +had long neglected his God, his God would not now forsake him. And, as +if to mock his sufferings, sleep came; but it was short, very short; and +a weight, a leaden weight, oppressed his eye-lids even in slumber. And +he gave one start, and awoke a prey to mental agony. His despair flashed +on him--he sprung up wildly in his bed. "Liar! liar!" said he, as with +clenched teeth, and hand upraised, he recalled that fond look given to +another. Drops of sweat started to his brow--his pulse beat quick and +audibly--quicker--quicker yet. A feeling of suffocation came over +him--and God forgive him! Oliver Delancey deemed that hour his last. He +staggered blindly to the bell, and with fearful energy pulled its cord, +till it fell clattering on the marble hearth stone. The domestics found +him speechless and insensible on the floor--the blood oozing from his +mouth and ears.</p> + +<p>It may be said that this picture is overcharged; that no vitiated mind +could have thus felt. But it is not so. In life's spring we all feel +acutely: and to the effects of disappointed love, and wounded pride, +there are few limits.</p> + +<p>Woman! dearest woman! born to alleviate our sorrow, and soothe our +anguish! who canst bid feeling's tear trickle down the obdurate cheek, +or mould the iron heart, till it be pliable as a child's--why stain thy +gentle dominion by inconstancy? why dismiss the first form that haunted +thy maiden pillow, until--or that vision is a dear reality beside +thee--or thou liest pale and hushed, on thy last couch of repose?</p> + +<p>And then--shall not thy virgin spirit hail him? Why first fetter us, +slaves to virtue and to thee; <i>then</i> become the malevolent Typhoon, on +whose wings our good genius flies for ever? In this--far worse than the +iconoclasts of yore art thou! <i>They</i> but disfigured images of man's rude +fashioning: whilst <i>thou</i> wouldst injure the <i>once</i> loved form of God's +high creation,--wouldst entail on the body a premature decay--and on +that which dieth not, an irradicable blight.</p> + +<blockquote> "Then the mortal coldness of the soul, like death itself comes down;<br /> +It cannot feel for others woes--it dares not dream its own.<br /> +That heavy chill has frozen o'er the fountain of our tears;<br /> +And though the eye may sparkle still, 'tis where the ice appears."</blockquote> + +<p>On such a character as was Delancey's, the blow did indeed fall heavy. +Not that his paroxysms of grief were more lasting, or his pangs more +acute, than is usual in similar cases; but to his moral worth it was +death. An infliction of this nature, falling on a comparatively virtuous +man, is productive of few evil consequences. It may give a holier turn +to his thoughts--wean him from sublunary vanities--and purify his +nature. On an utterly depraved man, its effects may be fleeting also; +for few can <i>here</i> expect a moral regeneration. But falling on Delancey, +it was not thus. The slender thread that bound him to virtue, was snapt +asunder; the germ whence the good of his nature might have sprung, +destroyed for ever. Such a man could not love purely again. To expect +him to wander to another font, and imbibe from as clear a stream, would +be madness. The love of a man of the world, let it be the first and +best, is gross and earthly enough; but let him be betrayed in that +love--let him see the staff on which he confidingly leant, break from +under him--and he becomes from henceforth the deceiver--but never the +deceived. When Delmé saw him, Delancey was writhing under his +affliction. When he again entered the world, and it was soon, he +regarded it as a wide mart, where he might gratify his appetites, and +unrestrainedly indulge his evil propensities. He believed not that +virtue and true nobility were there; could he but find them. He looked +at the blow his happiness had sustained, and thought it afforded a fair +sample of human nature. Oliver Delancey became a selfish and a +profligate man.</p> + +<p>He was to be pitied; and from his soul did Delmé pity him. He had been +one of promise and of talent; but <i>now</i> his lot is cast on the die of +apathy;--and it is to be feared--without a miracle intervene--and +should his life be spared--that when the wavy locks of youth are +changed to the silver hairs of age--that he will then be that thing of +all others to be scoffed at--the hoary sensualist. Let us hope not! Let +us hope that she who hath brought him to this, may rest her head on the +bosom of her right lord, and forget the one, whose hand used to be +locked in her own, for hours--hours which flew quick as summer's +evening shadows! Let us trust that remorse may be absent from her; +that she may never know that worst of reflections--the having injured +one who had loved her, irremediably; that she may gaze on her +fair-haired children, and her cheek blanch not as she recals another +form than the father's; that her life may be irreproachable, her end +calm and dignified; that dutiful children may attend the inanimate clay +to its resting place; that filial tears may bedew her grave; and, when +the immortal stands appalled before its Judge, that the destruction of +that soul may not be laid to her charge.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XIV.</h1> + +<h2>The Spitfire.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "And I have loved thee! Ocean! and my joy<br /> +Of youthful sports was on thy breast to be<br /> +Borne like thy bubbles onward."</blockquote> + +<hr width="200" align="left" size="1" /> + +<blockquote> "Pull away! yo ho! boys!"</blockquote> + + +<p>Delmé continued to reside with his brother, whose health seemed to amend +daily. George generally managed to accompany him in his sight-seeing, +from which Henry derived great gratification.</p> + +<p>He mused over the antique tombs of some of the departed knights; and +admired the rich mosaics in that splendid church, dedicated to Saint +John; than which the traveller may voyage long, and meet nothing +worthier his notice. He visited the ancient armoury--dined at the +palace, and at the different messes--inspected the laborious +travailings of the silkworm at the boschetto--conversed with the +original of Byron's Leila--a sweet creature she is!--looked with +wondering eye on the ostrich of Fort Manuel--and heard the then +commandant's wife relate her tale thereanent. He went to Gozzo too--shot +rabbits--and crossed in a basket to the fungus rock. He saw a festa in +the town, and a festa in the country--rode to St. Antonio, and St. +Paul's Bay--and was told he had seen the lions. Nor must we pass over +that most interesting of spectacles; viz., some figures enveloped in +monkish cowl, and placed in convenient niches; but beneath the close +hood, the blood mounts not with devotion's glow, nor do eyes glare from +sockets shrunk by abstinence. Skeletons alone are there!</p> + +<p>These, curious reader, are the bodies of saintly Capuchins; thus +exhibited--dried and baked--to excite beholders to a life of virtue!</p> + +<p>One morning, George said he felt rather unwell, and would stay at home. +An oar happened to be wanted in the regimental gig, which Sir Henry +offered to take. He was soon accoutred in the dress of an absent +member, and in a short time was discharging the duties of his office to +the satisfaction of all; for he knew every secret of <i>feathering,</i> and +had not <i>caught a crab</i> for years.</p> + +<p>It was a beautifully calm day--not a speck in the azure heaven. It was +hot too--but for this they cared not. They had porter; and on such +occasions, what better beverage would you ask? Swiftly and gaily did the +slim bark cleave through the glassy sea. Its hue was a dark crimson, +with one black stripe--its nom de guerre, the Spitfire.</p> + +<p>As the ------ regiment particularly prided itself on its aquatic costume, +we shall describe it. Small chased pearl buttons on the blue jacket and +white shirt; a black band round the neck, to match the one on the +narrow-brimmed thick straw hat; white trousers; couleur de rose silk +collar, fastened to the throat by a golden clasp; and stockings of the +same colour. How joyously did the gig hold her course! What a thrilling +sensation expanded the soul, as the steersman, a handsome little fellow +with large black whiskers, gave the encouraging word, "Stroke! my good +ones!" Then were exerted all the energies of the body--then was +developed each straining muscle--then were the arms thrown back in +sympathy, to give a long pull, and a strong pull--till the bark reeled +beneath them, and shot through the wave.</p> + +<p>The tall ship--the slender mole--the busy deck--the porticoed +palace--the strong fort--the bristling battery--the astonished fisher's +bark as it sluggishly crept on--were all cheeringly swept by, as the +bending oars in perfect unison, kissed the erst slumbering water. What +sensation can be more glorious? The only thing to compete with it, is +the being in a crack coach on the western road; the opposition slightly +in front--a knowing whip driving--when the horses are at their utmost +speed--the traces tight as traces can be--the ladies inside pale and +screaming--one little child cramming out her head, her mouth stuffed +with Banbury cakes, adding her shrill affetuoso--whilst the odd-looking +man in the white hat, seated behind, is blue from terror, and with +chattering teeth, mumbles undistinguishable sentences of furious +driving and prosecution. Surely such moments half redeem our miseries! +What bitter thought can travel twelve miles an hour?</p> + +<p>And ever and anon would the Spitfire dart into some little creek, and +the thirsty rowers would rest on their oars, whose light drip fell on +purple ocean, tinged by a purple sky. And now would the jovial steersman +introduce the accommodating corkscrew, first into one bottle and then +into another, as these were successively emptied, and thrown overboard, +to give the finny philosophers somewhat to speculate on.</p> + +<p>Delmé landed weary; but it was a beneficial weariness. He felt he had +taken manly exercise, and that it would do him good. He was walking +towards the barrack, with his jacket slung over his shoulder, when he +was met by George's servant.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Sir!" said the man, "I am so glad you are come. The Signora is +terribly afraid for my young master. I fear, Sir, he is in one of +his fits."</p> + +<p>Delmé hurried forward, and entered his brother's room. George held a +riding whip in his hand. He had thrown off his cravat--his throat was +bare--his eyes glanced wildly.</p> + +<p>"And who are you, Sir?" said he, as Henry entered.</p> + +<p>"What! not know me, dearest George?" replied his brother, in agony.</p> + +<p>"I do not understand your insolence, Sir; but if you are a dun, go to my +servant. Thompson," continued he, "give me my spurs! I shall ride."</p> + +<p>"Ride!" said Delmé.</p> + +<p>Thompson made him a quiet sign. "I am very sorry, Sir," said he, "but +the Arab is quite lame, and is not fit for the saddle."</p> + +<p>"Give me a glass of sangaree then, you rascal! Port--do you hear?"</p> + +<p>The glass was brought him. He drained its contents at a draught.</p> + +<p>"Now, kick that scoundrel out of the room, Thompson, and let me sleep."</p> + +<p>He threw himself listlessly on the sofa. Acmé was weeping bitterly, +but he seemed not to notice her. It was late in the day. The surgeon +had been sent for. He now arrived, and stated that nothing could be +done; but recommended his being watched closely, and the removing +all dangerous weapons. He begged Henry, however, to indulge him in +all his caprices, in order that he might the better observe the +state of his mind.</p> + +<p>While George slept, Delmé entered another room, and ordering the servant +to inform him when he awoke, he sat down to dinner alone and dispirited; +for Acmé refused to leave George. It was indeed a sad, and to Sir Henry +Delmé an unforeseen shock.</p> + +<p>In a couple of hours, Thompson came with a message from Acmé. "Master +is awake, Sir--knows the Signora--and seems much better. He has +desired me to brush his cloak, as he intends going out. Shall I do so, +Sir, or not?"</p> + +<p>"Do so!" said Delmé, "but fail not to inform me when he is about to go; +and be yourself in readiness. We will watch him."</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XV.</h1> + +<h2>The Charnel House.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "And when at length the mind shall be all free,<br /> +From what it hates in this degraded form,<br /> +Reft of its carnal life, save what shall be<br /> +Existent happier in the fly or worm;<br /> +When elements to elements conform,<br /> +And dust is as it should be."</blockquote> + + +<p>The last grey tinge of twilight, was fast giving place to the sombre +hues of night, as a figure, enveloped in a military cloak, issued from +the barrack at Floriana.</p> + +<p>Henry at once recognised George; and only delaying till a short distance +had intervened between his brother and himself, Delmé and Thompson +followed his footsteps.</p> + +<p>George Delmé walked swiftly, as if intent on some deep design. The long +shadow thrown out by his figure, enabled his pursuers to distinguish him +very clearly. He did not turn his head, but, with hurried step, strode +the species of common which divides Floriana from La Valette. Crossing +the drawbridge, and passing through the porch which guards the entrance +to the town, he turned down an obscure street, and, folding his cloak +closer around him, rapidly--yet with an appearance of caution--continued +his route, diving from one street to another, till he entered a small +court-yard, in which stood an isolated gloomy-looking house. No light +appeared in the windows, and its exterior bespoke it uninhabited. Henry +and the domestic paused, expecting George either to knock or return to +the street. He walked on, however, and, turning to one side of the +porch, descended a flight of stone steps, and entered the lower part of +the house.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we had better not both follow him," said the servant.</p> + +<p>"No, Thompson! do you remain here, only taking care that your master +does not pass you: and I think you may as well go round the house, and +see if there is any other way of leaving it."</p> + +<p>Sir Henry descended the steps in silence. Arrived at the foot of the +descent, a narrow passage, diverging to the left, presented itself. +Beyond appeared a distant glimmering of light. Delmé groped along the +passage, using the precaution to crouch as low as possible, until he +came before a large comfortless room in the centre of which, was placed +a brass lamp, whose light was what he had discerned at the extremity of +the passage. He could distinctly observe the furniture and inmates of +the room. Of the former, the only articles were a table--on which were +placed the remains of a homely meal--an iron bedstead, and a barrel, +turned upside down, which served as a substitute for a chair. The +bedstead had no curtains, but in lieu of them, there were hangings +around it, which struck Delmé as resembling mourning habiliments. +Whilst the light operated thus favourably, in enabling Sir Henry to +note the interior of the apartment, it was hardly possible, from its +situation, that he himself could be observed. Its rays did not reach +the passage; and he was also shrouded in some degree by a door, which +was off its hinges, and which was placed against the wall. Fastened to +the side of the room were two deep shelves--the lower one containing +some bottles and plates; the upper, a number of human sculls. In a +corner were some more of these, intermingled in a careless heap, with a +few bleached bones.</p> + +<p>George Delmé was standing opposite the door, conversing earnestly with a +Maltese, evidently of the lowest caste. The latter was seated on the +barrel we have mentioned, and was listening with apparently a mixture of +surprise and exultation to what George was saying. George's voice sunk +to an inaudible whisper, as the conversation continued, and he was +evidently trying to remove some scruples, which this man either affected +to feel, or really felt. The man's answers were given in a gruff and +loud tone of voice, but from the Maltese dialect of his Italian, Sir +Henry could not understand what was said. His countenance was very +peculiar. It was of that derisive character rarely met with in one of +his class of life, except when called forth by peculiar habits, or +extraordinary circumstances. His eyes were very small, but bright and +deeply set. His lips wore a constant sarcastic smile, which gave him the +air of a bold but cunning man. His throat and bosom were bare, and of a +deep copper colour; and his muscular chest was covered with short curly +hair. The conversation on George's part became more animated, and he at +length made use of what seemed an unanswerable argument. Taking out a +beaded purse, which Sir Henry knew well--it had been Emily's last +present to George--he emptied the contents into the bronzed hand of his +companion, who grasped the money with avidity. The Maltese <i>now</i> +appeared to acquiesce in all George's wishes; and rising, went towards +the bed, and selected some of the articles of wearing apparel Delmé had +already noticed. He addressed some words to George, who sat on the +bedside quiescently, while the man went to the table, and took up a +knife that was upon it. For a moment, Delmé felt alarm lest his design +might be a murderous one; but it was not so. He laughed savagely, as he +made use of the knife, to cut off the luxuriant chestnut ringlets, which +shaded George's eyes and forehead. He then applied to the face some +darkening liquid, and commenced choosing a sable dress. George threw off +his cloak, and was attired by the Maltese, in a long black cotton robe +of the coarsest material, which, descending to the feet, came in a hood +over his face, which it almost entirely concealed. During the whole of +this scene, George Delmé's features wore an air of dogged apathy, which +alarmed his brother, even more than his agitation in the earlier part of +the day. After his being metamorphosed in the way we have described, it +would have been next to an impossibility to have recognised him. His +companion put on a dress of the same nature, and Sir Henry was preparing +to make his retreat, presuming that they would now leave the building, +when he was induced to stay for the purpose of remarking the conduct of +the Maltese. He took up a scull, and placing his finger through an +eyeless hole, whence <i>once</i> love beamed or hate flashed, he made some +savage comment, which he accompanied by a long and malignant laugh. This +would at another time have shocked Sir Henry, but there was another +laugh, wilder and more discordant, that curdled the blood in Delmé's +veins. It proceeded from his brother, the gay--the happy George Delmé; +and as it re-echoed through the gloomy passage, it seemed that of a +remorseless demon, gloating on the misfortunes of the human race. Delmé +turned away in agony, and, unperceived, regained the anxious domestic. +Screened by an angle of the building, they saw George and his companion +ascend the stone steps, cross the yard, and turn into the street. They +followed him cautiously--Delmé's ears ringing with that fiendish laugh. +George's companion stopped for a moment, at a house in the street, where +they were joined by a sallow-looking priest, apparently one of the most +disgusting of his tribe. He was accompanied by a boy, also drest in +sacerdotal robes, in one hand bearing a silver-ornamented staff, of the +kind frequently used in processions, and in other observances of the +Catholic religion; and in the other, a rude lanthorn, whose light +enabled Delmé to note these particulars. As the four figures swept +through the streets, the lower orders prostrated themselves, before the +figure of the crucified and dying Saviour which surmounted the staff. +They again stopped, and the priest entered a house alone. On coming +back, he was followed by a coffin, borne on the shoulders of four of the +lower order of Maltese. At the moment these were leaving the house, +Henry heard a solitary scream, apparently of a woman. It was wild and +thrilling; such an one as we hear from the hovering sea bird, as the +tempest gathers to a head. To Delmé, coming as it did at that lone hour +from one he saw not, it seemed superhuman. In the front of the house +stood two calèches, the last of which, Sir Henry observed was without +doors. At a sign from the Maltese, George and his strange companion +entered it. They were followed by the coffin, which was placed +lengthways, with the two ends projecting into the street. In the +<i>leading</i> calèche were the priest and boy, the latter of whom thrust +the figure of the bleeding Jesus out at the window, whilst with the +other hand he held up the lanthorn. Twice more did the calèche +stop--twice receive corpses. Another light was produced, and placed in +the last conveyance, and Delmé took the opportunity of their arranging +this, to pass by the calèche. The light that had been placed in it shone +full on George. The coffins were on a level with the lower part of his +face. Nothing of his body, which was jammed in between the seat and the +coffins, could be seen. But the features, which glared over the pall, +were indeed terrific; apathy no longer marked them. George seemed wound +up to an extraordinary state of excitement. Gone was the glazed +expression of his eye, which now gleamed like that of a famished eagle. +The Maltese leant back in the carriage, with a sardonic smile, his dark +face affording a strange contrast to the stained, but yet ghastly hue of +George Delmé's.</p> + +<p>"They intend to take them to the vault at Floriana, your honor," said +the servant, "shall I call a calèche, and we can follow them?"</p> + +<p>Without waiting a reply, for the man saw that Sir Henry's faculties, +were totally absorbed in the strange scene he had witnessed; Thompson +called a carriage, which passed the other two--now commencing at a +funeral pace to proceed to the vault--and, taking the same direction +which they had done on entering the town, a short time sufficed to put +them down immediately opposite the church. They had time allowed them to +dismiss their carriage, and screen themselves from observation, before +the funeral procession arrived.</p> + +<p>This stopped in front of the vault, and Delmé anxiously scrutinised the +proceedings. Another man--probably the one whose place George had +supplied--had joined them outside the town, and now walked by the side +of the calèche. He assisted George's companion in bearing out the +coffins. The huge door grated on its hinges, as they opened it. The +coffins were borne in, and the whole party entered; the priest mumbling +a short Latin prayer. In a short time, the priest alone returned; and +looking cautiously around, and seeing no one, struck a light from a +tinder box, and lighted his cigar. The other two men brought back the +coffins, evidently relieved of their weight; and the priest--the +boy--with the man who had last joined them, and who had also lit his +cigar--entered the first calèche, after exchanging some jokes with +George's companion, and returned at a rapid pace towards the town. +During this time, George Delmé had been left alone in the vault. His +companion returned to him, after taking the precaution to fasten its +doors inside.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry was now at a loss what plan to adopt; but Thompson, after a +moment's hesitation, suggested one.</p> + +<p>"There is an iron grating, Sir, over part of the vault, through which, +when a bar was loose, I know one of our soldiers went down. Shall I +get a cord?"</p> + +<p>The man ran towards his barrack, and returned with it. To wrench by +their united efforts, one bar from its place, and to fasten the rope to +another, was the work of an instant. Space was just left them to creep +through the aperture. Sir Henry was the first to breathe the confined +air of the sepulchre. A voice warned him in what direction to proceed; +and not waiting for the domestic, he groped his way forward through a +narrow passage. At first, Delmé thought there was a wall on either side +him; but as he made a false step, and the bones crumbled beneath, he +knew that it was a wall, formed of the bleached remains of the bygone +dead. As he drew nearer the voice, he was guided by the lanthorn brought +by George's companion; and towards this he proceeded, almost overpowered +by the horrible stench of the charnel house, As he drew near enough to +distinguish objects, what a scene presented itself! In one corner of the +vault, lay a quantity of lime used to consume the bodies, whilst nearer +the light, lay corpses in every stage of putrefaction. In some, the lime +had but half accomplished its purpose; and while in parts of the body, +the bones lay bare and exposed; in others, corruption in its most +loathsome form prevailed. Here the meaner reptiles--active and +prolific--might be seen busily at work, battening on human decay. Sir +Henry stepped over a dead body, and started, as a rat, scared from its +prey, rustled through a wreath of withered flowers, and hid itself amid +a mouldering heap of bones. But there were some forms lovely still! In +them the pulse of life had that day ceased to beat. The rigidity of +Death--his impressive stillness was there--but he had not yet "swept the +lines where beauty lingers."</p> + +<p>The Maltese stood with folded arms, closely regarding George Delmé.</p> + +<p>George leant against a pillar, with one knee bent. Over it was stretched +the corpse of a girl, with the face horribly decomposed. The dull and +flagging winds of the vault moved her dank and matted hair.</p> + +<p>"Acmé," said he, as he parted the dry hair from the blackened brow, +"<i>do</i> but speak to your own George! Be not angry with me, dearest!" He +held the disgusting object to his lips, and lavished endearments on the +putrid corpse.</p> + +<p>Delmé staggered--and Thompson supported him--as he gasped for breath +in the extremity of his agony. At this moment his eye caught the face of +the Maltese. He had advanced towards George--his arms were still +folded--his eyes were sparkling with joy--and his features wore the +malignant expression of gratified revenge. Sir Henry sprang to his feet +and rushed forward.</p> + +<p>"George! my brother! my brother!"</p> + +<p>The maniac raised his pallid brow--his eye flashed consciousness--the +blue veins in his forehead swelled almost to bursting--he tossed his +arms wildly--and sunk powerless on the corpses around--his convulsive +shrieks re-echoing in that lonely vault. Thompson seized the Maltese, +and making him unlock the door, bore the brothers into the open air; for +Henry, at the time, was as much overpowered as George himself.</p> + +<p>A clear solution to that curious scene was never given, for George could +not give the clue to his train of mental aberration.</p> + +<p>With regard to his companion's share in the transaction, the man was +closely questioned, and other means of information resorted to, but the +only facts elicited were these:</p> + +<p>His son had been executed some years before for a desperate attempt to +assassinate a British soldier, with whom he had had an altercation +during the carnival.</p> + +<p>The man himself said, that he had no recollection of ever having +seen George before, but that he certainly <i>did</i> remember some +officers questioning him on two occasions somewhat minutely as to +his mode of life.</p> + +<p>This part of his story was confirmed by another officer of the regiment, +who remembered George and Delancey being with him on one occasion, when +the latter had taken much interest in the questioning of this man. The +Maltese declared, that on the night in question he was taken entirely by +surprise--that George entered the room abruptly--offered him money to be +allowed to accompany him to the vault--and told him that he had just +placed a young lady there whom he wished to see.</p> + +<p>Colonel Vavasour, who took some trouble in arriving at the truth, was +satisfied that the man was well aware of George's insanity, but that +he felt too happy in being able to wreak an ignoble revenge on a +British officer.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XVI.</h1> + +<h2>The Marriage.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "The child of love, though born in bitterness,<br /> +And nurtured in convulsion."</blockquote> + + +<p>For many days, George Delmé lay on his couch unconscious and +immoveable. If his eye looked calm, it was the tranquillity of +apathetic ignorance, the fixedness of idiotcy. He spoke if he was +addressed, but recognised no one, and his answers were not to the +purpose. He took his food, and would then turn on his side, and close +his eyes as if in sleep. In vain did Acmé watch over him--in vain did +her tears bedew his couch--in vain did Delmé take his hand, and +endeavour to draw his attention to passing objects.</p> + +<p>George had never been so long without a lucid interval. The surgeon's +voice grew less cheering every day, as he saw the little amendment in +his patient, and remarked that the pulse was gradually sinking. Colonel +Vavasour never allowed a day to elapse without visiting the invalid; and +in the regiment, his illness excited great commiseration, and drew forth +many expressions of kindness.</p> + +<p>"Oh God! oh God!" said Delmé, "he must not sink thus. Just as I am with +him--just as--oh, poor Emily! what will <i>she</i> feel? Can nothing be done, +Mr. Graham?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing! Sir: we must now put our whole trust in an all-seeing +Providence. <i>My</i> skill can neither foresee nor hasten the result."</p> + +<p>One soft summer's evening, when the wind blew in the scent of flowers +from the opposite gardens--and the ceaseless hum of the insects--those +twilight revellers--sounded happily on the ear, Acmé started from the +couch as a thought crossed her.</p> + +<p>"We have never tried music," said she, "I have been too unhappy to +think of it."</p> + +<p>Her tears fell fast on the guitar, as she tuned its strings. She sung a +plaintive Greek air. It was the first George ever heard her sing, and +was the favourite. He heard it, when watching; lover-like beneath her +balcony during the first vernal days of their attachment. The song was +gone through sadly, and without hope. George's face was from her, and +she laid down the guitar, weary of life.</p> + +<p>George gently turned his head. His eyes wore a subdued melancholy +expression, bespeaking consciousness. Down his cheek one big drop was +trickling.</p> + +<p>"Acmé!" said he, "dearest Acmé!"</p> + +<p>Delmé, who had left the room, was recalled by the hysterical sobs of the +poor girl, as she fell back on the chair, her hands clasped in joyful +gratitude.</p> + +<p>The surgeon, who had immediately been sent for, ordered that George +should converse as little as possible.</p> + +<p>What he did say was rational. What a solace was that to Henry and Acmé! +The invalid too appeared well aware of his previous illness, although he +alluded to it but seldom. To those about him, his manner was femininely +soft, as he whispered his thanks, and sense of their kindness.</p> + +<p>Immediately after the horrible scene he had witnessed, Sir Henry's mind +had been made up, as to the line of conduct he ought to pursue. The +affectionate solicitude of the young Greek, during George's illness, +gave him no reason to regret his determination.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Mr. Graham, one day as George was rapidly recovering, +"now, Sir Henry, I would recommend you to break all you have to say to +George. For God's sake, let them be married; and although, mark me! I +by no means assert that it will quite re-establish George's health, +yet I think such a measure <i>may</i> effectually do so, and at all events +will calm him for the present; which, after all, is the great object +we have in view."</p> + +<p>The same day, Delmé went to his brother's bed-side. "George," said he, +"let me take the present opportunity of Acmé's absence, to tell you what +I had only deferred till you were somewhat stronger. She is a good girl, +George, a very good girl. I wish she had been English--it would have +been better!--but this we cannot help. You must marry her, George! I +will be a kind brother-in-law, and Emily shall love her for your sake."</p> + +<p>The invalid sat up in his bed--his eyes swam in tears. He twice essayed +to speak, ere he could express his gratitude.</p> + +<p>"Thank you! a thousand times thank you! my kind brother! Even <i>you</i> +cannot tell the weight of suffering, you have this day taken from my +mind. My conduct towards Acmé has been bowing me to the earth; and yet +I feared your consent would never be obtained. I feared that coldness +from you and Emily would have met her; and that I should have had but +<i>her</i> smile to comfort me for the loss of what I so value. God bless +you for this!"</p> + +<p>Delmé was much affected.</p> + +<p>To complete his good work, he waited till Acmé had returned from a visit +she had just made to her relations; and taking her aside, told her his +wishes, and detailed his late conversation with George.</p> + +<p>"Never! never!" said the young Greek, "I am too happy as I am. I have +heard you all make better lovers than husbands. I cannot be happier! +No! no! I will never consent to it."</p> + +<p>All remonstrances were fruitless--no arguments could affect her--no +entreaties persuade.</p> + +<p>Delmé, quite perplexed at finding such a difficulty, where he had so +little expected to find one,--pitying her simplicity, but admiring her +disinterestedness,--went to George, and told him Acmé's objections.</p> + +<p>"I feared it," said his brother, "but perhaps I may induce her to think +differently. Were I to take advantage of her unsophisticated feelings, +and want of knowledge of the world, I should indeed be a villain."</p> + +<p>Acmé was sent for, and came weeping in--took Georg's hand--and gazed +earnestly in his face as he addressed her.</p> + +<p>"You must change your mind, dearest," said he. And he told her of the +world's opinion--the contumely she might have to endure--the slights to +which she would be subjected. Still she heeded not.</p> + +<p>"Why mention these things?" said she. "Who would insult me, were <i>you</i> +near? or if they did, should I regard them while <i>you</i> were kind?"</p> + +<p>And her lover's words took a loftier tone; and he spoke of religion, and +of the duties it imposes; of the feelings of his countrywomen; and the +all-seeing eye of their God. Still the fond girl wept bitterly, but +spoke not.</p> + +<p>"My own Acmé! consider <i>my</i> health too, dearest! Were you now to +consent, I might never again be ill. It would be cruelty to me to +refuse. Say you consent for <i>my</i> sake, sweet!"</p> + +<p>"For your sake, then!" said Acme, as she twined her snowy arms round his +neck, "for <i>your</i> sake, Giorgio, I do so! But oh! when I am yours for +ever by that tie; when--if this be possible--our present raptures are +less fervent--our mutual affections less devoted--do not, dearest +George--do not, I implore you--treat me with coldness. It would break my +heart, indeed it would."</p> + +<p>They were married according to the rites of both the Protestant and +Catholic Church. Few were present. George had been lifted to the sofa, +and sat up during the ceremony; and although his features were pale and +emaciated, they brightened with internal satisfaction, as he heard those +words pronounced, which made his love a legitimate one. Acmé was silent +and thoughtful; and tears quenched the fire of her usually sparkling +eye. George Delmé's recovery from this date became more rapid.</p> + +<p>He was able to resume his wonted exercise--his step faltered +less--his eye became clearer. His convalescence was so decided, that +the surgeon recommended his at once travelling, and for the present +relinquishing the army.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps the excessive heat may not be beneficial. I would, if possible, +get him to Switzerland for the summer months. I will enquire what +outward-bound vessels there are. If there is one for Leghorn, so much +the better. But the sooner he tries change of scene, the more +advantageous it is likely to be; and after all, the climate is but a +secondary consideration."</p> + +<p>An American vessel bound to Palermo, happened to be the only one in the +harbour, whose destination would serve their purpose; and determined +not to postpone George's removal, Sir Henry at once engaged its cabin. +Colonel Vavasour obtained George leave for the present, and promised to +arrange as to his exchanging from full pay. He likewise enabled him, +which George felt as a great boon, to take his old and attached servant +with him; with the promise that he would use all his interest to have +the man's discharge forwarded him, before the expiration of his leave.</p> + +<p>"He may be useful to you, my dear boy, if you get ill again, which God +forbid! He is an old soldier, and a good man--well deserving the +indulgence. And remember! if you should be better, and feel a returning +penchant for the red coat, write to me--we will do our best to work an +exchange for you."</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XVII.</h1> + +<h2>The Departure.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Farewell! a word that must be, and hath been,<br /> +A sound that makes us linger, yet farewell."</blockquote> + + +<p>The day of departure at length arrived. Thompson had been busy the +greater part of the night in getting every thing ready for the voyage. +It was a lovely morning, and the wind, although light, was propitious.</p> + +<p>Acmé had parted with her relations and friends the day previous.</p> + +<p>She was henceforward to share the destiny of one, who was to supply the +place of both to her. Attached to them as she was, and grateful as she +felt for their kindness in the hour of need, there was nothing in that +parting to throw a permanent gloom on the hopes of the youthful bride.</p> + +<p>Her love, and the feelings it engendered, were of that confiding nature, +that she could have followed George anywhere, and been happy still. As +it was, her lot seemed cast "in pleasant places," and no foreboding of +evil, except indeed for George, ever marred the waking dreams of Acmé. +Her simple heart had already learnt, to look up with respect and +affection to Sir Henry, and yearned with fond longing for the period +when she should return a sister's love.</p> + +<p>She had that lively talent too, which, miniatured as it was, allowed of +her fully appreciating the superiority of the English she had lately +met, to the general run of those with whom she had hitherto associated. +An English home had none but charms for her.</p> + +<p>"Come Acmé," said George, as he assisted her in adjusting the first +bonnet that had ever confined her wavy curls, "wish good bye to your +ring-dove, dear! Mrs. Graham will take good care of it; and Thompson has +just finished the packing."</p> + +<p>The boat which was to convey them to the vessel was so near, that they +had agreed to walk down to the place of embarkation.</p> + +<p>As George left the room, a tall figure presented itself on the +staircase.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Clark!" said George, "my good fellow! I am very sorry to part with +you. I do not know what I shall do without my pay serjeant!" and he held +out his hand.</p> + +<p>It was grasped gratefully.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, your honour!"</p> + +<p>The old soldier stood erect, and put his hand to his cap.</p> + +<p>"God bless you! Mr. Delmé. I have served under many officers, but never +under a kinder. May the Almighty bless you, Sir, in all your +wanderings."</p> + +<p>The soldier turned away--one large drop burst o'er the lid, and trickled +down his sun-burnt cheek.</p> + +<p>With the back of his hand, he brushed it off indignantly.</p> + +<p>His converse may be rough--his manner rude--his hand ever ready for +quarrel;--but, believe us! ye who deem the soldier beneath his +fellow-men,--that the life of change--of chance--of hardship--and of +danger--which is his, freezes not the kindlier emotions of the soul, if +it sweep away its sicklier refinements. Beneath the red vest, beat +hearts as warm and true, as ever throbbed beneath operative apron, or +swelled under softest robe of ermine.</p> + +<p>George was moved by the man's evidently sincere grief. He reached the +bottom of the stairs. The company to which he belonged was drawn up in +the court yard.</p> + +<p>In front of it, the four tallest men supported a chair, and almost +before George Delmé was aware of their purpose, bore him to it, and +lifted him on their shoulders, amidst the huzzas of their comrades. The +band, too, which had voluntarily attended, now struck up the march which +George delighted to hear; and, followed by his company, he was carried +triumphantly towards the mole.</p> + +<p>George's heart was full.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry felt deeply interested in the scene; and poor Acmé leant on +his arm, and wept with joy.</p> + +<p>Yes! there are moments in life, and this was one, when the approval of +our inferiors awakens a degree of pride and mental satisfaction, that +no panegyric of our superiors, no expressions of esteem from our +equals, could have ever called forth. Such approval meets us, as the +spontaneous effusion of hearts that have looked up to ours, and have +<i>not</i> been deceived.</p> + +<p>This pride was it that flushed George's cheek, and illumed with +brightness his swimming eye. He was thus carried till he arrived at the +spot where his boat should have been. It was already, with Thompson and +their baggage, half way towards the vessel. In its place was the +regimental gig, manned by George's best friends. Its steersman was +Colonel Vavasour, drest in the fanciful aquatic costume his regiment +had adopted.</p> + +<p>Trifling as this may appear, this act of his Colonel, seemed to George +the very highest compliment that had ever been paid him.</p> + +<p>George Delmé turned to his company, and with choking voice thanked them +for this last mark of attention. We are very certain that a shake of +the hand from a prince, would not have delighted him as much, as did +the hearty farewell greeting of his rough comrades.</p> + +<p>Even Acmé blushingly went up to the chair-supporters, and, with a +winning smile, extended her small hand. Vavasour assisted her into the +gig, and it was with a bounding elasticity of spirit, to which he had +long been a stranger, that George followed. As the boat cut through the +water, they were greeted with a last and deafening huzza.</p> + +<p>In a short time they were alongside the vessel. The captain was pacing +the deck, and marking the signs of the wind, with the keen eye of the +sailor. A chair was lowered for Acmé. She shook hands with the rowers. +George parted from them as if they had been brothers, and from Colonel +Vavasour last of all.</p> + +<p>"Take care of yourself, my dear boy," said the latter, "do not +forget to write us; we shall all be anxious to know how you have +stood the voyage."</p> + +<p>As the gig once more shot its way homewards, and many a friendly +handkerchief waved its adieu, George felt, that sad as the parting was, +he should have felt it more <i>bitterly</i> if they had loved him less.</p> + +<p>To divert their minds from thoughts of a melancholy nature, Sir Henry, +as the boat made a turn of the land, and was no longer visible, proposed +exploring the cabin. This they found small, but cleanly. Some hampers of +fruit, and a quantity of ice, exhibited agreable proofs of the attention +of Acmé's relations. We may, by the way, observe, that rarely does the +sense of the palate assert its supremacy with greater force than on +board-ship. There will the <i>thought</i>--much more the <i>reality</i>--of a +mellow pine--or juicy pomegranate--cause the mouth to water for the best +part of a long summer's day. On their ascending the deck, the captain +approached Sir Henry.</p> + +<p>"No offence! Sir; but I guess the wind is fair. If you want nothing +ashore, we will off, Sir, <i>now</i>! if you please."</p> + +<p>Delmé acquiesced.</p> + +<p>How disagreable is the act of leaving harbour in a merchant ship!</p> + +<p>Even sailors dislike it, and growl between their teeth, like captive +bears. The chains of the anchor clank gratingly on the ear. The very +chorus of the seamen smacks of the land, and wants the rich and free +tone that characterises it in mid-sea. Hoarse are the mandates of the +boat-swain! his whistle painfully shrill! The captain walks the deck +thoughtfully, and frowningly ruminates on his bill of lading--or on some +over-charge in the dock duties--or, it may be, on his dispute on shore +with a part owner of the vessel.</p> + +<p>And anon, he shakes off these thoughts, and looks on the +weather-side--then upwards at the masts--and, as he notes the +proceedings, his orders are delivered fiercely, and his passions seem +ungovernable.</p> + +<p>The vessel, too, seems to share the general feeling--is loath to +leave the port.</p> + +<p>She unsteadily answers the call of her canvas--her rigging creaks--and +her strong sides groan--as she begins lazily and slowly to make her way.</p> + +<p>Glad to turn their attention to anything rather than the scene around, +George began conversing on the effect the attentions of his company and +brother officers had had on him.</p> + +<p>"Their kindness," said George, "was wholly unexpected by me, and I felt +it very deeply. An hour before, I fancied that Acmé and my own family +monopolised every sympathy I possessed. But, thank God! the heart has +many hidden channels through which kindness may steal, and infuse its +genial balm."</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> felt it, too, George!" said his brother, "and was anxious as to the +effect the scene might have on you. I am glad it <i>was</i> unexpected. We +are sometimes better enabled to enact our parts improvising them, than +when we have schooled ourselves, and braced all our energies to the one +particular purpose.</p> + +<p>"Acmé, how did you like the way George's men behaved?"</p> + +<p>"It made me weep with joy," replied the young Greek, "for I love all who +love my Giorgio."</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XVIII.</h1> + +<h2>The Adieu.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Adieu! the joys of La Valette."</blockquote> + +<hr width="200" align="left" size="1" /> + +<blockquote> "No more! no more! No! never more on me<br /> + The freshness of the heart shall fall like dew."</blockquote> + +<hr width="200" align="left" size="1" /> + +<blockquote> "Absence makes the heart grow fonder,<br /> +Isle of Beauty! fare thee well."</blockquote> + + +<p>Malta! the snowy sail shivers in the wind--the waves, chafed by our +intruding keel, are proudly foaming--sea birds soar, screaming their +farewell aloft--as we wave our hand to thee for ever! What is our +feeling, as we see thee diminish hourly?</p> + +<p>Regret! unfeigned regret!</p> + +<p>Albeit we speed to our native land, on the wing of a bark as fleet as +ever--but it matters not--<i>thou</i> hast seen the best of our days.</p> + +<p>Visions conjured up by thee, have the unusual power, to banish +anticipations of Almack's glories, and of home flirtations.</p> + +<p>We are recalling balls enjoyed in thee, loved island! the valse spun +round with the darling fleet-footed Maltese, who during its pauses leant +back on our arm, against which her spangled zone throbbed, from the +pulsations of her heart.</p> + +<p>Dreams of turtle and of grand master--the <i>fish</i>, not the +<i>official</i>--and of consecutive iced champagne, mock our sight! But +more--yes! far more than all, are we reminded of thy abode--thou +dispenser of cheering liquids! thou promoter of convivial happiness! +meek Saverio! How swiftly glided the mirth-loving nights as--the +enchanting strains of the prima donna hushed--we adjourned to thy ever +to be praised bottegua!</p> + +<p>With what precision didst thou there mete out the many varied +ingredients--the exact relative proportions--which can alone embody our +conception of the nectar of the Gods, punch à la Romaine!</p> + +<p>Whose cigars ever equalled thine, thou prince of Ganymedes? and when +were cigars more justly appreciated, than as our puffs kept time with +the trolling ditty, resounding through the walls of thy domain?</p> + +<p>The luxury of those days!</p> + +<p>Then would Sol come peeping in upon us; as unwelcome and unlooked-for +a visitant, as to the enamoured Juliet, when she sighing told her +lover that</p> + +<p> "'Twas but a meteor that the sun exhaled, + To be to him that night a torch-bearer, + And light him on his way to Mantua."</p> + +<p>Then, with head dizzy from its gladness, with heart unduly elate, has +the Strada Teatro seen us, imperiously calling for the submissive +calèche. Arrived in our chamber, how gravely did we close its shutters! +With what a feeling of satisfied enjoyment, did we court the downy +freshness of the snow-white sheet!</p> + +<p>Sweet and deep were our slumbers--for youth's spell was upon us, and +our fifth lustre had not <i>yet</i> heralded us to serious thoughts and +anxious cares.</p> + +<p>Awoke by the officious valet, and remorseless friend, deemest though +our debauch was felt? No! an effervescent draught of soda calmed us; we +ate a blood orange, and smoked a cigar!</p> + +<p>We often hear Malta abused. Byron is the stale authority; and every +snub-nosed cynic turns up his prominent organ, and talks of "sirocco, +sun, and sweat." Byron disliked it--he had cause. He was there at a bad +season, and was suffering from an attack of bile. <i>We</i> know of no place +abroad, where the English eye will meet with so little to offend it, and +so much to please and impress.</p> + +<p>There is such a blending together of European, Asiatic, and African +customs; there is such a variety in the costumes one meets; there is +such grandeur in their palaces--such glory in their annals; such novelty +in their manners and habits; such devotion in their religious +observances; such simplicity and yet such beauty, in the dress of the +women; and their wearers possess such fascinations; that we defy the +most fastidious of critics, who has really resided there, to deny to +Malta many of those attributes, with which he would invest that place, +on whose beauty and agrémens, he may prefer of all others to descant.</p> + +<p>With the commonplace observer, its superb harbour, studded with gilded +boats; its powerful fortifications, where art towers over nature, and +where the eye looks up a rock, and catches a bristling battery; the +glare of its scenery, with no foliage to cover the white stone;--all +these, together with the different way in which the minutiae of life are +transacted,--will call forth his attention, and demand his notice.</p> + +<p>Art thou a poet, or a fancied warrior? What scene has been more replete +with noble exploits? In whose breasts did the flame of chivalry burn +brighter, than in those of the knights of St. John of Jerusalem? Not a +name meets thee, that has not belonged to a hero! If thou grievest to +find all dissimilar <i>but</i> the name; yet mayest thou still muse, +contemplative, over the tomb and ashes of him, whom thy mind has +shadowed forth, as a noble light in a more romantic age.</p> + +<p>Art thou a moralist, a thinking Christian? Thou mayest there trace--and +the pursuit shall profit thee--the steps of the sainted apostle; he who +was so signally called forth, to hear witness to the truth of ONE, whom +he had erst reviled. Yon cordelier will show you the bay, where his +vessel took refuge in its distress; and will tell you, that yon jagged +rock first gave its dangerous welcome, to the bark of his patron saint.</p> + +<p>Lovest thou music? hast loved? or been beloved? or both perchance?</p> + +<p>Steal forth when night holds her starry court, and the guitars around +are tinkling, as more than one rich voice deplores his mistress's +cruelty, in hopes she may now relent. But see! <i>there</i> is one, who puts +in requisition neither music's spell, nor flattery's lay.</p> + +<p>See! he approaches. His cloak wrapped around him, he cautiously treads +the tranquil street.</p> + +<p>He gains the portico--the signal is given. Who but an expectant maiden +could hear one so slight?</p> + +<p>Hark! a sound! cautiously the lattice opens--above him blushes the fair +one! How brightly her dark eye flashes! how silver soft the tones of +her voice!</p> + +<p>The stern father--the querulous mother--the tricked duenna--all--all +are slumbering. She leans forward, and her ear drinks in his honied +words; as her head is supported by her snowy arm.</p> + +<p>And now he whispers more passionately. She answers not, but hides her +face in her hands. She starts! she throws back her hair from her brow; +she waves a white fazzolet, and is gone.</p> + +<p>Not thus flies the lover. He crouches beneath the Ionic portico, his +figure hardly discernible. A bolt--the last bolt is withdrawn. A form is +dimly seen within--retiring, timid, repentant.</p> + +<p>Sweet the task to calm that throbbing heart, or teach it to throb no +more with fear!</p> + +<p>But let him of melancholy mood, wander to the deserted village. A more +fearful calamity has befallen it, than ever attended the soft shades, of +the one conjured up by the poet.</p> + +<p><i>Here</i> the demon Plague, with baneful wing, and pestilential influence, +tarried for many days; till not one--no! not one soul of that village +train--that did not join his bygone fathers.</p> + +<p>Stray along its grass-grown roofless tenements! where <i>your</i> echo alone +breaks the silence, as it startles from its resting-place the slumbering +owl--for who would dwell in abodes so marked for destruction? Stray +there! think of the gentle contadina diffusing happiness around her! +<i>then</i> think of her as she supports the youth she loves--as she clasps +his faint form--and drinks in a poisonous contagion from his pallid lip.</p> + +<p>Think of her as the disease seizes on its new victim--still +attempting to prop up his head--to reach the cup, that may relieve +his maddening thirst,--until, giddy and overpowered, she sinks at +last; but--beside him!</p> + +<p>Think of their dying together! <i>that</i> at least is a solace.</p> + +<p>Do not the scene and the thought draw a tear?</p> + +<p>If your eye be dry, come--come away--<i>your</i> step should not sound there!</p> + +<p>The wind continued fair during the whole of the first day. Every trace +of Valletta was soon lost; and the good barque Boston swept by the rocky +coast of the island, where few human habitations meet the eye, swiftly +and cheerily. The sea birds sported round the tall masts--the canvas +bulged out bravely--the Captain forgot his shore griefs, and commenced a +colloquy with Sir Henry. The sailors sung in chorus; whilst poor +Acmé,--we grieve to confess the fact, for never was a Mediterranean sea +looked down on by brighter sun, or more cloudless sky,--retired to her +cabin, supported by George, a prey to that unsentimental malady, sea +sickness. The following day, the wind shifted some points; and the +Captain judged it most prudent to forego his original intention of +steering direct for Palermo; but to take advantage of the breeze, and +adopt the passage through the Faro of Messina.</p> + +<p>Delmé felt glad of this change; for Scylla and Charybdis to an +Englishman, are as familiar as Whittington and his cat. For the first +two days Acmé continued unwell; and George, who already appeared +improved by the sea air, never left her side.</p> + +<p>Delmé had therefore a dull time of it; which he strove to enliven by +conversing, one after the other, with the Captain and his two mates. +From all of them, he learnt something; but from all he turned away, as +they commenced discussing the comparative merits of the United States, +and the old country; a subject he had neither the wish to enter on, nor +fortitude to prosecute. Not daunted, he attacked mate the third; and was +led to infer better things, as the young gentleman commenced expatiating +on the "purple sky," and "dark blue sea." This hope did not last long; +for this lover of nature turned round to Sir Henry, and asked him in a +nasal twang, if he preferred Cooper's or Mr. Scott's novels? Delmè was +not naturally a rude man, but as he turned away, he hummed something +very like Yankee-doodle.</p> + +<p>And then the moon got up; and Sir Henry felt lonely and sentimental. He +leant over the vessel's side, and watched it pictured on the ocean, and +quivering as the transient billow swept onwards. And he thought of home, +and Emily. He thought of his brother, his heir,--if he died, the only +male to inherit the ancient honours of his house,--married to a +stranger, and--but Acmé was too sweet a being, not to have already +enlisted all his sympathies with her. And as if all these thoughts, like +rays converged in a burning glass, did but tend to one object, the image +of Julia Vernon suddenly rose before him.</p> + +<p>He saw her beautiful as ever--gentleness in her eye--fascination in +her smile!</p> + +<p>And the air got cold--and he went to bed.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XIX.</h1> + +<h2>A Dream and a Ghost Story.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Touching this eye-creation;<br /> +What is it to surprise us? Here we are<br /> +Engendered out of nothing cognisable--<br /> +If this were not a wonder, nothing is;<br /> +If this be wonderful, then all is so.<br /> +Man's grosser attributes can generate<br /> +What <i>is</i> not, and has never been at all;<br /> +What should forbid his fancy to restore<br /> +A being pass'd away? The wonder lies<br /> +In the mind merely of the wondering man."</blockquote> + + +<p>It was the fourth evening of the voyage. Hardly a breath fanned the +sails, as the vessel slowly glided between the Calabrian and Sicilian +coasts, approaching quite close to the former.</p> + +<p>The party, seated on chairs placed on the deck, gazed in a spirit of +placid enjoyment on one of those scenes, which the enthusiastic +traveller often recals, as in his native clime, he pines for foreign +lands, and for novel impressions. The sun was setting over the purple +peaks of the Calabrian mountains, smiling in sunny gladness on deep +ravines, whose echoes few human feet now woke, save those of simple +peasant, or lawless bandit. Where the orb of day held its declining +course, the sky wore a hue of burnished gold; its rich tint alone +varied, by one fleecy violet cloud, whose outline of rounded beauty, was +marked by a clear cincture of white,</p> + +<p>On their right, beneath the mountain, lay the little village of Capo del +Marte, a perfect specimen of Italian scenery.</p> + +<p>Its sandy beach, against which the tide beat in dalliance--the chafed +spray catching and reflecting the glories of the setting sun--ran +smoothly up a slope of some thirty yards; beyond which, the orange +trees, in their greenest foliage, chequered with their shade the white +cottages scattered above them.</p> + +<p>The busy hum of the fishermen on the coast--the splash of the casting +net--and the drip of the oar--were appropriate accompaniments to the +simple scene.</p> + +<p>On the Sicilian side, a different view wooed attention. There, old Etna +upreared his encumbered head, around which the smoke clung in dense +majesty; and--not contemptible rivals of the declining deity--the moon's +silvery crescent, and the evening star's quiet splendour, were bedecking +the cloudless blue of the firmament.</p> + +<p>Acmé gazed enraptured on the scene--her long tresses hanging back on the +chair, across which one hand was languidly thrown.</p> + +<p>"Giorgio," said she, "do you see this beautiful bird close to the +ship--swimming so steadily--its snowy plumage apparently unwet from its +contact with the wave? To what can you compare it?"</p> + +<p>"That bright-eyed gull, love!" replied he, "riding on the water as if +all regardless that he is on the wide--wide sea--whose billows may so +soon be lashed up to madness;--where may I find a resemblance more +close, than my Acmé's simplicity, which guides her through a troubled +world, unknowing its treacheries, and happily ignorant of its dangers +and its woes?"</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said the blushing girl, "how poetical you are this evening; will +you tell us a story, Giorgio?"</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> will tell you one," said Delmé, interrupting her. "Do you recollect +old Featherstone, who had been in the civil service in India, and who +lived so near Delmé Park, George?"</p> + +<p>"Perfectly," said his brother, "I remember I used to think him mad, +because he always looked so melancholy, and used to send us word in the +morning when he contemplated a visit; in order that all cats might be +kept out of his way."</p> + +<p>"The very man! I am glad you know so much about him, for it is on this +subject I was going to speak. I cannot tell you where he picked up the +idea originally--but I believe in a dream--that a cat would occasion +his death.</p> + +<p>"Well! he was at Ascot one year, when a gipsy woman came up to him on +the course--told him his fortune--and, to his utter astonishment, warned +him to beware of the wild cat.</p> + +<p>"From that moment, I understand his habits changed. From being a +tolerably cheerful companion, he became a wretched hypochondriac; all +his energies being directed to the avoiding a contact with any of the +feline race.</p> + +<p>"Featherstone, two or three years ago, embarked in one of the mining +speculations--lost great part of his fortune--and found it necessary to +try and retrieve his affairs, by a second voyage to India.</p> + +<p>"I heard nothing more of him, till just before leaving England, when +my old school-fellow, Lockhart, who went as a cadet to the East, +called on me--reminded me of our old whimsical friend--and related +his tragic death.</p> + +<p>"Lockhart says that one day he and some mutual friends, persuaded +Featherstone to accompany them into the interior of the country, to +enjoy the diversion of a boar hunt.</p> + +<p>"They had had good sport, and were returning homewards, when they +suddenly came on a party of natives, headed by the Rajah.</p> + +<p>"They were mounted on elephants, and surrounding a jungle, in which, as +some sepoys had reported, lay a tiger.</p> + +<p>"You know Lockhart's manner--animated and enthusiastic--making one see +the scene he is describing.</p> + +<p>"I will try and clothe the rest of the story in his own words, although I +can hardly hope it will make the same impression on you, that its +recital did on me.</p> + +<p>"'Well, Sir! we all said we would see the sport--all but +Featherstone--who said something about coming on.</p> + +<p>"'We were engaged to dine with Sir John M----, who was in that part of +the world, on some six-and-eightpenny mission about indigo.</p> + +<p>"'The beaters went in, firing and shouting--intending to make him break +towards the hunting party.</p> + +<p>"'We all drew up on one side, to be in view, but out of the way; +Featherstone was next me. He suddenly grasped my arm, and pointed to the +jungle, his teeth chattering--his face ashy pale. I turned and saw the +tiger!--a splendid beast--certainly!</p> + +<p>"'He seemed not to notice us, and stalked on with an innocent yep! yep! +like a sick hound's, more than anything else.</p> + +<p>"'Suddenly his eye caught us, and flashed fire. At the first view, he +crouched to the earth, then came on us, bounding like a tost foot-ball. +More magnificent leaps I never beheld! We were struck dumb--but +fired--and turned our horses' heads!--all but Featherstone.</p> + +<p>"'I shall remember the tones of his voice to my dying hour.</p> + +<p>"'"The cat! Lockhart! the cat!"</p> + +<p>"'I don't know whether his horse refused the spur--or whether the rider's +nerve was gone: but neither appeared to make an effort, till the animal +was close on them.</p> + +<p>"'The horse gave one plunge--and had hardly recovered his feet, when down +went horse and rider.</p> + +<p>"'Featherstone gave a piercing scream! Some of the sepoys were by this +time up--and fired.</p> + +<p>"'The tiger trailed off--the blood spouting down his striped side.</p> + +<p>"'We came up--it was all over!</p> + +<p>"'The first stroke of that terrific paw had laid the unfortunate man's +scull bare. On his shoulder, were the marks of the animal's teeth.</p> + +<p>"'The horse was still writhing in agony. One of my pistols relieved him.</p> + +<p>"'We bore Featherstone to the nearest cantonment, and buried him there.'"</p> + +<p>"How terrible!" said Acmé, as she gave a slight shudder. "Englishmen are +generally more sceptical on these points than we are; and disbelieve +supernatural appearances, which we are accustomed to think are not +unfrequent. I could tell you many stories, which, in my native island, +were believed by our enemies the Turks, as well as by ourselves: but if +you would like it, I will tell you a circumstance that occurred to +myself, the reality of which I dare not doubt.</p> + +<p>"You have often, Giorgio! heard me revert with pain, to the horrible +scene which took place, on the recapture of our little isle by the +infidel Turks; when my family were massacred, and only poor Acmé left to +tell their tale."</p> + +<p>Here the young bride put her handkerchief to her face, and wept +bitterly. George put his arm round her and soothed her. She continued +her narrative.</p> + +<p>"You know my escape, and how I was sent to a kinsman, who had promised +to have me sent to my kind friends in Malta. He was a Corfuote, and it +was in Corfu I remained for a long--a very long time--and there first +met my dear friend, Zöe Scalvo-Forressi. I was then very young. We lived +in the Campagna--about four miles from each other.</p> + +<p>"We had both our Greek ponies, and used often to pass the evenings +together; and at length knew our road so well, that often it was night +before we parted.</p> + +<p>"One night, we had been singing together at her house, and it was later +than usual when I cantered home.</p> + +<p>"About four months had elapsed previous to my landing in Corfu, and I had +been eight months there; although at the time, I paid little attention +to these circumstances.</p> + +<p>"My road lay through an olive grove. I had arrived in its centre, where +a small knoll stretched away on my right; on whose summit, was a white +Greek monastery, backed by some dark cypress trees.</p> + +<p>"The moon was shining brightly--dancing on the silver side of the olive +trees--and illuminating the green sward.</p> + +<p>"This was smooth and verdant.</p> + +<p>"My spirits were more than usually buoyant, when suddenly my pony +stopped.</p> + +<p>"I could not conceive the reason.</p> + +<p>"I looked before me. Immediately in front of me, was the shattered trunk +of an old olive tree--it had been blasted by lightning--and sitting +quietly at its foot--I saw my own mother, Giorgio! as clearly as I see +you now. I could not be mistaken. She wore the same embroidered vest and +Albanian shawl, as when I had last seen her.</p> + +<p>"She conversed with me calmly for many minutes, and--which surprised me +much at the time--I felt no dread, and asked her and answered many +questions.</p> + +<p>"She told me I should die early, in a foreign land; and many--many more +things, which I dare not repeat; for I cannot contemplate the +possibility of their being true.</p> + +<p>"At the time, I told you I felt composed: without any sense of alarm +or surprise. For many days afterwards, however, I never left my bed +of sickness.</p> + +<p>"I told my kinsman all the circumstances, and he discovered beyond a +doubt, that it was on that very day, the twelve-month previous, that my +poor mother had been murdered."</p> + +<p>Sir Henry and George tried to smile at Acmé's story, and account for +what she had seen;--but her manner was so impressive, and her ingenious +reasonings--delivered in the most earnest tone--seemed to confute so +entirely all their speculations, that they were at length content to +deem it "wondrous strange."</p> + +<p>In the best and wisest of us, there is such a tendency to believe in a +mysterious link, connecting the living and the departed; that a story +of this nature, in exciting our feelings, serves to paralyse our +reasoning faculties, and leaves us half converts, to the doctrines that +we faintly combat.</p> + +<p>They looked forth again on the scene. The mountains of Calabria were +frowning on them. The village was far behind--and not a straggling light +marked its situation.</p> + +<p>Numberless stars were reflected on the glassy water, whose serenity was +no longer ruffled by wing of sea bird, which long ere now had returned +to its "wave girded nest."</p> + +<p>Our party and the watch were the only lingerers on deck.</p> + +<p>George wrapped Acmé's silk cloak around her, and then carefully assisted +her in her descent to the cabin.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XX.</h1> + +<h2>The Mad House.</h2> + + +<blockquote> "And see the mind's convulsion leave it weak."</blockquote> + + +<p>The land breeze continued to freshen, and the first dawn of morning saw +our party on deck, scanning with near view, the opposite coasts of +Sicily and Italy, as their vessel glided through the Faro of Messina.</p> + +<p>Some pilot boats,--how unlike those which greet the homeward-bound +voyager, as he first hails Britain's chalky cliffs--crowded around the +vessel, offering their services to guide it through the strait.</p> + +<p>Avarice--one incentive to language--had endowed these Sicilian mariners +with a competent knowledge of English, which they dealt out +vociferously.</p> + +<p>As the Captain made his selection, the rejected candidates failed not +to use that familiar English salâm; half the gusto of which is lost, +when used by foreign lip.</p> + +<p>On the Calabrian coast, the sea-port town of Reggio wore an unusual air +of bustle and animation.</p> + +<p>It was a festa day there; and groups of peasants, in many-coloured +costumes, paced up and down the mole; emitting that joyous hum, which +is the never-failing concomitant of a happy crowd. Passing through +the Faro, the vessel's course lay by the northern coast of Sicily. +The current and wind were alike favourable, as it swept on by Melazzo +and Lascari.</p> + +<p>Etna, towering over the lesser mountains, became once more visible; its +summit buried in the clouds of heaven.</p> + +<p>On the right, a luminous crimson ring revealed Stromboli, whose fitful +volcano was more than usually active.</p> + +<p>The following day our party arrived at Palermo. So pleasurable had been +their voyage, that it was with a feeling akin to regret, that they heard +the rumbling chains of the anchor, rush through the hawse-hole, as +their vessel took her station in the bay.</p> + +<p>After going through those wearisome forms, which a foreign sea-port +exacts; and which appear purposely intended, to temper the rapture of +the sea-worn voyager, as he congratulates himself on once more treading +terra firma; our party found themselves the inmates of the English +hotel; and spent the remainder of the day in engaging a cicerone, and in +discussing plans for the morrow.</p> + +<p>The morrow came--sunny and cloudless--and the cicerone bowed to the +ground, as he opened the door of the commodious fiacre.</p> + +<p>"Where shall I drive to, Sir?"</p> + +<p>"What were our plans, George?" said Sir Henry.</p> + +<p>"I think," replied George, "that we only formed one plan to change it +for another. Let the cicerone decide for us."</p> + +<p><i>He,</i> nothing loath, accepted the charge; and taking his station on the +box of the carriage, directed the driver.</p> + +<p>The carriage first stopped before a large stone building. The bell was +rung--a veteran porter presented himself--and our party entered the +court yard.</p> + +<p>"What place is this?" said Delmé.</p> + +<p>"This," rejoined his guide, with the true cicerone fluency, "is the +famous lunatic asylum, instituted by the illustrious Baron Pisani. This, +gentlemen, is the Baron!"</p> + +<p>Here a benevolent-looking little man with a large nose, took off his +hat.</p> + +<p>"So much approved of was his beneficent design, that our noble King, and +our paternal Government, have not only adopted it; but have graciously +permitted the Baron, to continue to preside over that institution, which +he so happily commenced, and which he so refulgently adorns."</p> + +<p>During this announcement, the Baron's face flushed with a simple, but +honest pride.</p> + +<p>These praises did not to him appear exaggerated; for his intentions had +been of the purest, and in this institution was his whole soul wrapt up. +Acmé became somewhat pale, as she heard where they were, and looked +nervously at George; who could not forbear smiling, as he begged they +would be under no apprehensions. + +"Yes! gentlemen," said the Baron, "circumstances in early life made me +regard mental disease as the most fearful of all. I observed its victims +struggling between reason and insanity; goaded on by the ignorance of +empirics, and the harsh treatment of those about them, until light fled +the tortured brain, and madness directed its every impulse. You, +gentlemen, are English travellers, I perceive! In <i>your</i> happy land, +where generosity and wealth go hand in hand, there are, I doubt not, +many humane institutions, where those, who--bowed down by misfortunes, +or preyed on by disease--have lost the power to take care of themselves, +may find a home, where they may be anxiously tended, and carefully +provided for.</p> + +<p>"Here we knew not of such things.</p> + +<p>"I have said, gentlemen, that chance made me feel a deep interest in +these unfortunates. I sunk the greater part of my fortune, in +constructing this mansion, trusting that the subscriptions of +individuals, would enable me to prosecute the good work.</p> + +<p>"In this I was disappointed; but our worthy Viceroy, who took an interest +in my plans, laid the matter before the Government, which--as Signer +Guiseppe observes--has not only undertaken to support my asylum, but +also permits me to preside over the establishment. <i>That</i>, gentlemen, is +my apartment, with the mignionette boxes in front, and without iron bars +in the window; though indeed these very bars are painted, at my +suggestion, such a delicate green, that you might not have been aware +that they were such.</p> + +<p>"This is our first chamber--cheerful and snug. Here are the patients +first brought. We indulge them in all their caprices, until we are +enabled to decide with certainty, on the fantasy the brain has conjured +up. From this room, we take them to the adjacent bed-room, where we +administer such remedies as we think the best fitted to restore reason.</p> + +<p>"If these fail, we apportion the patient a cell, and consider the case as +beyond our immediate relief. We cure, on an average, two-thirds of the +cases forwarded to us; and there have been instances of the mind's +recovering its tone, after a confinement of some years."</p> + +<p>"How many inmates have you in the asylum at present?" said Acmé.</p> + +<p>"One hundred and thirty-six, eighty-six of whom are males. These are our +baths, to which they are daily taken; this the refectory; this the +parlatorio, where they see their friends; and now, if the lady is not +afraid, we will descend to the court yard, and see my charges."</p> + +<p>"There is no fear?" said George.</p> + +<p>"Not in the least. Our punishment is so formidable, that few will incur +it by being refractory."</p> + +<p>"What! then you are obliged to punish them?" said Acmé, with a shudder.</p> + +<p>"Sometimes, but not often. I will show you what our punishment consists +in. You see this room without furniture! Observe the walls and floor; +and even the door as it closes. All these are carefully stuffed; and if +you walk across the room, there is no sound.</p> + +<p>"We cautiously search violent lunatics; who are then dressed in a plain +flannel suit, and left alone. It is seldom we have occasion to retain +them longer than twenty-four hours. They soon find they cannot injure +themselves; their most violent efforts cannot elicit a sound. Their +minds become calmed; and when released, they are perfectly quiet, and +generally inclined to melancholy."</p> + +<p>They descended to the court yard, set apart for the men. Its inmates +were pacing it hurriedly; some jabbering to themselves; others with +groups round them, to whom they addressed some quickly delivered jargon. +With one or two exceptions, all noticed the entrance of the strangers; +and some of them bowed to them, with mock gravity. One man, who wore an +old cocked hat with a shabby feather, tapped Sir Henry on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Vous me reconnaissez--Napoleon! votre Empereur!"</p> + +<p>He wheeled round, and called for his Mamelukes.</p> + +<p>The next moment, a young and interesting looking person came forward, +the tears standing in his, eyes, and extended his hand to Acmé.</p> + +<p>"Give me yours," said he, "as a great favour. I was a painter once in +Naples--and I went to Rome--and I loved Gianetta Cantieri!"</p> + +<p>A more ludicrous incident now occurred. At and since their entrance, +our party had heard what seemed the continued bark of a dog. A man on +all fours came forward from behind a group, and with unmeaning face, +and nostril snuffing up the wind, imitated to perfection the deep bay +of a mastiff.</p> + +<p>"That man's peculiarity," observed the Baron, "is an extraordinary one. +He had a cottage near Catania, and had saved some little wealth. His +house was one night robbed of all it contained. This misfortune preyed +on the man's reason, and he now conceives himself a watch dog. He knows +the step of every inmate of the asylum, and only barks at strangers."</p> + +<p>From the male court yard, the Baron ushered them to the female, where +insanity assumed a yet more melancholy shape.</p> + +<p>A pale-faced maniac, with quivering frame, and glaring eye-balls, +continued to cry, in a low and piteous tone, "Murder! murder!! +murder!!!"</p> + +<p>One woman, reclining on the cold pavement, dandled a straw, and called +it her sweet child; while another hugged a misshapen block of wood to +her bared breast, and deemed it her true love.</p> + +<p>A third was on her knees, and at regular intervals, bent down her +shrivelled body, and devoured the gravel beneath her.</p> + +<p>Acmé was happy to leave the scene, and move towards the garden; which +was extensive, and beautifully laid out.</p> + +<p>As they turned down one of the alleys, they encountered five or six men, +drawn up in line, and armed with wooden muskets.</p> + +<p>In front stood Napoleon, who, with stentorian voice, gave the word to +"present arms!" then dropping his stick, and taking off his hat to +Delmé, began to converse familiarly with him, as with his friend Emperor +Alexander, as to the efficiency of Poniatowski and his Polish lancers.</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow!" said the Baron, as they moved on. "Never was insanity +more harmless! He was once brigade major to Murat. This is his hour for +exercise. Exactly at two, he goes through the scene of Fontainbleau, +What will appear to you extraordinary is, that over the five or six men +you saw around him, whose madness has been marked by few distinguishing +traits, he has gradually assumed a superiority, until they now believe +him to be, in reality, the Emperor he so unconsciously personates."</p> + +<p>In the garden, which was of considerable size, were placed a number of +swings and whirligigs, in full motion and occupancy.</p> + +<p>On a stuccoed wall, were represented grotesque figures of animals +dancing; opposite to which, one of Terpsichore's votaries, with a +paper cap on his head, shaped like a pyramid, was executing agile +capers, whose zeal of purpose would have found infinite favour in the +eyes of Laporte.</p> + +<p>Having explored the garden, Delmé accompanied the Baron to a small room, +where the sculls of the deceased maniacs were ranged on shelves, with a +small biographical note attached to each; and heard with attention, the +old man's energetic reasoning, as to these fully demonstrating the truth +of Spurzheim's theory.</p> + +<p>Acmé, meantime, remained on George's arm, talking to a girl of +thirteen, who had been selected to conduct them to the carriage.</p> + +<p>They entered their names in a book at the lodge, and then, turning to +the benevolent director, paid him some well deserved compliments, for +which he bowed low and often.</p> + +<p>The young girl, who had been conversing most rationally with Acmé, moved +forward, and made a signal for the carriage to drive up.</p> + +<p>She was a fair-haired gentle-looking creature, with quiet eye, and +silvery voice. She assisted Acmé to step into the carriage, who +dropped a piece of silver into her hand, for which she gave a sweet +smile and a curtsey.</p> + +<p>She stood a moment motionless. Suddenly her eye lighted up--she darted +into the carriage, and clapped her hands together joyfully.</p> + +<p>"Viva! viva! we shall soon be home at Trapani!"</p> + +<p>The tears sprang to the eyes of the young Greek.</p> + +<p>Even the driver and cicerone were moved.</p> + +<p>Acmé took some flowers from her zone--kissed her cheek--and tried to +change the current of her thoughts; but it was not till the driver +promised he would call again, at the same hour the following day, that +she consented with a sigh to relinquish her journey home.</p> + +<p>From the Lunatic Asylum, our party adjourned to the Duomo, and beheld +the coffin, where the revered body of the Palermitan Saint, attracts +many a devout Catholic.</p> + +<p>Sweet Rosalia! thy story is a pretty one--thy festa beauteous--the +fireworks in thy honour most bright. No wonder the fair Sicilians adore +thy memory.</p> + +<p>In the cool of the evening, our travellers drove to the Marina; where +custom--the crowded assemblage--and the grateful sea breeze--nightly +attract the gay inhabitants of Palermo.</p> + +<p>The carriages, with their epauletted chasseurs, swept on in giddy +succession, and made a scene quite as imposing as is witnessed in most +European capitals.</p> + +<p>Delmé did not think it advisable, to remain too long in the metropolis +of Sicily; and the travellers contented themselves, with the +sight-seeing of the immediate neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>They admired the mosaics of the Chiesa di Monte Reale; and fed the +pheasants, at that beautiful royal villa, well styled "the Favourite." +They took a boat to witness the tunny fishery; and Sir Henry explored +alone the vast catacombs--that city of the dead.</p> + +<p>After a few days thus passed--the weather continuing uncommonly +fine--they did not hesitate to engage one of the small vessels of the +place, to convey them to Naples. + +After enjoying their evening drive as usual, they embarked on board the +Sparonara, one fine starry night, in order to get the full advantage of +the favouring night breeze.</p> + + + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">End of the First Volume.</p> + +<h1>A Love Story</h1> + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">by</p> + +<h2>A Bushman.</h2> + +<h3>Vol. II.</h3> + +<blockquote> + "My thoughts, like swallows, skim the main,<br /> + And bear my spirit back again<br /> + Over the earth, and through the air,<br /> + A wild bird and a wanderer." +</blockquote> + +<h4>1841.</h4> + + + + +<h1>A Love Story.</h1> + + + +<h1>Chapter I.</h1> + +<h2>Naples</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "And be it mine to muse there, mine to glide<br /> +From day-break when the mountain pales his fire,<br /> +Yet more and more, and from the mountain top,<br /> +Till then invisible, a smoke ascends,<br /> +Solemn and slow."</blockquote> + +<blockquote> "Vedi Napoli! e poi muori!"</blockquote> + + +<p>Memory! beloved memory! to us thou art as hope to other men. The +present--solitary, unexciting--where are its charms? The future hath no +joys in store for us; and may bereave us of some of the few faint +pleasures that still are ours.</p> + +<p>What then is left us--old before our time--but to banquet on the past?</p> + +<p>Memory! thou art in us, as the basil of the enamoured +Florentine. [Footnote 1: See Keats' poem taken from Boccaccio.] Thy +blossoms, thy leaves,--green, fresh, and fragrant,--draw their nurture, +receive their every colouring, from what was dearest to us on earth. And +are they not watered by our tears?</p> + +<p>The poet tells us--</p> + +<blockquote> "Nessun maggior dolore<br /> +Che ricordarsi del tempo felice<br /> +Nella miseria."</blockquote> + +<p>But it is not so. Where is he of the tribe of the unfortunate, who would +not gladly barter the contemplation of present wretchedness, for the +remembrance, clogged as it is by a thousand woes, of a time when joyous +visions flitted across life's path?</p> + +<p>Yes! though the contrast, the succeeding moment, should cut him to the +soul.</p> + +<p>But</p> + +<blockquote> "Joy's recollection is no longer joy,<br /> +Whilst sorrow's memory is a sorrow still."</blockquote> + +<p>Ah! there's the rub! yet, better to think it <i>was</i> joy, than gaze unveiled +on the cold reality around; than view the wreck--the grievous wreck--a +few short years have made.</p> + +<p>We care not,--and, alas! to such as we have in our mind's eye, these are +the only cases allowed,--we care not! whether rapture has been succeeded +by apathy, or whether the feelings continue as deeply enlisted--the +thoughts as intensely concentrated;--but--in the servitude of despair!</p> + +<p>And again we say--gentle memory! let us dream over our past joys! ay! and +brood over our sorrows--undeserved--as in this hour of solitude, we may +justly deem them.</p> + +<p>Yes! let us again live over our days of suffering, and deem it wiser to +steep our soul in tears, than let it freeze with an iced coating of cynic +miscalled philosophy.</p> + +<p>And shall adversity--that touchstone--softened as our hearts shall thus +be--shall it pass over us, and improve us not?</p> + +<p>No! it has purifying and cleansing qualities; and for us, it has them +not in vain.</p> + +<p>We are not dust, to be more defiled by water; nor are we as the turbid +stream, which passing over driven snow, becomes more impure by the +close contact.</p> + +<p>Thee, Mnemosyne! let us still adore; content rather to droop, fade, and +die--martyrs to thee! than linger on as beasts of the forest, that know +thee not. No hope may be ours to animate the future: let us still cling to +thee, though thine influence sadden the past.</p> + +<p>Away! we are on the placid sea! and Naples lies before us.</p> + +<p>The sun had just risen from ocean's bed, attired in his robe of gold; as +our travellers watched from the deck of their Sparonara, to catch the +first view of the "garden of the world," as the Neapolitans fondly style +their city,</p> + +<p>A dim haze was abroad, the mists were slowly stealing up the mountains, as +their vessel glided on; a light breeze anon filling its canvas, then dying +away, and leaving the sails to flap against the loosened cordage.</p> + +<p>On their left, extended the charming heights of Posilipo---the classic +site of Baia--Pozzuoli--Nisida--and Ischia, to be reverenced for its wine.</p> + +<p>On their right, Capra's isle and Portici--and Vesuvius--wreathed in +vapour, presented themselves.</p> + +<p>As their vessel held on her way, Naples became visible--its turrets capt +by a solitary cloud, which had not yet acknowledged the supremacy of the +rising deity.</p> + +<p>The effulgence of the city was dimmed, but it was lovely still,--as a +diamond, obscured by a passing breath; or woman's eye, humid from +pity's tear.</p> + +<p>"And this," said Sir Henry, for it happened that his travels in Italy had +not extended so far south, "this is Naples! and this sea view the second +finest in the world!"</p> + +<p>"Which is the first?" said Acmé, laughing, "not in England, I trust; for +we foreigners do not invest your island with beauty's attributes."</p> + +<p>"My dear Acmé!" replied Sir Henry, somewhat gravely, "I trust the day may +arrive, when you will deem Delmé Park, with its mansion bronzed by +time--its many hillocks studded with ancient trees--its glistening brook, +and hoary gateways--its wooded avenue, where the rooks have built for +generations--its verdant glades, where the deer have long found a +home:--when you will consider all these, as forming as fair a prospect, as +ever eye reposed on. But I did not allude at the time to England; but to +the Turkish capital. George! I remember your glowing description of your +trip in Mildmay's frigate, up the Dardanelles. What comparison would you +make between the two scenes?"</p> + +<p>"I confess to have been much disappointed," replied George, "in my first +view of Stamboul; and even the beauty of the passage to the Dardanelles, +seemed to me to have been exaggerated. But what really <i>did</i> strike me, as +being the most varied, the most interesting scenery I had ever witnessed, +was that which greeted us, on an excursion we made in a row boat, from the +Bosphorus into the Black Sea.</p> + +<p>"There all my floating conceptions of Oriental luxury, and of Moslem pomp, +were more than realised.</p> + +<p>"The elegant kiosks--the ornamented gardens--the pinnacled harems, the +entrance to which lofty barriers jealously guarded--the number of the +tombs in their silent cities---gave an intense interest to the Turkish +coast;--while sumptuous barges, filled with veiled women, swept by us, and +gave a fairy charm to the sea. On our return, we were nearly lost from our +ignorance of the current, which is rapid and dangerous."</p> + +<p>"Well! I am glad to hear such a smiling account of Stamboul," rejoined +Acmé. "My feelings regarding it have been quite Grecian. It has always +been to me a sort of Ogre city."</p> + +<p>The breeze began to freshen, and the vessel made way fast.</p> + +<p>As they neared the termination of their voyage, some church, or casino +bedecked with statues, or fertile glen, whose sides blushed with the +luscious grape, opened at every instant, and drew forth their admiration.</p> + +<p>Their little vessel swung to her anchor.</p> + +<p>The busy hum of the restless inhabitants, and the joyous toll of the +churches, announcing one of the never-failing Neapolitan processions, was +borne on the breeze.</p> + +<p>The whole party embarked for the quarantine office, and--once authorised +to join the throng of Naples--soon found themselves in the Strada Toledo, +moving towards the Santa Lucia.</p> + +<p>Their hotel was near the mole; its windows commanding an extensive view of +the purple sea, beyond which the eye took in the changeful volcano; and +many a vista--sunny, smiling, and beauteous enough, for the exacting fancy +of an Englishman, who conjures up for an Italian landscape, marble-like +villas--and porticoes, where grapes cluster, in festoons of the +vine--heaving mountains--a purple sky--faces bronzed, but oh how +fair!--and song, revelry, and grace.</p> + +<p>But what struck Acmé, and even Sir Henry, who was more inured to the whirl +of cities, as the characteristical feature of Naples, was its moving life. +In the streets, there was an incessant bustle from morning until midnight. +Each passer by wore an air of importance, almost amounting to a +consciousness of happiness. There was fire in the glance--speech in the +action--on the lip a ready smile.</p> + +<p>In no city of Italy, does care seem more misplaced. The noble rolls on in +his vehicle on the Corso, with features gay and self-possessed; while the +merry laugh of the beggar--as he feasts on the lengthened honors of his +Macaroni--greets the ear at every turn. Stray not there! oh thou with brow +furrowed by anguish!</p> + +<p>If thy young affections have been blighted--if hope fondly indulged, be +replaced by despair--if feelings that lent their roseate hue, to the +commonest occurrences of life, now darken every scene--if thou knowest +thyself the accessary to this, thy misery, stray not in Naples, all too +joyous for thee!</p> + +<p>Rather haunt the shrines of the world's ancient mistress! Perchance the +sunken pillar--and the marble torso--and the moss-grown edifice--and the +sepulchre, with the owl as tenant--and the thought that the great, the +good, and the talented, who reared these fading monuments--are silent and +mouldering below: mayhap these things will speak to thy heart, and repress +the full gush of a sorrow that may not be controlled! And if--the martyr +to o'er-sicklied refinement--to sentiment too etherialised for the world, +where God hath placed thee--ideal woes have stamped a wrinkle on the brow, +and ideal dreams now constitute thy pleasure and thy bane: for such as +thou art! living on feeling's excess--soaring to rapture's heights--or +sinking to despair's abyss--Naples is not fitting!</p> + +<p>Visit the city of the sea! there indulge thy shapeless imaginings--with no +sound to break thy day dreams--save the shrill cry of the gondolier, and +the splash of his busy oar.</p> + +<p>The young Greek, Delmé, and George, were soon immersed in the round of +sight seeing.</p> + +<p>Visits to the ancient palace of Queen Joanna--to the modern villa of the +Margravine--to the Sibyl's Cave, and to Maro's Tomb--to <i>some</i> sites that +owed their interest to classic associations--to <i>others</i> that claimed it +from present beauty--wiled away days swiftly and pleasurably.</p> + +<p>What with youth, change of scene, and an Italian sky, George was no +longer an invalid. His eye wore neither the film of apathy, nor the +unnatural flush of delirium; but smiled its happiness on all, and beamed +its love on Acmé.</p> + +<p>One night they were at the Fondo, and after listening delightedly to +Lalande, and following with quick glance, the rapid movements of the agile +ballerina, and after George had been honoured by a bow--which greatly +amused Acmé--from the beautiful princess; who, poor girl! <i>then</i> felt a +penchant for Englishmen, which she failed not to avow from her opera +box--the party agreed to walk home to the hotel. On their way, they turned +into a coffee-room to take ice.</p> + +<p>The fluent waiter prattled over his catalogue; and Acmé selected his +"sorbetto Maltese," because the name reminded her of the loved island.</p> + +<p>Leaving the coffee-room, they were accosted by a driver of one of the +public coaches.</p> + +<p>"Now, Signore! just in time for Vesuvius! See the sun rise! superb sight! +elegant carriage!"</p> + +<p>"Do let us go!" said Acmé, clapping her hands with youthful enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"No, no! my dear!" said Sir Henry, "we must not think of it! you would be +so tired."</p> + +<p>"No, no! you do not know how strong I am; and I intend sleeping on +George's shoulder all the way--and we are all in such high spirits--and +these improvised excursions you yourself granted were always best--and +besides, you know we must always start at this hour, if we expect to see +the sunrise from the mountain. What do <i>you</i> say, Giorgio?"</p> + +<p>The discussion ended, by the driver taking the direction of the hotel; +whence, after making arrangements as to provisions and change of dress, +the party started for the mountain.</p> + +<p>The warm cheek of Acmé was reposing on that of her husband; and the wanton +night air was disporting with her wavy tresses, as the loud halloo of the +driver, warned them that they were in Portici, and in the act of arousing +Salvador, the guide to the mountain. After some short delay, they procured +mules. Each brother armed himself with a long staff, and leaving the +carriage, they wended their way towards the Hermitage.</p> + +<p>It was a clear night. The moon was majestically gliding on her path, +vassalled by myriads of stars.</p> + +<p>There was something in the hour--and the scene--and the novelty of the +excursion--that enjoined silence.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the Hermitage, the party dismounted. Acmé clung to the strap, +fastened round their guide, and they commenced the ascent. In a short +time, they had manifest proofs of their vicinity to the volcano. The +ashy lava gave way at each footstep, and it was only by taking short and +quick steps, and perseveringly toiling on, that they were enabled to +make any progress.</p> + +<p>More than once, was Acmé inclined to stop, and take breath, but the guide +assured them they were already late, and that they would only just be in +time for the sunrise.</p> + +<p>As the last of the party reached the summit, the sun became +perceptible--and rose in glory indescribable. The scene afar how gorgeous! +around them how grand!</p> + +<p>Panting from their exertions, they sat on a cloak of Salvador's, and gazed +with astonishment at the novelties bursting on the eye.</p> + +<p>Each succeeding moment, gusts of flame issued forth from the crater.</p> + +<p>They looked down on the bason, above which they were. From a conical +pyramid of lava, were emitted volumes of smoke, which rolled up to heaven +in rounded and fantastic shapes of beauty. Below, a deep azure--above, of +a clear amber hue--the clouds wreathed and ascended majestically, as if +in time to the rumbling thunder--the accompaniments of nature's +subterraneous throes.</p> + +<p>Their fatigues were amply repaid. Sir Henry's curiosity was aroused, and +he descended with the guide to the crater. George and Acmé, delighted with +the excursion, remained on the summit, partaking of Salvador's provisions.</p> + +<p>The descent they found easy and rapid; the lava now assisting, as much as +it had formerly impeded them.</p> + +<p>At Portici, Salvador introduced them to his apartment, embellished with +specimens of lava. They purchased some memorials of their visit--partook +of some fruit--and, after rewarding the guide, they returned to Naples.</p> + +<p>Another of their excursions, and it is one than which there are few more +interesting, was to that city--which, like the fabulous one of the eastern +tale, rears its temples, but there are none to worship; its theatres, but +there are none to applaud; its marble statues, where are the eyes that +should dwell on them with pride? Its mansions are many--its walls and +tesselated pavements, show colours of vivid hue, and describe tales +familiar from our boyhood. The priest is at his altar--the soldiers in +their guard-room--the citizen in his bath. It is indeed difficult, as our +step re-echoes through the silent streets, to divest ourselves of the +impression, that we are wandering where the enchanter's wand has been all +powerful, that he has waved it, and lo! the city sleeps for a season, +until some event shall have been fulfilled.</p> + +<p>Our party were in the Via Appia of Pompeii, when Acmé turned aside, to +remark one tomb more particularly. It was an extensive one, surrounded +with a species of iron net work, through which might be seen ranges of red +earthen vases. Acme turned to the custode, and asked if this was the +burial place of some noble family.</p> + +<p>"No! Signora! this is where the ashes of the gladiators are preserved."</p> + +<p>From the Appian Way, they entered through the public gate; and passing +many shops, whose signs yet draw notice, if they no longer attract custom, +they came to the private houses, and entered one--that called +Sallust's--for the purpose of a more minute inspection.</p> + +<p>"Nothing appears to be more strange," said George, "on looking at these +frescoed paintings, and on such mosaics as we have yet seen; than the +extraordinary familiarity of their subjects.</p> + +<p>"There are many depicted on these walls, and I do not think, Henry, <i>we</i> +are first rate classics;--and yet it would be difficult to puzzle us, in +naming the story whence these frescoes have their birth. Look at this +Latona--and Leda--and the Ariadne abbandonata--and this must certainly be +the blooming Hebe. Ah! and look at this little niche! This grinning little +deity--the facsimile of an Indian idol--must express their idea of the +Penates. Strange! is it not?"</p> + +<p>"But are you not," rejoined Sir Henry, "somewhat disappointed in the +dwelling-houses? This seems one of the most extensive, and yet, how +diminutive the rooms! and how little of attraction in the whole +arrangement, if we except this classic fountain.</p> + +<p>"This I think is a proof, that the ancient Romans must have chiefly passed +their day abroad--in the temples--the forum--or the baths--and have left +as home tenants none but women, and those unadorned with the toga virilis.</p> + +<p>"These habits may have tended to engender a manlier independence; and +to impart to their designs a loftier spirit of enterprise. What say +you, Acmé?"</p> + +<p>"I might perhaps answer," replied Acmé, "that the happiness gained, is +well worth the glory lost. But I must not fail to remind you, that--grand +as this nation must have been--my poor fallen one was its precursor--its +tutor--and its model."</p> + +<p>Hence they wandered to the theatre--the forum--the pantheon--and +amphitheatre:--which last, from their converse in the earlier part of the +day--fancy failed not to fill with daring combatants. As the guide +pointed out the dens for the wild beasts--the passages through which they +came--and the arena for the combat--Sir Henry, like most British +travellers, recalled the inimitable story of Thraso, and his lion fight. +[Footnote: In Valerius.]</p> + +<p>The following day was devoted to the Studio, and to the inspection of the +relics of Pompeii.</p> + +<p>These relics, interesting as they are, yet convey a melancholy lesson to +the contemplative mind. Each modern vanity here has its parallel--each +luxury its archetype. Here may be found the cameoed ring--and the signet +seal--and the bodkin--and paint for the frail one's cheek--a cuirass, that +a life guardsman might envy--weights--whose elegance of shape charm the +eye. Not an article of modern convenience or of domestic comfort, that has +not its representative. They teach us the trite French lesson.</p> + +<p> "L'histoire se répète." + +With the exception of these two excursions, and one to Poestum; our +travellers passed their mornings sight-seeing in Naples, and chiefly at +the Studio, whose grand attraction is the thrilling group of the +Taureau Farnese.</p> + +<p>In the cool of the evening, until twilight's hour was past, they drove +into the country, or promenaded in the gardens of the Villa Reale, to the +sound of the military band.</p> + +<p>Each night they turned their footsteps towards the Mole; where they +embarked on the unruffled bay. To a young and loving heart--the heart of a +bride--no pleasure can equal that, of being next the one loved best on +earth--at night's still witching hour. The peculiar scenery of Naples, yet +more enhances such pleasure.</p> + +<p>Elsewhere night may boast its azure vault and its silver stars. Cynthia +may ride the heavens in majesty--the water may be serene--and the heart +attuned to the night's beauty:--but from the <i>land</i>, if discernible--we +can rarely expect much addition to the charms of the scene, and can never +expect it to form its chief attraction. At Naples it is otherwise.</p> + +<p>Our eyes turn to the Volcano, whose flame, crowning the mountain's summit, +crimsons the sky.</p> + +<p>We watch with undiminished interest, its fitful action--now bursting out +brilliantly--now fading, as if about to be extinguished for ever. Seated +beside George, and thus gazing, what pleasure was Acmé's! We need not say +time flew swiftly. Never did happiness meet with more ardent votary than +in that young bride--or find a more ready mirror, on which to reflect her +beaming attributes--than on the features of that bride's husband.</p> + +<p>Their swimming eyes would fill with tears--and their voices sink to the +lowest whisper.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry rarely interrupted their converse; but leant his head on the +boat's side, and thoughtfully gazed on the placid waters, till he almost +deemed he saw reflected on its surface, the face of one, in whose society +<i>he</i> felt he too might be blest.</p> + +<p>But these fancies would not endure long. Delmé would quickly arouse +himself; and, warned by the lateness of the hour, and feeling the +necessity that existed, for his thinking for the all-engrossed pair, would +order the rowers to direct the boat's course homewards.</p> + +<p>Returned to their hotel, it may be that orisons more heavenward, have +issued from hearts more pure.</p> + +<p>Few prayers more full of gratitude, have been whispered by earthly +lips, than were breathed by George and his young wife in the solitude +of their chamber.</p> + +<p>How often is such uncommon happiness as this the precursor of evil!</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter II.</h1> + +<h2>The Doctor</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Son port, son air de suffisance,<br /> +Marquent dans son savoir sa noble confiance.<br /> +Dans les doctes debats ferme et rempli de coeur,<br /> +Même après sa défaite il tient tête an vainqueur.<br /> +Voyez, pour gagner temps, quelles lenteurs savantes,<br /> +Prolongent de ses mots les syllabes traînantes!<br /> +Tout le monde l'admire, et ne peut concevoir<br /> +Que dans un cerveau seul loge tant de savoir."</blockquote> + + +<p>It was soon after the excursion to Poestum, that a packet of letters +reached the travellers from Malta. These letters had been forwarded from +England, on the intelligence reaching Emily, of George's intended +marriage. They had been redirected to Naples, by Colonel Vavasour, and +were accompanied by a few lines from himself.</p> + +<p>In Sir Henry's communication with his sister, he had prudently thrown a +veil, over the distressing part of George's story, and had dwelt warmly, +on the beauty and sweetness of temper of Acmé Frascati. He could hardly +hope that the proposed marriage, would meet with the entire approval of +those, to whom he addressed himself.</p> + +<p>The letters in reply, however, only breathed the affectionate overflowings +of kind hearts. Mrs. Glenallan sent her motherly blessing to George; and +Emily, in addition to a long communication to her brother, wrote to Acmé +as to a beloved sister; begging her to hasten George's return to England, +that they might meet one, in whom they must henceforward feel the +liveliest interest.</p> + +<p>"How kind they all are," said George. "I only wish we <i>were</i> with them."</p> + +<p>"And so do I," said Acmé. "How dearly I shall love them all."</p> + +<p>"George!" said Sir Henry, abruptly, "do you know, I think it is quite time +we should move farther north. The weather is getting most oppressive; and +we have nearly exhausted the lions of Naples."</p> + +<p>"With all my heart," replied George. "I am ready to leave it whenever +you please."</p> + +<p>On Sir Henry's considering the best mode of conveyance, it occurred to +him, that some danger might arise from the malaria of the Pontine marshes; +and indeed, Rome and its environs were represented, at that time, as being +by no means free from this unwelcome visitant.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry enquired if there were any English physicians resident in +Naples; and having heard a high eulogium passed by the waiter, on a Doctor +Pormont, "who attended the noble Consul, and my Lord Rimington," ventured +to enclose his card, with a note, stating that he would be glad of five +minutes' conversation with that gentleman.</p> + +<p>In a short time, Doctor Pormont was introduced.</p> + +<p>He was a tall man, with very marked features, and a deeply furrowed brow; +whose longitudinal folds, however, seemed rather the result of thought or +of study, than of age. The length of his nose was rivalled by the width of +his mouth. When he spoke, he displayed two rows of very clean and very +regular teeth, but which individually narrowed to a sharp point, and gave +his whole features a peculiarly unpleasing expression. His voice was +husky--his manners chilling--his converse that of a pedant.</p> + +<p>Doctor Pormont was in many respects a singular man. From childhood, he had +been remarkable for stoicism of character. He possessed none of the weak +frailties, or gentle sympathies, which ordinarily belong to human nature. +His blood ran cold, like that of a fish. Never had he been known to lose +his equanimity of deportment.</p> + +<p>A species of stern principle, however, governed his conduct; and his very +absence of feeling, made him an impartial physician, and one of the most +successful anatomists of the day.</p> + +<p>What brought him to bustling, sunny Naples, was an unfathomed +mystery. Once there, he acquired wealth without anxiety, and patients +without friends.</p> + +<p>Amongst the many anecdotes, current amongst his professional brethren, as +to the blunted feelings of Doctor Pormont, was one,--related of him when +he was lecturer at a popular London institution. A subject had been +placed on the anatomist's table, for the purpose of allowing the lecturer, +to elucidate to the young students, the advantages of a post mortem +examination, in the determination of diseases. The lecturer dissected as +he proceeded, and was particularly clear and luminous. He even threw light +on the previous habits of the deceased, and showed at what period of life, +the germ of decay was probably forming.</p> + +<p>A friend casually enquired, as they left the lecture room, whether the +subject had been a patient of his own.</p> + +<p>"No!" replied the learned lecturer, "the body is that of my cousin and +schoolfellow, Harry Welborne. I attended his funeral, at some little +distance from town, a couple of days ago. My servant must have given +information to the exhumer. It is clear the body was removed from the +vault on the same evening."</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé briefly explained to Doctor Pormont, his purpose in +sending for him. He stated that he was anxious to take his advice, as to +the best mode of proceeding to Rome, and also as to the best sleeping +place for the party;--that he had a wholesome dread of the malaria, but +that one of his party being a female, and another an invalid, he thought +it might be as well to sleep one night on the road. Regarding all this, he +deferred to the advice and superior judgment of the physician.</p> + +<p>"Judgment," said Doctor Pormont, "is two-fold. It may be defined, either +as the faculty of arriving at the knowledge of things, which may be +effected by the synthetic or analytic method; or it may be considered as +the just perception of them, when they are fully indagated.</p> + +<p>"Our problem seems to resolve itself into two cases.</p> + +<p>"First: does malaria exist to an unusual and alarming extent, on the route +you purpose taking?</p> + +<p>"Secondly: the existence conceded--what is the best method to escape the +evil effects that might attend its inhibition into the human system?</p> + +<p>"Let us apply the synthetic method to our first case."</p> + +<p>The Doctor prefaced his arguments, by a long statement, as to the gradual +commencement, and progress of malaria;--showed how the atmosphere, +polluted by exhalations of water, impregnated with decaying and putrified +vegetable matter, gave forth miasmata; which he described as being +particles of poison in a volatile state.</p> + +<p>He alluded to the opinion held by many, that the disease owed its origin +to the ravages of the barbarians, who destroying the Roman farms and +villas, had made <i>desert</i> what were <i>fertile</i> regions.</p> + +<p>He traced it from the time of the late Roman Emperors, to that of the +dominion of the Popes, whose legislative enactments to arrest the malady, +he failed not to comment on at length.</p> + +<p>He explained the uncertainty which continued to exist, as to the +boundaries of the tract of country, in which the disease was rife; and +then plunged into his argument. + +George, at this crisis, quietly took the opportunity of gliding from the +room. Sir Henry stretched his legs on an ottoman, and appeared immersed in +the study of a print--the Europa of Paul Veronese--which hung over the +mantel-piece.</p> + +<p>"The Diario di Roma," continued the Doctor, "received this day, decidedly +states that malaria is fearfully raging on the Neapolitan road. Pray +forgive me, if I occasionally glide into the vulgar error, of confounding +the disease itself, with the causes of that disease.</p> + +<p>"On the other hand, a young collegian, who arrived in Naples from Rome +yesterday evening, states that he smoked and slept the whole journey, and +suffered no inconvenience whatever.</p> + +<p>"Here two considerations present themselves. While sleep has been +considered by the best authorities, as predisposing the human frame to +infection, by opening the pores, relaxing the integuments, and retarding +the circulation of the blood; I cannot overlook the virtues of tobacco, +narcotic--aromatic--disinfecting--as we must grant them to be.</p> + +<p>"Here then may I place in juxta-position, the testimony of the Diario, and +that of a young gentleman, half of his time asleep--the other half, under +the influence of the fumes of tobacco.</p> + +<p>"Synthetically, I opine, that we may conclude that malaria does exist, and +to a great degree, in the Campagna di Roma. Will you now allow me, to +submit the question under dispute, to the analytic process? By many, in +the present age, though not by me, it is considered the more philosophical +mode of reasoning."</p> + +<p>"I am extremely obliged to you, Doctor," said Sir Henry, in a quiet tone +of voice, "but you have raised the synthetic structure so admirably, +that I think that in this instance we may dispense with your analysis. +Pray proceed!"</p> + +<p>"Having already shown, then--although your kindness has allowed me to do +so but partially--that malaria does indeed exist, it becomes me to show, +which is the best mode of avoiding its baneful effects.</p> + +<p>"Injurious as are the miasmata in general, and fatal as are the effects of +that peculiar form in this country, termed malaria; the diseases they +engender, I apprehend to be rather endemic than epidemic.</p> + +<p>"It would be difficult to determine, to what part of the Campagna, the +disease is at present confined; but I should certainly not advise you, to +sleep within the bounds of contagion, for the predisposing effects of +sleep I have already hinted at.</p> + +<p>"Rapid travelling is, in my opinion, the best prophylactic I can prescribe, +as besides a certain exhilarating effect on the spirits, the swift passage +through the air, will remove any spiculæ of the marsh miasmata, which may +be hovering near your persons. Air, cheerfulness, and exercise, however, +predispose to, and are the results of sleep: and to an invalid especially, +sleep is indispensable.</p> + +<p>"In Mr. Delmé's case, therefore, I would recommend a temporary halt."</p> + +<p>Dr. Pormont then gave an account of the length of the stages, the nature +of the post-house accommodations, and the probable degree of danger +attached to each site.</p> + +<p>From all this, Delmé gathered, that malaria existed to some extent, on the +line of road they were to travel--that sleep would be necessary for +George--and that, on the whole, it would be most desirable to sleep at an +inn, situated at a hamlet between Molo di Gaetà and Terracina, somewhat +removed from the central point of danger.</p> + +<p>But the truth is, that Sir Henry Delmé was disposed to consider Dr. +Pormont, with his pomposity, and wordy arguments, as a mere superficial +thinker; and he half laughed at himself, for having ever thought it +necessary to consult him. This class of men influence less than they +ought. Sensible persons are apt to set them down, as either fools or +pedants. Their very magniloquence condemns them; for, in the present day, +it seems an axiom, that simplicity and genius are invariably allied.</p> + +<p>This rule, like most others, has its exceptions; and it would be well for +all of us, if we thought less of the manner, in which advice may be +delivered, and more of the matter which it may contain.</p> + +<p>The Doctor rose to take leave,--Sir Henry witnessed his departure with +lively satisfaction; and, with the exception of enjoying a hearty laugh, +at his expense, with George and Acmé, ceased to recollect that such a +personage existed.</p> + +<p>Delmé, however, had cause to remember that Doctor Pormont.</p> + +<p>Were it not so, he would not have figured in these pages.</p> + +<p>The last evening they were at Naples, they proceeded, as was their +custom, to the Mole; and there engaging a boat, directed it to be rowed +across the bay.</p> + +<p>The volcano was more than usually brilliant, and the villages at its base, +appeared as clear as at noonday.</p> + +<p>The water's surface was not ruffled by a ripple. A bridal party was +following in the wake of their boat--and nuptial music was floating past +them in subdued cadence.</p> + +<p>A nameless regret filled their minds, as they thought of the journey on +the coming morrow. They had been so happy in Naples. Could they hope to be +happier elsewhere?</p> + +<p>It was midnight, when they returned to the hotel. As they neared its +portico, the round cold moon fell on the forms of the lazzaroni, who were +lying in groups round the pillars.</p> + +<p>One of the party sprang to his feet, alarming the slumberers. The whole +of them rose with admirable cheerfulness--took off their hats +respectfully--and made way for the forestieri.</p> + +<p>During the momentary pause that ensued, Acmé turned to the volcano, and +playfully waved her hand in token of farewell.</p> + +<p>Her eyes filled with tears, and she clung heavily to George's arm.</p> + +<p>She was doomed never to look on that scene again.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter III.</h1> + +<h2>The Beginning of the End</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Thou too, art gone! thou loved and lovely one,<br /> +Whom youth and youth's affections bound to me."</blockquote> + + +<p>At an early hour, rich aureate hues yet streaking the east, our party were +duly seated in a roomy carriage of Angrasani's, on their way to Rome.</p> + +<p>They had hopes of arriving at the capital, in time to witness that unique +sight, the illumination of Saint Peter's; a sight which few can remember, +without deeming its anticipation well worthy, to urge on the jaded +traveller, to his journey's termination.</p> + +<p>Who can forget the play of the fountains in front of the Vatican, the +music of whose descending water is most distinctly audible, although +crowds throng the wide and noble space.</p> + +<p>Breathless--silent all--is the assembled multitude, as the clock of Saint +Peter's gives its long expected signal.</p> + +<p>Away! darkness is light! a fairy palace springs before us! its +beautiful proportions starting into life, until the giddy brain reels, +from the excess of that splendour, on which the eye suddenly and +delightedly feasts!</p> + +<p>With the exception of a short halt, which afforded the travellers time for +an early dinner at the Albergo di Cicerone, which is about half a mile +from the Molo di Gaeta, they prosecuted their journey without +intermission, till arrived within sight of their resting place.</p> + +<p>This bore the aspect of an extensive, but dilapidated mansion, evidently +designed for some other purpose.</p> + +<p>Its proprietor had erected it, at a period, when malaria was either less +prevalent or less dreaded; and his descendants had quitted it, for some +more salubrious site.</p> + +<p>The albergo itself, occupied but a small portion of the building, +immediately on the right and left of the porch.</p> + +<p>The other apartments, which formed the wings, were either wholly +tenantless, or were fitted up as hay-lofts, granaries, or receptacles for +farming utensils.</p> + +<p>In the upper rooms, the panes of glass were broken; and the whole aspect +of the place betokened desolation and decay.</p> + +<p>As they drove to the door, a throng of mendicants and squalid peasants +came forth. Their faces had a cadaverous hue, which could not but be +remarked. Their eyes, too, seemed heavy, and deep set in the head; while +many had their throats bandaged, from the effects of glandular swellings, +brought on by the marshy exhalations.</p> + +<p>Acmé threw some small pieces of Neapolitan money amongst them; and their +gratitude in consequence was boundless.</p> + +<p>She sprang from the carriage like a young fawn.</p> + +<p>"Come, come, Giorgio! look at that sweet sun-set--and at the blue clouds +edged with burnished gold! Would it not be a sin to remain in-doors on +such an evening? and besides," added she, in a whisper--"is it not a +pleasure to leave behind us these sickly faces, to muse on an Italian +landscape, and admire an Italian sky? Driver! will you order supper? We +will take a stroll while it is preparing.</p> + +<p>"Come! Henry! come away! do not look so grave, or you will make me think +of your amusing friend--Dr. Pormont."</p> + +<p>"Thompson!" said George, as the smiling bride bore off the brothers in +triumph, "do not forget your mistress' guitar case!"</p> + +<p>The travellers passed a paved court, in rear of the building; whence a +wicket gate admitted them to a kitchen garden, well stocked with the +requisites for an Italian salad.</p> + +<p>Behind this, enclosed with embankments, was a small vineyard. The vines +twined round long poles, these again being connected with thin cords, +which the tendrils were already clasping.</p> + +<p>Thus far, there was nothing that seemed indicative of an unwholesome +situation. As they extended their walk, however, pursuing the +continuation of the path, that had led them through the vineyard, they +arrived at the edge of a dark sluggish stream, whose surface was nearly on +a level with them; and which, gradually becoming broader, at length +emptied itself into what might be styled a wide and luxuriant marsh, which +abounded with water-fowl. This was studded with small round lakes, and +with islets of an emerald verdure.</p> + +<p>From the bosom of the marsh itself, rose bulrushes and pollard willows, +towered over by gigantic noisy reeds.</p> + +<p>The stream was thickly strewn with the pure honours of the water lily.</p> + +<p>If--as Eastern poets tell us--these snowy flowers bathe their charms, +when the sun is absent, but lift up their virgin heads, when he looks +down approvingly:--but that, sometimes deceived, on some peerless +damsel's approaching, they mistake her eye for their loved luminary, and +pay to her beauty an abrupt and involuntary homage:--<i>now</i> might they +indeed gaze upward, to greet as fair a face as ever looked down on the +water they bedecked.</p> + +<p>They approached the edge of the marsh, and discovered a rural arbour +of faded boughs--the work of children--placed around a couple of +willow trees.</p> + +<p>Within it, was a rude seat; and some parasitical plant with a deep red +flower, had twined round the withered boughs, and mingled fantastically +with the dead leaves.</p> + +<p>Below the arbour, was a small stone embankment, which prevented the +waters from encroaching, and made the immediate site comparatively free +from dampness.</p> + +<p>Acme arranged her cloak--took one hand of each of the brothers in +hers--and in the exuberance of health and youth--commenced prattling in +that charming domestic strain, which only household intimacy can beget +or justify. George leant back in silence, but could have clasped her to +his heart.</p> + +<p>Memory! memory! who that hath a soul, cannot conjure up one such gentle +being,--while the blood for one moment responds to thy call, and rolls +through the veins with the tide of earlier and of happier days?</p> + +<p>At the extremity of the horizon, was a more extensive lake, than any near +them. Over this, the sun was setting; tinting its waters with a clear rich +amber, save in its centre, where, the lake serving as a halo to its glory, +a blood-red sun was vividly reflected.</p> + +<p>As the sun descended, one slender ray of light, came quivering and +trembling through the leaves of the arbour.</p> + +<p>This little incident gave rise to a thousand fanciful illustrations on the +part of Acmé. Her spirits were as buoyant as a child's; and her playful +mood soon communicated itself to her travelling companions.</p> + +<p>They compared the solitary ray to virtue in loneliness--to the flickering +of a lamp in a tomb--to a star reflected on quicksilver--to the flash of a +sword cutting through a host of foes--and to the light of genius illuming +scenes of poverty and distress.</p> + +<p>Thompson made his appearance, and announced the supper as being ready.</p> + +<p>"This," said George, good-naturedly, "is an odd place, is it not, +Thompson? Is it anything like the Lincolnshire Fens?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly, your honour!" replied the domestic, with perfect gravity, +"but there ought to be capital snipe shooting here."</p> + +<p>"Ah! che vero Inglese!" said the laughing Acmé.</p> + +<p>They retraced their steps to the inn, and were ushered into the supper +room, which was neither more nor less than the kitchen, although formerly, +perhaps, the show room of the mansion. Around the deep-set fireplace, +watching the simmering of the cauldron, were grouped some peasants.</p> + +<p>The supper table was laid in one corner of the room; and although neither +the accommodation nor the viands were very tempting, there was such a +disposition to be happy, that the meal was as much enjoyed as if served up +in a palace.</p> + +<p>The repast concluded, Acmé rose; and observing a countryman with his arm +bound up, enquired if he had met with an accident; and patiently listened +to the prosy narrative of age.</p> + +<p>An old bronzed husbandman, too, was smoking his short earthen pipe, near +the window sill.</p> + +<p>"What a study for Lanfranc!" said the happy wife, as she took up a burnt +stick, and sketched his dried visage to the life.</p> + +<p>The old man regarded his portrait on the wall, with intense satisfaction; +and commenced dilating on what he had been in youth.</p> + +<p>How different, thought Sir Henry, is all this from the conduct of a well +bred English girl! yet how natural and amiable does it appear in Acmé! +With what an endearing manner--with what sweet frankness--does this young +foreigner wile away--what would otherwise have been--a tedious evening in +an uncomfortable inn!</p> + +<p>As the night advanced, George brought out the guitar; and Acmé warbled to +its accompaniment like a fairy bird.</p> + +<p>It was a late hour, before Delmé ventured to remind the songstress, that +they must prosecute their journey early on the following morning.</p> + +<p>"I will take your hint," said Acmé, as she shook his hand, and tripped +out of the room; "buona sera! miei Signori."</p> + +<p>"She is a dear creature!" said Delmé,</p> + +<p>"She is indeed!" replied his brother, "and I am a fortunate man. Henry! I +think I shall be jealous of you, one of these days. I do believe she loves +you as well as she does me!"</p> + +<p>The brothers retired.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry's repose was unbroken, until morning dawned; when George entered +his room in the greatest agitation, and with a face as pale as death, told +him Acmé was ill.</p> + +<p>Delmé arose immediately; and at George's earnest solicitation, +entered the room.</p> + +<p>Her left cheek, suffused with hectic, rested on one small hand. The other +arm was thrown over the bed-clothes. Her eyes sparkled like diamonds. Her +lips murmured indistinctly--the mind was evidently wandering.</p> + +<p>A man and horse were sent express to Naples. The whole of that weary day, +George Delmé was by Acmé's side, preparing cooling drinks, and vainly +endeavouring to be calm.</p> + +<p>As the delirium continued, she seemed to be transported to the scenes of +her early youth,</p> + +<p>As night wore on, the fever, if it were such, gradually increased.</p> + +<p>George's state of mind bordered on distraction. Sir Henry became +exceedingly alarmed, and anxious for the presence of the medical +attendant.</p> + +<p>At about four o'clock the following morning, Doctor Pormont was announced,</p> + +<p>Cold and forbidding as was his aspect, George hailed him as his tutelary +angel, and burst into tears, as he implored him to exert his skill to the +uttermost.</p> + +<p>The physician approached the invalid, and in a moment saw that the case +was a critical one.</p> + +<p>His patient was bled twice during the day, and strong opiates +administered.</p> + +<p>Towards evening, she slept; and awoke with restored consciousness, but +with feelings keenly alive to her own danger.</p> + +<p>The following night and day she lingered on, speaking but little.</p> + +<p>During the whole of that time, even, when she slept, George's hand +remained locked in hers. On this, her tears would sometimes fall, but +these she strove to restrain.</p> + +<p>To the others around her, she spoke gratefully, and with feminine +softness; but her whole heart seemed to be with George.</p> + +<p>Doctor Pormont, to do him justice, was unremitting in his exertions, and +hardly took rest.</p> + +<p>All his professional skill was called to her aid; but from the second day, +he saw it was in vain.</p> + +<p>The strength of the invalid failed her more and more.</p> + +<p>Doctor Pormont at length called Sir Henry on one side, and informed him +that he entertained no doubt of a fatal result; and recommended his at +once procuring such religious consolation as might be in his power.</p> + +<p>No Protestant clergyman was near at hand, even had Delmé thought it +adviseable to procure one.</p> + +<p>But he was well aware, that however Acme might have sympathised with +George, her earlier religious impressions would now in all probability +be revived.</p> + +<p>A Catholic priest was sent for, and arrived quickly. He was habited in +the brown garb of his order, his waist girt with a knotted cord. He bore +in his hand the sainted pyx, and commenced to shrive the dying girl.</p> + +<p>It was the soft hour of sunset, and the prospect in rear of the mansion, +presented a wide sea of rich coloured splendour.</p> + +<p>Over the window, had been placed a sheet, in order to exclude the light +from the invalid's chamber. The priest knelt by her bedside; and folding +his hands together, began to pray.</p> + +<p>The rays of the setting sun, fitfully flickered on the sheet, over whose +surface, light shadows swiftly played, ever and anon glancing on the shorn +head of the kneeling friar.</p> + +<p>His intelligent face was expressive of firm belief.</p> + +<p>His eye turned reverentially to heaven, as in deep and sonorous accents, +he implored forgiveness for the sufferer, for the sins committed during +her mortal coil.</p> + +<p>Acmé sat up in her bed. On her countenance, calm devotion seemed to usurp +the place of earthly affections, and earthly passions.</p> + +<p>The soul was preparing for its upward flight. Delmé led away the sorrowing +husband, and the minister of Christ was left alone, to hear the contrite +outpourings of a weak departing sinner.</p> + +<p>The priest left the chamber, but spoke not, either to the physician, or +the expecting brothers. His impassioned glance belonged to another and a +higher world.</p> + +<p>He made one low obeisance--his robes swept the passage quickly--and the +Franciscan friar sought his lonely cell to reflect on death.</p> + +<p>The brothers re-entered. They found Acmé in the attitude in which they had +left her--her features wearing an expression at once radiant and resigned.</p> + +<p>But--as her eye met George's--as she saw the havoc grief had already +made--the feelings of the woman resumed the mastery.</p> + +<p>She extended her arms--she brought his lip to hers--as if she would have +made <i>that</i> its resting place for ever.</p> + +<p>Alas! an inward pang told her to be brief. She drew away her face, +crimsoned with her passion's flush--tremblingly grasped his hand---and, +with voice choked by emotion, gave her last farewell.</p> + +<p>"Giorgio, my dearest! my own! I shall soon join my parents. I feel +this--and my mother's words, as she met me by the olive tree, ring +in my ear.</p> + +<p>"She told me I should die thus; but she told me, too, that I should kill +the one dearest to me on earth. Thank God! this cannot be--for I know my +life to be ebbing fast.</p> + +<p>"Dearest I do not mourn for me too much. You may find another Acmé--as +true. But, oh! sometimes--yes! even when your hearts cling fondly +together, as ours were wont to do--think of your own Acmé--who loved you +first--and only--and does it now! oh! how well! Giorgio! dear! dearest! +adieu! My feet are <i>so, so</i> cold--and ice seems"--</p> + +<p>A change shadowed the face, as from some corporeal pang.</p> + +<p>She tried to raise an ebony cross hung round her neck.</p> + +<p>In the effort, her features became convulsed--and George heard a low +gurgling in the throat, as from suffocation.</p> + +<p>Ah! that awful precursor of "the first dark hour of nothingness."</p> + +<p>George Delmé sprang to his feet, and was supporting her head, when the +physician grasped his arm.</p> + +<p>"Stop! stop! you are preventing"----</p> + +<p>The lower lip quivered--and drooped--slightly! very slightly!</p> + +<p>The head fell back.</p> + +<p>One long deep drawn sigh shook the exhausted frame.</p> + +<p>The face seemed to become fixed.</p> + +<p>Doctor Pormont extended his hand, and silently closed those dark +fringed lids.</p> + +<p>The cold finger, with its harsh touch, once more brought consciousness.</p> + +<p>Once more the lid trembled! there was an upward glance that looked +reproachful!</p> + +<p>Another short sigh! Another!</p> + +<p>Lustreless and glaring was that once bright eye!</p> + +<p>Again the physician extended his hand.</p> + +<p>"Assuredly, gentlemen! vitality hath departed!"</p> + +<p>A deep--solemn--awful silence--which not a breath disturbed--came over +that chamber of death.</p> + +<p>It seemed as if the insects had ceased their hum--that twilight had +suddenly turned to night--that an odour, as of clay, was floating around +them, and impregnating the very atmosphere.</p> + +<p>George took the guitar, whose chords were never more to be woke to harmony +by that loved hand, and dashed it to the ground.</p> + +<p>Ere Delmé could clasp him, he had staggered to the bedside--and fallen +over Acmé's still form.</p> + +<p>And did her frame thrill with rapture? did she bound to his caress? did +her lip falter from her grateful emotion?--did she bury his cheek in her +raven tresses?</p> + +<p>No, no! still--still--still were all these! still as death!</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter IV.</h1> + +<h2>Rome</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Woe unto us, not her; for she sleeps well."</blockquote> + +<hr width="200" align="left" size="1" /> + +<blockquote> "The Niobe of nations! there she stands,<br /> +Childless and crownless, in her voiceless woe;<br /> +An empty urn within her wither'd hands,<br /> +Whose holy dust was scatter'd long ago.<br /> +The Scipios' tomb contains no ashes now;<br /> +The very sepulchres lie tenantless<br /> +Of their heroic dwellers; dost thou flow,<br /> +Old Tiber! through a marble wilderness?<br /> +Rise, with thy yellow waves, and mantle her distress."</blockquote> + + +<p>Undertakers! not one word shall henceforth pass our lips in your +dispraise!</p> + +<p>An useful and meritorious tribe are you!</p> + +<p>What! though sleek and rosy cheeked, you seem to have little in common +with the wreck of our hopes?</p> + +<p>What! if our ears be shocked by profane jests on the weight of your +burden, as you bear away from the accustomed mansion, what <i>was</i> its +light and its load star--but what <i>is</i>--pent up in your dark, narrow +tenement, but--</p> + +<blockquote> "A heap,<br /> +To make men tremble, that never weep."</blockquote> + +<p>What! if our swimming eye--as we follow those dear--dear remains to their +last lone resting place--glance on the heartless myrmidons, who salute the +passer by with nods of recognition, and smiles of indifference?</p> + +<p>What! if, returning homewards--choked with bitter recollections, which +rise fantastic, quick, and ill-defined--the very ghosts of departed +scenes and years--what if we start as we then perceive you--lightsome of +heart, and glib of speech--clustered and smirking, on that roof of +nodding plumes--neath which, one short hour since--lay what was dearest +to us on earth?</p> + +<p>Let us not heed these things! for--light as is the task to traders in +death's dark trappings; painful and soul-subduing are those withering +details to the grieving and heart-struck mourner!</p> + +<p>We left George lying half insensible by the side of his dead wife.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry and Thompson carried him to the apartment of the former, and +while Thompson hung over his master, attempting to restore +consciousness--Delmé had a short conference with Doctor Pormont as to +their ulterior proceedings.</p> + +<p>Doctor Pormont--as might be expected--enjoined the greatest promptitude, +and recommended that poor Acmé's remains, should be consigned to the +burial place of the hamlet.</p> + +<p>George's objections to this, however, as soon as he was well enough to +comprehend what was going forward, seemed quite insurmountable; and after +Sir Henry had sought the place by moonlight, and found it wild and open, +with goats browsing on the unpicturesque graves, and with nothing to mark +the sanctity of the spot, save a glaring painted picture of the Virgin, +his own prejudices became enlisted, and he consented to proceed to Rome.</p> + +<p>After this decision was made, he found it utterly impossible, to procure +a separate conveyance for the corpse; and was equally unsuccessful in his +attempt to procure that--which from being a common want, he had been +disposed to consider of every day attainment--a coffin.</p> + +<p>While his brother made what arrangements he best might, poor George +returned to the chamber of death, and gazed long and fixedly--with the +despair of the widower--on those hushed familiar features.</p> + +<p>Her hair was now turned back, and was bound with white ribbon, and +festooned with some of the very water lilies that Acmé had admired. A +snow-white wreath bound her brow. It was formed of the white convolvulus. +We have said the features were familiar; but oh! how different! The yellow +waxen hue--the heavy stiffened lid--how they affected George Delmé, who +had never looked on death before!</p> + +<p>First he would gaze with stupid awe--then turn to the window, and attempt +to repress his sobs--return again--and refuse to credit his bereavement. +Surely the hand moved? No! of its free will shall it never move more! The +eye! was there not a slight convulsion in that long dark lash?</p> + +<p>No! over it may crawl the busy fly, and creep the destructive worm, +without let, and without hindrance!</p> + +<p>No finger shall be raised in its behalf--that lid shall remain closed +and passive! + +The insect and the reptile shall extend their wanderings over the +smooth cheek, and revel on the lips, whose red once rivalled that of +the Indian shell.</p> + +<p>Moveless! moveless shall all be!</p> + +<p>The long--long night wore on.</p> + +<p>An Italian sunrise was gilding the heavens.</p> + +<p>Acmé was never to see a sunrise more; and even this reflection--trite as +it may seem, occurring to one, who had watched through the night, by the +side of the dead--even this reflection, convulsed again the haggard +features of the mourner.</p> + +<p>Delmé had made the requisite arrangements during the night, for their +early departure.</p> + +<p>Just previous to the carriage being announced, he led George out of the +room; whilst the physician, aided by the women, took such precautions as +the heat of the climate rendered necessary.</p> + +<p>Linen cloths, steeped in a solution of chlorate of lime, were closely +wound round the body--a rude couch was placed in the inside of the +carriage, which was supported by the two seats--and the carriage itself +was darkened.</p> + +<p>These preparations concluded--and having parted with Doctor +Pormont---whose attentions, in spite of his freezing manner, had been very +great--the brothers commenced their painful task.</p> + +<p>George knelt at the head of the corpse--ejaculated one short fervent +prayer--and then, assisted by his brother, bore it in his arms to +the vehicle.</p> + +<p>The Italian peasants, with rare delicacy, witnessed the scene from the +windows of the inn, but did not intrude their presence.</p> + +<p>The body was placed crosswise in the carriage. George sat next the +corpse. Delmé sat opposite, regarding his brother with anxious eye.</p> + +<p>Most distressing was that silent journey! It made an impression on Sir +Henry's mind, that no after events could ever efface; and yet it had +already been his lot, to witness many scenes of horror, and ride over +fields of blood.</p> + +<p>We have said it was a silent journey. George's despair was too deep +for words.</p> + +<p>The first motion of the carriage affected the position of the corpse. +George put one arm round it, and kept it immoveable. Sometimes, his +scalding tears would fall on that cold face, whose outline yet preserved +its beautiful roundness.</p> + +<p>It appeared to Sir Henry, that he had never seen life and death, so +closely and painfully contrasted. There sat his brother, in the full +energies of manhood and despair; his features convulsed--his frame +quivering--his sobs frequent--his pulse quick and disturbed.</p> + +<p>There lay extended his mistress--cold--colourless--silent--unimpassioned. +There was life in the breeze that played on her raven tresses--grim death +was enthroned on the face those tresses swept.</p> + +<p>Not that decay's finger had yet really assailed it; but one of the +peculiar properties of the preservative used by Doctor Pormont, is its +pervading sepulchral odour.</p> + +<p>They reached Rome; and the consummation of their task drew nigh.</p> + +<p>Pass we over the husband's last earthly farewell. Pass we over that +subduing scene, in which Henry assisted George to sever long ringlets, and +rob the cold finger, of affection's dearest pledge.</p> + +<p>Alas! these might be retained as the legacy of love.</p> + +<p>They were useless as love's memento. Memory, the faithful mirror, forbade +the relic gatherer ever to forget!</p> + +<p>Would you know where Acmé reposes?</p> + +<p>A beautiful burial ground looks towards Rome. It is on a gentle declivity +leaning to the south-east, and situated between Mount Aventine and the +Monte Testaccio.</p> + +<p>Its avenue is lined with high bushes of marsh roses; and the cemetery +itself, is divided into three rude and impressive terraces.</p> + +<p><i>There</i> sleeps--in a modest nook, surmounted by the wall-flower, and by +creeping ivy, and by many-coloured shrubs, and by one simple yellow +flower, of very peculiar and rare fragrance; a type, as the author of +these pages deemed, of the wonderful etherialised genius of the +man--<i>there</i> sleeps, as posterity will judge him, the first of the poets +of the age we live in--Percy Bysshe Shelley! There too, moulders that +wonderful boy author--John Keats.</p> + +<p>Who can pass his grave, and read that bitter inscription, dictated on his +deathbed, by the heart-broken enthusiast, without the liveliest emotion?</p> + +<p> "Here lies one, whose name was writ in water. + February 4th, 1821."</p> + +<p>The ancient wall of Rome, crowns the ridge of the slope we have described. +Above it, stands the pyramid of Caius Cæstius, constructed some twenty +centuries since.</p> + +<p>Immediately beneath it, in a line with a round tower buried with ivy, and +near the vault of our beautiful countrywoman, Miss Bathurst, who was +thrown from her horse and drowned in the Tiber, may be seen a sarcophagus +of rough granite, surmounted by a black marble slab.</p> + +<p>Luxuriant with wild flowers, and studded even in the winter season, with +daisies and violets, the sides of the tomb are now almost concealed. Over +the slab, one rose tree gracefully droops.</p> + +<p>When seen in the dew of the morning, when the cups of the roses are full, +and crystal drops, distilling from leaves and flowers, are slowly +trickling on the dark stone, you might think that inanimate nature was +weeping for the doom of beauty.</p> + +<p>Only one word is engraved on that slab. Should you visit Rome, and read +it, recollect this story.</p> + +<p>That word is--"Acmé!"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Sir Henry and his brother remained at Rome nearly a month.</p> + +<p>The former, with hopes that the exertion might be useful, in distracting +George from the constant contemplation of his loss, plunged at once into +the sight-seeing of "the eternal city."</p> + +<p>Their days were busily passed--in visiting the classic sites of Rome and +its neighbourhood--in wandering through the churches and convents--and +loitering through the long galleries of the Vatican.</p> + +<p>Delmé, fearfully looking back on the scenes that had occurred in Malta, +was apprehensive, that George's despair might lead to some violent +outbreak of feeling; and that mind and body might sink simultaneously.</p> + +<p>It was not so.</p> + +<p>That heavy infliction appeared to bear with it a torpedo-like power. The +first blow, abrupt and stunning, had paralysed. Afterwards, it seemed to +carry with it a benumbing faculty, which repressed external display. We +say <i>seemed</i>; for there were not wanting indications, even to Sir Henry's +partial eye, that the wound had sunk very deep,</p> + +<p>The mourner <i>might</i> sink, although he did not writhe.</p> + +<p>In the mornings, George, followed by Thompson, would find his way to +the Protestant burial ground; and weep over the spot where his wife +lay interred.</p> + +<p>During the day, he was Sir Henry's constant and gentle companion; giving +vent to no passionate display, and uttering few unavailing complaints. Yet +it was now, that a symptom of disease first showed itself, which Delmé +could not account for.</p> + +<p>George would suddenly lean back, and complain of a spasm on the left side +of the chest. This would occasionally, but rarely, affect the circulation. +George's sleep too, was disturbed, and he frequently had to rise from his +bed, and pace the apartment; but this last circumstance, perhaps, was the +mere result of anxiety of mind.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry, without informing George, consulted a medical gentleman, who +was well known to him, and who happened to be at Rome at the time, +regarding these novel symptoms.</p> + +<p>He was reassured by being informed, that these pains were probably of a +neuralgic character, and not at all likely to proceed from any organic +affection.</p> + +<p>George Delmé's mind was perfectly clear and collected; with the +exception, that he would occasionally allude to his loss, in connection +with some scene or subject of interest before them; and in a tone, and +with language, that, appeared to his brother eccentric, but +inexpressibly touching.</p> + +<p>For instance, they were at Tivoli, and in the Syren's grotto, looking up +to the foaming fall, which dashes down a rude cleft, formed of +fantastically shaped rocks.</p> + +<p>Immediately below this, the waters make a semicircular bend.</p> + +<p>On their surface, a mimic rainbow was depicted in vivid colours.</p> + +<p>"Not for me!" burst forth the mourner, "not for me! does the arc of +promise wear those radiant hues. Prismatic rays once gilded my existence. +With Acmé they are for ever fled. But look! how the stream dashes on! Thus +have the waters of bitterness passed over my soul!"</p> + +<p>In the gallery of the Vatican, too, the very statues seemed to speak to +him of his loss.</p> + +<p>"I like not," would he exclaim, "that disdainful Apollo. Thus cold, +callous, and triumphing in the work of destruction, must be the angel of +death, who winged the shaft at my bright Acmé.</p> + +<p>"May the launching of his arrow, have been but the signal, for her +translation to a sphere, more pure than this.</p> + +<p>"Let us believe her the habitant of some bright planet, such as she +pointed out to us in the Bay of Naples--a seraph with a golden lyre--and +shrouded in a white cymar! No, no!" would he continue, turning his +footsteps towards the adjacent room, where the suffering pangs of +Apollo's high priest are painfully told in marble, "let let me rather +contemplate the Laocoon! His agony seems to sympathise with mine--but was +his fate as hard? <i>He</i> saw his sons dying before him; could a son, or +sons, be as the wife of one's bosom? The serpent twines around him, too, +awaking exquisite corporeal pangs, but would it not have been luxury to +have died with my Acmé?</p> + +<p>"Can the body suffer as the mind?"</p> + +<p>At night, reposing from the fatigues of the day, might the brothers +frequently be seen at the fountain of Trevi; George listlessly swinging +on the chains near it, and steadfastly watching the water, as it gurgled +over the fantastic devices beneath--while his mind wandered back to +Malta, and to Acmé.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry's conduct during this trying period was most exemplary. Like the +mother, who lavishes her tenderest endearments on her sickliest child, +did he now endeavour to support his brother in his afflictions.</p> + +<p>As the bleak night wind came on, he would arouse George from his +reverie--would make him lean his tall form on his--would wrap closely +the folds of his cloak around him--would speak <i>so</i> softly--and soothe +<i>so</i> tenderly.</p> + +<p>And gratefully did George's heart respond to his kindness. He knew that +the sorrow which bowed <i>him</i> to the earth, was also blanching the cheek of +his brother, and he loved him doubly for his solicitude.</p> + +<p>Ah! few brothers have thus made sweet the fraternal tie!</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter V.</h1> + +<h2>The East Indian</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Would I not stem<br /> +A tide of suffering, rather than forego<br /> +Such feelings for the hard and worldly phlegm<br /> +Of those whose thoughts are only turn'd below,<br /> +Gazing upon the ground, with thoughts that dare not glow?"</blockquote> + + +<p>From Rome and our care-worn travellers, let us turn to Mrs. Vernon's +drawing-room at Leamington.</p> + +<p>An unforeseen event suddenly made a considerable change in the hopes and +prospects of our fair friend Julia.</p> + +<p>One warm summer's morning--it was on the very day, that the brothers, with +Acmé, were sailing close to the Calabrian mountains, and the latter was +telling her ghost story, within view of the sweet village of Capo del +Marte--one balmy summer's morning, the Miss Vernons were seated in a room, +furnished like most English drawing-rooms; that is to say, it had tables +for trinkets--a superb mirror--a Broadwood piano--an Erard harp--a +reclining sofa--and a woolly rug, on which slept, dreamt, and snored, a +small Blenheim spaniel.</p> + +<p>Julia had a mahogany frame before her, and was thoughtfully working a +beaded purse.</p> + +<p>The hue of health had left her cheek. Its complexion was akin to that of +translucent alabaster. The features wore a more fixed and regular aspect, +and their play was less buoyant and quick changing than heretofore.</p> + +<p>Deep thought! thus has been thy warfare for ever. First, thou stealest +from the rotund face its joyous dimples; then, dost thou gradually imprint +remorseless furrows on the anxious brow.</p> + +<p>A servant entered the room, and bore on a salver a letter addressed to +Miss Vernon.</p> + +<p>Its deep black binding--its large coat of arms--bespoke it death's +official messenger.</p> + +<p>Julia's cheek blanched as she glanced over its first page.</p> + +<p>Her sisters laid down their work, and looked towards her with some +curiosity.</p> + +<p>Julia burst into tears.</p> + +<p>"Poor uncle Vernon!"</p> + +<p>Her sisters seemed surprised at the announcement, but not to participate +in Julia's feelings on the occasion.</p> + +<p>One of them took up the letter, which had fallen to the ground, and the +two read its contents.</p> + +<p>"How very odd!" said they together, "uncle has left you Hornby, and +Catesfield, and almost all the property!"</p> + +<p>"Has he?" replied Julia, "I could not read it all, for however he may +have behaved to mamma, I ever found him good and kind; and had always +hoped, that we might have yet seen him with us once more. Poor old man! +and the letter says a lingering illness--how sad to think that we were +not with him to soothe his pillow, and cheer his death bed!"</p> + +<p>"Well!" said one of the sisters reddening, "I must say it was his own +fault. He would not live with his nearest relations, who loved him, and +tried to make his a happy home--but showed his caprice <i>then</i>, as he has +<i>now</i>. But I will go up stairs, and break it to mamma, and will tell her +you are an heiress."</p> + +<p>"An heiress!" replied Julia, with heart-broken tone! "an heiress!" The +tear quivered in her eye; but before the moisture had formed its liquid +bead, to course down her pallid cheek; a thought flashed across her, which +had almost the power to recal it to its cell.</p> + +<p>That thought comprised the fervency and timidity--the hopes and fears of +woman's first love. She thought of her last meeting with Sir Henry Delmé: +of the objections which might now be removed.</p> + +<p>A new vista of happiness seemed to open before her.</p> + +<p>It was but for a moment.</p> + +<p>The blush which that thought called up, faded away--the tear trickled +on--her features recovered their serenity--and she turned with a sweet +smile to her sisters.</p> + +<p>"My dear--dear sisters! it is long since we have seen my poor uncle.</p> + +<p>"Affection's ties may have been somewhat loosened. They cannot--I am +sure--have been dissolved.</p> + +<p>"Do not think me selfish enough to retain this generous bequest.</p> + +<p>"It may yet be in my power, and it no doubt is, to amend its too partial +provisions.</p> + +<p>"Let us be sisters still--sisters in equality--sisters in love and +affection."</p> + +<p>Julia Vernon was a very noble girl. She lived to become of age, and she +acted up to this her resolve.</p> + +<p>And, now, a few words as to the individual, by whose death the Miss +Vernons acquired such an accession of property.</p> + +<p>The Miss Vernons' father had an only and a younger brother, who at an +early age had embarked for the East, in the civil service. He had +acquired great wealth, and, after a residence of twenty-five years in the +Bengal Presidency, had returned to England a confirmed bachelor, and a +wealthy nabob. His brother died, while Mr. Benjamin Vernon was on his +passage home. He arrived in England, and found himself a stranger in his +native land.</p> + +<p>He shouldered his cane through Regent Street, and wandered in the +Quadrant's shade;--and in spite of the novelties that every where met +him--in spite of cabs and plated glass--felt perfectly isolated and +miserable.</p> + +<p>It is true, his Indian friends found him out at the Burlington, and their +cards adorned his mantelpiece--for Mr. Benjamin Vernon was said to be +worth a plum, and to be on the look out for a vacancy in the Directory.</p> + +<p>But although these were indisputably his Indian friends, it appeared to +Mr. Vernon, that they were no longer his friends of India. They seemed to +him to live in a constant state of unnatural excitement.</p> + +<p><i>Some</i> prided themselves on being stars in fashion's gayest +circle--others, whom he had hardly known, <i>were</i> fathers--for their +families were educating in England---he now found surrounded by children, +on whose provision they were wholly intent.</p> + +<p>These were off at a tangent, "to see Peter Auber, at the India House," +or, "could not wait an instant; they were to meet Josh: Alexander +precisely at two."</p> + +<p>And then their flippant sons! taking wine with him, forsooth--adjusting +their neckcloths--and asking "whether he had met their father at Madras or +Calcutta?"</p> + +<p>This to a true Bengalee!</p> + +<p>Nor was this all!</p> + +<p>The young renegades ate their curry with a knife!</p> + +<p>Others, from whom he had parted years before, shook hands with him at the +Oriental, as if his presence there was a matter of course; and then asked +him "what he thought of Stanley's speech?"</p> + +<p>Now, there are few men breathing, who have their sympathies so keenly +alive--who show and who look for, such warmth of heart---who are so +chilled and hurt by indifference--as your bachelor East Indian.</p> + +<p>The married one may solace himself for coldness abroad, by sunny smiles at +home;--but the friendless bachelor is sick at heart, unless he encounter a +hearty pressure of the hand--an eye that sparkles, as it catches his--an +interested listener to his thousand and one tales of Oriental scenes, and +of Oriental good fellowship.</p> + +<p>Mr. Benjamin Vernon soon found this London solitude--it was worse than +solitude--quite insupportable.</p> + +<p>He determined to visit his brother's widow, and left town for Leamington. +The brother-in-law felt more than gratified at the cordial welcome that +there met him.</p> + +<p>His heart responded to their tones of kindness, and the old Indian, in the +warmth of his gratitude, thought he had at length discovered a congenial +home. He plunged into the extreme of dangerous intimacy; and was soon +domiciled in Mrs. Vernon's small mansion. + +It is absurd what trifles can extinguish friendships, and estrange +affection. Mr. Vernon had always had the controul of his hours--loved his +hookah, and his after-dinner dose.</p> + +<p>His brother's widow was an amiable person, but a great deal too +independent, to humour any person's foibles.</p> + +<p>She liked activity, and disliked smoking; and was too matter-of-fact in +her ideas, to conceive that these indulgences, merely from force of habit, +might have now become absolute necessities.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vernon first used arguments; which were listened to very patiently, +and as systematically disregarded.</p> + +<p>As she thought she knew her ground better, she would occasionally secrete +the hookah, and indulge in eloquent discourse, on the injurious effects, +and waste of time, that the said hookah entailed.</p> + +<p>Nor could the old man enjoy in peace, his evening slumber.</p> + +<p>One of his nieces was always ready to shake him by the elbow, and address +him with an expostulatory "Oh! dear uncle!" which, though delivered with +silvery voice, seemed to him deuced provoking.</p> + +<p>For some time, the old Indian good-naturedly acquiesced in these +arrangements; and was far too polite at any time to scold, or +hazard a scene.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vernon was all complacency, and imagined her triumph assured.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the tempest gathered to a head. Bachelor habits regained their +ascendancy; and Mrs. Vernon was thunderstruck, when it was one morning +duly announced to her, that her brother-in-law had purchased a large +estate in Monmouthshire, and that he intended permanently to reside there.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vernon was deeply chagrined.</p> + +<p>She thought him ungrateful, and told him so.</p> + +<p>At the outset, our East Indian was anxious that his niece Julia, who had +been by far the most tolerant of his bachelor vices, should preside over +his new establishment; but the feelings of the mother and daughter were +alike opposed to this arrangement.</p> + +<p>This was the last rock on which he and his brother's widow split; and it +was decisive.</p> + +<p>From that hour, all correspondence between them ceased.</p> + +<p>Arrived in Wales, our nabob endeavoured to attach himself to country +pursuits--purchased adjoining estates--employed many labourers--and +greatly improved his property. But his rural occupations were quite at +variance with his acquired habits.</p> + +<p>He pined away--became hypochondriacal--and died, just three years after +leaving Mrs. Vernon, for want of an Eastern sun, and something to love.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter VI.</h1> + +<h2>Veil</h2> + + + <blockquote>"The seal is set."</blockquote> + +<p>On the day fixed for the departure of Sir Henry Delmé and his brother, +they together visited once more the sumptuous pile of St. Peter's, and +heard the voices of the practised choristers swell through the mighty +dome, as the impressive service of the Catholic Church was performed by +the Pope and his conclave.</p> + +<p>The morning dawn had seen George, as was his daily custom in Rome, +kneeling beside the grave of Acmé, and breathing a prayer for their +blissful reunion in heaven.</p> + +<p>As the widower staggered from that spot, the thought crossed him, and +bitterly poignant was that thought, that now might he bid a second +earthly farewell, to what had been his pride, and household solace.</p> + +<p>Now, indeed, "was the last link broken." Each hour--each traversed +league--was to bear him away from even the remains of his heart's +treasure.</p> + +<p>Their bones must moulder in a different soil.</p> + +<p>It was Sir Henry's choice that they should on that day visit Saint +Peter's; and well might the travellers leave Rome with so unequalled an +object fresh in the mind's eye.</p> + +<p>Whether we gaze on its exterior of faultless proportions--or on the +internal arrangement, where perfect symmetry reigns;--whether we consider +the glowing canvas--or the inspired marble,--or the rich mosaics;--whether +with the enthusiasm of the devotee, we bend before those gorgeous shrines; +or with the comparative apathy of a cosmopolite, reflect on the historical +recollections with which that edifice--the focus of the rays of +Catholicism--teems and must teem forever;--we must in truth acknowledge, +that <i>there</i> alone is the one matchless temple, in strict and perfect +harmony with Imperial Rome.</p> + +<p>Gazing there--or recalling in after years its unclouded majesty--the +delighted pilgrim knows neither shade of disappointment--nor doth he +harbour one thought of decay.</p> + +<p>Where is the other building in the "eternal city," of which we can say +thus much?</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé had engaged a vettura, which was to convey them with the +same horses as far as Florence.</p> + +<p>This arrangement made them masters of their own time, and was perhaps in +their case, the best that could be adopted; for slowness of progress, +which is its greatest objection, was rather desirable in George's then +state of health.</p> + +<p>As is customary, Delmé made an advance to the vetturino, who usually binds +himself to defray all the expenses at the inns on the road.</p> + +<p>The travellers dined early--left Rome in the afternoon--and proposed +pushing on to Neppi during the night.</p> + +<p>When about four miles on their journey, Delmé observed a mausoleum on the +side of the road, which appeared of ancient date, and rather curious +construction.</p> + +<p>On consulting his guide-book, he found it designated as the tomb of Nero.</p> + +<p>On examining its inscription, he saw that it was erected to the memory of +a Prefect of Sardinia; and he inwardly determined to distrust his +guide-book on all future occasions.</p> + +<p>The moon was up as they reached the post-house of Storta.</p> + +<p>The inn, or rather tavern, was a small wretched looking building, with a +large courtyard attached, but the stables appeared nearly--if not +quite--untenanted.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry's surprise and anger were great, when the driver, coolly +stopping his horses, commenced taking off their harness;--and informed the +travellers, that <i>there</i> must they remain, until he had received some +instructions from his owner, which he expected by a vettura leaving Rome +at a later hour.</p> + +<p>It was in vain that the brothers expostulated, and reminded him of +his agreement to stop when they pleased, expressing their +determination to proceed.</p> + +<p>The driver was dogged and unmoved; and the travellers had neglected +to draw up a written bargain, which is a precaution absolutely +necessary in Italy.</p> + +<p>They soon found they had no alternative but to submit. It was with a very +bad grace they did so, for Englishmen have a due abhorrence of imposition.</p> + +<p>They at length stepped from the vehicle--indulged in some vehement +remonstrances--smiled at Thompson's voluble execrations, which they found +were equally unavailing--and were finally obliged to give up the point.</p> + +<p>They were shown into a small room. The chief inmates were some Papal +soldiers of ruffianly air, engaged in the clamorous game of moro. Unlike +the close shorn Englishmen, their beards and mustachios, were allowed to +grow to such length, as to hide the greater part of the face.</p> + +<p>Their animated gestures and savage countenances, would have accorded well +with a bandit group by Salvator.</p> + +<p>The landlord, an obsequious little man, with face pregnant with +mischievous cunning, was watching with interest, the turns of the game; +and assisting his guests, to quaff his vino ordinario, which Sir Henry +afterwards found was ordinary enough.</p> + +<p>Delmé's equanimity of temper was already considerably disturbed.</p> + +<p>The scanty accommodation afforded them, by no means diminished his choler; +which he began to expend on the obstinate driver, who had followed them +into the room, and was busily placing chairs round one of the tables.</p> + +<p>"See what you can get for supper, you rascal!"</p> + +<p>"Signore! there are some excellent fowls, and the very best wine of +Velletri."</p> + +<p>The wine was produced and proved vinegar.</p> + +<p>The host bustled away loud in its praise, and a few seconds afterwards, +the dying shriek of a veteran tenant of the poultry yard, warned them that +supper was preparing.</p> + +<p>"Thompson!" said George, rather languidly, "do, like a good fellow, see +that they put no garlic with the fowl!"</p> + +<p>"I will, Sir," replied the domestic; "and the wine, Mr. George, seems none +of the best. I have a flask of brandy in the rumble."</p> + +<p>"Just the thing!" said Sir Henry.</p> + +<p>To their surprise, the landlord proffered sugar and lemons.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry's countenance somewhat brightened, and he declared he would +make punch.</p> + +<p>Punch! thou just type of matrimony! thy ingredients of sweets and bitters +so artfully blended, that we know not which predominate,--so deceptive, +too, that we imbibe long and potent draughts, nor awake to a consciousness +of thy power, till awoke by headache.</p> + +<p>Hail to thee! all hail!</p> + +<p>Thy very name, eked out by thine appropriate receptacle, recals raptures +past--bids us appreciate joys present--and enjoins us duly to reverence +thee, if we hope for joys in futurity.</p> + +<p>A bowl of punch! each merry bacchanal rises at the call!</p> + +<p>Moderate bacchanals all! for where is the abandoned sot, who would not +rather dole out his filthy lucre, on an increase of the mere +alchohol--than expend it on those grateful adjuncts, which, throwing a +graceful veil over that spirit's grossness, impart to it its chief and its +best attraction.</p> + +<p>Up rises then each hearty bacchanal! thrice waving the clear tinkling +crystal, ere he emits that joyful burst, fresh from the heart, which from +his uncontrolled emotion, meets the ear husky and indistinct.</p> + +<p>Delmé squeezed the lemons into not a bad substitute for a bowl, viz. a red +earthen vase of rough workmanship, but elegant shape, somewhat resembling +a modern wine cooler.</p> + +<p>George stood at the inn door, wistfully looking upward; when he remarked +an intelligent boy of fourteen, with dark piercing eyes, observing him +somewhat earnestly.</p> + +<p>On finding he was noticed, he approached with an air of ingenuous +embarrassment--pulled off his cap--and said in a tone of enquiry,</p> + +<p>"Un Signore Inglese?"</p> + +<p>"Yes! my fine fellow! Do you know anything of me or the English?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes!" replied the boy with vivacity, replacing his cap, "I have +travelled in England, and like London very much."</p> + +<p>George conversed with him for some time; and found him to be one of that +class, whose numbers make us unmindful of their wants or their +loneliness; who eke out a miserable pittance, by carrying busts of +plaster-of-Paris--grinding on an organ--or displaying through Europe, +the tricks of some poodle dog, or the eccentricities of a monkey +disguised in scarlet.</p> + +<p>It is rare that these come from a part of Italy so far south; but it +appeared in this instance, that Giuseppe's father being a carrier, had +taken him with him to Milan--had there met a friend, rich in an organ and +porcupine--and had entrusted the boy to his care, in order that he might +see the world, and make his fortune.</p> + +<p>Giuseppe gave a narrative of some little events, that had occurred to him +during his wanderings, which greatly interested George; and he finally +concluded, by saying that his father had now retired to his native place +at Barberini, where many strangers came to see the "antichità." George, +on referring to the guide book, found that this was indeed the case; and +that Isola Barberini is marked as the site of ancient Veii, the rival of +young Rome.</p> + +<p>"And when do you go there, youngster, and how far is it from this?"</p> + +<p>"I am going now, Signore, to be in time for supper. It is only a +'piccolo giro' across the fields; and looks as well by moonlight as at +any other time."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" replied George, "I would be glad to accompany you. Henry," said he, +as he entered the room of the inn, "I am away on a classic excursion to +Veii. The night is lovely--I have an excellent guide--and shall be back +before you have finished your punch making.</p> + +<p>"<i>Do</i> let me go!" and he lowered his voice, and the tears swam in his eyes, +"I cannot endure these rude sounds of merriment, and a moonlight walk will +at least afford nothing that can <i>thus</i> pain me."</p> + +<p>Sir Henry looked out. The night was perfectly fine. The young peasant, +all willingness, had already shouldered his bundle, and was preparing to +move forward.</p> + +<p>"You must not be late, George," said his brother, assenting to his +proposal. "Do not stay too long about the ruins. Remember that you are +still delicate, and that I shall wait supper for you."</p> + +<p>As the boy led on, George followed him in a foot path, which led through +fields of meadow land, corn, and rye.</p> + +<p>The fire-flies--mimic meteors--were giddily winging their way from bush to +bush,--illuming the atmosphere, and imparting to the scene a glittering +beauty, which a summer night in a northern clime cannot boast.</p> + +<p>As they approached somewhat nearer to the hamlet, their course was over +ground more rugged; and the disjointed fragments of rocks strewed, and at +intervals obstructed, the path.</p> + +<p>The cottages were soon reached.</p> + +<p>The villagers were all in front of their dwellings, taking their last meal +for the day, in the open air.</p> + +<p>The young guide stopped in front of a cottage, a little apart from the +rest. The family party were seated round a rude table, on which were +plates and napkins.</p> + +<p>Before the master of the house--a wrinkled old man, with long grey +hair--was a smoking tureen of bread soup, over which he was in the act of +sprinkling some grated Parmesan cheese.</p> + +<p>A plate of green figs, and a large water melon--the cocomero--made up +the repast.</p> + +<p>"Giuseppe! you are late for supper," said the old patriarch, as the boy +approached to whisper his introduction of the stranger.</p> + +<p>The old man waved his hand courteously--made a short apology for the +humble viands--and pointed to a vacant seat.</p> + +<p>"Many thanks," said George, "but my supper already awaits me. I will not, +however, interfere with my young guide. Show me the ruins, Giuseppe, and I +will trouble you no further."</p> + +<p>The boy moved on towards what were indeed ruins, or rather the +vestige of such.</p> + +<p>Here a misshapen stone--there a shattered column--decaying walls, +overgrown with nettles--arches and caves, choked up with rank +vegetation--bespoke remains unheeded, and but rarely visited.</p> + +<p>George threw the boy a piece of silver--heard his repeated cautions as +to his way to Storta--and wished him good night, as he hurried back to +the cottage.</p> + +<p>George Delmé sat on the shaft of a broken pillar, his face almost buried +in his hands, as he looked around him on a scene once so famous.</p> + +<p>But with him classic feelings were not upper-most. The widowed +heart mourned its loneliness; and in that calm hour found the full +relief of tears.</p> + +<p>The mourner rose, and turned his face homeward, slowly--sadly--but +resignedly.</p> + +<p>The heavens had become more overcast--and clouds occasionally were +hiding the moon.</p> + +<p>It was with some difficulty that George avoided the pieces of rock which +obstructed the path.</p> + +<p>The road seemed longer, and wilder, than he had previously thought it.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the loud bay of dogs was borne to his ear; and almost, before he +had time to turn from the path, two large hounds brushed past him, +followed by a rider--his gun slung before his saddle--and his horse +fearlessly clattering over the loose stones.</p> + +<p>The horseman seemed a young Roman farmer. He did not salute, and probably +did not observe our traveller. As the sound from the horse receded, and +the clamour of the dogs died away, a feeling almost akin to alarm crossed +George's mind.</p> + +<p>George was one, however, who rarely gave way to vague fears.</p> + +<p>It so happened that he was armed.</p> + +<p>Delancey had made him a present of a brace of pocket pistols, during the +days of their friendship; and, very much to Sir Henry's annoyance, George +had been in the habit, since leaving Malta, of constantly carrying these +about him.</p> + +<p>He strode on without adventure, until entering the field of rye.</p> + +<p>The pathway became very narrow--so that on either side him, he grazed +against the bearded ears.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he heard a rustling sound. The moon at the moment broke from +a dark cloud, and he fancied he discerned a figure near him half hid +by the rye.</p> + +<p>Again the moon was shrouded.</p> + +<p>A rustling again ensued.</p> + +<p>George felt a ponderous blow, which, aimed at the left shoulder, struck +his left arm.</p> + +<p>The collar of his coat was instantaneously grasped.</p> + +<p>For a moment, George Delmé felt irresolute--then drew a pistol from his +pocket and fired.</p> + +<p>The hold was loosened--a man fell at his feet.</p> + +<p>The pistol's flash revealed another figure, which diving into the +corn--fled precipitately.</p> + +<p>Let us turn to Sir Henry Delmé and to Thompson.</p> + +<p>For some time after George's departure, they were busily engaged in +preparing supper.</p> + +<p>While they were thus occupied, they noticed that the Papal soldiers +whispered much together--but this gave rise to no suspicion on +their part.</p> + +<p>One by one the soldiers strolled out, and the landlord betook himself to +the kitchen.</p> + +<p>The punch was duly made, and Sir Henry, leaving the room, paced +thoughtfully in front of the inn.</p> + +<p>At length it struck him, that it was almost time for his brother to +return.</p> + +<p>He was entering the inn, for the purpose of making some enquiries; when he +saw one of the soldiers cross the road hurriedly, and go into the +courtyard, where he was immediately joined by the vetturino.</p> + +<p>Delmé turned in to the house, and called for the landlord.</p> + +<p>Before the latter could appear, George rushed into the room.</p> + +<p>His hat was off--his eyes glared wildly--his long hair streamed back, +wet with the dews of night. He dragged with him the body of one of the +soldiers; and threw it with supernatural strength into the very centre +of the room.</p> + +<p>"Supper!" said he, "ha, ha, ha! <i>I</i> have brought you supper!"</p> + +<p>The man was quite dead.</p> + +<p>The bullet had pierced his neck and throat. The blood was yet flowing, and +had dabbled the white vest. His beard and hair were clotted with gore.</p> + +<p>Shocked as Sir Henry was, the truth flashed on him. He lost not a moment +in beckoning to Thompson, and rushing towards the stable. The driver was +still there, conversing with the soldier.</p> + +<p>As Sir Henry approached, they evinced involuntary confusion; and the +vetturino---at once unmanned--fell on his knees, and commenced a +confession.</p> + +<p>They were dragged into the inn, and the officers of justice were sent for.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé's anxious regards were now directed to his brother.</p> + +<p>George had taken a seat near the corpse; and was sternly regarding it with +fixed, steady, and unflinching gaze.</p> + +<p>It is certainly very fearful to mark the dead--with pallid +complexion--glazed eye--limbs fast stiffening--and gouts of +blood--standing from out the face, like crimson excrescences on a +diseased leaf.</p> + +<p>But it is far more fearful than even this, to look on one, who is bound +to us by the nearest and most cherished ties--with cheek yet +glowing--expression's flush mantling still--and yet to doubt whether the +intellect, which adorned that frame--the jewel in the casket--hath not for +ever left its earthly tenement.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter VII.</h1> + +<h2>The Vetturini</h2> + + +<blockquote> "Far other scene is Thrasymene now."</blockquote> + +<hr width="200" align="left" size="1" /> + +<blockquote> "Fair Florence! at thy day's decline<br /> +When came the shade from Appennine,<br /> +And suddenly on blade and bower<br /> +The fire-flies shed the sparkling shower,<br /> +As if all heaven to earth had sent<br /> +Each star that gems the firmament;<br /> +'Twas sweet at that enchanting hour,<br /> +To bathe in fragrance of the Italian clime,<br /> +By Arno's stream."</blockquote> + + +<p>The brothers were detained a few days at Storta; while the Roman police, +who, to do them justice, were active on the occasion, and showed every +anxiety to give the travellers as little trouble as possible--were +investigating the occurrences we have described. It appeared that some +suspicion had previously attached itself to Vittore Santado, and that the +eyes of the police had been on him for some time.</p> + +<p>It now became evident, both from his own confession, and subsequent +discoveries, that this man had for years trafficked in the lives and +property of others;--and that the charge connected with George, was one of +the least grave, that would be brought against him.</p> + +<p>It was shown that he was an active agent, in aiding the infamous designs +of that inn, on the Italian frontier, whose enormities have given rise to +more than one thrilling tale of fiction, far out-done by the +reality--that inn--where the traveller retired to rest--but rose not +refreshed to prosecute his journey:--where--if he slumbered but once, +that sleep was his last.</p> + +<p>Until now, his career had been more than usually successful.</p> + +<p>The crafty vetturino had had the art to glean a fair reputation even from +his crimes.</p> + +<p>More than once, had he induced a solitary traveller to leave the high road +and his carriage, for the purpose of visiting some ruin, or viewing some +famous prospect.</p> + +<p>On such occasions, Vittore's accomplices were in waiting; and the +unsuspecting stranger--pillaged and alarmed, would return to the vettura +penniless.</p> + +<p>Vittore would be foremost in his commiseration; and with an air of blunt +sincerity, would proffer the use of his purse; such conduct ensuring the +gratitude, and the after recommendations of his dupe.</p> + +<p>It is supposed that the vetturino had contemplated rifling the carriage in +the inn yard; but some suspicion as to the servant's not leaving the +luggage, and the sort of dog fidelity displayed by Thompson towards the +brothers; had induced him rather to sanction an attempt on George during +his imprudent excursion to Barberini.</p> + +<p>Vittore Santado was executed near the Piazza del Popolo, and to this day, +over the chimney-piece of many a Roman peasant, may be seen the tale of +his crimes--his confessions--and his death; which perused by casual +neighbour guests--calls up many a sign of the cross--and devout look of +rustic terror.</p> + +<p>After the incident we have related in the last chapter, George Delmé, +contrary to Sir Henry's previous misgivings, enjoyed a good night's rest, +and arose tolerably calm and refreshed.</p> + +<p>The following night he was attacked with palpitation of the heart.</p> + +<p>His brother and Thompson felt greatly alarmed; but after an hour's severe +suffering, the paroxysm left him.</p> + +<p>Nothing further occurred at Storta, to induce them to attach very great +importance to the shock George's nerves had experienced; but in after +life, Sir Henry always thought, he could date many fatal symptoms from +that hour of intense excitement.</p> + +<p>Delmé was in Rome two days; during which period, his depositions, as +connected with Santado, were taken down; and he was informed that his +presence during the trial would not be insisted on.</p> + +<p>Delmé took that opportunity again to consult his medical friend; who +accompanied him to Storta, to visit George; and prescribed a regimen +calculated to invigorate the general system.</p> + +<p>He directed Delmé not to be alarmed, should the paroxysm return; and +recommended, that during the attack, George should lie down quietly--and +take twenty drops of Battley's solution of opium in a wine glass of water.</p> + +<p>As his friend did not appear alarmed, Delmé's mind was once more +assured; and he prepared to continue their journey to Florence, by the +way of Perugia.</p> + +<p>Punctual to his time, the new vetturino--as to whose selection Sir Henry +had been very particular--arrived at Storta; and the whole party, with +great willingness left the wretched inn, and its suspicious inmates.</p> + +<p>There certainly could not be a greater contrast, than between the two +Vetturini.</p> + +<p>Vittore Santado was a Roman; young--inclined to corpulency---oily +faced--plausible--and a most consummate rascal.</p> + +<p>Pietro Molini was a Milanese;--elderly--with hardly an ounce of flesh on +his body--with face scored and furrowed like the surface of the hedge +pippin--rough in his manners--and the most honest of his tribe.</p> + +<p>Poor Pietro Molini! never did driver give more cheering halloo to +four-footed beast! or with spirit more elate, deliver in the drawling +patois of his native paesi, some ditty commemorative of Northern liberty! +Honest Pietro! thy wishes were contained within a small compass! thy +little brown cur, snarling and bandy-legged--thy raw-boned steeds--these +were thy first care;--the safety of thy conveyance, and its various +inmates, the second.</p> + +<p>To thee--the most delightful melody in this wide world, was the jingling +of thy horses' bells, as all cautiously and slowly they jogged on their +way:--the most discordant sound in nature, the short husky cough, emitted +from the carcase of one of these, as disease and continued fatigue made +their sure inroads.</p> + +<p>Poor simple Pietro! his only pride was encased in his breeches pocket, and +it lay in a few scraps of paper--remembrances of his passengers.</p> + +<p>One and all lavished praise on Pietro!</p> + +<p>Yes! we have him again before us as we write--his ill-looking, but easy +carriage--his three steeds--the rude harness, eked out with clustering +knots of rope--and the happy driver, seated on a narrow bench, jutting +over the backs of his wheelers, as he contentedly whiffs from his small +red clay pipe--at intervals dropping off in a dose, with his cur on his +lap. At such a time, with what perfect nonchalance would he open his large +grey eyes, when recalled to the sense of his duties, by the volubly +breathed execration of some rival whip--and with what a silent look of +ineffable contempt, would he direct his horses to the side of the road, +and again steep his senses in quiescent repose.</p> + +<p>At night, Pietro's importance would sensibly increase, as after rubbing +down the hides of his favourites, and dropping into the capacious manger +the variegated oats; he would wait on his passengers to arrange the hour +of departure--would accept the proffered glass of wine, and give utterance +to his ready joke.</p> + +<p>A King might have envied Pietro Molini, as---the straw rustling beneath +him--he laid down in his hairy capote, almost between the legs of his +favourite horse.</p> + +<p>To do so will be to anticipate some years!</p> + +<p>Yet we would fain relate the end of the Vetturino.</p> + +<p>Crossing from Basle to Strasbourg, in the depth of winter, and descending +an undulated valley, Pietro slept as usual.</p> + +<p>Implicitly relying on the sure footedness of his horses, a fond dream of +German beer, German tobacco, and German sauerkraut, soothed his slumbers.</p> + +<p>A fragment of rock had been loosened from its ancient bed, and lay +across the road.</p> + +<p>Against this the leader tripped and fell.</p> + +<p>The shock threw Pietro and his dog from their exalted station.</p> + +<p>The pipe, which--whether he were sleeping or waking--had long decked the +cheek of the honest driver, now fell from it, and was dashed into a +thousand pieces.</p> + +<p>It was an evil omen.</p> + +<p>When the carriage was stopped, Pietro Molini was found quite lifeless. He +had received a kick from the ungrateful heel of his friend Bruno, and the +wheel of the carriage, it had been his delight to clean, had passed over +the body of the hapless vetturino.</p> + +<p>Ah! as that news spread! many an ostler of many a nation, shook his head +mournfully, and with saddened voice, wondered that the same thing had not +occurred years before.</p> + +<p>At the time, however, to which we allude--viz., the commencement of the +acquaintance between our English travellers, and Pietro; the latter +thought of anything rather than of leaving a world for which he had an +uncommon affection.</p> + +<p>He and Thompson soon became staunch allies; and the want of a common +language seemed only to cement their union.</p> + +<p>Not Noblet, in her inimitable performance of the Muette, threw more +expression into her sweet face--than did Pietro, into the furrowed lines +of his bronzed visage, as he endeavoured to explain to his friend some +Italian custom, or the reason why he had selected another dish, or +other wine; rather than that, to which they had done such justice the +previous day.</p> + +<p>Thompson's gestures and countenance in reply, partook of a more stoical +character; but he was never found wanting, when a companion was needed for +a bottle or a pipe.</p> + +<p>Their friendship was not an uninstructive one.</p> + +<p>It would have edified him, who prides himself on his deep knowledge of +human nature, or who seizes with avidity on the minuter traits of a +nation, to note with what attention the English valet, would listen to a +Milanese arietta; whose love notes, delivered by the unmusical Pietro, +were about as effectively pathetic as the croak of the bull frog in a +marsh, or screech of owl sentimentalising in ivied ruin; and to mark +with what gravity, the Italian driver would beat his hand against the +table; in tune to "Ben Baxter," or "The British Grenadiers," roared out +more Anglico.</p> + +<p>There are two grand routes from Home to Florence:--the one is by Perugia, +the other passes through Sienna. The former, which is the one Sir Henry +selected, is the most attractive to the ordinary traveller; who is enabled +to visit the fall of Terni, Thrasymene, and the temple of Clitumnuss The +first, despite its being artificial, is equal in our opinion, to the +vaunted Schaffhausen;--the second is hallowed in story;--and the third has +been illustrated by Byron.</p> + +<blockquote> "Pass not unblest the genius of the place!<br /> +If through the air a zephyr more serene<br /> +Win to the brow, 'tis his; and if ye trace<br /> +Along the margin a more eloquent green,<br /> +If on the heart, the freshness of the scene<br /> +Sprinkle its coolness, and from the dry dust<br /> +Of weary life a moment lave it clean<br /> +With nature's baptism,--'tis to him ye must<br /> +Pay orisons for this suspension of disgust."</blockquote> + +<p>Poor George Delmé showed little interest in anything connected with +this journey. Sir Henry embarked on the lake above, in order to see the +cascade of Terni in every point of view; and afterwards took his +station with George, on various ledges of rock below the fall--whence +the eye looks upward, on that mystic scene of havoc, turbulence, and +mighty rush of water.</p> + +<p>But the cataract fell in snowy sheet--the waves hissed round the sable +rocks--and the rainbow played on the torrent's foam;--but these +possessed not a charm, to rouse to a sense of their beauty, the sad +heart of the invalid.</p> + +<p>Near the lake of Thrasymene, they passed some hours; allowing Pietro to +put up his horses at Casa di Piano. Sir Henry, with a Livy in his hand, +first proceeded to the small eminence, looking down on the round tower of +Borghetto; and on that insidious pass, which his fancy peopled once more, +with the advancing troops of the Consul.</p> + +<p>The soldier felt much interested, and attempted to impart that interest to +George; but the widowed husband shook his head mournfully; and it was +evident, that his thoughts were not with Flaminius and his entrapped +soldiers, but with the gentle Acmé, mouldering in her lonely grave.</p> + +<p>From Borghetto, they proceeded to the village of Torre, where Delmé was +glad to accept the hospitable offer of its Priest, and procure seats for +himself and George, in the balcony of his little cottage. From this +point, they looked down on the arena of war.</p> + +<p>There it lay, serene and basking in the rays of the meridian sun.</p> + +<p>On either side, were the purple summits of the Gualandra hills.</p> + +<p>Beneath flowed the little rivulet, once choked by the bodies of the +combatants; but which now sparkled gaily through the valley, although at +intervals, almost dried up by the fierce heat of summer.</p> + +<p>The lake was tranquil and unruffled--all on its margin, hushed and +moveless. What a contrast to that exciting hour, which Sir Henry was +conjuring up again; when the clang of arms, and crash of squadrons, +commingled with the exulting shout, that bespoke the confident hope of the +wily Carthaginian; and with that sterner response, which hurled back the +indomitable spirit of the unyielding, but despairing Roman!</p> + +<p>Our travellers quitted the Papal territories; and entering Tuscany, passed +through Arezzo, the birth-place of Petrarch; arriving at Florence just +previous to sunset.</p> + +<p>As they reached the Lung' Arno, Pietro put his horses to a fast trot, and +rattling over the flagged road, drew up in front of Schneidorff's with an +air of greater importance, than his sorry vehicle seemed to warrant.</p> + +<p>The following morning, George Delmé was taken by his brother, to visit +the English physician resident at Florence; and again was Delmé informed, +that change of scene, quiet, and peace of mind, were what his brother +most required.</p> + +<p>George was thinner perhaps, than when at Rome, and his lip had lost its +lustrous red; but he concealed his physical sufferings, and always met +Henry with the same soft undeviating smile.</p> + +<p>On their first visit to the Tribune, George was struck with the Samian +Sibyl of Guercino.</p> + +<p>In the glowing lip--the silken cheek--the ivory temple--the eye of +inspiration--the bereaved mourner thought he could trace, some faint +resemblance to the lost Acmé. Henceforward, it was his greatest pleasure, +to remain with eyes fixed on that masterpiece of art.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé, accompanied by the custode, would make himself +acquainted with the wonders of the Florentine gallery; and every now and +then, return to whisper some sentence, in the soothing tones of brotherly +kindness. At night, their usual haunt was the public square--where the +loggio of Andrea Orcagna presents so much, that may claim attention.</p> + +<p>There stands the David! in the freshness of his youth! proudly regarding +his adversary--ere he overthrow, with the weapon of the herdsman, the +haughty giant.</p> + +<p>The inimitable Perseus, too! the idol of that versatile genius, Benvenuto +Cellini:--an author! a goldsmith! a cunning artificer in jewels! a founder +in bronze! a sculptor in marble! the prince of good fellows! the favored +of princes! the warm friend and daring lover! as we gaze on his glorious +performance, and see beside it the Hercules, and Cacus of his rival Baccio +Bandanelli,--we seem to live again in those days, with which Cellini has +made us so familiar:--and almost naturally regard the back of the bending +figure, to note if its muscles warrant the stinging sarcasm of Cellini, +which we are told at once dispelled the pride of the aspiring +artist--"that they resembled cucumbers!"</p> + +<p>The rape of the Sabines, too! the white marble glistening in the +obscurity, until the rounded shape of the maiden seems to elude the strong +grasp of the Roman!</p> + +<p>Will she ever fly from him thus? will the home of her childhood be ever as +dear? No! the husband's love shall replace the father's blessing; and the +affections of the daughter, shall yield to the tender yearnings of the +mother's bosom.</p> + +<p>We marvel not that George's footsteps lingered there!</p> + +<p>How often have <i>we</i>--martyrs to a hopeless nympholepsy--strayed through +that piazza, at the self same hour--there deemed that the heart would +break--but never thought that it might slowly wither.</p> + +<p>How often have <i>we</i> gleaned from those beauteous objects around, but +aliment to our morbid griefs;--and turning towards the gurgling fountain +of Ammonati, and gazing on its trickling waters, have vainly tried to +arrest our trickling tears!</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter VIII.</h1> + +<h2>Arguà</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "There is a tomb in Arquà: rear'd in air,<br /> +Pillar'd in their sarcophagus, repose<br /> +The bones of Laura's lover."</blockquote> + +<hr width="200" align="left" size="1" /> + +<blockquote> "I stood in Venice on the Bridge of Sighs."</blockquote> + + +<p>How glorious is the thrill, which shoots through our frame, as we first +wake to the consciousness of our intellectual power; as we feel the +spirit--the undying spirit--ready to burst the gross bonds of flesh, and +soar triumphant, over the sneers of others, and our own mistrust.</p> + +<p>How does each thought seem to swell in our bosom, as if impatient of the +confined tenement--how do the floating ideas congregate--how does each +impassioned feeling subdue us in turn, and long for a worthy utterance!</p> + +<p>This is a very bright moment in the history of our lives. It is one in +which we feel--indubitably feel--that we are of the fashioning of +God;--that the light which intellect darts around us, is not the result of +education--of maxims inculcated--or of principles instilled;--but that it +is a ray caught from the brightness of eternity--that when our wavering +pulse has ceased to beat, and the etherialised elements have left the +baser and the useless dust--that ray shall not be quenched; but shall +again be absorbed in the full effulgence from which it emanated.</p> + +<p>Surely then, if such a glorious moment as this, be accorded to even the +inferior votaries of knowledge--to the meaner pilgrims, struggling on +towards the resplendent shrines of science:--how must <i>he</i>--the divine +Petrarch, who could so exquisitely delineate love's hopes and story, as to +clothe an earthly passion, with half the attributes of an immortal +affection:--how must <i>he</i> have revelled in the proud sensations called +forth at such a moment!</p> + +<p>It is the curse of the poet, that he must perforce leave the golden +atmosphere of loftiest aspirations--step from the magic circle, where all +is pure and etherial--and find himself the impotent denizen, of a sombre +and an earthly world,</p> + +<p>It was in the early part of September, that the brothers turned their +backs on the Etrurian Athens. Their destination was Venice, and their +route lay through Bologna and Arquà.</p> + +<p>They had been so satisfied, under the guidance of their old vetturino, +that Sir Henry made an arrangement, which induced him to be at Florence, +at the time of their departure;--and Pietro and Thompson were once more +seated beside each other.</p> + +<p>Before commencing the ascent of the Appennines, our travellers visited the +country seat of the Archduke; saw the gigantic statue executed by John of +Bologna, which frowns over the lake; and at Fonte-buona, cast a farewell +glance on Florence, and the ancient Fiesole.</p> + +<p>As they advanced towards Caravigliojo, the mountains began to be more +formidable, and the scenery to lose its smiling character.</p> + +<p>Each step seemed to add to the barrenness of the landscape.</p> + +<p>The wind came howling down from the black volcanic looking ridges--then +swept tempestuously through some deep ravine.</p> + +<p>On either side the road, tall red poles presented themselves, a guide to +the traveller during winter's snows; while, in one exposed gully, were +built large stone embankments for his protection--as a Latin inscription +intimated--from the violence of the gales.</p> + +<p>Few signs of life appeared.</p> + +<p>Here and there, her white kerchief shading a sun-burnt face, a young +Bolognese shepherd girl might be seen on some grassy ledge, waving her +hand coquettishly; while her neglected flock, with tinkling bell, browsed +on the edge of the precipice. As they neared Bologna, however, the +scenery changed.</p> + +<p>Festoons of grapes, trained to leafy elms, began to appear--white villas +chequered the suburbs--and it was with a pleasurable feeling, that they +neared the peculiar looking city, with its leaning towers, and old +façades. It is the only one, where the Englishman recals Mrs. Ratcliffe's +harrowing tales; and half expects to see a Schedoni, advancing from some +covered portico.</p> + +<p>The next day found them in the Bolognese gallery, which is the first which +duly impresses the traveller, coming from the north, with the full powers +of the art.</p> + +<p>The soul of music seems to dwell in the face of the St. Cecilia; and the +cup of maternal anguish to be filled to the brim, as in Guide's Murder of +the Innocents, the mother clasps to her arms the terrified babe, and +strives to flee from the ruthless destroyer.</p> + +<p>It was on the fourth morning from their arrival in Bologna, that they +approached the poet's "mansion and his sepulchre."</p> + +<p>As they threaded the green windings of vine covered hills, these gradually +assumed a bolder outline, and, rising in separate cones, formed a sylvan +amphitheatre round the lovely village of Arquà.</p> + +<p>The road made an abrupt ascent to the Fontana Petrarca. A large ruined +arch spanned a fine spring, that rushes down the green slope.</p> + +<p>In the church-yard, on the right, is the tomb of Petrarch.</p> + +<p>Its peculiarly bold elevation--the numberless thrilling associations +connected with the poet--gave a tone and character to the whole scene. The +chiaro-scuro of the landscape, was from the light of his genius--the shade +of his tomb.</p> + +<p>The day was lovely--warm, but not oppressive. The soft green of the hills +and foliage, checked the glare of the flaunting sunbeams.</p> + +<p>The brothers left the carriage to gaze on the sarcophagus of red marble, +raised on pilasters; and could not help deeming even the indifferent +bronze bust of Petrarch, which surmounts this, to be a superfluous +ornament in such a scene.</p> + +<p>The surrounding landscape--the dwelling place of the poet--his tomb facing +the heavens, and disdaining even the shadow of trees--the half-effaced +inscription of that hallowed shrine--all these seemed appropriate, and +melted the gazer's heart.</p> + +<p>How useless! how intrusive! are the superfluous decorations of art, amid +the simpler scenes of nature.</p> + +<p>Ornament is here misplaced. The feeling heart regrets its presence at the +time, and attempts, albeit in vain, to banish it from after recollections.</p> + +<p>George could not restrain his tears, for he thought of the dead; and they +silently followed their guide to Petrarch's house, now partly used as a +granary. Passing through two or three unfinished rooms, whose walls were +adorned with rude frescoes of the lover and his mistress, they were shown +into Petrarch's chamber, damp and untenanted.</p> + +<p>In the closet adjoining, were the chair and table consecrated by the poet.</p> + +<p>There did he sit--and write--and muse--and die!</p> + +<p>George turned to a tall narrow window, and looked out on a scene, fair and +luxuriant as the garden of Eden.</p> + +<p>The rich fig trees, with their peculiar small, high scented fruit, mixed +with the vines that clustered round the lattice.</p> + +<p>The round heads of the full bearing peach trees, dipped down in a leafy +slope beneath a grassy walk;--and this thicket of fruit was charmingly +enlivened, by bunches of the scarlet pomegranate, now in the pride of +their blossom.</p> + +<p>The poet's garden alone was neglected--rank herbage choking up its +uncultivated flowers.</p> + +<p>A thousand thoughts filled the mind of George Delmé.</p> + +<p>He thought of Laura! of his own Acmé!</p> + +<p>With swimming glance, he looked round the chamber.</p> + +<p>It was almost without furniture, and without ornament. In a niche, and +within a glass case, was placed the skeleton of a dumb favourite of +Petrarch's.</p> + +<p>Suddenly George Delmé felt a faintness stealing over him:--and he +turned to bare his forehead, to catch the slight breeze from below +redolent of sweets.</p> + +<p>This did not relieve him.</p> + +<p>A sharp pain across the chest, and a fluttering at the heart, as of a bird +struggling to be free, succeeded this faintness.</p> + +<p>Another rush of blood to the head:--and a snap, as of some tendon, was +distinctly felt by the sufferer.</p> + +<p>His mouth filled with blood.</p> + +<p>A small blood-vessel had burst, and temporary insensibility ensued.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry was wholly unprepared for this scene.</p> + +<p>Assisted by Thompson, he bore him to the carriage--sprinkled his face with +water--and administered cordials.</p> + +<p>George's recovery was speedy; and it almost seemed, as if the rupture of +the vessel had been caused by the irregular circulation, for no further +bad effects were felt at the time.</p> + +<p>The loss of blood, however, evidently weakened him; and his spasms +henceforward were more frequent.</p> + +<p>He became less able to undergo fatigue; and his mind, probably in +connection with the nervous system, became more than ordinarily excited.</p> + +<p>There was no longer wildness in his actions; but in his thoughts and +language, was developed a poetical eccentricity--a morbid sympathy with +surrounding scenes and impressions, which kept Sir Henry Delmé in a +constant state of alarm,--and which was very remarkable.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"What! at Mestré already, Pietro?" said Sir Henry.</p> + +<p>"Even so, Signore! and here is the gondola to take you on to Venice."</p> + +<p>"Well, Pietro! you must not fail to come and see us at the inn."</p> + +<p>The vetturino touched his hat, with the air of a man who would be very +sorry <i>not</i> to see them.</p> + +<p>It was not long ere the glittering prow of the gondola pointed to Venice.</p> + +<p>Before the travellers, rose ocean's Cybele; springing from the waters, +like some fairy city, described to youthful ear by aged lip.</p> + +<p>The fantastic dome of St. Mark--the Palladian churches--the columned +palaces--the sable gondolas shooting through the canals--made its aspect, +as is its reality, unique in the world.</p> + +<p>"Beautiful, beautiful city!" said George, his eye lighting up as he spoke, +"thou dost indeed look a city of the heart--a resting place for a wearied +spirit. And our gondola, Henry, should be of burnished silver; and those +afar--so noiselessly cutting their way through the glassy surface--those +should be angels with golden wings; and, instead of an oar flashing +freely, a snowy wand of mercy should beat back the kissing billows.</p> + +<p>"And Acmé, with her George, should sit on the crystal cushion of glory--and +we would wait expectant for you a long long time--and then you should join +us, Henry, with dear Emily.</p> + +<p>"And Thompson should be with us, too, and recline on the steps of our bark +as he does now.</p> + +<p>"And together we would sail loving and happy through an amethystine sea."</p> + +<p>During their stay in Venice, George, in spite of his increasing languor, +continued to accompany his brother, in his visits to the various objects +of interest which the city can boast.</p> + +<p>The motion of the gondola appeared to have a soothing influence on the +mind of the invalid.</p> + +<p>He would recline on the cushions, and the fast flowing tears would course +down his wan cheeks.</p> + +<p>These, however, were far from being a proof of suffering;--they were +evidently a relief to the surcharged spirit.</p> + +<p>One evening, a little before sunset, they found themselves in the crowded +piazza of Saint Mark. The cafés were thronged with noble Venetians, come +to witness the evening parade of an Austrian regiment. The sounds of +martial music, swelled above the hum of the multitude; and few could +listen to those strains, without participating in some degree, in the +military enthusiasm of the hour.</p> + +<p>But the brothers turned from the pageantry of war, as their eyes fell on +the emblems of Venice free--the minarets of St. Mark, with the horses of +Lysippus, a spoil from Byzantium--the flagless poles that once bore the +banners of three tributary states--the highly adorned azure clock--the +palaces of the proud Doges--where Faliero reigned--where Faliero +suffered:--these were before them.</p> + +<p>Their steps mechanically turned to the beautiful Campanile.</p> + +<p>George, leaning heavily on Sir Henry's arm, succeeded in gaining the +summit: and they looked down from thence, on that wonderful city.</p> + +<p>They saw the parade dismissed--they heard the bugle's fitful blast +proclaim the hour of sunset. The richest hues of crimson and of gold, +tinted the opposite heavens; while on those waters, over which the +gondolas were swiftly gliding, quivered another city, the magic reflection +of the one beneath them.</p> + +<p>They gazed on the scene in silence, till the grey twilight came on.</p> + +<p>"Now, George! it is getting late," said Sir Henry. "I wonder whether we +could find some old mariner, who could give us a chaunt from Tasso?"</p> + +<p>Descending from the Campanile, Sir Henry made enquiries on the quay, and +with some difficulty found gondoliers, who could still recite from their +favourite bard.</p> + +<p>Engaging a couple of boats, and placing a singer in each, the brothers +were rowed down the Canale Giudecca--skirted many of the small islands, +studding the lagoons; and proceeded towards the Adriatic.</p> + +<p>Gradually the boats parted company, and just as Sir Henry was about to +speak, thinking there might be a mistake as to the directions; the +gondolier in the other boat commenced his song,--its deep bass mellowed by +distance, and the intervening waves. The sound was electric.</p> + +<p>It was so exquisitely appropriate to the scene, and harmonised so +admirably, with the associations which Venice is apt to awaken, that one +longed to be able to embody that fleeting sound--to renew its magic +influence in after years. The pen may depict man's stormy feelings: the +sensitive caprice of woman:--the most vivid tints may be imitated on the +glowing canvas:--the inspired marble may realise our every idea of the +beauty of form:--a scroll may give us at will, the divine inspiration, of +Handel:--but there are sounds, as there are subtle thoughts, which, away +from the scenes, where they have charmed us, can never delight us more.</p> + +<p>It was not until the second boatman answered the song, that the brothers +felt how little the charm lay, in the voice of the gondolier, and that, +heard nearer, the sounds were harsh and inharmonious.</p> + +<p>They recited the death of Clorinda; the one renewing the stanza, whenever +there was a momentary forgetfulness on the part of the other.</p> + +<p>The clock of St. Mark had struck twelve, before the travellers had reached +the hotel. George had not complained of fatigue, during a day which even +Sir Henry thought a trying one; and the latter was willing to hope that +his strength was now increasing.</p> + +<p>Their first design had been to proceed though Switzerland, resting for +some time at Geneva. Their plans were now changed, and Sir Henry Belme +determined, that their homeward route should be through the Tyrol and +Bavaria, and eventually down the Rhine.</p> + +<p>He considered that the water carriage, and the very scenes themselves, +might prove beneficial to the invalid.</p> + +<p>Thompson was sent over to Mestré, to inform Pietro; and they prepared to +take their departure.</p> + +<p>"You have been better in Venice," said Sir Henry, as they entered the +gondola, that was to bear them from the city. "God grant that you may long +remain so!"</p> + +<p>George shook his head doubtingly.</p> + +<p>"My illness, Henry, is not of the frame alone, although that is fragile +and shattered.</p> + +<p>"The body lingers on without suffering; but the mind--a very bright sword +in a worthless sheath--is forcing its way through. Some feelings must +remain to the last--gratitude to you--love to dear Emily! Acmé, wife of my +bosom! when may I join you?"</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter IX.</h1> + +<h2>Inspruck</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Oh there is sweetness in the mountain air,<br /> +And life, that bloated ease can never hope to share."</blockquote> + + + +<p>Inspruck! a thousand recollections flash across us, as we pronounce the +word!</p> + +<p>We were there at a memorable period; when the body of the hero of the +Tyrol--the brave, the simple-minded Anderl Hofer--was removed from Mantua, +where he so nobly met a patriot's death, to the capital of the country, +which he had so gallantly defended.</p> + +<p>The event was one, that could not fail to be impressive; and to us it was +doubly so, for that very period formed an epoch in our lives.</p> + +<p>We had lost! we had suffered! we had mourned! Our mind's strength was +shook. Ordinary remedies were worse than futile.</p> + +<p>We threw ourselves into the heart of the Tyrol, and became resigned if +not happy.</p> + +<p>Romantic country! did not duty whisper otherwise, how would we fly to thy +rugged mountains, and find in the kindly virtues of thine inhabitants, +wherewithal to banish misanthropy, and it may be purchase oblivion.</p> + +<p>Noble land! where the chief in his hall--the peasant in his hut--alike +open their arms with sheltering hospitality, to welcome the +stranger--where kindness springs from the heart, and dreams not of sordid +gain--where courtesy attends superior rank, without question, but without +debasement--where the men are valiant, the women virtuous--where it needed +but a few home-spun heroes--an innkeeper and a friar--to rouse up to arms +an entire population, and in a brief space to drive back the Gallic +foeman! Oh! how do we revert with choking sense of gratitude, to the years +we have spent in thy bosom!</p> + +<p>Oh! would that we were again treading the mountain's summit--the rifle +our comrade--and a rude countryman, our guide and our companion.</p> + +<p>In vain! in vain! the net of circumstance is over us!</p> + +<p>We may struggle! but cannot escape from its close meshes.</p> + +<p>We have said that we were at Inspruck at this period.</p> + +<p>It was our purpose, on the following morning, to take our departure.</p> + +<p>With renewed health, and nerves rebraced, we hoped to combat successfully, +a world that had already stung us.</p> + +<p>There was a group near the golden-roofed palace, that attracted our +attention. It consisted of a father and his five sons.</p> + +<p>They were dressed in the costume of the country; wearing a tapering +hat, with black ribbons and feather--a short green jerkin--a red vest +surmounted by broad green braces--and short boots tightly laced to +the ancle.</p> + +<p>They formed a picture of free mountaineers.</p> + +<p>We left our lodging, and passed them irresolutely twice or thrice.</p> + +<p>The old man took off his hat to the stranger.</p> + +<p>"Sir! I am of Sand, in Passeyer.</p> + +<p>"Anderl Hofer was my schoolfellow; and these are my boys, whom I have +brought to see all that remains of him. Oh! Sir! they did not conquer him, +although the murderers shot him on the bastion; but, as he wrote to +Pulher--<i>his</i> friend and mine--it was indeed 'in the name, and by the help +of the Lord, that he undertook the voyage,'"</p> + +<p>We paced through the city sorrowfully. It was night, as we passed by the +church of the Holy Cross.</p> + +<p>Solemn music there arrested our footsteps; and we remembered, that high +mass would that night be performed, for the soul of the deceased patriot.</p> + +<p>We entered, and drew near the mausoleum of Maximilian the First:--leaning +against a colossal statue in bronze, and fixing our eyes on a bas relief +on the tomb: one of twenty-four tablets, wrought from Carrara's whitest +marble, by the unrivalled hand of Colin of Malines!</p> + +<p>One blaze of glory enveloped the grand altar:--vapours of incense floated +above:--and the music! oh it went to the soul!</p> + +<p>Down! down knelt the assembled throng!</p> + +<p>Our mind had been previously attuned to melancholy; it now reeled under +its oppression.</p> + +<p>We looked around with tearful eye. Old Theodoric of the Goths seemed to +frown from his pedestal.</p> + +<p>We turned to the statue against which we had leant.</p> + +<p>It was that of a youthful and sinewy warrior.</p> + +<p>We read its inscription.</p> + +<p><b>Artur, Konig Von England</b></p> + +<p>"Ah! hast <i>thou</i> too thy representative, my country?"</p> + +<p>We looked around once more.</p> + +<p>The congregation were prostrate before the mysterious Host; and we alone +stood up, gazing with profound awe and reverence on the mystic rite.</p> + +<p>The rough caps of the women almost hid their fair brows. In the upturned +features of the men, what a manly, yet what a devout expression reigned!</p> + +<p>Melodiously did the strains proceed from the brazen-balustraded +orchestra; while sweet young girls smiled in the chapel of silver, as +they turned to Heaven their deeply-fringed eyes, and invoked pardon for +their sins.</p> + +<p>Alas! alas! that such as these <i>should</i> err, even in thought! that our +feelings should so often mislead us,--that our very refinement, should +bring temptation in its train,--and our fervent enthusiasm, but too +frequently terminate in vice and crime!</p> + +<p>Our whole soul was unmanned! and well do we remember the morbid prayer, +that we that night offered to the throne of mercy.</p> + +<p>"Pity us! pity us! Creator of all!</p> + +<p>"With thousands around, who love--who reverence--whose hearts, in unison +with ours, tremble at death, yet sigh for eternity;--who gaze with eye +aspiring, although dazzled--as, the curtain of futurity uplifted, fancy +revels in the glorious visions of beatitude:--even here, oh God! hear our +prayer and pity us!</p> + +<p>"We are moulded, though faintly, in an angel's form. Endow us with an +angel's principles. For ever hush the impure swellings of passion! lull +the stormy tide of contending emotions! let not circumstances overwhelm!</p> + +<p>"Receive our past griefs: the griefs of manhood, engrafted on youth; accept +these tears, falling fast and bitterly! take them as past atonement,--as +mute witnesses that we feel:--that reason slumbers not, although passion +may mislead:--that gilded temptation may overcome, and gorgeous pleasure +intoxicate:--but that sincere repentance, and bitter remorse, are +visitants too.</p> + +<p>"Oh guide and pity us!"</p> + +<p>A cheerless dawn was breaking, and a thick damp mist was lazily hanging on +the water's surface, as our travellers waved the hand to Venice.</p> + +<p>"Fare thee well!" said George, as he rose in the gondola to catch a last +glimpse of the Piazzetta, "sea girt city! decayed memorial of patrician +splendour, and plebeian debasement! of national glory, blended with +individual degradation!--fallen art thou, but fair! It was not with +freshness of heart, I reached thee:--I dwelt not in thee, with that +jocund spirit, whose every working or gives the lip a smile, or moistens +the eye of feeling with a tear.</p> + +<p>"Sad were my emotions! but sadder still, as I recede from thy shores, bound +on a distant pilgrimage. Acmé! dear Acmé! would I were with thee!"</p> + +<p>Passing through Treviso, they stopped at Castel Franco, which presents one +of the best specimens of an Italian town, and Italian peasantry, that a +stranger can meet with.</p> + +<p>At Bassano, they failed not to visit the Municipal Hall, where are the +principal pictures of Giacomo da Ponte, called after his native town.</p> + +<p>His style is peculiar.</p> + +<p>His pictures are dark to an excess, with here and there a vivid light, +introduced with wonderful effect.</p> + +<p>From this town, the ascent of the mountains towards Ospedale is commenced; +and the route is one full of interest.</p> + +<p>On the right, lay a low range of country, adorned with vineyards; beyond +which, the mountains rose in a precipitous ridge, and closed the scene +magnificently.</p> + +<p>The Brenta was then reached, and continued to flow parallel with the road, +as far as eye could extend.</p> + +<p>Farther advanced, the mountains presented a landscape more varied:--<i>here</i> +chequered with hamlets, whose church hells re-echoed in mellow harmony: +there--the only break to their majesty, being the rush of the river, as it +formed rolling cascades in its rapid route; or beat in sparkling foam, +against the large jagged rocks, which opposed its progress.</p> + +<p>At one while, came shooting down the stream, some large raft of timber, +manned by adventurous navigators, who, with graceful dexterity, guided +their rough bark, clear of the steep banks, and frequent fragments of +rock;--at another--as if to mark a road little frequented, a sharp turn +would bring them on some sandalled damsel, sitting by the road side, +adjusting her ringlets. Detected in her toilet, there was a mixture of +frankness and modesty, in the way in which she would turn away a blushing +face, yet neglect not, with native courtesy, to incline the head, and +wave the sun-burnt hand.</p> + +<p>From Ospedale, nearing the bold castle of Pergini, which effectually +commands the pass; the travellers descended through regions of beauty, to +the ancient Tridentum of Council celebrity.</p> + +<p>The metal roof of its Duomo was glittering in the sunshine; and the Adige +was swiftly sweeping by its fortified walls.</p> + +<p>Leaving Trent, they reached San Michele, nominally the last Italian town +on the frontier; but the German language had already prepared them for a +change of country.</p> + +<p>The road continued to wind by the Adige, and passing through Lavis, and +Bronzoli, the brothers halted for the night at Botzen, a clean German +town, watered by the Eisach.</p> + +<p>The following day's journey, was one that few can take, and deem their +time misspent.</p> + +<p>Mossy cliffs--flowing cascades--"chiefless castles breaking stern +farewells"--all these were met, and met again, as through Brixen, they +reached the village of Mülks.</p> + +<p>They had intended to have continued their route; but on drawing up at the +post-house, were so struck with the gaiety of the scene, that they +determined to remain for the night.</p> + +<p>Immediately in rear of the small garden of the inn, and with a gentle +slope upwards, a wide piece of meadow land extended. On its brow, was +pitched a tent, or rather, a many-coloured awning; and, beside it, a pole +adorned with flags. This was the station for expert riflemen, who aimed in +succession at a fluttering bird, held by a silken cord.</p> + +<p>The sloping bank of the hill was covered with spectators.</p> + +<p>Age looked on with sadness, and mourned for departed manhood--youth with +envy, and sighed for its arrival.</p> + +<p>After seeing their bedrooms, George leant on Henry's arm, and, crossing +the garden, they took a by-path, which led towards the tent.</p> + +<p>The strangers were received with respect and cordiality.</p> + +<p>Seats were brought, and placed near the scene of contest.</p> + +<p>The trial of skill over, the victor took advantage, of his right, and +selected his partner from the fairest of the peasant girls.</p> + +<p>Shrill pipes struck up a waltz--a little blind boy accompanied these on a +mandolin--and in a brief space, the hill's flat summit was swarming with +laughing dancers.</p> + +<p>Nor was youth alone enlisted in Terpsichore's service.</p> + +<p>The mother joined in the same dance with the daughter; and not +unfrequently tripped with foot as light.</p> + +<p>Twilight came on, and the patriarchs of the village, and with them our +travellers, adjourned to the inn.</p> + +<p>The matrons led away their reluctant charges, and the youth of the village +alone protracted the revels.</p> + +<p>The brothers seated themselves at a separate table, and watched the +village supper party, with some interest.</p> + +<p>Bowls of thick soup, with fish swimming in butter, and fruit floating in +cream, were successively placed in the middle of the table.</p> + +<p>Each old man produced his family spoon, and helped himself with primitive +simplicity:--then lighted his pipe, and told his long tale, till he had +exhausted himself and his hearers.</p> + +<p>Nor must we forget the comely waiter.</p> + +<p>A bunch of keys hanging on one side,--a large leathern purse on the +other--with a long boddice, and something like a hoop--she really +resembled, save that her costume was more homely, one of the portraits +of Vandyke.</p> + +<p>The brothers left Mülks by sunrise, and were not long, ere they reached +the summit of the Brenner, the loftiest point of the Tyrol.</p> + +<p>From the beautiful town of Gries, embosomed in the deep valley, until they +trod the steep Steinach, the mountain scenery at each step become more +interesting. The road was cut on the face of a mountain. On one side, +frowned the mountain's dark slope; on the other, lay a deep precipice, +down which the eye fearfully gazed, and saw naught but the dark fir trees +far far beneath. Dividing that dense wood, a small stream, entangled in +the dark ravine, glided on in graceful windings, and looked more silvery +from its contrast with the sombre forest.</p> + +<p>At the Steinach Pietro pulled up, to show the travellers the capital +of the Tyrol, and to point in the distance to Hall, famous for its +salt works.</p> + +<p>Casting a hasty glance, on the romantic vale beneath them:--the fairest +and most extensive in the northern recesses of the Alps, Sir Henry desired +his driver to continue his journey.</p> + +<p>They rapidly descended, and passing by the column, commemorative of the +repulse of the French and Bavarian armies, soon found themselves the +inmates of an hotel in Inspruck.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter X.</h1> + +<h2>The Students' Stories</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "The lilacs, where the robins built,<br /> + And where my brother set<br /> +The laburnum on his birth-day--<br /> + <i>The tree</i> is living yet."</blockquote> + + +<p>At Inspruck, Delmé had the advantage of a zealous, if not an appropriate +guide, in the red-faced landlord of the hotel, whose youth had been passed +in stirring times, which had more than once, required the aid of his arm, +and which promised to tax his tongue, to the last day of his life.</p> + +<p>He knew all the heroes of the Tyrolese revolution--if revolution it can be +called--and had his tale to tell of each.</p> + +<p>He had got drunk with Hofer,--had visited Joseph Speckbacker, when hid in +his own stable,--and had confessed more than once to Haspinger, the +fighting Capuchin.</p> + +<p>His stories were very characteristic; and, if they did not breathe all the +poetry of patriotism, were at least honest versions, of exploits performed +in as pure and disinterested a spirit, as any that have ever graced the +sacred name of Liberty.</p> + +<p>After seeing all its sights, and making an excursion to some glaciers in +its neighbourhood, Delmé and George left the capital of the Tyrol, to +proceed by easy stages to Munich.</p> + +<p>In the first day's route, they made the passage of the Zirl, which has +justly been lauded; and Pietro failed not to point to a crucifix, placed +on a jutting rock, which serves to mark the site of Maximilian's cave.</p> + +<p>The travellers took a somewhat late breakfast, at the guitar-making +Mittelwald, where chance detained them later than usual. They were still +at some distance from their sleeping place, the hamlet of Wallensee, when +the rich hues of sunset warned Pietro, that if he would not be benighted, +he must urge on his jaded horses.</p> + +<p>The sun's decline was glorious. For a time, vivid streaks of crimson and +of gold, crowned the summits of the heaving purple mountains. Gradually, +these streaks became fainter, and died away, and rolling, slate-coloured +clouds, hung heavily in the west.</p> + +<p>The scene and the air seemed to turn on a sudden, both cold and grey; and, +as the road wound through umbrageous forests of pine, night came abruptly +upon them; and it was a relief to the eye, to note the many bright stars, +as they shone above the tops of the lofty trees.</p> + +<p>A boding stillness reigned, on which the sound of their carriage wheels +ungratefully broke. The rustling of each individual bough had an +intonation of its own; and the deep notes of the woodman, endeavouring to +forget the thrilling legends of his land, mingled fitfully with the hollow +gusts, which came moaning through the leafless branches below.</p> + +<p>Hist! can it be the boisterous revel of the <i>forst geister</i>, that meets +his ear? or is it but the chirp of insects, replying from brake to +underwood?</p> + +<p>Woodman! stay not thy carol!</p> + +<p>Yon sound <i>may</i> be the wild laugh of the Holz König! Better for thee, to +deem it the whine of thine own dog, looking from the cottage door, and +awaiting but thy presence, to share in the homely meal.</p> + +<p>Arrived on the summit of the hill, the lights of the hamlet at length +glistened beneath them. The tired steeds, as if aware of the near +termination of their labours, shook their rough manes, and jingled their +bells in gladness.</p> + +<p>An abrupt descent--and they halted, at the inn facing the lake.</p> + +<p>And here may we notice, that it has been a source of wonder to us, that +English tourists, whose ubiquity is great, have not oftener been seen +straying, by the side of the lake of Wallensee.</p> + +<p>A sweeter spot exists not;--whether we rove by its margin, and perpetrate +a sonnet; limn some graceful tree, hanging over its waters; or gaze on its +unruffled surface, and, noting its aspect so serene, preach from that +placid text, peace to the wearied breast.</p> + +<p>They were shown into a room in the inn, already thronged with strangers. +These were students on their way to Heidelberg.</p> + +<p>They were sitting round a table, almost enveloped in smoke; and were +hymning praises to their loved companion--beer.</p> + +<p>As being in harmony with the moustaches, beard, and bandit +propensities--which true bürschen delight to cultivate--they received +the strangers with an unfriendly stare, and continued to vociferate +their chorus.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry, a little dismayed at the prospect before them, called for the +landlord and his bill of fare; and had the pleasure of discovering, that +the provisions had been consumed, and that two hours would elapse, before +more could be procured.</p> + +<p>At this announcement, Delmé looked somewhat blank. One of the students, +observing this, approached, and apologising, in English, for their +voracity, commenced conversing with the landlord, as to the best course to +be pursued towards obtaining supper.</p> + +<p>His comrades, seeing one of their number speaking with the travellers, +threw off some part of their reserve, and made way for them at the table.</p> + +<p>George and Henry accepted the proffered seats, although they declined +joining the drinking party.</p> + +<p>The students, however, did not appear at ease. As if to relieve their +embarrassment, one of them addressed the young man, with whom Sir Henry +had conversed.</p> + +<p>"Carl! it is your turn now! if you have not a song, we must have an +original story."</p> + +<p>Carl at once complied, and related the following.</p> + + + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">The First Story.</p> + + +<p>Perhaps some of you remember Fritz Hartmann and his friend Leichtberg. +They were the founders of the last new liberty club, and were famous at +<i>renowning</i>.</p> + +<p>These patriots became officers of the Imperial Guard, and at Vienna were +soon known for their friendship and their gallantries.</p> + +<p>Fritz had much sentiment and imagination; but some how or other, this did +not preserve him from inconstancy.</p> + +<p>If he was always kind and gentle, he was not always faithful.</p> + +<p>His old college chums had the privilege of joking him on these subjects; +and we always did so without mercy. Fritz would sometimes combat our +assertions, but they ordinarily made him laugh so much, that a stranger +would have deemed he assented to their truth.</p> + +<p>One night after the opera, the friends supped together at Fritz's.</p> + +<p>I was of the party, and brought for my share a few bottles of +Johannisberg, that had been sent me by my uncle from the last vintage. +Over these we got more than usually merry, and sang all the songs and +choruses of Mother Heidelberg, till the small hours arrived. The sitting +room we were in, communicated on one side with the bedroom;--on the other, +with a little closet, containing nothing but some old trunks.</p> + +<p>This last was closed, but there was a small aperture in the door, over +which was a slight iron lattice work.</p> + +<p>The officer who had last tenanted Fritz's quarters, had kept pheasants +there, and had had this made on purpose.</p> + +<p>After one of our songs, Leichtberg attacked Fritz on the old score.</p> + +<p>"Fritz! you very Werter of sentiment! I was amazed to see you with no +loves to-night at the opera. Where is the widow with sandy hair? or the +actress who gave your <i>kirschenwasser</i> such a benefit? where our +sallow-faced friend? or more than all, where may the fair Pole be who +sells such charming fruit? Fritz! Fritz! your sudden attachment to grapes +is too ominous."</p> + +<p>"Come, Leichtberg!" said Hartmann, laughing, "this is really not fair. Do +you know I think myself very constant, and as to the Pole, I have thought +of little else for these three months."</p> + +<p>"Not so fast! not so fast! Master Hartmann. Was it not on Wednesday week I +met you arm in arm with the actress? Were you not waltzing with the widow +at the Tivoli? have you not"--</p> + +<p>"Come, come!" said Fritz, reddening, "let us say no more. I confess to +having made a fool of myself with the actress, but she begged and prayed +to see me once more, ere we parted for ever. With this exception----"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes!" interrupted Leichtberg, "I know you, Master Fritz, and all +your evil doings. Have you heard of our Polish affaire de coeur, Carl?", +and he turned to me.</p> + +<p>"No!" replied I, "let me hear it."</p> + +<p>"Well, you must know that a certain friend of ours is very economical, and +markets for himself. He bargains for fruit and flowers with the peasant +girls, and the prettiest always get his orders, and bring up their +baskets, and--we will say no more. Well! our friend meets a foreign face, +dark eye--Greek contour--and figure indescribable. She brings him home her +well arranged bouquets. He swears her lips are redder than her roses--her +brow whiter than lilies--and her breath--which he stoops to inhale--far +sweeter than her jasmines. To his amazement, the young flower girl sees no +such great attractions in the Imperial Guardsman; leaves her +nosegays,--throws his Napoleon, which he had asked her to change, in his +face,--and makes her indignant exit. Our sentimental friend finds out her +home, and half her history;--renews his flattering tales--piques her +pride,--rouses her jealousy;--and makes her love him, bon gré--mal gré, +better than either fruit or flowers.</p> + +<p>"Fritz swears eternal constancy, and keeps it, as I have already told you, +with the actress and the sandy haired widow."</p> + +<p>Leichtberg told this story inimitably, and Fritz laughed as much as I did. +At length we rose to wish him good night, and saw him turn to his bedroom +door, followed by a Swiss dog, which always slept under his bed. The rest +of the story we heard from his dying lips.</p> + +<p>It was as near as he could guess, between two and three in the morning, +that he awoke with the impression that some one was near him. For a time +he lay restless and ill at ease; with the vague helpless feeling, that +often attacks one, after a good supper.</p> + +<p>Fritz had just made up his mind to ascribe to this cause, all his +nervousness; when something seemed to drop in the adjoining room; and his +dog, starting to its feet, commenced barking furiously.</p> + +<p>Again all was still.</p> + +<p>He got up for a moment, but fancying he heard a footstep on the stair, +concluded that the noise proceeded from one of the inmates of the house, +who was come home later than usual.</p> + +<p>But Fritz could not sleep; and his dog seemed to share his feelings; +for he turned on his side restlessly, and occasionally gave a quick +solitary bark.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a conviction flashed across Hartmann, that there was indeed some +one in the chamber.</p> + +<p>His curtain stirred.</p> + +<p>He sprang from his bed, and reached his tinder box. As the steel struck +sparks from the flint, these revealed the face of the intruder.</p> + +<p>It was the young Polish girl.</p> + +<p>A fur cloak was closely folded around her;--her face was deadly +pale;--with one hand she drew back her long dark hair, while she silently +uplifted the other.</p> + +<p>Our friend's last impression was his falling back, at the moment his dog +made a spring at the girl.</p> + +<p>The inmates of the house were alarmed. His friends were all sent for.</p> + +<p>I arrived among the earliest. What a sight met me!</p> + +<p>The members of the household were so stupefied that they had done nothing. +Fritz Hartmann lay on the floor insensible:--his night shirt steeped in +blood, still flowing from a mortal wound in his breast.</p> + +<p>At his feet, moaning bitterly, its fangs and mouth filled with mingled fur +and gore, lay the Swiss dog, with two or three deep gashes across the +throat. In the adjoining room, thrown near the door, was the instrument of +Fritz's death--one of the knives we had used the evening before.</p> + +<p>Beside it, lay a woman's cloak, the fur literally dripping with blood.</p> + +<p>Fritz lingered for five hours. Before death, he was sensible, and told us +what I have stated:--and acknowledged that he had loved the girl, more +than her station in life might seem to warrant.</p> + +<p>Of course, the young Pole had been concealed in the closet, and heard +Leichtberg's sallies. Love and jealousy effected the rest.</p> + +<p>We never caught her, although we had all the Vienna police at our beck; +and accurate descriptions of her person were forwarded to the frontiers.</p> + +<p>We were not quite certain as to her fate, but we rather suppose her to +have escaped by a back garden; in which case she must have made a most +dangerous leap; and then to have passed as a courier, riding as such +into Livonia.</p> + +<p>Where she obtained the money or means to effect this, God knows. She must +have been a heroine in her way, for this dog is not easily overpowered, +and yet--look here! these scars were given him by that young girl.</p> + +<p>The student whistled to a dog at his feet, which came and licked his hand, +while he showed the wounds in his throat.</p> + +<p>"I call him Hartmann," continued he, "after my old friend. His father sent +him to me just after the funeral, and Leichtberg has got his meershaum."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The students listened attentively to the story, refilling their pipes +during its progress, with becoming gravity. Carl turned towards his right +hand neighbour. "Wilhelm! I call on you!"</p> + +<p>The student, whom he addressed, passed his hand through his long heard, +and thus commenced.</p> + + + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">The Second Story.</p> + + +<p>My father's brother married at Lausanne, in the Canton de Vaud, and +resided there. He died early, and left one son; who, as you may suppose, +was half a Frenchman. In spite of that, I thought Caspar von Hazenfeldt a +very handsome fellow. His chestnut hair knotted in curls over his +shoulders. His eyes, the veins of his temples, and I would almost say, his +very teeth, had a blueish tint, that I have noticed in few men; and which +must, I think, be the peculiar characteristic of his complexion. When +engaged in pleasure parties, either pic-nicing at the signal, or +promenading in the evening on Mont Benon, or sitting tête-à-tête at +Languedoc, he had no eyes or ears but for Caroline de Werner.</p> + +<p>He waltzed with her--he talked with her--and he walked with her--until he +had fairly talked, walked, and waltzed himself into love.</p> + +<p>She was the daughter of a rich old colonel of the Empire:--he was the +poor son of a poorer widow. What could he do? Caspar von Hazenfeldt could +gaze on the house of the old soldier; but the avenue of elms, the waving +corn-fields, and the luxuriant gardens, told him that the heiress of +Beau-Séjour could never be his.</p> + +<p>He was one evening sitting on a stone, in a little ruined chapel, near the +house of his beloved; ruminating as usual on his ill fate, and considering +which would be the better plan, to mend his fortunes by travel, or mar +them by suicide;--when an elderly gentleman, dressed in a plain suit of +black, appeared hat in hand before him.</p> + +<p>After the usual compliments, they entered into conversation, and at last, +having walked for some distance, towards Hazenfeldt's house, agreed to +meet again at the chapel on the next evening.</p> + +<p>Suffice it to say that they often met, and as often parted, on the margin +of the little stream, that ran before the door of Caspar's mother's +house:--that they became great friends;--and that the young man confided +the tale of his love, hopes, and miseries, to the sympathising senior.</p> + +<p>At last <i>the old gentleman</i>, for such he really was, told Caspar that he +would help him in a trice, through all his difficulties.</p> + +<p>"There is one condition, Caspar!" said he, "but that is a mere trifle. You +are young, and would be quite happy, were it not for this love affair of +yours:--you sleep soundly, you seek and quit your bed early, and you care +not for night-roving. Henceforth, lend me your body from ten at night, +until two in the morning, and I promise that Caroline de Werner shall be +yours. Here she is!" continued he, as he opened his snuff box, and showed +the lid to Caspar, "here she is!"</p> + +<p>And sure enough, there she was on the inside of the lid, apparently +reading to the gouty old colonel, as he sat in his easy chair in the petit +salon of Beau-Sejour.</p> + +<p>One evening, the old gentleman delighted Caspar, by telling him that he +had authority from Colonel de Werner, to bring a guest to a ball at +Beau-Séjour, and by begging Caspar to be his shade--to use our +Continental expression--on the occasion.</p> + +<p>Caspar von Hazenfeldt and he became greater friends than ever, since their +singular contract had been made; for made it was in a thoughtless +unguarded moment.</p> + +<p>Hazenfeldt was introduced to Caroline in due form, and engaged her for the +first dance.</p> + +<p>Before the quadrille began, his friend in black came to present his +compliments, and to say that he had never seen a more beautiful pair.</p> + +<p>"Caspar!" continued he, "when your dance is over, give me a few minutes in +the next room. We will chat together, and sip our negus."</p> + +<p>Caspar <i>did</i> so, and <i>did</i> sip his negus. The little gentleman in black, +was very facetious, and very affable.</p> + +<p>"Are you not going to dance again, Caspar? Look at all those pretty girls, +waiting for partners! Why do you not lead one to the country dance?"</p> + +<p>As he ended speaking, a sylph-like figure, with long golden ringlets, +floated past them.</p> + +<p>"I can, and I will," replied Caspar, laughing, as he took the fair-haired +girl by the hand, and led her to the dance.</p> + +<p>He turned to address his friend in triumph, but he had disappeared.</p> + +<p>The dance was over, and Caspar led the stranger towards a silken ottoman.</p> + +<p>"Will you not try one waltz?" said the beautiful girl, as she shook +her ringlets, over his flushed cheek; "but I must not ask you, if you +are tired."</p> + +<p>"How can I refuse?" rejoined Caspar. + +Caroline was forgotten, as his partner's golden hair floated on his +shoulders, and her soft white arms were twined around him, as they danced +the mazy coquettish waltz, which was then the fashion in Lausanne.</p> + +<p>"How warm these rooms are!" she exclaimed at last. "The moon is up: let us +walk in the avenue."</p> + +<p>Caspar assented; for he grew fonder of his new partner, and more forgetful +of Caroline. She pressed closer and closer to his side. A distant clock +struck ten. Entwined in her tresses, encircled in her arms, he sunk +senseless to the ground.</p> + +<p>When Caspar recovered from the trance, into which he had fallen, the cold +morning breeze, that precedes the dawn, was freshening his cheek; a few +faint streaks on the horizon, reflected the colours of the coming sun; and +the night birds were returning tired to the woods, as the day birds were +merrily preparing for their flight. He was not where he had fallen: he was +sitting on a rustic bench, beneath a moss-grown rock.</p> + +<p>Caroline de Werner was beside him.</p> + +<p>Her white frock was torn; her hair was hanging in Bacchante curls, twined +with the ivy that had wreathed it; her eyes glared wildly, and blood +bubbled from her mouth. Her hand was fast locked in that of Hazenfeldt.</p> + +<p>"Caroline!" he exclaimed, in a tone of wonderment, as one who awakes from +a deep sleep, "Caroline! why are we here? what means this disorder?"</p> + +<p>"You now speak," said she, "as did my Caspar,"</p> + +<p>Caroline de Werner is in a mad-house near Vevay:--the man in black has not +been seen since he disappeared from the ball room of Beau-Séjour:--my +cousin, Caspar von Hazenfeldt, took to wandering alone over the Swiss +mountains; and before three months had elapsed, from the time he met <i>the +old gentleman</i>, was buried in the fall of an avalanche, near the pass of +the Gemmi.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Supper was not ready as the student finished this story; and George +proposed a stroll. The change from the heated room to the margin of the +lake, was a most refreshing one. As the brothers silently gazed upwards, a +young lad approached, and accosted them.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen! I have seen the horses fed, and they are now lying down."</p> + +<p>"Have you?" said Delmé, drily.</p> + +<p>"A very fine night! gentlemen! Perhaps you have heard of the famous echo, +on the other side of the lake. It will be a good hour, I am sure, before +your supper is ready. My boat lies under that old tree. If you like it, I +will loose the chain, and row you over."</p> + +<p>The brothers acquiesced. They were just in the frame of mind for an +unforeseen excursion. The motion of the boat, too, would be easy for +George, and he might there unrestrainedly give way to his excited +feelings, or commune ungazed on, with the current of his thoughts.</p> + +<p>A thin crescent of a moon had risen. It was silvering the tops of the +overhanging boughs, and was quiveringly mirrored on the light ripple. +George leant against the side of the boat, and listened to the liquid +music, as the broad paddle threw back the resisting waters.</p> + +<p>How soothing is the hour of night to the wounded spirit!</p> + +<p>The obscurity which shrouds nature, seems to veil even man's woes--the +harsh outline of his sufferings is discerned no more. Grief takes the +place of despair--pensive melancholy of sorrow.</p> + +<p>As we gaze around, and feel the chill air damp each ringlet on the pallid +brow; know that <i>that</i> hour hath cast a shade on each inanimate thing +around us; we feel resigned to our bereavements, and confess, in our +heart's humility, that no changes <i>should</i> overwhelm, and that no grief +<i>should</i> awaken repinings.</p> + +<p>To many a bruised and stricken spirit, night imparts a grateful balm.</p> + +<p>In the morning, the feelings are too fresh;--oblivion is exchanged for +conscious suffering;--the merriment of the feathered songsters seems to us +as a taunt;--our sympathies are not with waking nature. The glare and +splendour of noon, bid us recal <i>our</i> hopes, and their signal overthrow. +The zenith of day's lustre meets us as a wilful mockery.</p> + +<p>Eve may bring rest, but on her breast is memory. But at night! when the +mental and bodily energies are alike worn out by the internal +struggle;--when hushed is each sound--softened each feature--dimmed each +glaring hue;--a calm which is not deceptive, steals over us, and we regard +our woes as the exacted penalty of our erring humanity.</p> + +<p>Calumniated night! to one revelling in the full noon-tide of hope and +gladness:--to the one, to whom a guilty conscience incessantly whispers, +"Think! but sleep not!"--to such as these, horrors may appear to bound thy +reign!--but to him who hath loved, and who hath lost,--to many a gentle +but tried spirit, thou comest in the guise of a sober, and true friend.</p> + +<p>The boat for some time, kept by the steep bank, under the shadows of the +trees. As it emerged from this, towards where the moon-beams cast their +light on the water, the night breeze rustled through the foliage, and +swept a yet green leaf from one of the drooping boughs.</p> + +<p>It fell on the surface of the lake, and George's eye quickly followed it.</p> + +<p>"Look at that unfaded leaf! Henry. What a gentle breeze it was, that +parted it from its fellows! To me it resembles a youthful soul, cut off in +its prime, and wandering mateless in eternity."</p> + +<p>Sir Henry only sighed.</p> + +<p>The young rower silently pursued his course across the lake; running his +boat aground, on a small pebbly strand near a white cottage.</p> + +<p>Jumping nimbly from his seat, and fastening the boat to a large stone, the +guide, followed by the brothers, shouted to the inmates of the cottage, +and violently kicked at its frail door.</p> + +<p>An upper window was opened, and the guardian of the echo--a valorous +divine in a black night-cap--demanded their business. This was soon told. +The priest descended--struck a light--unbarred the door--and with the +prospect of gain before him, fairly forgot that he had been aroused from a +deep slumber.</p> + +<p>They were soon ushered into the kitchen. An aged crone descended, and +raking the charcoal embers, kindled a flame, by which the rower was +enabled to light his pipe.</p> + +<p>The young gentleman threw himself into an arm chair, and puffed away with +true German phlegm. The old man bustled about, in order to obtain the +necessary materials for loading an ancient cannon; and occupied himself +for some minutes, in driving the charge into the barrel.</p> + +<p>This business arranged, he led the way towards the beach; and aided by the +old woman, pointed his warlike weapon. A short pause--it was fired! +Rebounding from hill to hill, the echo took its course, startling the +peasant from his couch, and the wolf from his lair.</p> + +<p>Again all was still;--then came its distant reverberation--a tone deep and +subdued--dying away mournfully on the ear.</p> + +<p>"How wonderfully fine!" said George, "but let us embark, for I feel +quite chilled."</p> + +<p>"I will run for the youngster," replied his brother. As he moved towards +the cottage, the priest seized him by the collar of the coat, and held up +the torch, by which he had fired the cannon.</p> + +<p>"This echo is indeed a wonderful one! It has nineteen distinct +repetitions; the first twelve being heard from <i>this</i> side of a valley, +which, were it day, I would point out; the other seven, on the opposite +side. Tradition tells us, that nineteen castles in ancient times, stood +near the spot; that each of these laid claim to the echo; and that, as it +passes the ruin, where once dwelt Sigismund of the Bloody Hand, the chief +springs from the round ivied tower--waves his sword thrice, the drops of +blood falling from its hilt as he does so--and proclaims aloud, that +whosoever dare gainsay"--</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to leave you," interrupted Sir Henry, as he shook him off, +"particularly at this interesting part of the story; but it is late, +and my brother feels unwell, and I wish to go to the cottage to call +our guide."</p> + +<p>Delmé was pursued by the echo's elucidator, who being duly remunerated, +allowed Sir Henry to accompany the guide towards the boat. George was not +standing where he had left him. Delmé stepped forward, and nearly fell +over a prostrate body.</p> + +<p>It was the motionless one of his brother.</p> + +<p>He gave a shriek of anguish; flew towards the house, and in a moment, was +again on the spot, bearing the priest's torch. He raised his brother's +head. One hand was extended over the body, and fell to the earth like a +clod of clay as it was.</p> + +<p>He gazed on that loved face. In that gaze, how much was there to arrest +his attention.</p> + +<p>On those features, death had stamped his seal.</p> + +<p>But there was a thought, which bore the ascendancy over this in Delmé's +mind. It was a thought which rose involuntarily,--one for which he could +not <i>then</i> account, and cannot now. For some seconds, it swayed his every +emotion. He felt the conviction--deep, undefinable--that there was indeed +a soul, to "shame the doctrine of the Sadducee."</p> + +<p>He deemed that on those lineaments, this was the language forcibly +engraven! The features were still and fixed:--the brow alone revealed a +dying sense of pain.</p> + +<p>The lips! how purple were they! and the eye, that erst flashed so +freely:--the yellow film of death had dimmed its lustre.</p> + +<p>The legs were apart, and one of the feet was in the lake. Henry tried to +chafe his brother's forehead.</p> + +<p>In vain! in vain! he knew it was in vain!</p> + +<p>He let the head fall, and buried his face in his hands.</p> + +<p>He turned reproachfully, to gaze on that cloudless Heaven, where the moon, +and the brilliant stars, and the falling meteor, seemed to hold a bright +and giddy festival.</p> + +<p>He clasped his hands in mute agony. For a brief moment--his dark eye +seeming to invite His wrath--he dared to arraign the mercy of God, who had +taken what he had made.</p> + +<p>It was but for a moment he thus thought.</p> + +<p>He had watched that light of life, until its existence was almost +identified with his own. He had seen it flicker--had viewed it +reillumed--blaze with increased brilliancy--fade--glimmer--and fade. Now! +where was it?</p> + +<p>A bitter cry escaped! his limbs trembled convulsively, and could no longer +support him.</p> + +<p>He fell senseless beside his brother.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XI</h1> + +<h2>The Student</h2> + + + +<blockquote>"What is my being? <i>thou</i> hast ceased to be."</blockquote> + + +<p>Carl Obers was as enthusiastic a being as ever Germany sent forth. Brought +up in a lone recess in the Hartz mountains, with neither superiors nor +equals to commune with, he first entered the miniature world, as a student +at Heidelberg.</p> + +<p>His education had been miserably neglected. He had read much; but his +reading had been without order and without system.</p> + +<p>The deepest metaphysics, and the wildest romances had been devoured in +succession; until the young man hardly knew which was the real, or which +was the visionary world:--the one he actually lived in, or the one he was +always brooding over:--where souls are bound together by mysterious and +hidden links, and where men sell themselves to Satan;--the penalty merely +being:--to walk through life, and throw no shadow.</p> + +<p>Enrolled amongst a select corps of brüschen, warm and true; his ear was +caught by the imposing jargon of patriotism; and his imagination dwelt on +those high sounding words, "the rights of man;"--until he became the +staunch advocate and unflinching votary of a state of things, which, for +aught we know, <i>may</i> exist in one of the planets, but which never can, and +which never will exist on this earth of ours.</p> + +<p>"What!" would exclaim our enthusiast, "have we not all our bodily and our +mental, energies? Doth not dame Nature, in our birth, as in our death, +deal out impartial justice? She may endow me with stronger limbs, than +another:--our feelings as we grow up, may not be chained down to one +servile monotony;--the lip of the precocious cynic"--this was addressed to +a young matter of fact Englishman--"who sneers at my present animation, +may not curl with a smile as often as my own; but let our powers of +acting be equal,--our prerogatives the same."</p> + +<p>Carl Obers, with his youth and his vivacity, carried his auditors--a +little knot of beer drinking liberty-mongers--<i>with</i> him, and <i>for</i> him, +in all he said; and the orator would look round, with conscious power, and +considerable satisfaction; and flatter himself, that his specious +arguments were as unanswerable, as they were then unanswered.</p> + +<p>Many of our generation may remember the unparalleled enthusiasm, which, +like an electric flash, spread over the civilised world; as Greece armed +herself, to shake off her Moslem ruler.</p> + +<p>It was one that few could help sharing.</p> + +<p>To almost all, is Greece a magic word. Her romantic history--the legacies +she has left us--our early recollections, identifying with her existence +as a nation, all that is good and glorious;--no wonder these things should +have shed a bright halo around her,--and have made each breast deeply +sympathise with her in her unwonted struggle for freedom.</p> + +<p>Carl Obers did not hear of this struggle with indifference. He at once +determined to give Greece the benefit of his co-operation, and the aid of +his slender means. He immediately commenced an active canvass amongst his +personal friends, in order to form a band of volunteers, who might be +efficient, and worthy of the cause on which his heart was set.</p> + +<p>He now first read an useful lesson from life's unrolled volume.</p> + +<p>Many a voice, that had rung triumphantly the changes on liberty, was +silent now, or deprecated the active attempt to establish it.</p> + +<p>The hands that waved freely in the debating room, were not the readiest to +grasp the sword's hilt. Many who had poetically expatiated on the +splendours of modern Greece; on reflection preferred the sunny views of +the Neckar, to the prospect of eating honey on Hymettus.</p> + +<p>Youth, however, is the season for enterprise; and Carl, with twenty-three +comrades, was at length on his way to Trieste.</p> + +<p>He had been offered the command of the little band, but had declined it, +with the sage remark, that "as they were about to fight for equality, it +was their business to preserve it amongst themselves."</p> + +<p>A slight delay in procuring a vessel, took place at Trieste. This delay +caused a defection of eight of the party.</p> + +<p>The remaining students embarked in a miserable Greek brigantine, and after +encountering some storms in the Adriatic, thought themselves amply repaid, +as the purple hills of Greece rose before them.</p> + +<p>On their landing, they felt disappointed.</p> + +<p>No plaudits met them; no vivas rung in the air: but a Greek soldier +filched Carl's valise, and on repairing to the commandant of the town, +they were told that no redress could be afforded them.</p> + +<p>Willing to hope that the scum of the irregular troops was left behind, and +that better feeling, and stricter discipline, existed nearer the main +body; our students left on the morrow;--placed themselves under the +command of one of the noted leaders of the Revolution:--and had shortly +the satisfaction of crossing swords with the Turk.</p> + +<p>For some months, the party went through extraordinary hardships;--engaged +in a series of desultory but sanguinary expeditions;--and gradually learnt +to despise the nation, in whose behalf they were zealously combating.</p> + +<p>At the end of these few months, what a change in the hopes and prospects +of the little band! Some had rotted in battle field, food for vultures; +others had died of malaria in Greek hamlets, without one friend to close +their eyes, or one hand to proffer the cooling draught to quench the dying +thirst;--two were missing--had perhaps been murdered by the peasants;--and +five only remained, greatly disheartened, cursing the nation, and their +own individual folly.</p> + +<p>Four of the five turned homewards.</p> + +<p>Carl was left alone, but fought on.</p> + +<p>Now there was a Greek, Achilles Metaxà by name, who had attached himself +to Carl's fortunes. In person, he was the very model of an ancient hero. +He had the capacious brow, the eye of fire, and the full black beard, +descending in wavy curls to his chest.</p> + +<p>The man was brave, too, for Carl and he had fought together.</p> + +<p>It so happened, that they slept one night in a retired convent. Their +hardships latterly had been great, and the complaints of Achilles had been +unceasing in consequence. In the morning Carl rose, and found that his +clothes and arms had vanished, and that his friend was absent also.</p> + +<p>Carl remained long enough to satisfy himself, that his friend was the +culprit; and then turned towards the sea coast, determined at all hazards +to leave Greece.</p> + +<p>He succeeded in reaching Missolonghi, in the early part of 1823, shortly +after the death of Marco Botzaris--being then in a state of perfect +destitution, and his mental sufferings greatly aggravated by the +consciousness, that he had induced so many of his comrades to sacrifice +their lives and prospects in an unworthy cause.</p> + +<p>At Missolonghi, where Mavrocordato reigned supreme, he was grudged the +paltry ration of a Suliote soldier, and might have died of starvation, had +it not been for the timely interposition of a stranger.</p> + +<p>Moved by that stranger's persuasion, Carl consented to form one of a +contemplated expedition against Lepanto; and, had his illustrious +benefactor lived, might have found a steady friend.</p> + +<p>As it was, he waited not to hear the funeral oration, delivered by +Spiridion Tricoupi; but was on the deck of the vessel that was to bear him +homewards, and shed tears of mingled grief, admiration, and gratitude, as +thirty-seven minute guns, fired from the battery, told Greece and Carl +Obers, that they had lost Byron, their best friend.</p> + +<p>Carl reached Germany, a wiser man than when he left it.</p> + +<p>He found his father dead, and he came into possession of his small +patrimony; but felt greatly, as all men do who are suddenly removed from +active pursuits, the want of regular and constant employment.</p> + +<p>He was glad to renew his intercourse with his old University; and found +himself greatly looked up to by the students, who were never wearied with +listening to his accounts of the Morea, and of the privations he had there +encountered.</p> + +<p>We need hardly inform our readers, that Carl Obers was one of the +pedestrian students at Wallensee, and was indeed the identical narrator of +the Vienna story.</p> + +<p>We left George and his brother, on the shore below the priest's +cottage. The one was laid cold and motionless--the other wished that +<i>he</i> also were so.</p> + +<p>Immediately on Delmé's falling, the young guide alarmed the +priest--brought him down to the spot--pointed to the brothers--threw +himself into the boat--and paddled swiftly across the lake, to alarm the +guests at the inn.</p> + +<p>It was with feelings of deep commiseration, that Carl looked on the two +brothers. He was the only person present, whose time was comparatively his +own; he spoke English, although imperfectly; and he owed a deep debt of +gratitude to an Englishman.</p> + +<p>These circumstances seemed to point him out, as the proper person to +attend to the wants of the unfortunate traveller; and Carl Obers mentally +determined, that he would not leave Delmé, as long as he had it in his +power to befriend him, Sir Henry Delmé was completely unmanned by his +bereavement. He had been little prepared for such a severe loss; although +it is more than probable, that George's life had long been hanging on a +thread, which a single moment might snap.</p> + +<p>The medical men had been singularly sanguine in his case, for it is rarely +that disease of the heart attacks one so young; but it now seemed evident, +that even had not anxiety of mind, and great constitutional irritability, +hastened the fatal result, that poor George could never have hoped to have +survived to a ripe old age.</p> + +<p>There was much in his character at any time, to endear him to an only +brother. As it was, Delmé had seen George under such trying +circumstances--had entered so fully into his feelings and sufferings--that +this abrupt termination to his brother's sorrows, appeared to Sir Henry +Delmé, to bring with it a sable pall, that enveloped in darkness his own +future life and prospects.</p> + +<p>The remains of poor George were placed in a small room, communicating with +one intended for Sir Henry.</p> + +<p>Here Delmé shut himself up, brooding over his loss, and permitting no one +to intrude on his privacy.</p> + +<p>Carl had offered his services, which were gratefully accepted, in making +the necessary arrangements for his brother's obsequies; and Sir Henry, in +the solitude of the dead man's chamber, could give free scope to a flood +of bitter recollections.</p> + +<p>It may be, that those silent hours of agony, when the brother looked +fixedly on that moveless face, and implored the departed spirit to breathe +its dread and awful secret, were not without their improving tendency; for +haggard and wan as was the mourner's aspect, there was no outward sign of +quivering, even as he saw the rude coffin lowered, and as fell on his ear, +the creaking of cords, and that harsh jarring sound, to which there is +nothing parallel on earth, the heavy clods falling on the coffin lid.</p> + +<p>The general arrangements had been simple; but Carl's directions had been +given in such a sympathising spirit, that they could not be otherwise than +acceptable.</p> + +<p>About the church-yard itself, there is nothing very striking. It is +formed round a small knoll, on the summit of which stands a sarcophagus +literally buried in ivy.</p> + +<p>Beneath this, is the vault of the baronial family, that for centuries +swayed the destinies of the little hamlet; but which family has been +extinct for some years.</p> + +<p>Round it are grouped the humbler osiered graves; over which, in lieu of +tomb stones, are placed large black iron crosses, ornamented with brass, +and bearing the simple initials of the bygone dead.</p> + +<p>Even Delmé, with all his ancestral pride, felt that George "slept well."</p> + +<p>It is true no leaden coffin enclosed his relics, nor did the murky vault +of his ancestors, open with creaking hinge to receive another of the race. +No escutcheon darkened the porch whence they bore him; and no long train +of mourners followed his remains to their last home.</p> + +<p>But there was something in the quiet of the spot, that seemed to Delmé in +harmony with his history; and to promise, that a sorrowless world had +already opened, on one who had loved so truly, and felt so deeply in this.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry returned to the inn, and darkened his chamber.</p> + +<p>He had not the heart to prosecute his journey, nor to leave the spot, +which held what was to him so dear.</p> + +<p>Carl Obers attempted to combat his despondency; but observing how useless +were his arguments, wisely allowed his grief to take its course.</p> + +<p>There was one point, in which Delmé was decidedly wrong.</p> + +<p>He could not bring himself, to communicate their loss to his sister.</p> + +<p>Carl pressed this duty frequently on him, but was always met by the +same reply.</p> + +<p>"No! no! how can I inflict such a pang?"</p> + +<p>It is possible the intelligence might have been very long in reaching +England, had it not been for a providential circumstance, that occurred +shortly after George's funeral.</p> + +<p>A carriage, whose style and appointments bespoke it English, changed +horses at the inn at Wallensee. The courier, while ordering the relays, +had heard George's story; and touching his hat to the inmates of the +vehicle, retailed it with natural pathos.</p> + +<p>On hearing the name of Delmé, the lady was visibly affected. She was +an old friend of the family; and as Melicent Dashwood, had known +George as a boy.</p> + +<p>It was not without emotion, that she heard of one so young, and to her so +familiar, being thus prematurely called to his last account.</p> + +<p>The lady and her husband alighted, and sending up their cards, begged to +see the mourner.</p> + +<p>The message was delivered; but Delmé, without comment or enquiry, at once +declined the offer; and it was thought better not to persist. They were +too deeply interested, however, not to attempt to be of use. They saw Carl +and Thompson,--satisfied themselves that Sir Henry was in friendly hands; +and thanking the student with warmth and sincerity, for his attention to +the sufferer, exacted a promise, that he would not leave him, as long as +he could in any way be useful.</p> + +<p>The husband and wife prepared to continue their journey; but not before +the former had left his address in Florence, with directions to Carl to +write immediately, in case he required the assistance of a friend; and the +latter had written a long letter to Mrs. Glenallan, in which she broke as +delicately as she could, the melancholy and unlooked-for tidings.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XII</h1> + +<h2>The Letter.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "And from a foreign shore<br /> +Well to that heart might <i>hers</i> these absent greetings pour."</blockquote> + + +<p>Three weeks had elapsed since George's death.</p> + +<p>It would be difficult to depict satisfactorily, the state of Sir Henry +Delmé's mind during that period. The pride of life appeared crushed within +him. He rarely took exercise, and when he did, his step was slow, and his +gait tottering.</p> + +<p>That one terrible loss was ever present to his mind; and yet his +imagination, as if disconnected with his feelings, or his memory, was +constantly running riot over varying scenes of death, and conjuring up +revolting pictures of putrescence and decay.</p> + +<p>A black pall, and an odour of corruption, seemed to commingle with each +quick-springing fantasy; and Delmé would start with affright from his own +morbid conceptions, as he found himself involuntarily dwelling on the +waxen rigidity of death,--following the white worm in its unseemly +wanderings,--and finally stripping the frail and disgusting coat from the +disjointed skeleton.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé had in truth gone through arduous and trying scenes.</p> + +<p>The very circumstance that he had to conceal his own feelings, and +support George through his deeper trials, made the present reaction the +more to be dreaded.</p> + +<p>Certain are we, that trials such as his, are frequently the prevailing +causes, of moral and intellectual insanity. Fortunately, Sir Henry was +endued with a firm mind, and with nerves of great power of endurance.</p> + +<p>One morning, at an early hour, Thompson brought in a letter.</p> + +<p>It was from Emily Delmé; and as Sir Henry noted the familiar address, and +the broad black edge, which told that the news of his brother's death had +reached his sister, he cast it from him with a feeling akin to pain.</p> + +<p>The next moment, however, he sprang from the bed, threw open the shutters, +and commenced reading its contents.</p> + + + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">Emily's Letter.</p> + + +<p>My own dear brother,</p> + +<p>My heart bleeds for you! But yesterday, we received the sad, sad letter. +To-day, although blinded with tears, I implore you to remember, that you +have not lost your all! Our bereavement has been great! our loss heavy +indeed. But if a link in the family love-chain be broken--shall not the +remaining ones cling to each other the closer?</p> + +<p>My aunt is heart-broken. Clarendon, kind as he is, did not know our +George! Alas! that he should be ours no more!</p> + +<p>My only brother! dwell not with strangers! A sister's arms are ready to +clasp you:--a sister's sympathy must lighten the load of your sufferings.</p> + +<p>Think of your conduct! your devotedness! Should not these comfort you?</p> + +<p>Did you not love and cherish him? did you not--happier than I--soothe his +last days? were you not present to the end?</p> + +<p>From this moment, I shall count each hour that divides us.</p> + +<p>On my knees both night and morning, will I pray the Almighty God, who has +chastened us, to protect my brother in his travels by sea and land.</p> + +<p>May we be spared, my dearest Henry, to pray together, that HE may bestow +on us present resignation, and make us duly thankful for blessings which +still are ours.</p> + +<p>Your affectionate sister,</p> + +<p class="smallcaps">Emily.</p> + +<p>Delmé read the letter with tearless eye. For some time he leant his head +on his hand, and thought of his sister, and of the dead.</p> + +<p>He shook, and laughed wildly, as he beat his hand convulsively +against the wall.</p> + +<p>Carl Obers and Thompson held him down, while this strong paroxysm lasted.</p> + +<p>His sobs became fainter, and he sunk into a placid slumber. The student +watched anxiously by his side. He awoke; called for Emily's letter; and as +he read it once more, the tears coursed down his sunken cheeks.</p> + +<p>Ah! what a relief to the excited man, is the fall of tears.</p> + +<p>It would seem as if the very feelings, benumbed and congealed as they may +hitherto have been, were suddenly dissolving under some happier influence, +and that,--with the external sign--the weakness and pliability of +childhood--we were magically regaining its singleness of feeling, and its +gentleness of heart.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry swerved no more from the path of manly duty. He saw the +vetturino, and arranged his departure for the morrow. On that evening, he +took Carl's arm, and sauntered through the village church-yard.</p> + +<p>Already seemed it, that the sods had taken root over George's grave.</p> + +<p>The interstices of the turf were hidden;--a white paper basket, which +still held some flowers, had been suspended by some kind stranger hand +over the grave;--from it had dropped a wreath of yellow amaranths.</p> + +<p>There was great repose in the scene. The birds appeared to chirp softly +and cautiously;--the tufts of grass, as they bowed their heads against the +monumental crosses, seemed careful not to rustle too drearily.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry's sleep was more placid, on <i>that</i>, his last night at Wallensee, +than it had been for many a night before.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Acting up to his original design, Delmé passed through the capitals of +Bavaria and Wurtemburg; and quickly traversing the picturesque country +round Heilbron, reached the romantic Heidelberg, washed by the Neckar.</p> + +<p>The student, as might be expected, did not arrive at his old University, +with feelings of indifference; but he insisted, previous to visiting his +college companions, on showing Sir Henry the objects of interest.</p> + +<p>The two friends, for such they might now be styled, walked towards the +castle, arm in arm; and stood on the terrace, adorned with headless +statues, and backed by a part of the mouldering ruin, half hid by the +thick ivy.</p> + +<p>They looked down on the many winding river, murmuringly gliding through +its vine covered banks.</p> + +<p>Beyond this, stretched a wide expanse of country; while beneath them +lay the town of Heidelberg--the blue smoke hanging over it like a +magic diadem.</p> + +<p>"Here, here!" said Carl Obers, as he gazed on the scene, with mournful +sensations, "<i>here</i> were my youthful visions conceived and +embodied--<i>here</i> did I form vows, to break the bonds of enslaved +mankind--<i>here</i> did I dream of grateful thousands, standing erect for the +first time as free men--<i>here</i> did I brood over, the possible happiness of +my fellow men, and in attempting to realise it, have wrecked my own."</p> + +<p>"My kind friend!" replied Delmé, "your error, if it be such, has been +of the head, and not the heart. It is one, natural to your age and your +country. Far from being irreparable, it is possible it may have taught +you a lesson, that may ultimately greatly benefit you. This is the +first time we have conversed regarding your prospects. What are your +present views?"</p> + +<p>"I have none. My friends regard me as one, who has improvidently thrown +away his chance of advancement. My knowledge of any <i>one</i> branch of +science is so superficial, that this precludes my ever hoping to succeed +in a learned profession. I cannot enter the military service in my own +country, without commencing in the lowest grade. This I can hardly bring +my mind to."</p> + +<p>"What would you say to the Hanoverian army?" replied Delmé.</p> + +<p>"I would say," rejoined Carl: "for I see through your kind motive in +asking, that I esteem myself fortunate, if I have been in any way useful +to you; but that I cannot, and ought not, to think, of accepting a favour +at your hands."</p> + +<p>Sir Henry said no more at that time: and they reached the inn in silence.</p> + +<p>Delmé retired for the night. Carl Obers sought his old chums; and, +exhilarated by his meershaum, and the excellent beer--rivalling the famous +Lubeck beer, sent to Martin Luther, during his trial, by the Elector of +Saxony--triumphantly placed "young Germany" at the head of nations.</p> + +<p>Early the following morning, they were again en route.</p> + +<p>They passed through Manheim, where the Rhine and Neckar meet,--through +Erpach,--through Darmstadt, that cleanest of Continental towns,--and +finally reached Frankfort-on-the-Maine, where it was agreed that Sir Henry +and Thompson were to part from their travelling companions.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry in his distress of mind, felt that theirs was not a casual +farewell. On reaching the quay, he pressed the student's hand with +grateful warmth, but dared not trust to words.</p> + +<p>On the deck of the steamer, assisting Thompson to arrange the +portmanteaux, stood Pietro Molini.</p> + +<p>The natural gaiety of the old driver had received a considerable check at +George's death.</p> + +<p>He could not now meet Sir Henry, without an embarrassment of manner; and +even in his intercourse with Thompson, his former jocularity seemed to +have deserted him.</p> + +<p>"Good bye, Pietro!" said Delmé, extending his hand. "I trust we may one +day or other meet again."</p> + +<p>The vetturino grasped it,--his colour went and came,--he looked down at +his whip,--then felt in his vest for his pipe, As he saw Delmé turn +towards the poop, and as Thompson warned him it was time to leave the +vessel,--his feelings fairly gave way.</p> + +<p>He threw his arms round the Englishman's neck and blubbered like a child.</p> + +<p>We have elsewhere detailed the luckless end of the vetturino.</p> + +<p>As for Carl Obers, that zealous patriot; the last we heard of him, was +that he was holding a commission in the Hanoverian Jägers, obtained for +him by Sir Henry's intervention. He was at that period, in high favour +with that liberal monarch, King Ernest.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XIII.</h1> + +<h2>Home</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "'Tis sweet to hear the watchdog's honest bark<br /> +Bay deep-mouth'd welcome as we draw near home,<br /> +'Tis sweet to know there is an eye will mark<br /> +Our coming, and look brighter when we come."</blockquote> + + +<p>Embarking on its tributary stream, Delmé reached the Rhine--passed through +the land of snug Treckschut, and wooden-shoed housemaid--and arrived at +Rotterdam, whence he purposed sailing for England.</p> + +<p>To that river, pay we no passing tribute! The Rhine--with breast of +pride--laving fertile vineyards, cities of picturesque beauty, +beetling crags, and majestic ruins; hath found its bard to hymn an +eulogy, in matchless strains, which will be co-existent, with the +language they adorn.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry was once more on the wide sea. Where were they who were his +companions when his vessel last rode it? where the young bride breathing +her devotion? where the youthful husband whispering his love?</p> + +<p>The sea yet glistened like a chrysolite; the waves yet laughed in the +playful sunbeams--the bright-eyed gull yet dipped his wing in the billow, +fearless as heretofore;--where was the one, who from that text had deduced +so fair a moral?</p> + +<p>Sir Henry wished not to dwell on the thought, but as it flashed across +him, his features quivered, and his brow darkened.</p> + +<p>He threw himself into the chaise which was to bear him to his home, with +alternate emotions of bitterness and despair!</p> + +<p>Hurrah for merry England! Click, clack! click, clack! thus cheerily +let us roll!</p> + +<p>Great are the joys of an English valet, freshly emancipated from +sauerkraut, and the horrors of silence!</p> + +<p>Sweet is purl, and sonorous is an English oath. Bright is the steel, +arming each clattering hoof! Leather strap and shining buckle, replace +musty rope and ponderous knot! The carriage is easier than a +Landgravine's,--the horses more sleek,--the driver as civil,--the road is +like a bowling green,--the axletree and under-spring, of Collinge's latest +patent. But the heart! the heart! <i>that</i> may be sad still.</p> + +<p>Delmé's voyage and journey were alike a blank. On the ocean, breeze +followed calm;--on the river, ship succeeded ship;--on the road, house and +tree were passed, and house and tree again presented themselves. He drew +his cap over his eyes, and his arms continued folded.</p> + +<p>His first moment of full consciousness, was as a sharp turn, followed by a +sudden pause, brought him in front of the lodge at Delmé.</p> + +<p>On the two moss-grown pillars, reposed the well known crest of his family. +The porter's daughter, George's friend, issued from the lodge, and threw +open the iron gates.</p> + +<p>She was dressed in black. How this recalled his loss.</p> + +<p>"My dear--dear--dear brother!"</p> + +<p>Emily bounded to his embrace, and her cheek fell on his shoulder. He felt +the warm tear trickle on his cheek. He clasped her waist,--gazed on her +pallid brow,--and held her lip to his.</p> + +<p>How it trembled from her emotion!</p> + +<p>"My own brother! how pale--how ill you look!"</p> + +<p>"Emily! my sister! I have something yet left me on earth! and my worthy +kind aunt, too!"</p> + +<p>He kissed Mrs. Glenallan's forehead, and tried to soothe her. She pressed +her handkerchief to her eyes, and checked her tears; but continued to sob, +with the deep measured sob of age.</p> + +<p>How mournful, yet how consoling, is the first family meeting, after death +has swept away one of its members! How the presence of each, calls up +sorrow, and yet assists to repress it,--awakes remembrances full of grief, +yet brings to life indefinable hopes, that rob that grief of its most +poignant sting! The very garb of woe, whose mournful effect is felt to the +full, only when each one sees it worn by the other--the very garb +paralyses, and brings impressively before us, the awful truth, that for +our loss, in this world, there is no remedy. How holy, how chaste is the +affection, which we feel disposed to lavish, on those who are left us.</p> + +<p>Surely if there be a guardian spirit, which deigns to flit through this +wayward world, to cheer the stricken breast, and purify feelings, whose +every chord vibrates to the touch of woe; surely such presides, and throws +a sunny halo, on the group, that blood has united--on which family love +has shed its genial influence--and of which, each member, albeit bowed +down by sympathetic grief, attempts to lift his drooping head, and to +others open some source of comfort, which to the kind speaker, is +inefficient and valueless indeed!</p> + +<p>For many months, Sir Henry continued to reside with his family. Clarendon +Gage was a constant visitor, and companion to the brother and sister in +their daily walks and rides.</p> + +<p>He had never met poor George, but loved Emily so well, that he could not +but sympathise in their heavy loss; and as Delmé noted this quiet +sympathy, he felt deeply thankful to Providence, for the fair prospect of +the happiness, that awaited his sister.</p> + +<p>Winter passed away. The fragile snowdrop, offspring of a night--the +mute herald of a coming and welcome guest--might be seen peering +beneath the gnarled oak, or enlivening the emerald circle beneath the +wide-spreading elm.</p> + +<p>Spring too glided by, and another messenger came. The migratory swallow, +returned from foreign travel, sought the ancient gable, and rejoicing in +safety, commenced building a home. At twilight's hour might she be seen, +unscared by the truant's stone, repairing to the placid pool--skimming +over its glassy surface, in rapid circle and with humid wing--and +returning in triumph, bearing wherewithal to build her nest.</p> + +<p>Summer too went by; and as the leaves of Autumn rustled at his feet, Delmé +started, as he felt that the sting and poignancy of his grief was gone. It +was with something like reproach, that he did so. There is a dignity in +grief--a pride in perpetuating it--and his had been no common affliction.</p> + +<p>It is a trite, but true remark, that time scatters our sorrows, as it +scatters our joys.</p> + +<p>The heat of fever and the delirium of love, have their gradations; and so +has grief. The impetuous throbbing of the pulse abates;--the influence of +years makes us remember the extravagance of passion, with something +approaching to a smile;--and Time--mysterious Time--wounding, but healing +all, leads us to look at past bereavements, as through a darkened glass.</p> + +<p>We do not forget; but our memory is as a dream, which awoke us in terror, +but over which we have slept. The outline is still present, but the +fearful details, which in the darkness of the hour, and the freshness of +conception, so scared and alarmed us,--these have vanished with the night.</p> + +<p>Emily's wedding day drew nigh, and the faces of the household once more +looked bright and cheerful.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XIV.</h1> + +<h2>A Wedding</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "'Tis time this heart should be unmoved,<br /> +Since others it has ceased to move,<br /> +But though I may not be beloved,<br /> +Still let me love!"</blockquote> + +<blockquote>"I saw her but a moment,<br /> +Yet methinks I see her now,<br /> +With a wreath of orange blossoms<br /> +Upon her beauteous brow."</blockquote> + + +<p>Spring of life! whither art thou flown?</p> + +<p>A few hot sighs--and scalding tears--fleeting raptures and still fading +hopes--and then--thou art gone for ever. Lovelorn we look on beauty: no +blush now answers to our glance; for cold is our gaze, as the deadened +emotions of our heart.</p> + +<p>Fresh garlands bedeck the lap of Spring. Faded as the shrivelled flowers, +that withering sink beneath her rosy feet: yet we exclaim:--Spring of +life! how and whither art thou flown?</p> + +<p>Clarendon Gage was a happy man. He had entered upon the world with very +bright prospects. The glorious visions of his youth were still unclouded, +and his heart beat as high with hope as ever.</p> + +<p>Experience had not yet instilled that sober truth, that Time will darken +the sunniest, as well as the least inviting anticipations; and that the +visions of his youth were unclouded, because they were undimmed by the +reflections of age.</p> + +<p>Clarendon Gage was happy and grateful; and so might he well be! Few of us +are there, who, on our first loving, have met with a love, fervent, +confiding, and unsuspecting as our own,--fewer are there, who in +reflection's calm hour, have recognised in the form that has captivated +the eye, the mind on which their own can fully and unhesitatingly +rely,--and fewest of all are they, who having encountered such a treasure, +can control adverse circumstances--can overcome obstacles that oppose--and +finally call it their own.</p> + +<p>Passionate, imaginative, and fickle as man may be, this is a living +treasure beyond a price: than which this world has none more pure--none as +enduring, to offer.</p> + +<p>Ah! say and act as we may--money-making--worldly--ambitious as we may +become--who among us that will not allow, that in the success of his +honest suit--that in his possession of the the one first loved--and which +first truly loved him--a kind ray from heaven, seems lent to this +changeful world. Such affection as this, lends a new charm to man's +existence. It lulls him in his anger--it soothes him in his sorrow--calms +him in his fears--cheers him in his hopes--it deadens his grief--it +enlivens his joy.</p> + +<p>It was a lovely morning in May--the first of the month. Not a cloud +veiled the sun's splendour--the birds strained their throats in praise +of day--and the rural May-pole, which was in the broad avenue of +walnut trees, immediately at the foot of the lawn, was already +encircled with flowers. Half way up this, was the station of the +rustic orchestra--a green bower, which effectually concealed them +from the view of the dancers.</p> + +<p>On the lawn itself, tents were pitched in a line facing the house. Behind +these, between the tents and the May-pole, extended a long range of +tables, for the coming village feast.</p> + +<p>Emily Delmé looked out on the fair sunrise, and noted the gay +preparations with some dismay. Her eye fell on her favourite bed of +roses, the rarest and most costly that wealth and extreme care could +produce; and she mournfully thought, that ere those buds were blown, a +very great change would have taken place in her future prospects. She +thought of all she was to leave.</p> + +<p>Will <i>he</i> be this, and more to me?</p> + +<p>How many a poor girl, when it is all too late, has fearfully asked herself +the same question, and how deeply must the answer which time alone can +give, affect the happiness of after years!</p> + +<p>Emily took her mother's miniature, and gazing on that face, of which her +own appeared a beautiful transcript; she prayed to God to support him who +was still present to her every thought.</p> + +<p>The family chapel of the Delmés was a beautiful and picturesque place of +worship. With the exception of one massive door-way, whose circular arch +and peculiar zig-zag ornament bespoke it co-eval with, or of an earlier +date than, the reign of Stephen--and said to have belonged to a ruin apart +from the chapel, whose foundations an antiquary could hardly trace--Delmé +chapel might be considered a well preserved specimen of the florid Gothic, +of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.</p> + +<p>The progress of the edifice, had been greatly retarded during the wars of +the Roses; but it was fortunately completed, before, the doctrine of the +Cinquecentists--who saw no beauty save in the revived dogmas of +Vitruvius--had so far gained ground, as to make obsolete and +unfashionable, the most captivating and harmonious style of Architecture, +that has yet flourished in England.</p> + +<p>Its outer appearance was comparatively simple--it had neither spire, +lantern, or transepts--and its ivy-hidden belfry was a detached tower.</p> + +<p>The walls of the aisles were supported by massive buttresses, and +surmounted by carved pinnacles; and from them sprung flying buttresses, +ornamented with traced machicolations, to bear the weight of the embattled +roof of the nave.</p> + +<p>The interior was more striking. As the stranger entered by the western +door, and proceeded up the nave, each step was re-echoed from the crypt +below:--as he trod on strange images, and inscriptions in brass; +commemorative of the dead, whose bones were mouldering in the subterranean +chapel. On them, many coloured tints fantastically played, through +gorgeously stained panes--the workmanship of the Middle Ages.</p> + +<p>The richly carved oaken confessional--now a reading desk--first attracted +the attention.</p> + +<p>In the very centre of the chapel, stood a white marble font, whose chaplet +of the flower of the Tudors, encircled by a fillet, sufficiently bespoke +its date. Between the altar and this font was a tomb, which merits special +attention. It was the chantry of Sir Reginald Delmé, the chief of his +house in the reign of Harry Monmouth. It was a mimic chapel, raised on +three massive steps of grey stone. The clustered columns, that bore the +light and fretted roof, were divided by mullions, rosettes, and trefoils +in open work; except where the interstices were filled up below, to bear +the sculptured, and once emblazoned shields of the Delmés, and their +cognate families. The entrance to the chantry, was through a little turret +at its north-eastern corner, the oaken door of which, studded with +quarrel-headed nails, was at one time never opened, but when the priests +ascended the six steep and spiral steps, and stood around the tomb to +chant masses for the dead.</p> + +<p>The diminutive font, and the sarcophagus itself, had once been painted. On +this, lay the figure of Sir Reginald Delmé.</p> + +<p>On a stone cushion--once red--supported by figures of angels in the +attitude of prayer, veiling their eyes with their wings, reposed the +unarmed head of the warrior:--his feet uncrossed rested on the image of a +dog, crouching on a broken horn, seeming faithfully to gaze at the face of +his master.</p> + +<p>The arms were not crossed--the hands were not clasped; but were joined as +in prayer. Sir Reginald had not died in battle. Above the head of the +sleeping warrior, hung his gorget, and his helmet, with its beaver, and +vizor open; and the banner he himself had won, on the field of Shrewsbury, +heavily shook its thick folds in the air. The fading colours on the +surcoat of the recumbent knight, still faintly showed the lilies and +leopards of England;--and Sir Henry himself was willing to believe, that +the jagged marks made in that banner by the tooth of Time, were but cuts, +left by the sword of the Herald, as at the royal Henry's command, he +curtailed the pennon of the knight; and again restored it to Sir Reginald +Delmé--a banner.</p> + +<p>The altar, which extended the whole width of the chapel, was enclosed by a +marble screen, and was still flanked by the hallowed niche, built to +receive the drainings of the sacred cup.</p> + +<p>The aisles were divided from the nave, by lancet arches, springing from +clustered columns. But how describe the expansive windows, with their rich +mullions, and richer rosettes--their deeply moulded labels, following the +form of the arch, and resting for support on the quaintest masks--how +describe the matchless hues of the glass--valued mementoes of a bygone +age, and of an art that has perished?</p> + +<p>The walls of the chapel were profusely ornamented with the richest +carving; and the oaken panels of the chancel, were adorned with those +exquisite festoons of fruit and flowers, so peculiarly English. The very +ceiling exacted admiration. It closed no lantern--it obstructed no +view--and its light ribs, springing from voluted corbels, bore at each +intersection, an emblazoned escutcheon, or painted heraldic device. The +intricate fan-like tracery of the roof--the enriched bosses at each +meeting of the gilded ribs--gave an airy charm and lightness to the whole, +which well accorded with the florid Architecture, and with the chivalrous +associations, with which it is identified.</p> + +<p>And here, beneath this spangled canopy, in this ancient shrine, whose +every ornament was as a memory of her ancestors; stood Emily Delmé, as +fair as the fairest of her race, changeful and trembling, a faint smile +on her lip, and a quivering tear in her eye.</p> + +<p>Clarendon Gage took her hand in his, and placed on her finger the golden +pledge of truth, and as he did so, an approving sunbeam burst through the +crimson-stained pane, and before lightening the tomb of Sir Reginald, fell +on her silvery veil--her snowy robe--her beautiful face.</p> + +<p>There was a very gay scene on the lawn, as they returned from the chapel.</p> + +<p>The dancing had already commenced--strains of music were heard from on +high--the ever moving circle became one moment contracted, then expanded +to the full length of the arms of the dancers, as they actively footed it +round the garlanded May-pole.</p> + +<p>At the first sight of the leading carriage, however, a signal was +given--the music suddenly ceased--and the whole party below, with the +exception of one individual, proceeded in great state towards an arch, +composed of flowers and white thorn, which o'ercanopied the road.</p> + +<p>The carriage stopped to greet the procession.</p> + +<p>On came the blushing May-Queen, and Maid Marian--both armed with wands +wreathed with cowslips--followed by a jovial retinue of morrice dancers +with drawn swords--guisers in many-coloured ribbons--and a full train of +simple peasants, in white smock-frocks.</p> + +<p>The May Queen advanced to the carriage, followed by the peasant girls, and +timidly dropped a choice wreath into the lap of the bride. Loud hurras +rung in the air, as Sir Henry gave his steward some welcome instructions +as to the village feast; and the cavalcade continued its route.</p> + +<p>We have said that one individual lingered near the May-pole. As he was +especially active, we may describe him and his employment. He was +apparently about fifteen. He had coarse straight white hair--a face that +denoted stupidity--but with a cunning leer, which seemed to belie his +other features.</p> + +<p>He was taking advantage of the cessation of dancing, to supply the +aspiring musicians with sundry articles of good cheer. A rope, armed with +a hook, was dropped from their lofty aërie, and promptly drawn up, on the +youngster's obtaining from the neighbouring tents, wherewithal to fill +satisfactorily the basket which he attached.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé and George had been so much abroad, and Emily's attachment +to Clarendon was of so early a date, that it happened that the members of +the Delmé family had mixed little in the festivities of the county in +which they resided; and were not intimately known, nor perhaps fully +appreciated, in the neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>But the family was one of high standing, and had ever been remarkable for +its kind-heartedness; and what <i>was</i> known of its individuals, was so much +to their credit, that it kept alive the respect and consideration that +these circumstances might of themselves warrant.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry, on the other hand, regarded his sister's marriage as an event, +at which it might be proper to show, that neither hauteur nor want of +sociability, had precluded their friendly intercourse with the +neighbouring magnates; and consequently, most of the principal families +were present at Emily's wedding.</p> + +<p>While this large assemblage increased the gaiety of the scene, it was +somewhat wearisome to Delmé, who was too truly attached to his sister, to +be otherwise than thoughtful during the ceremony, and the breakfast that +succeeded it.</p> + +<p>At length the time came when Emily could escape from the gay throng; and +endeavour, in the quiet of her own room, to be once more calm, before she +prepared to leave her much-loved home.</p> + +<p>The preparations made, a note was despatched to her brother, begging him +to meet her in the library. As he did so, a fresh pang shot through +Delmé's heart.</p> + +<p>As he looked on Emily's flushed face--her dewy cheek--and noted her +agitated manner; he for the first time perceived, her very strong +resemblance to poor George, and wondered that he had never observed +this before.</p> + +<p>Clarendon announced the carriage.</p> + +<p>"God bless you! dear Henry!"</p> + +<p>"God bless and preserve you! my sweet! Clarendon! good bye! I am sure you +will take every care of her!"</p> + +<p>In another moment, the carriage was whirling past the library window; and +Sir Henry felt little inclined, to join the formal party in the +drawing-room. Sending therefore a brief message to Mrs. Glenallan, he +threw open the library window, and with hurried steps reached a +summer-house, half hidden in the shrubbery. He there fell into a deep +reverie, which was by no means a pleasurable one.</p> + +<p>He thought of Emily--of George--of Acmé,--and felt that he was becoming an +isolated being.</p> + +<p>And had <i>he</i> not loved too? As this thought crossed him, his ambitious +dreams were almost forgotten.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé was aroused by the sound of voices. A loving couple, too +much engaged to observe <i>him</i>, passed close to the summer-house.</p> + +<p>It was the "Queen of the May," the prettiest and one of the poorest +girls in the parish, walking arm in arm with her rural swain. They had +left the "roasted beeves," and the "broached casks," for one half-hour's +delicious converse.</p> + +<p>There was some little coquettish resistance on the part of the girl, as +they sat down together at the foot of a fir tree.</p> + +<p>Her lover put his arm round her waist.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Mary! if father would but give us a cow or so!"</p> + +<p>This little incident decided the matter. Delmé at once resolved that Mary +Smith <i>should</i> have a cow or so; and also that his own health would be +greatly benefited, by a short sojourn at Leamington.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XV.</h1> + +<h2>The Meeting</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Oh ever loving, lovely, and beloved!<br /> +How selfish sorrow ponders on the past,<br /> +And clings to thoughts now better far removed,<br /> +But Time shall tear thy shadow from me last."</blockquote> + + +<p>We know not whether our readers have followed us with due attention, as we +have incidentally, and at various intervals, made our brief allusion to +the gradual change of character, wrought on Delmé, by the eventful scenes +in which he so lately played a prominent part.</p> + +<p>When we first introduced him to our reader's notice, we endeavoured to +depict him as he then really was,--a man of strong principles, warm +heart, and many noble qualities; but one, prone to over-estimate the +value of birth and fortune--with a large proportion of pride and +reserve--and with ideas greatly tinctured with the absurd fallacies of +the mere man of the world.</p> + +<p>But there was much in the family events we have described, to shake +Delmé's previous convictions, and to induce him to recal many of his +former opinions.</p> + +<p>He had seen his brother form a connection, which set at naught all those +convenances, which <i>he</i> had been accustomed to regard as essential to, and +as indeed forming the very ingredient of, domestic happiness.</p> + +<p>And yet Sir Henry Delmé could not disguise from himself, that if, in +George's short-lived career, there had been much of pain and sorrow, they +were chiefly engendered by George's mental struggle, to uphold those very +opinions to which he himself was wedded; and that to this alone, might be +traced much of the suffering he had undergone. This was it that had so +weakened mind and body, as to render change of scene necessary;--this was +it that exposed Acmé to the air of the pestiferous marshes, and which left +George himself--a broken hearted man--totally incapable of bearing his +bereavement.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, the sunny happiness his brother had basked in,--and it +was very great,--had sprung from the natural out-pourings of an +affection, which,--unfettered as it had been by prudential +considerations,--had yet the power to make earth a heaven while Acmé +shared it with him, and the dark grave an object of bright promise, when +hailed as the portal, through which <i>he</i> must pass, ere he gazed once +more on the load-star of his hopes.</p> + +<p>In the case, too, of Emily and Clarendon, although their union was far +more in accordance with his earlier theories, yet he could not but note, +how little their happiness seemed to rest on their position in society, +and how greatly was it based on their love for each other.</p> + +<p>These considerations were strengthened, by a growing feeling of +isolation, which the death of George and of Acmé,--the marriage of his +sister,--and probably the time of life he had arrived at, were all +calculated to awaken.</p> + +<p>With the knowledge of his disease, sprung up the hope of an antidote; and +it may be, that the little episode of the May Queen in our last chapter, +came but as a running comment, to reflections that had long been cherished +and indulged.</p> + +<p>The thoughts of Sir Henry Delmé anxiously centred in Julia Vernon; and as +he recalled her graceful emotion when they last parted, the unfrequent +blush,--it might be of shame, it might be of consciousness,--coloured his +sun-burnt cheek.</p> + +<p>At length,--the guests being dismissed, Delmé was at leisure to renew an +acquaintance, which had already proved an eventful one to him. He had +heard little of Miss Vernon since his return to England. His sister had +thought it better to let matters take their own course; and Julia, who +knew that in the eyes of the world, her circumstances were very different +to what they had been previous to her uncle's death; had from motives of +delicacy, shunned any intercourse that might lead to a renewed intimacy +with the family.</p> + +<p>Her health, too, had been precarious, and her elasticity of mind was gone. +Slowly wasting from day to day, she had sought to banish all thoughts +that were not of a world less vain than this--and her very languor of +body--while it gave her an apology for declining all gaieties, induced a +resigned spirit, and a quiet frame of mind.</p> + +<p>When Sir Henry Delmé was announced, Julia was alone in the drawing-room. +At that name, she attempted to rise from the sofa; but she was weak, and +her head fell back on the white pillow.</p> + +<p>Delmé stood for a moment irresolute,--a prey to the deepest pangs +of remorse.</p> + +<p>Well might he be shocked at that altered form!</p> + +<p>Her figure was greatly attenuated,--her cheeks sunken,--her eyes bright +and large; while over the forehead and drooping eyelid branched the +sapphire veins, with their intricate windings so clearly marked, that +Delmé almost thought, that he could trace the motion of the blood beneath. +That momentary pause, and the one mutual glance of recognition, told a +more accurate tale than words could convey.</p> + +<p>As Sir Henry pressed that small transparent hand, Julia's thin lip +quivered convulsively. She attempted to speak, but the exertion of +utterance was too great, and she burst into a flood of tears.</p> + +<p>"Julia! my own Julia! forgive me! we will never part more!"</p> + +<p>After this interview, it is needless to say that there was little else to +be explained. Mrs. Vernon was delighted at Julia's happy prospects, and it +was settled that their marriage should take place in the ensuing August. +Such arrangements as could be made on the spot to facilitate this, were at +once entered on.</p> + +<p>At the end of two months, it became necessary that Delmé should proceed to +town, for the purpose of seeing the Commander-in-Chief, in order to +withdraw a previous application to be employed on active service. He was +anxious also to consult a friend, whom he proposed appointing one of the +trustees for his marriage settlement; and Clarendon and Emily had exacted +a promise, that he would pay them a visit on his way to Delmé Park; which +he had determined to take on his route to town, that he might personally +inspect some alterations he had lately planned there.</p> + +<p>It was with bright prospects before him, that Delmé kissed off the big +tear that coursed down Julia's cheek; as she bade him farewell, with as +much earnestness, as if years, instead of a short fortnight, were to +elapse before they met again.</p> + +<p>Miss Vernon's health had decidedly improved. She was capable of much +greater exertion; and her spirits were sometimes as buoyant as in +other days.</p> + +<p>When Sir Henry first reached Leamington, the only exercise that Julia +could take was in a wheel chair; and great was her delight at seeing a +hand present itself over its side, and know that it was <i>his</i>. Latterly, +however, she had been able to lean on his arm, and take a few turns on the +lawn, and had on one occasion even reached the public gardens.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vernon, with the deceptive hope common to those, who watch day by day +by the side of an invalid's couch, and in the very gradual loss of +strength, lose sight of the real extent of danger, had never been +desponding as to her daughter's ultimate recovery; and was now quite +satisfied that a few weeks more would restore her completely to health.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé, with the gaze of a lover, would note each flush of +animation, and mistake it for the hue of health; while Julia herself <i>felt +her love, and thought it strength</i>.</p> + +<p>There was only one person who looked somewhat grave at these joyous +preparations. This was Dr. Jephson, who noticed that Julia's voice +continued very weak, and that she could not get rid of a low hollow cough, +that had long distressed her.</p> + +<p>Clarendon and his wife were resident at a beautiful cottage near Malvern, +on the road to Eastnor Castle. The cottage itself was small, and half +hidden with fragrant honey-suckles, but had well appointed extensive +grounds behind it. <i>They</i> were not of the very many, who after the first +fortnight of a forced seclusion,--the treacle moon, as some one has called +it,--find their own society, both wearisome and unprofitable. <i>Theirs</i> was +a lover felt but by superior and congenial minds--a love, neither sensual +nor transient--a love on which affection and reflection shed their +glow,--which could bear the test of scrutiny,--and which owed its chief +charm to the presence of truth.</p> + +<p>Delmé passed a week at Malvern, and then proceeded towards town, with the +pleasing conviction that his sister's happiness was assured.</p> + +<p>Twenty-four hours at Delmé sufficed to inspect the alterations, and to +give orders as to Lady Delmé's rooms.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry had received two letters from Julia, while at Malvern, and both +were written in great spirits. At his club in London another awaited him, +which stated that she had not been quite so well, and that she was writing +from her room. A postscript from Mrs. Vernon quite did away with any alarm +that Sir Henry might otherwise have felt.</p> + +<p>Delmé attended Lord Hill's levee; and immediately afterwards proceeded to +his friend's office. To his disappointment, he was informed that his +friend had left for Bath; and thinking it essential that he should see +him; he went thither at an early hour the following day.</p> + +<p>At Bath he was again doomed to be disappointed, for his friend had gone +to Clifton. Sir Henry dined that day with Mr. Belliston Græme; and on +returning to the hotel, had the interview with Oliver Delancey, that has +been described in the thirteenth chapter of our first volume.</p> + +<p>On the succeeding morning, Delmé was with the future trustee; and finally +arranged the affair to his entire satisfaction. His absence from +Leamington, had been a day or two more protracted than he had anticipated, +and his not finding his friend in London, had prevented his hearing from +Miss Vernon so lately as he could have wished.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry had posted all night, and it was ten in the morning when he +reached Leamington. He directed the postilion to drive to his hotel, but +it happened that on his way he had to pass Mrs. Vernon's door.</p> + +<p>As the carriage turned a corner, which was distant some hundred yards from +Mrs. Vernon's house, Sir Henry was surprised by a momentary check on the +part of his driver.</p> + +<p>It had rained heavily during the early part of the day. The glasses were +up, and so bespattered with the mud and rain, that it was impossible to +see through them. Sir Henry let them down; saw a confused mass of +carriages; and could clearly discern a mourning coach.</p> + +<p>He did not give himself time to breathe his misgivings; but flung the door +open, and sprang from his seat into the road. It was still three or four +doors from Mrs. Vernon's house, and he prayed to God that his fears might +be groundless. + +As he approached nearer, it was evident that there was unusual bustle +about <i>that</i> house. Delmé grasped the iron railing, and clung to it for +support; but with every sense keenly alive to aught that might dispel, or +confirm that horrible suspicion.</p> + +<p>Two old women, dressed in the characteristic red cloak of the English +peasant, were earnestly conversing together--their baskets of eggs and +flowers being laid on a step of one of the adjacent houses.</p> + +<p>"So you knowed her, Betsy Farmer?"</p> + +<p>"Lord a mercy!" responded the other, "I ha' knowed Miss July since she +wa' the height of my basket. Ay! and many's the bunch of flowers she ha' +had from me. That was afore the family went to the sea side. Well! it's a +matter o' five year, sin' she comed up to me one morning--so grown as I'd +never ha' known her. But she knowed me, and asked all about me. And I just +told her all my troubles, and how I had lost my good man. And sure enough +sin' that day she ha' stood my friend, and gived me soup and flannels for +the little uns, and put my Bess to service, and took me through all the +bad Christmas'. Poor dear soul! she ha' gone now! and may the Lord bless +her and all as good as she!"</p> + +<p>The poor woman, who felt the loss of her benefactress, put the corner of +her apron to her eyes.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry strode forward.</p> + +<p>Mutes were on each side of the front step. A servant threw open the door +of the breakfast room, and Delmé mechanically entered it. It was filled +with strangers; on some of these the spruce undertaker was fitting silk +scarfs; while others were busy at the breakfast table.</p> + +<p>An ominous whisper ran through the apartment.</p> + +<p>"Sir Henry Delmé?" said the rosy-cheeked clergyman, enquiringly, as he +laid down his egg spoon, and turned towards him.</p> + +<p>"I trust you received my letter. Women are so utterly helpless in these +matters; and poor Mrs. Vernon was quite overpowered."</p> + +<p>Delmé turned away to master his emotion.</p> + +<p>At this moment, a friendly hand was laid on his shoulder, and Mrs. +Vernon's maid, with her eyes red from weeping, beckoned him up stairs.</p> + +<p>He mechanically obeyed her--reeled into an inner drawing room--and stood +in the presence of the bereaved mother.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vernon was ordinarily the very picture of neatness. <i>Now</i> she sat +with her feet on a footstool--her head almost touching her lap--her silver +hair all loose and dishevelled. It seemed to Delmé as if age had suddenly +come upon her.</p> + +<p>She rose as he entered, and with wild hysterical sobs, threw herself +into his arms.</p> + +<p>"My son I my son! that <i>should</i> have been. Our angel is gone--gone!"</p> + +<p>Delmé tried to speak, but his tongue clove to his mouth, and the hysteric +globe rose to his throat.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he heard the sound of wheels, and of heavy footsteps on +the stairs.</p> + +<p>He imprinted a kiss on the old woman's forehead--it was his farewell for +ever!--gave her to the care of the maid servant--and rushed from the room.</p> + +<p>He was stopped on the landing of the staircase by the coffin of her he +loved so well. The bearers stopped for an instant; they felt that this was +no common greeting. Part of the pall was already turned back. Delmé +removed its head with trembling hand.</p> + +<p> "Julia Vernon. ætate 22."</p> + +<p>He dropped the velvet with a groan, and was only saved from falling by the +timely aid of the old butler, whose face was as sorrowful as his own.</p> + +<p>But there was a duty yet to be performed, and Delmé followed the corpse.</p> + +<p>The first mourning coach was just drawn up. An intended occupant had +already his foot on the step. + +"This place is mine!" said Sir Henry in a hollow voice.</p> + +<p>The cortege proceeded; and Delmé, giddy and confused, heard solemn words +spoken over his affianced one, and he waited, till even the coffin could +be discerned no more.</p> + +<p>Thompson, who had followed his master, assisted him into his carriage, +placed himself beside him, and ordered the driver to proceed to the hotel. +But Delmé gave a quick impetuous motion of the hand, which the domestic +understood well; and the horses' heads were turned towards the metropolis.</p> + +<p>The mourner tarried not, even to bid his sister farewell; but sought +once more his brother's grave. Some friendly hand had kept its turf +smooth; no footsteps, save the innocent ones of children, had pressed +its grassy mound. It was clothed with soft daisies and drooping +harebells. The sun seemed to shine on that spot, to bid the wanderer be +contented and at rest.</p> + +<p>But as yet there was no rest for Delmé. And he stood beside the marble +slab, beneath which lay Acmé Frascati. The downy moss--soft as +herself--was luxuriating there; and the cry of the cicalas was pleasant +to the ear; and the image of the young Greek girl, as in a vivid +picture, rose to his mind's eye. She was not attired in her white cymar; +nor was her head wreathed with monumental amaranths;--health was on her +cheek, fond smiles on her pouting lip, and tender love swimming in her +melting glance.</p> + +<p>His own griefs came back on Delmé; he groaned aloud. He traversed the +deserts, he crossed lofty mountains, he knew thirst and privations. He was +scoffed at and spat upon in an infidel country--he was tossed on the +ocean--he shook hands with danger.</p> + +<p>He visited our wide Oriental possessions; and sojourned amid the spicy +islands of the Indian Archipelago, where vegetation attains a magnificence +unknown elsewhere, and animal life partakes of this unexampled +exuberance,--where flowers of the most exquisite colours and fragrance +charm the senses by day, and delicious plants saturate the air with their +odours by night.</p> + +<p>Delmé extended his wanderings to the rarely visited "many isles," which +stud the vast Pacific, and found that there too were fruitful and +smiling regions.</p> + +<p>But not on the desert--nor on the mountains--nor in the land of the +Moslem---nor on tempestuous seas--nor in those verdant islets, which seem +to breathe of Paradise, to greet the wearied traveller; could Delmé's +restless spirit find an abiding place, his thirst for foreign travel be +slaked, or his heart know peace.</p> + +<p>He madly sought oblivion, which could not be accorded him.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XVI.</h1> + +<h2>The Wanderer</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Then I consider'd life in all its forms,<br /> +Of vegetables first, next zoophytes,<br /> +The tribe that dwells upon the confine strange<br /> +'Twixt plants and fish; some are there from their mouth<br /> +Spit out their progeny, and some that breed,<br /> +By suckers from their base or tubercles,<br /> +Sea-hedgehog, madrepore, sea-ruff, or pad,<br /> +Fungus, or sponge, or that gelatinous fish,<br /> +That taken from its element at once<br /> +Stinks, melts, and dies a fluid; so from these,<br /> +Through many a tribe of less equivocal life,<br /> +Dividual or insect, up I ranged,<br /> +From sentient to percipient, small advance,<br /> +Next to intelligent, to rational next,<br /> +So to half spiritual human kind,<br /> +And what is more, is more than man may know.<br /> +Last came the troublesome question--What am I?"</blockquote> + +<hr width="200" align="left" size="1" /> + +<blockquote> "And vain were the hat, the staff, and stole,<br /> + And all outward signs were a snare,<br /> +Unless the pilgrim's endanger'd soul<br /> + Were inwardly clothed with prayer.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>"But the pilgrim prays--and then trials are light--<br /> + For prayer to him on his way,<br /> +Resembles the pillar of fire by night,<br /> + And the guiding cloud by day.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>"And salvation's helm the pilgrim wears,<br /> + Or vain were all other dress;<br /> +And the shield of faith the pilgrim bears,<br /> + With the breastplate of righteousness.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>"At length his tears all wiped away;<br /> + He enters the City of Light;<br /> +And how gladly he changes his gown of grey,<br /> + For Zion's robe of white."</blockquote> + + +<p>It was on the 22nd of October, 1836, that an emissary from his sister, +sought Sir Henry Delmé. It was at the antipodes to his ancestral home; in +Australia, that wonderful country, which--belied and calumniated, as she +has hitherto been--presents some anomalous and creditable features.</p> + +<p>For her population, she is the wealthiest, the most enterprising, the most +orderly and loyal, of our British possessions. There, is the aristocracy +of wealth, to an unprecedented degree, subservient to the aristocracy of +virtue. While she is stigmatised as the cloacæ of Britain, the philosopher +looks into the future, and already beholds a nation, perpetuating the +language of the brave and free; when the parent stock has perhaps ceased +to be an empire; or is lingering on, like modern Greece, in the hopeless +languor of decay and decrepitude.</p> + +<p>This agent had arrived from England, a very short period before; and, +accredited with a packet, containing various communications from Emily and +Clarendon, accompanied by the miniatures of their children, with little +silky curls attached to each, proceeded an expectant guest, to Sir Henry +Delmé's temporary residence. Early dawn saw him pacing the deck of a steam +vessel; and regarding with great surprise, the opposite banks of Hunter's +River, up which the vessel was gliding.</p> + +<p>A rich dark soil, of great depth, bespoke uncommon fertility; while the +varieties of the gum tree--then quite new to him--with their bark of every +diversity of colour, gave a primeval grandeur to the scene.</p> + +<p>Each moment brought in sight the location of some enterprising settler, +which, ever varying in appearance, in importance, and in extent yet told +the same tale of difficulties overcome, and success ensuing.</p> + +<p>On his reaching the township, near the head of the navigation, this agent +found horses waiting for him:--he was addressed by a well-appointed +groom--our old friend Thompson--who touched his hat respectfully, and +mentioned the name, he was already prepared for by his Sydney advices.</p> + +<p>Suffice it, that Sir Henry was no longer the Baronet, and that the name of +Delmé was a strange one in his household.</p> + +<p>Their route skirted the banks of one of those rivers, which, diverging +from that mine of wealth, the Hunter, wind into the bowels of the land, +like a vein of gold.</p> + +<p>That emissary will not soon forget his lovely ride. His eye, wearied with +gazing on the wide expanse of ocean, feasted on the rich and novel +landscape. They rode alternately, through cleared lands, studded with rich +farms, waving with luxuriant crops of wheat and rye; and again, through +regions, where the axe had never resounded, but where eucalypti, and +bastard box, and forest oak with its rough acorn, towered above beauteous +wild flowers, whose forms and varieties were associated in the mind of +the stranger, with some of the most precious and valued flowers which +adorn British conservatories.</p> + +<p>The russet Certhia, with outspread fluttering wing, pecked at the smooth +bark, and preying on some destructive insect, really preserved what it +seemed to injure. The larger parrots, travelling in pairs, screamed their +passing salutation, as they displayed their bright plumage to the sun; +while hundreds, of a smaller kind, with crimson shoulder, were concealed +amid the green leaves; and, as they rode beneath them, babbled--like +frolicsome children of the forest--a rude, but to themselves a not +unmeaning dialogue.</p> + +<p>The superb warblers, ornaments alike to the bush or the garden, flitted +cheerily from bough to bough. Strangely mated are they! The male, in suit +of black velvet, trimmed with sky blue, looks like a knight, attired for a +palace festival:--while his lady-love--she resembles some peasant girl, +silent and grateful, clothed in modest kirtle of sober brown.</p> + +<p>As he reined in his horse, to examine these at leisure, how melodiously +came on his ear, the clear, ceaseless, silver tinkle of the bell-bird; +this sound ever and anon chequered by the bold chock-ee-chock! of the +bald-headed friar. They had proceeded very leisurely, and the sun was +already declining, when Thompson, pointing to an abrupt path, motioned +him to descend, and at the same time, gave the peculiar cry, known in the +colony as the cooï; a cry which was as promptly answered. It was not +until he was close to the edge of the river, that the stranger understood +its purport.</p> + +<p>A punt was rapidly approaching from the opposite bank. An athletic +aboriginal native, in an attitude that seemed studiedly graceful, was +bending to the stout rope, which, attached to either side of the river, +served to propel the punt. He had been spearing fish; for his wife, or +gin, or queen--for she was born such, and contradicted in her person the +old adage,</p> + +<blockquote> "There's a difference between<br /> +A beggar and a queen"--</blockquote> + +<p>was drawing the barb of a spear from the bleeding side of a struggling +mullet. She sat at the bottom of the boat, with a blanket closely wound +round her. She was young, and her looks were not unpleasing. Her +thickly-matted hair was ornamented with kangaroo teeth; and to her +shoulder, closely clung a native tailless bear, whose appearance could not +do otherwise than excite a smile. With convex staring eyes--hairless +nose--and white ruff of fur round his face--he very closely resembled in +physiognomy, some grey-whiskered guzzling citizen. The well-trained horses +gave no trouble, as they entered the punt; and the smiling boatman, +displaying his teeth to Thompson, but without speaking, commenced warping +the punt to the opposite side of the river. They were half way across, ere +the guest observed the mansion of the friend he sought. It stood on the +summit of the hill, on the left; beneath which the river made a very +abrupt bend. The house itself resembled the common weather-boarded cottage +of the early settler,--wide verandah was over the front entrance,--and two +small rooms, the exact width of this, jutted out on either side of it.</p> + +<p>Its site however was commanding. The house stood on an eminence, and from +the windows, a long reach of the river was visible. At the top of the brow +of the hill, extended a range of English rose trees, in full flower. The +bank, which might be about thirty yards in front of these, was clothed +with foliage to the water's edge.</p> + +<p>There might be seen the fragrant mimosa--the abundant acacia--the swamp +oak, which would have been styled a fir, had not the first exiles to +Australia found twined round its boughs, the misletoe, with its many home +associations--the elegant cedar--the close-growing mangrove--and strange +parasitical plants, pushing through huge fungi, and clasping with the +remorseless strength of the wrestler, and with the round crunching folds +of the boa, the trees they were gradually to supplant and destroy.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, the quick finger of the black pointed to an object close beside +the punt. A bill, as of a bird, and apparently of the duck tribe, +protruded above the surface of the water. For an instant, small, black, +piercing eyes peered towards them: but as the quadruped, for such it was, +prepared to dive in affright, the unerring shot of a rifle splashed the +water on the cheek of the stranger--the body rolled slowly over--the legs +stiffened--a sluggish stream of dark blood tainted the surrounding +wave--and the ferryman, extending his careless hand, threw the victim to +his companion, at the same time addressing a few words to her in their +native language.</p> + +<p>The guest had little difficulty, in recognising the uncouth form of the +ornithorhynchus, or water-mole; but he turned with yet more eagerness, +towards the spot, whence that shot had proceeded. On the summit of the +steep bank, leaning on his rifle, stood Sir Henry Delmé.</p> + +<p>His form was still commanding--there was something in the air with which +the cap was worn--and in the strap round his Swiss blouse--that bespoke +the soldier and the gentleman: but his face was sadly attenuated--the +lower jaw appeared to have fallen in--and his hair was very grey.</p> + +<p>He received his guest with a cordial and sincere welcome. While the latter +delivered his packet the native who had warped the punt over, came up +with the dead platypus,</p> + +<p>"Well, Boomeroo! is it a female?"</p> + +<p>"No, massa! full grown--with large spur!"</p> + +<p>Sir Henry saw that his guest was puzzled by this dialogue, and +good-naturedly showed him the distinguishing characteristic of the male +ornithorhynchus--the spur on the hinder foot, which is hollow, and +transmits an envenomed liquid, secreted by a gland on the inner surface of +the thigh.</p> + +<p>In November, of the year preceding, a burrow of the animal had been +opened on the bank of the river, which contained the dam, and three +live young ones;--there were many points, yet to be determined relative +to its interior organization; and it was on this account, that Sir +Henry was anxious to obtain a female specimen at this particular +period. As he spoke, Delmé introduced the stranger to his study, which +might more aptly be styled a museum;--applied some spirits of wine to +the platypus, and placing it under a bell-glass for the morrow's +examination, left him turning over his collection of birds, while he +perused his valued home letters.</p> + +<p>It was with unmixed pleasure, knowing as he did his melancholy history, +that the stranger found Sir Henry Delmé engaged in pursuits, which it was +evident he was following up with no common enthusiasm. In truth, a mere +accidental circumstance,--the difficulty of obtaining a vessel at one of +the Indian Islands for any port,--had at first brought him to Australia, a +country regarding which he had felt little curiosity. The strange +varieties, however, of its animal kingdom, had interested him;--he was +struck with the rapid strides that that country has made in half a +century--and he continued from month to month to occupy the house where +his friend had now found him.</p> + +<p>To the stranger's eye, the eye of a novice, the well arranged specimens of +birds of the most beautiful plumage--of animals, chiefly marsupial, of the +most singular developement--of glittering insects--and of deep coloured +shells; were attractive wonders enough; but from the skeletons beside +these, it was quite clear, that Delmé had acquired considerable knowledge +as to the internal construction of the animals themselves--that he had +studied the subsisting relations, between the mechanism and the +movements--the structure, and its varied functions.</p> + +<p>After dinner, Sir Henry Delmé, who appeared to think that the bearer of +his despatches had conferred on him a lasting favour, threw off his +habitual reserve, and delighted and interested him with his tales of +foreign travel.</p> + +<p>As the night wore on, the conversation reverted to his sister and his +home. It was evident, that what remained for the living of that crushed +heart, was with Emily and Clarendon, and their children; perhaps more than +all, with his young heir and god-son, Henry Delmé Gage. The very colour of +that sunny lock of hair, gave rise to much speculation: and it seemed as +if he would never be wearied, of listening to the minutest description of +the dawning of intellect, in a precocious little fellow of barely five +years of age.</p> + +<p>Encouraged by his evident feeling, and observing many more comforts +about him, than he had been led to expect from his previous errant +habits; his guest ventured to express his hope, that Sir Henry might yet +return to England.</p> + +<p>"My good friend!" replied he, "for I must call you such now, for I know +not when I have experienced such unalloyed satisfaction, as you have +conferred on me this night, by conversing so freely of those I love; I +certainly never can forget that I am the last male of an ancient race, and +that those who are nearest and dearest to me, are divided from me by a +wide waste of waters. I have learnt to suffer with more patience than I +had ever hoped for; and, it may be,--although I have hardly breathed the +thought to myself--it may yet be accorded me to revisit that ancient +chapel, and to dwell once more in that familiar mansion."</p> + +<p>His guest was overcome by his emotion, and pressed his hand with warmth, +as he made his day's journey the excuse for an early retirement.</p> + +<p>Sleep soon visited his eyelids, for the ride, to one fresh from a sea +voyage, had brought with it a wholesome weariness. He was aroused from +his slumbers, by the deep sonorous accents as of a man reading Spanish.</p> + +<p>The light streamed from an adjacent room, through the chinks of a +partition. He started up alike forgetful of Delmé, his ride, and his +arrival in Australia; conceiving that he was again at the mercy of the +waves, in his narrow comfortless cabin.</p> + +<p>That light, however, brought the stranger back to the wanderer, and +his griefs.</p> + +<p>Beside a small table, strewn with his lately received English letters, +knelt Sir Henry Delmé. The stranger had seen condemned criminals pray with +becoming fervour; and devotees of many a creed lift up their hearts to +heaven; but never had he witnessed a more contrite or a humbler spirit +imprinted on the features of mortal man, than then shed its radiance on +that sorrowful, but noble face.</p> + +<p>Strange as it may appear, he knew not whether the words themselves really +caught his ear, or whether the motion of the lips expressed them--but +this he <i>did</i> know, that every syllable seemed to reach his heart, and +impress him with a mystic thrill,</p> + +<p>"<b>OR EVER THE SILVER CORD BE LOOSED, OR THE GOLDEN BOWL BE BROKEN, OR THE +PITCHER BE BROKEN AT THE FOUNTAIN, OR THE WHEEL BROKEN AT THE CISTERN. +THEN SHALL THE DUST RETURN TO THE EARTH AS IT WAS: AND THE SPIRIT SHALL +RETURN UNTO GOD WHO GAVE IT</b>."</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XVII</h1> + +<h2>The Wanderer's Return.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "And he had learn'd to love--I know not why,<br /> +For this in such as him seems strange of mood,--<br /> +The helpless looks of blooming infancy,<br /> +Even in its earliest nurture; what subdued,<br /> +To change like this, a mind so far imbued<br /> +With scorn of man, it little boots to know;<br /> +But thus it was; and though in solitude<br /> +Small power the nipp'd affections have to grow,<br /> +In him this glow'd when all beside had ceased to glow."</blockquote> + + +<p>Within a period of two months, from the interview we have described, the +stranger found that his arguments had not been thrown away; as he shook +Sir Henry's hand on the deck of a vessel bound for Valparaiso. His love of +travel and of excitement, had induced such an habitual restlessness, that +Delmé was not prepared at once to embark for England. He crossed the +Cordillera de los Andes--traversed the Pampas of Buenos Ayres--and +finally embarked for his native land.</p> + +<p>It was the height of summer, when the carriage which bore the long absent +owner to his ancestral home, neared the ancient moss-grown lodge.</p> + +<p>Fanny Porter, who was now married, and had a thriving babe at her breast, +started with surprise; as, throwing open the gate, she recognised in the +care-worn man with bronzed face and silver hair, her well known and +beloved master. As the carriage neared the chapel, it struck Sir Henry, +that it would be but prudent, to inform Clarendon of his near approach; in +order that he might prepare Emily for the meeting. He ordered the +postilion to pull up--tore a leaf from his memorandum book--and wrote a +few lines to Clarendon, despatching Thompson in advance. He turned into +the chapel, and as he approached its altar, the bridal scene, enacted +there nearly seven years back, seemed to rise palpably before him.</p> + +<p>But the tomb of Sir Reginald Delmé, with its velvet dusty banner--the +marble monument of his mother, with the bust above it, whose naked eye +seemed turned towards him--his withered heart and hopes soon darkened his +recollections of that bright hour. With agitated emotions, Sir Henry left +the chapel; and in a spirit of impatience, strode towards the mansion, +intending to meet the returning domestic. His feelings were strange, +various, and not easily defined.</p> + +<p>He was awakened from his day-dream by the sound of children's voices, +which sound he instinctively followed, until he reached the old orchard. +It was such an orchard, as might be planted by an old Delmé, ere any +Linnean or Loudonean horticulturist had decided that slopes are best for +the sun, that terraces are an economical saving of ground, that valleys +must be swamps, and that blights are vulgar errors. The orchard at Delmé +was strikingly unscientific; but the old stock contrived to bear good +fruit. The pippins, golden and russet--the pears, jargonelle and +good-christian--the cherries, both black and white heart--still thrived; +while under their shade, grew hips, haws, crabs, sloes, and blackberries, +happy to be shaded from rain, dews, and fierce sun-shine, and unenvious +of roses, cherries, apples, damsons, and mulberries; their self-defended, +and more aristocratic cousins.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry stopped unseen at the gate of the orchard, and for some minutes +looked on the almost fairy group, whose voices had led him thither.</p> + +<p>Lying on the bank, which enclosed the orchard, was a blue-eyed +rosy-cheeked little girl;--the ground ashes had been cut down; and her +laughing face was pillowed on the violets and oxlips, that burst from +between the roots. She was preparing to take another roll into the clayey +ditch below. Another little girl was gazing at the child from within the +orchard; half doubtful whether she should encourage or check her. One +pale-blue slipper and her little sock were half sunk in the clay, while +the veiny and pink-soled foot, the large lids half closed over her deep +blue eyes, the finger thrust between her red and pouting lips, her bonnet +thrown back and hanging by the strings round her swelling throat, her hair +dishevelled and stuck with oxlips, primroses, cowslips, violets, and +daisies; and wreathed with the spring-holly, or butcher's-broom--made her +a perfect picture of English beauty, and of childish anxiety and +indecision.</p> + +<p>Beside her stood a boy older than herself, and evidently as perplexed. +There was Julia perched cock-horse on the bank--there was Emily, her hair +undone, her bonnet crashed, with one shoe and stocking lost--and yet he +had promised Mamma, that if she would but once trust his sisters to him, +that he would bring them home, "with such a pretty basket of +spring-flowers."</p> + +<p>The beautiful blossoms of the cherry hung around the boy--the bees buzzed +in its bells--the apple and pear blossoms shook their fragrance in the +warm air--and the shadows of the flying clouds hurried like wings over the +bright green grass. The boy had dropped his basket of fresh-blown flowers +at his feet--tears were trembling in his eye-lids, as he gazed on his +sisters. His look was that of George.</p> + +<p>"Childhood too has its sorrows," said Sir Henry, half aloud, "even when +seeking joy on a bank of primroses. Why should <i>I</i> then repine?"</p> + +<p>The boy started as he heard and saw the stranger:--he involuntarily put +one foot forward in an attitude of childish defiance: but children are +keen physiognomists, and there was nothing but affection beaming from that +mournful face.</p> + +<p>"My boy!" said Delmé, and his eyes were moist, "did you ever hear of your +Uncle Henry?"</p> + +<p>"Emily! Emily! Julia!" exclaimed the little fellow, as he rushed into Sir +Henry's arms, "here is Uncle Henry, my god-papa, and he will help us to +reach the blackberries."</p> + +<p>We need follow the wanderer no further. It is true that in his youth he +had not known sympathy; in his manhood he had experienced sorrow; but +it is a pleasure to us to reflect, that despair is not the companion of +his old age.</p> + + + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">The End.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Love Story, by A Bushman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LOVE STORY *** + +***** This file should be named 8883-h.htm or 8883-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/8/8/8883/ + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: A Love Story + +Author: A Bushman + +Posting Date: September 8, 2014 [EBook #8883] +Release Date: September, 2005 +First Posted: August 20, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LOVE STORY *** + + + + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + + + + +A Love Story + +by + +A Bushman. + +Vol. I. + + + "My thoughts, like swallows, skim the main, + And bear my spirit back again + Over the earth, and through the air, + A wild bird and a wanderer." + + +1841. + + + +To +Lady Gipps +This Work Is Respectfully Inscribed, +By +A Grateful Friend. + + + + +Preface. + + + +The author of these pages considered that a lengthened explanation might +be necessary to account for the present work. + +He had therefore, at some length, detailed the motives that influenced +him in its composition. He had shown that as a solitary companionless +bushman, it had been a pleasure to him in his lone evenings + + "To create, and in creating live + A being more intense." + +He had expatiated on the love he bears his adopted country, and had +stated that he was greatly influenced by the hope that although + + "Sparta hath many a worthier son than he," + +this work might be the humble cornerstone to some enduring and highly +ornamented structure. + +The author however fortunately remembered, that readers have but little +sympathy with the motives of authors; but expect that their works should +amuse or instruct them. He will therefore content himself, with giving a +quotation from one of those old authors, whose "well of English +undefined" shames our modern writers. + +He intreats that the indulgence prayed for by the learned Cowell may be +accorded to his humble efforts. + +"My true end is the advancement of knowledge, and therefore have I +published this poor work, not only to impart the good thereof, to those +young ones that want it, but also to draw from the learned, the supply +of my defects. + +"Whosoever will charge these travails with many oversights, he shall need +no solemn pains to prove them. + +"And upon the view taken of this book sithence the impression, I dare +assure them, that shall observe most faults therein, that I, by gleaning +after him, will gather as many omitted by him, as he shall shew +committed by me. + +"What a man saith well is not, however, to be rejected, because he hath +some errors; reprehend who will, in God's name, that is, with sweetness, +and without reproach. + +"So shall he reap hearty thanks at my hands, and thus more soundly help +in a few months, than I by tossing and tumbling my books at home, could +possibly have done in some years." + + + + +A Love Story + + + + +Chapter I. + +The Family. + + + + "It was a vast and venerable pile." + + "Oh, may'st thou ever be as now thou art, + Nor unbeseem the promise of thy spring." + + +The mansion in which dwelt the Delmes was one of wide and extensive +range. Its centre slightly receded, leaving a wing on either side. +Fluted ledges, extending the whole length of the building, protruded +above each story. These were supported by quaint heads of satyr, martyr, +or laughing triton. The upper ledge, which concealed the roof from +casual observers, was of considerably greater projection. Placed above +it, at intervals, were balls of marble, which, once of pure white, had +now caught the time-worn hue of the edifice itself. At each corner of +the front and wings, the balls were surmounted by the family device--the +eagle with extended wing. One claw closed over the stone, and the bird +rode it proudly an' it had been the globe. The portico, of a pointed +Gothic, would have seemed heavy, had it not been lightened by glass +doors, the vivid colours of which were not of modern date. These +admitted to a capacious hall, where, reposing on the wide-spreading +antlers of some pristine tenant of the park, gleamed many a piece of +armour that in days of yore had not been worn ingloriously. + +The Delme family was an old Norman one, on whose antiquity a peerage +could have conferred no new lustre. At the period when the aristocracy +of Great Britain lent themselves to their own diminution of +importance, by the prevalent system of rejecting the poorer class of +tenantry, in many instances the most attached,--the consequence was +foreseen by the then proprietor of Delme Park, who, spurning the +advice of some interested few around him, continued to foster those +whose ancestors had served his. The Delmes were thus enabled to +retain--and they deserved it--that fair homage which rank and property +should ever command. As a family they were popular, and as individuals +universally beloved. + +At the period we speak of, the Delme family consisted but of three +members: the baronet, Sir Henry Delme; his brother George, some ten +years his junior, a lieutenant in a light infantry regiment at Malta; +and one sister, Emily, Emily Delme was the youngest child; her mother +dying shortly after her birth. The father, Sir Reginald Delme, a man of +strong feelings and social habits, never recovered this blow. Henry +Delme was barely fifteen when he was called to the baronetcy and to the +possession of the Delme estates. It was found that Sir Reginald had been +more generous than the world had given him credit for, and that his +estates were much encumbered. The trustees were disposed to rest +contented with paying off the strictly legal claims during Sir Henry's +minority. This the young heir would not accede to. He waited on his +most influential guardian--told him he was aware his father, from +hospitality and good nature, had incurred obligations which the law did +not compel his son to pay; but which he could not but think that equity +and good feeling did. He begged that these might be added to the other +claims, and that the trustees would endeavour to procure him a +commission in the army. He was gazetted to a cornetcy; and entered life +at an age when, if the manlier traits are ready to be developed, the +worthless ones are equally sure to unfold themselves. Few of us that +have not found the first draught of life intoxicate! Few of us that have +not then run wild, as colts that have slipped their bridle! +Experience--that mystic word--is wanting; the retrospect of past years +wakes no sigh; expectant youth looks forward to future ones without a +shade of distrust. The mind is elastic--the body vigorous and free from +pain; and it is then youth inwardly feels, although not daring to avow +it, the almost total impossibility that the mind should wax less +vigorous, or the body grow helpless, and decay. + +But Sir Henry was cast in a finer mould, nor did his conduct at this +dangerous period detract from this his trait of boyhood. He joined his +regiment when before the enemy, and, until he came of age, never drew on +his guardians for a shilling. Delme's firmness of purpose, and his after +prudence, met with their due reward. The family estates became wholly +unencumbered, and Sir Henry was enabled to add to the too scanty +provision of his sister, as well as to make up to George, on his +entering the army, a sum more than adequate to all his wants. These +circumstances were enough to endear him to his family; and, in truth, +amidst all its members, there prevailed a confidence and an unanimity +which were never for an instant impaired. There was one consequence, +however, of Sir Henry Delme's conduct that _he_, at the least, foresaw +not, but which was gradually and unconsciously developed. In pursuing +the line of duty he had marked out--in acting up to what he knew was +right--his mind became _too_ deeply impressed with the circumstances +which had given rise to his determination. It overstepped its object. +The train of thought, to which necessity gave birth, continued to +pervade when that necessity no longer existed. His wish to re-establish +his house grew into an ardent desire to aggrandize it. His ambition +appeared a legitimate one. It grew with his years, and increased with +his strength. + +Many a time, on the lone bivouac, when home presents itself in its +fairest colours to the soldier's mind, would Delme's prayer be embodied, +that his house might again be elevated, and that his descendants might +know _him_ as the one to whom they were indebted for its rise. Delme's +ambitious thoughts were created amidst dangers and toil, in a foreign +land, and far from those who shared his name. But his heart swelled high +with them as he again trod his native soil in peace--as he gazed on the +home of his fathers, and communed with those nearest and dearest to him +on earth. Sir Henry considered it incumbent on him to exert every means +that lay in his power to promote his grand object. A connection that +promised rank and honours, seemed to him an absolute essential that was +worth any sacrifice. Sir Henry never allowed himself to look for, or +give way to, those sacred sympathies, which the God of nature hath +implanted in the breasts of all of us. Delme had arrived at middle age +ere a feeling incompatible with his views arose. But his had been a +dangerous experiment. Our hearts or minds, or whatever it may be that +takes the impression, resemble some crystalline lake that mirrors the +smallest object, and heightens its beauty; but if it once gets muddied +or ruffled, the most lovely object ceases to be reflected in its waters. +By the time that lake is clear again, the fairy form that ere while +lingered on its bosom is fled for ever. + +Thus much in introducing the head of the family. Let us now attempt to +sketch the gentle Emily. + +Emily Delme was not an ordinary being. To uncommon talents, and a mind +of most refined order, she united great feminine propriety, and a total +absence of those arts which sometimes characterise those to whom the +accident of birth has given importance. With unerring discrimination, +she drew the exact line between vivacity and satire, true religion and +its semblance. She saw through and pitied those who, pluming themselves +on the faults of others, and imparting to the outward man the ascetic +inflexibility of the inner one, would fain propagate on all sides their +rigid creed, forbidding the more favoured commoners of nature even to +sip joy's chalice. If not a saint, however, but a fair, confiding, and +romantic girl, she was good without misanthropy, pure without +pretension, and joyous, as youth and hopes not crushed might make her. +She was one of those of whom society might justly be proud. She obeyed +its dictates without question, but her feelings underwent no debasement +from the contact. If not a child of nature, she was by no means the +slave of art. + +Emily Delme was more beautiful than striking. She impressed more than +she exacted. Her violet eye gleamed with feeling; her smile few could +gaze on without sympathy--happy he who might revel in its brightness! +If aught gave a peculiar tinge to her character, it was the pride she +felt in the name she bore,--this she might have caught from Sir +Henry,--the interest she took in the legends connected with that name, +and the gratification which the thought gave her, that by her ancestors, +its character had been but rarely sullied, and never disgraced. + +These things, it may be, she had accustomed herself to look on in a +light too glowing: for these things and all mundane ones are vain; but +her character did not consequently suffer. Her lip curled not with +hauteur, nor was her brow raised one shadow the more. The remembrance of +the old Baronetcy were on the ensanguined plain,--of the matchless +loyalty of a father and five valiant sons in the cause of the Royal +Charles,--the pondering over tomes, which in language obsolete, but +true, spoke of the grandeur--the deserved grandeur of her house; these +might be recollections and pursuits, followed with an ardour too +enthusiastic, but they stayed not the hand of charity, nor could they +check pity's tear. If her eye flashed as she gazed on the ancient +device of her family, reposing on its time worn pedestal, it could melt +to the tale of the houseless wanderer, and sympathise with the sorrows +of the fatherless. + + + + +Chapter II. + +The Album. + + + + "Oh that the desert were my dwelling place, + With one fair spirit for my minister; + That I might all forget the human race, + And, hating no one, love but only her." + + +A cheerful party were met in the drawing room of Delme. Clarendon Gage, +a neighbouring land proprietor, to whom Emily had for a twelvemonth been +betrothed, had the night previous returned from a continental tour. In +consequence, Emily looked especially radiant, Delme much pleased, and +Clarendon superlatively happy. Nor must we pass over Mrs. Glenallan, +Miss Delme's worthy aunt, who had supplied the place of a mother to +Emily, and who now sat in her accustomed chair, with an almost sunny +brow, quietly pursuing her monotonous tambouring. At times she turned to +admire her niece, who occasionally walked to the glass window, to caress +and feed an impudent white peacock; which one moment strutted on the +wide terrace, and at another lustily tapped for his bread at ne of the +lower panes. + +"I am glad to see you looking so well, Clarendon!" + +"And I can return the compliment, Delme! Few, looking at you now, would +take you for an old campaigner." + +The style of feature in Delme and Clarendon was very dissimilar. Sir +Henry was many years Gage's senior; but his manly bearing, and dark +decided features, would bear a contrast with even the tall and elegant, +although slight form of Clarendon. The latter was very fair, and what we +are accustomed to call English-looking. His hair almost, but not quite, +flaxen, hung in thick curls over his forehead, and would have given an +effeminate expression to the face, were it not for the peculiar flash of +the clear blue eye. + +"Come! Clarendon," said Emily, "I will impose a task. You have written +twice in my album; once, years ago, and the second time on the eve of +our parting. Come! you shall read us both effusions, and then write a +sonnet to our happy meeting. Would that dear George were here now!" + +Gage took up the book. It was a moderately-sized volume, bound in +crimson velvet. It was the fashion to keep albums _then_. It glittered +not in a binding of azure and gold, nor were its momentous secrets +enclosed by one of Bramah's locks. The Spanish proverb says, "Tell me +who you are with, and I will tell you what you are." Ours, in that album +age, used to be, "Show me your scrap book, I will tell you your +character." Emily's was not one commencing with-- + + "I never loved a dear gazelle!" + +and ending with stanzas on the "Forget-me-not." It had not those +hackneyed but beautiful lines addressed by Mr. Spencer to Lady Crewe-- + + "I stay'd too late: forgive the crime! + Unheeded flew the hours; + For noiseless falls the foot of Time. + That only treads on flowers." + +Nor contained it those sublime, but yet more common ones, on Sir John +Moore's death; which lines, by the bye, have suffered more from that +mischief-making, laughter-loving creature, Parody, than any lines we +know. It was not one of these books. Nor was it the splendid scrap book, +replete with superb engravings and proof-impression prints; nor at all +allied to the sentimental one of a garrison flirt, containing locks of +hair of at least five gentlemen, three of whom are officers in the army. +Nor, lastly, was it of that genus which has vulgarity in its very +title-page, and is here and there interspersed with devilish imps, or +caricatured likenesses of the little proprietress, all done in most +infinite humour, and marking the familiar friendship, of some half-dozen +whiskered cubs, having what is technically called the run of the house. +No! it was a repository for feeling and for memory, and, in its fair +pages, presented an image of Emily's heart. Many of these were marked, +it is true; and what human being's character is unchequered? But it was +blotless; and the virgin page looks not so white as when the contrast of +the sable ink is there. + +Clarendon read aloud his first contribution--who knows it not? The very +words form a music, and that music is Metastasio's, + + "Placido zeffiretto, + Se trovi il caro oggetto, + Digli che sei sospiro + Ma non gli dir di chi, + Limpido ruscelletto, + Se mai t'incontri in lei, + Digli che pianto sei, + Ma non le dir qual' eiglio + Crescer ti fe cosi." + +"And now, Emily! for my parting tribute--if I remember right, it was +sorrowful enough." + +Gage read, with tremulous voice, the following, which we will christen + + THE FAREWELL. + + I will not be the lightsome lark, + That carols to the rising morn,-- + I'd rather be some plaintive bird + Lulling night's ear forlorn. + + I will not be the green, green leaf, + Mingling 'midst thousand leaves and flowers + That shed their fairy charms around + To deck Spring's joyous bowers. + + I'd rather be the one red leaf, + Waving 'midst Autumn's sombre groves:-- + On the heart to breathe that sadness + Which contemplation loves. + + I will not be the morning ray, + Dancing upon the river's crest, + All light, all motion, when the stream + Turns to the sun her breast. + + I'd rather be the gentle shade, + Lengthening as eve comes stealing on, + And rest in pensive sadness there, + When those bright rays are gone. + + I will not be a smile to play + Upon thy coral lip, and shed + Around it sweetness, like the sun + Risen from his crimson bed. + + Oh, no! I'll be the tear that steals + In pity from that eye of blue, + Making the cheek more lovely red, + Like rose-leaf dipp'd in dew. + + I will not be remember'd when + Mirth shall her pageant joys impart,-- + A dream to sparkle in thine eye, + Yet vanish from thy heart. + + But when pensive sadness clouds thee, + When thoughts, half pain, half pleasure, steal + Upon the heart, and memory doth + The shadowy past reveal. + + When seems the bliss of former years,-- + Too sweet, too pure, to feel again,-- + And long lost hours, scenes, friends, return, + Remember me, love--then! + +"Ah, Clarendon! how often have I read those lines, and thought--but I +will not think now! Here come the letters! Henry will soon be busy--I +shall finish my drawing--and aunt will finish--no! she never _can_ +finish her tambour work. Take my portfolio and give me another +contribution!" Gage now wrote "The Return," which we insert for the +reader's approval:-- + + THE RETURN. + + When the blue-eyed morn doth peep + Over the soft hill's verdant steep, + Lighting up its shadows deep, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + When the lightsome lark doth sing + Her grateful song to Nature's King, + Making all the woodlands ring, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + Or when plaintive Philomel + Shall mourn her mate in some lone dell, + And to the night her sorrows tell, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + When the first green leaf of spring + Shall promise of the summer bring, + And all around its fragrance fling, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + Or when the last red leaf shall fall, + And winter spread its icy pall, + To mind me of the death of all, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + When the lively morning ray + Is dancing on the river's spray, + And sunshine gilds the joyous day, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + And when the shades of eve steal on, + Lengthening as life's sun goes down, + Like sweetest constancy alone, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + When I see a sweet smile play + On coral lips, like Phoebus' ray, + Making all look warm and gay, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + When steals the tear of pity, too, + O'er a cheek, whose crimson hue + Looks like rose-leaf dipp'd in dew, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + When mirth's pageant joys unbind + The gloomy spells that chain my mind, + And make me dream of all that's kind, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + And when pensive sadness clouds me, + When the host of memory crowds me, + When the shadowy past enshrouds me, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + When seems the bliss of former years,-- + Too sweet, too pure, to feel again,-- + And long lost hours, scenes, friends, return, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + + + +Chapter III. + +The Dinner. + + + + "Hues which have words, and speak to ye of heaven." + + "Away! there need no words or terms precise, + The paltry jargon of the marble mart, + Where pedantry gulls folly: we have eyes." + + +We are told by the members of the silver-fork school, that no tale of +fiction can be complete unless it embody the description of a dinner. +Let us, therefore, shutting from our view that white-limbed gum-tree, +and dismissing from our table tea and damper, [Footnote: _Damper_. +Bushman's fare--unleavened bread] call on memory's fading powers, and +feast once more with the rich, the munificent, the intellectual +Belliston Graeme. + +Dinner! immortal faculty of eating! to what glorious sense or +pre-eminent passion dost thou not contribute? Is not love half fed by +thy attractions? Beams ever the eye of lover more bright than when, +after gazing with enraptured glance at the coveted haunch, whose fat--a +pure white; whose lean--a rich brown--invitingly await the assault. When +doth lover's eye sparkle more, than when, at such a moment, it lights on +the features of the loved fair one? Is not the supper quadrille the most +dangerous and the dearest of all? + +Cherished venison! delicate white soup! spare young susceptible bosoms! +Again we ask, is not dinner the very aliment of friendship? the hinge on +which it turns? Does a man's heart expand to you ere you have returned +his dinner? It would be folly to assert it. Cabinet dinners--corporation +dinners--election dinners--and vestry dinners--and rail-road +dinners--we pass by these things, and triumphantly ask--does not _the_ +Ship par excellence--the Ship of Greenwich--annually assemble under its +revered roof the luminaries of the nation? Oh, whitebait! called so +early to your last account! a tear is all we give, but it flows +spontaneously at the memory of your sorrows! + +As Mr. Belliston Graeme was much talked of in his day, it may not be +amiss to say a few words regarding him. He was an only child, and at an +early age lost his parents. The expense of his education was defrayed +by a wealthy uncle, the second partner in a celebrated banking house. +His tutor, with whom he may be said to have lived from boyhood--for his +uncle had little communication with him, except to write to him one +letter half-yearly, when he paid his school bill--was a shy retiring +clergyman--a man of very extensive acquirements, and a first rate +classical scholar. After a short time, the curate and young Graeme +became attached to each other. The tutor was a bachelor, and Graeme was +his only pupil. The latter was soon inoculated with the classical mania +of his preceptor; and, as he grew up, it was quite a treat to hear the +pair discourse of Greeks and Romans. A stranger who had _then_ heard +them would have imagined that Themistocles and Scipio Africanus were +stars of the present generation. When Graeme was nineteen, his uncle +invited him to town for a month--a most unusual proceeding. During this +period he studied closely his nephew's character. At the end of this +term, Mr. Hargrave and his young charge were on their way to the +classical regions, where their fancy had been so long straying. They +explored France, and the northern parts of Italy--came on the shores of +the Adriatic--resided and secretly made excavations near the +amphitheatre of Polo--and finally reached the Morea. Not a crag, +valley, or brook, that they were not conversant with before they left +it. They at length tore themselves away; and found themselves at the +ancient Parthenope. It was at Pompeii Mr. Graeme first saw the +beautiful Miss Vignoles, the Mrs. Glenallan of our story; and, in a +strange adventure with some Neapolitan guides, was of some service to +her party. They saw his designs of some tombs, and took the trouble of +drawing him out. The young man now for the first time basked in the +sweets of society; in a fortnight, to Mr. Hargrave's horror, was +rolling in its vortex; in a couple of months found himself indulging +in, and avowing, a hopeless passion; and in three, was once again in +his native land, falsely deeming that his peace of mind had fled for +ever. He was shortly, however, called upon to exert his energies. The +death of his uncle suddenly made him, to his very great surprise, one +of the wealthiest commoners of England. At this period he was quite +unknown. In a short time Mr. Hargrave and himself were lodged +luxuriously--were deep in the pursuit of science, literature, and the +belle arte--and on terms of friendship with the cleverest and most +original men of the day. Mr. Graeme's occupations being sedentary, and +his habits very regular, he shortly found that his great wealth enabled +him, not only to indulge in every personal luxury at Rendlesham Park, +but to patronise largely every literary work of merit. In him the needy +man of genius found a friend, the man of wit a companion, and the +publisher a generous customer. He became famous for his house, his +library, his exclusive society. But he did not become spoilt by his +prosperity, and never neglected his old tutor. + +Our party from Delme were ushered into a large drawing-room, the sole +light of which was from an immense bow window, looking out on the +extensive lawn. The panes were of enormous size, and beautiful specimens +of classique plated glass. The only articles of furniture, were some +crimson ottomans which served to set off the splendid paintings; and one +table of the Florentine manufacture of pietra dura, on which stood a +carved bijou of Benvenuto Cellini's. Our party were early. They were +welcomed by Mr. Graeme with great cordiality, and by Mr. Hargrave with +some embarrassment, for the tutor was still the bashful man of former +days. Mr. Graeme's dress shamed these degenerate days of black stock and +loose trowser. Diamond buckles adorned his knees, and fastened his +shoes. His clear blue eye--the high polished forehead--the deep lines of +the countenance--revealed the man of thought and intellect. The playful +lip shewed he could yet appreciate a flash of wit or spark of humour. + +"Miss Delme, you are looking at my paintings; let me show you my late +purchases. Observe this sweet Madonna, by Murillo! I prefer it to the +one in the Munich Gallery. It may not boast Titian's glow of colour, or +Raphael's grandeur of design,--in delicate angelic beauty, it may yield +to the delightful efforts of Guido's or Correggio's pencil,--but surely +no human conception can ever have more touchingly portrayed the +beauteous resigned mother. The infant, too! how inimitably blended is +the God-like serenity of the Saviour, with the fond and graceful +witcheries of the loving child! How little we know of the beauties of +the Spanish school! Would I could ransack their ancient monasteries, and +bring a few of them to light! + +"You are a chess player! Pass not by this check-mate of Caravaggio's. +What undisguised triumph in one countenance! What a struggle to repress +nature's feelings in the other! Here is a Guido! sweet, as his ever are! +He may justly be styled the female laureat. What artist can compete with +him in delineating the blooming expression, or the tender, but lighter, +shades of female loveliness? who can pause between even the Fornarina, +and that divine effort, the Beatrice Cenci of the Barberini?" + +The party were by this time assembled. Besides our immediate friends, +there was his Grace the Duke of Gatten, a good-natured fox-hunting +nobleman, whose estate adjoined Mr. Graeme's; there was the Viscount +Chambery, who had penned a pamphlet on finance--indited a folio on +architecture--and astonished Europe with an elaborate dissertation on +modern cookery; there was Charles Selby, the poet and essayist; +Daintrey, the sculptor--a wonderful Ornithologist--a deep read +Historian--a learned Orientalist--and a novelist, from France; whose +works exhibited such unheard of horrors, and made man and woman so +irremediably vicious, as to make this young gentleman celebrated, even +in Paris--that Babylonian sink of iniquity. + +Dinner was announced, and our host, giving his arm very stoically to +Mrs. Glenallan, his love of former days, led the way to the dining-room. +Round the table were placed beautifully carved oaken fauteuils, of a +very old pattern. The service of plate was extremely plain, but of +massive gold. But the lamp! It was of magnificent dimensions! The light +chains hanging from the frescoed ceiling, the links of which were hardly +perceptible, were of silver, manufactured in Venice; the lower part was +of opal-tinted glass, exactly portraying some voluptuous couch, on which +the beautiful Amphitrite might have reclined, as she hastened through +beds of coral to crystal grot, starred with transparent stalactites. In +the centre of this shell, were sockets, whence verged small hollow +golden tubes, resembling in shape and size the stalks of a flower. At +the drooping ends of these, were lamps shaped and coloured to imitate +the most beauteous flowers of the parterre. This bouquet of light had +been designed by Mr. Graeme. Few novelties had acquired greater +celebrity than the Graeme astrale. The room was warmed by heating the +pedestals of the statues. + +"Potage a la fantome, and a l'ourika." + +"I will trouble you, Graeme," said my Lord Chambery, "for the fantome. I +have dined on la pritanniere for the last three months, and a novel soup +is a novel pleasure." + +Of the fish, the soles were a la Rowena, the salmon a l'amour. Emily +flirted with the wing of a chicken saute au supreme, coquetted with +perdrix perdu masque a la Montmorenci, and tasted a boudin a la +Diebitsch. The wines were excellent--the Geisenheim delicious--the +Champagne sparkling like a pun of Jekyll's. But nothing aroused the +attention of the Viscount Chambery so much as a liqueur, which Mr. +Graeme assured him was new, and had just been sent him by the Conte de +Desir. The dessert had been some time on the table, when the Viscount +addressed his host. + +"Graeme! I am delighted to find that you at length agree with me as to +the monstrous superiority of a French repast. Your omelette imaginaire +was faultless, and as for your liqueur, I shall certainly order a supply +on my return to Paris." + +"That liqueur, my dear lord," replied Mr. Graeme, "is good old cowslip +mead, with a flask of Maraschino di Zara infused in it. For the rest, +the dinner has been almost as imaginaire as the omelet. The greater part +of the recipes are in an old English volume in my library, or perhaps +some owe their origin to the fertile invention of my housekeeper. Let +us style them a la Dorothee." + +"Capital! I thank you, Graeme!" said his Grace of Gatten, as he shook +his host by the hand, till the tears stood in his eyes. + +The prescient Chambery had made a good dinner, and bore the joke +philosophically. Coffee awaited the gentlemen in a small octagonal +chamber, adjoining the music room. There stood Mr. Graeme's three +favourite modern statues:--a Venus, by Canova--a Discobole, by +Thorwaldson--and a late acquisition--the Ariadne, of Dannecker. + +"This is the work of an artist," said Mr. Graeme, "little known in +this country, but in Germany ranking quite as high as Thorwaldson. +This is almost a duplicate of his Ariadne at Frankfort, but the +marble is much more pure. How wonderfully fine the execution! Pray +notice the bold profile of the face; how energetic her action as she +sits on the panther!" + +Mr. Graeme touched the spring of a window frame. A curtain of crimson +gauze fell over a globe lamp, and threw a rich shade on the marble. +The features remained as finely chiselled, but their expression was +totally changed. + +They adjourned to the music-room, which deserved its title. Save some +seats, which were artfully formed to resemble lyres, nothing broke the +continuity of music's tones, which ascended majestically to the lofty +dome, there to blend and wreath, and fall again. At one extremity of +music's hall was an organ; at the other a grand piano, built by a German +composer. Ranged on carved slabs, at intermediate distances, was placed +almost every instrument that may claim a votary. Of viols, from the violin +to the double bass,--of instruments of brass, from trombones and bass +kettledrums even unto trumpet and cymbal,--of instruments of wood, from +winding serpents to octave flute,--and of fiddles of parchment, from the +grosse caisse to the tambourine. Nor were ancient instruments wanting. +These were of quaint forms and diverse constructions. Mr. Graeme would +descant for hours on an antique species of spinnet, which he procured from +the East, and which he vehemently averred, was the veritable dulcimer. He +would display with great gusto, his specimens of harps of Israel; whose +deep-toned chorus, had perchance thrilled through the breast of more than +one of Judea's dark-haired daughters. Greece, too, had her +representatives, to remind the spectators that there had been an Orpheus. +There were flutes of the Doric and of the Phrygian mode, and--let us +forget not--the Tyrrhenian trumpet, with its brazen-cleft pavilion. But by +far the greater part of his musical relics he had acquired during his stay +in Italy. He could show the litui with their carved clarions--the twisted +cornua--the tuba, a trumpet so long and taper,--the concha wound by +Tritons--and eke the buccina, a short and brattling horn. + +Belliston Graeme was an enthusiastic musician; and was in this peculiar, +that he loved the science for its simplicity. Musicians are but too apt +to give to music's detail and music's difficulties the homage that +should be paid to music's self: in this resembling the habitual man of +law, who occasionally forgetteth the great principles of jurisprudence, +and invests with mysterious agency such words as latitat and certiorari. +The soul of music may not have fled;--for we cultivate her +assiduously,--worship Handel--and appreciate Mozart. But music _now_ +springs from the head, not the heart; is not for the mass, but for +individuals. With our increased researches, and cares, and troubles, we +have lost the faculty of being pleased. Past are those careless days, +when the shrill musette, or plain cittern and virginals, could with +their first strain give motion to the blythe foot of joy, or call from +its cell the prompt tear of pity. Those days are gone! Music may affect +some of us as deeply, but none as readily! + +Mr. Graeme had received from Paris an unpublished opera of Auber's. +Emily seated herself at the piano--her host took the violin--Clarendon +was an excellent flute player--and the tinkle of the Viscount's guitar +came in very harmoniously. By the time refreshments were introduced, +Charles Selby too was in his glory. He had already nearly convulsed the +Orientalist by a theory which he said he had formed, of a gradual +metempsychosis, or, at all events, perceptible amalgamation, of the +yellow Qui Hi to the darker Hindoo; which said theory he supported by +the most ingenious arguments. + +"How did you like your stay in Scotland, Mr. Selby?" said Sir +Henry Delme. + +"I am a terrible Cockney, Sir Henry,--found it very cold, and was very +sulky. The only man I cared to see in Scotland was at the Lakes; but I +kept a register of events, which is now on the table in my +dressing-room. If Graeme will read it, for I am but a stammerer, it is +at your service." + +The paper was soon produced, and Mr. Graeme read the following:-- + + +"THE BRAHMIN. + +"A stranger arrived from a far and foreign country. His was a mind +peculiarly humble, tremblingly alive to its own deficiencies. Yet, +endowed with this mistrust, he sighed for information, and his soul +thirsted in the pursuit of knowledge. Thus constituted, he sought the +city he had long dreamingly looked up to as the site of truth--Scotia's +capital, the modern Athens. In endeavouring to explore the mazes of +literature, he by no means expected to discover novel paths, but sought +to traverse beauteous ones; feeling he could rest content, could he meet +with but one flower, which some bolder and more experienced adventurer +might have allowed to escape him. He arrived, and cast around an anxious +eye. He found himself involved in an apparent chaos--the whirl of +distraction--imbedded amidst a ceaseless turmoil of would-be knowing +students, endeavouring to catch the aroma of the pharmacopaeia, or dive +to the deep recesses of Scotch law. He sought and cultivated the +friendship of the literati; and anticipated a perpetual feast of soul, +from a banquet to which one of the most distinguished members of a +learned body had invited him. He went with his mind braced up for the +subtleties of argument--with hopes excited, heart elate. He deemed that +the authenticity of Champolion's hieroglyphics might now be permanently +established, or a doubt thrown on them which would for ever extinguish +curiosity. He heard a doubt raised as to the probability of Dr. Knox's +connection with Burke's murders! Disappointed and annoyed, he returned +to his hotel, determined to seek other means of improvement; and to +carefully observe the manners, customs, and habits of the beings he was +among. He enquired first as to their habits, and was presented with +scones, kippered salmon, and a gallon of Glenlivet; as to their manners +and ancient costume, and was pointed out a short fat man, the head of +his clan, who promenaded the streets without trousers. Neither did he +find the delineation of their customs more satisfactory. He was made +nearly tipsy at a funeral--was shown how to carve haggis--and a fit of +bile was the consequence, of his too plentifully partaking of a +superabundantly rich currant bun. He mused over these defeats of his +object, and, unwilling to relinquish his hitherto fruitless +search,--reluctant to despair,--he bent his steps to that city, where +utility preponderates over ornament; that city which so early encouraged +that most glorious of inventions, by the aid of which he hoped, that the +diminutive barks of his countrymen might yet be propelled, thus +superseding the ponderous paddle of teak, He here expected to be +involved in an intricate labyrinth of mechanical inventions,--in a +stormy discussion on the comparative merits of rival machinery,--to be +immersed in speculative but gigantic theories. He was elected an +honorary member of a news-room; had his coat whitened with cotton; and +was obliged to confess that he knew of no beverage that could equal +their superb cold punch. Our philosopher now gave himself up to despair; +but before returning to his own warm clime, he sought to discover the +reason of his finding the flesh creep, where he had deemed the spirit +would soar. He at length came to the conclusion that we are all slaves +to the world and to circumstances; and as, with his peculiar belief, he +could look on our sacred volume with the eye of a philosopher, felt +impressed with the conviction that the history of Babel's tower is but +an allegory, which says to the pride of man, + + "'Thus far shall ye go, and no farther.'" + +The Brahmin's adventures elicited much amusement. In a short time, +Selby was in a hot argument with the French novelist. Every now and +then, as the Frenchman answered him, he stirred his negus, and hummed a +translation of + + "I'd be a butterfly." + + "Erim papilio, + Natus in flosculo." + + + + +Chapter IV. + +The Postman. + + + + "Not in those visions, to the heart displaying + Forms which it sighs but to have only dream'd, + Hath aught like thee in truth or fancy seem'd; + Or, having seen thee, shall I vainly seek + To paint those charms which, imaged as they beam'd, + To such as see thee not, my words were weak; + To those who gaze on thee, what language could they speak?" + + +Delme had long designed some internal improvements in the mansion; +and as workmen would necessarily be employed, had proposed that our +family party should pass a few weeks at a watering place, until these +were completed. They were not without hopes, that George might there +join them, as Emily had written to Malta, pressing him to be present +at her wedding. + +We have elsewhere said, that Sir Henry had arrived at middle age, +before one feeling incompatible with his ambitious thoughts arose. It +was at Leamington this feeling had imperceptibly sprung up; and to +Leamington they were now going. + +Is there an electric chain binding hearts predestined to love? + +Hath Providence ordained, that on our first interview with that being, +framed to meet our wishes and our desires--the rainbow to our cloud, and +the sun to our noon-day--hath it ordained that there should also be +given us some undefinable token--some unconscious whispering from the +heart's inmost spirit? + +Who may fathom these inscrutable mysteries? + +Sir Henry had been visiting an old schoolfellow, who had a country seat +near Leamington. He was riding homewards, through a sequestered and +wooded part of the park, when he was aware of the presence of two +ladies, evidently a mother and daughter. They sate on one side of the +rude path, on an old prostrate beech tree. The daughter, who was very +beautiful, was sketching a piece of fern for a foreground: the mother +was looking over the drawing. Neither saw the equestrian. + +It was a fair sight to regard the young artist, with her fine profile +and drooping eyelid, bending over the drawing, like a Grecian statue; +then to note the calm features upturn, and forget the statue in the +breathing woman. At intervals, her auburn tresses would fall on the +paper, and sweep the pencil's efforts. At such times, she would remove +them with her small hand, with such a soft smile, and gentle grace, that +the very action seemed to speak volumes for her feminine sympathies. +Delme disturbed them not, but making a tour through the grove of beech +trees, reached Leamington in thoughtful mood. + +It was not long before he met them in society. The mother was a Mrs. +Vernon, a widow, with a large family and small means. Of that family +Julia was the fairest flower. As Sir Henry made her acquaintance, and +her character unfolded itself, he acknowledged that few could study it +without deriving advantage; few without loving her to adoration. That +character it would be hard to describe without our description +appearing high-flown and exaggerated. It bore an impress of loftiness, +totally removed from pride; a moral superiority, which impressed all. +With this was united an innate purity, that seemed her birthright; a +purity that could not for an instant be doubted. If the libertine gazed +on her features, it awoke in him recollections that had long slumbered; +of the time when his heart beat but for one. If, in her immediate +sphere, any littleness of feeling was brought to her notice, it was met +with an intuitive doubt, followed by painful surprise, that such +feeling, foreign as she felt it to be to her own nature, could really +have existence in that of another. + +Thank God! she had seen few of the trickeries of this restless world, in +which most of us are struggling against our neighbours; and, if we could +look forward with certainty, to the nature of the world beyond this, it +is most likely that we should breathe a fervent prayer that she should +never witness more. + +Her person was a fit receptacle for such a mind. A face all softness, +seemed and _was_ the index to a heart all pity. Taller than her +compeers,--in all she said or did, a native dignity and a witching +grace were exquisitely blended. She was one not easily seen without +admiration; but when known, clung Cydippe-like to the heart's mirror, an +image over which neither time nor absence possessed controul. + +The Delmes resided at Leamington the remainder of the winter, which +passed fleetly and happily. Emily, for the first time, gave way to that +one feeling, which, to a woman, is the all-important and engrossing one, +enjoying her happiness in that full spirit of content, which basking in +present joys, attempts not to mar them by ideal disquietudes. The Delmes +cultivated the society of the Vernons; Emily and Julia became great +friends; and Sir Henry, with all his stoicism, was nourishing an +attachment, whose force, had he been aware of it, he would have been at +some pains to repress. As it was, he totally overlooked the possibility +of his trifling with the feelings of another. He had a number of sage +aphorisms to urge against his own entanglement, and, with a moral +perverseness, from which the best of us are not free, chose to forget +that it was possible his convincing arguments, might neither be known +to, nor appreciated by one, on whom their effect might be far from +unimportant. + +At this stage, Clarendon thought it his duty to warn Delme; and, to his +credit be it said, shrunk not from it. + +"Excuse me, Delme," said he, "will you allow me to say one word to you +on a subject that nearly concerns yourself?" + +Sir Henry briefly assented. + +"You see a great deal of Miss Vernon. She is a very fascinating and a +very amiable person; but from something you once said to me, it has +struck me that in some respects she might not suit you." + +"I like her society," replied his friend; "but you are right. She would +_not_ suit me. _You_ know me pretty well. My hope has ever been to +increase, and not diminish the importance of my house. It once stood +higher both in wealth and consideration. I see many families springing +up around me, that can hardly lay claim to a descent so unblemished I +speak not in a spirit of intolerance, nor found my family claim solely +on its pedigree; but my ancestors have done good in their generation, +and it is a proud thing to be 'the scion of a noble race!'" + +"It may be;" said Clarendon quietly, "but I cannot help thinking, that +with your affluence, you have every right to follow your own +inclination. I know that few of my acquaintances are so independent of +the world." + +Sir Henry shook his head. + +"The day is not very distant, Gage, when a Dacre would hardly have +returned two members for my county, if a Delme had willed it otherwise. +But there is little occasion for me to have said thus much. Miss Vernon, +I trust, has other plans; and I believe my own feelings are not enlisted +deep enough, to make me forget the hopes and purposes of half a +life-time." + +It was some few days after this, when Emily had almost given up looking +with interest to the postman's visit, that a letter at last came, +directed to Sir Henry; not indeed in George's hand-writing, but with +the Malta post mark. Delme read it over thoughtfully, and, assuring +Emily that there was nothing to alarm her, left the room to consider +its contents. + +By the way, we have thought over heartless professions, and cannot help +conceiving that of a postman, (it may be conceit!) the most callous and +unfeeling of all. He is waited for with more anxiety than any guest of +the morning; for his visits invariably convey something new to the mind. +He is not love! but he bears it in his pocket; he cannot be friendship! +but he daily hawks about its assurances. With all this, knowing his +importance, aware of the sensation his appearance calls forth, his very +knock is heartless--the tones of his voice cold. Feeling seems denied +him; his head is a debtor and creditor account, his departure the +receipt, and time alone can say, whether your bargain has been a good or +a bad one. He has certainly no assumption--it is one of his few good +traits; he walks with his arms in motion, but attempts not a swagger; +his knock is unassuming, and his words, though much attended to, are +few, and to the point. Why, then, abuse him? We know not, but believe it +originates in fear. An intuitive feeling of dread--a rushing +presentiment of evil--crosses our mind, as our eye dwells on his +thread-bare coat, with its capacious pockets. News of a death--or a +marriage--the tender valentine--the remorseless dun--your having been +left an estate, or cut off with a shilling--fortune, and misfortune--he +quietly dispenses, as if totally unconscious. Surely such a man--his +round performed--cannot quietly sink to the private individual. Can such +a man caress his wife, or kiss his child, when he knows not how many +hearts are bursting with joy, or breaking with sorrow, from the tidings +_he_ has conveyed? To our mind, a postman should be an abstracted +visionary being, endowed with a peculiar countenance, betraying the +unnatural sparkle of the opium-eater, and evincing intense anxiety at +the delivery of each sheet. But these,--they wait not to hear the joyful +shout, or heart-rending moan--to know if hope deferred be at length +joyful certainty, or bitter only half-expected woe. We dread a postman. +Our hand shook, as we last year paid the man of many destinies his +demanded Christmas box. + +The amount was double that we gave to the minister of our corporeal +necessities--the butcher's boy--not from a conviction of the superior +services or merit of the former, but from an uneasy desire to bribe, if +we could, that Mercury of fate. + +The letter to Sir Henry, was from the surgeon of George's regiment. It +stated that George had been severely ill, and that connected with his +illness, were symptoms which made it imperative on the medical adviser, +to recommend the immediate presence of his nearest male relative. +Apologies were made for the apparent mystery of the communication, with +a promise that this would be at once cleared up, if Sir Henry would but +consent to make the voyage; which would not only enable him to be of +essential service to his brother, but also to acquire much information +regarding him, which could only be obtained on the spot. A note from +George was enclosed in this letter. It was written with an unsteady +hand, and made no mention of his illness. He earnestly begged his +brother to come to Malta, if he could possibly so arrange it, and +transmitted his kindest love and blessing to Emily. + +Sir Henry at once made up his mind, to leave Leamington for town on the +morrow, trusting that he might there meet with information which would +be more satisfactory. He concealed for the time the true state of the +case from all but Clarendon; nor did he even allude to his proposed +departure. + +It was Emily's birth-day, and Gage had arranged that the whole party +should attend a little fete on that night. Sir Henry could not find it +in his heart to disturb his sister's dream of happiness. + + + + +Chapter V + +The Fete. + + + + "Ye stars! which are the poetry of heaven! + If, in your bright leaves, we would read the fate + Of men and empires,--'tis to be forgiven, + That, in our aspirations to be great, + Our destinies o'erleap their mortal state, + And claim a kindred with you." + + +The night came on with its crescent moon and its myriads of stars: just +such a night as might have been wished for such a fete. It was in the +month of April. April dews, in Britain's variable clime; are not the +most salubrious, and April's night air is too often keen and piercing; +but the season was an unusually mild one; and the ladies, with their +cloaks and their furs, promenaded the well-lighted walks, determined to +be pleased and happy. + +The giver of the fete was an enterprising Italian. Winter's +amusements were over, or neglected--summer's delights were not +arrived; and Signor Pacini conceived, that during the dull and +monotonous interval, a speculation of his own might prove welcome to +the public and beneficial to himself. To do the little man justice, he +was indefatigable in his exertions. From door to door he wended his +smiling way,--here praising the mother's French, there the daughter's +Italian. He gained hosts of partisans. "Of course you patronise +Pacini!" was in every one's mouth. The Signor's prospectus stated, +that "through the kindness of the steward of an influential nobleman, +who was now on the continent, he was enabled to give his fete in the +grounds of the Earl of W----; where a full quadrille band would be in +attendance, a pavilion pitched on the smooth lawn facing the river, +and a comfortable ball room thrown open to a fashionable and +enlightened public. The performance would be most various, novel, and +exciting. Brilliant fireworks from Vauxhall would delight the eye, and +shed a charm on the fairy scene; whilst the car would be regaled with +the unequalled harmony of the Styrian brethren, Messrs. Schezer, +Lobau, and Berdan, who had very kindly deferred their proposed return +to Styria, in order to honour the fete of Signor Pacini." + +As night drew on, the mimic thunder of carriages hastening to the scene +of action, bespoke the Signor's success. After the ninth hour, his +numbers swelled rapidly. Pacini assumed an amusing importance, and his +very myrmidons gave out their brass tickets with an air. At ten, a +rocket was fired. At this preconcerted signal, the pavilion, hitherto +purposely concealed, blazed in a flood of light. On its balcony stood +the three Styrian brethren,--although, by the way, they were not +brethren at all,--and, striking their harmonious guitars, wooed +attention to their strains. The crowd hurried down the walk, and formed +round the pavilion. Our party suddenly found themselves near the +Vernons. As the gentlemen endeavoured to obtain chairs for the ladies, a +crush took place, and Sir Henry was obliged to offer his arm to Julia, +who happened to be the nearest of her party. It was with pain Miss +Vernon noted his clouded brow, and look of abstraction; but hardly one +word of recognition had passed, before the deep voices of the Styrians +silenced all. After singing some effective songs, accompanied by a +zither, and performing a melodious symphony on a variety of Jew's-harps; +Pacini, the manager, advanced to address his auditors, with that air of +smiling confidence which no one can assume with better grace than a +clever Italian. His dark eye flashed, and his whole features irradiated, +as he delivered the following harangue. + +"Ladies and gentlemen! me trust you well satisfied wid de former +musical entertainment; but, if you permit, me mention one leetle +circonstance. Monsieur Schezer propose to give de song; but it require +much vat you call stage management: all must be silent as de grave. It +ver pretty morceau." + +The applause at the end of this speech was very great. Signor Pacini +bowed, till his face rivalled, in its hue, the rosy under-waistcoat in +which he rejoiced. + +Schezer stepped forward. He was attired as a mountaineer. His hat +tapered to the top, and was crowned by a single heron feather. Hussars +might have envied him his moustaches. From his right side protruded a +couteau de chasse; and his legs were not a little set off by the +tight-laced boots, which, coming up some way beyond the ancle, displayed +his calf to the very best advantage. + +The singer's voice was a fine manly tenor, and did ample justice to the +words, of which the following may be taken as a free version. + +"Mountains! dear mountains! on you have I passed my green youth; to me +your breeze has been fragrant from childhood. When may I see the chamois +bounding o'er your toppling crags? When, oh when, may I see my +fair-haired Mary?" + +The minstrel paused--a sound was heard from behind the pavilion. It was +the mountain's echo. It continued the air--then died away in the +softest harmony. All were charmed. Again the singer stepped +forward--the utmost silence prevailed--his tones became more +impassioned--they breathed of love. + +"Thanks! thanks to thee, gentle echo! Oft hast thou responded to the +strains of love my soul poured to--ah me! how beautiful was the +fair-haired Mary!" + +Again the echo spoke--again all were hushed. The minstrel's voice rose +again; but its tones were not akin to joy. + +"Why remember this, deceitful echo? War's blast hath blown, and hushed +are the notes of love. The foe hath polluted my hearth--I wander an +exile. Where, where is Mary?" + +The echo faintly but plaintively replied. There were some imagined that +a tear really started to the eye of the singer. He struck the guitar +wildly--his voice became more agitated--he advanced to the extremity of +the balcony. + +"My sword! my sword! May my right hand be withered ere it forget to +grasp its hilt! One blow for freedom. Freedom--sweet as was the +lip--Yes! I'll revenge my Mary!" + +Schezer paused, apparently overcome by his emotion. The echo wildly +replied, as if registering the patriot's vow. For a moment all was +still! A thundering burst of applause ensued. + +The mountain music was succeeded by a sweep of guitars, accompanying a +Venetian serenade, whose burthen was the apostrophising the cruelty of +"la cara Nina." + +It was near midnight, when all eyes were directed to a ball of fire, +which, rising majestically upward, soared amid the tall elm trees. For a +moment, the balloon became entangled in the boughs, revealing by its +transparent light the green buds of spring, which variegated and cheered +the scathed bark. It broke loose from their embrace--hovered +irresolutely above them--then swept rapidly before the wind, rising till +it became as a speck in the firmament. + +This was the signal for Mr. Robinson's fireworks, which did not shame +Vauxhall's reputation. At one moment, a salamander courted notice; at +another, a train of fiery honours, festooned round four wooden pillars, +was fired at different places, by as many doves practised to the task. +Here, an imitation of a jet d'eau elicited applause--there, the +gyrations of a Catherine's wheel were suddenly interrupted by the rapid +ascent of a Roman candle. + +Directly after the ascent of the balloon, Emily and Clarendon had +turned towards the ball room. Julia's sisters had a group of laughing +beaux round their chairs,--Mrs. Glenallan and Mrs. Vernon were +discussing bygone days,--and no one seemed disposed to leave the +pavilion. Sir Henry, in his silent mood, was glad to escape from the +party; and engaging Julia in a search for Emily, made his way to the +crowded ball room. He there found his sister spinning round with +Clarendon to one of Strauss's waltzes; and Sir Henry and his partner +seated themselves on one of the benches, watching the smiling faces as +they whirled past them. It was a melancholy thought to Delme, how soon +Emily's brow would be clouded, were he to breathe one word of George's +illness and despondency. The waltz concluded, a quadrille was quickly +formed. Miss Vernon declined dancing, and they rose to join Emily and +Clarendon; but the lovers were flown. The ball room became still more +thronged; and Delme was glad to turn once more towards the pavilion. The +party they had left there had also vanished, and strangers usurped their +seats. In this dilemma, Miss Vernon proposed seeking their party in the +long walk. They took one or two turns down this, but saw not those for +whom they were in search. + +"If you do not dislike leaving this busy scene," said Sir Henry, "I +think we shall have a better chance of meeting Emily and Clarendon, if +we turn down one of these winding paths." + +They turned to their left, and walked on. How beautiful was that night! +Its calm tranquillity, as they receded from the giddy throng, could not +but subdue them. We have said that the moon was not riding the heavens +in her full robe of majesty, nor was there a sombre darkness. The purple +vault was spangled thick with stars; and there reigned that dubious, +glimmering light, by which you can note a face, but not mark its blush. +The walks wound fantastically. They were lit by festoons of coloured +lamps, attached to the neighbouring trees, so as to resemble the pendent +grape-clusters, that the traveller meets with just previous to the +Bolognese vintage. Occasionally, a path would be encountered where no +light met the eye save that of the prying stars overhead. In the +distant vista, might be seen a part of the crowded promenade, where +music held its court; whilst at intervals, a voice's swell or guitar's +tinkle would be borne on the ear. There was the hum of men, too--the +laugh of the idlers without the sanctum, as they indulged in the +delights of the mischievous fire-ball--and the sudden whizz, followed by +an upward glare of light, as a rocket shot into the air. But the hour, +and the nameless feeling that hour invoked, brought with them a subduing +influence, which overpowered these intruding sounds, attuning the heart +to love and praise. They paced the walk in mutual and embarrassed +silence. Sir Henry's thoughts would at one time revert to his brother, +and at another to that parting, which the morrow would assuredly bring +with it. He was lost in reverie, and almost forgot who it was that leant +thus heavily upon his arm. Julia had loved but once. She saw his +abstraction, and knew not the cause; and her timid heart beat quicker +than was its wont, as undefined images of coming evil and sorrow, chased +each other through her excited fancy. At length she essayed to speak, +although conscious that her voice faltered. + +"What a lovely night! Are you a believer in the language of the stars?" + +This was said with such simplicity of manner, that Delme, as he turned +to answer her, felt truly for the first time the full force of his +attachment. He felt it the more strongly, that his mind previously had +been wandering more than it had done for years. + +There are times and seasons when we are engrossed in a train of deep and +unconscious thought. Suddenly recalled to ourselves, we start from our +mental aberration, and a clearer insight into the immediate purposes and +machinery of our lives, is afforded us. We seem endowed with a more +accurate knowledge of self; the inmost workings of our souls are +abruptly revealed--feeling's mysteries stand developed--our weaknesses +stare us in the face--and our vices appear to gnaw the very vitals of +our hope. The veil was indeed withdrawn,--and Delme's heart +acknowledged, that the fair being who leant on him for support, was +dearer--far dearer, than all beside. But he saw too, ambition in that +heart's deep recess, and knew that its dictates, unopposed for years, +were totally incompatible with such a love. He saw and trembled. + +Julia's question was repeated, before Sir Henry could reply. + +"A soldier, Miss Vernon, is particularly susceptible of visionary ideas. +On the lone bivouac, or remote piquet, duty must frequently chase sleep +from his eyelids. At such times, I have, I confess, indulged in wild +speculations, on their possible influence on our wayward destinies. I +was then a youth, and should not now, I much fear me, pursue with such +unchecked ardour, the dreams of romance in which I could then +unrestrainedly revel. Perhaps I should not think it wise to do so, even +had not sober reality stolen from imagination her brightest pinion." + +"I would fain hope, Sir Henry," replied Julia, "that all your mind's +elasticity is not thus flown. Why blame such fanciful theories? I cannot +think them wrong, and I have often passed happy hours in forming them." + +"Simply because they remove us too much from our natural sphere of +usefulness. They may impart us pleasure; but I question whether, by +dulling our mundane delights, they do not steal pleasure quite +equivalent. Besides, they cannot assist us in conferring happiness on +others, or in gleaning improvement for ourselves. I am not quite +certain, enviable as appears the distinction, whether the _too_ +feelingly appreciating even nature's beauties, does not bear with it its +own retribution." + +"Ah! do not say so! I cannot think that it _should_ be so with minds +properly regulated. I cannot think that _such_ can ever gaze on the +wonders revealed us, without these imparting their lesson of gratitude +and adoration. If, full of hope, our eye turns to some glorious planet, +and we fondly deem that _there_, may our dreams of happiness _here,_ be +perpetuated; surely in such poetical fancy, there is little to condemn, +and much that may wean us from folly's idle cravings. + +"If in melancholy's hour, we mourn for one who hath been dear, and sorrow +for the perishable nature of all that may here claim our earthly +affections; is it not sweet to think that in another world--perhaps in +some bright star--we may again commune with what we have _so_ +loved--once more be united in those kindly bonds--and in a kingdom where +those bonds may not thus lightly be severed?" + +Julia's voice failed her; for she thought of one who had preceded her to +"the last sad bourne." + +Delme was much affected. He turned towards her, and his hand +touched hers. + +"Angelic being!" + +As he spoke, darker, more worldly thoughts arose. A fearful struggle, +which convulsed his features, ensued. The world triumphed. + +Julia Vernon saw much of this, and maiden delicacy told her it was not +meet they should be alone. + +"Let us join the crowd!" said she. "We shall probably meet our party in +the long walk: if not, we will try the ball room." + +Poor Julia! little was her heart in unison with that joyous scene! + +By the eve of the morrow, Delme was many leagues from her and his +family. + +Restless man, with travel, ambition, and excitement, can woo and almost +win oblivion;--but poor, weak, confiding woman--what is left to her? + +In secret to mourn, and in secret still to love. + + + + +Chapter III. + +The Journey. + + + + "Adieu! adieu! My native land + Fades o'er the ocean blue; + The night winds sigh--the breakers roar-- + And shrieks the wild sea mew. + Yon sun that sets upon the sea, + We follow in his flight: + Farewell awhile to him and thee! + My native land! good night!" + + +We have rapidly sketched the denouement of the preceding chapter; but it +must not be forgotten, that Delme had been residing some months at +Leamington, and that Emily and Julia were friends. In his own familiar +circle--a severe but true test--Sir Henry had every opportunity of +becoming acquainted with Miss Vernon's sweetness of disposition, and of +appreciating the many excellencies of her character. For the rest, +their intercourse had been of that nature, that it need excite no +surprise, that a walk on a gala night, had the power of extracting an +avowal, which, crude, undigested, and hastily withdrawn as it was, was +certainly more the effusion of the heart--more consonant with Sir +Henry's original nature--than the sage reasonings on his part, which +preceded and followed that event. + +On Delme's arrival in town, he prosecuted with energy his enquiries as +to his brother. He called on the regimental agents, who could give him +no information. George's military friends had lost sight of him since he +had sailed for the Mediterranean; and of the few persons, whom he could +hear of, who had lately left Malta; some were passing travellers, who +had made no acquaintances there, others, English merchants, who had met +George at the Opera and in the streets, but nowhere else. It is true, +there was an exception to this, in the case of a hair-brained young +midshipman; who stated that he had dined at George's regimental mess, +and had there heard that George "had fallen in love with some young +lady, and had fought with her brother or uncle, or a soldier-officer, he +did not know which." + +Meagre as all this information was, it decided Sir Henry Delme. + +He wrote a long letter to Emily, in which he expressed a hope that both +George and himself would soon be with her, and immediately prepared for +his departure. + +Ere we follow him on his lonely journey, let us turn to those he left +behind. Mrs. Glenallan and Emily decided on at once leaving Leamington +for their own home. The marriage of the latter was deferred; and as +Clarendon confessed that his period of probation was a very happy one, +he acquiesced cheerfully in the arrangement. Emily called on the +Vernons, and finding that Julia was not at home, wrote her a kind +farewell; secretly hoping that at some future period they might be more +nearly related. The sun was sinking, as the travellers neared Delme. The +old mansion looked as calm as ever. The blue smoke curled above its +sombre roof; and the rooks sailed over the chimneys, flapping their +wings, and cawing rejoicefully, as they caught the first glimpse of +their lofty homes. Emily let down the carriage window, and with sunshiny +tear, looked out on the home of her ancestors. + +There let us leave her; and turn to bid adieu for a season, to one, who +for many a weary day, was doomed to undergo the pangs of blighted +affection. Such pangs are but too poignant and enduring, let the +worldly man say what he may. Could we but read the history of the +snarling cynic, blind to this world's good--of him, who from being the +deceived, has become the deceiver--of the rash sensualist, who plunging +into vice, thinks he can forget;--could we but know the train of +events, that have brought the stamping madman to his bars--and his +cell--and his realms of phantasy;--or search the breast of her, who +lets concealment "feed on her damask cheek"--who prays blessings on +him, who hath wasted her youthful charms--then mounts with virgin soul +to heaven:--we, in our turn, might sneer at the worldling, and pin our +fate on the tale of the peasant girl, who discourses so glibly of +crossed love and broken hearts. + +Sir Henry Delme left England with very unenviable sensations. A cloud +seemed to hang over the fate of his brother, which no speculations of +his could pierce. Numberless were the conjectures he formed, as to the +real causes of George's sickness and mental depression. It was in vain +he re-read the letters, and varied his comments on their contents. It +was evident, that nothing but his actual presence in Malta, could +unravel the mystery. Sir Henry had _one_ consolation; how great, let +those judge who have had aught dear placed in circumstances at all +similar. He had a confidence in George's character, which entirely +relieved him from any fear that the slightest taint could have infected +it. But an act of imprudence might have destroyed his peace of +mind--sickness have wasted his body. Nor was his uncertainty regarding +George, Delme's only cause of disquiet. When he thought of Julia +Vernon, there was a consequent internal emotion, that he could not +subdue. He endeavoured to forget her--her image haunted him. He +meditated on his past conduct; and at times it occurred to him, that +the resolutions he had formed, were not the result of reason, but were +based on pride and prejudice. He thought of her as he had last seen +her. _Now_ she spoke with enthusiasm of the bright stars of heaven; +anon, her eye glistened with piety, as she showed how the feeling these +created, was but subservient to a nobler one still. Again, he was +beside her in the moment of maiden agony; when low accents faltered +from her quivering lip, and the hand that rested on his arm, trembled +from her heart's emotion. + +Such were the bitter fancies that assailed him, as he left his own, and +reached a foreign land. They cast a shadow on his brow, which change of +scene possessed no charm to dispel. He hurried on to France's capital, +and only delaying till he could get his passports signed, hastened from +Paris to Marseilles. + +On his arrival at the latter place, his first enquiries were, as to the +earliest period that a vessel would sail for Malta. He was pointed out a +small yacht in the harbour, which belonging to the British government, +had lately brought over a staff officer with despatches. + +A courier from England had that morning arrived--the vessel was about to +return--her canvas was already loosened--the blue Peter streaming in the +wind. Delme hesitated not an instant, but threw himself into a boat, and +was rowed alongside. The yacht's commander was a lieutenant in our +service, although a Maltese by birth. He at once entered into Sir +Henry's views, and felt delighted at the prospect of a companion in his +voyage. A short time elapsed--the anchor was up--the white sails began +to fill--Sir Henry was once more on the wide sea. + +What a feeling of loneliness, almost of despair, infects the landsman's +mind, as he recedes from an unfamiliar port--sees crowds watching +listlessly his vessel's departure--crowds, of whom not one feels an +interest in _his_ fate; and then, turning to the little world within, +beholds but faces he knows not, persons he wots not of! + +But to one whose home is the ocean, such are not the emotions which +its expanse of broad waters calls forth. To such an one, each plank +seems a friend; the vessel, a refuge from the world and its cares. +Trusting himself to its guidance, deceit wounds him no +more--hollow-hearted friendship proffers not its hand to sting--love +exercises not its fatal sorcery--foes are afar--and his heart, if not +the waves, is comparatively at peace. And oh! the wonders of the deep! +Ocean! tame is the soul that loves not thee! grovelling the mind that +scorns the joys thou impartest! To lean our head on the vessel's side, +and in idleness of spirit ponder on bygone scene, that has brought us +anything but happiness,--to gaze on the curling waves, as impelled by +the boisterous wind, we ride o'er the angry waters, lashed by the sable +keel to a yeasty madness,--to look afar upon the disturbed billow, +presenting its crested head like the curved neck of the war +horse,--_then_ to mark the screaming sea bird, as, his bright eye +scanning the waters, he soars above the stormy main--its wide tumult +his delight--the roaring of the winds his melody--the shrieks of the +drowned an harmonious symphony to the hoarse diapason of the deep! All +these things may awake reflections, which are alike futile and +transitory; but they are accompanied by a mental excitement, which land +scenes, however glorious, always fail to impart. + +Delme's voyage was not unpropitious, although the yacht was frequently +baffled by contrary winds, which prevented the passage being very +speedy. During the day, the weather was ordinarily blustering, at times +stormy; but with the setting sun, it seemed that tranquillity came; for +during the nights, which were uncommonly fine, gentle breezes continued +to fill the sails, and their vessel made tardy but sure progress. Henry +would sit on deck till a late hour, lost in reverie. _There_ would he +remain, until each idle mariner was sunk to rest; and nothing but the +distant tread of the wakeful watch, or the short cough of the helmsman, +bespoke a sentinel over the habitation on the waters. How would the +recollections of his life crowd upon him!--the loss of his parent--the +world's first opening--bitter partings--painful misgivings--the lone +bivouac--the marshalling of squadrons--the fierce charge--the +excitement of victory, whose charm was all but flown, for where were the +comrades who had fought beside him? These things were recalled, and +brought with them alternate pain and pleasure. And a less remote era of +his life would be presented him; when he tasted the welcome of home--saw +hands uplifted in gratitude--was cheered by a brother's greeting, and +subdued by a sister's kiss. But there _was_ a thought, which let him +dwell as he might on others, remained the uppermost of all. It was of +Julia Vernon, and met him as a reproach. If his feelings were not of +that enthusiastic nature, which they might have been were he now in his +green youth, they were not on this account the less intense. They were +coloured by the energy of manhood. He had lost a portion of his +self-respect: for he knew that his conduct had been vacillating with +regard to one, whom each traversed league, each fleeting hour, proved to +be yet dearer than he had deemed her. + +In the first few days of their passage, the winds shaped their vessel's +course towards the Genoese gulf. They then took a direction nearly +south, steering between Corsica and Sardinia on the one hand--Italy on +the other. + +Delme had an opportunity of noting the outward aspect of Napoleon's +birth-place; and still more nearly, that of its opposite island, which +also forms so memorable a link in the history of that demi-god of modern +times. How could weaker spirits deem that _there_, invested with +monarchy's semblance, the ruler of the petty isle could forget that he +had been master of the world? + +How think that diplomacy's cobweb fibre could hold the eagle, panting +for an upward flight? + +They fearfully misjudged! What a transcendent light did his star give, +as it shot through the appalled heavens, ere it sunk for ever in +endless night! + +The commander of the yacht pointed out the rock, which is traditionally +said to be the one, on which Napoleon has been represented--his arms +folded--watching intently the ocean--and ambition's votary gleaning his +moral from the stormy waves below. As they advanced farther in their +course, other associations were not wanting; and Delme, whose mind, +like that of most Englishmen, was deeply tinctured with classic lore, +was not insensible to their charms. They swept by the Latian coast. +Every creek and promontory, attested the fidelity of the poet's +description, by vividly recalling it to the mind. On the seventh day, +they doubled Cape Maritime, on the western coast of Sicily; and two +days afterwards, the vessel neared what has been styled the abode of +Calypso, the island of Gozzo. As they continued to advance, picturesque +trading boats, with awnings and numerous rowers, became more +frequent--the low land appeared--they were signalled from the +palace--the point of St. Elmo was turned--and a wide forest of masts +met the gaze. The vessel took up her moorings; and in the novelty of +the scene, and surrounding bustle, Sir Henry for a time rested from +misgivings, and forgot his real causes for melancholy. The harbour of +Malta is not easily forgotten. The sun was just sinking, tinging with +hues of amber, the usually purple waters of the harbour, and bronzing +with its fiery orb, the batteries and lofty Baraca, where lie entombed +the remains of Sir Thomas Maitland. Between the Baraca's pillars, +might be discerned many a faldette, with pretty face beneath, peering +over to mark the little yacht, as she took her station, amidst the more +gigantic line of battle ships. + +The native boatmen, in their gilded barks with high prows, were seen +surrounding the vessel; and as they exerted themselves in passing each +other, their dress and action had the most picturesque appearance. Their +language, a corrupted Arabic, is not unpleasing to the ear; and their +costume is remarkably graceful. A red turban hangs droopingly on one +side, and their waistcoats are loaded with large silver buttons, the +only remains of their uncommon wealth during the war, when this little +island was endowed with a fictitious importance, it can never hope to +resume. Just as the yacht cast anchor, a gun from the saluting battery +was fired. It was the signal for sunset, and every flag was lowered. +Down came in most seaman-like style the proud flag of merry England--the +_then_ spotless banner of France--and the great cross, hanging +ungracefully, over the stout, but clumsy, Russian man of war. All these +flags were then in the harbour of Valletta, although it was not at that +eventful time when--the Moslem humbled--they met with the cordiality of +colleagues in victory. + +The harbour was full of vessels. Every nation had its representative. +The intermediate spaces were studded by Maltese boats, crowded with +passengers indiscriminately mingled. The careless English soldier, with +scarlet coat and pipe-clayed belt--priests and friars--Maltese women in +national costume sat side by side. Occasionally, a gig, pulled by man of +war's men, might be seen making towards the town, with one or more +officers astern, whose glittering epaulettes announced them as either +diners out, or amateurs of the opera. The scene to Delme was entirely +novel; although it had previously been his lot to scan more than one +foreign country. + +The arrival of the health officers was the first circumstance that +diverted his mind from the surrounding scene. There had been an epidemic +disease at Marseilles, and there appeared to be some doubts, whether, as +a precaution, some quarantine would not be imposed. The superintendent +of quarantine was rowed alongside, chiefly for the purpose of regulating +this. The spirited little commander of the yacht, however, was not at +all desirous of any such arrangement; and after some energetic appeals +on his part, met by cautious remonstrances on the part of the other, +their pratique was duly accorded. + +During the discussion with the superintendent, Sir Henry had enquired +from the health officer, as to where he should find George, and was +informed that his regiment was quartered at Floriana, one of Valletta's +suburbs. In a short time a boat from the yacht was lowered, and the +commander prepared to accompany the government courier with his +dispatches to the palace. + +Previous to leaving the deck, he hailed a boat alongside--addressed the +boatmen in their native language--and consigned Sir Henry to their +charge. Twilight was deepening into night as Delme left the vessel. The +harbour had lost much of its bustle; lights were already gleaming from +the town, and as seen in some of the loftiest houses, looked as if +suspended in the air above. Our traveller folded his cloak around him, +and was rowed swiftly towards the shore. + + + + +Chapter VII. + +The Young Greek. + + + + "But not in silence pass Calypso's isles, + The sister tenants of the middle deep." + + * * * * * + + "Her reign is past, her gentle glories gone, + But trust not this; too easy youth, beware! + A mortal sovereign holds her dangerous throne. + And thou mayst find a new Calypso there." + + +Night had set in before Sir Henry reached the shore. The boatmen, in +broken, but intelligible English, took the trouble of explaining, that +they must row him to a point higher up the harbour, than the landing +place towards which the commander's gig was directing its course, on +account of his brother's regiment being quartered at Floriana. Landing +on the quay, they took charge of Delme's portmanteau, and conducted him +through an ascending road, which seemed to form a part of the +fortifications, till they arrived in front of a closed gate. They were +challenged by the sentinel, and obliged to explain their business to a +non-commissioned officer, before they were admitted. + +This form having been gone through, a narrow wicket was opened for their +passage. They crossed a species of common, and, after a few minutes' +walk, found themselves in front of the barrack. This was a plain stone +building, enclosing a small court, in the centre of which stood a marble +bason. The taste of some of the officers had peopled this with golden +fish; whilst on the bason's brim were placed stands for exotics, whose +fragrance charmed our sea-worn traveller, so lately emancipated from +those sad drawbacks to a voyage, the odours of tar and bilge water. + +On either side, were staircases leading to the rooms above. A sentry was +slowly pacing the court, and gave Delme the necessary directions for +finding George's room. Delme's hand was on the latch, but he paused for +a moment ere he pressed it, for he pictured to himself his brother lying +on the bed of sickness. This temporary irresolution soon gave way to the +impulse of affection, and he hastily entered the chamber. George was +reading, and had his back turned towards him. As he heard the footsteps, +he half turned round; an enquiry was on his lip, when his eye caught +Henry's figure--a hectic flush suffused his cheek--he rose eagerly, and +threw himself into his brother's arms. + +Ah! sweet is fraternal affection! As boys, we own its just, its +proper influence; but as men--how few of us can lay our hands on our +hearts, and in the time of manhood feel, that the thought of a +brother, still calls up the kindly glow which it did in earlier +years. Delme strained his brother to his heart, whilst poor George's +tears flowed like a woman's. + +"Ah, how," he exclaimed, "can I ever repay you for this?" + +The first burst of joyful meeting over--Sir Henry scanned his brother's +features, and was shocked at the apparent havoc a few short years had +wrought. It was not that the cheek--whose carnation tint had once drawn +a comment from all who saw it--it was not that the cheek was bronzed by +an eastern sun. The alabaster forehead, showed that this was the natural +result, of exposure to climate. But the wan, the sunken features--the +unnatural brilliancy of the eye--the almost impetuous agitation of +manner--all these bespoke that more than even sickness had produced the +change:--that the mind, as well as body, must have had its sufferings. + +"My dear, dear brother," said Henry, "tell me, I implore you, the +meaning of this. You look ill and distressed, and yet from you I did not +hear of sickness, nor do I know any reason for grief." George smiled +evasively; then, as if recollecting himself, struck his forehead. He +pressed his brother's arm, and led him towards a room adjoining the one +in which they were. + +"It were in vain to tell you now, Henry, the eventful history of the +last few months; but see!" said he, as they together entered, "the +innocent cause of much that I have gone through." + +Sir Henry Delme started at the sight that greeted him. The room was +dimly lighted by a lamp, but the moon was up, and shed her full light +through part of the chamber. On a small French bed, whose silken linings +threw their rosy hue on the face of its fair occupant, lay as lovely a +girl as ever eye reposed on. + +The heat had already commenced to become oppressive; the jalousies and +windows were thrown open. As the night breeze swept over the curtains, +and the tint these gave, trembled on that youthful beauty; Delme might +well be forgiven, for deeming it was very long since he had seen a +countenance so exquisitely lovely. The face did indeed bear the stamp of +youth. Delme would have guessed that the being before him, had barely +attained her fifteenth year, but that her bosom heaved like playful +billows, as she breathed her sighs in a profound slumber. Her style of +beauty for a girl was most rare. It had an almost infantine simplicity +of character, which in sleep was still more remarkable; for awake, those +eyes, now so still, did not throw unmeaning glances. + +Such as these must Guarini have apostrophised, as he looked at his +slumbering love. + + "Occhi! stelle mortale! + Ministri de miei mali! + Se chiusi m'uccidete, + Aperti,--che farete?" + +Or, as Clarendon Gage translated it. + + "Ye mortal stars! ye eyes that, e'en in sleep, + Can thus my senses chain'd in wonder keep, + Say, if when closed, your beauties thus I feel, + Oh, what when open, would ye not reveal?" + +Her beauty owed not its peculiar charm to any regularity of feature; but +to an ineffable sweetness of expression, and to youth's freshest bloom. +Hafiz would have compared that smooth cheek to the tulip's flower. Her +eye-lashes, of the deepest jet, and silken gloss, were of uncommon +length. Her lips were apart, and disclosed small but exquisitely formed +teeth. Their hue was not that of ivory, but the more delicate though +more transient one of the pearl. One arm supported her head--its hand +tangled in the raven tresses--of the other, the snowy rounded elbow was +alone visible. + +She met the eye, like a vision conjured up by fervid youth; when, ere +our waking thoughts dare to run riot in beauty's contemplation--sleep, +the tempter, gives to our disordered imaginations, forms and scenes, +which in after life we pant for, but meet them--never! + +George put his finger to his lips, as Delme regarded her--kissed her +silken cheek, and whispered, + +"Acme, carissima mia!" + +The slumberer started--the envious eye-lid shrouded no more its lustrous +jewel--the wondering eyes dilated, as they met her lover's--and she +murmured something with that sweet Venetian lisp, in which the Greek +women breathe their Italian. But, as she saw the stranger, her face and +neck became suffused with crimson, and her small hand wrapped the snowy +sheet round her beauteous form. + +Sir Henry, who felt equally embarrassed, returned to the room they +had left; whilst George lingered by the bedside of his mistress, and +told her it was his brother. Once more together, Sir Henry turned +towards George. + +"For God's sake," said he, "unravel this mystery! Who is this young +creature?" + +"Not now!" said his brother, "let us reserve it for to-morrow, and talk +only of home. Acme has retired earlier than usual--she has been +complaining." And he commenced with a flushed brow and rapid voice, to +ask after those he loved. + +"And so, dearest Emily will soon be married. I am glad of it; you speak +so well of Gage! I wish I had stayed three weeks longer in England, and +I should have seen him. We shall miss her in the flower garden, Henry! +Yes! and every where else! And how is my kind aunt? I forgot to thank +her when I last wrote to Delme, for making Fidele a parlour inmate!--and +I don't think she likes dogs generally either!--And Mrs. Wilcox! as +demure as ever?--Do you recollect the trick I played her the last April +I was at home?--And my favourite pony! does _he_ still adorn the +paddock, or is he gone at last? Emily wrote me he could hardly support +himself out of the shed. And the old oak--have you railed it round as I +advised? And the deer--Is my aunt still as tenacious of killing them? I +suppose Emily's pet fawn is a fine antlered gentleman by this time. And +your charger, Henry--how is he? And Mr. Sims? and the new green house? +Does the aviary succeed? did you get my slips of the blood orange? have +the Zante melon seeds answered? And the daisy of Delme, Fanny Porter--is +she married? I stole a kiss the day I left. And so the coachman is dead? +and you have given the reins to Jenkins, and have taken my little fellow +on your own establishment? And Ponto? and Ranger? and my friend Guess?" + +Here George paused, quite out of breath; and his brother, viewing with +some alarm his nervous agitation, attempted to answer his many queries; +determined in his own mind, not to seek the explanation he so much +longed for, until a more favourable period for demanding it arrived. The +brothers continued conversing on English topics till a late hour, when +Henry rose to retire. + +"I cannot," said George, "give you a bed here to-night; but my servant +shall show you the way to an hotel; and in the course of to-morrow, we +will take care to have a room provided for you. You must feel harassed: +will nine be too early an hour for breakfast?" + +It was a beautiful night, still and starry. Till they arrived in the +busy street, no sound could be heard, but the cautious opening of the +lattice, answering the signal of the guitar. Escorted by his guide, +Delme entered Valletta, which is bustling always, even at night; but was +more than usually so, as there happened to be a fete at the palace. As +they passed through the Strado Teatro, the soldier pointed out the +Opera-house; although from the lateness of the hour, Rossini's melodies +were hushed. From a neighbouring cafe, however, festive sounds +proceeded; and Delme, catching the words of an unfamiliar language, +paused before the door to recognise the singer. The table at which he +sat, was so densely enveloped in smoke, that it was some time before he +could make out the forms of the party, which consisted of some jovial +British midshipmen, and some Tartar-looking Russians. One of the Russian +officers was charming his audience with a chanson a boire, acquired on +the banks of the Vistula, His compatriots were yelling the chorus most +unmercifully. A few caleche drivers, waiting for their fares, and two or +three idle Maltese, were pacing outside the cafe, and appeared to regard +the scene as one of frequent occurrence, and calculated to excite but +little interest. His guide showed Delme the hotel, and was dismissed; +and Sir Henry, preceded by an obsequious waiter, was introduced to a +spacious apartment facing the street. + +It was long ere sleep visited him. He had many subjects on which to +ruminate; there were many points which the morrow would clear up. His +mind was too busy to permit him to rest. + +When he did, however, close his eyes; he slept soundly, and did not +awake till the broad glare of day, penetrating through the Venetian +blinds, disclosed to him the unfamiliar apartment at Beverley's. + + + + +Chapter VIII. + +The Invalid. + + + + "'Mid many things most new to ear and eye, + The pilgrim rested here his weary feet." + + +As Sir Henry Delme stepped from the hotel into the street, the sun's +rays commenced to be oppressive, and, although it was only entering the +month of May, served to remind him that he was in a warmer clime. The +scene was already a bustling one. The shopkeepers were throwing water +on the hot flag stones, and erecting canvas awnings in front of their +doors. In the various cafes might be seen the subservient waiters, +handing round the small gilded cup, which contained thick Turkish +coffee, or carrying to some old smoker the little pipkin, whence he was +to light his genial cigar. In front of one of these cafes, some +English officers were collected, sipping ices, and criticising the +relieving of the guard. Turning a corner of the principal street, a +group of half black and three-parts naked children assaulted our +traveller, and vociferously invoked carita. They accompanied this +demand by the corrupted cry of "nix munjay"--nothing to eat,--which +they enforced by most expressive gestures, extending their mouths, and +exhibiting rows of ravenous-looking teeth. The caleche drivers, too, +were on the alert, and respectfully taking off their turbans, proffered +their services to convey the Signore to Floriana. Delme declined their +offers, and, passing a draw-bridge which divides Valletta from the +country, made his way through an embrasure, and descending some half +worn stone steps--during which operation he was again surrounded by +beggars--he found himself within sight of the barracks. Acme and George +were ready to receive him. The latter's eye lit, as it was wont to do, +on seeing his brother, whilst the young Greek appeared in doubt, +whether to rejoice at what gave him pleasure, or to stand in awe of a +relation, whose influence over George might shake her own. This did +not, however, prevent her offering Delme her hand, with an air of great +frankness and grace. Nor was he less struck with her peculiar beauty +than he had been on the night previous. Her dress was well adapted to +exhibit her charms to the greatest advantage. Her hair was parted in +front, and smoothly combed over her neck and shoulders, descending to +her waist. Over her bosom, and fastened by a chased silver clasp, was +one of the saffron handkerchiefs worn by the Parganot women. A jacket +of purple velvet, embroidered with gold, fitted closely to her figure. +Round her waist was a crimson girdle, fastened by another enormous +broach, or rather embossed plate of silver. A Maltese gold rose chain +of exquisite workmanship was flung round her neck, to which depended a +locket, one side of which held, encased in glass, George's hair braided +with her own; the other had a cameo, representing the death of the +patriot Marco Bozzaris. + +"Giorgio tells me," said she, "that you speak Italian, at which I am +very glad; for his efforts to teach me English have quite failed. Do you +know you quite alarmed me last night, and I really think it was too bad +of George introducing you when he did;" and she placed her hand on her +lover's shoulder, and looked in his face confidingly. In spite of the +substance of her speech, and the circumstances under which Delme saw +her, he could not avoid feeling an involuntary prepossession in her +favour. Her manner had little of the polish of art, but much of nature's +witching simplicity; and Sir Henry felt surprised at the ease and +animation of the whole party. Acme presided at the breakfast table, with +a grace which many a modern lady of fashion might envy; and during the +meal, her conversation, far from being dull or listless, showed that she +had much talent, and that to a quick perception of nature's charms, she +united great enthusiasm in their pursuit. The meal was over, when the +surgeon of the regiment was announced, and introduced by George to Sir +Henry. After making a few inquiries as to the invalid's state of health, +he proposed to Delme, taking a turn in the botanical garden, which was +immediately in front of their windows. + +Sir Henry eagerly grasped at the proposition; anxious, as he felt +himself, to ascertain the real circumstances connected with his +brother's indisposition. They strolled through the garden, which was +almost deserted--for none but dogs and Englishmen, to use the expression +of the natives, court the Maltese noon-day sun,--and the surgeon at once +entered into George's history. He was a man of most refined manners, and +a cultivated intellect, and his professional familiarity with horrors, +had not diminished his natural delicacy of feeling. His narrative was +briefly thus:-- + +George Delme's bosom companion had been an officer of his own age and +standing in the service, with whom he had embarked when leaving England. +Their intercourse had ripened into the closest friendship. George had +met Acme, although the surgeon knew not the particulars of the +rencontre,--had confided to his friend the acquaintance he had made--and +had himself introduced Delancey at the house where Acme resided. Whether +her charms really tempted the friend to endeavour to supplant George, +or whether he considered the latter's attentions to the young Greek to +be without definite object, and undertaken in a spirit of indifference, +the narrator could not explain; but it was not long before Delancey +considered himself as a principal in the transaction. Acme, whose +knowledge of the world was slight, and whose previous seclusion from +society, had rendered her timidity excessive, considered that her best +mode of avoiding importunities she disliked, and attentions that were +painful to her, would be to speak to George himself on the subject. + +By this time, the latter, quite fascinated by her beauty and +simplicity, and deeming, as was indeed the fact, that his love was +returned, needed not other inquietudes than those his attachment gave +him. The pride of ancestry and station on the one hand--on the other, +a deep affection, and a wish to act nobly by Acme--caused an internal +struggle which made him open to any excitement, nervously alive to any +wrong. He sought his friend, and used reproaches, which rendered it +imperative that they should meet as foes. Delancey was wounded; and +as _he_ thought--and it was long doubtful whether it _were_ +so--_mortally_. He beckoned George Delme to his bedside--begged him to +forgive him--told him that his friendship had been the greatest source +of delight to him--a friendship which in his dying moments he begged +to renew--that far from feeling pain at his approaching dissolution, +he conceived that he had merited all, and only waited his full and +entire forgiveness to die happy. George Delme wrung his hands in the +bitterness of despair--prayed him to live for his sake--told him, that +did he not, his own life hereafter would be one of the deepest +misery,--that the horrors of remorse would weigh him down to his +grave. The surgeon was the first to terminate a scene, which he +assured Delme was one of the most painful it had ever been his lot to +witness. This meeting, though of so agitating a nature, seemed to have +a beneficial effect on the wounded man. He sunk into a sweet sleep; +and on awaking, his pulse was lower, and his symptoms less critical. +He improved gradually, and was now convalescent. But it was otherwise +with George Delme. He sought the solitude of his chamber, a prey to +the agonies of a self-reproaching spirit. He considered himself +instrumental in taking the life of his best friend--of one, richly +endowed with the loftiest feelings humanity can boast. His nerves +previously had been unstrung; body and mind sank under the picture his +imagination had conjured up. His servant was alarmed by startling +screams, entered his room, and found his master in fearful +convulsions. A fever ensued, during which George's life hung by a +thread. To this succeeded a long state of unconsciousness, +occasionally broken by wild delirium. + +During his illness, there was one who never left him--who smoothed his +pillow--who supported his head on her breast--who watched him as a +mother watches her first-born. It was the youthful Greek, Acme Frascati. +The instant she heard of his danger, she left her home to tend him. No +entreaties could influence her, no arguments persuade. She would sit by +his bedside for hours, his feverish hand locked in hers, and implore him +to recover, to bless one who loved him so dearly. They could not part +them; for George, even in his delirious state, seemed to be conscious +that some one was near him, and, did she leave his side, would rise in +his bed, and look around him as if missing some accustomed object. In +his wilder flights, he would call passionately upon her, and beg her to +save his friend, who was lying so dead and still. + +For a length of time, neither care nor professional skill availed. +Fearful was the struggle, between his disease, and a naturally hardy +constitution. Reason at last resumed her dominion. "I know not," said +the surgeon, "the particulars of the first dawning of consciousness. It +appears that Acme was alone with him, and that it was at night. I found +him on my professional visit one morning, clear and collected, and his +mistress sobbing her thanks. I need perhaps hardly inform you," said the +narrator, "that George's gratitude to Acme was vividly expressed. It was +in vain I urged on her the propriety of now leaving her lover. This was +met on both sides by an equal disinclination, and indeed obstinate +refusal; and I feared the responsibility I should incur, by enforcing a +separation which might have proved of dangerous consequence to my +patient. Alas! for human nature, Sir Henry! need it surprise you that +the consequences were what they are? Loving him with the fervency of one +born under an eastern sun--with the warm devotion of woman's first +love--with slender ideas of Christian morality--and with a mind +accustomed to obey its every impulse--need it, I say, surprise you, that +the one fell, and that remorse visited the other? To that remorse, do I +attribute what my previous communication may not have sufficiently +prepared you for; namely, the little dependence to be placed on the tone +of the invalid's mind. Reason is but as a glimmering in a socket; and +painful as my professional opinion may be to you, it is my duty to avow +it; and I frankly confess, that I entertain serious apprehensions, as to +the stability of his mind's restoration. It is on this account, that I +have felt so anxious that one of his relations should be near him. +Change of scene is absolutely necessary, as soon as change of scene can +be safely adopted. Every distracting thought must be avoided, and the +utmost care taken that no agitating topic is discussed in his presence. +These precautions may do much; but should they have no effect, which I +think possible; as a medical man, I should then recommend, what as a +member of his family may startle you. My advice would be, that if it be +ultimately found, that his feelings as regard this young girl, are such +as are likely to prevent or impede his mind's recovery; why I would then +at once allow him to make her any reparation he may think just. + +"To what do you allude?" enquired Sir Henry. + +"Why," continued the surgeon, "that if his feelings appear deeply +enlisted on that side of the question, and all our other modes have +failed in obtaining their object; that he should be permitted to marry +her as soon as he pleases. I see you look grave. I am not surprised you +should do so; but life is worth preserving, and Acme, if not entirely to +our notions, is a good, a very good girl--warm-hearted and affectionate; +and it is not fair to judge her by our English standard. You will +however have time and scope, to watch yourself the progress and extent +of his disorder. I fear this is more serious than you are at present +aware of; but from your own observations, would I recommend and wish +your future line of conduct to be formed. May I trust my frankness has +not offended you?" + +Sir Henry assured him, that far from this being the case, he owed +him many thanks for being thus explicit. Shaking him by the hand, +he returned to George's room with a clouded brow; perplexed how to +act, or how best discuss with his brother, the points connected +with his history. + + + + +Chapter IX. + +The Narrative. + + + + "The seal Love's dimpling finger hath impress'd, + Denotes how soft that chin which bears his touch, + Her lips whose kisses pout to leave their nest, + Bid man be valiant ere he merit such; + Her glance how wildly beautiful--how much + Hath Phoebus woo'd in vain to spoil her cheek, + Which grows yet smoother from his amorous clutch, + Who round the north for paler dames would seek? + How poor their forms appear! how languid, wan, and weak." + + +Love! Heavenly love! by Plato's mind conceived, and Sicyon's artist +chiselled! not thou! night's offspring, springing on golden wing from +the dark bosom of Erebus! the first created, and the first creating: but +thou! immaculate deity; effluence of unspotted thought, and child of a +chaster age! where, oh where is now thy resting place? + +Pensile in mid-heaven, gazest thou yet with seraphic sorrow on this, +the guilty abode of guilty man?--with pity's tear still mournest thou, +as yoked to the car of young desire, we bow the neck in degrading and +slavish bondage? Or dost thou, the habitant of some bright star, where +frailty such as ours is yet unknown, lend to lovers a rapture unalloyed +by passion's grosser sense; as, symphonious with the tremulous zephyr, +chastened vows of constancy are there exchanged? Ah! vainly does one +solitary enthusiast, in his balmy youth, for a moment conceive he really +grasps thee! 'tis but a fleeting phantasy, doomed to fade at the first +sneer of derision--and for ever vanish, as a false and fascinating world +stamps its dogmas on his heart! Celestial love! oh where may he yet find +thee? and a clear voice whispers, ETERNITY! + +Hope! guide the fainting pilgrim! undying soul! shield him from the +world's venomed darts, as he painfully wends his toilsome way! + +When Delme returned to his brother, he found the latter anxiously +expecting him, and desirous of ascertaining the impression, which his +conversation with the surgeon had created. + +But Delme thought it more prudent, to defer the discussion of those +points, till he had heard from George himself, as to many circumstances +connected with Acme's history, and had been able to form some personal +opinion regarding the health of the invalid. He therefore begged +George, if he felt equal to the task, to avail himself of the +opportunity of Acme's absence, to tell him how he had first met her. To +this George willingly assented; and as there is ever a peculiarity in +foreign scenes and habits, which awakens interest, we give his story in +his own language. + +"There are some old families here, Henry," began the invalid, "whose +names are connected with some of the proudest, which the annals of the +Knights of St. John of Jerusalem can boast. They are for the most part +sunk in poverty, and possess but little of the outward trappings of +rank. But their pride is not therefore the less; and rather than have it +wounded, by being put in collision with those with whom in worldly +wealth they are unable to compete, they prefer the privacy of +retirement; and are rarely seen, and more rarely known, by any of the +English residents, whom they distrust and dislike. It is true, there are +a few families, some of the male members of which have accepted +subordinate situations under government: and these have become +habituated to English society, and meet on terms of tolerable +cordiality, the English whose acquaintance they have thus made. But +there are others, as I have said, whose existence is hardly recognised, +and who vegetate in some lone palazzo; brooding over the decay of their +fortunes--never crossing the threshold of their mansions--except when +religious feelings command them to attend a mass, or public procession. +Of such a family was Acme a member. By birth a Greek, she was a witness +to many of the bloody scenes which took place at the commencement of the +struggle for Grecian freedom. She was herself present at the murder of +both her parents. Her beauty alone saved her from sharing their fate. +One of the Turks, struck with, her expression of childish sorrow, +interfered in her behalf, and permitted a friend and neighbour to save +her life and his own, by taking shipping for one of the islands in our +possession. After residing in Corfu for some months, she received an +invitation from her father's brother-in-law, a member of an ancient +Maltese family; and for the last few years has spent a life, if not gay, +at least free from a repetition of those sanguinary scenes, which have +lent their impress to a sensitive mind, and at moments impart a +melancholy tinge, to a disposition by nature unusually joyous. It was on +a festa day, dedicated to the patron saint of the island, when no +Maltese not absolutely bed-ridden, but would deem it a duty, to witness +the solemn and lengthy procession which such a day calls forth; that I +first met Acme Frascati. + +"I was alone in the Strada Reale, and strolling towards the Piazza, when +my attention was directed to what struck me as the loveliest face I had +ever seen. + +"Acme, for it was her, was drest in the costume of the island; and, +although a faldette is not the best dress for exhibiting a figure, +there was a grace and lightness in her carriage, that would have +arrested my attention, even had I not been riveted by her countenance. +She was on the opposite side of the street to myself, and was attended +by an old Moorish woman, who carried an illumined missal. Of these +women, several may yet be seen in Malta, looking very Oriental and +duenna-like. As I stopped to admire her, she suddenly attempted to +cross to the side of the street where I stood. At the same moment, I +observed a horse attached to a caleche galloping furiously towards her. +It was almost upon her ere Acme saw her danger. The driver, anxious to +pass before the procession formed, had whipped his horse till it became +unmanageable, and it was now in vain that he tried to arrest its +progress. A natural impulse induced me to rush forward, and endeavour +to save her. She was pale and trembling, as I caught her and placed her +out of the reach of danger; but before I could touch the pavement, I +felt myself struck by the wheel of the carriage, was thrown down, and +taken up insensible. When consciousness returned, I found they had +conveyed me to a neighbouring shop, and that medical attendance had +been procured. But more than all, I noticed the solicitude of Acme. +Until the surgeon had given a favourable report, she could not address +me, but when this had been pronounced, she overwhelmed me with thanks, +begged to know where I would wish to be taken, and rested not until her +own family caleche came up, and she saw me, attended by the Moorish +woman, on the road to Floriana. + +"My accident, though not a very serious one, proved of sufficient +consequence, to confine me to my room for some time; and during that +period, not a day passed, that did not give me proof of the anxiety of +the young Greek for my restoration. I need not say that one of my +first visits was to her. Her family received me as they would an +absent brother. The obligations they considered I had conferred, +outweighed all prejudices which they might have imbibed against my +nation. On _my_ part, charmed with my adventure, delighted with Acme, +and gratified by the kindness of her relations, I endeavoured to +increase their favourable opinion by all the means in my power. Acme +and myself were soon more than friends, and I found my visits gave and +imparted pleasure. + +"I now arrive at the unhappy part of my narrative. How do I wish it were +effaced from my memory. You may remember how, in all my letters to +Delme, I made mention of my dear friend Delancey. We were indeed dear +friends. We joined at the same time, lived together in England, +embarked together, and when, one dreadful night off the African coast, +the captain of the transport thought we must inevitably drift on the +lee shore, we solaced each other, and agreed that, if it came to the +worst, on one plank would we embark our fortunes. On our landing in +Malta, we were inseparable, and my first impulse was to inform Delancey +of all that had occurred, and to introduce him to a house where I felt +so happy. I must here do him the justice to state, that whether I was +partly unaware of the extent of my own feelings towards Acme, or +whether I felt a morbid sense of delicacy, in alluding to what I knew +to be the first attachment I had ever formed, I am unable to inform +you! but the only circumstance I concealed from my friend was my +attachment to the young Greek. Perhaps to this may be mainly attributed +what happened. God, who knows all secrets, knows this; but I may now +aver, that my friend, with many faults, has proved himself to have as +frank and ingenuous a spirit, as noble ideas of friendship, as can +exist in the human breast. For some time, matters continued thus. We +were both constant visitors at Acme's house. With unparalleled +blindness, I never mistrusted the feelings of my friend. I never +contemplated that _he_ also might become entangled with the young +beauty. I considered her as my own prize, and was more engaged in +analysing my own sensations, and in vainly struggling against a +passion, which I was certain could not meet my family's approval, than +at all suspicious that fresh causes of uneasiness might arise in +another quarter. As Acme's heart opened to mine, I found her with +feelings guileless and unsuspecting as a child's; although these were +warm, and their expression but little restrained. There was a confiding +simplicity in her manner, that threw an air over all she said or did, +which quite forbade censure, and excited admiration. My passion became +a violent and an all-absorbing one. I had made up my mind, to throw +myself on the kindness of my family, and endeavour to obtain all your +consents. Thus was I situated, when one day Acme came up to me with +frankness of manner, but a tremulous voice, to beg I would use my +interest with my friend, to prevent his coming to see her. + +"'Indeed, indeed,' said she, 'I have tried to love him as a friend, as +the friend of my life's preserver, but ever since he has spoken as he +now does, his visits are quite unpleasant. My family begged me to tell +you. They would have asked him to come no more, but were afraid you +might be angry. Will you still come to us, and love us all, if they tell +him this? If you will not, he shall still come; for indeed we could not +offend one to whom we owe so much.' + +"'_I_, too,' said I to Acme, '_I_, too, dearest, ought perhaps to leave +you, _I_, too'-- + +"'Oh, never! never!' said she, as she turned to me her dark eyes, bright +with humid radiance. 'We cannot thus part!' + +"She _did_, then, love me! I clasped her to my arms--our lips clung +together in one rapturous intoxicating embrace. + +"Yet, even in that moment of delirium, Henry, I told her of you, and of +the many obstacles which still presented themselves to retard or even +prevent our union. I sought my friend Delancey, and remonstrated with +him. He appeared to doubt my right to question his motives. Success made +me feel still more injured. I showered down reproaches. He could not +have acted differently. We met! and I saw him fall! Till then, I had +considered myself as the injured man; but as I heard him on the ground +name his mother, and one dearer still--as he took from his breast the +last gift _she_ had made him--as he begged of _me_ to be its bearer; I +then first felt remorse. He was taken to his room. Even the surgeon +entertained no hopes. He again called me to his side; I heard his noble +acknowledgment, his reiterated vows of friendship, the mournful tones of +his farewell. I entered this room a heart-broken man. I felt my pulse +throb fearfully, a gasping sensation was in my throat, my head swam +round, and I clung to the wall for support. The next thing of which I +have any recollection, was the dawn of reason breaking through my +troubled dreams. It was midnight--all was still. The fitful lamp shone +dimly through my chamber. I turned on my side--and, oh! by its light, I +saw the face I most loved--that face, whose gentle lineaments, were each +deeply and separately engraven on my heart. I saw her bending over me +with a maiden's love and a mother's solicitude. As I essayed to +speak--as my conscious eye met her's--as the soft words of affection +were involuntarily breathed by my feeble lips--how her features lit up +with joy! Oh, say not, Henry, till you have experienced such a moment of +transport, say not that the lips which then vowed eternal fidelity, that +the young hearts which _then_ plighted their truth, and vowed to love +for ever--oh call not these guilty! + +"Since that time my health has been extremely precarious. Whether the +events crowded too thickly on me, or that I have not fully recovered my +health, or--which I confess I think is the case--that my compunctions +for my conduct to Acme weigh me down, I know not; but it is not always, +my dear Henry, that I can thus address you. There are hours when I am +hardly sensible of what I do, when my brain reels from its oppression. +At such times, Acme is my guardian angel--my tender nurse--my +affectionate attendant! In my lucid intervals, she is what you see +her--the gentle companion--the confiding friend. I love her, Henry, more +than I can tell you! I shall never be able to leave her! From Acme you +may learn more of those dreary hours, which appear to me like waste +dreams in my existence. She has watched by my bed of sickness, till she +knows every turn of the disorder. From her, Henry, may you learn all." + +Thus did George conclude his tale of passion; which Delme mused over, +but refrained from commenting on. + +Soon afterwards, George's caleche, in which he daily took exercise, was +announced as being at the door. The brothers entered, and left Floriana. + + + + +Chapter X. + +The Caleche. + + + + "The car rattling through the stony street." + + +For an easy conveyance, commend us to a Maltese caleche! Many a time, +assaulted by the blue devils, have we taken refuge in its solacing +interior--have pulled down its silken blinds, and unseeing and unseen, +the motion, like that of the rocking-cradle to the petulant child of +less mature growth, has restored complacency, and lulled us to good +humour. The caleche, the real caleche, is, we believe, peculiar to +Malta. It is the carriage of the rich and poor--Lady Woodford may be +seen employing it, to visit her gardens at St. Antonio; and in the +service of the humblest of her subjects, will it be enlisted, as they +wend their way to a picnic in the campagna. Every variety of steed is +put in requisition for its draught. + +We may see the barb, with nostril of fire, and mane playing with the +wind, perform a curvet, as he draws our aristocratic +countrywoman--aristocratic and haughty at least in Malta, although, +in England, perhaps a star of much less magnitude. + +We may view too the over-burthened donkey, as he drags along some aged +vehicle, in which four fat smiling women, and one lean weeping child, +look forward to his emaciated carcase, and yet blame him for being slow. + +And thou! patient and suffering animal, whose name has passed into a +proverb, until each vulgar wight looks on thee as the emblem of +obstinacy,--maligned mule! when dost thou appear to more advantage, more +joyous, or more self-satisfied, than when yoked to the Maltese caleche? +Who that has witnessed thee, taking the scanty meal from the hand of +thine accustomed driver, with whinnying voice, waving tail, thy long +ears pricked upwards, and thy head rubbing his breast, who that has +seen thee thus, will deny thee the spirit of gratitude? + +Most injured of quadrupeds! if we ascend the rugged mountain's path, +where on either side, precipices frown, and the pines wave far--far +beneath--when one false step would plunge us, with our hopes, our fears, +and our vices, into the abyss of eternity; is it not to thee we trust? + +Calumniated mule! go on thy way. + +This world's standard is but little to be relied on, whether it be for +good, or whether it be for evil. + +The motion of a caleche, such as we patronised, is an easy and luxurious +one--the pace, a fast trot or smooth canter, of seven miles an hour--and +with the blinds down, we have communed with ourselves, with as great +freedom, and as little fear of interruption, as if we had been crossing +the Zahara. The caleche men too are a peculiar and happy race--attentive +to their fares--masters of their profession--and with a cigar in their +cheek dexter, will troll you Maltese ditties till your head aches. Their +costume is striking. Their long red caps are thrown back over their +necks--their black curls hang down on each side of the face--and a +crimson, many-folded sash, girds in a waist usually extremely small. +Their neck, face, and breast, from continued exposure to the sun, are a +red copper colour. They are always without shoes and stockings; and even +our countrywomen, who pay much attention to the costume of their +drivers, have not yet ventured to encase their brawny feet in the +mysteries of leather. They run by the side of their caleches, the reins +in one hand--the whip in the other--cheering on their animals by a +constant succession of epithets, oaths, and invocations to their +favourite saint. + +They are rarely fatigued, and may be seen beside their vehicles, urging +the horses, with the thermometer at 110 deg., and perhaps a stout-looking +Englishman inside, with white kerchief to his face, the image of languor +and lassitude. + +Their horses gallop down steeps, which no English Jehu dare attempt; and +ascend and descend with safety and hardihood, stone steps which occur in +many parts of Valletta; and which would certainly present an +insurmountable obstacle to our steeds at home. + +The proper period, however, to see a caleche man in his glory, is during +the carnival. Every caleche is in employ; and many a one which has +reposed for the twelvemonth previous, is at that time wheeled from its +accustomed shed, and put in requisition for some of pleasure's votaries. +Long lines of them continue to pass and repass in the principal street. +Their inmates are almost universally of the fair sex, and of the best +part of it, the young and beautiful. Cavaliers, with silken bags, +containing bon-bons, slung on their left arm, stand at intervals, ready +to discharge the harmless missiles, at those whom their taste approves +worthy of the compliment. Happy the young beauty, who, returning +homewards, sees the carpet of her caleche thickly strewn with these +dulcet favours! The driver is now in his element! He ducks his head, as +the misdirected sweetmeat approaches; he has an apt remark prompt for +the occasion. As he nears too the favoured inamorato, for whom he well +knows his mistress' sweetest smile is reserved--who already with his +right hand grasping the sugared favours, is prepared to lavish his whole +store on this one venture--how arch his look--how roguish his eye--as he +turns towards his donna, and speaks as plainly as words could do, "See! +there he is, he whom you love best!" + +Ah! well may we delight to recal once more those minute details! ah! +well may we remember how--when our brow was smoothed with youth, as it +is now furrowed with care--when our eye sparkled from pleasure, as it is +now dimmed from time, or mayhap, tears--well may we love to remember, +how our whole hearts were engrossed in that mimic warfare. How +impatiently did we watch for _one_, amidst that crowded throng, for +one--whose beauty haunted us by day, and whose smile we dreamt over by +night. Well do we recal with what unexampled ingenuity, we laboured to +befit the snow white egg for a rare tenant--attar-gul. Well do we +remember how that face, usually so cloudless, became darkened almost to +a frown, as our heart's mistress saw the missile approach her. What a +radiant smile bewitched us, as it burst on her lap, and filled the air +with its fragrance! Truly we had our reward! + +Delme and George took a quiet drive, and enjoyed that sweet interchange +of ideas, that characterises the meeting of two brothers long absent +from each other. + +They went in the direction of St. Julian's, a drive all our Maltese +friends will be familiar with. The road lay almost wholly by the sea +side. A gentle breeze was crisping the waters, and served to allay the +heat, which, at a more advanced period of the season, is by no means an +enviable one. Sun-shine seemed to beam on George's mind, as he once more +spoke of home ties, to one to whom those home ties were equally dear. +And gratefully did he bask in its rays! Long used to the verdant but +tame, beautiful but romantic landscapes, which the part of England he +resided in presented; the scenery around him, novel and picturesque, +struck Sir Henry forcibly. To one who has resided long in Malta, its +scenes may wear an aspect somewhat different. The limited country--the +ceaseless glare--the dust, or rather the pulverised rock--the +ever-present lizard, wary and quick, peeping out at each crevice--the +buzzing mosquito, inviting the moody philosopher to smite his own +cheek,--these things may come to be regarded as real grievances. + +But Delme, as a visitor, was pleased with what he saw. The promising +vineyards--the orange groves, with their glowing fruit and ample +foliage, "looking like golden lamps" in a dark night of leaves--the +thick leaves of the prickly pear--the purple sky above him, lending its +rich hue to the sea beside--the architectural beauties of the +cottages--the wide portico of the mansions--the flat terrace with its +balustrade, over which might be seen a fair face, half concealed by the +faldette, smilingly peering, and through whose pillars might be noted a +pretty ancle, and siesta-looking slipper--these were novelties, and +pleasing ones! Their drive over, Delme felt more tranquil as to George's +state of mind, and more inclined to look on the bright side, as to his +future fortunes. + +Acme was waiting to receive them, and as she scanned George's features, +Delme could not but observe the affectionate solicitude that marked her +glance and manner. + +Let it not be thought we would make vice seductive! + +Fair above all things is the pure affection of woman! happy he who may +regard it his! he may bask without a shade of distrust in its glorious +splendour, and permanently adore its holy beauty. + +While, fascinating though be the concentred love of woman, whether +struggling in its passion--enraptured in its madness--or clinging and +loving on in its guilt: Man--that more selfish wanderer from virtue's +pale, that destroyer of his own best sympathies--will find too late that +a day of bitterest regret must arrive: a day when love shall exist no +more, or, linked with remorse, shall tear--a fierce vulture--at his very +heart strings. + + + + +Chapter XI. + +The Colonel. + + + + "Not such as prate of war, but skulk in peace." + + +Delme strolled out half an hour before his brother's dinner hour, with +the intention of paying a visit of ceremony to the Colonel of George's +regiment. His house was not far distant. It had been the palazzo of one +of the redoubted Knights of St. John; and the massive gate at which Sir +Henry knocked for admittance, seemed an earnest, that the family, who +had owned the mansion, had been a powerful and important one. The door +was opened, and the servant informed Delme, that Colonel Vavasour was on +the terrace. + +The court yard through which they passed was extensive; and a spring + + "Of living water from its centre rose, + Whose bubbling did a genial softness fling." + +Ascending a lofty marble staircase, along which were placed a few +bronzed urns, Delme crossed a suite of apartments--thrown open in the +Italian mode--and passing through a glass door, found himself on a wide +stone terrace, edged by pillars. + +Immediately beneath this, was an orange grove, whose odours perfumed the +air. Colonel Vavasour was employed in reading a German treatise on light +infantry tactics. He received Sir Henry with great cordiality, and +proposed adjourning to the library. Delme was pleased to observe, for it +corresponded with what he had heard of the man; that, with the exception +of the chef d'oeuvres of the English and German poets, the Colonel's +library, which was an extensive one, almost wholly consisted of such +books as immediately related to military subjects, or might be able to +bear on some branch of science connected with military warfare. Pagan, +and his follower Vauban, and the more matured treatises of Cormontaigne, +were backed by the works of that boast of the Low Countries, Coehorn; +and by the ingenious theories, as yet _but_ theories, of Napoleon's +minister of war, Carnot. + +Military historians, too, crowded the shelves. _There_ might be noted +the veracious Polybius--the classic Xenophon--the scientific +Caesar--the amusing Froissart, with his quaint designs, and quainter +discourses--and many an author unknown to fame, who in lengthy quarto, +luxuriated on the lengthy campaigns of Marlborough or Eugene; those wise +commanders, who flourished in an era, when war was a well debated +scientific game of chess; when the rival opponents took their time, +before making their moves; and the loss of a pawn was followed by the +loss of a kingdom. _There_ might you be enamoured with even a soldier's +hardships, as your eye glanced on the glowing circumstantial details of +Kincaid;--or you might glory in your country's Thucydides, as you read +the nervous impassioned language of a Napier. _Thou_, too, Trant! our +friend! wert there! Ah, why cut off in thy prime? Did not thy spirit +glow with martial fire? Did not thy conduct give promise, that not in +vain were those talents accorded thee? What hadst _thou_ done, to sink +thus early to a premature inglorious grave? Nor were our friends Folard +and Jomini absent; nor eke the minute essays of a Jarry, who taught the +aspiring youths of Great Britain all the arts of castrametation. With +what gusto does he show how to attack Reading; or how, with the greatest +chance of success, to defend the tranquil town of Egham. _Here_ would he +sink trous de loup on the ancient Runnimede, whereby the advance of the +enemy's cavalry would be frustrated; _there_ would he cut down an +abattis, or plant chevaux de frise. At _this_ winding of England's +noblest river, would he establish a pontoon bridge; the approaches to +which he would enfilade, by a battery placed on yonder height. + +Before relating the conversation between Delme and Colonel Vavasour, it +may not be improper to say a few words as to the character of the +latter. When we say that he was looked up to as an officer, and adored +as a man, by the regiment he had commanded for years; we are not +according light praise. + +Those who have worn a coat of red, or been much conversant with +military affairs, will appreciate the difficult, the ungrateful task, +devolving on a commanding officer. + +How few, how very few are those, who can command respect, and ensure +love. How many, beloved as men, are imposed on, and disregarded as +officers. How many are there, whose presence on the parade ground awes +the most daring hearts, who are passed by in private life, with +something like contumely, and of whom, in their private relations, few +speak, and yet fewer are those who wish kindly. When deserving in each +relation, how frequently do we see those who want the manner, the tact, +to show themselves in their true colours. An ungracious refusal--ay! or +an ungraciously accorded favour! may raise a foe who will be a bar to a +man's popularity for years:--whilst how many a free and independent +spirit is there, who criticises with a keener eye than is his wont, the +sayings and doings of his commanding officer, solely because he _is_ +such. How apt is such an one to misrepresent a word, or create a wrong +motive for an action! how slow in giving praise, lest _he_ should be +deemed one of the servile train! Pass we over the host of petty +intrigues--the myriads of conflicting interests:--show not how the +partial report of a favourite, may make the one in authority unjust to +him below him; or how the false tale-bearer may induce the one below to +be unjust to his superior. Colonel Vavasour was not only considered in +the field, as one of England's bravest soldiers; but was yet more +remarkable for his gentlemanly deportment, and for the attention he ever +paid to the interior economy of his corps. This gave a tone to the ---- +mess, almost incredible to one, who has not witnessed, what the constant +presence of a commanding officer, if he be a real gentleman, is enabled +to effect. Colonel Vavasour had ideas on the duties of a soldier, which +to many appeared original. We cannot but think, that the Colonel's +ideas, in the main, were right. He disliked his officers marrying; often +stating that he considered a sword and a wife as totally incompatible. + +"Where," would he say, "is _then_ that boasted readiness of purpose, +that spirit of enterprise? Can an officer _then_, with half a dozen +shirts in his portmanteau, and a moderate quantity of cigars, if he be a +smoker, declare himself ready to sail over half the world?" + +The Colonel would smile as he said this, but would continue with a +graver tone. + +"No, there is a choice, and I blame no one for making his election:--a +soldier's hardships and a soldier's joys;--or domestic happiness, and an +inglorious life:--but to attempt to blend the two, is, I think, +injudicious." + +On regimental subjects, he was what is technically called, a regulation +man. No innovations ever crept into his regiment, wanting the sanction +of the Horse Guards; whilst every order emanating from thence, was as +scrupulously adopted and adhered to, as if his own taste had prompted +the change. On parade, Colonel Vavasour was a strict disciplinarian;--but +his sword in the scabbard, he dropped the officer in his manner,--it +was impossible to do so in his appearance,--and no one ever heard him +discuss military points in a place inappropriate. He knew well how to +make the distinction between his public and his private duties. On an +officer under his command, being guilty of any dereliction of duty, he +would send for him, and reprimand him before the assembled corps, if he +deemed that such reprimand would be productive of good effect to others; +but--the parade dismissed--he would probably take this very officer's +arm, or ask to accompany him in his country ride. + +Colonel Vavasour had once a young and an only brother under his command. +In no way did he relax discipline in his favour. Young Vavasour had +committed a breach of military etiquette. He was immediately ordered by +his brother to be placed in arrest, and would inevitably have been +brought to a court martial, had not the commanding officer of the +station interfered. During the whole of this time, the Colonel's manner +towards him continued precisely the same. They lived together as usual; +and no man, without a knowledge of the circumstance, could have been +aware that any other but a fraternal tie bound them together. What was +more extraordinary, the younger brother saw all this in its proper +light; and whilst he clung to and loved his brother, looked up with awe +and respect to his commanding officer. + +As for Colonel Vavasour, no one who saw his convulsed features, as his +brother fell heading a gallant charge of his company at Waterloo, could +have doubted for a moment his deep-rooted affection. From that period, a +gloomy melancholy hung about him, which, though shaken off in public, +gave a shade to his brow, which was very perceptible. + +In person, he was particularly neat; being always the best dressed +officer in his regiment, "How can we expect the men to pay attention to +_their_ dress, when we give them reason to suppose we pay but little +attention to our own?" was a constant remark of his. And here we may +observe, that no class of men have a stricter idea of the propriety of +dress, than private soldiers. To dress well is half a passport to a +soldier's respect; whilst on the other hand, it requires many excellent +qualities, to counterbalance in his mind a careless and slovenly +exterior. Colonel Vavasour had an independent fortune, which he spent at +the head of his regiment. Many a dinner party was given by him, for +which the corps he commanded obtained the credit; many a young officer +owed relief from pecuniary embarrassments, which might otherwise have +overwhelmed him, to the generosity of his Colonel. He appeared not to +have a wish, beyond the military circle around him, although those who +knew him best, said he had greater talent, and possessed the art of +fascinating in general society, more than most men. + +"I am glad to see you here, Sir Henry," said he to Delme, "although I +cannot but wish that happier circumstances had brought you to us. I have +a very great esteem for your brother, and am one of his warmest well +wishers. But I must not neglect the duties of hospitality. You must +allow me to present you to my officers at mess this evening. Our dinner +hour is late; but were it otherwise, we should miss that delightful hour +for our ride, when the sun's rays have no longer power to harm us, and +the sea breezes waft us a freshness, which almost compensates for the +languor attending the summer's heat." + +Delme declined his invitation, stating his wish to dine with his brother +on that day; but expressed himself ready to accept his kind offer on the +ensuing one. + +"Thank you!" said Colonel Vavasour, "it is natural you should wish to +see your brother; and it pains me to think that poor George cannot yet +dine with his old friends. Have you seen Mr. Graham?" + +Delme replied in the affirmative; adding, that he could not but feel +obliged to him for his frankness. + +"I am glad you feel thus," said Vavasour, "it emboldens me to address +you with equal candour; and, painful as our advice must be, I confess I +am inclined to side with George's medical attendant. I have myself been +witness to such lamentable proofs of George's state of mind--he has so +often, with the tears in his eyes, spoken to me of his feelings with +regard to Acme Frascati, that I certainly consider these as in a great +measure the cause, and his state of mind the effect. I speak to you, +Sir Henry, without disguise. I had once a brother--the apple of my +eye--I loved him as I shall never love human being more; and, as God is +my witness, under similar circumstances, frankness is what I should have +prayed for,--my first wish would have been at once to know the worst. +Mr. Graham has told you of his long illness--his delirium--and has, I +conclude, touched upon the present state of his patient. Shall I shock +you, when I add that his lucid intervals are not to be depended upon; +that occasionally the wildest ideas, the most extraordinary projects, +are conceived by him? I wish you not, to act on any thing that Mr. +Graham, or that I may tell you, but to judge for yourself. Without this, +indeed, you would hardly understand the danger of these mental +paroxysms. So fearful are they, that I confess I should be inclined to +adopt any remedy, make any sacrifices which promised the remotest +possibility of success." + +"I trust," said Sir Henry, "there are no sacrifices I would not +personally make for my only brother, were I once convinced these were +for his real benefit." + +"I frankly mean," said Vavasour, "that I think almost the only chance of +restoring him, is by allowing him to marry Acme Frascati." + +Delme's brow clouded. + +"Think not," continued he, "that I am ignorant of what such a +determination must cost you. _I_, too, Sir Henry,"--and the old man drew +his commanding form to its utmost height,--"_I_ too, know what must be +the feelings of a descendant of noble ancestors. I know them well; and +in more youthful days, the blood boiled in my veins as I thought of the +name they had left me. Thank heaven! I have never disgraced it. But were +_I_ situated as _you_ are, and the dead Augustus Vavasour in the place +of the living George Delme, I would act as I am now advising you to do. +I speak solely as to the expediency of the measure. From what I have +stated--from my situation in life--from my character--you may easily +imagine that all my prejudices are enlisted on the other side of the +question. But I must here confess that I see something inexpressibly +touching in the devotion which that young Greek girl displayed, during +the whole of George's illness. But putting this on one side, and +considering the affair as one of mere expediency, I think you will +finally agree with me, that however desperate the remedy, some such must +be applied. And now, let me assure you, that nothing could have induced +me to obtrude thus, my feelings and opinions on a comparative stranger, +were it not that that stranger is the brother of one in whose welfare I +feel the liveliest interest." + +Sir Henry Delme expressed his thanks, and inwardly determined that he +would form no opinion till he had himself been witness to some act of +mental aberration. It is true, he had heard the medical attendant give a +decided opinion,--from George's own lips he had an avowal of much that +had been stated,--and now he had heard one, for whom he could not but +feel great respect--one who had evidently no interest in the +question--declare his sentiments as strongly. We are all sanguine as to +what we wish. It may be, that a hope yet lurked in Delme's breast, that +these accounts might be unconsciously exaggerated, or that his brother's +state of health was now more established than heretofore. + +On returning to Floriana, Delme found George and the blushing Acme +awaiting him. A delightful feeling is that, of again finding ourselves +with those from whom we have long been parted, once more engaged in the +same round of familiar avocations, once more re-acting the thousand +little trifles of life which we have so often acted before, and that, +too, in company with those who now sit beside us, as if to mock the +lapse of intervening years. These meetings seem to steal a pinion from +time's wing, and hard indeed were it if the sensations they called forth +were not pleasurable ones; for oh! how rudely and frequently, on the +other hand, are we reminded of the changes which the progress of years +brings with it: the bereavement of loved ones--the prostration of what +we revered--our buoyant elasticity of body and mind departed--all things +changing and changed. + +We sigh, and gaze back. How few are the scenes, which memory's +kaleidoscope presents in their pristine bright colours, of that +journey, performed so slowly, as it once appeared, but which, to the +eye of retrospection, seems to have hurried to its end with the rapid +wings of the wind! + +Imbued with an association, what a trivial circumstance will please! As +the brothers touched each other's glass; and drank to mutual happiness, +what grateful recollections were called up by that act! How did these +manifest their power, as they lighted up the wan features of George +Delme. Acme looked on smilingly; her hair flowing about her neck--her +dark eyes flashing with unusual brilliancy. Delme felt it would be +unsocial were he alone to look grave; and although many foreboding +thoughts crowded on him, _he_ too seemed to be happy. It was twilight +when the dinner was over. The windows were open, and the party placed +themselves near the jalousies. They here commanded a view of the public +gardens, where groups of Maltese were enjoying the coolness of the hour, +and the fragrance of the flowers. The walk had a roof of lattice work +supported by wooden pillars; round which, an image of woman's love, the +honeysuckle clingingly twined, diffusing sweets. + +Immediately before them, the principal outlet of the town presented +itself. Laughing parties of English sailors were passing, mounted on +steeds of every size, which they were urging forward, in spite of the +piteous remonstrances of the menials of their owners. The latter, for +the most part, held by the tails of their animals, and uttered a +jargon composed of English, Italian, and Maltese. The only words +however, that met the unregarding ears of the sailors, were some such +exclamations as these. + +"Not you go so fast, Signore; he good horse, but much tire." + +The riders sat in their saddles swinging from side to side, evidently +thinking their tenure more precarious than that on the giddy mast; and +wholly unmindful of the expressive gestures, and mournful ejaculations +of the bare-legged pursuers. At another time, their antics and +buffoonery, as they made unmerciful use of the short sticks with which +they were armed, would have provoked a smile. _Now_ our party gazed on +these things as they move the wise. They felt calm and happy; and +deceptive hope whispered they might yet remain so. Acme took up her +guitar, and throwing her fingers over it, as she gave a soft prelude, +warbled that sweet although common song, "Buona notte, amato bene." She +sung with great feeling, and feeling is the soul of music. + +How plaintively! how tenderly did her lips breathe the + + "ricordati! ricordati di me!" + +There was something extremely witching in her precocious charms. She +resembled some beauteous bud, just ready to burst into light and bloom. +It is not yet the rose,--but a moment more may make it such. Her +beauties were thus ripe for maturity. It seemed as if the sunshine of +love were already upon them--they were basking in its rays. A brief +space--and the girl shall no longer be such. What was promise shall be +beauty. She shall meet the charmed eye a woman; rich in grace and +loveliness. As Delme marked her sympathising glance at George--her +beaming features--her innocent simplicity;--as he thought of all she had +lost, all she had suffered for his brother's sake,--as he thought of the +scorn of the many--the pity of the few--the unwearied watching--the +sleepless nights--the day of sorrow passed by the bed of sickness--all +so cheerfully encountered for _him_--he could not reproach her. No! he +took her hand, and the brothers whispered consolation to her, and to +each other. + +Late that evening, they were joined by Colonel Vavasour, and Mr. Graham. +George's spirits rose hourly. Never had his Colonel appeared to such +advantage--Acme so lovely--or Henry so kind--as they did to George Delme +that night. + +It was with a sigh at the past pleasures that George retired to +his chamber. + + + + +Chapter XII. + +The Mess. + + + + "Red coats and redder faces." + + +The following day, a room having been given up to Delme, he discharged +his bill at Beverley's; and moved to Floriana. He again accompanied +George in his drive; and they had on this occasion, the advantage of +Acme's society, who amused them with her artless description of the +manners of the lower orders of Maltese. + +Pursuant to his promise, at the bugle's signal Delme entered the mess +room; and the Colonel immediately introduced him to the assembled +officers. To his disappointment, for he felt curious to see one, who had +exercised such an influence over his brother, Delancey was not amongst +them. Sir Henry was much pleased with the feeling that appeared to +exist, between Colonel Vavasour and his corps of officers:--respect on +one side--and the utmost confidence on both. We think it is the talented +author of Pelham, who describes a mess table as comprising "cold dishes +and hot wines, where the conversation is of Johnson of ours and Thomson +of jours." + +This, though severe, is near the truth; and if, to this description, be +added _lots_ of plate of that pattern called the Queen's--ungainly +servants in stiff mess liveries--and a perpetual recurrence to Mr. Vice; +we have certainly caught the most glaring features of a commonplace +regimental dinner. Vavasour was well aware of this, and had directed +unremitting attention, to give a tone to the conversation at the mess +table, more nearly approaching to that of private life; one which should +embrace topics of general interest, and convey some general information. +Even in _his_ well ordered regiment, there were some, whose nature would +have led them, to confine their attention to thoughts of the daily +military routine. This inclination was repressed by the example of +their Colonel; and these, if not debaters, were at least patient +listeners, as the conversation dealt of matters, to them uncongenial, +and the value of the discussion of which they could not themselves +perceive. Not that military subjects were interdicted; the contrary was +the case. But these subjects took a somewhat loftier tone, than the +contemplation of an exchange of orderly duty, or an overslaugh of guard. + +When dinner was announced, Colonel Vavasour placed his hand on the +shoulder of a boy near him. + +"Come, Cholmondeley!" said he, "sit near me, and give me an account of +your match. You must not fail to write your Yorkshire friends every +particular. Major Clifford, will you sit on the other side of Sir Henry? +You are both Peninsula men, and will find, I doubt not, that you have +many friends in common. + +"There is something," said he to Delme, as he took his seat, +"revivifying to an old soldier, in noting the exhilaration of spirit of +these boys. It reminds us of the zeal with which _we_ too buckled on +our coat of red. It is a great misfortune these youngsters labour under, +that they have no outlet for their ambition, no scene on which they can +display their talents. Never were youthful aspirants for service more +worthy, or more zealous, and yet it is probable their country will not +need them, until they arrive at an age, when neither body nor mind are +attuned for _commencing_ a life of hardship, however well adapted to +_continue_ in it. _We_ have had the advantage there--_we_ trod the +soldier's proudest stage when our hopes and buoyancy of heart were at +their highest; and for myself, I am satisfied that much of my present +happiness, arises from the very different life of my earlier years." + +The conversation took a military turn; and Delme could not help +observing the attention, with which the younger members of the corps +heard the anecdotes, related by those who had been actually engaged. +Occasionally, the superior reading of the juniors would peep out, and +give them the advantage of knowledge, even with regard to +circumstances, over those who had been personal actors in the affairs +they spoke of. The most zealous of these detail narrators, were the +quarter-master of the regiment, and Delme's right-hand neighbour, Major +Clifford. The former owed his appointment to his gallantry, in saving +the colours of his regiment, when the ensign who bore them was killed, +and the enemy's cavalry were making a sudden charge, before the +regiment could form its square. + +His was a bluff purple face, denoting the bon vivant. Indeed, it was +with uncommon celerity, that his previous reputation of being the best +maker of rum punch in the serjeants' mess, had changed into his present +one of being the first concoctor of sangaree at the officers'. + +Major Clifford merits more especial notice. He was a man hardly +appreciated in his own profession; out of it, he was misrepresented, and +voted a bore. He had spent all the years of his life, since the down +mantled his upper lip, in the service of his country; and for _its_ +good, as he conceived it, he had sacrificed all his little fortune. It +is true his liberality had not had a very comprehensive range: he had +sunk his money in the improvement of the personal appearance of his +company--in purchasing pompons--or new feathers--or whistles, when he +was a voltigeur--in establishing his serjeants' mess on a more +respectable footing--in giving his poor comrade a better coffin, or a +richer pall:--these had been his foibles; and in indulging them, he had +expended the wealth, that might have purchased him on to rank and +honours. His eagle glance, his aquiline nose, and noble person, showed +what he must have been in youth. His hair was now silvered, but his coat +was as glossy as formerly--his zeal was unabated--his pride in his +profession the same--and what he could spare, still went, to adorn the +persons of the soldiers he still loved. He remained a captain, although +his long standing in the army had brought him in for the last brevet. It +is true every one had a word for poor Clifford. "Such a fine fellow! +what a shame!" But _this_ did not help him on. At the Horse Guards, too, +his services were freely acknowledged. The Military Secretary had always +a smile for him at his levee, and an assurance that "he had his eye on +him" The Commander in Chief, too, the last time he had inspected the +regiment, attracted by his Waterloo badge, and Portuguese cross, had +stopped as he passed in front of the ranks, and conversed with him most +affably, for nearly two minutes and a half; as his colour serjeant with +some degree of pride used to tell the story. But yet, somehow or other, +although Major Clifford was an universal favourite, they always forgot +to reward him. A man of the world, would have deemed the Major's ideas +to be rather contracted; and to confess the truth, there were two +halcyon periods of his life, to which he was fond of recurring. The one +was, when he commanded a light company, attached to General Crauford's +light brigade;--the other, when he had the temporary command of the +regimental depot, and at his own expense, had dressed out its little +band, as it had never been dressed out before. + +Do you sneer at the old soldier, courtly reader? + +There breathes not a man who dare arraign that man's courage;--there is +not one who knows him, who would not cheerfully stake his life as a gage +for his stainless honour. + +The soup and fish had been removed, when Delme observed a young officer +glide in, with that inexpressible air of fashion, which appears to shun +notice, whilst it attracts it. His arm was in a sling, and his +attenuated face seemed to bespeak ill health. Sir Henry addressed +Colonel Vavasour, and begged to know if the person who had just entered +the room was Delancey. He was answered in the affirmative; and he again +turned to scrutinise his features. These rivetted attention; and were +such as could not be seen once, without being gazed at again. His eyes +were dark and large, and rested for minutes on one object, with an +almost mournful expression; nor was it until they turned from its +contemplation, that the discriminating observer might read in their +momentary flash, that their possessor had passions deep and +uncontrollable. His dark hair hung in profusion over his forehead, which +it almost hid; though from the slight separation of a curl, the form of +brow became visible; which was remarkable for its projection, and for +its pallid hue, which offered a strong contrast to the swart and +sunburnt face. + +"Are you aware of his history?" said the Colonel. + +"Not in the slightest," replied Delme. "I felt curious to see him, on +account of the way in which he has been mixed up with George's affair; +and think his features extraordinary--very extraordinary ones." + +"He is son," said Vavasour, "to the once celebrated Lady Harriet D----, +who made a marriage so disgracefully low. He is the only child by that +union. His parents lived for many years on the continent, in obscurity, +and under an assumed name. They are both dead. It is possible Delancey +may play a lofty role in the world, as he has only a stripling between +him and the earldom of D----, which descends in the female line. I am +sure he will not be a common character; but I have great fears about +him. In the regiment he is considered proud and unsocial; and indeed it +was your brother's friendship that appeared to retain him in our circle. +He has great talents, and some good qualities; but from his uncommon +impetuosity of temper, and his impatience of being thwarted, I should be +inclined to predict, that the first check he receives in life, will +either make him a misanthrope, or a pest to society." + +At a later period of his life, Delme again encountered Delancey; and +this prophecy of the Colonel's was vividly recalled. + +In the ensuing chapter, we purpose giving Oliver Delancey's history, as +a not uninstructive episode; although we are aware that episodes are +impatiently tolerated, and it is in nowise allied to the purpose of our +story. But before doing so, we must detail a conversation which occurred +between Delancey and Delme, at the table of the ---- mess. The latter was +scanning the features of the former, when their eyes met. A conviction +seemed to flash on Delancey, that Delme was George's brother; for the +blood rushed to his cheek--his colour went and came--and as he turned +away his head, he made a half involuntary bow. Delme was struck with his +manner, and apparent emotion; and in returning the salute, ventured "to +hope he was somewhat recovered." + +When Major Clifford left the table, Delancey took his vacant seat. + +"Sir Henry Delme," said he, "I have before this wished to see you, to +implore the forgiveness of your family for the misery I have +occasioned. How often have I cursed my folly! I acted on an impulse, +which at the time I could not withstand. I had never serious views +with regard to Acme Frascati. Indeed, I may here tell you,--to no +other man have I ever named it,--that I have ties in my own country +far dearer, and more imperatively binding. I knew I had erred. The +laws of society could alone have made me meet George Belme as a foe; +but even then--on the ground--God and my second know that my weapon +was never directed at my friend. I am an unsocial being, Sir Henry, +and, from my habits, not likely to be popular. Your brother knew this, +and saved me from petty contentions and invidious calumnies. He was +the best and only friend I possessed. I purpose soon to leave Malta +and the army. The former is become painful to me,--for the latter I +have a distaste, A feeling of delicacy to Acme Frascati would prevent +my seeing your brother, even if Mr. Graham had not forbidden the +interview, as likely to harass his mind. Will you, then, assure him of +my unabated attachment, and tell me that _you_ forgive me for the +part I have taken in this unhappy affair." + +Delme was much moved as he assured him he would do all he wished; that +he could see little to blame him for--that George's excited feelings had +brought on the present crisis, and that _he_ had amply atoned for any +share he might have had in the transaction. Delancey pressed his hand +gratefully. + +It was at a somewhat late hour that Delme joined Acme and his brother; +declining the hearty invitation of the Quartermaster to come down to +his quarters. + +"He could give him a devilled turkey and a capital cigar." + + + + +Chapter XIII. + +Oliver Delancey. + + + + "Then the few, whose spirits float above the wreck of happiness, + Are driven o'er the shoals of guilt, or ocean of excess; + The magnet of their course is gone, or only points in vain + The shore to which their shiver'd sail shall never reach again." + + +We have said that Delme saw Delancey once more. It was at a later period +of our story, when business had taken Sir Henry to Bath. He had been +dining with Mr. Belliston Graeme, who possessed a villa in the +neighbourhood. Tempted by the beauty of the night, he dismissed his +carriage, and, turning from the high road, took a by-path which led to +the city. The air was serene and mild. The moon-light was sufficiently +clear to chase away night's dank vapours. The ground had imperceptibly +risen, until having ascended a grassy eminence, over which the path +stretched, the well-lighted city burst upon the eye. + +Immediately in front of the view, a principal street presented itself, +the lamps on either side stretching in regular succession, until they +gradually narrowed and joined in the perspective. Nearer to the +spectator, the flickering lights of the detached villas, and the moving +ones of the carriages in the public road, relieved the stillness of the +scene. Delme paused to regard it, with that subdued feeling with which +men, arrived at a certain period of life, scan the aspect of nature. The +moon at the moment was enveloped in light clouds. As it broke through +them, its shimmering light revealed a face and form that Delme at once +recognised as Delancey's. It was with a consciousness of pain he did so, +for it brought before him recollections of scenes, whose impressions had +still power to subdue him. All emotions, however, soon became absorbed +in that of curiosity, as he noted the still figure and agitated +features before him. A block of granite lay near the path. Delancey +leant back over it--his right hand nearly touched the ground--his hat +lay beside him. The dark hair, wet with the dews of night, was blown +back by the breeze. His high forehead was fully shewn. His vest and +shirt were open, as he gazed with an air of fixedness on the city, and +conversed to himself. His teeth were firmly clenched, and it seemed that +the lips moved not, but the words were fearfully distinct. We often hear +of these soliloquies,--they afford scope to the dramatist, food for the +poet, a chapter for the narrator of fiction,--but we rarely witness +them. When we do, they are eminently calculated to thrill and alarm. It +was evident that Delancey saw him not; but had it been otherwise, +Delme's interest was so aroused that he could not have left the spot. + +"Hail! sympathising night!" thus spoke the young man, "the calm of thy +silent hour seems in unison with my lone heart--thy dewy breeze imparts +a freshness to this languid and darkened spirit, Sweet night! how I +love thee! And moon, too! fair moon! how abruptly!--how chastely!--how +gloriously!--dost thou break through the variegated and fleecy clouds, +which would impede thy progress, and deny me to gaze on thy white orb +unshrouded. And thou, too! radiant star of eve! oh that woman's love but +resembled thee! that it were gentle, constant, and pure as thy holy +gleam. That _that_ should dazzle to bring in its train--oh God! what +misery." He raised his hand to his brow, as if a poignant thought had +stung him. + +Sir Henry Delme stole away, and ruminated long that night, on the +distress that could thus convulse those fine features. Afterwards, when +Delancey's name was no longer the humble one he had first known it, but +became bruited in loftier circles,--for Vavasour's prediction became +realised,--Delme heard it whispered, that his affections had suffered +an early blight, from the infidelity of one to whom he had been +affianced. We may relate the circumstances as they occurred. Blanche +Allen was the daughter of a country gentleman of some wealth, whose +estate joined that of the Earl of D----'s, where Delancey's boyhood +had been spent. For years Blanche and Oliver considered themselves as +more than friends. Each selected the other as the companion in the +solitary walk, or partner in the joyous dance. Not a country girl but +had her significant smile, as young Delancey's horse's head was turned +towards Hatton Grange. + +Delancey joined the army at an early age. Blanche was some eighteen +months his junior. They parted with tears, and thus they continued to do +for the two following years, during which Oliver frequently got leave to +run down to his uncle's. This was while he was serving with part of the +regiment at home. When it came to his turn to embark for foreign +service, it was natural from this circumstance, as well as from their +riper age, that their farewell should be of a more solemn nature. They +bade adieu by the side of the streamlet that divided the two properties. +It was where this made a small fall, down which it gushed in crystal +brightness, and then meandered with gentle murmur through a succession +of rich meadows. A narrow bridge was below the fall, while beside it, a +rustic seat had been placed, on which the sobbing Blanche sat, with her +lover's arm round her waist. For the first time he had talked seriously +of their attachment, and it was with youthful earnestness, that they +mutually plighted their troth. Nor did Blanche hesitate, though blushing +deeply as she did so, to place in his hand a trivial gage d'amour, and +that which has so long solaced absent lovers, a lock of her sunny hair. +Blanche was very beautiful, but she had a character common to many +English women--more so, we think, than to foreign ones. + +As a girl, Blanche was nature's self, warm, gentle, confiding,--as an +unmarried woman, she was a heartless coquette,--as a matron, an +exemplary mother and an affectionate wife. During the time Delancey was +abroad, he heard of Blanche but seldom, for the lovers were not of that +age in which a correspondence would be tolerated by Blanche's family. +She once managed to send him, by the hands of a young cousin, some +trifling present, with a few lines accompanying it, informing him that +she had not forgotten him. His uncle--his only correspondent in +England--was not exactly the person to make a confidant of; but he +would, in an occasional postscript, let him know that he had seen +Blanche Allen lately--that "she was very gay, prettier than ever, and +always blushing when spoken to of a certain person." + +To do Oliver justice, he at all times thought of Blanche. We have seen +him, with regard to Acme, apparently disregarding her, but in that +affair he had been actuated by a mere spirit of adventure. His heart was +but slightly enlisted, and his feelings partook of any thing but those +of a serious attachment. + +Oliver Delancey left Malta soon after his conversation with +Delme. Previous to doing so, he had forwarded his resignation to +Colonel Vavasour. + +He passed some time in Italy, and, as the season arrived, found himself +a denizen in that gayest of cities, Vienna. Pleasure is truly there +enshrouded in her liveliest robes. As regards Delancey, not in vain was +she thus clothed. Just relieved from the dull monotony of a military +life--dull as it ever must be without war's excitement, and peculiarly +distasteful to one constituted like Delancey, who refused to make +allowance for the commonplace uncongenial spirits with whom he found +himself obliged to herd--he was quite prepared to embrace with avidity +any life that promised an agreeable change. Austria's capital holds out +many inducements to dissipation, and to none are these more freely +tendered, than to young and handsome Englishmen. The women, over the +dangerous sentimentality of their nation, throw such an air of ease and +frankness, that their victims resemble the finny tribe in the famous +tunny fishery. While they conceive the whole ocean is at their +command--disport here and there in imagined freedom--they are already +encased by the insidious nets; the harpoon is already pointed, which +shall surely pierce them. Delancey plunged headlong into pleasure's +vortex--touched each link between gaiety and crime. He wandered from the +paths of virtue from the infatuation of folly, and continued to err from +the fascinations of sin. He was suddenly recalled to himself, by one of +those catastrophes often sent by Providence, to awaken us from +intoxicating dreams. His companion, with whom he had resided during his +stay in Vienna, lost his all at a gaming table. Although he had not the +firmness of mind to face his misfortunes, yet had he the rashness to +meet his God unbidden. Sobered and appalled, Oliver left Germany for +England. There was a thought, which even in the height of his follies +obtruded, and which now came on him with a force that surprised himself. +That thought was of Blanche Allen. He turned from the image of his +expiring friend to dwell unsated on hers. A new vista of life seemed to +open--thoughts which had long slept came thronging on his mind--he was +once more the love-sick boy. The more, too, he brooded over his late +unworthiness, the more did his imagination ennoble the one he loved. He +now looked to the moment of meeting her, as that whence he would date +his moral regeneration. "Thank God!" thought he, "a sure haven is yet +mine. There will I--my feelings steadied, my affections +concentrated--enjoy a purified and unruffled peace. What a consolation +to be loved by one so good and gentle!" + +He hurried towards England, travelled day and night, and only wondered +that he could have rested any where, while he had the power of flying to +her he had loved from childhood. Occasionally a feeling of apprehension +would cross him. It was many months since he had heard of her--she might +be ill. His love was of that confiding nature, that he could not +conceive her changed. As he came near his home, happier thoughts +succeeded. In fancy, he again saw her enjoying the innocent pleasures in +which he had been her constant companion,--health on her +cheek--affection in her glance. He had to pass that well known lodge. +His voice shook, as he told the driver to stop at its gate. As he drove +through the avenue of elms, he threw himself back in the carriage, and +every limb quivered from his agitation. He could hardly make himself +understood to the domestic--he waited not an answer to his enquiry--but +bounded up the stairs, and with faltering step entered the room. +Blanche was there, and not alone but oh! how passing fair! Even Delancey +had not dared to think, that the beauty of the girl could have been so +eclipsed by the ripe graces of the woman. She recognised him, and rose +to meet him with a burst of unfeigned surprise. She held out her hand +with an air of winning frankness; and yet for an instant,--and his hand +as it pressed hers, trembled with that thought,--he deemed there was a +hesitating blush on her cheek, which should not have been there. But it +passed away, and radiant with smiles, she turned to the one beside her. + +"My dear," said she, as she gave him a confiding look, which haunts +Delancey yet, "this is a great friend of Papa's, and an old playmate of +mine--Mr. Delancey;" and as the stranger stepped forward to shake his +hand, Blanche looked at her old lover, with a glance that seemed to say, +"How foolish were we, to deem we were ever more than friends." Oliver +Delancey turned deadly pale; but pride bade him scorn her, and his hand +shook not, as it touched that of him, who had robbed him of a treasure, +he would have died to have called his. + +"And you have been to D---- Castle, I suppose, and found your uncle had +left it for Bath. Indeed, _we_ only arrived the day before yesterday; +but Papa wrote us, saying he had got one of his attacks of rheumatism, +from the late fishing, and begged us to take this on our way to +Habberton, Did you see my marriage in the papers, or did your uncle +write you, Oliver?" + +Delancey's lips quivered, but his countenance did not change, as he +looked her in the face, and told her he had not known it until now. + +And now her husband spoke: "It was very late, and he must want +refreshment; and Mr. Allen intended to be wheeled to the dinner table; +and they could so easily send up to D---- Castle to tell them to get a +bed aired; and he could dismiss the chaise now, and their carriage could +take him there at night." + +And Delancey _did_ stay, although unable to analyse the feeling that +made him do so. + +And during dinner, _he_ was the life of that little party. He spoke of +foreign lands--related strange incidents of travel--dwelt with animation +on his schoolboy exploits. The old man was delighted--the husband forgot +his wife;--and she, the false one, sat silent, and for the moment +disregarded. She gazed and gazed again on that familiar face--drank in +the tones of that accustomed voice--and the chill of compunction crept +over her frame. + +But Delancey's brain was on fire; and in the solitude of his +chamber--no! he was not calm there. He paced hurriedly across the oaken +floor; and he opened wide his window, and looked out on the bright +stars, spangling heaven's blue vault; and then beneath him, where the +cypress trees bowed their heads to the wind, and the moon's light fell +on the marble statues on the terrace. + +And he turned to his bed-side, and hid his tearless face in his hands; +and in the fulness of his despair, he knelt and prayed, that though he +had long neglected his God, his God would not now forsake him. And, as +if to mock his sufferings, sleep came; but it was short, very short; and +a weight, a leaden weight, oppressed his eye-lids even in slumber. And +he gave one start, and awoke a prey to mental agony. His despair flashed +on him--he sprung up wildly in his bed. "Liar! liar!" said he, as with +clenched teeth, and hand upraised, he recalled that fond look given to +another. Drops of sweat started to his brow--his pulse beat quick and +audibly--quicker--quicker yet. A feeling of suffocation came over +him--and God forgive him! Oliver Delancey deemed that hour his last. He +staggered blindly to the bell, and with fearful energy pulled its cord, +till it fell clattering on the marble hearth stone. The domestics found +him speechless and insensible on the floor--the blood oozing from his +mouth and ears. + +It may be said that this picture is overcharged; that no vitiated mind +could have thus felt. But it is not so. In life's spring we all feel +acutely: and to the effects of disappointed love, and wounded pride, +there are few limits. + +Woman! dearest woman! born to alleviate our sorrow, and soothe our +anguish! who canst bid feeling's tear trickle down the obdurate cheek, +or mould the iron heart, till it be pliable as a child's--why stain thy +gentle dominion by inconstancy? why dismiss the first form that haunted +thy maiden pillow, until--or that vision is a dear reality beside +thee--or thou liest pale and hushed, on thy last couch of repose? + +And then--shall not thy virgin spirit hail him? Why first fetter us, +slaves to virtue and to thee; _then_ become the malevolent Typhoon, on +whose wings our good genius flies for ever? In this--far worse than the +iconoclasts of yore art thou! _They_ but disfigured images of man's rude +fashioning: whilst _thou_ wouldst injure the _once_ loved form of God's +high creation,--wouldst entail on the body a premature decay--and on +that which dieth not, an irradicable blight. + + "Then the mortal coldness of the soul, like death itself comes down; + It cannot feel for others woes--it dares not dream its own. + That heavy chill has frozen o'er the fountain of our tears; + And though the eye may sparkle still, 'tis where the ice appears." + +On such a character as was Delancey's, the blow did indeed fall heavy. +Not that his paroxysms of grief were more lasting, or his pangs more +acute, than is usual in similar cases; but to his moral worth it was +death. An infliction of this nature, falling on a comparatively virtuous +man, is productive of few evil consequences. It may give a holier turn +to his thoughts--wean him from sublunary vanities--and purify his +nature. On an utterly depraved man, its effects may be fleeting also; +for few can _here_ expect a moral regeneration. But falling on Delancey, +it was not thus. The slender thread that bound him to virtue, was snapt +asunder; the germ whence the good of his nature might have sprung, +destroyed for ever. Such a man could not love purely again. To expect +him to wander to another font, and imbibe from as clear a stream, would +be madness. The love of a man of the world, let it be the first and +best, is gross and earthly enough; but let him be betrayed in that +love--let him see the staff on which he confidingly leant, break from +under him--and he becomes from henceforth the deceiver--but never the +deceived. When Delme saw him, Delancey was writhing under his +affliction. When he again entered the world, and it was soon, he +regarded it as a wide mart, where he might gratify his appetites, and +unrestrainedly indulge his evil propensities. He believed not that +virtue and true nobility were there; could he but find them. He looked +at the blow his happiness had sustained, and thought it afforded a fair +sample of human nature. Oliver Delancey became a selfish and a +profligate man. + +He was to be pitied; and from his soul did Delme pity him. He had been +one of promise and of talent; but _now_ his lot is cast on the die of +apathy;--and it is to be feared--without a miracle intervene--and +should his life be spared--that when the wavy locks of youth are +changed to the silver hairs of age--that he will then be that thing of +all others to be scoffed at--the hoary sensualist. Let us hope not! Let +us hope that she who hath brought him to this, may rest her head on the +bosom of her right lord, and forget the one, whose hand used to be +locked in her own, for hours--hours which flew quick as summer's +evening shadows! Let us trust that remorse may be absent from her; +that she may never know that worst of reflections--the having injured +one who had loved her, irremediably; that she may gaze on her +fair-haired children, and her cheek blanch not as she recals another +form than the father's; that her life may be irreproachable, her end +calm and dignified; that dutiful children may attend the inanimate clay +to its resting place; that filial tears may bedew her grave; and, when +the immortal stands appalled before its Judge, that the destruction of +that soul may not be laid to her charge. + + + + +Chapter XIV. + +The Spitfire. + + + + "And I have loved thee! Ocean! and my joy + Of youthful sports was on thy breast to be + Borne like thy bubbles onward." + + * * * * * + + "Pull away! yo ho! boys!" + + +Delme continued to reside with his brother, whose health seemed to amend +daily. George generally managed to accompany him in his sight-seeing, +from which Henry derived great gratification. + +He mused over the antique tombs of some of the departed knights; and +admired the rich mosaics in that splendid church, dedicated to Saint +John; than which the traveller may voyage long, and meet nothing +worthier his notice. He visited the ancient armoury--dined at the +palace, and at the different messes--inspected the laborious +travailings of the silkworm at the boschetto--conversed with the +original of Byron's Leila--a sweet creature she is!--looked with +wondering eye on the ostrich of Fort Manuel--and heard the then +commandant's wife relate her tale thereanent. He went to Gozzo too--shot +rabbits--and crossed in a basket to the fungus rock. He saw a festa in +the town, and a festa in the country--rode to St. Antonio, and St. +Paul's Bay--and was told he had seen the lions. Nor must we pass over +that most interesting of spectacles; viz., some figures enveloped in +monkish cowl, and placed in convenient niches; but beneath the close +hood, the blood mounts not with devotion's glow, nor do eyes glare from +sockets shrunk by abstinence. Skeletons alone are there! + +These, curious reader, are the bodies of saintly Capuchins; thus +exhibited--dried and baked--to excite beholders to a life of virtue! + +One morning, George said he felt rather unwell, and would stay at home. +An oar happened to be wanted in the regimental gig, which Sir Henry +offered to take. He was soon accoutred in the dress of an absent +member, and in a short time was discharging the duties of his office to +the satisfaction of all; for he knew every secret of _feathering,_ and +had not _caught a crab_ for years. + +It was a beautifully calm day--not a speck in the azure heaven. It was +hot too--but for this they cared not. They had porter; and on such +occasions, what better beverage would you ask? Swiftly and gaily did the +slim bark cleave through the glassy sea. Its hue was a dark crimson, +with one black stripe--its nom de guerre, the Spitfire. + +As the ------ regiment particularly prided itself on its aquatic costume, +we shall describe it. Small chased pearl buttons on the blue jacket and +white shirt; a black band round the neck, to match the one on the +narrow-brimmed thick straw hat; white trousers; couleur de rose silk +collar, fastened to the throat by a golden clasp; and stockings of the +same colour. How joyously did the gig hold her course! What a thrilling +sensation expanded the soul, as the steersman, a handsome little fellow +with large black whiskers, gave the encouraging word, "Stroke! my good +ones!" Then were exerted all the energies of the body--then was +developed each straining muscle--then were the arms thrown back in +sympathy, to give a long pull, and a strong pull--till the bark reeled +beneath them, and shot through the wave. + +The tall ship--the slender mole--the busy deck--the porticoed +palace--the strong fort--the bristling battery--the astonished fisher's +bark as it sluggishly crept on--were all cheeringly swept by, as the +bending oars in perfect unison, kissed the erst slumbering water. What +sensation can be more glorious? The only thing to compete with it, is +the being in a crack coach on the western road; the opposition slightly +in front--a knowing whip driving--when the horses are at their utmost +speed--the traces tight as traces can be--the ladies inside pale and +screaming--one little child cramming out her head, her mouth stuffed +with Banbury cakes, adding her shrill affetuoso--whilst the odd-looking +man in the white hat, seated behind, is blue from terror, and with +chattering teeth, mumbles undistinguishable sentences of furious +driving and prosecution. Surely such moments half redeem our miseries! +What bitter thought can travel twelve miles an hour? + +And ever and anon would the Spitfire dart into some little creek, and +the thirsty rowers would rest on their oars, whose light drip fell on +purple ocean, tinged by a purple sky. And now would the jovial steersman +introduce the accommodating corkscrew, first into one bottle and then +into another, as these were successively emptied, and thrown overboard, +to give the finny philosophers somewhat to speculate on. + +Delme landed weary; but it was a beneficial weariness. He felt he had +taken manly exercise, and that it would do him good. He was walking +towards the barrack, with his jacket slung over his shoulder, when he +was met by George's servant. + +"Oh, Sir!" said the man, "I am so glad you are come. The Signora is +terribly afraid for my young master. I fear, Sir, he is in one of +his fits." + +Delme hurried forward, and entered his brother's room. George held a +riding whip in his hand. He had thrown off his cravat--his throat was +bare--his eyes glanced wildly. + +"And who are you, Sir?" said he, as Henry entered. + +"What! not know me, dearest George?" replied his brother, in agony. + +"I do not understand your insolence, Sir; but if you are a dun, go to my +servant. Thompson," continued he, "give me my spurs! I shall ride." + +"Ride!" said Delme. + +Thompson made him a quiet sign. "I am very sorry, Sir," said he, "but +the Arab is quite lame, and is not fit for the saddle." + +"Give me a glass of sangaree then, you rascal! Port--do you hear?" + +The glass was brought him. He drained its contents at a draught. + +"Now, kick that scoundrel out of the room, Thompson, and let me sleep." + +He threw himself listlessly on the sofa. Acme was weeping bitterly, +but he seemed not to notice her. It was late in the day. The surgeon +had been sent for. He now arrived, and stated that nothing could be +done; but recommended his being watched closely, and the removing +all dangerous weapons. He begged Henry, however, to indulge him in +all his caprices, in order that he might the better observe the +state of his mind. + +While George slept, Delme entered another room, and ordering the servant +to inform him when he awoke, he sat down to dinner alone and dispirited; +for Acme refused to leave George. It was indeed a sad, and to Sir Henry +Delme an unforeseen shock. + +In a couple of hours, Thompson came with a message from Acme. "Master +is awake, Sir--knows the Signora--and seems much better. He has +desired me to brush his cloak, as he intends going out. Shall I do so, +Sir, or not?" + +"Do so!" said Delme, "but fail not to inform me when he is about to go; +and be yourself in readiness. We will watch him." + + + + +Chapter XV. + +The Charnel House. + + + + "And when at length the mind shall be all free, + From what it hates in this degraded form, + Reft of its carnal life, save what shall be + Existent happier in the fly or worm; + When elements to elements conform, + And dust is as it should be." + + +The last grey tinge of twilight, was fast giving place to the sombre +hues of night, as a figure, enveloped in a military cloak, issued from +the barrack at Floriana. + +Henry at once recognised George; and only delaying till a short distance +had intervened between his brother and himself, Delme and Thompson +followed his footsteps. + +George Delme walked swiftly, as if intent on some deep design. The long +shadow thrown out by his figure, enabled his pursuers to distinguish him +very clearly. He did not turn his head, but, with hurried step, strode +the species of common which divides Floriana from La Valette. Crossing +the drawbridge, and passing through the porch which guards the entrance +to the town, he turned down an obscure street, and, folding his cloak +closer around him, rapidly--yet with an appearance of caution--continued +his route, diving from one street to another, till he entered a small +court-yard, in which stood an isolated gloomy-looking house. No light +appeared in the windows, and its exterior bespoke it uninhabited. Henry +and the domestic paused, expecting George either to knock or return to +the street. He walked on, however, and, turning to one side of the +porch, descended a flight of stone steps, and entered the lower part of +the house. + +"Perhaps we had better not both follow him," said the servant. + +"No, Thompson! do you remain here, only taking care that your master +does not pass you: and I think you may as well go round the house, and +see if there is any other way of leaving it." + +Sir Henry descended the steps in silence. Arrived at the foot of the +descent, a narrow passage, diverging to the left, presented itself. +Beyond appeared a distant glimmering of light. Delme groped along the +passage, using the precaution to crouch as low as possible, until he +came before a large comfortless room in the centre of which, was placed +a brass lamp, whose light was what he had discerned at the extremity of +the passage. He could distinctly observe the furniture and inmates of +the room. Of the former, the only articles were a table--on which were +placed the remains of a homely meal--an iron bedstead, and a barrel, +turned upside down, which served as a substitute for a chair. The +bedstead had no curtains, but in lieu of them, there were hangings +around it, which struck Delme as resembling mourning habiliments. +Whilst the light operated thus favourably, in enabling Sir Henry to +note the interior of the apartment, it was hardly possible, from its +situation, that he himself could be observed. Its rays did not reach +the passage; and he was also shrouded in some degree by a door, which +was off its hinges, and which was placed against the wall. Fastened to +the side of the room were two deep shelves--the lower one containing +some bottles and plates; the upper, a number of human sculls. In a +corner were some more of these, intermingled in a careless heap, with a +few bleached bones. + +George Delme was standing opposite the door, conversing earnestly with a +Maltese, evidently of the lowest caste. The latter was seated on the +barrel we have mentioned, and was listening with apparently a mixture of +surprise and exultation to what George was saying. George's voice sunk +to an inaudible whisper, as the conversation continued, and he was +evidently trying to remove some scruples, which this man either affected +to feel, or really felt. The man's answers were given in a gruff and +loud tone of voice, but from the Maltese dialect of his Italian, Sir +Henry could not understand what was said. His countenance was very +peculiar. It was of that derisive character rarely met with in one of +his class of life, except when called forth by peculiar habits, or +extraordinary circumstances. His eyes were very small, but bright and +deeply set. His lips wore a constant sarcastic smile, which gave him the +air of a bold but cunning man. His throat and bosom were bare, and of a +deep copper colour; and his muscular chest was covered with short curly +hair. The conversation on George's part became more animated, and he at +length made use of what seemed an unanswerable argument. Taking out a +beaded purse, which Sir Henry knew well--it had been Emily's last +present to George--he emptied the contents into the bronzed hand of his +companion, who grasped the money with avidity. The Maltese _now_ +appeared to acquiesce in all George's wishes; and rising, went towards +the bed, and selected some of the articles of wearing apparel Delme had +already noticed. He addressed some words to George, who sat on the +bedside quiescently, while the man went to the table, and took up a +knife that was upon it. For a moment, Delme felt alarm lest his design +might be a murderous one; but it was not so. He laughed savagely, as he +made use of the knife, to cut off the luxuriant chestnut ringlets, which +shaded George's eyes and forehead. He then applied to the face some +darkening liquid, and commenced choosing a sable dress. George threw off +his cloak, and was attired by the Maltese, in a long black cotton robe +of the coarsest material, which, descending to the feet, came in a hood +over his face, which it almost entirely concealed. During the whole of +this scene, George Delme's features wore an air of dogged apathy, which +alarmed his brother, even more than his agitation in the earlier part of +the day. After his being metamorphosed in the way we have described, it +would have been next to an impossibility to have recognised him. His +companion put on a dress of the same nature, and Sir Henry was preparing +to make his retreat, presuming that they would now leave the building, +when he was induced to stay for the purpose of remarking the conduct of +the Maltese. He took up a scull, and placing his finger through an +eyeless hole, whence _once_ love beamed or hate flashed, he made some +savage comment, which he accompanied by a long and malignant laugh. This +would at another time have shocked Sir Henry, but there was another +laugh, wilder and more discordant, that curdled the blood in Delme's +veins. It proceeded from his brother, the gay--the happy George Delme; +and as it re-echoed through the gloomy passage, it seemed that of a +remorseless demon, gloating on the misfortunes of the human race. Delme +turned away in agony, and, unperceived, regained the anxious domestic. +Screened by an angle of the building, they saw George and his companion +ascend the stone steps, cross the yard, and turn into the street. They +followed him cautiously--Delme's ears ringing with that fiendish laugh. +George's companion stopped for a moment, at a house in the street, where +they were joined by a sallow-looking priest, apparently one of the most +disgusting of his tribe. He was accompanied by a boy, also drest in +sacerdotal robes, in one hand bearing a silver-ornamented staff, of the +kind frequently used in processions, and in other observances of the +Catholic religion; and in the other, a rude lanthorn, whose light +enabled Delme to note these particulars. As the four figures swept +through the streets, the lower orders prostrated themselves, before the +figure of the crucified and dying Saviour which surmounted the staff. +They again stopped, and the priest entered a house alone. On coming +back, he was followed by a coffin, borne on the shoulders of four of the +lower order of Maltese. At the moment these were leaving the house, +Henry heard a solitary scream, apparently of a woman. It was wild and +thrilling; such an one as we hear from the hovering sea bird, as the +tempest gathers to a head. To Delme, coming as it did at that lone hour +from one he saw not, it seemed superhuman. In the front of the house +stood two caleches, the last of which, Sir Henry observed was without +doors. At a sign from the Maltese, George and his strange companion +entered it. They were followed by the coffin, which was placed +lengthways, with the two ends projecting into the street. In the +_leading_ caleche were the priest and boy, the latter of whom thrust +the figure of the bleeding Jesus out at the window, whilst with the +other hand he held up the lanthorn. Twice more did the caleche +stop--twice receive corpses. Another light was produced, and placed in +the last conveyance, and Delme took the opportunity of their arranging +this, to pass by the caleche. The light that had been placed in it shone +full on George. The coffins were on a level with the lower part of his +face. Nothing of his body, which was jammed in between the seat and the +coffins, could be seen. But the features, which glared over the pall, +were indeed terrific; apathy no longer marked them. George seemed wound +up to an extraordinary state of excitement. Gone was the glazed +expression of his eye, which now gleamed like that of a famished eagle. +The Maltese leant back in the carriage, with a sardonic smile, his dark +face affording a strange contrast to the stained, but yet ghastly hue of +George Delme's. + +"They intend to take them to the vault at Floriana, your honor," said +the servant, "shall I call a caleche, and we can follow them?" + +Without waiting a reply, for the man saw that Sir Henry's faculties, +were totally absorbed in the strange scene he had witnessed; Thompson +called a carriage, which passed the other two--now commencing at a +funeral pace to proceed to the vault--and, taking the same direction +which they had done on entering the town, a short time sufficed to put +them down immediately opposite the church. They had time allowed them to +dismiss their carriage, and screen themselves from observation, before +the funeral procession arrived. + +This stopped in front of the vault, and Delme anxiously scrutinised the +proceedings. Another man--probably the one whose place George had +supplied--had joined them outside the town, and now walked by the side +of the caleche. He assisted George's companion in bearing out the +coffins. The huge door grated on its hinges, as they opened it. The +coffins were borne in, and the whole party entered; the priest mumbling +a short Latin prayer. In a short time, the priest alone returned; and +looking cautiously around, and seeing no one, struck a light from a +tinder box, and lighted his cigar. The other two men brought back the +coffins, evidently relieved of their weight; and the priest--the +boy--with the man who had last joined them, and who had also lit his +cigar--entered the first caleche, after exchanging some jokes with +George's companion, and returned at a rapid pace towards the town. +During this time, George Delme had been left alone in the vault. His +companion returned to him, after taking the precaution to fasten its +doors inside. + +Sir Henry was now at a loss what plan to adopt; but Thompson, after a +moment's hesitation, suggested one. + +"There is an iron grating, Sir, over part of the vault, through which, +when a bar was loose, I know one of our soldiers went down. Shall I +get a cord?" + +The man ran towards his barrack, and returned with it. To wrench by +their united efforts, one bar from its place, and to fasten the rope to +another, was the work of an instant. Space was just left them to creep +through the aperture. Sir Henry was the first to breathe the confined +air of the sepulchre. A voice warned him in what direction to proceed; +and not waiting for the domestic, he groped his way forward through a +narrow passage. At first, Delme thought there was a wall on either side +him; but as he made a false step, and the bones crumbled beneath, he +knew that it was a wall, formed of the bleached remains of the bygone +dead. As he drew nearer the voice, he was guided by the lanthorn brought +by George's companion; and towards this he proceeded, almost overpowered +by the horrible stench of the charnel house, As he drew near enough to +distinguish objects, what a scene presented itself! In one corner of the +vault, lay a quantity of lime used to consume the bodies, whilst nearer +the light, lay corpses in every stage of putrefaction. In some, the lime +had but half accomplished its purpose; and while in parts of the body, +the bones lay bare and exposed; in others, corruption in its most +loathsome form prevailed. Here the meaner reptiles--active and +prolific--might be seen busily at work, battening on human decay. Sir +Henry stepped over a dead body, and started, as a rat, scared from its +prey, rustled through a wreath of withered flowers, and hid itself amid +a mouldering heap of bones. But there were some forms lovely still! In +them the pulse of life had that day ceased to beat. The rigidity of +Death--his impressive stillness was there--but he had not yet "swept the +lines where beauty lingers." + +The Maltese stood with folded arms, closely regarding George Delme. + +George leant against a pillar, with one knee bent. Over it was stretched +the corpse of a girl, with the face horribly decomposed. The dull and +flagging winds of the vault moved her dank and matted hair. + +"Acme," said he, as he parted the dry hair from the blackened brow, +"_do_ but speak to your own George! Be not angry with me, dearest!" He +held the disgusting object to his lips, and lavished endearments on the +putrid corpse. + +Delme staggered--and Thompson supported him--as he gasped for breath +in the extremity of his agony. At this moment his eye caught the face of +the Maltese. He had advanced towards George--his arms were still +folded--his eyes were sparkling with joy--and his features wore the +malignant expression of gratified revenge. Sir Henry sprang to his feet +and rushed forward. + +"George! my brother! my brother!" + +The maniac raised his pallid brow--his eye flashed consciousness--the +blue veins in his forehead swelled almost to bursting--he tossed his +arms wildly--and sunk powerless on the corpses around--his convulsive +shrieks re-echoing in that lonely vault. Thompson seized the Maltese, +and making him unlock the door, bore the brothers into the open air; for +Henry, at the time, was as much overpowered as George himself. + +A clear solution to that curious scene was never given, for George could +not give the clue to his train of mental aberration. + +With regard to his companion's share in the transaction, the man was +closely questioned, and other means of information resorted to, but the +only facts elicited were these: + +His son had been executed some years before for a desperate attempt to +assassinate a British soldier, with whom he had had an altercation +during the carnival. + +The man himself said, that he had no recollection of ever having +seen George before, but that he certainly _did_ remember some +officers questioning him on two occasions somewhat minutely as to +his mode of life. + +This part of his story was confirmed by another officer of the regiment, +who remembered George and Delancey being with him on one occasion, when +the latter had taken much interest in the questioning of this man. The +Maltese declared, that on the night in question he was taken entirely by +surprise--that George entered the room abruptly--offered him money to be +allowed to accompany him to the vault--and told him that he had just +placed a young lady there whom he wished to see. + +Colonel Vavasour, who took some trouble in arriving at the truth, was +satisfied that the man was well aware of George's insanity, but that +he felt too happy in being able to wreak an ignoble revenge on a +British officer. + + + + +Chapter XVI. + +The Marriage. + + + + "The child of love, though born in bitterness, + And nurtured in convulsion." + + +For many days, George Delme lay on his couch unconscious and +immoveable. If his eye looked calm, it was the tranquillity of +apathetic ignorance, the fixedness of idiotcy. He spoke if he was +addressed, but recognised no one, and his answers were not to the +purpose. He took his food, and would then turn on his side, and close +his eyes as if in sleep. In vain did Acme watch over him--in vain did +her tears bedew his couch--in vain did Delme take his hand, and +endeavour to draw his attention to passing objects. + +George had never been so long without a lucid interval. The surgeon's +voice grew less cheering every day, as he saw the little amendment in +his patient, and remarked that the pulse was gradually sinking. Colonel +Vavasour never allowed a day to elapse without visiting the invalid; and +in the regiment, his illness excited great commiseration, and drew forth +many expressions of kindness. + +"Oh God! oh God!" said Delme, "he must not sink thus. Just as I am with +him--just as--oh, poor Emily! what will _she_ feel? Can nothing be done, +Mr. Graham?" + +"Nothing! Sir: we must now put our whole trust in an all-seeing +Providence. _My_ skill can neither foresee nor hasten the result." + +One soft summer's evening, when the wind blew in the scent of flowers +from the opposite gardens--and the ceaseless hum of the insects--those +twilight revellers--sounded happily on the ear, Acme started from the +couch as a thought crossed her. + +"We have never tried music," said she, "I have been too unhappy to +think of it." + +Her tears fell fast on the guitar, as she tuned its strings. She sung a +plaintive Greek air. It was the first George ever heard her sing, and +was the favourite. He heard it, when watching; lover-like beneath her +balcony during the first vernal days of their attachment. The song was +gone through sadly, and without hope. George's face was from her, and +she laid down the guitar, weary of life. + +George gently turned his head. His eyes wore a subdued melancholy +expression, bespeaking consciousness. Down his cheek one big drop was +trickling. + +"Acme!" said he, "dearest Acme!" + +Delme, who had left the room, was recalled by the hysterical sobs of the +poor girl, as she fell back on the chair, her hands clasped in joyful +gratitude. + +The surgeon, who had immediately been sent for, ordered that George +should converse as little as possible. + +What he did say was rational. What a solace was that to Henry and Acme! +The invalid too appeared well aware of his previous illness, although he +alluded to it but seldom. To those about him, his manner was femininely +soft, as he whispered his thanks, and sense of their kindness. + +Immediately after the horrible scene he had witnessed, Sir Henry's mind +had been made up, as to the line of conduct he ought to pursue. The +affectionate solicitude of the young Greek, during George's illness, +gave him no reason to regret his determination. + +"Now," said Mr. Graham, one day as George was rapidly recovering, +"now, Sir Henry, I would recommend you to break all you have to say to +George. For God's sake, let them be married; and although, mark me! I +by no means assert that it will quite re-establish George's health, +yet I think such a measure _may_ effectually do so, and at all events +will calm him for the present; which, after all, is the great object +we have in view." + +The same day, Delme went to his brother's bed-side. "George," said he, +"let me take the present opportunity of Acme's absence, to tell you what +I had only deferred till you were somewhat stronger. She is a good girl, +George, a very good girl. I wish she had been English--it would have +been better!--but this we cannot help. You must marry her, George! I +will be a kind brother-in-law, and Emily shall love her for your sake." + +The invalid sat up in his bed--his eyes swam in tears. He twice essayed +to speak, ere he could express his gratitude. + +"Thank you! a thousand times thank you! my kind brother! Even _you_ +cannot tell the weight of suffering, you have this day taken from my +mind. My conduct towards Acme has been bowing me to the earth; and yet +I feared your consent would never be obtained. I feared that coldness +from you and Emily would have met her; and that I should have had but +_her_ smile to comfort me for the loss of what I so value. God bless +you for this!" + +Delme was much affected. + +To complete his good work, he waited till Acme had returned from a visit +she had just made to her relations; and taking her aside, told her his +wishes, and detailed his late conversation with George. + +"Never! never!" said the young Greek, "I am too happy as I am. I have +heard you all make better lovers than husbands. I cannot be happier! +No! no! I will never consent to it." + +All remonstrances were fruitless--no arguments could affect her--no +entreaties persuade. + +Delme, quite perplexed at finding such a difficulty, where he had so +little expected to find one,--pitying her simplicity, but admiring her +disinterestedness,--went to George, and told him Acme's objections. + +"I feared it," said his brother, "but perhaps I may induce her to think +differently. Were I to take advantage of her unsophisticated feelings, +and want of knowledge of the world, I should indeed be a villain." + +Acme was sent for, and came weeping in--took Georg's hand--and gazed +earnestly in his face as he addressed her. + +"You must change your mind, dearest," said he. And he told her of the +world's opinion--the contumely she might have to endure--the slights to +which she would be subjected. Still she heeded not. + +"Why mention these things?" said she. "Who would insult me, were _you_ +near? or if they did, should I regard them while _you_ were kind?" + +And her lover's words took a loftier tone; and he spoke of religion, and +of the duties it imposes; of the feelings of his countrywomen; and the +all-seeing eye of their God. Still the fond girl wept bitterly, but +spoke not. + +"My own Acme! consider _my_ health too, dearest! Were you now to +consent, I might never again be ill. It would be cruelty to me to +refuse. Say you consent for _my_ sake, sweet!" + +"For your sake, then!" said Acme, as she twined her snowy arms round his +neck, "for _your_ sake, Giorgio, I do so! But oh! when I am yours for +ever by that tie; when--if this be possible--our present raptures are +less fervent--our mutual affections less devoted--do not, dearest +George--do not, I implore you--treat me with coldness. It would break my +heart, indeed it would." + +They were married according to the rites of both the Protestant and +Catholic Church. Few were present. George had been lifted to the sofa, +and sat up during the ceremony; and although his features were pale and +emaciated, they brightened with internal satisfaction, as he heard those +words pronounced, which made his love a legitimate one. Acme was silent +and thoughtful; and tears quenched the fire of her usually sparkling +eye. George Delme's recovery from this date became more rapid. + +He was able to resume his wonted exercise--his step faltered +less--his eye became clearer. His convalescence was so decided, that +the surgeon recommended his at once travelling, and for the present +relinquishing the army. + +"Perhaps the excessive heat may not be beneficial. I would, if possible, +get him to Switzerland for the summer months. I will enquire what +outward-bound vessels there are. If there is one for Leghorn, so much +the better. But the sooner he tries change of scene, the more +advantageous it is likely to be; and after all, the climate is but a +secondary consideration." + +An American vessel bound to Palermo, happened to be the only one in the +harbour, whose destination would serve their purpose; and determined +not to postpone George's removal, Sir Henry at once engaged its cabin. +Colonel Vavasour obtained George leave for the present, and promised to +arrange as to his exchanging from full pay. He likewise enabled him, +which George felt as a great boon, to take his old and attached servant +with him; with the promise that he would use all his interest to have +the man's discharge forwarded him, before the expiration of his leave. + +"He may be useful to you, my dear boy, if you get ill again, which God +forbid! He is an old soldier, and a good man--well deserving the +indulgence. And remember! if you should be better, and feel a returning +penchant for the red coat, write to me--we will do our best to work an +exchange for you." + + + + +Chapter XVII. + +The Departure. + + + + "Farewell! a word that must be, and hath been, + A sound that makes us linger, yet farewell." + + +The day of departure at length arrived. Thompson had been busy the +greater part of the night in getting every thing ready for the voyage. +It was a lovely morning, and the wind, although light, was propitious. + +Acme had parted with her relations and friends the day previous. + +She was henceforward to share the destiny of one, who was to supply the +place of both to her. Attached to them as she was, and grateful as she +felt for their kindness in the hour of need, there was nothing in that +parting to throw a permanent gloom on the hopes of the youthful bride. + +Her love, and the feelings it engendered, were of that confiding nature, +that she could have followed George anywhere, and been happy still. As +it was, her lot seemed cast "in pleasant places," and no foreboding of +evil, except indeed for George, ever marred the waking dreams of Acme. +Her simple heart had already learnt, to look up with respect and +affection to Sir Henry, and yearned with fond longing for the period +when she should return a sister's love. + +She had that lively talent too, which, miniatured as it was, allowed of +her fully appreciating the superiority of the English she had lately +met, to the general run of those with whom she had hitherto associated. +An English home had none but charms for her. + +"Come Acme," said George, as he assisted her in adjusting the first +bonnet that had ever confined her wavy curls, "wish good bye to your +ring-dove, dear! Mrs. Graham will take good care of it; and Thompson has +just finished the packing." + +The boat which was to convey them to the vessel was so near, that they +had agreed to walk down to the place of embarkation. + +As George left the room, a tall figure presented itself on the +staircase. + +"Ah, Clark!" said George, "my good fellow! I am very sorry to part with +you. I do not know what I shall do without my pay serjeant!" and he held +out his hand. + +It was grasped gratefully. + +"Thank you, your honour!" + +The old soldier stood erect, and put his hand to his cap. + +"God bless you! Mr. Delme. I have served under many officers, but never +under a kinder. May the Almighty bless you, Sir, in all your +wanderings." + +The soldier turned away--one large drop burst o'er the lid, and trickled +down his sun-burnt cheek. + +With the back of his hand, he brushed it off indignantly. + +His converse may be rough--his manner rude--his hand ever ready for +quarrel;--but, believe us! ye who deem the soldier beneath his +fellow-men,--that the life of change--of chance--of hardship--and of +danger--which is his, freezes not the kindlier emotions of the soul, if +it sweep away its sicklier refinements. Beneath the red vest, beat +hearts as warm and true, as ever throbbed beneath operative apron, or +swelled under softest robe of ermine. + +George was moved by the man's evidently sincere grief. He reached the +bottom of the stairs. The company to which he belonged was drawn up in +the court yard. + +In front of it, the four tallest men supported a chair, and almost +before George Delme was aware of their purpose, bore him to it, and +lifted him on their shoulders, amidst the huzzas of their comrades. The +band, too, which had voluntarily attended, now struck up the march which +George delighted to hear; and, followed by his company, he was carried +triumphantly towards the mole. + +George's heart was full. + +Sir Henry felt deeply interested in the scene; and poor Acme leant on +his arm, and wept with joy. + +Yes! there are moments in life, and this was one, when the approval of +our inferiors awakens a degree of pride and mental satisfaction, that +no panegyric of our superiors, no expressions of esteem from our +equals, could have ever called forth. Such approval meets us, as the +spontaneous effusion of hearts that have looked up to ours, and have +_not_ been deceived. + +This pride was it that flushed George's cheek, and illumed with +brightness his swimming eye. He was thus carried till he arrived at the +spot where his boat should have been. It was already, with Thompson and +their baggage, half way towards the vessel. In its place was the +regimental gig, manned by George's best friends. Its steersman was +Colonel Vavasour, drest in the fanciful aquatic costume his regiment +had adopted. + +Trifling as this may appear, this act of his Colonel, seemed to George +the very highest compliment that had ever been paid him. + +George Delme turned to his company, and with choking voice thanked them +for this last mark of attention. We are very certain that a shake of +the hand from a prince, would not have delighted him as much, as did +the hearty farewell greeting of his rough comrades. + +Even Acme blushingly went up to the chair-supporters, and, with a +winning smile, extended her small hand. Vavasour assisted her into the +gig, and it was with a bounding elasticity of spirit, to which he had +long been a stranger, that George followed. As the boat cut through the +water, they were greeted with a last and deafening huzza. + +In a short time they were alongside the vessel. The captain was pacing +the deck, and marking the signs of the wind, with the keen eye of the +sailor. A chair was lowered for Acme. She shook hands with the rowers. +George parted from them as if they had been brothers, and from Colonel +Vavasour last of all. + +"Take care of yourself, my dear boy," said the latter, "do not +forget to write us; we shall all be anxious to know how you have +stood the voyage." + +As the gig once more shot its way homewards, and many a friendly +handkerchief waved its adieu, George felt, that sad as the parting was, +he should have felt it more _bitterly_ if they had loved him less. + +To divert their minds from thoughts of a melancholy nature, Sir Henry, +as the boat made a turn of the land, and was no longer visible, proposed +exploring the cabin. This they found small, but cleanly. Some hampers of +fruit, and a quantity of ice, exhibited agreable proofs of the attention +of Acme's relations. We may, by the way, observe, that rarely does the +sense of the palate assert its supremacy with greater force than on +board-ship. There will the _thought_--much more the _reality_--of a +mellow pine--or juicy pomegranate--cause the mouth to water for the best +part of a long summer's day. On their ascending the deck, the captain +approached Sir Henry. + +"No offence! Sir; but I guess the wind is fair. If you want nothing +ashore, we will off, Sir, _now_! if you please." + +Delme acquiesced. + +How disagreable is the act of leaving harbour in a merchant ship! + +Even sailors dislike it, and growl between their teeth, like captive +bears. The chains of the anchor clank gratingly on the ear. The very +chorus of the seamen smacks of the land, and wants the rich and free +tone that characterises it in mid-sea. Hoarse are the mandates of the +boat-swain! his whistle painfully shrill! The captain walks the deck +thoughtfully, and frowningly ruminates on his bill of lading--or on some +over-charge in the dock duties--or, it may be, on his dispute on shore +with a part owner of the vessel. + +And anon, he shakes off these thoughts, and looks on the +weather-side--then upwards at the the masts--and, as he notes the +proceedings, his orders are delivered fiercely, and his passions seem +ungovernable. + +The vessel, too, seems to share the general feeling--is loath to +leave the port. + +She unsteadily answers the call of her canvas--her rigging creaks--and +her strong sides groan--as she begins lazily and slowly to make her way. + +Glad to turn their attention to anything rather than the scene around, +George began conversing on the effect the attentions of his company and +brother officers had had on him. + +"Their kindness," said George, "was wholly unexpected by me, and I felt +it very deeply. An hour before, I fancied that Acme and my own family +monopolised every sympathy I possessed. But, thank God! the heart has +many hidden channels through which kindness may steal, and infuse its +genial balm." + +"_I_ felt it, too, George!" said his brother, "and was anxious as to the +effect the scene might have on you. I am glad it _was_ unexpected. We +are sometimes better enabled to enact our parts improvising them, than +when we have schooled ourselves, and braced all our energies to the one +particular purpose. + +"Acme, how did you like the way George's men behaved?" + +"It made me weep with joy," replied the young Greek, "for I love all who +love my Giorgio." + + + + +Chapter XVIII. + +The Adieu. + + + + "Adieu! the joys of La Valette." + + * * * * * + + "No more! no more! No! never more on me + The freshness of the heart shall fall like dew." + + * * * * * + + "Absence makes the heart grow fonder, + Isle of Beauty! fare thee well." + + +Malta! the snowy sail shivers in the wind--the waves, chafed by our +intruding keel, are proudly foaming--sea birds soar, screaming their +farewell aloft--as we wave our hand to thee for ever! What is our +feeling, as we see thee diminish hourly? + +Regret! unfeigned regret! + +Albeit we speed to our native land, on the wing of a bark as fleet as +ever--but it matters not--_thou_ hast seen the best of our days. + +Visions conjured up by thee, have the unusual power, to banish +anticipations of Almack's glories, and of home flirtations. + +We are recalling balls enjoyed in thee, loved island! the valse spun +round with the darling fleet-footed Maltese, who during its pauses leant +back on our arm, against which her spangled zone throbbed, from the +pulsations of her heart. + +Dreams of turtle and of grand master--the _fish_, not the +_official_--and of consecutive iced champagne, mock our sight! But +more--yes! far more than all, are we reminded of thy abode--thou +dispenser of cheering liquids! thou promoter of convivial happiness! +meek Saverio! How swiftly glided the mirth-loving nights as--the +enchanting strains of the prima donna hushed--we adjourned to thy ever +to be praised bottegua! + +With what precision didst thou there mete out the many varied +ingredients--the exact relative proportions--which can alone embody our +conception of the nectar of the Gods, punch a la Romaine! + +Whose cigars ever equalled thine, thou prince of Ganymedes? and when +were cigars more justly appreciated, than as our puffs kept time with +the trolling ditty, resounding through the walls of thy domain? + +The luxury of those days! + +Then would Sol come peeping in upon us; as unwelcome and unlooked-for +a visitant, as to the enamoured Juliet, when she sighing told her +lover that + + "'Twas but a meteor that the sun exhaled, + To be to him that night a torch-bearer, + And light him on his way to Mantua." + +Then, with head dizzy from its gladness, with heart unduly elate, has +the Strada Teatro seen us, imperiously calling for the submissive +caleche. Arrived in our chamber, how gravely did we close its shutters! +With what a feeling of satisfied enjoyment, did we court the downy +freshness of the snow-white sheet! + +Sweet and deep were our slumbers--for youth's spell was upon us, and +our fifth lustre had not _yet_ heralded us to serious thoughts and +anxious cares. + +Awoke by the officious valet, and remorseless friend, deemest though +our debauch was felt? No! an effervescent draught of soda calmed us; we +ate a blood orange, and smoked a cigar! + +We often hear Malta abused. Byron is the stale authority; and every +snub-nosed cynic turns up his prominent organ, and talks of "sirocco, +sun, and sweat." Byron disliked it--he had cause. He was there at a bad +season, and was suffering from an attack of bile. _We_ know of no place +abroad, where the English eye will meet with so little to offend it, and +so much to please and impress. + +There is such a blending together of European, Asiatic, and African +customs; there is such a variety in the costumes one meets; there is +such grandeur in their palaces--such glory in their annals; such novelty +in their manners and habits; such devotion in their religious +observances; such simplicity and yet such beauty, in the dress of the +women; and their wearers possess such fascinations; that we defy the +most fastidious of critics, who has really resided there, to deny to +Malta many of those attributes, with which he would invest that place, +on whose beauty and agremens, he may prefer of all others to descant. + +With the commonplace observer, its superb harbour, studded with gilded +boats; its powerful fortifications, where art towers over nature, and +where the eye looks up a rock, and catches a bristling battery; the +glare of its scenery, with no foliage to cover the white stone;--all +these, together with the different way in which the minutiae of life are +transacted,--will call forth his attention, and demand his notice. + +Art thou a poet, or a fancied warrior? What scene has been more replete +with noble exploits? In whose breasts did the flame of chivalry burn +brighter, than in those of the knights of St. John of Jerusalem? Not a +name meets thee, that has not belonged to a hero! If thou grievest to +find all dissimilar _but_ the name; yet mayest thou still muse, +contemplative, over the tomb and ashes of him, whom thy mind has +shadowed forth, as a noble light in a more romantic age. + +Art thou a moralist, a thinking Christian? Thou mayest there trace--and +the pursuit shall profit thee--the steps of the sainted apostle; he who +was so signally called forth, to hear witness to the truth of ONE, whom +he had erst reviled. Yon cordelier will show you the bay, where his +vessel took refuge in its distress; and will tell you, that yon jagged +rock first gave its dangerous welcome, to the bark of his patron saint. + +Lovest thou music? hast loved? or been beloved? or both perchance? + +Steal forth when night holds her starry court, and the guitars around +are tinkling, as more than one rich voice deplores his mistress's +cruelty, in hopes she may now relent. But see! _there_ is one, who puts +in requisition neither music's spell, nor flattery's lay. + +See! he approaches. His cloak wrapped around him, he cautiously treads +the tranquil street. + +He gains the portico--the signal is given. Who but an expectant maiden +could hear one so slight? + +Hark! a sound! cautiously the lattice opens--above him blushes the fair +one! How brightly her dark eye flashes! how silver soft the tones of +her voice! + +The stern father--the querulous mother--the tricked duenna--all--all +are slumbering. She leans forward, and her ear drinks in his honied +words; as her head is supported by her snowy arm. + +And now he whispers more passionately. She answers not, but hides her +face in her hands. She starts! she throws back her hair from her brow; +she waves a white fazzolet, and is gone. + +Not thus flies the lover. He crouches beneath the Ionic portico, his +figure hardly discernible. A bolt--the last bolt is withdrawn. A form is +dimly seen within--retiring, timid, repentant. + +Sweet the task to calm that throbbing heart, or teach it to throb no +more with fear! + +But let him of melancholy mood, wander to the deserted village. A more +fearful calamity has befallen it, than ever attended the soft shades, of +the one conjured up by the poet. + +_Here_ the demon Plague, with baneful wing, and pestilential influence, +tarried for many days; till not one--no! not one soul of that village +train--that did not join his bygone fathers. + +Stray along its grass-grown roofless tenements! where _your_ echo alone +breaks the silence, as it startles from its resting-place the slumbering +owl--for who would dwell in abodes so marked for destruction? Stray +there! think of the gentle contadina diffusing happiness around her! +_then_ think of her as she supports the youth she loves--as she clasps +his faint form--and drinks in a poisonous contagion from his pallid lip. + +Think of her as the disease seizes on its new victim--still +attempting to prop up his head--to reach the cup, that may relieve +his maddening thirst,--until, giddy and overpowered, she sinks at +last; but--beside him! + +Think of their dying together! _that_ at least is a solace. + +Do not the scene and the thought draw a tear? + +If your eye be dry, come--come away--_your_ step should not sound there! + +The wind continued fair during the whole of the first day. Every trace +of Valletta was soon lost; and the good barque Boston swept by the rocky +coast of the island, where few human habitations meet the eye, swiftly +and cheerily. The sea birds sported round the tall masts--the canvas +bulged out bravely--the Captain forgot his shore griefs, and commenced a +colloquy with Sir Henry. The sailors sung in chorus; whilst poor +Acme,--we grieve to confess the fact, for never was a Mediterranean sea +looked down on by brighter sun, or more cloudless sky,--retired to her +cabin, supported by George, a prey to that unsentimental malady, sea +sickness. The following day, the wind shifted some points; and the +Captain judged it most prudent to forego his original intention of +steering direct for Palermo; but to take advantage of the breeze, and +adopt the passage through the Faro of Messina. + +Delme felt glad of this change; for Scylla and Charybdis to an +Englishman, are as familiar as Whittington and his cat. For the first +two days Acme continued unwell; and George, who already appeared +improved by the sea air, never left her side. + +Delme had therefore a dull time of it; which he strove to enliven by +conversing, one after the other, with the Captain and his two mates. +From all of them, he learnt something; but from all he turned away, as +they commenced discussing the comparative merits of the United States, +and the old country; a subject he had neither the wish to enter on, nor +fortitude to prosecute. Not daunted, he attacked mate the third; and was +led to infer better things, as the young gentleman commenced expatiating +on the "purple sky," and "dark blue sea." This hope did not last long; +for this lover of nature turned round to Sir Henry, and asked him in a +nasal twang, if he preferred Cooper's or Mr. Scott's novels? Delme was +not naturally a rude man, but as he turned away, he hummed something +very like Yankee-doodle. + +And then the moon got up; and Sir Henry felt lonely and sentimental. He +leant over the vessel's side, and watched it pictured on the ocean, and +quivering as the transient billow swept onwards. And he thought of home, +and Emily. He thought of his brother, his heir,--if he died, the only +male to inherit the ancient honours of his house,--married to a +stranger, and--but Acme was too sweet a being, not to have already +enlisted all his sympathies with her. And as if all these thoughts, like +rays converged in a burning glass, did but tend to one object, the image +of Julia Vernon suddenly rose before him. + +He saw her beautiful as ever--gentleness in her eye--fascination in +her smile! + +And the air got cold--and he went to bed. + + + + +Chapter XIX. + +A Dream and a Ghost Story. + + + + "Touching this eye-creation; + What is it to surprise us? Here we are + Engendered out of nothing cognisable-- + If this were not a wonder, nothing is; + If this be wonderful, then all is so. + Man's grosser attributes can generate + What _is_ not, and has never been at all; + What should forbid his fancy to restore + A being pass'd away? The wonder lies + In the mind merely of the wondering man." + + +It was the fourth evening of the voyage. Hardly a breath fanned the +sails, as the vessel slowly glided between the Calabrian and Sicilian +coasts, approaching quite close to the former. + +The party, seated on chairs placed on the deck, gazed in a spirit of +placid enjoyment on one of those scenes, which the enthusiastic +traveller often recals, as in his native clime, he pines for foreign +lands, and for novel impressions. The sun was setting over the purple +peaks of the Calabrian mountains, smiling in sunny gladness on deep +ravines, whose echoes few human feet now woke, save those of simple +peasant, or lawless bandit. Where the orb of day held its declining +course, the sky wore a hue of burnished gold; its rich tint alone +varied, by one fleecy violet cloud, whose outline of rounded beauty, was +marked by a clear cincture of white, + +On their right, beneath the mountain, lay the little village of Capo del +Marte, a perfect specimen of Italian scenery. + +Its sandy beach, against which the tide beat in dalliance--the chafed +spray catching and reflecting the glories of the setting sun--ran +smoothly up a slope of some thirty yards; beyond which, the orange +trees, in their greenest foliage, chequered with their shade the white +cottages scattered above them. + +The busy hum of the fishermen on the coast--the splash of the casting +net--and the drip of the oar--were appropriate accompaniments to the +simple scene. + +On the Sicilian side, a different view wooed attention. There, old Etna +upreared his encumbered head, around which the smoke clung in dense +majesty; and--not contemptible rivals of the declining deity--the moon's +silvery crescent, and the evening star's quiet splendour, were bedecking +the cloudless blue of the firmament. + +Acme gazed enraptured on the scene--her long tresses hanging back on the +chair, across which one hand was languidly thrown. + +"Giorgio," said she, "do you see this beautiful bird close to the +ship--swimming so steadily--its snowy plumage apparently unwet from its +contact with the wave? To what can you compare it?" + +"That bright-eyed gull, love!" replied he, "riding on the water as if +all regardless that he is on the wide--wide sea--whose billows may so +soon be lashed up to madness;--where may I find a resemblance more +close, than my Acme's simplicity, which guides her through a troubled +world, unknowing its treacheries, and happily ignorant of its dangers +and its woes?" + +"Ah!" said the blushing girl, "how poetical you are this evening; will +you tell us a story, Giorgio?" + +"_I_ will tell you one," said Delme, interrupting her. "Do you recollect +old Featherstone, who had been in the civil service in India, and who +lived so near Delme Park, George?" + +"Perfectly," said his brother, "I remember I used to think him mad, +because he always looked so melancholy, and used to send us word in the +morning when he contemplated a visit; in order that all cats might be +kept out of his way." + +"The very man! I am glad you know so much about him, for it is on this +subject I was going to speak. I cannot tell you where he picked up the +idea originally--but I believe in a dream--that a cat would occasion +his death. + +"Well! he was at Ascot one year, when a gipsy woman came up to him on +the course--told him his fortune--and, to his utter astonishment, warned +him to beware of the wild cat. + +"From that moment, I understand his habits changed. From being a +tolerably cheerful companion, he became a wretched hypochondriac; all +his energies being directed to the avoiding a contact with any of the +feline race. + +"Featherstone, two or three years ago, embarked in one of the mining +speculations--lost great part of his fortune--and found it necessary to +try and retrieve his affairs, by a second voyage to India. + +"I heard nothing more of him, till just before leaving England, when +my old school-fellow, Lockhart, who went as a cadet to the East, +called on me--reminded me of our old whimsical friend--and related +his tragic death. + +"Lockhart says that one day he and some mutual friends, persuaded +Featherstone to accompany them into the interior of the country, to +enjoy the diversion of a boar hunt. + +"They had had good sport, and were returning homewards, when they +suddenly came on a party of natives, headed by the Rajah. + +"They were mounted on elephants, and surrounding a jungle, in which, as +some sepoys had reported, lay a tiger. + +"You know Lockhart's manner--animated and enthusiastic--making one see +the scene he is describing. + +"I will try and clothe the rest of the story in his own words, although I +can hardly hope it will make the same impression on you, that its +recital did on me. + +"'Well, Sir! we all said we would see the sport--all but +Featherstone--who said something about coming on. + +"'We were engaged to dine with Sir John M----, who was in that part of +the world, on some six-and-eightpenny mission about indigo. + +"'The beaters went in, firing and shouting--intending to make him break +towards the hunting party. + +"'We all drew up on one side, to be in view, but out of the way; +Featherstone was next me. He suddenly grasped my arm, and pointed to the +jungle, his teeth chattering--his face ashy pale. I turned and saw the +tiger!--a splendid beast--certainly! + +"'He seemed not to notice us, and stalked on with an innocent yep! yep! +like a sick hound's, more than anything else. + +"'Suddenly his eye caught us, and flashed fire. At the first view, he +crouched to the earth, then came on us, bounding like a tost foot-ball. +More magnificent leaps I never beheld! We were struck dumb--but +fired--and turned our horses' heads!--all but Featherstone. + +"'I shall remember the tones of his voice to my dying hour. + +"'"The cat! Lockhart! the cat!" + +"'I don't know whether his horse refused the spur--or whether the rider's +nerve was gone: but neither appeared to make an effort, till the animal +was close on them. + +"'The horse gave one plunge--and had hardly recovered his feet, when down +went horse and rider. + +"'Featherstone gave a piercing scream! Some of the sepoys were by this +time up--and fired. + +"'The tiger trailed off--the blood spouting down his striped side. + +"'We came up--it was all over! + +"'The first stroke of that terrific paw had laid the unfortunate man's +scull bare. On his shoulder, were the marks of the animal's teeth. + +"'The horse was still writhing in agony. One of my pistols relieved him. + +"'We bore Featherstone to the nearest cantonment, and buried him there.'" + +"How terrible!" said Acme, as she gave a slight shudder. "Englishmen are +generally more sceptical on these points than we are; and disbelieve +supernatural appearances, which we are accustomed to think are not +unfrequent. I could tell you many stories, which, in my native island, +were believed by our enemies the Turks, as well as by ourselves: but if +you would like it, I will tell you a circumstance that occurred to +myself, the reality of which I dare not doubt. + +"You have often, Giorgio! heard me revert with pain, to the horrible +scene which took place, on the recapture of our little isle by the +infidel Turks; when my family were massacred, and only poor Acme left to +tell their tale." + +Here the young bride put her handkerchief to her face, and wept +bitterly. George put his arm round her and soothed her. She continued +her narrative. + +"You know my escape, and how I was sent to a kinsman, who had promised +to have me sent to my kind friends in Malta. He was a Corfuote, and it +was in Corfu I remained for a long--a very long time--and there first +met my dear friend, Zoee Scalvo-Forressi. I was then very young. We lived +in the Campagna--about four miles from each other. + +"We had both our Greek ponies, and used often to pass the evenings +together; and at length knew our road so well, that often it was night +before we parted. + +"One night, we had been singing together at her house, and it was later +than usual when I cantered home. + +"About four months had elapsed previous to my landing in Corfu, and I had +been eight months there; although at the time, I paid little attention +to these circumstances. + +"My road lay through an olive grove. I had arrived in its centre, where +a small knoll stretched away on my right; on whose summit, was a white +Greek monastery, backed by some dark cypress trees. + +"The moon was shining brightly--dancing on the silver side of the olive +trees--and illuminating the green sward. + +"This was smooth and verdant. + +"My spirits were more than usually buoyant, when suddenly my pony +stopped. + +"I could not conceive the reason. + +"I looked before me. Immediately in front of me, was the shattered trunk +of an old olive tree--it had been blasted by lightning--and sitting +quietly at its foot--I saw my own mother, Giorgio! as clearly as I see +you now. I could not be mistaken. She wore the same embroidered vest and +Albanian shawl, as when I had last seen her. + +"She conversed with me calmly for many minutes, and--which surprised me +much at the time--I felt no dread, and asked her and answered many +questions. + +"She told me I should die early, in a foreign land; and many--many more +things, which I dare not repeat; for I cannot contemplate the +possibility of their being true. + +"At the time, I told you I felt composed: without any sense of alarm +or surprise. For many days afterwards, however, I never left my bed +of sickness. + +"I told my kinsman all the circumstances, and he discovered beyond a +doubt, that it was on that very day, the twelve-month previous, that my +poor mother had been murdered." + +Sir Henry and George tried to smile at Acme's story, and account for +what she had seen;--but her manner was so impressive, and her ingenious +reasonings--delivered in the most earnest tone--seemed to confute so +entirely all their speculations, that they were at length content to +deem it "wondrous strange." + +In the best and wisest of us, there is such a tendency to believe in a +mysterious link, connecting the living and the departed; that a story +of this nature, in exciting our feelings, serves to paralyse our +reasoning faculties, and leaves us half converts, to the doctrines that +we faintly combat. + +They looked forth again on the scene. The mountains of Calabria were +frowning on them. The village was far behind--and not a straggling light +marked its situation. + +Numberless stars were reflected on the glassy water, whose serenity was +no longer ruffled by wing of sea bird, which long ere now had returned +to its "wave girded nest." + +Our party and the watch were the only lingerers on deck. + +George wrapped Acme's silk cloak around her, and then carefully assisted +her in her descent to the cabin. + + + + +Chapter XX. + +The Mad House. + + + "And see the mind's convulsion leave it weak." + + +The land breeze continued to freshen, and the first dawn of morning saw +our party on deck, scanning with near view, the opposite coasts of +Sicily and Italy, as their vessel glided through the Faro of Messina. + +Some pilot boats,--how unlike those which greet the homeward-bound +voyager, as he first hails Britain's chalky cliffs--crowded around the +vessel, offering their services to guide it through the strait. + +Avarice--one incentive to language--had endowed these Sicilian mariners +with a competent knowledge of English, which they dealt out +vociferously. + +As the Captain made his selection, the rejected candidates failed not +to use that familiar English salam; half the gusto of which is lost, +when used by foreign lip. + +On the Calabrian coast, the sea-port town of Reggio wore an unusual air +of bustle and animation. + +It was a festa day there; and groups of peasants, in many-coloured +costumes, paced up and down the mole; emitting that joyous hum, which +is the never-failing concomitant of a happy crowd. Passing through +the Faro, the vessel's course lay by the northern coast of Sicily. +The current and wind were alike favourable, as it swept on by Melazzo +and Lascari. + +Etna, towering over the lesser mountains, became once more visible; its +summit buried in the clouds of heaven. + +On the right, a luminous crimson ring revealed Stromboli, whose fitful +volcano was more than usually active. + +The following day our party arrived at Palermo. So pleasurable had been +their voyage, that it was with a feeling akin to regret, that they heard +the rumbling chains of the anchor, rush through the hawse-hole, as +their vessel took her station in the bay. + +After going through those wearisome forms, which a foreign sea-port +exacts; and which appear purposely intended, to temper the rapture of +the sea-worn voyager, as he congratulates himself on once more treading +terra firma; our party found themselves the inmates of the English +hotel; and spent the remainder of the day in engaging a cicerone, and in +discussing plans for the morrow. + +The morrow came--sunny and cloudless--and the cicerone bowed to the +ground, as he opened the door of the commodious fiacre. + +"Where shall I drive to, Sir?" + +"What were our plans, George?" said Sir Henry. + +"I think," replied George, "that we only formed one plan to change it +for another. Let the cicerone decide for us." + +_He,_ nothing loath, accepted the charge; and taking his station on the +box of the carriage, directed the driver. + +The carriage first stopped before a large stone building. The bell was +rung--a veteran porter presented himself--and our party entered the +court yard. + +"What place is this?" said Delme. + +"This," rejoined his guide, with the true cicerone fluency, "is the +famous lunatic asylum, instituted by the illustrious Baron Pisani. This, +gentlemen, is the Baron!" + +Here a benevolent-looking little man with a large nose, took off his +hat. + +"So much approved of was his beneficent design, that our noble King, and +our paternal Government, have not only adopted it; but have graciously +permitted the Baron, to continue to preside over that institution, which +he so happily commenced, and which he so refulgently adorns." + +During this announcement, the Baron's face flushed with a simple, but +honest pride. + +These praises did not to him appear exaggerated; for his intentions had +been of the purest, and in this institution was his whole soul wrapt up. +Acme became somewhat pale, as she heard where they were, and looked +nervously at George; who could not forbear smiling, as he begged they +would be under no apprehensions. + +"Yes! gentlemen," said the Baron, "circumstances in early life made me +regard mental disease as the most fearful of all. I observed its victims +struggling between reason and insanity; goaded on by the ignorance of +empirics, and the harsh treatment of those about them, until light fled +the tortured brain, and madness directed its every impulse. You, +gentlemen, are English travellers, I perceive! In _your_ happy land, +where generosity and wealth go hand in hand, there are, I doubt not, +many humane institutions, where those, who--bowed down by misfortunes, +or preyed on by disease--have lost the power to take care of themselves, +may find a home, where they may be anxiously tended, and carefully +provided for. + +"Here we knew not of such things. + +"I have said, gentlemen, that chance made me feel a deep interest in +these unfortunates. I sunk the greater part of my fortune, in +constructing this mansion, trusting that the subscriptions of +individuals, would enable me to prosecute the good work. + +"In this I was disappointed; but our worthy Viceroy, who took an interest +in my plans, laid the matter before the Government, which--as Signer +Guiseppe observes--has not only undertaken to support my asylum, but +also permits me to preside over the establishment. _That_, gentlemen, is +my apartment, with the mignionette boxes in front, and without iron bars +in the window; though indeed these very bars are painted, at my +suggestion, such a delicate green, that you might not have been aware +that they were such. + +"This is our first chamber--cheerful and snug. Here are the patients +first brought. We indulge them in all their caprices, until we are +enabled to decide with certainty, on the fantasy the brain has conjured +up. From this room, we take them to the adjacent bed-room, where we +administer such remedies as we think the best fitted to restore reason. + +"If these fail, we apportion the patient a cell, and consider the case as +beyond our immediate relief. We cure, on an average, two-thirds of the +cases forwarded to us; and there have been instances of the mind's +recovering its tone, after a confinement of some years." + +"How many inmates have you in the asylum at present?" said Acme. + +"One hundred and thirty-six, eighty-six of whom are males. These are our +baths, to which they are daily taken; this the refectory; this the +parlatorio, where they see their friends; and now, if the lady is not +afraid, we will descend to the court yard, and see my charges." + +"There is no fear?" said George. + +"Not in the least. Our punishment is so formidable, that few will incur +it by being refractory." + +"What! then you are obliged to punish them?" said Acme, with a shudder. + +"Sometimes, but not often. I will show you what our punishment consists +in. You see this room without furniture! Observe the walls and floor; +and even the door as it closes. All these are carefully stuffed; and if +you walk across the room, there is no sound. + +"We cautiously search violent lunatics; who are then dressed in a plain +flannel suit, and left alone. It is seldom we have occasion to retain +them longer than twenty-four hours. They soon find they cannot injure +themselves; their most violent efforts cannot elicit a sound. Their +minds become calmed; and when released, they are perfectly quiet, and +generally inclined to melancholy." + +They descended to the court yard, set apart for the men. Its inmates +were pacing it hurriedly; some jabbering to themselves; others with +groups round them, to whom they addressed some quickly delivered jargon. +With one or two exceptions, all noticed the entrance of the strangers; +and some of them bowed to them, with mock gravity. One man, who wore an +old cocked hat with a shabby feather, tapped Sir Henry on the shoulder. + +"Vous me reconnaissez--Napoleon! votre Empereur!" + +He wheeled round, and called for his Mamelukes. + +The next moment, a young and interesting looking person came forward, +the tears standing in his, eyes, and extended his hand to Acme. + +"Give me yours," said he, "as a great favour. I was a painter once in +Naples--and I went to Rome--and I loved Gianetta Cantieri!" + +A more ludicrous incident now occurred. At and since their entrance, +our party had heard what seemed the continued bark of a dog. A man on +all fours came forward from behind a group, and with unmeaning face, +and nostril snuffing up the wind, imitated to perfection the deep bay +of a mastiff. + +"That man's peculiarity," observed the Baron, "is an extraordinary one. +He had a cottage near Catania, and had saved some little wealth. His +house was one night robbed of all it contained. This misfortune preyed +on the man's reason, and he now conceives himself a watch dog. He knows +the step of every inmate of the asylum, and only barks at strangers." + +From the male court yard, the Baron ushered them to the female, where +insanity assumed a yet more melancholy shape. + +A pale-faced maniac, with quivering frame, and glaring eye-balls, +continued to cry, in a low and piteous tone, "Murder! murder!! +murder!!!" + +One woman, reclining on the cold pavement, dandled a straw, and called +it her sweet child; while another hugged a misshapen block of wood to +her bared breast, and deemed it her true love. + +A third was on her knees, and at regular intervals, bent down her +shrivelled body, and devoured the gravel beneath her. + +Acme was happy to leave the scene, and move towards the garden; which +was extensive, and beautifully laid out. + +As they turned down one of the alleys, they encountered five or six men, +drawn up in line, and armed with wooden muskets. + +In front stood Napoleon, who, with stentorian voice, gave the word to +"present arms!" then dropping his stick, and taking off his hat to +Delme, began to converse familiarly with him, as with his friend Emperor +Alexander, as to the efficiency of Poniatowski and his Polish lancers. + +"Poor fellow!" said the Baron, as they moved on. "Never was insanity +more harmless! He was once brigade major to Murat. This is his hour for +exercise. Exactly at two, he goes through the scene of Fontainbleau, +What will appear to you extraordinary is, that over the five or six men +you saw around him, whose madness has been marked by few distinguishing +traits, he has gradually assumed a superiority, until they now believe +him to be, in reality, the Emperor he so unconsciously personates." + +In the garden, which was of considerable size, were placed a number of +swings and whirligigs, in full motion and occupancy. + +On a stuccoed wall, were represented grotesque figures of animals +dancing; opposite to which, one of Terpsichore's votaries, with a +paper cap on his head, shaped like a pyramid, was executing agile +capers, whose zeal of purpose would have found infinite favour in the +eyes of Laporte. + +Having explored the garden, Delme accompanied the Baron to a small room, +where the sculls of the deceased maniacs were ranged on shelves, with a +small biographical note attached to each; and heard with attention, the +old man's energetic reasoning, as to these fully demonstrating the truth +of Spurzheim's theory. + +Acme, meantime, remained on George's arm, talking to a girl of +thirteen, who had been selected to conduct them to the carriage. + +They entered their names in a book at the lodge, and then, turning to +the benevolent director, paid him some well deserved compliments, for +which he bowed low and often. + +The young girl, who had been conversing most rationally with Acme, moved +forward, and made a signal for the carriage to drive up. + +She was a fair-haired gentle-looking creature, with quiet eye, and +silvery voice. She assisted Acme to step into the carriage, who +dropped a piece of silver into her hand, for which she gave a sweet +smile and a curtsey. + +She stood a moment motionless. Suddenly her eye lighted up--she darted +into the carriage, and clapped her hands together joyfully. + +"Viva! viva! we shall soon be home at Trapani!" + +The tears sprang to the eyes of the young Greek. + +Even the driver and cicerone were moved. + +Acme took some flowers from her zone--kissed her cheek--and tried to +change the current of her thoughts; but it was not till the driver +promised he would call again, at the same hour the following day, that +she consented with a sigh to relinquish her journey home. + +From the Lunatic Asylum, our party adjourned to the Duomo, and beheld +the coffin, where the revered body of the Palermitan Saint, attracts +many a devout Catholic. + +Sweet Rosalia! thy story is a pretty one--thy festa beauteous--the +fireworks in thy honour most bright. No wonder the fair Sicilians adore +thy memory. + +In the cool of the evening, our travellers drove to the Marina; where +custom--the crowded assemblage--and the grateful sea breeze--nightly +attract the gay inhabitants of Palermo. + +The carriages, with their epauletted chasseurs, swept on in giddy +succession, and made a scene quite as imposing as is witnessed in most +European capitals. + +Delme did not think it advisable, to remain too long in the metropolis +of Sicily; and the travellers contented themselves, with the +sight-seeing of the immediate neighbourhood. + +They admired the mosaics of the Chiesa di Monte Reale; and fed the +pheasants, at that beautiful royal villa, well styled "the Favourite." +They took a boat to witness the tunny fishery; and Sir Henry explored +alone the vast catacombs--that city of the dead. + +After a few days thus passed--the weather continuing uncommonly +fine--they did not hesitate to engage one of the small vessels of the +place, to convey them to Naples. + +After enjoying their evening drive as usual, they embarked on board the +Sparonara, one fine starry night, in order to get the full advantage of +the favouring night breeze. + + + +End of the First Volume. + + + +A Love Story + +by + +A Bushman. + +Vol. II. + + + "My thoughts, like swallows, skim the main, + And bear my spirit back again + Over the earth, and through the air, + A wild bird and a wanderer." + + +1841. + + + + +A Love Story. + + + +Chapter I. + +Naples. + + + + "And be it mine to muse there, mine to glide + From day-break when the mountain pales his fire, + Yet more and more, and from the mountain top, + Till then invisible, a smoke ascends, + Solemn and slow." + + "Vedi Napoli! e poi muori!" + + +Memory! beloved memory! to us thou art as hope to other men. The +present--solitary, unexciting--where are its charms? The future hath no +joys in store for us; and may bereave us of some of the few faint +pleasures that still are ours. + +What then is left us--old before our time--but to banquet on the past? + +Memory! thou art in us, as the basil of the enamoured +Florentine. [Footnote 1: See Keats' poem taken from Boccaccio.] Thy +blossoms, thy leaves,--green, fresh, and fragrant,--draw their nurture, +receive their every colouring, from what was dearest to us on earth. And +are they not watered by our tears? + +The poet tells us-- + + "Nessun maggior dolore + Che ricordarsi del tempo felice + Nella miseria." + +But it is not so. Where is he of the tribe of the unfortunate, who would +not gladly barter the contemplation of present wretchedness, for the +remembrance, clogged as it is by a thousand woes, of a time when joyous +visions flitted across life's path? + +Yes! though the contrast, the succeeding moment, should cut him to the +soul. + +But + + "Joy's recollection is no longer joy, + Whilst sorrow's memory is a sorrow still." + +Ah! there's the rub! yet, better to think it _was_ joy, than gaze unveiled +on the cold reality around; than view the wreck--the grievous wreck--a +few short years have made. + +We care not,--and, alas! to such as we have in our mind's eye, these are +the only cases allowed,--we care not! whether rapture has been succeeded +by apathy, or whether the feelings continue as deeply enlisted--the +thoughts as intensely concentrated;--but--in the servitude of despair! + +And again we say--gentle memory! let us dream over our past joys! ay! and +brood over our sorrows--undeserved--as in this hour of solitude, we may +justly deem them. + +Yes! let us again live over our days of suffering, and deem it wiser to +steep our soul in tears, than let it freeze with an iced coating of cynic +miscalled philosophy. + +And shall adversity--that touchstone--softened as our hearts shall thus +be--shall it pass over us, and improve us not? + +No! it has purifying and cleansing qualities; and for us, it has them +not in vain. + +We are not dust, to be more defiled by water; nor are we as the turbid +stream, which passing over driven snow, becomes more impure by the +close contact. + +Thee, Mnemosyne! let us still adore; content rather to droop, fade, and +die--martyrs to thee! than linger on as beasts of the forest, that know +thee not. No hope may be ours to animate the future: let us still cling to +thee, though thine influence sadden the past. + +Away! we are on the placid sea! and Naples lies before us. + +The sun had just risen from ocean's bed, attired in his robe of gold; as +our travellers watched from the deck of their Sparonara, to catch the +first view of the "garden of the world," as the Neapolitans fondly style +their city, + +A dim haze was abroad, the mists were slowly stealing up the mountains, as +their vessel glided on; a light breeze anon filling its canvas, then dying +away, and leaving the sails to flap against the loosened cordage. + +On their left, extended the charming heights of Posilipo---the classic +site of Baia--Pozzuoli--Nisida--and Ischia, to be reverenced for its wine. + +On their right, Capra's isle and Portici--and Vesuvius--wreathed in +vapour, presented themselves. + +As their vessel held on her way, Naples became visible--its turrets capt +by a solitary cloud, which had not yet acknowledged the supremacy of the +rising deity. + +The effulgence of the city was dimmed, but it was lovely still,--as a +diamond, obscured by a passing breath; or woman's eye, humid from +pity's tear. + +"And this," said Sir Henry, for it happened that his travels in Italy had +not extended so far south, "this is Naples! and this sea view the second +finest in the world!" + +"Which is the first?" said Acme, laughing, "not in England, I trust; for +we foreigners do not invest your island with beauty's attributes." + +"My dear Acme!" replied Sir Henry, somewhat gravely, "I trust the day may +arrive, when you will deem Delme Park, with its mansion bronzed by +time--its many hillocks studded with ancient trees--its glistening brook, +and hoary gateways--its wooded avenue, where the rooks have built for +generations--its verdant glades, where the deer have long found a +home:--when you will consider all these, as forming as fair a prospect, as +ever eye reposed on. But I did not allude at the time to England; but to +the Turkish capital. George! I remember your glowing description of your +trip in Mildmay's frigate, up the Dardanelles. What comparison would you +make between the two scenes?" + +"I confess to have been much disappointed," replied George, "in my first +view of Stamboul; and even the beauty of the passage to the Dardanelles, +seemed to me to have been exaggerated. But what really _did_ strike me, as +being the most varied, the most interesting scenery I had ever witnessed, +was that which greeted us, on an excursion we made in a row boat, from the +Bosphorus into the Black Sea. + +"There all my floating conceptions of Oriental luxury, and of Moslem pomp, +were more than realised. + +"The elegant kiosks--the ornamented gardens--the pinnacled harems, the +entrance to which lofty barriers jealously guarded--the number of the +tombs in their silent cities---gave an intense interest to the Turkish +coast;--while sumptuous barges, filled with veiled women, swept by us, and +gave a fairy charm to the sea. On our return, we were nearly lost from our +ignorance of the current, which is rapid and dangerous." + +"Well! I am glad to hear such a smiling account of Stamboul," rejoined +Acme. "My feelings regarding it have been quite Grecian. It has always +been to me a sort of Ogre city." + +The breeze began to freshen, and the vessel made way fast. + +As they neared the termination of their voyage, some church, or casino +bedecked with statues, or fertile glen, whose sides blushed with the +luscious grape, opened at every instant, and drew forth their admiration. + +Their little vessel swung to her anchor. + +The busy hum of the restless inhabitants, and the joyous toll of the +churches, announcing one of the never-failing Neapolitan processions, was +borne on the breeze. + +The whole party embarked for the quarantine office, and--once authorised +to join the throng of Naples--soon found themselves in the Strada Toledo, +moving towards the Santa Lucia. + +Their hotel was near the mole; its windows commanding an extensive view of +the purple sea, beyond which the eye took in the changeful volcano; and +many a vista--sunny, smiling, and beauteous enough, for the exacting fancy +of an Englishman, who conjures up for an Italian landscape, marble-like +villas--and porticoes, where grapes cluster, in festoons of the +vine--heaving mountains--a purple sky--faces bronzed, but oh how +fair!--and song, revelry, and grace. + +But what struck Acme, and even Sir Henry, who was more inured to the whirl +of cities, as the characteristical feature of Naples, was its moving life. +In the streets, there was an incessant bustle from morning until midnight. +Each passer by wore an air of importance, almost amounting to a +consciousness of happiness. There was fire in the glance--speech in the +action--on the lip a ready smile. + +In no city of Italy, does care seem more misplaced. The noble rolls on in +his vehicle on the Corso, with features gay and self-possessed; while the +merry laugh of the beggar--as he feasts on the lengthened honors of his +Macaroni--greets the ear at every turn. Stray not there! oh thou with brow +furrowed by anguish! + +If thy young affections have been blighted--if hope fondly indulged, be +replaced by despair--if feelings that lent their roseate hue, to the +commonest occurrences of life, now darken every scene--if thou knowest +thyself the accessary to this, thy misery, stray not in Naples, all too +joyous for thee! + +Rather haunt the shrines of the world's ancient mistress! Perchance the +sunken pillar--and the marble torso--and the moss-grown edifice--and the +sepulchre, with the owl as tenant--and the thought that the great, the +good, and the talented, who reared these fading monuments--are silent and +mouldering below: mayhap these things will speak to thy heart, and repress +the full gush of a sorrow that may not be controlled! And if--the martyr +to o'er-sicklied refinement--to sentiment too etherialised for the world, +where God hath placed thee--ideal woes have stamped a wrinkle on the brow, +and ideal dreams now constitute thy pleasure and thy bane: for such as +thou art! living on feeling's excess--soaring to rapture's heights--or +sinking to despair's abyss--Naples is not fitting! + +Visit the city of the sea! there indulge thy shapeless imaginings--with no +sound to break thy day dreams--save the shrill cry of the gondolier, and +the splash of his busy oar. + +The young Greek, Delme, and George, were soon immersed in the round of +sight seeing. + +Visits to the ancient palace of Queen Joanna--to the modern villa of the +Margravine--to the Sibyl's Cave, and to Maro's Tomb--to _some_ sites that +owed their interest to classic associations--to _others_ that claimed it +from present beauty--wiled away days swiftly and pleasurably. + +What with youth, change of scene, and an Italian sky, George was no +longer an invalid. His eye wore neither the film of apathy, nor the +unnatural flush of delirium; but smiled its happiness on all, and beamed +its love on Acme. + +One night they were at the Fondo, and after listening delightedly to +Lalande, and following with quick glance, the rapid movements of the agile +ballerina, and after George had been honoured by a bow--which greatly +amused Acme--from the beautiful princess; who, poor girl! _then_ felt a +penchant for Englishmen, which she failed not to avow from her opera +box--the party agreed to walk home to the hotel. On their way, they turned +into a coffee-room to take ice. + +The fluent waiter prattled over his catalogue; and Acme selected his +"sorbetto Maltese," because the name reminded her of the loved island. + +Leaving the coffee-room, they were accosted by a driver of one of the +public coaches. + +"Now, Signore! just in time for Vesuvius! See the sun rise! superb sight! +elegant carriage!" + +"Do let us go!" said Acme, clapping her hands with youthful enthusiasm. + +"No, no! my dear!" said Sir Henry, "we must not think of it! you would be +so tired." + +"No, no! you do not know how strong I am; and I intend sleeping on +George's shoulder all the way--and we are all in such high spirits--and +these improvised excursions you yourself granted were always best--and +besides, you know we must always start at this hour, if we expect to see +the sunrise from the mountain. What do _you_ say, Giorgio?" + +The discussion ended, by the driver taking the direction of the hotel; +whence, after making arrangements as to provisions and change of dress, +the party started for the mountain. + +The warm cheek of Acme was reposing on that of her husband; and the wanton +night air was disporting with her wavy tresses, as the loud halloo of the +driver, warned them that they were in Portici, and in the act of arousing +Salvador, the guide to the mountain. After some short delay, they procured +mules. Each brother armed himself with a long staff, and leaving the +carriage, they wended their way towards the Hermitage. + +It was a clear night. The moon was majestically gliding on her path, +vassalled by myriads of stars. + +There was something in the hour--and the scene--and the novelty of the +excursion--that enjoined silence. + +Arrived at the Hermitage, the party dismounted. Acme clung to the strap, +fastened round their guide, and they commenced the ascent. In a short +time, they had manifest proofs of their vicinity to the volcano. The +ashy lava gave way at each footstep, and it was only by taking short and +quick steps, and perseveringly toiling on, that they were enabled to +make any progress. + +More than once, was Acme inclined to stop, and take breath, but the guide +assured them they were already late, and that they would only just be in +time for the sunrise. + +As the last of the party reached the summit, the sun became +perceptible--and rose in glory indescribable. The scene afar how gorgeous! +around them how grand! + +Panting from their exertions, they sat on a cloak of Salvador's, and gazed +with astonishment at the novelties bursting on the eye. + +Each succeeding moment, gusts of flame issued forth from the crater. + +They looked down on the bason, above which they were. From a conical +pyramid of lava, were emitted volumes of smoke, which rolled up to heaven +in rounded and fantastic shapes of beauty. Below, a deep azure--above, of +a clear amber hue--the clouds wreathed and ascended majestically, as if +in time to the rumbling thunder--the accompaniments of nature's +subterraneous throes. + +Their fatigues were amply repaid. Sir Henry's curiosity was aroused, and +he descended with the guide to the crater. George and Acme, delighted with +the excursion, remained on the summit, partaking of Salvador's provisions. + +The descent they found easy and rapid; the lava now assisting, as much as +it had formerly impeded them. + +At Portici, Salvador introduced them to his apartment, embellished with +specimens of lava. They purchased some memorials of their visit--partook +of some fruit--and, after rewarding the guide, they returned to Naples. + +Another of their excursions, and it is one than which there are few more +interesting, was to that city--which, like the fabulous one of the eastern +tale, rears its temples, but there are none to worship; its theatres, but +there are none to applaud; its marble statues, where are the eyes that +should dwell on them with pride? Its mansions are many--its walls and +tesselated pavements, show colours of vivid hue, and describe tales +familiar from our boyhood. The priest is at his altar--the soldiers in +their guard-room--the citizen in his bath. It is indeed difficult, as our +step re-echoes through the silent streets, to divest ourselves of the +impression, that we are wandering where the enchanter's wand has been all +powerful, that he has waved it, and lo! the city sleeps for a season, +until some event shall have been fulfilled. + +Our party were in the Via Appia of Pompeii, when Acme turned aside, to +remark one tomb more particularly. It was an extensive one, surrounded +with a species of iron net work, through which might be seen ranges of red +earthen vases. Acme turned to the custode, and asked if this was the +burial place of some noble family. + +"No! Signora! this is where the ashes of the gladiators are preserved." + +From the Appian Way, they entered through the public gate; and passing +many shops, whose signs yet draw notice, if they no longer attract custom, +they came to the private houses, and entered one--that called +Sallust's--for the purpose of a more minute inspection. + +"Nothing appears to be more strange," said George, "on looking at these +frescoed paintings, and on such mosaics as we have yet seen; than the +extraordinary familiarity of their subjects. + +"There are many depicted on these walls, and I do not think, Henry, _we_ +are first rate classics;--and yet it would be difficult to puzzle us, in +naming the story whence these frescoes have their birth. Look at this +Latona--and Leda--and the Ariadne abbandonata--and this must certainly be +the blooming Hebe. Ah! and look at this little niche! This grinning little +deity--the facsimile of an Indian idol--must express their idea of the +Penates. Strange! is it not?" + +"But are you not," rejoined Sir Henry, "somewhat disappointed in the +dwelling-houses? This seems one of the most extensive, and yet, how +diminutive the rooms! and how little of attraction in the whole +arrangement, if we except this classic fountain. + +"This I think is a proof, that the ancient Romans must have chiefly passed +their day abroad--in the temples--the forum--or the baths--and have left +as home tenants none but women, and those unadorned with the toga virilis. + +"These habits may have tended to engender a manlier independence; and +to impart to their designs a loftier spirit of enterprise. What say +you, Acme?" + +"I might perhaps answer," replied Acme, "that the happiness gained, is +well worth the glory lost. But I must not fail to remind you, that--grand +as this nation must have been--my poor fallen one was its precursor--its +tutor--and its model." + +Hence they wandered to the theatre--the forum--the pantheon--and +amphitheatre:--which last, from their converse in the earlier part of the +day--fancy failed not to fill with daring combatants. As the guide +pointed out the dens for the wild beasts--the passages through which they +came--and the arena for the combat--Sir Henry, like most British +travellers, recalled the inimitable story of Thraso, and his lion fight. +[Footnote: In Valerius.] + +The following day was devoted to the Studio, and to the inspection of the +relics of Pompeii. + +These relics, interesting as they are, yet convey a melancholy lesson to +the contemplative mind. Each modern vanity here has its parallel--each +luxury its archetype. Here may be found the cameoed ring--and the signet +seal--and the bodkin--and paint for the frail one's cheek--a cuirass, that +a life guardsman might envy--weights--whose elegance of shape charm the +eye. Not an article of modern convenience or of domestic comfort, that has +not its representative. They teach us the trite French lesson. + + "L'histoire se repete." + +With the exception of these two excursions, and one to Poestum; our +travellers passed their mornings sight-seeing in Naples, and chiefly at +the Studio, whose grand attraction is the thrilling group of the +Taureau Farnese. + +In the cool of the evening, until twilight's hour was past, they drove +into the country, or promenaded in the gardens of the Villa Reale, to the +sound of the military band. + +Each night they turned their footsteps towards the Mole; where they +embarked on the unruffled bay. To a young and loving heart--the heart of a +bride--no pleasure can equal that, of being next the one loved best on +earth--at night's still witching hour. The peculiar scenery of Naples, yet +more enhances such pleasure. + +Elsewhere night may boast its azure vault and its silver stars. Cynthia +may ride the heavens in majesty--the water may be serene--and the heart +attuned to the night's beauty:--but from the _land_, if discernible--we +can rarely expect much addition to the charms of the scene, and can never +expect it to form its chief attraction. At Naples it is otherwise. + +Our eyes turn to the Volcano, whose flame, crowning the mountain's summit, +crimsons the sky. + +We watch with undiminished interest, its fitful action--now bursting out +brilliantly--now fading, as if about to be extinguished for ever. Seated +beside George, and thus gazing, what pleasure was Acme's! We need not say +time flew swiftly. Never did happiness meet with more ardent votary than +in that young bride--or find a more ready mirror, on which to reflect her +beaming attributes--than on the features of that bride's husband. + +Their swimming eyes would fill with tears--and their voices sink to the +lowest whisper. + +Sir Henry rarely interrupted their converse; but leant his head on the +boat's side, and thoughtfully gazed on the placid waters, till he almost +deemed he saw reflected on its surface, the face of one, in whose society +_he_ felt he too might be blest. + +But these fancies would not endure long. Delme would quickly arouse +himself; and, warned by the lateness of the hour, and feeling the +necessity that existed, for his thinking for the all-engrossed pair, would +order the rowers to direct the boat's course homewards. + +Returned to their hotel, it may be that orisons more heavenward, have +issued from hearts more pure. + +Few prayers more full of gratitude, have been whispered by earthly +lips, than were breathed by George and his young wife in the solitude +of their chamber. + +How often is such uncommon happiness as this the precursor of evil! + + + + +Chapter II. + +The Doctor. + + + + "Son port, son air de suffisance, + Marquent dans son savoir sa noble confiance. + Dans les doctes debats ferme et rempli de coeur, + Meme apres sa defaite il tient tete an vainqueur. + Voyez, pour gagner temps, quelles lenteurs savantes, + Prolongent de ses mots les syllabes trainantes! + Tout le monde l'admire, et ne peut concevoir + Que dans un cerveau seul loge tant de savoir." + + +It was soon after the excursion to Poestum, that a packet of letters +reached the travellers from Malta. These letters had been forwarded from +England, on the intelligence reaching Emily, of George's intended +marriage. They had been redirected to Naples, by Colonel Vavasour, and +were accompanied by a few lines from himself. + +In Sir Henry's communication with his sister, he had prudently thrown a +veil, over the distressing part of George's story, and had dwelt warmly, +on the beauty and sweetness of temper of Acme Frascati. He could hardly +hope that the proposed marriage, would meet with the entire approval of +those, to whom he addressed himself. + +The letters in reply, however, only breathed the affectionate overflowings +of kind hearts. Mrs. Glenallan sent her motherly blessing to George; and +Emily, in addition to a long communication to her brother, wrote to Acme +as to a beloved sister; begging her to hasten George's return to England, +that they might meet one, in whom they must henceforward feel the +liveliest interest. + +"How kind they all are," said George. "I only wish we _were_ with them." + +"And so do I," said Acme. "How dearly I shall love them all." + +"George!" said Sir Henry, abruptly, "do you know, I think it is quite time +we should move farther north. The weather is getting most oppressive; and +we have nearly exhausted the lions of Naples." + +"With all my heart," replied George. "I am ready to leave it whenever +you please." + +On Sir Henry's considering the best mode of conveyance, it occurred to +him, that some danger might arise from the malaria of the Pontine marshes; +and indeed, Rome and its environs were represented, at that time, as being +by no means free from this unwelcome visitant. + +Sir Henry enquired if there were any English physicians resident in +Naples; and having heard a high eulogium passed by the waiter, on a Doctor +Pormont, "who attended the noble Consul, and my Lord Rimington," ventured +to enclose his card, with a note, stating that he would be glad of five +minutes' conversation with that gentleman. + +In a short time, Doctor Pormont was introduced. + +He was a tall man, with very marked features, and a deeply furrowed brow; +whose longitudinal folds, however, seemed rather the result of thought or +of study, than of age. The length of his nose was rivalled by the width of +his mouth. When he spoke, he displayed two rows of very clean and very +regular teeth, but which individually narrowed to a sharp point, and gave +his whole features a peculiarly unpleasing expression. His voice was +husky--his manners chilling--his converse that of a pedant. + +Doctor Pormont was in many respects a singular man. From childhood, he had +been remarkable for stoicism of character. He possessed none of the weak +frailties, or gentle sympathies, which ordinarily belong to human nature. +His blood ran cold, like that of a fish. Never had he been known to lose +his equanimity of deportment. + +A species of stern principle, however, governed his conduct; and his very +absence of feeling, made him an impartial physician, and one of the most +successful anatomists of the day. + +What brought him to bustling, sunny Naples, was an unfathomed +mystery. Once there, he acquired wealth without anxiety, and patients +without friends. + +Amongst the many anecdotes, current amongst his professional brethren, as +to the blunted feelings of Doctor Pormont, was one,--related of him when +he was lecturer at a popular London institution. A subject had been +placed on the anatomist's table, for the purpose of allowing the lecturer, +to elucidate to the young students, the advantages of a post mortem +examination, in the determination of diseases. The lecturer dissected as +he proceeded, and was particularly clear and luminous. He even threw light +on the previous habits of the deceased, and showed at what period of life, +the germ of decay was probably forming. + +A friend casually enquired, as they left the lecture room, whether the +subject had been a patient of his own. + +"No!" replied the learned lecturer, "the body is that of my cousin and +schoolfellow, Harry Welborne. I attended his funeral, at some little +distance from town, a couple of days ago. My servant must have given +information to the exhumer. It is clear the body was removed from the +vault on the same evening." + +Sir Henry Delme briefly explained to Doctor Pormont, his purpose in +sending for him. He stated that he was anxious to take his advice, as to +the best mode of proceeding to Rome, and also as to the best sleeping +place for the party;--that he had a wholesome dread of the malaria, but +that one of his party being a female, and another an invalid, he thought +it might be as well to sleep one night on the road. Regarding all this, he +deferred to the advice and superior judgment of the physician. + +"Judgment," said Doctor Pormont, "is two-fold. It may be defined, either +as the faculty of arriving at the knowledge of things, which may be +effected by the synthetic or analytic method; or it may be considered as +the just perception of them, when they are fully indagated. + +"Our problem seems to resolve itself into two cases. + +"First: does malaria exist to an unusual and alarming extent, on the route +you purpose taking? + +"Secondly: the existence conceded--what is the best method to escape the +evil effects that might attend its inhibition into the human system? + +"Let us apply the synthetic method to our first case." + +The Doctor prefaced his arguments, by a long statement, as to the gradual +commencement, and progress of malaria;--showed how the atmosphere, +polluted by exhalations of water, impregnated with decaying and putrified +vegetable matter, gave forth miasmata; which he described as being +particles of poison in a volatile state. + +He alluded to the opinion held by many, that the disease owed its origin +to the ravages of the barbarians, who destroying the Roman farms and +villas, had made _desert_ what were _fertile_ regions. + +He traced it from the time of the late Roman Emperors, to that of the +dominion of the Popes, whose legislative enactments to arrest the malady, +he failed not to comment on at length. + +He explained the uncertainty which continued to exist, as to the +boundaries of the tract of country, in which the disease was rife; and +then plunged into his argument. + +George, at this crisis, quietly took the opportunity of gliding from the +room. Sir Henry stretched his legs on an ottoman, and appeared immersed in +the study of a print--the Europa of Paul Veronese--which hung over the +mantel-piece. + +"The Diario di Roma," continued the Doctor, "received this day, decidedly +states that malaria is fearfully raging on the Neapolitan road. Pray +forgive me, if I occasionally glide into the vulgar error, of confounding +the disease itself, with the causes of that disease. + +"On the other hand, a young collegian, who arrived in Naples from Rome +yesterday evening, states that he smoked and slept the whole journey, and +suffered no inconvenience whatever. + +"Here two considerations present themselves. While sleep has been +considered by the best authorities, as predisposing the human frame to +infection, by opening the pores, relaxing the integuments, and retarding +the circulation of the blood; I cannot overlook the virtues of tobacco, +narcotic--aromatic--disinfecting--as we must grant them to be. + +"Here then may I place in juxta-position, the testimony of the Diario, and +that of a young gentleman, half of his time asleep--the other half, under +the influence of the fumes of tobacco. + +"Synthetically, I opine, that we may conclude that malaria does exist, and +to a great degree, in the Campagna di Roma. Will you now allow me, to +submit the question under dispute, to the analytic process? By many, in +the present age, though not by me, it is considered the more philosophical +mode of reasoning." + +"I am extremely obliged to you, Doctor," said Sir Henry, in a quiet tone +of voice, "but you have raised the synthetic structure so admirably, +that I think that in this instance we may dispense with your analysis. +Pray proceed!" + +"Having already shown, then--although your kindness has allowed me to do +so but partially--that malaria does indeed exist, it becomes me to show, +which is the best mode of avoiding its baneful effects. + +"Injurious as are the miasmata in general, and fatal as are the effects of +that peculiar form in this country, termed malaria; the diseases they +engender, I apprehend to be rather endemic than epidemic. + +"It would be difficult to determine, to what part of the Campagna, the +disease is at present confined; but I should certainly not advise you, to +sleep within the bounds of contagion, for the predisposing effects of +sleep I have already hinted at. + +"Rapid travelling is, in my opinion, the best prophylactic I can prescribe, +as besides a certain exhilarating effect on the spirits, the swift passage +through the air, will remove any spiculae of the marsh miasmata, which may +be hovering near your persons. Air, cheerfulness, and exercise, however, +predispose to, and are the results of sleep: and to an invalid especially, +sleep is indispensable. + +"In Mr. Delme's case, therefore, I would recommend a temporary halt." + +Dr. Pormont then gave an account of the length of the stages, the nature +of the post-house accommodations, and the probable degree of danger +attached to each site. + +From all this, Delme gathered, that malaria existed to some extent, on the +line of road they were to travel--that sleep would be necessary for +George--and that, on the whole, it would be most desirable to sleep at an +inn, situated at a hamlet between Molo di Gaeta and Terracina, somewhat +removed from the central point of danger. + +But the truth is, that Sir Henry Delme was disposed to consider Dr. +Pormont, with his pomposity, and wordy arguments, as a mere superficial +thinker; and he half laughed at himself, for having ever thought it +necessary to consult him. This class of men influence less than they +ought. Sensible persons are apt to set them down, as either fools or +pedants. Their very magniloquence condemns them; for, in the present day, +it seems an axiom, that simplicity and genius are invariably allied. + +This rule, like most others, has its exceptions; and it would be well for +all of us, if we thought less of the manner, in which advice may be +delivered, and more of the matter which it may contain. + +The Doctor rose to take leave,--Sir Henry witnessed his departure with +lively satisfaction; and, with the exception of enjoying a hearty laugh, +at his expense, with George and Acme, ceased to recollect that such a +personage existed. + +Delme, however, had cause to remember that Doctor Pormont. + +Were it not so, he would not have figured in these pages. + +The last evening they were at Naples, they proceeded, as was their +custom, to the Mole; and there engaging a boat, directed it to be rowed +across the bay. + +The volcano was more than usually brilliant, and the villages at its base, +appeared as clear as at noonday. + +The water's surface was not ruffled by a ripple. A bridal party was +following in the wake of their boat--and nuptial music was floating past +them in subdued cadence. + +A nameless regret filled their minds, as they thought of the journey on +the coming morrow. They had been so happy in Naples. Could they hope to be +happier elsewhere? + +It was midnight, when they returned to the hotel. As they neared its +portico, the round cold moon fell on the forms of the lazzaroni, who were +lying in groups round the pillars. + +One of the party sprang to his feet, alarming the slumberers. The whole +of them rose with admirable cheerfulness--took off their hats +respectfully--and made way for the forestieri. + +During the momentary pause that ensued, Acme turned to the volcano, and +playfully waved her hand in token of farewell. + +Her eyes filled with tears, and she clung heavily to George's arm. + +She was doomed never to look on that scene again. + + + + +Chapter III. + +The Beginning of the End. + + + + "Thou too, art gone! thou loved and lovely one, + Whom youth and youth's affections bound to me." + + +At an early hour, rich aureate hues yet streaking the east, our party were +duly seated in a roomy carriage of Angrasani's, on their way to Rome. + +They had hopes of arriving at the capital, in time to witness that unique +sight, the illumination of Saint Peter's; a sight which few can remember, +without deeming its anticipation well worthy, to urge on the jaded +traveller, to his journey's termination. + +Who can forget the play of the fountains in front of the Vatican, the +music of whose descending water is most distinctly audible, although +crowds throng the wide and noble space. + +Breathless--silent all--is the assembled multitude, as the clock of Saint +Peter's gives its long expected signal. + +Away! darkness is light! a fairy palace springs before us! its +beautiful proportions starting into life, until the giddy brain reels, +from the excess of that splendour, on which the eye suddenly and +delightedly feasts! + +With the exception of a short halt, which afforded the travellers time for +an early dinner at the Albergo di Cicerone, which is about half a mile +from the Molo di Gaeta, they prosecuted their journey without +intermission, till arrived within sight of their resting place. + +This bore the aspect of an extensive, but dilapidated mansion, evidently +designed for some other purpose. + +Its proprietor had erected it, at a period, when malaria was either less +prevalent or less dreaded; and his descendants had quitted it, for some +more salubrious site. + +The albergo itself, occupied but a small portion of the building, +immediately on the right and left of the porch. + +The other apartments, which formed the wings, were either wholly +tenantless, or were fitted up as hay-lofts, granaries, or receptacles for +farming utensils. + +In the upper rooms, the panes of glass were broken; and the whole aspect +of the place betokened desolation and decay. + +As they drove to the door, a throng of mendicants and squalid peasants +came forth. Their faces had a cadaverous hue, which could not but be +remarked. Their eyes, too, seemed heavy, and deep set in the head; while +many had their throats bandaged, from the effects of glandular swellings, +brought on by the marshy exhalations. + +Acme threw some small pieces of Neapolitan money amongst them; and their +gratitude in consequence was boundless. + +She sprang from the carriage like a young fawn. + +"Come, come, Giorgio! look at that sweet sun-set--and at the blue clouds +edged with burnished gold! Would it not be a sin to remain in-doors on +such an evening? and besides," added she, in a whisper--"is it not a +pleasure to leave behind us these sickly faces, to muse on an Italian +landscape, and admire an Italian sky? Driver! will you order supper? We +will take a stroll while it is preparing. + +"Come! Henry! come away! do not look so grave, or you will make me think +of your amusing friend--Dr. Pormont." + +"Thompson!" said George, as the smiling bride bore off the brothers in +triumph, "do not forget your mistress' guitar case!" + +The travellers passed a paved court, in rear of the building; whence a +wicket gate admitted them to a kitchen garden, well stocked with the +requisites for an Italian salad. + +Behind this, enclosed with embankments, was a small vineyard. The vines +twined round long poles, these again being connected with thin cords, +which the tendrils were already clasping. + +Thus far, there was nothing that seemed indicative of an unwholesome +situation. As they extended their walk, however, pursuing the +continuation of the path, that had led them through the vineyard, they +arrived at the edge of a dark sluggish stream, whose surface was nearly on +a level with them; and which, gradually becoming broader, at length +emptied itself into what might be styled a wide and luxuriant marsh, which +abounded with water-fowl. This was studded with small round lakes, and +with islets of an emerald verdure. + +From the bosom of the marsh itself, rose bulrushes and pollard willows, +towered over by gigantic noisy reeds. + +The stream was thickly strewn with the pure honours of the water lily. + +If--as Eastern poets tell us--these snowy flowers bathe their charms, +when the sun is absent, but lift up their virgin heads, when he looks +down approvingly:--but that, sometimes deceived, on some peerless +damsel's approaching, they mistake her eye for their loved luminary, and +pay to her beauty an abrupt and involuntary homage:--_now_ might they +indeed gaze upward, to greet as fair a face as ever looked down on the +water they bedecked. + +They approached the edge of the marsh, and discovered a rural arbour +of faded boughs--the work of children--placed around a couple of +willow trees. + +Within it, was a rude seat; and some parasitical plant with a deep red +flower, had twined round the withered boughs, and mingled fantastically +with the dead leaves. + +Below the arbour, was a small stone embankment, which prevented the +waters from encroaching, and made the immediate site comparatively free +from dampness. + +Acme arranged her cloak--took one hand of each of the brothers in +hers--and in the exuberance of health and youth--commenced prattling in +that charming domestic strain, which only household intimacy can beget +or justify. George leant back in silence, but could have clasped her to +his heart. + +Memory! memory! who that hath a soul, cannot conjure up one such gentle +being,--while the blood for one moment responds to thy call, and rolls +through the veins with the tide of earlier and of happier days? + +At the extremity of the horizon, was a more extensive lake, than any near +them. Over this, the sun was setting; tinting its waters with a clear rich +amber, save in its centre, where, the lake serving as a halo to its glory, +a blood-red sun was vividly reflected. + +As the sun descended, one slender ray of light, came quivering and +trembling through the leaves of the arbour. + +This little incident gave rise to a thousand fanciful illustrations on the +part of Acme. Her spirits were as buoyant as a child's; and her playful +mood soon communicated itself to her travelling companions. + +They compared the solitary ray to virtue in loneliness--to the flickering +of a lamp in a tomb--to a star reflected on quicksilver--to the flash of a +sword cutting through a host of foes--and to the light of genius illuming +scenes of poverty and distress. + +Thompson made his appearance, and announced the supper as being ready. + +"This," said George, good-naturedly, "is an odd place, is it not, +Thompson? Is it anything like the Lincolnshire Fens?" + +"Not exactly, your honour!" replied the domestic, with perfect gravity, +"but there ought to be capital snipe shooting here." + +"Ah! che vero Inglese!" said the laughing Acme. + +They retraced their steps to the inn, and were ushered into the supper +room, which was neither more nor less than the kitchen, although formerly, +perhaps, the show room of the mansion. Around the deep-set fireplace, +watching the simmering of the cauldron, were grouped some peasants. + +The supper table was laid in one corner of the room; and although neither +the accommodation nor the viands were very tempting, there was such a +disposition to be happy, that the meal was as much enjoyed as if served up +in a palace. + +The repast concluded, Acme rose; and observing a countryman with his arm +bound up, enquired if he had met with an accident; and patiently listened +to the prosy narrative of age. + +An old bronzed husbandman, too, was smoking his short earthen pipe, near +the window sill. + +"What a study for Lanfranc!" said the happy wife, as she took up a burnt +stick, and sketched his dried visage to the life. + +The old man regarded his portrait on the wall, with intense satisfaction; +and commenced dilating on what he had been in youth. + +How different, thought Sir Henry, is all this from the conduct of a well +bred English girl! yet how natural and amiable does it appear in Acme! +With what an endearing manner--with what sweet frankness--does this young +foreigner wile away--what would otherwise have been--a tedious evening in +an uncomfortable inn! + +As the night advanced, George brought out the guitar; and Acme warbled to +its accompaniment like a fairy bird. + +It was a late hour, before Delme ventured to remind the songstress, that +they must prosecute their journey early on the following morning. + +"I will take your hint," said Acme, as she shook his hand, and tripped +out of the room; "buona sera! miei Signori." + +"She is a dear creature!" said Delme, + +"She is indeed!" replied his brother, "and I am a fortunate man. Henry! I +think I shall be jealous of you, one of these days. I do believe she loves +you as well as she does me!" + +The brothers retired. + +Sir Henry's repose was unbroken, until morning dawned; when George entered +his room in the greatest agitation, and with a face as pale as death, told +him Acme was ill. + +Delme arose immediately; and at George's earnest solicitation, +entered the room. + +Her left cheek, suffused with hectic, rested on one small hand. The other +arm was thrown over the bed-clothes. Her eyes sparkled like diamonds. Her +lips murmured indistinctly--the mind was evidently wandering. + +A man and horse were sent express to Naples. The whole of that weary day, +George Delme was by Acme's side, preparing cooling drinks, and vainly +endeavouring to be calm. + +As the delirium continued, she seemed to be transported to the scenes of +her early youth, + +As night wore on, the fever, if it were such, gradually increased. + +George's state of mind bordered on distraction. Sir Henry became +exceedingly alarmed, and anxious for the presence of the medical +attendant. + +At about four o'clock the following morning, Doctor Pormont was announced, + +Cold and forbidding as was his aspect, George hailed him as his tutelary +angel, and burst into tears, as he implored him to exert his skill to the +uttermost. + +The physician approached the invalid, and in a moment saw that the case +was a critical one. + +His patient was bled twice during the day, and strong opiates +administered. + +Towards evening, she slept; and awoke with restored consciousness, but +with feelings keenly alive to her own danger. + +The following night and day she lingered on, speaking but little. + +During the whole of that time, even, when she slept, George's hand +remained locked in hers. On this, her tears would sometimes fall, but +these she strove to restrain. + +To the others around her, she spoke gratefully, and with feminine +softness; but her whole heart seemed to be with George. + +Doctor Pormont, to do him justice, was unremitting in his exertions, and +hardly took rest. + +All his professional skill was called to her aid; but from the second day, +he saw it was in vain. + +The strength of the invalid failed her more and more. + +Doctor Pormont at length called Sir Henry on one side, and informed him +that he entertained no doubt of a fatal result; and recommended his at +once procuring such religious consolation as might be in his power. + +No Protestant clergyman was near at hand, even had Delme thought it +adviseable to procure one. + +But he was well aware, that however Acme might have sympathised with +George, her earlier religious impressions would now in all probability +be revived. + +A Catholic priest was sent for, and arrived quickly. He was habited in +the brown garb of his order, his waist girt with a knotted cord. He bore +in his hand the sainted pyx, and commenced to shrive the dying girl. + +It was the soft hour of sunset, and the prospect in rear of the mansion, +presented a wide sea of rich coloured splendour. + +Over the window, had been placed a sheet, in order to exclude the light +from the invalid's chamber. The priest knelt by her bedside; and folding +his hands together, began to pray. + +The rays of the setting sun, fitfully flickered on the sheet, over whose +surface, light shadows swiftly played, ever and anon glancing on the shorn +head of the kneeling friar. + +His intelligent face was expressive of firm belief. + +His eye turned reverentially to heaven, as in deep and sonorous accents, +he implored forgiveness for the sufferer, for the sins committed during +her mortal coil. + +Acme sat up in her bed. On her countenance, calm devotion seemed to usurp +the place of earthly affections, and earthly passions. + +The soul was preparing for its upward flight. Delme led away the sorrowing +husband, and the minister of Christ was left alone, to hear the contrite +outpourings of a weak departing sinner. + +The priest left the chamber, but spoke not, either to the physician, or +the expecting brothers. His impassioned glance belonged to another and a +higher world. + +He made one low obeisance--his robes swept the passage quickly--and the +Franciscan friar sought his lonely cell to reflect on death. + +The brothers re-entered. They found Acme in the attitude in which they had +left her--her features wearing an expression at once radiant and resigned. + +But--as her eye met George's--as she saw the havoc grief had already +made--the feelings of the woman resumed the mastery. + +She extended her arms--she brought his lip to hers--as if she would have +made _that_ its resting place for ever. + +Alas! an inward pang told her to be brief. She drew away her face, +crimsoned with her passion's flush--tremblingly grasped his hand---and, +with voice choked by emotion, gave her last farewell. + +"Giorgio, my dearest! my own! I shall soon join my parents. I feel +this--and my mother's words, as she met me by the olive tree, ring +in my ear. + +"She told me I should die thus; but she told me, too, that I should kill +the one dearest to me on earth. Thank God! this cannot be--for I know my +life to be ebbing fast. + +"Dearest I do not mourn for me too much. You may find another Acme--as +true. But, oh! sometimes--yes! even when your hearts cling fondly +together, as ours were wont to do--think of your own Acme--who loved you +first--and only--and does it now! oh! how well! Giorgio! dear! dearest! +adieu! My feet are _so, so_ cold--and ice seems"-- + +A change shadowed the face, as from some corporeal pang. + +She tried to raise an ebony cross hung round her neck. + +In the effort, her features became convulsed--and George heard a low +gurgling in the throat, as from suffocation. + +Ah! that awful precursor of "the first dark hour of nothingness." + +George Delme sprang to his feet, and was supporting her head, when the +physician grasped his arm. + +"Stop! stop! you are preventing"---- + +The lower lip quivered--and drooped--slightly! very slightly! + +The head fell back. + +One long deep drawn sigh shook the exhausted frame. + +The face seemed to become fixed. + +Doctor Pormont extended his hand, and silently closed those dark +fringed lids. + +The cold finger, with its harsh touch, once more brought consciousness. + +Once more the lid trembled! there was an upward glance that looked +reproachful! + +Another short sigh! Another! + +Lustreless and glaring was that once bright eye! + +Again the physician extended his hand. + +"Assuredly, gentlemen! vitality hath departed!" + +A deep--solemn--awful silence--which not a breath disturbed--came over +that chamber of death. + +It seemed as if the insects had ceased their hum--that twilight had +suddenly turned to night--that an odour, as of clay, was floating around +them, and impregnating the very atmosphere. + +George took the guitar, whose chords were never more to be woke to harmony +by that loved hand, and dashed it to the ground. + +Ere Delme could clasp him, he had staggered to the bedside--and fallen +over Acme's still form. + +And did her frame thrill with rapture? did she bound to his caress? did +her lip falter from her grateful emotion?--did she bury his cheek in her +raven tresses? + +No, no! still--still--still were all these! still as death! + + + + +Chapter IV. + +Rome. + + + + "Woe unto us, not her; for she sleeps well." + + * * * * * + + "The Niobe of nations! there she stands, + Childless and crownless, in her voiceless woe; + An empty urn within her wither'd hands, + Whose holy dust was scatter'd long ago. + The Scipios' tomb contains no ashes now; + The very sepulchres lie tenantless + Of their heroic dwellers; dost thou flow, + Old Tiber! through a marble wilderness? + Rise, with thy yellow waves, and mantle her distress." + + +Undertakers! not one word shall henceforth pass our lips in your +dispraise! + +An useful and meritorious tribe are you! + +What! though sleek and rosy cheeked, you seem to have little in common +with the wreck of our hopes? + +What! if our ears be shocked by profane jests on the weight of your +burden, as you bear away from the accustomed mansion, what _was_ its +light and its load star--but what _is_--pent up in your dark, narrow +tenement, but-- + + "A heap, + To make men tremble, that never weep." + +What! if our swimming eye--as we follow those dear--dear remains to their +last lone resting place--glance on the heartless myrmidons, who salute the +passer by with nods of recognition, and smiles of indifference? + +What! if, returning homewards--choked with bitter recollections, which +rise fantastic, quick, and ill-defined--the very ghosts of departed +scenes and years--what if we start as we then perceive you--lightsome of +heart, and glib of speech--clustered and smirking, on that roof of +nodding plumes--neath which, one short hour since--lay what was dearest +to us on earth? + +Let us not heed these things! for--light as is the task to traders in +death's dark trappings; painful and soul-subduing are those withering +details to the grieving and heart-struck mourner! + +We left George lying half insensible by the side of his dead wife. + +Sir Henry and Thompson carried him to the apartment of the former, and +while Thompson hung over his master, attempting to restore +consciousness--Delme had a short conference with Doctor Pormont as to +their ulterior proceedings. + +Doctor Pormont--as might be expected--enjoined the greatest promptitude, +and recommended that poor Acme's remains, should be consigned to the +burial place of the hamlet. + +George's objections to this, however, as soon as he was well enough to +comprehend what was going forward, seemed quite insurmountable; and after +Sir Henry had sought the place by moonlight, and found it wild and open, +with goats browsing on the unpicturesque graves, and with nothing to mark +the sanctity of the spot, save a glaring painted picture of the Virgin, +his own prejudices became enlisted, and he consented to proceed to Rome. + +After this decision was made, he found it utterly impossible, to procure +a separate conveyance for the corpse; and was equally unsuccessful in his +attempt to procure that--which from being a common want, he had been +disposed to consider of every day attainment--a coffin. + +While his brother made what arrangements he best might, poor George +returned to the chamber of death, and gazed long and fixedly--with the +despair of the widower--on those hushed familiar features. + +Her hair was now turned back, and was bound with white ribbon, and +festooned with some of the very water lilies that Acme had admired. A +snow-white wreath bound her brow. It was formed of the white convolvulus. +We have said the features were familiar; but oh! how different! The yellow +waxen hue--the heavy stiffened lid--how they affected George Delme, who +had never looked on death before! + +First he would gaze with stupid awe--then turn to the window, and attempt +to repress his sobs--return again--and refuse to credit his bereavement. +Surely the hand moved? No! of its free will shall it never move more! The +eye! was there not a slight convulsion in that long dark lash? + +No! over it may crawl the busy fly, and creep the destructive worm, +without let, and without hindrance! + +No finger shall be raised in its behalf--that lid shall remain closed +and passive! + +The insect and the reptile shall extend their wanderings over the +smooth cheek, and revel on the lips, whose red once rivalled that of +the Indian shell. + +Moveless! moveless shall all be! + +The long--long night wore on. + +An Italian sunrise was gilding the heavens. + +Acme was never to see a sunrise more; and even this reflection--trite as +it may seem, occurring to one, who had watched through the night, by the +side of the dead--even this reflection, convulsed again the haggard +features of the mourner. + +Delme had made the requisite arrangements during the night, for their +early departure. + +Just previous to the carriage being announced, he led George out of the +room; whilst the physician, aided by the women, took such precautions as +the heat of the climate rendered necessary. + +Linen cloths, steeped in a solution of chlorate of lime, were closely +wound round the body--a rude couch was placed in the inside of the +carriage, which was supported by the two seats--and the carriage itself +was darkened. + +These preparations concluded--and having parted with Doctor +Pormont---whose attentions, in spite of his freezing manner, had been very +great--the brothers commenced their painful task. + +George knelt at the head of the corpse--ejaculated one short fervent +prayer--and then, assisted by his brother, bore it in his arms to +the vehicle. + +The Italian peasants, with rare delicacy, witnessed the scene from the +windows of the inn, but did not intrude their presence. + +The body was placed crosswise in the carriage. George sat next the +corpse. Delme sat opposite, regarding his brother with anxious eye. + +Most distressing was that silent journey! It made an impression on Sir +Henry's mind, that no after events could ever efface; and yet it had +already been his lot, to witness many scenes of horror, and ride over +fields of blood. + +We have said it was a silent journey. George's despair was too deep +for words. + +The first motion of the carriage affected the position of the corpse. +George put one arm round it, and kept it immoveable. Sometimes, his +scalding tears would fall on that cold face, whose outline yet preserved +its beautiful roundness. + +It appeared to Sir Henry, that he had never seen life and death, so +closely and painfully contrasted. There sat his brother, in the full +energies of manhood and despair; his features convulsed--his frame +quivering--his sobs frequent--his pulse quick and disturbed. + +There lay extended his mistress--cold--colourless--silent--unimpassioned. +There was life in the breeze that played on her raven tresses--grim death +was enthroned on the face those tresses swept. + +Not that decay's finger had yet really assailed it; but one of the +peculiar properties of the preservative used by Doctor Pormont, is its +pervading sepulchral odour. + +They reached Rome; and the consummation of their task drew nigh. + +Pass we over the husband's last earthly farewell. Pass we over that +subduing scene, in which Henry assisted George to sever long ringlets, and +rob the cold finger, of affection's dearest pledge. + +Alas! these might be retained as the legacy of love. + +They were useless as love's memento. Memory, the faithful mirror, forbade +the relic gatherer ever to forget! + +Would you know where Acme reposes? + +A beautiful burial ground looks towards Rome. It is on a gentle declivity +leaning to the south-east, and situated between Mount Aventine and the +Monte Testaccio. + +Its avenue is lined with high bushes of marsh roses; and the cemetery +itself, is divided into three rude and impressive terraces. + +_There_ sleeps--in a modest nook, surmounted by the wall-flower, and by +creeping ivy, and by many-coloured shrubs, and by one simple yellow +flower, of very peculiar and rare fragrance; a type, as the author of +these pages deemed, of the wonderful etherialised genius of the +man--_there_ sleeps, as posterity will judge him, the first of the poets +of the age we live in--Percy Bysshe Shelley! There too, moulders that +wonderful boy author--John Keats. + +Who can pass his grave, and read that bitter inscription, dictated on his +deathbed, by the heart-broken enthusiast, without the liveliest emotion? + + "Here lies one, whose name was writ in water. + February 4th, 1821." + +The ancient wall of Rome, crowns the ridge of the slope we have described. +Above it, stands the pyramid of Caius Caestius, constructed some twenty +centuries since. + +Immediately beneath it, in a line with a round tower buried with ivy, and +near the vault of our beautiful countrywoman, Miss Bathurst, who was +thrown from her horse and drowned in the Tiber, may be seen a sarcophagus +of rough granite, surmounted by a black marble slab. + +Luxuriant with wild flowers, and studded even in the winter season, with +daisies and violets, the sides of the tomb are now almost concealed. Over +the slab, one rose tree gracefully droops. + +When seen in the dew of the morning, when the cups of the roses are full, +and crystal drops, distilling from leaves and flowers, are slowly +trickling on the dark stone, you might think that inanimate nature was +weeping for the doom of beauty. + +Only one word is engraved on that slab. Should you visit Rome, and read +it, recollect this story. + +That word is--"Acme!" + + * * * * * + +Sir Henry and his brother remained at Rome nearly a month. + +The former, with hopes that the exertion might be useful, in distracting +George from the constant contemplation of his loss, plunged at once into +the sight-seeing of "the eternal city." + +Their days were busily passed--in visiting the classic sites of Rome and +its neighbourhood--in wandering through the churches and convents--and +loitering through the long galleries of the Vatican. + +Delme, fearfully looking back on the scenes that had occurred in Malta, +was apprehensive, that George's despair might lead to some violent +outbreak of feeling; and that mind and body might sink simultaneously. + +It was not so. + +That heavy infliction appeared to bear with it a torpedo-like power. The +first blow, abrupt and stunning, had paralysed. Afterwards, it seemed to +carry with it a benumbing faculty, which repressed external display. We +say _seemed_; for there were not wanting indications, even to Sir Henry's +partial eye, that the wound had sunk very deep, + +The mourner _might_ sink, although he did not writhe. + +In the mornings, George, followed by Thompson, would find his way to +the Protestant burial ground; and weep over the spot where his wife +lay interred. + +During the day, he was Sir Henry's constant and gentle companion; giving +vent to no passionate display, and uttering few unavailing complaints. Yet +it was now, that a symptom of disease first showed itself, which Delme +could not account for. + +George would suddenly lean back, and complain of a spasm on the left side +of the chest. This would occasionally, but rarely, affect the circulation. +George's sleep too, was disturbed, and he frequently had to rise from his +bed, and pace the apartment; but this last circumstance, perhaps, was the +mere result of anxiety of mind. + +Sir Henry, without informing George, consulted a medical gentleman, who +was well known to him, and who happened to be at Rome at the time, +regarding these novel symptoms. + +He was reassured by being informed, that these pains were probably of a +neuralgic character, and not at all likely to proceed from any organic +affection. + +George Delme's mind was perfectly clear and collected; with the +exception, that he would occasionally allude to his loss, in connection +with some scene or subject of interest before them; and in a tone, and +with language, that, appeared to his brother eccentric, but +inexpressibly touching. + +For instance, they were at Tivoli, and in the Syren's grotto, looking up +to the foaming fall, which dashes down a rude cleft, formed of +fantastically shaped rocks. + +Immediately below this, the waters make a semicircular bend. + +On their surface, a mimic rainbow was depicted in vivid colours. + +"Not for me!" burst forth the mourner, "not for me! does the arc of +promise wear those radiant hues. Prismatic rays once gilded my existence. +With Acme they are for ever fled. But look! how the stream dashes on! Thus +have the waters of bitterness passed over my soul!" + +In the gallery of the Vatican, too, the very statues seemed to speak to +him of his loss. + +"I like not," would he exclaim, "that disdainful Apollo. Thus cold, +callous, and triumphing in the work of destruction, must be the angel of +death, who winged the shaft at my bright Acme. + +"May the launching of his arrow, have been but the signal, for her +translation to a sphere, more pure than this. + +"Let us believe her the habitant of some bright planet, such as she +pointed out to us in the Bay of Naples--a seraph with a golden lyre--and +shrouded in a white cymar! No, no!" would he continue, turning his +footsteps towards the adjacent room, where the suffering pangs of +Apollo's high priest are painfully told in marble, "let let me rather +contemplate the Laocoon! His agony seems to sympathise with mine--but was +his fate as hard? _He_ saw his sons dying before him; could a son, or +sons, be as the wife of one's bosom? The serpent twines around him, too, +awaking exquisite corporeal pangs, but would it not have been luxury to +have died with my Acme? + +"Can the body suffer as the mind?" + +At night, reposing from the fatigues of the day, might the brothers +frequently be seen at the fountain of Trevi; George listlessly swinging +on the chains near it, and steadfastly watching the water, as it gurgled +over the fantastic devices beneath--while his mind wandered back to +Malta, and to Acme. + +Sir Henry's conduct during this trying period was most exemplary. Like the +mother, who lavishes her tenderest endearments on her sickliest child, +did he now endeavour to support his brother in his afflictions. + +As the bleak night wind came on, he would arouse George from his +reverie--would make him lean his tall form on his--would wrap closely +the folds of his cloak around him--would speak _so_ softly--and soothe +_so_ tenderly. + +And gratefully did George's heart respond to his kindness. He knew that +the sorrow which bowed _him_ to the earth, was also blanching the cheek of +his brother, and he loved him doubly for his solicitude. + +Ah! few brothers have thus made sweet the fraternal tie! + + + + +Chapter V. + +The East Indian. + + + + "Would I not stem + A tide of suffering, rather than forego + Such feelings for the hard and worldly phlegm + Of those whose thoughts are only turn'd below, + Gazing upon the ground, with thoughts that dare not glow?" + + +From Rome and our care-worn travellers, let us turn to Mrs. Vernon's +drawing-room at Leamington. + +An unforeseen event suddenly made a considerable change in the hopes and +prospects of our fair friend Julia. + +One warm summer's morning--it was on the very day, that the brothers, with +Acme, were sailing close to the Calabrian mountains, and the latter was +telling her ghost story, within view of the sweet village of Capo del +Marte--one balmy summer's morning, the Miss Vernons were seated in a room, +furnished like most English drawing-rooms; that is to say, it had tables +for trinkets--a superb mirror--a Broadwood piano--an Erard harp--a +reclining sofa--and a woolly rug, on which slept, dreamt, and snored, a +small Blenheim spaniel. + +Julia had a mahogany frame before her, and was thoughtfully working a +beaded purse. + +The hue of health had left her cheek. Its complexion was akin to that of +translucent alabaster. The features wore a more fixed and regular aspect, +and their play was less buoyant and quick changing than heretofore. + +Deep thought! thus has been thy warfare for ever. First, thou stealest +from the rotund face its joyous dimples; then, dost thou gradually imprint +remorseless furrows on the anxious brow. + +A servant entered the room, and bore on a salver a letter addressed to +Miss Vernon. + +Its deep black binding--its large coat of arms--bespoke it death's +official messenger. + +Julia's cheek blanched as she glanced over its first page. + +Her sisters laid down their work, and looked towards her with some +curiosity. + +Julia burst into tears. + +"Poor uncle Vernon!" + +Her sisters seemed surprised at the announcement, but not to participate +in Julia's feelings on the occasion. + +One of them took up the letter, which had fallen to the ground, and the +two read its contents. + +"How very odd!" said they together, "uncle has left you Hornby, and +Catesfield, and almost all the property!" + +"Has he?" replied Julia, "I could not read it all, for however he may +have behaved to mamma, I ever found him good and kind; and had always +hoped, that we might have yet seen him with us once more. Poor old man! +and the letter says a lingering illness--how sad to think that we were +not with him to soothe his pillow, and cheer his death bed!" + +"Well!" said one of the sisters reddening, "I must say it was his own +fault. He would not live with his nearest relations, who loved him, and +tried to make his a happy home--but showed his caprice _then_, as he has +_now_. But I will go up stairs, and break it to mamma, and will tell her +you are an heiress." + +"An heiress!" replied Julia, with heart-broken tone! "an heiress!" The +tear quivered in her eye; but before the moisture had formed its liquid +bead, to course down her pallid cheek; a thought flashed across her, which +had almost the power to recal it to its cell. + +That thought comprised the fervency and timidity--the hopes and fears of +woman's first love. She thought of her last meeting with Sir Henry Delme: +of the objections which might now be removed. + +A new vista of happiness seemed to open before her. + +It was but for a moment. + +The blush which that thought called up, faded away--the tear trickled +on--her features recovered their serenity--and she turned with a sweet +smile to her sisters. + +"My dear--dear sisters! it is long since we have seen my poor uncle. + +"Affection's ties may have been somewhat loosened. They cannot--I am +sure--have been dissolved. + +"Do not think me selfish enough to retain this generous bequest. + +"It may yet be in my power, and it no doubt is, to amend its too partial +provisions. + +"Let us be sisters still--sisters in equality--sisters in love and +affection." + +Julia Vernon was a very noble girl. She lived to become of age, and she +acted up to this her resolve. + +And, now, a few words as to the individual, by whose death the Miss +Vernons acquired such an accession of property. + +The Miss Vernons' father had an only and a younger brother, who at an +early age had embarked for the East, in the civil service. He had +acquired great wealth, and, after a residence of twenty-five years in the +Bengal Presidency, had returned to England a confirmed bachelor, and a +wealthy nabob. His brother died, while Mr. Benjamin Vernon was on his +passage home. He arrived in England, and found himself a stranger in his +native land. + +He shouldered his cane through Regent Street, and wandered in the +Quadrant's shade;--and in spite of the novelties that every where met +him--in spite of cabs and plated glass--felt perfectly isolated and +miserable. + +It is true, his Indian friends found him out at the Burlington, and their +cards adorned his mantelpiece--for Mr. Benjamin Vernon was said to be +worth a plum, and to be on the look out for a vacancy in the Directory. + +But although these were indisputably his Indian friends, it appeared to +Mr. Vernon, that they were no longer his friends of India. They seemed to +him to live in a constant state of unnatural excitement. + +_Some_ prided themselves on being stars in fashion's gayest +circle--others, whom he had hardly known, _were_ fathers--for their +families were educating in England---he now found surrounded by children, +on whose provision they were wholly intent. + +These were off at a tangent, "to see Peter Auber, at the India House," +or, "could not wait an instant; they were to meet Josh: Alexander +precisely at two." + +And then their flippant sons! taking wine with him, forsooth--adjusting +their neckcloths--and asking "whether he had met their father at Madras or +Calcutta?" + +This to a true Bengalee! + +Nor was this all! + +The young renegades ate their curry with a knife! + +Others, from whom he had parted years before, shook hands with him at the +Oriental, as if his presence there was a matter of course; and then asked +him "what he thought of Stanley's speech?" + +Now, there are few men breathing, who have their sympathies so keenly +alive--who show and who look for, such warmth of heart---who are so +chilled and hurt by indifference--as your bachelor East Indian. + +The married one may solace himself for coldness abroad, by sunny smiles at +home;--but the friendless bachelor is sick at heart, unless he encounter a +hearty pressure of the hand--an eye that sparkles, as it catches his--an +interested listener to his thousand and one tales of Oriental scenes, and +of Oriental good fellowship. + +Mr. Benjamin Vernon soon found this London solitude--it was worse than +solitude--quite insupportable. + +He determined to visit his brother's widow, and left town for Leamington. +The brother-in-law felt more than gratified at the cordial welcome that +there met him. + +His heart responded to their tones of kindness, and the old Indian, in the +warmth of his gratitude, thought he had at length discovered a congenial +home. He plunged into the extreme of dangerous intimacy; and was soon +domiciled in Mrs. Vernon's small mansion. + +It is absurd what trifles can extinguish friendships, and estrange +affection. Mr. Vernon had always had the controul of his hours--loved his +hookah, and his after-dinner dose. + +His brother's widow was an amiable person, but a great deal too +independent, to humour any person's foibles. + +She liked activity, and disliked smoking; and was too matter-of-fact in +her ideas, to conceive that these indulgences, merely from force of habit, +might have now become absolute necessities. + +Mrs. Vernon first used arguments; which were listened to very patiently, +and as systematically disregarded. + +As she thought she knew her ground better, she would occasionally secrete +the hookah, and indulge in eloquent discourse, on the injurious effects, +and waste of time, that the said hookah entailed. + +Nor could the old man enjoy in peace, his evening slumber. + +One of his nieces was always ready to shake him by the elbow, and address +him with an expostulatory "Oh! dear uncle!" which, though delivered with +silvery voice, seemed to him deuced provoking. + +For some time, the old Indian good-naturedly acquiesced in these +arrangements; and was far too polite at any time to scold, or +hazard a scene. + +Mrs. Vernon was all complacency, and imagined her triumph assured. + +Suddenly the tempest gathered to a head. Bachelor habits regained their +ascendancy; and Mrs. Vernon was thunderstruck, when it was one morning +duly announced to her, that her brother-in-law had purchased a large +estate in Monmouthshire, and that he intended permanently to reside there. + +Mrs. Vernon was deeply chagrined. + +She thought him ungrateful, and told him so. + +At the outset, our East Indian was anxious that his niece Julia, who had +been by far the most tolerant of his bachelor vices, should preside over +his new establishment; but the feelings of the mother and daughter were +alike opposed to this arrangement. + +This was the last rock on which he and his brother's widow split; and it +was decisive. + +From that hour, all correspondence between them ceased. + +Arrived in Wales, our nabob endeavoured to attach himself to country +pursuits--purchased adjoining estates--employed many labourers--and +greatly improved his property. But his rural occupations were quite at +variance with his acquired habits. + +He pined away--became hypochondriacal--and died, just three years after +leaving Mrs. Vernon, for want of an Eastern sun, and something to love. + + + + +Chapter VI. + +Veil + + +"The seal is set." + +On the day fixed for the departure of Sir Henry Delme and his brother, +they together visited once more the sumptuous pile of St. Peter's, and +heard the voices of the practised choristers swell through the mighty +dome, as the impressive service of the Catholic Church was performed by +the Pope and his conclave. + +The morning dawn had seen George, as was his daily custom in Rome, +kneeling beside the grave of Acme, and breathing a prayer for their +blissful reunion in heaven. + +As the widower staggered from that spot, the thought crossed him, and +bitterly poignant was that thought, that now might he bid a second +earthly farewell, to what had been his pride, and household solace. + +Now, indeed, "was the last link broken." Each hour--each traversed +league--was to bear him away from even the remains of his heart's +treasure. + +Their bones must moulder in a different soil. + +It was Sir Henry's choice that they should on that day visit Saint +Peter's; and well might the travellers leave Rome with so unequalled an +object fresh in the mind's eye. + +Whether we gaze on its exterior of faultless proportions--or on the +internal arrangement, where perfect symmetry reigns;--whether we consider +the glowing canvas--or the inspired marble,--or the rich mosaics;--whether +with the enthusiasm of the devotee, we bend before those gorgeous shrines; +or with the comparative apathy of a cosmopolite, reflect on the historical +recollections with which that edifice--the focus of the rays of +Catholicism--teems and must teem forever;--we must in truth acknowledge, +that _there_ alone is the one matchless temple, in strict and perfect +harmony with Imperial Rome. + +Gazing there--or recalling in after years its unclouded majesty--the +delighted pilgrim knows neither shade of disappointment--nor doth he +harbour one thought of decay. + +Where is the other building in the "eternal city," of which we can say +thus much? + +Sir Henry Delme had engaged a vettura, which was to convey them with the +same horses as far as Florence. + +This arrangement made them masters of their own time, and was perhaps in +their case, the best that could be adopted; for slowness of progress, +which is its greatest objection, was rather desirable in George's then +state of health. + +As is customary, Delme made an advance to the vetturino, who usually binds +himself to defray all the expenses at the inns on the road. + +The travellers dined early--left Rome in the afternoon--and proposed +pushing on to Neppi during the night. + +When about four miles on their journey, Delme observed a mausoleum on the +side of the road, which appeared of ancient date, and rather curious +construction. + +On consulting his guide-book, he found it designated as the tomb of Nero. + +On examining its inscription, he saw that it was erected to the memory of +a Prefect of Sardinia; and he inwardly determined to distrust his +guide-book on all future occasions. + +The moon was up as they reached the post-house of Storta. + +The inn, or rather tavern, was a small wretched looking building, with a +large courtyard attached, but the stables appeared nearly--if not +quite--untenanted. + +Sir Henry's surprise and anger were great, when the driver, coolly +stopping his horses, commenced taking off their harness;--and informed the +travellers, that _there_ must they remain, until he had received some +instructions from his owner, which he expected by a vettura leaving Rome +at a later hour. + +It was in vain that the brothers expostulated, and reminded him of +his agreement to stop when they pleased, expressing their +determination to proceed. + +The driver was dogged and unmoved; and the travellers had neglected +to draw up a written bargain, which is a precaution absolutely +necessary in Italy. + +They soon found they had no alternative but to submit. It was with a very +bad grace they did so, for Englishmen have a due abhorrence of imposition. + +They at length stepped from the vehicle--indulged in some vehement +remonstrances--smiled at Thompson's voluble execrations, which they found +were equally unavailing--and were finally obliged to give up the point. + +They were shown into a small room. The chief inmates were some Papal +soldiers of ruffianly air, engaged in the clamorous game of moro. Unlike +the close shorn Englishmen, their beards and mustachios, were allowed to +grow to such length, as to hide the greater part of the face. + +Their animated gestures and savage countenances, would have accorded well +with a bandit group by Salvator. + +The landlord, an obsequious little man, with face pregnant with +mischievous cunning, was watching with interest, the turns of the game; +and assisting his guests, to quaff his vino ordinario, which Sir Henry +afterwards found was ordinary enough. + +Delme's equanimity of temper was already considerably disturbed. + +The scanty accommodation afforded them, by no means diminished his choler; +which he began to expend on the obstinate driver, who had followed them +into the room, and was busily placing chairs round one of the tables. + +"See what you can get for supper, you rascal!" + +"Signore! there are some excellent fowls, and the very best wine of +Velletri." + +The wine was produced and proved vinegar. + +The host bustled away loud in its praise, and a few seconds afterwards, +the dying shriek of a veteran tenant of the poultry yard, warned them that +supper was preparing. + +"Thompson!" said George, rather languidly, "do, like a good fellow, see +that they put no garlic with the fowl!" + +"I will, Sir," replied the domestic; "and the wine, Mr. George, seems none +of the best. I have a flask of brandy in the rumble." + +"Just the thing!" said Sir Henry. + +To their surprise, the landlord proffered sugar and lemons. + +Sir Henry's countenance somewhat brightened, and he declared he would +make punch. + +Punch! thou just type of matrimony! thy ingredients of sweets and bitters +so artfully blended, that we know not which predominate,--so deceptive, +too, that we imbibe long and potent draughts, nor awake to a consciousness +of thy power, till awoke by headache. + +Hail to thee! all hail! + +Thy very name, eked out by thine appropriate receptacle, recals raptures +past--bids us appreciate joys present--and enjoins us duly to reverence +thee, if we hope for joys in futurity. + +A bowl of punch! each merry bacchanal rises at the call! + +Moderate bacchanals all! for where is the abandoned sot, who would not +rather dole out his filthy lucre, on an increase of the mere +alchohol--than expend it on those grateful adjuncts, which, throwing a +graceful veil over that spirit's grossness, impart to it its chief and its +best attraction. + +Up rises then each hearty bacchanal! thrice waving the clear tinkling +crystal, ere he emits that joyful burst, fresh from the heart, which from +his uncontrolled emotion, meets the ear husky and indistinct. + +Delme squeezed the lemons into not a bad substitute for a bowl, viz. a red +earthen vase of rough workmanship, but elegant shape, somewhat resembling +a modern wine cooler. + +George stood at the inn door, wistfully looking upward; when he remarked +an intelligent boy of fourteen, with dark piercing eyes, observing him +somewhat earnestly. + +On finding he was noticed, he approached with an air of ingenuous +embarrassment--pulled off his cap--and said in a tone of enquiry, + +"Un Signore Inglese?" + +"Yes! my fine fellow! Do you know anything of me or the English?" + +"Oh yes!" replied the boy with vivacity, replacing his cap, "I have +travelled in England, and like London very much." + +George conversed with him for some time; and found him to be one of that +class, whose numbers make us unmindful of their wants or their +loneliness; who eke out a miserable pittance, by carrying busts of +plaster-of-Paris--grinding on an organ--or displaying through Europe, +the tricks of some poodle dog, or the eccentricities of a monkey +disguised in scarlet. + +It is rare that these come from a part of Italy so far south; but it +appeared in this instance, that Giuseppe's father being a carrier, had +taken him with him to Milan--had there met a friend, rich in an organ and +porcupine--and had entrusted the boy to his care, in order that he might +see the world, and make his fortune. + +Giuseppe gave a narrative of some little events, that had occurred to him +during his wanderings, which greatly interested George; and he finally +concluded, by saying that his father had now retired to his native place +at Barberini, where many strangers came to see the "antichita." George, +on referring to the guide book, found that this was indeed the case; and +that Isola Barberini is marked as the site of ancient Veii, the rival of +young Rome. + +"And when do you go there, youngster, and how far is it from this?" + +"I am going now, Signore, to be in time for supper. It is only a +'piccolo giro' across the fields; and looks as well by moonlight as at +any other time." + +"Ah!" replied George, "I would be glad to accompany you. Henry," said he, +as he entered the room of the inn, "I am away on a classic excursion to +Veii. The night is lovely--I have an excellent guide--and shall be back +before you have finished your punch making. + +"_Do_ let me go!" and he lowered his voice, and the tears swam in his eyes, +"I cannot endure these rude sounds of merriment, and a moonlight walk will +at least afford nothing that can _thus_ pain me." + +Sir Henry looked out. The night was perfectly fine. The young peasant, +all willingness, had already shouldered his bundle, and was preparing to +move forward. + +"You must not be late, George," said his brother, assenting to his +proposal. "Do not stay too long about the ruins. Remember that you are +still delicate, and that I shall wait supper for you." + +As the boy led on, George followed him in a foot path, which led through +fields of meadow land, corn, and rye. + +The fire-flies--mimic meteors--were giddily winging their way from bush to +bush,--illuming the atmosphere, and imparting to the scene a glittering +beauty, which a summer night in a northern clime cannot boast. + +As they approached somewhat nearer to the hamlet, their course was over +ground more rugged; and the disjointed fragments of rocks strewed, and at +intervals obstructed, the path. + +The cottages were soon reached. + +The villagers were all in front of their dwellings, taking their last meal +for the day, in the open air. + +The young guide stopped in front of a cottage, a little apart from the +rest. The family party were seated round a rude table, on which were +plates and napkins. + +Before the master of the house--a wrinkled old man, with long grey +hair--was a smoking tureen of bread soup, over which he was in the act of +sprinkling some grated Parmesan cheese. + +A plate of green figs, and a large water melon--the cocomero--made up +the repast. + +"Giuseppe! you are late for supper," said the old patriarch, as the boy +approached to whisper his introduction of the stranger. + +The old man waved his hand courteously--made a short apology for the +humble viands--and pointed to a vacant seat. + +"Many thanks," said George, "but my supper already awaits me. I will not, +however, interfere with my young guide. Show me the ruins, Giuseppe, and I +will trouble you no further." + +The boy moved on towards what were indeed ruins, or rather the +vestige of such. + +Here a misshapen stone--there a shattered column--decaying walls, +overgrown with nettles--arches and caves, choked up with rank +vegetation--bespoke remains unheeded, and but rarely visited. + +George threw the boy a piece of silver--heard his repeated cautions as +to his way to Storta--and wished him good night, as he hurried back to +the cottage. + +George Delme sat on the shaft of a broken pillar, his face almost buried +in his hands, as he looked around him on a scene once so famous. + +But with him classic feelings were not upper-most. The widowed +heart mourned its loneliness; and in that calm hour found the full +relief of tears. + +The mourner rose, and turned his face homeward, slowly--sadly--but +resignedly. + +The heavens had become more overcast--and clouds occasionally were +hiding the moon. + +It was with some difficulty that George avoided the pieces of rock which +obstructed the path. + +The road seemed longer, and wilder, than he had previously thought it. + +Suddenly the loud bay of dogs was borne to his ear; and almost, before he +had time to turn from the path, two large hounds brushed past him, +followed by a rider--his gun slung before his saddle--and his horse +fearlessly clattering over the loose stones. + +The horseman seemed a young Roman farmer. He did not salute, and probably +did not observe our traveller. As the sound from the horse receded, and +the clamour of the dogs died away, a feeling almost akin to alarm crossed +George's mind. + +George was one, however, who rarely gave way to vague fears. + +It so happened that he was armed. + +Delancey had made him a present of a brace of pocket pistols, during the +days of their friendship; and, very much to Sir Henry's annoyance, George +had been in the habit, since leaving Malta, of constantly carrying these +about him. + +He strode on without adventure, until entering the field of rye. + +The pathway became very narrow--so that on either side him, he grazed +against the bearded ears. + +Suddenly he heard a rustling sound. The moon at the moment broke from +a dark cloud, and he fancied he discerned a figure near him half hid +by the rye. + +Again the moon was shrouded. + +A rustling again ensued. + +George felt a ponderous blow, which, aimed at the left shoulder, struck +his left arm. + +The collar of his coat was instantaneously grasped. + +For a moment, George Delme felt irresolute--then drew a pistol from his +pocket and fired. + +The hold was loosened--a man fell at his feet. + +The pistol's flash revealed another figure, which diving into the +corn--fled precipitately. + +Let us turn to Sir Henry Delme and to Thompson. + +For some time after George's departure, they were busily engaged in +preparing supper. + +While they were thus occupied, they noticed that the Papal soldiers +whispered much together--but this gave rise to no suspicion on +their part. + +One by one the soldiers strolled out, and the landlord betook himself to +the kitchen. + +The punch was duly made, and Sir Henry, leaving the room, paced +thoughtfully in front of the inn. + +At length it struck him, that it was almost time for his brother to +return. + +He was entering the inn, for the purpose of making some enquiries; when he +saw one of the soldiers cross the road hurriedly, and go into the +courtyard, where he was immediately joined by the vetturino. + +Delme turned in to the house, and called for the landlord. + +Before the latter could appear, George rushed into the room. + +His hat was off--his eyes glared wildly--his long hair streamed back, +wet with the dews of night. He dragged with him the body of one of the +soldiers; and threw it with supernatural strength into the very centre +of the room. + +"Supper!" said he, "ha, ha, ha! _I_ have brought you supper!" + +The man was quite dead. + +The bullet had pierced his neck and throat. The blood was yet flowing, and +had dabbled the white vest. His beard and hair were clotted with gore. + +Shocked as Sir Henry was, the truth flashed on him. He lost not a moment +in beckoning to Thompson, and rushing towards the stable. The driver was +still there, conversing with the soldier. + +As Sir Henry approached, they evinced involuntary confusion; and the +vetturino---at once unmanned--fell on his knees, and commenced a +confession. + +They were dragged into the inn, and the officers of justice were sent for. + +Sir Henry Delme's anxious regards were now directed to his brother. + +George had taken a seat near the corpse; and was sternly regarding it with +fixed, steady, and unflinching gaze. + +It is certainly very fearful to mark the dead--with pallid +complexion--glazed eye--limbs fast stiffening--and gouts of +blood--standing from out the face, like crimson excrescences on a +diseased leaf. + +But it is far more fearful than even this, to look on one, who is bound +to us by the nearest and most cherished ties--with cheek yet +glowing--expression's flush mantling still--and yet to doubt whether the +intellect, which adorned that frame--the jewel in the casket--hath not for +ever left its earthly tenement. + + + + +Chapter VII. + +The Vetturini. + + + "Far other scene is Thrasymene now." + + * * * * * + + "Fair Florence! at thy day's decline + When came the shade from Appennine, + And suddenly on blade and bower + The fire-flies shed the sparkling shower, + As if all heaven to earth had sent + Each star that gems the firmament; + 'Twas sweet at that enchanting hour, + To bathe in fragrance of the Italian clime, + By Arno's stream." + + +The brothers were detained a few days at Storta; while the Roman police, +who, to do them justice, were active on the occasion, and showed every +anxiety to give the travellers as little trouble as possible--were +investigating the occurrences we have described. It appeared that some +suspicion had previously attached itself to Vittore Santado, and that the +eyes of the police had been on him for some time. + +It now became evident, both from his own confession, and subsequent +discoveries, that this man had for years trafficked in the lives and +property of others;--and that the charge connected with George, was one of +the least grave, that would be brought against him. + +It was shown that he was an active agent, in aiding the infamous designs +of that inn, on the Italian frontier, whose enormities have given rise to +more than one thrilling tale of fiction, far out-done by the +reality--that inn--where the traveller retired to rest--but rose not +refreshed to prosecute his journey:--where--if he slumbered but once, +that sleep was his last. + +Until now, his career had been more than usually successful. + +The crafty vetturino had had the art to glean a fair reputation even from +his crimes. + +More than once, had he induced a solitary traveller to leave the high road +and his carriage, for the purpose of visiting some ruin, or viewing some +famous prospect. + +On such occasions, Vittore's accomplices were in waiting; and the +unsuspecting stranger--pillaged and alarmed, would return to the vettura +penniless. + +Vittore would be foremost in his commiseration; and with an air of blunt +sincerity, would proffer the use of his purse; such conduct ensuring the +gratitude, and the after recommendations of his dupe. + +It is supposed that the vetturino had contemplated rifling the carriage in +the inn yard; but some suspicion as to the servant's not leaving the +luggage, and the sort of dog fidelity displayed by Thompson towards the +brothers; had induced him rather to sanction an attempt on George during +his imprudent excursion to Barberini. + +Vittore Santado was executed near the Piazza del Popolo, and to this day, +over the chimney-piece of many a Roman peasant, may be seen the tale of +his crimes--his confessions--and his death; which perused by casual +neighbour guests--calls up many a sign of the cross--and devout look of +rustic terror. + +After the incident we have related in the last chapter, George Delme, +contrary to Sir Henry's previous misgivings, enjoyed a good night's rest, +and arose tolerably calm and refreshed. + +The following night he was attacked with palpitation of the heart. + +His brother and Thompson felt greatly alarmed; but after an hour's severe +suffering, the paroxysm left him. + +Nothing further occurred at Storta, to induce them to attach very great +importance to the shock George's nerves had experienced; but in after +life, Sir Henry always thought, he could date many fatal symptoms from +that hour of intense excitement. + +Delme was in Rome two days; during which period, his depositions, as +connected with Santado, were taken down; and he was informed that his +presence during the trial would not be insisted on. + +Delme took that opportunity again to consult his medical friend; who +accompanied him to Storta, to visit George; and prescribed a regimen +calculated to invigorate the general system. + +He directed Delme not to be alarmed, should the paroxysm return; and +recommended, that during the attack, George should lie down quietly--and +take twenty drops of Battley's solution of opium in a wine glass of water. + +As his friend did not appear alarmed, Delme's mind was once more +assured; and he prepared to continue their journey to Florence, by the +way of Perugia. + +Punctual to his time, the new vetturino--as to whose selection Sir Henry +had been very particular--arrived at Storta; and the whole party, with +great willingness left the wretched inn, and its suspicious inmates. + +There certainly could not be a greater contrast, than between the two +Vetturini. + +Vittore Santado was a Roman; young--inclined to corpulency---oily +faced--plausible--and a most consummate rascal. + +Pietro Molini was a Milanese;--elderly--with hardly an ounce of flesh on +his body--with face scored and furrowed like the surface of the hedge +pippin--rough in his manners--and the most honest of his tribe. + +Poor Pietro Molini! never did driver give more cheering halloo to +four-footed beast! or with spirit more elate, deliver in the drawling +patois of his native paesi, some ditty commemorative of Northern liberty! +Honest Pietro! thy wishes were contained within a small compass! thy +little brown cur, snarling and bandy-legged--thy raw-boned steeds--these +were thy first care;--the safety of thy conveyance, and its various +inmates, the second. + +To thee--the most delightful melody in this wide world, was the jingling +of thy horses' bells, as all cautiously and slowly they jogged on their +way:--the most discordant sound in nature, the short husky cough, emitted +from the carcase of one of these, as disease and continued fatigue made +their sure inroads. + +Poor simple Pietro! his only pride was encased in his breeches pocket, and +it lay in a few scraps of paper--remembrances of his passengers. + +One and all lavished praise on Pietro! + +Yes! we have him again before us as we write--his ill-looking, but easy +carriage--his three steeds--the rude harness, eked out with clustering +knots of rope--and the happy driver, seated on a narrow bench, jutting +over the backs of his wheelers, as he contentedly whiffs from his small +red clay pipe--at intervals dropping off in a dose, with his cur on his +lap. At such a time, with what perfect nonchalance would he open his large +grey eyes, when recalled to the sense of his duties, by the volubly +breathed execration of some rival whip--and with what a silent look of +ineffable contempt, would he direct his horses to the side of the road, +and again steep his senses in quiescent repose. + +At night, Pietro's importance would sensibly increase, as after rubbing +down the hides of his favourites, and dropping into the capacious manger +the variegated oats; he would wait on his passengers to arrange the hour +of departure--would accept the proffered glass of wine, and give utterance +to his ready joke. + +A King might have envied Pietro Molini, as---the straw rustling beneath +him--he laid down in his hairy capote, almost between the legs of his +favourite horse. + +To do so will be to anticipate some years! + +Yet we would fain relate the end of the Vetturino. + +Crossing from Basle to Strasbourg, in the depth of winter, and descending +an undulated valley, Pietro slept as usual. + +Implicitly relying on the sure footedness of his horses, a fond dream of +German beer, German tobacco, and German sauerkraut, soothed his slumbers. + +A fragment of rock had been loosened from its ancient bed, and lay +across the road. + +Against this the leader tripped and fell. + +The shock threw Pietro and his dog from their exalted station. + +The pipe, which--whether he were sleeping or waking--had long decked the +cheek of the honest driver, now fell from it, and was dashed into a +thousand pieces. + +It was an evil omen. + +When the carriage was stopped, Pietro Molini was found quite lifeless. He +had received a kick from the ungrateful heel of his friend Bruno, and the +wheel of the carriage, it had been his delight to clean, had passed over +the body of the hapless vetturino. + +Ah! as that news spread! many an ostler of many a nation, shook his head +mournfully, and with saddened voice, wondered that the same thing had not +occurred years before. + +At the time, however, to which we allude--viz., the commencement of the +acquaintance between our English travellers, and Pietro; the latter +thought of anything rather than of leaving a world for which he had an +uncommon affection. + +He and Thompson soon became staunch allies; and the want of a common +language seemed only to cement their union. + +Not Noblet, in her inimitable performance of the Muette, threw more +expression into her sweet face--than did Pietro, into the furrowed lines +of his bronzed visage, as he endeavoured to explain to his friend some +Italian custom, or the reason why he had selected another dish, or +other wine; rather than that, to which they had done such justice the +previous day. + +Thompson's gestures and countenance in reply, partook of a more stoical +character; but he was never found wanting, when a companion was needed for +a bottle or a pipe. + +Their friendship was not an uninstructive one. + +It would have edified him, who prides himself on his deep knowledge of +human nature, or who seizes with avidity on the minuter traits of a +nation, to note with what attention the English valet, would listen to a +Milanese arietta; whose love notes, delivered by the unmusical Pietro, +were about as effectively pathetic as the croak of the bull frog in a +marsh, or screech of owl sentimentalising in ivied ruin; and to mark +with what gravity, the Italian driver would beat his hand against the +table; in tune to "Ben Baxter," or "The British Grenadiers," roared out +more Anglico. + +There are two grand routes from Home to Florence:--the one is by Perugia, +the other passes through Sienna. The former, which is the one Sir Henry +selected, is the most attractive to the ordinary traveller; who is enabled +to visit the fall of Terni, Thrasymene, and the temple of Clitumnuss The +first, despite its being artificial, is equal in our opinion, to the +vaunted Schaffhausen;--the second is hallowed in story;--and the third has +been illustrated by Byron. + + "Pass not unblest the genius of the place! + If through the air a zephyr more serene + Win to the brow, 'tis his; and if ye trace + Along the margin a more eloquent green, + If on the heart, the freshness of the scene + Sprinkle its coolness, and from the dry dust + Of weary life a moment lave it clean + With nature's baptism,--'tis to him ye must + Pay orisons for this suspension of disgust." + +Poor George Delme showed little interest in anything connected with +this journey. Sir Henry embarked on the lake above, in order to see the +cascade of Terni in every point of view; and afterwards took his +station with George, on various ledges of rock below the fall--whence +the eye looks upward, on that mystic scene of havoc, turbulence, and +mighty rush of water. + +But the cataract fell in snowy sheet--the waves hissed round the sable +rocks--and the rainbow played on the torrent's foam;--but these +possessed not a charm, to rouse to a sense of their beauty, the sad +heart of the invalid. + +Near the lake of Thrasymene, they passed some hours; allowing Pietro to +put up his horses at Casa di Piano. Sir Henry, with a Livy in his hand, +first proceeded to the small eminence, looking down on the round tower of +Borghetto; and on that insidious pass, which his fancy peopled once more, +with the advancing troops of the Consul. + +The soldier felt much interested, and attempted to impart that interest to +George; but the widowed husband shook his head mournfully; and it was +evident, that his thoughts were not with Flaminius and his entrapped +soldiers, but with the gentle Acme, mouldering in her lonely grave. + +From Borghetto, they proceeded to the village of Torre, where Delme was +glad to accept the hospitable offer of its Priest, and procure seats for +himself and George, in the balcony of his little cottage. From this +point, they looked down on the arena of war. + +There it lay, serene and basking in the rays of the meridian sun. + +On either side, were the purple summits of the Gualandra hills. + +Beneath flowed the little rivulet, once choked by the bodies of the +combatants; but which now sparkled gaily through the valley, although at +intervals, almost dried up by the fierce heat of summer. + +The lake was tranquil and unruffled--all on its margin, hushed and +moveless. What a contrast to that exciting hour, which Sir Henry was +conjuring up again; when the clang of arms, and crash of squadrons, +commingled with the exulting shout, that bespoke the confident hope of the +wily Carthaginian; and with that sterner response, which hurled back the +indomitable spirit of the unyielding, but despairing Roman! + +Our travellers quitted the Papal territories; and entering Tuscany, passed +through Arezzo, the birth-place of Petrarch; arriving at Florence just +previous to sunset. + +As they reached the Lung' Arno, Pietro put his horses to a fast trot, and +rattling over the flagged road, drew up in front of Schneidorff's with an +air of greater importance, than his sorry vehicle seemed to warrant. + +The following morning, George Delme was taken by his brother, to visit +the English physician resident at Florence; and again was Delme informed, +that change of scene, quiet, and peace of mind, were what his brother +most required. + +George was thinner perhaps, than when at Rome, and his lip had lost its +lustrous red; but he concealed his physical sufferings, and always met +Henry with the same soft undeviating smile. + +On their first visit to the Tribune, George was struck with the Samian +Sibyl of Guercino. + +In the glowing lip--the silken cheek--the ivory temple--the eye of +inspiration--the bereaved mourner thought he could trace, some faint +resemblance to the lost Acme. Henceforward, it was his greatest pleasure, +to remain with eyes fixed on that masterpiece of art. + +Sir Henry Delme, accompanied by the custode, would make himself +acquainted with the wonders of the Florentine gallery; and every now and +then, return to whisper some sentence, in the soothing tones of brotherly +kindness. At night, their usual haunt was the public square--where the +loggio of Andrea Orcagna presents so much, that may claim attention. + +There stands the David! in the freshness of his youth! proudly regarding +his adversary--ere he overthrow, with the weapon of the herdsman, the +haughty giant. + +The inimitable Perseus, too! the idol of that versatile genius, Benvenuto +Cellini:--an author! a goldsmith! a cunning artificer in jewels! a founder +in bronze! a sculptor in marble! the prince of good fellows! the favored +of princes! the warm friend and daring lover! as we gaze on his glorious +performance, and see beside it the Hercules, and Cacus of his rival Baccio +Bandanelli,--we seem to live again in those days, with which Cellini has +made us so familiar:--and almost naturally regard the back of the bending +figure, to note if its muscles warrant the stinging sarcasm of Cellini, +which we are told at once dispelled the pride of the aspiring +artist--"that they resembled cucumbers!" + +The rape of the Sabines, too! the white marble glistening in the +obscurity, until the rounded shape of the maiden seems to elude the strong +grasp of the Roman! + +Will she ever fly from him thus? will the home of her childhood be ever as +dear? No! the husband's love shall replace the father's blessing; and the +affections of the daughter, shall yield to the tender yearnings of the +mother's bosom. + +We marvel not that George's footsteps lingered there! + +How often have _we_--martyrs to a hopeless nympholepsy--strayed through +that piazza, at the self same hour--there deemed that the heart would +break--but never thought that it might slowly wither. + +How often have _we_ gleaned from those beauteous objects around, but +aliment to our morbid griefs;--and turning towards the gurgling fountain +of Ammonati, and gazing on its trickling waters, have vainly tried to +arrest our trickling tears! + + + + +Chapter VIII. + +Argua. + + + + "There is a tomb in Arqua: rear'd in air, + Pillar'd in their sarcophagus, repose + The bones of Laura's lover." + + * * * * * + + "I stood in Venice on the Bridge of Sighs." + + +How glorious is the thrill, which shoots through our frame, as we first +wake to the consciousness of our intellectual power; as we feel the +spirit--the undying spirit--ready to burst the gross bonds of flesh, and +soar triumphant, over the sneers of others, and our own mistrust. + +How does each thought seem to swell in our bosom, as if impatient of the +confined tenement--how do the floating ideas congregate--how does each +impassioned feeling subdue us in turn, and long for a worthy utterance! + +This is a very bright moment in the history of our lives. It is one in +which we feel--indubitably feel--that we are of the fashioning of +God;--that the light which intellect darts around us, is not the result of +education--of maxims inculcated--or of principles instilled;--but that it +is a ray caught from the brightness of eternity--that when our wavering +pulse has ceased to beat, and the etherialised elements have left the +baser and the useless dust--that ray shall not be quenched; but shall +again be absorbed in the full effulgence from which it emanated. + +Surely then, if such a glorious moment as this, be accorded to even the +inferior votaries of knowledge--to the meaner pilgrims, struggling on +towards the resplendent shrines of science:--how must _he_--the divine +Petrarch, who could so exquisitely delineate love's hopes and story, as to +clothe an earthly passion, with half the attributes of an immortal +affection:--how must _he_ have revelled in the proud sensations called +forth at such a moment! + +It is the curse of the poet, that he must perforce leave the golden +atmosphere of loftiest aspirations--step from the magic circle, where all +is pure and etherial--and find himself the impotent denizen, of a sombre +and an earthly world, + +It was in the early part of September, that the brothers turned their +backs on the Etrurian Athens. Their destination was Venice, and their +route lay through Bologna and Arqua. + +They had been so satisfied, under the guidance of their old vetturino, +that Sir Henry made an arrangement, which induced him to be at Florence, +at the time of their departure;--and Pietro and Thompson were once more +seated beside each other. + +Before commencing the ascent of the Appennines, our travellers visited the +country seat of the Archduke; saw the gigantic statue executed by John of +Bologna, which frowns over the lake; and at Fonte-buona, cast a farewell +glance on Florence, and the ancient Fiesole. + +As they advanced towards Caravigliojo, the mountains began to be more +formidable, and the scenery to lose its smiling character. + +Each step seemed to add to the barrenness of the landscape. + +The wind came howling down from the black volcanic looking ridges--then +swept tempestuously through some deep ravine. + +On either side the road, tall red poles presented themselves, a guide to +the traveller during winter's snows; while, in one exposed gully, were +built large stone embankments for his protection--as a Latin inscription +intimated--from the violence of the gales. + +Few signs of life appeared. + +Here and there, her white kerchief shading a sun-burnt face, a young +Bolognese shepherd girl might be seen on some grassy ledge, waving her +hand coquettishly; while her neglected flock, with tinkling bell, browsed +on the edge of the precipice. As they neared Bologna, however, the +scenery changed. + +Festoons of grapes, trained to leafy elms, began to appear--white villas +chequered the suburbs--and it was with a pleasurable feeling, that they +neared the peculiar looking city, with its leaning towers, and old +facades. It is the only one, where the Englishman recals Mrs. Ratcliffe's +harrowing tales; and half expects to see a Schedoni, advancing from some +covered portico. + +The next day found them in the Bolognese gallery, which is the first which +duly impresses the traveller, coming from the north, with the full powers +of the art. + +The soul of music seems to dwell in the face of the St. Cecilia; and the +cup of maternal anguish to be filled to the brim, as in Guide's Murder of +the Innocents, the mother clasps to her arms the terrified babe, and +strives to flee from the ruthless destroyer. + +It was on the fourth morning from their arrival in Bologna, that they +approached the poet's "mansion and his sepulchre." + +As they threaded the green windings of vine covered hills, these gradually +assumed a bolder outline, and, rising in separate cones, formed a sylvan +amphitheatre round the lovely village of Arqua. + +The road made an abrupt ascent to the Fontana Petrarca. A large ruined +arch spanned a fine spring, that rushes down the green slope. + +In the church-yard, on the right, is the tomb of Petrarch. + +Its peculiarly bold elevation--the numberless thrilling associations +connected with the poet--gave a tone and character to the whole scene. The +chiaro-scuro of the landscape, was from the light of his genius--the shade +of his tomb. + +The day was lovely--warm, but not oppressive. The soft green of the hills +and foliage, checked the glare of the flaunting sunbeams. + +The brothers left the carriage to gaze on the sarcophagus of red marble, +raised on pilasters; and could not help deeming even the indifferent +bronze bust of Petrarch, which surmounts this, to be a superfluous +ornament in such a scene. + +The surrounding landscape--the dwelling place of the poet--his tomb facing +the heavens, and disdaining even the shadow of trees--the half-effaced +inscription of that hallowed shrine--all these seemed appropriate, and +melted the gazer's heart. + +How useless! how intrusive! are the superfluous decorations of art, amid +the simpler scenes of nature. + +Ornament is here misplaced. The feeling heart regrets its presence at the +time, and attempts, albeit in vain, to banish it from after recollections. + +George could not restrain his tears, for he thought of the dead; and they +silently followed their guide to Petrarch's house, now partly used as a +granary. Passing through two or three unfinished rooms, whose walls were +adorned with rude frescoes of the lover and his mistress, they were shown +into Petrarch's chamber, damp and untenanted. + +In the closet adjoining, were the chair and table consecrated by the poet. + +There did he sit--and write--and muse--and die! + +George turned to a tall narrow window, and looked out on a scene, fair and +luxuriant as the garden of Eden. + +The rich fig trees, with their peculiar small, high scented fruit, mixed +with the vines that clustered round the lattice. + +The round heads of the full bearing peach trees, dipped down in a leafy +slope beneath a grassy walk;--and this thicket of fruit was charmingly +enlivened, by bunches of the scarlet pomegranate, now in the pride of +their blossom. + +The poet's garden alone was neglected--rank herbage choking up its +uncultivated flowers. + +A thousand thoughts filled the mind of George Delme. + +He thought of Laura! of his own Acme! + +With swimming glance, he looked round the chamber. + +It was almost without furniture, and without ornament. In a niche, and +within a glass case, was placed the skeleton of a dumb favourite of +Petrarch's. + +Suddenly George Delme felt a faintness stealing over him:--and he +turned to bare his forehead, to catch the slight breeze from below +redolent of sweets. + +This did not relieve him. + +A sharp pain across the chest, and a fluttering at the heart, as of a bird +struggling to be free, succeeded this faintness. + +Another rush of blood to the head:--and a snap, as of some tendon, was +distinctly felt by the sufferer. + +His mouth filled with blood. + +A small blood-vessel had burst, and temporary insensibility ensued. + +Sir Henry was wholly unprepared for this scene. + +Assisted by Thompson, he bore him to the carriage--sprinkled his face with +water--and administered cordials. + +George's recovery was speedy; and it almost seemed, as if the rupture of +the vessel had been caused by the irregular circulation, for no further +bad effects were felt at the time. + +The loss of blood, however, evidently weakened him; and his spasms +henceforward were more frequent. + +He became less able to undergo fatigue; and his mind, probably in +connection with the nervous system, became more than ordinarily excited. + +There was no longer wildness in his actions; but in his thoughts and +language, was developed a poetical eccentricity--a morbid sympathy with +surrounding scenes and impressions, which kept Sir Henry Delme in a +constant state of alarm,--and which was very remarkable. + + * * * * * + +"What! at Mestre already, Pietro?" said Sir Henry. + +"Even so, Signore! and here is the gondola to take you on to Venice." + +"Well, Pietro! you must not fail to come and see us at the inn." + +The vetturino touched his hat, with the air of a man who would be very +sorry _not_ to see them. + +It was not long ere the glittering prow of the gondola pointed to Venice. + +Before the travellers, rose ocean's Cybele; springing from the waters, +like some fairy city, described to youthful ear by aged lip. + +The fantastic dome of St. Mark--the Palladian churches--the columned +palaces--the sable gondolas shooting through the canals--made its aspect, +as is its reality, unique in the world. + +"Beautiful, beautiful city!" said George, his eye lighting up as he spoke, +"thou dost indeed look a city of the heart--a resting place for a wearied +spirit. And our gondola, Henry, should be of burnished silver; and those +afar--so noiselessly cutting their way through the glassy surface--those +should be angels with golden wings; and, instead of an oar flashing +freely, a snowy wand of mercy should beat back the kissing billows. + +"And Acme, with her George, should sit on the crystal cushion of glory--and +we would wait expectant for you a long long time--and then you should join +us, Henry, with dear Emily. + +"And Thompson should be with us, too, and recline on the steps of our bark +as he does now. + +"And together we would sail loving and happy through an amethystine sea." + +During their stay in Venice, George, in spite of his increasing languor, +continued to accompany his brother, in his visits to the various objects +of interest which the city can boast. + +The motion of the gondola appeared to have a soothing influence on the +mind of the invalid. + +He would recline on the cushions, and the fast flowing tears would course +down his wan cheeks. + +These, however, were far from being a proof of suffering;--they were +evidently a relief to the surcharged spirit. + +One evening, a little before sunset, they found themselves in the crowded +piazza of Saint Mark. The cafes were thronged with noble Venetians, come +to witness the evening parade of an Austrian regiment. The sounds of +martial music, swelled above the hum of the multitude; and few could +listen to those strains, without participating in some degree, in the +military enthusiasm of the hour. + +But the brothers turned from the pageantry of war, as their eyes fell on +the emblems of Venice free--the minarets of St. Mark, with the horses of +Lysippus, a spoil from Byzantium--the flagless poles that once bore the +banners of three tributary states--the highly adorned azure clock--the +palaces of the proud Doges--where Faliero reigned--where Faliero +suffered:--these were before them. + +Their steps mechanically turned to the beautiful Campanile. + +George, leaning heavily on Sir Henry's arm, succeeded in gaining the +summit: and they looked down from thence, on that wonderful city. + +They saw the parade dismissed--they heard the bugle's fitful blast +proclaim the hour of sunset. The richest hues of crimson and of gold, +tinted the opposite heavens; while on those waters, over which the +gondolas were swiftly gliding, quivered another city, the magic reflection +of the one beneath them. + +They gazed on the scene in silence, till the grey twilight came on. + +"Now, George! it is getting late," said Sir Henry. "I wonder whether we +could find some old mariner, who could give us a chaunt from Tasso?" + +Descending from the Campanile, Sir Henry made enquiries on the quay, and +with some difficulty found gondoliers, who could still recite from their +favourite bard. + +Engaging a couple of boats, and placing a singer in each, the brothers +were rowed down the Canale Giudecca--skirted many of the small islands, +studding the lagoons; and proceeded towards the Adriatic. + +Gradually the boats parted company, and just as Sir Henry was about to +speak, thinking there might be a mistake as to the directions; the +gondolier in the other boat commenced his song,--its deep bass mellowed by +distance, and the intervening waves. The sound was electric. + +It was so exquisitely appropriate to the scene, and harmonised so +admirably, with the associations which Venice is apt to awaken, that one +longed to be able to embody that fleeting sound--to renew its magic +influence in after years. The pen may depict man's stormy feelings: the +sensitive caprice of woman:--the most vivid tints may be imitated on the +glowing canvas:--the inspired marble may realise our every idea of the +beauty of form:--a scroll may give us at will, the divine inspiration, of +Handel:--but there are sounds, as there are subtle thoughts, which, away +from the scenes, where they have charmed us, can never delight us more. + +It was not until the second boatman answered the song, that the brothers +felt how little the charm lay, in the voice of the gondolier, and that, +heard nearer, the sounds were harsh and inharmonious. + +They recited the death of Clorinda; the one renewing the stanza, whenever +there was a momentary forgetfulness on the part of the other. + +The clock of St. Mark had struck twelve, before the travellers had reached +the hotel. George had not complained of fatigue, during a day which even +Sir Henry thought a trying one; and the latter was willing to hope that +his strength was now increasing. + +Their first design had been to proceed though Switzerland, resting for +some time at Geneva. Their plans were now changed, and Sir Henry Belme +determined, that their homeward route should be through the Tyrol and +Bavaria, and eventually down the Rhine. + +He considered that the water carriage, and the very scenes themselves, +might prove beneficial to the invalid. + +Thompson was sent over to Mestre, to inform Pietro; and they prepared to +take their departure. + +"You have been better in Venice," said Sir Henry, as they entered the +gondola, that was to bear them from the city. "God grant that you may long +remain so!" + +George shook his head doubtingly. + +"My illness, Henry, is not of the frame alone, although that is fragile +and shattered. + +"The body lingers on without suffering; but the mind--a very bright sword +in a worthless sheath--is forcing its way through. Some feelings must +remain to the last--gratitude to you--love to dear Emily! Acme, wife of my +bosom! when may I join you?" + + + + +Chapter IX. + +Inspruck. + + + + "Oh there is sweetness in the mountain air, + And life, that bloated ease can never hope to share." + + +Inspruck! a thousand recollections flash across us, as we pronounce the +word! + +We were there at a memorable period; when the body of the hero of the +Tyrol--the brave, the simple-minded Anderl Hofer--was removed from Mantua, +where he so nobly met a patriot's death, to the capital of the country, +which he had so gallantly defended. + +The event was one, that could not fail to be impressive; and to us it was +doubly so, for that very period formed an epoch in our lives. + +We had lost! we had suffered! we had mourned! Our mind's strength was +shook. Ordinary remedies were worse than futile. + +We threw ourselves into the heart of the Tyrol, and became resigned if +not happy. + +Romantic country! did not duty whisper otherwise, how would we fly to thy +rugged mountains, and find in the kindly virtues of thine inhabitants, +wherewithal to banish misanthropy, and it may be purchase oblivion. + +Noble land! where the chief in his hall--the peasant in his hut--alike +open their arms with sheltering hospitality, to welcome the +stranger--where kindness springs from the heart, and dreams not of sordid +gain--where courtesy attends superior rank, without question, but without +debasement--where the men are valiant, the women virtuous--where it needed +but a few home-spun heroes--an innkeeper and a friar--to rouse up to arms +an entire population, and in a brief space to drive back the Gallic +foeman! Oh! how do we revert with choking sense of gratitude, to the years +we have spent in thy bosom! + +Oh! would that we were again treading the mountain's summit--the rifle +our comrade--and a rude countryman, our guide and our companion. + +In vain! in vain! the net of circumstance is over us! + +We may struggle! but cannot escape from its close meshes. + +We have said that we were at Inspruck at this period. + +It was our purpose, on the following morning, to take our departure. + +With renewed health, and nerves rebraced, we hoped to combat successfully, +a world that had already stung us. + +There was a group near the golden-roofed palace, that attracted our +attention. It consisted of a father and his five sons. + +They were dressed in the costume of the country; wearing a tapering +hat, with black ribbons and feather--a short green jerkin--a red vest +surmounted by broad green braces--and short boots tightly laced to +the ancle. + +They formed a picture of free mountaineers. + +We left our lodging, and passed them irresolutely twice or thrice. + +The old man took off his hat to the stranger. + +"Sir! I am of Sand, in Passeyer. + +"Anderl Hofer was my schoolfellow; and these are my boys, whom I have +brought to see all that remains of him. Oh! Sir! they did not conquer him, +although the murderers shot him on the bastion; but, as he wrote to +Pulher--_his_ friend and mine--it was indeed 'in the name, and by the help +of the Lord, that he undertook the voyage,'" + +We paced through the city sorrowfully. It was night, as we passed by the +church of the Holy Cross. + +Solemn music there arrested our footsteps; and we remembered, that high +mass would that night be performed, for the soul of the deceased patriot. + +We entered, and drew near the mausoleum of Maximilian the First:--leaning +against a colossal statue in bronze, and fixing our eyes on a bas relief +on the tomb: one of twenty-four tablets, wrought from Carrara's whitest +marble, by the unrivalled hand of Colin of Malines! + +One blaze of glory enveloped the grand altar:--vapours of incense floated +above:--and the music! oh it went to the soul! + +Down! down knelt the assembled throng! + +Our mind had been previously attuned to melancholy; it now reeled under +its oppression. + +We looked around with tearful eye. Old Theodoric of the Goths seemed to +frown from his pedestal. + +We turned to the statue against which we had leant. + +It was that of a youthful and sinewy warrior. + +We read its inscription. + +Artur, Konig Von England + +"Ah! hast _thou_ too thy representative, my country?" + +We looked around once more. + +The congregation were prostrate before the mysterious Host; and we alone +stood up, gazing with profound awe and reverence on the mystic rite. + +The rough caps of the women almost hid their fair brows. In the upturned +features of the men, what a manly, yet what a devout expression reigned! + +Melodiously did the strains proceed from the brazen-balustraded +orchestra; while sweet young girls smiled in the chapel of silver, as +they turned to Heaven their deeply-fringed eyes, and invoked pardon for +their sins. + +Alas! alas! that such as these _should_ err, even in thought! that our +feelings should so often mislead us,--that our very refinement, should +bring temptation in its train,--and our fervent enthusiasm, but too +frequently terminate in vice and crime! + +Our whole soul was unmanned! and well do we remember the morbid prayer, +that we that night offered to the throne of mercy. + +"Pity us! pity us! Creator of all! + +"With thousands around, who love--who reverence--whose hearts, in unison +with ours, tremble at death, yet sigh for eternity;--who gaze with eye +aspiring, although dazzled--as, the curtain of futurity uplifted, fancy +revels in the glorious visions of beatitude:--even here, oh God! hear our +prayer and pity us! + +"We are moulded, though faintly, in an angel's form. Endow us with an +angel's principles. For ever hush the impure swellings of passion! lull +the stormy tide of contending emotions! let not circumstances overwhelm! + +"Receive our past griefs: the griefs of manhood, engrafted on youth; accept +these tears, falling fast and bitterly! take them as past atonement,--as +mute witnesses that we feel:--that reason slumbers not, although passion +may mislead:--that gilded temptation may overcome, and gorgeous pleasure +intoxicate:--but that sincere repentance, and bitter remorse, are +visitants too. + +"Oh guide and pity us!" + +A cheerless dawn was breaking, and a thick damp mist was lazily hanging on +the water's surface, as our travellers waved the hand to Venice. + +"Fare thee well!" said George, as he rose in the gondola to catch a last +glimpse of the Piazzetta, "sea girt city! decayed memorial of patrician +splendour, and plebeian debasement! of national glory, blended with +individual degradation!--fallen art thou, but fair! It was not with +freshness of heart, I reached thee:--I dwelt not in thee, with that +jocund spirit, whose every working or gives the lip a smile, or moistens +the eye of feeling with a tear. + +"Sad were my emotions! but sadder still, as I recede from thy shores, bound +on a distant pilgrimage. Acme! dear Acme! would I were with thee!" + +Passing through Treviso, they stopped at Castel Franco, which presents one +of the best specimens of an Italian town, and Italian peasantry, that a +stranger can meet with. + +At Bassano, they failed not to visit the Municipal Hall, where are the +principal pictures of Giacomo da Ponte, called after his native town. + +His style is peculiar. + +His pictures are dark to an excess, with here and there a vivid light, +introduced with wonderful effect. + +From this town, the ascent of the mountains towards Ospedale is commenced; +and the route is one full of interest. + +On the right, lay a low range of country, adorned with vineyards; beyond +which, the mountains rose in a precipitous ridge, and closed the scene +magnificently. + +The Brenta was then reached, and continued to flow parallel with the road, +as far as eye could extend. + +Farther advanced, the mountains presented a landscape more varied:--_here_ +chequered with hamlets, whose church hells re-echoed in mellow harmony: +there--the only break to their majesty, being the rush of the river, as it +formed rolling cascades in its rapid route; or beat in sparkling foam, +against the large jagged rocks, which opposed its progress. + +At one while, came shooting down the stream, some large raft of timber, +manned by adventurous navigators, who, with graceful dexterity, guided +their rough bark, clear of the steep banks, and frequent fragments of +rock;--at another--as if to mark a road little frequented, a sharp turn +would bring them on some sandalled damsel, sitting by the road side, +adjusting her ringlets. Detected in her toilet, there was a mixture of +frankness and modesty, in the way in which she would turn away a blushing +face, yet neglect not, with native courtesy, to incline the head, and +wave the sun-burnt hand. + +From Ospedale, nearing the bold castle of Pergini, which effectually +commands the pass; the travellers descended through regions of beauty, to +the ancient Tridentum of Council celebrity. + +The metal roof of its Duomo was glittering in the sunshine; and the Adige +was swiftly sweeping by its fortified walls. + +Leaving Trent, they reached San Michele, nominally the last Italian town +on the frontier; but the German language had already prepared them for a +change of country. + +The road continued to wind by the Adige, and passing through Lavis, and +Bronzoli, the brothers halted for the night at Botzen, a clean German +town, watered by the Eisach. + +The following day's journey, was one that few can take, and deem their +time misspent. + +Mossy cliffs--flowing cascades--"chiefless castles breaking stern +farewells"--all these were met, and met again, as through Brixen, they +reached the village of Muelks. + +They had intended to have continued their route; but on drawing up at the +post-house, were so struck with the gaiety of the scene, that they +determined to remain for the night. + +Immediately in rear of the small garden of the inn, and with a gentle +slope upwards, a wide piece of meadow land extended. On its brow, was +pitched a tent, or rather, a many-coloured awning; and, beside it, a pole +adorned with flags. This was the station for expert riflemen, who aimed in +succession at a fluttering bird, held by a silken cord. + +The sloping bank of the hill was covered with spectators. + +Age looked on with sadness, and mourned for departed manhood--youth with +envy, and sighed for its arrival. + +After seeing their bedrooms, George leant on Henry's arm, and, crossing +the garden, they took a by-path, which led towards the tent. + +The strangers were received with respect and cordiality. + +Seats were brought, and placed near the scene of contest. + +The trial of skill over, the victor took advantage, of his right, and +selected his partner from the fairest of the peasant girls. + +Shrill pipes struck up a waltz--a little blind boy accompanied these on a +mandolin--and in a brief space, the hill's flat summit was swarming with +laughing dancers. + +Nor was youth alone enlisted in Terpsichore's service. + +The mother joined in the same dance with the daughter; and not +unfrequently tripped with foot as light. + +Twilight came on, and the patriarchs of the village, and with them our +travellers, adjourned to the inn. + +The matrons led away their reluctant charges, and the youth of the village +alone protracted the revels. + +The brothers seated themselves at a separate table, and watched the +village supper party, with some interest. + +Bowls of thick soup, with fish swimming in butter, and fruit floating in +cream, were successively placed in the middle of the table. + +Each old man produced his family spoon, and helped himself with primitive +simplicity:--then lighted his pipe, and told his long tale, till he had +exhausted himself and his hearers. + +Nor must we forget the comely waiter. + +A bunch of keys hanging on one side,--a large leathern purse on the +other--with a long boddice, and something like a hoop--she really +resembled, save that her costume was more homely, one of the portraits +of Vandyke. + +The brothers left Muelks by sunrise, and were not long, ere they reached +the summit of the Brenner, the loftiest point of the Tyrol. + +From the beautiful town of Gries, embosomed in the deep valley, until they +trod the steep Steinach, the mountain scenery at each step become more +interesting. The road was cut on the face of a mountain. On one side, +frowned the mountain's dark slope; on the other, lay a deep precipice, +down which the eye fearfully gazed, and saw naught but the dark fir trees +far far beneath. Dividing that dense wood, a small stream, entangled in +the dark ravine, glided on in graceful windings, and looked more silvery +from its contrast with the sombre forest. + +At the Steinach Pietro pulled up, to show the travellers the capital +of the Tyrol, and to point in the distance to Hall, famous for its +salt works. + +Casting a hasty glance, on the romantic vale beneath them:--the fairest +and most extensive in the northern recesses of the Alps, Sir Henry desired +his driver to continue his journey. + +They rapidly descended, and passing by the column, commemorative of the +repulse of the French and Bavarian armies, soon found themselves the +inmates of an hotel in Inspruck. + + + + +Chapter X. + +The Students' Stories. + + + + "The lilacs, where the robins built, + And where my brother set + The laburnum on his birth-day-- + _The tree_ is living yet." + + +At Inspruck, Delme had the advantage of a zealous, if not an appropriate +guide, in the red-faced landlord of the hotel, whose youth had been passed +in stirring times, which had more than once, required the aid of his arm, +and which promised to tax his tongue, to the last day of his life. + +He knew all the heroes of the Tyrolese revolution--if revolution it can be +called--and had his tale to tell of each. + +He had got drunk with Hofer,--had visited Joseph Speckbacker, when hid in +his own stable,--and had confessed more than once to Haspinger, the +fighting Capuchin. + +His stories were very characteristic; and, if they did not breathe all the +poetry of patriotism, were at least honest versions, of exploits performed +in as pure and disinterested a spirit, as any that have ever graced the +sacred name of Liberty. + +After seeing all its sights, and making an excursion to some glaciers in +its neighbourhood, Delme and George left the capital of the Tyrol, to +proceed by easy stages to Munich. + +In the first day's route, they made the passage of the Zirl, which has +justly been lauded; and Pietro failed not to point to a crucifix, placed +on a jutting rock, which serves to mark the site of Maximilian's cave. + +The travellers took a somewhat late breakfast, at the guitar-making +Mittelwald, where chance detained them later than usual. They were still +at some distance from their sleeping place, the hamlet of Wallensee, when +the rich hues of sunset warned Pietro, that if he would not be benighted, +he must urge on his jaded horses. + +The sun's decline was glorious. For a time, vivid streaks of crimson and +of gold, crowned the summits of the heaving purple mountains. Gradually, +these streaks became fainter, and died away, and rolling, slate-coloured +clouds, hung heavily in the west. + +The scene and the air seemed to turn on a sudden, both cold and grey; and, +as the road wound through umbrageous forests of pine, night came abruptly +upon them; and it was a relief to the eye, to note the many bright stars, +as they shone above the tops of the lofty trees. + +A boding stillness reigned, on which the sound of their carriage wheels +ungratefully broke. The rustling of each individual bough had an +intonation of its own; and the deep notes of the woodman, endeavouring to +forget the thrilling legends of his land, mingled fitfully with the hollow +gusts, which came moaning through the leafless branches below. + +Hist! can it be the boisterous revel of the _forst geister_, that meets +his ear? or is it but the chirp of insects, replying from brake to +underwood? + +Woodman! stay not thy carol! + +Yon sound _may_ be the wild laugh of the Holz Koenig! Better for thee, to +deem it the whine of thine own dog, looking from the cottage door, and +awaiting but thy presence, to share in the homely meal. + +Arrived on the summit of the hill, the lights of the hamlet at length +glistened beneath them. The tired steeds, as if aware of the near +termination of their labours, shook their rough manes, and jingled their +bells in gladness. + +An abrupt descent--and they halted, at the inn facing the lake. + +And here may we notice, that it has been a source of wonder to us, that +English tourists, whose ubiquity is great, have not oftener been seen +straying, by the side of the lake of Wallensee. + +A sweeter spot exists not;--whether we rove by its margin, and perpetrate +a sonnet; limn some graceful tree, hanging over its waters; or gaze on its +unruffled surface, and, noting its aspect so serene, preach from that +placid text, peace to the wearied breast. + +They were shown into a room in the inn, already thronged with strangers. +These were students on their way to Heidelberg. + +They were sitting round a table, almost enveloped in smoke; and were +hymning praises to their loved companion--beer. + +As being in harmony with the moustaches, beard, and bandit +propensities--which true buerschen delight to cultivate--they received +the strangers with an unfriendly stare, and continued to vociferate +their chorus. + +Sir Henry, a little dismayed at the prospect before them, called for the +landlord and his bill of fare; and had the pleasure of discovering, that +the provisions had been consumed, and that two hours would elapse, before +more could be procured. + +At this announcement, Delme looked somewhat blank. One of the students, +observing this, approached, and apologising, in English, for their +voracity, commenced conversing with the landlord, as to the best course to +be pursued towards obtaining supper. + +His comrades, seeing one of their number speaking with the travellers, +threw off some part of their reserve, and made way for them at the table. + +George and Henry accepted the proffered seats, although they declined +joining the drinking party. + +The students, however, did not appear at ease. As if to relieve their +embarrassment, one of them addressed the young man, with whom Sir Henry +had conversed. + +"Carl! it is your turn now! if you have not a song, we must have an +original story." + +Carl at once complied, and related the following. + + + +The First Story. + + +Perhaps some of you remember Fritz Hartmann and his friend Leichtberg. +They were the founders of the last new liberty club, and were famous at +_renowning_. + +These patriots became officers of the Imperial Guard, and at Vienna were +soon known for their friendship and their gallantries. + +Fritz had much sentiment and imagination; but some how or other, this did +not preserve him from inconstancy. + +If he was always kind and gentle, he was not always faithful. + +His old college chums had the privilege of joking him on these subjects; +and we always did so without mercy. Fritz would sometimes combat our +assertions, but they ordinarily made him laugh so much, that a stranger +would have deemed he assented to their truth. + +One night after the opera, the friends supped together at Fritz's. + +I was of the party, and brought for my share a few bottles of +Johannisberg, that had been sent me by my uncle from the last vintage. +Over these we got more than usually merry, and sang all the songs and +choruses of Mother Heidelberg, till the small hours arrived. The sitting +room we were in, communicated on one side with the bedroom;--on the other, +with a little closet, containing nothing but some old trunks. + +This last was closed, but there was a small aperture in the door, over +which was a slight iron lattice work. + +The officer who had last tenanted Fritz's quarters, had kept pheasants +there, and had had this made on purpose. + +After one of our songs, Leichtberg attacked Fritz on the old score. + +"Fritz! you very Werter of sentiment! I was amazed to see you with no +loves to-night at the opera. Where is the widow with sandy hair? or the +actress who gave your _kirschenwasser_ such a benefit? where our +sallow-faced friend? or more than all, where may the fair Pole be who +sells such charming fruit? Fritz! Fritz! your sudden attachment to grapes +is too ominous." + +"Come, Leichtberg!" said Hartmann, laughing, "this is really not fair. Do +you know I think myself very constant, and as to the Pole, I have thought +of little else for these three months." + +"Not so fast! not so fast! Master Hartmann. Was it not on Wednesday week I +met you arm in arm with the actress? Were you not waltzing with the widow +at the Tivoli? have you not"-- + +"Come, come!" said Fritz, reddening, "let us say no more. I confess to +having made a fool of myself with the actress, but she begged and prayed +to see me once more, ere we parted for ever. With this exception----" + +"Yes, yes!" interrupted Leichtberg, "I know you, Master Fritz, and all +your evil doings. Have you heard of our Polish affaire de coeur, Carl?", +and he turned to me. + +"No!" replied I, "let me hear it." + +"Well, you must know that a certain friend of ours is very economical, and +markets for himself. He bargains for fruit and flowers with the peasant +girls, and the prettiest always get his orders, and bring up their +baskets, and--we will say no more. Well! our friend meets a foreign face, +dark eye--Greek contour--and figure indescribable. She brings him home her +well arranged bouquets. He swears her lips are redder than her roses--her +brow whiter than lilies--and her breath--which he stoops to inhale--far +sweeter than her jasmines. To his amazement, the young flower girl sees no +such great attractions in the Imperial Guardsman; leaves her +nosegays,--throws his Napoleon, which he had asked her to change, in his +face,--and makes her indignant exit. Our sentimental friend finds out her +home, and half her history;--renews his flattering tales--piques her +pride,--rouses her jealousy;--and makes her love him, bon gre--mal gre, +better than either fruit or flowers. + +"Fritz swears eternal constancy, and keeps it, as I have already told you, +with the actress and the sandy haired widow." + +Leichtberg told this story inimitably, and Fritz laughed as much as I did. +At length we rose to wish him good night, and saw him turn to his bedroom +door, followed by a Swiss dog, which always slept under his bed. The rest +of the story we heard from his dying lips. + +It was as near as he could guess, between two and three in the morning, +that he awoke with the impression that some one was near him. For a time +he lay restless and ill at ease; with the vague helpless feeling, that +often attacks one, after a good supper. + +Fritz had just made up his mind to ascribe to this cause, all his +nervousness; when something seemed to drop in the adjoining room; and his +dog, starting to its feet, commenced barking furiously. + +Again all was still. + +He got up for a moment, but fancying he heard a footstep on the stair, +concluded that the noise proceeded from one of the inmates of the house, +who was come home later than usual. + +But Fritz could not sleep; and his dog seemed to share his feelings; +for he turned on his side restlessly, and occasionally gave a quick +solitary bark. + +Suddenly a conviction flashed across Hartmann, that there was indeed some +one in the chamber. + +His curtain stirred. + +He sprang from his bed, and reached his tinder box. As the steel struck +sparks from the flint, these revealed the face of the intruder. + +It was the young Polish girl. + +A fur cloak was closely folded around her;--her face was deadly +pale;--with one hand she drew back her long dark hair, while she silently +uplifted the other. + +Our friend's last impression was his falling back, at the moment his dog +made a spring at the girl. + +The inmates of the house were alarmed. His friends were all sent for. + +I arrived among the earliest. What a sight met me! + +The members of the household were so stupefied that they had done nothing. +Fritz Hartmann lay on the floor insensible:--his night shirt steeped in +blood, still flowing from a mortal wound in his breast. + +At his feet, moaning bitterly, its fangs and mouth filled with mingled fur +and gore, lay the Swiss dog, with two or three deep gashes across the +throat. In the adjoining room, thrown near the door, was the instrument of +Fritz's death--one of the knives we had used the evening before. + +Beside it, lay a woman's cloak, the fur literally dripping with blood. + +Fritz lingered for five hours. Before death, he was sensible, and told us +what I have stated:--and acknowledged that he had loved the girl, more +than her station in life might seem to warrant. + +Of course, the young Pole had been concealed in the closet, and heard +Leichtberg's sallies. Love and jealousy effected the rest. + +We never caught her, although we had all the Vienna police at our beck; +and accurate descriptions of her person were forwarded to the frontiers. + +We were not quite certain as to her fate, but we rather suppose her to +have escaped by a back garden; in which case she must have made a most +dangerous leap; and then to have passed as a courier, riding as such +into Livonia. + +Where she obtained the money or means to effect this, God knows. She must +have been a heroine in her way, for this dog is not easily overpowered, +and yet--look here! these scars were given him by that young girl. + +The student whistled to a dog at his feet, which came and licked his hand, +while he showed the wounds in his throat. + +"I call him Hartmann," continued he, "after my old friend. His father sent +him to me just after the funeral, and Leichtberg has got his meershaum." + + * * * * * + +The students listened attentively to the story, refilling their pipes +during its progress, with becoming gravity. Carl turned towards his right +hand neighbour. "Wilhelm! I call on you!" + +The student, whom he addressed, passed his hand through his long heard, +and thus commenced. + + + +The Second Story. + + +My father's brother married at Lausanne, in the Canton de Vaud, and +resided there. He died early, and left one son; who, as you may suppose, +was half a Frenchman. In spite of that, I thought Caspar von Hazenfeldt a +very handsome fellow. His chestnut hair knotted in curls over his +shoulders. His eyes, the veins of his temples, and I would almost say, his +very teeth, had a blueish tint, that I have noticed in few men; and which +must, I think, be the peculiar characteristic of his complexion. When +engaged in pleasure parties, either pic-nicing at the signal, or +promenading in the evening on Mont Benon, or sitting tete-a-tete at +Languedoc, he had no eyes or ears but for Caroline de Werner. + +He waltzed with her--he talked with her--and he walked with her--until he +had fairly talked, walked, and waltzed himself into love. + +She was the daughter of a rich old colonel of the Empire:--he was the +poor son of a poorer widow. What could he do? Caspar von Hazenfeldt could +gaze on the house of the old soldier; but the avenue of elms, the waving +corn-fields, and the luxuriant gardens, told him that the heiress of +Beau-Sejour could never be his. + +He was one evening sitting on a stone, in a little ruined chapel, near the +house of his beloved; ruminating as usual on his ill fate, and considering +which would be the better plan, to mend his fortunes by travel, or mar +them by suicide;--when an elderly gentleman, dressed in a plain suit of +black, appeared hat in hand before him. + +After the usual compliments, they entered into conversation, and at last, +having walked for some distance, towards Hazenfeldt's house, agreed to +meet again at the chapel on the next evening. + +Suffice it to say that they often met, and as often parted, on the margin +of the little stream, that ran before the door of Caspar's mother's +house:--that they became great friends;--and that the young man confided +the tale of his love, hopes, and miseries, to the sympathising senior. + +At last _the old gentleman_, for such he really was, told Caspar that he +would help him in a trice, through all his difficulties. + +"There is one condition, Caspar!" said he, "but that is a mere trifle. You +are young, and would be quite happy, were it not for this love affair of +yours:--you sleep soundly, you seek and quit your bed early, and you care +not for night-roving. Henceforth, lend me your body from ten at night, +until two in the morning, and I promise that Caroline de Werner shall be +yours. Here she is!" continued he, as he opened his snuff box, and showed +the lid to Caspar, "here she is!" + +And sure enough, there she was on the inside of the lid, apparently +reading to the gouty old colonel, as he sat in his easy chair in the petit +salon of Beau-Sejour. + +One evening, the old gentleman delighted Caspar, by telling him that he +had authority from Colonel de Werner, to bring a guest to a ball at +Beau-Sejour, and by begging Caspar to be his shade--to use our +Continental expression--on the occasion. + +Caspar von Hazenfeldt and he became greater friends than ever, since their +singular contract had been made; for made it was in a thoughtless +unguarded moment. + +Hazenfeldt was introduced to Caroline in due form, and engaged her for the +first dance. + +Before the quadrille began, his friend in black came to present his +compliments, and to say that he had never seen a more beautiful pair. + +"Caspar!" continued he, "when your dance is over, give me a few minutes in +the next room. We will chat together, and sip our negus." + +Caspar _did_ so, and _did_ sip his negus. The little gentleman in black, +was very facetious, and very affable. + +"Are you not going to dance again, Caspar? Look at all those pretty girls, +waiting for partners! Why do you not lead one to the country dance?" + +As he ended speaking, a sylph-like figure, with long golden ringlets, +floated past them. + +"I can, and I will," replied Caspar, laughing, as he took the fair-haired +girl by the hand, and led her to the dance. + +He turned to address his friend in triumph, but he had disappeared. + +The dance was over, and Caspar led the stranger towards a silken ottoman. + +"Will you not try one waltz?" said the beautiful girl, as she shook +her ringlets, over his flushed cheek; "but I must not ask you, if you +are tired." + +"How can I refuse?" rejoined Caspar. + +Caroline was forgotten, as his partner's golden hair floated on his +shoulders, and her soft white arms were twined around him, as they danced +the mazy coquettish waltz, which was then the fashion in Lausanne. + +"How warm these rooms are!" she exclaimed at last. "The moon is up: let us +walk in the avenue." + +Caspar assented; for he grew fonder of his new partner, and more forgetful +of Caroline. She pressed closer and closer to his side. A distant clock +struck ten. Entwined in her tresses, encircled in her arms, he sunk +senseless to the ground. + +When Caspar recovered from the trance, into which he had fallen, the cold +morning breeze, that precedes the dawn, was freshening his cheek; a few +faint streaks on the horizon, reflected the colours of the coming sun; and +the night birds were returning tired to the woods, as the day birds were +merrily preparing for their flight. He was not where he had fallen: he was +sitting on a rustic bench, beneath a moss-grown rock. + +Caroline de Werner was beside him. + +Her white frock was torn; her hair was hanging in Bacchante curls, twined +with the ivy that had wreathed it; her eyes glared wildly, and blood +bubbled from her mouth. Her hand was fast locked in that of Hazenfeldt. + +"Caroline!" he exclaimed, in a tone of wonderment, as one who awakes from +a deep sleep, "Caroline! why are we here? what means this disorder?" + +"You now speak," said she, "as did my Caspar," + +Caroline de Werner is in a mad-house near Vevay:--the man in black has not +been seen since he disappeared from the ball room of Beau-Sejour:--my +cousin, Caspar von Hazenfeldt, took to wandering alone over the Swiss +mountains; and before three months had elapsed, from the time he met _the +old gentleman_, was buried in the fall of an avalanche, near the pass of +the Gemmi. + + * * * * * + +Supper was not ready as the student finished this story; and George +proposed a stroll. The change from the heated room to the margin of the +lake, was a most refreshing one. As the brothers silently gazed upwards, a +young lad approached, and accosted them. + +"Gentlemen! I have seen the horses fed, and they are now lying down." + +"Have you?" said Delme, drily. + +"A very fine night! gentlemen! Perhaps you have heard of the famous echo, +on the other side of the lake. It will be a good hour, I am sure, before +your supper is ready. My boat lies under that old tree. If you like it, I +will loose the chain, and row you over." + +The brothers acquiesced. They were just in the frame of mind for an +unforeseen excursion. The motion of the boat, too, would be easy for +George, and he might there unrestrainedly give way to his excited +feelings, or commune ungazed on, with the current of his thoughts. + +A thin crescent of a moon had risen. It was silvering the tops of the +overhanging boughs, and was quiveringly mirrored on the light ripple. +George leant against the side of the boat, and listened to the liquid +music, as the broad paddle threw back the resisting waters. + +How soothing is the hour of night to the wounded spirit! + +The obscurity which shrouds nature, seems to veil even man's woes--the +harsh outline of his sufferings is discerned no more. Grief takes the +place of despair--pensive melancholy of sorrow. + +As we gaze around, and feel the chill air damp each ringlet on the pallid +brow; know that _that_ hour hath cast a shade on each inanimate thing +around us; we feel resigned to our bereavements, and confess, in our +heart's humility, that no changes _should_ overwhelm, and that no grief +_should_ awaken repinings. + +To many a bruised and stricken spirit, night imparts a grateful balm. + +In the morning, the feelings are too fresh;--oblivion is exchanged for +conscious suffering;--the merriment of the feathered songsters seems to us +as a taunt;--our sympathies are not with waking nature. The glare and +splendour of noon, bid us recal _our_ hopes, and their signal overthrow. +The zenith of day's lustre meets us as a wilful mockery. + +Eve may bring rest, but on her breast is memory. But at night! when the +mental and bodily energies are alike worn out by the internal +struggle;--when hushed is each sound--softened each feature--dimmed each +glaring hue;--a calm which is not deceptive, steals over us, and we regard +our woes as the exacted penalty of our erring humanity. + +Calumniated night! to one revelling in the full noon-tide of hope and +gladness:--to the one, to whom a guilty conscience incessantly whispers, +"Think! but sleep not!"--to such as these, horrors may appear to bound thy +reign!--but to him who hath loved, and who hath lost,--to many a gentle +but tried spirit, thou comest in the guise of a sober, and true friend. + +The boat for some time, kept by the steep bank, under the shadows of the +trees. As it emerged from this, towards where the moon-beams cast their +light on the water, the night breeze rustled through the foliage, and +swept a yet green leaf from one of the drooping boughs. + +It fell on the surface of the lake, and George's eye quickly followed it. + +"Look at that unfaded leaf! Henry. What a gentle breeze it was, that +parted it from its fellows! To me it resembles a youthful soul, cut off in +its prime, and wandering mateless in eternity." + +Sir Henry only sighed. + +The young rower silently pursued his course across the lake; running his +boat aground, on a small pebbly strand near a white cottage. + +Jumping nimbly from his seat, and fastening the boat to a large stone, the +guide, followed by the brothers, shouted to the inmates of the cottage, +and violently kicked at its frail door. + +An upper window was opened, and the guardian of the echo--a valorous +divine in a black night-cap--demanded their business. This was soon told. +The priest descended--struck a light--unbarred the door--and with the +prospect of gain before him, fairly forgot that he had been aroused from a +deep slumber. + +They were soon ushered into the kitchen. An aged crone descended, and +raking the charcoal embers, kindled a flame, by which the rower was +enabled to light his pipe. + +The young gentleman threw himself into an arm chair, and puffed away with +true German phlegm. The old man bustled about, in order to obtain the +necessary materials for loading an ancient cannon; and occupied himself +for some minutes, in driving the charge into the barrel. + +This business arranged, he led the way towards the beach; and aided by the +old woman, pointed his warlike weapon. A short pause--it was fired! +Rebounding from hill to hill, the echo took its course, startling the +peasant from his couch, and the wolf from his lair. + +Again all was still;--then came its distant reverberation--a tone deep and +subdued--dying away mournfully on the ear. + +"How wonderfully fine!" said George, "but let us embark, for I feel +quite chilled." + +"I will run for the youngster," replied his brother. As he moved towards +the cottage, the priest seized him by the collar of the coat, and held up +the torch, by which he had fired the cannon. + +"This echo is indeed a wonderful one! It has nineteen distinct +repetitions; the first twelve being heard from _this_ side of a valley, +which, were it day, I would point out; the other seven, on the opposite +side. Tradition tells us, that nineteen castles in ancient times, stood +near the spot; that each of these laid claim to the echo; and that, as it +passes the ruin, where once dwelt Sigismund of the Bloody Hand, the chief +springs from the round ivied tower--waves his sword thrice, the drops of +blood falling from its hilt as he does so--and proclaims aloud, that +whosoever dare gainsay"-- + +"I am sorry to leave you," interrupted Sir Henry, as he shook him off, +"particularly at this interesting part of the story; but it is late, +and my brother feels unwell, and I wish to go to the cottage to call +our guide." + +Delme was pursued by the echo's elucidator, who being duly remunerated, +allowed Sir Henry to accompany the guide towards the boat. George was not +standing where he had left him. Delme stepped forward, and nearly fell +over a prostrate body. + +It was the motionless one of his brother. + +He gave a shriek of anguish; flew towards the house, and in a moment, was +again on the spot, bearing the priest's torch. He raised his brother's +head. One hand was extended over the body, and fell to the earth like a +clod of clay as it was. + +He gazed on that loved face. In that gaze, how much was there to arrest +his attention. + +On those features, death had stamped his seal. + +But there was a thought, which bore the ascendancy over this in Delme's +mind. It was a thought which rose involuntarily,--one for which he could +not _then_ account, and cannot now. For some seconds, it swayed his every +emotion. He felt the conviction--deep, undefinable--that there was indeed +a soul, to "shame the doctrine of the Sadducee." + +He deemed that on those lineaments, this was the language forcibly +engraven! The features were still and fixed:--the brow alone revealed a +dying sense of pain. + +The lips! how purple were they! and the eye, that erst flashed so +freely:--the yellow film of death had dimmed its lustre. + +The legs were apart, and one of the feet was in the lake. Henry tried to +chafe his brother's forehead. + +In vain! in vain! he knew it was in vain! + +He let the head fall, and buried his face in his hands. + +He turned reproachfully, to gaze on that cloudless Heaven, where the moon, +and the brilliant stars, and the falling meteor, seemed to hold a bright +and giddy festival. + +He clasped his hands in mute agony. For a brief moment--his dark eye +seeming to invite His wrath--he dared to arraign the mercy of God, who had +taken what he had made. + +It was but for a moment he thus thought. + +He had watched that light of life, until its existence was almost +identified with his own. He had seen it flicker--had viewed it +reillumed--blaze with increased brilliancy--fade--glimmer--and fade. Now! +where was it? + +A bitter cry escaped! his limbs trembled convulsively, and could no longer +support him. + +He fell senseless beside his brother. + + + + +Chapter XI + +The Student + + + + "What is my being? _thou_ hast ceased to be." + + +Carl Obers was as enthusiastic a being as ever Germany sent forth. Brought +up in a lone recess in the Hartz mountains, with neither superiors nor +equals to commune with, he first entered the miniature world, as a student +at Heidelberg. + +His education had been miserably neglected. He had read much; but his +reading had been without order and without system. + +The deepest metaphysics, and the wildest romances had been devoured in +succession; until the young man hardly knew which was the real, or which +was the visionary world:--the one he actually lived in, or the one he was +always brooding over:--where souls are bound together by mysterious and +hidden links, and where men sell themselves to Satan;--the penalty merely +being:--to walk through life, and throw no shadow. + +Enrolled amongst a select corps of brueschen, warm and true; his ear was +caught by the imposing jargon of patriotism; and his imagination dwelt on +those high sounding words, "the rights of man;"--until he became the +staunch advocate and unflinching votary of a state of things, which, for +aught we know, _may_ exist in one of the planets, but which never can, and +which never will exist on this earth of ours. + +"What!" would exclaim our enthusiast, "have we not all our bodily and our +mental, energies? Doth not dame Nature, in our birth, as in our death, +deal out impartial justice? She may endow me with stronger limbs, than +another:--our feelings as we grow up, may not be chained down to one +servile monotony;--the lip of the precocious cynic"--this was addressed to +a young matter of fact Englishman--"who sneers at my present animation, +may not curl with a smile as often as my own; but let our powers of +acting be equal,--our prerogatives the same." + +Carl Obers, with his youth and his vivacity, carried his auditors--a +little knot of beer drinking liberty-mongers--_with_ him, and _for_ him, +in all he said; and the orator would look round, with conscious power, and +considerable satisfaction; and flatter himself, that his specious +arguments were as unanswerable, as they were then unanswered. + +Many of our generation may remember the unparalleled enthusiasm, which, +like an electric flash, spread over the civilised world; as Greece armed +herself, to shake off her Moslem ruler. + +It was one that few could help sharing. + +To almost all, is Greece a magic word. Her romantic history--the legacies +she has left us--our early recollections, identifying with her existence +as a nation, all that is good and glorious;--no wonder these things should +have shed a bright halo around her,--and have made each breast deeply +sympathise with her in her unwonted struggle for freedom. + +Carl Obers did not hear of this struggle with indifference. He at once +determined to give Greece the benefit of his co-operation, and the aid of +his slender means. He immediately commenced an active canvass amongst his +personal friends, in order to form a band of volunteers, who might be +efficient, and worthy of the cause on which his heart was set. + +He now first read an useful lesson from life's unrolled volume. + +Many a voice, that had rung triumphantly the changes on liberty, was +silent now, or deprecated the active attempt to establish it. + +The hands that waved freely in the debating room, were not the readiest to +grasp the sword's hilt. Many who had poetically expatiated on the +splendours of modern Greece; on reflection preferred the sunny views of +the Neckar, to the prospect of eating honey on Hymettus. + +Youth, however, is the season for enterprise; and Carl, with twenty-three +comrades, was at length on his way to Trieste. + +He had been offered the command of the little band, but had declined it, +with the sage remark, that "as they were about to fight for equality, it +was their business to preserve it amongst themselves." + +A slight delay in procuring a vessel, took place at Trieste. This delay +caused a defection of eight of the party. + +The remaining students embarked in a miserable Greek brigantine, and after +encountering some storms in the Adriatic, thought themselves amply repaid, +as the purple hills of Greece rose before them. + +On their landing, they felt disappointed. + +No plaudits met them; no vivas rung in the air: but a Greek soldier +filched Carl's valise, and on repairing to the commandant of the town, +they were told that no redress could be afforded them. + +Willing to hope that the scum of the irregular troops was left behind, and +that better feeling, and stricter discipline, existed nearer the main +body; our students left on the morrow;--placed themselves under the +command of one of the noted leaders of the Revolution:--and had shortly +the satisfaction of crossing swords with the Turk. + +For some months, the party went through extraordinary hardships;--engaged +in a series of desultory but sanguinary expeditions;--and gradually learnt +to despise the nation, in whose behalf they were zealously combating. + +At the end of these few months, what a change in the hopes and prospects +of the little band! Some had rotted in battle field, food for vultures; +others had died of malaria in Greek hamlets, without one friend to close +their eyes, or one hand to proffer the cooling draught to quench the dying +thirst;--two were missing--had perhaps been murdered by the peasants;--and +five only remained, greatly disheartened, cursing the nation, and their +own individual folly. + +Four of the five turned homewards. + +Carl was left alone, but fought on. + +Now there was a Greek, Achilles Metaxa by name, who had attached himself +to Carl's fortunes. In person, he was the very model of an ancient hero. +He had the capacious brow, the eye of fire, and the full black beard, +descending in wavy curls to his chest. + +The man was brave, too, for Carl and he had fought together. + +It so happened, that they slept one night in a retired convent. Their +hardships latterly had been great, and the complaints of Achilles had been +unceasing in consequence. In the morning Carl rose, and found that his +clothes and arms had vanished, and that his friend was absent also. + +Carl remained long enough to satisfy himself, that his friend was the +culprit; and then turned towards the sea coast, determined at all hazards +to leave Greece. + +He succeeded in reaching Missolonghi, in the early part of 1823, shortly +after the death of Marco Botzaris--being then in a state of perfect +destitution, and his mental sufferings greatly aggravated by the +consciousness, that he had induced so many of his comrades to sacrifice +their lives and prospects in an unworthy cause. + +At Missolonghi, where Mavrocordato reigned supreme, he was grudged the +paltry ration of a Suliote soldier, and might have died of starvation, had +it not been for the timely interposition of a stranger. + +Moved by that stranger's persuasion, Carl consented to form one of a +contemplated expedition against Lepanto; and, had his illustrious +benefactor lived, might have found a steady friend. + +As it was, he waited not to hear the funeral oration, delivered by +Spiridion Tricoupi; but was on the deck of the vessel that was to bear him +homewards, and shed tears of mingled grief, admiration, and gratitude, as +thirty-seven minute guns, fired from the battery, told Greece and Carl +Obers, that they had lost Byron, their best friend. + +Carl reached Germany, a wiser man than when he left it. + +He found his father dead, and he came into possession of his small +patrimony; but felt greatly, as all men do who are suddenly removed from +active pursuits, the want of regular and constant employment. + +He was glad to renew his intercourse with his old University; and found +himself greatly looked up to by the students, who were never wearied with +listening to his accounts of the Morea, and of the privations he had there +encountered. + +We need hardly inform our readers, that Carl Obers was one of the +pedestrian students at Wallensee, and was indeed the identical narrator of +the Vienna story. + +We left George and his brother, on the shore below the priest's +cottage. The one was laid cold and motionless--the other wished that +_he_ also were so. + +Immediately on Delme's falling, the young guide alarmed the +priest--brought him down to the spot--pointed to the brothers--threw +himself into the boat--and paddled swiftly across the lake, to alarm the +guests at the inn. + +It was with feelings of deep commiseration, that Carl looked on the two +brothers. He was the only person present, whose time was comparatively his +own; he spoke English, although imperfectly; and he owed a deep debt of +gratitude to an Englishman. + +These circumstances seemed to point him out, as the proper person to +attend to the wants of the unfortunate traveller; and Carl Obers mentally +determined, that he would not leave Delme, as long as he had it in his +power to befriend him, Sir Henry Delme was completely unmanned by his +bereavement. He had been little prepared for such a severe loss; although +it is more than probable, that George's life had long been hanging on a +thread, which a single moment might snap. + +The medical men had been singularly sanguine in his case, for it is rarely +that disease of the heart attacks one so young; but it now seemed evident, +that even had not anxiety of mind, and great constitutional irritability, +hastened the fatal result, that poor George could never have hoped to have +survived to a ripe old age. + +There was much in his character at any time, to endear him to an only +brother. As it was, Delme had seen George under such trying +circumstances--had entered so fully into his feelings and sufferings--that +this abrupt termination to his brother's sorrows, appeared to Sir Henry +Delme, to bring with it a sable pall, that enveloped in darkness his own +future life and prospects. + +The remains of poor George were placed in a small room, communicating with +one intended for Sir Henry. + +Here Delme shut himself up, brooding over his loss, and permitting no one +to intrude on his privacy. + +Carl had offered his services, which were gratefully accepted, in making +the necessary arrangements for his brother's obsequies; and Sir Henry, in +the solitude of the dead man's chamber, could give free scope to a flood +of bitter recollections. + +It may be, that those silent hours of agony, when the brother looked +fixedly on that moveless face, and implored the departed spirit to breathe +its dread and awful secret, were not without their improving tendency; for +haggard and wan as was the mourner's aspect, there was no outward sign of +quivering, even as he saw the rude coffin lowered, and as fell on his ear, +the creaking of cords, and that harsh jarring sound, to which there is +nothing parallel on earth, the heavy clods falling on the coffin lid. + +The general arrangements had been simple; but Carl's directions had been +given in such a sympathising spirit, that they could not be otherwise than +acceptable. + +About the church-yard itself, there is nothing very striking. It is +formed round a small knoll, on the summit of which stands a sarcophagus +literally buried in ivy. + +Beneath this, is the vault of the baronial family, that for centuries +swayed the destinies of the little hamlet; but which family has been +extinct for some years. + +Round it are grouped the humbler osiered graves; over which, in lieu of +tomb stones, are placed large black iron crosses, ornamented with brass, +and bearing the simple initials of the bygone dead. + +Even Delme, with all his ancestral pride, felt that George "slept well." + +It is true no leaden coffin enclosed his relics, nor did the murky vault +of his ancestors, open with creaking hinge to receive another of the race. +No escutcheon darkened the porch whence they bore him; and no long train +of mourners followed his remains to their last home. + +But there was something in the quiet of the spot, that seemed to Delme in +harmony with his history; and to promise, that a sorrowless world had +already opened, on one who had loved so truly, and felt so deeply in this. + +Sir Henry returned to the inn, and darkened his chamber. + +He had not the heart to prosecute his journey, nor to leave the spot, +which held what was to him so dear. + +Carl Obers attempted to combat his despondency; but observing how useless +were his arguments, wisely allowed his grief to take its course. + +There was one point, in which Delme was decidedly wrong. + +He could not bring himself, to communicate their loss to his sister. + +Carl pressed this duty frequently on him, but was always met by the +same reply. + +"No! no! how can I inflict such a pang?" + +It is possible the intelligence might have been very long in reaching +England, had it not been for a providential circumstance, that occurred +shortly after George's funeral. + +A carriage, whose style and appointments bespoke it English, changed +horses at the inn at Wallensee. The courier, while ordering the relays, +had heard George's story; and touching his hat to the inmates of the +vehicle, retailed it with natural pathos. + +On hearing the name of Delme, the lady was visibly affected. She was +an old friend of the family; and as Melicent Dashwood, had known +George as a boy. + +It was not without emotion, that she heard of one so young, and to her so +familiar, being thus prematurely called to his last account. + +The lady and her husband alighted, and sending up their cards, begged to +see the mourner. + +The message was delivered; but Delme, without comment or enquiry, at once +declined the offer; and it was thought better not to persist. They were +too deeply interested, however, not to attempt to be of use. They saw Carl +and Thompson,--satisfied themselves that Sir Henry was in friendly hands; +and thanking the student with warmth and sincerity, for his attention to +the sufferer, exacted a promise, that he would not leave him, as long as +he could in any way be useful. + +The husband and wife prepared to continue their journey; but not before +the former had left his address in Florence, with directions to Carl to +write immediately, in case he required the assistance of a friend; and the +latter had written a long letter to Mrs. Glenallan, in which she broke as +delicately as she could, the melancholy and unlooked-for tidings. + + + + +Chapter XII + +The Letter. + + + + "And from a foreign shore + Well to that heart might _hers_ these absent greetings pour." + + +Three weeks had elapsed since George's death. + +It would be difficult to depict satisfactorily, the state of Sir Henry +Delme's mind during that period. The pride of life appeared crushed within +him. He rarely took exercise, and when he did, his step was slow, and his +gait tottering. + +That one terrible loss was ever present to his mind; and yet his +imagination, as if disconnected with his feelings, or his memory, was +constantly running riot over varying scenes of death, and conjuring up +revolting pictures of putrescence and decay. + +A black pall, and an odour of corruption, seemed to commingle with each +quick-springing fantasy; and Delme would start with affright from his own +morbid conceptions, as he found himself involuntarily dwelling on the +waxen rigidity of death,--following the white worm in its unseemly +wanderings,--and finally stripping the frail and disgusting coat from the +disjointed skeleton. + +Sir Henry Delme had in truth gone through arduous and trying scenes. + +The very circumstance that he had to conceal his own feelings, and +support George through his deeper trials, made the present reaction the +more to be dreaded. + +Certain are we, that trials such as his, are frequently the prevailing +causes, of moral and intellectual insanity. Fortunately, Sir Henry was +endued with a firm mind, and with nerves of great power of endurance. + +One morning, at an early hour, Thompson brought in a letter. + +It was from Emily Delme; and as Sir Henry noted the familiar address, and +the broad black edge, which told that the news of his brother's death had +reached his sister, he cast it from him with a feeling akin to pain. + +The next moment, however, he sprang from the bed, threw open the shutters, +and commenced reading its contents. + + + +EMILY'S LETTER. + + +My own dear brother, + +My heart bleeds for you! But yesterday, we received the sad, sad letter. +To-day, although blinded with tears, I implore you to remember, that you +have not lost your all! Our bereavement has been great! our loss heavy +indeed. But if a link in the family love-chain be broken--shall not the +remaining ones cling to each other the closer? + +My aunt is heart-broken. Clarendon, kind as he is, did not know our +George! Alas! that he should be ours no more! + +My only brother! dwell not with strangers! A sister's arms are ready to +clasp you:--a sister's sympathy must lighten the load of your sufferings. + +Think of your conduct! your devotedness! Should not these comfort you? + +Did you not love and cherish him? did you not--happier than I--soothe his +last days? were you not present to the end? + +From this moment, I shall count each hour that divides us. + +On my knees both night and morning, will I pray the Almighty God, who has +chastened us, to protect my brother in his travels by sea and land. + +May we be spared, my dearest Henry, to pray together, that HE may bestow +on us present resignation, and make us duly thankful for blessings which +still are ours. + +Your affectionate sister, + +EMILY. + +Delme read the letter with tearless eye. For some time he leant his head +on his hand, and thought of his sister, and of the dead. + +He shook, and laughed wildly, as he beat his hand convulsively +against the wall. + +Carl Obers and Thompson held him down, while this strong paroxysm lasted. + +His sobs became fainter, and he sunk into a placid slumber. The student +watched anxiously by his side. He awoke; called for Emily's letter; and as +he read it once more, the tears coursed down his sunken cheeks. + +Ah! what a relief to the excited man, is the fall of tears. + +It would seem as if the very feelings, benumbed and congealed as they may +hitherto have been, were suddenly dissolving under some happier influence, +and that,--with the external sign--the weakness and pliability of +childhood--we were magically regaining its singleness of feeling, and its +gentleness of heart. + +Sir Henry swerved no more from the path of manly duty. He saw the +vetturino, and arranged his departure for the morrow. On that evening, he +took Carl's arm, and sauntered through the village church-yard. + +Already seemed it, that the sods had taken root over George's grave. + +The interstices of the turf were hidden;--a white paper basket, which +still held some flowers, had been suspended by some kind stranger hand +over the grave;--from it had dropped a wreath of yellow amaranths. + +There was great repose in the scene. The birds appeared to chirp softly +and cautiously;--the tufts of grass, as they bowed their heads against the +monumental crosses, seemed careful not to rustle too drearily. + +Sir Henry's sleep was more placid, on _that_, his last night at Wallensee, +than it had been for many a night before. + + * * * * * + +Acting up to his original design, Delme passed through the capitals of +Bavaria and Wurtemburg; and quickly traversing the picturesque country +round Heilbron, reached the romantic Heidelberg, washed by the Neckar. + +The student, as might be expected, did not arrive at his old University, +with feelings of indifference; but he insisted, previous to visiting his +college companions, on showing Sir Henry the objects of interest. + +The two friends, for such they might now be styled, walked towards the +castle, arm in arm; and stood on the terrace, adorned with headless +statues, and backed by a part of the mouldering ruin, half hid by the +thick ivy. + +They looked down on the many winding river, murmuringly gliding through +its vine covered banks. + +Beyond this, stretched a wide expanse of country; while beneath them +lay the town of Heidelberg--the blue smoke hanging over it like a +magic diadem. + +"Here, here!" said Carl Obers, as he gazed on the scene, with mournful +sensations, "_here_ were my youthful visions conceived and +embodied--_here_ did I form vows, to break the bonds of enslaved +mankind--_here_ did I dream of grateful thousands, standing erect for the +first time as free men--_here_ did I brood over, the possible happiness of +my fellow men, and in attempting to realise it, have wrecked my own." + +"My kind friend!" replied Delme, "your error, if it be such, has been +of the head, and not the heart. It is one, natural to your age and your +country. Far from being irreparable, it is possible it may have taught +you a lesson, that may ultimately greatly benefit you. This is the +first time we have conversed regarding your prospects. What are your +present views?" + +"I have none. My friends regard me as one, who has improvidently thrown +away his chance of advancement. My knowledge of any _one_ branch of +science is so superficial, that this precludes my ever hoping to succeed +in a learned profession. I cannot enter the military service in my own +country, without commencing in the lowest grade. This I can hardly bring +my mind to." + +"What would you say to the Hanoverian army?" replied Delme. + +"I would say," rejoined Carl: "for I see through your kind motive in +asking, that I esteem myself fortunate, if I have been in any way useful +to you; but that I cannot, and ought not, to think, of accepting a favour +at your hands." + +Sir Henry said no more at that time: and they reached the inn in silence. + +Delme retired for the night. Carl Obers sought his old chums; and, +exhilarated by his meershaum, and the excellent beer--rivalling the famous +Lubeck beer, sent to Martin Luther, during his trial, by the Elector of +Saxony--triumphantly placed "young Germany" at the head of nations. + +Early the following morning, they were again en route. + +They passed through Manheim, where the Rhine and Neckar meet,--through +Erpach,--through Darmstadt, that cleanest of Continental towns,--and +finally reached Frankfort-on-the-Maine, where it was agreed that Sir Henry +and Thompson were to part from their travelling companions. + +Sir Henry in his distress of mind, felt that theirs was not a casual +farewell. On reaching the quay, he pressed the student's hand with +grateful warmth, but dared not trust to words. + +On the deck of the steamer, assisting Thompson to arrange the +portmanteaux, stood Pietro Molini. + +The natural gaiety of the old driver had received a considerable check at +George's death. + +He could not now meet Sir Henry, without an embarrassment of manner; and +even in his intercourse with Thompson, his former jocularity seemed to +have deserted him. + +"Good bye, Pietro!" said Delme, extending his hand. "I trust we may one +day or other meet again." + +The vetturino grasped it,--his colour went and came,--he looked down at +his whip,--then felt in his vest for his pipe, As he saw Delme turn +towards the poop, and as Thompson warned him it was time to leave the +vessel,--his feelings fairly gave way. + +He threw his arms round the Englishman's neck and blubbered like a child. + +We have elsewhere detailed the luckless end of the vetturino. + +As for Carl Obers, that zealous patriot; the last we heard of him, was +that he was holding a commission in the Hanoverian Jaegers, obtained for +him by Sir Henry's intervention. He was at that period, in high favour +with that liberal monarch, King Ernest. + + + + +Chapter XIII. + +Home. + + + + "'Tis sweet to hear the watchdog's honest bark + Bay deep-mouth'd welcome as we draw near home, + 'Tis sweet to know there is an eye will mark + Our coming, and look brighter when we come." + + +Embarking on its tributary stream, Delme reached the Rhine--passed through +the land of snug Treckschut, and wooden-shoed housemaid--and arrived at +Rotterdam, whence he purposed sailing for England. + +To that river, pay we no passing tribute! The Rhine--with breast of +pride--laving fertile vineyards, cities of picturesque beauty, +beetling crags, and majestic ruins; hath found its bard to hymn an +eulogy, in matchless strains, which will be co-existent, with the +language they adorn. + +Sir Henry was once more on the wide sea. Where were they who were his +companions when his vessel last rode it? where the young bride breathing +her devotion? where the youthful husband whispering his love? + +The sea yet glistened like a chrysolite; the waves yet laughed in the +playful sunbeams--the bright-eyed gull yet dipped his wing in the billow, +fearless as heretofore;--where was the one, who from that text had deduced +so fair a moral? + +Sir Henry wished not to dwell on the thought, but as it flashed across +him, his features quivered, and his brow darkened. + +He threw himself into the chaise which was to bear him to his home, with +alternate emotions of bitterness and despair! + +Hurrah for merry England! Click, clack! click, clack! thus cheerily +let us roll! + +Great are the joys of an English valet, freshly emancipated from +sauerkraut, and the horrors of silence! + +Sweet is purl, and sonorous is an English oath. Bright is the steel, +arming each clattering hoof! Leather strap and shining buckle, replace +musty rope and ponderous knot! The carriage is easier than a +Landgravine's,--the horses more sleek,--the driver as civil,--the road is +like a bowling green,--the axletree and under-spring, of Collinge's latest +patent. But the heart! the heart! _that_ may be sad still. + +Delme's voyage and journey were alike a blank. On the ocean, breeze +followed calm;--on the river, ship succeeded ship;--on the road, house and +tree were passed, and house and tree again presented themselves. He drew +his cap over his eyes, and his arms continued folded. + +His first moment of full consciousness, was as a sharp turn, followed by a +sudden pause, brought him in front of the lodge at Delme. + +On the two moss-grown pillars, reposed the well known crest of his family. +The porter's daughter, George's friend, issued from the lodge, and threw +open the iron gates. + +She was dressed in black. How this recalled his loss. + +"My dear--dear--dear brother!" + +Emily bounded to his embrace, and her cheek fell on his shoulder. He felt +the warm tear trickle on his cheek. He clasped her waist,--gazed on her +pallid brow,--and held her lip to his. + +How it trembled from her emotion! + +"My own brother! how pale--how ill you look!" + +"Emily! my sister! I have something yet left me on earth! and my worthy +kind aunt, too!" + +He kissed Mrs. Glenallan's forehead, and tried to soothe her. She pressed +her handkerchief to her eyes, and checked her tears; but continued to sob, +with the deep measured sob of age. + +How mournful, yet how consoling, is the first family meeting, after death +has swept away one of its members! How the presence of each, calls up +sorrow, and yet assists to repress it,--awakes remembrances full of grief, +yet brings to life indefinable hopes, that rob that grief of its most +poignant sting! The very garb of woe, whose mournful effect is felt to the +full, only when each one sees it worn by the other--the very garb +paralyses, and brings impressively before us, the awful truth, that for +our loss, in this world, there is no remedy. How holy, how chaste is the +affection, which we feel disposed to lavish, on those who are left us. + +Surely if there be a guardian spirit, which deigns to flit through this +wayward world, to cheer the stricken breast, and purify feelings, whose +every chord vibrates to the touch of woe; surely such presides, and throws +a sunny halo, on the group, that blood has united--on which family love +has shed its genial influence--and of which, each member, albeit bowed +down by sympathetic grief, attempts to lift his drooping head, and to +others open some source of comfort, which to the kind speaker, is +inefficient and valueless indeed! + +For many months, Sir Henry continued to reside with his family. Clarendon +Gage was a constant visitor, and companion to the brother and sister in +their daily walks and rides. + +He had never met poor George, but loved Emily so well, that he could not +but sympathise in their heavy loss; and as Delme noted this quiet +sympathy, he felt deeply thankful to Providence, for the fair prospect of +the happiness, that awaited his sister. + +Winter passed away. The fragile snowdrop, offspring of a night--the +mute herald of a coming and welcome guest--might be seen peering +beneath the gnarled oak, or enlivening the emerald circle beneath the +wide-spreading elm. + +Spring too glided by, and another messenger came. The migratory swallow, +returned from foreign travel, sought the ancient gable, and rejoicing in +safety, commenced building a home. At twilight's hour might she be seen, +unscared by the truant's stone, repairing to the placid pool--skimming +over its glassy surface, in rapid circle and with humid wing--and +returning in triumph, bearing wherewithal to build her nest. + +Summer too went by; and as the leaves of Autumn rustled at his feet, Delme +started, as he felt that the sting and poignancy of his grief was gone. It +was with something like reproach, that he did so. There is a dignity in +grief--a pride in perpetuating it--and his had been no common affliction. + +It is a trite, but true remark, that time scatters our sorrows, as it +scatters our joys. + +The heat of fever and the delirium of love, have their gradations; and so +has grief. The impetuous throbbing of the pulse abates;--the influence of +years makes us remember the extravagance of passion, with something +approaching to a smile;--and Time--mysterious Time--wounding, but healing +all, leads us to look at past bereavements, as through a darkened glass. + +We do not forget; but our memory is as a dream, which awoke us in terror, +but over which we have slept. The outline is still present, but the +fearful details, which in the darkness of the hour, and the freshness of +conception, so scared and alarmed us,--these have vanished with the night. + +Emily's wedding day drew nigh, and the faces of the household once more +looked bright and cheerful. + + + + +Chapter XIV. + +A Wedding. + + + + "'Tis time this heart should be unmoved, + Since others it has ceased to move, + But though I may not be beloved, + Still let me love!" + + "I saw her but a moment, + Yet methinks I see her now, + With a wreath of orange blossoms + Upon her beauteous brow." + + +Spring of life! whither art thou flown? + +A few hot sighs--and scalding tears--fleeting raptures and still fading +hopes--and then--thou art gone for ever. Lovelorn we look on beauty: no +blush now answers to our glance; for cold is our gaze, as the deadened +emotions of our heart. + +Fresh garlands bedeck the lap of Spring. Faded as the shrivelled flowers, +that withering sink beneath her rosy feet: yet we exclaim:--Spring of +life! how and whither art thou flown? + +Clarendon Gage was a happy man. He had entered upon the world with very +bright prospects. The glorious visions of his youth were still unclouded, +and his heart beat as high with hope as ever. + +Experience had not yet instilled that sober truth, that Time will darken +the sunniest, as well as the least inviting anticipations; and that the +visions of his youth were unclouded, because they were undimmed by the +reflections of age. + +Clarendon Gage was happy and grateful; and so might he well be! Few of us +are there, who, on our first loving, have met with a love, fervent, +confiding, and unsuspecting as our own,--fewer are there, who in +reflection's calm hour, have recognised in the form that has captivated +the eye, the mind on which their own can fully and unhesitatingly +rely,--and fewest of all are they, who having encountered such a treasure, +can control adverse circumstances--can overcome obstacles that oppose--and +finally call it their own. + +Passionate, imaginative, and fickle as man may be, this is a living +treasure beyond a price: than which this world has none more pure--none as +enduring, to offer. + +Ah! say and act as we may--money-making--worldly--ambitious as we may +become--who among us that will not allow, that in the success of his +honest suit--that in his possession of the one first loved--and which +first truly loved him--a kind ray from heaven, seems lent to this +changeful world. Such affection as this, lends a new charm to man's +existence. It lulls him in his anger--it soothes him in his sorrow--calms +him in his fears--cheers him in his hopes--it deadens his grief--it +enlivens his joy. + +It was a lovely morning in May--the first of the month. Not a cloud +veiled the sun's splendour--the birds strained their throats in praise +of day--and the rural May-pole, which was in the broad avenue of +walnut trees, immediately at the foot of the lawn, was already +encircled with flowers. Half way up this, was the station of the +rustic orchestra--a green bower, which effectually concealed them +from the view of the dancers. + +On the lawn itself, tents were pitched in a line facing the house. Behind +these, between the tents and the May-pole, extended a long range of +tables, for the coming village feast. + +Emily Delme looked out on the fair sunrise, and noted the gay +preparations with some dismay. Her eye fell on her favourite bed of +roses, the rarest and most costly that wealth and extreme care could +produce; and she mournfully thought, that ere those buds were blown, a +very great change would have taken place in her future prospects. She +thought of all she was to leave. + +Will _he_ be this, and more to me? + +How many a poor girl, when it is all too late, has fearfully asked herself +the same question, and how deeply must the answer which time alone can +give, affect the happiness of after years! + +Emily took her mother's miniature, and gazing on that face, of which her +own appeared a beautiful transcript; she prayed to God to support him who +was still present to her every thought. + +The family chapel of the Delmes was a beautiful and picturesque place of +worship. With the exception of one massive door-way, whose circular arch +and peculiar zig-zag ornament bespoke it co-eval with, or of an earlier +date than, the reign of Stephen--and said to have belonged to a ruin apart +from the chapel, whose foundations an antiquary could hardly trace--Delme +chapel might be considered a well preserved specimen of the florid Gothic, +of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. + +The progress of the edifice, had been greatly retarded during the wars of +the Roses; but it was fortunately completed, before, the doctrine of the +Cinquecentists--who saw no beauty save in the revived dogmas of +Vitruvius--had so far gained ground, as to make obsolete and +unfashionable, the most captivating and harmonious style of Architecture, +that has yet flourished in England. + +Its outer appearance was comparatively simple--it had neither spire, +lantern, or transepts--and its ivy-hidden belfry was a detached tower. + +The walls of the aisles were supported by massive buttresses, and +surmounted by carved pinnacles; and from them sprung flying buttresses, +ornamented with traced machicolations, to bear the weight of the embattled +roof of the nave. + +The interior was more striking. As the stranger entered by the western +door, and proceeded up the nave, each step was re-echoed from the crypt +below:--as he trod on strange images, and inscriptions in brass; +commemorative of the dead, whose bones were mouldering in the subterranean +chapel. On them, many coloured tints fantastically played, through +gorgeously stained panes--the workmanship of the Middle Ages. + +The richly carved oaken confessional--now a reading desk--first attracted +the attention. + +In the very centre of the chapel, stood a white marble font, whose chaplet +of the flower of the Tudors, encircled by a fillet, sufficiently bespoke +its date. Between the altar and this font was a tomb, which merits special +attention. It was the chantry of Sir Reginald Delme, the chief of his +house in the reign of Harry Monmouth. It was a mimic chapel, raised on +three massive steps of grey stone. The clustered columns, that bore the +light and fretted roof, were divided by mullions, rosettes, and trefoils +in open work; except where the interstices were filled up below, to bear +the sculptured, and once emblazoned shields of the Delmes, and their +cognate families. The entrance to the chantry, was through a little turret +at its north-eastern corner, the oaken door of which, studded with +quarrel-headed nails, was at one time never opened, but when the priests +ascended the six steep and spiral steps, and stood around the tomb to +chant masses for the dead. + +The diminutive font, and the sarcophagus itself, had once been painted. On +this, lay the figure of Sir Reginald Delme. + +On a stone cushion--once red--supported by figures of angels in the +attitude of prayer, veiling their eyes with their wings, reposed the +unarmed head of the warrior:--his feet uncrossed rested on the image of a +dog, crouching on a broken horn, seeming faithfully to gaze at the face of +his master. + +The arms were not crossed--the hands were not clasped; but were joined as +in prayer. Sir Reginald had not died in battle. Above the head of the +sleeping warrior, hung his gorget, and his helmet, with its beaver, and +vizor open; and the banner he himself had won, on the field of Shrewsbury, +heavily shook its thick folds in the air. The fading colours on the +surcoat of the recumbent knight, still faintly showed the lilies and +leopards of England;--and Sir Henry himself was willing to believe, that +the jagged marks made in that banner by the tooth of Time, were but cuts, +left by the sword of the Herald, as at the royal Henry's command, he +curtailed the pennon of the knight; and again restored it to Sir Reginald +Delme--a banner. + +The altar, which extended the whole width of the chapel, was enclosed by a +marble screen, and was still flanked by the hallowed niche, built to +receive the drainings of the sacred cup. + +The aisles were divided from the nave, by lancet arches, springing from +clustered columns. But how describe the expansive windows, with their rich +mullions, and richer rosettes--their deeply moulded labels, following the +form of the arch, and resting for support on the quaintest masks--how +describe the matchless hues of the glass--valued mementoes of a bygone +age, and of an art that has perished? + +The walls of the chapel were profusely ornamented with the richest +carving; and the oaken panels of the chancel, were adorned with those +exquisite festoons of fruit and flowers, so peculiarly English. The very +ceiling exacted admiration. It closed no lantern--it obstructed no +view--and its light ribs, springing from voluted corbels, bore at each +intersection, an emblazoned escutcheon, or painted heraldic device. The +intricate fan-like tracery of the roof--the enriched bosses at each +meeting of the gilded ribs--gave an airy charm and lightness to the whole, +which well accorded with the florid Architecture, and with the chivalrous +associations, with which it is identified. + +And here, beneath this spangled canopy, in this ancient shrine, whose +every ornament was as a memory of her ancestors; stood Emily Delme, as +fair as the fairest of her race, changeful and trembling, a faint smile +on her lip, and a quivering tear in her eye. + +Clarendon Gage took her hand in his, and placed on her finger the golden +pledge of truth, and as he did so, an approving sunbeam burst through the +crimson-stained pane, and before lightening the tomb of Sir Reginald, fell +on her silvery veil--her snowy robe--her beautiful face. + +There was a very gay scene on the lawn, as they returned from the chapel. + +The dancing had already commenced--strains of music were heard from on +high--the ever moving circle became one moment contracted, then expanded +to the full length of the arms of the dancers, as they actively footed it +round the garlanded May-pole. + +At the first sight of the leading carriage, however, a signal was +given--the music suddenly ceased--and the whole party below, with the +exception of one individual, proceeded in great state towards an arch, +composed of flowers and white thorn, which o'ercanopied the road. + +The carriage stopped to greet the procession. + +On came the blushing May-Queen, and Maid Marian--both armed with wands +wreathed with cowslips--followed by a jovial retinue of morrice dancers +with drawn swords--guisers in many-coloured ribbons--and a full train of +simple peasants, in white smock-frocks. + +The May Queen advanced to the carriage, followed by the peasant girls, and +timidly dropped a choice wreath into the lap of the bride. Loud hurras +rung in the air, as Sir Henry gave his steward some welcome instructions +as to the village feast; and the cavalcade continued its route. + +We have said that one individual lingered near the May-pole. As he was +especially active, we may describe him and his employment. He was +apparently about fifteen. He had coarse straight white hair--a face that +denoted stupidity--but with a cunning leer, which seemed to belie his +other features. + +He was taking advantage of the cessation of dancing, to supply the +aspiring musicians with sundry articles of good cheer. A rope, armed with +a hook, was dropped from their lofty aerie, and promptly drawn up, on the +youngster's obtaining from the neighbouring tents, wherewithal to fill +satisfactorily the basket which he attached. + +Sir Henry Delme and George had been so much abroad, and Emily's attachment +to Clarendon was of so early a date, that it happened that the members of +the Delme family had mixed little in the festivities of the county in +which they resided; and were not intimately known, nor perhaps fully +appreciated, in the neighbourhood. + +But the family was one of high standing, and had ever been remarkable for +its kind-heartedness; and what _was_ known of its individuals, was so much +to their credit, that it kept alive the respect and consideration that +these circumstances might of themselves warrant. + +Sir Henry, on the other hand, regarded his sister's marriage as an event, +at which it might be proper to show, that neither hauteur nor want of +sociability, had precluded their friendly intercourse with the +neighbouring magnates; and consequently, most of the principal families +were present at Emily's wedding. + +While this large assemblage increased the gaiety of the scene, it was +somewhat wearisome to Delme, who was too truly attached to his sister, to +be otherwise than thoughtful during the ceremony, and the breakfast that +succeeded it. + +At length the time came when Emily could escape from the gay throng; and +endeavour, in the quiet of her own room, to be once more calm, before she +prepared to leave her much-loved home. + +The preparations made, a note was despatched to her brother, begging him +to meet her in the library. As he did so, a fresh pang shot through +Delme's heart. + +As he looked on Emily's flushed face--her dewy cheek--and noted her +agitated manner; he for the first time perceived, her very strong +resemblance to poor George, and wondered that he had never observed +this before. + +Clarendon announced the carriage. + +"God bless you! dear Henry!" + +"God bless and preserve you! my sweet! Clarendon! good bye! I am sure you +will take every care of her!" + +In another moment, the carriage was whirling past the library window; and +Sir Henry felt little inclined, to join the formal party in the +drawing-room. Sending therefore a brief message to Mrs. Glenallan, he +threw open the library window, and with hurried steps reached a +summer-house, half hidden in the shrubbery. He there fell into a deep +reverie, which was by no means a pleasurable one. + +He thought of Emily--of George--of Acme,--and felt that he was becoming an +isolated being. + +And had _he_ not loved too? As this thought crossed him, his ambitious +dreams were almost forgotten. + +Sir Henry Delme was aroused by the sound of voices. A loving couple, too +much engaged to observe _him_, passed close to the summer-house. + +It was the "Queen of the May," the prettiest and one of the poorest +girls in the parish, walking arm in arm with her rural swain. They had +left the "roasted beeves," and the "broached casks," for one half-hour's +delicious converse. + +There was some little coquettish resistance on the part of the girl, as +they sat down together at the foot of a fir tree. + +Her lover put his arm round her waist. + +"Oh! Mary! if father would but give us a cow or so!" + +This little incident decided the matter. Delme at once resolved that Mary +Smith _should_ have a cow or so; and also that his own health would be +greatly benefited, by a short sojourn at Leamington. + + + + +Chapter XV. + +The Meeting. + + + + "Oh ever loving, lovely, and beloved! + How selfish sorrow ponders on the past, + And clings to thoughts now better far removed, + But Time shall tear thy shadow from me last." + + +We know not whether our readers have followed us with due attention, as we +have incidentally, and at various intervals, made our brief allusion to +the gradual change of character, wrought on Delme, by the eventful scenes +in which he so lately played a prominent part. + +When we first introduced him to our reader's notice, we endeavoured to +depict him as he then really was,--a man of strong principles, warm +heart, and many noble qualities; but one, prone to over-estimate the +value of birth and fortune--with a large proportion of pride and +reserve--and with ideas greatly tinctured with the absurd fallacies of +the mere man of the world. + +But there was much in the family events we have described, to shake +Delme's previous convictions, and to induce him to recal many of his +former opinions. + +He had seen his brother form a connection, which set at naught all those +convenances, which _he_ had been accustomed to regard as essential to, and +as indeed forming the very ingredient of, domestic happiness. + +And yet Sir Henry Delme could not disguise from himself, that if, in +George's short-lived career, there had been much of pain and sorrow, they +were chiefly engendered by George's mental struggle, to uphold those very +opinions to which he himself was wedded; and that to this alone, might be +traced much of the suffering he had undergone. This was it that had so +weakened mind and body, as to render change of scene necessary;--this was +it that exposed Acme to the air of the pestiferous marshes, and which left +George himself--a broken hearted man--totally incapable of bearing his +bereavement. + +On the other hand, the sunny happiness his brother had basked in,--and it +was very great,--had sprung from the natural out-pourings of an +affection, which,--unfettered as it had been by prudential +considerations,--had yet the power to make earth a heaven while Acme +shared it with him, and the dark grave an object of bright promise, when +hailed as the portal, through which _he_ must pass, ere he gazed once +more on the load-star of his hopes. + +In the case, too, of Emily and Clarendon, although their union was far +more in accordance with his earlier theories, yet he could not but note, +how little their happiness seemed to rest on their position in society, +and how greatly was it based on their love for each other. + +These considerations were strengthened, by a growing feeling of +isolation, which the death of George and of Acme,--the marriage of his +sister,--and probably the time of life he had arrived at, were all +calculated to awaken. + +With the knowledge of his disease, sprung up the hope of an antidote; and +it may be, that the little episode of the May Queen in our last chapter, +came but as a running comment, to reflections that had long been cherished +and indulged. + +The thoughts of Sir Henry Delme anxiously centred in Julia Vernon; and as +he recalled her graceful emotion when they last parted, the unfrequent +blush,--it might be of shame, it might be of consciousness,--coloured his +sun-burnt cheek. + +At length,--the guests being dismissed, Delme was at leisure to renew an +acquaintance, which had already proved an eventful one to him. He had +heard little of Miss Vernon since his return to England. His sister had +thought it better to let matters take their own course; and Julia, who +knew that in the eyes of the world, her circumstances were very different +to what they had been previous to her uncle's death; had from motives of +delicacy, shunned any intercourse that might lead to a renewed intimacy +with the family. + +Her health, too, had been precarious, and her elasticity of mind was gone. +Slowly wasting from day to day, she had sought to banish all thoughts +that were not of a world less vain than this--and her very languor of +body--while it gave her an apology for declining all gaieties, induced a +resigned spirit, and a quiet frame of mind. + +When Sir Henry Delme was announced, Julia was alone in the drawing-room. +At that name, she attempted to rise from the sofa; but she was weak, and +her head fell back on the white pillow. + +Delme stood for a moment irresolute,--a prey to the deepest pangs +of remorse. + +Well might he be shocked at that altered form! + +Her figure was greatly attenuated,--her cheeks sunken,--her eyes bright +and large; while over the forehead and drooping eyelid branched the +sapphire veins, with their intricate windings so clearly marked, that +Delme almost thought, that he could trace the motion of the blood beneath. +That momentary pause, and the one mutual glance of recognition, told a +more accurate tale than words could convey. + +As Sir Henry pressed that small transparent hand, Julia's thin lip +quivered convulsively. She attempted to speak, but the exertion of +utterance was too great, and she burst into a flood of tears. + +"Julia! my own Julia! forgive me! we will never part more!" + +After this interview, it is needless to say that there was little else to +be explained. Mrs. Vernon was delighted at Julia's happy prospects, and it +was settled that their marriage should take place in the ensuing August. +Such arrangements as could be made on the spot to facilitate this, were at +once entered on. + +At the end of two months, it became necessary that Delme should proceed to +town, for the purpose of seeing the Commander-in-Chief, in order to +withdraw a previous application to be employed on active service. He was +anxious also to consult a friend, whom he proposed appointing one of the +trustees for his marriage settlement; and Clarendon and Emily had exacted +a promise, that he would pay them a visit on his way to Delme Park; which +he had determined to take on his route to town, that he might personally +inspect some alterations he had lately planned there. + +It was with bright prospects before him, that Delme kissed off the big +tear that coursed down Julia's cheek; as she bade him farewell, with as +much earnestness, as if years, instead of a short fortnight, were to +elapse before they met again. + +Miss Vernon's health had decidedly improved. She was capable of much +greater exertion; and her spirits were sometimes as buoyant as in +other days. + +When Sir Henry first reached Leamington, the only exercise that Julia +could take was in a wheel chair; and great was her delight at seeing a +hand present itself over its side, and know that it was _his_. Latterly, +however, she had been able to lean on his arm, and take a few turns on the +lawn, and had on one occasion even reached the public gardens. + +Mrs. Vernon, with the deceptive hope common to those, who watch day by day +by the side of an invalid's couch, and in the very gradual loss of +strength, lose sight of the real extent of danger, had never been +desponding as to her daughter's ultimate recovery; and was now quite +satisfied that a few weeks more would restore her completely to health. + +Sir Henry Delme, with the gaze of a lover, would note each flush of +animation, and mistake it for the hue of health; while Julia herself _felt +her love, and thought it strength_. + +There was only one person who looked somewhat grave at these joyous +preparations. This was Dr. Jephson, who noticed that Julia's voice +continued very weak, and that she could not get rid of a low hollow cough, +that had long distressed her. + +Clarendon and his wife were resident at a beautiful cottage near Malvern, +on the road to Eastnor Castle. The cottage itself was small, and half +hidden with fragrant honey-suckles, but had well appointed extensive +grounds behind it. _They_ were not of the very many, who after the first +fortnight of a forced seclusion,--the treacle moon, as some one has called +it,--find their own society, both wearisome and unprofitable. _Theirs_ was +a lover felt but by superior and congenial minds--a love, neither sensual +nor transient--a love on which affection and reflection shed their +glow,--which could bear the test of scrutiny,--and which owed its chief +charm to the presence of truth. + +Delme passed a week at Malvern, and then proceeded towards town, with the +pleasing conviction that his sister's happiness was assured. + +Twenty-four hours at Delme sufficed to inspect the alterations, and to +give orders as to Lady Delme's rooms. + +Sir Henry had received two letters from Julia, while at Malvern, and both +were written in great spirits. At his club in London another awaited him, +which stated that she had not been quite so well, and that she was writing +from her room. A postscript from Mrs. Vernon quite did away with any alarm +that Sir Henry might otherwise have felt. + +Delme attended Lord Hill's levee; and immediately afterwards proceeded to +his friend's office. To his disappointment, he was informed that his +friend had left for Bath; and thinking it essential that he should see +him; he went thither at an early hour the following day. + +At Bath he was again doomed to be disappointed, for his friend had gone +to Clifton. Sir Henry dined that day with Mr. Belliston Graeme; and on +returning to the hotel, had the interview with Oliver Delancey, that has +been described in the thirteenth chapter of our first volume. + +On the succeeding morning, Delme was with the future trustee; and finally +arranged the affair to his entire satisfaction. His absence from +Leamington, had been a day or two more protracted than he had anticipated, +and his not finding his friend in London, had prevented his hearing from +Miss Vernon so lately as he could have wished. + +Sir Henry had posted all night, and it was ten in the morning when he +reached Leamington. He directed the postilion to drive to his hotel, but +it happened that on his way he had to pass Mrs. Vernon's door. + +As the carriage turned a corner, which was distant some hundred yards from +Mrs. Vernon's house, Sir Henry was surprised by a momentary check on the +part of his driver. + +It had rained heavily during the early part of the day. The glasses were +up, and so bespattered with the mud and rain, that it was impossible to +see through them. Sir Henry let them down; saw a confused mass of +carriages; and could clearly discern a mourning coach. + +He did not give himself time to breathe his misgivings; but flung the door +open, and sprang from his seat into the road. It was still three or four +doors from Mrs. Vernon's house, and he prayed to God that his fears might +be groundless. + +As he approached nearer, it was evident that there was unusual bustle +about _that_ house. Delme grasped the iron railing, and clung to it for +support; but with every sense keenly alive to aught that might dispel, or +confirm that horrible suspicion. + +Two old women, dressed in the characteristic red cloak of the English +peasant, were earnestly conversing together--their baskets of eggs and +flowers being laid on a step of one of the adjacent houses. + +"So you knowed her, Betsy Farmer?" + +"Lord a mercy!" responded the other, "I ha' knowed Miss July since she +wa' the height of my basket. Ay! and many's the bunch of flowers she ha' +had from me. That was afore the family went to the sea side. Well! it's a +matter o' five year, sin' she comed up to me one morning--so grown as I'd +never ha' known her. But she knowed me, and asked all about me. And I just +told her all my troubles, and how I had lost my good man. And sure enough +sin' that day she ha' stood my friend, and gived me soup and flannels for +the little uns, and put my Bess to service, and took me through all the +bad Christmas'. Poor dear soul! she ha' gone now! and may the Lord bless +her and all as good as she!" + +The poor woman, who felt the loss of her benefactress, put the corner of +her apron to her eyes. + +Sir Henry strode forward. + +Mutes were on each side of the front step. A servant threw open the door +of the breakfast room, and Delme mechanically entered it. It was filled +with strangers; on some of these the spruce undertaker was fitting silk +scarfs; while others were busy at the breakfast table. + +An ominous whisper ran through the apartment. + +"Sir Henry Delme?" said the rosy-cheeked clergyman, enquiringly, as he +laid down his egg spoon, and turned towards him. + +"I trust you received my letter. Women are so utterly helpless in these +matters; and poor Mrs. Vernon was quite overpowered." + +Delme turned away to master his emotion. + +At this moment, a friendly hand was laid on his shoulder, and Mrs. +Vernon's maid, with her eyes red from weeping, beckoned him up stairs. + +He mechanically obeyed her--reeled into an inner drawing room--and stood +in the presence of the bereaved mother. + +Mrs. Vernon was ordinarily the very picture of neatness. _Now_ she sat +with her feet on a footstool--her head almost touching her lap--her silver +hair all loose and dishevelled. It seemed to Delme as if age had suddenly +come upon her. + +She rose as he entered, and with wild hysterical sobs, threw herself +into his arms. + +"My son I my son! that _should_ have been. Our angel is gone--gone!" + +Delme tried to speak, but his tongue clove to his mouth, and the hysteric +globe rose to his throat. + +Suddenly he heard the sound of wheels, and of heavy footsteps on +the stairs. + +He imprinted a kiss on the old woman's forehead--it was his farewell for +ever!--gave her to the care of the maid servant--and rushed from the room. + +He was stopped on the landing of the staircase by the coffin of her he +loved so well. The bearers stopped for an instant; they felt that this was +no common greeting. Part of the pall was already turned back. Delme +removed its head with trembling hand. + + "Julia Vernon. aetate 22." + +He dropped the velvet with a groan, and was only saved from falling by the +timely aid of the old butler, whose face was as sorrowful as his own. + +But there was a duty yet to be performed, and Delme followed the corpse. + +The first mourning coach was just drawn up. An intended occupant had +already his foot on the step. + +"This place is mine!" said Sir Henry in a hollow voice. + +The cortege proceeded; and Delme, giddy and confused, heard solemn words +spoken over his affianced one, and he waited, till even the coffin could +be discerned no more. + +Thompson, who had followed his master, assisted him into his carriage, +placed himself beside him, and ordered the driver to proceed to the hotel. +But Delme gave a quick impetuous motion of the hand, which the domestic +understood well; and the horses' heads were turned towards the metropolis. + +The mourner tarried not, even to bid his sister farewell; but sought +once more his brother's grave. Some friendly hand had kept its turf +smooth; no footsteps, save the innocent ones of children, had pressed +its grassy mound. It was clothed with soft daisies and drooping +harebells. The sun seemed to shine on that spot, to bid the wanderer be +contented and at rest. + +But as yet there was no rest for Delme. And he stood beside the marble +slab, beneath which lay Acme Frascati. The downy moss--soft as +herself--was luxuriating there; and the cry of the cicalas was pleasant +to the ear; and the image of the young Greek girl, as in a vivid +picture, rose to his mind's eye. She was not attired in her white cymar; +nor was her head wreathed with monumental amaranths;--health was on her +cheek, fond smiles on her pouting lip, and tender love swimming in her +melting glance. + +His own griefs came back on Delme; he groaned aloud. He traversed the +deserts, he crossed lofty mountains, he knew thirst and privations. He was +scoffed at and spat upon in an infidel country--he was tossed on the +ocean--he shook hands with danger. + +He visited our wide Oriental possessions; and sojourned amid the spicy +islands of the Indian Archipelago, where vegetation attains a magnificence +unknown elsewhere, and animal life partakes of this unexampled +exuberance,--where flowers of the most exquisite colours and fragrance +charm the senses by day, and delicious plants saturate the air with their +odours by night. + +Delme extended his wanderings to the rarely visited "many isles," which +stud the vast Pacific, and found that there too were fruitful and +smiling regions. + +But not on the desert--nor on the mountains--nor in the land of the +Moslem---nor on tempestuous seas--nor in those verdant islets, which seem +to breathe of Paradise, to greet the wearied traveller; could Delme's +restless spirit find an abiding place, his thirst for foreign travel be +slaked, or his heart know peace. + +He madly sought oblivion, which could not be accorded him. + + + + +Chapter XVI. + +The Wanderer. + + + + "Then I consider'd life in all its forms, + Of vegetables first, next zoophytes, + The tribe that dwells upon the confine strange + 'Twixt plants and fish; some are there from their mouth + Spit out their progeny, and some that breed, + By suckers from their base or tubercles, + Sea-hedgehog, madrepore, sea-ruff, or pad, + Fungus, or sponge, or that gelatinous fish, + That taken from its element at once + Stinks, melts, and dies a fluid; so from these, + Through many a tribe of less equivocal life, + Dividual or insect, up I ranged, + From sentient to percipient, small advance, + Next to intelligent, to rational next, + So to half spiritual human kind, + And what is more, is more than man may know. + Last came the troublesome question--What am I?" + + * * * * * + + "And vain were the hat, the staff, and stole, + And all outward signs were a snare, + Unless the pilgrim's endanger'd soul + Were inwardly clothed with prayer. + + "But the pilgrim prays--and then trials are light-- + For prayer to him on his way, + Resembles the pillar of fire by night, + And the guiding cloud by day. + + "And salvation's helm the pilgrim wears, + Or vain were all other dress; + And the shield of faith the pilgrim bears, + With the breastplate of righteousness. + + "At length his tears all wiped away; + He enters the City of Light; + And how gladly he changes his gown of grey, + For Zion's robe of white." + + +It was on the 22nd of October, 1836, that an emissary from his sister, +sought Sir Henry Delme. It was at the antipodes to his ancestral home; in +Australia, that wonderful country, which--belied and calumniated, as she +has hitherto been--presents some anomalous and creditable features. + +For her population, she is the wealthiest, the most enterprising, the most +orderly and loyal, of our British possessions. There, is the aristocracy +of wealth, to an unprecedented degree, subservient to the aristocracy of +virtue. While she is stigmatised as the cloacae of Britain, the philosopher +looks into the future, and already beholds a nation, perpetuating the +language of the brave and free; when the parent stock has perhaps ceased +to be an empire; or is lingering on, like modern Greece, in the hopeless +languor of decay and decrepitude. + +This agent had arrived from England, a very short period before; and, +accredited with a packet, containing various communications from Emily and +Clarendon, accompanied by the miniatures of their children, with little +silky curls attached to each, proceeded an expectant guest, to Sir Henry +Delme's temporary residence. Early dawn saw him pacing the deck of a steam +vessel; and regarding with great surprise, the opposite banks of Hunter's +River, up which the vessel was gliding. + +A rich dark soil, of great depth, bespoke uncommon fertility; while the +varieties of the gum tree--then quite new to him--with their bark of every +diversity of colour, gave a primeval grandeur to the scene. + +Each moment brought in sight the location of some enterprising settler, +which, ever varying in appearance, in importance, and in extent yet told +the same tale of difficulties overcome, and success ensuing. + +On his reaching the township, near the head of the navigation, this agent +found horses waiting for him:--he was addressed by a well-appointed +groom--our old friend Thompson--who touched his hat respectfully, and +mentioned the name, he was already prepared for by his Sydney advices. + +Suffice it, that Sir Henry was no longer the Baronet, and that the name of +Delme was a strange one in his household. + +Their route skirted the banks of one of those rivers, which, diverging +from that mine of wealth, the Hunter, wind into the bowels of the land, +like a vein of gold. + +That emissary will not soon forget his lovely ride. His eye, wearied with +gazing on the wide expanse of ocean, feasted on the rich and novel +landscape. They rode alternately, through cleared lands, studded with rich +farms, waving with luxuriant crops of wheat and rye; and again, through +regions, where the axe had never resounded, but where eucalypti, and +bastard box, and forest oak with its rough acorn, towered above beauteous +wild flowers, whose forms and varieties were associated in the mind of +the stranger, with some of the most precious and valued flowers which +adorn British conservatories. + +The russet Certhia, with outspread fluttering wing, pecked at the smooth +bark, and preying on some destructive insect, really preserved what it +seemed to injure. The larger parrots, travelling in pairs, screamed their +passing salutation, as they displayed their bright plumage to the sun; +while hundreds, of a smaller kind, with crimson shoulder, were concealed +amid the green leaves; and, as they rode beneath them, babbled--like +frolicsome children of the forest--a rude, but to themselves a not +unmeaning dialogue. + +The superb warblers, ornaments alike to the bush or the garden, flitted +cheerily from bough to bough. Strangely mated are they! The male, in suit +of black velvet, trimmed with sky blue, looks like a knight, attired for a +palace festival:--while his lady-love--she resembles some peasant girl, +silent and grateful, clothed in modest kirtle of sober brown. + +As he reined in his horse, to examine these at leisure, how melodiously +came on his ear, the clear, ceaseless, silver tinkle of the bell-bird; +this sound ever and anon chequered by the bold chock-ee-chock! of the +bald-headed friar. They had proceeded very leisurely, and the sun was +already declining, when Thompson, pointing to an abrupt path, motioned +him to descend, and at the same time, gave the peculiar cry, known in the +colony as the cooi; a cry which was as promptly answered. It was not +until he was close to the edge of the river, that the stranger understood +its purport. + +A punt was rapidly approaching from the opposite bank. An athletic +aboriginal native, in an attitude that seemed studiedly graceful, was +bending to the stout rope, which, attached to either side of the river, +served to propel the punt. He had been spearing fish; for his wife, or +gin, or queen--for she was born such, and contradicted in her person the +old adage, + + "There's a difference between + A beggar and a queen"-- + +was drawing the barb of a spear from the bleeding side of a struggling +mullet. She sat at the bottom of the boat, with a blanket closely wound +round her. She was young, and her looks were not unpleasing. Her +thickly-matted hair was ornamented with kangaroo teeth; and to her +shoulder, closely clung a native tailless bear, whose appearance could not +do otherwise than excite a smile. With convex staring eyes--hairless +nose--and white ruff of fur round his face--he very closely resembled in +physiognomy, some grey-whiskered guzzling citizen. The well-trained horses +gave no trouble, as they entered the punt; and the smiling boatman, +displaying his teeth to Thompson, but without speaking, commenced warping +the punt to the opposite side of the river. They were half way across, ere +the guest observed the mansion of the friend he sought. It stood on the +summit of the hill, on the left; beneath which the river made a very +abrupt bend. The house itself resembled the common weather-boarded cottage +of the early settler,--wide verandah was over the front entrance,--and two +small rooms, the exact width of this, jutted out on either side of it. + +Its site however was commanding. The house stood on an eminence, and from +the windows, a long reach of the river was visible. At the top of the brow +of the hill, extended a range of English rose trees, in full flower. The +bank, which might be about thirty yards in front of these, was clothed +with foliage to the water's edge. + +There might be seen the fragrant mimosa--the abundant acacia--the swamp +oak, which would have been styled a fir, had not the first exiles to +Australia found twined round its boughs, the misletoe, with its many home +associations--the elegant cedar--the close-growing mangrove--and strange +parasitical plants, pushing through huge fungi, and clasping with the +remorseless strength of the wrestler, and with the round crunching folds +of the boa, the trees they were gradually to supplant and destroy. + +Suddenly, the quick finger of the black pointed to an object close beside +the punt. A bill, as of a bird, and apparently of the duck tribe, +protruded above the surface of the water. For an instant, small, black, +piercing eyes peered towards them: but as the quadruped, for such it was, +prepared to dive in affright, the unerring shot of a rifle splashed the +water on the cheek of the stranger--the body rolled slowly over--the legs +stiffened--a sluggish stream of dark blood tainted the surrounding +wave--and the ferryman, extending his careless hand, threw the victim to +his companion, at the same time addressing a few words to her in their +native language. + +The guest had little difficulty, in recognising the uncouth form of the +ornithorhynchus, or water-mole; but he turned with yet more eagerness, +towards the spot, whence that shot had proceeded. On the summit of the +steep bank, leaning on his rifle, stood Sir Henry Delme. + +His form was still commanding--there was something in the air with which +the cap was worn--and in the strap round his Swiss blouse--that bespoke +the soldier and the gentleman: but his face was sadly attenuated--the +lower jaw appeared to have fallen in--and his hair was very grey. + +He received his guest with a cordial and sincere welcome. While the latter +delivered his packet the native who had warped the punt over, came up +with the dead platypus, + +"Well, Boomeroo! is it a female?" + +"No, massa! full grown--with large spur!" + +Sir Henry saw that his guest was puzzled by this dialogue, and +good-naturedly showed him the distinguishing characteristic of the male +ornithorhynchus--the spur on the hinder foot, which is hollow, and +transmits an envenomed liquid, secreted by a gland on the inner surface of +the thigh. + +In November, of the year preceding, a burrow of the animal had been +opened on the bank of the river, which contained the dam, and three +live young ones;--there were many points, yet to be determined relative +to its interior organization; and it was on this account, that Sir +Henry was anxious to obtain a female specimen at this particular +period. As he spoke, Delme introduced the stranger to his study, which +might more aptly be styled a museum;--applied some spirits of wine to +the platypus, and placing it under a bell-glass for the morrow's +examination, left him turning over his collection of birds, while he +perused his valued home letters. + +It was with unmixed pleasure, knowing as he did his melancholy history, +that the stranger found Sir Henry Delme engaged in pursuits, which it was +evident he was following up with no common enthusiasm. In truth, a mere +accidental circumstance,--the difficulty of obtaining a vessel at one of +the Indian Islands for any port,--had at first brought him to Australia, a +country regarding which he had felt little curiosity. The strange +varieties, however, of its animal kingdom, had interested him;--he was +struck with the rapid strides that that country has made in half a +century--and he continued from month to month to occupy the house where +his friend had now found him. + +To the stranger's eye, the eye of a novice, the well arranged specimens of +birds of the most beautiful plumage--of animals, chiefly marsupial, of the +most singular developement--of glittering insects--and of deep coloured +shells; were attractive wonders enough; but from the skeletons beside +these, it was quite clear, that Delme had acquired considerable knowledge +as to the internal construction of the animals themselves--that he had +studied the subsisting relations, between the mechanism and the +movements--the structure, and its varied functions. + +After dinner, Sir Henry Delme, who appeared to think that the bearer of +his despatches had conferred on him a lasting favour, threw off his +habitual reserve, and delighted and interested him with his tales of +foreign travel. + +As the night wore on, the conversation reverted to his sister and his +home. It was evident, that what remained for the living of that crushed +heart, was with Emily and Clarendon, and their children; perhaps more than +all, with his young heir and god-son, Henry Delme Gage. The very colour of +that sunny lock of hair, gave rise to much speculation: and it seemed as +if he would never be wearied, of listening to the minutest description of +the dawning of intellect, in a precocious little fellow of barely five +years of age. + +Encouraged by his evident feeling, and observing many more comforts +about him, than he had been led to expect from his previous errant +habits; his guest ventured to express his hope, that Sir Henry might yet +return to England. + +"My good friend!" replied he, "for I must call you such now, for I know +not when I have experienced such unalloyed satisfaction, as you have +conferred on me this night, by conversing so freely of those I love; I +certainly never can forget that I am the last male of an ancient race, and +that those who are nearest and dearest to me, are divided from me by a +wide waste of waters. I have learnt to suffer with more patience than I +had ever hoped for; and, it may be,--although I have hardly breathed the +thought to myself--it may yet be accorded me to revisit that ancient +chapel, and to dwell once more in that familiar mansion." + +His guest was overcome by his emotion, and pressed his hand with warmth, +as he made his day's journey the excuse for an early retirement. + +Sleep soon visited his eyelids, for the ride, to one fresh from a sea +voyage, had brought with it a wholesome weariness. He was aroused from +his slumbers, by the deep sonorous accents as of a man reading Spanish. + +The light streamed from an adjacent room, through the chinks of a +partition. He started up alike forgetful of Delme, his ride, and his +arrival in Australia; conceiving that he was again at the mercy of the +waves, in his narrow comfortless cabin. + +That light, however, brought the stranger back to the wanderer, and +his griefs. + +Beside a small table, strewn with his lately received English letters, +knelt Sir Henry Delme. The stranger had seen condemned criminals pray with +becoming fervour; and devotees of many a creed lift up their hearts to +heaven; but never had he witnessed a more contrite or a humbler spirit +imprinted on the features of mortal man, than then shed its radiance on +that sorrowful, but noble face. + +Strange as it may appear, he knew not whether the words themselves really +caught his ear, or whether the motion of the lips expressed them--but +this he _did_ know, that every syllable seemed to reach his heart, and +impress him with a mystic thrill, + +"OR EVER THE SILVER CORD BE LOOSED, OR THE GOLDEN BOWL BE BROKEN, OR THE +PITCHER BE BROKEN AT THE FOUNTAIN, OR THE WHEEL BROKEN AT THE CISTERN. +THEN SHALL THE DUST RETURN TO THE EARTH AS IT WAS: AND THE SPIRIT SHALL +RETURN UNTO GOD WHO GAVE IT." + + + + +Chapter XVII + +The Wanderer's Return. + + + + "And he had learn'd to love--I know not why, + For this in such as him seems strange of mood,-- + The helpless looks of blooming infancy, + Even in its earliest nurture; what subdued, + To change like this, a mind so far imbued + With scorn of man, it little boots to know; + But thus it was; and though in solitude + Small power the nipp'd affections have to grow, + In him this glow'd when all beside had ceased to glow." + + +Within a period of two months, from the interview we have described, the +stranger found that his arguments had not been thrown away; as he shook +Sir Henry's hand on the deck of a vessel bound for Valparaiso. His love of +travel and of excitement, had induced such an habitual restlessness, that +Delme was not prepared at once to embark for England. He crossed the +Cordillera de los Andes--traversed the Pampas of Buenos Ayres--and +finally embarked for his native land. + +It was the height of summer, when the carriage which bore the long absent +owner to his ancestral home, neared the ancient moss-grown lodge. + +Fanny Porter, who was now married, and had a thriving babe at her breast, +started with surprise; as, throwing open the gate, she recognised in the +care-worn man with bronzed face and silver hair, her well known and +beloved master. As the carriage neared the chapel, it struck Sir Henry, +that it would be but prudent, to inform Clarendon of his near approach; in +order that he might prepare Emily for the meeting. He ordered the +postilion to pull up--tore a leaf from his memorandum book--and wrote a +few lines to Clarendon, despatching Thompson in advance. He turned into +the chapel, and as he approached its altar, the bridal scene, enacted +there nearly seven years back, seemed to rise palpably before him. + +But the tomb of Sir Reginald Delme, with its velvet dusty banner--the +marble monument of his mother, with the bust above it, whose naked eye +seemed turned towards him--his withered heart and hopes soon darkened his +recollections of that bright hour. With agitated emotions, Sir Henry left +the chapel; and in a spirit of impatience, strode towards the mansion, +intending to meet the returning domestic. His feelings were strange, +various, and not easily defined. + +He was awakened from his day-dream by the sound of children's voices, +which sound he instinctively followed, until he reached the old orchard. +It was such an orchard, as might be planted by an old Delme, ere any +Linnean or Loudonean horticulturist had decided that slopes are best for +the sun, that terraces are an economical saving of ground, that valleys +must be swamps, and that blights are vulgar errors. The orchard at Delme +was strikingly unscientific; but the old stock contrived to bear good +fruit. The pippins, golden and russet--the pears, jargonelle and +good-christian--the cherries, both black and white heart--still thrived; +while under their shade, grew hips, haws, crabs, sloes, and blackberries, +happy to be shaded from rain, dews, and fierce sun-shine, and unenvious +of roses, cherries, apples, damsons, and mulberries; their self-defended, +and more aristocratic cousins. + +Sir Henry stopped unseen at the gate of the orchard, and for some minutes +looked on the almost fairy group, whose voices had led him thither. + +Lying on the bank, which enclosed the orchard, was a blue-eyed +rosy-cheeked little girl;--the ground ashes had been cut down; and her +laughing face was pillowed on the violets and oxlips, that burst from +between the roots. She was preparing to take another roll into the clayey +ditch below. Another little girl was gazing at the child from within the +orchard; half doubtful whether she should encourage or check her. One +pale-blue slipper and her little sock were half sunk in the clay, while +the veiny and pink-soled foot, the large lids half closed over her deep +blue eyes, the finger thrust between her red and pouting lips, her bonnet +thrown back and hanging by the strings round her swelling throat, her hair +dishevelled and stuck with oxlips, primroses, cowslips, violets, and +daisies; and wreathed with the spring-holly, or butcher's-broom--made her +a perfect picture of English beauty, and of childish anxiety and +indecision. + +Beside her stood a boy older than herself, and evidently as perplexed. +There was Julia perched cock-horse on the bank--there was Emily, her hair +undone, her bonnet crashed, with one shoe and stocking lost--and yet he +had promised Mamma, that if she would but once trust his sisters to him, +that he would bring them home, "with such a pretty basket of +spring-flowers." + +The beautiful blossoms of the cherry hung around the boy--the bees buzzed +in its bells--the apple and pear blossoms shook their fragrance in the +warm air--and the shadows of the flying clouds hurried like wings over the +bright green grass. The boy had dropped his basket of fresh-blown flowers +at his feet--tears were trembling in his eye-lids, as he gazed on his +sisters. His look was that of George. + +"Childhood too has its sorrows," said Sir Henry, half aloud, "even when +seeking joy on a bank of primroses. Why should _I_ then repine?" + +The boy started as he heard and saw the stranger:--he involuntarily put +one foot forward in an attitude of childish defiance: but children are +keen physiognomists, and there was nothing but affection beaming from that +mournful face. + +"My boy!" said Delme, and his eyes were moist, "did you ever hear of your +Uncle Henry?" + +"Emily! Emily! Julia!" exclaimed the little fellow, as he rushed into Sir +Henry's arms, "here is Uncle Henry, my god-papa, and he will help us to +reach the blackberries." + +We need follow the wanderer no further. It is true that in his youth he +had not known sympathy; in his manhood he had experienced sorrow; but +it is a pleasure to us to reflect, that despair is not the companion of +his old age. + + + +The End. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Love Story, by A Bushman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LOVE STORY *** + +***** This file should be named 8883.txt or 8883.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/8/8/8883/ + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: A Love Story + +Author: A Bushman + +Release Date: September, 2005 [EBook #8883] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on August 20, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LOVE STORY *** + + + + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +A Love Story + +by + +A Bushman. + +Vol. I. + + + "My thoughts, like swallows, skim the main, + And bear my spirit back again + Over the earth, and through the air, + A wild bird and a wanderer." + + +1841. + + + +To +Lady Gipps +This Work Is Respectfully Inscribed, +By +A Grateful Friend. + + + + +Preface. + + + +The author of these pages considered that a lengthened explanation might +be necessary to account for the present work. + +He had therefore, at some length, detailed the motives that influenced +him in its composition. He had shown that as a solitary companionless +bushman, it had been a pleasure to him in his lone evenings + + "To create, and in creating live + A being more intense." + +He had expatiated on the love he bears his adopted country, and had +stated that he was greatly influenced by the hope that although + + "Sparta hath many a worthier son than he," + +this work might be the humble cornerstone to some enduring and highly +ornamented structure. + +The author however fortunately remembered, that readers have but little +sympathy with the motives of authors; but expect that their works should +amuse or instruct them. He will therefore content himself, with giving a +quotation from one of those old authors, whose "well of English +undefined" shames our modern writers. + +He intreats that the indulgence prayed for by the learned Cowell may be +accorded to his humble efforts. + +"My true end is the advancement of knowledge, and therefore have I +published this poor work, not only to impart the good thereof, to those +young ones that want it, but also to draw from the learned, the supply +of my defects. + +"Whosoever will charge these travails with many oversights, he shall need +no solemn pains to prove them. + +"And upon the view taken of this book sithence the impression, I dare +assure them, that shall observe most faults therein, that I, by gleaning +after him, will gather as many omitted by him, as he shall shew +committed by me. + +"What a man saith well is not, however, to be rejected, because he hath +some errors; reprehend who will, in God's name, that is, with sweetness, +and without reproach. + +"So shall he reap hearty thanks at my hands, and thus more soundly help +in a few months, than I by tossing and tumbling my books at home, could +possibly have done in some years." + + + + +A Love Story + + + + +Chapter I. + +The Family. + + + + "It was a vast and venerable pile." + + "Oh, may'st thou ever be as now thou art, + Nor unbeseem the promise of thy spring." + + +The mansion in which dwelt the Delmes was one of wide and extensive +range. Its centre slightly receded, leaving a wing on either side. +Fluted ledges, extending the whole length of the building, protruded +above each story. These were supported by quaint heads of satyr, martyr, +or laughing triton. The upper ledge, which concealed the roof from +casual observers, was of considerably greater projection. Placed above +it, at intervals, were balls of marble, which, once of pure white, had +now caught the time-worn hue of the edifice itself. At each corner of +the front and wings, the balls were surmounted by the family device--the +eagle with extended wing. One claw closed over the stone, and the bird +rode it proudly an' it had been the globe. The portico, of a pointed +Gothic, would have seemed heavy, had it not been lightened by glass +doors, the vivid colours of which were not of modern date. These +admitted to a capacious hall, where, reposing on the wide-spreading +antlers of some pristine tenant of the park, gleamed many a piece of +armour that in days of yore had not been worn ingloriously. + +The Delme family was an old Norman one, on whose antiquity a peerage +could have conferred no new lustre. At the period when the aristocracy +of Great Britain lent themselves to their own diminution of +importance, by the prevalent system of rejecting the poorer class of +tenantry, in many instances the most attached,--the consequence was +foreseen by the then proprietor of Delme Park, who, spurning the +advice of some interested few around him, continued to foster those +whose ancestors had served his. The Delmes were thus enabled to +retain--and they deserved it--that fair homage which rank and property +should ever command. As a family they were popular, and as individuals +universally beloved. + +At the period we speak of, the Delme family consisted but of three +members: the baronet, Sir Henry Delme; his brother George, some ten +years his junior, a lieutenant in a light infantry regiment at Malta; +and one sister, Emily, Emily Delme was the youngest child; her mother +dying shortly after her birth. The father, Sir Reginald Delme, a man of +strong feelings and social habits, never recovered this blow. Henry +Delme was barely fifteen when he was called to the baronetcy and to the +possession of the Delme estates. It was found that Sir Reginald had been +more generous than the world had given him credit for, and that his +estates were much encumbered. The trustees were disposed to rest +contented with paying off the strictly legal claims during Sir Henry's +minority. This the young heir would not accede to. He waited on his +most influential guardian--told him he was aware his father, from +hospitality and good nature, had incurred obligations which the law did +not compel his son to pay; but which he could not but think that equity +and good feeling did. He begged that these might be added to the other +claims, and that the trustees would endeavour to procure him a +commission in the army. He was gazetted to a cornetcy; and entered life +at an age when, if the manlier traits are ready to be developed, the +worthless ones are equally sure to unfold themselves. Few of us that +have not found the first draught of life intoxicate! Few of us that have +not then run wild, as colts that have slipped their bridle! +Experience--that mystic word--is wanting; the retrospect of past years +wakes no sigh; expectant youth looks forward to future ones without a +shade of distrust. The mind is elastic--the body vigorous and free from +pain; and it is then youth inwardly feels, although not daring to avow +it, the almost total impossibility that the mind should wax less +vigorous, or the body grow helpless, and decay. + +But Sir Henry was cast in a finer mould, nor did his conduct at this +dangerous period detract from this his trait of boyhood. He joined his +regiment when before the enemy, and, until he came of age, never drew on +his guardians for a shilling. Delme's firmness of purpose, and his after +prudence, met with their due reward. The family estates became wholly +unencumbered, and Sir Henry was enabled to add to the too scanty +provision of his sister, as well as to make up to George, on his +entering the army, a sum more than adequate to all his wants. These +circumstances were enough to endear him to his family; and, in truth, +amidst all its members, there prevailed a confidence and an unanimity +which were never for an instant impaired. There was one consequence, +however, of Sir Henry Delme's conduct that _he_, at the least, foresaw +not, but which was gradually and unconsciously developed. In pursuing +the line of duty he had marked out--in acting up to what he knew was +right--his mind became _too_ deeply impressed with the circumstances +which had given rise to his determination. It overstepped its object. +The train of thought, to which necessity gave birth, continued to +pervade when that necessity no longer existed. His wish to re-establish +his house grew into an ardent desire to aggrandize it. His ambition +appeared a legitimate one. It grew with his years, and increased with +his strength. + +Many a time, on the lone bivouac, when home presents itself in its +fairest colours to the soldier's mind, would Delme's prayer be embodied, +that his house might again be elevated, and that his descendants might +know _him_ as the one to whom they were indebted for its rise. Delme's +ambitious thoughts were created amidst dangers and toil, in a foreign +land, and far from those who shared his name. But his heart swelled high +with them as he again trod his native soil in peace--as he gazed on the +home of his fathers, and communed with those nearest and dearest to him +on earth. Sir Henry considered it incumbent on him to exert every means +that lay in his power to promote his grand object. A connection that +promised rank and honours, seemed to him an absolute essential that was +worth any sacrifice. Sir Henry never allowed himself to look for, or +give way to, those sacred sympathies, which the God of nature hath +implanted in the breasts of all of us. Delme had arrived at middle age +ere a feeling incompatible with his views arose. But his had been a +dangerous experiment. Our hearts or minds, or whatever it may be that +takes the impression, resemble some crystalline lake that mirrors the +smallest object, and heightens its beauty; but if it once gets muddied +or ruffled, the most lovely object ceases to be reflected in its waters. +By the time that lake is clear again, the fairy form that ere while +lingered on its bosom is fled for ever. + +Thus much in introducing the head of the family. Let us now attempt to +sketch the gentle Emily. + +Emily Delme was not an ordinary being. To uncommon talents, and a mind +of most refined order, she united great feminine propriety, and a total +absence of those arts which sometimes characterise those to whom the +accident of birth has given importance. With unerring discrimination, +she drew the exact line between vivacity and satire, true religion and +its semblance. She saw through and pitied those who, pluming themselves +on the faults of others, and imparting to the outward man the ascetic +inflexibility of the inner one, would fain propagate on all sides their +rigid creed, forbidding the more favoured commoners of nature even to +sip joy's chalice. If not a saint, however, but a fair, confiding, and +romantic girl, she was good without misanthropy, pure without +pretension, and joyous, as youth and hopes not crushed might make her. +She was one of those of whom society might justly be proud. She obeyed +its dictates without question, but her feelings underwent no debasement +from the contact. If not a child of nature, she was by no means the +slave of art. + +Emily Delme was more beautiful than striking. She impressed more than +she exacted. Her violet eye gleamed with feeling; her smile few could +gaze on without sympathy--happy he who might revel in its brightness! +If aught gave a peculiar tinge to her character, it was the pride she +felt in the name she bore,--this she might have caught from Sir +Henry,--the interest she took in the legends connected with that name, +and the gratification which the thought gave her, that by her ancestors, +its character had been but rarely sullied, and never disgraced. + +These things, it may be, she had accustomed herself to look on in a +light too glowing: for these things and all mundane ones are vain; but +her character did not consequently suffer. Her lip curled not with +hauteur, nor was her brow raised one shadow the more. The remembrance of +the old Baronetcy were on the ensanguined plain,--of the matchless +loyalty of a father and five valiant sons in the cause of the Royal +Charles,--the pondering over tomes, which in language obsolete, but +true, spoke of the grandeur--the deserved grandeur of her house; these +might be recollections and pursuits, followed with an ardour too +enthusiastic, but they stayed not the hand of charity, nor could they +check pity's tear. If her eye flashed as she gazed on the ancient +device of her family, reposing on its time worn pedestal, it could melt +to the tale of the houseless wanderer, and sympathise with the sorrows +of the fatherless. + + + + +Chapter II. + +The Album. + + + + "Oh that the desert were my dwelling place, + With one fair spirit for my minister; + That I might all forget the human race, + And, hating no one, love but only her." + + +A cheerful party were met in the drawing room of Delme. Clarendon Gage, +a neighbouring land proprietor, to whom Emily had for a twelvemonth been +betrothed, had the night previous returned from a continental tour. In +consequence, Emily looked especially radiant, Delme much pleased, and +Clarendon superlatively happy. Nor must we pass over Mrs. Glenallan, +Miss Delme's worthy aunt, who had supplied the place of a mother to +Emily, and who now sat in her accustomed chair, with an almost sunny +brow, quietly pursuing her monotonous tambouring. At times she turned to +admire her niece, who occasionally walked to the glass window, to caress +and feed an impudent white peacock; which one moment strutted on the +wide terrace, and at another lustily tapped for his bread at ne of the +lower panes. + +"I am glad to see you looking so well, Clarendon!" + +"And I can return the compliment, Delme! Few, looking at you now, would +take you for an old campaigner." + +The style of feature in Delme and Clarendon was very dissimilar. Sir +Henry was many years Gage's senior; but his manly bearing, and dark +decided features, would bear a contrast with even the tall and elegant, +although slight form of Clarendon. The latter was very fair, and what we +are accustomed to call English-looking. His hair almost, but not quite, +flaxen, hung in thick curls over his forehead, and would have given an +effeminate expression to the face, were it not for the peculiar flash of +the clear blue eye. + +"Come! Clarendon," said Emily, "I will impose a task. You have written +twice in my album; once, years ago, and the second time on the eve of +our parting. Come! you shall read us both effusions, and then write a +sonnet to our happy meeting. Would that dear George were here now!" + +Gage took up the book. It was a moderately-sized volume, bound in +crimson velvet. It was the fashion to keep albums _then_. It glittered +not in a binding of azure and gold, nor were its momentous secrets +enclosed by one of Bramah's locks. The Spanish proverb says, "Tell me +who you are with, and I will tell you what you are." Ours, in that album +age, used to be, "Show me your scrap book, I will tell you your +character." Emily's was not one commencing with-- + + "I never loved a dear gazelle!" + +and ending with stanzas on the "Forget-me-not." It had not those +hackneyed but beautiful lines addressed by Mr. Spencer to Lady Crewe-- + + "I stay'd too late: forgive the crime! + Unheeded flew the hours; + For noiseless falls the foot of Time. + That only treads on flowers." + +Nor contained it those sublime, but yet more common ones, on Sir John +Moore's death; which lines, by the bye, have suffered more from that +mischief-making, laughter-loving creature, Parody, than any lines we +know. It was not one of these books. Nor was it the splendid scrap book, +replete with superb engravings and proof-impression prints; nor at all +allied to the sentimental one of a garrison flirt, containing locks of +hair of at least five gentlemen, three of whom are officers in the army. +Nor, lastly, was it of that genus which has vulgarity in its very +title-page, and is here and there interspersed with devilish imps, or +caricatured likenesses of the little proprietress, all done in most +infinite humour, and marking the familiar friendship, of some half-dozen +whiskered cubs, having what is technically called the run of the house. +No! it was a repository for feeling and for memory, and, in its fair +pages, presented an image of Emily's heart. Many of these were marked, +it is true; and what human being's character is unchequered? But it was +blotless; and the virgin page looks not so white as when the contrast of +the sable ink is there. + +Clarendon read aloud his first contribution--who knows it not? The very +words form a music, and that music is Metastasio's, + + "Placido zeffiretto, + Se trovi il caro oggetto, + Digli che sei sospiro + Ma non gli dir di chi, + Limpido ruscelletto, + Se mai t'incontri in lei, + Digli che pianto sei, + Ma non le dir qual' eiglio + Crescer ti fe cosi." + +"And now, Emily! for my parting tribute--if I remember right, it was +sorrowful enough." + +Gage read, with tremulous voice, the following, which we will christen + + THE FAREWELL. + + I will not be the lightsome lark, + That carols to the rising morn,-- + I'd rather be some plaintive bird + Lulling night's ear forlorn. + + I will not be the green, green leaf, + Mingling 'midst thousand leaves and flowers + That shed their fairy charms around + To deck Spring's joyous bowers. + + I'd rather be the one red leaf, + Waving 'midst Autumn's sombre groves:-- + On the heart to breathe that sadness + Which contemplation loves. + + I will not be the morning ray, + Dancing upon the river's crest, + All light, all motion, when the stream + Turns to the sun her breast. + + I'd rather be the gentle shade, + Lengthening as eve comes stealing on, + And rest in pensive sadness there, + When those bright rays are gone. + + I will not be a smile to play + Upon thy coral lip, and shed + Around it sweetness, like the sun + Risen from his crimson bed. + + Oh, no! I'll be the tear that steals + In pity from that eye of blue, + Making the cheek more lovely red, + Like rose-leaf dipp'd in dew. + + I will not be remember'd when + Mirth shall her pageant joys impart,-- + A dream to sparkle in thine eye, + Yet vanish from thy heart. + + But when pensive sadness clouds thee, + When thoughts, half pain, half pleasure, steal + Upon the heart, and memory doth + The shadowy past reveal. + + When seems the bliss of former years,-- + Too sweet, too pure, to feel again,-- + And long lost hours, scenes, friends, return, + Remember me, love--then! + +"Ah, Clarendon! how often have I read those lines, and thought--but I +will not think now! Here come the letters! Henry will soon be busy--I +shall finish my drawing--and aunt will finish--no! she never _can_ +finish her tambour work. Take my portfolio and give me another +contribution!" Gage now wrote "The Return," which we insert for the +reader's approval:-- + + THE RETURN. + + When the blue-eyed morn doth peep + Over the soft hill's verdant steep, + Lighting up its shadows deep, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + When the lightsome lark doth sing + Her grateful song to Nature's King, + Making all the woodlands ring, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + Or when plaintive Philomel + Shall mourn her mate in some lone dell, + And to the night her sorrows tell, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + When the first green leaf of spring + Shall promise of the summer bring, + And all around its fragrance fling, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + Or when the last red leaf shall fall, + And winter spread its icy pall, + To mind me of the death of all, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + When the lively morning ray + Is dancing on the river's spray, + And sunshine gilds the joyous day, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + And when the shades of eve steal on, + Lengthening as life's sun goes down, + Like sweetest constancy alone, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + When I see a sweet smile play + On coral lips, like Phoebus' ray, + Making all look warm and gay, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + When steals the tear of pity, too, + O'er a cheek, whose crimson hue + Looks like rose-leaf dipp'd in dew, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + When mirth's pageant joys unbind + The gloomy spells that chain my mind, + And make me dream of all that's kind, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + And when pensive sadness clouds me, + When the host of memory crowds me, + When the shadowy past enshrouds me, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + When seems the bliss of former years,-- + Too sweet, too pure, to feel again,-- + And long lost hours, scenes, friends, return, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + + + +Chapter III. + +The Dinner. + + + + "Hues which have words, and speak to ye of heaven." + + "Away! there need no words or terms precise, + The paltry jargon of the marble mart, + Where pedantry gulls folly: we have eyes." + + +We are told by the members of the silver-fork school, that no tale of +fiction can be complete unless it embody the description of a dinner. +Let us, therefore, shutting from our view that white-limbed gum-tree, +and dismissing from our table tea and damper, [Footnote: _Damper_. +Bushman's fare--unleavened bread] call on memory's fading powers, and +feast once more with the rich, the munificent, the intellectual +Belliston Graeme. + +Dinner! immortal faculty of eating! to what glorious sense or +pre-eminent passion dost thou not contribute? Is not love half fed by +thy attractions? Beams ever the eye of lover more bright than when, +after gazing with enraptured glance at the coveted haunch, whose fat--a +pure white; whose lean--a rich brown--invitingly await the assault. When +doth lover's eye sparkle more, than when, at such a moment, it lights on +the features of the loved fair one? Is not the supper quadrille the most +dangerous and the dearest of all? + +Cherished venison! delicate white soup! spare young susceptible bosoms! +Again we ask, is not dinner the very aliment of friendship? the hinge on +which it turns? Does a man's heart expand to you ere you have returned +his dinner? It would be folly to assert it. Cabinet dinners--corporation +dinners--election dinners--and vestry dinners--and rail-road +dinners--we pass by these things, and triumphantly ask--does not _the_ +Ship par excellence--the Ship of Greenwich--annually assemble under its +revered roof the luminaries of the nation? Oh, whitebait! called so +early to your last account! a tear is all we give, but it flows +spontaneously at the memory of your sorrows! + +As Mr. Belliston Graeme was much talked of in his day, it may not be +amiss to say a few words regarding him. He was an only child, and at an +early age lost his parents. The expense of his education was defrayed +by a wealthy uncle, the second partner in a celebrated banking house. +His tutor, with whom he may be said to have lived from boyhood--for his +uncle had little communication with him, except to write to him one +letter half-yearly, when he paid his school bill--was a shy retiring +clergyman--a man of very extensive acquirements, and a first rate +classical scholar. After a short time, the curate and young Graeme +became attached to each other. The tutor was a bachelor, and Graeme was +his only pupil. The latter was soon inoculated with the classical mania +of his preceptor; and, as he grew up, it was quite a treat to hear the +pair discourse of Greeks and Romans. A stranger who had _then_ heard +them would have imagined that Themistocles and Scipio Africanus were +stars of the present generation. When Graeme was nineteen, his uncle +invited him to town for a month--a most unusual proceeding. During this +period he studied closely his nephew's character. At the end of this +term, Mr. Hargrave and his young charge were on their way to the +classical regions, where their fancy had been so long straying. They +explored France, and the northern parts of Italy--came on the shores of +the Adriatic--resided and secretly made excavations near the +amphitheatre of Polo--and finally reached the Morea. Not a crag, +valley, or brook, that they were not conversant with before they left +it. They at length tore themselves away; and found themselves at the +ancient Parthenope. It was at Pompeii Mr. Graeme first saw the +beautiful Miss Vignoles, the Mrs. Glenallan of our story; and, in a +strange adventure with some Neapolitan guides, was of some service to +her party. They saw his designs of some tombs, and took the trouble of +drawing him out. The young man now for the first time basked in the +sweets of society; in a fortnight, to Mr. Hargrave's horror, was +rolling in its vortex; in a couple of months found himself indulging +in, and avowing, a hopeless passion; and in three, was once again in +his native land, falsely deeming that his peace of mind had fled for +ever. He was shortly, however, called upon to exert his energies. The +death of his uncle suddenly made him, to his very great surprise, one +of the wealthiest commoners of England. At this period he was quite +unknown. In a short time Mr. Hargrave and himself were lodged +luxuriously--were deep in the pursuit of science, literature, and the +belle arte--and on terms of friendship with the cleverest and most +original men of the day. Mr. Graeme's occupations being sedentary, and +his habits very regular, he shortly found that his great wealth enabled +him, not only to indulge in every personal luxury at Rendlesham Park, +but to patronise largely every literary work of merit. In him the needy +man of genius found a friend, the man of wit a companion, and the +publisher a generous customer. He became famous for his house, his +library, his exclusive society. But he did not become spoilt by his +prosperity, and never neglected his old tutor. + +Our party from Delme were ushered into a large drawing-room, the sole +light of which was from an immense bow window, looking out on the +extensive lawn. The panes were of enormous size, and beautiful specimens +of classique plated glass. The only articles of furniture, were some +crimson ottomans which served to set off the splendid paintings; and one +table of the Florentine manufacture of pietra dura, on which stood a +carved bijou of Benvenuto Cellini's. Our party were early. They were +welcomed by Mr. Graeme with great cordiality, and by Mr. Hargrave with +some embarrassment, for the tutor was still the bashful man of former +days. Mr. Graeme's dress shamed these degenerate days of black stock and +loose trowser. Diamond buckles adorned his knees, and fastened his +shoes. His clear blue eye--the high polished forehead--the deep lines of +the countenance--revealed the man of thought and intellect. The playful +lip shewed he could yet appreciate a flash of wit or spark of humour. + +"Miss Delme, you are looking at my paintings; let me show you my late +purchases. Observe this sweet Madonna, by Murillo! I prefer it to the +one in the Munich Gallery. It may not boast Titian's glow of colour, or +Raphael's grandeur of design,--in delicate angelic beauty, it may yield +to the delightful efforts of Guido's or Correggio's pencil,--but surely +no human conception can ever have more touchingly portrayed the +beauteous resigned mother. The infant, too! how inimitably blended is +the God-like serenity of the Saviour, with the fond and graceful +witcheries of the loving child! How little we know of the beauties of +the Spanish school! Would I could ransack their ancient monasteries, and +bring a few of them to light! + +"You are a chess player! Pass not by this check-mate of Caravaggio's. +What undisguised triumph in one countenance! What a struggle to repress +nature's feelings in the other! Here is a Guido! sweet, as his ever are! +He may justly be styled the female laureat. What artist can compete with +him in delineating the blooming expression, or the tender, but lighter, +shades of female loveliness? who can pause between even the Fornarina, +and that divine effort, the Beatrice Cenci of the Barberini?" + +The party were by this time assembled. Besides our immediate friends, +there was his Grace the Duke of Gatten, a good-natured fox-hunting +nobleman, whose estate adjoined Mr. Graeme's; there was the Viscount +Chambery, who had penned a pamphlet on finance--indited a folio on +architecture--and astonished Europe with an elaborate dissertation on +modern cookery; there was Charles Selby, the poet and essayist; +Daintrey, the sculptor--a wonderful Ornithologist--a deep read +Historian--a learned Orientalist--and a novelist, from France; whose +works exhibited such unheard of horrors, and made man and woman so +irremediably vicious, as to make this young gentleman celebrated, even +in Paris--that Babylonian sink of iniquity. + +Dinner was announced, and our host, giving his arm very stoically to +Mrs. Glenallan, his love of former days, led the way to the dining-room. +Round the table were placed beautifully carved oaken fauteuils, of a +very old pattern. The service of plate was extremely plain, but of +massive gold. But the lamp! It was of magnificent dimensions! The light +chains hanging from the frescoed ceiling, the links of which were hardly +perceptible, were of silver, manufactured in Venice; the lower part was +of opal-tinted glass, exactly portraying some voluptuous couch, on which +the beautiful Amphitrite might have reclined, as she hastened through +beds of coral to crystal grot, starred with transparent stalactites. In +the centre of this shell, were sockets, whence verged small hollow +golden tubes, resembling in shape and size the stalks of a flower. At +the drooping ends of these, were lamps shaped and coloured to imitate +the most beauteous flowers of the parterre. This bouquet of light had +been designed by Mr. Graeme. Few novelties had acquired greater +celebrity than the Graeme astrale. The room was warmed by heating the +pedestals of the statues. + +"Potage a la fantome, and a l'ourika." + +"I will trouble you, Graeme," said my Lord Chambery, "for the fantome. I +have dined on la pritanniere for the last three months, and a novel soup +is a novel pleasure." + +Of the fish, the soles were a la Rowena, the salmon a l'amour. Emily +flirted with the wing of a chicken saute au supreme, coquetted with +perdrix perdu masque a la Montmorenci, and tasted a boudin a la +Diebitsch. The wines were excellent--the Geisenheim delicious--the +Champagne sparkling like a pun of Jekyll's. But nothing aroused the +attention of the Viscount Chambery so much as a liqueur, which Mr. +Graeme assured him was new, and had just been sent him by the Conte de +Desir. The dessert had been some time on the table, when the Viscount +addressed his host. + +"Graeme! I am delighted to find that you at length agree with me as to +the monstrous superiority of a French repast. Your omelette imaginaire +was faultless, and as for your liqueur, I shall certainly order a supply +on my return to Paris." + +"That liqueur, my dear lord," replied Mr. Graeme, "is good old cowslip +mead, with a flask of Maraschino di Zara infused in it. For the rest, +the dinner has been almost as imaginaire as the omelet. The greater part +of the recipes are in an old English volume in my library, or perhaps +some owe their origin to the fertile invention of my housekeeper. Let +us style them a la Dorothee." + +"Capital! I thank you, Graeme!" said his Grace of Gatten, as he shook +his host by the hand, till the tears stood in his eyes. + +The prescient Chambery had made a good dinner, and bore the joke +philosophically. Coffee awaited the gentlemen in a small octagonal +chamber, adjoining the music room. There stood Mr. Graeme's three +favourite modern statues:--a Venus, by Canova--a Discobole, by +Thorwaldson--and a late acquisition--the Ariadne, of Dannecker. + +"This is the work of an artist," said Mr. Graeme, "little known in +this country, but in Germany ranking quite as high as Thorwaldson. +This is almost a duplicate of his Ariadne at Frankfort, but the +marble is much more pure. How wonderfully fine the execution! Pray +notice the bold profile of the face; how energetic her action as she +sits on the panther!" + +Mr. Graeme touched the spring of a window frame. A curtain of crimson +gauze fell over a globe lamp, and threw a rich shade on the marble. +The features remained as finely chiselled, but their expression was +totally changed. + +They adjourned to the music-room, which deserved its title. Save some +seats, which were artfully formed to resemble lyres, nothing broke the +continuity of music's tones, which ascended majestically to the lofty +dome, there to blend and wreath, and fall again. At one extremity of +music's hall was an organ; at the other a grand piano, built by a German +composer. Ranged on carved slabs, at intermediate distances, was placed +almost every instrument that may claim a votary. Of viols, from the violin +to the double bass,--of instruments of brass, from trombones and bass +kettledrums even unto trumpet and cymbal,--of instruments of wood, from +winding serpents to octave flute,--and of fiddles of parchment, from the +grosse caisse to the tambourine. Nor were ancient instruments wanting. +These were of quaint forms and diverse constructions. Mr. Graeme would +descant for hours on an antique species of spinnet, which he procured from +the East, and which he vehemently averred, was the veritable dulcimer. He +would display with great gusto, his specimens of harps of Israel; whose +deep-toned chorus, had perchance thrilled through the breast of more than +one of Judea's dark-haired daughters. Greece, too, had her +representatives, to remind the spectators that there had been an Orpheus. +There were flutes of the Doric and of the Phrygian mode, and--let us +forget not--the Tyrrhenian trumpet, with its brazen-cleft pavilion. But by +far the greater part of his musical relics he had acquired during his stay +in Italy. He could show the litui with their carved clarions--the twisted +cornua--the tuba, a trumpet so long and taper,--the concha wound by +Tritons--and eke the buccina, a short and brattling horn. + +Belliston Graeme was an enthusiastic musician; and was in this peculiar, +that he loved the science for its simplicity. Musicians are but too apt +to give to music's detail and music's difficulties the homage that +should be paid to music's self: in this resembling the habitual man of +law, who occasionally forgetteth the great principles of jurisprudence, +and invests with mysterious agency such words as latitat and certiorari. +The soul of music may not have fled;--for we cultivate her +assiduously,--worship Handel--and appreciate Mozart. But music _now_ +springs from the head, not the heart; is not for the mass, but for +individuals. With our increased researches, and cares, and troubles, we +have lost the faculty of being pleased. Past are those careless days, +when the shrill musette, or plain cittern and virginals, could with +their first strain give motion to the blythe foot of joy, or call from +its cell the prompt tear of pity. Those days are gone! Music may affect +some of us as deeply, but none as readily! + +Mr. Graeme had received from Paris an unpublished opera of Auber's. +Emily seated herself at the piano--her host took the violin--Clarendon +was an excellent flute player--and the tinkle of the Viscount's guitar +came in very harmoniously. By the time refreshments were introduced, +Charles Selby too was in his glory. He had already nearly convulsed the +Orientalist by a theory which he said he had formed, of a gradual +metempsychosis, or, at all events, perceptible amalgamation, of the +yellow Qui Hi to the darker Hindoo; which said theory he supported by +the most ingenious arguments. + +"How did you like your stay in Scotland, Mr. Selby?" said Sir +Henry Delme. + +"I am a terrible Cockney, Sir Henry,--found it very cold, and was very +sulky. The only man I cared to see in Scotland was at the Lakes; but I +kept a register of events, which is now on the table in my +dressing-room. If Graeme will read it, for I am but a stammerer, it is +at your service." + +The paper was soon produced, and Mr. Graeme read the following:-- + + +"THE BRAHMIN. + +"A stranger arrived from a far and foreign country. His was a mind +peculiarly humble, tremblingly alive to its own deficiencies. Yet, +endowed with this mistrust, he sighed for information, and his soul +thirsted in the pursuit of knowledge. Thus constituted, he sought the +city he had long dreamingly looked up to as the site of truth--Scotia's +capital, the modern Athens. In endeavouring to explore the mazes of +literature, he by no means expected to discover novel paths, but sought +to traverse beauteous ones; feeling he could rest content, could he meet +with but one flower, which some bolder and more experienced adventurer +might have allowed to escape him. He arrived, and cast around an anxious +eye. He found himself involved in an apparent chaos--the whirl of +distraction--imbedded amidst a ceaseless turmoil of would-be knowing +students, endeavouring to catch the aroma of the pharmacopaeia, or dive +to the deep recesses of Scotch law. He sought and cultivated the +friendship of the literati; and anticipated a perpetual feast of soul, +from a banquet to which one of the most distinguished members of a +learned body had invited him. He went with his mind braced up for the +subtleties of argument--with hopes excited, heart elate. He deemed that +the authenticity of Champolion's hieroglyphics might now be permanently +established, or a doubt thrown on them which would for ever extinguish +curiosity. He heard a doubt raised as to the probability of Dr. Knox's +connection with Burke's murders! Disappointed and annoyed, he returned +to his hotel, determined to seek other means of improvement; and to +carefully observe the manners, customs, and habits of the beings he was +among. He enquired first as to their habits, and was presented with +scones, kippered salmon, and a gallon of Glenlivet; as to their manners +and ancient costume, and was pointed out a short fat man, the head of +his clan, who promenaded the streets without trousers. Neither did he +find the delineation of their customs more satisfactory. He was made +nearly tipsy at a funeral--was shown how to carve haggis--and a fit of +bile was the consequence, of his too plentifully partaking of a +superabundantly rich currant bun. He mused over these defeats of his +object, and, unwilling to relinquish his hitherto fruitless +search,--reluctant to despair,--he bent his steps to that city, where +utility preponderates over ornament; that city which so early encouraged +that most glorious of inventions, by the aid of which he hoped, that the +diminutive barks of his countrymen might yet be propelled, thus +superseding the ponderous paddle of teak, He here expected to be +involved in an intricate labyrinth of mechanical inventions,--in a +stormy discussion on the comparative merits of rival machinery,--to be +immersed in speculative but gigantic theories. He was elected an +honorary member of a news-room; had his coat whitened with cotton; and +was obliged to confess that he knew of no beverage that could equal +their superb cold punch. Our philosopher now gave himself up to despair; +but before returning to his own warm clime, he sought to discover the +reason of his finding the flesh creep, where he had deemed the spirit +would soar. He at length came to the conclusion that we are all slaves +to the world and to circumstances; and as, with his peculiar belief, he +could look on our sacred volume with the eye of a philosopher, felt +impressed with the conviction that the history of Babel's tower is but +an allegory, which says to the pride of man, + + "'Thus far shall ye go, and no farther.'" + +The Brahmin's adventures elicited much amusement. In a short time, +Selby was in a hot argument with the French novelist. Every now and +then, as the Frenchman answered him, he stirred his negus, and hummed a +translation of + + "I'd be a butterfly." + + "Erim papilio, + Natus in flosculo." + + + + +Chapter IV. + +The Postman. + + + + "Not in those visions, to the heart displaying + Forms which it sighs but to have only dream'd, + Hath aught like thee in truth or fancy seem'd; + Or, having seen thee, shall I vainly seek + To paint those charms which, imaged as they beam'd, + To such as see thee not, my words were weak; + To those who gaze on thee, what language could they speak?" + + +Delme had long designed some internal improvements in the mansion; +and as workmen would necessarily be employed, had proposed that our +family party should pass a few weeks at a watering place, until these +were completed. They were not without hopes, that George might there +join them, as Emily had written to Malta, pressing him to be present +at her wedding. + +We have elsewhere said, that Sir Henry had arrived at middle age, +before one feeling incompatible with his ambitious thoughts arose. It +was at Leamington this feeling had imperceptibly sprung up; and to +Leamington they were now going. + +Is there an electric chain binding hearts predestined to love? + +Hath Providence ordained, that on our first interview with that being, +framed to meet our wishes and our desires--the rainbow to our cloud, and +the sun to our noon-day--hath it ordained that there should also be +given us some undefinable token--some unconscious whispering from the +heart's inmost spirit? + +Who may fathom these inscrutable mysteries? + +Sir Henry had been visiting an old schoolfellow, who had a country seat +near Leamington. He was riding homewards, through a sequestered and +wooded part of the park, when he was aware of the presence of two +ladies, evidently a mother and daughter. They sate on one side of the +rude path, on an old prostrate beech tree. The daughter, who was very +beautiful, was sketching a piece of fern for a foreground: the mother +was looking over the drawing. Neither saw the equestrian. + +It was a fair sight to regard the young artist, with her fine profile +and drooping eyelid, bending over the drawing, like a Grecian statue; +then to note the calm features upturn, and forget the statue in the +breathing woman. At intervals, her auburn tresses would fall on the +paper, and sweep the pencil's efforts. At such times, she would remove +them with her small hand, with such a soft smile, and gentle grace, that +the very action seemed to speak volumes for her feminine sympathies. +Delme disturbed them not, but making a tour through the grove of beech +trees, reached Leamington in thoughtful mood. + +It was not long before he met them in society. The mother was a Mrs. +Vernon, a widow, with a large family and small means. Of that family +Julia was the fairest flower. As Sir Henry made her acquaintance, and +her character unfolded itself, he acknowledged that few could study it +without deriving advantage; few without loving her to adoration. That +character it would be hard to describe without our description +appearing high-flown and exaggerated. It bore an impress of loftiness, +totally removed from pride; a moral superiority, which impressed all. +With this was united an innate purity, that seemed her birthright; a +purity that could not for an instant be doubted. If the libertine gazed +on her features, it awoke in him recollections that had long slumbered; +of the time when his heart beat but for one. If, in her immediate +sphere, any littleness of feeling was brought to her notice, it was met +with an intuitive doubt, followed by painful surprise, that such +feeling, foreign as she felt it to be to her own nature, could really +have existence in that of another. + +Thank God! she had seen few of the trickeries of this restless world, in +which most of us are struggling against our neighbours; and, if we could +look forward with certainty, to the nature of the world beyond this, it +is most likely that we should breathe a fervent prayer that she should +never witness more. + +Her person was a fit receptacle for such a mind. A face all softness, +seemed and _was_ the index to a heart all pity. Taller than her +compeers,--in all she said or did, a native dignity and a witching +grace were exquisitely blended. She was one not easily seen without +admiration; but when known, clung Cydippe-like to the heart's mirror, an +image over which neither time nor absence possessed controul. + +The Delmes resided at Leamington the remainder of the winter, which +passed fleetly and happily. Emily, for the first time, gave way to that +one feeling, which, to a woman, is the all-important and engrossing one, +enjoying her happiness in that full spirit of content, which basking in +present joys, attempts not to mar them by ideal disquietudes. The Delmes +cultivated the society of the Vernons; Emily and Julia became great +friends; and Sir Henry, with all his stoicism, was nourishing an +attachment, whose force, had he been aware of it, he would have been at +some pains to repress. As it was, he totally overlooked the possibility +of his trifling with the feelings of another. He had a number of sage +aphorisms to urge against his own entanglement, and, with a moral +perverseness, from which the best of us are not free, chose to forget +that it was possible his convincing arguments, might neither be known +to, nor appreciated by one, on whom their effect might be far from +unimportant. + +At this stage, Clarendon thought it his duty to warn Delme; and, to his +credit be it said, shrunk not from it. + +"Excuse me, Delme," said he, "will you allow me to say one word to you +on a subject that nearly concerns yourself?" + +Sir Henry briefly assented. + +"You see a great deal of Miss Vernon. She is a very fascinating and a +very amiable person; but from something you once said to me, it has +struck me that in some respects she might not suit you." + +"I like her society," replied his friend; "but you are right. She would +_not_ suit me. _You_ know me pretty well. My hope has ever been to +increase, and not diminish the importance of my house. It once stood +higher both in wealth and consideration. I see many families springing +up around me, that can hardly lay claim to a descent so unblemished I +speak not in a spirit of intolerance, nor found my family claim solely +on its pedigree; but my ancestors have done good in their generation, +and it is a proud thing to be 'the scion of a noble race!'" + +"It may be;" said Clarendon quietly, "but I cannot help thinking, that +with your affluence, you have every right to follow your own +inclination. I know that few of my acquaintances are so independent of +the world." + +Sir Henry shook his head. + +"The day is not very distant, Gage, when a Dacre would hardly have +returned two members for my county, if a Delme had willed it otherwise. +But there is little occasion for me to have said thus much. Miss Vernon, +I trust, has other plans; and I believe my own feelings are not enlisted +deep enough, to make me forget the hopes and purposes of half a +life-time." + +It was some few days after this, when Emily had almost given up looking +with interest to the postman's visit, that a letter at last came, +directed to Sir Henry; not indeed in George's hand-writing, but with +the Malta post mark. Delme read it over thoughtfully, and, assuring +Emily that there was nothing to alarm her, left the room to consider +its contents. + +By the way, we have thought over heartless professions, and cannot help +conceiving that of a postman, (it may be conceit!) the most callous and +unfeeling of all. He is waited for with more anxiety than any guest of +the morning; for his visits invariably convey something new to the mind. +He is not love! but he bears it in his pocket; he cannot be friendship! +but he daily hawks about its assurances. With all this, knowing his +importance, aware of the sensation his appearance calls forth, his very +knock is heartless--the tones of his voice cold. Feeling seems denied +him; his head is a debtor and creditor account, his departure the +receipt, and time alone can say, whether your bargain has been a good or +a bad one. He has certainly no assumption--it is one of his few good +traits; he walks with his arms in motion, but attempts not a swagger; +his knock is unassuming, and his words, though much attended to, are +few, and to the point. Why, then, abuse him? We know not, but believe it +originates in fear. An intuitive feeling of dread--a rushing +presentiment of evil--crosses our mind, as our eye dwells on his +thread-bare coat, with its capacious pockets. News of a death--or a +marriage--the tender valentine--the remorseless dun--your having been +left an estate, or cut off with a shilling--fortune, and misfortune--- +he quietly dispenses, as if totally unconscious. Surely such a man--his +round performed--cannot quietly sink to the private individual. Can such +a man caress his wife, or kiss his child, when he knows not how many +hearts are bursting with joy, or breaking with sorrow, from the tidings +_he_ has conveyed? To our mind, a postman should be an abstracted +visionary being, endowed with a peculiar countenance, betraying the +unnatural sparkle of the opium-eater, and evincing intense anxiety at +the delivery of each sheet. But these,--they wait not to hear the joyful +shout, or heart-rending moan--to know if hope deferred be at length +joyful certainty, or bitter only half-expected woe. We dread a postman. +Our hand shook, as we last year paid the man of many destinies his +demanded Christmas box. + +The amount was double that we gave to the minister of our corporeal +necessities--the butcher's boy--not from a conviction of the superior +services or merit of the former, but from an uneasy desire to bribe, if +we could, that Mercury of fate. + +The letter to Sir Henry, was from the surgeon of George's regiment. It +stated that George had been severely ill, and that connected with his +illness, were symptoms which made it imperative on the medical adviser, +to recommend the immediate presence of his nearest male relative. +Apologies were made for the apparent mystery of the communication, with +a promise that this would be at once cleared up, if Sir Henry would but +consent to make the voyage; which would not only enable him to be of +essential service to his brother, but also to acquire much information +regarding him, which could only be obtained on the spot. A note from +George was enclosed in this letter. It was written with an unsteady +hand, and made no mention of his illness. He earnestly begged his +brother to come to Malta, if he could possibly so arrange it, and +transmitted his kindest love and blessing to Emily. + +Sir Henry at once made up his mind, to leave Leamington for town on the +morrow, trusting that he might there meet with information which would +be more satisfactory. He concealed for the time the true state of the +case from all but Clarendon; nor did he even allude to his proposed +departure. + +It was Emily's birth-day, and Gage had arranged that the whole party +should attend a little fete on that night. Sir Henry could not find it +in his heart to disturb his sister's dream of happiness. + + + + +Chapter V + +The Fete. + + + + "Ye stars! which are the poetry of heaven! + If, in your bright leaves, we would read the fate + Of men and empires,--'tis to be forgiven, + That, in our aspirations to be great, + Our destinies o'erleap their mortal state, + And claim a kindred with you." + + +The night came on with its crescent moon and its myriads of stars: just +such a night as might have been wished for such a fete. It was in the +month of April. April dews, in Britain's variable clime; are not the +most salubrious, and April's night air is too often keen and piercing; +but the season was an unusually mild one; and the ladies, with their +cloaks and their furs, promenaded the well-lighted walks, determined to +be pleased and happy. + +The giver of the fete was an enterprising Italian. Winter's +amusements were over, or neglected--summer's delights were not +arrived; and Signor Pacini conceived, that during the dull and +monotonous interval, a speculation of his own might prove welcome to +the public and beneficial to himself. To do the little man justice, he +was indefatigable in his exertions. From door to door he wended his +smiling way,--here praising the mother's French, there the daughter's +Italian. He gained hosts of partisans. "Of course you patronise +Pacini!" was in every one's mouth. The Signor's prospectus stated, +that "through the kindness of the steward of an influential nobleman, +who was now on the continent, he was enabled to give his fete in the +grounds of the Earl of W----; where a full quadrille band would be in +attendance, a pavilion pitched on the smooth lawn facing the river, +and a comfortable ball room thrown open to a fashionable and +enlightened public. The performance would be most various, novel, and +exciting. Brilliant fireworks from Vauxhall would delight the eye, and +shed a charm on the fairy scene; whilst the car would be regaled with +the unequalled harmony of the Styrian brethren, Messrs. Schezer, +Lobau, and Berdan, who had very kindly deferred their proposed return +to Styria, in order to honour the fete of Signor Pacini." + +As night drew on, the mimic thunder of carriages hastening to the scene +of action, bespoke the Signor's success. After the ninth hour, his +numbers swelled rapidly. Pacini assumed an amusing importance, and his +very myrmidons gave out their brass tickets with an air. At ten, a +rocket was fired. At this preconcerted signal, the pavilion, hitherto +purposely concealed, blazed in a flood of light. On its balcony stood +the three Styrian brethren,--although, by the way, they were not +brethren at all,--and, striking their harmonious guitars, wooed +attention to their strains. The crowd hurried down the walk, and formed +round the pavilion. Our party suddenly found themselves near the +Vernons. As the gentlemen endeavoured to obtain chairs for the ladies, a +crush took place, and Sir Henry was obliged to offer his arm to Julia, +who happened to be the nearest of her party. It was with pain Miss +Vernon noted his clouded brow, and look of abstraction; but hardly one +word of recognition had passed, before the deep voices of the Styrians +silenced all. After singing some effective songs, accompanied by a +zither, and performing a melodious symphony on a variety of Jew's-harps; +Pacini, the manager, advanced to address his auditors, with that air of +smiling confidence which no one can assume with better grace than a +clever Italian. His dark eye flashed, and his whole features irradiated, +as he delivered the following harangue. + +"Ladies and gentlemen! me trust you well satisfied wid de former +musical entertainment; but, if you permit, me mention one leetle +circonstance. Monsieur Schezer propose to give de song; but it require +much vat you call stage management: all must be silent as de grave. It +ver pretty morceau." + +The applause at the end of this speech was very great. Signor Pacini +bowed, till his face rivalled, in its hue, the rosy under-waistcoat in +which he rejoiced. + +Schezer stepped forward. He was attired as a mountaineer. His hat +tapered to the top, and was crowned by a single heron feather. Hussars +might have envied him his moustaches. From his right side protruded a +couteau de chasse; and his legs were not a little set off by the +tight-laced boots, which, coming up some way beyond the ancle, displayed +his calf to the very best advantage. + +The singer's voice was a fine manly tenor, and did ample justice to the +words, of which the following may be taken as a free version. + +"Mountains! dear mountains! on you have I passed my green youth; to me +your breeze has been fragrant from childhood. When may I see the chamois +bounding o'er your toppling crags? When, oh when, may I see my +fair-haired Mary?" + +The minstrel paused--a sound was heard from behind the pavilion. It was +the mountain's echo. It continued the air--then died away in the +softest harmony. All were charmed. Again the singer stepped +forward--the utmost silence prevailed--his tones became more +impassioned--they breathed of love. + +"Thanks! thanks to thee, gentle echo! Oft hast thou responded to the +strains of love my soul poured to--ah me! how beautiful was the +fair-haired Mary!" + +Again the echo spoke--again all were hushed. The minstrel's voice rose +again; but its tones were not akin to joy. + +"Why remember this, deceitful echo? War's blast hath blown, and hushed +are the notes of love. The foe hath polluted my hearth--I wander an +exile. Where, where is Mary?" + +The echo faintly but plaintively replied. There were some imagined that +a tear really started to the eye of the singer. He struck the guitar +wildly--his voice became more agitated--he advanced to the extremity of +the balcony. + +"My sword! my sword! May my right hand be withered ere it forget to +grasp its hilt! One blow for freedom. Freedom--sweet as was the +lip--Yes! I'll revenge my Mary!" + +Schezer paused, apparently overcome by his emotion. The echo wildly +replied, as if registering the patriot's vow. For a moment all was +still! A thundering burst of applause ensued. + +The mountain music was succeeded by a sweep of guitars, accompanying a +Venetian serenade, whose burthen was the apostrophising the cruelty of +"la cara Nina." + +It was near midnight, when all eyes were directed to a ball of fire, +which, rising majestically upward, soared amid the tall elm trees. For a +moment, the balloon became entangled in the boughs, revealing by its +transparent light the green buds of spring, which variegated and cheered +the scathed bark. It broke loose from their embrace--hovered +irresolutely above them--then swept rapidly before the wind, rising till +it became as a speck in the firmament. + +This was the signal for Mr. Robinson's fireworks, which did not shame +Vauxhall's reputation. At one moment, a salamander courted notice; at +another, a train of fiery honours, festooned round four wooden pillars, +was fired at different places, by as many doves practised to the task. +Here, an imitation of a jet d'eau elicited applause--there, the +gyrations of a Catherine's wheel were suddenly interrupted by the rapid +ascent of a Roman candle. + +Directly after the ascent of the balloon, Emily and Clarendon had +turned towards the ball room. Julia's sisters had a group of laughing +beaux round their chairs,--Mrs. Glenallan and Mrs. Vernon were +discussing bygone days,--and no one seemed disposed to leave the +pavilion. Sir Henry, in his silent mood, was glad to escape from the +party; and engaging Julia in a search for Emily, made his way to the +crowded ball room. He there found his sister spinning round with +Clarendon to one of Strauss's waltzes; and Sir Henry and his partner +seated themselves on one of the benches, watching the smiling faces as +they whirled past them. It was a melancholy thought to Delme, how soon +Emily's brow would be clouded, were he to breathe one word of George's +illness and despondency. The waltz concluded, a quadrille was quickly +formed. Miss Vernon declined dancing, and they rose to join Emily and +Clarendon; but the lovers were flown. The ball room became still more +thronged; and Delme was glad to turn once more towards the pavilion. The +party they had left there had also vanished, and strangers usurped their +seats. In this dilemma, Miss Vernon proposed seeking their party in the +long walk. They took one or two turns down this, but saw not those for +whom they were in search. + +"If you do not dislike leaving this busy scene," said Sir Henry, "I +think we shall have a better chance of meeting Emily and Clarendon, if +we turn down one of these winding paths." + +They turned to their left, and walked on. How beautiful was that night! +Its calm tranquillity, as they receded from the giddy throng, could not +but subdue them. We have said that the moon was not riding the heavens +in her full robe of majesty, nor was there a sombre darkness. The purple +vault was spangled thick with stars; and there reigned that dubious, +glimmering light, by which you can note a face, but not mark its blush. +The walks wound fantastically. They were lit by festoons of coloured +lamps, attached to the neighbouring trees, so as to resemble the pendent +grape-clusters, that the traveller meets with just previous to the +Bolognese vintage. Occasionally, a path would be encountered where no +light met the eye save that of the prying stars overhead. In the +distant vista, might be seen a part of the crowded promenade, where +music held its court; whilst at intervals, a voice's swell or guitar's +tinkle would be borne on the ear. There was the hum of men, too--the +laugh of the idlers without the sanctum, as they indulged in the +delights of the mischievous fire-ball--and the sudden whizz, followed by +an upward glare of light, as a rocket shot into the air. But the hour, +and the nameless feeling that hour invoked, brought with them a subduing +influence, which overpowered these intruding sounds, attuning the heart +to love and praise. They paced the walk in mutual and embarrassed +silence. Sir Henry's thoughts would at one time revert to his brother, +and at another to that parting, which the morrow would assuredly bring +with it. He was lost in reverie, and almost forgot who it was that leant +thus heavily upon his arm. Julia had loved but once. She saw his +abstraction, and knew not the cause; and her timid heart beat quicker +than was its wont, as undefined images of coming evil and sorrow, chased +each other through her excited fancy. At length she essayed to speak, +although conscious that her voice faltered. + +"What a lovely night! Are you a believer in the language of the stars?" + +This was said with such simplicity of manner, that Delme, as he turned +to answer her, felt truly for the first time the full force of his +attachment. He felt it the more strongly, that his mind previously had +been wandering more than it had done for years. + +There are times and seasons when we are engrossed in a train of deep and +unconscious thought. Suddenly recalled to ourselves, we start from our +mental aberration, and a clearer insight into the immediate purposes and +machinery of our lives, is afforded us. We seem endowed with a more +accurate knowledge of self; the inmost workings of our souls are +abruptly revealed--feeling's mysteries stand developed--our weaknesses +stare us in the face--and our vices appear to gnaw the very vitals of +our hope. The veil was indeed withdrawn,--and Delme's heart +acknowledged, that the fair being who leant on him for support, was +dearer--far dearer, than all beside. But he saw too, ambition in that +heart's deep recess, and knew that its dictates, unopposed for years, +were totally incompatible with such a love. He saw and trembled. + +Julia's question was repeated, before Sir Henry could reply. + +"A soldier, Miss Vernon, is particularly susceptible of visionary ideas. +On the lone bivouac, or remote piquet, duty must frequently chase sleep +from his eyelids. At such times, I have, I confess, indulged in wild +speculations, on their possible influence on our wayward destinies. I +was then a youth, and should not now, I much fear me, pursue with such +unchecked ardour, the dreams of romance in which I could then +unrestrainedly revel. Perhaps I should not think it wise to do so, even +had not sober reality stolen from imagination her brightest pinion." + +"I would fain hope, Sir Henry," replied Julia, "that all your mind's +elasticity is not thus flown. Why blame such fanciful theories? I cannot +think them wrong, and I have often passed happy hours in forming them." + +"Simply because they remove us too much from our natural sphere of +usefulness. They may impart us pleasure; but I question whether, by +dulling our mundane delights, they do not steal pleasure quite +equivalent. Besides, they cannot assist us in conferring happiness on +others, or in gleaning improvement for ourselves. I am not quite +certain, enviable as appears the distinction, whether the _too_ +feelingly appreciating even nature's beauties, does not bear with it its +own retribution." + +"Ah! do not say so! I cannot think that it _should_ be so with minds +properly regulated. I cannot think that _such_ can ever gaze on the +wonders revealed us, without these imparting their lesson of gratitude +and adoration. If, full of hope, our eye turns to some glorious planet, +and we fondly deem that _there_, may our dreams of happiness _here,_ be +perpetuated; surely in such poetical fancy, there is little to condemn, +and much that may wean us from folly's idle cravings. + +"If in melancholy's hour, we mourn for one who hath been dear, and sorrow +for the perishable nature of all that may here claim our earthly +affections; is it not sweet to think that in another world--perhaps in +some bright star--we may again commune with what we have _so_ +loved--once more be united in those kindly bonds--and in a kingdom where +those bonds may not thus lightly be severed?" + +Julia's voice failed her; for she thought of one who had preceded her to +"the last sad bourne." + +Delme was much affected. He turned towards her, and his hand +touched hers. + +"Angelic being!" + +As he spoke, darker, more worldly thoughts arose. A fearful struggle, +which convulsed his features, ensued. The world triumphed. + +Julia Vernon saw much of this, and maiden delicacy told her it was not +meet they should be alone. + +"Let us join the crowd!" said she. "We shall probably meet our party in +the long walk: if not, we will try the ball room." + +Poor Julia! little was her heart in unison with that joyous scene! + +By the eve of the morrow, Delme was many leagues from her and his +family. + +Restless man, with travel, ambition, and excitement, can woo and almost +win oblivion;--but poor, weak, confiding woman--what is left to her? + +In secret to mourn, and in secret still to love. + + + + +Chapter III. + +The Journey. + + + + "Adieu! adieu! My native land + Fades o'er the ocean blue; + The night winds sigh--the breakers roar-- + And shrieks the wild sea mew. + Yon sun that sets upon the sea, + We follow in his flight: + Farewell awhile to him and thee! + My native land! good night!" + + +We have rapidly sketched the denouement of the preceding chapter; but it +must not be forgotten, that Delme had been residing some months at +Leamington, and that Emily and Julia were friends. In his own familiar +circle--a severe but true test--Sir Henry had every opportunity of +becoming acquainted with Miss Vernon's sweetness of disposition, and of +appreciating the many excellencies of her character. For the rest, +their intercourse had been of that nature, that it need excite no +surprise, that a walk on a gala night, had the power of extracting an +avowal, which, crude, undigested, and hastily withdrawn as it was, was +certainly more the effusion of the heart--more consonant with Sir +Henry's original nature--than the sage reasonings on his part, which +preceded and followed that event. + +On Delme's arrival in town, he prosecuted with energy his enquiries as +to his brother. He called on the regimental agents, who could give him +no information. George's military friends had lost sight of him since he +had sailed for the Mediterranean; and of the few persons, whom he could +hear of, who had lately left Malta; some were passing travellers, who +had made no acquaintances there, others, English merchants, who had met +George at the Opera and in the streets, but nowhere else. It is true, +there was an exception to this, in the case of a hair-brained young +midshipman; who stated that he had dined at George's regimental mess, +and had there heard that George "had fallen in love with some young +lady, and had fought with her brother or uncle, or a soldier-officer, he +did not know which." + +Meagre as all this information was, it decided Sir Henry Delme. + +He wrote a long letter to Emily, in which he expressed a hope that both +George and himself would soon be with her, and immediately prepared for +his departure. + +Ere we follow him on his lonely journey, let us turn to those he left +behind. Mrs. Glenallan and Emily decided on at once leaving Leamington +for their own home. The marriage of the latter was deferred; and as +Clarendon confessed that his period of probation was a very happy one, +he acquiesced cheerfully in the arrangement. Emily called on the +Vernons, and finding that Julia was not at home, wrote her a kind +farewell; secretly hoping that at some future period they might be more +nearly related. The sun was sinking, as the travellers neared Delme. The +old mansion looked as calm as ever. The blue smoke curled above its +sombre roof; and the rooks sailed over the chimneys, flapping their +wings, and cawing rejoicefully, as they caught the first glimpse of +their lofty homes. Emily let down the carriage window, and with sunshiny +tear, looked out on the home of her ancestors. + +There let us leave her; and turn to bid adieu for a season, to one, who +for many a weary day, was doomed to undergo the pangs of blighted +affection. Such pangs are but too poignant and enduring, let the +worldly man say what he may. Could we but read the history of the +snarling cynic, blind to this world's good--of him, who from being the +deceived, has become the deceiver--of the rash sensualist, who plunging +into vice, thinks he can forget;--could we but know the train of +events, that have brought the stamping madman to his bars--and his +cell--and his realms of phantasy;--or search the breast of her, who +lets concealment "feed on her damask cheek"--who prays blessings on +him, who hath wasted her youthful charms--then mounts with virgin soul +to heaven:--we, in our turn, might sneer at the worldling, and pin our +fate on the tale of the peasant girl, who discourses so glibly of +crossed love and broken hearts. + +Sir Henry Delme left England with very unenviable sensations. A cloud +seemed to hang over the fate of his brother, which no speculations of +his could pierce. Numberless were the conjectures he formed, as to the +real causes of George's sickness and mental depression. It was in vain +he re-read the letters, and varied his comments on their contents. It +was evident, that nothing but his actual presence in Malta, could +unravel the mystery. Sir Henry had _one_ consolation; how great, let +those judge who have had aught dear placed in circumstances at all +similar. He had a confidence in George's character, which entirely +relieved him from any fear that the slightest taint could have infected +it. But an act of imprudence might have destroyed his peace of +mind--sickness have wasted his body. Nor was his uncertainty regarding +George, Delme's only cause of disquiet. When he thought of Julia +Vernon, there was a consequent internal emotion, that he could not +subdue. He endeavoured to forget her--her image haunted him. He +meditated on his past conduct; and at times it occurred to him, that +the resolutions he had formed, were not the result of reason, but were +based on pride and prejudice. He thought of her as he had last seen +her. _Now_ she spoke with enthusiasm of the bright stars of heaven; +anon, her eye glistened with piety, as she showed how the feeling these +created, was but subservient to a nobler one still. Again, he was +beside her in the moment of maiden agony; when low accents faltered +from her quivering lip, and the hand that rested on his arm, trembled +from her heart's emotion. + +Such were the bitter fancies that assailed him, as he left his own, and +reached a foreign land. They cast a shadow on his brow, which change of +scene possessed no charm to dispel. He hurried on to France's capital, +and only delaying till he could get his passports signed, hastened from +Paris to Marseilles. + +On his arrival at the latter place, his first enquiries were, as to the +earliest period that a vessel would sail for Malta. He was pointed out a +small yacht in the harbour, which belonging to the British government, +had lately brought over a staff officer with despatches. + +A courier from England had that morning arrived--the vessel was about to +return--her canvas was already loosened--the blue Peter streaming in the +wind. Delme hesitated not an instant, but threw himself into a boat, and +was rowed alongside. The yacht's commander was a lieutenant in our +service, although a Maltese by birth. He at once entered into Sir +Henry's views, and felt delighted at the prospect of a companion in his +voyage. A short time elapsed--the anchor was up--the white sails began +to fill--Sir Henry was once more on the wide sea. + +What a feeling of loneliness, almost of despair, infects the landsman's +mind, as he recedes from an unfamiliar port--sees crowds watching +listlessly his vessel's departure--crowds, of whom not one feels an +interest in _his_ fate; and then, turning to the little world within, +beholds but faces he knows not, persons he wots not of! + +But to one whose home is the ocean, such are not the emotions which +its expanse of broad waters calls forth. To such an one, each plank +seems a friend; the vessel, a refuge from the world and its cares. +Trusting himself to its guidance, deceit wounds him no more-- +hollow-hearted friendship proffers not its hand to sting--love +exercises not its fatal sorcery--foes are afar--and his heart, if not +the waves, is comparatively at peace. And oh! the wonders of the deep! +Ocean! tame is the soul that loves not thee! grovelling the mind that +scorns the joys thou impartest! To lean our head on the vessel's side, +and in idleness of spirit ponder on bygone scene, that has brought us +anything but happiness,--to gaze on the curling waves, as impelled by +the boisterous wind, we ride o'er the angry waters, lashed by the sable +keel to a yeasty madness,--to look afar upon the disturbed billow, +presenting its crested head like the curved neck of the war +horse,--_then_ to mark the screaming sea bird, as, his bright eye +scanning the waters, he soars above the stormy main--its wide tumult +his delight--the roaring of the winds his melody--the shrieks of the +drowned an harmonious symphony to the hoarse diapason of the deep! All +these things may awake reflections, which are alike futile and +transitory; but they are accompanied by a mental excitement, which land +scenes, however glorious, always fail to impart. + +Delme's voyage was not unpropitious, although the yacht was frequently +baffled by contrary winds, which prevented the passage being very +speedy. During the day, the weather was ordinarily blustering, at times +stormy; but with the setting sun, it seemed that tranquillity came; for +during the nights, which were uncommonly fine, gentle breezes continued +to fill the sails, and their vessel made tardy but sure progress. Henry +would sit on deck till a late hour, lost in reverie. _There_ would he +remain, until each idle mariner was sunk to rest; and nothing but the +distant tread of the wakeful watch, or the short cough of the helmsman, +bespoke a sentinel over the habitation on the waters. How would the +recollections of his life crowd upon him!--the loss of his parent--the +world's first opening--bitter partings--painful misgivings--the lone +bivouac--the marshalling of squadrons--the fierce charge--the +excitement of victory, whose charm was all but flown, for where were the +comrades who had fought beside him? These things were recalled, and +brought with them alternate pain and pleasure. And a less remote era of +his life would be presented him; when he tasted the welcome of home--saw +hands uplifted in gratitude--was cheered by a brother's greeting, and +subdued by a sister's kiss. But there _was_ a thought, which let him +dwell as he might on others, remained the uppermost of all. It was of +Julia Vernon, and met him as a reproach. If his feelings were not of +that enthusiastic nature, which they might have been were he now in his +green youth, they were not on this account the less intense. They were +coloured by the energy of manhood. He had lost a portion of his +self-respect: for he knew that his conduct had been vacillating with +regard to one, whom each traversed league, each fleeting hour, proved to +be yet dearer than he had deemed her. + +In the first few days of their passage, the winds shaped their vessel's +course towards the Genoese gulf. They then took a direction nearly +south, steering between Corsica and Sardinia on the one hand--Italy on +the other. + +Delme had an opportunity of noting the outward aspect of Napoleon's +birth-place; and still more nearly, that of its opposite island, which +also forms so memorable a link in the history of that demi-god of modern +times. How could weaker spirits deem that _there_, invested with +monarchy's semblance, the ruler of the petty isle could forget that he +had been master of the world? + +How think that diplomacy's cobweb fibre could hold the eagle, panting +for an upward flight? + +They fearfully misjudged! What a transcendent light did his star give, +as it shot through the appalled heavens, ere it sunk for ever in +endless night! + +The commander of the yacht pointed out the rock, which is traditionally +said to be the one, on which Napoleon has been represented--his arms +folded--watching intently the ocean--and ambition's votary gleaning his +moral from the stormy waves below. As they advanced farther in their +course, other associations were not wanting; and Delme, whose mind, +like that of most Englishmen, was deeply tinctured with classic lore, +was not insensible to their charms. They swept by the Latian coast. +Every creek and promontory, attested the fidelity of the poet's +description, by vividly recalling it to the mind. On the seventh day, +they doubled Cape Maritime, on the western coast of Sicily; and two +days afterwards, the vessel neared what has been styled the abode of +Calypso, the island of Gozzo. As they continued to advance, picturesque +trading boats, with awnings and numerous rowers, became more +frequent--the low land appeared--they were signalled from the +palace--the point of St. Elmo was turned--and a wide forest of masts +met the gaze. The vessel took up her moorings; and in the novelty of +the scene, and surrounding bustle, Sir Henry for a time rested from +misgivings, and forgot his real causes for melancholy. The harbour of +Malta is not easily forgotten. The sun was just sinking, tinging with +hues of amber, the usually purple waters of the harbour, and bronzing +with its fiery orb, the batteries and lofty Baraca, where lie entombed +the remains of Sir Thomas Maitland. Between the Baraca's pillars, +might be discerned many a faldette, with pretty face beneath, peering +over to mark the little yacht, as she took her station, amidst the more +gigantic line of battle ships. + +The native boatmen, in their gilded barks with high prows, were seen +surrounding the vessel; and as they exerted themselves in passing each +other, their dress and action had the most picturesque appearance. Their +language, a corrupted Arabic, is not unpleasing to the ear; and their +costume is remarkably graceful. A red turban hangs droopingly on one +side, and their waistcoats are loaded with large silver buttons, the +only remains of their uncommon wealth during the war, when this little +island was endowed with a fictitious importance, it can never hope to +resume. Just as the yacht cast anchor, a gun from the saluting battery +was fired. It was the signal for sunset, and every flag was lowered. +Down came in most seaman-like style the proud flag of merry England--the +_then_ spotless banner of France--and the great cross, hanging +ungracefully, over the stout, but clumsy, Russian man of war. All these +flags were then in the harbour of Valletta, although it was not at that +eventful time when--the Moslem humbled--they met with the cordiality of +colleagues in victory. + +The harbour was full of vessels. Every nation had its representative. +The intermediate spaces were studded by Maltese boats, crowded with +passengers indiscriminately mingled. The careless English soldier, with +scarlet coat and pipe-clayed belt--priests and friars--Maltese women in +national costume sat side by side. Occasionally, a gig, pulled by man of +war's men, might be seen making towards the town, with one or more +officers astern, whose glittering epaulettes announced them as either +diners out, or amateurs of the opera. The scene to Delme was entirely +novel; although it had previously been his lot to scan more than one +foreign country. + +The arrival of the health officers was the first circumstance that +diverted his mind from the surrounding scene. There had been an epidemic +disease at Marseilles, and there appeared to be some doubts, whether, as +a precaution, some quarantine would not be imposed. The superintendent +of quarantine was rowed alongside, chiefly for the purpose of regulating +this. The spirited little commander of the yacht, however, was not at +all desirous of any such arrangement; and after some energetic appeals +on his part, met by cautious remonstrances on the part of the other, +their pratique was duly accorded. + +During the discussion with the superintendent, Sir Henry had enquired +from the health officer, as to where he should find George, and was +informed that his regiment was quartered at Floriana, one of Valletta's +suburbs. In a short time a boat from the yacht was lowered, and the +commander prepared to accompany the government courier with his +dispatches to the palace. + +Previous to leaving the deck, he hailed a boat alongside--addressed the +boatmen in their native language--and consigned Sir Henry to their +charge. Twilight was deepening into night as Delme left the vessel. The +harbour had lost much of its bustle; lights were already gleaming from +the town, and as seen in some of the loftiest houses, looked as if +suspended in the air above. Our traveller folded his cloak around him, +and was rowed swiftly towards the shore. + + + + +Chapter VII. + +The Young Greek. + + + + "But not in silence pass Calypso's isles, + The sister tenants of the middle deep." + + * * * * * + + "Her reign is past, her gentle glories gone, + But trust not this; too easy youth, beware! + A mortal sovereign holds her dangerous throne. + And thou mayst find a new Calypso there." + + +Night had set in before Sir Henry reached the shore. The boatmen, in +broken, but intelligible English, took the trouble of explaining, that +they must row him to a point higher up the harbour, than the landing +place towards which the commander's gig was directing its course, on +account of his brother's regiment being quartered at Floriana. Landing +on the quay, they took charge of Delme's portmanteau, and conducted him +through an ascending road, which seemed to form a part of the +fortifications, till they arrived in front of a closed gate. They were +challenged by the sentinel, and obliged to explain their business to a +non-commissioned officer, before they were admitted. + +This form having been gone through, a narrow wicket was opened for their +passage. They crossed a species of common, and, after a few minutes' +walk, found themselves in front of the barrack. This was a plain stone +building, enclosing a small court, in the centre of which stood a marble +bason. The taste of some of the officers had peopled this with golden +fish; whilst on the bason's brim were placed stands for exotics, whose +fragrance charmed our sea-worn traveller, so lately emancipated from +those sad drawbacks to a voyage, the odours of tar and bilge water. + +On either side, were staircases leading to the rooms above. A sentry was +slowly pacing the court, and gave Delme the necessary directions for +finding George's room. Delme's hand was on the latch, but he paused for +a moment ere he pressed it, for he pictured to himself his brother lying +on the bed of sickness. This temporary irresolution soon gave way to the +impulse of affection, and he hastily entered the chamber. George was +reading, and had his back turned towards him. As he heard the footsteps, +he half turned round; an enquiry was on his lip, when his eye caught +Henry's figure--a hectic flush suffused his cheek--he rose eagerly, and +threw himself into his brother's arms. + +Ah! sweet is fraternal affection! As boys, we own its just, its +proper influence; but as men--how few of us can lay our hands on our +hearts, and in the time of manhood feel, that the thought of a +brother, still calls up the kindly glow which it did in earlier +years. Delme strained his brother to his heart, whilst poor George's +tears flowed like a woman's. + +"Ah, how," he exclaimed, "can I ever repay you for this?" + +The first burst of joyful meeting over--Sir Henry scanned his brother's +features, and was shocked at the apparent havoc a few short years had +wrought. It was not that the cheek--whose carnation tint had once drawn +a comment from all who saw it--it was not that the cheek was bronzed by +an eastern sun. The alabaster forehead, showed that this was the natural +result, of exposure to climate. But the wan, the sunken features--the +unnatural brilliancy of the eye--the almost impetuous agitation of +manner--all these bespoke that more than even sickness had produced the +change:--that the mind, as well as body, must have had its sufferings. + +"My dear, dear brother," said Henry, "tell me, I implore you, the +meaning of this. You look ill and distressed, and yet from you I did not +hear of sickness, nor do I know any reason for grief." George smiled +evasively; then, as if recollecting himself, struck his forehead. He +pressed his brother's arm, and led him towards a room adjoining the one +in which they were. + +"It were in vain to tell you now, Henry, the eventful history of the +last few months; but see!" said he, as they together entered, "the +innocent cause of much that I have gone through." + +Sir Henry Delme started at the sight that greeted him. The room was +dimly lighted by a lamp, but the moon was up, and shed her full light +through part of the chamber. On a small French bed, whose silken linings +threw their rosy hue on the face of its fair occupant, lay as lovely a +girl as ever eye reposed on. + +The heat had already commenced to become oppressive; the jalousies and +windows were thrown open. As the night breeze swept over the curtains, +and the tint these gave, trembled on that youthful beauty; Delme might +well be forgiven, for deeming it was very long since he had seen a +countenance so exquisitely lovely. The face did indeed bear the stamp of +youth. Delme would have guessed that the being before him, had barely +attained her fifteenth year, but that her bosom heaved like playful +billows, as she breathed her sighs in a profound slumber. Her style of +beauty for a girl was most rare. It had an almost infantine simplicity +of character, which in sleep was still more remarkable; for awake, those +eyes, now so still, did not throw unmeaning glances. + +Such as these must Guarini have apostrophised, as he looked at his +slumbering love. + + "Occhi! stelle mortale! + Ministri de miei mali! + Se chiusi m'uccidete, + Aperti,--che farete?" + +Or, as Clarendon Gage translated it. + + "Ye mortal stars! ye eyes that, e'en in sleep, + Can thus my senses chain'd in wonder keep, + Say, if when closed, your beauties thus I feel, + Oh, what when open, would ye not reveal?" + +Her beauty owed not its peculiar charm to any regularity of feature; but +to an ineffable sweetness of expression, and to youth's freshest bloom. +Hafiz would have compared that smooth cheek to the tulip's flower. Her +eye-lashes, of the deepest jet, and silken gloss, were of uncommon +length. Her lips were apart, and disclosed small but exquisitely formed +teeth. Their hue was not that of ivory, but the more delicate though +more transient one of the pearl. One arm supported her head--its hand +tangled in the raven tresses--of the other, the snowy rounded elbow was +alone visible. + +She met the eye, like a vision conjured up by fervid youth; when, ere +our waking thoughts dare to run riot in beauty's contemplation--sleep, +the tempter, gives to our disordered imaginations, forms and scenes, +which in after life we pant for, but meet them--never! + +George put his finger to his lips, as Delme regarded her--kissed her +silken cheek, and whispered, + +"Acme, carissima mia!" + +The slumberer started--the envious eye-lid shrouded no more its lustrous +jewel--the wondering eyes dilated, as they met her lover's--and she +murmured something with that sweet Venetian lisp, in which the Greek +women breathe their Italian. But, as she saw the stranger, her face and +neck became suffused with crimson, and her small hand wrapped the snowy +sheet round her beauteous form. + +Sir Henry, who felt equally embarrassed, returned to the room they +had left; whilst George lingered by the bedside of his mistress, and +told her it was his brother. Once more together, Sir Henry turned +towards George. + +"For God's sake," said he, "unravel this mystery! Who is this young +creature?" + +"Not now!" said his brother, "let us reserve it for to-morrow, and talk +only of home. Acme has retired earlier than usual--she has been +complaining." And he commenced with a flushed brow and rapid voice, to +ask after those he loved. + +"And so, dearest Emily will soon be married. I am glad of it; you speak +so well of Gage! I wish I had stayed three weeks longer in England, and +I should have seen him. We shall miss her in the flower garden, Henry! +Yes! and every where else! And how is my kind aunt? I forgot to thank +her when I last wrote to Delme, for making Fidele a parlour inmate!--and +I don't think she likes dogs generally either!--And Mrs. Wilcox! as +demure as ever?--Do you recollect the trick I played her the last April +I was at home?--And my favourite pony! does _he_ still adorn the +paddock, or is he gone at last? Emily wrote me he could hardly support +himself out of the shed. And the old oak--have you railed it round as I +advised? And the deer--Is my aunt still as tenacious of killing them? I +suppose Emily's pet fawn is a fine antlered gentleman by this time. And +your charger, Henry--how is he? And Mr. Sims? and the new green house? +Does the aviary succeed? did you get my slips of the blood orange? have +the Zante melon seeds answered? And the daisy of Delme, Fanny Porter--is +she married? I stole a kiss the day I left. And so the coachman is dead? +and you have given the reins to Jenkins, and have taken my little fellow +on your own establishment? And Ponto? and Ranger? and my friend Guess?" + +Here George paused, quite out of breath; and his brother, viewing with +some alarm his nervous agitation, attempted to answer his many queries; +determined in his own mind, not to seek the explanation he so much +longed for, until a more favourable period for demanding it arrived. The +brothers continued conversing on English topics till a late hour, when +Henry rose to retire. + +"I cannot," said George, "give you a bed here to-night; but my servant +shall show you the way to an hotel; and in the course of to-morrow, we +will take care to have a room provided for you. You must feel harassed: +will nine be too early an hour for breakfast?" + +It was a beautiful night, still and starry. Till they arrived in the +busy street, no sound could be heard, but the cautious opening of the +lattice, answering the signal of the guitar. Escorted by his guide, +Delme entered Valletta, which is bustling always, even at night; but was +more than usually so, as there happened to be a fete at the palace. As +they passed through the Strado Teatro, the soldier pointed out the +Opera-house; although from the lateness of the hour, Rossini's melodies +were hushed. From a neighbouring cafe, however, festive sounds +proceeded; and Delme, catching the words of an unfamiliar language, +paused before the door to recognise the singer. The table at which he +sat, was so densely enveloped in smoke, that it was some time before he +could make out the forms of the party, which consisted of some jovial +British midshipmen, and some Tartar-looking Russians. One of the Russian +officers was charming his audience with a chanson a boire, acquired on +the banks of the Vistula, His compatriots were yelling the chorus most +unmercifully. A few caleche drivers, waiting for their fares, and two or +three idle Maltese, were pacing outside the cafe, and appeared to regard +the scene as one of frequent occurrence, and calculated to excite but +little interest. His guide showed Delme the hotel, and was dismissed; +and Sir Henry, preceded by an obsequious waiter, was introduced to a +spacious apartment facing the street. + +It was long ere sleep visited him. He had many subjects on which to +ruminate; there were many points which the morrow would clear up. His +mind was too busy to permit him to rest. + +When he did, however, close his eyes; he slept soundly, and did not +awake till the broad glare of day, penetrating through the Venetian +blinds, disclosed to him the unfamiliar apartment at Beverley's. + + + + +Chapter VIII. + +The Invalid. + + + + "'Mid many things most new to ear and eye, + The pilgrim rested here his weary feet." + + +As Sir Henry Delme stepped from the hotel into the street, the sun's +rays commenced to be oppressive, and, although it was only entering the +month of May, served to remind him that he was in a warmer clime. The +scene was already a bustling one. The shopkeepers were throwing water +on the hot flag stones, and erecting canvas awnings in front of their +doors. In the various cafes might be seen the subservient waiters, +handing round the small gilded cup, which contained thick Turkish +coffee, or carrying to some old smoker the little pipkin, whence he was +to light his genial cigar. In front of one of these cafes, some +English officers were collected, sipping ices, and criticising the +relieving of the guard. Turning a corner of the principal street, a +group of half black and three-parts naked children assaulted our +traveller, and vociferously invoked carita. They accompanied this +demand by the corrupted cry of "nix munjay"--nothing to eat,--which +they enforced by most expressive gestures, extending their mouths, and +exhibiting rows of ravenous-looking teeth. The caleche drivers, too, +were on the alert, and respectfully taking off their turbans, proffered +their services to convey the Signore to Floriana. Delme declined their +offers, and, passing a draw-bridge which divides Valletta from the +country, made his way through an embrasure, and descending some half +worn stone steps--during which operation he was again surrounded by +beggars--he found himself within sight of the barracks. Acme and George +were ready to receive him. The latter's eye lit, as it was wont to do, +on seeing his brother, whilst the young Greek appeared in doubt, +whether to rejoice at what gave him pleasure, or to stand in awe of a +relation, whose influence over George might shake her own. This did +not, however, prevent her offering Delme her hand, with an air of great +frankness and grace. Nor was he less struck with her peculiar beauty +than he had been on the night previous. Her dress was well adapted to +exhibit her charms to the greatest advantage. Her hair was parted in +front, and smoothly combed over her neck and shoulders, descending to +her waist. Over her bosom, and fastened by a chased silver clasp, was +one of the saffron handkerchiefs worn by the Parganot women. A jacket +of purple velvet, embroidered with gold, fitted closely to her figure. +Round her waist was a crimson girdle, fastened by another enormous +broach, or rather embossed plate of silver. A Maltese gold rose chain +of exquisite workmanship was flung round her neck, to which depended a +locket, one side of which held, encased in glass, George's hair braided +with her own; the other had a cameo, representing the death of the +patriot Marco Bozzaris. + +"Giorgio tells me," said she, "that you speak Italian, at which I am +very glad; for his efforts to teach me English have quite failed. Do you +know you quite alarmed me last night, and I really think it was too bad +of George introducing you when he did;" and she placed her hand on her +lover's shoulder, and looked in his face confidingly. In spite of the +substance of her speech, and the circumstances under which Delme saw +her, he could not avoid feeling an involuntary prepossession in her +favour. Her manner had little of the polish of art, but much of nature's +witching simplicity; and Sir Henry felt surprised at the ease and +animation of the whole party. Acme presided at the breakfast table, with +a grace which many a modern lady of fashion might envy; and during the +meal, her conversation, far from being dull or listless, showed that she +had much talent, and that to a quick perception of nature's charms, she +united great enthusiasm in their pursuit. The meal was over, when the +surgeon of the regiment was announced, and introduced by George to Sir +Henry. After making a few inquiries as to the invalid's state of health, +he proposed to Delme, taking a turn in the botanical garden, which was +immediately in front of their windows. + +Sir Henry eagerly grasped at the proposition; anxious, as he felt +himself, to ascertain the real circumstances connected with his +brother's indisposition. They strolled through the garden, which was +almost deserted--for none but dogs and Englishmen, to use the expression +of the natives, court the Maltese noon-day sun,--and the surgeon at once +entered into George's history. He was a man of most refined manners, and +a cultivated intellect, and his professional familiarity with horrors, +had not diminished his natural delicacy of feeling. His narrative was +briefly thus:-- + +George Delme's bosom companion had been an officer of his own age and +standing in the service, with whom he had embarked when leaving England. +Their intercourse had ripened into the closest friendship. George had +met Acme, although the surgeon knew not the particulars of the +rencontre,--had confided to his friend the acquaintance he had made--and +had himself introduced Delancey at the house where Acme resided. Whether +her charms really tempted the friend to endeavour to supplant George, +or whether he considered the latter's attentions to the young Greek to +be without definite object, and undertaken in a spirit of indifference, +the narrator could not explain; but it was not long before Delancey +considered himself as a principal in the transaction. Acme, whose +knowledge of the world was slight, and whose previous seclusion from +society, had rendered her timidity excessive, considered that her best +mode of avoiding importunities she disliked, and attentions that were +painful to her, would be to speak to George himself on the subject. + +By this time, the latter, quite fascinated by her beauty and +simplicity, and deeming, as was indeed the fact, that his love was +returned, needed not other inquietudes than those his attachment gave +him. The pride of ancestry and station on the one hand--on the other, +a deep affection, and a wish to act nobly by Acme--caused an internal +struggle which made him open to any excitement, nervously alive to any +wrong. He sought his friend, and used reproaches, which rendered it +imperative that they should meet as foes. Delancey was wounded; and +as _he_ thought--and it was long doubtful whether it _were_ +so--_mortally_. He beckoned George Delme to his bedside--begged him to +forgive him--told him that his friendship had been the greatest source +of delight to him--a friendship which in his dying moments he begged +to renew--that far from feeling pain at his approaching dissolution, +he conceived that he had merited all, and only waited his full and +entire forgiveness to die happy. George Delme wrung his hands in the +bitterness of despair--prayed him to live for his sake--told him, that +did he not, his own life hereafter would be one of the deepest +misery,--that the horrors of remorse would weigh him down to his +grave. The surgeon was the first to terminate a scene, which he +assured Delme was one of the most painful it had ever been his lot to +witness. This meeting, though of so agitating a nature, seemed to have +a beneficial effect on the wounded man. He sunk into a sweet sleep; +and on awaking, his pulse was lower, and his symptoms less critical. +He improved gradually, and was now convalescent. But it was otherwise +with George Delme. He sought the solitude of his chamber, a prey to +the agonies of a self-reproaching spirit. He considered himself +instrumental in taking the life of his best friend--of one, richly +endowed with the loftiest feelings humanity can boast. His nerves +previously had been unstrung; body and mind sank under the picture his +imagination had conjured up. His servant was alarmed by startling +screams, entered his room, and found his master in fearful +convulsions. A fever ensued, during which George's life hung by a +thread. To this succeeded a long state of unconsciousness, +occasionally broken by wild delirium. + +During his illness, there was one who never left him--who smoothed his +pillow--who supported his head on her breast--who watched him as a +mother watches her first-born. It was the youthful Greek, Acme Frascati. +The instant she heard of his danger, she left her home to tend him. No +entreaties could influence her, no arguments persuade. She would sit by +his bedside for hours, his feverish hand locked in hers, and implore him +to recover, to bless one who loved him so dearly. They could not part +them; for George, even in his delirious state, seemed to be conscious +that some one was near him, and, did she leave his side, would rise in +his bed, and look around him as if missing some accustomed object. In +his wilder flights, he would call passionately upon her, and beg her to +save his friend, who was lying so dead and still. + +For a length of time, neither care nor professional skill availed. +Fearful was the struggle, between his disease, and a naturally hardy +constitution. Reason at last resumed her dominion. "I know not," said +the surgeon, "the particulars of the first dawning of consciousness. It +appears that Acme was alone with him, and that it was at night. I found +him on my professional visit one morning, clear and collected, and his +mistress sobbing her thanks. I need perhaps hardly inform you," said the +narrator, "that George's gratitude to Acme was vividly expressed. It was +in vain I urged on her the propriety of now leaving her lover. This was +met on both sides by an equal disinclination, and indeed obstinate +refusal; and I feared the responsibility I should incur, by enforcing a +separation which might have proved of dangerous consequence to my +patient. Alas! for human nature, Sir Henry! need it surprise you that +the consequences were what they are? Loving him with the fervency of one +born under an eastern sun--with the warm devotion of woman's first +love--with slender ideas of Christian morality--and with a mind +accustomed to obey its every impulse--need it, I say, surprise you, that +the one fell, and that remorse visited the other? To that remorse, do I +attribute what my previous communication may not have sufficiently +prepared you for; namely, the little dependence to be placed on the tone +of the invalid's mind. Reason is but as a glimmering in a socket; and +painful as my professional opinion may be to you, it is my duty to avow +it; and I frankly confess, that I entertain serious apprehensions, as to +the stability of his mind's restoration. It is on this account, that I +have felt so anxious that one of his relations should be near him. +Change of scene is absolutely necessary, as soon as change of scene can +be safely adopted. Every distracting thought must be avoided, and the +utmost care taken that no agitating topic is discussed in his presence. +These precautions may do much; but should they have no effect, which I +think possible; as a medical man, I should then recommend, what as a +member of his family may startle you. My advice would be, that if it be +ultimately found, that his feelings as regard this young girl, are such +as are likely to prevent or impede his mind's recovery; why I would then +at once allow him to make her any reparation he may think just. + +"To what do you allude?" enquired Sir Henry. + +"Why," continued the surgeon, "that if his feelings appear deeply +enlisted on that side of the question, and all our other modes have +failed in obtaining their object; that he should be permitted to marry +her as soon as he pleases. I see you look grave. I am not surprised you +should do so; but life is worth preserving, and Acme, if not entirely to +our notions, is a good, a very good girl--warm-hearted and affectionate; +and it is not fair to judge her by our English standard. You will +however have time and scope, to watch yourself the progress and extent +of his disorder. I fear this is more serious than you are at present +aware of; but from your own observations, would I recommend and wish +your future line of conduct to be formed. May I trust my frankness has +not offended you?" + +Sir Henry assured him, that far from this being the case, he owed +him many thanks for being thus explicit. Shaking him by the hand, +he returned to George's room with a clouded brow; perplexed how to +act, or how best discuss with his brother, the points connected +with his history. + + + + +Chapter IX. + +The Narrative. + + + + "The seal Love's dimpling finger hath impress'd, + Denotes how soft that chin which bears his touch, + Her lips whose kisses pout to leave their nest, + Bid man be valiant ere he merit such; + Her glance how wildly beautiful--how much + Hath Phoebus woo'd in vain to spoil her cheek, + Which grows yet smoother from his amorous clutch, + Who round the north for paler dames would seek? + How poor their forms appear! how languid, wan, and weak." + + +Love! Heavenly love! by Plato's mind conceived, and Sicyon's artist +chiselled! not thou! night's offspring, springing on golden wing from +the dark bosom of Erebus! the first created, and the first creating: but +thou! immaculate deity; effluence of unspotted thought, and child of a +chaster age! where, oh where is now thy resting place? + +Pensile in mid-heaven, gazest thou yet with seraphic sorrow on this, +the guilty abode of guilty man?--with pity's tear still mournest thou, +as yoked to the car of young desire, we bow the neck in degrading and +slavish bondage? Or dost thou, the habitant of some bright star, where +frailty such as ours is yet unknown, lend to lovers a rapture unalloyed +by passion's grosser sense; as, symphonious with the tremulous zephyr, +chastened vows of constancy are there exchanged? Ah! vainly does one +solitary enthusiast, in his balmy youth, for a moment conceive he really +grasps thee! 'tis but a fleeting phantasy, doomed to fade at the first +sneer of derision--and for ever vanish, as a false and fascinating world +stamps its dogmas on his heart! Celestial love! oh where may he yet find +thee? and a clear voice whispers, ETERNITY! + +Hope! guide the fainting pilgrim! undying soul! shield him from the +world's venomed darts, as he painfully wends his toilsome way! + +When Delme returned to his brother, he found the latter anxiously +expecting him, and desirous of ascertaining the impression, which his +conversation with the surgeon had created. + +But Delme thought it more prudent, to defer the discussion of those +points, till he had heard from George himself, as to many circumstances +connected with Acme's history, and had been able to form some personal +opinion regarding the health of the invalid. He therefore begged +George, if he felt equal to the task, to avail himself of the +opportunity of Acme's absence, to tell him how he had first met her. To +this George willingly assented; and as there is ever a peculiarity in +foreign scenes and habits, which awakens interest, we give his story in +his own language. + +"There are some old families here, Henry," began the invalid, "whose +names are connected with some of the proudest, which the annals of the +Knights of St. John of Jerusalem can boast. They are for the most part +sunk in poverty, and possess but little of the outward trappings of +rank. But their pride is not therefore the less; and rather than have it +wounded, by being put in collision with those with whom in worldly +wealth they are unable to compete, they prefer the privacy of +retirement; and are rarely seen, and more rarely known, by any of the +English residents, whom they distrust and dislike. It is true, there are +a few families, some of the male members of which have accepted +subordinate situations under government: and these have become +habituated to English society, and meet on terms of tolerable +cordiality, the English whose acquaintance they have thus made. But +there are others, as I have said, whose existence is hardly recognised, +and who vegetate in some lone palazzo; brooding over the decay of their +fortunes--never crossing the threshold of their mansions--except when +religious feelings command them to attend a mass, or public procession. +Of such a family was Acme a member. By birth a Greek, she was a witness +to many of the bloody scenes which took place at the commencement of the +struggle for Grecian freedom. She was herself present at the murder of +both her parents. Her beauty alone saved her from sharing their fate. +One of the Turks, struck with, her expression of childish sorrow, +interfered in her behalf, and permitted a friend and neighbour to save +her life and his own, by taking shipping for one of the islands in our +possession. After residing in Corfu for some months, she received an +invitation from her father's brother-in-law, a member of an ancient +Maltese family; and for the last few years has spent a life, if not gay, +at least free from a repetition of those sanguinary scenes, which have +lent their impress to a sensitive mind, and at moments impart a +melancholy tinge, to a disposition by nature unusually joyous. It was on +a festa day, dedicated to the patron saint of the island, when no +Maltese not absolutely bed-ridden, but would deem it a duty, to witness +the solemn and lengthy procession which such a day calls forth; that I +first met Acme Frascati. + +"I was alone in the Strada Reale, and strolling towards the Piazza, when +my attention was directed to what struck me as the loveliest face I had +ever seen. + +"Acme, for it was her, was drest in the costume of the island; and, +although a faldette is not the best dress for exhibiting a figure, +there was a grace and lightness in her carriage, that would have +arrested my attention, even had I not been riveted by her countenance. +She was on the opposite side of the street to myself, and was attended +by an old Moorish woman, who carried an illumined missal. Of these +women, several may yet be seen in Malta, looking very Oriental and +duenna-like. As I stopped to admire her, she suddenly attempted to +cross to the side of the street where I stood. At the same moment, I +observed a horse attached to a caleche galloping furiously towards her. +It was almost upon her ere Acme saw her danger. The driver, anxious to +pass before the procession formed, had whipped his horse till it became +unmanageable, and it was now in vain that he tried to arrest its +progress. A natural impulse induced me to rush forward, and endeavour +to save her. She was pale and trembling, as I caught her and placed her +out of the reach of danger; but before I could touch the pavement, I +felt myself struck by the wheel of the carriage, was thrown down, and +taken up insensible. When consciousness returned, I found they had +conveyed me to a neighbouring shop, and that medical attendance had +been procured. But more than all, I noticed the solicitude of Acme. +Until the surgeon had given a favourable report, she could not address +me, but when this had been pronounced, she overwhelmed me with thanks, +begged to know where I would wish to be taken, and rested not until her +own family caleche came up, and she saw me, attended by the Moorish +woman, on the road to Floriana. + +"My accident, though not a very serious one, proved of sufficient +consequence, to confine me to my room for some time; and during that +period, not a day passed, that did not give me proof of the anxiety of +the young Greek for my restoration. I need not say that one of my +first visits was to her. Her family received me as they would an +absent brother. The obligations they considered I had conferred, +outweighed all prejudices which they might have imbibed against my +nation. On _my_ part, charmed with my adventure, delighted with Acme, +and gratified by the kindness of her relations, I endeavoured to +increase their favourable opinion by all the means in my power. Acme +and myself were soon more than friends, and I found my visits gave and +imparted pleasure. + +"I now arrive at the unhappy part of my narrative. How do I wish it were +effaced from my memory. You may remember how, in all my letters to +Delme, I made mention of my dear friend Delancey. We were indeed dear +friends. We joined at the same time, lived together in England, +embarked together, and when, one dreadful night off the African coast, +the captain of the transport thought we must inevitably drift on the +lee shore, we solaced each other, and agreed that, if it came to the +worst, on one plank would we embark our fortunes. On our landing in +Malta, we were inseparable, and my first impulse was to inform Delancey +of all that had occurred, and to introduce him to a house where I felt +so happy. I must here do him the justice to state, that whether I was +partly unaware of the extent of my own feelings towards Acme, or +whether I felt a morbid sense of delicacy, in alluding to what I knew +to be the first attachment I had ever formed, I am unable to inform +you! but the only circumstance I concealed from my friend was my +attachment to the young Greek. Perhaps to this may be mainly attributed +what happened. God, who knows all secrets, knows this; but I may now +aver, that my friend, with many faults, has proved himself to have as +frank and ingenuous a spirit, as noble ideas of friendship, as can +exist in the human breast. For some time, matters continued thus. We +were both constant visitors at Acme's house. With unparalleled +blindness, I never mistrusted the feelings of my friend. I never +contemplated that _he_ also might become entangled with the young +beauty. I considered her as my own prize, and was more engaged in +analysing my own sensations, and in vainly struggling against a +passion, which I was certain could not meet my family's approval, than +at all suspicious that fresh causes of uneasiness might arise in +another quarter. As Acme's heart opened to mine, I found her with +feelings guileless and unsuspecting as a child's; although these were +warm, and their expression but little restrained. There was a confiding +simplicity in her manner, that threw an air over all she said or did, +which quite forbade censure, and excited admiration. My passion became +a violent and an all-absorbing one. I had made up my mind, to throw +myself on the kindness of my family, and endeavour to obtain all your +consents. Thus was I situated, when one day Acme came up to me with +frankness of manner, but a tremulous voice, to beg I would use my +interest with my friend, to prevent his coming to see her. + +"'Indeed, indeed,' said she, 'I have tried to love him as a friend, as +the friend of my life's preserver, but ever since he has spoken as he +now does, his visits are quite unpleasant. My family begged me to tell +you. They would have asked him to come no more, but were afraid you +might be angry. Will you still come to us, and love us all, if they tell +him this? If you will not, he shall still come; for indeed we could not +offend one to whom we owe so much.' + +"'_I_, too,' said I to Acme, '_I_, too, dearest, ought perhaps to leave +you, _I_, too'-- + +"'Oh, never! never!' said she, as she turned to me her dark eyes, bright +with humid radiance. 'We cannot thus part!' + +"She _did_, then, love me! I clasped her to my arms--our lips clung +together in one rapturous intoxicating embrace. + +"Yet, even in that moment of delirium, Henry, I told her of you, and of +the many obstacles which still presented themselves to retard or even +prevent our union. I sought my friend Delancey, and remonstrated with +him. He appeared to doubt my right to question his motives. Success made +me feel still more injured. I showered down reproaches. He could not +have acted differently. We met! and I saw him fall! Till then, I had +considered myself as the injured man; but as I heard him on the ground +name his mother, and one dearer still--as he took from his breast the +last gift _she_ had made him--as he begged of _me_ to be its bearer; I +then first felt remorse. He was taken to his room. Even the surgeon +entertained no hopes. He again called me to his side; I heard his noble +acknowledgment, his reiterated vows of friendship, the mournful tones of +his farewell. I entered this room a heart-broken man. I felt my pulse +throb fearfully, a gasping sensation was in my throat, my head swam +round, and I clung to the wall for support. The next thing of which I +have any recollection, was the dawn of reason breaking through my +troubled dreams. It was midnight--all was still. The fitful lamp shone +dimly through my chamber. I turned on my side--and, oh! by its light, I +saw the face I most loved--that face, whose gentle lineaments, were each +deeply and separately engraven on my heart. I saw her bending over me +with a maiden's love and a mother's solicitude. As I essayed to +speak--as my conscious eye met her's--as the soft words of affection +were involuntarily breathed by my feeble lips--how her features lit up +with joy! Oh, say not, Henry, till you have experienced such a moment of +transport, say not that the lips which then vowed eternal fidelity, that +the young hearts which _then_ plighted their truth, and vowed to love +for ever--oh call not these guilty! + +"Since that time my health has been extremely precarious. Whether the +events crowded too thickly on me, or that I have not fully recovered my +health, or--which I confess I think is the case--that my compunctions +for my conduct to Acme weigh me down, I know not; but it is not always, +my dear Henry, that I can thus address you. There are hours when I am +hardly sensible of what I do, when my brain reels from its oppression. +At such times, Acme is my guardian angel--my tender nurse--my +affectionate attendant! In my lucid intervals, she is what you see +her--the gentle companion--the confiding friend. I love her, Henry, more +than I can tell you! I shall never be able to leave her! From Acme you +may learn more of those dreary hours, which appear to me like waste +dreams in my existence. She has watched by my bed of sickness, till she +knows every turn of the disorder. From her, Henry, may you learn all." + +Thus did George conclude his tale of passion; which Delme mused over, +but refrained from commenting on. + +Soon afterwards, George's caleche, in which he daily took exercise, was +announced as being at the door. The brothers entered, and left Floriana. + + + + +Chapter X. + +The Caleche. + + + + "The car rattling through the stony street." + + +For an easy conveyance, commend us to a Maltese caleche! Many a time, +assaulted by the blue devils, have we taken refuge in its solacing +interior--have pulled down its silken blinds, and unseeing and unseen, +the motion, like that of the rocking-cradle to the petulant child of +less mature growth, has restored complacency, and lulled us to good +humour. The caleche, the real caleche, is, we believe, peculiar to +Malta. It is the carriage of the rich and poor--Lady Woodford may be +seen employing it, to visit her gardens at St. Antonio; and in the +service of the humblest of her subjects, will it be enlisted, as they +wend their way to a picnic in the campagna. Every variety of steed is +put in requisition for its draught. + +We may see the barb, with nostril of fire, and mane playing with the +wind, perform a curvet, as he draws our aristocratic countrywoman-- +aristocratic and haughty at least in Malta, although, in England, +perhaps a star of much less magnitude. + +We may view too the over-burthened donkey, as he drags along some aged +vehicle, in which four fat smiling women, and one lean weeping child, +look forward to his emaciated carcase, and yet blame him for being slow. + +And thou! patient and suffering animal, whose name has passed into a +proverb, until each vulgar wight looks on thee as the emblem of +obstinacy,--maligned mule! when dost thou appear to more advantage, more +joyous, or more self-satisfied, than when yoked to the Maltese caleche? +Who that has witnessed thee, taking the scanty meal from the hand of +thine accustomed driver, with whinnying voice, waving tail, thy long +ears pricked upwards, and thy head rubbing his breast, who that has +seen thee thus, will deny thee the spirit of gratitude? + +Most injured of quadrupeds! if we ascend the rugged mountain's path, +where on either side, precipices frown, and the pines wave far--far +beneath--when one false step would plunge us, with our hopes, our fears, +and our vices, into the abyss of eternity; is it not to thee we trust? + +Calumniated mule! go on thy way. + +This world's standard is but little to be relied on, whether it be for +good, or whether it be for evil. + +The motion of a caleche, such as we patronised, is an easy and luxurious +one--the pace, a fast trot or smooth canter, of seven miles an hour--and +with the blinds down, we have communed with ourselves, with as great +freedom, and as little fear of interruption, as if we had been crossing +the Zahara. The caleche men too are a peculiar and happy race--attentive +to their fares--masters of their profession--and with a cigar in their +cheek dexter, will troll you Maltese ditties till your head aches. Their +costume is striking. Their long red caps are thrown back over their +necks--their black curls hang down on each side of the face--and a +crimson, many-folded sash, girds in a waist usually extremely small. +Their neck, face, and breast, from continued exposure to the sun, are a +red copper colour. They are always without shoes and stockings; and even +our countrywomen, who pay much attention to the costume of their +drivers, have not yet ventured to encase their brawny feet in the +mysteries of leather. They run by the side of their caleches, the reins +in one hand--the whip in the other--cheering on their animals by a +constant succession of epithets, oaths, and invocations to their +favourite saint. + +They are rarely fatigued, and may be seen beside their vehicles, urging +the horses, with the thermometer at 110 deg., and perhaps a stout-looking +Englishman inside, with white kerchief to his face, the image of languor +and lassitude. + +Their horses gallop down steeps, which no English Jehu dare attempt; and +ascend and descend with safety and hardihood, stone steps which occur in +many parts of Valletta; and which would certainly present an +insurmountable obstacle to our steeds at home. + +The proper period, however, to see a caleche man in his glory, is during +the carnival. Every caleche is in employ; and many a one which has +reposed for the twelvemonth previous, is at that time wheeled from its +accustomed shed, and put in requisition for some of pleasure's votaries. +Long lines of them continue to pass and repass in the principal street. +Their inmates are almost universally of the fair sex, and of the best +part of it, the young and beautiful. Cavaliers, with silken bags, +containing bon-bons, slung on their left arm, stand at intervals, ready +to discharge the harmless missiles, at those whom their taste approves +worthy of the compliment. Happy the young beauty, who, returning +homewards, sees the carpet of her caleche thickly strewn with these +dulcet favours! The driver is now in his element! He ducks his head, as +the misdirected sweetmeat approaches; he has an apt remark prompt for +the occasion. As he nears too the favoured inamorato, for whom he well +knows his mistress' sweetest smile is reserved--who already with his +right hand grasping the sugared favours, is prepared to lavish his whole +store on this one venture--how arch his look--how roguish his eye--as he +turns towards his donna, and speaks as plainly as words could do, "See! +there he is, he whom you love best!" + +Ah! well may we delight to recal once more those minute details! ah! +well may we remember how--when our brow was smoothed with youth, as it +is now furrowed with care--when our eye sparkled from pleasure, as it is +now dimmed from time, or mayhap, tears--well may we love to remember, +how our whole hearts were engrossed in that mimic warfare. How +impatiently did we watch for _one_, amidst that crowded throng, for +one--whose beauty haunted us by day, and whose smile we dreamt over by +night. Well do we recal with what unexampled ingenuity, we laboured to +befit the snow white egg for a rare tenant--attar-gul. Well do we +remember how that face, usually so cloudless, became darkened almost to +a frown, as our heart's mistress saw the missile approach her. What a +radiant smile bewitched us, as it burst on her lap, and filled the air +with its fragrance! Truly we had our reward! + +Delme and George took a quiet drive, and enjoyed that sweet interchange +of ideas, that characterises the meeting of two brothers long absent +from each other. + +They went in the direction of St. Julian's, a drive all our Maltese +friends will be familiar with. The road lay almost wholly by the sea +side. A gentle breeze was crisping the waters, and served to allay the +heat, which, at a more advanced period of the season, is by no means an +enviable one. Sun-shine seemed to beam on George's mind, as he once more +spoke of home ties, to one to whom those home ties were equally dear. +And gratefully did he bask in its rays! Long used to the verdant but +tame, beautiful but romantic landscapes, which the part of England he +resided in presented; the scenery around him, novel and picturesque, +struck Sir Henry forcibly. To one who has resided long in Malta, its +scenes may wear an aspect somewhat different. The limited country--the +ceaseless glare--the dust, or rather the pulverised rock--the +ever-present lizard, wary and quick, peeping out at each crevice--the +buzzing mosquito, inviting the moody philosopher to smite his own +cheek,--these things may come to be regarded as real grievances. + +But Delme, as a visitor, was pleased with what he saw. The promising +vineyards--the orange groves, with their glowing fruit and ample +foliage, "looking like golden lamps" in a dark night of leaves--the +thick leaves of the prickly pear--the purple sky above him, lending its +rich hue to the sea beside--the architectural beauties of the +cottages--the wide portico of the mansions--the flat terrace with its +balustrade, over which might be seen a fair face, half concealed by the +faldette, smilingly peering, and through whose pillars might be noted a +pretty ancle, and siesta-looking slipper--these were novelties, and +pleasing ones! Their drive over, Delme felt more tranquil as to George's +state of mind, and more inclined to look on the bright side, as to his +future fortunes. + +Acme was waiting to receive them, and as she scanned George's features, +Delme could not but observe the affectionate solicitude that marked her +glance and manner. + +Let it not be thought we would make vice seductive! + +Fair above all things is the pure affection of woman! happy he who may +regard it his! he may bask without a shade of distrust in its glorious +splendour, and permanently adore its holy beauty. + +While, fascinating though be the concentred love of woman, whether +struggling in its passion--enraptured in its madness--or clinging and +loving on in its guilt: Man--that more selfish wanderer from virtue's +pale, that destroyer of his own best sympathies--will find too late that +a day of bitterest regret must arrive: a day when love shall exist no +more, or, linked with remorse, shall tear--a fierce vulture--at his very +heart strings. + + + + +Chapter XI. + +The Colonel. + + + + "Not such as prate of war, but skulk in peace." + + +Delme strolled out half an hour before his brother's dinner hour, with +the intention of paying a visit of ceremony to the Colonel of George's +regiment. His house was not far distant. It had been the palazzo of one +of the redoubted Knights of St. John; and the massive gate at which Sir +Henry knocked for admittance, seemed an earnest, that the family, who +had owned the mansion, had been a powerful and important one. The door +was opened, and the servant informed Delme, that Colonel Vavasour was on +the terrace. + +The court yard through which they passed was extensive; and a spring + + "Of living water from its centre rose, + Whose bubbling did a genial softness fling." + +Ascending a lofty marble staircase, along which were placed a few +bronzed urns, Delme crossed a suite of apartments--thrown open in the +Italian mode--and passing through a glass door, found himself on a wide +stone terrace, edged by pillars. + +Immediately beneath this, was an orange grove, whose odours perfumed the +air. Colonel Vavasour was employed in reading a German treatise on light +infantry tactics. He received Sir Henry with great cordiality, and +proposed adjourning to the library. Delme was pleased to observe, for it +corresponded with what he had heard of the man; that, with the exception +of the chef d'oeuvres of the English and German poets, the Colonel's +library, which was an extensive one, almost wholly consisted of such +books as immediately related to military subjects, or might be able to +bear on some branch of science connected with military warfare. Pagan, +and his follower Vauban, and the more matured treatises of Cormontaigne, +were backed by the works of that boast of the Low Countries, Coehorn; +and by the ingenious theories, as yet _but_ theories, of Napoleon's +minister of war, Carnot. + +Military historians, too, crowded the shelves. _There_ might be noted +the veracious Polybius--the classic Xenophon--the scientific +Caesar--the amusing Froissart, with his quaint designs, and quainter +discourses--and many an author unknown to fame, who in lengthy quarto, +luxuriated on the lengthy campaigns of Marlborough or Eugene; those wise +commanders, who flourished in an era, when war was a well debated +scientific game of chess; when the rival opponents took their time, +before making their moves; and the loss of a pawn was followed by the +loss of a kingdom. _There_ might you be enamoured with even a soldier's +hardships, as your eye glanced on the glowing circumstantial details of +Kincaid;--or you might glory in your country's Thucydides, as you read +the nervous impassioned language of a Napier. _Thou_, too, Trant! our +friend! wert there! Ah, why cut off in thy prime? Did not thy spirit +glow with martial fire? Did not thy conduct give promise, that not in +vain were those talents accorded thee? What hadst _thou_ done, to sink +thus early to a premature inglorious grave? Nor were our friends Folard +and Jomini absent; nor eke the minute essays of a Jarry, who taught the +aspiring youths of Great Britain all the arts of castrametation. With +what gusto does he show how to attack Reading; or how, with the greatest +chance of success, to defend the tranquil town of Egham. _Here_ would he +sink trous de loup on the ancient Runnimede, whereby the advance of the +enemy's cavalry would be frustrated; _there_ would he cut down an +abattis, or plant chevaux de frise. At _this_ winding of England's +noblest river, would he establish a pontoon bridge; the approaches to +which he would enfilade, by a battery placed on yonder height. + +Before relating the conversation between Delme and Colonel Vavasour, it +may not be improper to say a few words as to the character of the +latter. When we say that he was looked up to as an officer, and adored +as a man, by the regiment he had commanded for years; we are not +according light praise. + +Those who have worn a coat of red, or been much conversant with +military affairs, will appreciate the difficult, the ungrateful task, +devolving on a commanding officer. + +How few, how very few are those, who can command respect, and ensure +love. How many, beloved as men, are imposed on, and disregarded as +officers. How many are there, whose presence on the parade ground awes +the most daring hearts, who are passed by in private life, with +something like contumely, and of whom, in their private relations, few +speak, and yet fewer are those who wish kindly. When deserving in each +relation, how frequently do we see those who want the manner, the tact, +to show themselves in their true colours. An ungracious refusal--ay! or +an ungraciously accorded favour! may raise a foe who will be a bar to a +man's popularity for years:--whilst how many a free and independent +spirit is there, who criticises with a keener eye than is his wont, the +sayings and doings of his commanding officer, solely because he _is_ +such. How apt is such an one to misrepresent a word, or create a wrong +motive for an action! how slow in giving praise, lest _he_ should be +deemed one of the servile train! Pass we over the host of petty +intrigues--the myriads of conflicting interests:--show not how the +partial report of a favourite, may make the one in authority unjust to +him below him; or how the false tale-bearer may induce the one below to +be unjust to his superior. Colonel Vavasour was not only considered in +the field, as one of England's bravest soldiers; but was yet more +remarkable for his gentlemanly deportment, and for the attention he ever +paid to the interior economy of his corps. This gave a tone to the---- +mess, almost incredible to one, who has not witnessed, what the constant +presence of a commanding officer, if he be a real gentleman, is enabled +to effect. Colonel Vavasour had ideas on the duties of a soldier, which +to many appeared original. We cannot but think, that the Colonel's +ideas, in the main, were right. He disliked his officers marrying; often +stating that he considered a sword and a wife as totally incompatible. + +"Where," would he say, "is _then_ that boasted readiness of purpose, +that spirit of enterprise? Can an officer _then_, with half a dozen +shirts in his portmanteau, and a moderate quantity of cigars, if he be a +smoker, declare himself ready to sail over half the world?" + +The Colonel would smile as he said this, but would continue with a +graver tone. + +"No, there is a choice, and I blame no one for making his election:--a +soldier's hardships and a soldier's joys;--or domestic happiness, and an +inglorious life:--but to attempt to blend the two, is, I think, +injudicious." + +On regimental subjects, he was what is technically called, a regulation +man. No innovations ever crept into his regiment, wanting the sanction +of the Horse Guards; whilst every order emanating from thence, was as +scrupulously adopted and adhered to, as if his own taste had prompted +the change. On parade, Colonel Vavasour was a strict disciplinarian;-- +but his sword in the scabbard, he dropped the officer in his manner,--it +was impossible to do so in his appearance,--and no one ever heard him +discuss military points in a place inappropriate. He knew well how to +make the distinction between his public and his private duties. On an +officer under his command, being guilty of any dereliction of duty, he +would send for him, and reprimand him before the assembled corps, if he +deemed that such reprimand would be productive of good effect to others; +but--the parade dismissed--he would probably take this very officer's +arm, or ask to accompany him in his country ride. + +Colonel Vavasour had once a young and an only brother under his command. +In no way did he relax discipline in his favour. Young Vavasour had +committed a breach of military etiquette. He was immediately ordered by +his brother to be placed in arrest, and would inevitably have been +brought to a court martial, had not the commanding officer of the +station interfered. During the whole of this time, the Colonel's manner +towards him continued precisely the same. They lived together as usual; +and no man, without a knowledge of the circumstance, could have been +aware that any other but a fraternal tie bound them together. What was +more extraordinary, the younger brother saw all this in its proper +light; and whilst he clung to and loved his brother, looked up with awe +and respect to his commanding officer. + +As for Colonel Vavasour, no one who saw his convulsed features, as his +brother fell heading a gallant charge of his company at Waterloo, could +have doubted for a moment his deep-rooted affection. From that period, a +gloomy melancholy hung about him, which, though shaken off in public, +gave a shade to his brow, which was very perceptible. + +In person, he was particularly neat; being always the best dressed +officer in his regiment, "How can we expect the men to pay attention to +_their_ dress, when we give them reason to suppose we pay but little +attention to our own?" was a constant remark of his. And here we may +observe, that no class of men have a stricter idea of the propriety of +dress, than private soldiers. To dress well is half a passport to a +soldier's respect; whilst on the other hand, it requires many excellent +qualities, to counterbalance in his mind a careless and slovenly +exterior. Colonel Vavasour had an independent fortune, which he spent at +the head of his regiment. Many a dinner party was given by him, for +which the corps he commanded obtained the credit; many a young officer +owed relief from pecuniary embarrassments, which might otherwise have +overwhelmed him, to the generosity of his Colonel. He appeared not to +have a wish, beyond the military circle around him, although those who +knew him best, said he had greater talent, and possessed the art of +fascinating in general society, more than most men. + +"I am glad to see you here, Sir Henry," said he to Delme, "although I +cannot but wish that happier circumstances had brought you to us. I have +a very great esteem for your brother, and am one of his warmest well +wishers. But I must not neglect the duties of hospitality. You must +allow me to present you to my officers at mess this evening. Our dinner +hour is late; but were it otherwise, we should miss that delightful hour +for our ride, when the sun's rays have no longer power to harm us, and +the sea breezes waft us a freshness, which almost compensates for the +languor attending the summer's heat." + +Delme declined his invitation, stating his wish to dine with his brother +on that day; but expressed himself ready to accept his kind offer on the +ensuing one. + +"Thank you!" said Colonel Vavasour, "it is natural you should wish to +see your brother; and it pains me to think that poor George cannot yet +dine with his old friends. Have you seen Mr. Graham?" + +Delme replied in the affirmative; adding, that he could not but feel +obliged to him for his frankness. + +"I am glad you feel thus," said Vavasour, "it emboldens me to address +you with equal candour; and, painful as our advice must be, I confess I +am inclined to side with George's medical attendant. I have myself been +witness to such lamentable proofs of George's state of mind--he has so +often, with the tears in his eyes, spoken to me of his feelings with +regard to Acme Frascati, that I certainly consider these as in a great +measure the cause, and his state of mind the effect. I speak to you, +Sir Henry, without disguise. I had once a brother--the apple of my +eye--I loved him as I shall never love human being more; and, as God is +my witness, under similar circumstances, frankness is what I should have +prayed for,--my first wish would have been at once to know the worst. +Mr. Graham has told you of his long illness--his delirium--and has, I +conclude, touched upon the present state of his patient. Shall I shock +you, when I add that his lucid intervals are not to be depended upon; +that occasionally the wildest ideas, the most extraordinary projects, +are conceived by him? I wish you not, to act on any thing that Mr. +Graham, or that I may tell you, but to judge for yourself. Without this, +indeed, you would hardly understand the danger of these mental +paroxysms. So fearful are they, that I confess I should be inclined to +adopt any remedy, make any sacrifices which promised the remotest +possibility of success." + +"I trust," said Sir Henry, "there are no sacrifices I would not +personally make for my only brother, were I once convinced these were +for his real benefit." + +"I frankly mean," said Vavasour, "that I think almost the only chance of +restoring him, is by allowing him to marry Acme Frascati." + +Delme's brow clouded. + +"Think not," continued he, "that I am ignorant of what such a +determination must cost you. _I_, too, Sir Henry,"--and the old man drew +his commanding form to its utmost height,--"_I_ too, know what must be +the feelings of a descendant of noble ancestors. I know them well; and +in more youthful days, the blood boiled in my veins as I thought of the +name they had left me. Thank heaven! I have never disgraced it. But were +_I_ situated as _you_ are, and the dead Augustus Vavasour in the place +of the living George Delme, I would act as I am now advising you to do. +I speak solely as to the expediency of the measure. From what I have +stated--from my situation in life--from my character--you may easily +imagine that all my prejudices are enlisted on the other side of the +question. But I must here confess that I see something inexpressibly +touching in the devotion which that young Greek girl displayed, during +the whole of George's illness. But putting this on one side, and +considering the affair as one of mere expediency, I think you will +finally agree with me, that however desperate the remedy, some such must +be applied. And now, let me assure you, that nothing could have induced +me to obtrude thus, my feelings and opinions on a comparative stranger, +were it not that that stranger is the brother of one in whose welfare I +feel the liveliest interest." + +Sir Henry Delme expressed his thanks, and inwardly determined that he +would form no opinion till he had himself been witness to some act of +mental aberration. It is true, he had heard the medical attendant give a +decided opinion,--from George's own lips he had an avowal of much that +had been stated,--and now he had heard one, for whom he could not but +feel great respect--one who had evidently no interest in the +question--declare his sentiments as strongly. We are all sanguine as to +what we wish. It may be, that a hope yet lurked in Delme's breast, that +these accounts might be unconsciously exaggerated, or that his brother's +state of health was now more established than heretofore. + +On returning to Floriana, Delme found George and the blushing Acme +awaiting him. A delightful feeling is that, of again finding ourselves +with those from whom we have long been parted, once more engaged in the +same round of familiar avocations, once more re-acting the thousand +little trifles of life which we have so often acted before, and that, +too, in company with those who now sit beside us, as if to mock the +lapse of intervening years. These meetings seem to steal a pinion from +time's wing, and hard indeed were it if the sensations they called forth +were not pleasurable ones; for oh! how rudely and frequently, on the +other hand, are we reminded of the changes which the progress of years +brings with it: the bereavement of loved ones--the prostration of what +we revered--our buoyant elasticity of body and mind departed--all things +changing and changed. + +We sigh, and gaze back. How few are the scenes, which memory's +kaleidoscope presents in their pristine bright colours, of that +journey, performed so slowly, as it once appeared, but which, to the +eye of retrospection, seems to have hurried to its end with the rapid +wings of the wind! + +Imbued with an association, what a trivial circumstance will please! As +the brothers touched each other's glass; and drank to mutual happiness, +what grateful recollections were called up by that act! How did these +manifest their power, as they lighted up the wan features of George +Delme. Acme looked on smilingly; her hair flowing about her neck--her +dark eyes flashing with unusual brilliancy. Delme felt it would be +unsocial were he alone to look grave; and although many foreboding +thoughts crowded on him, _he_ too seemed to be happy. It was twilight +when the dinner was over. The windows were open, and the party placed +themselves near the jalousies. They here commanded a view of the public +gardens, where groups of Maltese were enjoying the coolness of the hour, +and the fragrance of the flowers. The walk had a roof of lattice work +supported by wooden pillars; round which, an image of woman's love, the +honeysuckle clingingly twined, diffusing sweets. + +Immediately before them, the principal outlet of the town presented +itself. Laughing parties of English sailors were passing, mounted on +steeds of every size, which they were urging forward, in spite of the +piteous remonstrances of the menials of their owners. The latter, for +the most part, held by the tails of their animals, and uttered a +jargon composed of English, Italian, and Maltese. The only words +however, that met the unregarding ears of the sailors, were some such +exclamations as these. + +"Not you go so fast, Signore; he good horse, but much tire." + +The riders sat in their saddles swinging from side to side, evidently +thinking their tenure more precarious than that on the giddy mast; and +wholly unmindful of the expressive gestures, and mournful ejaculations +of the bare-legged pursuers. At another time, their antics and +buffoonery, as they made unmerciful use of the short sticks with which +they were armed, would have provoked a smile. _Now_ our party gazed on +these things as they move the wise. They felt calm and happy; and +deceptive hope whispered they might yet remain so. Acme took up her +guitar, and throwing her fingers over it, as she gave a soft prelude, +warbled that sweet although common song, "Buona notte, amato bene." She +sung with great feeling, and feeling is the soul of music. + +How plaintively! how tenderly did her lips breathe the + + "ricordati! ricordati di me!" + +There was something extremely witching in her precocious charms. She +resembled some beauteous bud, just ready to burst into light and bloom. +It is not yet the rose,--but a moment more may make it such. Her +beauties were thus ripe for maturity. It seemed as if the sunshine of +love were already upon them--they were basking in its rays. A brief +space--and the girl shall no longer be such. What was promise shall be +beauty. She shall meet the charmed eye a woman; rich in grace and +loveliness. As Delme marked her sympathising glance at George--her +beaming features--her innocent simplicity;--as he thought of all she had +lost, all she had suffered for his brother's sake,--as he thought of the +scorn of the many--the pity of the few--the unwearied watching--the +sleepless nights--the day of sorrow passed by the bed of sickness--all +so cheerfully encountered for _him_--he could not reproach her. No! he +took her hand, and the brothers whispered consolation to her, and to +each other. + +Late that evening, they were joined by Colonel Vavasour, and Mr. Graham. +George's spirits rose hourly. Never had his Colonel appeared to such +advantage--Acme so lovely--or Henry so kind--as they did to George Delme +that night. + +It was with a sigh at the past pleasures that George retired to +his chamber. + + + + +Chapter XII. + +The Mess. + + + + "Red coats and redder faces." + + +The following day, a room having been given up to Delme, he discharged +his bill at Beverley's; and moved to Floriana. He again accompanied +George in his drive; and they had on this occasion, the advantage of +Acme's society, who amused them with her artless description of the +manners of the lower orders of Maltese. + +Pursuant to his promise, at the bugle's signal Delme entered the mess +room; and the Colonel immediately introduced him to the assembled +officers. To his disappointment, for he felt curious to see one, who had +exercised such an influence over his brother, Delancey was not amongst +them. Sir Henry was much pleased with the feeling that appeared to +exist, between Colonel Vavasour and his corps of officers:--respect on +one side--and the utmost confidence on both. We think it is the talented +author of Pelham, who describes a mess table as comprising "cold dishes +and hot wines, where the conversation is of Johnson of ours and Thomson +of jours." + +This, though severe, is near the truth; and if, to this description, be +added _lots_ of plate of that pattern called the Queen's--ungainly +servants in stiff mess liveries--and a perpetual recurrence to Mr. Vice; +we have certainly caught the most glaring features of a commonplace +regimental dinner. Vavasour was well aware of this, and had directed +unremitting attention, to give a tone to the conversation at the mess +table, more nearly approaching to that of private life; one which should +embrace topics of general interest, and convey some general information. +Even in _his_ well ordered regiment, there were some, whose nature would +have led them, to confine their attention to thoughts of the daily +military routine. This inclination was repressed by the example of +their Colonel; and these, if not debaters, were at least patient +listeners, as the conversation dealt of matters, to them uncongenial, +and the value of the discussion of which they could not themselves +perceive. Not that military subjects were interdicted; the contrary was +the case. But these subjects took a somewhat loftier tone, than the +contemplation of an exchange of orderly duty, or an overslaugh of guard. + +When dinner was announced, Colonel Vavasour placed his hand on the +shoulder of a boy near him. + +"Come, Cholmondeley!" said he, "sit near me, and give me an account of +your match. You must not fail to write your Yorkshire friends every +particular. Major Clifford, will you sit on the other side of Sir Henry? +You are both Peninsula men, and will find, I doubt not, that you have +many friends in common. + +"There is something," said he to Delme, as he took his seat, +"revivifying to an old soldier, in noting the exhilaration of spirit of +these boys. It reminds us of the zeal with which _we_ too buckled on +our coat of red. It is a great misfortune these youngsters labour under, +that they have no outlet for their ambition, no scene on which they can +display their talents. Never were youthful aspirants for service more +worthy, or more zealous, and yet it is probable their country will not +need them, until they arrive at an age, when neither body nor mind are +attuned for _commencing_ a life of hardship, however well adapted to +_continue_ in it. _We_ have had the advantage there--_we_ trod the +soldier's proudest stage when our hopes and buoyancy of heart were at +their highest; and for myself, I am satisfied that much of my present +happiness, arises from the very different life of my earlier years." + +The conversation took a military turn; and Delme could not help +observing the attention, with which the younger members of the corps +heard the anecdotes, related by those who had been actually engaged. +Occasionally, the superior reading of the juniors would peep out, and +give them the advantage of knowledge, even with regard to +circumstances, over those who had been personal actors in the affairs +they spoke of. The most zealous of these detail narrators, were the +quarter-master of the regiment, and Delme's right-hand neighbour, Major +Clifford. The former owed his appointment to his gallantry, in saving +the colours of his regiment, when the ensign who bore them was killed, +and the enemy's cavalry were making a sudden charge, before the +regiment could form its square. + +His was a bluff purple face, denoting the bon vivant. Indeed, it was +with uncommon celerity, that his previous reputation of being the best +maker of rum punch in the serjeants' mess, had changed into his present +one of being the first concoctor of sangaree at the officers'. + +Major Clifford merits more especial notice. He was a man hardly +appreciated in his own profession; out of it, he was misrepresented, and +voted a bore. He had spent all the years of his life, since the down +mantled his upper lip, in the service of his country; and for _its_ +good, as he conceived it, he had sacrificed all his little fortune. It +is true his liberality had not had a very comprehensive range: he had +sunk his money in the improvement of the personal appearance of his +company--in purchasing pompons--or new feathers--or whistles, when he +was a voltigeur--in establishing his serjeants' mess on a more +respectable footing--in giving his poor comrade a better coffin, or a +richer pall:--these had been his foibles; and in indulging them, he had +expended the wealth, that might have purchased him on to rank and +honours. His eagle glance, his aquiline nose, and noble person, showed +what he must have been in youth. His hair was now silvered, but his coat +was as glossy as formerly--his zeal was unabated--his pride in his +profession the same--and what he could spare, still went, to adorn the +persons of the soldiers he still loved. He remained a captain, although +his long standing in the army had brought him in for the last brevet. It +is true every one had a word for poor Clifford. "Such a fine fellow! +what a shame!" But _this_ did not help him on. At the Horse Guards, too, +his services were freely acknowledged. The Military Secretary had always +a smile for him at his levee, and an assurance that "he had his eye on +him" The Commander in Chief, too, the last time he had inspected the +regiment, attracted by his Waterloo badge, and Portuguese cross, had +stopped as he passed in front of the ranks, and conversed with him most +affably, for nearly two minutes and a half; as his colour serjeant with +some degree of pride used to tell the story. But yet, somehow or other, +although Major Clifford was an universal favourite, they always forgot +to reward him. A man of the world, would have deemed the Major's ideas +to be rather contracted; and to confess the truth, there were two +halcyon periods of his life, to which he was fond of recurring. The one +was, when he commanded a light company, attached to General Crauford's +light brigade;--the other, when he had the temporary command of the +regimental depot, and at his own expense, had dressed out its little +band, as it had never been dressed out before. + +Do you sneer at the old soldier, courtly reader? + +There breathes not a man who dare arraign that man's courage;--there is +not one who knows him, who would not cheerfully stake his life as a gage +for his stainless honour. + +The soup and fish had been removed, when Delme observed a young officer +glide in, with that inexpressible air of fashion, which appears to shun +notice, whilst it attracts it. His arm was in a sling, and his +attenuated face seemed to bespeak ill health. Sir Henry addressed +Colonel Vavasour, and begged to know if the person who had just entered +the room was Delancey. He was answered in the affirmative; and he again +turned to scrutinise his features. These rivetted attention; and were +such as could not be seen once, without being gazed at again. His eyes +were dark and large, and rested for minutes on one object, with an +almost mournful expression; nor was it until they turned from its +contemplation, that the discriminating observer might read in their +momentary flash, that their possessor had passions deep and +uncontrollable. His dark hair hung in profusion over his forehead, which +it almost hid; though from the slight separation of a curl, the form of +brow became visible; which was remarkable for its projection, and for +its pallid hue, which offered a strong contrast to the swart and +sunburnt face. + +"Are you aware of his history?" said the Colonel. + +"Not in the slightest," replied Delme. "I felt curious to see him, on +account of the way in which he has been mixed up with George's affair; +and think his features extraordinary--very extraordinary ones." + +"He is son," said Vavasour, "to the once celebrated Lady Harriet D----, +who made a marriage so disgracefully low. He is the only child by that +union. His parents lived for many years on the continent, in obscurity, +and under an assumed name. They are both dead. It is possible Delancey +may play a lofty role in the world, as he has only a stripling between +him and the earldom of D----, which descends in the female line. I am +sure he will not be a common character; but I have great fears about +him. In the regiment he is considered proud and unsocial; and indeed it +was your brother's friendship that appeared to retain him in our circle. +He has great talents, and some good qualities; but from his uncommon +impetuosity of temper, and his impatience of being thwarted, I should be +inclined to predict, that the first check he receives in life, will +either make him a misanthrope, or a pest to society." + +At a later period of his life, Delme again encountered Delancey; and +this prophecy of the Colonel's was vividly recalled. + +In the ensuing chapter, we purpose giving Oliver Delancey's history, as +a not uninstructive episode; although we are aware that episodes are +impatiently tolerated, and it is in nowise allied to the purpose of our +story. But before doing so, we must detail a conversation which occurred +between Delancey and Delme, at the table of the ---- mess. The latter was +scanning the features of the former, when their eyes met. A conviction +seemed to flash on Delancey, that Delme was George's brother; for the +blood rushed to his cheek--his colour went and came--and as he turned +away his head, he made a half involuntary bow. Delme was struck with his +manner, and apparent emotion; and in returning the salute, ventured "to +hope he was somewhat recovered." + +When Major Clifford left the table, Delancey took his vacant seat. + +"Sir Henry Delme," said he, "I have before this wished to see you, to +implore the forgiveness of your family for the misery I have +occasioned. How often have I cursed my folly! I acted on an impulse, +which at the time I could not withstand. I had never serious views +with regard to Acme Frascati. Indeed, I may here tell you,--to no +other man have I ever named it,--that I have ties in my own country +far dearer, and more imperatively binding. I knew I had erred. The +laws of society could alone have made me meet George Belme as a foe; +but even then--on the ground--God and my second know that my weapon +was never directed at my friend. I am an unsocial being, Sir Henry, +and, from my habits, not likely to be popular. Your brother knew this, +and saved me from petty contentions and invidious calumnies. He was +the best and only friend I possessed. I purpose soon to leave Malta +and the army. The former is become painful to me,--for the latter I +have a distaste, A feeling of delicacy to Acme Frascati would prevent +my seeing your brother, even if Mr. Graham had not forbidden the +interview, as likely to harass his mind. Will you, then, assure him of +my unabated attachment, and tell me that _you _ forgive me for the +part I have taken in this unhappy affair." + +Delme was much moved as he assured him he would do all he wished; that +he could see little to blame him for--that George's excited feelings had +brought on the present crisis, and that _he_ had amply atoned for any +share he might have had in the transaction. Delancey pressed his hand +gratefully. + +It was at a somewhat late hour that Delme joined Acme and his brother; +declining the hearty invitation of the Quartermaster to come down to +his quarters. + +"He could give him a devilled turkey and a capital cigar." + + + + +Chapter XIII. + +Oliver Delancey. + + + + "Then the few, whose spirits float above the wreck of happiness, + Are driven o'er the shoals of guilt, or ocean of excess; + The magnet of their course is gone, or only points in vain + The shore to which their shiver'd sail shall never reach again." + + +We have said that Delme saw Delancey once more. It was at a later period +of our story, when business had taken Sir Henry to Bath. He had been +dining with Mr. Belliston Graeme, who possessed a villa in the +neighbourhood. Tempted by the beauty of the night, he dismissed his +carriage, and, turning from the high road, took a by-path which led to +the city. The air was serene and mild. The moon-light was sufficiently +clear to chase away night's dank vapours. The ground had imperceptibly +risen, until having ascended a grassy eminence, over which the path +stretched, the well-lighted city burst upon the eye. + +Immediately in front of the view, a principal street presented itself, +the lamps on either side stretching in regular succession, until they +gradually narrowed and joined in the perspective. Nearer to the +spectator, the flickering lights of the detached villas, and the moving +ones of the carriages in the public road, relieved the stillness of the +scene. Delme paused to regard it, with that subdued feeling with which +men, arrived at a certain period of life, scan the aspect of nature. The +moon at the moment was enveloped in light clouds. As it broke through +them, its shimmering light revealed a face and form that Delme at once +recognised as Delancey's. It was with a consciousness of pain he did so, +for it brought before him recollections of scenes, whose impressions had +still power to subdue him. All emotions, however, soon became absorbed +in that of curiosity, as he noted the still figure and agitated +features before him. A block of granite lay near the path. Delancey +leant back over it--his right hand nearly touched the ground--his hat +lay beside him. The dark hair, wet with the dews of night, was blown +back by the breeze. His high forehead was fully shewn. His vest and +shirt were open, as he gazed with an air of fixedness on the city, and +conversed to himself. His teeth were firmly clenched, and it seemed that +the lips moved not, but the words were fearfully distinct. We often hear +of these soliloquies,--they afford scope to the dramatist, food for the +poet, a chapter for the narrator of fiction,--but we rarely witness +them. When we do, they are eminently calculated to thrill and alarm. It +was evident that Delancey saw him not; but had it been otherwise, +Delme's interest was so aroused that he could not have left the spot. + +"Hail! sympathising night!" thus spoke the young man, "the calm of thy +silent hour seems in unison with my lone heart--thy dewy breeze imparts +a freshness to this languid and darkened spirit, Sweet night! how I +love thee! And moon, too! fair moon! how abruptly!--how chastely!--how +gloriously!--dost thou break through the variegated and fleecy clouds, +which would impede thy progress, and deny me to gaze on thy white orb +unshrouded. And thou, too! radiant star of eve! oh that woman's love but +resembled thee! that it were gentle, constant, and pure as thy holy +gleam. That _that_ should dazzle to bring in its train--oh God! what +misery." He raised his hand to his brow, as if a poignant thought had +stung him. + +Sir Henry Delme stole away, and ruminated long that night, on the +distress that could thus convulse those fine features. Afterwards, when +Delancey's name was no longer the humble one he had first known it, but +became bruited in loftier circles,--for Vavasour's prediction became +realised,--Delme heard it whispered, that his affections had suffered +an early blight, from the infidelity of one to whom he had been +affianced. We may relate the circumstances as they occurred. Blanche +Allen was the daughter of a country gentleman of some wealth, whose +estate joined that of the Earl of D----'s, where Delancey's boyhood +had been spent. For years Blanche and Oliver considered themselves as +more than friends. Each selected the other as the companion in the +solitary walk, or partner in the joyous dance. Not a country girl but +had her significant smile, as young Delancey's horse's head was turned +towards Hatton Grange. + +Delancey joined the army at an early age. Blanche was some eighteen +months his junior. They parted with tears, and thus they continued to do +for the two following years, during which Oliver frequently got leave to +run down to his uncle's. This was while he was serving with part of the +regiment at home. When it came to his turn to embark for foreign +service, it was natural from this circumstance, as well as from their +riper age, that their farewell should be of a more solemn nature. They +bade adieu by the side of the streamlet that divided the two properties. +It was where this made a small fall, down which it gushed in crystal +brightness, and then meandered with gentle murmur through a succession +of rich meadows. A narrow bridge was below the fall, while beside it, a +rustic seat had been placed, on which the sobbing Blanche sat, with her +lover's arm round her waist. For the first time he had talked seriously +of their attachment, and it was with youthful earnestness, that they +mutually plighted their troth. Nor did Blanche hesitate, though blushing +deeply as she did so, to place in his hand a trivial gage d'amour, and +that which has so long solaced absent lovers, a lock of her sunny hair. +Blanche was very beautiful, but she had a character common to many +English women--more so, we think, than to foreign ones. + +As a girl, Blanche was nature's self, warm, gentle, confiding,--as an +unmarried woman, she was a heartless coquette,--as a matron, an +exemplary mother and an affectionate wife. During the time Delancey was +abroad, he heard of Blanche but seldom, for the lovers were not of that +age in which a correspondence would be tolerated by Blanche's family. +She once managed to send him, by the hands of a young cousin, some +trifling present, with a few lines accompanying it, informing him that +she had not forgotten him. His uncle--his only correspondent in +England--was not exactly the person to make a confidant of; but he +would, in an occasional postscript, let him know that he had seen +Blanche Allen lately--that "she was very gay, prettier than ever, and +always blushing when spoken to of a certain person." + +To do Oliver justice, he at all times thought of Blanche. We have seen +him, with regard to Acme, apparently disregarding her, but in that +affair he had been actuated by a mere spirit of adventure. His heart was +but slightly enlisted, and his feelings partook of any thing but those +of a serious attachment. + +Oliver Delancey left Malta soon after his conversation with +Delme. Previous to doing so, he had forwarded his resignation to +Colonel Vavasour. + +He passed some time in Italy, and, as the season arrived, found himself +a denizen in that gayest of cities, Vienna. Pleasure is truly there +enshrouded in her liveliest robes. As regards Delancey, not in vain was +she thus clothed. Just relieved from the dull monotony of a military +life--dull as it ever must be without war's excitement, and peculiarly +distasteful to one constituted like Delancey, who refused to make +allowance for the commonplace uncongenial spirits with whom he found +himself obliged to herd--he was quite prepared to embrace with avidity +any life that promised an agreeable change. Austria's capital holds out +many inducements to dissipation, and to none are these more freely +tendered, than to young and handsome Englishmen. The women, over the +dangerous sentimentality of their nation, throw such an air of ease and +frankness, that their victims resemble the finny tribe in the famous +tunny fishery. While they conceive the whole ocean is at their +command--disport here and there in imagined freedom--they are already +encased by the insidious nets; the harpoon is already pointed, which +shall surely pierce them. Delancey plunged headlong into pleasure's +vortex--touched each link between gaiety and crime. He wandered from the +paths of virtue from the infatuation of folly, and continued to err from +the fascinations of sin. He was suddenly recalled to himself, by one of +those catastrophes often sent by Providence, to awaken us from +intoxicating dreams. His companion, with whom he had resided during his +stay in Vienna, lost his all at a gaming table. Although he had not the +firmness of mind to face his misfortunes, yet had he the rashness to +meet his God unbidden. Sobered and appalled, Oliver left Germany for +England. There was a thought, which even in the height of his follies +obtruded, and which now came on him with a force that surprised himself. +That thought was of Blanche Allen. He turned from the image of his +expiring friend to dwell unsated on hers. A new vista of life seemed to +open--thoughts which had long slept came thronging on his mind--he was +once more the love-sick boy. The more, too, he brooded over his late +unworthiness, the more did his imagination ennoble the one he loved. He +now looked to the moment of meeting her, as that whence he would date +his moral regeneration. "Thank God!" thought he, "a sure haven is yet +mine. There will I--my feelings steadied, my affections +concentrated--enjoy a purified and unruffled peace. What a consolation +to be loved by one so good and gentle!" + +He hurried towards England, travelled day and night, and only wondered +that he could have rested any where, while he had the power of flying to +her he had loved from childhood. Occasionally a feeling of apprehension +would cross him. It was many months since he had heard of her--she might +be ill. His love was of that confiding nature, that he could not +conceive her changed. As he came near his home, happier thoughts +succeeded. In fancy, he again saw her enjoying the innocent pleasures in +which he had been her constant companion,--health on her +cheek--affection in her glance. He had to pass that well known lodge. +His voice shook, as he told the driver to stop at its gate. As he drove +through the avenue of elms, he threw himself back in the carriage, and +every limb quivered from his agitation. He could hardly make himself +understood to the domestic--he waited not an answer to his enquiry--but +bounded up the stairs, and with faltering step entered the room. +Blanche was there, and not alone but oh! how passing fair! Even Delancey +had not dared to think, that the beauty of the girl could have been so +eclipsed by the ripe graces of the woman. She recognised him, and rose +to meet him with a burst of unfeigned surprise. She held out her hand +with an air of winning frankness; and yet for an instant,--and his hand +as it pressed hers, trembled with that thought,--he deemed there was a +hesitating blush on her cheek, which should not have been there. But it +passed away, and radiant with smiles, she turned to the one beside her. + +"My dear," said she, as she gave him a confiding look, which haunts +Delancey yet, "this is a great friend of Papa's, and an old playmate of +mine--Mr. Delancey;" and as the stranger stepped forward to shake his +hand, Blanche looked at her old lover, with a glance that seemed to say, +"How foolish were we, to deem we were ever more than friends." Oliver +Delancey turned deadly pale; but pride bade him scorn her, and his hand +shook not, as it touched that of him, who had robbed him of a treasure, +he would have died to have called his. + +"And you have been to D---- Castle, I suppose, and found your uncle had +left it for Bath. Indeed, _we_ only arrived the day before yesterday; +but Papa wrote us, saying he had got one of his attacks of rheumatism, +from the late fishing, and begged us to take this on our way to +Habberton, Did you see my marriage in the papers, or did your uncle +write you, Oliver?" + +Delancey's lips quivered, but his countenance did not change, as he +looked her in the face, and told her he had not known it until now. + +And now her husband spoke: "It was very late, and he must want +refreshment; and Mr. Allen intended to be wheeled to the dinner table; +and they could so easily send up to D---- Castle to tell them to get a +bed aired; and he could dismiss the chaise now, and their carriage could +take him there at night." + +And Delancey _did_ stay, although unable to analyse the feeling that +made him do so. + +And during dinner, _he_ was the life of that little party. He spoke of +foreign lands--related strange incidents of travel--dwelt with animation +on his schoolboy exploits. The old man was delighted--the husband forgot +his wife;--and she, the false one, sat silent, and for the moment +disregarded. She gazed and gazed again on that familiar face--drank in +the tones of that accustomed voice--and the chill of compunction crept +over her frame. + +But Delancey's brain was on fire; and in the solitude of his +chamber--no! he was not calm there. He paced hurriedly across the oaken +floor; and he opened wide his window, and looked out on the bright +stars, spangling heaven's blue vault; and then beneath him, where the +cypress trees bowed their heads to the wind, and the moon's light fell +on the marble statues on the terrace. + +And he turned to his bed-side, and hid his tearless face in his hands; +and in the fulness of his despair, he knelt and prayed, that though he +had long neglected his God, his God would not now forsake him. And, as +if to mock his sufferings, sleep came; but it was short, very short; and +a weight, a leaden weight, oppressed his eye-lids even in slumber. And +he gave one start, and awoke a prey to mental agony. His despair flashed +on him--he sprung up wildly in his bed. "Liar! liar!" said he, as with +clenched teeth, and hand upraised, he recalled that fond look given to +another. Drops of sweat started to his brow--his pulse beat quick and +audibly--quicker--quicker yet. A feeling of suffocation came over +him--and God forgive him! Oliver Delancey deemed that hour his last. He +staggered blindly to the bell, and with fearful energy pulled its cord, +till it fell clattering on the marble hearth stone. The domestics found +him speechless and insensible on the floor--the blood oozing from his +mouth and ears. + +It may be said that this picture is overcharged; that no vitiated mind +could have thus felt. But it is not so. In life's spring we all feel +acutely: and to the effects of disappointed love, and wounded pride, +there are few limits. + +Woman! dearest woman! born to alleviate our sorrow, and soothe our +anguish! who canst bid feeling's tear trickle down the obdurate cheek, +or mould the iron heart, till it be pliable as a child's--why stain thy +gentle dominion by inconstancy? why dismiss the first form that haunted +thy maiden pillow, until--or that vision is a dear reality beside +thee--or thou liest pale and hushed, on thy last couch of repose? + +And then--shall not thy virgin spirit hail him? Why first fetter us, +slaves to virtue and to thee; _then_ become the malevolent Typhoon, on +whose wings our good genius flies for ever? In this--far worse than the +iconoclasts of yore art thou! _They_ but disfigured images of man's rude +fashioning: whilst _thou_ wouldst injure the _once_ loved form of God's +high creation,--wouldst entail on the body a premature decay--and on +that which dieth not, an irradicable blight. + + "Then the mortal coldness of the soul, like death itself comes down; + It cannot feel for others woes--it dares not dream its own. + That heavy chill has frozen o'er the fountain of our tears; + And though the eye may sparkle still, 'tis where the ice appears." + +On such a character as was Delancey's, the blow did indeed fall heavy. +Not that his paroxysms of grief were more lasting, or his pangs more +acute, than is usual in similar cases; but to his moral worth it was +death. An infliction of this nature, falling on a comparatively virtuous +man, is productive of few evil consequences. It may give a holier turn +to his thoughts--wean him from sublunary vanities--and purify his +nature. On an utterly depraved man, its effects may be fleeting also; +for few can _here_ expect a moral regeneration. But falling on Delancey, +it was not thus. The slender thread that bound him to virtue, was snapt +asunder; the germ whence the good of his nature might have sprung, +destroyed for ever. Such a man could not love purely again. To expect +him to wander to another font, and imbibe from as clear a stream, would +be madness. The love of a man of the world, let it be the first and +best, is gross and earthly enough; but let him be betrayed in that +love--let him see the staff on which he confidingly leant, break from +under him--and he becomes from henceforth the deceiver--but never the +deceived. When Delme saw him, Delancey was writhing under his +affliction. When he again entered the world, and it was soon, he +regarded it as a wide mart, where he might gratify his appetites, and +unrestrainedly indulge his evil propensities. He believed not that +virtue and true nobility were there; could he but find them. He looked +at the blow his happiness had sustained, and thought it afforded a fair +sample of human nature. Oliver Delancey became a selfish and a +profligate man. + +He was to be pitied; and from his soul did Delme pity him. He had been +one of promise and of talent; but _now_ his lot is cast on the die of +apathy;--and it is to be feared--without a miracle intervene--and +should his life be spared--that when the wavy locks of youth are +changed to the silver hairs of age--that he will then be that thing of +all others to be scoffed at--the hoary sensualist. Let us hope not! Let +us hope that she who hath brought him to this, may rest her head on the +bosom of her right lord, and forget the one, whose hand used to be +locked in her own, for hours--hours which flew quick as summer's +evening shadows! Let us trust that remorse may be absent from her; +that she may never know that worst of reflections--the having injured +one who had loved her, irremediably; that she may gaze on her +fair-haired children, and her cheek blanch not as she recals another +form than the father's; that her life may be irreproachable, her end +calm and dignified; that dutiful children may attend the inanimate clay +to its resting place; that filial tears may bedew her grave; and, when +the immortal stands appalled before its Judge, that the destruction of +that soul may not be laid to her charge. + + + + +Chapter XIV. + +The Spitfire. + + + + "And I have loved thee! Ocean! and my joy + Of youthful sports was on thy breast to be + Borne like thy bubbles onward." + + * * * * * + + "Pull away! yo ho! boys!" + + +Delme continued to reside with his brother, whose health seemed to amend +daily. George generally managed to accompany him in his sight-seeing, +from which Henry derived great gratification. + +He mused over the antique tombs of some of the departed knights; and +admired the rich mosaics in that splendid church, dedicated to Saint +John; than which the traveller may voyage long, and meet nothing +worthier his notice. He visited the ancient armoury--dined at the +palace, and at the different messes--inspected the laborious +travailings of the silkworm at the boschetto--conversed with the +original of Byron's Leila--a sweet creature she is!--looked with +wondering eye on the ostrich of Fort Manuel--and heard the then +commandant's wife relate her tale thereanent. He went to Gozzo too--shot +rabbits--and crossed in a basket to the fungus rock. He saw a festa in +the town, and a festa in the country--rode to St. Antonio, and St. +Paul's Bay--and was told he had seen the lions. Nor must we pass over +that most interesting of spectacles; viz., some figures enveloped in +monkish cowl, and placed in convenient niches; but beneath the close +hood, the blood mounts not with devotion's glow, nor do eyes glare from +sockets shrunk by abstinence. Skeletons alone are there! + +These, curious reader, are the bodies of saintly Capuchins; thus +exhibited--dried and baked--to excite beholders to a life of virtue! + +One morning, George said he felt rather unwell, and would stay at home. +An oar happened to be wanted in the regimental gig, which Sir Henry +offered to take. He was soon accoutred in the dress of an absent +member, and in a short time was discharging the duties of his office to +the satisfaction of all; for he knew every secret of _feathering,_ and +had not _caught a crab_ for years. + +It was a beautifully calm day--not a speck in the azure heaven. It was +hot too--but for this they cared not. They had porter; and on such +occasions, what better beverage would you ask? Swiftly and gaily did the +slim bark cleave through the glassy sea. Its hue was a dark crimson, +with one black stripe--its nom de guerre, the Spitfire. + +As the ------ regiment particularly prided itself on its aquatic costume, +we shall describe it. Small chased pearl buttons on the blue jacket and +white shirt; a black band round the neck, to match the one on the +narrow-brimmed thick straw hat; white trousers; couleur de rose silk +collar, fastened to the throat by a golden clasp; and stockings of the +same colour. How joyously did the gig hold her course! What a thrilling +sensation expanded the soul, as the steersman, a handsome little fellow +with large black whiskers, gave the encouraging word, "Stroke! my good +ones!" Then were exerted all the energies of the body--then was +developed each straining muscle--then were the arms thrown back in +sympathy, to give a long pull, and a strong pull--till the bark reeled +beneath them, and shot through the wave. + +The tall ship--the slender mole--the busy deck--the porticoed +palace--the strong fort--the bristling battery--the astonished fisher's +bark as it sluggishly crept on--were all cheeringly swept by, as the +bending oars in perfect unison, kissed the erst slumbering water. What +sensation can be more glorious? The only thing to compete with it, is +the being in a crack coach on the western road; the opposition slightly +in front--a knowing whip driving--when the horses are at their utmost +speed--the traces tight as traces can be--the ladies inside pale and +screaming--one little child cramming out her head, her mouth stuffed +with Banbury cakes, adding her shrill affetuoso--whilst the odd-looking +man in the white hat, seated behind, is blue from terror, and with +chattering teeth, mumbles undistinguishable sentences of furious +driving and prosecution. Surely such moments half redeem our miseries! +What bitter thought can travel twelve miles an hour? + +And ever and anon would the Spitfire dart into some little creek, and +the thirsty rowers would rest on their oars, whose light drip fell on +purple ocean, tinged by a purple sky. And now would the jovial steersman +introduce the accommodating corkscrew, first into one bottle and then +into another, as these were successively emptied, and thrown overboard, +to give the finny philosophers somewhat to speculate on. + +Delme landed weary; but it was a beneficial weariness. He felt he had +taken manly exercise, and that it would do him good. He was walking +towards the barrack, with his jacket slung over his shoulder, when he +was met by George's servant. + +"Oh, Sir!" said the man, "I am so glad you are come. The Signora is +terribly afraid for my young master. I fear, Sir, he is in one of +his fits." + +Delme hurried forward, and entered his brother's room. George held a +riding whip in his hand. He had thrown off his cravat--his throat was +bare--his eyes glanced wildly. + +"And who are you, Sir?" said he, as Henry entered. + +"What! not know me, dearest George?" replied his brother, in agony. + +"I do not understand your insolence, Sir; but if you are a dun, go to my +servant. Thompson," continued he, "give me my spurs! I shall ride." + +"Ride!" said Delme. + +Thompson made him a quiet sign. "I am very sorry, Sir," said he, "but +the Arab is quite lame, and is not fit for the saddle." + +"Give me a glass of sangaree then, you rascal! Port--do you hear?" + +The glass was brought him. He drained its contents at a draught. + +"Now, kick that scoundrel out of the room, Thompson, and let me sleep." + +He threw himself listlessly on the sofa. Acme was weeping bitterly, +but he seemed not to notice her. It was late in the day. The surgeon +had been sent for. He now arrived, and stated that nothing could be +done; but recommended his being watched closely, and the removing +all dangerous weapons. He begged Henry, however, to indulge him in +all his caprices, in order that he might the better observe the +state of his mind. + +While George slept, Delme entered another room, and ordering the servant +to inform him when he awoke, he sat down to dinner alone and dispirited; +for Acme refused to leave George. It was indeed a sad, and to Sir Henry +Delme an unforeseen shock. + +In a couple of hours, Thompson came with a message from Acme. "Master +is awake, Sir--knows the Signora--and seems much better. He has +desired me to brush his cloak, as he intends going out. Shall I do so, +Sir, or not?" + +"Do so!" said Delme, "but fail not to inform me when he is about to go; +and be yourself in readiness. We will watch him." + + + + +Chapter XV. + +The Charnel House. + + + + "And when at length the mind shall be all free, + From what it hates in this degraded form, + Reft of its carnal life, save what shall be + Existent happier in the fly or worm; + When elements to elements conform, + And dust is as it should be." + + +The last grey tinge of twilight, was fast giving place to the sombre +hues of night, as a figure, enveloped in a military cloak, issued from +the barrack at Floriana. + +Henry at once recognised George; and only delaying till a short distance +had intervened between his brother and himself, Delme and Thompson +followed his footsteps. + +George Delme walked swiftly, as if intent on some deep design. The long +shadow thrown out by his figure, enabled his pursuers to distinguish him +very clearly. He did not turn his head, but, with hurried step, strode +the species of common which divides Floriana from La Valette. Crossing +the drawbridge, and passing through the porch which guards the entrance +to the town, he turned down an obscure street, and, folding his cloak +closer around him, rapidly--yet with an appearance of caution--continued +his route, diving from one street to another, till he entered a small +court-yard, in which stood an isolated gloomy-looking house. No light +appeared in the windows, and its exterior bespoke it uninhabited. Henry +and the domestic paused, expecting George either to knock or return to +the street. He walked on, however, and, turning to one side of the +porch, descended a flight of stone steps, and entered the lower part of +the house. + +"Perhaps we had better not both follow him," said the servant. + +"No, Thompson! do you remain here, only taking care that your master +does not pass you: and I think you may as well go round the house, and +see if there is any other way of leaving it." + +Sir Henry descended the steps in silence. Arrived at the foot of the +descent, a narrow passage, diverging to the left, presented itself. +Beyond appeared a distant glimmering of light. Delme groped along the +passage, using the precaution to crouch as low as possible, until he +came before a large comfortless room in the centre of which, was placed +a brass lamp, whose light was what he had discerned at the extremity of +the passage. He could distinctly observe the furniture and inmates of +the room. Of the former, the only articles were a table--on which were +placed the remains of a homely meal--an iron bedstead, and a barrel, +turned upside down, which served as a substitute for a chair. The +bedstead had no curtains, but in lieu of them, there were hangings +around it, which struck Delme as resembling mourning habiliments. +Whilst the light operated thus favourably, in enabling Sir Henry to +note the interior of the apartment, it was hardly possible, from its +situation, that he himself could be observed. Its rays did not reach +the passage; and he was also shrouded in some degree by a door, which +was off its hinges, and which was placed against the wall. Fastened to +the side of the room were two deep shelves--the lower one containing +some bottles and plates; the upper, a number of human sculls. In a +corner were some more of these, intermingled in a careless heap, with a +few bleached bones. + +George Delme was standing opposite the door, conversing earnestly with a +Maltese, evidently of the lowest caste. The latter was seated on the +barrel we have mentioned, and was listening with apparently a mixture of +surprise and exultation to what George was saying. George's voice sunk +to an inaudible whisper, as the conversation continued, and he was +evidently trying to remove some scruples, which this man either affected +to feel, or really felt. The man's answers were given in a gruff and +loud tone of voice, but from the Maltese dialect of his Italian, Sir +Henry could not understand what was said. His countenance was very +peculiar. It was of that derisive character rarely met with in one of +his class of life, except when called forth by peculiar habits, or +extraordinary circumstances. His eyes were very small, but bright and +deeply set. His lips wore a constant sarcastic smile, which gave him the +air of a bold but cunning man. His throat and bosom were bare, and of a +deep copper colour; and his muscular chest was covered with short curly +hair. The conversation on George's part became more animated, and he at +length made use of what seemed an unanswerable argument. Taking out a +beaded purse, which Sir Henry knew well--it had been Emily's last +present to George--he emptied the contents into the bronzed hand of his +companion, who grasped the money with avidity. The Maltese _now_ +appeared to acquiesce in all George's wishes; and rising, went towards +the bed, and selected some of the articles of wearing apparel Delme had +already noticed. He addressed some words to George, who sat on the +bedside quiescently, while the man went to the table, and took up a +knife that was upon it. For a moment, Delme felt alarm lest his design +might be a murderous one; but it was not so. He laughed savagely, as he +made use of the knife, to cut off the luxuriant chestnut ringlets, which +shaded George's eyes and forehead. He then applied to the face some +darkening liquid, and commenced choosing a sable dress. George threw off +his cloak, and was attired by the Maltese, in a long black cotton robe +of the coarsest material, which, descending to the feet, came in a hood +over his face, which it almost entirely concealed. During the whole of +this scene, George Delme's features wore an air of dogged apathy, which +alarmed his brother, even more than his agitation in the earlier part of +the day. After his being metamorphosed in the way we have described, it +would have been next to an impossibility to have recognised him. His +companion put on a dress of the same nature, and Sir Henry was preparing +to make his retreat, presuming that they would now leave the building, +when he was induced to stay for the purpose of remarking the conduct of +the Maltese. He took up a scull, and placing his finger through an +eyeless hole, whence _once_ love beamed or hate flashed, he made some +savage comment, which he accompanied by a long and malignant laugh. This +would at another time have shocked Sir Henry, but there was another +laugh, wilder and more discordant, that curdled the blood in Delme's +veins. It proceeded from his brother, the gay--the happy George Delme; +and as it re-echoed through the gloomy passage, it seemed that of a +remorseless demon, gloating on the misfortunes of the human race. Delme +turned away in agony, and, unperceived, regained the anxious domestic. +Screened by an angle of the building, they saw George and his companion +ascend the stone steps, cross the yard, and turn into the street. They +followed him cautiously--Delme's ears ringing with that fiendish laugh. +George's companion stopped for a moment, at a house in the street, where +they were joined by a sallow-looking priest, apparently one of the most +disgusting of his tribe. He was accompanied by a boy, also drest in +sacerdotal robes, in one hand bearing a silver-ornamented staff, of the +kind frequently used in processions, and in other observances of the +Catholic religion; and in the other, a rude lanthorn, whose light +enabled Delme to note these particulars. As the four figures swept +through the streets, the lower orders prostrated themselves, before the +figure of the crucified and dying Saviour which surmounted the staff. +They again stopped, and the priest entered a house alone. On coming +back, he was followed by a coffin, borne on the shoulders of four of the +lower order of Maltese. At the moment these were leaving the house, +Henry heard a solitary scream, apparently of a woman. It was wild and +thrilling; such an one as we hear from the hovering sea bird, as the +tempest gathers to a head. To Delme, coming as it did at that lone hour +from one he saw not, it seemed superhuman. In the front of the house +stood two caleches, the last of which, Sir Henry observed was without +doors. At a sign from the Maltese, George and his strange companion +entered it. They were followed by the coffin, which was placed +lengthways, with the two ends projecting into the street. In the +_leading_ caleche were the priest and boy, the latter of whom thrust +the figure of the bleeding Jesus out at the window, whilst with the +other hand he held up the lanthorn. Twice more did the caleche +stop--twice receive corpses. Another light was produced, and placed in +the last conveyance, and Delme took the opportunity of their arranging +this, to pass by the caleche. The light that had been placed in it shone +full on George. The coffins were on a level with the lower part of his +face. Nothing of his body, which was jammed in between the seat and the +coffins, could be seen. But the features, which glared over the pall, +were indeed terrific; apathy no longer marked them. George seemed wound +up to an extraordinary state of excitement. Gone was the glazed +expression of his eye, which now gleamed like that of a famished eagle. +The Maltese leant back in the carriage, with a sardonic smile, his dark +face affording a strange contrast to the stained, but yet ghastly hue of +George Delme's. + +"They intend to take them to the vault at Floriana, your honor," said +the servant, "shall I call a caleche, and we can follow them?" + +Without waiting a reply, for the man saw that Sir Henry's faculties, +were totally absorbed in the strange scene he had witnessed; Thompson +called a carriage, which passed the other two--now commencing at a +funeral pace to proceed to the vault--and, taking the same direction +which they had done on entering the town, a short time sufficed to put +them down immediately opposite the church. They had time allowed them to +dismiss their carriage, and screen themselves from observation, before +the funeral procession arrived. + +This stopped in front of the vault, and Delme anxiously scrutinised the +proceedings. Another man--probably the one whose place George had +supplied--had joined them outside the town, and now walked by the side +of the caleche. He assisted George's companion in bearing out the +coffins. The huge door grated on its hinges, as they opened it. The +coffins were borne in, and the whole party entered; the priest mumbling +a short Latin prayer. In a short time, the priest alone returned; and +looking cautiously around, and seeing no one, struck a light from a +tinder box, and lighted his cigar. The other two men brought back the +coffins, evidently relieved of their weight; and the priest--the +boy--with the man who had last joined them, and who had also lit his +cigar--entered the first caleche, after exchanging some jokes with +George's companion, and returned at a rapid pace towards the town. +During this time, George Delme had been left alone in the vault. His +companion returned to him, after taking the precaution to fasten its +doors inside. + +Sir Henry was now at a loss what plan to adopt; but Thompson, after a +moment's hesitation, suggested one. + +"There is an iron grating, Sir, over part of the vault, through which, +when a bar was loose, I know one of our soldiers went down. Shall I +get a cord?" + +The man ran towards his barrack, and returned with it. To wrench by +their united efforts, one bar from its place, and to fasten the rope to +another, was the work of an instant. Space was just left them to creep +through the aperture. Sir Henry was the first to breathe the confined +air of the sepulchre. A voice warned him in what direction to proceed; +and not waiting for the domestic, he groped his way forward through a +narrow passage. At first, Delme thought there was a wall on either side +him; but as he made a false step, and the bones crumbled beneath, he +knew that it was a wall, formed of the bleached remains of the bygone +dead. As he drew nearer the voice, he was guided by the lanthorn brought +by George's companion; and towards this he proceeded, almost overpowered +by the horrible stench of the charnel house, As he drew near enough to +distinguish objects, what a scene presented itself! In one corner of the +vault, lay a quantity of lime used to consume the bodies, whilst nearer +the light, lay corpses in every stage of putrefaction. In some, the lime +had but half accomplished its purpose; and while in parts of the body, +the bones lay bare and exposed; in others, corruption in its most +loathsome form prevailed. Here the meaner reptiles--active and +prolific--might be seen busily at work, battening on human decay. Sir +Henry stepped over a dead body, and started, as a rat, scared from its +prey, rustled through a wreath of withered flowers, and hid itself amid +a mouldering heap of bones. But there were some forms lovely still! In +them the pulse of life had that day ceased to beat. The rigidity of +Death--his impressive stillness was there--but he had not yet "swept the +lines where beauty lingers." + +The Maltese stood with folded arms, closely regarding George Delme. + +George leant against a pillar, with one knee bent. Over it was stretched +the corpse of a girl, with the face horribly decomposed. The dull and +flagging winds of the vault moved her dank and matted hair. + +"Acme," said he, as he parted the dry hair from the blackened brow, +"_do_ but speak to your own George! Be not angry with me, dearest!" He +held the disgusting object to his lips, and lavished endearments on the +putrid corpse. + +Delme staggered--and Thompson supported him--as he gasped for breath +in the extremity of his agony. At this moment his eye caught the face of +the Maltese. He had advanced towards George--his arms were still +folded--his eyes were sparkling with joy--and his features wore the +malignant expression of gratified revenge. Sir Henry sprang to his feet +and rushed forward. + +"George! my brother! my brother!" + +The maniac raised his pallid brow--his eye flashed consciousness--the +blue veins in his forehead swelled almost to bursting--he tossed his +arms wildly--and sunk powerless on the corpses around--his convulsive +shrieks re-echoing in that lonely vault. Thompson seized the Maltese, +and making him unlock the door, bore the brothers into the open air; for +Henry, at the time, was as much overpowered as George himself. + +A clear solution to that curious scene was never given, for George could +not give the clue to his train of mental aberration. + +With regard to his companion's share in the transaction, the man was +closely questioned, and other means of information resorted to, but the +only facts elicited were these: + +His son had been executed some years before for a desperate attempt to +assassinate a British soldier, with whom he had had an altercation +during the carnival. + +The man himself said, that he had no recollection of ever having +seen George before, but that he certainly _did_ remember some +officers questioning him on two occasions somewhat minutely as to +his mode of life. + +This part of his story was confirmed by another officer of the regiment, +who remembered George and Delancey being with him on one occasion, when +the latter had taken much interest in the questioning of this man. The +Maltese declared, that on the night in question he was taken entirely by +surprise--that George entered the room abruptly--offered him money to be +allowed to accompany him to the vault--and told him that he had just +placed a young lady there whom he wished to see. + +Colonel Vavasour, who took some trouble in arriving at the truth, was +satisfied that the man was well aware of George's insanity, but that +he felt too happy in being able to wreak an ignoble revenge on a +British officer. + + + + +Chapter XVI. + +The Marriage. + + + + "The child of love, though born in bitterness, + And nurtured in convulsion." + + +For many days, George Delme lay on his couch unconscious and +immoveable. If his eye looked calm, it was the tranquillity of +apathetic ignorance, the fixedness of idiotcy. He spoke if he was +addressed, but recognised no one, and his answers were not to the +purpose. He took his food, and would then turn on his side, and close +his eyes as if in sleep. In vain did Acme watch over him--in vain did +her tears bedew his couch--in vain did Delme take his hand, and +endeavour to draw his attention to passing objects. + +George had never been so long without a lucid interval. The surgeon's +voice grew less cheering every day, as he saw the little amendment in +his patient, and remarked that the pulse was gradually sinking. Colonel +Vavasour never allowed a day to elapse without visiting the invalid; and +in the regiment, his illness excited great commiseration, and drew forth +many expressions of kindness. + +"Oh God! oh God!" said Delme, "he must not sink thus. Just as I am with +him--just as--oh, poor Emily! what will _she_ feel? Can nothing he done, +Mr. Graham?" + +"Nothing! Sir: we must now put our whole trust in an all-seeing +Providence. _My_ skill can neither foresee nor hasten the result." + +One soft summer's evening, when the wind blew in the scent of flowers +from the opposite gardens--and the ceaseless hum of the insects--those +twilight revellers--sounded happily on the ear, Acme started from the +couch as a thought crossed her. + +"We have never tried music," said she, "I have been too unhappy to +think of it." + +Her tears fell fast on the guitar, as she tuned its strings. She sung a +plaintive Greek air. It was the first George ever heard her sing, and +was the favourite. He heard it, when watching; lover-like beneath her +balcony during the first vernal days of their attachment. The song was +gone through sadly, and without hope. George's face was from her, and +she laid down the guitar, weary of life. + +George gently turned his head. His eyes wore a subdued melancholy +expression, bespeaking consciousness. Down his cheek one big drop was +trickling. + +"Acme!" said he, "dearest Acme!" + +Delme, who had left the room, was recalled by the hysterical sobs of the +poor girl, as she fell back on the chair, her hands clasped in joyful +gratitude. + +The surgeon, who had immediately been sent for, ordered that George +should converse as little as possible. + +What he did say was rational. What a solace was that to Henry and Acme! +The invalid too appeared well aware of his previous illness, although he +alluded to it but seldom. To those about him, his manner was femininely +soft, as he whispered his thanks, and sense of their kindness. + +Immediately after the horrible scene he had witnessed, Sir Henry's mind +had been made up, as to the line of conduct he ought to pursue. The +affectionate solicitude of the young Greek, during George's illness, +gave him no reason to regret his determination. + +"Now," said Mr. Graham, one day as George was rapidly recovering, +"now, Sir Henry, I would recommend you to break all you have to say to +George. For God's sake, let them be married; and although, mark me! I +by no means assert that it will quite re-establish George's health, +yet I think such a measure _may_ effectually do so, and at all events +will calm him for the present; which, after all, is the great object +we have in view." + +The same day, Delme went to his brother's bed-side. "George," said he, +"let me take the present opportunity of Acme's absence, to tell you what +I had only deferred till you were somewhat stronger. She is a good girl, +George, a very good girl. I wish she had been English--it would have +been better!--but this we cannot help. You must marry her, George! I +will be a kind brother-in-law, and Emily shall love her for your sake." + +The invalid sat up in his bed--his eyes swam in tears. He twice essayed +to speak, ere he could express his gratitude. + +"Thank you! a thousand times thank you! my kind brother! Even _you_ +cannot tell the weight of suffering, you have this day taken from my +mind. My conduct towards Acme has been bowing me to the earth; and yet +I feared your consent would never be obtained. I feared that coldness +from you and Emily would have met her; and that I should have had but +_her_ smile to comfort me for the loss of what I so value. God bless +you for this!" + +Delme was much affected. + +To complete his good work, he waited till Acme had returned from a visit +she had just made to her relations; and taking her aside, told her his +wishes, and detailed his late conversation with George. + +"Never! never!" said the young Greek, "I am too happy as I am. I have +heard you all make better lovers than husbands. I cannot be happier! +No! no! I will never consent to it." + +All remonstrances were fruitless--no arguments could affect her--no +entreaties persuade. + +Delme, quite perplexed at finding such a difficulty, where he had so +little expected to find one,--pitying her simplicity, but admiring her +disinterestedness,--went to George, and told him Acme's objections. + +"I feared it," said his brother, "but perhaps I may induce her to think +differently. Were I to take advantage of her unsophisticated feelings, +and want of knowledge of the world, I should indeed be a villain." + +Acme was sent for, and came weeping in--took Georg's hand--and gazed +earnestly in his face as he addressed her. + +"You must change your mind, dearest," said he. And he told her of the +world's opinion--the contumely she might have to endure--the slights to +which she would be subjected. Still she heeded not. + +"Why mention these things?" said she. "Who would insult me, were _you_ +near? or if they did, should I regard them while _you_ were kind?" + +And her lover's words took a loftier tone; and he spoke of religion, and +of the duties it imposes; of the feelings of his countrywomen; and the +all-seeing eye of their God. Still the fond girl wept bitterly, but +spoke not. + +"My own Acme! consider _my_ health too, dearest! Were you now to +consent, I might never again be ill. It would be cruelty to me to +refuse. Say you consent for _my_ sake, sweet!" + +"For your sake, then!" said Acme, as she twined her snowy arms round his +neck, "for _your_ sake, Giorgio, I do so! But oh! when I am yours for +ever by that tie; when--if this be possible--our present raptures are +less fervent--our mutual affections less devoted--do not, dearest +George--do not, I implore you--treat me with coldness. It would break my +heart, indeed it would." + +They were married according to the rites of both the Protestant and +Catholic Church. Few were present. George had been lifted to the sofa, +and sat up during the ceremony; and although his features were pale and +emaciated, they brightened with internal satisfaction, as he heard those +words pronounced, which made his love a legitimate one. Acme was silent +and thoughtful; and tears quenched the fire of her usually sparkling +eye. George Delme's recovery from this date became more rapid. + +He was able to resume his wonted exercise--his step faltered +less--his eye became clearer. His convalescence was so decided, that +the surgeon recommended his at once travelling, and for the present +relinquishing the army. + +"Perhaps the excessive heat may not be beneficial. I would, if possible, +get him to Switzerland for the summer months. I will enquire what +outward-bound vessels there are. If there is one for Leghorn, so much +the better. But the sooner he tries change of scene, the more +advantageous it is likely to be; and after all, the climate is but a +secondary consideration." + +An American vessel bound to Palermo, happened to be the only one in the +harbour, whose destination would serve their purpose; and determined +not to postpone George's removal, Sir Henry at once engaged its cabin. +Colonel Vavasour obtained George leave for the present, and promised to +arrange as to his exchanging from full pay. He likewise enabled him, +which George felt as a great boon, to take his old and attached servant +with him; with the promise that he would use all his interest to have +the man's discharge forwarded him, before the expiration of his leave. + +"He may be useful to you, my dear boy, if you get ill again, which God +forbid! He is an old soldier, and a good man--well deserving the +indulgence. And remember! if you should be better, and feel a returning +penchant for the red coat, write to me--we will do our best to work an +exchange for you." + + + + +Chapter XVII. + +The Departure. + + + + "Farewell! a word that must be, and hath been, + A sound that makes us linger, yet farewell." + + +The day of departure at length arrived. Thompson had been busy the +greater part of the night in getting every thing ready for the voyage. +It was a lovely morning, and the wind, although light, was propitious. + +Acme had parted with her relations and friends the day previous. + +She was henceforward to share the destiny of one, who was to supply the +place of both to her. Attached to them as she was, and grateful as she +felt for their kindness in the hour of need, there was nothing in that +parting to throw a permanent gloom on the hopes of the youthful bride. + +Her love, and the feelings it engendered, were of that confiding nature, +that she could have followed George anywhere, and been happy still. As +it was, her lot seemed cast "in pleasant places," and no foreboding of +evil, except indeed for George, ever marred the waking dreams of Acme. +Her simple heart had already learnt, to look up with respect and +affection to Sir Henry, and yearned with fond longing for the period +when she should return a sister's love. + +She had that lively talent too, which, miniatured as it was, allowed of +her fully appreciating the superiority of the English she had lately +met, to the general run of those with whom she had hitherto associated. +An English home had none but charms for her. + +"Come Acme," said George, as he assisted her in adjusting the first +bonnet that had ever confined her wavy curls, "wish good bye to your +ring-dove, dear! Mrs. Graham will take good care of it; and Thompson has +just finished the packing." + +The boat which was to convey them to the vessel was so near, that they +had agreed to walk down to the place of embarkation. + +As George left the room, a tall figure presented itself on the +staircase. + +"Ah, Clark!" said George, "my good fellow! I am very sorry to part with +you. I do not know what I shall do without my pay serjeant!" and he held +out his hand. + +It was grasped gratefully. + +"Thank you, your honour!" + +The old soldier stood erect, and put his hand to his cap. + +"God bless you! Mr. Delme. I have served under many officers, but never +under a kinder. May the Almighty bless you, Sir, in all your +wanderings." + +The soldier turned away--one large drop burst o'er the lid, and trickled +down his sun-burnt cheek. + +With the back of his hand, he brushed it off indignantly. + +His converse may be rough--his manner rude--his hand ever ready for +quarrel;--but, believe us! ye who deem the soldier beneath his +fellow-men,--that the life of change--of chance--of hardship--and of +danger--which is his, freezes not the kindlier emotions of the soul, if +it sweep away its sicklier refinements. Beneath the red vest, beat +hearts as warm and true, as ever throbbed beneath operative apron, or +swelled under softest robe of ermine. + +George was moved by the man's evidently sincere grief. He reached the +bottom of the stairs. The company to which he belonged was drawn up in +the court yard. + +In front of it, the four tallest men supported a chair, and almost +before George Delme was aware of their purpose, bore him to it, and +lifted him on their shoulders, amidst the huzzas of their comrades. The +band, too, which had voluntarily attended, now struck up the march which +George delighted to hear; and, followed by his company, he was carried +triumphantly towards the mole. + +George's heart was full. + +Sir Henry felt deeply interested in the scene; and poor Acme leant on +his arm, and wept with joy. + +Yes! there are moments in life, and this was one, when the approval of +our inferiors awakens a degree of pride and mental satisfaction, that +no panegyric of our superiors, no expressions of esteem from our +equals, could have ever called forth. Such approval meets us, as the +spontaneous effusion of hearts that have looked up to ours, and have +_not_ been deceived. + +This pride was it that flushed George's cheek, and illumed with +brightness his swimming eye. He was thus carried till he arrived at the +spot where his boat should have been. It was already, with Thompson and +their baggage, half way towards the vessel. In its place was the +regimental gig, manned by George's best friends. Its steersman was +Colonel Vavasour, drest in the fanciful aquatic costume his regiment +had adopted. + +Trifling as this may appear, this act of his Colonel, seemed to George +the very highest compliment that had ever been paid him. + +George Delme turned to his company, and with choking voice thanked them +for this last mark of attention. We are very certain that a shake of +the hand from a prince, would not have delighted him as much, as did +the hearty farewell greeting of his rough comrades. + +Even Acme blushingly went up to the chair-supporters, and, with a +winning smile, extended her small hand. Vavasour assisted her into the +gig, and it was with a bounding elasticity of spirit, to which he had +long been a stranger, that George followed. As the boat cut through the +water, they were greeted with a last and deafening huzza. + +In a short time they were alongside the vessel. The captain was pacing +the deck, and marking the signs of the wind, with the keen eye of the +sailor. A chair was lowered for Acme. She shook hands with the rowers. +George parted from them as if they had been brothers, and from Colonel +Vavasour last of all. + +"Take care of yourself, my dear boy," said the latter, "do not +forget to write us; we shall all be anxious to know how you have +stood the voyage." + +As the gig once more shot its way homewards, and many a friendly +handkerchief waved its adieu, George felt, that sad as the parting was, +he should have felt it more _bitterly_ if they had loved him less. + +To divert their minds from thoughts of a melancholy nature, Sir Henry, +as the boat made a turn of the land, and was no longer visible, proposed +exploring the cabin. This they found small, but cleanly. Some hampers of +fruit, and a quantity of ice, exhibited agreable proofs of the attention +of Acme's relations. We may, by the way, observe, that rarely does the +sense of the palate assert its supremacy with greater force than on +board-ship. There will the _thought_--much more the _reality_--of a +mellow pine--or juicy pomegranate--cause the mouth to water for the best +part of a long summer's day. On their ascending the deck, the captain +approached Sir Henry. + +"No offence! Sir; but I guess the wind is fair. If you want nothing +ashore, we will off, Sir, _now_! if you please." + +Delme acquiesced. + +How disagreable is the act of leaving harbour in a merchant ship! + +Even sailors dislike it, and growl between their teeth, like captive +bears. The chains of the anchor clank gratingly on the ear. The very +chorus of the seamen smacks of the land, and wants the rich and free +tone that characterises it in mid-sea. Hoarse are the mandates of the +boat-swain! his whistle painfully shrill! The captain walks the deck +thoughtfully, and frowningly ruminates on his bill of lading--or on some +over-charge in the dock duties--or, it may be, on his dispute on shore +with a part owner of the vessel. + +And anon, he shakes off these thoughts, and looks on the +weather-side--then upwards at the the masts--and, as he notes the +proceedings, his orders are delivered fiercely, and his passions seem +ungovernable. + +The vessel, too, seems to share the general feeling--is loath to +leave the port. + +She unsteadily answers the call of her canvas--her rigging creaks--and +her strong sides groan--as she begins lazily and slowly to make her way. + +Glad to turn their attention to anything rather than the scene around, +George began conversing on the effect the attentions of his company and +brother officers had had on him. + +"Their kindness," said George, "was wholly unexpected by me, and I felt +it very deeply. An hour before, I fancied that Acme and my own family +monopolised every sympathy I possessed. But, thank God! the heart has +many hidden channels through which kindness may steal, and infuse its +genial balm." + +"_I_ felt it, too, George!" said his brother, "and was anxious as to the +effect the scene might have on you. I am glad it _was_ unexpected. We +are sometimes better enabled to enact our parts improvising them, than +when we have schooled ourselves, and braced all our energies to the one +particular purpose. + +"Acme, how did you like the way George's men behaved?" + +"It made me weep with joy," replied the young Greek, "for I love all who +love my Giorgio." + + + + +Chapter XVIII. + +The Adieu. + + + + "Adieu! the joys of La Valette." + + * * * * * + + "No more! no more! No! never more on me + The freshness of the heart shall fall like dew." + + * * * * * + + "Absence makes the heart grow fonder, + Isle of Beauty! fare thee well." + + +Malta! the snowy sail shivers in the wind--the waves, chafed by our +intruding keel, are proudly foaming--sea birds soar, screaming their +farewell aloft--as we wave our hand to thee for ever! What is our +feeling, as we see thee diminish hourly? + +Regret! unfeigned regret! + +Albeit we speed to our native land, on the wing of a bark as fleet as +ever--but it matters not--_thou_ hast seen the best of our days. + +Visions conjured up by thee, have the unusual power, to banish +anticipations of Almack's glories, and of home flirtations. + +We are recalling balls enjoyed in thee, loved island! the valse spun +round with the darling fleet-footed Maltese, who during its pauses leant +back on our arm, against which her spangled zone throbbed, from the +pulsations of her heart. + +Dreams of turtle and of grand master--the _fish_, not the +_official_--and of consecutive iced champagne, mock our sight! But +more--yes! far more than all, are we reminded of thy abode--thou +dispenser of cheering liquids! thou promoter of convivial happiness! +meek Saverio! How swiftly glided the mirth-loving nights as--the +enchanting strains of the prima donna hushed--we adjourned to thy ever +to be praised bottegua! + +With what precision didst thou there mete out the many varied +ingredients--the exact relative proportions--which can alone embody our +conception of the nectar of the Gods, punch a la Romaine! + +Whose cigars ever equalled thine, thou prince of Ganymedes? and when +were cigars more justly appreciated, than as our puffs kept time with +the trolling ditty, resounding through the walls of thy domain? + +The luxury of those days! + +Then would Sol come peeping in upon us; as unwelcome and unlooked-for +a visitant, as to the enamoured Juliet, when she sighing told her +lover that + + "'Twas but a meteor that the sun exhaled, + To be to him that night a torch-bearer, + And light him on his way to Mantua." + +Then, with head dizzy from its gladness, with heart unduly elate, has +the Strada Teatro seen us, imperiously calling for the submissive +caleche. Arrived in our chamber, how gravely did we close its shutters! +With what a feeling of satisfied enjoyment, did we court the downy +freshness of the snow-white sheet! + +Sweet and deep were our slumbers--for youth's spell was upon us, and +our fifth lustre had not _yet_ heralded us to serious thoughts and +anxious cares. + +Awoke by the officious valet, and remorseless friend, deemest though +our debauch was felt? No! an effervescent draught of soda calmed us; we +ate a blood orange, and smoked a cigar! + +We often hear Malta abused. Byron is the stale authority; and every +snub-nosed cynic turns up his prominent organ, and talks of "sirocco, +sun, and sweat." Byron disliked it--he had cause. He was there at a bad +season, and was suffering from an attack of bile. _We_ know of no place +abroad, where the English eye will meet with so little to offend it, and +so much to please and impress. + +There is such a blending together of European, Asiatic, and African +customs; there is such a variety in the costumes one meets; there is +such grandeur in their palaces--such glory in their annals; such novelty +in their manners and habits; such devotion in their religious +observances; such simplicity and yet such beauty, in the dress of the +women; and their wearers possess such fascinations; that we defy the +most fastidious of critics, who has really resided there, to deny to +Malta many of those attributes, with which he would invest that place, +on whose beauty and agremens, he may prefer of all others to descant. + +With the commonplace observer, its superb harbour, studded with gilded +boats; its powerful fortifications, where art towers over nature, and +where the eye looks up a rock, and catches a bristling battery; the +glare of its scenery, with no foliage to cover the white stone;--all +these, together with the different way in which the minutiae of life are +transacted,--will call forth his attention, and demand his notice. + +Art thou a poet, or a fancied warrior? What scene has been more replete +with noble exploits? In whose breasts did the flame of chivalry burn +brighter, than in those of the knights of St. John of Jerusalem? Not a +name meets thee, that has not belonged to a hero! If thou grievest to +find all dissimilar _but_ the name; yet mayest thou still muse, +contemplative, over the tomb and ashes of him, whom thy mind has +shadowed forth, as a noble light in a more romantic age. + +Art thou a moralist, a thinking Christian? Thou mayest there trace--and +the pursuit shall profit thee--the steps of the sainted apostle; he who +was so signally called forth, to hear witness to the truth of ONE, whom +he had erst reviled. Yon cordelier will show you the bay, where his +vessel took refuge in its distress; and will tell you, that yon jagged +rock first gave its dangerous welcome, to the bark of his patron saint. + +Lovest thou music? hast loved? or been beloved? or both perchance? + +Steal forth when night holds her starry court, and the guitars around +are tinkling, as more than one rich voice deplores his mistress's +cruelty, in hopes she may now relent. But see! _there_ is one, who puts +in requisition neither music's spell, nor flattery's lay. + +See! he approaches. His cloak wrapped around him, he cautiously treads +the tranquil street. + +He gains the portico--the signal is given. Who but an expectant maiden +could hear one so slight? + +Hark! a sound! cautiously the lattice opens--above him blushes the fair +one! How brightly her dark eye flashes! how silver soft the tones of +her voice! + +The stern father--the querulous mother--the tricked duenna--all--all +are slumbering. She leans forward, and her ear drinks in his honied +words; as her head is supported by her snowy arm. + +And now he whispers more passionately. She answers not, but hides her +face in her hands. She starts! she throws back her hair from her brow; +she waves a white fazzolet, and is gone. + +Not thus flies the lover. He crouches beneath the Ionic portico, his +figure hardly discernible. A bolt--the last bolt is withdrawn. A form is +dimly seen within--retiring, timid, repentant. + +Sweet the task to calm that throbbing heart, or teach it to throb no +more with fear! + +But let him of melancholy mood, wander to the deserted village. A more +fearful calamity has befallen it, than ever attended the soft shades, of +the one conjured up by the poet. + +_Here_ the demon Plague, with baneful wing, and pestilential influence, +tarried for many days; till not one--no! not one soul of that village +train--that did not join his bygone fathers. + +Stray along its grass-grown roofless tenements! where _your_ echo alone +breaks the silence, as it startles from its resting-place the slumbering +owl--for who would dwell in abodes so marked for destruction? Stray +there! think of the gentle contadina diffusing happiness around her! +_then_ think of her as she supports the youth she loves--as she clasps +his faint form--and drinks in a poisonous contagion from his pallid lip. + +Think of her as the disease seizes on its new victim--still +attempting to prop up his head--to reach the cup, that may relieve +his maddening thirst,--until, giddy and overpowered, she sinks at +last; but--beside him! + +Think of their dying together! _that_ at least is a solace. + +Do not the scene and the thought draw a tear? + +If your eye be dry, come--come away--_your_ step should not sound there! + +The wind continued fair during the whole of the first day. Every trace +of Valletta was soon lost; and the good barque Boston swept by the rocky +coast of the island, where few human habitations meet the eye, swiftly +and cheerily. The sea birds sported round the tall masts--the canvas +bulged out bravely--the Captain forgot his shore griefs, and commenced a +colloquy with Sir Henry. The sailors sung in chorus; whilst poor +Acme,--we grieve to confess the fact, for never was a Mediterranean sea +looked down on by brighter sun, or more cloudless sky,--retired to her +cabin, supported by George, a prey to that unsentimental malady, sea +sickness. The following day, the wind shifted some points; and the +Captain judged it most prudent to forego his original intention of +steering direct for Palermo; but to take advantage of the breeze, and +adopt the passage through the Faro of Messina. + +Delme felt glad of this change; for Scylla and Charybdis to an +Englishman, are as familiar as Whittington and his cat. For the first +two days Acme continued unwell; and George, who already appeared +improved by the sea air, never left her side. + +Delme had therefore a dull time of it; which he strove to enliven by +conversing, one after the other, with the Captain and his two mates. +From all of them, he learnt something; but from all he turned away, as +they commenced discussing the comparative merits of the United States, +and the old country; a subject he had neither the wish to enter on, nor +fortitude to prosecute. Not daunted, he attacked mate the third; and was +led to infer better things, as the young gentleman commenced expatiating +on the "purple sky," and "dark blue sea." This hope did not last long; +for this lover of nature turned round to Sir Henry, and asked him in a +nasal twang, if he preferred Cooper's or Mr. Scott's novels? Delme was +not naturally a rude man, but as he turned away, he hummed something +very like Yankee-doodle. + +And then the moon got up; and Sir Henry felt lonely and sentimental. He +leant over the vessel's side, and watched it pictured on the ocean, and +quivering as the transient billow swept onwards. And he thought of home, +and Emily. He thought of his brother, his heir,--if he died, the only +male to inherit the ancient honours of his house,--married to a +stranger, and--but Acme was too sweet a being, not to have already +enlisted all his sympathies with her. And as if all these thoughts, like +rays converged in a burning glass, did but tend to one object, the image +of Julia Vernon suddenly rose before him. + +He saw her beautiful as ever--gentleness in her eye--fascination in +her smile! + +And the air got cold--and he went to bed. + + + + +Chapter XIX. + +A Dream and a Ghost Story. + + + + "Touching this eye-creation; + What is it to surprise us? Here we are + Engendered out of nothing cognisable-- + If this were not a wonder, nothing is; + If this be wonderful, then all is so. + Man's grosser attributes can generate + What _is_ not, and has never been at all; + What should forbid his fancy to restore + A being pass'd away? The wonder lies + In the mind merely of the wondering man." + + +It was the fourth evening of the voyage. Hardly a breath fanned the +sails, as the vessel slowly glided between the Calabrian and Sicilian +coasts, approaching quite close to the former. + +The party, seated on chairs placed on the deck, gazed in a spirit of +placid enjoyment on one of those scenes, which the enthusiastic +traveller often recals, as in his native clime, he pines for foreign +lands, and for novel impressions. The sun was setting over the purple +peaks of the Calabrian mountains, smiling in sunny gladness on deep +ravines, whose echoes few human feet now woke, save those of simple +peasant, or lawless bandit. Where the orb of day held its declining +course, the sky wore a hue of burnished gold; its rich tint alone +varied, by one fleecy violet cloud, whose outline of rounded beauty, was +marked by a clear cincture of white, + +On their right, beneath the mountain, lay the little village of Capo del +Marte, a perfect specimen of Italian scenery. + +Its sandy beach, against which the tide beat in dalliance--the chafed +spray catching and reflecting the glories of the setting sun--ran +smoothly up a slope of some thirty yards; beyond which, the orange +trees, in their greenest foliage, chequered with their shade the white +cottages scattered above them. + +The busy hum of the fishermen on the coast--the splash of the casting +net--and the drip of the oar--were appropriate accompaniments to the +simple scene. + +On the Sicilian side, a different view wooed attention. There, old Etna +upreared his encumbered head, around which the smoke clung in dense +majesty; and--not contemptible rivals of the declining deity--the moon's +silvery crescent, and the evening star's quiet splendour, were bedecking +the cloudless blue of the firmament. + +Acme gazed enraptured on the scene--her long tresses hanging back on the +chair, across which one hand was languidly thrown. + +"Giorgio," said she, "do you see this beautiful bird close to the +ship--swimming so steadily--its snowy plumage apparently unwet from its +contact with the wave? To what can you compare it?" + +"That bright-eyed gull, love!" replied he, "riding on the water as if +all regardless that he is on the wide--wide sea--whose billows may so +soon be lashed up to madness;--where may I find a resemblance more +close, than my Acme's simplicity, which guides her through a troubled +world, unknowing its treacheries, and happily ignorant of its dangers +and its woes?" + +"Ah!" said the blushing girl, "how poetical you are this evening; will +you tell us a story, Giorgio?" + +"_I_ will tell you one," said Delme, interrupting her. "Do you recollect +old Featherstone, who had been in the civil service in India, and who +lived so near Delme Park, George?" + +"Perfectly," said his brother, "I remember I used to think him mad, +because he always looked so melancholy, and used to send us word in the +morning when he contemplated a visit; in order that all cats might be +kept out of his way." + +"The very man! I am glad you know so much about him, for it is on this +subject I was going to speak. I cannot tell you where he picked up the +idea originally--but I believe in a dream--that a cat would occasion +his death. + +"Well! he was at Ascot one year, when a gipsy woman came up to him on +the course--told him his fortune--and, to his utter astonishment, warned +him to beware of the wild cat. + +"From that moment, I understand his habits changed. From being a +tolerably cheerful companion, he became a wretched hypochondriac; all +his energies being directed to the avoiding a contact with any of the +feline race. + +"Featherstone, two or three years ago, embarked in one of the mining +speculations--lost great part of his fortune--and found it necessary to +try and retrieve his affairs, by a second voyage to India. + +"I heard nothing more of him, till just before leaving England, when +my old school-fellow, Lockhart, who went as a cadet to the East, +called on me--reminded me of our old whimsical friend--and related +his tragic death. + +"Lockhart says that one day he and some mutual friends, persuaded +Featherstone to accompany them into the interior of the country, to +enjoy the diversion of a boar hunt. + +"They had had good sport, and were returning homewards, when they +suddenly came on a party of natives, headed by the Rajah. + +"They were mounted on elephants, and surrounding a jungle, in which, as +some sepoys had reported, lay a tiger. + +"You know Lockhart's manner--animated and enthusiastic--making one see +the scene he is describing. + +"I will try and clothe the rest of the story in his own words, although I +can hardly hope it will make the same impression on you, that its +recital did on me. + +"'Well, Sir! we all said we would see the sport--all but +Featherstone--who said something about coming on. + +"'We were engaged to dine with Sir John M----, who was in that part of +the world, on some six-and-eightpenny mission about indigo. + +"'The beaters went in, firing and shouting--intending to make him break +towards the hunting party. + +"'We all drew up on one side, to be in view, but out of the way; +Featherstone was next me. He suddenly grasped my arm, and pointed to the +jungle, his teeth chattering--his face ashy pale. I turned and saw the +tiger!--a splendid beast--certainly! + +"'He seemed not to notice us, and stalked on with an innocent yep! yep! +like a sick hound's, more than anything else. + +"'Suddenly his eye caught us, and flashed fire. At the first view, he +crouched to the earth, then came on us, bounding like a tost foot-ball. +More magnificent leaps I never beheld! We were struck dumb--but +fired--and turned our horses' heads!--all but Featherstone. + +"'I shall remember the tones of his voice to my dying hour. + +"'"The cat! Lockhart! the cat!" + +"'I don't know whether his horse refused the spur--or whether the rider's +nerve was gone: but neither appeared to make an effort, till the animal +was close on them. + +"'The horse gave one plunge--and had hardly recovered his feet, when down +went horse and rider. + +"'Featherstone gave a piercing scream! Some of the sepoys were by this +time up--and fired. + +"'The tiger trailed off--the blood spouting down his striped side. + +"'We came up--it was all over! + +"'The first stroke of that terrific paw had laid the unfortunate man's +scull bare. On his shoulder, were the marks of the animal's teeth. + +"'The horse was still writhing in agony. One of my pistols relieved him. + +"'We bore Featherstone to the nearest cantonment, and buried him there.'" + +"How terrible!" said Acme, as she gave a slight shudder. "Englishmen are +generally more sceptical on these points than we are; and disbelieve +supernatural appearances, which we are accustomed to think are not +unfrequent. I could tell you many stories, which, in my native island, +were believed by our enemies the Turks, as well as by ourselves: but if +you would like it, I will tell you a circumstance that occurred to +myself, the reality of which I dare not doubt. + +"You have often, Giorgio! heard me revert with pain, to the horrible +scene which took place, on the recapture of our little isle by the +infidel Turks; when my family were massacred, and only poor Acme left to +tell their tale." + +Here the young bride put her handkerchief to her face, and wept +bitterly. George put his arm round her and soothed her. She continued +her narrative. + +"You know my escape, and how I was sent to a kinsman, who had promised +to have me sent to my kind friends in Malta. He was a Corfuote, and it +was in Corfu I remained for a long--a very long time--and there first +met my dear friend, Zoee Scalvo-Forressi. I was then very young. We lived +in the Campagna--about four miles from each other. + +"We had both our Greek ponies, and used often to pass the evenings +together; and at length knew our road so well, that often it was night +before we parted. + +"One night, we had been singing together at her house, and it was later +than usual when I cantered home. + +"About four months had elapsed previous to my landing in Corfu, and I had +been eight months there; although at the time, I paid little attention +to these circumstances. + +"My road lay through an olive grove. I had arrived in its centre, where +a small knoll stretched away on my right; on whose summit, was a white +Greek monastery, backed by some dark cypress trees. + +"The moon was shining brightly--dancing on the silver side of the olive +trees--and illuminating the green sward. + +"This was smooth and verdant. + +"My spirits were more than usually buoyant, when suddenly my pony +stopped. + +"I could not conceive the reason. + +"I looked before me. Immediately in front of me, was the shattered trunk +of an old olive tree--it had been blasted by lightning--and sitting +quietly at its foot--I saw my own mother, Giorgio! as clearly as I see +you now. I could not be mistaken. She wore the same embroidered vest and +Albanian shawl, as when I had last seen her. + +"She conversed with me calmly for many minutes, and--which surprised me +much at the time--I felt no dread, and asked her and answered many +questions. + +"She told me I should die early, in a foreign land; and many--many more +things, which I dare not repeat; for I cannot contemplate the +possibility of their being true. + +"At the time, I told you I felt composed: without any sense of alarm +or surprise. For many days afterwards, however, I never left my bed +of sickness. + +"I told my kinsman all the circumstances, and he discovered beyond a +doubt, that it was on that very day, the twelve-month previous, that my +poor mother had been murdered." + +Sir Henry and George tried to smile at Acme's story, and account for +what she had seen;--but her manner was so impressive, and her ingenious +reasonings--delivered in the most earnest tone--seemed to confute so +entirely all their speculations, that they were at length content to +deem it "wondrous strange." + +In the best and wisest of us, there is such a tendency to believe in a +mysterious link, connecting the living and the departed; that a story +of this nature, in exciting our feelings, serves to paralyse our +reasoning faculties, and leaves us half converts, to the doctrines that +we faintly combat. + +They looked forth again on the scene. The mountains of Calabria were +frowning on them. The village was far behind--and not a straggling light +marked its situation. + +Numberless stars were reflected on the glassy water, whose serenity was +no longer ruffled by wing of sea bird, which long ere now had returned +to its "wave girded nest." + +Our party and the watch were the only lingerers on deck. + +George wrapped Acme's silk cloak around her, and then carefully assisted +her in her descent to the cabin. + + + + +Chapter XX. + +The Mad House. + + + "And see the mind's convulsion leave it weak." + + +The land breeze continued to freshen, and the first dawn of morning saw +our party on deck, scanning with near view, the opposite coasts of +Sicily and Italy, as their vessel glided through the Faro of Messina. + +Some pilot boats,--how unlike those which greet the homeward-bound +voyager, as he first hails Britain's chalky cliffs--crowded around the +vessel, offering their services to guide it through the strait. + +Avarice--one incentive to language--had endowed these Sicilian mariners +with a competent knowledge of English, which they dealt out +vociferously. + +As the Captain made his selection, the rejected candidates failed not +to use that familiar English salam; half the gusto of which is lost, +when used by foreign lip. + +On the Calabrian coast, the sea-port town of Reggio wore an unusual air +of bustle and animation. + +It was a festa day there; and groups of peasants, in many-coloured +costumes, paced up and down the mole; emitting that joyous hum, which +is the never-failing concomitant of a happy crowd. Passing through +the Faro, the vessel's course lay by the northern coast of Sicily. +The current and wind were alike favourable, as it swept on by Melazzo +and Lascari. + +Etna, towering over the lesser mountains, became once more visible; its +summit buried in the clouds of heaven. + +On the right, a luminous crimson ring revealed Stromboli, whose fitful +volcano was more than usually active. + +The following day our party arrived at Palermo. So pleasurable had been +their voyage, that it was with a feeling akin to regret, that they heard +the rumbling chains of the anchor, rush through the hawse-hole, as +their vessel took her station in the bay. + +After going through those wearisome forms, which a foreign sea-port +exacts; and which appear purposely intended, to temper the rapture of +the sea-worn voyager, as he congratulates himself on once more treading +terra firma; our party found themselves the inmates of the English +hotel; and spent the remainder of the day in engaging a cicerone, and in +discussing plans for the morrow. + +The morrow came--sunny and cloudless--and the cicerone bowed to the +ground, as he opened the door of the commodious fiacre. + +"Where shall I drive to, Sir?" + +"What were our plans, George?" said Sir Henry. + +"I think," replied George, "that we only formed one plan to change it +for another. Let the cicerone decide for us." + +_He,_ nothing loath, accepted the charge; and taking his station on the +box of the carriage, directed the driver. + +The carriage first stopped before a large stone building. The bell was +rung--a veteran porter presented himself--and our party entered the +court yard. + +"What place is this?" said Delme. + +"This," rejoined his guide, with the true cicerone fluency, "is the +famous lunatic asylum, instituted by the illustrious Baron Pisani. This, +gentlemen, is the Baron!" + +Here a benevolent-looking little man with a large nose, took off his +hat. + +"So much approved of was his beneficent design, that our noble King, and +our paternal Government, have not only adopted it; but have graciously +permitted the Baron, to continue to preside over that institution, which +he so happily commenced, and which he so refulgently adorns." + +During this announcement, the Baron's face flushed with a simple, but +honest pride. + +These praises did not to him appear exaggerated; for his intentions had +been of the purest, and in this institution was his whole soul wrapt up. +Acme became somewhat pale, as she heard where they were, and looked +nervously at George; who could not forbear smiling, as he begged they +would be under no apprehensions. + +"Yes! gentlemen," said the Baron, "circumstances in early life made me +regard mental disease as the most fearful of all. I observed its victims +struggling between reason and insanity; goaded on by the ignorance of +empirics, and the harsh treatment of those about them, until light fled +the tortured brain, and madness directed its every impulse. You, +gentlemen, are English travellers, I perceive! In _your_ happy land, +where generosity and wealth go hand in hand, there are, I doubt not, +many humane institutions, where those, who--bowed down by misfortunes, +or preyed on by disease--have lost the power to take care of themselves, +may find a home, where they may be anxiously tended, and carefully +provided for. + +"Here we knew not of such things. + +"I have said, gentlemen, that chance made me feel a deep interest in +these unfortunates. I sunk the greater part of my fortune, in +constructing this mansion, trusting that the subscriptions of +individuals, would enable me to prosecute the good work. + +"In this I was disappointed; but our worthy Viceroy, who took an interest +in my plans, laid the matter before the Government, which--as Signer +Guiseppe observes--has not only undertaken to support my asylum, but +also permits me to preside over the establishment. _That_, gentlemen, is +my apartment, with the mignionette boxes in front, and without iron bars +in the window; though indeed these very bars are painted, at my +suggestion, such a delicate green, that you might not have been aware +that they were such. + +"This is our first chamber--cheerful and snug. Here are the patients +first brought. We indulge them in all their caprices, until we are +enabled to decide with certainty, on the fantasy the brain has conjured +up. From this room, we take them to the adjacent bed-room, where we +administer such remedies as we think the best fitted to restore reason. + +"If these fail, we apportion the patient a cell, and consider the case as +beyond our immediate relief. We cure, on an average, two-thirds of the +cases forwarded to us; and there have been instances of the mind's +recovering its tone, after a confinement of some years." + +"How many inmates have you in the asylum at present?" said Acme. + +"One hundred and thirty-six, eighty-six of whom are males. These are our +baths, to which they are daily taken; this the refectory; this the +parlatorio, where they see their friends; and now, if the lady is not +afraid, we will descend to the court yard, and see my charges." + +"There is no fear?" said George. + +"Not in the least. Our punishment is so formidable, that few will incur +it by being refractory." + +"What! then you are obliged to punish them?" said Acme, with a shudder. + +"Sometimes, but not often. I will show you what our punishment consists +in. You see this room without furniture! Observe the walls and floor; +and even the door as it closes. All these are carefully stuffed; and if +you walk across the room, there is no sound. + +"We cautiously search violent lunatics; who are then dressed in a plain +flannel suit, and left alone. It is seldom we have occasion to retain +them longer than twenty-four hours. They soon find they cannot injure +themselves; their most violent efforts cannot elicit a sound. Their +minds become calmed; and when released, they are perfectly quiet, and +generally inclined to melancholy." + +They descended to the court yard, set apart for the men. Its inmates +were pacing it hurriedly; some jabbering to themselves; others with +groups round them, to whom they addressed some quickly delivered jargon. +With one or two exceptions, all noticed the entrance of the strangers; +and some of them bowed to them, with mock gravity. One man, who wore an +old cocked hat with a shabby feather, tapped Sir Henry on the shoulder. + +"Vous me reconnaissez--Napoleon! votre Empereur!" + +He wheeled round, and called for his Mamelukes. + +The next moment, a young and interesting looking person came forward, +the tears standing in his, eyes, and extended his hand to Acme. + +"Give me yours," said he, "as a great favour. I was a painter once in +Naples--and I went to Rome--and I loved Gianetta Cantieri!" + +A more ludicrous incident now occurred. At and since their entrance, +our party had heard what seemed the continued bark of a dog. A man on +all fours came forward from behind a group, and with unmeaning face, +and nostril snuffing up the wind, imitated to perfection the deep bay +of a mastiff. + +"That man's peculiarity," observed the Baron, "is an extraordinary one. +He had a cottage near Catania, and had saved some little wealth. His +house was one night robbed of all it contained. This misfortune preyed +on the man's reason, and he now conceives himself a watch dog. He knows +the step of every inmate of the asylum, and only barks at strangers." + +From the male court yard, the Baron ushered them to the female, where +insanity assumed a yet more melancholy shape. + +A pale-faced maniac, with quivering frame, and glaring eye-balls, +continued to cry, in a low and piteous tone, "Murder! murder!! +murder!!!" + +One woman, reclining on the cold pavement, dandled a straw, and called +it her sweet child; while another hugged a misshapen block of wood to +her bared breast, and deemed it her true love. + +A third was on her knees, and at regular intervals, bent down her +shrivelled body, and devoured the gravel beneath her. + +Acme was happy to leave the scene, and move towards the garden; which +was extensive, and beautifully laid out. + +As they turned down one of the alleys, they encountered five or six men, +drawn up in line, and armed with wooden muskets. + +In front stood Napoleon, who, with stentorian voice, gave the word to +"present arms!" then dropping his stick, and taking off his hat to +Delme, began to converse familiarly with him, as with his friend Emperor +Alexander, as to the efficiency of Poniatowski and his Polish lancers. + +"Poor fellow!" said the Baron, as they moved on. "Never was insanity +more harmless! He was once brigade major to Murat. This is his hour for +exercise. Exactly at two, he goes through the scene of Fontainbleau, +What will appear to you extraordinary is, that over the five or six men +you saw around him, whose madness has been marked by few distinguishing +traits, he has gradually assumed a superiority, until they now believe +him to be, in reality, the Emperor he so unconsciously personates." + +In the garden, which was of considerable size, were placed a number of +swings and whirligigs, in full motion and occupancy. + +On a stuccoed wall, were represented grotesque figures of animals +dancing; opposite to which, one of Terpsichore's votaries, with a +paper cap on his head, shaped like a pyramid, was executing agile +capers, whose zeal of purpose would have found infinite favour in the +eyes of Laporte. + +Having explored the garden, Delme accompanied the Baron to a small room, +where the sculls of the deceased maniacs were ranged on shelves, with a +small biographical note attached to each; and heard with attention, the +old man's energetic reasoning, as to these fully demonstrating the truth +of Spurzheim's theory. + +Acme, meantime, remained on George's arm, talking to a girl of +thirteen, who had been selected to conduct them to the carriage. + +They entered their names in a book at the lodge, and then, turning to +the benevolent director, paid him some well deserved compliments, for +which he bowed low and often. + +The young girl, who had been conversing most rationally with Acme, moved +forward, and made a signal for the carriage to drive up. + +She was a fair-haired gentle-looking creature, with quiet eye, and +silvery voice. She assisted Acme to step into the carriage, who +dropped a piece of silver into her hand, for which she gave a sweet +smile and a curtsey. + +She stood a moment motionless. Suddenly her eye lighted up--she darted +into the carriage, and clapped her hands together joyfully. + +"Viva! viva! we shall soon be home at Trapani!" + +The tears sprang to the eyes of the young Greek. + +Even the driver and cicerone were moved. + +Acme took some flowers from her zone--kissed her cheek--and tried to +change the current of her thoughts; but it was not till the driver +promised he would call again, at the same hour the following day, that +she consented with a sigh to relinquish her journey home. + +From the Lunatic Asylum, our party adjourned to the Duomo, and beheld +the coffin, where the revered body of the Palermitan Saint, attracts +many a devout Catholic. + +Sweet Rosalia! thy story is a pretty one--thy festa beauteous--the +fireworks in thy honour most bright. No wonder the fair Sicilians adore +thy memory. + +In the cool of the evening, our travellers drove to the Marina; where +custom--the crowded assemblage--and the grateful sea breeze--nightly +attract the gay inhabitants of Palermo. + +The carriages, with their epauletted chasseurs, swept on in giddy +succession, and made a scene quite as imposing as is witnessed in most +European capitals. + +Delme did not think it advisable, to remain too long in the metropolis +of Sicily; and the travellers contented themselves, with the +sight-seeing of the immediate neighbourhood. + +They admired the mosaics of the Chiesa di Monte Reale; and fed the +pheasants, at that beautiful royal villa, well styled "the Favourite." +They took a boat to witness the tunny fishery; and Sir Henry explored +alone the vast catacombs--that city of the dead. + +After a few days thus passed--the weather continuing uncommonly +fine--they did not hesitate to engage one of the small vessels of the +place, to convey them to Naples. + +After enjoying their evening drive as usual, they embarked on board the +Sparonara, one fine starry night, in order to get the full advantage of +the favouring night breeze. + + + +End of the First Volume. + + + +A Love Story + +by + +A Bushman. + +Vol. II. + + + "My thoughts, like swallows, skim the main, + And bear my spirit back again + Over the earth, and through the air, + A wild bird and a wanderer." + + +1841. + + + + +A Love Story. + + + +Chapter I. + +Naples. + + + + "And be it mine to muse there, mine to glide + From day-break when the mountain pales his fire, + Yet more and more, and from the mountain top, + Till then invisible, a smoke ascends, + Solemn and slow." + + "Vedi Napoli! e poi muori!" + + +Memory! beloved memory! to us thou art as hope to other men. The +present--solitary, unexciting--where are its charms? The future hath no +joys in store for us; and may bereave us of some of the few faint +pleasures that still are ours. + +What then is left us--old before our time--but to banquet on the past? + +Memory! thou art in us, as the basil of the enamoured +Florentine. [Footnote 1: See Keats' poem taken from Boccaccio.] Thy +blossoms, thy leaves,--green, fresh, and fragrant,--draw their nurture, +receive their every colouring, from what was dearest to us on earth. And +are they not watered by our tears? + +The poet tells us-- + + "Nessun maggior dolore + Che ricordarsi del tempo felice + Nella miseria." + +But it is not so. Where is he of the tribe of the unfortunate, who would +not gladly barter the contemplation of present wretchedness, for the +remembrance, clogged as it is by a thousand woes, of a time when joyous +visions flitted across life's path? + +Yes! though the contrast, the succeeding moment, should cut him to the +soul. + +But + + "Joy's recollection is no longer joy, + Whilst sorrow's memory is a sorrow still." + +Ah! there's the rub! yet, better to think it _was_ joy, than gaze unveiled +on the cold reality around; than view the wreck--the grievous wreck--a +few short years have made. + +We care not,--and, alas! to such as we have in our mind's eye, these are +the only cases allowed,--we care not! whether rapture has been succeeded +by apathy, or whether the feelings continue as deeply enlisted--the +thoughts as intensely concentrated;--but--in the servitude of despair! + +And again we say--gentle memory! let us dream over our past joys! ay! and +brood over our sorrows--undeserved--as in this hour of solitude, we may +justly deem them. + +Yes! let us again live over our days of suffering, and deem it wiser to +steep our soul in tears, than let it freeze with an iced coating of cynic +miscalled philosophy. + +And shall adversity--that touchstone--softened as our hearts shall thus +be--shall it pass over us, and improve us not? + +No! it has purifying and cleansing qualities; and for us, it has them +not in vain. + +We are not dust, to be more defiled by water; nor are we as the turbid +stream, which passing over driven snow, becomes more impure by the +close contact. + +Thee, Mnemosyne! let us still adore; content rather to droop, fade, and +die--martyrs to thee! than linger on as beasts of the forest, that know +thee not. No hope may be ours to animate the future: let us still cling to +thee, though thine influence sadden the past. + +Away! we are on the placid sea! and Naples lies before us. + +The sun had just risen from ocean's bed, attired in his robe of gold; as +our travellers watched from the deck of their Sparonara, to catch the +first view of the "garden of the world," as the Neapolitans fondly style +their city, + +A dim haze was abroad, the mists were slowly stealing up the mountains, as +their vessel glided on; a light breeze anon filling its canvas, then dying +away, and leaving the sails to flap against the loosened cordage. + +On their left, extended the charming heights of Posilipo---the classic +site of Baia--Pozzuoli--Nisida--and Ischia, to be reverenced for its wine. + +On their right, Capra's isle and Portici--and Vesuvius--wreathed in +vapour, presented themselves. + +As their vessel held on her way, Naples became visible--its turrets capt +by a solitary cloud, which had not yet acknowledged the supremacy of the +rising deity. + +The effulgence of the city was dimmed, but it was lovely still,--as a +diamond, obscured by a passing breath; or woman's eye, humid from +pity's tear. + +"And this," said Sir Henry, for it happened that his travels in Italy had +not extended so far south, "this is Naples! and this sea view the second +finest in the world!" + +"Which is the first?" said Acme, laughing, "not in England, I trust; for +we foreigners do not invest your island with beauty's attributes." + +"My dear Acme!" replied Sir Henry, somewhat gravely, "I trust the day may +arrive, when you will deem Delme Park, with its mansion bronzed by +time--its many hillocks studded with ancient trees--its glistening brook, +and hoary gateways--its wooded avenue, where the rooks have built for +generations--its verdant glades, where the deer have long found a +home:--when you will consider all these, as forming as fair a prospect, as +ever eye reposed on. But I did not allude at the time to England; but to +the Turkish capital. George! I remember your glowing description of your +trip in Mildmay's frigate, up the Dardanelles. What comparison would you +make between the two scenes?" + +"I confess to have been much disappointed," replied George, "in my first +view of Stamboul; and even the beauty of the passage to the Dardanelles, +seemed to me to have been exaggerated. But what really _did_ strike me, as +being the most varied, the most interesting scenery I had ever witnessed, +was that which greeted us, on an excursion we made in a row boat, from the +Bosphorus into the Black Sea. + +"There all my floating conceptions of Oriental luxury, and of Moslem pomp, +were more than realised. + +"The elegant kiosks--the ornamented gardens--the pinnacled harems, the +entrance to which lofty barriers jealously guarded--the number of the +tombs in their silent cities---gave an intense interest to the Turkish +coast;--while sumptuous barges, filled with veiled women, swept by us, and +gave a fairy charm to the sea. On our return, we were nearly lost from our +ignorance of the current, which is rapid and dangerous." + +"Well! I am glad to hear such a smiling account of Stamboul," rejoined +Acme. "My feelings regarding it have been quite Grecian. It has always +been to me a sort of Ogre city." + +The breeze began to freshen, and the vessel made way fast. + +As they neared the termination of their voyage, some church, or casino +bedecked with statues, or fertile glen, whose sides blushed with the +luscious grape, opened at every instant, and drew forth their admiration. + +Their little vessel swung to her anchor. + +The busy hum of the restless inhabitants, and the joyous toll of the +churches, announcing one of the never-failing Neapolitan processions, was +borne on the breeze. + +The whole party embarked for the quarantine office, and--once authorised +to join the throng of Naples--soon found themselves in the Strada Toledo, +moving towards the Santa Lucia. + +Their hotel was near the mole; its windows commanding an extensive view of +the purple sea, beyond which the eye took in the changeful volcano; and +many a vista--sunny, smiling, and beauteous enough, for the exacting fancy +of an Englishman, who conjures up for an Italian landscape, marble-like +villas--and porticoes, where grapes cluster, in festoons of the +vine--heaving mountains--a purple sky--faces bronzed, but oh how +fair!--and song, revelry, and grace. + +But what struck Acme, and even Sir Henry, who was more inured to the whirl +of cities, as the characteristical feature of Naples, was its moving life. +In the streets, there was an incessant bustle from morning until midnight. +Each passer by wore an air of importance, almost amounting to a +consciousness of happiness. There was fire in the glance--speech in the +action--on the lip a ready smile. + +In no city of Italy, does care seem more misplaced. The noble rolls on in +his vehicle on the Corso, with features gay and self-possessed; while the +merry laugh of the beggar--as he feasts on the lengthened honors of his +Macaroni--greets the ear at every turn. Stray not there! oh thou with brow +furrowed by anguish! + +If thy young affections have been blighted--if hope fondly indulged, be +replaced by despair--if feelings that lent their roseate hue, to the +commonest occurrences of life, now darken every scene--if thou knowest +thyself the accessary to this, thy misery, stray not in Naples, all too +joyous for thee! + +Rather haunt the shrines of the world's ancient mistress! Perchance the +sunken pillar--and the marble torso--and the moss-grown edifice--and the +sepulchre, with the owl as tenant--and the thought that the great, the +good, and the talented, who reared these fading monuments--are silent and +mouldering below: mayhap these things will speak to thy heart, and repress +the full gush of a sorrow that may not be controlled! And if--the martyr +to o'er-sicklied refinement--to sentiment too etherialised for the world, +where God hath placed thee--ideal woes have stamped a wrinkle on the brow, +and ideal dreams now constitute thy pleasure and thy bane: for such as +thou art! living on feeling's excess--soaring to rapture's heights--or +sinking to despair's abyss--Naples is not fitting! + +Visit the city of the sea! there indulge thy shapeless imaginings--with no +sound to break thy day dreams--save the shrill cry of the gondolier, and +the splash of his busy oar. + +The young Greek, Delme, and George, were soon immersed in the round of +sight seeing. + +Visits to the ancient palace of Queen Joanna--to the modern villa of the +Margravine--to the Sibyl's Cave, and to Maro's Tomb--to _some_ sites that +owed their interest to classic associations--to _others_ that claimed it +from present beauty--wiled away days swiftly and pleasurably. + +What with youth, change of scene, and an Italian sky, George was no +longer an invalid. His eye wore neither the film of apathy, nor the +unnatural flush of delirium; but smiled its happiness on all, and beamed +its love on Acme. + +One night they were at the Fondo, and after listening delightedly to +Lalande, and following with quick glance, the rapid movements of the agile +ballerina, and after George had been honoured by a bow--which greatly +amused Acme--from the beautiful princess; who, poor girl! _then_ felt a +penchant for Englishmen, which she failed not to avow from her opera +box--the party agreed to walk home to the hotel. On their way, they turned +into a coffee-room to take ice. + +The fluent waiter prattled over his catalogue; and Acme selected his +"sorbetto Maltese," because the name reminded her of the loved island. + +Leaving the coffee-room, they were accosted by a driver of one of the +public coaches. + +"Now, Signore! just in time for Vesuvius! See the sun rise! superb sight! +elegant carriage!" + +"Do let us go!" said Acme, clapping her hands with youthful enthusiasm. + +"No, no! my dear!" said Sir Henry, "we must not think of it! you would be +so tired." + +"No, no! you do not know how strong I am; and I intend sleeping on +George's shoulder all the way--and we are all in such high spirits--and +these improvised excursions you yourself granted were always best--and +besides, you know we must always start at this hour, if we expect to see +the sunrise from the mountain. What do _you_ say, Giorgio?" + +The discussion ended, by the driver taking the direction of the hotel; +whence, after making arrangements as to provisions and change of dress, +the party started for the mountain. + +The warm cheek of Acme was reposing on that of her husband; and the wanton +night air was disporting with her wavy tresses, as the loud halloo of the +driver, warned them that they were in Portici, and in the act of arousing +Salvador, the guide to the mountain. After some short delay, they procured +mules. Each brother armed himself with a long staff, and leaving the +carriage, they wended their way towards the Hermitage. + +It was a clear night. The moon was majestically gliding on her path, +vassalled by myriads of stars. + +There was something in the hour--and the scene--and the novelty of the +excursion--that enjoined silence. + +Arrived at the Hermitage, the party dismounted. Acme clung to the strap, +fastened round their guide, and they commenced the ascent. In a short +time, they had manifest proofs of their vicinity to the volcano. The +ashy lava gave way at each footstep, and it was only by taking short and +quick steps, and perseveringly toiling on, that they were enabled to +make any progress. + +More than once, was Acme inclined to stop, and take breath, but the guide +assured them they were already late, and that they would only just be in +time for the sunrise. + +As the last of the party reached the summit, the sun became +perceptible--and rose in glory indescribable. The scene afar how gorgeous! +around them how grand! + +Panting from their exertions, they sat on a cloak of Salvador's, and gazed +with astonishment at the novelties bursting on the eye. + +Each succeeding moment, gusts of flame issued forth from the crater. + +They looked down on the bason, above which they were. From a conical +pyramid of lava, were emitted volumes of smoke, which rolled up to heaven +in rounded and fantastic shapes of beauty. Below, a deep azure--above, of +a clear amber hue--the clouds wreathed and ascended majestically, as if +in time to the rumbling thunder--the accompaniments of nature's +subterraneous throes. + +Their fatigues were amply repaid. Sir Henry's curiosity was aroused, and +he descended with the guide to the crater. George and Acme, delighted with +the excursion, remained on the summit, partaking of Salvador's provisions. + +The descent they found easy and rapid; the lava now assisting, as much as +it had formerly impeded them. + +At Portici, Salvador introduced them to his apartment, embellished with +specimens of lava. They purchased some memorials of their visit--partook +of some fruit--and, after rewarding the guide, they returned to Naples. + +Another of their excursions, and it is one than which there are few more +interesting, was to that city--which, like the fabulous one of the eastern +tale, rears its temples, but there are none to worship; its theatres, but +there are none to applaud; its marble statues, where are the eyes that +should dwell on them with pride? Its mansions are many--its walls and +tesselated pavements, show colours of vivid hue, and describe tales +familiar from our boyhood. The priest is at his altar--the soldiers in +their guard-room--the citizen in his bath. It is indeed difficult, as our +step re-echoes through the silent streets, to divest ourselves of the +impression, that we are wandering where the enchanter's wand has been all +powerful, that he has waved it, and lo! the city sleeps for a season, +until some event shall have been fulfilled. + +Our party were in the Via Appia of Pompeii, when Acme turned aside, to +remark one tomb more particularly. It was an extensive one, surrounded +with a species of iron net work, through which might be seen ranges of red +earthen vases. Acme turned to the custode, and asked if this was the +burial place of some noble family. + +"No! Signora! this is where the ashes of the gladiators are preserved." + +From the Appian Way, they entered through the public gate; and passing +many shops, whose signs yet draw notice, if they no longer attract custom, +they came to the private houses, and entered one--that called +Sallust's--for the purpose of a more minute inspection. + +"Nothing appears to be more strange," said George, "on looking at these +frescoed paintings, and on such mosaics as we have yet seen; than the +extraordinary familiarity of their subjects. + +"There are many depicted on these walls, and I do not think, Henry, _we_ +are first rate classics;--and yet it would be difficult to puzzle us, in +naming the story whence these frescoes have their birth. Look at this +Latona--and Leda--and the Ariadne abbandonata--and this must certainly be +the blooming Hebe. Ah! and look at this little niche! This grinning little +deity--the facsimile of an Indian idol--must express their idea of the +Penates. Strange! is it not?" + +"But are you not," rejoined Sir Henry, "somewhat disappointed in the +dwelling-houses? This seems one of the most extensive, and yet, how +diminutive the rooms! and how little of attraction in the whole +arrangement, if we except this classic fountain. + +"This I think is a proof, that the ancient Romans must have chiefly passed +their day abroad--in the temples--the forum--or the baths--and have left +as home tenants none but women, and those unadorned with the toga virilis. + +"These habits may have tended to engender a manlier independence; and +to impart to their designs a loftier spirit of enterprise. What say +you, Acme?" + +"I might perhaps answer," replied Acme, "that the happiness gained, is +well worth the glory lost. But I must not fail to remind you, that--grand +as this nation must have been--my poor fallen one was its precursor--its +tutor--and its model." + +Hence they wandered to the theatre--the forum--the pantheon--and +amphitheatre:--which last, from their converse in the earlier part of the +day--fancy failed not to fill with daring combatants. As the guide +pointed out the dens for the wild beasts--the passages through which they +came--and the arena for the combat--Sir Henry, like most British +travellers, recalled the inimitable story of Thraso, and his lion fight. +[Footnote: In Valerius.] + +The following day was devoted to the Studio, and to the inspection of the +relics of Pompeii. + +These relics, interesting as they are, yet convey a melancholy lesson to +the contemplative mind. Each modern vanity here has its parallel--each +luxury its archetype. Here may be found the cameoed ring--and the signet +seal--and the bodkin--and paint for the frail one's cheek--a cuirass, that +a life guardsman might envy--weights--whose elegance of shape charm the +eye. Not an article of modern convenience or of domestic comfort, that has +not its representative. They teach us the trite French lesson. + + "L'histoire se repete." + +With the exception of these two excursions, and one to Poestum; our +travellers passed their mornings sight-seeing in Naples, and chiefly at +the Studio, whose grand attraction is the thrilling group of the +Taureau Farnese. + +In the cool of the evening, until twilight's hour was past, they drove +into the country, or promenaded in the gardens of the Villa Reale, to the +sound of the military band. + +Each night they turned their footsteps towards the Mole; where they +embarked on the unruffled bay. To a young and loving heart--the heart of a +bride--no pleasure can equal that, of being next the one loved best on +earth--at night's still witching hour. The peculiar scenery of Naples, yet +more enhances such pleasure. + +Elsewhere night may boast its azure vault and its silver stars. Cynthia +may ride the heavens in majesty--the water may be serene--and the heart +attuned to the night's beauty:--but from the _land_, if discernible--we +can rarely expect much addition to the charms of the scene, and can never +expect it to form its chief attraction. At Naples it is otherwise. + +Our eyes turn to the Volcano, whose flame, crowning the mountain's summit, +crimsons the sky. + +We watch with undiminished interest, its fitful action--now bursting out +brilliantly--now fading, as if about to be extinguished for ever. Seated +beside George, and thus gazing, what pleasure was Acme's! We need not say +time flew swiftly. Never did happiness meet with more ardent votary than +in that young bride--or find a more ready mirror, on which to reflect her +beaming attributes--than on the features of that bride's husband. + +Their swimming eyes would fill with tears--and their voices sink to the +lowest whisper. + +Sir Henry rarely interrupted their converse; but leant his head on the +boat's side, and thoughtfully gazed on the placid waters, till he almost +deemed he saw reflected on its surface, the face of one, in whose society +_he_ felt he too might be blest. + +But these fancies would not endure long. Delme would quickly arouse +himself; and, warned by the lateness of the hour, and feeling the +necessity that existed, for his thinking for the all-engrossed pair, would +order the rowers to direct the boat's course homewards. + +Returned to their hotel, it may be that orisons more heavenward, have +issued from hearts more pure. + +Few prayers more full of gratitude, have been whispered by earthly +lips, than were breathed by George and his young wife in the solitude +of their chamber. + +How often is such uncommon happiness as this the precursor of evil! + + + + +Chapter II. + +The Doctor. + + + + "Son port, son air de suffisance, + Marquent dans son savoir sa noble confiance. + Dans les doctes debats ferme et rempli de coeur, + Meme apres sa defaite il tient tete an vainqueur. + Voyez, pour gagner temps, quelles lenteurs savantes, + Prolongent de ses mots les syllabes trainantes! + Tout le monde l'admire, et ne peut concevoir + Que dans un cerveau seul loge tant de savoir." + + +It was soon after the excursion to Poestum, that a packet of letters +reached the travellers from Malta. These letters had been forwarded from +England, on the intelligence reaching Emily, of George's intended +marriage. They had been redirected to Naples, by Colonel Vavasour, and +were accompanied by a few lines from himself. + +In Sir Henry's communication with his sister, he had prudently thrown a +veil, over the distressing part of George's story, and had dwelt warmly, +on the beauty and sweetness of temper of Acme Frascati. He could hardly +hope that the proposed marriage, would meet with the entire approval of +those, to whom he addressed himself. + +The letters in reply, however, only breathed the affectionate overflowings +of kind hearts. Mrs. Glenallan sent her motherly blessing to George; and +Emily, in addition to a long communication to her brother, wrote to Acme +as to a beloved sister; begging her to hasten George's return to England, +that they might meet one, in whom they must henceforward feel the +liveliest interest. + +"How kind they all are," said George. "I only wish we _were_ with them." + +"And so do I," said Acme. "How dearly I shall love them all." + +"George!" said Sir Henry, abruptly, "do you know, I think it is quite time +we should move farther north. The weather is getting most oppressive; and +we have nearly exhausted the lions of Naples." + +"With all my heart," replied George. "I am ready to leave it whenever +you please." + +On Sir Henry's considering the best mode of conveyance, it occurred to +him, that some danger might arise from the malaria of the Pontine marshes; +and indeed, Rome and its environs were represented, at that time, as being +by no means free from this unwelcome visitant. + +Sir Henry enquired if there were any English physicians resident in +Naples; and having heard a high eulogium passed by the waiter, on a Doctor +Pormont, "who attended the noble Consul, and my Lord Rimington," ventured +to enclose his card, with a note, stating that he would be glad of five +minutes' conversation with that gentleman. + +In a short time, Doctor Pormont was introduced. + +He was a tall man, with very marked features, and a deeply furrowed brow; +whose longitudinal folds, however, seemed rather the result of thought or +of study, than of age. The length of his nose was rivalled by the width of +his mouth. When he spoke, he displayed two rows of very clean and very +regular teeth, but which individually narrowed to a sharp point, and gave +his whole features a peculiarly unpleasing expression. His voice was +husky--his manners chilling--his converse that of a pedant. + +Doctor Pormont was in many respects a singular man. From childhood, he had +been remarkable for stoicism of character. He possessed none of the weak +frailties, or gentle sympathies, which ordinarily belong to human nature. +His blood ran cold, like that of a fish. Never had he been known to lose +his equanimity of deportment. + +A species of stern principle, however, governed his conduct; and his very +absence of feeling, made him an impartial physician, and one of the most +successful anatomists of the day. + +What brought him to bustling, sunny Naples, was an unfathomed +mystery. Once there, he acquired wealth without anxiety, and patients +without friends. + +Amongst the many anecdotes, current amongst his professional brethren, as +to the blunted feelings of Doctor Pormont, was one,--related of him when +he was lecturer at a popular London institution. A subject had been +placed on the anatomist's table, for the purpose of allowing the lecturer, +to elucidate to the young students, the advantages of a post mortem +examination, in the determination of diseases. The lecturer dissected as +he proceeded, and was particularly clear and luminous. He even threw light +on the previous habits of the deceased, and showed at what period of life, +the germ of decay was probably forming. + +A friend casually enquired, as they left the lecture room, whether the +subject had been a patient of his own. + +"No!" replied the learned lecturer, "the body is that of my cousin and +schoolfellow, Harry Welborne. I attended his funeral, at some little +distance from town, a couple of days ago. My servant must have given +information to the exhumer. It is clear the body was removed from the +vault on the same evening." + +Sir Henry Delme briefly explained to Doctor Pormont, his purpose in +sending for him. He stated that he was anxious to take his advice, as to +the best mode of proceeding to Rome, and also as to the best sleeping +place for the party;--that he had a wholesome dread of the malaria, but +that one of his party being a female, and another an invalid, he thought +it might be as well to sleep one night on the road. Regarding all this, he +deferred to the advice and superior judgment of the physician. + +"Judgment," said Doctor Pormont, "is two-fold. It may be defined, either +as the faculty of arriving at the knowledge of things, which may be +effected by the synthetic or analytic method; or it may be considered as +the just perception of them, when they are fully indagated. + +"Our problem seems to resolve itself into two cases. + +"First: does malaria exist to an unusual and alarming extent, on the route +you purpose taking? + +"Secondly: the existence conceded--what is the best method to escape the +evil effects that might attend its inhibition into the human system? + +"Let us apply the synthetic method to our first case." + +The Doctor prefaced his arguments, by a long statement, as to the gradual +commencement, and progress of malaria;--showed how the atmosphere, +polluted by exhalations of water, impregnated with decaying and putrified +vegetable matter, gave forth miasmata; which he described as being +particles of poison in a volatile state. + +He alluded to the opinion held by many, that the disease owed its origin +to the ravages of the barbarians, who destroying the Roman farms and +villas, had made _desert_ what were _fertile_ regions. + +He traced it from the time of the late Roman Emperors, to that of the +dominion of the Popes, whose legislative enactments to arrest the malady, +he failed not to comment on at length. + +He explained the uncertainty which continued to exist, as to the +boundaries of the tract of country, in which the disease was rife; and +then plunged into his argument. + +George, at this crisis, quietly took the opportunity of gliding from the +room. Sir Henry stretched his legs on an ottoman, and appeared immersed in +the study of a print--the Europa of Paul Veronese--which hung over the +mantel-piece. + +"The Diario di Roma," continued the Doctor, "received this day, decidedly +states that malaria is fearfully raging on the Neapolitan road. Pray +forgive me, if I occasionally glide into the vulgar error, of confounding +the disease itself, with the causes of that disease. + +"On the other hand, a young collegian, who arrived in Naples from Rome +yesterday evening, states that he smoked and slept the whole journey, and +suffered no inconvenience whatever. + +"Here two considerations present themselves. While sleep has been +considered by the best authorities, as predisposing the human frame to +infection, by opening the pores, relaxing the integuments, and retarding +the circulation of the blood; I cannot overlook the virtues of tobacco, +narcotic--aromatic--disinfecting--as we must grant them to be. + +"Here then may I place in juxta-position, the testimony of the Diario, and +that of a young gentleman, half of his time asleep--the other half, under +the influence of the fumes of tobacco. + +"Synthetically, I opine, that we may conclude that malaria does exist, and +to a great degree, in the Campagna di Roma. Will you now allow me, to +submit the question under dispute, to the analytic process? By many, in +the present age, though not by me, it is considered the more philosophical +mode of reasoning." + +"I am extremely obliged to you, Doctor," said Sir Henry, in a quiet tone +of voice, "but you have raised the synthetic structure so admirably, +that I think that in this instance we may dispense with your analysis. +Pray proceed!" + +"Having already shown, then--although your kindness has allowed me to do +so but partially--that malaria does indeed exist, it becomes me to show, +which is the best mode of avoiding its baneful effects. + +"Injurious as are the miasmata in general, and fatal as are the effects of +that peculiar form in this country, termed malaria; the diseases they +engender, I apprehend to be rather endemic than epidemic. + +"It would be difficult to determine, to what part of the Campagna, the +disease is at present confined; but I should certainly not advise you, to +sleep within the bounds of contagion, for the predisposing effects of +sleep I have already hinted at. + +"Rapid travelling is, in my opinion, the best prophylactic I can prescribe, +as besides a certain exhilarating effect on the spirits, the swift passage +through the air, will remove any spiculae of the marsh miasmata, which may +be hovering near your persons. Air, cheerfulness, and exercise, however, +predispose to, and are the results of sleep: and to an invalid especially, +sleep is indispensable. + +"In Mr. Delme's case, therefore, I would recommend a temporary halt." + +Dr. Pormont then gave an account of the length of the stages, the nature +of the post-house accommodations, and the probable degree of danger +attached to each site. + +From all this, Delme gathered, that malaria existed to some extent, on the +line of road they were to travel--that sleep would be necessary for +George--and that, on the whole, it would be most desirable to sleep at an +inn, situated at a hamlet between Molo di Gaeta and Terracina, somewhat +removed from the central point of danger. + +But the truth is, that Sir Henry Delme was disposed to consider Dr. +Pormont, with his pomposity, and wordy arguments, as a mere superficial +thinker; and he half laughed at himself, for having ever thought it +necessary to consult him. This class of men influence less than they +ought. Sensible persons are apt to set them down, as either fools or +pedants. Their very magniloquence condemns them; for, in the present day, +it seems an axiom, that simplicity and genius are invariably allied. + +This rule, like most others, has its exceptions; and it would be well for +all of us, if we thought less of the manner, in which advice may be +delivered, and more of the matter which it may contain. + +The Doctor rose to take leave,--Sir Henry witnessed his departure with +lively satisfaction; and, with the exception of enjoying a hearty laugh, +at his expense, with George and Acme, ceased to recollect that such a +personage existed. + +Delme, however, had cause to remember that Doctor Pormont. + +Were it not so, he would not have figured in these pages. + +The last evening they were at Naples, they proceeded, as was their +custom, to the Mole; and there engaging a boat, directed it to be rowed +across the bay. + +The volcano was more than usually brilliant, and the villages at its base, +appeared as clear as at noonday. + +The water's surface was not ruffled by a ripple. A bridal party was +following in the wake of their boat--and nuptial music was floating past +them in subdued cadence. + +A nameless regret filled their minds, as they thought of the journey on +the coming morrow. They had been so happy in Naples. Could they hope to be +happier elsewhere? + +It was midnight, when they returned to the hotel. As they neared its +portico, the round cold moon fell on the forms of the lazzaroni, who were +lying in groups round the pillars. + +One of the party sprang to his feet, alarming the slumberers. The whole +of them rose with admirable cheerfulness--took off their hats +respectfully--and made way for the forestieri. + +During the momentary pause that ensued, Acme turned to the volcano, and +playfully waved her hand in token of farewell. + +Her eyes filled with tears, and she clung heavily to George's arm. + +She was doomed never to look on that scene again. + + + + +Chapter III. + +The Beginning of the End. + + + + "Thou too, art gone! thou loved and lovely one, + Whom youth and youth's affections bound to me." + + +At an early hour, rich aureate hues yet streaking the east, our party were +duly seated in a roomy carriage of Angrasani's, on their way to Rome. + +They had hopes of arriving at the capital, in time to witness that unique +sight, the illumination of Saint Peter's; a sight which few can remember, +without deeming its anticipation well worthy, to urge on the jaded +traveller, to his journey's termination. + +Who can forget the play of the fountains in front of the Vatican, the +music of whose descending water is most distinctly audible, although +crowds throng the wide and noble space. + +Breathless--silent all--is the assembled multitude, as the clock of Saint +Peter's gives its long expected signal. + +Away! darkness is light! a fairy palace springs before us! its +beautiful proportions starting into life, until the giddy brain reels, +from the excess of that splendour, on which the eye suddenly and +delightedly feasts! + +With the exception of a short halt, which afforded the travellers time for +an early dinner at the Albergo di Cicerone, which is about half a mile +from the Molo di Gaeta, they prosecuted their journey without +intermission, till arrived within sight of their resting place. + +This bore the aspect of an extensive, but dilapidated mansion, evidently +designed for some other purpose. + +Its proprietor had erected it, at a period, when malaria was either less +prevalent or less dreaded; and his descendants had quitted it, for some +more salubrious site. + +The albergo itself, occupied but a small portion of the building, +immediately on the right and left of the porch. + +The other apartments, which formed the wings, were either wholly +tenantless, or were fitted up as hay-lofts, granaries, or receptacles for +farming utensils. + +In the upper rooms, the panes of glass were broken; and the whole aspect +of the place betokened desolation and decay. + +As they drove to the door, a throng of mendicants and squalid peasants +came forth. Their faces had a cadaverous hue, which could not but be +remarked. Their eyes, too, seemed heavy, and deep set in the head; while +many had their throats bandaged, from the effects of glandular swellings, +brought on by the marshy exhalations. + +Acme threw some small pieces of Neapolitan money amongst them; and their +gratitude in consequence was boundless. + +She sprang from the carriage like a young fawn. + +"Come, come, Giorgio! look at that sweet sun-set--and at the blue clouds +edged with burnished gold! Would it not be a sin to remain in-doors on +such an evening? and besides," added she, in a whisper--"is it not a +pleasure to leave behind us these sickly faces, to muse on an Italian +landscape, and admire an Italian sky? Driver! will you order supper? We +will take a stroll while it is preparing. + +"Come! Henry! come away! do not look so grave, or you will make me think +of your amusing friend--Dr. Pormont." + +"Thompson!" said George, as the smiling bride bore off the brothers in +triumph, "do not forget your mistress' guitar case!" + +The travellers passed a paved court, in rear of the building; whence a +wicket gate admitted them to a kitchen garden, well stocked with the +requisites for an Italian salad. + +Behind this, enclosed with embankments, was a small vineyard. The vines +twined round long poles, these again being connected with thin cords, +which the tendrils were already clasping. + +Thus far, there was nothing that seemed indicative of an unwholesome +situation. As they extended their walk, however, pursuing the +continuation of the path, that had led them through the vineyard, they +arrived at the edge of a dark sluggish stream, whose surface was nearly on +a level with them; and which, gradually becoming broader, at length +emptied itself into what might be styled a wide and luxuriant marsh, which +abounded with water-fowl. This was studded with small round lakes, and +with islets of an emerald verdure. + +From the bosom of the marsh itself, rose bulrushes and pollard willows, +towered over by gigantic noisy reeds. + +The stream was thickly strewn with the pure honours of the water lily. + +If--as Eastern poets tell us--these snowy flowers bathe their charms, +when the sun is absent, but lift up their virgin heads, when he looks +down approvingly:--but that, sometimes deceived, on some peerless +damsel's approaching, they mistake her eye for their loved luminary, and +pay to her beauty an abrupt and involuntary homage:--_now_ might they +indeed gaze upward, to greet as fair a face as ever looked down on the +water they bedecked. + +They approached the edge of the marsh, and discovered a rural arbour +of faded boughs--the work of children--placed around a couple of +willow trees. + +Within it, was a rude seat; and some parasitical plant with a deep red +flower, had twined round the withered boughs, and mingled fantastically +with the dead leaves. + +Below the arbour, was a small stone embankment, which prevented the +waters from encroaching, and made the immediate site comparatively free +from dampness. + +Acme arranged her cloak--took one hand of each of the brothers in +hers--and in the exuberance of health and youth--commenced prattling in +that charming domestic strain, which only household intimacy can beget +or justify. George leant back in silence, but could have clasped her to +his heart. + +Memory! memory! who that hath a soul, cannot conjure up one such gentle +being,--while the blood for one moment responds to thy call, and rolls +through the veins with the tide of earlier and of happier days? + +At the extremity of the horizon, was a more extensive lake, than any near +them. Over this, the sun was setting; tinting its waters with a clear rich +amber, save in its centre, where, the lake serving as a halo to its glory, +a blood-red sun was vividly reflected. + +As the sun descended, one slender ray of light, came quivering and +trembling through the leaves of the arbour. + +This little incident gave rise to a thousand fanciful illustrations on the +part of Acme. Her spirits were as buoyant as a child's; and her playful +mood soon communicated itself to her travelling companions. + +They compared the solitary ray to virtue in loneliness--to the flickering +of a lamp in a tomb--to a star reflected on quicksilver--to the flash of a +sword cutting through a host of foes--and to the light of genius illuming +scenes of poverty and distress. + +Thompson made his appearance, and announced the supper as being ready. + +"This," said George, good-naturedly, "is an odd place, is it not, +Thompson? Is it anything like the Lincolnshire Fens?" + +"Not exactly, your honour!" replied the domestic, with perfect gravity, +"but there ought to be capital snipe shooting here." + +"Ah! che vero Inglese!" said the laughing Acme. + +They retraced their steps to the inn, and were ushered into the supper +room, which was neither more nor less than the kitchen, although formerly, +perhaps, the show room of the mansion. Around the deep-set fireplace, +watching the simmering of the cauldron, were grouped some peasants. + +The supper table was laid in one corner of the room; and although neither +the accommodation nor the viands were very tempting, there was such a +disposition to be happy, that the meal was as much enjoyed as if served up +in a palace. + +The repast concluded, Acme rose; and observing a countryman with his arm +bound up, enquired if he had met with an accident; and patiently listened +to the prosy narrative of age. + +An old bronzed husbandman, too, was smoking his short earthen pipe, near +the window sill. + +"What a study for Lanfranc!" said the happy wife, as she took up a burnt +stick, and sketched his dried visage to the life. + +The old man regarded his portrait on the wall, with intense satisfaction; +and commenced dilating on what he had been in youth. + +How different, thought Sir Henry, is all this from the conduct of a well +bred English girl! yet how natural and amiable does it appear in Acme! +With what an endearing manner--with what sweet frankness--does this young +foreigner wile away--what would otherwise have been--a tedious evening in +an uncomfortable inn! + +As the night advanced, George brought out the guitar; and Acme warbled to +its accompaniment like a fairy bird. + +It was a late hour, before Delme ventured to remind the songstress, that +they must prosecute their journey early on the following morning. + +"I will take your hint," said Acme, as she shook his hand, and tripped +out of the room; "buona sera! miei Signori." + +"She is a dear creature!" said Delme, + +"She is indeed!" replied his brother, "and I am a fortunate man. Henry! I +think I shall be jealous of you, one of these days. I do believe she loves +you as well as she does me!" + +The brothers retired. + +Sir Henry's repose was unbroken, until morning dawned; when George entered +his room in the greatest agitation, and with a face as pale as death, told +him Acme was ill. + +Delme arose immediately; and at George's earnest solicitation, +entered the room. + +Her left cheek, suffused with hectic, rested on one small hand. The other +arm was thrown over the bed-clothes. Her eyes sparkled like diamonds. Her +lips murmured indistinctly--the mind was evidently wandering. + +A man and horse were sent express to Naples. The whole of that weary day, +George Delme was by Acme's side, preparing cooling drinks, and vainly +endeavouring to be calm. + +As the delirium continued, she seemed to be transported to the scenes of +her early youth, + +As night wore on, the fever, if it were such, gradually increased. + +George's state of mind bordered on distraction. Sir Henry became +exceedingly alarmed, and anxious for the presence of the medical +attendant. + +At about four o'clock the following morning, Doctor Pormont was announced, + +Cold and forbidding as was his aspect, George hailed him as his tutelary +angel, and burst into tears, as he implored him to exert his skill to the +uttermost. + +The physician approached the invalid, and in a moment saw that the case +was a critical one. + +His patient was bled twice during the day, and strong opiates +administered. + +Towards evening, she slept; and awoke with restored consciousness, but +with feelings keenly alive to her own danger. + +The following night and day she lingered on, speaking but little. + +During the whole of that time, even, when she slept, George's hand +remained locked in hers. On this, her tears would sometimes fall, but +these she strove to restrain. + +To the others around her, she spoke gratefully, and with feminine +softness; but her whole heart seemed to be with George. + +Doctor Pormont, to do him justice, was unremitting in his exertions, and +hardly took rest. + +All his professional skill was called to her aid; but from the second day, +he saw it was in vain. + +The strength of the invalid failed her more and more. + +Doctor Pormont at length called Sir Henry on one side, and informed him +that he entertained no doubt of a fatal result; and recommended his at +once procuring such religious consolation as might be in his power. + +No Protestant clergyman was near at hand, even had Delme thought it +adviseable to procure one. + +But he was well aware, that however Acme might have sympathised with +George, her earlier religious impressions would now in all probability +be revived. + +A Catholic priest was sent for, and arrived quickly. He was habited in +the brown garb of his order, his waist girt with a knotted cord. He bore +in his hand the sainted pyx, and commenced to shrive the dying girl. + +It was the soft hour of sunset, and the prospect in rear of the mansion, +presented a wide sea of rich coloured splendour. + +Over the window, had been placed a sheet, in order to exclude the light +from the invalid's chamber. The priest knelt by her bedside; and folding +his hands together, began to pray. + +The rays of the setting sun, fitfully flickered on the sheet, over whose +surface, light shadows swiftly played, ever and anon glancing on the shorn +head of the kneeling friar. + +His intelligent face was expressive of firm belief. + +His eye turned reverentially to heaven, as in deep and sonorous accents, +he implored forgiveness for the sufferer, for the sins committed during +her mortal coil. + +Acme sat up in her bed. On her countenance, calm devotion seemed to usurp +the place of earthly affections, and earthly passions. + +The soul was preparing for its upward flight. Delme led away the sorrowing +husband, and the minister of Christ was left alone, to hear the contrite +outpourings of a weak departing sinner. + +The priest left the chamber, but spoke not, either to the physician, or +the expecting brothers. His impassioned glance belonged to another and a +higher world. + +He made one low obeisance--his robes swept the passage quickly--and the +Franciscan friar sought his lonely cell to reflect on death. + +The brothers re-entered. They found Acme in the attitude in which they had +left her--her features wearing an expression at once radiant and resigned. + +But--as her eye met George's--as she saw the havoc grief had already +made--the feelings of the woman resumed the mastery. + +She extended her arms--she brought his lip to hers--as if she would have +made _that_ its resting place for ever. + +Alas! an inward pang told her to be brief. She drew away her face, +crimsoned with her passion's flush--tremblingly grasped his hand---and, +with voice choked by emotion, gave her last farewell. + +"Giorgio, my dearest! my own! I shall soon join my parents. I feel +this--and my mother's words, as she met me by the olive tree, ring +in my ear. + +"She told me I should die thus; but she told me, too, that I should kill +the one dearest to me on earth. Thank God! this cannot be--for I know my +life to be ebbing fast. + +"Dearest I do not mourn for me too much. You may find another Acme--as +true. But, oh! sometimes--yes! even when your hearts cling fondly +together, as ours were wont to do--think of your own Acme--who loved you +first--and only--and does it now! oh! how well! Giorgio! dear! dearest! +adieu! My feet are _so, so_ cold--and ice seems"-- + +A change shadowed the face, as from some corporeal pang. + +She tried to raise an ebony cross hung round her neck. + +In the effort, her features became convulsed--and George heard a low +gurgling in the throat, as from suffocation. + +Ah! that awful precursor of "the first dark hour of nothingness." + +George Delme sprang to his feet, and was supporting her head, when the +physician grasped his arm. + +"Stop! stop! you are preventing"---- + +The lower lip quivered--and drooped--slightly! very slightly! + +The head fell back. + +One long deep drawn sigh shook the exhausted frame. + +The face seemed to become fixed. + +Doctor Pormont extended his hand, and silently closed those dark +fringed lids. + +The cold finger, with its harsh touch, once more brought consciousness. + +Once more the lid trembled! there was an upward glance that looked +reproachful! + +Another short sigh! Another! + +Lustreless and glaring was that once bright eye! + +Again the physician extended his hand. + +"Assuredly, gentlemen! vitality hath departed!" + +A deep--solemn--awful silence--which not a breath disturbed--came over +that chamber of death. + +It seemed as if the insects had ceased their hum--that twilight had +suddenly turned to night--that an odour, as of clay, was floating around +them, and impregnating the very atmosphere. + +George took the guitar, whose chords were never more to be woke to harmony +by that loved hand, and dashed it to the ground. + +Ere Delme could clasp him, he had staggered to the bedside--and fallen +over Acme's still form. + +And did her frame thrill with rapture? did she bound to his caress? did +her lip falter from her grateful emotion?--did she bury his cheek in her +raven tresses? + +No, no! still--still--still were all these! still as death! + + + + +Chapter IV. + +Rome. + + + + "Woe unto us, not her; for she sleeps well." + + * * * * * + + "The Niobe of nations! there she stands, + Childless and crownless, in her voiceless woe; + An empty urn within her wither'd hands, + Whose holy dust was scatter'd long ago. + The Scipios' tomb contains no ashes now; + The very sepulchres lie tenantless + Of their heroic dwellers; dost thou flow, + Old Tiber! through a marble wilderness? + Rise, with thy yellow waves, and mantle her distress." + + +Undertakers! not one word shall henceforth pass our lips in your +dispraise! + +An useful and meritorious tribe are you! + +What! though sleek and rosy cheeked, you seem to have little in common +with the wreck of our hopes? + +What! if our ears be shocked by profane jests on the weight of your +burden, as you bear away from the accustomed mansion, what _was_ its +light and its load star--but what _is_--pent up in your dark, narrow +tenement, but-- + + "A heap, + To make men tremble, that never weep." + +What! if our swimming eye--as we follow those dear--dear remains to their +last lone resting place--glance on the heartless myrmidons, who salute the +passer by with nods of recognition, and smiles of indifference? + +What! if, returning homewards--choked with bitter recollections, which +rise fantastic, quick, and ill-defined--the very ghosts of departed +scenes and years--what if we start as we then perceive you--lightsome of +heart, and glib of speech--clustered and smirking, on that roof of +nodding plumes--neath which, one short hour since--lay what was dearest +to us on earth? + +Let us not heed these things! for--light as is the task to traders in +death's dark trappings; painful and soul-subduing are those withering +details to the grieving and heart-struck mourner! + +We left George lying half insensible by the side of his dead wife. + +Sir Henry and Thompson carried him to the apartment of the former, and +while Thompson hung over his master, attempting to restore +consciousness--Delme had a short conference with Doctor Pormont as to +their ulterior proceedings. + +Doctor Pormont--as might be expected--enjoined the greatest promptitude, +and recommended that poor Acme's remains, should be consigned to the +burial place of the hamlet. + +George's objections to this, however, as soon as he was well enough to +comprehend what was going forward, seemed quite insurmountable; and after +Sir Henry had sought the place by moonlight, and found it wild and open, +with goats browsing on the unpicturesque graves, and with nothing to mark +the sanctity of the spot, save a glaring painted picture of the Virgin, +his own prejudices became enlisted, and he consented to proceed to Rome. + +After this decision was made, he found it utterly impossible, to procure +a separate conveyance for the corpse; and was equally unsuccessful in his +attempt to procure that--which from being a common want, he had been +disposed to consider of every day attainment--a coffin. + +While his brother made what arrangements he best might, poor George +returned to the chamber of death, and gazed long and fixedly--with the +despair of the widower--on those hushed familiar features. + +Her hair was now turned back, and was bound with white ribbon, and +festooned with some of the very water lilies that Acme had admired. A +snow-white wreath bound her brow. It was formed of the white convolvulus. +We have said the features were familiar; but oh! how different! The yellow +waxen hue--the heavy stiffened lid--how they affected George Delme, who +had never looked on death before! + +First he would gaze with stupid awe--then turn to the window, and attempt +to repress his sobs--return again--and refuse to credit his bereavement. +Surely the hand moved? No! of its free will shall it never move more! The +eye! was there not a slight convulsion in that long dark lash? + +No! over it may crawl the busy fly, and creep the destructive worm, +without let, and without hindrance! + +No finger shall be raised in its behalf--that lid shall remain closed +and passive! + +The insect and the reptile shall extend their wanderings over the +smooth cheek, and revel on the lips, whose red once rivalled that of +the Indian shell. + +Moveless! moveless shall all be! + +The long--long night wore on. + +An Italian sunrise was gilding the heavens. + +Acme was never to see a sunrise more; and even this reflection--trite as +it may seem, occurring to one, who had watched through the night, by the +side of the dead--even this reflection, convulsed again the haggard +features of the mourner. + +Delme had made the requisite arrangements during the night, for their +early departure. + +Just previous to the carriage being announced, he led George out of the +room; whilst the physician, aided by the women, took such precautions as +the heat of the climate rendered necessary. + +Linen cloths, steeped in a solution of chlorate of lime, were closely +wound round the body--a rude couch was placed in the inside of the +carriage, which was supported by the two seats--and the carriage itself +was darkened. + +These preparations concluded--and having parted with Doctor +Pormont---whose attentions, in spite of his freezing manner, had been very +great--the brothers commenced their painful task. + +George knelt at the head of the corpse--ejaculated one short fervent +prayer--and then, assisted by his brother, bore it in his arms to +the vehicle. + +The Italian peasants, with rare delicacy, witnessed the scene from the +windows of the inn, but did not intrude their presence. + +The body was placed crosswise in the carriage. George sat next the +corpse. Delme sat opposite, regarding his brother with anxious eye. + +Most distressing was that silent journey! It made an impression on Sir +Henry's mind, that no after events could ever efface; and yet it had +already been his lot, to witness many scenes of horror, and ride over +fields of blood. + +We have said it was a silent journey. George's despair was too deep +for words. + +The first motion of the carriage affected the position of the corpse. +George put one arm round it, and kept it immoveable. Sometimes, his +scalding tears would fall on that cold face, whose outline yet preserved +its beautiful roundness. + +It appeared to Sir Henry, that he had never seen life and death, so +closely and painfully contrasted. There sat his brother, in the full +energies of manhood and despair; his features convulsed--his frame +quivering--his sobs frequent--his pulse quick and disturbed. + +There lay extended his mistress--cold--colourless--silent--unimpassioned. +There was life in the breeze that played on her raven tresses--grim death +was enthroned on the face those tresses swept. + +Not that decay's finger had yet really assailed it; but one of the +peculiar properties of the preservative used by Doctor Pormont, is its +pervading sepulchral odour. + +They reached Rome; and the consummation of their task drew nigh. + +Pass we over the husband's last earthly farewell. Pass we over that +subduing scene, in which Henry assisted George to sever long ringlets, and +rob the cold finger, of affection's dearest pledge. + +Alas! these might be retained as the legacy of love. + +They were useless as love's memento. Memory, the faithful mirror, forbade +the relic gatherer ever to forget! + +Would you know where Acme reposes? + +A beautiful burial ground looks towards Rome. It is on a gentle declivity +leaning to the south-east, and situated between Mount Aventine and the +Monte Testaccio. + +Its avenue is lined with high bushes of marsh roses; and the cemetery +itself, is divided into three rude and impressive terraces. + +_There_ sleeps--in a modest nook, surmounted by the wall-flower, and by +creeping ivy, and by many-coloured shrubs, and by one simple yellow +flower, of very peculiar and rare fragrance; a type, as the author of +these pages deemed, of the wonderful etherialised genius of the +man--_there_ sleeps, as posterity will judge him, the first of the poets +of the age we live in--Percy Bysshe Shelley! There too, moulders that +wonderful boy author--John Keats. + +Who can pass his grave, and read that bitter inscription, dictated on his +deathbed, by the heart-broken enthusiast, without the liveliest emotion? + + "Here lies one, whose name was writ in water. + February 4th, 1821." + +The ancient wall of Rome, crowns the ridge of the slope we have described. +Above it, stands the pyramid of Caius Caestius, constructed some twenty +centuries since. + +Immediately beneath it, in a line with a round tower buried with ivy, and +near the vault of our beautiful countrywoman, Miss Bathurst, who was +thrown from her horse and drowned in the Tiber, may be seen a sarcophagus +of rough granite, surmounted by a black marble slab. + +Luxuriant with wild flowers, and studded even in the winter season, with +daisies and violets, the sides of the tomb are now almost concealed. Over +the slab, one rose tree gracefully droops. + +When seen in the dew of the morning, when the cups of the roses are full, +and crystal drops, distilling from leaves and flowers, are slowly +trickling on the dark stone, you might think that inanimate nature was +weeping for the doom of beauty. + +Only one word is engraved on that slab. Should you visit Rome, and read +it, recollect this story. + +That word is--"Acme!" + + * * * * * + +Sir Henry and his brother remained at Rome nearly a month. + +The former, with hopes that the exertion might be useful, in distracting +George from the constant contemplation of his loss, plunged at once into +the sight-seeing of "the eternal city." + +Their days were busily passed--in visiting the classic sites of Rome and +its neighbourhood--in wandering through the churches and convents--and +loitering through the long galleries of the Vatican. + +Delme, fearfully looking back on the scenes that had occurred in Malta, +was apprehensive, that George's despair might lead to some violent +outbreak of feeling; and that mind and body might sink simultaneously. + +It was not so. + +That heavy infliction appeared to bear with it a torpedo-like power. The +first blow, abrupt and stunning, had paralysed. Afterwards, it seemed to +carry with it a benumbing faculty, which repressed external display. We +say _seemed_; for there were not wanting indications, even to Sir Henry's +partial eye, that the wound had sunk very deep, + +The mourner _might_ sink, although he did not writhe. + +In the mornings, George, followed by Thompson, would find his way to +the Protestant burial ground; and weep over the spot where his wife +lay interred. + +During the day, he was Sir Henry's constant and gentle companion; giving +vent to no passionate display, and uttering few unavailing complaints. Yet +it was now, that a symptom of disease first showed itself, which Delme +could not account for. + +George would suddenly lean back, and complain of a spasm on the left side +of the chest. This would occasionally, but rarely, affect the circulation. +George's sleep too, was disturbed, and he frequently had to rise from his +bed, and pace the apartment; but this last circumstance, perhaps, was the +mere result of anxiety of mind. + +Sir Henry, without informing George, consulted a medical gentleman, who +was well known to him, and who happened to be at Rome at the time, +regarding these novel symptoms. + +He was reassured by being informed, that these pains were probably of a +neuralgic character, and not at all likely to proceed from any organic +affection. + +George Delme's mind was perfectly clear and collected; with the +exception, that he would occasionally allude to his loss, in connection +with some scene or subject of interest before them; and in a tone, and +with language, that, appeared to his brother eccentric, but +inexpressibly touching. + +For instance, they were at Tivoli, and in the Syren's grotto, looking up +to the foaming fall, which dashes down a rude cleft, formed of +fantastically shaped rocks. + +Immediately below this, the waters make a semicircular bend. + +On their surface, a mimic rainbow was depicted in vivid colours. + +"Not for me!" burst forth the mourner, "not for me! does the arc of +promise wear those radiant hues. Prismatic rays once gilded my existence. +With Acme they are for ever fled. But look! how the stream dashes on! Thus +have the waters of bitterness passed over my soul!" + +In the gallery of the Vatican, too, the very statues seemed to speak to +him of his loss. + +"I like not," would he exclaim, "that disdainful Apollo. Thus cold, +callous, and triumphing in the work of destruction, must be the angel of +death, who winged the shaft at my bright Acme. + +"May the launching of his arrow, have been but the signal, for her +translation to a sphere, more pure than this. + +"Let us believe her the habitant of some bright planet, such as she +pointed out to us in the Bay of Naples--a seraph with a golden lyre--and +shrouded in a white cymar! No, no!" would he continue, turning his +footsteps towards the adjacent room, where the suffering pangs of +Apollo's high priest are painfully told in marble, "let let me rather +contemplate the Laocoon! His agony seems to sympathise with mine--but was +his fate as hard? _He_ saw his sons dying before him; could a son, or +sons, be as the wife of one's bosom? The serpent twines around him, too, +awaking exquisite corporeal pangs, but would it not have been luxury to +have died with my Acme? + +"Can the body suffer as the mind?" + +At night, reposing from the fatigues of the day, might the brothers +frequently be seen at the fountain of Trevi; George listlessly swinging +on the chains near it, and steadfastly watching the water, as it gurgled +over the fantastic devices beneath--while his mind wandered back to +Malta, and to Acme. + +Sir Henry's conduct during this trying period was most exemplary. Like the +mother, who lavishes her tenderest endearments on her sickliest child, +did he now endeavour to support his brother in his afflictions. + +As the bleak night wind came on, he would arouse George from his +reverie--would make him lean his tall form on his--would wrap closely +the folds of his cloak around him--would speak _so_ softly--and soothe +_so_ tenderly. + +And gratefully did George's heart respond to his kindness. He knew that +the sorrow which bowed _him_ to the earth, was also blanching the cheek of +his brother, and he loved him doubly for his solicitude. + +Ah! few brothers have thus made sweet the fraternal tie! + + + + +Chapter V. + +The East Indian. + + + + "Would I not stem + A tide of suffering, rather than forego + Such feelings for the hard and worldly phlegm + Of those whose thoughts are only turn'd below, + Gazing upon the ground, with thoughts that dare not glow?" + + +From Rome and our care-worn travellers, let us turn to Mrs. Vernon's +drawing-room at Leamington. + +An unforeseen event suddenly made a considerable change in the hopes and +prospects of our fair friend Julia. + +One warm summer's morning--it was on the very day, that the brothers, with +Acme, were sailing close to the Calabrian mountains, and the latter was +telling her ghost story, within view of the sweet village of Capo del +Marte--one balmy summer's morning, the Miss Vernons were seated in a room, +furnished like most English drawing-rooms; that is to say, it had tables +for trinkets--a superb mirror--a Broadwood piano--an Erard harp--a +reclining sofa--and a woolly rug, on which slept, dreamt, and snored, a +small Blenheim spaniel. + +Julia had a mahogany frame before her, and was thoughtfully working a +beaded purse. + +The hue of health had left her cheek. Its complexion was akin to that of +translucent alabaster. The features wore a more fixed and regular aspect, +and their play was less buoyant and quick changing than heretofore. + +Deep thought! thus has been thy warfare for ever. First, thou stealest +from the rotund face its joyous dimples; then, dost thou gradually imprint +remorseless furrows on the anxious brow. + +A servant entered the room, and bore on a salver a letter addressed to +Miss Vernon. + +Its deep black binding--its large coat of arms--bespoke it death's +official messenger. + +Julia's cheek blanched as she glanced over its first page. + +Her sisters laid down their work, and looked towards her with some +curiosity. + +Julia burst into tears. + +"Poor uncle Vernon!" + +Her sisters seemed surprised at the announcement, but not to participate +in Julia's feelings on the occasion. + +One of them took up the letter, which had fallen to the ground, and the +two read its contents. + +"How very odd!" said they together, "uncle has left you Hornby, and +Catesfield, and almost all the property!" + +"Has he?" replied Julia, "I could not read it all, for however he may +have behaved to mamma, I ever found him good and kind; and had always +hoped, that we might have yet seen him with us once more. Poor old man! +and the letter says a lingering illness--how sad to think that we were +not with him to soothe his pillow, and cheer his death bed!" + +"Well!" said one of the sisters reddening, "I must say it was his own +fault. He would not live with his nearest relations, who loved him, and +tried to make his a happy home--but showed his caprice _then_, as he has +_now_. But I will go up stairs, and break it to mamma, and will tell her +you are an heiress." + +"An heiress!" replied Julia, with heart-broken tone! "an heiress!" The +tear quivered in her eye; but before the moisture had formed its liquid +bead, to course down her pallid cheek; a thought flashed across her, which +had almost the power to recal it to its cell. + +That thought comprised the fervency and timidity--the hopes and fears of +woman's first love. She thought of her last meeting with Sir Henry Delme: +of the objections which might now be removed. + +A new vista of happiness seemed to open before her. + +It was but for a moment. + +The blush which that thought called up, faded away--the tear trickled +on--her features recovered their serenity--and she turned with a sweet +smile to her sisters. + +"My dear--dear sisters! it is long since we have seen my poor uncle. + +"Affection's ties may have been somewhat loosened. They cannot--I am +sure--have been dissolved. + +"Do not think me selfish enough to retain this generous bequest. + +"It may yet be in my power, and it no doubt is, to amend its too partial +provisions. + +"Let us be sisters still--sisters in equality--sisters in love and +affection." + +Julia Vernon was a very noble girl. She lived to become of age, and she +acted up to this her resolve. + +And, now, a few words as to the individual, by whose death the Miss +Vernons acquired such an accession of property. + +The Miss Vernons' father had an only and a younger brother, who at an +early age had embarked for the East, in the civil service. He had +acquired great wealth, and, after a residence of twenty-five years in the +Bengal Presidency, had returned to England a confirmed bachelor, and a +wealthy nabob. His brother died, while Mr. Benjamin Vernon was on his +passage home. He arrived in England, and found himself a stranger in his +native land. + +He shouldered his cane through Regent Street, and wandered in the +Quadrant's shade;--and in spite of the novelties that every where met +him--in spite of cabs and plated glass--felt perfectly isolated and +miserable. + +It is true, his Indian friends found him out at the Burlington, and their +cards adorned his mantelpiece--for Mr. Benjamin Vernon was said to be +worth a plum, and to be on the look out for a vacancy in the Directory. + +But although these were indisputably his Indian friends, it appeared to +Mr. Vernon, that they were no longer his friends of India. They seemed to +him to live in a constant state of unnatural excitement. + +_Some_ prided themselves on being stars in fashion's gayest +circle--others, whom he had hardly known, _were_ fathers--for their +families were educating in England---he now found surrounded by children, +on whose provision they were wholly intent. + +These were off at a tangent, "to see Peter Auber, at the India House," +or, "could not wait an instant; they were to meet Josh: Alexander +precisely at two." + +And then their flippant sons! taking wine with him, forsooth--adjusting +their neckcloths--and asking "whether he had met their father at Madras or +Calcutta?" + +This to a true Bengalee! + +Nor was this all! + +The young renegades ate their curry with a knife! + +Others, from whom he had parted years before, shook hands with him at the +Oriental, as if his presence there was a matter of course; and then asked +him "what he thought of Stanley's speech?" + +Now, there are few men breathing, who have their sympathies so keenly +alive--who show and who look for, such warmth of heart---who are so +chilled and hurt by indifference--as your bachelor East Indian. + +The married one may solace himself for coldness abroad, by sunny smiles at +home;--but the friendless bachelor is sick at heart, unless he encounter a +hearty pressure of the hand--an eye that sparkles, as it catches his--an +interested listener to his thousand and one tales of Oriental scenes, and +of Oriental good fellowship. + +Mr. Benjamin Vernon soon found this London solitude--it was worse than +solitude--quite insupportable. + +He determined to visit his brother's widow, and left town for Leamington. +The brother-in-law felt more than gratified at the cordial welcome that +there met him. + +His heart responded to their tones of kindness, and the old Indian, in the +warmth of his gratitude, thought he had at length discovered a congenial +home. He plunged into the extreme of dangerous intimacy; and was soon +domiciled in Mrs. Vernon's small mansion. + +It is absurd what trifles can extinguish friendships, and estrange +affection. Mr. Vernon had always had the controul of his hours--loved his +hookah, and his after-dinner dose. + +His brother's widow was an amiable person, but a great deal too +independent, to humour any person's foibles. + +She liked activity, and disliked smoking; and was too matter-of-fact in +her ideas, to conceive that these indulgences, merely from force of habit, +might have now become absolute necessities. + +Mrs. Vernon first used arguments; which were listened to very patiently, +and as systematically disregarded. + +As she thought she knew her ground better, she would occasionally secrete +the hookah, and indulge in eloquent discourse, on the injurious effects, +and waste of time, that the said hookah entailed. + +Nor could the old man enjoy in peace, his evening slumber. + +One of his nieces was always ready to shake him by the elbow, and address +him with an expostulatory "Oh! dear uncle!" which, though delivered with +silvery voice, seemed to him deuced provoking. + +For some time, the old Indian good-naturedly acquiesced in these +arrangements; and was far too polite at any time to scold, or +hazard a scene. + +Mrs. Vernon was all complacency, and imagined her triumph assured. + +Suddenly the tempest gathered to a head. Bachelor habits regained their +ascendancy; and Mrs. Vernon was thunderstruck, when it was one morning +duly announced to her, that her brother-in-law had purchased a large +estate in Monmouthshire, and that he intended permanently to reside there. + +Mrs. Vernon was deeply chagrined. + +She thought him ungrateful, and told him so. + +At the outset, our East Indian was anxious that his niece Julia, who had +been by far the most tolerant of his bachelor vices, should preside over +his new establishment; but the feelings of the mother and daughter were +alike opposed to this arrangement. + +This was the last rock on which he and his brother's widow split; and it +was decisive. + +From that hour, all correspondence between them ceased. + +Arrived in Wales, our nabob endeavoured to attach himself to country +pursuits--purchased adjoining estates--employed many labourers--and +greatly improved his property. But his rural occupations were quite at +variance with his acquired habits. + +He pined away--became hypochondriacal--and died, just three years after +leaving Mrs. Vernon, for want of an Eastern sun, and something to love. + + + + +Chapter VI. + +Veil + + +"The seal is set." + +On the day fixed for the departure of Sir Henry Delme and his brother, +they together visited once more the sumptuous pile of St. Peter's, and +heard the voices of the practised choristers swell through the mighty +dome, as the impressive service of the Catholic Church was performed by +the Pope and his conclave. + +The morning dawn had seen George, as was his daily custom in Rome, +kneeling beside the grave of Acme, and breathing a prayer for their +blissful reunion in heaven. + +As the widower staggered from that spot, the thought crossed him, and +bitterly poignant was that thought, that now might he bid a second +earthly farewell, to what had been his pride, and household solace. + +Now, indeed, "was the last link broken." Each hour--each traversed +league--was to bear him away from even the remains of his heart's +treasure. + +Their bones must moulder in a different soil. + +It was Sir Henry's choice that they should on that day visit Saint +Peter's; and well might the travellers leave Rome with so unequalled an +object fresh in the mind's eye. + +Whether we gaze on its exterior of faultless proportions--or on the +internal arrangement, where perfect symmetry reigns;--whether we consider +the glowing canvas--or the inspired marble,--or the rich mosaics;--whether +with the enthusiasm of the devotee, we bend before those gorgeous shrines; +or with the comparative apathy of a cosmopolite, reflect on the historical +recollections with which that edifice--the focus of the rays of +Catholicism--teems and must teem forever;--we must in truth acknowledge, +that _there_ alone is the one matchless temple, in strict and perfect +harmony with Imperial Rome. + +Gazing there--or recalling in after years its unclouded majesty--the +delighted pilgrim knows neither shade of disappointment--nor doth he +harbour one thought of decay. + +Where is the other building in the "eternal city," of which we can say +thus much? + +Sir Henry Delme had engaged a vettura, which was to convey them with the +same horses as far as Florence. + +This arrangement made them masters of their own time, and was perhaps in +their case, the best that could be adopted; for slowness of progress, +which is its greatest objection, was rather desirable in George's then +state of health. + +As is customary, Delme made an advance to the vetturino, who usually binds +himself to defray all the expenses at the inns on the road. + +The travellers dined early--left Rome in the afternoon--and proposed +pushing on to Neppi during the night. + +When about four miles on their journey, Delme observed a mausoleum on the +side of the road, which appeared of ancient date, and rather curious +construction. + +On consulting his guide-book, he found it designated as the tomb of Nero. + +On examining its inscription, he saw that it was erected to the memory of +a Prefect of Sardinia; and he inwardly determined to distrust his +guide-book on all future occasions. + +The moon was up as they reached the post-house of Storta. + +The inn, or rather tavern, was a small wretched looking building, with a +large courtyard attached, but the stables appeared nearly--if not +quite--untenanted. + +Sir Henry's surprise and anger were great, when the driver, coolly +stopping his horses, commenced taking off their harness;--and informed the +travellers, that _there_ must they remain, until he had received some +instructions from his owner, which he expected by a vettura leaving Rome +at a later hour. + +It was in vain that the brothers expostulated, and reminded him of +his agreement to stop when they pleased, expressing their +determination to proceed. + +The driver was dogged and unmoved; and the travellers had neglected +to draw up a written bargain, which is a precaution absolutely +necessary in Italy. + +They soon found they had no alternative but to submit. It was with a very +bad grace they did so, for Englishmen have a due abhorrence of imposition. + +They at length stepped from the vehicle--indulged in some vehement +remonstrances--smiled at Thompson's voluble execrations, which they found +were equally unavailing--and were finally obliged to give up the point. + +They were shown into a small room. The chief inmates were some Papal +soldiers of ruffianly air, engaged in the clamorous game of moro. Unlike +the close shorn Englishmen, their beards and mustachios, were allowed to +grow to such length, as to hide the greater part of the face. + +Their animated gestures and savage countenances, would have accorded well +with a bandit group by Salvator. + +The landlord, an obsequious little man, with face pregnant with +mischievous cunning, was watching with interest, the turns of the game; +and assisting his guests, to quaff his vino ordinario, which Sir Henry +afterwards found was ordinary enough. + +Delme's equanimity of temper was already considerably disturbed. + +The scanty accommodation afforded them, by no means diminished his choler; +which he began to expend on the obstinate driver, who had followed them +into the room, and was busily placing chairs round one of the tables. + +"See what you can get for supper, you rascal!" + +"Signore! there are some excellent fowls, and the very best wine of +Velletri." + +The wine was produced and proved vinegar. + +The host bustled away loud in its praise, and a few seconds afterwards, +the dying shriek of a veteran tenant of the poultry yard, warned them that +supper was preparing. + +"Thompson!" said George, rather languidly, "do, like a good fellow, see +that they put no garlic with the fowl!" + +"I will, Sir," replied the domestic; "and the wine, Mr. George, seems none +of the best. I have a flask of brandy in the rumble." + +"Just the thing!" said Sir Henry. + +To their surprise, the landlord proffered sugar and lemons. + +Sir Henry's countenance somewhat brightened, and he declared he would +make punch. + +Punch! thou just type of matrimony! thy ingredients of sweets and bitters +so artfully blended, that we know not which predominate,--so deceptive, +too, that we imbibe long and potent draughts, nor awake to a consciousness +of thy power, till awoke by headache. + +Hail to thee! all hail! + +Thy very name, eked out by thine appropriate receptacle, recals raptures +past--bids us appreciate joys present--and enjoins us duly to reverence +thee, if we hope for joys in futurity. + +A bowl of punch! each merry bacchanal rises at the call! + +Moderate bacchanals all! for where is the abandoned sot, who would not +rather dole out his filthy lucre, on an increase of the mere +alchohol--than expend it on those grateful adjuncts, which, throwing a +graceful veil over that spirit's grossness, impart to it its chief and its +best attraction. + +Up rises then each hearty bacchanal! thrice waving the clear tinkling +crystal, ere he emits that joyful burst, fresh from the heart, which from +his uncontrolled emotion, meets the ear husky and indistinct. + +Delme squeezed the lemons into not a bad substitute for a bowl, viz. a red +earthen vase of rough workmanship, but elegant shape, somewhat resembling +a modern wine cooler. + +George stood at the inn door, wistfully looking upward; when he remarked +an intelligent boy of fourteen, with dark piercing eyes, observing him +somewhat earnestly. + +On finding he was noticed, he approached with an air of ingenuous +embarrassment--pulled off his cap--and said in a tone of enquiry, + +"Un Signore Inglese?" + +"Yes! my fine fellow! Do you know anything of me or the English?" + +"Oh yes!" replied the boy with vivacity, replacing his cap, "I have +travelled in England, and like London very much." + +George conversed with him for some time; and found him to be one of that +class, whose numbers make us unmindful of their wants or their +loneliness; who eke out a miserable pittance, by carrying busts of +plaster-of-Paris--grinding on an organ--or displaying through Europe, +the tricks of some poodle dog, or the eccentricities of a monkey +disguised in scarlet. + +It is rare that these come from a part of Italy so far south; but it +appeared in this instance, that Giuseppe's father being a carrier, had +taken him with him to Milan--had there met a friend, rich in an organ and +porcupine--and had entrusted the boy to his care, in order that he might +see the world, and make his fortune. + +Giuseppe gave a narrative of some little events, that had occurred to him +during his wanderings, which greatly interested George; and he finally +concluded, by saying that his father had now retired to his native place +at Barberini, where many strangers came to see the "antichita." George, +on referring to the guide book, found that this was indeed the case; and +that Isola Barberini is marked as the site of ancient Veii, the rival of +young Rome. + +"And when do you go there, youngster, and how far is it from this?" + +"I am going now, Signore, to be in time for supper. It is only a +'piccolo giro' across the fields; and looks as well by moonlight as at +any other time." + +"Ah!" replied George, "I would be glad to accompany you. Henry," said he, +as he entered the room of the inn, "I am away on a classic excursion to +Veii. The night is lovely--I have an excellent guide--and shall be back +before you have finished your punch making. + +"_Do_ let me go!" and he lowered his voice, and the tears swam in his eyes, +"I cannot endure these rude sounds of merriment, and a moonlight walk will +at least afford nothing that can _thus_ pain me." + +Sir Henry looked out. The night was perfectly fine. The young peasant, +all willingness, had already shouldered his bundle, and was preparing to +move forward. + +"You must not be late, George," said his brother, assenting to his +proposal. "Do not stay too long about the ruins. Remember that you are +still delicate, and that I shall wait supper for you." + +As the boy led on, George followed him in a foot path, which led through +fields of meadow land, corn, and rye. + +The fire-flies--mimic meteors--were giddily winging their way from bush to +bush,--illuming the atmosphere, and imparting to the scene a glittering +beauty, which a summer night in a northern clime cannot boast. + +As they approached somewhat nearer to the hamlet, their course was over +ground more rugged; and the disjointed fragments of rocks strewed, and at +intervals obstructed, the path. + +The cottages were soon reached. + +The villagers were all in front of their dwellings, taking their last meal +for the day, in the open air. + +The young guide stopped in front of a cottage, a little apart from the +rest. The family party were seated round a rude table, on which were +plates and napkins. + +Before the master of the house--a wrinkled old man, with long grey +hair--was a smoking tureen of bread soup, over which he was in the act of +sprinkling some grated Parmesan cheese. + +A plate of green figs, and a large water melon--the cocomero--made up +the repast. + +"Giuseppe! you are late for supper," said the old patriarch, as the boy +approached to whisper his introduction of the stranger. + +The old man waved his hand courteously--made a short apology for the +humble viands--and pointed to a vacant seat. + +"Many thanks," said George, "but my supper already awaits me. I will not, +however, interfere with my young guide. Show me the ruins, Giuseppe, and I +will trouble you no further." + +The boy moved on towards what were indeed ruins, or rather the +vestige of such. + +Here a misshapen stone--there a shattered column--decaying walls, +overgrown with nettles--arches and caves, choked up with rank +vegetation--bespoke remains unheeded, and but rarely visited. + +George threw the boy a piece of silver--heard his repeated cautions as +to his way to Storta--and wished him good night, as he hurried back to +the cottage. + +George Delme sat on the shaft of a broken pillar, his face almost buried +in his hands, as he looked around him on a scene once so famous. + +But with him classic feelings were not upper-most. The widowed +heart mourned its loneliness; and in that calm hour found the full +relief of tears. + +The mourner rose, and turned his face homeward, slowly--sadly--but +resignedly. + +The heavens had become more overcast--and clouds occasionally were +hiding the moon. + +It was with some difficulty that George avoided the pieces of rock which +obstructed the path. + +The road seemed longer, and wilder, than he had previously thought it. + +Suddenly the loud bay of dogs was borne to his ear; and almost, before he +had time to turn from the path, two large hounds brushed past him, +followed by a rider--his gun slung before his saddle--and his horse +fearlessly clattering over the loose stones. + +The horseman seemed a young Roman farmer. He did not salute, and probably +did not observe our traveller. As the sound from the horse receded, and +the clamour of the dogs died away, a feeling almost akin to alarm crossed +George's mind. + +George was one, however, who rarely gave way to vague fears. + +It so happened that he was armed. + +Delancey had made him a present of a brace of pocket pistols, during the +days of their friendship; and, very much to Sir Henry's annoyance, George +had been in the habit, since leaving Malta, of constantly carrying these +about him. + +He strode on without adventure, until entering the field of rye. + +The pathway became very narrow--so that on either side him, he grazed +against the bearded ears. + +Suddenly he heard a rustling sound. The moon at the moment broke from +a dark cloud, and he fancied he discerned a figure near him half hid +by the rye. + +Again the moon was shrouded. + +A rustling again ensued. + +George felt a ponderous blow, which, aimed at the left shoulder, struck +his left arm. + +The collar of his coat was instantaneously grasped. + +For a moment, George Delme felt irresolute--then drew a pistol from his +pocket and fired. + +The hold was loosened--a man fell at his feet. + +The pistol's flash revealed another figure, which diving into the +corn--fled precipitately. + +Let us turn to Sir Henry Delme and to Thompson. + +For some time after George's departure, they were busily engaged in +preparing supper. + +While they were thus occupied, they noticed that the Papal soldiers +whispered much together--but this gave rise to no suspicion on +their part. + +One by one the soldiers strolled out, and the landlord betook himself to +the kitchen. + +The punch was duly made, and Sir Henry, leaving the room, paced +thoughtfully in front of the inn. + +At length it struck him, that it was almost time for his brother to +return. + +He was entering the inn, for the purpose of making some enquiries; when he +saw one of the soldiers cross the road hurriedly, and go into the +courtyard, where he was immediately joined by the vetturino. + +Delme turned in to the house, and called for the landlord. + +Before the latter could appear, George rushed into the room. + +His hat was off--his eyes glared wildly--his long hair streamed back, +wet with the dews of night. He dragged with him the body of one of the +soldiers; and threw it with supernatural strength into the very centre +of the room. + +"Supper!" said he, "ha, ha, ha! _I_ have brought you supper!" + +The man was quite dead. + +The bullet had pierced his neck and throat. The blood was yet flowing, and +had dabbled the white vest. His beard and hair were clotted with gore. + +Shocked as Sir Henry was, the truth flashed on him. He lost not a moment +in beckoning to Thompson, and rushing towards the stable. The driver was +still there, conversing with the soldier. + +As Sir Henry approached, they evinced involuntary confusion; and the +vetturino---at once unmanned--fell on his knees, and commenced a +confession. + +They were dragged into the inn, and the officers of justice were sent for. + +Sir Henry Delme's anxious regards were now directed to his brother. + +George had taken a seat near the corpse; and was sternly regarding it with +fixed, steady, and unflinching gaze. + +It is certainly very fearful to mark the dead--with pallid +complexion--glazed eye--limbs fast stiffening--and gouts of +blood--standing from out the face, like crimson excrescences on a +diseased leaf. + +But it is far more fearful than even this, to look on one, who is bound +to us by the nearest and most cherished ties--with cheek yet +glowing--expression's flush mantling still--and yet to doubt whether the +intellect, which adorned that frame--the jewel in the casket--hath not for +ever left its earthly tenement. + + + + +Chapter VII. + +The Vetturini. + + + "Far other scene is Thrasymene now." + + * * * * * + + "Fair Florence! at thy day's decline + When came the shade from Appennine, + And suddenly on blade and bower + The fire-flies shed the sparkling shower, + As if all heaven to earth had sent + Each star that gems the firmament; + 'Twas sweet at that enchanting hour, + To bathe in fragrance of the Italian clime, + By Arno's stream." + + +The brothers were detained a few days at Storta; while the Roman police, +who, to do them justice, were active on the occasion, and showed every +anxiety to give the travellers as little trouble as possible--were +investigating the occurrences we have described. It appeared that some +suspicion had previously attached itself to Vittore Santado, and that the +eyes of the police had been on him for some time. + +It now became evident, both from his own confession, and subsequent +discoveries, that this man had for years trafficked in the lives and +property of others;--and that the charge connected with George, was one of +the least grave, that would be brought against him. + +It was shown that he was an active agent, in aiding the infamous designs +of that inn, on the Italian frontier, whose enormities have given rise to +more than one thrilling tale of fiction, far out-done by the +reality--that inn--where the traveller retired to rest--but rose not +refreshed to prosecute his journey:--where--if he slumbered but once, +that sleep was his last. + +Until now, his career had been more than usually successful. + +The crafty vetturino had had the art to glean a fair reputation even from +his crimes. + +More than once, had he induced a solitary traveller to leave the high road +and his carriage, for the purpose of visiting some ruin, or viewing some +famous prospect. + +On such occasions, Vittore's accomplices were in waiting; and the +unsuspecting stranger--pillaged and alarmed, would return to the vettura +penniless. + +Vittore would be foremost in his commiseration; and with an air of blunt +sincerity, would proffer the use of his purse; such conduct ensuring the +gratitude, and the after recommendations of his dupe. + +It is supposed that the vetturino had contemplated rifling the carriage in +the inn yard; but some suspicion as to the servant's not leaving the +luggage, and the sort of dog fidelity displayed by Thompson towards the +brothers; had induced him rather to sanction an attempt on George during +his imprudent excursion to Barberini. + +Vittore Santado was executed near the Piazza del Popolo, and to this day, +over the chimney-piece of many a Roman peasant, may be seen the tale of +his crimes--his confessions--and his death; which perused by casual +neighbour guests--calls up many a sign of the cross--and devout look of +rustic terror. + +After the incident we have related in the last chapter, George Delme, +contrary to Sir Henry's previous misgivings, enjoyed a good night's rest, +and arose tolerably calm and refreshed. + +The following night he was attacked with palpitation of the heart. + +His brother and Thompson felt greatly alarmed; but after an hour's severe +suffering, the paroxysm left him. + +Nothing further occurred at Storta, to induce them to attach very great +importance to the shock George's nerves had experienced; but in after +life, Sir Henry always thought, he could date many fatal symptoms from +that hour of intense excitement. + +Delme was in Rome two days; during which period, his depositions, as +connected with Santado, were taken down; and he was informed that his +presence during the trial would not be insisted on. + +Delme took that opportunity again to consult his medical friend; who +accompanied him to Storta, to visit George; and prescribed a regimen +calculated to invigorate the general system. + +He directed Delme not to be alarmed, should the paroxysm return; and +recommended, that during the attack, George should lie down quietly--and +take twenty drops of Battley's solution of opium in a wine glass of water. + +As his friend did not appear alarmed, Delme's mind was once more +assured; and he prepared to continue their journey to Florence, by the +way of Perugia. + +Punctual to his time, the new vetturino--as to whose selection Sir Henry +had been very particular--arrived at Storta; and the whole party, with +great willingness left the wretched inn, and its suspicious inmates. + +There certainly could not be a greater contrast, than between the two +Vetturini. + +Vittore Santado was a Roman; young--inclined to corpulency---oily +faced--plausible--and a most consummate rascal. + +Pietro Molini was a Milanese;--elderly--with hardly an ounce of flesh on +his body--with face scored and furrowed like the surface of the hedge +pippin--rough in his manners--and the most honest of his tribe. + +Poor Pietro Molini! never did driver give more cheering halloo to +four-footed beast! or with spirit more elate, deliver in the drawling +patois of his native paesi, some ditty commemorative of Northern liberty! +Honest Pietro! thy wishes were contained within a small compass! thy +little brown cur, snarling and bandy-legged--thy raw-boned steeds--these +were thy first care;--the safety of thy conveyance, and its various +inmates, the second. + +To thee--the most delightful melody in this wide world, was the jingling +of thy horses' bells, as all cautiously and slowly they jogged on their +way:--the most discordant sound in nature, the short husky cough, emitted +from the carcase of one of these, as disease and continued fatigue made +their sure inroads. + +Poor simple Pietro! his only pride was encased in his breeches pocket, and +it lay in a few scraps of paper--remembrances of his passengers. + +One and all lavished praise on Pietro! + +Yes! we have him again before us as we write--his ill-looking, but easy +carriage--his three steeds--the rude harness, eked out with clustering +knots of rope--and the happy driver, seated on a narrow bench, jutting +over the backs of his wheelers, as he contentedly whiffs from his small +red clay pipe--at intervals dropping off in a dose, with his cur on his +lap. At such a time, with what perfect nonchalance would he open his large +grey eyes, when recalled to the sense of his duties, by the volubly +breathed execration of some rival whip--and with what a silent look of +ineffable contempt, would he direct his horses to the side of the road, +and again steep his senses in quiescent repose. + +At night, Pietro's importance would sensibly increase, as after rubbing +down the hides of his favourites, and dropping into the capacious manger +the variegated oats; he would wait on his passengers to arrange the hour +of departure--would accept the proffered glass of wine, and give utterance +to his ready joke. + +A King might have envied Pietro Molini, as---the straw rustling beneath +him--he laid down in his hairy capote, almost between the legs of his +favourite horse. + +To do so will be to anticipate some years! + +Yet we would fain relate the end of the Vetturino. + +Crossing from Basle to Strasbourg, in the depth of winter, and descending +an undulated valley, Pietro slept as usual. + +Implicitly relying on the sure footedness of his horses, a fond dream of +German beer, German tobacco, and German sauerkraut, soothed his slumbers. + +A fragment of rock had been loosened from its ancient bed, and lay +across the road. + +Against this the leader tripped and fell. + +The shock threw Pietro and his dog from their exalted station. + +The pipe, which--whether he were sleeping or waking--had long decked the +cheek of the honest driver, now fell from it, and was dashed into a +thousand pieces. + +It was an evil omen. + +When the carriage was stopped, Pietro Molini was found quite lifeless. He +had received a kick from the ungrateful heel of his friend Bruno, and the +wheel of the carriage, it had been his delight to clean, had passed over +the body of the hapless vetturino. + +Ah! as that news spread! many an ostler of many a nation, shook his head +mournfully, and with saddened voice, wondered that the same thing had not +occurred years before. + +At the time, however, to which we allude--viz., the commencement of the +acquaintance between our English travellers, and Pietro; the latter +thought of anything rather than of leaving a world for which he had an +uncommon affection. + +He and Thompson soon became staunch allies; and the want of a common +language seemed only to cement their union. + +Not Noblet, in her inimitable performance of the Muette, threw more +expression into her sweet face--than did Pietro, into the furrowed lines +of his bronzed visage, as he endeavoured to explain to his friend some +Italian custom, or the reason why he had selected another dish, or +other wine; rather than that, to which they had done such justice the +previous day. + +Thompson's gestures and countenance in reply, partook of a more stoical +character; but he was never found wanting, when a companion was needed for +a bottle or a pipe. + +Their friendship was not an uninstructive one. + +It would have edified him, who prides himself on his deep knowledge of +human nature, or who seizes with avidity on the minuter traits of a +nation, to note with what attention the English valet, would listen to a +Milanese arietta; whose love notes, delivered by the unmusical Pietro, +were about as effectively pathetic as the croak of the bull frog in a +marsh, or screech of owl sentimentalising in ivied ruin; and to mark +with what gravity, the Italian driver would beat his hand against the +table; in tune to "Ben Baxter," or "The British Grenadiers," roared out +more Anglico. + +There are two grand routes from Home to Florence:--the one is by Perugia, +the other passes through Sienna. The former, which is the one Sir Henry +selected, is the most attractive to the ordinary traveller; who is enabled +to visit the fall of Terni, Thrasymene, and the temple of Clitumnuss The +first, despite its being artificial, is equal in our opinion, to the +vaunted Schaffhausen;--the second is hallowed in story;--and the third has +been illustrated by Byron. + + "Pass not unblest the genius of the place! + If through the air a zephyr more serene + Win to the brow, 'tis his; and if ye trace + Along the margin a more eloquent green, + If on the heart, the freshness of the scene + Sprinkle its coolness, and from the dry dust + Of weary life a moment lave it clean + With nature's baptism,--'tis to him ye must + Pay orisons for this suspension of disgust." + +Poor George Delme showed little interest in anything connected with +this journey. Sir Henry embarked on the lake above, in order to see the +cascade of Terni in every point of view; and afterwards took his +station with George, on various ledges of rock below the fall--whence +the eye looks upward, on that mystic scene of havoc, turbulence, and +mighty rush of water. + +But the cataract fell in snowy sheet--the waves hissed round the sable +rocks--and the rainbow played on the torrent's foam;--but these +possessed not a charm, to rouse to a sense of their beauty, the sad +heart of the invalid. + +Near the lake of Thrasymene, they passed some hours; allowing Pietro to +put up his horses at Casa di Piano. Sir Henry, with a Livy in his hand, +first proceeded to the small eminence, looking down on the round tower of +Borghetto; and on that insidious pass, which his fancy peopled once more, +with the advancing troops of the Consul. + +The soldier felt much interested, and attempted to impart that interest to +George; but the widowed husband shook his head mournfully; and it was +evident, that his thoughts were not with Flaminius and his entrapped +soldiers, but with the gentle Acme, mouldering in her lonely grave. + +From Borghetto, they proceeded to the village of Torre, where Delme was +glad to accept the hospitable offer of its Priest, and procure seats for +himself and George, in the balcony of his little cottage. From this +point, they looked down on the arena of war. + +There it lay, serene and basking in the rays of the meridian sun. + +On either side, were the purple summits of the Gualandra hills. + +Beneath flowed the little rivulet, once choked by the bodies of the +combatants; but which now sparkled gaily through the valley, although at +intervals, almost dried up by the fierce heat of summer. + +The lake was tranquil and unruffled--all on its margin, hushed and +moveless. What a contrast to that exciting hour, which Sir Henry was +conjuring up again; when the clang of arms, and crash of squadrons, +commingled with the exulting shout, that bespoke the confident hope of the +wily Carthaginian; and with that sterner response, which hurled back the +indomitable spirit of the unyielding, but despairing Roman! + +Our travellers quitted the Papal territories; and entering Tuscany, passed +through Arezzo, the birth-place of Petrarch; arriving at Florence just +previous to sunset. + +As they reached the Lung' Arno, Pietro put his horses to a fast trot, and +rattling over the flagged road, drew up in front of Schneidorff's with an +air of greater importance, than his sorry vehicle seemed to warrant. + +The following morning, George Delme was taken by his brother, to visit +the English physician resident at Florence; and again was Delme informed, +that change of scene, quiet, and peace of mind, were what his brother +most required. + +George was thinner perhaps, than when at Rome, and his lip had lost its +lustrous red; but he concealed his physical sufferings, and always met +Henry with the same soft undeviating smile. + +On their first visit to the Tribune, George was struck with the Samian +Sibyl of Guercino. + +In the glowing lip--the silken cheek--the ivory temple--the eye of +inspiration--the bereaved mourner thought he could trace, some faint +resemblance to the lost Acme. Henceforward, it was his greatest pleasure, +to remain with eyes fixed on that masterpiece of art. + +Sir Henry Delme, accompanied by the custode, would make himself +acquainted with the wonders of the Florentine gallery; and every now and +then, return to whisper some sentence, in the soothing tones of brotherly +kindness. At night, their usual haunt was the public square--where the +loggio of Andrea Orcagna presents so much, that may claim attention. + +There stands the David! in the freshness of his youth! proudly regarding +his adversary--ere he overthrow, with the weapon of the herdsman, the +haughty giant. + +The inimitable Perseus, too! the idol of that versatile genius, Benvenuto +Cellini:--an author! a goldsmith! a cunning artificer in jewels! a founder +in bronze! a sculptor in marble! the prince of good fellows! the favored +of princes! the warm friend and daring lover! as we gaze on his glorious +performance, and see beside it the Hercules, and Cacus of his rival Baccio +Bandanelli,--we seem to live again in those days, with which Cellini has +made us so familiar:--and almost naturally regard the back of the bending +figure, to note if its muscles warrant the stinging sarcasm of Cellini, +which we are told at once dispelled the pride of the aspiring +artist--"that they resembled cucumbers!" + +The rape of the Sabines, too! the white marble glistening in the +obscurity, until the rounded shape of the maiden seems to elude the strong +grasp of the Roman! + +Will she ever fly from him thus? will the home of her childhood be ever as +dear? No! the husband's love shall replace the father's blessing; and the +affections of the daughter, shall yield to the tender yearnings of the +mother's bosom. + +We marvel not that George's footsteps lingered there! + +How often have _we_--martyrs to a hopeless nympholepsy--strayed through +that piazza, at the self same hour--there deemed that the heart would +break--but never thought that it might slowly wither. + +How often have _we_ gleaned from those beauteous objects around, but +aliment to our morbid griefs;--and turning towards the gurgling fountain +of Ammonati, and gazing on its trickling waters, have vainly tried to +arrest our trickling tears! + + + + +Chapter VIII. + +Argua. + + + + "There is a tomb in Arqua: rear'd in air, + Pillar'd in their sarcophagus, repose + The bones of Laura's lover." + + * * * * * + + "I stood in Venice on the Bridge of Sighs." + + +How glorious is the thrill, which shoots through our frame, as we first +wake to the consciousness of our intellectual power; as we feel the +spirit--the undying spirit--ready to burst the gross bonds of flesh, and +soar triumphant, over the sneers of others, and our own mistrust. + +How does each thought seem to swell in our bosom, as if impatient of the +confined tenement--how do the floating ideas congregate--how does each +impassioned feeling subdue us in turn, and long for a worthy utterance! + +This is a very bright moment in the history of our lives. It is one in +which we feel--indubitably feel--that we are of the fashioning of +God;--that the light which intellect darts around us, is not the result of +education--of maxims inculcated--or of principles instilled;--but that it +is a ray caught from the brightness of eternity--that when our wavering +pulse has ceased to beat, and the etherialised elements have left the +baser and the useless dust--that ray shall not be quenched; but shall +again be absorbed in the full effulgence from which it emanated. + +Surely then, if such a glorious moment as this, be accorded to even the +inferior votaries of knowledge--to the meaner pilgrims, struggling on +towards the resplendent shrines of science:--how must _he_--the divine +Petrarch, who could so exquisitely delineate love's hopes and story, as to +clothe an earthly passion, with half the attributes of an immortal +affection:--how must _he_ have revelled in the proud sensations called +forth at such a moment! + +It is the curse of the poet, that he must perforce leave the golden +atmosphere of loftiest aspirations--step from the magic circle, where all +is pure and etherial--and find himself the impotent denizen, of a sombre +and an earthly world, + +It was in the early part of September, that the brothers turned their +backs on the Etrurian Athens. Their destination was Venice, and their +route lay through Bologna and Arqua. + +They had been so satisfied, under the guidance of their old vetturino, +that Sir Henry made an arrangement, which induced him to be at Florence, +at the time of their departure;--and Pietro and Thompson were once more +seated beside each other. + +Before commencing the ascent of the Appennines, our travellers visited the +country seat of the Archduke; saw the gigantic statue executed by John of +Bologna, which frowns over the lake; and at Fonte-buona, cast a farewell +glance on Florence, and the ancient Fiesole. + +As they advanced towards Caravigliojo, the mountains began to be more +formidable, and the scenery to lose its smiling character. + +Each step seemed to add to the barrenness of the landscape. + +The wind came howling down from the black volcanic looking ridges--then +swept tempestuously through some deep ravine. + +On either side the road, tall red poles presented themselves, a guide to +the traveller during winter's snows; while, in one exposed gully, were +built large stone embankments for his protection--as a Latin inscription +intimated--from the violence of the gales. + +Few signs of life appeared. + +Here and there, her white kerchief shading a sun-burnt face, a young +Bolognese shepherd girl might be seen on some grassy ledge, waving her +hand coquettishly; while her neglected flock, with tinkling bell, browsed +on the edge of the precipice. As they neared Bologna, however, the +scenery changed. + +Festoons of grapes, trained to leafy elms, began to appear--white villas +chequered the suburbs--and it was with a pleasurable feeling, that they +neared the peculiar looking city, with its leaning towers, and old +facades. It is the only one, where the Englishman recals Mrs, Ratcliffe's +harrowing tales; and half expects to see a Schedoni, advancing from some +covered portico. + +The next day found them in the Bolognese gallery, which is the first which +duly impresses the traveller, coming from the north, with the full powers +of the art. + +The soul of music seems to dwell in the face of the St. Cecilia; and the +cup of maternal anguish to be filled to the brim, as in Guide's Murder of +the Innocents, the mother clasps to her arms the terrified babe, and +strives to flee from the ruthless destroyer. + +It was on the fourth morning from their arrival in Bologna, that they +approached the poet's "mansion and his sepulchre." + +As they threaded the green windings of vine covered hills, these gradually +assumed a bolder outline, and, rising in separate cones, formed a sylvan +amphitheatre round the lovely village of Arqua. + +The road made an abrupt ascent to the Fontana Petrarca. A large ruined +arch spanned a fine spring, that rushes down the green slope. + +In the church-yard, on the right, is the tomb of Petrarch. + +Its peculiarly bold elevation--the numberless thrilling associations +connected with the poet--gave a tone and character to the whole scene. The +chiaro-scuro of the landscape, was from the light of his genius--the shade +of his tomb. + +The day was lovely--warm, but not oppressive. The soft green of the hills +and foliage, checked the glare of the flaunting sunbeams. + +The brothers left the carriage to gaze on the sarcophagus of red marble, +raised on pilasters; and could not help deeming even the indifferent +bronze bust of Petrarch, which surmounts this, to be a superfluous +ornament in such a scene. + +The surrounding landscape--the dwelling place of the poet--his tomb facing +the heavens, and disdaining even the shadow of trees--the half-effaced +inscription of that hallowed shrine--all these seemed appropriate, and +melted the gazer's heart. + +How useless! how intrusive! are the superfluous decorations of art, amid +the simpler scenes of nature. + +Ornament is here misplaced. The feeling heart regrets its presence at the +time, and attempts, albeit in vain, to banish it from after recollections. + +George could not restrain his tears, for he thought of the dead; and they +silently followed their guide to Petrarch's house, now partly used as a +granary. Passing through two or three unfinished rooms, whose walls were +adorned with rude frescoes of the lover and his mistress, they were shown +into Petrarch's chamber, damp and untenanted. + +In the closet adjoining, were the chair and table consecrated by the poet. + +There did he sit--and write--and muse--and die! + +George turned to a tall narrow window, and looked out on a scene, fair and +luxuriant as the garden of Eden. + +The rich fig trees, with their peculiar small, high scented fruit, mixed +with the vines that clustered round the lattice. + +The round heads of the full bearing peach trees, dipped down in a leafy +slope beneath a grassy walk;--and this thicket of fruit was charmingly +enlivened, by bunches of the scarlet pomegranate, now in the pride of +their blossom. + +The poet's garden alone was neglected--rank herbage choking up its +uncultivated flowers. + +A thousand thoughts filled the mind of George Delme. + +He thought of Laura! of his own Acme! + +With swimming glance, he looked round the chamber. + +It was almost without furniture, and without ornament. In a niche, and +within a glass case, was placed the skeleton of a dumb favourite of +Petrarch's. + +Suddenly George Delme felt a faintness stealing over him:--and he +turned to bare his forehead, to catch the slight breeze from below +redolent of sweets. + +This did not relieve him. + +A sharp pain across the chest, and a fluttering at the heart, as of a bird +struggling to be free, succeeded this faintness. + +Another rush of blood to the head:--and a snap, as of some tendon, was +distinctly felt by the sufferer. + +His mouth filled with blood. + +A small blood-vessel had burst, and temporary insensibility ensued. + +Sir Henry was wholly unprepared for this scene. + +Assisted by Thompson, he bore him to the carriage--sprinkled his face with +water--and administered cordials. + +George's recovery was speedy; and it almost seemed, as if the rupture of +the vessel had been caused by the irregular circulation, for no further +bad effects were felt at the time. + +The loss of blood, however, evidently weakened him; and his spasms +henceforward were more frequent. + +He became less able to undergo fatigue; and his mind, probably in +connection with the nervous system, became more than ordinarily excited. + +There was no longer wildness in his actions; but in his thoughts and +language, was developed a poetical eccentricity--a morbid sympathy with +surrounding scenes and impressions, which kept Sir Henry Delme in a +constant state of alarm,--and which was very remarkable. + + * * * * * + +"What! at Mestre already, Pietro?" said Sir Henry. + +"Even so, Signore! and here is the gondola to take you on to Venice." + +"Well, Pietro! you must not fail to come and see us at the inn." + +The vetturino touched his hat, with the air of a man who would be very +sorry _not_ to see them. + +It was not long ere the glittering prow of the gondola pointed to Venice. + +Before the travellers, rose ocean's Cybele; springing from the waters, +like some fairy city, described to youthful ear by aged lip. + +The fantastic dome of St. Mark--the Palladian churches--the columned +palaces--the sable gondolas shooting through the canals--made its aspect, +as is its reality, unique in the world. + +"Beautiful, beautiful city!" said George, his eye lighting up as he spoke, +"thou dost indeed look a city of the heart--a resting place for a wearied +spirit. And our gondola, Henry, should be of burnished silver; and those +afar--so noiselessly cutting their way through the glassy surface--those +should be angels with golden wings; and, instead of an oar flashing +freely, a snowy wand of mercy should beat back the kissing billows. + +"And Acme, with her George, should sit on the crystal cushion of glory--and +we would wait expectant for you a long long time--and then you should join +us, Henry, with dear Emily. + +"And Thompson should be with us, too, and recline on the steps of our bark +as he does now. + +"And together we would sail loving and happy through an amethystine sea." + +During their stay in Venice, George, in spite of his increasing languor, +continued to accompany his brother, in his visits to the various objects +of interest which the city can boast. + +The motion of the gondola appeared to have a soothing influence on the +mind of the invalid. + +He would recline on the cushions, and the fast flowing tears would course +down his wan cheeks. + +These, however, were far from being a proof of suffering;--they were +evidently a relief to the surcharged spirit. + +One evening, a little before sunset, they found themselves in the crowded +piazza of Saint Mark. The cafes were thronged with noble Venetians, come +to witness the evening parade of an Austrian regiment. The sounds of +martial music, swelled above the hum of the multitude; and few could +listen to those strains, without participating in some degree, in the +military enthusiasm of the hour. + +But the brothers turned from the pageantry of war, as their eyes fell on +the emblems of Venice free--the minarets of St. Mark, with the horses of +Lysippus, a spoil from Byzantium--the flagless poles that once bore the +banners of three tributary states--the highly adorned azure clock--the +palaces of the proud Doges--where Faliero reigned--where Faliero +suffered:--these were before them. + +Their steps mechanically turned to the beautiful Campanile. + +George, leaning heavily on Sir Henry's arm, succeeded in gaining the +summit: and they looked down from thence, on that wonderful city. + +They saw the parade dismissed--they heard the bugle's fitful blast +proclaim the hour of sunset. The richest hues of crimson and of gold, +tinted the opposite heavens; while on those waters, over which the +gondolas were swiftly gliding, quivered another city, the magic reflection +of the one beneath them. + +They gazed on the scene in silence, till the grey twilight came on. + +"Now, George! it is getting late," said Sir Henry. "I wonder whether we +could find some old mariner, who could give us a chaunt from Tasso?" + +Descending from the Campanile, Sir Henry made enquiries on the quay, and +with some difficulty found gondoliers, who could still recite from their +favourite bard. + +Engaging a couple of boats, and placing a singer in each, the brothers +were rowed down the Canale Giudecca--skirted many of the small islands, +studding the lagoons; and proceeded towards the Adriatic. + +Gradually the boats parted company, and just as Sir Henry was about to +speak, thinking there might be a mistake as to the directions; the +gondolier in the other boat commenced his song,--its deep bass mellowed by +distance, and the intervening waves. The sound was electric. + +It was so exquisitely appropriate to the scene, and harmonised so +admirably, with the associations which Venice is apt to awaken, that one +longed to be able to embody that fleeting sound--to renew its magic +influence in after years. The pen may depict man's stormy feelings: the +sensitive caprice of woman:--the most vivid tints may be imitated on the +glowing canvas:--the inspired marble may realise our every idea of the +beauty of form:--a scroll may give us at will, the divine inspiration, of +Handel:--but there are sounds, as there are subtle thoughts, which, away +from the scenes, where they have charmed us, can never delight us more. + +It was not until the second boatman answered the song, that the brothers +felt how little the charm lay, in the voice of the gondolier, and that, +heard nearer, the sounds were harsh and inharmonious. + +They recited the death of Clorinda; the one renewing the stanza, whenever +there was a momentary forgetfulness on the part of the other. + +The clock of St. Mark had struck twelve, before the travellers had reached +the hotel. George had not complained of fatigue, during a day which even +Sir Henry thought a trying one; and the latter was willing to hope that +his strength was now increasing. + +Their first design had been to proceed though Switzerland, resting for +some time at Geneva. Their plans were now changed, and Sir Henry Belme +determined, that their homeward route should be through the Tyrol and +Bavaria, and eventually down the Rhine. + +He considered that the water carriage, and the very scenes themselves, +might prove beneficial to the invalid. + +Thompson was sent over to Mestre, to inform Pietro; and they prepared to +take their departure. + +"You have been better in Venice," said Sir Henry, as they entered the +gondola, that was to bear them from the city. "God grant that you may long +remain so!" + +George shook his head doubtingly. + +"My illness, Henry, is not of the frame alone, although that is fragile +and shattered. + +"The body lingers on without suffering; but the mind--a very bright sword +in a worthless sheath--is forcing its way through. Some feelings must +remain to the last--gratitude to you--love to dear Emily! Acme, wife of my +bosom! when may I join you?" + + + + +Chapter IX. + +Inspruck. + + + + "Oh there is sweetness in the mountain air, + And life, that bloated ease can never hope to share." + + +Inspruck! a thousand recollections flash across us, as we pronounce the +word! + +We were there at a memorable period; when the body of the hero of the +Tyrol--the brave, the simple-minded Anderl Hofer--was removed from Mantua, +where he so nobly met a patriot's death, to the capital of the country, +which he had so gallantly defended. + +The event was one, that could not fail to be impressive; and to us it was +doubly so, for that very period formed an epoch in our lives. + +We had lost! we had suffered! we had mourned! Our mind's strength was +shook. Ordinary remedies were worse than futile. + +We threw ourselves into the heart of the Tyrol, and became resigned if +not happy. + +Romantic country! did not duty whisper otherwise, how would we fly to thy +rugged mountains, and find in the kindly virtues of thine inhabitants, +wherewithal to banish misanthropy, and it may be purchase oblivion. + +Noble land! where the chief in his hall--the peasant in his hut--alike +open their arms with sheltering hospitality, to welcome the +stranger--where kindness springs from the heart, and dreams not of sordid +gain--where courtesy attends superior rank, without question, but without +debasement--where the men are valiant, the women virtuous--where it needed +but a few home-spun heroes--an innkeeper and a friar--to rouse up to arms +an entire population, and in a brief space to drive back the Gallic +foeman! Oh! how do we revert with choking sense of gratitude, to the years +we have spent in thy bosom! + +Oh! would that we were again treading the mountain's summit--the rifle +our comrade--and a rude countryman, our guide and our companion. + +In vain! in vain! the net of circumstance is over us! + +We may struggle! but cannot escape from its close meshes. + +We have said that we were at Inspruck at this period. + +It was our purpose, on the following morning, to take our departure. + +With renewed health, and nerves rebraced, we hoped to combat successfully, +a world that had already stung us. + +There was a group near the golden-roofed palace, that attracted our +attention. It consisted of a father and his five sons. + +They were dressed in the costume of the country; wearing a tapering +hat, with black ribbons and feather--a short green jerkin--a red vest +surmounted by broad green braces--and short boots tightly laced to +the ancle. + +They formed a picture of free mountaineers. + +We left our lodging, and passed them irresolutely twice or thrice. + +The old man took off his hat to the stranger. + +"Sir! I am of Sand, in Passeyer. + +"Anderl Hofer was my schoolfellow; and these are my boys, whom I have +brought to see all that remains of him. Oh! Sir! they did not conquer him, +although the murderers shot him on the bastion; but, as he wrote to +Pulher--_his_ friend and mine--it was indeed 'in the name, and by the help +of the Lord, that he undertook the voyage,'" + +We paced through the city sorrowfully. It was night, as we passed by the +church of the Holy Cross. + +Solemn music there arrested our footsteps; and we remembered, that high +mass would that night be performed, for the soul of the deceased patriot. + +We entered, and drew near the mausoleum of Maximilian the First:--leaning +against a colossal statue in bronze, and fixing our eyes on a bas relief +on the tomb: one of twenty-four tablets, wrought from Carrara's whitest +marble, by the unrivalled hand of Colin of Malines! + +One blaze of glory enveloped the grand altar:--vapours of incense floated +above:--and the music! oh it went to the soul! + +Down! down knelt the assembled throng! + +Our mind had been previously attuned to melancholy; it now reeled under +its oppression. + +We looked around with tearful eye. Old Theodoric of the Goths seemed to +frown from his pedestal. + +We turned to the statue against which we had leant. + +It was that of a youthful and sinewy warrior. + +We read its inscription. + +Artur, Konig Von England + +"Ah! hast _thou_ too thy representative, my country?" + +We looked around once more. + +The congregation were prostrate before the mysterious Host; and we alone +stood up, gazing with profound awe and reverence on the mystic rite. + +The rough caps of the women almost hid their fair brows. In the upturned +features of the men, what a manly, yet what a devout expression reigned! + +Melodiously did the strains proceed from the brazen-balustraded +orchestra; while sweet young girls smiled in the chapel of silver, as +they turned to Heaven their deeply-fringed eyes, and invoked pardon for +their sins. + +Alas! alas! that such as these _should_ err, even in thought! that our +feelings should so often mislead us,--that our very refinement, should +bring temptation in its train,--and our fervent enthusiasm, but too +frequently terminate in vice and crime! + +Our whole soul was unmanned! and well do we remember the morbid prayer, +that we that night offered to the throne of mercy. + +"Pity us! pity us! Creator of all! + +"With thousands around, who love--who reverence--whose hearts, in unison +with ours, tremble at death, yet sigh for eternity;--who gaze with eye +aspiring, although dazzled--as, the curtain of futurity uplifted, fancy +revels in the glorious visions of beatitude:--even here, oh God! hear our +prayer and pity us! + +"We are moulded, though faintly, in an angel's form. Endow us with an +angel's principles. For ever hush the impure swellings of passion! lull +the stormy tide of contending emotions! let not circumstances overwhelm! + +"Receive our past griefs: the griefs of manhood, engrafted on youth; accept +these tears, falling fast and bitterly! take them as past atonement,--as +mute witnesses that we feel:--that reason slumbers not, although passion +may mislead:--that gilded temptation may overcome, and gorgeous pleasure +intoxicate:--but that sincere repentance, and bitter remorse, are +visitants too. + +"Oh guide and pity us!" + +A cheerless dawn was breaking, and a thick damp mist was lazily hanging on +the water's surface, as our travellers waved the hand to Venice. + +"Fare thee well!" said George, as he rose in the gondola to catch a last +glimpse of the Piazzetta, "sea girt city! decayed memorial of patrician +splendour, and plebeian debasement! of national glory, blended with +individual degradation!--fallen art thou, but fair! It was not with +freshness of heart, I reached thee:--I dwelt not in thee, with that +jocund spirit, whose every working or gives the lip a smile, or moistens +the eye of feeling with a tear. + +"Sad were my emotions! but sadder still, as I recede from thy shores, bound +on a distant pilgrimage. Acme! dear Acme! would I were with thee!" + +Passing through Treviso, they stopped at Castel Franco, which presents one +of the best specimens of an Italian town, and Italian peasantry, that a +stranger can meet with. + +At Bassano, they failed not to visit the Municipal Hall, where are the +principal pictures of Giacomo da Ponte, called after his native town. + +His style is peculiar. + +His pictures are dark to an excess, with here and there a vivid light, +introduced with wonderful effect. + +From this town, the ascent of the mountains towards Ospedale is commenced; +and the route is one full of interest. + +On the right, lay a low range of country, adorned with vineyards; beyond +which, the mountains rose in a precipitous ridge, and closed the scene +magnificently. + +The Brenta was then reached, and continued to flow parallel with the road, +as far as eye could extend. + +Farther advanced, the mountains presented a landscape more varied:--_here_ +chequered with hamlets, whose church hells re-echoed in mellow harmony: +there--the only break to their majesty, being the rush of the river, as it +formed rolling cascades in its rapid route; or beat in sparkling foam, +against the large jagged rocks, which opposed its progress. + +At one while, came shooting down the stream, some large raft of timber, +manned by adventurous navigators, who, with graceful dexterity, guided +their rough bark, clear of the steep banks, and frequent fragments of +rock;--at another--as if to mark a road little frequented, a sharp turn +would bring them on some sandalled damsel, sitting by the road side, +adjusting her ringlets. Detected in her toilet, there was a mixture of +frankness and modesty, in the way in which she would turn away a blushing +face, yet neglect not, with native courtesy, to incline the head, and +wave the sun-burnt hand. + +From Ospedale, nearing the bold castle of Pergini, which effectually +commands the pass; the travellers descended through regions of beauty, to +the ancient Tridentum of Council celebrity. + +The metal roof of its Duomo was glittering in the sunshine; and the Adige +was swiftly sweeping by its fortified walls. + +Leaving Trent, they reached San Michele, nominally the last Italian town +on the frontier; but the German language had already prepared them for a +change of country. + +The road continued to wind by the Adige, and passing through Lavis, and +Bronzoli, the brothers halted for the night at Botzen, a clean German +town, watered by the Eisach. + +The following day's journey, was one that few can take, and deem their +time misspent. + +Mossy cliffs--flowing cascades--"chiefless castles breaking stern +farewells"--all these were met, and met again, as through Brixen, they +reached the village of Muelks. + +They had intended to have continued their route; but on drawing up at the +post-house, were so struck with the gaiety of the scene, that they +determined to remain for the night. + +Immediately in rear of the small garden of the inn, and with a gentle +slope upwards, a wide piece of meadow land extended. On its brow, was +pitched a tent, or rather, a many-coloured awning; and, beside it, a pole +adorned with flags. This was the station for expert riflemen, who aimed in +succession at a fluttering bird, held by a silken cord. + +The sloping bank of the hill was covered with spectators. + +Age looked on with sadness, and mourned for departed manhood--youth with +envy, and sighed for its arrival. + +After seeing their bedrooms, George leant on Henry's arm, and, crossing +the garden, they took a by-path, which led towards the tent. + +The strangers were received with respect and cordiality. + +Seats were brought, and placed near the scene of contest. + +The trial of skill over, the victor took advantage, of his right, and +selected his partner from the fairest of the peasant girls. + +Shrill pipes struck up a waltz--a little blind boy accompanied these on a +mandolin--and in a brief space, the hill's flat summit was swarming with +laughing dancers. + +Nor was youth alone enlisted in Terpsichore's service. + +The mother joined in the same dance with the daughter; and not +unfrequently tripped with foot as light. + +Twilight came on, and the patriarchs of the village, and with them our +travellers, adjourned to the inn. + +The matrons led away their reluctant charges, and the youth of the village +alone protracted the revels. + +The brothers seated themselves at a separate table, and watched the +village supper party, with some interest. + +Bowls of thick soup, with fish swimming in butter, and fruit floating in +cream, were successively placed in the middle of the table. + +Each old man produced his family spoon, and helped himself with primitive +simplicity:--then lighted his pipe, and told his long tale, till he had +exhausted himself and his hearers. + +Nor must we forget the comely waiter. + +A bunch of keys hanging on one side,--a large leathern purse on the +other--with a long boddice, and something like a hoop--she really +resembled, save that her costume was more homely, one of the portraits +of Vandyke. + +The brothers left Muelks by sunrise, and were not long, ere they reached +the summit of the Brenner, the loftiest point of the Tyrol. + +From the beautiful town of Gries, embosomed in the deep valley, until they +trod the steep Steinach, the mountain scenery at each step become more +interesting. The road was cut on the face of a mountain. On one side, +frowned the mountain's dark slope; on the other, lay a deep precipice, +down which the eye fearfully gazed, and saw naught but the dark fir trees +far far beneath. Dividing that dense wood, a small stream, entangled in +the dark ravine, glided on in graceful windings, and looked more silvery +from its contrast with the sombre forest. + +At the Steinach Pietro pulled up, to show the travellers the capital +of the Tyrol, and to point in the distance to Hall, famous for its +salt works. + +Casting a hasty glance, on the romantic vale beneath them:--the fairest +and most extensive in the northern recesses of the Alps, Sir Henry desired +his driver to continue his journey. + +They rapidly descended, and passing by the column, commemorative of the +repulse of the French and Bavarian armies, soon found themselves the +inmates of an hotel in Inspruck. + + + + +Chapter X. + +The Students' Stories. + + + + "The lilacs, where the robins built, + And where my brother set + The laburnum on his birth-day-- + _The tree_ is living yet." + + +At Inspruck, Delme had the advantage of a zealous, if not an appropriate +guide, in the red-faced landlord of the hotel, whose youth had been passed +in stirring times, which had more than once, required the aid of his arm, +and which promised to tax his tongue, to the last day of his life. + +He knew all the heroes of the Tyrolese revolution--if revolution it can be +called--and had his tale to tell of each. + +He had got drunk with Hofer,--had visited Joseph Speckbacker, when hid in +his own stable,--and had confessed more than once to Haspinger, the +fighting Capuchin. + +His stories were very characteristic; and, if they did not breathe all the +poetry of patriotism, were at least honest versions, of exploits performed +in as pure and disinterested a spirit, as any that have ever graced the +sacred name of Liberty. + +After seeing all its sights, and making an excursion to some glaciers in +its neighbourhood, Delme and George left the capital of the Tyrol, to +proceed by easy stages to Munich. + +In the first day's route, they made the passage of the Zirl, which has +justly been lauded; and Pietro failed not to point to a crucifix, placed +on a jutting rock, which serves to mark the site of Maximilian's cave. + +The travellers took a somewhat late breakfast, at the guitar-making +Mittelwald, where chance detained them later than usual. They were still +at some distance from their sleeping place, the hamlet of Wallensee, when +the rich hues of sunset warned Pietro, that if he would not be benighted, +he must urge on his jaded horses. + +The sun's decline was glorious. For a time, vivid streaks of crimson and +of gold, crowned the summits of the heaving purple mountains. Gradually, +these streaks became fainter, and died away, and rolling, slate-coloured +clouds, hung heavily in the west. + +The scene and the air seemed to turn on a sudden, both cold and grey; and, +as the road wound through umbrageous forests of pine, night came abruptly +upon them; and it was a relief to the eye, to note the many bright stars, +as they shone above the tops of the lofty trees. + +A boding stillness reigned, on which the sound of their carriage wheels +ungratefully broke. The rustling of each individual bough had an +intonation of its own; and the deep notes of the woodman, endeavouring to +forget the thrilling legends of his land, mingled fitfully with the hollow +gusts, which came moaning through the leafless branches below. + +Hist! can it be the boisterous revel of the _forst geister_, that meets +his ear? or is it but the chirp of insects, replying from brake to +underwood? + +Woodman! stay not thy carol! + +Yon sound _may_ be the wild laugh of the Holz Koenig! Better for thee, to +deem it the whine of thine own dog, looking from the cottage door, and +awaiting but thy presence, to share in the homely meal. + +Arrived on the summit of the hill, the lights of the hamlet at length +glistened beneath them. The tired steeds, as if aware of the near +termination of their labours, shook their rough manes, and jingled their +bells in gladness. + +An abrupt descent--and they halted, at the inn facing the lake. + +And here may we notice, that it has been a source of wonder to us, that +English tourists, whose ubiquity is great, have not oftener been seen +straying, by the side of the lake of Wallensee. + +A sweeter spot exists not;--whether we rove by its margin, and perpetrate +a sonnet; limn some graceful tree, hanging over its waters; or gaze on its +unruffled surface, and, noting its aspect so serene, preach from that +placid text, peace to the wearied breast. + +They were shown into a room in the inn, already thronged with strangers. +These were students on their way to Heidelberg. + +They were sitting round a table, almost enveloped in smoke; and were +hymning praises to their loved companion--beer. + +As being in harmony with the moustaches, beard, and bandit +propensities--which true buerschen delight to cultivate--they received +the strangers with an unfriendly stare, and continued to vociferate +their chorus. + +Sir Henry, a little dismayed at the prospect before them, called for the +landlord and his bill of fare; and had the pleasure of discovering, that +the provisions had been consumed, and that two hours would elapse, before +more could be procured. + +At this announcement, Delme looked somewhat blank. One of the students, +observing this, approached, and apologising, in English, for their +voracity, commenced conversing with the landlord, as to the best course to +be pursued towards obtaining supper. + +His comrades, seeing one of their number speaking with the travellers, +threw off some part of their reserve, and made way for them at the table. + +George and Henry accepted the proffered seats, although they declined +joining the drinking party. + +The students, however, did not appear at ease. As if to relieve their +embarrassment, one of them addressed the young man, with whom Sir Henry +had conversed. + +"Carl! it is your turn now! if you have not a song, we must have an +original story." + +Carl at once complied, and related the following. + + + +The First Story. + + +Perhaps some of you remember Fritz Hartmann and his friend Leichtberg. +They were the founders of the last new liberty club, and were famous at +_renowning_. + +These patriots became officers of the Imperial Guard, and at Vienna were +soon known for their friendship and their gallantries. + +Fritz had much sentiment and imagination; but some how or other, this did +not preserve him from inconstancy. + +If he was always kind and gentle, he was not always faithful. + +His old college chums had the privilege of joking him on these subjects; +and we always did so without mercy. Fritz would sometimes combat our +assertions, but they ordinarily made him laugh so much, that a stranger +would have deemed he assented to their truth. + +One night after the opera, the friends supped together at Fritz's. + +I was of the party, and brought for my share a few bottles of +Johannisberg, that had been sent me by my uncle from the last vintage. +Over these we got more than usually merry, and sang all the songs and +choruses of Mother Heidelberg, till the small hours arrived. The sitting +room we were in, communicated on one side with the bedroom;--on the other, +with a little closet, containing nothing but some old trunks. + +This last was closed, but there was a small aperture in the door, over +which was a slight iron lattice work. + +The officer who had last tenanted Fritz's quarters, had kept pheasants +there, and had had this made on purpose. + +After one of our songs, Leichtberg attacked Fritz on the old score. + +"Fritz! you very Werter of sentiment! I was amazed to see you with no +loves to-night at the opera. Where is the widow with sandy hair? or the +actress who gave your _kirschenwasser_ such a benefit? where our +sallow-faced friend? or more than all, where may the fair Pole be who +sells such charming fruit? Fritz! Fritz! your sudden attachment to grapes +is too ominous." + +"Come, Leichtberg!" said Hartmann, laughing, "this is really not fair. Do +you know I think myself very constant, and as to the Pole, I have thought +of little else for these three months." + +"Not so fast! not so fast! Master Hartmann. Was it not on Wednesday week I +met you arm in arm with the actress? Were you not waltzing with the widow +at the Tivoli? have you not"-- + +"Come, come!" said Fritz, reddening, "let us say no more. I confess to +having made a fool of myself with the actress, but she begged and prayed +to see me once more, ere we parted for ever. With this exception----" + +"Yes, yes!" interrupted Leichtberg, "I know you, Master Fritz, and all +your evil doings. Have you heard of our Polish affaire de coeur, Carl?", +and he turned to me. + +"No!" replied I, "let me hear it." + +"Well, you must know that a certain friend of ours is very economical, and +markets for himself. He bargains for fruit and flowers with the peasant +girls, and the prettiest always get his orders, and bring up their +baskets, and--we will say no more. Well! our friend meets a foreign face, +dark eye--Greek contour--and figure indescribable. She brings him home her +well arranged bouquets. He swears her lips are redder than her roses--her +brow whiter than lilies--and her breath--which he stoops to inhale--far +sweeter than her jasmines. To his amazement, the young flower girl sees no +such great attractions in the Imperial Guardsman; leaves her +nosegays,--throws his Napoleon, which he had asked her to change, in his +face,--and makes her indignant exit. Our sentimental friend finds out her +home, and half her history;--renews his flattering tales--piques her +pride,--rouses her jealousy;--and makes her love him, bon gre--mal gre, +better than either fruit or flowers. + +"Fritz swears eternal constancy, and keeps it, as I have already told you, +with the actress and the sandy haired widow." + +Leichtberg told this story inimitably, and Fritz laughed as much as I did. +At length we rose to wish him good night, and saw him turn to his bedroom +door, followed by a Swiss dog, which always slept under his bed. The rest +of the story we heard from his dying lips. + +It was as near as he could guess, between two and three in the morning, +that he awoke with the impression that some one was near him. For a time +he lay restless and ill at ease; with the vague helpless feeling, that +often attacks one, after a good supper. + +Fritz had just made up his mind to ascribe to this cause, all his +nervousness; when something seemed to drop in the adjoining room; and his +dog, starting to its feet, commenced barking furiously. + +Again all was still. + +He got up for a moment, but fancying he heard a footstep on the stair, +concluded that the noise proceeded from one of the inmates of the house, +who was come home later than usual. + +But Fritz could not sleep; and his dog seemed to share his feelings; +for he turned on his side restlessly, and occasionally gave a quick +solitary bark. + +Suddenly a conviction flashed across Hartmann, that there was indeed some +one in the chamber. + +His curtain stirred. + +He sprang from his bed, and reached his tinder box. As the steel struck +sparks from the flint, these revealed the face of the intruder. + +It was the young Polish girl. + +A fur cloak was closely folded around her;--her face was deadly +pale;--with one hand she drew back her long dark hair, while she silently +uplifted the other. + +Our friend's last impression was his falling back, at the moment his dog +made a spring at the girl. + +The inmates of the house were alarmed. His friends were all sent for. + +I arrived among the earliest. What a sight met me! + +The members of the household were so stupefied that they had done nothing. +Fritz Hartmann lay on the floor insensible:--his night shirt steeped in +blood, still flowing from a mortal wound in his breast. + +At his feet, moaning bitterly, its fangs and mouth filled with mingled fur +and gore, lay the Swiss dog, with two or three deep gashes across the +throat. In the adjoining room, thrown near the door, was the instrument of +Fritz's death--one of the knives we had used the evening before. + +Beside it, lay a woman's cloak, the fur literally dripping with blood. + +Fritz lingered for five hours. Before death, he was sensible, and told us +what I have stated:--and acknowledged that he had loved the girl, more +than her station in life might seem to warrant. + +Of course, the young Pole had been concealed in the closet, and heard +Leichtberg's sallies. Love and jealousy effected the rest. + +We never caught her, although we had all the Vienna police at our beck; +and accurate descriptions of her person were forwarded to the frontiers. + +We were not quite certain as to her fate, but we rather suppose her to +have escaped by a back garden; in which case she must have made a most +dangerous leap; and then to have passed as a courier, riding as such +into Livonia. + +Where she obtained the money or means to effect this, God knows. She must +have been a heroine in her way, for this dog is not easily overpowered, +and yet--look here! these scars were given him by that young girl. + +The student whistled to a dog at his feet, which came and licked his hand, +while he showed the wounds in his throat. + +"I call him Hartmann," continued he, "after my old friend. His father sent +him to me just after the funeral, and Leichtberg has got his meershaum." + + * * * * * + +The students listened attentively to the story, refilling their pipes +during its progress, with becoming gravity. Carl turned towards his right +hand neighbour. "Wilhelm! I call on you!" + +The student, whom he addressed, passed his hand through his long heard, +and thus commenced. + + + +The Second Story. + + +My father's brother married at Lausanne, in the Canton de Vaud, and +resided there. He died early, and left one son; who, as you may suppose, +was half a Frenchman. In spite of that, I thought Caspar von Hazenfeldt a +very handsome fellow. His chestnut hair knotted in curls over his +shoulders. His eyes, the veins of his temples, and I would almost say, his +very teeth, had a blueish tint, that I have noticed in few men; and which +must, I think, be the peculiar characteristic of his complexion. When +engaged in pleasure parties, either pic-nicing at the signal, or +promenading in the evening on Mont Benon, or sitting tete-a-tete at +Languedoc, he had no eyes or ears but for Caroline de Werner. + +He waltzed with her--he talked with her--and he walked with her--until he +had fairly talked, walked, and waltzed himself into love. + +She was the daughter of a rich old colonel of the Empire:--he was the +poor son of a poorer widow. What could he do? Caspar von Hazenfeldt could +gaze on the house of the old soldier; but the avenue of elms, the waving +corn-fields, and the luxuriant gardens, told him that the heiress of +Beau-Sejour could never he his. + +He was one evening sitting on a stone, in a little ruined chapel, near the +house of his beloved; ruminating as usual on his ill fate, and considering +which would be the better plan, to mend his fortunes by travel, or mar +them by suicide;--when an elderly gentleman, dressed in a plain suit of +black, appeared hat in hand before him. + +After the usual compliments, they entered into conversation, and at last, +having walked for some distance, towards Hazenfeldt's house, agreed to +meet again at the chapel on the next evening. + +Suffice it to say that they often met, and as often parted, on the margin +of the little stream, that ran before the door of Caspar's mother's +house:--that they became great friends;--and that the young man confided +the tale of his love, hopes, and miseries, to the sympathising senior. + +At last _the old gentleman_, for such he really was, told Caspar that he +would help him in a trice, through all his difficulties. + +"There is one condition, Caspar!" said he, "but that is a mere trifle. You +are young, and would be quite happy, were it not for this love affair of +yours:--you sleep soundly, you seek and quit your bed early, and you care +not for night-roving. Henceforth, lend me your body from ten at night, +until two in the morning, and I promise that Caroline de Werner shall be +yours. Here she is!" continued he, as he opened his snuff box, and showed +the lid to Caspar, "here she is!" + +And sure enough, there she was on the inside of the lid, apparently +reading to the gouty old colonel, as he sat in his easy chair in the petit +salon of Beau-Sejour. + +One evening, the old gentleman delighted Caspar, by telling him that he +had authority from Colonel de Werner, to bring a guest to a ball at +Beau-Sejour, and by begging Caspar to be his shade--to use our +Continental expression--on the occasion. + +Caspar von Hazenfeldt and he became greater friends than ever, since their +singular contract had been made; for made it was in a thoughtless +unguarded moment. + +Hazenfeldt was introduced to Caroline in due form, and engaged her for the +first dance. + +Before the quadrille began, his friend in black came to present his +compliments, and to say that he had never seen a more beautiful pair. + +"Caspar!" continued he, "when your dance is over, give me a few minutes in +the next room. We will chat together, and sip our negus." + +Caspar _did_ so, and _did_ sip his negus. The little gentleman in black, +was very facetious, and very affable. + +"Are you not going to dance again, Caspar? Look at all those pretty girls, +waiting for partners! Why do you not lead one to the country dance?" + +As he ended speaking, a sylph-like figure, with long golden ringlets, +floated past them. + +"I can, and I will," replied Caspar, laughing, as he took the fair-haired +girl by the hand, and led her to the dance. + +He turned to address his friend in triumph, but he had disappeared. + +The dance was over, and Caspar led the stranger towards a silken ottoman. + +"Will you not try one waltz?" said the beautiful girl, as she shook +her ringlets, over his flushed cheek; "but I must not ask you, if you +are tired." + +"How can I refuse?" rejoined Caspar. + +Caroline was forgotten, as his partner's golden hair floated on his +shoulders, and her soft white arms were twined around him, as they danced +the mazy coquettish waltz, which was then the fashion in Lausanne. + +"How warm these rooms are!" she exclaimed at last. "The moon is up: let us +walk in the avenue." + +Caspar assented; for he grew fonder of his new partner, and more forgetful +of Caroline. She pressed closer and closer to his side. A distant clock +struck ten. Entwined in her tresses, encircled in her arms, he sunk +senseless to the ground. + +When Caspar recovered from the trance, into which he had fallen, the cold +morning breeze, that precedes the dawn, was freshening his cheek; a few +faint streaks on the horizon, reflected the colours of the coming sun; and +the night birds were returning tired to the woods, as the day birds were +merrily preparing for their flight. He was not where he had fallen: he was +sitting on a rustic bench, beneath a moss-grown rock. + +Caroline de Werner was beside him. + +Her white frock was torn; her hair was hanging in Bacchante curls, twined +with the ivy that had wreathed it; her eyes glared wildly, and blood +bubbled from her mouth. Her hand was fast locked in that of Hazenfeldt. + +"Caroline!" he exclaimed, in a tone of wonderment, as one who awakes from +a deep sleep, "Caroline! why are we here? what means this disorder?" + +"You now speak," said she, "as did my Caspar," + +Caroline de Werner is in a mad-house near Vevay:--the man in black has not +been seen since he disappeared from the ball room of Beau-Sejour:--my +cousin, Caspar von Hazenfeldt, took to wandering alone over the Swiss +mountains; and before three months had elapsed, from the time he met _the +old gentleman_, was buried in the fall of an avalanche, near the pass of +the Gemmi. + + * * * * * + +Supper was not ready as the student finished this story; and George +proposed a stroll. The change from the heated room to the margin of the +lake, was a most refreshing one. As the brothers silently gazed upwards, a +young lad approached, and accosted them. + +"Gentlemen! I have seen the horses fed, and they are now lying down." + +"Have you?" said Delme, drily. + +"A very fine night! gentlemen! Perhaps you have heard of the famous echo, +on the other side of the lake. It will be a good hour, I am sure, before +your supper is ready. My boat lies under that old tree. If you like it, I +will loose the chain, and row you over." + +The brothers acquiesced. They were just in the frame of mind for an +unforeseen excursion. The motion of the boat, too, would be easy for +George, and he might there unrestrainedly give way to his excited +feelings, or commune ungazed on, with the current of his thoughts. + +A thin crescent of a moon had risen. It was silvering the tops of the +overhanging boughs, and was quiveringly mirrored on the light ripple. +George leant against the side of the boat, and listened to the liquid +music, as the broad paddle threw back the resisting waters. + +How soothing is the hour of night to the wounded spirit! + +The obscurity which shrouds nature, seems to veil even man's woes--the +harsh outline of his sufferings is discerned no more. Grief takes the +place of despair--pensive melancholy of sorrow. + +As we gaze around, and feel the chill air damp each ringlet on the pallid +brow; know that _that_ hour hath cast a shade on each inanimate thing +around us; we feel resigned to our bereavements, and confess, in our +heart's humility, that no changes _should_ overwhelm, and that no grief +_should_ awaken repinings. + +To many a bruised and stricken spirit, night imparts a grateful balm. + +In the morning, the feelings are too fresh;--oblivion is exchanged for +conscious suffering;--the merriment of the feathered songsters seems to us +as a taunt;--our sympathies are not with waking nature. The glare and +splendour of noon, bid us recal _our_ hopes, and their signal overthrow. +The zenith of day's lustre meets us as a wilful mockery. + +Eve may bring rest, but on her breast is memory. But at night! when the +mental and bodily energies are alike worn out by the internal +struggle;--when hushed is each sound--softened each feature--dimmed each +glaring hue;--a calm which is not deceptive, steals over us, and we regard +our woes as the exacted penalty of our erring humanity. + +Calumniated night! to one revelling in the full noon-tide of hope and +gladness:--to the one, to whom a guilty conscience incessantly whispers, +"Think! but sleep not!"--to such as these, horrors may appear to bound thy +reign!--but to him who hath loved, and who hath lost,--to many a gentle +but tried spirit, thou comest in the guise of a sober, and true friend. + +The boat for some time, kept by the steep bank, under the shadows of the +trees. As it emerged from this, towards where the moon-beams cast their +light on the water, the night breeze rustled through the foliage, and +swept a yet green leaf from one of the drooping boughs. + +It fell on the surface of the lake, and George's eye quickly followed it. + +"Look at that unfaded leaf! Henry. What a gentle breeze it was, that +parted it from its fellows! To me it resembles a youthful soul, cut off in +its prime, and wandering mateless in eternity." + +Sir Henry only sighed. + +The young rower silently pursued his course across the lake; running his +boat aground, on a small pebbly strand near a white cottage. + +Jumping nimbly from his seat, and fastening the boat to a large stone, the +guide, followed by the brothers, shouted to the inmates of the cottage, +and violently kicked at its frail door. + +An upper window was opened, and the guardian of the echo--a valorous +divine in a black night-cap--demanded their business. This was soon told. +The priest descended--struck a light--unbarred the door--and with the +prospect of gain before him, fairly forgot that he had been aroused from a +deep slumber. + +They were soon ushered into the kitchen. An aged crone descended, and +raking the charcoal embers, kindled a flame, by which the rower was +enabled to light his pipe. + +The young gentleman threw himself into an arm chair, and puffed away with +true German phlegm. The old man bustled about, in order to obtain the +necessary materials for loading an ancient cannon; and occupied himself +for some minutes, in driving the charge into the barrel. + +This business arranged, he led the way towards the beach; and aided by the +old woman, pointed his warlike weapon. A short pause--it was fired! +Rebounding from hill to hill, the echo took its course, startling the +peasant from his couch, and the wolf from his lair. + +Again all was still;--then came its distant reverberation--a tone deep and +subdued--dying away mournfully on the ear. + +"How wonderfully fine!" said George, "but let us embark, for I feel +quite chilled." + +"I will run for the youngster," replied his brother. As he moved towards +the cottage, the priest seized him by the collar of the coat, and held up +the torch, by which he had fired the cannon. + +"This echo is indeed a wonderful one! It has nineteen distinct +repetitions; the first twelve being heard from _this_ side of a valley, +which, were it day, I would point out; the other seven, on the opposite +side. Tradition tells us, that nineteen castles in ancient times, stood +near the spot; that each of these laid claim to the echo; and that, as it +passes the ruin, where once dwelt Sigismund of the Bloody Hand, the chief +springs from the round ivied tower--waves his sword thrice, the drops of +blood falling from its hilt as he does so--and proclaims aloud, that +whosoever dare gainsay"-- + +"I am sorry to leave you," interrupted Sir Henry, as he shook him off, +"particularly at this interesting part of the story; but it is late, +and my brother feels unwell, and I wish to go to the cottage to call +our guide." + +Delme was pursued by the echo's elucidator, who being duly remunerated, +allowed Sir Henry to accompany the guide towards the boat. George was not +standing where he had left him. Delme stepped forward, and nearly fell +over a prostrate body. + +It was the motionless one of his brother. + +He gave a shriek of anguish; flew towards the house, and in a moment, was +again on the spot, bearing the priest's torch. He raised his brother's +head. One hand was extended over the body, and fell to the earth like a +clod of clay as it was. + +He gazed on that loved face. In that gaze, how much was there to arrest +his attention. + +On those features, death had stamped his seal. + +But there was a thought, which bore the ascendancy over this in Delme's +mind. It was a thought which rose involuntarily,--one for which he could +not _then_ account, and cannot now. For some seconds, it swayed his every +emotion. He felt the conviction--deep, undefinable--that there was indeed +a soul, to "shame the doctrine of the Sadducee." + +He deemed that on those lineaments, this was the language forcibly +engraven! The features were still and fixed:--the brow alone revealed a +dying sense of pain. + +The lips! how purple were they! and the eye, that erst flashed so +freely:--the yellow film of death had dimmed its lustre. + +The legs were apart, and one of the feet was in the lake. Henry tried to +chafe his brother's forehead. + +In vain! in vain! he knew it was in vain! + +He let the head fall, and buried his face in his hands. + +He turned reproachfully, to gaze on that cloudless Heaven, where the moon, +and the brilliant stars, and the falling meteor, seemed to hold a bright +and giddy festival. + +He clasped his hands in mute agony. For a brief moment--his dark eye +seeming to invite His wrath--he dared to arraign the mercy of God, who had +taken what he had made. + +It was but for a moment he thus thought. + +He had watched that light of life, until its existence was almost +identified with his own. He had seen it flicker--had viewed it +reillumed--blaze with increased brilliancy--fade--glimmer--and fade. Now! +where was it? + +A bitter cry escaped! his limbs trembled convulsively, and could no longer +support him. + +He fell senseless beside his brother. + + + + +Chapter XI + +The Student + + + + "What is my being? _thou_ hast ceased to be." + + +Carl Obers was as enthusiastic a being as ever Germany sent forth. Brought +up in a lone recess in the Hartz mountains, with neither superiors nor +equals to commune with, he first entered the miniature world, as a student +at Heidelberg. + +His education had been miserably neglected. He had read much; but his +reading had been without order and without system. + +The deepest metaphysics, and the wildest romances had been devoured in +succession; until the young man hardly knew which was the real, or which +was the visionary world:--the one he actually lived in, or the one he was +always brooding over:--where souls are bound together by mysterious and +hidden links, and where men sell themselves to Satan;--the penalty merely +being:--to walk through life, and throw no shadow. + +Enrolled amongst a select corps of brueschen, warm and true; his ear was +caught by the imposing jargon of patriotism; and his imagination dwelt on +those high sounding words, "the rights of man;"--until he became the +staunch advocate and unflinching votary of a state of things, which, for +aught we know, _may_ exist in one of the planets, but which never can, and +which never will exist on this earth of ours. + +"What!" would exclaim our enthusiast, "have we not all our bodily and our +mental, energies? Doth not dame Nature, in our birth, as in our death, +deal out impartial justice? She may endow me with stronger limbs, than +another:--our feelings as we grow up, may not be chained down to one +servile monotony;--the lip of the precocious cynic"--this was addressed to +a young matter of fact Englishman--"who sneers at my present animation, +may not curl with a smile as often as my own; but let our powers of +acting be equal,--our prerogatives the same." + +Carl Obers, with his youth and his vivacity, carried his auditors--a +little knot of beer drinking liberty-mongers--_with_ him, and _for_ him, +in all he said; and the orator would look round, with conscious power, and +considerable satisfaction; and flatter himself, that his specious +arguments were as unanswerable, as they were then unanswered. + +Many of our generation may remember the unparalleled enthusiasm, which, +like an electric flash, spread over the civilised world; as Greece armed +herself, to shake off her Moslem ruler. + +It was one that few could help sharing. + +To almost all, is Greece a magic word. Her romantic history--the legacies +she has left us--our early recollections, identifying with her existence +as a nation, all that is good and glorious;--no wonder these things should +have shed a bright halo around her,--and have made each breast deeply +sympathise with her in her unwonted struggle for freedom. + +Carl Obers did not hear of this struggle with indifference. He at once +determined to give Greece the benefit of his co-operation, and the aid of +his slender means. He immediately commenced an active canvass amongst his +personal friends, in order to form a band of volunteers, who might be +efficient, and worthy of the cause on which his heart was set. + +He now first read an useful lesson from life's unrolled volume. + +Many a voice, that had rung triumphantly the changes on liberty, was +silent now, or deprecated the active attempt to establish it. + +The hands that waved freely in the debating room, were not the readiest to +grasp the sword's hilt. Many who had poetically expatiated on the +splendours of modern Greece; on reflection preferred the sunny views of +the Neckar, to the prospect of eating honey on Hymettus. + +Youth, however, is the season for enterprise; and Carl, with twenty-three +comrades, was at length on his way to Trieste. + +He had been offered the command of the little band, but had declined it, +with the sage remark, that "as they were about to fight for equality, it +was their business to preserve it amongst themselves." + +A slight delay in procuring a vessel, took place at Trieste. This delay +caused a defection of eight of the party. + +The remaining students embarked in a miserable Greek brigantine, and after +encountering some storms in the Adriatic, thought themselves amply repaid, +as the purple hills of Greece rose before them. + +On their landing, they felt disappointed. + +No plaudits met them; no vivas rung in the air: but a Greek soldier +filched Carl's valise, and on repairing to the commandant of the town, +they were told that no redress could be afforded them. + +Willing to hope that the scum of the irregular troops was left behind, and +that better feeling, and stricter discipline, existed nearer the main +body; our students left on the morrow;--placed themselves under the +command of one of the noted leaders of the Revolution:--and had shortly +the satisfaction of crossing swords with the Turk. + +For some months, the party went through extraordinary hardships;--engaged +in a series of desultory but sanguinary expeditions;--and gradually learnt +to despise the nation, in whose behalf they were zealously combating. + +At the end of these few months, what a change in the hopes and prospects +of the little band! Some had rotted in battle field, food for vultures; +others had died of malaria in Greek hamlets, without one friend to close +their eyes, or one hand to proffer the cooling draught to quench the dying +thirst;--two were missing--had perhaps been murdered by the peasants;--and +five only remained, greatly disheartened, cursing the nation, and their +own individual folly. + +Four of the five turned homewards. + +Carl was left alone, but fought on. + +Now there was a Greek, Achilles Metaxa by name, who had attached himself +to Carl's fortunes. In person, he was the very model of an ancient hero. +He had the capacious brow, the eye of fire, and the full black beard, +descending in wavy curls to his chest. + +The man was brave, too, for Carl and he had fought together. + +It so happened, that they slept one night in a retired convent. Their +hardships latterly had been great, and the complaints of Achilles had been +unceasing in consequence. In the morning Carl rose, and found that his +clothes and arms had vanished, and that his friend was absent also. + +Carl remained long enough to satisfy himself, that his friend was the +culprit; and then turned towards the sea coast, determined at all hazards +to leave Greece. + +He succeeded in reaching Missolonghi, in the early part of 1823, shortly +after the death of Marco Botzaris--being then in a state of perfect +destitution, and his mental sufferings greatly aggravated by the +consciousness, that he had induced so many of his comrades to sacrifice +their lives and prospects in an unworthy cause. + +At Missolonghi, where Mavrocordato reigned supreme, he was grudged the +paltry ration of a Suliote soldier, and might have died of starvation, had +it not been for the timely interposition of a stranger. + +Moved by that stranger's persuasion, Carl consented to form one of a +contemplated expedition against Lepanto; and, had his illustrious +benefactor lived, might have found a steady friend. + +As it was, he waited not to hear the funeral oration, delivered by +Spiridion Tricoupi; but was on the deck of the vessel that was to bear him +homewards, and shed tears of mingled grief, admiration, and gratitude, as +thirty-seven minute guns, fired from the battery, told Greece and Carl +Obers, that they had lost Byron, their best friend. + +Carl reached Germany, a wiser man than when he left it. + +He found his father dead, and he came into possession of his small +patrimony; but felt greatly, as all men do who are suddenly removed from +active pursuits, the want of regular and constant employment. + +He was glad to renew his intercourse with his old University; and found +himself greatly looked up to by the students, who were never wearied with +listening to his accounts of the Morea, and of the privations he had there +encountered. + +We need hardly inform our readers, that Carl Obers was one of the +pedestrian students at Wallensee, and was indeed the identical narrator of +the Vienna story. + +We left George and his brother, on the shore below the priest's +cottage. The one was laid cold and motionless--the other wished that +_he_ also were so. + +Immediately on Delme's falling, the young guide alarmed the +priest--brought him down to the spot--pointed to the brothers--threw +himself into the boat--and paddled swiftly across the lake, to alarm the +guests at the inn. + +It was with feelings of deep commiseration, that Carl looked on the two +brothers. He was the only person present, whose time was comparatively his +own; he spoke English, although imperfectly; and he owed a deep debt of +gratitude to an Englishman. + +These circumstances seemed to point him out, as the proper person to +attend to the wants of the unfortunate traveller; and Carl Obers mentally +determined, that he would not leave Delme, as long as he had it in his +power to befriend him, Sir Henry Delme was completely unmanned by his +bereavement. He had been little prepared for such a severe loss; although +it is more than probable, that George's life had long been hanging on a +thread, which a single moment might snap. + +The medical men had been singularly sanguine in his case, for it is rarely +that disease of the heart attacks one so young; but it now seemed evident, +that even had not anxiety of mind, and great constitutional irritability, +hastened the fatal result, that poor George could never have hoped to have +survived to a ripe old age. + +There was much in his character at any time, to endear him to an only +brother. As it was, Delme had seen George under such trying +circumstances--had entered so fully into his feelings and sufferings--that +this abrupt termination to his brother's sorrows, appeared to Sir Henry +Delme, to bring with it a sable pall, that enveloped in darkness his own +future life and prospects. + +The remains of poor George were placed in a small room, communicating with +one intended for Sir Henry. + +Here Delme shut himself up, brooding over his loss, and permitting no one +to intrude on his privacy. + +Carl had offered his services, which were gratefully accepted, in making +the necessary arrangements for his brother's obsequies; and Sir Henry, in +the solitude of the dead man's chamber, could give free scope to a flood +of bitter recollections. + +It may be, that those silent hours of agony, when the brother looked +fixedly on that moveless face, and implored the departed spirit to breathe +its dread and awful secret, were not without their improving tendency; for +haggard and wan as was the mourner's aspect, there was no outward sign of +quivering, even as he saw the rude coffin lowered, and as fell on his ear, +the creaking of cords, and that harsh jarring sound, to which there is +nothing parallel on earth, the heavy clods falling on the coffin lid. + +The general arrangements had been simple; but Carl's directions had been +given in such a sympathising spirit, that they could not be otherwise than +acceptable. + +About the church-yard itself, there is nothing very striking. It is +formed round a small knoll, on the summit of which stands a sarcophagus +literally buried in ivy. + +Beneath this, is the vault of the baronial family, that for centuries +swayed the destinies of the little hamlet; but which family has been +extinct for some years. + +Round it are grouped the humbler osiered graves; over which, in lieu of +tomb stones, are placed large black iron crosses, ornamented with brass, +and bearing the simple initials of the bygone dead. + +Even Delme, with all his ancestral pride, felt that George "slept well." + +It is true no leaden coffin enclosed his relics, nor did the murky vault +of his ancestors, open with creaking hinge to receive another of the race. +No escutcheon darkened the porch whence they bore him; and no long train +of mourners followed his remains to their last home. + +But there was something in the quiet of the spot, that seemed to Delme in +harmony with his history; and to promise, that a sorrowless world had +already opened, on one who had loved so truly, and felt so deeply in this. + +Sir Henry returned to the inn, and darkened his chamber. + +He had not the heart to prosecute his journey, nor to leave the spot, +which held what was to him so dear. + +Carl Obers attempted to combat his despondency; but observing how useless +were his arguments, wisely allowed his grief to take its course. + +There was one point, in which Delme was decidedly wrong. + +He could not bring himself, to communicate their loss to his sister. + +Carl pressed this duty frequently on him, but was always met by the +same reply. + +"No! no! how can I inflict such a pang?" + +It is possible the intelligence might have been very long in reaching +England, had it not been for a providential circumstance, that occurred +shortly after George's funeral. + +A carriage, whose style and appointments bespoke it English, changed +horses at the inn at Wallensee. The courier, while ordering the relays, +had heard George's story; and touching his hat to the inmates of the +vehicle, retailed it with natural pathos. + +On hearing the name of Delme, the lady was visibly affected. She was +an old friend of the family; and as Melicent Dashwood, had known +George as a boy. + +It was not without emotion, that she heard of one so young, and to her so +familiar, being thus prematurely called to his last account. + +The lady and her husband alighted, and sending up their cards, begged to +see the mourner. + +The message was delivered; but Delme, without comment or enquiry, at once +declined the offer; and it was thought better not to persist. They were +too deeply interested, however, not to attempt to be of use. They saw Carl +and Thompson,--satisfied themselves that Sir Henry was in friendly hands; +and thanking the student with warmth and sincerity, for his attention to +the sufferer, exacted a promise, that he would not leave him, as long as +he could in any way be useful. + +The husband and wife prepared to continue their journey; but not before +the former had left his address in Florence, with directions to Carl to +write immediately, in case he required the assistance of a friend; and the +latter had written a long letter to Mrs. Glenallan, in which she broke as +delicately as she could, the melancholy and unlooked-for tidings. + + + + +Chapter XII + +The Letter. + + + + "And from a foreign shore + Well to that heart might _hers_ these absent greetings pour." + + +Three weeks had elapsed since George's death. + +It would be difficult to depict satisfactorily, the state of Sir Henry +Delme's mind during that period. The pride of life appeared crushed within +him. He rarely took exercise, and when he did, his step was slow, and his +gait tottering. + +That one terrible loss was ever present to his mind; and yet his +imagination, as if disconnected with his feelings, or his memory, was +constantly running riot over varying scenes of death, and conjuring up +revolting pictures of putrescence and decay. + +A black pall, and an odour of corruption, seemed to commingle with each +quick-springing fantasy; and Delme would start with affright from his own +morbid conceptions, as he found himself involuntarily dwelling on the +waxen rigidity of death,--following the white worm in its unseemly +wanderings,--and finally stripping the frail and disgusting coat from the +disjointed skeleton. + +Sir Henry Delme had in truth gone through arduous and trying scenes. + +The very circumstance that he had to conceal his own feelings, and +support George through his deeper trials, made the present reaction the +more to be dreaded. + +Certain are we, that trials such as his, are frequently the prevailing +causes, of moral and intellectual insanity. Fortunately, Sir Henry was +endued with a firm mind, and with nerves of great power of endurance. + +One morning, at an early hour, Thompson brought in a letter. + +It was from Emily Delme; and as Sir Henry noted the familiar address, and +the broad black edge, which told that the news of his brother's death had +reached his sister, he cast it from him with a feeling akin to pain. + +The next moment, however, he sprang from the bed, threw open the shutters, +and commenced reading its contents. + + + +EMILY'S LETTER. + + +My own dear brother, + +My heart bleeds for you! But yesterday, we received the sad, sad letter. +To-day, although blinded with tears, I implore you to remember, that you +have not lost your all! Our bereavement has been great! our loss heavy +indeed. But if a link in the family love-chain be broken--shall not the +remaining ones cling to each other the closer? + +My aunt is heart-broken. Clarendon, kind as he is, did not know our +George! Alas! that he should be ours no more! + +My only brother! dwell not with strangers! A sister's arms are ready to +clasp you:--a sister's sympathy must lighten the load of your sufferings. + +Think of your conduct! your devotedness! Should not these comfort you? + +Did you not love and cherish him? did you not--happier than I--soothe his +last days? were you not present to the end? + +From this moment, I shall count each hour that divides us. + +On my knees both night and morning, will I pray the Almighty God, who has +chastened us, to protect my brother in his travels by sea and land. + +May we be spared, my dearest Henry, to pray together, that HE may bestow +on us present resignation, and make us duly thankful for blessings which +still are ours. + +Your affectionate sister, + +EMILY. + +Delme read the letter with tearless eye. For some time he leant his head +on his hand, and thought of his sister, and of the dead. + +He shook, and laughed wildly, as he beat his hand convulsively +against the wall. + +Carl Obers and Thompson held him down, while this strong paroxysm lasted. + +His sobs became fainter, and he sunk into a placid slumber. The student +watched anxiously by his side. He awoke; called for Emily's letter; and as +he read it once more, the tears coursed down his sunken cheeks. + +Ah! what a relief to the excited man, is the fall of tears. + +It would seem as if the very feelings, benumbed and congealed as they may +hitherto have been, were suddenly dissolving under some happier influence, +and that,--with the external sign--the weakness and pliability of +childhood--we were magically regaining its singleness of feeling, and its +gentleness of heart. + +Sir Henry swerved no more from the path of manly duty. He saw the +vetturino, and arranged his departure for the morrow. On that evening, he +took Carl's arm, and sauntered through the village church-yard. + +Already seemed it, that the sods had taken root over George's grave. + +The interstices of the turf were hidden;--a white paper basket, which +still held some flowers, had been suspended by some kind stranger hand +over the grave;--from it had dropped a wreath of yellow amaranths. + +There was great repose in the scene. The birds appeared to chirp softly +and cautiously;--the tufts of grass, as they bowed their heads against the +monumental crosses, seemed careful not to rustle too drearily. + +Sir Henry's sleep was more placid, on _that_, his last night at Wallensee, +than it had been for many a night before. + + * * * * * + +Acting up to his original design, Delme passed through the capitals of +Bavaria and Wurtemburg; and quickly traversing the picturesque country +round Heilbron, reached the romantic Heidelberg, washed by the Neckar. + +The student, as might be expected, did not arrive at his old University, +with feelings of indifference; but he insisted, previous to visiting his +college companions, on showing Sir Henry the objects of interest. + +The two friends, for such they might now be styled, walked towards the +castle, arm in arm; and stood on the terrace, adorned with headless +statues, and backed by a part of the mouldering ruin, half hid by the +thick ivy. + +They looked down on the many winding river, murmuringly gliding through +its vine covered banks. + +Beyond this, stretched a wide expanse of country; while beneath them +lay the town of Heidelberg--the blue smoke hanging over it like a +magic diadem. + +"Here, here!" said Carl Obers, as he gazed on the scene, with mournful +sensations, "_here _ were my youthful visions conceived and +embodied--_here_ did I form vows, to break the bonds of enslaved +mankind--_here_ did I dream of grateful thousands, standing erect for the +first time as free men--_here_ did I brood over, the possible happiness of +my fellow men, and in attempting to realise it, have wrecked my own." + +"My kind friend!" replied Delme, "your error, if it be such, has been +of the head, and not the heart. It is one, natural to your age and your +country. Far from being irreparable, it is possible it may have taught +you a lesson, that may ultimately greatly benefit you. This is the +first time we have conversed regarding your prospects. What are your +present views?" + +"I have none. My friends regard me as one, who has improvidently thrown +away his chance of advancement. My knowledge of any _one_ branch of +science is so superficial, that this precludes my ever hoping to succeed +in a learned profession. I cannot enter the military service in my own +country, without commencing in the lowest grade. This I can hardly bring +my mind to." + +"What would you say to the Hanoverian army?" replied Delme. + +"I would say," rejoined Carl: "for I see through your kind motive in +asking, that I esteem myself fortunate, if I have been in any way useful +to you; but that I cannot, and ought not, to think, of accepting a favour +at your hands." + +Sir Henry said no more at that time: and they reached the inn in silence. + +Delme retired for the night. Carl Obers sought his old chums; and, +exhilarated by his meershaum, and the excellent beer--rivalling the famous +Lubeck beer, sent to Martin Luther, during his trial, by the Elector of +Saxony--triumphantly placed "young Germany" at the head of nations. + +Early the following morning, they were again en route. + +They passed through Manheim, where the Rhine and Neckar meet,--through +Erpach,--through Darmstadt, that cleanest of Continental towns,--and +finally reached Frankfort-on-the-Maine, where it was agreed that Sir Henry +and Thompson were to part from their travelling companions. + +Sir Henry in his distress of mind, felt that theirs was not a casual +farewell. On reaching the quay, he pressed the student's hand with +grateful warmth, but dared not trust to words. + +On the deck of the steamer, assisting Thompson to arrange the +portmanteaux, stood Pietro Molini. + +The natural gaiety of the old driver had received a considerable check at +George's death. + +He could not now meet Sir Henry, without an embarrassment of manner; and +even in his intercourse with Thompson, his former jocularity seemed to +have deserted him. + +"Good bye, Pietro!" said Delme, extending his hand. "I trust we may one +day or other meet again." + +The vetturino grasped it,--his colour went and came,--he looked down at +his whip,--then felt in his vest for his pipe, As he saw Delme turn +towards the poop, and as Thompson warned him it was time to leave the +vessel,--his feelings fairly gave way. + +He threw his arms round the Englishman's neck and blubbered like a child. + +We have elsewhere detailed the luckless end of the vetturino. + +As for Carl Obers, that zealous patriot; the last we heard of him, was +that he was holding a commission in the Hanoverian Jaegers, obtained for +him by Sir Henry's intervention. He was at that period, in high favour +with that liberal monarch, King Ernest. + + + + +Chapter XIII. + +Home. + + + + "'Tis sweet to hear the watchdog's honest bark + Bay deep-mouth'd welcome as we draw near home, + 'Tis sweet to know there is an eye will mark + Our coming, and look brighter when we come." + + +Embarking on its tributary stream, Delme reached the Rhine--passed through +the land of snug Treckschut, and wooden-shoed housemaid--and arrived at +Rotterdam, whence he purposed sailing for England. + +To that river, pay we no passing tribute! The Rhine--with breast of +pride--laving fertile vineyards, cities of picturesque beauty, +beetling crags, and majestic ruins; hath found its bard to hymn an +eulogy, in matchless strains, which will be co-existent, with the +language they adorn. + +Sir Henry was once more on the wide sea. Where were they who were his +companions when his vessel last rode it? where the young bride breathing +her devotion? where the youthful husband whispering his love? + +The sea yet glistened like a chrysolite; the waves yet laughed in the +playful sunbeams--the bright-eyed gull yet dipped his wing in the billow, +fearless as heretofore;--where was the one, who from that text had deduced +so fair a moral? + +Sir Henry wished not to dwell on the thought, but as it flashed across +him, his features quivered, and his brow darkened. + +He threw himself into the chaise which was to bear him to his home, with +alternate emotions of bitterness and despair! + +Hurrah for merry England! Click, clack! click, clack! thus cheerily +let us roll! + +Great are the joys of an English valet, freshly emancipated from +sauerkraut, and the horrors of silence! + +Sweet is purl, and sonorous is an English oath. Bright is the steel, +arming each clattering hoof! Leather strap and shining buckle, replace +musty rope and ponderous knot! The carriage is easier than a +Landgravine's,--the horses more sleek,--the driver as civil,--the road is +like a bowling green,--the axletree and under-spring, of Collinge's latest +patent. But the heart! the heart! _that_ may be sad still. + +Delme's voyage and journey were alike a blank. On the ocean, breeze +followed calm;--on the river, ship succeeded ship;--on the road, house and +tree were passed, and house and tree again presented themselves. He drew +his cap over his eyes, and his arms continued folded. + +His first moment of full consciousness, was as a sharp turn, followed by a +sudden pause, brought him in front of the lodge at Delme. + +On the two moss-grown pillars, reposed the well known crest of his family. +The porter's daughter, George's friend, issued from the lodge, and threw +open the iron gates. + +She was dressed in black. How this recalled his loss. + +"My dear--dear--dear brother!" + +Emily bounded to his embrace, and her cheek fell on his shoulder. He felt +the warm tear trickle on his cheek. He clasped her waist,--gazed on her +pallid brow,--and held her lip to his. + +How it trembled from her emotion! + +"My own brother! how pale--how ill you look!" + +"Emily! my sister! I have something yet left me on earth! and my worthy +kind aunt, too!" + +He kissed Mrs. Glenallan's forehead, and tried to soothe her. She pressed +her handkerchief to her eyes, and checked her tears; but continued to sob, +with the deep measured sob of age. + +How mournful, yet how consoling, is the first family meeting, after death +has swept away one of its members! How the presence of each, calls up +sorrow, and yet assists to repress it,--awakes remembrances full of grief, +yet brings to life indefinable hopes, that rob that grief of its most +poignant sting! The very garb of woe, whose mournful effect is felt to the +full, only when each one sees it worn by the other--the very garb +paralyses, and brings impressively before us, the awful truth, that for +our loss, in this world, there is no remedy. How holy, how chaste is the +affection, which we feel disposed to lavish, on those who are left us. + +Surely if there be a guardian spirit, which deigns to flit through this +wayward world, to cheer the stricken breast, and purify feelings, whose +every chord vibrates to the touch of woe; surely such presides, and throws +a sunny halo, on the group, that blood has united--on which family love +has shed its genial influence--and of which, each member, albeit bowed +down by sympathetic grief, attempts to lift his drooping head, and to +others open some source of comfort, which to the kind speaker, is +inefficient and valueless indeed! + +For many months, Sir Henry continued to reside with his family. Clarendon +Gage was a constant visitor, and companion to the brother and sister in +their daily walks and rides. + +He had never met poor George, but loved Emily so well, that he could not +but sympathise in their heavy loss; and as Delme noted this quiet +sympathy, he felt deeply thankful to Providence, for the fair prospect of +the happiness, that awaited his sister. + +Winter passed away. The fragile snowdrop, offspring of a night--the +mute herald of a coming and welcome guest--might be seen peering +beneath the gnarled oak, or enlivening the emerald circle beneath the +wide-spreading elm. + +Spring too glided by, and another messenger came. The migratory swallow, +returned from foreign travel, sought the ancient gable, and rejoicing in +safety, commenced building a home. At twilight's hour might she be seen, +unscared by the truant's stone, repairing to the placid pool--skimming +over its glassy surface, in rapid circle and with humid wing--and +returning in triumph, bearing wherewithal to build her nest. + +Summer too went by; and as the leaves of Autumn rustled at his feet, Delme +started, as he felt that the sting and poignancy of his grief was gone. It +was with something like reproach, that he did so. There is a dignity in +grief--a pride in perpetuating it--and his had been no common affliction. + +It is a trite, but true remark, that time scatters our sorrows, as it +scatters our joys. + +The heat of fever and the delirium of love, have their gradations; and so +has grief. The impetuous throbbing of the pulse abates;--the influence of +years makes us remember the extravagance of passion, with something +approaching to a smile;--and Time--mysterious Time--wounding, but healing +all, leads us to look at past bereavements, as through a darkened glass. + +We do not forget; but our memory is as a dream, which awoke us in terror, +but over which we have slept. The outline is still present, but the +fearful details, which in the darkness of the hour, and the freshness of +conception, so scared and alarmed us,--these have vanished with the night. + +Emily's wedding day drew nigh, and the faces of the household once more +looked bright and cheerful. + + + + +Chapter XIV. + +A Wedding. + + + + "'Tis time this heart should be unmoved, + Since others it has ceased to move, + But though I may not be beloved, + Still let me love!" + + "I saw her but a moment, + Yet methinks I see her now, + With a wreath of orange blossoms + Upon her beauteous brow." + + +Spring of life! whither art thou flown? + +A few hot sighs--and scalding tears--fleeting raptures and still fading +hopes--and then--thou art gone for ever. Lovelorn we look on beauty: no +blush now answers to our glance; for cold is our gaze, as the deadened +emotions of our heart. + +Fresh garlands bedeck the lap of Spring. Faded as the shrivelled flowers, +that withering sink beneath her rosy feet: yet we exclaim:--Spring of +life! how and whither art thou flown? + +Clarendon Gage was a happy man. He had entered upon the world with very +bright prospects. The glorious visions of his youth were still unclouded, +and his heart beat as high with hope as ever. + +Experience had not yet instilled that sober truth, that Time will darken +the sunniest, as well as the least inviting anticipations; and that the +visions of his youth were unclouded, because they were undimmed by the +reflections of age. + +Clarendon Gage was happy and grateful; and so might he well be! Few of us +are there, who, on our first loving, have met with a love, fervent, +confiding, and unsuspecting as our own,--fewer are there, who in +reflection's calm hour, have recognised in the form that has captivated +the eye, the mind on which their own can fully and unhesitatingly +rely,--and fewest of all are they, who having encountered such a treasure, +can control adverse circumstances--can overcome obstacles that oppose--and +finally call it their own. + +Passionate, imaginative, and fickle as man may be, this is a living +treasure beyond a price: than which this world has none more pure--none as +enduring, to offer. + +Ah! say and act as we may--money-making--worldly--ambitious as we may +become--who among us that will not allow, that in the success of his +honest suit--that in his possession of the one first loved--and which +first truly loved him--a kind ray from heaven, seems lent to this +changeful world. Such affection as this, lends a new charm to man's +existence. It lulls him in his anger--it soothes him in his sorrow--calms +him in his fears--cheers him in his hopes--it deadens his grief--it +enlivens his joy. + +It was a lovely morning in May--the first of the month. Not a cloud +veiled the sun's splendour--the birds strained their throats in praise +of day--and the rural May-pole, which was in the broad avenue of +walnut trees, immediately at the foot of the lawn, was already +encircled with flowers. Half way up this, was the station of the +rustic orchestra--a green bower, which effectually concealed them +from the view of the dancers. + +On the lawn itself, tents were pitched in a line facing the house. Behind +these, between the tents and the May-pole, extended a long range of +tables, for the coming village feast. + +Emily Delme looked out on the fair sunrise, and noted the gay +preparations with some dismay. Her eye fell on her favourite bed of +roses, the rarest and most costly that wealth and extreme care could +produce; and she mournfully thought, that ere those buds were blown, a +very great change would have taken place in her future prospects. She +thought of all she was to leave. + +Will _he_ be this, and more to me? + +How many a poor girl, when it is all too late, has fearfully asked herself +the same question, and how deeply must the answer which time alone can +give, affect the happiness of after years! + +Emily took her mother's miniature, and gazing on that face, of which her +own appeared a beautiful transcript; she prayed to God to support him who +was still present to her every thought. + +The family chapel of the Delmes was a beautiful and picturesque place of +worship. With the exception of one massive door-way, whose circular arch +and peculiar zig-zag ornament bespoke it co-eval with, or of an earlier +date than, the reign of Stephen--and said to have belonged to a ruin apart +from the chapel, whose foundations an antiquary could hardly trace--Delme +chapel might be considered a well preserved specimen of the florid Gothic, +of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. + +The progress of the edifice, had been greatly retarded during the wars of +the Roses; but it was fortunately completed, before, the doctrine of the +Cinquecentists--who saw no beauty save in the revived dogmas of +Vitruvius--had so far gained ground, as to make obsolete and +unfashionable, the most captivating and harmonious style of Architecture, +that has yet flourished in England. + +Its outer appearance was comparatively simple--it had neither spire, +lantern, or transepts--and its ivy-hidden belfry was a detached tower. + +The walls of the aisles were supported by massive buttresses, and +surmounted by carved pinnacles; and from them sprung flying buttresses, +ornamented with traced machicolations, to bear the weight of the embattled +roof of the nave. + +The interior was more striking. As the stranger entered by the western +door, and proceeded up the nave, each step was re-echoed from the crypt +below:--as he trod on strange images, and inscriptions in brass; +commemorative of the dead, whose bones were mouldering in the subterranean +chapel. On them, many coloured tints fantastically played, through +gorgeously stained panes--the workmanship of the Middle Ages. + +The richly carved oaken confessional--now a reading desk--first attracted +the attention. + +In the very centre of the chapel, stood a white marble font, whose chaplet +of the flower of the Tudors, encircled by a fillet, sufficiently bespoke +its date. Between the altar and this font was a tomb, which merits special +attention. It was the chantry of Sir Reginald Delme, the chief of his +house in the reign of Harry Monmouth. It was a mimic chapel, raised on +three massive steps of grey stone. The clustered columns, that bore the +light and fretted roof, were divided by mullions, rosettes, and trefoils +in open work; except where the interstices were filled up below, to bear +the sculptured, and once emblazoned shields of the Delmes, and their +cognate families. The entrance to the chantry, was through a little turret +at its north-eastern corner, the oaken door of which, studded with +quarrel-headed nails, was at one time never opened, but when the priests +ascended the six steep and spiral steps, and stood around the tomb to +chant masses for the dead. + +The diminutive font, and the sarcophagus itself, had once been painted. On +this, lay the figure of Sir Reginald Delme. + +On a stone cushion--once red--supported by figures of angels in the +attitude of prayer, veiling their eyes with their wings, reposed the +unarmed head of the warrior:--his feet uncrossed rested on the image of a +dog, crouching on a broken horn, seeming faithfully to gaze at the face of +his master. + +The arms were not crossed--the hands were not clasped; but were joined as +in prayer. Sir Reginald had not died in battle. Above the head of the +sleeping warrior, hung his gorget, and his helmet, with its beaver, and +vizor open; and the banner he himself had won, on the field of Shrewsbury, +heavily shook its thick folds in the air. The fading colours on the +surcoat of the recumbent knight, still faintly showed the lilies and +leopards of England;--and Sir Henry himself was willing to believe, that +the jagged marks made in that banner by the tooth of Time, were but cuts, +left by the sword of the Herald, as at the royal Henry's command, he +curtailed the pennon of the knight; and again restored it to Sir Reginald +Delme--a banner. + +The altar, which extended the whole width of the chapel, was enclosed by a +marble screen, and was still flanked by the hallowed niche, built to +receive the drainings of the sacred cup. + +The aisles were divided from the nave, by lancet arches, springing from +clustered columns. But how describe the expansive windows, with their rich +mullions, and richer rosettes--their deeply moulded labels, following the +form of the arch, and resting for support on the quaintest masks--how +describe the matchless hues of the glass--valued mementoes of a bygone +age, and of an art that has perished? + +The walls of the chapel were profusely ornamented with the richest +carving; and the oaken panels of the chancel, were adorned with those +exquisite festoons of fruit and flowers, so peculiarly English. The very +ceiling exacted admiration. It closed no lantern--it obstructed no +view--and its light ribs, springing from voluted corbels, bore at each +intersection, an emblazoned escutcheon, or painted heraldic device. The +intricate fan-like tracery of the roof--the enriched bosses at each +meeting of the gilded ribs--gave an airy charm and lightness to the whole, +which well accorded with the florid Architecture, and with the chivalrous +associations, with which it is identified. + +And here, beneath this spangled canopy, in this ancient shrine, whose +every ornament was as a memory of her ancestors; stood Emily Delme, as +fair as the fairest of her race, changeful and trembling, a faint smile +on her lip, and a quivering tear in her eye. + +Clarendon Gage took her hand in his, and placed on her finger the golden +pledge of truth, and as he did so, an approving sunbeam burst through the +crimson-stained pane, and before lightening the tomb of Sir Reginald, fell +on her silvery veil--her snowy robe--her beautiful face. + +There was a very gay scene on the lawn, as they returned from the chapel. + +The dancing had already commenced--strains of music were heard from on +high--the ever moving circle became one moment contracted, then expanded +to the full length of the arms of the dancers, as they actively footed it +round the garlanded May-pole. + +At the first sight of the leading carriage, however, a signal was +given--the music suddenly ceased--and the whole party below, with the +exception of one individual, proceeded in great state towards an arch, +composed of flowers and white thorn, which o'ercanopied the road. + +The carriage stopped to greet the procession. + +On came the blushing May-Queen, and Maid Marian--both armed with wands +wreathed with cowslips--followed by a jovial retinue of morrice dancers +with drawn swords--guisers in many-coloured ribbons--and a full train of +simple peasants, in white smock-frocks. + +The May Queen advanced to the carriage, followed by the peasant girls, and +timidly dropped a choice wreath into the lap of the bride. Loud hurras +rung in the air, as Sir Henry gave his steward some welcome instructions +as to the village feast; and the cavalcade continued its route. + +We have said that one individual lingered near the May-pole. As he was +especially active, we may describe him and his employment. He was +apparently about fifteen. He had coarse straight white hair--a face that +denoted stupidity--but with a cunning leer, which seemed to belie his +other features. + +He was taking advantage of the cessation of dancing, to supply the +aspiring musicians with sundry articles of good cheer. A rope, armed with +a hook, was dropped from their lofty aerie, and promptly drawn up, on the +youngster's obtaining from the neighbouring tents, wherewithal to fill +satisfactorily the basket which he attached. + +Sir Henry Delme and George had been so much abroad, and Emily's attachment +to Clarendon was of so early a date, that it happened that the members of +the Delme family had mixed little in the festivities of the county in +which they resided; and were not intimately known, nor perhaps fully +appreciated, in the neighbourhood. + +But the family was one of high standing, and had ever been remarkable for +its kind-heartedness; and what _was_ known of its individuals, was so much +to their credit, that it kept alive the respect and consideration that +these circumstances might of themselves warrant. + +Sir Henry, on the other hand, regarded his sister's marriage as an event, +at which it might be proper to show, that neither hauteur nor want of +sociability, had precluded their friendly intercourse with the +neighbouring magnates; and consequently, most of the principal families +were present at Emily's wedding. + +While this large assemblage increased the gaiety of the scene, it was +somewhat wearisome to Delme, who was too truly attached to his sister, to +be otherwise than thoughtful during the ceremony, and the breakfast that +succeeded it. + +At length the time came when Emily could escape from the gay throng; and +endeavour, in the quiet of her own room, to be once more calm, before she +prepared to leave her much-loved home. + +The preparations made, a note was despatched to her brother, begging him +to meet her in the library. As he did so, a fresh pang shot through +Delme's heart. + +As he looked on Emily's flushed face--her dewy cheek--and noted her +agitated manner; he for the first time perceived, her very strong +resemblance to poor George, and wondered that he had never observed +this before. + +Clarendon announced the carriage. + +"God bless you! dear Henry!" + +"God bless and preserve you! my sweet! Clarendon! good bye! I am sure you +will take every care of her!" + +In another moment, the carriage was whirling past the library window; and +Sir Henry felt little inclined, to join the formal party in the +drawing-room. Sending therefore a brief message to Mrs. Glenallan, he +threw open the library window, and with hurried steps reached a +summer-house, half hidden in the shrubbery. He there fell into a deep +reverie, which was by no means a pleasurable one. + +He thought of Emily--of George--of Acme,--and felt that he was becoming an +isolated being. + +And had _he_ not loved too? As this thought crossed him, his ambitious +dreams were almost forgotten. + +Sir Henry Delme was aroused by the sound of voices. A loving couple, too +much engaged to observe _him_, passed close to the summer-house. + +It was the "Queen of the May," the prettiest and one of the poorest +girls in the parish, walking arm in arm with her rural swain. They had +left the "roasted beeves," and the "broached casks," for one half-hour's +delicious converse. + +There was some little coquettish resistance on the part of the girl, as +they sat down together at the foot of a fir tree. + +Her lover put his arm round her waist. + +"Oh! Mary! if father would but give us a cow or so!" + +This little incident decided the matter. Delme at once resolved that Mary +Smith _should_ have a cow or so; and also that his own health would be +greatly benefited, by a short sojourn at Leamington. + + + + +Chapter XV. + +The Meeting. + + + + "Oh ever loving, lovely, and beloved! + How selfish sorrow ponders on the past, + And clings to thoughts now better far removed, + But Time shall tear thy shadow from me last." + + +We know not whether our readers have followed us with due attention, as we +have incidentally, and at various intervals, made our brief allusion to +the gradual change of character, wrought on Delme, by the eventful scenes +in which he so lately played a prominent part. + +When we first introduced him to our reader's notice, we endeavoured to +depict him as he then really was,--a man of strong principles, warm +heart, and many noble qualities; but one, prone to over-estimate the +value of birth and fortune--with a large proportion of pride and +reserve--and with ideas greatly tinctured with the absurd fallacies of +the mere man of the world. + +But there was much in the family events we have described, to shake +Delme's previous convictions, and to induce him to recal many of his +former opinions. + +He had seen his brother form a connection, which set at naught all those +convenances, which _he_ had been accustomed to regard as essential to, and +as indeed forming the very ingredient of, domestic happiness. + +And yet Sir Henry Delme could not disguise from himself, that if, in +George's short-lived career, there had been much of pain and sorrow, they +were chiefly engendered by George's mental struggle, to uphold those very +opinions to which he himself was wedded; and that to this alone, might be +traced much of the suffering he had undergone. This was it that had so +weakened mind and body, as to render change of scene necessary;--this was +it that exposed Acme to the air of the pestiferous marshes, and which left +George himself--a broken hearted man--totally incapable of bearing his +bereavement. + +On the other hand, the sunny happiness his brother had basked in,--and it +was very great,--had sprung from the natural out-pourings of an +affection, which,--unfettered as it had been by prudential +considerations,--had yet the power to make earth a heaven while Acme +shared it with him, and the dark grave an object of bright promise, when +hailed as the portal, through which _he_ must pass, ere he gazed once +more on the load-star of his hopes. + +In the case, too, of Emily and Clarendon, although their union was far +more in accordance with his earlier theories, yet he could not but note, +how little their happiness seemed to rest on their position in society, +and how greatly was it based on their love for each other. + +These considerations were strengthened, by a growing feeling of +isolation, which the death of George and of Acme,--the marriage of his +sister,--and probably the time of life he had arrived at, were all +calculated to awaken. + +With the knowledge of his disease, sprung up the hope of an antidote; and +it may be, that the little episode of the May Queen in our last chapter, +came but as a running comment, to reflections that had long been cherished +and indulged. + +The thoughts of Sir Henry Delme anxiously centred in Julia Vernon; and as +he recalled her graceful emotion when they last parted, the unfrequent +blush,--it might be of shame, it might be of consciousness,--coloured his +sun-burnt cheek. + +At length,--the guests being dismissed, Delme was at leisure to renew an +acquaintance, which had already proved an eventful one to him. He had +heard little of Miss Vernon since his return to England. His sister had +thought it better to let matters take their own course; and Julia, who +knew that in the eyes of the world, her circumstances were very different +to what they had been previous to her uncle's death; had from motives of +delicacy, shunned any intercourse that might lead to a renewed intimacy +with the family. + +Her health, too, had been precarious, and her elasticity of mind was gone. +Slowly wasting from day to day, she had sought to banish all thoughts +that were not of a world less vain than this--and her very languor of +body--while it gave her an apology for declining all gaieties, induced a +resigned spirit, and a quiet frame of mind. + +When Sir Henry Delme was announced, Julia was alone in the drawing-room. +At that name, she attempted to rise from the sofa; but she was weak, and +her head fell back on the white pillow. + +Delme stood for a moment irresolute,--a prey to the deepest pangs +of remorse. + +Well might he be shocked at that altered form! + +Her figure was greatly attenuated,--her cheeks sunken,--her eyes bright +and large; while over the forehead and drooping eyelid branched the +sapphire veins, with their intricate windings so clearly marked, that +Delme almost thought, that he could trace the motion of the blood beneath. +That momentary pause, and the one mutual glance of recognition, told a +more accurate tale than words could convey. + +As Sir Henry pressed that small transparent hand, Julia's thin lip +quivered convulsively. She attempted to speak, but the exertion of +utterance was too great, and she burst into a flood of tears. + +"Julia! my own Julia! forgive me! we will never part more!" + +After this interview, it is needless to say that there was little else to +be explained. Mrs. Vernon was delighted at Julia's happy prospects, and it +was settled that their marriage should take place in the ensuing August. +Such arrangements as could be made on the spot to facilitate this, were at +once entered on. + +At the end of two months, it became necessary that Delme should proceed to +town, for the purpose of seeing the Commander-in-Chief, in order to +withdraw a previous application to be employed on active service. He was +anxious also to consult a friend, whom he proposed appointing one of the +trustees for his marriage settlement; and Clarendon and Emily had exacted +a promise, that he would pay them a visit on his way to Delme Park; which +he had determined to take on his route to town, that he might personally +inspect some alterations he had lately planned there. + +It was with bright prospects before him, that Delme kissed off the big +tear that coursed down Julia's cheek; as she bade him farewell, with as +much earnestness, as if years, instead of a short fortnight, were to +elapse before they met again. + +Miss Vernon's health had decidedly improved. She was capable of much +greater exertion; and her spirits were sometimes as buoyant as in +other days. + +When Sir Henry first reached Leamington, the only exercise that Julia +could take was in a wheel chair; and great was her delight at seeing a +hand present itself over its side, and know that it was _his_. Latterly, +however, she had been able to lean on his arm, and take a few turns on the +lawn, and had on one occasion even reached the public gardens. + +Mrs. Vernon, with the deceptive hope common to those, who watch day by day +by the side of an invalid's couch, and in the very gradual loss of +strength, lose sight of the real extent of danger, had never been +desponding as to her daughter's ultimate recovery; and was now quite +satisfied that a few weeks more would restore her completely to health. + +Sir Henry Delme, with the gaze of a lover, would note each flush of +animation, and mistake it for the hue of health; while Julia herself _felt +her love, and thought it strength_. + +There was only one person who looked somewhat grave at these joyous +preparations. This was Dr. Jephson, who noticed that Julia's voice +continued very weak, and that she could not get rid of a low hollow cough, +that had long distressed her. + +Clarendon and his wife were resident at a beautiful cottage near Malvern, +on the road to Eastnor Castle. The cottage itself was small, and half +hidden with fragrant honey-suckles, but had well appointed extensive +grounds behind it. _They_ were not of the very many, who after the first +fortnight of a forced seclusion,--the treacle moon, as some one has called +it,--find their own society, both wearisome and unprofitable. _Theirs_ was +a lover felt but by superior and congenial minds--a love, neither sensual +nor transient--a love on which affection and reflection shed their +glow,--which could bear the test of scrutiny,--and which owed its chief +charm to the presence of truth. + +Delme passed a week at Malvern, and then proceeded towards town, with the +pleasing conviction that his sister's happiness was assured. + +Twenty-four hours at Delme sufficed to inspect the alterations, and to +give orders as to Lady Delme's rooms. + +Sir Henry had received two letters from Julia, while at Malvern, and both +were written in great spirits. At his club in London another awaited him, +which stated that she had not been quite so well, and that she was writing +from her room. A postscript from Mrs. Vernon quite did away with any alarm +that Sir Henry might otherwise have felt. + +Delme attended Lord Hill's levee; and immediately afterwards proceeded to +his friend's office. To his disappointment, he was informed that his +friend had left for Bath; and thinking it essential that he should see +him; he went thither at an early hour the following day. + +At Bath he was again doomed to be disappointed, for his friend had gone +to Clifton. Sir Henry dined that day with Mr. Belliston Graeme; and on +returning to the hotel, had the interview with Oliver Delancey, that has +been described in the thirteenth chapter of our first volume. + +On the succeeding morning, Delme was with the future trustee; and finally +arranged the affair to his entire satisfaction. His absence from +Leamington, had been a day or two more protracted than he had anticipated, +and his not finding his friend in London, had prevented his hearing from +Miss Vernon so lately as he could have wished. + +Sir Henry had posted all night, and it was ten in the morning when he +reached Leamington. He directed the postilion to drive to his hotel, but +it happened that on his way he had to pass Mrs. Vernon's door. + +As the carriage turned a corner, which was distant some hundred yards from +Mrs. Vernon's house, Sir Henry was surprised by a momentary check on the +part of his driver. + +It had rained heavily during the early part of the day. The glasses were +up, and so bespattered with the mud and rain, that it was impossible to +see through them. Sir Henry let them down; saw a confused mass of +carriages; and could clearly discern a mourning coach. + +He did not give himself time to breathe his misgivings; but flung the door +open, and sprang from his seat into the road. It was still three or four +doors from Mrs. Vernon's house, and he prayed to God that his fears might +be groundless. + +As he approached nearer, it was evident that there was unusual bustle +about _that_ house. Delme grasped the iron railing, and clung to it for +support; but with every sense keenly alive to aught that might dispel, or +confirm that horrible suspicion. + +Two old women, dressed in the characteristic red cloak of the English +peasant, were earnestly conversing together--their baskets of eggs and +flowers being laid on a step of one of the adjacent houses. + +"So you knowed her, Betsy Farmer?" + +"Lord a mercy!" responded the other, "I ha' knowed Miss July since she +wa' the height of my basket. Ay! and many's the bunch of flowers she ha' +had from me. That was afore the family went to the sea side. Well! it's a +matter o' five year, sin' she comed up to me one morning--so grown as I'd +never ha' known her. But she knowed me, and asked all about me. And I just +told her all my troubles, and how I had lost my good man. And sure enough +sin' that day she ha' stood my friend, and gived me soup and flannels for +the little uns, and put my Bess to service, and took me through all the +bad Christmas'. Poor dear soul! she ha' gone now! and may the Lord bless +her and all as good as she!" + +The poor woman, who felt the loss of her benefactress, put the corner of +her apron to her eyes. + +Sir Henry strode forward. + +Mutes were on each side of the front step. A servant threw open the door +of the breakfast room, and Delme mechanically entered it. It was filled +with strangers; on some of these the spruce undertaker was fitting silk +scarfs; while others were busy at the breakfast table. + +An ominous whisper ran through the apartment. + +"Sir Henry Delme?" said the rosy-cheeked clergyman, enquiringly, as he +laid down his egg spoon, and turned towards him. + +"I trust you received my letter. Women are so utterly helpless in these +matters; and poor Mrs. Vernon was quite overpowered." + +Delme turned away to master his emotion. + +At this moment, a friendly hand was laid on his shoulder, and Mrs. +Vernon's maid, with her eyes red from weeping, beckoned him up stairs. + +He mechanically obeyed her--reeled into an inner drawing room--and stood +in the presence of the bereaved mother. + +Mrs. Vernon was ordinarily the very picture of neatness. _Now_ she sat +with her feet on a footstool--her head almost touching her lap--her silver +hair all loose and dishevelled. It seemed to Delme as if age had suddenly +come upon her. + +She rose as he entered, and with wild hysterical sobs, threw herself +into his arms. + +"My son I my son! that _should_ have been. Our angel is gone--gone!" + +Delme tried to speak, but his tongue clove to his mouth, and the hysteric +globe rose to his throat. + +Suddenly he heard the sound of wheels, and of heavy footsteps on +the stairs. + +He imprinted a kiss on the old woman's forehead--it was his farewell for +ever!--gave her to the care of the maid servant--and rushed from the room. + +He was stopped on the landing of the staircase by the coffin of her he +loved so well. The bearers stopped for an instant; they felt that this was +no common greeting. Part of the pall was already turned back. Delme +removed its head with trembling hand. + + "Julia Vernon. aetate 22." + +He dropped the velvet with a groan, and was only saved from falling by the +timely aid of the old butler, whose face was as sorrowful as his own. + +But there was a duty yet to be performed, and Delme followed the corpse. + +The first mourning coach was just drawn up. An intended occupant had +already his foot on the step. + +"This place is mine!" said Sir Henry in a hollow voice. + +The cortege proceeded; and Delme, giddy and confused, heard solemn words +spoken over his affianced one, and he waited, till even the coffin could +he discerned no more. + +Thompson, who had followed his master, assisted him into his carriage, +placed himself beside him, and ordered the driver to proceed to the hotel. +But Delme gave a quick impetuous motion of the hand, which the domestic +understood well; and the horses' heads were turned towards the metropolis. + +The mourner tarried not, even to bid his sister farewell; but sought +once more his brother's grave. Some friendly hand had kept its turf +smooth; no footsteps, save the innocent ones of children, had pressed +its grassy mound. It was clothed with soft daisies and drooping +harebells. The sun seemed to shine on that spot, to bid the wanderer be +contented and at rest. + +But as yet there was no rest for Delme. And he stood beside the marble +slab, beneath which lay Acme Frascati. The downy moss--soft as +herself--was luxuriating there; and the cry of the cicalas was pleasant +to the ear; and the image of the young Greek girl, as in a vivid +picture, rose to his mind's eye. She was not attired in her white cymar; +nor was her head wreathed with monumental amaranths;--health was on her +cheek, fond smiles on her pouting lip, and tender love swimming in her +melting glance. + +His own griefs came back on Delme; he groaned aloud. He traversed the +deserts, he crossed lofty mountains, he knew thirst and privations. He was +scoffed at and spat upon in an infidel country--he was tossed on the +ocean--he shook hands with danger. + +He visited our wide Oriental possessions; and sojourned amid the spicy +islands of the Indian Archipelago, where vegetation attains a magnificence +unknown elsewhere, and animal life partakes of this unexampled +exuberance,--where flowers of the most exquisite colours and fragrance +charm the senses by day, and delicious plants saturate the air with their +odours by night. + +Delme extended his wanderings to the rarely visited "many isles," which +stud the vast Pacific, and found that there too were fruitful and +smiling regions. + +But not on the desert--nor on the mountains--nor in the land of the +Moslem---nor on tempestuous seas--nor in those verdant islets, which seem +to breathe of Paradise, to greet the wearied traveller; could Delme's +restless spirit find an abiding place, his thirst for foreign travel be +slaked, or his heart know peace. + +He madly sought oblivion, which could not be accorded him. + + + + +Chapter XVI. + +The Wanderer. + + + + "Then I consider'd life in all its forms, + Of vegetables first, next zoophytes, + The tribe that dwells upon the confine strange + 'Twixt plants and fish; some are there from their mouth + Spit out their progeny, and some that breed, + By suckers from their base or tubercles, + Sea-hedgehog, madrepore, sea-ruff, or pad, + Fungus, or sponge, or that gelatinous fish, + That taken from its element at once + Stinks, melts, and dies a fluid; so from these, + Through many a tribe of less equivocal life, + Dividual or insect, up I ranged, + From sentient to percipient, small advance, + Next to intelligent, to rational next, + So to half spiritual human kind, + And what is more, is more than man may know. + Last came the troublesome question--What am I?" + + * * * * * + + "And vain were the hat, the staff, and stole, + And all outward signs were a snare, + Unless the pilgrim's endanger'd soul + Were inwardly clothed with prayer. + + "But the pilgrim prays--and then trials are light-- + For prayer to him on his way, + Resembles the pillar of fire by night, + And the guiding cloud by day. + + "And salvation's helm the pilgrim wears, + Or vain were all other dress; + And the shield of faith the pilgrim bears, + With the breastplate of righteousness. + + "At length his tears all wiped away; + He enters the City of Light; + And how gladly he changes his gown of grey, + For Zion's robe of white." + + +It was on the 22nd of October, 1836, that an emissary from his sister, +sought Sir Henry Delme. It was at the antipodes to his ancestral home; in +Australia, that wonderful country, which--belied and calumniated, as she +has hitherto been--presents some anomalous and creditable features. + +For her population, she is the wealthiest, the most enterprising, the most +orderly and loyal, of our British possessions. There, is the aristocracy +of wealth, to an unprecedented degree, subservient to the aristocracy of +virtue. While she is stigmatised as the cloacae of Britain, the philosopher +looks into the future, and already beholds a nation, perpetuating the +language of the brave and free; when the parent stock has perhaps ceased +to be an empire; or is lingering on, like modern Greece, in the hopeless +languor of decay and decrepitude. + +This agent had arrived from England, a very short period before; and, +accredited with a packet, containing various communications from Emily and +Clarendon, accompanied by the miniatures of their children, with little +silky curls attached to each, proceeded an expectant guest, to Sir Henry +Delme's temporary residence. Early dawn saw him pacing the deck of a steam +vessel; and regarding with great surprise, the opposite banks of Hunter's +River, up which the vessel was gliding. + +A rich dark soil, of great depth, bespoke uncommon fertility; while the +varieties of the gum tree--then quite new to him--with their bark of every +diversity of colour, gave a primeval grandeur to the scene. + +Each moment brought in sight the location of some enterprising settler, +which, ever varying in appearance, in importance, and in extent yet told +the same tale of difficulties overcome, and success ensuing. + +On his reaching the township, near the head of the navigation, this agent +found horses waiting for him:--he was addressed by a well-appointed +groom--our old friend Thompson--who touched his hat respectfully, and +mentioned the name, he was already prepared for by his Sydney advices. + +Suffice it, that Sir Henry was no longer the Baronet, and that the name of +Delme was a strange one in his household. + +Their route skirted the banks of one of those rivers, which, diverging +from that mine of wealth, the Hunter, wind into the bowels of the land, +like a vein of gold. + +That emissary will not soon forget his lovely ride. His eye, wearied with +gazing on the wide expanse of ocean, feasted on the rich and novel +landscape. They rode alternately, through cleared lands, studded with rich +farms, waving with luxuriant crops of wheat and rye; and again, through +regions, where the axe had never resounded, but where eucalypti, and +bastard box, and forest oak with its rough acorn, towered above beauteous +wild flowers, whose forms and varieties were associated in the mind of +the stranger, with some of the most precious and valued flowers which +adorn British conservatories. + +The russet Certhia, with outspread fluttering wing, pecked at the smooth +bark, and preying on some destructive insect, really preserved what it +seemed to injure. The larger parrots, travelling in pairs, screamed their +passing salutation, as they displayed their bright plumage to the sun; +while hundreds, of a smaller kind, with crimson shoulder, were concealed +amid the green leaves; and, as they rode beneath them, babbled--like +frolicsome children of the forest--a rude, but to themselves a not +unmeaning dialogue. + +The superb warblers, ornaments alike to the bush or the garden, flitted +cheerily from bough to bough. Strangely mated are they! The male, in suit +of black velvet, trimmed with sky blue, looks like a knight, attired for a +palace festival:--while his lady-love--she resembles some peasant girl, +silent and grateful, clothed in modest kirtle of sober brown. + +As he reined in his horse, to examine these at leisure, how melodiously +came on his ear, the clear, ceaseless, silver tinkle of the bell-bird; +this sound ever and anon chequered by the bold chock-ee-chock! of the +bald-headed friar. They had proceeded very leisurely, and the sun was +already declining, when Thompson, pointing to an abrupt path, motioned +him to descend, and at the same time, gave the peculiar cry, known in the +colony as the cooi; a cry which was as promptly answered. It was not +until he was close to the edge of the river, that the stranger understood +its purport. + +A punt was rapidly approaching from the opposite bank. An athletic +aboriginal native, in an attitude that seemed studiedly graceful, was +bending to the stout rope, which, attached to either side of the river, +served to propel the punt. He had been spearing fish; for his wife, or +gin, or queen--for she was born such, and contradicted in her person the +old adage, + + "There's a difference between + A beggar and a queen"-- + +was drawing the barb of a spear from the bleeding side of a struggling +mullet. She sat at the bottom of the boat, with a blanket closely wound +round her. She was young, and her looks were not unpleasing. Her +thickly-matted hair was ornamented with kangaroo teeth; and to her +shoulder, closely clung a native tailless bear, whose appearance could not +do otherwise than excite a smile. With convex staring eyes--hairless +nose--and white ruff of fur round his face--he very closely resembled in +physiognomy, some grey-whiskered guzzling citizen. The well-trained horses +gave no trouble, as they entered the punt; and the smiling boatman, +displaying his teeth to Thompson, but without speaking, commenced warping +the punt to the opposite side of the river. They were half way across, ere +the guest observed the mansion of the friend he sought. It stood on the +summit of the hill, on the left; beneath which the river made a very +abrupt bend. The house itself resembled the common weather-boarded cottage +of the early settler,--wide verandah was over the front entrance,--and two +small rooms, the exact width of this, jutted out on either side of it. + +Its site however was commanding. The house stood on an eminence, and from +the windows, a long reach of the river was visible. At the top of the brow +of the hill, extended a range of English rose trees, in full flower. The +bank, which might be about thirty yards in front of these, was clothed +with foliage to the water's edge. + +There might be seen the fragrant mimosa--the abundant acacia--the swamp +oak, which would have been styled a fir, had not the first exiles to +Australia found twined round its boughs, the misletoe, with its many home +associations--the elegant cedar--the close-growing mangrove--and strange +parasitical plants, pushing through huge fungi, and clasping with the +remorseless strength of the wrestler, and with the round crunching folds +of the boa, the trees they were gradually to supplant and destroy. + +Suddenly, the quick finger of the black pointed to an object close beside +the punt. A bill, as of a bird, and apparently of the duck tribe, +protruded above the surface of the water. For an instant, small, black, +piercing eyes peered towards them: but as the quadruped, for such it was, +prepared to dive in affright, the unerring shot of a rifle splashed the +water on the cheek of the stranger--the body rolled slowly over--the legs +stiffened--a sluggish stream of dark blood tainted the surrounding +wave--and the ferryman, extending his careless hand, threw the victim to +his companion, at the same time addressing a few words to her in their +native language. + +The guest had little difficulty, in recognising the uncouth form of the +ornithorhynchus, or water-mole; but he turned with yet more eagerness, +towards the spot, whence that shot had proceeded. On the summit of the +steep bank, leaning on his rifle, stood Sir Henry Delme. + +His form was still commanding--there was something in the air with which +the cap was worn--and in the strap round his Swiss blouse--that bespoke +the soldier and the gentleman: but his face was sadly attenuated--the +lower jaw appeared to have fallen in--and his hair was very grey. + +He received his guest with a cordial and sincere welcome. While the latter +delivered his packet the native who had warped the punt over, came up +with the dead platypus, + +"Well, Boomeroo! is it a female?" + +"No, massa! full grown--with large spur!" + +Sir Henry saw that his guest was puzzled by this dialogue, and +good-naturedly showed him the distinguishing characteristic of the male +ornithorhynchus--the spur on the hinder foot, which is hollow, and +transmits an envenomed liquid, secreted by a gland on the inner surface of +the thigh. + +In November, of the year preceding, a burrow of the animal had been +opened on the bank of the river, which contained the dam, and three +live young ones;--there were many points, yet to be determined relative +to its interior organization; and it was on this account, that Sir +Henry was anxious to obtain a female specimen at this particular +period. As he spoke, Delme introduced the stranger to his study, which +might more aptly be styled a museum;--applied some spirits of wine to +the platypus, and placing it under a bell-glass for the morrow's +examination, left him turning over his collection of birds, while he +perused his valued home letters. + +It was with unmixed pleasure, knowing as he did his melancholy history, +that the stranger found Sir Henry Delme engaged in pursuits, which it was +evident he was following up with no common enthusiasm. In truth, a mere +accidental circumstance,--the difficulty of obtaining a vessel at one of +the Indian Islands for any port,--had at first brought him to Australia, a +country regarding which he had felt little curiosity. The strange +varieties, however, of its animal kingdom, had interested him;--he was +struck with the rapid strides that that country has made in half a +century--and he continued from month to month to occupy the house where +his friend had now found him. + +To the stranger's eye, the eye of a novice, the well arranged specimens of +birds of the most beautiful plumage--of animals, chiefly marsupial, of the +most singular developement--of glittering insects--and of deep coloured +shells; were attractive wonders enough; but from the skeletons beside +these, it was quite clear, that Delme had acquired considerable knowledge +as to the internal construction of the animals themselves--that he had +studied the subsisting relations, between the mechanism and the +movements--the structure, and its varied functions. + +After dinner, Sir Henry Delme, who appeared to think that the bearer of +his despatches had conferred on him a lasting favour, threw off his +habitual reserve, and delighted and interested him with his tales of +foreign travel. + +As the night wore on, the conversation reverted to his sister and his +home. It was evident, that what remained for the living of that crushed +heart, was with Emily and Clarendon, and their children; perhaps more than +all, with his young heir and god-son, Henry Delme Gage. The very colour of +that sunny lock of hair, gave rise to much speculation: and it seemed as +if he would never be wearied, of listening to the minutest description of +the dawning of intellect, in a precocious little fellow of barely five +years of age. + +Encouraged by his evident feeling, and observing many more comforts +about him, than he had been led to expect from his previous errant +habits; his guest ventured to express his hope, that Sir Henry might yet +return to England. + +"My good friend!" replied he, "for I must call you such now, for I know +not when I have experienced such unalloyed satisfaction, as you have +conferred on me this night, by conversing so freely of those I love; I +certainly never can forget that I am the last male of an ancient race, and +that those who are nearest and dearest to me, are divided from me by a +wide waste of waters. I have learnt to suffer with more patience than I +had ever hoped for; and, it may be,--although I have hardly breathed the +thought to myself--it may yet be accorded me to revisit that ancient +chapel, and to dwell once more in that familiar mansion." + +His guest was overcome by his emotion, and pressed his hand with warmth, +as he made his day's journey the excuse for an early retirement. + +Sleep soon visited his eyelids, for the ride, to one fresh from a sea +voyage, had brought with it a wholesome weariness. He was aroused from +his slumbers, by the deep sonorous accents as of a man reading Spanish. + +The light streamed from an adjacent room, through the chinks of a +partition. He started up alike forgetful of Delme, his ride, and his +arrival in Australia; conceiving that he was again at the mercy of the +waves, in his narrow comfortless cabin. + +That light, however, brought the stranger back to the wanderer, and +his griefs. + +Beside a small table, strewn with his lately received English letters, +knelt Sir Henry Delme. The stranger had seen condemned criminals pray with +becoming fervour; and devotees of many a creed lift up their hearts to +heaven; but never had he witnessed a more contrite or a humbler spirit +imprinted on the features of mortal man, than then shed its radiance on +that sorrowful, but noble face. + +Strange as it may appear, he knew not whether the words themselves really +caught his ear, or whether the motion of the lips expressed them--but +this he _did_ know, that every syllable seemed to reach his heart, and +impress him with a mystic thrill, + +"OR EVER THE SILVER CORD BE LOOSED, OR THE GOLDEN BOWL BE BROKEN, OR THE +PITCHER BE BROKEN AT THE FOUNTAIN, OR THE WHEEL BROKEN AT THE CISTERN. +THEN SHALL THE DUST RETURN TO THE EARTH AS IT WAS: AND THE SPIRIT SHALL +RETURN UNTO GOD WHO GAVE IT." + + + + +Chapter XVII + +The Wanderer's Return. + + + + "And he had learn'd to love--I know not why, + For this in such as him seems strange of mood,-- + The helpless looks of blooming infancy, + Even in its earliest nurture; what subdued, + To change like this, a mind so far imbued + With scorn of man, it little boots to know; + But thus it was; and though in solitude + Small power the nipp'd affections have to grow, + In him this glow'd when all beside had ceased to glow." + + +Within a period of two months, from the interview we have described, the +stranger found that his arguments had not been thrown away; as he shook +Sir Henry's hand on the deck of a vessel bound for Valparaiso. His love of +travel and of excitement, had induced such an habitual restlessness, that +Delme was not prepared at once to embark for England. He crossed the +Cordillera de los Andes--traversed the Pampas of Buenos Ayres--and +finally embarked for his native land. + +It was the height of summer, when the carriage which bore the long absent +owner to his ancestral home, neared the ancient moss-grown lodge. + +Fanny Porter, who was now married, and had a thriving babe at her breast, +started with surprise; as, throwing open the gate, she recognised in the +care-worn man with bronzed face and silver hair, her well known and +beloved master. As the carriage neared the chapel, it struck Sir Henry, +that it would be but prudent, to inform Clarendon of his near approach; in +order that he might prepare Emily for the meeting. He ordered the +postilion to pull up--tore a leaf from his memorandum book--and wrote a +few lines to Clarendon, despatching Thompson in advance. He turned into +the chapel, and as he approached its altar, the bridal scene, enacted +there nearly seven years back, seemed to rise palpably before him. + +But the tomb of Sir Reginald Delme, with its velvet dusty banner--the +marble monument of his mother, with the bust above it, whose naked eye +seemed turned towards him--his withered heart and hopes soon darkened his +recollections of that bright hour. With agitated emotions, Sir Henry left +the chapel; and in a spirit of impatience, strode towards the mansion, +intending to meet the returning domestic. His feelings were strange, +various, and not easily defined. + +He was awakened from his day-dream by the sound of children's voices, +which sound he instinctively followed, until he reached the old orchard. +It was such an orchard, as might be planted by an old Delme, ere any +Linnean or Loudonean horticulturist had decided that slopes are best for +the sun, that terraces are an economical saving of ground, that valleys +must be swamps, and that blights are vulgar errors. The orchard at Delme +was strikingly unscientific; but the old stock contrived to bear good +fruit. The pippins, golden and russet--the pears, jargonelle and +good-christian--the cherries, both black and white heart--still thrived; +while under their shade, grew hips, haws, crabs, sloes, and blackberries, +happy to be shaded from rain, dews, and fierce sun-shine, and unenvious +of roses, cherries, apples, damsons, and mulberries; their self-defended, +and more aristocratic cousins. + +Sir Henry stopped unseen at the gate of the orchard, and for some minutes +looked on the almost fairy group, whose voices had led him thither. + +Lying on the bank, which enclosed the orchard, was a blue-eyed +rosy-cheeked little girl;--the ground ashes had been cut down; and her +laughing face was pillowed on the violets and oxlips, that burst from +between the roots. She was preparing to take another roll into the clayey +ditch below. Another little girl was gazing at the child from within the +orchard; half doubtful whether she should encourage or check her. One +pale-blue slipper and her little sock were half sunk in the clay, while +the veiny and pink-soled foot, the large lids half closed over her deep +blue eyes, the finger thrust between her red and pouting lips, her bonnet +thrown back and hanging by the strings round her swelling throat, her hair +dishevelled and stuck with oxlips, primroses, cowslips, violets, and +daisies; and wreathed with the spring-holly, or butcher's-broom--made her +a perfect picture of English beauty, and of childish anxiety and +indecision. + +Beside her stood a boy older than herself, and evidently as perplexed. +There was Julia perched cock-horse on the bank--there was Emily, her hair +undone, her bonnet crashed, with one shoe and stocking lost--and yet he +had promised Mamma, that if she would but once trust his sisters to him, +that he would bring them home, "with such a pretty basket of +spring-flowers." + +The beautiful blossoms of the cherry hung around the boy--the bees buzzed +in its bells--the apple and pear blossoms shook their fragrance in the +warm air--and the shadows of the flying clouds hurried like wings over the +bright green grass. The boy had dropped his basket of fresh-blown flowers +at his feet--tears were trembling in his eye-lids, as he gazed on his +sisters. His look was that of George. + +"Childhood too has its sorrows," said Sir Henry, half aloud, "even when +seeking joy on a bank of primroses. Why should _I_ then repine?" + +The boy started as he heard and saw the stranger:--he involuntarily put +one foot forward in an attitude of childish defiance: but children are +keen physiognomists, and there was nothing but affection beaming from that +mournful face. + +"My boy!" said Delme, and his eyes were moist, "did you ever hear of your +Uncle Henry?" + +"Emily! Emily! Julia!" exclaimed the little fellow, as he rushed into Sir +Henry's arms, "here is Uncle Henry, my god-papa, and he will help us to +reach the blackberries." + +We need follow the wanderer no further. It is true that in his youth he +had not known sympathy; in his manhood he had experienced sorrow; but +it is a pleasure to us to reflect, that despair is not the companion of +his old age. + + + +The End. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Love Story, by A Bushman + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LOVE STORY *** + +This file should be named 7lvst10.txt or 7lvst10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 7lvst11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 7lvst10a.txt + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: A Love Story + +Author: A Bushman + +Release Date: September, 2005 [EBook #8883] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on August 20, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LOVE STORY *** + + + + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +A Love Story + +by + +A Bushman. + +Vol. I. + + + "My thoughts, like swallows, skim the main, + And bear my spirit back again + Over the earth, and through the air, + A wild bird and a wanderer." + + +1841. + + + +To +Lady Gipps +This Work Is Respectfully Inscribed, +By +A Grateful Friend. + + + + +Preface. + + + +The author of these pages considered that a lengthened explanation might +be necessary to account for the present work. + +He had therefore, at some length, detailed the motives that influenced +him in its composition. He had shown that as a solitary companionless +bushman, it had been a pleasure to him in his lone evenings + + "To create, and in creating live + A being more intense." + +He had expatiated on the love he bears his adopted country, and had +stated that he was greatly influenced by the hope that although + + "Sparta hath many a worthier son than he," + +this work might be the humble cornerstone to some enduring and highly +ornamented structure. + +The author however fortunately remembered, that readers have but little +sympathy with the motives of authors; but expect that their works should +amuse or instruct them. He will therefore content himself, with giving a +quotation from one of those old authors, whose "well of English +undefined" shames our modern writers. + +He intreats that the indulgence prayed for by the learned Cowell may be +accorded to his humble efforts. + +"My true end is the advancement of knowledge, and therefore have I +published this poor work, not only to impart the good thereof, to those +young ones that want it, but also to draw from the learned, the supply +of my defects. + +"Whosoever will charge these travails with many oversights, he shall need +no solemn pains to prove them. + +"And upon the view taken of this book sithence the impression, I dare +assure them, that shall observe most faults therein, that I, by gleaning +after him, will gather as many omitted by him, as he shall shew +committed by me. + +"What a man saith well is not, however, to be rejected, because he hath +some errors; reprehend who will, in God's name, that is, with sweetness, +and without reproach. + +"So shall he reap hearty thanks at my hands, and thus more soundly help +in a few months, than I by tossing and tumbling my books at home, could +possibly have done in some years." + + + + +A Love Story + + + + +Chapter I. + +The Family. + + + + "It was a vast and venerable pile." + + "Oh, may'st thou ever be as now thou art, + Nor unbeseem the promise of thy spring." + + +The mansion in which dwelt the Delmés was one of wide and extensive +range. Its centre slightly receded, leaving a wing on either side. +Fluted ledges, extending the whole length of the building, protruded +above each story. These were supported by quaint heads of satyr, martyr, +or laughing triton. The upper ledge, which concealed the roof from +casual observers, was of considerably greater projection. Placed above +it, at intervals, were balls of marble, which, once of pure white, had +now caught the time-worn hue of the edifice itself. At each corner of +the front and wings, the balls were surmounted by the family device--the +eagle with extended wing. One claw closed over the stone, and the bird +rode it proudly an' it had been the globe. The portico, of a pointed +Gothic, would have seemed heavy, had it not been lightened by glass +doors, the vivid colours of which were not of modern date. These +admitted to a capacious hall, where, reposing on the wide-spreading +antlers of some pristine tenant of the park, gleamed many a piece of +armour that in days of yore had not been worn ingloriously. + +The Delmé family was an old Norman one, on whose antiquity a peerage +could have conferred no new lustre. At the period when the aristocracy +of Great Britain lent themselves to their own diminution of +importance, by the prevalent system of rejecting the poorer class of +tenantry, in many instances the most attached,--the consequence was +foreseen by the then proprietor of Delmé Park, who, spurning the +advice of some interested few around him, continued to foster those +whose ancestors had served his. The Delmés were thus enabled to +retain--and they deserved it--that fair homage which rank and property +should ever command. As a family they were popular, and as individuals +universally beloved. + +At the period we speak of, the Delmé family consisted but of three +members: the baronet, Sir Henry Delmé; his brother George, some ten +years his junior, a lieutenant in a light infantry regiment at Malta; +and one sister, Emily, Emily Delmé was the youngest child; her mother +dying shortly after her birth. The father, Sir Reginald Delmé, a man of +strong feelings and social habits, never recovered this blow. Henry +Delmé was barely fifteen when he was called to the baronetcy and to the +possession of the Delmé estates. It was found that Sir Reginald had been +more generous than the world had given him credit for, and that his +estates were much encumbered. The trustees were disposed to rest +contented with paying off the strictly legal claims during Sir Henry's +minority. This the young heir would not accede to. He waited on his +most influential guardian--told him he was aware his father, from +hospitality and good nature, had incurred obligations which the law did +not compel his son to pay; but which he could not but think that equity +and good feeling did. He begged that these might be added to the other +claims, and that the trustees would endeavour to procure him a +commission in the army. He was gazetted to a cornetcy; and entered life +at an age when, if the manlier traits are ready to be developed, the +worthless ones are equally sure to unfold themselves. Few of us that +have not found the first draught of life intoxicate! Few of us that have +not then run wild, as colts that have slipped their bridle! +Experience--that mystic word--is wanting; the retrospect of past years +wakes no sigh; expectant youth looks forward to future ones without a +shade of distrust. The mind is elastic--the body vigorous and free from +pain; and it is then youth inwardly feels, although not daring to avow +it, the almost total impossibility that the mind should wax less +vigorous, or the body grow helpless, and decay. + +But Sir Henry was cast in a finer mould, nor did his conduct at this +dangerous period detract from this his trait of boyhood. He joined his +regiment when before the enemy, and, until he came of age, never drew on +his guardians for a shilling. Delmé's firmness of purpose, and his after +prudence, met with their due reward. The family estates became wholly +unencumbered, and Sir Henry was enabled to add to the too scanty +provision of his sister, as well as to make up to George, on his +entering the army, a sum more than adequate to all his wants. These +circumstances were enough to endear him to his family; and, in truth, +amidst all its members, there prevailed a confidence and an unanimity +which were never for an instant impaired. There was one consequence, +however, of Sir Henry Delmé's conduct that _he_, at the least, foresaw +not, but which was gradually and unconsciously developed. In pursuing +the line of duty he had marked out--in acting up to what he knew was +right--his mind became _too_ deeply impressed with the circumstances +which had given rise to his determination. It overstepped its object. +The train of thought, to which necessity gave birth, continued to +pervade when that necessity no longer existed. His wish to re-establish +his house grew into an ardent desire to aggrandize it. His ambition +appeared a legitimate one. It grew with his years, and increased with +his strength. + +Many a time, on the lone bivouac, when home presents itself in its +fairest colours to the soldier's mind, would Delmé's prayer be embodied, +that his house might again be elevated, and that his descendants might +know _him_ as the one to whom they were indebted for its rise. Delmé's +ambitious thoughts were created amidst dangers and toil, in a foreign +land, and far from those who shared his name. But his heart swelled high +with them as he again trod his native soil in peace--as he gazed on the +home of his fathers, and communed with those nearest and dearest to him +on earth. Sir Henry considered it incumbent on him to exert every means +that lay in his power to promote his grand object. A connection that +promised rank and honours, seemed to him an absolute essential that was +worth any sacrifice. Sir Henry never allowed himself to look for, or +give way to, those sacred sympathies, which the God of nature hath +implanted in the breasts of all of us. Delmé had arrived at middle age +ere a feeling incompatible with his views arose. But his had been a +dangerous experiment. Our hearts or minds, or whatever it may be that +takes the impression, resemble some crystalline lake that mirrors the +smallest object, and heightens its beauty; but if it once gets muddied +or ruffled, the most lovely object ceases to be reflected in its waters. +By the time that lake is clear again, the fairy form that ere while +lingered on its bosom is fled for ever. + +Thus much in introducing the head of the family. Let us now attempt to +sketch the gentle Emily. + +Emily Delmé was not an ordinary being. To uncommon talents, and a mind +of most refined order, she united great feminine propriety, and a total +absence of those arts which sometimes characterise those to whom the +accident of birth has given importance. With unerring discrimination, +she drew the exact line between vivacity and satire, true religion and +its semblance. She saw through and pitied those who, pluming themselves +on the faults of others, and imparting to the outward man the ascetic +inflexibility of the inner one, would fain propagate on all sides their +rigid creed, forbidding the more favoured commoners of nature even to +sip joy's chalice. If not a saint, however, but a fair, confiding, and +romantic girl, she was good without misanthropy, pure without +pretension, and joyous, as youth and hopes not crushed might make her. +She was one of those of whom society might justly be proud. She obeyed +its dictates without question, but her feelings underwent no debasement +from the contact. If not a child of nature, she was by no means the +slave of art. + +Emily Delmé was more beautiful than striking. She impressed more than +she exacted. Her violet eye gleamed with feeling; her smile few could +gaze on without sympathy--happy he who might revel in its brightness! +If aught gave a peculiar tinge to her character, it was the pride she +felt in the name she bore,--this she might have caught from Sir +Henry,--the interest she took in the legends connected with that name, +and the gratification which the thought gave her, that by her ancestors, +its character had been but rarely sullied, and never disgraced. + +These things, it may be, she had accustomed herself to look on in a +light too glowing: for these things and all mundane ones are vain; but +her character did not consequently suffer. Her lip curled not with +hauteur, nor was her brow raised one shadow the more. The remembrance of +the old Baronetcy were on the ensanguined plain,--of the matchless +loyalty of a father and five valiant sons in the cause of the Royal +Charles,--the pondering over tomes, which in language obsolete, but +true, spoke of the grandeur--the deserved grandeur of her house; these +might be recollections and pursuits, followed with an ardour too +enthusiastic, but they stayed not the hand of charity, nor could they +check pity's tear. If her eye flashed as she gazed on the ancient +device of her family, reposing on its time worn pedestal, it could melt +to the tale of the houseless wanderer, and sympathise with the sorrows +of the fatherless. + + + + +Chapter II. + +The Album. + + + + "Oh that the desert were my dwelling place, + With one fair spirit for my minister; + That I might all forget the human race, + And, hating no one, love but only her." + + +A cheerful party were met in the drawing room of Delmé. Clarendon Gage, +a neighbouring land proprietor, to whom Emily had for a twelvemonth been +betrothed, had the night previous returned from a continental tour. In +consequence, Emily looked especially radiant, Delmé much pleased, and +Clarendon superlatively happy. Nor must we pass over Mrs. Glenallan, +Miss Delmé's worthy aunt, who had supplied the place of a mother to +Emily, and who now sat in her accustomed chair, with an almost sunny +brow, quietly pursuing her monotonous tambouring. At times she turned to +admire her niece, who occasionally walked to the glass window, to caress +and feed an impudent white peacock; which one moment strutted on the +wide terrace, and at another lustily tapped for his bread at ne of the +lower panes. + +"I am glad to see you looking so well, Clarendon!" + +"And I can return the compliment, Delmé! Few, looking at you now, would +take you for an old campaigner." + +The style of feature in Delmé and Clarendon was very dissimilar. Sir +Henry was many years Gage's senior; but his manly bearing, and dark +decided features, would bear a contrast with even the tall and elegant, +although slight form of Clarendon. The latter was very fair, and what we +are accustomed to call English-looking. His hair almost, but not quite, +flaxen, hung in thick curls over his forehead, and would have given an +effeminate expression to the face, were it not for the peculiar flash of +the clear blue eye. + +"Come! Clarendon," said Emily, "I will impose a task. You have written +twice in my album; once, years ago, and the second time on the eve of +our parting. Come! you shall read us both effusions, and then write a +sonnet to our happy meeting. Would that dear George were here now!" + +Gage took up the book. It was a moderately-sized volume, bound in +crimson velvet. It was the fashion to keep albums _then_. It glittered +not in a binding of azure and gold, nor were its momentous secrets +enclosed by one of Bramah's locks. The Spanish proverb says, "Tell me +who you are with, and I will tell you what you are." Ours, in that album +age, used to be, "Show me your scrap book, I will tell you your +character." Emily's was not one commencing with-- + + "I never loved a dear gazelle!" + +and ending with stanzas on the "Forget-me-not." It had not those +hackneyed but beautiful lines addressed by Mr. Spencer to Lady Crewe-- + + "I stay'd too late: forgive the crime! + Unheeded flew the hours; + For noiseless falls the foot of Time. + That only treads on flowers." + +Nor contained it those sublime, but yet more common ones, on Sir John +Moore's death; which lines, by the bye, have suffered more from that +mischief-making, laughter-loving creature, Parody, than any lines we +know. It was not one of these books. Nor was it the splendid scrap book, +replete with superb engravings and proof-impression prints; nor at all +allied to the sentimental one of a garrison flirt, containing locks of +hair of at least five gentlemen, three of whom are officers in the army. +Nor, lastly, was it of that genus which has vulgarity in its very +title-page, and is here and there interspersed with devilish imps, or +caricatured likenesses of the little proprietress, all done in most +infinite humour, and marking the familiar friendship, of some half-dozen +whiskered cubs, having what is technically called the run of the house. +No! it was a repository for feeling and for memory, and, in its fair +pages, presented an image of Emily's heart. Many of these were marked, +it is true; and what human being's character is unchequered? But it was +blotless; and the virgin page looks not so white as when the contrast of +the sable ink is there. + +Clarendon read aloud his first contribution--who knows it not? The very +words form a music, and that music is Metastasio's, + + "Placido zeffiretto, + Se trovi il caro oggetto, + Digli che sei sospiro + Ma non gli dir di chi, + Limpido ruscelletto, + Se mai t'incontri in lei, + Digli che pianto sei, + Ma non le dir qual' eiglio + Crescer ti fe cosi." + +"And now, Emily! for my parting tribute--if I remember right, it was +sorrowful enough." + +Gage read, with tremulous voice, the following, which we will christen + + THE FAREWELL. + + I will not be the lightsome lark, + That carols to the rising morn,-- + I'd rather be some plaintive bird + Lulling night's ear forlorn. + + I will not be the green, green leaf, + Mingling 'midst thousand leaves and flowers + That shed their fairy charms around + To deck Spring's joyous bowers. + + I'd rather be the one red leaf, + Waving 'midst Autumn's sombre groves:-- + On the heart to breathe that sadness + Which contemplation loves. + + I will not be the morning ray, + Dancing upon the river's crest, + All light, all motion, when the stream + Turns to the sun her breast. + + I'd rather be the gentle shade, + Lengthening as eve comes stealing on, + And rest in pensive sadness there, + When those bright rays are gone. + + I will not be a smile to play + Upon thy coral lip, and shed + Around it sweetness, like the sun + Risen from his crimson bed. + + Oh, no! I'll be the tear that steals + In pity from that eye of blue, + Making the cheek more lovely red, + Like rose-leaf dipp'd in dew. + + I will not be remember'd when + Mirth shall her pageant joys impart,-- + A dream to sparkle in thine eye, + Yet vanish from thy heart. + + But when pensive sadness clouds thee, + When thoughts, half pain, half pleasure, steal + Upon the heart, and memory doth + The shadowy past reveal. + + When seems the bliss of former years,-- + Too sweet, too pure, to feel again,-- + And long lost hours, scenes, friends, return, + Remember me, love--then! + +"Ah, Clarendon! how often have I read those lines, and thought--but I +will not think now! Here come the letters! Henry will soon be busy--I +shall finish my drawing--and aunt will finish--no! she never _can_ +finish her tambour work. Take my portfolio and give me another +contribution!" Gage now wrote "The Return," which we insert for the +reader's approval:-- + + THE RETURN. + + When the blue-eyed morn doth peep + Over the soft hill's verdant steep, + Lighting up its shadows deep, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + When the lightsome lark doth sing + Her grateful song to Nature's King, + Making all the woodlands ring, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + Or when plaintive Philomel + Shall mourn her mate in some lone dell, + And to the night her sorrows tell, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + When the first green leaf of spring + Shall promise of the summer bring, + And all around its fragrance fling, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + Or when the last red leaf shall fall, + And winter spread its icy pall, + To mind me of the death of all, + I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ + + When the lively morning ray + Is dancing on the river's spray, + And sunshine gilds the joyous day, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + And when the shades of eve steal on, + Lengthening as life's sun goes down, + Like sweetest constancy alone, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + When I see a sweet smile play + On coral lips, like Phoebus' ray, + Making all look warm and gay, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + When steals the tear of pity, too, + O'er a cheek, whose crimson hue + Looks like rose-leaf dipp'd in dew, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + When mirth's pageant joys unbind + The gloomy spells that chain my mind, + And make me dream of all that's kind, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + And when pensive sadness clouds me, + When the host of memory crowds me, + When the shadowy past enshrouds me, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + When seems the bliss of former years,-- + Too sweet, too pure, to feel again,-- + And long lost hours, scenes, friends, return, + I'll think of thee, love, _then_! + + + + +Chapter III. + +The Dinner. + + + + "Hues which have words, and speak to ye of heaven." + + "Away! there need no words or terms precise, + The paltry jargon of the marble mart, + Where pedantry gulls folly: we have eyes." + + +We are told by the members of the silver-fork school, that no tale of +fiction can be complete unless it embody the description of a dinner. +Let us, therefore, shutting from our view that white-limbed gum-tree, +and dismissing from our table tea and damper, [Footnote: _Damper_. +Bushman's fare--unleavened bread] call on memory's fading powers, and +feast once more with the rich, the munificent, the intellectual +Belliston Grĉme. + +Dinner! immortal faculty of eating! to what glorious sense or +pre-eminent passion dost thou not contribute? Is not love half fed by +thy attractions? Beams ever the eye of lover more bright than when, +after gazing with enraptured glance at the coveted haunch, whose fat--a +pure white; whose lean--a rich brown--invitingly await the assault. When +doth lover's eye sparkle more, than when, at such a moment, it lights on +the features of the loved fair one? Is not the supper quadrille the most +dangerous and the dearest of all? + +Cherished venison! delicate white soup! spare young susceptible bosoms! +Again we ask, is not dinner the very aliment of friendship? the hinge on +which it turns? Does a man's heart expand to you ere you have returned +his dinner? It would be folly to assert it. Cabinet dinners--corporation +dinners--election dinners--and vestry dinners--and rail-road +dinners--we pass by these things, and triumphantly ask--does not _the_ +Ship par excellence--the Ship of Greenwich--annually assemble under its +revered roof the luminaries of the nation? Oh, whitebait! called so +early to your last account! a tear is all we give, but it flows +spontaneously at the memory of your sorrows! + +As Mr. Belliston Grĉme was much talked of in his day, it may not be +amiss to say a few words regarding him. He was an only child, and at an +early age lost his parents. The expense of his education was defrayed +by a wealthy uncle, the second partner in a celebrated banking house. +His tutor, with whom he may be said to have lived from boyhood--for his +uncle had little communication with him, except to write to him one +letter half-yearly, when he paid his school bill--was a shy retiring +clergyman--a man of very extensive acquirements, and a first rate +classical scholar. After a short time, the curate and young Grĉme +became attached to each other. The tutor was a bachelor, and Grĉme was +his only pupil. The latter was soon inoculated with the classical mania +of his preceptor; and, as he grew up, it was quite a treat to hear the +pair discourse of Greeks and Romans. A stranger who had _then_ heard +them would have imagined that Themistocles and Scipio Africanus were +stars of the present generation. When Grĉme was nineteen, his uncle +invited him to town for a month--a most unusual proceeding. During this +period he studied closely his nephew's character. At the end of this +term, Mr. Hargrave and his young charge were on their way to the +classical regions, where their fancy had been so long straying. They +explored France, and the northern parts of Italy--came on the shores of +the Adriatic--resided and secretly made excavations near the +amphitheatre of Polo--and finally reached the Morea. Not a crag, +valley, or brook, that they were not conversant with before they left +it. They at length tore themselves away; and found themselves at the +ancient Parthenope. It was at Pompeii Mr. Grĉme first saw the +beautiful Miss Vignoles, the Mrs. Glenallan of our story; and, in a +strange adventure with some Neapolitan guides, was of some service to +her party. They saw his designs of some tombs, and took the trouble of +drawing him out. The young man now for the first time basked in the +sweets of society; in a fortnight, to Mr. Hargrave's horror, was +rolling in its vortex; in a couple of months found himself indulging +in, and avowing, a hopeless passion; and in three, was once again in +his native land, falsely deeming that his peace of mind had fled for +ever. He was shortly, however, called upon to exert his energies. The +death of his uncle suddenly made him, to his very great surprise, one +of the wealthiest commoners of England. At this period he was quite +unknown. In a short time Mr. Hargrave and himself were lodged +luxuriously--were deep in the pursuit of science, literature, and the +belle arte--and on terms of friendship with the cleverest and most +original men of the day. Mr. Grĉme's occupations being sedentary, and +his habits very regular, he shortly found that his great wealth enabled +him, not only to indulge in every personal luxury at Rendlesham Park, +but to patronise largely every literary work of merit. In him the needy +man of genius found a friend, the man of wit a companion, and the +publisher a generous customer. He became famous for his house, his +library, his exclusive society. But he did not become spoilt by his +prosperity, and never neglected his old tutor. + +Our party from Delmé were ushered into a large drawing-room, the sole +light of which was from an immense bow window, looking out on the +extensive lawn. The panes were of enormous size, and beautiful specimens +of classique plated glass. The only articles of furniture, were some +crimson ottomans which served to set off the splendid paintings; and one +table of the Florentine manufacture of pietra dura, on which stood a +carved bijou of Benvenuto Cellini's. Our party were early. They were +welcomed by Mr. Grĉme with great cordiality, and by Mr. Hargrave with +some embarrassment, for the tutor was still the bashful man of former +days. Mr. Grĉme's dress shamed these degenerate days of black stock and +loose trowser. Diamond buckles adorned his knees, and fastened his +shoes. His clear blue eye--the high polished forehead--the deep lines of +the countenance--revealed the man of thought and intellect. The playful +lip shewed he could yet appreciate a flash of wit or spark of humour. + +"Miss Delmé, you are looking at my paintings; let me show you my late +purchases. Observe this sweet Madonna, by Murillo! I prefer it to the +one in the Munich Gallery. It may not boast Titian's glow of colour, or +Raphael's grandeur of design,--in delicate angelic beauty, it may yield +to the delightful efforts of Guido's or Correggio's pencil,--but surely +no human conception can ever have more touchingly portrayed the +beauteous resigned mother. The infant, too! how inimitably blended is +the God-like serenity of the Saviour, with the fond and graceful +witcheries of the loving child! How little we know of the beauties of +the Spanish school! Would I could ransack their ancient monasteries, and +bring a few of them to light! + +"You are a chess player! Pass not by this check-mate of Caravaggio's. +What undisguised triumph in one countenance! What a struggle to repress +nature's feelings in the other! Here is a Guido! sweet, as his ever are! +He may justly be styled the female laureat. What artist can compete with +him in delineating the blooming expression, or the tender, but lighter, +shades of female loveliness? who can pause between even the Fornarina, +and that divine effort, the Beatrice Cenci of the Barberini?" + +The party were by this time assembled. Besides our immediate friends, +there was his Grace the Duke of Gatten, a good-natured fox-hunting +nobleman, whose estate adjoined Mr. Grĉme's; there was the Viscount +Chambéry, who had penned a pamphlet on finance--indited a folio on +architecture--and astonished Europe with an elaborate dissertation on +modern cookery; there was Charles Selby, the poet and essayist; +Daintrey, the sculptor--a wonderful Ornithologist--a deep read +Historian--a learned Orientalist--and a novelist, from France; whose +works exhibited such unheard of horrors, and made man and woman so +irremediably vicious, as to make this young gentleman celebrated, even +in Paris--that Babylonian sink of iniquity. + +Dinner was announced, and our host, giving his arm very stoically to +Mrs. Glenallan, his love of former days, led the way to the dining-room. +Round the table were placed beautifully carved oaken fauteuils, of a +very old pattern. The service of plate was extremely plain, but of +massive gold. But the lamp! It was of magnificent dimensions! The light +chains hanging from the frescoed ceiling, the links of which were hardly +perceptible, were of silver, manufactured in Venice; the lower part was +of opal-tinted glass, exactly portraying some voluptuous couch, on which +the beautiful Amphitrite might have reclined, as she hastened through +beds of coral to crystal grot, starred with transparent stalactites. In +the centre of this shell, were sockets, whence verged small hollow +golden tubes, resembling in shape and size the stalks of a flower. At +the drooping ends of these, were lamps shaped and coloured to imitate +the most beauteous flowers of the parterre. This bouquet of light had +been designed by Mr. Grĉme. Few novelties had acquired greater +celebrity than the Grĉme astrale. The room was warmed by heating the +pedestals of the statues. + +"Potage à la fantôme, and à l'ourika." + +"I will trouble you, Grĉme," said my Lord Chambéry, "for the fantôme. I +have dined on la pritannière for the last three months, and a novel soup +is a novel pleasure." + +Of the fish, the soles were à la Rowena, the salmon à l'amour. Emily +flirted with the wing of a chicken sauté au suprême, coquetted with +perdrix perdu masqué à la Montmorenci, and tasted a boudin à la +Diebitsch. The wines were excellent--the Geisenheim delicious--the +Champagne sparkling like a pun of Jekyll's. But nothing aroused the +attention of the Viscount Chambéry so much as a liqueur, which Mr. +Grĉme assured him was new, and had just been sent him by the Conte de +Desir. The dessert had been some time on the table, when the Viscount +addressed his host. + +"Grĉme! I am delighted to find that you at length agree with me as to +the monstrous superiority of a French repast. Your omelette imaginaire +was faultless, and as for your liqueur, I shall certainly order a supply +on my return to Paris." + +"That liqueur, my dear lord," replied Mr. Grĉme, "is good old cowslip +mead, with a flask of Maraschino di Zara infused in it. For the rest, +the dinner has been almost as imaginaire as the omelet. The greater part +of the recipes are in an old English volume in my library, or perhaps +some owe their origin to the fertile invention of my housekeeper. Let +us style them à la Dorothée." + +"Capital! I thank you, Grĉme!" said his Grace of Gatten, as he shook +his host by the hand, till the tears stood in his eyes. + +The prescient Chambéry had made a good dinner, and bore the joke +philosophically. Coffee awaited the gentlemen in a small octagonal +chamber, adjoining the music room. There stood Mr. Grĉme's three +favourite modern statues:--a Venus, by Canova--a Discobole, by +Thorwaldson--and a late acquisition--the Ariadne, of Dannecker. + +"This is the work of an artist," said Mr. Grĉme, "little known in +this country, but in Germany ranking quite as high as Thorwaldson. +This is almost a duplicate of his Ariadne at Frankfort, but the +marble is much more pure. How wonderfully fine the execution! Pray +notice the bold profile of the face; how energetic her action as she +sits on the panther!" + +Mr. Grĉme touched the spring of a window frame. A curtain of crimson +gauze fell over a globe lamp, and threw a rich shade on the marble. +The features remained as finely chiselled, but their expression was +totally changed. + +They adjourned to the music-room, which deserved its title. Save some +seats, which were artfully formed to resemble lyres, nothing broke the +continuity of music's tones, which ascended majestically to the lofty +dome, there to blend and wreath, and fall again. At one extremity of +music's hall was an organ; at the other a grand piano, built by a German +composer. Ranged on carved slabs, at intermediate distances, was placed +almost every instrument that may claim a votary. Of viols, from the violin +to the double bass,--of instruments of brass, from trombones and bass +kettledrums even unto trumpet and cymbal,--of instruments of wood, from +winding serpents to octave flute,--and of fiddles of parchment, from the +grosse caisse to the tambourine. Nor were ancient instruments wanting. +These were of quaint forms and diverse constructions. Mr. Grĉme would +descant for hours on an antique species of spinnet, which he procured from +the East, and which he vehemently averred, was the veritable dulcimer. He +would display with great gusto, his specimens of harps of Israel; whose +deep-toned chorus, had perchance thrilled through the breast of more than +one of Judea's dark-haired daughters. Greece, too, had her +representatives, to remind the spectators that there had been an Orpheus. +There were flutes of the Doric and of the Phrygian mode, and--let us +forget not--the Tyrrhenian trumpet, with its brazen-cleft pavilion. But by +far the greater part of his musical relics he had acquired during his stay +in Italy. He could show the litui with their carved clarions--the twisted +cornua--the tuba, a trumpet so long and taper,--the concha wound by +Tritons--and eke the buccina, a short and brattling horn. + +Belliston Grĉme was an enthusiastic musician; and was in this peculiar, +that he loved the science for its simplicity. Musicians are but too apt +to give to music's detail and music's difficulties the homage that +should be paid to music's self: in this resembling the habitual man of +law, who occasionally forgetteth the great principles of jurisprudence, +and invests with mysterious agency such words as latitat and certiorari. +The soul of music may not have fled;--for we cultivate her +assiduously,--worship Handel--and appreciate Mozart. But music _now_ +springs from the head, not the heart; is not for the mass, but for +individuals. With our increased researches, and cares, and troubles, we +have lost the faculty of being pleased. Past are those careless days, +when the shrill musette, or plain cittern and virginals, could with +their first strain give motion to the blythe foot of joy, or call from +its cell the prompt tear of pity. Those days are gone! Music may affect +some of us as deeply, but none as readily! + +Mr. Grĉme had received from Paris an unpublished opera of Auber's. +Emily seated herself at the piano--her host took the violin--Clarendon +was an excellent flute player--and the tinkle of the Viscount's guitar +came in very harmoniously. By the time refreshments were introduced, +Charles Selby too was in his glory. He had already nearly convulsed the +Orientalist by a theory which he said he had formed, of a gradual +metempsychosis, or, at all events, perceptible amalgamation, of the +yellow Qui Hi to the darker Hindoo; which said theory he supported by +the most ingenious arguments. + +"How did you like your stay in Scotland, Mr. Selby?" said Sir +Henry Delmé. + +"I am a terrible Cockney, Sir Henry,--found it very cold, and was very +sulky. The only man I cared to see in Scotland was at the Lakes; but I +kept a register of events, which is now on the table in my +dressing-room. If Grĉme will read it, for I am but a stammerer, it is +at your service." + +The paper was soon produced, and Mr. Grĉme read the following:-- + + +"THE BRAHMIN. + +"A stranger arrived from a far and foreign country. His was a mind +peculiarly humble, tremblingly alive to its own deficiencies. Yet, +endowed with this mistrust, he sighed for information, and his soul +thirsted in the pursuit of knowledge. Thus constituted, he sought the +city he had long dreamingly looked up to as the site of truth--Scotia's +capital, the modern Athens. In endeavouring to explore the mazes of +literature, he by no means expected to discover novel paths, but sought +to traverse beauteous ones; feeling he could rest content, could he meet +with but one flower, which some bolder and more experienced adventurer +might have allowed to escape him. He arrived, and cast around an anxious +eye. He found himself involved in an apparent chaos--the whirl of +distraction--imbedded amidst a ceaseless turmoil of would-be knowing +students, endeavouring to catch the aroma of the pharmacopaeia, or dive +to the deep recesses of Scotch law. He sought and cultivated the +friendship of the literati; and anticipated a perpetual feast of soul, +from a banquet to which one of the most distinguished members of a +learned body had invited him. He went with his mind braced up for the +subtleties of argument--with hopes excited, heart elate. He deemed that +the authenticity of Champolion's hieroglyphics might now be permanently +established, or a doubt thrown on them which would for ever extinguish +curiosity. He heard a doubt raised as to the probability of Dr. Knox's +connection with Burke's murders! Disappointed and annoyed, he returned +to his hotel, determined to seek other means of improvement; and to +carefully observe the manners, customs, and habits of the beings he was +among. He enquired first as to their habits, and was presented with +scones, kippered salmon, and a gallon of Glenlivet; as to their manners +and ancient costume, and was pointed out a short fat man, the head of +his clan, who promenaded the streets without trousers. Neither did he +find the delineation of their customs more satisfactory. He was made +nearly tipsy at a funeral--was shown how to carve haggis--and a fit of +bile was the consequence, of his too plentifully partaking of a +superabundantly rich currant bun. He mused over these defeats of his +object, and, unwilling to relinquish his hitherto fruitless +search,--reluctant to despair,--he bent his steps to that city, where +utility preponderates over ornament; that city which so early encouraged +that most glorious of inventions, by the aid of which he hoped, that the +diminutive barks of his countrymen might yet be propelled, thus +superseding the ponderous paddle of teak, He here expected to be +involved in an intricate labyrinth of mechanical inventions,--in a +stormy discussion on the comparative merits of rival machinery,--to be +immersed in speculative but gigantic theories. He was elected an +honorary member of a news-room; had his coat whitened with cotton; and +was obliged to confess that he knew of no beverage that could equal +their superb cold punch. Our philosopher now gave himself up to despair; +but before returning to his own warm clime, he sought to discover the +reason of his finding the flesh creep, where he had deemed the spirit +would soar. He at length came to the conclusion that we are all slaves +to the world and to circumstances; and as, with his peculiar belief, he +could look on our sacred volume with the eye of a philosopher, felt +impressed with the conviction that the history of Babel's tower is but +an allegory, which says to the pride of man, + + "'Thus far shall ye go, and no farther.'" + +The Brahmin's adventures elicited much amusement. In a short time, +Selby was in a hot argument with the French novelist. Every now and +then, as the Frenchman answered him, he stirred his negus, and hummed a +translation of + + "I'd be a butterfly." + + "Erim papilio, + Natus in flosculo." + + + + +Chapter IV. + +The Postman. + + + + "Not in those visions, to the heart displaying + Forms which it sighs but to have only dream'd, + Hath aught like thee in truth or fancy seem'd; + Or, having seen thee, shall I vainly seek + To paint those charms which, imaged as they beam'd, + To such as see thee not, my words were weak; + To those who gaze on thee, what language could they speak?" + + +Delmé had long designed some internal improvements in the mansion; +and as workmen would necessarily be employed, had proposed that our +family party should pass a few weeks at a watering place, until these +were completed. They were not without hopes, that George might there +join them, as Emily had written to Malta, pressing him to be present +at her wedding. + +We have elsewhere said, that Sir Henry had arrived at middle age, +before one feeling incompatible with his ambitious thoughts arose. It +was at Leamington this feeling had imperceptibly sprung up; and to +Leamington they were now going. + +Is there an electric chain binding hearts predestined to love? + +Hath Providence ordained, that on our first interview with that being, +framed to meet our wishes and our desires--the rainbow to our cloud, and +the sun to our noon-day--hath it ordained that there should also be +given us some undefinable token--some unconscious whispering from the +heart's inmost spirit? + +Who may fathom these inscrutable mysteries? + +Sir Henry had been visiting an old schoolfellow, who had a country seat +near Leamington. He was riding homewards, through a sequestered and +wooded part of the park, when he was aware of the presence of two +ladies, evidently a mother and daughter. They sate on one side of the +rude path, on an old prostrate beech tree. The daughter, who was very +beautiful, was sketching a piece of fern for a foreground: the mother +was looking over the drawing. Neither saw the equestrian. + +It was a fair sight to regard the young artist, with her fine profile +and drooping eyelid, bending over the drawing, like a Grecian statue; +then to note the calm features upturn, and forget the statue in the +breathing woman. At intervals, her auburn tresses would fall on the +paper, and sweep the pencil's efforts. At such times, she would remove +them with her small hand, with such a soft smile, and gentle grace, that +the very action seemed to speak volumes for her feminine sympathies. +Delmé disturbed them not, but making a tour through the grove of beech +trees, reached Leamington in thoughtful mood. + +It was not long before he met them in society. The mother was a Mrs. +Vernon, a widow, with a large family and small means. Of that family +Julia was the fairest flower. As Sir Henry made her acquaintance, and +her character unfolded itself, he acknowledged that few could study it +without deriving advantage; few without loving her to adoration. That +character it would be hard to describe without our description +appearing high-flown and exaggerated. It bore an impress of loftiness, +totally removed from pride; a moral superiority, which impressed all. +With this was united an innate purity, that seemed her birthright; a +purity that could not for an instant be doubted. If the libertine gazed +on her features, it awoke in him recollections that had long slumbered; +of the time when his heart beat but for one. If, in her immediate +sphere, any littleness of feeling was brought to her notice, it was met +with an intuitive doubt, followed by painful surprise, that such +feeling, foreign as she felt it to be to her own nature, could really +have existence in that of another. + +Thank God! she had seen few of the trickeries of this restless world, in +which most of us are struggling against our neighbours; and, if we could +look forward with certainty, to the nature of the world beyond this, it +is most likely that we should breathe a fervent prayer that she should +never witness more. + +Her person was a fit receptacle for such a mind. A face all softness, +seemed and _was_ the index to a heart all pity. Taller than her +compeers,--in all she said or did, a native dignity and a witching +grace were exquisitely blended. She was one not easily seen without +admiration; but when known, clung Cydippe-like to the heart's mirror, an +image over which neither time nor absence possessed controul. + +The Delmés resided at Leamington the remainder of the winter, which +passed fleetly and happily. Emily, for the first time, gave way to that +one feeling, which, to a woman, is the all-important and engrossing one, +enjoying her happiness in that full spirit of content, which basking in +present joys, attempts not to mar them by ideal disquietudes. The Delmés +cultivated the society of the Vernons; Emily and Julia became great +friends; and Sir Henry, with all his stoicism, was nourishing an +attachment, whose force, had he been aware of it, he would have been at +some pains to repress. As it was, he totally overlooked the possibility +of his trifling with the feelings of another. He had a number of sage +aphorisms to urge against his own entanglement, and, with a moral +perverseness, from which the best of us are not free, chose to forget +that it was possible his convincing arguments, might neither be known +to, nor appreciated by one, on whom their effect might be far from +unimportant. + +At this stage, Clarendon thought it his duty to warn Delmé; and, to his +credit be it said, shrunk not from it. + +"Excuse me, Delmé," said he, "will you allow me to say one word to you +on a subject that nearly concerns yourself?" + +Sir Henry briefly assented. + +"You see a great deal of Miss Vernon. She is a very fascinating and a +very amiable person; but from something you once said to me, it has +struck me that in some respects she might not suit you." + +"I like her society," replied his friend; "but you are right. She would +_not_ suit me. _You_ know me pretty well. My hope has ever been to +increase, and not diminish the importance of my house. It once stood +higher both in wealth and consideration. I see many families springing +up around me, that can hardly lay claim to a descent so unblemished I +speak not in a spirit of intolerance, nor found my family claim solely +on its pedigree; but my ancestors have done good in their generation, +and it is a proud thing to be 'the scion of a noble race!'" + +"It may be;" said Clarendon quietly, "but I cannot help thinking, that +with your affluence, you have every right to follow your own +inclination. I know that few of my acquaintances are so independent of +the world." + +Sir Henry shook his head. + +"The day is not very distant, Gage, when a Dacre would hardly have +returned two members for my county, if a Delmé had willed it otherwise. +But there is little occasion for me to have said thus much. Miss Vernon, +I trust, has other plans; and I believe my own feelings are not enlisted +deep enough, to make me forget the hopes and purposes of half a +life-time." + +It was some few days after this, when Emily had almost given up looking +with interest to the postman's visit, that a letter at last came, +directed to Sir Henry; not indeed in George's hand-writing, but with +the Malta post mark. Delmé read it over thoughtfully, and, assuring +Emily that there was nothing to alarm her, left the room to consider +its contents. + +By the way, we have thought over heartless professions, and cannot help +conceiving that of a postman, (it may be conceit!) the most callous and +unfeeling of all. He is waited for with more anxiety than any guest of +the morning; for his visits invariably convey something new to the mind. +He is not love! but he bears it in his pocket; he cannot be friendship! +but he daily hawks about its assurances. With all this, knowing his +importance, aware of the sensation his appearance calls forth, his very +knock is heartless--the tones of his voice cold. Feeling seems denied +him; his head is a debtor and creditor account, his departure the +receipt, and time alone can say, whether your bargain has been a good or +a bad one. He has certainly no assumption--it is one of his few good +traits; he walks with his arms in motion, but attempts not a swagger; +his knock is unassuming, and his words, though much attended to, are +few, and to the point. Why, then, abuse him? We know not, but believe it +originates in fear. An intuitive feeling of dread--a rushing +presentiment of evil--crosses our mind, as our eye dwells on his +thread-bare coat, with its capacious pockets. News of a death--or a +marriage--the tender valentine--the remorseless dun--your having been +left an estate, or cut off with a shilling--fortune, and misfortune--- +he quietly dispenses, as if totally unconscious. Surely such a man--his +round performed--cannot quietly sink to the private individual. Can such +a man caress his wife, or kiss his child, when he knows not how many +hearts are bursting with joy, or breaking with sorrow, from the tidings +_he_ has conveyed? To our mind, a postman should be an abstracted +visionary being, endowed with a peculiar countenance, betraying the +unnatural sparkle of the opium-eater, and evincing intense anxiety at +the delivery of each sheet. But these,--they wait not to hear the joyful +shout, or heart-rending moan--to know if hope deferred be at length +joyful certainty, or bitter only half-expected woe. We dread a postman. +Our hand shook, as we last year paid the man of many destinies his +demanded Christmas box. + +The amount was double that we gave to the minister of our corporeal +necessities--the butcher's boy--not from a conviction of the superior +services or merit of the former, but from an uneasy desire to bribe, if +we could, that Mercury of fate. + +The letter to Sir Henry, was from the surgeon of George's regiment. It +stated that George had been severely ill, and that connected with his +illness, were symptoms which made it imperative on the medical adviser, +to recommend the immediate presence of his nearest male relative. +Apologies were made for the apparent mystery of the communication, with +a promise that this would be at once cleared up, if Sir Henry would but +consent to make the voyage; which would not only enable him to be of +essential service to his brother, but also to acquire much information +regarding him, which could only be obtained on the spot. A note from +George was enclosed in this letter. It was written with an unsteady +hand, and made no mention of his illness. He earnestly begged his +brother to come to Malta, if he could possibly so arrange it, and +transmitted his kindest love and blessing to Emily. + +Sir Henry at once made up his mind, to leave Leamington for town on the +morrow, trusting that he might there meet with information which would +be more satisfactory. He concealed for the time the true state of the +case from all but Clarendon; nor did he even allude to his proposed +departure. + +It was Emily's birth-day, and Gage had arranged that the whole party +should attend a little fête on that night. Sir Henry could not find it +in his heart to disturb his sister's dream of happiness. + + + + +Chapter V + +The Fête. + + + + "Ye stars! which are the poetry of heaven! + If, in your bright leaves, we would read the fate + Of men and empires,--'tis to be forgiven, + That, in our aspirations to be great, + Our destinies o'erleap their mortal state, + And claim a kindred with you." + + +The night came on with its crescent moon and its myriads of stars: just +such a night as might have been wished for such a fête. It was in the +month of April. April dews, in Britain's variable clime; are not the +most salubrious, and April's night air is too often keen and piercing; +but the season was an unusually mild one; and the ladies, with their +cloaks and their furs, promenaded the well-lighted walks, determined to +be pleased and happy. + +The giver of the fête was an enterprising Italian. Winter's +amusements were over, or neglected--summer's delights were not +arrived; and Signor Pacini conceived, that during the dull and +monotonous interval, a speculation of his own might prove welcome to +the public and beneficial to himself. To do the little man justice, he +was indefatigable in his exertions. From door to door he wended his +smiling way,--here praising the mother's French, there the daughter's +Italian. He gained hosts of partisans. "Of course you patronise +Pacini!" was in every one's mouth. The Signor's prospectus stated, +that "through the kindness of the steward of an influential nobleman, +who was now on the continent, he was enabled to give his fete in the +grounds of the Earl of W----; where a full quadrille band would be in +attendance, a pavilion pitched on the smooth lawn facing the river, +and a comfortable ball room thrown open to a fashionable and +enlightened public. The performance would be most various, novel, and +exciting. Brilliant fireworks from Vauxhall would delight the eye, and +shed a charm on the fairy scene; whilst the car would be regaled with +the unequalled harmony of the Styrian brethren, Messrs. Schezer, +Lobau, and Berdan, who had very kindly deferred their proposed return +to Styria, in order to honour the fete of Signor Pacini." + +As night drew on, the mimic thunder of carriages hastening to the scene +of action, bespoke the Signor's success. After the ninth hour, his +numbers swelled rapidly. Pacini assumed an amusing importance, and his +very myrmidons gave out their brass tickets with an air. At ten, a +rocket was fired. At this preconcerted signal, the pavilion, hitherto +purposely concealed, blazed in a flood of light. On its balcony stood +the three Styrian brethren,--although, by the way, they were not +brethren at all,--and, striking their harmonious guitars, wooed +attention to their strains. The crowd hurried down the walk, and formed +round the pavilion. Our party suddenly found themselves near the +Vernons. As the gentlemen endeavoured to obtain chairs for the ladies, a +crush took place, and Sir Henry was obliged to offer his arm to Julia, +who happened to be the nearest of her party. It was with pain Miss +Vernon noted his clouded brow, and look of abstraction; but hardly one +word of recognition had passed, before the deep voices of the Styrians +silenced all. After singing some effective songs, accompanied by a +zither, and performing a melodious symphony on a variety of Jew's-harps; +Pacini, the manager, advanced to address his auditors, with that air of +smiling confidence which no one can assume with better grace than a +clever Italian. His dark eye flashed, and his whole features irradiated, +as he delivered the following harangue. + +"Ladies and gentlemen! me trust you well satisfied wid de former +musical entertainment; but, if you permit, me mention one leetle +circonstance. Monsieur Schezer propose to give de song; but it require +much vat you call stage management: all must be silent as de grave. It +ver pretty morceau." + +The applause at the end of this speech was very great. Signor Pacini +bowed, till his face rivalled, in its hue, the rosy under-waistcoat in +which he rejoiced. + +Schezer stepped forward. He was attired as a mountaineer. His hat +tapered to the top, and was crowned by a single heron feather. Hussars +might have envied him his moustaches. From his right side protruded a +couteau de chasse; and his legs were not a little set off by the +tight-laced boots, which, coming up some way beyond the ancle, displayed +his calf to the very best advantage. + +The singer's voice was a fine manly tenor, and did ample justice to the +words, of which the following may be taken as a free version. + +"Mountains! dear mountains! on you have I passed my green youth; to me +your breeze has been fragrant from childhood. When may I see the chamois +bounding o'er your toppling crags? When, oh when, may I see my +fair-haired Mary?" + +The minstrel paused--a sound was heard from behind the pavilion. It was +the mountain's echo. It continued the air--then died away in the +softest harmony. All were charmed. Again the singer stepped +forward--the utmost silence prevailed--his tones became more +impassioned--they breathed of love. + +"Thanks! thanks to thee, gentle echo! Oft hast thou responded to the +strains of love my soul poured to--ah me! how beautiful was the +fair-haired Mary!" + +Again the echo spoke--again all were hushed. The minstrel's voice rose +again; but its tones were not akin to joy. + +"Why remember this, deceitful echo? War's blast hath blown, and hushed +are the notes of love. The foe hath polluted my hearth--I wander an +exile. Where, where is Mary?" + +The echo faintly but plaintively replied. There were some imagined that +a tear really started to the eye of the singer. He struck the guitar +wildly--his voice became more agitated--he advanced to the extremity of +the balcony. + +"My sword! my sword! May my right hand be withered ere it forget to +grasp its hilt! One blow for freedom. Freedom--sweet as was the +lip--Yes! I'll revenge my Mary!" + +Schezer paused, apparently overcome by his emotion. The echo wildly +replied, as if registering the patriot's vow. For a moment all was +still! A thundering burst of applause ensued. + +The mountain music was succeeded by a sweep of guitars, accompanying a +Venetian serenade, whose burthen was the apostrophising the cruelty of +"la cara Nina." + +It was near midnight, when all eyes were directed to a ball of fire, +which, rising majestically upward, soared amid the tall elm trees. For a +moment, the balloon became entangled in the boughs, revealing by its +transparent light the green buds of spring, which variegated and cheered +the scathed bark. It broke loose from their embrace--hovered +irresolutely above them--then swept rapidly before the wind, rising till +it became as a speck in the firmament. + +This was the signal for Mr. Robinson's fireworks, which did not shame +Vauxhall's reputation. At one moment, a salamander courted notice; at +another, a train of fiery honours, festooned round four wooden pillars, +was fired at different places, by as many doves practised to the task. +Here, an imitation of a jet d'eau elicited applause--there, the +gyrations of a Catherine's wheel were suddenly interrupted by the rapid +ascent of a Roman candle. + +Directly after the ascent of the balloon, Emily and Clarendon had +turned towards the ball room. Julia's sisters had a group of laughing +beaux round their chairs,--Mrs. Glenallan and Mrs. Vernon were +discussing bygone days,--and no one seemed disposed to leave the +pavilion. Sir Henry, in his silent mood, was glad to escape from the +party; and engaging Julia in a search for Emily, made his way to the +crowded ball room. He there found his sister spinning round with +Clarendon to one of Strauss's waltzes; and Sir Henry and his partner +seated themselves on one of the benches, watching the smiling faces as +they whirled past them. It was a melancholy thought to Delmé, how soon +Emily's brow would be clouded, were he to breathe one word of George's +illness and despondency. The waltz concluded, a quadrille was quickly +formed. Miss Vernon declined dancing, and they rose to join Emily and +Clarendon; but the lovers were flown. The ball room became still more +thronged; and Delmé was glad to turn once more towards the pavilion. The +party they had left there had also vanished, and strangers usurped their +seats. In this dilemma, Miss Vernon proposed seeking their party in the +long walk. They took one or two turns down this, but saw not those for +whom they were in search. + +"If you do not dislike leaving this busy scene," said Sir Henry, "I +think we shall have a better chance of meeting Emily and Clarendon, if +we turn down one of these winding paths." + +They turned to their left, and walked on. How beautiful was that night! +Its calm tranquillity, as they receded from the giddy throng, could not +but subdue them. We have said that the moon was not riding the heavens +in her full robe of majesty, nor was there a sombre darkness. The purple +vault was spangled thick with stars; and there reigned that dubious, +glimmering light, by which you can note a face, but not mark its blush. +The walks wound fantastically. They were lit by festoons of coloured +lamps, attached to the neighbouring trees, so as to resemble the pendent +grape-clusters, that the traveller meets with just previous to the +Bolognese vintage. Occasionally, a path would be encountered where no +light met the eye save that of the prying stars overhead. In the +distant vista, might be seen a part of the crowded promenade, where +music held its court; whilst at intervals, a voice's swell or guitar's +tinkle would be borne on the ear. There was the hum of men, too--the +laugh of the idlers without the sanctum, as they indulged in the +delights of the mischievous fire-ball--and the sudden whizz, followed by +an upward glare of light, as a rocket shot into the air. But the hour, +and the nameless feeling that hour invoked, brought with them a subduing +influence, which overpowered these intruding sounds, attuning the heart +to love and praise. They paced the walk in mutual and embarrassed +silence. Sir Henry's thoughts would at one time revert to his brother, +and at another to that parting, which the morrow would assuredly bring +with it. He was lost in reverie, and almost forgot who it was that leant +thus heavily upon his arm. Julia had loved but once. She saw his +abstraction, and knew not the cause; and her timid heart beat quicker +than was its wont, as undefined images of coming evil and sorrow, chased +each other through her excited fancy. At length she essayed to speak, +although conscious that her voice faltered. + +"What a lovely night! Are you a believer in the language of the stars?" + +This was said with such simplicity of manner, that Delmé, as he turned +to answer her, felt truly for the first time the full force of his +attachment. He felt it the more strongly, that his mind previously had +been wandering more than it had done for years. + +There are times and seasons when we are engrossed in a train of deep and +unconscious thought. Suddenly recalled to ourselves, we start from our +mental aberration, and a clearer insight into the immediate purposes and +machinery of our lives, is afforded us. We seem endowed with a more +accurate knowledge of self; the inmost workings of our souls are +abruptly revealed--feeling's mysteries stand developed--our weaknesses +stare us in the face--and our vices appear to gnaw the very vitals of +our hope. The veil was indeed withdrawn,--and Delmé's heart +acknowledged, that the fair being who leant on him for support, was +dearer--far dearer, than all beside. But he saw too, ambition in that +heart's deep recess, and knew that its dictates, unopposed for years, +were totally incompatible with such a love. He saw and trembled. + +Julia's question was repeated, before Sir Henry could reply. + +"A soldier, Miss Vernon, is particularly susceptible of visionary ideas. +On the lone bivouac, or remote piquet, duty must frequently chase sleep +from his eyelids. At such times, I have, I confess, indulged in wild +speculations, on their possible influence on our wayward destinies. I +was then a youth, and should not now, I much fear me, pursue with such +unchecked ardour, the dreams of romance in which I could then +unrestrainedly revel. Perhaps I should not think it wise to do so, even +had not sober reality stolen from imagination her brightest pinion." + +"I would fain hope, Sir Henry," replied Julia, "that all your mind's +elasticity is not thus flown. Why blame such fanciful theories? I cannot +think them wrong, and I have often passed happy hours in forming them." + +"Simply because they remove us too much from our natural sphere of +usefulness. They may impart us pleasure; but I question whether, by +dulling our mundane delights, they do not steal pleasure quite +equivalent. Besides, they cannot assist us in conferring happiness on +others, or in gleaning improvement for ourselves. I am not quite +certain, enviable as appears the distinction, whether the _too_ +feelingly appreciating even nature's beauties, does not bear with it its +own retribution." + +"Ah! do not say so! I cannot think that it _should_ be so with minds +properly regulated. I cannot think that _such_ can ever gaze on the +wonders revealed us, without these imparting their lesson of gratitude +and adoration. If, full of hope, our eye turns to some glorious planet, +and we fondly deem that _there_, may our dreams of happiness _here,_ be +perpetuated; surely in such poetical fancy, there is little to condemn, +and much that may wean us from folly's idle cravings. + +"If in melancholy's hour, we mourn for one who hath been dear, and sorrow +for the perishable nature of all that may here claim our earthly +affections; is it not sweet to think that in another world--perhaps in +some bright star--we may again commune with what we have _so_ +loved--once more be united in those kindly bonds--and in a kingdom where +those bonds may not thus lightly be severed?" + +Julia's voice failed her; for she thought of one who had preceded her to +"the last sad bourne." + +Delmé was much affected. He turned towards her, and his hand +touched hers. + +"Angelic being!" + +As he spoke, darker, more worldly thoughts arose. A fearful struggle, +which convulsed his features, ensued. The world triumphed. + +Julia Vernon saw much of this, and maiden delicacy told her it was not +meet they should be alone. + +"Let us join the crowd!" said she. "We shall probably meet our party in +the long walk: if not, we will try the ball room." + +Poor Julia! little was her heart in unison with that joyous scene! + +By the eve of the morrow, Delmé was many leagues from her and his +family. + +Restless man, with travel, ambition, and excitement, can woo and almost +win oblivion;--but poor, weak, confiding woman--what is left to her? + +In secret to mourn, and in secret still to love. + + + + +Chapter III. + +The Journey. + + + + "Adieu! adieu! My native land + Fades o'er the ocean blue; + The night winds sigh--the breakers roar-- + And shrieks the wild sea mew. + Yon sun that sets upon the sea, + We follow in his flight: + Farewell awhile to him and thee! + My native land! good night!" + + +We have rapidly sketched the dénouement of the preceding chapter; but it +must not be forgotten, that Delmé had been residing some months at +Leamington, and that Emily and Julia were friends. In his own familiar +circle--a severe but true test--Sir Henry had every opportunity of +becoming acquainted with Miss Vernon's sweetness of disposition, and of +appreciating the many excellencies of her character. For the rest, +their intercourse had been of that nature, that it need excite no +surprise, that a walk on a gala night, had the power of extracting an +avowal, which, crude, undigested, and hastily withdrawn as it was, was +certainly more the effusion of the heart--more consonant with Sir +Henry's original nature--than the sage reasonings on his part, which +preceded and followed that event. + +On Delmé's arrival in town, he prosecuted with energy his enquiries as +to his brother. He called on the regimental agents, who could give him +no information. George's military friends had lost sight of him since he +had sailed for the Mediterranean; and of the few persons, whom he could +hear of, who had lately left Malta; some were passing travellers, who +had made no acquaintances there, others, English merchants, who had met +George at the Opera and in the streets, but nowhere else. It is true, +there was an exception to this, in the case of a hair-brained young +midshipman; who stated that he had dined at George's regimental mess, +and had there heard that George "had fallen in love with some young +lady, and had fought with her brother or uncle, or a soldier-officer, he +did not know which." + +Meagre as all this information was, it decided Sir Henry Delmé. + +He wrote a long letter to Emily, in which he expressed a hope that both +George and himself would soon be with her, and immediately prepared for +his departure. + +Ere we follow him on his lonely journey, let us turn to those he left +behind. Mrs. Glenallan and Emily decided on at once leaving Leamington +for their own home. The marriage of the latter was deferred; and as +Clarendon confessed that his period of probation was a very happy one, +he acquiesced cheerfully in the arrangement. Emily called on the +Vernons, and finding that Julia was not at home, wrote her a kind +farewell; secretly hoping that at some future period they might be more +nearly related. The sun was sinking, as the travellers neared Delmé. The +old mansion looked as calm as ever. The blue smoke curled above its +sombre roof; and the rooks sailed over the chimneys, flapping their +wings, and cawing rejoicefully, as they caught the first glimpse of +their lofty homes. Emily let down the carriage window, and with sunshiny +tear, looked out on the home of her ancestors. + +There let us leave her; and turn to bid adieu for a season, to one, who +for many a weary day, was doomed to undergo the pangs of blighted +affection. Such pangs are but too poignant and enduring, let the +worldly man say what he may. Could we but read the history of the +snarling cynic, blind to this world's good--of him, who from being the +deceived, has become the deceiver--of the rash sensualist, who plunging +into vice, thinks he can forget;--could we but know the train of +events, that have brought the stamping madman to his bars--and his +cell--and his realms of phantasy;--or search the breast of her, who +lets concealment "feed on her damask cheek"--who prays blessings on +him, who hath wasted her youthful charms--then mounts with virgin soul +to heaven:--we, in our turn, might sneer at the worldling, and pin our +fate on the tale of the peasant girl, who discourses so glibly of +crossed love and broken hearts. + +Sir Henry Delmé left England with very unenviable sensations. A cloud +seemed to hang over the fate of his brother, which no speculations of +his could pierce. Numberless were the conjectures he formed, as to the +real causes of George's sickness and mental depression. It was in vain +he re-read the letters, and varied his comments on their contents. It +was evident, that nothing but his actual presence in Malta, could +unravel the mystery. Sir Henry had _one_ consolation; how great, let +those judge who have had aught dear placed in circumstances at all +similar. He had a confidence in George's character, which entirely +relieved him from any fear that the slightest taint could have infected +it. But an act of imprudence might have destroyed his peace of +mind--sickness have wasted his body. Nor was his uncertainty regarding +George, Delmé's only cause of disquiet. When he thought of Julia +Vernon, there was a consequent internal emotion, that he could not +subdue. He endeavoured to forget her--her image haunted him. He +meditated on his past conduct; and at times it occurred to him, that +the resolutions he had formed, were not the result of reason, but were +based on pride and prejudice. He thought of her as he had last seen +her. _Now_ she spoke with enthusiasm of the bright stars of heaven; +anon, her eye glistened with piety, as she showed how the feeling these +created, was but subservient to a nobler one still. Again, he was +beside her in the moment of maiden agony; when low accents faltered +from her quivering lip, and the hand that rested on his arm, trembled +from her heart's emotion. + +Such were the bitter fancies that assailed him, as he left his own, and +reached a foreign land. They cast a shadow on his brow, which change of +scene possessed no charm to dispel. He hurried on to France's capital, +and only delaying till he could get his passports signed, hastened from +Paris to Marseilles. + +On his arrival at the latter place, his first enquiries were, as to the +earliest period that a vessel would sail for Malta. He was pointed out a +small yacht in the harbour, which belonging to the British government, +had lately brought over a staff officer with despatches. + +A courier from England had that morning arrived--the vessel was about to +return--her canvas was already loosened--the blue Peter streaming in the +wind. Delmé hesitated not an instant, but threw himself into a boat, and +was rowed alongside. The yacht's commander was a lieutenant in our +service, although a Maltese by birth. He at once entered into Sir +Henry's views, and felt delighted at the prospect of a companion in his +voyage. A short time elapsed--the anchor was up--the white sails began +to fill--Sir Henry was once more on the wide sea. + +What a feeling of loneliness, almost of despair, infects the landsman's +mind, as he recedes from an unfamiliar port--sees crowds watching +listlessly his vessel's departure--crowds, of whom not one feels an +interest in _his_ fate; and then, turning to the little world within, +beholds but faces he knows not, persons he wots not of! + +But to one whose home is the ocean, such are not the emotions which +its expanse of broad waters calls forth. To such an one, each plank +seems a friend; the vessel, a refuge from the world and its cares. +Trusting himself to its guidance, deceit wounds him no more-- +hollow-hearted friendship proffers not its hand to sting--love +exercises not its fatal sorcery--foes are afar--and his heart, if not +the waves, is comparatively at peace. And oh! the wonders of the deep! +Ocean! tame is the soul that loves not thee! grovelling the mind that +scorns the joys thou impartest! To lean our head on the vessel's side, +and in idleness of spirit ponder on bygone scene, that has brought us +anything but happiness,--to gaze on the curling waves, as impelled by +the boisterous wind, we ride o'er the angry waters, lashed by the sable +keel to a yeasty madness,--to look afar upon the disturbed billow, +presenting its crested head like the curved neck of the war +horse,--_then_ to mark the screaming sea bird, as, his bright eye +scanning the waters, he soars above the stormy main--its wide tumult +his delight--the roaring of the winds his melody--the shrieks of the +drowned an harmonious symphony to the hoarse diapason of the deep! All +these things may awake reflections, which are alike futile and +transitory; but they are accompanied by a mental excitement, which land +scenes, however glorious, always fail to impart. + +Delmé's voyage was not unpropitious, although the yacht was frequently +baffled by contrary winds, which prevented the passage being very +speedy. During the day, the weather was ordinarily blustering, at times +stormy; but with the setting sun, it seemed that tranquillity came; for +during the nights, which were uncommonly fine, gentle breezes continued +to fill the sails, and their vessel made tardy but sure progress. Henry +would sit on deck till a late hour, lost in reverie. _There_ would he +remain, until each idle mariner was sunk to rest; and nothing but the +distant tread of the wakeful watch, or the short cough of the helmsman, +bespoke a sentinel over the habitation on the waters. How would the +recollections of his life crowd upon him!--the loss of his parent--the +world's first opening--bitter partings--painful misgivings--the lone +bivouac--the marshalling of squadrons--the fierce charge--the +excitement of victory, whose charm was all but flown, for where were the +comrades who had fought beside him? These things were recalled, and +brought with them alternate pain and pleasure. And a less remote era of +his life would be presented him; when he tasted the welcome of home--saw +hands uplifted in gratitude--was cheered by a brother's greeting, and +subdued by a sister's kiss. But there _was_ a thought, which let him +dwell as he might on others, remained the uppermost of all. It was of +Julia Vernon, and met him as a reproach. If his feelings were not of +that enthusiastic nature, which they might have been were he now in his +green youth, they were not on this account the less intense. They were +coloured by the energy of manhood. He had lost a portion of his +self-respect: for he knew that his conduct had been vacillating with +regard to one, whom each traversed league, each fleeting hour, proved to +be yet dearer than he had deemed her. + +In the first few days of their passage, the winds shaped their vessel's +course towards the Genoese gulf. They then took a direction nearly +south, steering between Corsica and Sardinia on the one hand--Italy on +the other. + +Delmé had an opportunity of noting the outward aspect of Napoleon's +birth-place; and still more nearly, that of its opposite island, which +also forms so memorable a link in the history of that demi-god of modern +times. How could weaker spirits deem that _there_, invested with +monarchy's semblance, the ruler of the petty isle could forget that he +had been master of the world? + +How think that diplomacy's cobweb fibre could hold the eagle, panting +for an upward flight? + +They fearfully misjudged! What a transcendent light did his star give, +as it shot through the appalled heavens, ere it sunk for ever in +endless night! + +The commander of the yacht pointed out the rock, which is traditionally +said to be the one, on which Napoleon has been represented--his arms +folded--watching intently the ocean--and ambition's votary gleaning his +moral from the stormy waves below. As they advanced farther in their +course, other associations were not wanting; and Delmé, whose mind, +like that of most Englishmen, was deeply tinctured with classic lore, +was not insensible to their charms. They swept by the Latian coast. +Every creek and promontory, attested the fidelity of the poet's +description, by vividly recalling it to the mind. On the seventh day, +they doubled Cape Maritime, on the western coast of Sicily; and two +days afterwards, the vessel neared what has been styled the abode of +Calypso, the island of Gozzo. As they continued to advance, picturesque +trading boats, with awnings and numerous rowers, became more +frequent--the low land appeared--they were signalled from the +palace--the point of St. Elmo was turned--and a wide forest of masts +met the gaze. The vessel took up her moorings; and in the novelty of +the scene, and surrounding bustle, Sir Henry for a time rested from +misgivings, and forgot his real causes for melancholy. The harbour of +Malta is not easily forgotten. The sun was just sinking, tinging with +hues of amber, the usually purple waters of the harbour, and bronzing +with its fiery orb, the batteries and lofty Baraca, where lie entombed +the remains of Sir Thomas Maitland. Between the Baraca's pillars, +might be discerned many a faldette, with pretty face beneath, peering +over to mark the little yacht, as she took her station, amidst the more +gigantic line of battle ships. + +The native boatmen, in their gilded barks with high prows, were seen +surrounding the vessel; and as they exerted themselves in passing each +other, their dress and action had the most picturesque appearance. Their +language, a corrupted Arabic, is not unpleasing to the ear; and their +costume is remarkably graceful. A red turban hangs droopingly on one +side, and their waistcoats are loaded with large silver buttons, the +only remains of their uncommon wealth during the war, when this little +island was endowed with a fictitious importance, it can never hope to +resume. Just as the yacht cast anchor, a gun from the saluting battery +was fired. It was the signal for sunset, and every flag was lowered. +Down came in most seaman-like style the proud flag of merry England--the +_then_ spotless banner of France--and the great cross, hanging +ungracefully, over the stout, but clumsy, Russian man of war. All these +flags were then in the harbour of Valletta, although it was not at that +eventful time when--the Moslem humbled--they met with the cordiality of +colleagues in victory. + +The harbour was full of vessels. Every nation had its representative. +The intermediate spaces were studded by Maltese boats, crowded with +passengers indiscriminately mingled. The careless English soldier, with +scarlet coat and pipe-clayed belt--priests and friars--Maltese women in +national costume sat side by side. Occasionally, a gig, pulled by man of +war's men, might be seen making towards the town, with one or more +officers astern, whose glittering epaulettes announced them as either +diners out, or amateurs of the opera. The scene to Delmé was entirely +novel; although it had previously been his lot to scan more than one +foreign country. + +The arrival of the health officers was the first circumstance that +diverted his mind from the surrounding scene. There had been an epidemic +disease at Marseilles, and there appeared to be some doubts, whether, as +a precaution, some quarantine would not be imposed. The superintendent +of quarantine was rowed alongside, chiefly for the purpose of regulating +this. The spirited little commander of the yacht, however, was not at +all desirous of any such arrangement; and after some energetic appeals +on his part, met by cautious remonstrances on the part of the other, +their pratique was duly accorded. + +During the discussion with the superintendent, Sir Henry had enquired +from the health officer, as to where he should find George, and was +informed that his regiment was quartered at Floriana, one of Valletta's +suburbs. In a short time a boat from the yacht was lowered, and the +commander prepared to accompany the government courier with his +dispatches to the palace. + +Previous to leaving the deck, he hailed a boat alongside--addressed the +boatmen in their native language--and consigned Sir Henry to their +charge. Twilight was deepening into night as Delmé left the vessel. The +harbour had lost much of its bustle; lights were already gleaming from +the town, and as seen in some of the loftiest houses, looked as if +suspended in the air above. Our traveller folded his cloak around him, +and was rowed swiftly towards the shore. + + + + +Chapter VII. + +The Young Greek. + + + + "But not in silence pass Calypso's isles, + The sister tenants of the middle deep." + + * * * * * + + "Her reign is past, her gentle glories gone, + But trust not this; too easy youth, beware! + A mortal sovereign holds her dangerous throne. + And thou mayst find a new Calypso there." + + +Night had set in before Sir Henry reached the shore. The boatmen, in +broken, but intelligible English, took the trouble of explaining, that +they must row him to a point higher up the harbour, than the landing +place towards which the commander's gig was directing its course, on +account of his brother's regiment being quartered at Floriana. Landing +on the quay, they took charge of Delmé's portmanteau, and conducted him +through an ascending road, which seemed to form a part of the +fortifications, till they arrived in front of a closed gate. They were +challenged by the sentinel, and obliged to explain their business to a +non-commissioned officer, before they were admitted. + +This form having been gone through, a narrow wicket was opened for their +passage. They crossed a species of common, and, after a few minutes' +walk, found themselves in front of the barrack. This was a plain stone +building, enclosing a small court, in the centre of which stood a marble +bason. The taste of some of the officers had peopled this with golden +fish; whilst on the bason's brim were placed stands for exotics, whose +fragrance charmed our sea-worn traveller, so lately emancipated from +those sad drawbacks to a voyage, the odours of tar and bilge water. + +On either side, were staircases leading to the rooms above. A sentry was +slowly pacing the court, and gave Delmé the necessary directions for +finding George's room. Delmé's hand was on the latch, but he paused for +a moment ere he pressed it, for he pictured to himself his brother lying +on the bed of sickness. This temporary irresolution soon gave way to the +impulse of affection, and he hastily entered the chamber. George was +reading, and had his back turned towards him. As he heard the footsteps, +he half turned round; an enquiry was on his lip, when his eye caught +Henry's figure--a hectic flush suffused his cheek--he rose eagerly, and +threw himself into his brother's arms. + +Ah! sweet is fraternal affection! As boys, we own its just, its +proper influence; but as men--how few of us can lay our hands on our +hearts, and in the time of manhood feel, that the thought of a +brother, still calls up the kindly glow which it did in earlier +years. Delmé strained his brother to his heart, whilst poor George's +tears flowed like a woman's. + +"Ah, how," he exclaimed, "can I ever repay you for this?" + +The first burst of joyful meeting over--Sir Henry scanned his brother's +features, and was shocked at the apparent havoc a few short years had +wrought. It was not that the cheek--whose carnation tint had once drawn +a comment from all who saw it--it was not that the cheek was bronzed by +an eastern sun. The alabaster forehead, showed that this was the natural +result, of exposure to climate. But the wan, the sunken features--the +unnatural brilliancy of the eye--the almost impetuous agitation of +manner--all these bespoke that more than even sickness had produced the +change:--that the mind, as well as body, must have had its sufferings. + +"My dear, dear brother," said Henry, "tell me, I implore you, the +meaning of this. You look ill and distressed, and yet from you I did not +hear of sickness, nor do I know any reason for grief." George smiled +evasively; then, as if recollecting himself, struck his forehead. He +pressed his brother's arm, and led him towards a room adjoining the one +in which they were. + +"It were in vain to tell you now, Henry, the eventful history of the +last few months; but see!" said he, as they together entered, "the +innocent cause of much that I have gone through." + +Sir Henry Delmé started at the sight that greeted him. The room was +dimly lighted by a lamp, but the moon was up, and shed her full light +through part of the chamber. On a small French bed, whose silken linings +threw their rosy hue on the face of its fair occupant, lay as lovely a +girl as ever eye reposed on. + +The heat had already commenced to become oppressive; the jalousies and +windows were thrown open. As the night breeze swept over the curtains, +and the tint these gave, trembled on that youthful beauty; Delmé might +well be forgiven, for deeming it was very long since he had seen a +countenance so exquisitely lovely. The face did indeed bear the stamp of +youth. Delmé would have guessed that the being before him, had barely +attained her fifteenth year, but that her bosom heaved like playful +billows, as she breathed her sighs in a profound slumber. Her style of +beauty for a girl was most rare. It had an almost infantine simplicity +of character, which in sleep was still more remarkable; for awake, those +eyes, now so still, did not throw unmeaning glances. + +Such as these must Guarini have apostrophised, as he looked at his +slumbering love. + + "Occhi! stelle mortale! + Ministri de miei mali! + Se chiusi m'uccidete, + Aperti,--che farete?" + +Or, as Clarendon Gage translated it. + + "Ye mortal stars! ye eyes that, e'en in sleep, + Can thus my senses chain'd in wonder keep, + Say, if when closed, your beauties thus I feel, + Oh, what when open, would ye not reveal?" + +Her beauty owed not its peculiar charm to any regularity of feature; but +to an ineffable sweetness of expression, and to youth's freshest bloom. +Hafiz would have compared that smooth cheek to the tulip's flower. Her +eye-lashes, of the deepest jet, and silken gloss, were of uncommon +length. Her lips were apart, and disclosed small but exquisitely formed +teeth. Their hue was not that of ivory, but the more delicate though +more transient one of the pearl. One arm supported her head--its hand +tangled in the raven tresses--of the other, the snowy rounded elbow was +alone visible. + +She met the eye, like a vision conjured up by fervid youth; when, ere +our waking thoughts dare to run riot in beauty's contemplation--sleep, +the tempter, gives to our disordered imaginations, forms and scenes, +which in after life we pant for, but meet them--never! + +George put his finger to his lips, as Delmé regarded her--kissed her +silken cheek, and whispered, + +"Acmé, carissima mia!" + +The slumberer started--the envious eye-lid shrouded no more its lustrous +jewel--the wondering eyes dilated, as they met her lover's--and she +murmured something with that sweet Venetian lisp, in which the Greek +women breathe their Italian. But, as she saw the stranger, her face and +neck became suffused with crimson, and her small hand wrapped the snowy +sheet round her beauteous form. + +Sir Henry, who felt equally embarrassed, returned to the room they +had left; whilst George lingered by the bedside of his mistress, and +told her it was his brother. Once more together, Sir Henry turned +towards George. + +"For God's sake," said he, "unravel this mystery! Who is this young +creature?" + +"Not now!" said his brother, "let us reserve it for to-morrow, and talk +only of home. Acmé has retired earlier than usual--she has been +complaining." And he commenced with a flushed brow and rapid voice, to +ask after those he loved. + +"And so, dearest Emily will soon be married. I am glad of it; you speak +so well of Gage! I wish I had stayed three weeks longer in England, and +I should have seen him. We shall miss her in the flower garden, Henry! +Yes! and every where else! And how is my kind aunt? I forgot to thank +her when I last wrote to Delmé, for making Fidèle a parlour inmate!--and +I don't think she likes dogs generally either!--And Mrs. Wilcox! as +demure as ever?--Do you recollect the trick I played her the last April +I was at home?--And my favourite pony! does _he_ still adorn the +paddock, or is he gone at last? Emily wrote me he could hardly support +himself out of the shed. And the old oak--have you railed it round as I +advised? And the deer--Is my aunt still as tenacious of killing them? I +suppose Emily's pet fawn is a fine antlered gentleman by this time. And +your charger, Henry--how is he? And Mr. Sims? and the new green house? +Does the aviary succeed? did you get my slips of the blood orange? have +the Zante melon seeds answered? And the daisy of Delmé, Fanny Porter--is +she married? I stole a kiss the day I left. And so the coachman is dead? +and you have given the reins to Jenkins, and have taken my little fellow +on your own establishment? And Ponto? and Ranger? and my friend Guess?" + +Here George paused, quite out of breath; and his brother, viewing with +some alarm his nervous agitation, attempted to answer his many queries; +determined in his own mind, not to seek the explanation he so much +longed for, until a more favourable period for demanding it arrived. The +brothers continued conversing on English topics till a late hour, when +Henry rose to retire. + +"I cannot," said George, "give you a bed here to-night; but my servant +shall show you the way to an hotel; and in the course of to-morrow, we +will take care to have a room provided for you. You must feel harassed: +will nine be too early an hour for breakfast?" + +It was a beautiful night, still and starry. Till they arrived in the +busy street, no sound could be heard, but the cautious opening of the +lattice, answering the signal of the guitar. Escorted by his guide, +Delmé entered Valletta, which is bustling always, even at night; but was +more than usually so, as there happened to be a fête at the palace. As +they passed through the Strado Teatro, the soldier pointed out the +Opera-house; although from the lateness of the hour, Rossini's melodies +were hushed. From a neighbouring café, however, festive sounds +proceeded; and Delmé, catching the words of an unfamiliar language, +paused before the door to recognise the singer. The table at which he +sat, was so densely enveloped in smoke, that it was some time before he +could make out the forms of the party, which consisted of some jovial +British midshipmen, and some Tartar-looking Russians. One of the Russian +officers was charming his audience with a chanson à boire, acquired on +the banks of the Vistula, His compatriots were yelling the chorus most +unmercifully. A few calèche drivers, waiting for their fares, and two or +three idle Maltese, were pacing outside the cafe, and appeared to regard +the scene as one of frequent occurrence, and calculated to excite but +little interest. His guide showed Delmé the hotel, and was dismissed; +and Sir Henry, preceded by an obsequious waiter, was introduced to a +spacious apartment facing the street. + +It was long ere sleep visited him. He had many subjects on which to +ruminate; there were many points which the morrow would clear up. His +mind was too busy to permit him to rest. + +When he did, however, close his eyes; he slept soundly, and did not +awake till the broad glare of day, penetrating through the Venetian +blinds, disclosed to him the unfamiliar apartment at Beverley's. + + + + +Chapter VIII. + +The Invalid. + + + + "'Mid many things most new to ear and eye, + The pilgrim rested here his weary feet." + + +As Sir Henry Delmé stepped from the hotel into the street, the sun's +rays commenced to be oppressive, and, although it was only entering the +month of May, served to remind him that he was in a warmer clime. The +scene was already a bustling one. The shopkeepers were throwing water +on the hot flag stones, and erecting canvas awnings in front of their +doors. In the various cafés might be seen the subservient waiters, +handing round the small gilded cup, which contained thick Turkish +coffee, or carrying to some old smoker the little pipkin, whence he was +to light his genial cigar. In front of one of these cafés, some +English officers were collected, sipping ices, and criticising the +relieving of the guard. Turning a corner of the principal street, a +group of half black and three-parts naked children assaulted our +traveller, and vociferously invoked carità. They accompanied this +demand by the corrupted cry of "nix munjay"--nothing to eat,--which +they enforced by most expressive gestures, extending their mouths, and +exhibiting rows of ravenous-looking teeth. The calèche drivers, too, +were on the alert, and respectfully taking off their turbans, proffered +their services to convey the Signore to Floriana. Delmé declined their +offers, and, passing a draw-bridge which divides Valletta from the +country, made his way through an embrasure, and descending some half +worn stone steps--during which operation he was again surrounded by +beggars--he found himself within sight of the barracks. Acmé and George +were ready to receive him. The latter's eye lit, as it was wont to do, +on seeing his brother, whilst the young Greek appeared in doubt, +whether to rejoice at what gave him pleasure, or to stand in awe of a +relation, whose influence over George might shake her own. This did +not, however, prevent her offering Delmé her hand, with an air of great +frankness and grace. Nor was he less struck with her peculiar beauty +than he had been on the night previous. Her dress was well adapted to +exhibit her charms to the greatest advantage. Her hair was parted in +front, and smoothly combed over her neck and shoulders, descending to +her waist. Over her bosom, and fastened by a chased silver clasp, was +one of the saffron handkerchiefs worn by the Parganot women. A jacket +of purple velvet, embroidered with gold, fitted closely to her figure. +Round her waist was a crimson girdle, fastened by another enormous +broach, or rather embossed plate of silver. A Maltese gold rose chain +of exquisite workmanship was flung round her neck, to which depended a +locket, one side of which held, encased in glass, George's hair braided +with her own; the other had a cameo, representing the death of the +patriot Marco Bozzaris. + +"Giorgio tells me," said she, "that you speak Italian, at which I am +very glad; for his efforts to teach me English have quite failed. Do you +know you quite alarmed me last night, and I really think it was too bad +of George introducing you when he did;" and she placed her hand on her +lover's shoulder, and looked in his face confidingly. In spite of the +substance of her speech, and the circumstances under which Delmé saw +her, he could not avoid feeling an involuntary prepossession in her +favour. Her manner had little of the polish of art, but much of nature's +witching simplicity; and Sir Henry felt surprised at the ease and +animation of the whole party. Acmé presided at the breakfast table, with +a grace which many a modern lady of fashion might envy; and during the +meal, her conversation, far from being dull or listless, showed that she +had much talent, and that to a quick perception of nature's charms, she +united great enthusiasm in their pursuit. The meal was over, when the +surgeon of the regiment was announced, and introduced by George to Sir +Henry. After making a few inquiries as to the invalid's state of health, +he proposed to Delmé, taking a turn in the botanical garden, which was +immediately in front of their windows. + +Sir Henry eagerly grasped at the proposition; anxious, as he felt +himself, to ascertain the real circumstances connected with his +brother's indisposition. They strolled through the garden, which was +almost deserted--for none but dogs and Englishmen, to use the expression +of the natives, court the Maltese noon-day sun,--and the surgeon at once +entered into George's history. He was a man of most refined manners, and +a cultivated intellect, and his professional familiarity with horrors, +had not diminished his natural delicacy of feeling. His narrative was +briefly thus:-- + +George Delmé's bosom companion had been an officer of his own age and +standing in the service, with whom he had embarked when leaving England. +Their intercourse had ripened into the closest friendship. George had +met Acmé, although the surgeon knew not the particulars of the +rencontre,--had confided to his friend the acquaintance he had made--and +had himself introduced Delancey at the house where Acmé resided. Whether +her charms really tempted the friend to endeavour to supplant George, +or whether he considered the latter's attentions to the young Greek to +be without definite object, and undertaken in a spirit of indifference, +the narrator could not explain; but it was not long before Delancey +considered himself as a principal in the transaction. Acmé, whose +knowledge of the world was slight, and whose previous seclusion from +society, had rendered her timidity excessive, considered that her best +mode of avoiding importunities she disliked, and attentions that were +painful to her, would be to speak to George himself on the subject. + +By this time, the latter, quite fascinated by her beauty and +simplicity, and deeming, as was indeed the fact, that his love was +returned, needed not other inquietudes than those his attachment gave +him. The pride of ancestry and station on the one hand--on the other, +a deep affection, and a wish to act nobly by Acmé--caused an internal +struggle which made him open to any excitement, nervously alive to any +wrong. He sought his friend, and used reproaches, which rendered it +imperative that they should meet as foes. Delancey was wounded; and +as _he_ thought--and it was long doubtful whether it _were_ +so--_mortally_. He beckoned George Delmé to his bedside--begged him to +forgive him--told him that his friendship had been the greatest source +of delight to him--a friendship which in his dying moments he begged +to renew--that far from feeling pain at his approaching dissolution, +he conceived that he had merited all, and only waited his full and +entire forgiveness to die happy. George Delmé wrung his hands in the +bitterness of despair--prayed him to live for his sake--told him, that +did he not, his own life hereafter would be one of the deepest +misery,--that the horrors of remorse would weigh him down to his +grave. The surgeon was the first to terminate a scene, which he +assured Delmé was one of the most painful it had ever been his lot to +witness. This meeting, though of so agitating a nature, seemed to have +a beneficial effect on the wounded man. He sunk into a sweet sleep; +and on awaking, his pulse was lower, and his symptoms less critical. +He improved gradually, and was now convalescent. But it was otherwise +with George Delmé. He sought the solitude of his chamber, a prey to +the agonies of a self-reproaching spirit. He considered himself +instrumental in taking the life of his best friend--of one, richly +endowed with the loftiest feelings humanity can boast. His nerves +previously had been unstrung; body and mind sank under the picture his +imagination had conjured up. His servant was alarmed by startling +screams, entered his room, and found his master in fearful +convulsions. A fever ensued, during which George's life hung by a +thread. To this succeeded a long state of unconsciousness, +occasionally broken by wild delirium. + +During his illness, there was one who never left him--who smoothed his +pillow--who supported his head on her breast--who watched him as a +mother watches her first-born. It was the youthful Greek, Acmé Frascati. +The instant she heard of his danger, she left her home to tend him. No +entreaties could influence her, no arguments persuade. She would sit by +his bedside for hours, his feverish hand locked in hers, and implore him +to recover, to bless one who loved him so dearly. They could not part +them; for George, even in his delirious state, seemed to be conscious +that some one was near him, and, did she leave his side, would rise in +his bed, and look around him as if missing some accustomed object. In +his wilder flights, he would call passionately upon her, and beg her to +save his friend, who was lying so dead and still. + +For a length of time, neither care nor professional skill availed. +Fearful was the struggle, between his disease, and a naturally hardy +constitution. Reason at last resumed her dominion. "I know not," said +the surgeon, "the particulars of the first dawning of consciousness. It +appears that Acmé was alone with him, and that it was at night. I found +him on my professional visit one morning, clear and collected, and his +mistress sobbing her thanks. I need perhaps hardly inform you," said the +narrator, "that George's gratitude to Acmé was vividly expressed. It was +in vain I urged on her the propriety of now leaving her lover. This was +met on both sides by an equal disinclination, and indeed obstinate +refusal; and I feared the responsibility I should incur, by enforcing a +separation which might have proved of dangerous consequence to my +patient. Alas! for human nature, Sir Henry! need it surprise you that +the consequences were what they are? Loving him with the fervency of one +born under an eastern sun--with the warm devotion of woman's first +love--with slender ideas of Christian morality--and with a mind +accustomed to obey its every impulse--need it, I say, surprise you, that +the one fell, and that remorse visited the other? To that remorse, do I +attribute what my previous communication may not have sufficiently +prepared you for; namely, the little dependence to be placed on the tone +of the invalid's mind. Reason is but as a glimmering in a socket; and +painful as my professional opinion may be to you, it is my duty to avow +it; and I frankly confess, that I entertain serious apprehensions, as to +the stability of his mind's restoration. It is on this account, that I +have felt so anxious that one of his relations should be near him. +Change of scene is absolutely necessary, as soon as change of scene can +be safely adopted. Every distracting thought must be avoided, and the +utmost care taken that no agitating topic is discussed in his presence. +These precautions may do much; but should they have no effect, which I +think possible; as a medical man, I should then recommend, what as a +member of his family may startle you. My advice would be, that if it be +ultimately found, that his feelings as regard this young girl, are such +as are likely to prevent or impede his mind's recovery; why I would then +at once allow him to make her any reparation he may think just. + +"To what do you allude?" enquired Sir Henry. + +"Why," continued the surgeon, "that if his feelings appear deeply +enlisted on that side of the question, and all our other modes have +failed in obtaining their object; that he should be permitted to marry +her as soon as he pleases. I see you look grave. I am not surprised you +should do so; but life is worth preserving, and Acmé, if not entirely to +our notions, is a good, a very good girl--warm-hearted and affectionate; +and it is not fair to judge her by our English standard. You will +however have time and scope, to watch yourself the progress and extent +of his disorder. I fear this is more serious than you are at present +aware of; but from your own observations, would I recommend and wish +your future line of conduct to be formed. May I trust my frankness has +not offended you?" + +Sir Henry assured him, that far from this being the case, he owed +him many thanks for being thus explicit. Shaking him by the hand, +he returned to George's room with a clouded brow; perplexed how to +act, or how best discuss with his brother, the points connected +with his history. + + + + +Chapter IX. + +The Narrative. + + + + "The seal Love's dimpling finger hath impress'd, + Denotes how soft that chin which bears his touch, + Her lips whose kisses pout to leave their nest, + Bid man be valiant ere he merit such; + Her glance how wildly beautiful--how much + Hath Phoebus woo'd in vain to spoil her cheek, + Which grows yet smoother from his amorous clutch, + Who round the north for paler dames would seek? + How poor their forms appear! how languid, wan, and weak." + + +Love! Heavenly love! by Plato's mind conceived, and Sicyon's artist +chiselled! not thou! night's offspring, springing on golden wing from +the dark bosom of Erebus! the first created, and the first creating: but +thou! immaculate deity; effluence of unspotted thought, and child of a +chaster age! where, oh where is now thy resting place? + +Pensile in mid-heaven, gazest thou yet with seraphic sorrow on this, +the guilty abode of guilty man?--with pity's tear still mournest thou, +as yoked to the car of young desire, we bow the neck in degrading and +slavish bondage? Or dost thou, the habitant of some bright star, where +frailty such as ours is yet unknown, lend to lovers a rapture unalloyed +by passion's grosser sense; as, symphonious with the tremulous zephyr, +chastened vows of constancy are there exchanged? Ah! vainly does one +solitary enthusiast, in his balmy youth, for a moment conceive he really +grasps thee! 'tis but a fleeting phantasy, doomed to fade at the first +sneer of derision--and for ever vanish, as a false and fascinating world +stamps its dogmas on his heart! Celestial love! oh where may he yet find +thee? and a clear voice whispers, ETERNITY! + +Hope! guide the fainting pilgrim! undying soul! shield him from the +world's venomed darts, as he painfully wends his toilsome way! + +When Delmé returned to his brother, he found the latter anxiously +expecting him, and desirous of ascertaining the impression, which his +conversation with the surgeon had created. + +But Delmé thought it more prudent, to defer the discussion of those +points, till he had heard from George himself, as to many circumstances +connected with Acmé's history, and had been able to form some personal +opinion regarding the health of the invalid. He therefore begged +George, if he felt equal to the task, to avail himself of the +opportunity of Acmé's absence, to tell him how he had first met her. To +this George willingly assented; and as there is ever a peculiarity in +foreign scenes and habits, which awakens interest, we give his story in +his own language. + +"There are some old families here, Henry," began the invalid, "whose +names are connected with some of the proudest, which the annals of the +Knights of St. John of Jerusalem can boast. They are for the most part +sunk in poverty, and possess but little of the outward trappings of +rank. But their pride is not therefore the less; and rather than have it +wounded, by being put in collision with those with whom in worldly +wealth they are unable to compete, they prefer the privacy of +retirement; and are rarely seen, and more rarely known, by any of the +English residents, whom they distrust and dislike. It is true, there are +a few families, some of the male members of which have accepted +subordinate situations under government: and these have become +habituated to English society, and meet on terms of tolerable +cordiality, the English whose acquaintance they have thus made. But +there are others, as I have said, whose existence is hardly recognised, +and who vegetate in some lone palazzo; brooding over the decay of their +fortunes--never crossing the threshold of their mansions--except when +religious feelings command them to attend a mass, or public procession. +Of such a family was Acmé a member. By birth a Greek, she was a witness +to many of the bloody scenes which took place at the commencement of the +struggle for Grecian freedom. She was herself present at the murder of +both her parents. Her beauty alone saved her from sharing their fate. +One of the Turks, struck with, her expression of childish sorrow, +interfered in her behalf, and permitted a friend and neighbour to save +her life and his own, by taking shipping for one of the islands in our +possession. After residing in Corfu for some months, she received an +invitation from her father's brother-in-law, a member of an ancient +Maltese family; and for the last few years has spent a life, if not gay, +at least free from a repetition of those sanguinary scenes, which have +lent their impress to a sensitive mind, and at moments impart a +melancholy tinge, to a disposition by nature unusually joyous. It was on +a festa day, dedicated to the patron saint of the island, when no +Maltese not absolutely bed-ridden, but would deem it a duty, to witness +the solemn and lengthy procession which such a day calls forth; that I +first met Acmé Frascati. + +"I was alone in the Strada Reale, and strolling towards the Piazza, when +my attention was directed to what struck me as the loveliest face I had +ever seen. + +"Acmé, for it was her, was drest in the costume of the island; and, +although a faldette is not the best dress for exhibiting a figure, +there was a grace and lightness in her carriage, that would have +arrested my attention, even had I not been riveted by her countenance. +She was on the opposite side of the street to myself, and was attended +by an old Moorish woman, who carried an illumined missal. Of these +women, several may yet be seen in Malta, looking very Oriental and +duenna-like. As I stopped to admire her, she suddenly attempted to +cross to the side of the street where I stood. At the same moment, I +observed a horse attached to a calèche galloping furiously towards her. +It was almost upon her ere Acmé saw her danger. The driver, anxious to +pass before the procession formed, had whipped his horse till it became +unmanageable, and it was now in vain that he tried to arrest its +progress. A natural impulse induced me to rush forward, and endeavour +to save her. She was pale and trembling, as I caught her and placed her +out of the reach of danger; but before I could touch the pavement, I +felt myself struck by the wheel of the carriage, was thrown down, and +taken up insensible. When consciousness returned, I found they had +conveyed me to a neighbouring shop, and that medical attendance had +been procured. But more than all, I noticed the solicitude of Acmé. +Until the surgeon had given a favourable report, she could not address +me, but when this had been pronounced, she overwhelmed me with thanks, +begged to know where I would wish to be taken, and rested not until her +own family calèche came up, and she saw me, attended by the Moorish +woman, on the road to Floriana. + +"My accident, though not a very serious one, proved of sufficient +consequence, to confine me to my room for some time; and during that +period, not a day passed, that did not give me proof of the anxiety of +the young Greek for my restoration. I need not say that one of my +first visits was to her. Her family received me as they would an +absent brother. The obligations they considered I had conferred, +outweighed all prejudices which they might have imbibed against my +nation. On _my_ part, charmed with my adventure, delighted with Acmé, +and gratified by the kindness of her relations, I endeavoured to +increase their favourable opinion by all the means in my power. Acmé +and myself were soon more than friends, and I found my visits gave and +imparted pleasure. + +"I now arrive at the unhappy part of my narrative. How do I wish it were +effaced from my memory. You may remember how, in all my letters to +Delmé, I made mention of my dear friend Delancey. We were indeed dear +friends. We joined at the same time, lived together in England, +embarked together, and when, one dreadful night off the African coast, +the captain of the transport thought we must inevitably drift on the +lee shore, we solaced each other, and agreed that, if it came to the +worst, on one plank would we embark our fortunes. On our landing in +Malta, we were inseparable, and my first impulse was to inform Delancey +of all that had occurred, and to introduce him to a house where I felt +so happy. I must here do him the justice to state, that whether I was +partly unaware of the extent of my own feelings towards Acmé, or +whether I felt a morbid sense of delicacy, in alluding to what I knew +to be the first attachment I had ever formed, I am unable to inform +you! but the only circumstance I concealed from my friend was my +attachment to the young Greek. Perhaps to this may be mainly attributed +what happened. God, who knows all secrets, knows this; but I may now +aver, that my friend, with many faults, has proved himself to have as +frank and ingenuous a spirit, as noble ideas of friendship, as can +exist in the human breast. For some time, matters continued thus. We +were both constant visitors at Acmé's house. With unparalleled +blindness, I never mistrusted the feelings of my friend. I never +contemplated that _he_ also might become entangled with the young +beauty. I considered her as my own prize, and was more engaged in +analysing my own sensations, and in vainly struggling against a +passion, which I was certain could not meet my family's approval, than +at all suspicious that fresh causes of uneasiness might arise in +another quarter. As Acmé's heart opened to mine, I found her with +feelings guileless and unsuspecting as a child's; although these were +warm, and their expression but little restrained. There was a confiding +simplicity in her manner, that threw an air over all she said or did, +which quite forbade censure, and excited admiration. My passion became +a violent and an all-absorbing one. I had made up my mind, to throw +myself on the kindness of my family, and endeavour to obtain all your +consents. Thus was I situated, when one day Acmé came up to me with +frankness of manner, but a tremulous voice, to beg I would use my +interest with my friend, to prevent his coming to see her. + +"'Indeed, indeed,' said she, 'I have tried to love him as a friend, as +the friend of my life's preserver, but ever since he has spoken as he +now does, his visits are quite unpleasant. My family begged me to tell +you. They would have asked him to come no more, but were afraid you +might be angry. Will you still come to us, and love us all, if they tell +him this? If you will not, he shall still come; for indeed we could not +offend one to whom we owe so much.' + +"'_I_, too,' said I to Acmé, '_I_, too, dearest, ought perhaps to leave +you, _I_, too'-- + +"'Oh, never! never!' said she, as she turned to me her dark eyes, bright +with humid radiance. 'We cannot thus part!' + +"She _did_, then, love me! I clasped her to my arms--our lips clung +together in one rapturous intoxicating embrace. + +"Yet, even in that moment of delirium, Henry, I told her of you, and of +the many obstacles which still presented themselves to retard or even +prevent our union. I sought my friend Delancey, and remonstrated with +him. He appeared to doubt my right to question his motives. Success made +me feel still more injured. I showered down reproaches. He could not +have acted differently. We met! and I saw him fall! Till then, I had +considered myself as the injured man; but as I heard him on the ground +name his mother, and one dearer still--as he took from his breast the +last gift _she_ had made him--as he begged of _me_ to be its bearer; I +then first felt remorse. He was taken to his room. Even the surgeon +entertained no hopes. He again called me to his side; I heard his noble +acknowledgment, his reiterated vows of friendship, the mournful tones of +his farewell. I entered this room a heart-broken man. I felt my pulse +throb fearfully, a gasping sensation was in my throat, my head swam +round, and I clung to the wall for support. The next thing of which I +have any recollection, was the dawn of reason breaking through my +troubled dreams. It was midnight--all was still. The fitful lamp shone +dimly through my chamber. I turned on my side--and, oh! by its light, I +saw the face I most loved--that face, whose gentle lineaments, were each +deeply and separately engraven on my heart. I saw her bending over me +with a maiden's love and a mother's solicitude. As I essayed to +speak--as my conscious eye met her's--as the soft words of affection +were involuntarily breathed by my feeble lips--how her features lit up +with joy! Oh, say not, Henry, till you have experienced such a moment of +transport, say not that the lips which then vowed eternal fidelity, that +the young hearts which _then_ plighted their truth, and vowed to love +for ever--oh call not these guilty! + +"Since that time my health has been extremely precarious. Whether the +events crowded too thickly on me, or that I have not fully recovered my +health, or--which I confess I think is the case--that my compunctions +for my conduct to Acmé weigh me down, I know not; but it is not always, +my dear Henry, that I can thus address you. There are hours when I am +hardly sensible of what I do, when my brain reels from its oppression. +At such times, Acmé is my guardian angel--my tender nurse--my +affectionate attendant! In my lucid intervals, she is what you see +her--the gentle companion--the confiding friend. I love her, Henry, more +than I can tell you! I shall never be able to leave her! From Acmé you +may learn more of those dreary hours, which appear to me like waste +dreams in my existence. She has watched by my bed of sickness, till she +knows every turn of the disorder. From her, Henry, may you learn all." + +Thus did George conclude his tale of passion; which Delmé mused over, +but refrained from commenting on. + +Soon afterwards, George's calèche, in which he daily took exercise, was +announced as being at the door. The brothers entered, and left Floriana. + + + + +Chapter X. + +The Calèche. + + + + "The car rattling through the stony street." + + +For an easy conveyance, commend us to a Maltese calèche! Many a time, +assaulted by the blue devils, have we taken refuge in its solacing +interior--have pulled down its silken blinds, and unseeing and unseen, +the motion, like that of the rocking-cradle to the petulant child of +less mature growth, has restored complacency, and lulled us to good +humour. The calèche, the real calèche, is, we believe, peculiar to +Malta. It is the carriage of the rich and poor--Lady Woodford may be +seen employing it, to visit her gardens at St. Antonio; and in the +service of the humblest of her subjects, will it be enlisted, as they +wend their way to a picnic in the campagna. Every variety of steed is +put in requisition for its draught. + +We may see the barb, with nostril of fire, and mane playing with the +wind, perform a curvet, as he draws our aristocratic countrywoman-- +aristocratic and haughty at least in Malta, although, in England, +perhaps a star of much less magnitude. + +We may view too the over-burthened donkey, as he drags along some aged +vehicle, in which four fat smiling women, and one lean weeping child, +look forward to his emaciated carcase, and yet blame him for being slow. + +And thou! patient and suffering animal, whose name has passed into a +proverb, until each vulgar wight looks on thee as the emblem of +obstinacy,--maligned mule! when dost thou appear to more advantage, more +joyous, or more self-satisfied, than when yoked to the Maltese calèche? +Who that has witnessed thee, taking the scanty meal from the hand of +thine accustomed driver, with whinnying voice, waving tail, thy long +ears pricked upwards, and thy head rubbing his breast, who that has +seen thee thus, will deny thee the spirit of gratitude? + +Most injured of quadrupeds! if we ascend the rugged mountain's path, +where on either side, precipices frown, and the pines wave far--far +beneath--when one false step would plunge us, with our hopes, our fears, +and our vices, into the abyss of eternity; is it not to thee we trust? + +Calumniated mule! go on thy way. + +This world's standard is but little to be relied on, whether it be for +good, or whether it be for evil. + +The motion of a calèche, such as we patronised, is an easy and luxurious +one--the pace, a fast trot or smooth canter, of seven miles an hour--and +with the blinds down, we have communed with ourselves, with as great +freedom, and as little fear of interruption, as if we had been crossing +the Zahara. The calèche men too are a peculiar and happy race--attentive +to their fares--masters of their profession--and with a cigar in their +cheek dexter, will troll you Maltese ditties till your head aches. Their +costume is striking. Their long red caps are thrown back over their +necks--their black curls hang down on each side of the face--and a +crimson, many-folded sash, girds in a waist usually extremely small. +Their neck, face, and breast, from continued exposure to the sun, are a +red copper colour. They are always without shoes and stockings; and even +our countrywomen, who pay much attention to the costume of their +drivers, have not yet ventured to encase their brawny feet in the +mysteries of leather. They run by the side of their calèches, the reins +in one hand--the whip in the other--cheering on their animals by a +constant succession of epithets, oaths, and invocations to their +favourite saint. + +They are rarely fatigued, and may be seen beside their vehicles, urging +the horses, with the thermometer at 110°, and perhaps a stout-looking +Englishman inside, with white kerchief to his face, the image of languor +and lassitude. + +Their horses gallop down steeps, which no English Jehu dare attempt; and +ascend and descend with safety and hardihood, stone steps which occur in +many parts of Valletta; and which would certainly present an +insurmountable obstacle to our steeds at home. + +The proper period, however, to see a calèche man in his glory, is during +the carnival. Every calèche is in employ; and many a one which has +reposed for the twelvemonth previous, is at that time wheeled from its +accustomed shed, and put in requisition for some of pleasure's votaries. +Long lines of them continue to pass and repass in the principal street. +Their inmates are almost universally of the fair sex, and of the best +part of it, the young and beautiful. Cavaliers, with silken bags, +containing bon-bons, slung on their left arm, stand at intervals, ready +to discharge the harmless missiles, at those whom their taste approves +worthy of the compliment. Happy the young beauty, who, returning +homewards, sees the carpet of her calèche thickly strewn with these +dulcet favours! The driver is now in his element! He ducks his head, as +the misdirected sweetmeat approaches; he has an apt remark prompt for +the occasion. As he nears too the favoured inamorato, for whom he well +knows his mistress' sweetest smile is reserved--who already with his +right hand grasping the sugared favours, is prepared to lavish his whole +store on this one venture--how arch his look--how roguish his eye--as he +turns towards his donna, and speaks as plainly as words could do, "See! +there he is, he whom you love best!" + +Ah! well may we delight to recal once more those minute details! ah! +well may we remember how--when our brow was smoothed with youth, as it +is now furrowed with care--when our eye sparkled from pleasure, as it is +now dimmed from time, or mayhap, tears--well may we love to remember, +how our whole hearts were engrossed in that mimic warfare. How +impatiently did we watch for _one_, amidst that crowded throng, for +one--whose beauty haunted us by day, and whose smile we dreamt over by +night. Well do we recal with what unexampled ingenuity, we laboured to +befit the snow white egg for a rare tenant--attar-gul. Well do we +remember how that face, usually so cloudless, became darkened almost to +a frown, as our heart's mistress saw the missile approach her. What a +radiant smile bewitched us, as it burst on her lap, and filled the air +with its fragrance! Truly we had our reward! + +Delmé and George took a quiet drive, and enjoyed that sweet interchange +of ideas, that characterises the meeting of two brothers long absent +from each other. + +They went in the direction of St. Julian's, a drive all our Maltese +friends will be familiar with. The road lay almost wholly by the sea +side. A gentle breeze was crisping the waters, and served to allay the +heat, which, at a more advanced period of the season, is by no means an +enviable one. Sun-shine seemed to beam on George's mind, as he once more +spoke of home ties, to one to whom those home ties were equally dear. +And gratefully did he bask in its rays! Long used to the verdant but +tame, beautiful but romantic landscapes, which the part of England he +resided in presented; the scenery around him, novel and picturesque, +struck Sir Henry forcibly. To one who has resided long in Malta, its +scenes may wear an aspect somewhat different. The limited country--the +ceaseless glare--the dust, or rather the pulverised rock--the +ever-present lizard, wary and quick, peeping out at each crevice--the +buzzing mosquito, inviting the moody philosopher to smite his own +cheek,--these things may come to be regarded as real grievances. + +But Delmé, as a visitor, was pleased with what he saw. The promising +vineyards--the orange groves, with their glowing fruit and ample +foliage, "looking like golden lamps" in a dark night of leaves--the +thick leaves of the prickly pear--the purple sky above him, lending its +rich hue to the sea beside--the architectural beauties of the +cottages--the wide portico of the mansions--the flat terrace with its +balustrade, over which might be seen a fair face, half concealed by the +faldette, smilingly peering, and through whose pillars might be noted a +pretty ancle, and siesta-looking slipper--these were novelties, and +pleasing ones! Their drive over, Delmé felt more tranquil as to George's +state of mind, and more inclined to look on the bright side, as to his +future fortunes. + +Acmé was waiting to receive them, and as she scanned George's features, +Delmé could not but observe the affectionate solicitude that marked her +glance and manner. + +Let it not be thought we would make vice seductive! + +Fair above all things is the pure affection of woman! happy he who may +regard it his! he may bask without a shade of distrust in its glorious +splendour, and permanently adore its holy beauty. + +While, fascinating though be the concentred love of woman, whether +struggling in its passion--enraptured in its madness--or clinging and +loving on in its guilt: Man--that more selfish wanderer from virtue's +pale, that destroyer of his own best sympathies--will find too late that +a day of bitterest regret must arrive: a day when love shall exist no +more, or, linked with remorse, shall tear--a fierce vulture--at his very +heart strings. + + + + +Chapter XI. + +The Colonel. + + + + "Not such as prate of war, but skulk in peace." + + +Delmé strolled out half an hour before his brother's dinner hour, with +the intention of paying a visit of ceremony to the Colonel of George's +regiment. His house was not far distant. It had been the palazzo of one +of the redoubted Knights of St. John; and the massive gate at which Sir +Henry knocked for admittance, seemed an earnest, that the family, who +had owned the mansion, had been a powerful and important one. The door +was opened, and the servant informed Delmé, that Colonel Vavasour was on +the terrace. + +The court yard through which they passed was extensive; and a spring + + "Of living water from its centre rose, + Whose bubbling did a genial softness fling." + +Ascending a lofty marble staircase, along which were placed a few +bronzed urns, Delmé crossed a suite of apartments--thrown open in the +Italian mode--and passing through a glass door, found himself on a wide +stone terrace, edged by pillars. + +Immediately beneath this, was an orange grove, whose odours perfumed the +air. Colonel Vavasour was employed in reading a German treatise on light +infantry tactics. He received Sir Henry with great cordiality, and +proposed adjourning to the library. Delmé was pleased to observe, for it +corresponded with what he had heard of the man; that, with the exception +of the chef d'oeuvres of the English and German poets, the Colonel's +library, which was an extensive one, almost wholly consisted of such +books as immediately related to military subjects, or might be able to +bear on some branch of science connected with military warfare. Pagan, +and his follower Vauban, and the more matured treatises of Cormontaigne, +were backed by the works of that boast of the Low Countries, Coehorn; +and by the ingenious theories, as yet _but_ theories, of Napoleon's +minister of war, Carnot. + +Military historians, too, crowded the shelves. _There_ might be noted +the veracious Polybius--the classic Xenophon--the scientific +Cĉsar--the amusing Froissart, with his quaint designs, and quainter +discourses--and many an author unknown to fame, who in lengthy quarto, +luxuriated on the lengthy campaigns of Marlborough or Eugene; those wise +commanders, who flourished in an era, when war was a well debated +scientific game of chess; when the rival opponents took their time, +before making their moves; and the loss of a pawn was followed by the +loss of a kingdom. _There_ might you be enamoured with even a soldier's +hardships, as your eye glanced on the glowing circumstantial details of +Kincaid;--or you might glory in your country's Thucydides, as you read +the nervous impassioned language of a Napier. _Thou_, too, Trant! our +friend! wert there! Ah, why cut off in thy prime? Did not thy spirit +glow with martial fire? Did not thy conduct give promise, that not in +vain were those talents accorded thee? What hadst _thou_ done, to sink +thus early to a premature inglorious grave? Nor were our friends Folard +and Jomini absent; nor eke the minute essays of a Jarry, who taught the +aspiring youths of Great Britain all the arts of castrametation. With +what gusto does he show how to attack Reading; or how, with the greatest +chance of success, to defend the tranquil town of Egham. _Here_ would he +sink trous de loup on the ancient Runnimede, whereby the advance of the +enemy's cavalry would be frustrated; _there_ would he cut down an +abattis, or plant chevaux de frise. At _this_ winding of England's +noblest river, would he establish a pontoon bridge; the approaches to +which he would enfilade, by a battery placed on yonder height. + +Before relating the conversation between Delmé and Colonel Vavasour, it +may not be improper to say a few words as to the character of the +latter. When we say that he was looked up to as an officer, and adored +as a man, by the regiment he had commanded for years; we are not +according light praise. + +Those who have worn a coat of red, or been much conversant with +military affairs, will appreciate the difficult, the ungrateful task, +devolving on a commanding officer. + +How few, how very few are those, who can command respect, and ensure +love. How many, beloved as men, are imposed on, and disregarded as +officers. How many are there, whose presence on the parade ground awes +the most daring hearts, who are passed by in private life, with +something like contumely, and of whom, in their private relations, few +speak, and yet fewer are those who wish kindly. When deserving in each +relation, how frequently do we see those who want the manner, the tact, +to show themselves in their true colours. An ungracious refusal--ay! or +an ungraciously accorded favour! may raise a foe who will be a bar to a +man's popularity for years:--whilst how many a free and independent +spirit is there, who criticises with a keener eye than is his wont, the +sayings and doings of his commanding officer, solely because he _is_ +such. How apt is such an one to misrepresent a word, or create a wrong +motive for an action! how slow in giving praise, lest _he_ should be +deemed one of the servile train! Pass we over the host of petty +intrigues--the myriads of conflicting interests:--show not how the +partial report of a favourite, may make the one in authority unjust to +him below him; or how the false tale-bearer may induce the one below to +be unjust to his superior. Colonel Vavasour was not only considered in +the field, as one of England's bravest soldiers; but was yet more +remarkable for his gentlemanly deportment, and for the attention he ever +paid to the interior economy of his corps. This gave a tone to the---- +mess, almost incredible to one, who has not witnessed, what the constant +presence of a commanding officer, if he be a real gentleman, is enabled +to effect. Colonel Vavasour had ideas on the duties of a soldier, which +to many appeared original. We cannot but think, that the Colonel's +ideas, in the main, were right. He disliked his officers marrying; often +stating that he considered a sword and a wife as totally incompatible. + +"Where," would he say, "is _then_ that boasted readiness of purpose, +that spirit of enterprise? Can an officer _then_, with half a dozen +shirts in his portmanteau, and a moderate quantity of cigars, if he be a +smoker, declare himself ready to sail over half the world?" + +The Colonel would smile as he said this, but would continue with a +graver tone. + +"No, there is a choice, and I blame no one for making his election:--a +soldier's hardships and a soldier's joys;--or domestic happiness, and an +inglorious life:--but to attempt to blend the two, is, I think, +injudicious." + +On regimental subjects, he was what is technically called, a regulation +man. No innovations ever crept into his regiment, wanting the sanction +of the Horse Guards; whilst every order emanating from thence, was as +scrupulously adopted and adhered to, as if his own taste had prompted +the change. On parade, Colonel Vavasour was a strict disciplinarian;-- +but his sword in the scabbard, he dropped the officer in his manner,--it +was impossible to do so in his appearance,--and no one ever heard him +discuss military points in a place inappropriate. He knew well how to +make the distinction between his public and his private duties. On an +officer under his command, being guilty of any dereliction of duty, he +would send for him, and reprimand him before the assembled corps, if he +deemed that such reprimand would be productive of good effect to others; +but--the parade dismissed--he would probably take this very officer's +arm, or ask to accompany him in his country ride. + +Colonel Vavasour had once a young and an only brother under his command. +In no way did he relax discipline in his favour. Young Vavasour had +committed a breach of military etiquette. He was immediately ordered by +his brother to be placed in arrest, and would inevitably have been +brought to a court martial, had not the commanding officer of the +station interfered. During the whole of this time, the Colonel's manner +towards him continued precisely the same. They lived together as usual; +and no man, without a knowledge of the circumstance, could have been +aware that any other but a fraternal tie bound them together. What was +more extraordinary, the younger brother saw all this in its proper +light; and whilst he clung to and loved his brother, looked up with awe +and respect to his commanding officer. + +As for Colonel Vavasour, no one who saw his convulsed features, as his +brother fell heading a gallant charge of his company at Waterloo, could +have doubted for a moment his deep-rooted affection. From that period, a +gloomy melancholy hung about him, which, though shaken off in public, +gave a shade to his brow, which was very perceptible. + +In person, he was particularly neat; being always the best dressed +officer in his regiment, "How can we expect the men to pay attention to +_their_ dress, when we give them reason to suppose we pay but little +attention to our own?" was a constant remark of his. And here we may +observe, that no class of men have a stricter idea of the propriety of +dress, than private soldiers. To dress well is half a passport to a +soldier's respect; whilst on the other hand, it requires many excellent +qualities, to counterbalance in his mind a careless and slovenly +exterior. Colonel Vavasour had an independent fortune, which he spent at +the head of his regiment. Many a dinner party was given by him, for +which the corps he commanded obtained the credit; many a young officer +owed relief from pecuniary embarrassments, which might otherwise have +overwhelmed him, to the generosity of his Colonel. He appeared not to +have a wish, beyond the military circle around him, although those who +knew him best, said he had greater talent, and possessed the art of +fascinating in general society, more than most men. + +"I am glad to see you here, Sir Henry," said he to Delmé, "although I +cannot but wish that happier circumstances had brought you to us. I have +a very great esteem for your brother, and am one of his warmest well +wishers. But I must not neglect the duties of hospitality. You must +allow me to present you to my officers at mess this evening. Our dinner +hour is late; but were it otherwise, we should miss that delightful hour +for our ride, when the sun's rays have no longer power to harm us, and +the sea breezes waft us a freshness, which almost compensates for the +languor attending the summer's heat." + +Delmé declined his invitation, stating his wish to dine with his brother +on that day; but expressed himself ready to accept his kind offer on the +ensuing one. + +"Thank you!" said Colonel Vavasour, "it is natural you should wish to +see your brother; and it pains me to think that poor George cannot yet +dine with his old friends. Have you seen Mr. Graham?" + +Delmé replied in the affirmative; adding, that he could not but feel +obliged to him for his frankness. + +"I am glad you feel thus," said Vavasour, "it emboldens me to address +you with equal candour; and, painful as our advice must be, I confess I +am inclined to side with George's medical attendant. I have myself been +witness to such lamentable proofs of George's state of mind--he has so +often, with the tears in his eyes, spoken to me of his feelings with +regard to Acmé Frascati, that I certainly consider these as in a great +measure the cause, and his state of mind the effect. I speak to you, +Sir Henry, without disguise. I had once a brother--the apple of my +eye--I loved him as I shall never love human being more; and, as God is +my witness, under similar circumstances, frankness is what I should have +prayed for,--my first wish would have been at once to know the worst. +Mr. Graham has told you of his long illness--his delirium--and has, I +conclude, touched upon the present state of his patient. Shall I shock +you, when I add that his lucid intervals are not to be depended upon; +that occasionally the wildest ideas, the most extraordinary projects, +are conceived by him? I wish you not, to act on any thing that Mr. +Graham, or that I may tell you, but to judge for yourself. Without this, +indeed, you would hardly understand the danger of these mental +paroxysms. So fearful are they, that I confess I should be inclined to +adopt any remedy, make any sacrifices which promised the remotest +possibility of success." + +"I trust," said Sir Henry, "there are no sacrifices I would not +personally make for my only brother, were I once convinced these were +for his real benefit." + +"I frankly mean," said Vavasour, "that I think almost the only chance of +restoring him, is by allowing him to marry Acmé Frascati." + +Delmé's brow clouded. + +"Think not," continued he, "that I am ignorant of what such a +determination must cost you. _I_, too, Sir Henry,"--and the old man drew +his commanding form to its utmost height,--"_I_ too, know what must be +the feelings of a descendant of noble ancestors. I know them well; and +in more youthful days, the blood boiled in my veins as I thought of the +name they had left me. Thank heaven! I have never disgraced it. But were +_I_ situated as _you_ are, and the dead Augustus Vavasour in the place +of the living George Delmé, I would act as I am now advising you to do. +I speak solely as to the expediency of the measure. From what I have +stated--from my situation in life--from my character--you may easily +imagine that all my prejudices are enlisted on the other side of the +question. But I must here confess that I see something inexpressibly +touching in the devotion which that young Greek girl displayed, during +the whole of George's illness. But putting this on one side, and +considering the affair as one of mere expediency, I think you will +finally agree with me, that however desperate the remedy, some such must +be applied. And now, let me assure you, that nothing could have induced +me to obtrude thus, my feelings and opinions on a comparative stranger, +were it not that that stranger is the brother of one in whose welfare I +feel the liveliest interest." + +Sir Henry Delmé expressed his thanks, and inwardly determined that he +would form no opinion till he had himself been witness to some act of +mental aberration. It is true, he had heard the medical attendant give a +decided opinion,--from George's own lips he had an avowal of much that +had been stated,--and now he had heard one, for whom he could not but +feel great respect--one who had evidently no interest in the +question--declare his sentiments as strongly. We are all sanguine as to +what we wish. It may be, that a hope yet lurked in Delmé's breast, that +these accounts might be unconsciously exaggerated, or that his brother's +state of health was now more established than heretofore. + +On returning to Floriana, Delmé found George and the blushing Acmé +awaiting him. A delightful feeling is that, of again finding ourselves +with those from whom we have long been parted, once more engaged in the +same round of familiar avocations, once more re-acting the thousand +little trifles of life which we have so often acted before, and that, +too, in company with those who now sit beside us, as if to mock the +lapse of intervening years. These meetings seem to steal a pinion from +time's wing, and hard indeed were it if the sensations they called forth +were not pleasurable ones; for oh! how rudely and frequently, on the +other hand, are we reminded of the changes which the progress of years +brings with it: the bereavement of loved ones--the prostration of what +we revered--our buoyant elasticity of body and mind departed--all things +changing and changed. + +We sigh, and gaze back. How few are the scenes, which memory's +kaleidoscope presents in their pristine bright colours, of that +journey, performed so slowly, as it once appeared, but which, to the +eye of retrospection, seems to have hurried to its end with the rapid +wings of the wind! + +Imbued with an association, what a trivial circumstance will please! As +the brothers touched each other's glass; and drank to mutual happiness, +what grateful recollections were called up by that act! How did these +manifest their power, as they lighted up the wan features of George +Delmé. Acmé looked on smilingly; her hair flowing about her neck--her +dark eyes flashing with unusual brilliancy. Delmé felt it would be +unsocial were he alone to look grave; and although many foreboding +thoughts crowded on him, _he_ too seemed to be happy. It was twilight +when the dinner was over. The windows were open, and the party placed +themselves near the jalousies. They here commanded a view of the public +gardens, where groups of Maltese were enjoying the coolness of the hour, +and the fragrance of the flowers. The walk had a roof of lattice work +supported by wooden pillars; round which, an image of woman's love, the +honeysuckle clingingly twined, diffusing sweets. + +Immediately before them, the principal outlet of the town presented +itself. Laughing parties of English sailors were passing, mounted on +steeds of every size, which they were urging forward, in spite of the +piteous remonstrances of the menials of their owners. The latter, for +the most part, held by the tails of their animals, and uttered a +jargon composed of English, Italian, and Maltese. The only words +however, that met the unregarding ears of the sailors, were some such +exclamations as these. + +"Not you go so fast, Signore; he good horse, but much tire." + +The riders sat in their saddles swinging from side to side, evidently +thinking their tenure more precarious than that on the giddy mast; and +wholly unmindful of the expressive gestures, and mournful ejaculations +of the bare-legged pursuers. At another time, their antics and +buffoonery, as they made unmerciful use of the short sticks with which +they were armed, would have provoked a smile. _Now_ our party gazed on +these things as they move the wise. They felt calm and happy; and +deceptive hope whispered they might yet remain so. Acmé took up her +guitar, and throwing her fingers over it, as she gave a soft prelude, +warbled that sweet although common song, "Buona notte, amato bene." She +sung with great feeling, and feeling is the soul of music. + +How plaintively! how tenderly did her lips breathe the + + "ricordati! ricordati di me!" + +There was something extremely witching in her precocious charms. She +resembled some beauteous bud, just ready to burst into light and bloom. +It is not yet the rose,--but a moment more may make it such. Her +beauties were thus ripe for maturity. It seemed as if the sunshine of +love were already upon them--they were basking in its rays. A brief +space--and the girl shall no longer be such. What was promise shall be +beauty. She shall meet the charmed eye a woman; rich in grace and +loveliness. As Delmé marked her sympathising glance at George--her +beaming features--her innocent simplicity;--as he thought of all she had +lost, all she had suffered for his brother's sake,--as he thought of the +scorn of the many--the pity of the few--the unwearied watching--the +sleepless nights--the day of sorrow passed by the bed of sickness--all +so cheerfully encountered for _him_--he could not reproach her. No! he +took her hand, and the brothers whispered consolation to her, and to +each other. + +Late that evening, they were joined by Colonel Vavasour, and Mr. Graham. +George's spirits rose hourly. Never had his Colonel appeared to such +advantage--Acmé so lovely--or Henry so kind--as they did to George Delmé +that night. + +It was with a sigh at the past pleasures that George retired to +his chamber. + + + + +Chapter XII. + +The Mess. + + + + "Red coats and redder faces." + + +The following day, a room having been given up to Delmé, he discharged +his bill at Beverley's; and moved to Floriana. He again accompanied +George in his drive; and they had on this occasion, the advantage of +Acmé's society, who amused them with her artless description of the +manners of the lower orders of Maltese. + +Pursuant to his promise, at the bugle's signal Delmé entered the mess +room; and the Colonel immediately introduced him to the assembled +officers. To his disappointment, for he felt curious to see one, who had +exercised such an influence over his brother, Delancey was not amongst +them. Sir Henry was much pleased with the feeling that appeared to +exist, between Colonel Vavasour and his corps of officers:--respect on +one side--and the utmost confidence on both. We think it is the talented +author of Pelham, who describes a mess table as comprising "cold dishes +and hot wines, where the conversation is of Johnson of ours and Thomson +of jours." + +This, though severe, is near the truth; and if, to this description, be +added _lots_ of plate of that pattern called the Queen's--ungainly +servants in stiff mess liveries--and a perpetual recurrence to Mr. Vice; +we have certainly caught the most glaring features of a commonplace +regimental dinner. Vavasour was well aware of this, and had directed +unremitting attention, to give a tone to the conversation at the mess +table, more nearly approaching to that of private life; one which should +embrace topics of general interest, and convey some general information. +Even in _his_ well ordered regiment, there were some, whose nature would +have led them, to confine their attention to thoughts of the daily +military routine. This inclination was repressed by the example of +their Colonel; and these, if not debaters, were at least patient +listeners, as the conversation dealt of matters, to them uncongenial, +and the value of the discussion of which they could not themselves +perceive. Not that military subjects were interdicted; the contrary was +the case. But these subjects took a somewhat loftier tone, than the +contemplation of an exchange of orderly duty, or an overslaugh of guard. + +When dinner was announced, Colonel Vavasour placed his hand on the +shoulder of a boy near him. + +"Come, Cholmondeley!" said he, "sit near me, and give me an account of +your match. You must not fail to write your Yorkshire friends every +particular. Major Clifford, will you sit on the other side of Sir Henry? +You are both Peninsula men, and will find, I doubt not, that you have +many friends in common. + +"There is something," said he to Delmé, as he took his seat, +"revivifying to an old soldier, in noting the exhilaration of spirit of +these boys. It reminds us of the zeal with which _we_ too buckled on +our coat of red. It is a great misfortune these youngsters labour under, +that they have no outlet for their ambition, no scene on which they can +display their talents. Never were youthful aspirants for service more +worthy, or more zealous, and yet it is probable their country will not +need them, until they arrive at an age, when neither body nor mind are +attuned for _commencing_ a life of hardship, however well adapted to +_continue_ in it. _We_ have had the advantage there--_we_ trod the +soldier's proudest stage when our hopes and buoyancy of heart were at +their highest; and for myself, I am satisfied that much of my present +happiness, arises from the very different life of my earlier years." + +The conversation took a military turn; and Delmé could not help +observing the attention, with which the younger members of the corps +heard the anecdotes, related by those who had been actually engaged. +Occasionally, the superior reading of the juniors would peep out, and +give them the advantage of knowledge, even with regard to +circumstances, over those who had been personal actors in the affairs +they spoke of. The most zealous of these detail narrators, were the +quarter-master of the regiment, and Delmé's right-hand neighbour, Major +Clifford. The former owed his appointment to his gallantry, in saving +the colours of his regiment, when the ensign who bore them was killed, +and the enemy's cavalry were making a sudden charge, before the +regiment could form its square. + +His was a bluff purple face, denoting the bon vivant. Indeed, it was +with uncommon celerity, that his previous reputation of being the best +maker of rum punch in the serjeants' mess, had changed into his present +one of being the first concoctor of sangaree at the officers'. + +Major Clifford merits more especial notice. He was a man hardly +appreciated in his own profession; out of it, he was misrepresented, and +voted a bore. He had spent all the years of his life, since the down +mantled his upper lip, in the service of his country; and for _its_ +good, as he conceived it, he had sacrificed all his little fortune. It +is true his liberality had not had a very comprehensive range: he had +sunk his money in the improvement of the personal appearance of his +company--in purchasing pompons--or new feathers--or whistles, when he +was a voltigeur--in establishing his serjeants' mess on a more +respectable footing--in giving his poor comrade a better coffin, or a +richer pall:--these had been his foibles; and in indulging them, he had +expended the wealth, that might have purchased him on to rank and +honours. His eagle glance, his aquiline nose, and noble person, showed +what he must have been in youth. His hair was now silvered, but his coat +was as glossy as formerly--his zeal was unabated--his pride in his +profession the same--and what he could spare, still went, to adorn the +persons of the soldiers he still loved. He remained a captain, although +his long standing in the army had brought him in for the last brevet. It +is true every one had a word for poor Clifford. "Such a fine fellow! +what a shame!" But _this_ did not help him on. At the Horse Guards, too, +his services were freely acknowledged. The Military Secretary had always +a smile for him at his levee, and an assurance that "he had his eye on +him" The Commander in Chief, too, the last time he had inspected the +regiment, attracted by his Waterloo badge, and Portuguese cross, had +stopped as he passed in front of the ranks, and conversed with him most +affably, for nearly two minutes and a half; as his colour serjeant with +some degree of pride used to tell the story. But yet, somehow or other, +although Major Clifford was an universal favourite, they always forgot +to reward him. A man of the world, would have deemed the Major's ideas +to be rather contracted; and to confess the truth, there were two +halcyon periods of his life, to which he was fond of recurring. The one +was, when he commanded a light company, attached to General Crauford's +light brigade;--the other, when he had the temporary command of the +regimental depot, and at his own expense, had dressed out its little +band, as it had never been dressed out before. + +Do you sneer at the old soldier, courtly reader? + +There breathes not a man who dare arraign that man's courage;--there is +not one who knows him, who would not cheerfully stake his life as a gage +for his stainless honour. + +The soup and fish had been removed, when Delmé observed a young officer +glide in, with that inexpressible air of fashion, which appears to shun +notice, whilst it attracts it. His arm was in a sling, and his +attenuated face seemed to bespeak ill health. Sir Henry addressed +Colonel Vavasour, and begged to know if the person who had just entered +the room was Delancey. He was answered in the affirmative; and he again +turned to scrutinise his features. These rivetted attention; and were +such as could not be seen once, without being gazed at again. His eyes +were dark and large, and rested for minutes on one object, with an +almost mournful expression; nor was it until they turned from its +contemplation, that the discriminating observer might read in their +momentary flash, that their possessor had passions deep and +uncontrollable. His dark hair hung in profusion over his forehead, which +it almost hid; though from the slight separation of a curl, the form of +brow became visible; which was remarkable for its projection, and for +its pallid hue, which offered a strong contrast to the swart and +sunburnt face. + +"Are you aware of his history?" said the Colonel. + +"Not in the slightest," replied Delmé. "I felt curious to see him, on +account of the way in which he has been mixed up with George's affair; +and think his features extraordinary--very extraordinary ones." + +"He is son," said Vavasour, "to the once celebrated Lady Harriet D----, +who made a marriage so disgracefully low. He is the only child by that +union. His parents lived for many years on the continent, in obscurity, +and under an assumed name. They are both dead. It is possible Delancey +may play a lofty role in the world, as he has only a stripling between +him and the earldom of D----, which descends in the female line. I am +sure he will not be a common character; but I have great fears about +him. In the regiment he is considered proud and unsocial; and indeed it +was your brother's friendship that appeared to retain him in our circle. +He has great talents, and some good qualities; but from his uncommon +impetuosity of temper, and his impatience of being thwarted, I should be +inclined to predict, that the first check he receives in life, will +either make him a misanthrope, or a pest to society." + +At a later period of his life, Delmé again encountered Delancey; and +this prophecy of the Colonel's was vividly recalled. + +In the ensuing chapter, we purpose giving Oliver Delancey's history, as +a not uninstructive episode; although we are aware that episodes are +impatiently tolerated, and it is in nowise allied to the purpose of our +story. But before doing so, we must detail a conversation which occurred +between Delancey and Delmé, at the table of the ---- mess. The latter was +scanning the features of the former, when their eyes met. A conviction +seemed to flash on Delancey, that Delmé was George's brother; for the +blood rushed to his cheek--his colour went and came--and as he turned +away his head, he made a half involuntary bow. Delmé was struck with his +manner, and apparent emotion; and in returning the salute, ventured "to +hope he was somewhat recovered." + +When Major Clifford left the table, Delancey took his vacant seat. + +"Sir Henry Delmé," said he, "I have before this wished to see you, to +implore the forgiveness of your family for the misery I have +occasioned. How often have I cursed my folly! I acted on an impulse, +which at the time I could not withstand. I had never serious views +with regard to Acmé Frascati. Indeed, I may here tell you,--to no +other man have I ever named it,--that I have ties in my own country +far dearer, and more imperatively binding. I knew I had erred. The +laws of society could alone have made me meet George Belmé as a foe; +but even then--on the ground--God and my second know that my weapon +was never directed at my friend. I am an unsocial being, Sir Henry, +and, from my habits, not likely to be popular. Your brother knew this, +and saved me from petty contentions and invidious calumnies. He was +the best and only friend I possessed. I purpose soon to leave Malta +and the army. The former is become painful to me,--for the latter I +have a distaste, A feeling of delicacy to Acmé Frascati would prevent +my seeing your brother, even if Mr. Graham had not forbidden the +interview, as likely to harass his mind. Will you, then, assure him of +my unabated attachment, and tell me that _you _ forgive me for the +part I have taken in this unhappy affair." + +Delmé was much moved as he assured him he would do all he wished; that +he could see little to blame him for--that George's excited feelings had +brought on the present crisis, and that _he_ had amply atoned for any +share he might have had in the transaction. Delancey pressed his hand +gratefully. + +It was at a somewhat late hour that Delmé joined Acmé and his brother; +declining the hearty invitation of the Quartermaster to come down to +his quarters. + +"He could give him a devilled turkey and a capital cigar." + + + + +Chapter XIII. + +Oliver Delancey. + + + + "Then the few, whose spirits float above the wreck of happiness, + Are driven o'er the shoals of guilt, or ocean of excess; + The magnet of their course is gone, or only points in vain + The shore to which their shiver'd sail shall never reach again." + + +We have said that Delmé saw Delancey once more. It was at a later period +of our story, when business had taken Sir Henry to Bath. He had been +dining with Mr. Belliston Grĉme, who possessed a villa in the +neighbourhood. Tempted by the beauty of the night, he dismissed his +carriage, and, turning from the high road, took a by-path which led to +the city. The air was serene and mild. The moon-light was sufficiently +clear to chase away night's dank vapours. The ground had imperceptibly +risen, until having ascended a grassy eminence, over which the path +stretched, the well-lighted city burst upon the eye. + +Immediately in front of the view, a principal street presented itself, +the lamps on either side stretching in regular succession, until they +gradually narrowed and joined in the perspective. Nearer to the +spectator, the flickering lights of the detached villas, and the moving +ones of the carriages in the public road, relieved the stillness of the +scene. Delmé paused to regard it, with that subdued feeling with which +men, arrived at a certain period of life, scan the aspect of nature. The +moon at the moment was enveloped in light clouds. As it broke through +them, its shimmering light revealed a face and form that Delmé at once +recognised as Delancey's. It was with a consciousness of pain he did so, +for it brought before him recollections of scenes, whose impressions had +still power to subdue him. All emotions, however, soon became absorbed +in that of curiosity, as he noted the still figure and agitated +features before him. A block of granite lay near the path. Delancey +leant back over it--his right hand nearly touched the ground--his hat +lay beside him. The dark hair, wet with the dews of night, was blown +back by the breeze. His high forehead was fully shewn. His vest and +shirt were open, as he gazed with an air of fixedness on the city, and +conversed to himself. His teeth were firmly clenched, and it seemed that +the lips moved not, but the words were fearfully distinct. We often hear +of these soliloquies,--they afford scope to the dramatist, food for the +poet, a chapter for the narrator of fiction,--but we rarely witness +them. When we do, they are eminently calculated to thrill and alarm. It +was evident that Delancey saw him not; but had it been otherwise, +Delmé's interest was so aroused that he could not have left the spot. + +"Hail! sympathising night!" thus spoke the young man, "the calm of thy +silent hour seems in unison with my lone heart--thy dewy breeze imparts +a freshness to this languid and darkened spirit, Sweet night! how I +love thee! And moon, too! fair moon! how abruptly!--how chastely!--how +gloriously!--dost thou break through the variegated and fleecy clouds, +which would impede thy progress, and deny me to gaze on thy white orb +unshrouded. And thou, too! radiant star of eve! oh that woman's love but +resembled thee! that it were gentle, constant, and pure as thy holy +gleam. That _that_ should dazzle to bring in its train--oh God! what +misery." He raised his hand to his brow, as if a poignant thought had +stung him. + +Sir Henry Delmé stole away, and ruminated long that night, on the +distress that could thus convulse those fine features. Afterwards, when +Delancey's name was no longer the humble one he had first known it, but +became bruited in loftier circles,--for Vavasour's prediction became +realised,--Delmé heard it whispered, that his affections had suffered +an early blight, from the infidelity of one to whom he had been +affianced. We may relate the circumstances as they occurred. Blanche +Allen was the daughter of a country gentleman of some wealth, whose +estate joined that of the Earl of D----'s, where Delancey's boyhood +had been spent. For years Blanche and Oliver considered themselves as +more than friends. Each selected the other as the companion in the +solitary walk, or partner in the joyous dance. Not a country girl but +had her significant smile, as young Delancey's horse's head was turned +towards Hatton Grange. + +Delancey joined the army at an early age. Blanche was some eighteen +months his junior. They parted with tears, and thus they continued to do +for the two following years, during which Oliver frequently got leave to +run down to his uncle's. This was while he was serving with part of the +regiment at home. When it came to his turn to embark for foreign +service, it was natural from this circumstance, as well as from their +riper age, that their farewell should be of a more solemn nature. They +bade adieu by the side of the streamlet that divided the two properties. +It was where this made a small fall, down which it gushed in crystal +brightness, and then meandered with gentle murmur through a succession +of rich meadows. A narrow bridge was below the fall, while beside it, a +rustic seat had been placed, on which the sobbing Blanche sat, with her +lover's arm round her waist. For the first time he had talked seriously +of their attachment, and it was with youthful earnestness, that they +mutually plighted their troth. Nor did Blanche hesitate, though blushing +deeply as she did so, to place in his hand a trivial gage d'amour, and +that which has so long solaced absent lovers, a lock of her sunny hair. +Blanche was very beautiful, but she had a character common to many +English women--more so, we think, than to foreign ones. + +As a girl, Blanche was nature's self, warm, gentle, confiding,--as an +unmarried woman, she was a heartless coquette,--as a matron, an +exemplary mother and an affectionate wife. During the time Delancey was +abroad, he heard of Blanche but seldom, for the lovers were not of that +age in which a correspondence would be tolerated by Blanche's family. +She once managed to send him, by the hands of a young cousin, some +trifling present, with a few lines accompanying it, informing him that +she had not forgotten him. His uncle--his only correspondent in +England--was not exactly the person to make a confidant of; but he +would, in an occasional postscript, let him know that he had seen +Blanche Allen lately--that "she was very gay, prettier than ever, and +always blushing when spoken to of a certain person." + +To do Oliver justice, he at all times thought of Blanche. We have seen +him, with regard to Acme, apparently disregarding her, but in that +affair he had been actuated by a mere spirit of adventure. His heart was +but slightly enlisted, and his feelings partook of any thing but those +of a serious attachment. + +Oliver Delancey left Malta soon after his conversation with +Delmé. Previous to doing so, he had forwarded his resignation to +Colonel Vavasour. + +He passed some time in Italy, and, as the season arrived, found himself +a denizen in that gayest of cities, Vienna. Pleasure is truly there +enshrouded in her liveliest robes. As regards Delancey, not in vain was +she thus clothed. Just relieved from the dull monotony of a military +life--dull as it ever must be without war's excitement, and peculiarly +distasteful to one constituted like Delancey, who refused to make +allowance for the commonplace uncongenial spirits with whom he found +himself obliged to herd--he was quite prepared to embrace with avidity +any life that promised an agreeable change. Austria's capital holds out +many inducements to dissipation, and to none are these more freely +tendered, than to young and handsome Englishmen. The women, over the +dangerous sentimentality of their nation, throw such an air of ease and +frankness, that their victims resemble the finny tribe in the famous +tunny fishery. While they conceive the whole ocean is at their +command--disport here and there in imagined freedom--they are already +encased by the insidious nets; the harpoon is already pointed, which +shall surely pierce them. Delancey plunged headlong into pleasure's +vortex--touched each link between gaiety and crime. He wandered from the +paths of virtue from the infatuation of folly, and continued to err from +the fascinations of sin. He was suddenly recalled to himself, by one of +those catastrophes often sent by Providence, to awaken us from +intoxicating dreams. His companion, with whom he had resided during his +stay in Vienna, lost his all at a gaming table. Although he had not the +firmness of mind to face his misfortunes, yet had he the rashness to +meet his God unbidden. Sobered and appalled, Oliver left Germany for +England. There was a thought, which even in the height of his follies +obtruded, and which now came on him with a force that surprised himself. +That thought was of Blanche Allen. He turned from the image of his +expiring friend to dwell unsated on hers. A new vista of life seemed to +open--thoughts which had long slept came thronging on his mind--he was +once more the love-sick boy. The more, too, he brooded over his late +unworthiness, the more did his imagination ennoble the one he loved. He +now looked to the moment of meeting her, as that whence he would date +his moral regeneration. "Thank God!" thought he, "a sure haven is yet +mine. There will I--my feelings steadied, my affections +concentrated--enjoy a purified and unruffled peace. What a consolation +to be loved by one so good and gentle!" + +He hurried towards England, travelled day and night, and only wondered +that he could have rested any where, while he had the power of flying to +her he had loved from childhood. Occasionally a feeling of apprehension +would cross him. It was many months since he had heard of her--she might +be ill. His love was of that confiding nature, that he could not +conceive her changed. As he came near his home, happier thoughts +succeeded. In fancy, he again saw her enjoying the innocent pleasures in +which he had been her constant companion,--health on her +cheek--affection in her glance. He had to pass that well known lodge. +His voice shook, as he told the driver to stop at its gate. As he drove +through the avenue of elms, he threw himself back in the carriage, and +every limb quivered from his agitation. He could hardly make himself +understood to the domestic--he waited not an answer to his enquiry--but +bounded up the stairs, and with faltering step entered the room. +Blanche was there, and not alone but oh! how passing fair! Even Delancey +had not dared to think, that the beauty of the girl could have been so +eclipsed by the ripe graces of the woman. She recognised him, and rose +to meet him with a burst of unfeigned surprise. She held out her hand +with an air of winning frankness; and yet for an instant,--and his hand +as it pressed hers, trembled with that thought,--he deemed there was a +hesitating blush on her cheek, which should not have been there. But it +passed away, and radiant with smiles, she turned to the one beside her. + +"My dear," said she, as she gave him a confiding look, which haunts +Delancey yet, "this is a great friend of Papa's, and an old playmate of +mine--Mr. Delancey;" and as the stranger stepped forward to shake his +hand, Blanche looked at her old lover, with a glance that seemed to say, +"How foolish were we, to deem we were ever more than friends." Oliver +Delancey turned deadly pale; but pride bade him scorn her, and his hand +shook not, as it touched that of him, who had robbed him of a treasure, +he would have died to have called his. + +"And you have been to D---- Castle, I suppose, and found your uncle had +left it for Bath. Indeed, _we_ only arrived the day before yesterday; +but Papa wrote us, saying he had got one of his attacks of rheumatism, +from the late fishing, and begged us to take this on our way to +Habberton, Did you see my marriage in the papers, or did your uncle +write you, Oliver?" + +Delancey's lips quivered, but his countenance did not change, as he +looked her in the face, and told her he had not known it until now. + +And now her husband spoke: "It was very late, and he must want +refreshment; and Mr. Allen intended to be wheeled to the dinner table; +and they could so easily send up to D---- Castle to tell them to get a +bed aired; and he could dismiss the chaise now, and their carriage could +take him there at night." + +And Delancey _did_ stay, although unable to analyse the feeling that +made him do so. + +And during dinner, _he_ was the life of that little party. He spoke of +foreign lands--related strange incidents of travel--dwelt with animation +on his schoolboy exploits. The old man was delighted--the husband forgot +his wife;--and she, the false one, sat silent, and for the moment +disregarded. She gazed and gazed again on that familiar face--drank in +the tones of that accustomed voice--and the chill of compunction crept +over her frame. + +But Delancey's brain was on fire; and in the solitude of his +chamber--no! he was not calm there. He paced hurriedly across the oaken +floor; and he opened wide his window, and looked out on the bright +stars, spangling heaven's blue vault; and then beneath him, where the +cypress trees bowed their heads to the wind, and the moon's light fell +on the marble statues on the terrace. + +And he turned to his bed-side, and hid his tearless face in his hands; +and in the fulness of his despair, he knelt and prayed, that though he +had long neglected his God, his God would not now forsake him. And, as +if to mock his sufferings, sleep came; but it was short, very short; and +a weight, a leaden weight, oppressed his eye-lids even in slumber. And +he gave one start, and awoke a prey to mental agony. His despair flashed +on him--he sprung up wildly in his bed. "Liar! liar!" said he, as with +clenched teeth, and hand upraised, he recalled that fond look given to +another. Drops of sweat started to his brow--his pulse beat quick and +audibly--quicker--quicker yet. A feeling of suffocation came over +him--and God forgive him! Oliver Delancey deemed that hour his last. He +staggered blindly to the bell, and with fearful energy pulled its cord, +till it fell clattering on the marble hearth stone. The domestics found +him speechless and insensible on the floor--the blood oozing from his +mouth and ears. + +It may be said that this picture is overcharged; that no vitiated mind +could have thus felt. But it is not so. In life's spring we all feel +acutely: and to the effects of disappointed love, and wounded pride, +there are few limits. + +Woman! dearest woman! born to alleviate our sorrow, and soothe our +anguish! who canst bid feeling's tear trickle down the obdurate cheek, +or mould the iron heart, till it be pliable as a child's--why stain thy +gentle dominion by inconstancy? why dismiss the first form that haunted +thy maiden pillow, until--or that vision is a dear reality beside +thee--or thou liest pale and hushed, on thy last couch of repose? + +And then--shall not thy virgin spirit hail him? Why first fetter us, +slaves to virtue and to thee; _then_ become the malevolent Typhoon, on +whose wings our good genius flies for ever? In this--far worse than the +iconoclasts of yore art thou! _They_ but disfigured images of man's rude +fashioning: whilst _thou_ wouldst injure the _once_ loved form of God's +high creation,--wouldst entail on the body a premature decay--and on +that which dieth not, an irradicable blight. + + "Then the mortal coldness of the soul, like death itself comes down; + It cannot feel for others woes--it dares not dream its own. + That heavy chill has frozen o'er the fountain of our tears; + And though the eye may sparkle still, 'tis where the ice appears." + +On such a character as was Delancey's, the blow did indeed fall heavy. +Not that his paroxysms of grief were more lasting, or his pangs more +acute, than is usual in similar cases; but to his moral worth it was +death. An infliction of this nature, falling on a comparatively virtuous +man, is productive of few evil consequences. It may give a holier turn +to his thoughts--wean him from sublunary vanities--and purify his +nature. On an utterly depraved man, its effects may be fleeting also; +for few can _here_ expect a moral regeneration. But falling on Delancey, +it was not thus. The slender thread that bound him to virtue, was snapt +asunder; the germ whence the good of his nature might have sprung, +destroyed for ever. Such a man could not love purely again. To expect +him to wander to another font, and imbibe from as clear a stream, would +be madness. The love of a man of the world, let it be the first and +best, is gross and earthly enough; but let him be betrayed in that +love--let him see the staff on which he confidingly leant, break from +under him--and he becomes from henceforth the deceiver--but never the +deceived. When Delmé saw him, Delancey was writhing under his +affliction. When he again entered the world, and it was soon, he +regarded it as a wide mart, where he might gratify his appetites, and +unrestrainedly indulge his evil propensities. He believed not that +virtue and true nobility were there; could he but find them. He looked +at the blow his happiness had sustained, and thought it afforded a fair +sample of human nature. Oliver Delancey became a selfish and a +profligate man. + +He was to be pitied; and from his soul did Delmé pity him. He had been +one of promise and of talent; but _now_ his lot is cast on the die of +apathy;--and it is to be feared--without a miracle intervene--and +should his life be spared--that when the wavy locks of youth are +changed to the silver hairs of age--that he will then be that thing of +all others to be scoffed at--the hoary sensualist. Let us hope not! Let +us hope that she who hath brought him to this, may rest her head on the +bosom of her right lord, and forget the one, whose hand used to be +locked in her own, for hours--hours which flew quick as summer's +evening shadows! Let us trust that remorse may be absent from her; +that she may never know that worst of reflections--the having injured +one who had loved her, irremediably; that she may gaze on her +fair-haired children, and her cheek blanch not as she recals another +form than the father's; that her life may be irreproachable, her end +calm and dignified; that dutiful children may attend the inanimate clay +to its resting place; that filial tears may bedew her grave; and, when +the immortal stands appalled before its Judge, that the destruction of +that soul may not be laid to her charge. + + + + +Chapter XIV. + +The Spitfire. + + + + "And I have loved thee! Ocean! and my joy + Of youthful sports was on thy breast to be + Borne like thy bubbles onward." + + * * * * * + + "Pull away! yo ho! boys!" + + +Delmé continued to reside with his brother, whose health seemed to amend +daily. George generally managed to accompany him in his sight-seeing, +from which Henry derived great gratification. + +He mused over the antique tombs of some of the departed knights; and +admired the rich mosaics in that splendid church, dedicated to Saint +John; than which the traveller may voyage long, and meet nothing +worthier his notice. He visited the ancient armoury--dined at the +palace, and at the different messes--inspected the laborious +travailings of the silkworm at the boschetto--conversed with the +original of Byron's Leila--a sweet creature she is!--looked with +wondering eye on the ostrich of Fort Manuel--and heard the then +commandant's wife relate her tale thereanent. He went to Gozzo too--shot +rabbits--and crossed in a basket to the fungus rock. He saw a festa in +the town, and a festa in the country--rode to St. Antonio, and St. +Paul's Bay--and was told he had seen the lions. Nor must we pass over +that most interesting of spectacles; viz., some figures enveloped in +monkish cowl, and placed in convenient niches; but beneath the close +hood, the blood mounts not with devotion's glow, nor do eyes glare from +sockets shrunk by abstinence. Skeletons alone are there! + +These, curious reader, are the bodies of saintly Capuchins; thus +exhibited--dried and baked--to excite beholders to a life of virtue! + +One morning, George said he felt rather unwell, and would stay at home. +An oar happened to be wanted in the regimental gig, which Sir Henry +offered to take. He was soon accoutred in the dress of an absent +member, and in a short time was discharging the duties of his office to +the satisfaction of all; for he knew every secret of _feathering,_ and +had not _caught a crab_ for years. + +It was a beautifully calm day--not a speck in the azure heaven. It was +hot too--but for this they cared not. They had porter; and on such +occasions, what better beverage would you ask? Swiftly and gaily did the +slim bark cleave through the glassy sea. Its hue was a dark crimson, +with one black stripe--its nom de guerre, the Spitfire. + +As the ------ regiment particularly prided itself on its aquatic costume, +we shall describe it. Small chased pearl buttons on the blue jacket and +white shirt; a black band round the neck, to match the one on the +narrow-brimmed thick straw hat; white trousers; couleur de rose silk +collar, fastened to the throat by a golden clasp; and stockings of the +same colour. How joyously did the gig hold her course! What a thrilling +sensation expanded the soul, as the steersman, a handsome little fellow +with large black whiskers, gave the encouraging word, "Stroke! my good +ones!" Then were exerted all the energies of the body--then was +developed each straining muscle--then were the arms thrown back in +sympathy, to give a long pull, and a strong pull--till the bark reeled +beneath them, and shot through the wave. + +The tall ship--the slender mole--the busy deck--the porticoed +palace--the strong fort--the bristling battery--the astonished fisher's +bark as it sluggishly crept on--were all cheeringly swept by, as the +bending oars in perfect unison, kissed the erst slumbering water. What +sensation can be more glorious? The only thing to compete with it, is +the being in a crack coach on the western road; the opposition slightly +in front--a knowing whip driving--when the horses are at their utmost +speed--the traces tight as traces can be--the ladies inside pale and +screaming--one little child cramming out her head, her mouth stuffed +with Banbury cakes, adding her shrill affetuoso--whilst the odd-looking +man in the white hat, seated behind, is blue from terror, and with +chattering teeth, mumbles undistinguishable sentences of furious +driving and prosecution. Surely such moments half redeem our miseries! +What bitter thought can travel twelve miles an hour? + +And ever and anon would the Spitfire dart into some little creek, and +the thirsty rowers would rest on their oars, whose light drip fell on +purple ocean, tinged by a purple sky. And now would the jovial steersman +introduce the accommodating corkscrew, first into one bottle and then +into another, as these were successively emptied, and thrown overboard, +to give the finny philosophers somewhat to speculate on. + +Delmé landed weary; but it was a beneficial weariness. He felt he had +taken manly exercise, and that it would do him good. He was walking +towards the barrack, with his jacket slung over his shoulder, when he +was met by George's servant. + +"Oh, Sir!" said the man, "I am so glad you are come. The Signora is +terribly afraid for my young master. I fear, Sir, he is in one of +his fits." + +Delmé hurried forward, and entered his brother's room. George held a +riding whip in his hand. He had thrown off his cravat--his throat was +bare--his eyes glanced wildly. + +"And who are you, Sir?" said he, as Henry entered. + +"What! not know me, dearest George?" replied his brother, in agony. + +"I do not understand your insolence, Sir; but if you are a dun, go to my +servant. Thompson," continued he, "give me my spurs! I shall ride." + +"Ride!" said Delmé. + +Thompson made him a quiet sign. "I am very sorry, Sir," said he, "but +the Arab is quite lame, and is not fit for the saddle." + +"Give me a glass of sangaree then, you rascal! Port--do you hear?" + +The glass was brought him. He drained its contents at a draught. + +"Now, kick that scoundrel out of the room, Thompson, and let me sleep." + +He threw himself listlessly on the sofa. Acmé was weeping bitterly, +but he seemed not to notice her. It was late in the day. The surgeon +had been sent for. He now arrived, and stated that nothing could be +done; but recommended his being watched closely, and the removing +all dangerous weapons. He begged Henry, however, to indulge him in +all his caprices, in order that he might the better observe the +state of his mind. + +While George slept, Delmé entered another room, and ordering the servant +to inform him when he awoke, he sat down to dinner alone and dispirited; +for Acmé refused to leave George. It was indeed a sad, and to Sir Henry +Delmé an unforeseen shock. + +In a couple of hours, Thompson came with a message from Acmé. "Master +is awake, Sir--knows the Signora--and seems much better. He has +desired me to brush his cloak, as he intends going out. Shall I do so, +Sir, or not?" + +"Do so!" said Delmé, "but fail not to inform me when he is about to go; +and be yourself in readiness. We will watch him." + + + + +Chapter XV. + +The Charnel House. + + + + "And when at length the mind shall be all free, + From what it hates in this degraded form, + Reft of its carnal life, save what shall be + Existent happier in the fly or worm; + When elements to elements conform, + And dust is as it should be." + + +The last grey tinge of twilight, was fast giving place to the sombre +hues of night, as a figure, enveloped in a military cloak, issued from +the barrack at Floriana. + +Henry at once recognised George; and only delaying till a short distance +had intervened between his brother and himself, Delmé and Thompson +followed his footsteps. + +George Delmé walked swiftly, as if intent on some deep design. The long +shadow thrown out by his figure, enabled his pursuers to distinguish him +very clearly. He did not turn his head, but, with hurried step, strode +the species of common which divides Floriana from La Valette. Crossing +the drawbridge, and passing through the porch which guards the entrance +to the town, he turned down an obscure street, and, folding his cloak +closer around him, rapidly--yet with an appearance of caution--continued +his route, diving from one street to another, till he entered a small +court-yard, in which stood an isolated gloomy-looking house. No light +appeared in the windows, and its exterior bespoke it uninhabited. Henry +and the domestic paused, expecting George either to knock or return to +the street. He walked on, however, and, turning to one side of the +porch, descended a flight of stone steps, and entered the lower part of +the house. + +"Perhaps we had better not both follow him," said the servant. + +"No, Thompson! do you remain here, only taking care that your master +does not pass you: and I think you may as well go round the house, and +see if there is any other way of leaving it." + +Sir Henry descended the steps in silence. Arrived at the foot of the +descent, a narrow passage, diverging to the left, presented itself. +Beyond appeared a distant glimmering of light. Delmé groped along the +passage, using the precaution to crouch as low as possible, until he +came before a large comfortless room in the centre of which, was placed +a brass lamp, whose light was what he had discerned at the extremity of +the passage. He could distinctly observe the furniture and inmates of +the room. Of the former, the only articles were a table--on which were +placed the remains of a homely meal--an iron bedstead, and a barrel, +turned upside down, which served as a substitute for a chair. The +bedstead had no curtains, but in lieu of them, there were hangings +around it, which struck Delmé as resembling mourning habiliments. +Whilst the light operated thus favourably, in enabling Sir Henry to +note the interior of the apartment, it was hardly possible, from its +situation, that he himself could be observed. Its rays did not reach +the passage; and he was also shrouded in some degree by a door, which +was off its hinges, and which was placed against the wall. Fastened to +the side of the room were two deep shelves--the lower one containing +some bottles and plates; the upper, a number of human sculls. In a +corner were some more of these, intermingled in a careless heap, with a +few bleached bones. + +George Delmé was standing opposite the door, conversing earnestly with a +Maltese, evidently of the lowest caste. The latter was seated on the +barrel we have mentioned, and was listening with apparently a mixture of +surprise and exultation to what George was saying. George's voice sunk +to an inaudible whisper, as the conversation continued, and he was +evidently trying to remove some scruples, which this man either affected +to feel, or really felt. The man's answers were given in a gruff and +loud tone of voice, but from the Maltese dialect of his Italian, Sir +Henry could not understand what was said. His countenance was very +peculiar. It was of that derisive character rarely met with in one of +his class of life, except when called forth by peculiar habits, or +extraordinary circumstances. His eyes were very small, but bright and +deeply set. His lips wore a constant sarcastic smile, which gave him the +air of a bold but cunning man. His throat and bosom were bare, and of a +deep copper colour; and his muscular chest was covered with short curly +hair. The conversation on George's part became more animated, and he at +length made use of what seemed an unanswerable argument. Taking out a +beaded purse, which Sir Henry knew well--it had been Emily's last +present to George--he emptied the contents into the bronzed hand of his +companion, who grasped the money with avidity. The Maltese _now_ +appeared to acquiesce in all George's wishes; and rising, went towards +the bed, and selected some of the articles of wearing apparel Delmé had +already noticed. He addressed some words to George, who sat on the +bedside quiescently, while the man went to the table, and took up a +knife that was upon it. For a moment, Delmé felt alarm lest his design +might be a murderous one; but it was not so. He laughed savagely, as he +made use of the knife, to cut off the luxuriant chestnut ringlets, which +shaded George's eyes and forehead. He then applied to the face some +darkening liquid, and commenced choosing a sable dress. George threw off +his cloak, and was attired by the Maltese, in a long black cotton robe +of the coarsest material, which, descending to the feet, came in a hood +over his face, which it almost entirely concealed. During the whole of +this scene, George Delmé's features wore an air of dogged apathy, which +alarmed his brother, even more than his agitation in the earlier part of +the day. After his being metamorphosed in the way we have described, it +would have been next to an impossibility to have recognised him. His +companion put on a dress of the same nature, and Sir Henry was preparing +to make his retreat, presuming that they would now leave the building, +when he was induced to stay for the purpose of remarking the conduct of +the Maltese. He took up a scull, and placing his finger through an +eyeless hole, whence _once_ love beamed or hate flashed, he made some +savage comment, which he accompanied by a long and malignant laugh. This +would at another time have shocked Sir Henry, but there was another +laugh, wilder and more discordant, that curdled the blood in Delmé's +veins. It proceeded from his brother, the gay--the happy George Delmé; +and as it re-echoed through the gloomy passage, it seemed that of a +remorseless demon, gloating on the misfortunes of the human race. Delmé +turned away in agony, and, unperceived, regained the anxious domestic. +Screened by an angle of the building, they saw George and his companion +ascend the stone steps, cross the yard, and turn into the street. They +followed him cautiously--Delmé's ears ringing with that fiendish laugh. +George's companion stopped for a moment, at a house in the street, where +they were joined by a sallow-looking priest, apparently one of the most +disgusting of his tribe. He was accompanied by a boy, also drest in +sacerdotal robes, in one hand bearing a silver-ornamented staff, of the +kind frequently used in processions, and in other observances of the +Catholic religion; and in the other, a rude lanthorn, whose light +enabled Delmé to note these particulars. As the four figures swept +through the streets, the lower orders prostrated themselves, before the +figure of the crucified and dying Saviour which surmounted the staff. +They again stopped, and the priest entered a house alone. On coming +back, he was followed by a coffin, borne on the shoulders of four of the +lower order of Maltese. At the moment these were leaving the house, +Henry heard a solitary scream, apparently of a woman. It was wild and +thrilling; such an one as we hear from the hovering sea bird, as the +tempest gathers to a head. To Delmé, coming as it did at that lone hour +from one he saw not, it seemed superhuman. In the front of the house +stood two calèches, the last of which, Sir Henry observed was without +doors. At a sign from the Maltese, George and his strange companion +entered it. They were followed by the coffin, which was placed +lengthways, with the two ends projecting into the street. In the +_leading_ calèche were the priest and boy, the latter of whom thrust +the figure of the bleeding Jesus out at the window, whilst with the +other hand he held up the lanthorn. Twice more did the calèche +stop--twice receive corpses. Another light was produced, and placed in +the last conveyance, and Delmé took the opportunity of their arranging +this, to pass by the calèche. The light that had been placed in it shone +full on George. The coffins were on a level with the lower part of his +face. Nothing of his body, which was jammed in between the seat and the +coffins, could be seen. But the features, which glared over the pall, +were indeed terrific; apathy no longer marked them. George seemed wound +up to an extraordinary state of excitement. Gone was the glazed +expression of his eye, which now gleamed like that of a famished eagle. +The Maltese leant back in the carriage, with a sardonic smile, his dark +face affording a strange contrast to the stained, but yet ghastly hue of +George Delmé's. + +"They intend to take them to the vault at Floriana, your honor," said +the servant, "shall I call a calèche, and we can follow them?" + +Without waiting a reply, for the man saw that Sir Henry's faculties, +were totally absorbed in the strange scene he had witnessed; Thompson +called a carriage, which passed the other two--now commencing at a +funeral pace to proceed to the vault--and, taking the same direction +which they had done on entering the town, a short time sufficed to put +them down immediately opposite the church. They had time allowed them to +dismiss their carriage, and screen themselves from observation, before +the funeral procession arrived. + +This stopped in front of the vault, and Delmé anxiously scrutinised the +proceedings. Another man--probably the one whose place George had +supplied--had joined them outside the town, and now walked by the side +of the calèche. He assisted George's companion in bearing out the +coffins. The huge door grated on its hinges, as they opened it. The +coffins were borne in, and the whole party entered; the priest mumbling +a short Latin prayer. In a short time, the priest alone returned; and +looking cautiously around, and seeing no one, struck a light from a +tinder box, and lighted his cigar. The other two men brought back the +coffins, evidently relieved of their weight; and the priest--the +boy--with the man who had last joined them, and who had also lit his +cigar--entered the first calèche, after exchanging some jokes with +George's companion, and returned at a rapid pace towards the town. +During this time, George Delmé had been left alone in the vault. His +companion returned to him, after taking the precaution to fasten its +doors inside. + +Sir Henry was now at a loss what plan to adopt; but Thompson, after a +moment's hesitation, suggested one. + +"There is an iron grating, Sir, over part of the vault, through which, +when a bar was loose, I know one of our soldiers went down. Shall I +get a cord?" + +The man ran towards his barrack, and returned with it. To wrench by +their united efforts, one bar from its place, and to fasten the rope to +another, was the work of an instant. Space was just left them to creep +through the aperture. Sir Henry was the first to breathe the confined +air of the sepulchre. A voice warned him in what direction to proceed; +and not waiting for the domestic, he groped his way forward through a +narrow passage. At first, Delmé thought there was a wall on either side +him; but as he made a false step, and the bones crumbled beneath, he +knew that it was a wall, formed of the bleached remains of the bygone +dead. As he drew nearer the voice, he was guided by the lanthorn brought +by George's companion; and towards this he proceeded, almost overpowered +by the horrible stench of the charnel house, As he drew near enough to +distinguish objects, what a scene presented itself! In one corner of the +vault, lay a quantity of lime used to consume the bodies, whilst nearer +the light, lay corpses in every stage of putrefaction. In some, the lime +had but half accomplished its purpose; and while in parts of the body, +the bones lay bare and exposed; in others, corruption in its most +loathsome form prevailed. Here the meaner reptiles--active and +prolific--might be seen busily at work, battening on human decay. Sir +Henry stepped over a dead body, and started, as a rat, scared from its +prey, rustled through a wreath of withered flowers, and hid itself amid +a mouldering heap of bones. But there were some forms lovely still! In +them the pulse of life had that day ceased to beat. The rigidity of +Death--his impressive stillness was there--but he had not yet "swept the +lines where beauty lingers." + +The Maltese stood with folded arms, closely regarding George Delmé. + +George leant against a pillar, with one knee bent. Over it was stretched +the corpse of a girl, with the face horribly decomposed. The dull and +flagging winds of the vault moved her dank and matted hair. + +"Acmé," said he, as he parted the dry hair from the blackened brow, +"_do_ but speak to your own George! Be not angry with me, dearest!" He +held the disgusting object to his lips, and lavished endearments on the +putrid corpse. + +Delmé staggered--and Thompson supported him--as he gasped for breath +in the extremity of his agony. At this moment his eye caught the face of +the Maltese. He had advanced towards George--his arms were still +folded--his eyes were sparkling with joy--and his features wore the +malignant expression of gratified revenge. Sir Henry sprang to his feet +and rushed forward. + +"George! my brother! my brother!" + +The maniac raised his pallid brow--his eye flashed consciousness--the +blue veins in his forehead swelled almost to bursting--he tossed his +arms wildly--and sunk powerless on the corpses around--his convulsive +shrieks re-echoing in that lonely vault. Thompson seized the Maltese, +and making him unlock the door, bore the brothers into the open air; for +Henry, at the time, was as much overpowered as George himself. + +A clear solution to that curious scene was never given, for George could +not give the clue to his train of mental aberration. + +With regard to his companion's share in the transaction, the man was +closely questioned, and other means of information resorted to, but the +only facts elicited were these: + +His son had been executed some years before for a desperate attempt to +assassinate a British soldier, with whom he had had an altercation +during the carnival. + +The man himself said, that he had no recollection of ever having +seen George before, but that he certainly _did_ remember some +officers questioning him on two occasions somewhat minutely as to +his mode of life. + +This part of his story was confirmed by another officer of the regiment, +who remembered George and Delancey being with him on one occasion, when +the latter had taken much interest in the questioning of this man. The +Maltese declared, that on the night in question he was taken entirely by +surprise--that George entered the room abruptly--offered him money to be +allowed to accompany him to the vault--and told him that he had just +placed a young lady there whom he wished to see. + +Colonel Vavasour, who took some trouble in arriving at the truth, was +satisfied that the man was well aware of George's insanity, but that +he felt too happy in being able to wreak an ignoble revenge on a +British officer. + + + + +Chapter XVI. + +The Marriage. + + + + "The child of love, though born in bitterness, + And nurtured in convulsion." + + +For many days, George Delmé lay on his couch unconscious and +immoveable. If his eye looked calm, it was the tranquillity of +apathetic ignorance, the fixedness of idiotcy. He spoke if he was +addressed, but recognised no one, and his answers were not to the +purpose. He took his food, and would then turn on his side, and close +his eyes as if in sleep. In vain did Acmé watch over him--in vain did +her tears bedew his couch--in vain did Delmé take his hand, and +endeavour to draw his attention to passing objects. + +George had never been so long without a lucid interval. The surgeon's +voice grew less cheering every day, as he saw the little amendment in +his patient, and remarked that the pulse was gradually sinking. Colonel +Vavasour never allowed a day to elapse without visiting the invalid; and +in the regiment, his illness excited great commiseration, and drew forth +many expressions of kindness. + +"Oh God! oh God!" said Delmé, "he must not sink thus. Just as I am with +him--just as--oh, poor Emily! what will _she_ feel? Can nothing he done, +Mr. Graham?" + +"Nothing! Sir: we must now put our whole trust in an all-seeing +Providence. _My_ skill can neither foresee nor hasten the result." + +One soft summer's evening, when the wind blew in the scent of flowers +from the opposite gardens--and the ceaseless hum of the insects--those +twilight revellers--sounded happily on the ear, Acmé started from the +couch as a thought crossed her. + +"We have never tried music," said she, "I have been too unhappy to +think of it." + +Her tears fell fast on the guitar, as she tuned its strings. She sung a +plaintive Greek air. It was the first George ever heard her sing, and +was the favourite. He heard it, when watching; lover-like beneath her +balcony during the first vernal days of their attachment. The song was +gone through sadly, and without hope. George's face was from her, and +she laid down the guitar, weary of life. + +George gently turned his head. His eyes wore a subdued melancholy +expression, bespeaking consciousness. Down his cheek one big drop was +trickling. + +"Acmé!" said he, "dearest Acmé!" + +Delmé, who had left the room, was recalled by the hysterical sobs of the +poor girl, as she fell back on the chair, her hands clasped in joyful +gratitude. + +The surgeon, who had immediately been sent for, ordered that George +should converse as little as possible. + +What he did say was rational. What a solace was that to Henry and Acmé! +The invalid too appeared well aware of his previous illness, although he +alluded to it but seldom. To those about him, his manner was femininely +soft, as he whispered his thanks, and sense of their kindness. + +Immediately after the horrible scene he had witnessed, Sir Henry's mind +had been made up, as to the line of conduct he ought to pursue. The +affectionate solicitude of the young Greek, during George's illness, +gave him no reason to regret his determination. + +"Now," said Mr. Graham, one day as George was rapidly recovering, +"now, Sir Henry, I would recommend you to break all you have to say to +George. For God's sake, let them be married; and although, mark me! I +by no means assert that it will quite re-establish George's health, +yet I think such a measure _may_ effectually do so, and at all events +will calm him for the present; which, after all, is the great object +we have in view." + +The same day, Delmé went to his brother's bed-side. "George," said he, +"let me take the present opportunity of Acmé's absence, to tell you what +I had only deferred till you were somewhat stronger. She is a good girl, +George, a very good girl. I wish she had been English--it would have +been better!--but this we cannot help. You must marry her, George! I +will be a kind brother-in-law, and Emily shall love her for your sake." + +The invalid sat up in his bed--his eyes swam in tears. He twice essayed +to speak, ere he could express his gratitude. + +"Thank you! a thousand times thank you! my kind brother! Even _you_ +cannot tell the weight of suffering, you have this day taken from my +mind. My conduct towards Acmé has been bowing me to the earth; and yet +I feared your consent would never be obtained. I feared that coldness +from you and Emily would have met her; and that I should have had but +_her_ smile to comfort me for the loss of what I so value. God bless +you for this!" + +Delmé was much affected. + +To complete his good work, he waited till Acmé had returned from a visit +she had just made to her relations; and taking her aside, told her his +wishes, and detailed his late conversation with George. + +"Never! never!" said the young Greek, "I am too happy as I am. I have +heard you all make better lovers than husbands. I cannot be happier! +No! no! I will never consent to it." + +All remonstrances were fruitless--no arguments could affect her--no +entreaties persuade. + +Delmé, quite perplexed at finding such a difficulty, where he had so +little expected to find one,--pitying her simplicity, but admiring her +disinterestedness,--went to George, and told him Acmé's objections. + +"I feared it," said his brother, "but perhaps I may induce her to think +differently. Were I to take advantage of her unsophisticated feelings, +and want of knowledge of the world, I should indeed be a villain." + +Acmé was sent for, and came weeping in--took Georg's hand--and gazed +earnestly in his face as he addressed her. + +"You must change your mind, dearest," said he. And he told her of the +world's opinion--the contumely she might have to endure--the slights to +which she would be subjected. Still she heeded not. + +"Why mention these things?" said she. "Who would insult me, were _you_ +near? or if they did, should I regard them while _you_ were kind?" + +And her lover's words took a loftier tone; and he spoke of religion, and +of the duties it imposes; of the feelings of his countrywomen; and the +all-seeing eye of their God. Still the fond girl wept bitterly, but +spoke not. + +"My own Acmé! consider _my_ health too, dearest! Were you now to +consent, I might never again be ill. It would be cruelty to me to +refuse. Say you consent for _my_ sake, sweet!" + +"For your sake, then!" said Acme, as she twined her snowy arms round his +neck, "for _your_ sake, Giorgio, I do so! But oh! when I am yours for +ever by that tie; when--if this be possible--our present raptures are +less fervent--our mutual affections less devoted--do not, dearest +George--do not, I implore you--treat me with coldness. It would break my +heart, indeed it would." + +They were married according to the rites of both the Protestant and +Catholic Church. Few were present. George had been lifted to the sofa, +and sat up during the ceremony; and although his features were pale and +emaciated, they brightened with internal satisfaction, as he heard those +words pronounced, which made his love a legitimate one. Acmé was silent +and thoughtful; and tears quenched the fire of her usually sparkling +eye. George Delmé's recovery from this date became more rapid. + +He was able to resume his wonted exercise--his step faltered +less--his eye became clearer. His convalescence was so decided, that +the surgeon recommended his at once travelling, and for the present +relinquishing the army. + +"Perhaps the excessive heat may not be beneficial. I would, if possible, +get him to Switzerland for the summer months. I will enquire what +outward-bound vessels there are. If there is one for Leghorn, so much +the better. But the sooner he tries change of scene, the more +advantageous it is likely to be; and after all, the climate is but a +secondary consideration." + +An American vessel bound to Palermo, happened to be the only one in the +harbour, whose destination would serve their purpose; and determined +not to postpone George's removal, Sir Henry at once engaged its cabin. +Colonel Vavasour obtained George leave for the present, and promised to +arrange as to his exchanging from full pay. He likewise enabled him, +which George felt as a great boon, to take his old and attached servant +with him; with the promise that he would use all his interest to have +the man's discharge forwarded him, before the expiration of his leave. + +"He may be useful to you, my dear boy, if you get ill again, which God +forbid! He is an old soldier, and a good man--well deserving the +indulgence. And remember! if you should be better, and feel a returning +penchant for the red coat, write to me--we will do our best to work an +exchange for you." + + + + +Chapter XVII. + +The Departure. + + + + "Farewell! a word that must be, and hath been, + A sound that makes us linger, yet farewell." + + +The day of departure at length arrived. Thompson had been busy the +greater part of the night in getting every thing ready for the voyage. +It was a lovely morning, and the wind, although light, was propitious. + +Acmé had parted with her relations and friends the day previous. + +She was henceforward to share the destiny of one, who was to supply the +place of both to her. Attached to them as she was, and grateful as she +felt for their kindness in the hour of need, there was nothing in that +parting to throw a permanent gloom on the hopes of the youthful bride. + +Her love, and the feelings it engendered, were of that confiding nature, +that she could have followed George anywhere, and been happy still. As +it was, her lot seemed cast "in pleasant places," and no foreboding of +evil, except indeed for George, ever marred the waking dreams of Acmé. +Her simple heart had already learnt, to look up with respect and +affection to Sir Henry, and yearned with fond longing for the period +when she should return a sister's love. + +She had that lively talent too, which, miniatured as it was, allowed of +her fully appreciating the superiority of the English she had lately +met, to the general run of those with whom she had hitherto associated. +An English home had none but charms for her. + +"Come Acmé," said George, as he assisted her in adjusting the first +bonnet that had ever confined her wavy curls, "wish good bye to your +ring-dove, dear! Mrs. Graham will take good care of it; and Thompson has +just finished the packing." + +The boat which was to convey them to the vessel was so near, that they +had agreed to walk down to the place of embarkation. + +As George left the room, a tall figure presented itself on the +staircase. + +"Ah, Clark!" said George, "my good fellow! I am very sorry to part with +you. I do not know what I shall do without my pay serjeant!" and he held +out his hand. + +It was grasped gratefully. + +"Thank you, your honour!" + +The old soldier stood erect, and put his hand to his cap. + +"God bless you! Mr. Delmé. I have served under many officers, but never +under a kinder. May the Almighty bless you, Sir, in all your +wanderings." + +The soldier turned away--one large drop burst o'er the lid, and trickled +down his sun-burnt cheek. + +With the back of his hand, he brushed it off indignantly. + +His converse may be rough--his manner rude--his hand ever ready for +quarrel;--but, believe us! ye who deem the soldier beneath his +fellow-men,--that the life of change--of chance--of hardship--and of +danger--which is his, freezes not the kindlier emotions of the soul, if +it sweep away its sicklier refinements. Beneath the red vest, beat +hearts as warm and true, as ever throbbed beneath operative apron, or +swelled under softest robe of ermine. + +George was moved by the man's evidently sincere grief. He reached the +bottom of the stairs. The company to which he belonged was drawn up in +the court yard. + +In front of it, the four tallest men supported a chair, and almost +before George Delmé was aware of their purpose, bore him to it, and +lifted him on their shoulders, amidst the huzzas of their comrades. The +band, too, which had voluntarily attended, now struck up the march which +George delighted to hear; and, followed by his company, he was carried +triumphantly towards the mole. + +George's heart was full. + +Sir Henry felt deeply interested in the scene; and poor Acmé leant on +his arm, and wept with joy. + +Yes! there are moments in life, and this was one, when the approval of +our inferiors awakens a degree of pride and mental satisfaction, that +no panegyric of our superiors, no expressions of esteem from our +equals, could have ever called forth. Such approval meets us, as the +spontaneous effusion of hearts that have looked up to ours, and have +_not_ been deceived. + +This pride was it that flushed George's cheek, and illumed with +brightness his swimming eye. He was thus carried till he arrived at the +spot where his boat should have been. It was already, with Thompson and +their baggage, half way towards the vessel. In its place was the +regimental gig, manned by George's best friends. Its steersman was +Colonel Vavasour, drest in the fanciful aquatic costume his regiment +had adopted. + +Trifling as this may appear, this act of his Colonel, seemed to George +the very highest compliment that had ever been paid him. + +George Delmé turned to his company, and with choking voice thanked them +for this last mark of attention. We are very certain that a shake of +the hand from a prince, would not have delighted him as much, as did +the hearty farewell greeting of his rough comrades. + +Even Acmé blushingly went up to the chair-supporters, and, with a +winning smile, extended her small hand. Vavasour assisted her into the +gig, and it was with a bounding elasticity of spirit, to which he had +long been a stranger, that George followed. As the boat cut through the +water, they were greeted with a last and deafening huzza. + +In a short time they were alongside the vessel. The captain was pacing +the deck, and marking the signs of the wind, with the keen eye of the +sailor. A chair was lowered for Acmé. She shook hands with the rowers. +George parted from them as if they had been brothers, and from Colonel +Vavasour last of all. + +"Take care of yourself, my dear boy," said the latter, "do not +forget to write us; we shall all be anxious to know how you have +stood the voyage." + +As the gig once more shot its way homewards, and many a friendly +handkerchief waved its adieu, George felt, that sad as the parting was, +he should have felt it more _bitterly_ if they had loved him less. + +To divert their minds from thoughts of a melancholy nature, Sir Henry, +as the boat made a turn of the land, and was no longer visible, proposed +exploring the cabin. This they found small, but cleanly. Some hampers of +fruit, and a quantity of ice, exhibited agreable proofs of the attention +of Acmé's relations. We may, by the way, observe, that rarely does the +sense of the palate assert its supremacy with greater force than on +board-ship. There will the _thought_--much more the _reality_--of a +mellow pine--or juicy pomegranate--cause the mouth to water for the best +part of a long summer's day. On their ascending the deck, the captain +approached Sir Henry. + +"No offence! Sir; but I guess the wind is fair. If you want nothing +ashore, we will off, Sir, _now_! if you please." + +Delmé acquiesced. + +How disagreable is the act of leaving harbour in a merchant ship! + +Even sailors dislike it, and growl between their teeth, like captive +bears. The chains of the anchor clank gratingly on the ear. The very +chorus of the seamen smacks of the land, and wants the rich and free +tone that characterises it in mid-sea. Hoarse are the mandates of the +boat-swain! his whistle painfully shrill! The captain walks the deck +thoughtfully, and frowningly ruminates on his bill of lading--or on some +over-charge in the dock duties--or, it may be, on his dispute on shore +with a part owner of the vessel. + +And anon, he shakes off these thoughts, and looks on the +weather-side--then upwards at the the masts--and, as he notes the +proceedings, his orders are delivered fiercely, and his passions seem +ungovernable. + +The vessel, too, seems to share the general feeling--is loath to +leave the port. + +She unsteadily answers the call of her canvas--her rigging creaks--and +her strong sides groan--as she begins lazily and slowly to make her way. + +Glad to turn their attention to anything rather than the scene around, +George began conversing on the effect the attentions of his company and +brother officers had had on him. + +"Their kindness," said George, "was wholly unexpected by me, and I felt +it very deeply. An hour before, I fancied that Acmé and my own family +monopolised every sympathy I possessed. But, thank God! the heart has +many hidden channels through which kindness may steal, and infuse its +genial balm." + +"_I_ felt it, too, George!" said his brother, "and was anxious as to the +effect the scene might have on you. I am glad it _was_ unexpected. We +are sometimes better enabled to enact our parts improvising them, than +when we have schooled ourselves, and braced all our energies to the one +particular purpose. + +"Acmé, how did you like the way George's men behaved?" + +"It made me weep with joy," replied the young Greek, "for I love all who +love my Giorgio." + + + + +Chapter XVIII. + +The Adieu. + + + + "Adieu! the joys of La Valette." + + * * * * * + + "No more! no more! No! never more on me + The freshness of the heart shall fall like dew." + + * * * * * + + "Absence makes the heart grow fonder, + Isle of Beauty! fare thee well." + + +Malta! the snowy sail shivers in the wind--the waves, chafed by our +intruding keel, are proudly foaming--sea birds soar, screaming their +farewell aloft--as we wave our hand to thee for ever! What is our +feeling, as we see thee diminish hourly? + +Regret! unfeigned regret! + +Albeit we speed to our native land, on the wing of a bark as fleet as +ever--but it matters not--_thou_ hast seen the best of our days. + +Visions conjured up by thee, have the unusual power, to banish +anticipations of Almack's glories, and of home flirtations. + +We are recalling balls enjoyed in thee, loved island! the valse spun +round with the darling fleet-footed Maltese, who during its pauses leant +back on our arm, against which her spangled zone throbbed, from the +pulsations of her heart. + +Dreams of turtle and of grand master--the _fish_, not the +_official_--and of consecutive iced champagne, mock our sight! But +more--yes! far more than all, are we reminded of thy abode--thou +dispenser of cheering liquids! thou promoter of convivial happiness! +meek Saverio! How swiftly glided the mirth-loving nights as--the +enchanting strains of the prima donna hushed--we adjourned to thy ever +to be praised bottegua! + +With what precision didst thou there mete out the many varied +ingredients--the exact relative proportions--which can alone embody our +conception of the nectar of the Gods, punch à la Romaine! + +Whose cigars ever equalled thine, thou prince of Ganymedes? and when +were cigars more justly appreciated, than as our puffs kept time with +the trolling ditty, resounding through the walls of thy domain? + +The luxury of those days! + +Then would Sol come peeping in upon us; as unwelcome and unlooked-for +a visitant, as to the enamoured Juliet, when she sighing told her +lover that + + "'Twas but a meteor that the sun exhaled, + To be to him that night a torch-bearer, + And light him on his way to Mantua." + +Then, with head dizzy from its gladness, with heart unduly elate, has +the Strada Teatro seen us, imperiously calling for the submissive +calèche. Arrived in our chamber, how gravely did we close its shutters! +With what a feeling of satisfied enjoyment, did we court the downy +freshness of the snow-white sheet! + +Sweet and deep were our slumbers--for youth's spell was upon us, and +our fifth lustre had not _yet_ heralded us to serious thoughts and +anxious cares. + +Awoke by the officious valet, and remorseless friend, deemest though +our debauch was felt? No! an effervescent draught of soda calmed us; we +ate a blood orange, and smoked a cigar! + +We often hear Malta abused. Byron is the stale authority; and every +snub-nosed cynic turns up his prominent organ, and talks of "sirocco, +sun, and sweat." Byron disliked it--he had cause. He was there at a bad +season, and was suffering from an attack of bile. _We_ know of no place +abroad, where the English eye will meet with so little to offend it, and +so much to please and impress. + +There is such a blending together of European, Asiatic, and African +customs; there is such a variety in the costumes one meets; there is +such grandeur in their palaces--such glory in their annals; such novelty +in their manners and habits; such devotion in their religious +observances; such simplicity and yet such beauty, in the dress of the +women; and their wearers possess such fascinations; that we defy the +most fastidious of critics, who has really resided there, to deny to +Malta many of those attributes, with which he would invest that place, +on whose beauty and agrémens, he may prefer of all others to descant. + +With the commonplace observer, its superb harbour, studded with gilded +boats; its powerful fortifications, where art towers over nature, and +where the eye looks up a rock, and catches a bristling battery; the +glare of its scenery, with no foliage to cover the white stone;--all +these, together with the different way in which the minutiae of life are +transacted,--will call forth his attention, and demand his notice. + +Art thou a poet, or a fancied warrior? What scene has been more replete +with noble exploits? In whose breasts did the flame of chivalry burn +brighter, than in those of the knights of St. John of Jerusalem? Not a +name meets thee, that has not belonged to a hero! If thou grievest to +find all dissimilar _but_ the name; yet mayest thou still muse, +contemplative, over the tomb and ashes of him, whom thy mind has +shadowed forth, as a noble light in a more romantic age. + +Art thou a moralist, a thinking Christian? Thou mayest there trace--and +the pursuit shall profit thee--the steps of the sainted apostle; he who +was so signally called forth, to hear witness to the truth of ONE, whom +he had erst reviled. Yon cordelier will show you the bay, where his +vessel took refuge in its distress; and will tell you, that yon jagged +rock first gave its dangerous welcome, to the bark of his patron saint. + +Lovest thou music? hast loved? or been beloved? or both perchance? + +Steal forth when night holds her starry court, and the guitars around +are tinkling, as more than one rich voice deplores his mistress's +cruelty, in hopes she may now relent. But see! _there_ is one, who puts +in requisition neither music's spell, nor flattery's lay. + +See! he approaches. His cloak wrapped around him, he cautiously treads +the tranquil street. + +He gains the portico--the signal is given. Who but an expectant maiden +could hear one so slight? + +Hark! a sound! cautiously the lattice opens--above him blushes the fair +one! How brightly her dark eye flashes! how silver soft the tones of +her voice! + +The stern father--the querulous mother--the tricked duenna--all--all +are slumbering. She leans forward, and her ear drinks in his honied +words; as her head is supported by her snowy arm. + +And now he whispers more passionately. She answers not, but hides her +face in her hands. She starts! she throws back her hair from her brow; +she waves a white fazzolet, and is gone. + +Not thus flies the lover. He crouches beneath the Ionic portico, his +figure hardly discernible. A bolt--the last bolt is withdrawn. A form is +dimly seen within--retiring, timid, repentant. + +Sweet the task to calm that throbbing heart, or teach it to throb no +more with fear! + +But let him of melancholy mood, wander to the deserted village. A more +fearful calamity has befallen it, than ever attended the soft shades, of +the one conjured up by the poet. + +_Here_ the demon Plague, with baneful wing, and pestilential influence, +tarried for many days; till not one--no! not one soul of that village +train--that did not join his bygone fathers. + +Stray along its grass-grown roofless tenements! where _your_ echo alone +breaks the silence, as it startles from its resting-place the slumbering +owl--for who would dwell in abodes so marked for destruction? Stray +there! think of the gentle contadina diffusing happiness around her! +_then_ think of her as she supports the youth she loves--as she clasps +his faint form--and drinks in a poisonous contagion from his pallid lip. + +Think of her as the disease seizes on its new victim--still +attempting to prop up his head--to reach the cup, that may relieve +his maddening thirst,--until, giddy and overpowered, she sinks at +last; but--beside him! + +Think of their dying together! _that_ at least is a solace. + +Do not the scene and the thought draw a tear? + +If your eye be dry, come--come away--_your_ step should not sound there! + +The wind continued fair during the whole of the first day. Every trace +of Valletta was soon lost; and the good barque Boston swept by the rocky +coast of the island, where few human habitations meet the eye, swiftly +and cheerily. The sea birds sported round the tall masts--the canvas +bulged out bravely--the Captain forgot his shore griefs, and commenced a +colloquy with Sir Henry. The sailors sung in chorus; whilst poor +Acmé,--we grieve to confess the fact, for never was a Mediterranean sea +looked down on by brighter sun, or more cloudless sky,--retired to her +cabin, supported by George, a prey to that unsentimental malady, sea +sickness. The following day, the wind shifted some points; and the +Captain judged it most prudent to forego his original intention of +steering direct for Palermo; but to take advantage of the breeze, and +adopt the passage through the Faro of Messina. + +Delmé felt glad of this change; for Scylla and Charybdis to an +Englishman, are as familiar as Whittington and his cat. For the first +two days Acmé continued unwell; and George, who already appeared +improved by the sea air, never left her side. + +Delmé had therefore a dull time of it; which he strove to enliven by +conversing, one after the other, with the Captain and his two mates. +From all of them, he learnt something; but from all he turned away, as +they commenced discussing the comparative merits of the United States, +and the old country; a subject he had neither the wish to enter on, nor +fortitude to prosecute. Not daunted, he attacked mate the third; and was +led to infer better things, as the young gentleman commenced expatiating +on the "purple sky," and "dark blue sea." This hope did not last long; +for this lover of nature turned round to Sir Henry, and asked him in a +nasal twang, if he preferred Cooper's or Mr. Scott's novels? Delmè was +not naturally a rude man, but as he turned away, he hummed something +very like Yankee-doodle. + +And then the moon got up; and Sir Henry felt lonely and sentimental. He +leant over the vessel's side, and watched it pictured on the ocean, and +quivering as the transient billow swept onwards. And he thought of home, +and Emily. He thought of his brother, his heir,--if he died, the only +male to inherit the ancient honours of his house,--married to a +stranger, and--but Acmé was too sweet a being, not to have already +enlisted all his sympathies with her. And as if all these thoughts, like +rays converged in a burning glass, did but tend to one object, the image +of Julia Vernon suddenly rose before him. + +He saw her beautiful as ever--gentleness in her eye--fascination in +her smile! + +And the air got cold--and he went to bed. + + + + +Chapter XIX. + +A Dream and a Ghost Story. + + + + "Touching this eye-creation; + What is it to surprise us? Here we are + Engendered out of nothing cognisable-- + If this were not a wonder, nothing is; + If this be wonderful, then all is so. + Man's grosser attributes can generate + What _is_ not, and has never been at all; + What should forbid his fancy to restore + A being pass'd away? The wonder lies + In the mind merely of the wondering man." + + +It was the fourth evening of the voyage. Hardly a breath fanned the +sails, as the vessel slowly glided between the Calabrian and Sicilian +coasts, approaching quite close to the former. + +The party, seated on chairs placed on the deck, gazed in a spirit of +placid enjoyment on one of those scenes, which the enthusiastic +traveller often recals, as in his native clime, he pines for foreign +lands, and for novel impressions. The sun was setting over the purple +peaks of the Calabrian mountains, smiling in sunny gladness on deep +ravines, whose echoes few human feet now woke, save those of simple +peasant, or lawless bandit. Where the orb of day held its declining +course, the sky wore a hue of burnished gold; its rich tint alone +varied, by one fleecy violet cloud, whose outline of rounded beauty, was +marked by a clear cincture of white, + +On their right, beneath the mountain, lay the little village of Capo del +Marte, a perfect specimen of Italian scenery. + +Its sandy beach, against which the tide beat in dalliance--the chafed +spray catching and reflecting the glories of the setting sun--ran +smoothly up a slope of some thirty yards; beyond which, the orange +trees, in their greenest foliage, chequered with their shade the white +cottages scattered above them. + +The busy hum of the fishermen on the coast--the splash of the casting +net--and the drip of the oar--were appropriate accompaniments to the +simple scene. + +On the Sicilian side, a different view wooed attention. There, old Etna +upreared his encumbered head, around which the smoke clung in dense +majesty; and--not contemptible rivals of the declining deity--the moon's +silvery crescent, and the evening star's quiet splendour, were bedecking +the cloudless blue of the firmament. + +Acmé gazed enraptured on the scene--her long tresses hanging back on the +chair, across which one hand was languidly thrown. + +"Giorgio," said she, "do you see this beautiful bird close to the +ship--swimming so steadily--its snowy plumage apparently unwet from its +contact with the wave? To what can you compare it?" + +"That bright-eyed gull, love!" replied he, "riding on the water as if +all regardless that he is on the wide--wide sea--whose billows may so +soon be lashed up to madness;--where may I find a resemblance more +close, than my Acmé's simplicity, which guides her through a troubled +world, unknowing its treacheries, and happily ignorant of its dangers +and its woes?" + +"Ah!" said the blushing girl, "how poetical you are this evening; will +you tell us a story, Giorgio?" + +"_I_ will tell you one," said Delmé, interrupting her. "Do you recollect +old Featherstone, who had been in the civil service in India, and who +lived so near Delmé Park, George?" + +"Perfectly," said his brother, "I remember I used to think him mad, +because he always looked so melancholy, and used to send us word in the +morning when he contemplated a visit; in order that all cats might be +kept out of his way." + +"The very man! I am glad you know so much about him, for it is on this +subject I was going to speak. I cannot tell you where he picked up the +idea originally--but I believe in a dream--that a cat would occasion +his death. + +"Well! he was at Ascot one year, when a gipsy woman came up to him on +the course--told him his fortune--and, to his utter astonishment, warned +him to beware of the wild cat. + +"From that moment, I understand his habits changed. From being a +tolerably cheerful companion, he became a wretched hypochondriac; all +his energies being directed to the avoiding a contact with any of the +feline race. + +"Featherstone, two or three years ago, embarked in one of the mining +speculations--lost great part of his fortune--and found it necessary to +try and retrieve his affairs, by a second voyage to India. + +"I heard nothing more of him, till just before leaving England, when +my old school-fellow, Lockhart, who went as a cadet to the East, +called on me--reminded me of our old whimsical friend--and related +his tragic death. + +"Lockhart says that one day he and some mutual friends, persuaded +Featherstone to accompany them into the interior of the country, to +enjoy the diversion of a boar hunt. + +"They had had good sport, and were returning homewards, when they +suddenly came on a party of natives, headed by the Rajah. + +"They were mounted on elephants, and surrounding a jungle, in which, as +some sepoys had reported, lay a tiger. + +"You know Lockhart's manner--animated and enthusiastic--making one see +the scene he is describing. + +"I will try and clothe the rest of the story in his own words, although I +can hardly hope it will make the same impression on you, that its +recital did on me. + +"'Well, Sir! we all said we would see the sport--all but +Featherstone--who said something about coming on. + +"'We were engaged to dine with Sir John M----, who was in that part of +the world, on some six-and-eightpenny mission about indigo. + +"'The beaters went in, firing and shouting--intending to make him break +towards the hunting party. + +"'We all drew up on one side, to be in view, but out of the way; +Featherstone was next me. He suddenly grasped my arm, and pointed to the +jungle, his teeth chattering--his face ashy pale. I turned and saw the +tiger!--a splendid beast--certainly! + +"'He seemed not to notice us, and stalked on with an innocent yep! yep! +like a sick hound's, more than anything else. + +"'Suddenly his eye caught us, and flashed fire. At the first view, he +crouched to the earth, then came on us, bounding like a tost foot-ball. +More magnificent leaps I never beheld! We were struck dumb--but +fired--and turned our horses' heads!--all but Featherstone. + +"'I shall remember the tones of his voice to my dying hour. + +"'"The cat! Lockhart! the cat!" + +"'I don't know whether his horse refused the spur--or whether the rider's +nerve was gone: but neither appeared to make an effort, till the animal +was close on them. + +"'The horse gave one plunge--and had hardly recovered his feet, when down +went horse and rider. + +"'Featherstone gave a piercing scream! Some of the sepoys were by this +time up--and fired. + +"'The tiger trailed off--the blood spouting down his striped side. + +"'We came up--it was all over! + +"'The first stroke of that terrific paw had laid the unfortunate man's +scull bare. On his shoulder, were the marks of the animal's teeth. + +"'The horse was still writhing in agony. One of my pistols relieved him. + +"'We bore Featherstone to the nearest cantonment, and buried him there.'" + +"How terrible!" said Acmé, as she gave a slight shudder. "Englishmen are +generally more sceptical on these points than we are; and disbelieve +supernatural appearances, which we are accustomed to think are not +unfrequent. I could tell you many stories, which, in my native island, +were believed by our enemies the Turks, as well as by ourselves: but if +you would like it, I will tell you a circumstance that occurred to +myself, the reality of which I dare not doubt. + +"You have often, Giorgio! heard me revert with pain, to the horrible +scene which took place, on the recapture of our little isle by the +infidel Turks; when my family were massacred, and only poor Acmé left to +tell their tale." + +Here the young bride put her handkerchief to her face, and wept +bitterly. George put his arm round her and soothed her. She continued +her narrative. + +"You know my escape, and how I was sent to a kinsman, who had promised +to have me sent to my kind friends in Malta. He was a Corfuote, and it +was in Corfu I remained for a long--a very long time--and there first +met my dear friend, Zöe Scalvo-Forressi. I was then very young. We lived +in the Campagna--about four miles from each other. + +"We had both our Greek ponies, and used often to pass the evenings +together; and at length knew our road so well, that often it was night +before we parted. + +"One night, we had been singing together at her house, and it was later +than usual when I cantered home. + +"About four months had elapsed previous to my landing in Corfu, and I had +been eight months there; although at the time, I paid little attention +to these circumstances. + +"My road lay through an olive grove. I had arrived in its centre, where +a small knoll stretched away on my right; on whose summit, was a white +Greek monastery, backed by some dark cypress trees. + +"The moon was shining brightly--dancing on the silver side of the olive +trees--and illuminating the green sward. + +"This was smooth and verdant. + +"My spirits were more than usually buoyant, when suddenly my pony +stopped. + +"I could not conceive the reason. + +"I looked before me. Immediately in front of me, was the shattered trunk +of an old olive tree--it had been blasted by lightning--and sitting +quietly at its foot--I saw my own mother, Giorgio! as clearly as I see +you now. I could not be mistaken. She wore the same embroidered vest and +Albanian shawl, as when I had last seen her. + +"She conversed with me calmly for many minutes, and--which surprised me +much at the time--I felt no dread, and asked her and answered many +questions. + +"She told me I should die early, in a foreign land; and many--many more +things, which I dare not repeat; for I cannot contemplate the +possibility of their being true. + +"At the time, I told you I felt composed: without any sense of alarm +or surprise. For many days afterwards, however, I never left my bed +of sickness. + +"I told my kinsman all the circumstances, and he discovered beyond a +doubt, that it was on that very day, the twelve-month previous, that my +poor mother had been murdered." + +Sir Henry and George tried to smile at Acmé's story, and account for +what she had seen;--but her manner was so impressive, and her ingenious +reasonings--delivered in the most earnest tone--seemed to confute so +entirely all their speculations, that they were at length content to +deem it "wondrous strange." + +In the best and wisest of us, there is such a tendency to believe in a +mysterious link, connecting the living and the departed; that a story +of this nature, in exciting our feelings, serves to paralyse our +reasoning faculties, and leaves us half converts, to the doctrines that +we faintly combat. + +They looked forth again on the scene. The mountains of Calabria were +frowning on them. The village was far behind--and not a straggling light +marked its situation. + +Numberless stars were reflected on the glassy water, whose serenity was +no longer ruffled by wing of sea bird, which long ere now had returned +to its "wave girded nest." + +Our party and the watch were the only lingerers on deck. + +George wrapped Acmé's silk cloak around her, and then carefully assisted +her in her descent to the cabin. + + + + +Chapter XX. + +The Mad House. + + + "And see the mind's convulsion leave it weak." + + +The land breeze continued to freshen, and the first dawn of morning saw +our party on deck, scanning with near view, the opposite coasts of +Sicily and Italy, as their vessel glided through the Faro of Messina. + +Some pilot boats,--how unlike those which greet the homeward-bound +voyager, as he first hails Britain's chalky cliffs--crowded around the +vessel, offering their services to guide it through the strait. + +Avarice--one incentive to language--had endowed these Sicilian mariners +with a competent knowledge of English, which they dealt out +vociferously. + +As the Captain made his selection, the rejected candidates failed not +to use that familiar English salâm; half the gusto of which is lost, +when used by foreign lip. + +On the Calabrian coast, the sea-port town of Reggio wore an unusual air +of bustle and animation. + +It was a festa day there; and groups of peasants, in many-coloured +costumes, paced up and down the mole; emitting that joyous hum, which +is the never-failing concomitant of a happy crowd. Passing through +the Faro, the vessel's course lay by the northern coast of Sicily. +The current and wind were alike favourable, as it swept on by Melazzo +and Lascari. + +Etna, towering over the lesser mountains, became once more visible; its +summit buried in the clouds of heaven. + +On the right, a luminous crimson ring revealed Stromboli, whose fitful +volcano was more than usually active. + +The following day our party arrived at Palermo. So pleasurable had been +their voyage, that it was with a feeling akin to regret, that they heard +the rumbling chains of the anchor, rush through the hawse-hole, as +their vessel took her station in the bay. + +After going through those wearisome forms, which a foreign sea-port +exacts; and which appear purposely intended, to temper the rapture of +the sea-worn voyager, as he congratulates himself on once more treading +terra firma; our party found themselves the inmates of the English +hotel; and spent the remainder of the day in engaging a cicerone, and in +discussing plans for the morrow. + +The morrow came--sunny and cloudless--and the cicerone bowed to the +ground, as he opened the door of the commodious fiacre. + +"Where shall I drive to, Sir?" + +"What were our plans, George?" said Sir Henry. + +"I think," replied George, "that we only formed one plan to change it +for another. Let the cicerone decide for us." + +_He,_ nothing loath, accepted the charge; and taking his station on the +box of the carriage, directed the driver. + +The carriage first stopped before a large stone building. The bell was +rung--a veteran porter presented himself--and our party entered the +court yard. + +"What place is this?" said Delmé. + +"This," rejoined his guide, with the true cicerone fluency, "is the +famous lunatic asylum, instituted by the illustrious Baron Pisani. This, +gentlemen, is the Baron!" + +Here a benevolent-looking little man with a large nose, took off his +hat. + +"So much approved of was his beneficent design, that our noble King, and +our paternal Government, have not only adopted it; but have graciously +permitted the Baron, to continue to preside over that institution, which +he so happily commenced, and which he so refulgently adorns." + +During this announcement, the Baron's face flushed with a simple, but +honest pride. + +These praises did not to him appear exaggerated; for his intentions had +been of the purest, and in this institution was his whole soul wrapt up. +Acmé became somewhat pale, as she heard where they were, and looked +nervously at George; who could not forbear smiling, as he begged they +would be under no apprehensions. + +"Yes! gentlemen," said the Baron, "circumstances in early life made me +regard mental disease as the most fearful of all. I observed its victims +struggling between reason and insanity; goaded on by the ignorance of +empirics, and the harsh treatment of those about them, until light fled +the tortured brain, and madness directed its every impulse. You, +gentlemen, are English travellers, I perceive! In _your_ happy land, +where generosity and wealth go hand in hand, there are, I doubt not, +many humane institutions, where those, who--bowed down by misfortunes, +or preyed on by disease--have lost the power to take care of themselves, +may find a home, where they may be anxiously tended, and carefully +provided for. + +"Here we knew not of such things. + +"I have said, gentlemen, that chance made me feel a deep interest in +these unfortunates. I sunk the greater part of my fortune, in +constructing this mansion, trusting that the subscriptions of +individuals, would enable me to prosecute the good work. + +"In this I was disappointed; but our worthy Viceroy, who took an interest +in my plans, laid the matter before the Government, which--as Signer +Guiseppe observes--has not only undertaken to support my asylum, but +also permits me to preside over the establishment. _That_, gentlemen, is +my apartment, with the mignionette boxes in front, and without iron bars +in the window; though indeed these very bars are painted, at my +suggestion, such a delicate green, that you might not have been aware +that they were such. + +"This is our first chamber--cheerful and snug. Here are the patients +first brought. We indulge them in all their caprices, until we are +enabled to decide with certainty, on the fantasy the brain has conjured +up. From this room, we take them to the adjacent bed-room, where we +administer such remedies as we think the best fitted to restore reason. + +"If these fail, we apportion the patient a cell, and consider the case as +beyond our immediate relief. We cure, on an average, two-thirds of the +cases forwarded to us; and there have been instances of the mind's +recovering its tone, after a confinement of some years." + +"How many inmates have you in the asylum at present?" said Acmé. + +"One hundred and thirty-six, eighty-six of whom are males. These are our +baths, to which they are daily taken; this the refectory; this the +parlatorio, where they see their friends; and now, if the lady is not +afraid, we will descend to the court yard, and see my charges." + +"There is no fear?" said George. + +"Not in the least. Our punishment is so formidable, that few will incur +it by being refractory." + +"What! then you are obliged to punish them?" said Acmé, with a shudder. + +"Sometimes, but not often. I will show you what our punishment consists +in. You see this room without furniture! Observe the walls and floor; +and even the door as it closes. All these are carefully stuffed; and if +you walk across the room, there is no sound. + +"We cautiously search violent lunatics; who are then dressed in a plain +flannel suit, and left alone. It is seldom we have occasion to retain +them longer than twenty-four hours. They soon find they cannot injure +themselves; their most violent efforts cannot elicit a sound. Their +minds become calmed; and when released, they are perfectly quiet, and +generally inclined to melancholy." + +They descended to the court yard, set apart for the men. Its inmates +were pacing it hurriedly; some jabbering to themselves; others with +groups round them, to whom they addressed some quickly delivered jargon. +With one or two exceptions, all noticed the entrance of the strangers; +and some of them bowed to them, with mock gravity. One man, who wore an +old cocked hat with a shabby feather, tapped Sir Henry on the shoulder. + +"Vous me reconnaissez--Napoleon! votre Empereur!" + +He wheeled round, and called for his Mamelukes. + +The next moment, a young and interesting looking person came forward, +the tears standing in his, eyes, and extended his hand to Acmé. + +"Give me yours," said he, "as a great favour. I was a painter once in +Naples--and I went to Rome--and I loved Gianetta Cantieri!" + +A more ludicrous incident now occurred. At and since their entrance, +our party had heard what seemed the continued bark of a dog. A man on +all fours came forward from behind a group, and with unmeaning face, +and nostril snuffing up the wind, imitated to perfection the deep bay +of a mastiff. + +"That man's peculiarity," observed the Baron, "is an extraordinary one. +He had a cottage near Catania, and had saved some little wealth. His +house was one night robbed of all it contained. This misfortune preyed +on the man's reason, and he now conceives himself a watch dog. He knows +the step of every inmate of the asylum, and only barks at strangers." + +From the male court yard, the Baron ushered them to the female, where +insanity assumed a yet more melancholy shape. + +A pale-faced maniac, with quivering frame, and glaring eye-balls, +continued to cry, in a low and piteous tone, "Murder! murder!! +murder!!!" + +One woman, reclining on the cold pavement, dandled a straw, and called +it her sweet child; while another hugged a misshapen block of wood to +her bared breast, and deemed it her true love. + +A third was on her knees, and at regular intervals, bent down her +shrivelled body, and devoured the gravel beneath her. + +Acmé was happy to leave the scene, and move towards the garden; which +was extensive, and beautifully laid out. + +As they turned down one of the alleys, they encountered five or six men, +drawn up in line, and armed with wooden muskets. + +In front stood Napoleon, who, with stentorian voice, gave the word to +"present arms!" then dropping his stick, and taking off his hat to +Delmé, began to converse familiarly with him, as with his friend Emperor +Alexander, as to the efficiency of Poniatowski and his Polish lancers. + +"Poor fellow!" said the Baron, as they moved on. "Never was insanity +more harmless! He was once brigade major to Murat. This is his hour for +exercise. Exactly at two, he goes through the scene of Fontainbleau, +What will appear to you extraordinary is, that over the five or six men +you saw around him, whose madness has been marked by few distinguishing +traits, he has gradually assumed a superiority, until they now believe +him to be, in reality, the Emperor he so unconsciously personates." + +In the garden, which was of considerable size, were placed a number of +swings and whirligigs, in full motion and occupancy. + +On a stuccoed wall, were represented grotesque figures of animals +dancing; opposite to which, one of Terpsichore's votaries, with a +paper cap on his head, shaped like a pyramid, was executing agile +capers, whose zeal of purpose would have found infinite favour in the +eyes of Laporte. + +Having explored the garden, Delmé accompanied the Baron to a small room, +where the sculls of the deceased maniacs were ranged on shelves, with a +small biographical note attached to each; and heard with attention, the +old man's energetic reasoning, as to these fully demonstrating the truth +of Spurzheim's theory. + +Acmé, meantime, remained on George's arm, talking to a girl of +thirteen, who had been selected to conduct them to the carriage. + +They entered their names in a book at the lodge, and then, turning to +the benevolent director, paid him some well deserved compliments, for +which he bowed low and often. + +The young girl, who had been conversing most rationally with Acmé, moved +forward, and made a signal for the carriage to drive up. + +She was a fair-haired gentle-looking creature, with quiet eye, and +silvery voice. She assisted Acmé to step into the carriage, who +dropped a piece of silver into her hand, for which she gave a sweet +smile and a curtsey. + +She stood a moment motionless. Suddenly her eye lighted up--she darted +into the carriage, and clapped her hands together joyfully. + +"Viva! viva! we shall soon be home at Trapani!" + +The tears sprang to the eyes of the young Greek. + +Even the driver and cicerone were moved. + +Acmé took some flowers from her zone--kissed her cheek--and tried to +change the current of her thoughts; but it was not till the driver +promised he would call again, at the same hour the following day, that +she consented with a sigh to relinquish her journey home. + +From the Lunatic Asylum, our party adjourned to the Duomo, and beheld +the coffin, where the revered body of the Palermitan Saint, attracts +many a devout Catholic. + +Sweet Rosalia! thy story is a pretty one--thy festa beauteous--the +fireworks in thy honour most bright. No wonder the fair Sicilians adore +thy memory. + +In the cool of the evening, our travellers drove to the Marina; where +custom--the crowded assemblage--and the grateful sea breeze--nightly +attract the gay inhabitants of Palermo. + +The carriages, with their epauletted chasseurs, swept on in giddy +succession, and made a scene quite as imposing as is witnessed in most +European capitals. + +Delmé did not think it advisable, to remain too long in the metropolis +of Sicily; and the travellers contented themselves, with the +sight-seeing of the immediate neighbourhood. + +They admired the mosaics of the Chiesa di Monte Reale; and fed the +pheasants, at that beautiful royal villa, well styled "the Favourite." +They took a boat to witness the tunny fishery; and Sir Henry explored +alone the vast catacombs--that city of the dead. + +After a few days thus passed--the weather continuing uncommonly +fine--they did not hesitate to engage one of the small vessels of the +place, to convey them to Naples. + +After enjoying their evening drive as usual, they embarked on board the +Sparonara, one fine starry night, in order to get the full advantage of +the favouring night breeze. + + + +End of the First Volume. + + + +A Love Story + +by + +A Bushman. + +Vol. II. + + + "My thoughts, like swallows, skim the main, + And bear my spirit back again + Over the earth, and through the air, + A wild bird and a wanderer." + + +1841. + + + + +A Love Story. + + + +Chapter I. + +Naples. + + + + "And be it mine to muse there, mine to glide + From day-break when the mountain pales his fire, + Yet more and more, and from the mountain top, + Till then invisible, a smoke ascends, + Solemn and slow." + + "Vedi Napoli! e poi muori!" + + +Memory! beloved memory! to us thou art as hope to other men. The +present--solitary, unexciting--where are its charms? The future hath no +joys in store for us; and may bereave us of some of the few faint +pleasures that still are ours. + +What then is left us--old before our time--but to banquet on the past? + +Memory! thou art in us, as the basil of the enamoured +Florentine. [Footnote 1: See Keats' poem taken from Boccaccio.] Thy +blossoms, thy leaves,--green, fresh, and fragrant,--draw their nurture, +receive their every colouring, from what was dearest to us on earth. And +are they not watered by our tears? + +The poet tells us-- + + "Nessun maggior dolore + Che ricordarsi del tempo felice + Nella miseria." + +But it is not so. Where is he of the tribe of the unfortunate, who would +not gladly barter the contemplation of present wretchedness, for the +remembrance, clogged as it is by a thousand woes, of a time when joyous +visions flitted across life's path? + +Yes! though the contrast, the succeeding moment, should cut him to the +soul. + +But + + "Joy's recollection is no longer joy, + Whilst sorrow's memory is a sorrow still." + +Ah! there's the rub! yet, better to think it _was_ joy, than gaze unveiled +on the cold reality around; than view the wreck--the grievous wreck--a +few short years have made. + +We care not,--and, alas! to such as we have in our mind's eye, these are +the only cases allowed,--we care not! whether rapture has been succeeded +by apathy, or whether the feelings continue as deeply enlisted--the +thoughts as intensely concentrated;--but--in the servitude of despair! + +And again we say--gentle memory! let us dream over our past joys! ay! and +brood over our sorrows--undeserved--as in this hour of solitude, we may +justly deem them. + +Yes! let us again live over our days of suffering, and deem it wiser to +steep our soul in tears, than let it freeze with an iced coating of cynic +miscalled philosophy. + +And shall adversity--that touchstone--softened as our hearts shall thus +be--shall it pass over us, and improve us not? + +No! it has purifying and cleansing qualities; and for us, it has them +not in vain. + +We are not dust, to be more defiled by water; nor are we as the turbid +stream, which passing over driven snow, becomes more impure by the +close contact. + +Thee, Mnemosyne! let us still adore; content rather to droop, fade, and +die--martyrs to thee! than linger on as beasts of the forest, that know +thee not. No hope may be ours to animate the future: let us still cling to +thee, though thine influence sadden the past. + +Away! we are on the placid sea! and Naples lies before us. + +The sun had just risen from ocean's bed, attired in his robe of gold; as +our travellers watched from the deck of their Sparonara, to catch the +first view of the "garden of the world," as the Neapolitans fondly style +their city, + +A dim haze was abroad, the mists were slowly stealing up the mountains, as +their vessel glided on; a light breeze anon filling its canvas, then dying +away, and leaving the sails to flap against the loosened cordage. + +On their left, extended the charming heights of Posilipo---the classic +site of Baia--Pozzuoli--Nisida--and Ischia, to be reverenced for its wine. + +On their right, Capra's isle and Portici--and Vesuvius--wreathed in +vapour, presented themselves. + +As their vessel held on her way, Naples became visible--its turrets capt +by a solitary cloud, which had not yet acknowledged the supremacy of the +rising deity. + +The effulgence of the city was dimmed, but it was lovely still,--as a +diamond, obscured by a passing breath; or woman's eye, humid from +pity's tear. + +"And this," said Sir Henry, for it happened that his travels in Italy had +not extended so far south, "this is Naples! and this sea view the second +finest in the world!" + +"Which is the first?" said Acmé, laughing, "not in England, I trust; for +we foreigners do not invest your island with beauty's attributes." + +"My dear Acmé!" replied Sir Henry, somewhat gravely, "I trust the day may +arrive, when you will deem Delmé Park, with its mansion bronzed by +time--its many hillocks studded with ancient trees--its glistening brook, +and hoary gateways--its wooded avenue, where the rooks have built for +generations--its verdant glades, where the deer have long found a +home:--when you will consider all these, as forming as fair a prospect, as +ever eye reposed on. But I did not allude at the time to England; but to +the Turkish capital. George! I remember your glowing description of your +trip in Mildmay's frigate, up the Dardanelles. What comparison would you +make between the two scenes?" + +"I confess to have been much disappointed," replied George, "in my first +view of Stamboul; and even the beauty of the passage to the Dardanelles, +seemed to me to have been exaggerated. But what really _did_ strike me, as +being the most varied, the most interesting scenery I had ever witnessed, +was that which greeted us, on an excursion we made in a row boat, from the +Bosphorus into the Black Sea. + +"There all my floating conceptions of Oriental luxury, and of Moslem pomp, +were more than realised. + +"The elegant kiosks--the ornamented gardens--the pinnacled harems, the +entrance to which lofty barriers jealously guarded--the number of the +tombs in their silent cities---gave an intense interest to the Turkish +coast;--while sumptuous barges, filled with veiled women, swept by us, and +gave a fairy charm to the sea. On our return, we were nearly lost from our +ignorance of the current, which is rapid and dangerous." + +"Well! I am glad to hear such a smiling account of Stamboul," rejoined +Acmé. "My feelings regarding it have been quite Grecian. It has always +been to me a sort of Ogre city." + +The breeze began to freshen, and the vessel made way fast. + +As they neared the termination of their voyage, some church, or casino +bedecked with statues, or fertile glen, whose sides blushed with the +luscious grape, opened at every instant, and drew forth their admiration. + +Their little vessel swung to her anchor. + +The busy hum of the restless inhabitants, and the joyous toll of the +churches, announcing one of the never-failing Neapolitan processions, was +borne on the breeze. + +The whole party embarked for the quarantine office, and--once authorised +to join the throng of Naples--soon found themselves in the Strada Toledo, +moving towards the Santa Lucia. + +Their hotel was near the mole; its windows commanding an extensive view of +the purple sea, beyond which the eye took in the changeful volcano; and +many a vista--sunny, smiling, and beauteous enough, for the exacting fancy +of an Englishman, who conjures up for an Italian landscape, marble-like +villas--and porticoes, where grapes cluster, in festoons of the +vine--heaving mountains--a purple sky--faces bronzed, but oh how +fair!--and song, revelry, and grace. + +But what struck Acmé, and even Sir Henry, who was more inured to the whirl +of cities, as the characteristical feature of Naples, was its moving life. +In the streets, there was an incessant bustle from morning until midnight. +Each passer by wore an air of importance, almost amounting to a +consciousness of happiness. There was fire in the glance--speech in the +action--on the lip a ready smile. + +In no city of Italy, does care seem more misplaced. The noble rolls on in +his vehicle on the Corso, with features gay and self-possessed; while the +merry laugh of the beggar--as he feasts on the lengthened honors of his +Macaroni--greets the ear at every turn. Stray not there! oh thou with brow +furrowed by anguish! + +If thy young affections have been blighted--if hope fondly indulged, be +replaced by despair--if feelings that lent their roseate hue, to the +commonest occurrences of life, now darken every scene--if thou knowest +thyself the accessary to this, thy misery, stray not in Naples, all too +joyous for thee! + +Rather haunt the shrines of the world's ancient mistress! Perchance the +sunken pillar--and the marble torso--and the moss-grown edifice--and the +sepulchre, with the owl as tenant--and the thought that the great, the +good, and the talented, who reared these fading monuments--are silent and +mouldering below: mayhap these things will speak to thy heart, and repress +the full gush of a sorrow that may not be controlled! And if--the martyr +to o'er-sicklied refinement--to sentiment too etherialised for the world, +where God hath placed thee--ideal woes have stamped a wrinkle on the brow, +and ideal dreams now constitute thy pleasure and thy bane: for such as +thou art! living on feeling's excess--soaring to rapture's heights--or +sinking to despair's abyss--Naples is not fitting! + +Visit the city of the sea! there indulge thy shapeless imaginings--with no +sound to break thy day dreams--save the shrill cry of the gondolier, and +the splash of his busy oar. + +The young Greek, Delmé, and George, were soon immersed in the round of +sight seeing. + +Visits to the ancient palace of Queen Joanna--to the modern villa of the +Margravine--to the Sibyl's Cave, and to Maro's Tomb--to _some_ sites that +owed their interest to classic associations--to _others_ that claimed it +from present beauty--wiled away days swiftly and pleasurably. + +What with youth, change of scene, and an Italian sky, George was no +longer an invalid. His eye wore neither the film of apathy, nor the +unnatural flush of delirium; but smiled its happiness on all, and beamed +its love on Acmé. + +One night they were at the Fondo, and after listening delightedly to +Lalande, and following with quick glance, the rapid movements of the agile +ballerina, and after George had been honoured by a bow--which greatly +amused Acmé--from the beautiful princess; who, poor girl! _then_ felt a +penchant for Englishmen, which she failed not to avow from her opera +box--the party agreed to walk home to the hotel. On their way, they turned +into a coffee-room to take ice. + +The fluent waiter prattled over his catalogue; and Acmé selected his +"sorbetto Maltese," because the name reminded her of the loved island. + +Leaving the coffee-room, they were accosted by a driver of one of the +public coaches. + +"Now, Signore! just in time for Vesuvius! See the sun rise! superb sight! +elegant carriage!" + +"Do let us go!" said Acmé, clapping her hands with youthful enthusiasm. + +"No, no! my dear!" said Sir Henry, "we must not think of it! you would be +so tired." + +"No, no! you do not know how strong I am; and I intend sleeping on +George's shoulder all the way--and we are all in such high spirits--and +these improvised excursions you yourself granted were always best--and +besides, you know we must always start at this hour, if we expect to see +the sunrise from the mountain. What do _you_ say, Giorgio?" + +The discussion ended, by the driver taking the direction of the hotel; +whence, after making arrangements as to provisions and change of dress, +the party started for the mountain. + +The warm cheek of Acmé was reposing on that of her husband; and the wanton +night air was disporting with her wavy tresses, as the loud halloo of the +driver, warned them that they were in Portici, and in the act of arousing +Salvador, the guide to the mountain. After some short delay, they procured +mules. Each brother armed himself with a long staff, and leaving the +carriage, they wended their way towards the Hermitage. + +It was a clear night. The moon was majestically gliding on her path, +vassalled by myriads of stars. + +There was something in the hour--and the scene--and the novelty of the +excursion--that enjoined silence. + +Arrived at the Hermitage, the party dismounted. Acmé clung to the strap, +fastened round their guide, and they commenced the ascent. In a short +time, they had manifest proofs of their vicinity to the volcano. The +ashy lava gave way at each footstep, and it was only by taking short and +quick steps, and perseveringly toiling on, that they were enabled to +make any progress. + +More than once, was Acmé inclined to stop, and take breath, but the guide +assured them they were already late, and that they would only just be in +time for the sunrise. + +As the last of the party reached the summit, the sun became +perceptible--and rose in glory indescribable. The scene afar how gorgeous! +around them how grand! + +Panting from their exertions, they sat on a cloak of Salvador's, and gazed +with astonishment at the novelties bursting on the eye. + +Each succeeding moment, gusts of flame issued forth from the crater. + +They looked down on the bason, above which they were. From a conical +pyramid of lava, were emitted volumes of smoke, which rolled up to heaven +in rounded and fantastic shapes of beauty. Below, a deep azure--above, of +a clear amber hue--the clouds wreathed and ascended majestically, as if +in time to the rumbling thunder--the accompaniments of nature's +subterraneous throes. + +Their fatigues were amply repaid. Sir Henry's curiosity was aroused, and +he descended with the guide to the crater. George and Acmé, delighted with +the excursion, remained on the summit, partaking of Salvador's provisions. + +The descent they found easy and rapid; the lava now assisting, as much as +it had formerly impeded them. + +At Portici, Salvador introduced them to his apartment, embellished with +specimens of lava. They purchased some memorials of their visit--partook +of some fruit--and, after rewarding the guide, they returned to Naples. + +Another of their excursions, and it is one than which there are few more +interesting, was to that city--which, like the fabulous one of the eastern +tale, rears its temples, but there are none to worship; its theatres, but +there are none to applaud; its marble statues, where are the eyes that +should dwell on them with pride? Its mansions are many--its walls and +tesselated pavements, show colours of vivid hue, and describe tales +familiar from our boyhood. The priest is at his altar--the soldiers in +their guard-room--the citizen in his bath. It is indeed difficult, as our +step re-echoes through the silent streets, to divest ourselves of the +impression, that we are wandering where the enchanter's wand has been all +powerful, that he has waved it, and lo! the city sleeps for a season, +until some event shall have been fulfilled. + +Our party were in the Via Appia of Pompeii, when Acmé turned aside, to +remark one tomb more particularly. It was an extensive one, surrounded +with a species of iron net work, through which might be seen ranges of red +earthen vases. Acme turned to the custode, and asked if this was the +burial place of some noble family. + +"No! Signora! this is where the ashes of the gladiators are preserved." + +From the Appian Way, they entered through the public gate; and passing +many shops, whose signs yet draw notice, if they no longer attract custom, +they came to the private houses, and entered one--that called +Sallust's--for the purpose of a more minute inspection. + +"Nothing appears to be more strange," said George, "on looking at these +frescoed paintings, and on such mosaics as we have yet seen; than the +extraordinary familiarity of their subjects. + +"There are many depicted on these walls, and I do not think, Henry, _we_ +are first rate classics;--and yet it would be difficult to puzzle us, in +naming the story whence these frescoes have their birth. Look at this +Latona--and Leda--and the Ariadne abbandonata--and this must certainly be +the blooming Hebe. Ah! and look at this little niche! This grinning little +deity--the facsimile of an Indian idol--must express their idea of the +Penates. Strange! is it not?" + +"But are you not," rejoined Sir Henry, "somewhat disappointed in the +dwelling-houses? This seems one of the most extensive, and yet, how +diminutive the rooms! and how little of attraction in the whole +arrangement, if we except this classic fountain. + +"This I think is a proof, that the ancient Romans must have chiefly passed +their day abroad--in the temples--the forum--or the baths--and have left +as home tenants none but women, and those unadorned with the toga virilis. + +"These habits may have tended to engender a manlier independence; and +to impart to their designs a loftier spirit of enterprise. What say +you, Acmé?" + +"I might perhaps answer," replied Acmé, "that the happiness gained, is +well worth the glory lost. But I must not fail to remind you, that--grand +as this nation must have been--my poor fallen one was its precursor--its +tutor--and its model." + +Hence they wandered to the theatre--the forum--the pantheon--and +amphitheatre:--which last, from their converse in the earlier part of the +day--fancy failed not to fill with daring combatants. As the guide +pointed out the dens for the wild beasts--the passages through which they +came--and the arena for the combat--Sir Henry, like most British +travellers, recalled the inimitable story of Thraso, and his lion fight. +[Footnote: In Valerius.] + +The following day was devoted to the Studio, and to the inspection of the +relics of Pompeii. + +These relics, interesting as they are, yet convey a melancholy lesson to +the contemplative mind. Each modern vanity here has its parallel--each +luxury its archetype. Here may be found the cameoed ring--and the signet +seal--and the bodkin--and paint for the frail one's cheek--a cuirass, that +a life guardsman might envy--weights--whose elegance of shape charm the +eye. Not an article of modern convenience or of domestic comfort, that has +not its representative. They teach us the trite French lesson. + + "L'histoire se répète." + +With the exception of these two excursions, and one to Poestum; our +travellers passed their mornings sight-seeing in Naples, and chiefly at +the Studio, whose grand attraction is the thrilling group of the +Taureau Farnese. + +In the cool of the evening, until twilight's hour was past, they drove +into the country, or promenaded in the gardens of the Villa Reale, to the +sound of the military band. + +Each night they turned their footsteps towards the Mole; where they +embarked on the unruffled bay. To a young and loving heart--the heart of a +bride--no pleasure can equal that, of being next the one loved best on +earth--at night's still witching hour. The peculiar scenery of Naples, yet +more enhances such pleasure. + +Elsewhere night may boast its azure vault and its silver stars. Cynthia +may ride the heavens in majesty--the water may be serene--and the heart +attuned to the night's beauty:--but from the _land_, if discernible--we +can rarely expect much addition to the charms of the scene, and can never +expect it to form its chief attraction. At Naples it is otherwise. + +Our eyes turn to the Volcano, whose flame, crowning the mountain's summit, +crimsons the sky. + +We watch with undiminished interest, its fitful action--now bursting out +brilliantly--now fading, as if about to be extinguished for ever. Seated +beside George, and thus gazing, what pleasure was Acmé's! We need not say +time flew swiftly. Never did happiness meet with more ardent votary than +in that young bride--or find a more ready mirror, on which to reflect her +beaming attributes--than on the features of that bride's husband. + +Their swimming eyes would fill with tears--and their voices sink to the +lowest whisper. + +Sir Henry rarely interrupted their converse; but leant his head on the +boat's side, and thoughtfully gazed on the placid waters, till he almost +deemed he saw reflected on its surface, the face of one, in whose society +_he_ felt he too might be blest. + +But these fancies would not endure long. Delmé would quickly arouse +himself; and, warned by the lateness of the hour, and feeling the +necessity that existed, for his thinking for the all-engrossed pair, would +order the rowers to direct the boat's course homewards. + +Returned to their hotel, it may be that orisons more heavenward, have +issued from hearts more pure. + +Few prayers more full of gratitude, have been whispered by earthly +lips, than were breathed by George and his young wife in the solitude +of their chamber. + +How often is such uncommon happiness as this the precursor of evil! + + + + +Chapter II. + +The Doctor. + + + + "Son port, son air de suffisance, + Marquent dans son savoir sa noble confiance. + Dans les doctes debats ferme et rempli de coeur, + Même après sa défaite il tient tête an vainqueur. + Voyez, pour gagner temps, quelles lenteurs savantes, + Prolongent de ses mots les syllabes traînantes! + Tout le monde l'admire, et ne peut concevoir + Que dans un cerveau seul loge tant de savoir." + + +It was soon after the excursion to Poestum, that a packet of letters +reached the travellers from Malta. These letters had been forwarded from +England, on the intelligence reaching Emily, of George's intended +marriage. They had been redirected to Naples, by Colonel Vavasour, and +were accompanied by a few lines from himself. + +In Sir Henry's communication with his sister, he had prudently thrown a +veil, over the distressing part of George's story, and had dwelt warmly, +on the beauty and sweetness of temper of Acmé Frascati. He could hardly +hope that the proposed marriage, would meet with the entire approval of +those, to whom he addressed himself. + +The letters in reply, however, only breathed the affectionate overflowings +of kind hearts. Mrs. Glenallan sent her motherly blessing to George; and +Emily, in addition to a long communication to her brother, wrote to Acmé +as to a beloved sister; begging her to hasten George's return to England, +that they might meet one, in whom they must henceforward feel the +liveliest interest. + +"How kind they all are," said George. "I only wish we _were_ with them." + +"And so do I," said Acmé. "How dearly I shall love them all." + +"George!" said Sir Henry, abruptly, "do you know, I think it is quite time +we should move farther north. The weather is getting most oppressive; and +we have nearly exhausted the lions of Naples." + +"With all my heart," replied George. "I am ready to leave it whenever +you please." + +On Sir Henry's considering the best mode of conveyance, it occurred to +him, that some danger might arise from the malaria of the Pontine marshes; +and indeed, Rome and its environs were represented, at that time, as being +by no means free from this unwelcome visitant. + +Sir Henry enquired if there were any English physicians resident in +Naples; and having heard a high eulogium passed by the waiter, on a Doctor +Pormont, "who attended the noble Consul, and my Lord Rimington," ventured +to enclose his card, with a note, stating that he would be glad of five +minutes' conversation with that gentleman. + +In a short time, Doctor Pormont was introduced. + +He was a tall man, with very marked features, and a deeply furrowed brow; +whose longitudinal folds, however, seemed rather the result of thought or +of study, than of age. The length of his nose was rivalled by the width of +his mouth. When he spoke, he displayed two rows of very clean and very +regular teeth, but which individually narrowed to a sharp point, and gave +his whole features a peculiarly unpleasing expression. His voice was +husky--his manners chilling--his converse that of a pedant. + +Doctor Pormont was in many respects a singular man. From childhood, he had +been remarkable for stoicism of character. He possessed none of the weak +frailties, or gentle sympathies, which ordinarily belong to human nature. +His blood ran cold, like that of a fish. Never had he been known to lose +his equanimity of deportment. + +A species of stern principle, however, governed his conduct; and his very +absence of feeling, made him an impartial physician, and one of the most +successful anatomists of the day. + +What brought him to bustling, sunny Naples, was an unfathomed +mystery. Once there, he acquired wealth without anxiety, and patients +without friends. + +Amongst the many anecdotes, current amongst his professional brethren, as +to the blunted feelings of Doctor Pormont, was one,--related of him when +he was lecturer at a popular London institution. A subject had been +placed on the anatomist's table, for the purpose of allowing the lecturer, +to elucidate to the young students, the advantages of a post mortem +examination, in the determination of diseases. The lecturer dissected as +he proceeded, and was particularly clear and luminous. He even threw light +on the previous habits of the deceased, and showed at what period of life, +the germ of decay was probably forming. + +A friend casually enquired, as they left the lecture room, whether the +subject had been a patient of his own. + +"No!" replied the learned lecturer, "the body is that of my cousin and +schoolfellow, Harry Welborne. I attended his funeral, at some little +distance from town, a couple of days ago. My servant must have given +information to the exhumer. It is clear the body was removed from the +vault on the same evening." + +Sir Henry Delmé briefly explained to Doctor Pormont, his purpose in +sending for him. He stated that he was anxious to take his advice, as to +the best mode of proceeding to Rome, and also as to the best sleeping +place for the party;--that he had a wholesome dread of the malaria, but +that one of his party being a female, and another an invalid, he thought +it might be as well to sleep one night on the road. Regarding all this, he +deferred to the advice and superior judgment of the physician. + +"Judgment," said Doctor Pormont, "is two-fold. It may be defined, either +as the faculty of arriving at the knowledge of things, which may be +effected by the synthetic or analytic method; or it may be considered as +the just perception of them, when they are fully indagated. + +"Our problem seems to resolve itself into two cases. + +"First: does malaria exist to an unusual and alarming extent, on the route +you purpose taking? + +"Secondly: the existence conceded--what is the best method to escape the +evil effects that might attend its inhibition into the human system? + +"Let us apply the synthetic method to our first case." + +The Doctor prefaced his arguments, by a long statement, as to the gradual +commencement, and progress of malaria;--showed how the atmosphere, +polluted by exhalations of water, impregnated with decaying and putrified +vegetable matter, gave forth miasmata; which he described as being +particles of poison in a volatile state. + +He alluded to the opinion held by many, that the disease owed its origin +to the ravages of the barbarians, who destroying the Roman farms and +villas, had made _desert_ what were _fertile_ regions. + +He traced it from the time of the late Roman Emperors, to that of the +dominion of the Popes, whose legislative enactments to arrest the malady, +he failed not to comment on at length. + +He explained the uncertainty which continued to exist, as to the +boundaries of the tract of country, in which the disease was rife; and +then plunged into his argument. + +George, at this crisis, quietly took the opportunity of gliding from the +room. Sir Henry stretched his legs on an ottoman, and appeared immersed in +the study of a print--the Europa of Paul Veronese--which hung over the +mantel-piece. + +"The Diario di Roma," continued the Doctor, "received this day, decidedly +states that malaria is fearfully raging on the Neapolitan road. Pray +forgive me, if I occasionally glide into the vulgar error, of confounding +the disease itself, with the causes of that disease. + +"On the other hand, a young collegian, who arrived in Naples from Rome +yesterday evening, states that he smoked and slept the whole journey, and +suffered no inconvenience whatever. + +"Here two considerations present themselves. While sleep has been +considered by the best authorities, as predisposing the human frame to +infection, by opening the pores, relaxing the integuments, and retarding +the circulation of the blood; I cannot overlook the virtues of tobacco, +narcotic--aromatic--disinfecting--as we must grant them to be. + +"Here then may I place in juxta-position, the testimony of the Diario, and +that of a young gentleman, half of his time asleep--the other half, under +the influence of the fumes of tobacco. + +"Synthetically, I opine, that we may conclude that malaria does exist, and +to a great degree, in the Campagna di Roma. Will you now allow me, to +submit the question under dispute, to the analytic process? By many, in +the present age, though not by me, it is considered the more philosophical +mode of reasoning." + +"I am extremely obliged to you, Doctor," said Sir Henry, in a quiet tone +of voice, "but you have raised the synthetic structure so admirably, +that I think that in this instance we may dispense with your analysis. +Pray proceed!" + +"Having already shown, then--although your kindness has allowed me to do +so but partially--that malaria does indeed exist, it becomes me to show, +which is the best mode of avoiding its baneful effects. + +"Injurious as are the miasmata in general, and fatal as are the effects of +that peculiar form in this country, termed malaria; the diseases they +engender, I apprehend to be rather endemic than epidemic. + +"It would be difficult to determine, to what part of the Campagna, the +disease is at present confined; but I should certainly not advise you, to +sleep within the bounds of contagion, for the predisposing effects of +sleep I have already hinted at. + +"Rapid travelling is, in my opinion, the best prophylactic I can prescribe, +as besides a certain exhilarating effect on the spirits, the swift passage +through the air, will remove any spiculĉ of the marsh miasmata, which may +be hovering near your persons. Air, cheerfulness, and exercise, however, +predispose to, and are the results of sleep: and to an invalid especially, +sleep is indispensable. + +"In Mr. Delmé's case, therefore, I would recommend a temporary halt." + +Dr. Pormont then gave an account of the length of the stages, the nature +of the post-house accommodations, and the probable degree of danger +attached to each site. + +From all this, Delmé gathered, that malaria existed to some extent, on the +line of road they were to travel--that sleep would be necessary for +George--and that, on the whole, it would be most desirable to sleep at an +inn, situated at a hamlet between Molo di Gaetà and Terracina, somewhat +removed from the central point of danger. + +But the truth is, that Sir Henry Delmé was disposed to consider Dr. +Pormont, with his pomposity, and wordy arguments, as a mere superficial +thinker; and he half laughed at himself, for having ever thought it +necessary to consult him. This class of men influence less than they +ought. Sensible persons are apt to set them down, as either fools or +pedants. Their very magniloquence condemns them; for, in the present day, +it seems an axiom, that simplicity and genius are invariably allied. + +This rule, like most others, has its exceptions; and it would be well for +all of us, if we thought less of the manner, in which advice may be +delivered, and more of the matter which it may contain. + +The Doctor rose to take leave,--Sir Henry witnessed his departure with +lively satisfaction; and, with the exception of enjoying a hearty laugh, +at his expense, with George and Acmé, ceased to recollect that such a +personage existed. + +Delmé, however, had cause to remember that Doctor Pormont. + +Were it not so, he would not have figured in these pages. + +The last evening they were at Naples, they proceeded, as was their +custom, to the Mole; and there engaging a boat, directed it to be rowed +across the bay. + +The volcano was more than usually brilliant, and the villages at its base, +appeared as clear as at noonday. + +The water's surface was not ruffled by a ripple. A bridal party was +following in the wake of their boat--and nuptial music was floating past +them in subdued cadence. + +A nameless regret filled their minds, as they thought of the journey on +the coming morrow. They had been so happy in Naples. Could they hope to be +happier elsewhere? + +It was midnight, when they returned to the hotel. As they neared its +portico, the round cold moon fell on the forms of the lazzaroni, who were +lying in groups round the pillars. + +One of the party sprang to his feet, alarming the slumberers. The whole +of them rose with admirable cheerfulness--took off their hats +respectfully--and made way for the forestieri. + +During the momentary pause that ensued, Acmé turned to the volcano, and +playfully waved her hand in token of farewell. + +Her eyes filled with tears, and she clung heavily to George's arm. + +She was doomed never to look on that scene again. + + + + +Chapter III. + +The Beginning of the End. + + + + "Thou too, art gone! thou loved and lovely one, + Whom youth and youth's affections bound to me." + + +At an early hour, rich aureate hues yet streaking the east, our party were +duly seated in a roomy carriage of Angrasani's, on their way to Rome. + +They had hopes of arriving at the capital, in time to witness that unique +sight, the illumination of Saint Peter's; a sight which few can remember, +without deeming its anticipation well worthy, to urge on the jaded +traveller, to his journey's termination. + +Who can forget the play of the fountains in front of the Vatican, the +music of whose descending water is most distinctly audible, although +crowds throng the wide and noble space. + +Breathless--silent all--is the assembled multitude, as the clock of Saint +Peter's gives its long expected signal. + +Away! darkness is light! a fairy palace springs before us! its +beautiful proportions starting into life, until the giddy brain reels, +from the excess of that splendour, on which the eye suddenly and +delightedly feasts! + +With the exception of a short halt, which afforded the travellers time for +an early dinner at the Albergo di Cicerone, which is about half a mile +from the Molo di Gaeta, they prosecuted their journey without +intermission, till arrived within sight of their resting place. + +This bore the aspect of an extensive, but dilapidated mansion, evidently +designed for some other purpose. + +Its proprietor had erected it, at a period, when malaria was either less +prevalent or less dreaded; and his descendants had quitted it, for some +more salubrious site. + +The albergo itself, occupied but a small portion of the building, +immediately on the right and left of the porch. + +The other apartments, which formed the wings, were either wholly +tenantless, or were fitted up as hay-lofts, granaries, or receptacles for +farming utensils. + +In the upper rooms, the panes of glass were broken; and the whole aspect +of the place betokened desolation and decay. + +As they drove to the door, a throng of mendicants and squalid peasants +came forth. Their faces had a cadaverous hue, which could not but be +remarked. Their eyes, too, seemed heavy, and deep set in the head; while +many had their throats bandaged, from the effects of glandular swellings, +brought on by the marshy exhalations. + +Acmé threw some small pieces of Neapolitan money amongst them; and their +gratitude in consequence was boundless. + +She sprang from the carriage like a young fawn. + +"Come, come, Giorgio! look at that sweet sun-set--and at the blue clouds +edged with burnished gold! Would it not be a sin to remain in-doors on +such an evening? and besides," added she, in a whisper--"is it not a +pleasure to leave behind us these sickly faces, to muse on an Italian +landscape, and admire an Italian sky? Driver! will you order supper? We +will take a stroll while it is preparing. + +"Come! Henry! come away! do not look so grave, or you will make me think +of your amusing friend--Dr. Pormont." + +"Thompson!" said George, as the smiling bride bore off the brothers in +triumph, "do not forget your mistress' guitar case!" + +The travellers passed a paved court, in rear of the building; whence a +wicket gate admitted them to a kitchen garden, well stocked with the +requisites for an Italian salad. + +Behind this, enclosed with embankments, was a small vineyard. The vines +twined round long poles, these again being connected with thin cords, +which the tendrils were already clasping. + +Thus far, there was nothing that seemed indicative of an unwholesome +situation. As they extended their walk, however, pursuing the +continuation of the path, that had led them through the vineyard, they +arrived at the edge of a dark sluggish stream, whose surface was nearly on +a level with them; and which, gradually becoming broader, at length +emptied itself into what might be styled a wide and luxuriant marsh, which +abounded with water-fowl. This was studded with small round lakes, and +with islets of an emerald verdure. + +From the bosom of the marsh itself, rose bulrushes and pollard willows, +towered over by gigantic noisy reeds. + +The stream was thickly strewn with the pure honours of the water lily. + +If--as Eastern poets tell us--these snowy flowers bathe their charms, +when the sun is absent, but lift up their virgin heads, when he looks +down approvingly:--but that, sometimes deceived, on some peerless +damsel's approaching, they mistake her eye for their loved luminary, and +pay to her beauty an abrupt and involuntary homage:--_now_ might they +indeed gaze upward, to greet as fair a face as ever looked down on the +water they bedecked. + +They approached the edge of the marsh, and discovered a rural arbour +of faded boughs--the work of children--placed around a couple of +willow trees. + +Within it, was a rude seat; and some parasitical plant with a deep red +flower, had twined round the withered boughs, and mingled fantastically +with the dead leaves. + +Below the arbour, was a small stone embankment, which prevented the +waters from encroaching, and made the immediate site comparatively free +from dampness. + +Acme arranged her cloak--took one hand of each of the brothers in +hers--and in the exuberance of health and youth--commenced prattling in +that charming domestic strain, which only household intimacy can beget +or justify. George leant back in silence, but could have clasped her to +his heart. + +Memory! memory! who that hath a soul, cannot conjure up one such gentle +being,--while the blood for one moment responds to thy call, and rolls +through the veins with the tide of earlier and of happier days? + +At the extremity of the horizon, was a more extensive lake, than any near +them. Over this, the sun was setting; tinting its waters with a clear rich +amber, save in its centre, where, the lake serving as a halo to its glory, +a blood-red sun was vividly reflected. + +As the sun descended, one slender ray of light, came quivering and +trembling through the leaves of the arbour. + +This little incident gave rise to a thousand fanciful illustrations on the +part of Acmé. Her spirits were as buoyant as a child's; and her playful +mood soon communicated itself to her travelling companions. + +They compared the solitary ray to virtue in loneliness--to the flickering +of a lamp in a tomb--to a star reflected on quicksilver--to the flash of a +sword cutting through a host of foes--and to the light of genius illuming +scenes of poverty and distress. + +Thompson made his appearance, and announced the supper as being ready. + +"This," said George, good-naturedly, "is an odd place, is it not, +Thompson? Is it anything like the Lincolnshire Fens?" + +"Not exactly, your honour!" replied the domestic, with perfect gravity, +"but there ought to be capital snipe shooting here." + +"Ah! che vero Inglese!" said the laughing Acmé. + +They retraced their steps to the inn, and were ushered into the supper +room, which was neither more nor less than the kitchen, although formerly, +perhaps, the show room of the mansion. Around the deep-set fireplace, +watching the simmering of the cauldron, were grouped some peasants. + +The supper table was laid in one corner of the room; and although neither +the accommodation nor the viands were very tempting, there was such a +disposition to be happy, that the meal was as much enjoyed as if served up +in a palace. + +The repast concluded, Acmé rose; and observing a countryman with his arm +bound up, enquired if he had met with an accident; and patiently listened +to the prosy narrative of age. + +An old bronzed husbandman, too, was smoking his short earthen pipe, near +the window sill. + +"What a study for Lanfranc!" said the happy wife, as she took up a burnt +stick, and sketched his dried visage to the life. + +The old man regarded his portrait on the wall, with intense satisfaction; +and commenced dilating on what he had been in youth. + +How different, thought Sir Henry, is all this from the conduct of a well +bred English girl! yet how natural and amiable does it appear in Acmé! +With what an endearing manner--with what sweet frankness--does this young +foreigner wile away--what would otherwise have been--a tedious evening in +an uncomfortable inn! + +As the night advanced, George brought out the guitar; and Acmé warbled to +its accompaniment like a fairy bird. + +It was a late hour, before Delmé ventured to remind the songstress, that +they must prosecute their journey early on the following morning. + +"I will take your hint," said Acmé, as she shook his hand, and tripped +out of the room; "buona sera! miei Signori." + +"She is a dear creature!" said Delmé, + +"She is indeed!" replied his brother, "and I am a fortunate man. Henry! I +think I shall be jealous of you, one of these days. I do believe she loves +you as well as she does me!" + +The brothers retired. + +Sir Henry's repose was unbroken, until morning dawned; when George entered +his room in the greatest agitation, and with a face as pale as death, told +him Acmé was ill. + +Delmé arose immediately; and at George's earnest solicitation, +entered the room. + +Her left cheek, suffused with hectic, rested on one small hand. The other +arm was thrown over the bed-clothes. Her eyes sparkled like diamonds. Her +lips murmured indistinctly--the mind was evidently wandering. + +A man and horse were sent express to Naples. The whole of that weary day, +George Delmé was by Acmé's side, preparing cooling drinks, and vainly +endeavouring to be calm. + +As the delirium continued, she seemed to be transported to the scenes of +her early youth, + +As night wore on, the fever, if it were such, gradually increased. + +George's state of mind bordered on distraction. Sir Henry became +exceedingly alarmed, and anxious for the presence of the medical +attendant. + +At about four o'clock the following morning, Doctor Pormont was announced, + +Cold and forbidding as was his aspect, George hailed him as his tutelary +angel, and burst into tears, as he implored him to exert his skill to the +uttermost. + +The physician approached the invalid, and in a moment saw that the case +was a critical one. + +His patient was bled twice during the day, and strong opiates +administered. + +Towards evening, she slept; and awoke with restored consciousness, but +with feelings keenly alive to her own danger. + +The following night and day she lingered on, speaking but little. + +During the whole of that time, even, when she slept, George's hand +remained locked in hers. On this, her tears would sometimes fall, but +these she strove to restrain. + +To the others around her, she spoke gratefully, and with feminine +softness; but her whole heart seemed to be with George. + +Doctor Pormont, to do him justice, was unremitting in his exertions, and +hardly took rest. + +All his professional skill was called to her aid; but from the second day, +he saw it was in vain. + +The strength of the invalid failed her more and more. + +Doctor Pormont at length called Sir Henry on one side, and informed him +that he entertained no doubt of a fatal result; and recommended his at +once procuring such religious consolation as might be in his power. + +No Protestant clergyman was near at hand, even had Delmé thought it +adviseable to procure one. + +But he was well aware, that however Acme might have sympathised with +George, her earlier religious impressions would now in all probability +be revived. + +A Catholic priest was sent for, and arrived quickly. He was habited in +the brown garb of his order, his waist girt with a knotted cord. He bore +in his hand the sainted pyx, and commenced to shrive the dying girl. + +It was the soft hour of sunset, and the prospect in rear of the mansion, +presented a wide sea of rich coloured splendour. + +Over the window, had been placed a sheet, in order to exclude the light +from the invalid's chamber. The priest knelt by her bedside; and folding +his hands together, began to pray. + +The rays of the setting sun, fitfully flickered on the sheet, over whose +surface, light shadows swiftly played, ever and anon glancing on the shorn +head of the kneeling friar. + +His intelligent face was expressive of firm belief. + +His eye turned reverentially to heaven, as in deep and sonorous accents, +he implored forgiveness for the sufferer, for the sins committed during +her mortal coil. + +Acmé sat up in her bed. On her countenance, calm devotion seemed to usurp +the place of earthly affections, and earthly passions. + +The soul was preparing for its upward flight. Delmé led away the sorrowing +husband, and the minister of Christ was left alone, to hear the contrite +outpourings of a weak departing sinner. + +The priest left the chamber, but spoke not, either to the physician, or +the expecting brothers. His impassioned glance belonged to another and a +higher world. + +He made one low obeisance--his robes swept the passage quickly--and the +Franciscan friar sought his lonely cell to reflect on death. + +The brothers re-entered. They found Acmé in the attitude in which they had +left her--her features wearing an expression at once radiant and resigned. + +But--as her eye met George's--as she saw the havoc grief had already +made--the feelings of the woman resumed the mastery. + +She extended her arms--she brought his lip to hers--as if she would have +made _that_ its resting place for ever. + +Alas! an inward pang told her to be brief. She drew away her face, +crimsoned with her passion's flush--tremblingly grasped his hand---and, +with voice choked by emotion, gave her last farewell. + +"Giorgio, my dearest! my own! I shall soon join my parents. I feel +this--and my mother's words, as she met me by the olive tree, ring +in my ear. + +"She told me I should die thus; but she told me, too, that I should kill +the one dearest to me on earth. Thank God! this cannot be--for I know my +life to be ebbing fast. + +"Dearest I do not mourn for me too much. You may find another Acmé--as +true. But, oh! sometimes--yes! even when your hearts cling fondly +together, as ours were wont to do--think of your own Acmé--who loved you +first--and only--and does it now! oh! how well! Giorgio! dear! dearest! +adieu! My feet are _so, so_ cold--and ice seems"-- + +A change shadowed the face, as from some corporeal pang. + +She tried to raise an ebony cross hung round her neck. + +In the effort, her features became convulsed--and George heard a low +gurgling in the throat, as from suffocation. + +Ah! that awful precursor of "the first dark hour of nothingness." + +George Delmé sprang to his feet, and was supporting her head, when the +physician grasped his arm. + +"Stop! stop! you are preventing"---- + +The lower lip quivered--and drooped--slightly! very slightly! + +The head fell back. + +One long deep drawn sigh shook the exhausted frame. + +The face seemed to become fixed. + +Doctor Pormont extended his hand, and silently closed those dark +fringed lids. + +The cold finger, with its harsh touch, once more brought consciousness. + +Once more the lid trembled! there was an upward glance that looked +reproachful! + +Another short sigh! Another! + +Lustreless and glaring was that once bright eye! + +Again the physician extended his hand. + +"Assuredly, gentlemen! vitality hath departed!" + +A deep--solemn--awful silence--which not a breath disturbed--came over +that chamber of death. + +It seemed as if the insects had ceased their hum--that twilight had +suddenly turned to night--that an odour, as of clay, was floating around +them, and impregnating the very atmosphere. + +George took the guitar, whose chords were never more to be woke to harmony +by that loved hand, and dashed it to the ground. + +Ere Delmé could clasp him, he had staggered to the bedside--and fallen +over Acmé's still form. + +And did her frame thrill with rapture? did she bound to his caress? did +her lip falter from her grateful emotion?--did she bury his cheek in her +raven tresses? + +No, no! still--still--still were all these! still as death! + + + + +Chapter IV. + +Rome. + + + + "Woe unto us, not her; for she sleeps well." + + * * * * * + + "The Niobe of nations! there she stands, + Childless and crownless, in her voiceless woe; + An empty urn within her wither'd hands, + Whose holy dust was scatter'd long ago. + The Scipios' tomb contains no ashes now; + The very sepulchres lie tenantless + Of their heroic dwellers; dost thou flow, + Old Tiber! through a marble wilderness? + Rise, with thy yellow waves, and mantle her distress." + + +Undertakers! not one word shall henceforth pass our lips in your +dispraise! + +An useful and meritorious tribe are you! + +What! though sleek and rosy cheeked, you seem to have little in common +with the wreck of our hopes? + +What! if our ears be shocked by profane jests on the weight of your +burden, as you bear away from the accustomed mansion, what _was_ its +light and its load star--but what _is_--pent up in your dark, narrow +tenement, but-- + + "A heap, + To make men tremble, that never weep." + +What! if our swimming eye--as we follow those dear--dear remains to their +last lone resting place--glance on the heartless myrmidons, who salute the +passer by with nods of recognition, and smiles of indifference? + +What! if, returning homewards--choked with bitter recollections, which +rise fantastic, quick, and ill-defined--the very ghosts of departed +scenes and years--what if we start as we then perceive you--lightsome of +heart, and glib of speech--clustered and smirking, on that roof of +nodding plumes--neath which, one short hour since--lay what was dearest +to us on earth? + +Let us not heed these things! for--light as is the task to traders in +death's dark trappings; painful and soul-subduing are those withering +details to the grieving and heart-struck mourner! + +We left George lying half insensible by the side of his dead wife. + +Sir Henry and Thompson carried him to the apartment of the former, and +while Thompson hung over his master, attempting to restore +consciousness--Delmé had a short conference with Doctor Pormont as to +their ulterior proceedings. + +Doctor Pormont--as might be expected--enjoined the greatest promptitude, +and recommended that poor Acmé's remains, should be consigned to the +burial place of the hamlet. + +George's objections to this, however, as soon as he was well enough to +comprehend what was going forward, seemed quite insurmountable; and after +Sir Henry had sought the place by moonlight, and found it wild and open, +with goats browsing on the unpicturesque graves, and with nothing to mark +the sanctity of the spot, save a glaring painted picture of the Virgin, +his own prejudices became enlisted, and he consented to proceed to Rome. + +After this decision was made, he found it utterly impossible, to procure +a separate conveyance for the corpse; and was equally unsuccessful in his +attempt to procure that--which from being a common want, he had been +disposed to consider of every day attainment--a coffin. + +While his brother made what arrangements he best might, poor George +returned to the chamber of death, and gazed long and fixedly--with the +despair of the widower--on those hushed familiar features. + +Her hair was now turned back, and was bound with white ribbon, and +festooned with some of the very water lilies that Acmé had admired. A +snow-white wreath bound her brow. It was formed of the white convolvulus. +We have said the features were familiar; but oh! how different! The yellow +waxen hue--the heavy stiffened lid--how they affected George Delmé, who +had never looked on death before! + +First he would gaze with stupid awe--then turn to the window, and attempt +to repress his sobs--return again--and refuse to credit his bereavement. +Surely the hand moved? No! of its free will shall it never move more! The +eye! was there not a slight convulsion in that long dark lash? + +No! over it may crawl the busy fly, and creep the destructive worm, +without let, and without hindrance! + +No finger shall be raised in its behalf--that lid shall remain closed +and passive! + +The insect and the reptile shall extend their wanderings over the +smooth cheek, and revel on the lips, whose red once rivalled that of +the Indian shell. + +Moveless! moveless shall all be! + +The long--long night wore on. + +An Italian sunrise was gilding the heavens. + +Acmé was never to see a sunrise more; and even this reflection--trite as +it may seem, occurring to one, who had watched through the night, by the +side of the dead--even this reflection, convulsed again the haggard +features of the mourner. + +Delmé had made the requisite arrangements during the night, for their +early departure. + +Just previous to the carriage being announced, he led George out of the +room; whilst the physician, aided by the women, took such precautions as +the heat of the climate rendered necessary. + +Linen cloths, steeped in a solution of chlorate of lime, were closely +wound round the body--a rude couch was placed in the inside of the +carriage, which was supported by the two seats--and the carriage itself +was darkened. + +These preparations concluded--and having parted with Doctor +Pormont---whose attentions, in spite of his freezing manner, had been very +great--the brothers commenced their painful task. + +George knelt at the head of the corpse--ejaculated one short fervent +prayer--and then, assisted by his brother, bore it in his arms to +the vehicle. + +The Italian peasants, with rare delicacy, witnessed the scene from the +windows of the inn, but did not intrude their presence. + +The body was placed crosswise in the carriage. George sat next the +corpse. Delmé sat opposite, regarding his brother with anxious eye. + +Most distressing was that silent journey! It made an impression on Sir +Henry's mind, that no after events could ever efface; and yet it had +already been his lot, to witness many scenes of horror, and ride over +fields of blood. + +We have said it was a silent journey. George's despair was too deep +for words. + +The first motion of the carriage affected the position of the corpse. +George put one arm round it, and kept it immoveable. Sometimes, his +scalding tears would fall on that cold face, whose outline yet preserved +its beautiful roundness. + +It appeared to Sir Henry, that he had never seen life and death, so +closely and painfully contrasted. There sat his brother, in the full +energies of manhood and despair; his features convulsed--his frame +quivering--his sobs frequent--his pulse quick and disturbed. + +There lay extended his mistress--cold--colourless--silent--unimpassioned. +There was life in the breeze that played on her raven tresses--grim death +was enthroned on the face those tresses swept. + +Not that decay's finger had yet really assailed it; but one of the +peculiar properties of the preservative used by Doctor Pormont, is its +pervading sepulchral odour. + +They reached Rome; and the consummation of their task drew nigh. + +Pass we over the husband's last earthly farewell. Pass we over that +subduing scene, in which Henry assisted George to sever long ringlets, and +rob the cold finger, of affection's dearest pledge. + +Alas! these might be retained as the legacy of love. + +They were useless as love's memento. Memory, the faithful mirror, forbade +the relic gatherer ever to forget! + +Would you know where Acmé reposes? + +A beautiful burial ground looks towards Rome. It is on a gentle declivity +leaning to the south-east, and situated between Mount Aventine and the +Monte Testaccio. + +Its avenue is lined with high bushes of marsh roses; and the cemetery +itself, is divided into three rude and impressive terraces. + +_There_ sleeps--in a modest nook, surmounted by the wall-flower, and by +creeping ivy, and by many-coloured shrubs, and by one simple yellow +flower, of very peculiar and rare fragrance; a type, as the author of +these pages deemed, of the wonderful etherialised genius of the +man--_there_ sleeps, as posterity will judge him, the first of the poets +of the age we live in--Percy Bysshe Shelley! There too, moulders that +wonderful boy author--John Keats. + +Who can pass his grave, and read that bitter inscription, dictated on his +deathbed, by the heart-broken enthusiast, without the liveliest emotion? + + "Here lies one, whose name was writ in water. + February 4th, 1821." + +The ancient wall of Rome, crowns the ridge of the slope we have described. +Above it, stands the pyramid of Caius Cĉstius, constructed some twenty +centuries since. + +Immediately beneath it, in a line with a round tower buried with ivy, and +near the vault of our beautiful countrywoman, Miss Bathurst, who was +thrown from her horse and drowned in the Tiber, may be seen a sarcophagus +of rough granite, surmounted by a black marble slab. + +Luxuriant with wild flowers, and studded even in the winter season, with +daisies and violets, the sides of the tomb are now almost concealed. Over +the slab, one rose tree gracefully droops. + +When seen in the dew of the morning, when the cups of the roses are full, +and crystal drops, distilling from leaves and flowers, are slowly +trickling on the dark stone, you might think that inanimate nature was +weeping for the doom of beauty. + +Only one word is engraved on that slab. Should you visit Rome, and read +it, recollect this story. + +That word is--"Acmé!" + + * * * * * + +Sir Henry and his brother remained at Rome nearly a month. + +The former, with hopes that the exertion might be useful, in distracting +George from the constant contemplation of his loss, plunged at once into +the sight-seeing of "the eternal city." + +Their days were busily passed--in visiting the classic sites of Rome and +its neighbourhood--in wandering through the churches and convents--and +loitering through the long galleries of the Vatican. + +Delmé, fearfully looking back on the scenes that had occurred in Malta, +was apprehensive, that George's despair might lead to some violent +outbreak of feeling; and that mind and body might sink simultaneously. + +It was not so. + +That heavy infliction appeared to bear with it a torpedo-like power. The +first blow, abrupt and stunning, had paralysed. Afterwards, it seemed to +carry with it a benumbing faculty, which repressed external display. We +say _seemed_; for there were not wanting indications, even to Sir Henry's +partial eye, that the wound had sunk very deep, + +The mourner _might_ sink, although he did not writhe. + +In the mornings, George, followed by Thompson, would find his way to +the Protestant burial ground; and weep over the spot where his wife +lay interred. + +During the day, he was Sir Henry's constant and gentle companion; giving +vent to no passionate display, and uttering few unavailing complaints. Yet +it was now, that a symptom of disease first showed itself, which Delmé +could not account for. + +George would suddenly lean back, and complain of a spasm on the left side +of the chest. This would occasionally, but rarely, affect the circulation. +George's sleep too, was disturbed, and he frequently had to rise from his +bed, and pace the apartment; but this last circumstance, perhaps, was the +mere result of anxiety of mind. + +Sir Henry, without informing George, consulted a medical gentleman, who +was well known to him, and who happened to be at Rome at the time, +regarding these novel symptoms. + +He was reassured by being informed, that these pains were probably of a +neuralgic character, and not at all likely to proceed from any organic +affection. + +George Delmé's mind was perfectly clear and collected; with the +exception, that he would occasionally allude to his loss, in connection +with some scene or subject of interest before them; and in a tone, and +with language, that, appeared to his brother eccentric, but +inexpressibly touching. + +For instance, they were at Tivoli, and in the Syren's grotto, looking up +to the foaming fall, which dashes down a rude cleft, formed of +fantastically shaped rocks. + +Immediately below this, the waters make a semicircular bend. + +On their surface, a mimic rainbow was depicted in vivid colours. + +"Not for me!" burst forth the mourner, "not for me! does the arc of +promise wear those radiant hues. Prismatic rays once gilded my existence. +With Acmé they are for ever fled. But look! how the stream dashes on! Thus +have the waters of bitterness passed over my soul!" + +In the gallery of the Vatican, too, the very statues seemed to speak to +him of his loss. + +"I like not," would he exclaim, "that disdainful Apollo. Thus cold, +callous, and triumphing in the work of destruction, must be the angel of +death, who winged the shaft at my bright Acmé. + +"May the launching of his arrow, have been but the signal, for her +translation to a sphere, more pure than this. + +"Let us believe her the habitant of some bright planet, such as she +pointed out to us in the Bay of Naples--a seraph with a golden lyre--and +shrouded in a white cymar! No, no!" would he continue, turning his +footsteps towards the adjacent room, where the suffering pangs of +Apollo's high priest are painfully told in marble, "let let me rather +contemplate the Laocoon! His agony seems to sympathise with mine--but was +his fate as hard? _He_ saw his sons dying before him; could a son, or +sons, be as the wife of one's bosom? The serpent twines around him, too, +awaking exquisite corporeal pangs, but would it not have been luxury to +have died with my Acmé? + +"Can the body suffer as the mind?" + +At night, reposing from the fatigues of the day, might the brothers +frequently be seen at the fountain of Trevi; George listlessly swinging +on the chains near it, and steadfastly watching the water, as it gurgled +over the fantastic devices beneath--while his mind wandered back to +Malta, and to Acmé. + +Sir Henry's conduct during this trying period was most exemplary. Like the +mother, who lavishes her tenderest endearments on her sickliest child, +did he now endeavour to support his brother in his afflictions. + +As the bleak night wind came on, he would arouse George from his +reverie--would make him lean his tall form on his--would wrap closely +the folds of his cloak around him--would speak _so_ softly--and soothe +_so_ tenderly. + +And gratefully did George's heart respond to his kindness. He knew that +the sorrow which bowed _him_ to the earth, was also blanching the cheek of +his brother, and he loved him doubly for his solicitude. + +Ah! few brothers have thus made sweet the fraternal tie! + + + + +Chapter V. + +The East Indian. + + + + "Would I not stem + A tide of suffering, rather than forego + Such feelings for the hard and worldly phlegm + Of those whose thoughts are only turn'd below, + Gazing upon the ground, with thoughts that dare not glow?" + + +From Rome and our care-worn travellers, let us turn to Mrs. Vernon's +drawing-room at Leamington. + +An unforeseen event suddenly made a considerable change in the hopes and +prospects of our fair friend Julia. + +One warm summer's morning--it was on the very day, that the brothers, with +Acmé, were sailing close to the Calabrian mountains, and the latter was +telling her ghost story, within view of the sweet village of Capo del +Marte--one balmy summer's morning, the Miss Vernons were seated in a room, +furnished like most English drawing-rooms; that is to say, it had tables +for trinkets--a superb mirror--a Broadwood piano--an Erard harp--a +reclining sofa--and a woolly rug, on which slept, dreamt, and snored, a +small Blenheim spaniel. + +Julia had a mahogany frame before her, and was thoughtfully working a +beaded purse. + +The hue of health had left her cheek. Its complexion was akin to that of +translucent alabaster. The features wore a more fixed and regular aspect, +and their play was less buoyant and quick changing than heretofore. + +Deep thought! thus has been thy warfare for ever. First, thou stealest +from the rotund face its joyous dimples; then, dost thou gradually imprint +remorseless furrows on the anxious brow. + +A servant entered the room, and bore on a salver a letter addressed to +Miss Vernon. + +Its deep black binding--its large coat of arms--bespoke it death's +official messenger. + +Julia's cheek blanched as she glanced over its first page. + +Her sisters laid down their work, and looked towards her with some +curiosity. + +Julia burst into tears. + +"Poor uncle Vernon!" + +Her sisters seemed surprised at the announcement, but not to participate +in Julia's feelings on the occasion. + +One of them took up the letter, which had fallen to the ground, and the +two read its contents. + +"How very odd!" said they together, "uncle has left you Hornby, and +Catesfield, and almost all the property!" + +"Has he?" replied Julia, "I could not read it all, for however he may +have behaved to mamma, I ever found him good and kind; and had always +hoped, that we might have yet seen him with us once more. Poor old man! +and the letter says a lingering illness--how sad to think that we were +not with him to soothe his pillow, and cheer his death bed!" + +"Well!" said one of the sisters reddening, "I must say it was his own +fault. He would not live with his nearest relations, who loved him, and +tried to make his a happy home--but showed his caprice _then_, as he has +_now_. But I will go up stairs, and break it to mamma, and will tell her +you are an heiress." + +"An heiress!" replied Julia, with heart-broken tone! "an heiress!" The +tear quivered in her eye; but before the moisture had formed its liquid +bead, to course down her pallid cheek; a thought flashed across her, which +had almost the power to recal it to its cell. + +That thought comprised the fervency and timidity--the hopes and fears of +woman's first love. She thought of her last meeting with Sir Henry Delmé: +of the objections which might now be removed. + +A new vista of happiness seemed to open before her. + +It was but for a moment. + +The blush which that thought called up, faded away--the tear trickled +on--her features recovered their serenity--and she turned with a sweet +smile to her sisters. + +"My dear--dear sisters! it is long since we have seen my poor uncle. + +"Affection's ties may have been somewhat loosened. They cannot--I am +sure--have been dissolved. + +"Do not think me selfish enough to retain this generous bequest. + +"It may yet be in my power, and it no doubt is, to amend its too partial +provisions. + +"Let us be sisters still--sisters in equality--sisters in love and +affection." + +Julia Vernon was a very noble girl. She lived to become of age, and she +acted up to this her resolve. + +And, now, a few words as to the individual, by whose death the Miss +Vernons acquired such an accession of property. + +The Miss Vernons' father had an only and a younger brother, who at an +early age had embarked for the East, in the civil service. He had +acquired great wealth, and, after a residence of twenty-five years in the +Bengal Presidency, had returned to England a confirmed bachelor, and a +wealthy nabob. His brother died, while Mr. Benjamin Vernon was on his +passage home. He arrived in England, and found himself a stranger in his +native land. + +He shouldered his cane through Regent Street, and wandered in the +Quadrant's shade;--and in spite of the novelties that every where met +him--in spite of cabs and plated glass--felt perfectly isolated and +miserable. + +It is true, his Indian friends found him out at the Burlington, and their +cards adorned his mantelpiece--for Mr. Benjamin Vernon was said to be +worth a plum, and to be on the look out for a vacancy in the Directory. + +But although these were indisputably his Indian friends, it appeared to +Mr. Vernon, that they were no longer his friends of India. They seemed to +him to live in a constant state of unnatural excitement. + +_Some_ prided themselves on being stars in fashion's gayest +circle--others, whom he had hardly known, _were_ fathers--for their +families were educating in England---he now found surrounded by children, +on whose provision they were wholly intent. + +These were off at a tangent, "to see Peter Auber, at the India House," +or, "could not wait an instant; they were to meet Josh: Alexander +precisely at two." + +And then their flippant sons! taking wine with him, forsooth--adjusting +their neckcloths--and asking "whether he had met their father at Madras or +Calcutta?" + +This to a true Bengalee! + +Nor was this all! + +The young renegades ate their curry with a knife! + +Others, from whom he had parted years before, shook hands with him at the +Oriental, as if his presence there was a matter of course; and then asked +him "what he thought of Stanley's speech?" + +Now, there are few men breathing, who have their sympathies so keenly +alive--who show and who look for, such warmth of heart---who are so +chilled and hurt by indifference--as your bachelor East Indian. + +The married one may solace himself for coldness abroad, by sunny smiles at +home;--but the friendless bachelor is sick at heart, unless he encounter a +hearty pressure of the hand--an eye that sparkles, as it catches his--an +interested listener to his thousand and one tales of Oriental scenes, and +of Oriental good fellowship. + +Mr. Benjamin Vernon soon found this London solitude--it was worse than +solitude--quite insupportable. + +He determined to visit his brother's widow, and left town for Leamington. +The brother-in-law felt more than gratified at the cordial welcome that +there met him. + +His heart responded to their tones of kindness, and the old Indian, in the +warmth of his gratitude, thought he had at length discovered a congenial +home. He plunged into the extreme of dangerous intimacy; and was soon +domiciled in Mrs. Vernon's small mansion. + +It is absurd what trifles can extinguish friendships, and estrange +affection. Mr. Vernon had always had the controul of his hours--loved his +hookah, and his after-dinner dose. + +His brother's widow was an amiable person, but a great deal too +independent, to humour any person's foibles. + +She liked activity, and disliked smoking; and was too matter-of-fact in +her ideas, to conceive that these indulgences, merely from force of habit, +might have now become absolute necessities. + +Mrs. Vernon first used arguments; which were listened to very patiently, +and as systematically disregarded. + +As she thought she knew her ground better, she would occasionally secrete +the hookah, and indulge in eloquent discourse, on the injurious effects, +and waste of time, that the said hookah entailed. + +Nor could the old man enjoy in peace, his evening slumber. + +One of his nieces was always ready to shake him by the elbow, and address +him with an expostulatory "Oh! dear uncle!" which, though delivered with +silvery voice, seemed to him deuced provoking. + +For some time, the old Indian good-naturedly acquiesced in these +arrangements; and was far too polite at any time to scold, or +hazard a scene. + +Mrs. Vernon was all complacency, and imagined her triumph assured. + +Suddenly the tempest gathered to a head. Bachelor habits regained their +ascendancy; and Mrs. Vernon was thunderstruck, when it was one morning +duly announced to her, that her brother-in-law had purchased a large +estate in Monmouthshire, and that he intended permanently to reside there. + +Mrs. Vernon was deeply chagrined. + +She thought him ungrateful, and told him so. + +At the outset, our East Indian was anxious that his niece Julia, who had +been by far the most tolerant of his bachelor vices, should preside over +his new establishment; but the feelings of the mother and daughter were +alike opposed to this arrangement. + +This was the last rock on which he and his brother's widow split; and it +was decisive. + +From that hour, all correspondence between them ceased. + +Arrived in Wales, our nabob endeavoured to attach himself to country +pursuits--purchased adjoining estates--employed many labourers--and +greatly improved his property. But his rural occupations were quite at +variance with his acquired habits. + +He pined away--became hypochondriacal--and died, just three years after +leaving Mrs. Vernon, for want of an Eastern sun, and something to love. + + + + +Chapter VI. + +Veil + + +"The seal is set." + +On the day fixed for the departure of Sir Henry Delmé and his brother, +they together visited once more the sumptuous pile of St. Peter's, and +heard the voices of the practised choristers swell through the mighty +dome, as the impressive service of the Catholic Church was performed by +the Pope and his conclave. + +The morning dawn had seen George, as was his daily custom in Rome, +kneeling beside the grave of Acmé, and breathing a prayer for their +blissful reunion in heaven. + +As the widower staggered from that spot, the thought crossed him, and +bitterly poignant was that thought, that now might he bid a second +earthly farewell, to what had been his pride, and household solace. + +Now, indeed, "was the last link broken." Each hour--each traversed +league--was to bear him away from even the remains of his heart's +treasure. + +Their bones must moulder in a different soil. + +It was Sir Henry's choice that they should on that day visit Saint +Peter's; and well might the travellers leave Rome with so unequalled an +object fresh in the mind's eye. + +Whether we gaze on its exterior of faultless proportions--or on the +internal arrangement, where perfect symmetry reigns;--whether we consider +the glowing canvas--or the inspired marble,--or the rich mosaics;--whether +with the enthusiasm of the devotee, we bend before those gorgeous shrines; +or with the comparative apathy of a cosmopolite, reflect on the historical +recollections with which that edifice--the focus of the rays of +Catholicism--teems and must teem forever;--we must in truth acknowledge, +that _there_ alone is the one matchless temple, in strict and perfect +harmony with Imperial Rome. + +Gazing there--or recalling in after years its unclouded majesty--the +delighted pilgrim knows neither shade of disappointment--nor doth he +harbour one thought of decay. + +Where is the other building in the "eternal city," of which we can say +thus much? + +Sir Henry Delmé had engaged a vettura, which was to convey them with the +same horses as far as Florence. + +This arrangement made them masters of their own time, and was perhaps in +their case, the best that could be adopted; for slowness of progress, +which is its greatest objection, was rather desirable in George's then +state of health. + +As is customary, Delmé made an advance to the vetturino, who usually binds +himself to defray all the expenses at the inns on the road. + +The travellers dined early--left Rome in the afternoon--and proposed +pushing on to Neppi during the night. + +When about four miles on their journey, Delmé observed a mausoleum on the +side of the road, which appeared of ancient date, and rather curious +construction. + +On consulting his guide-book, he found it designated as the tomb of Nero. + +On examining its inscription, he saw that it was erected to the memory of +a Prefect of Sardinia; and he inwardly determined to distrust his +guide-book on all future occasions. + +The moon was up as they reached the post-house of Storta. + +The inn, or rather tavern, was a small wretched looking building, with a +large courtyard attached, but the stables appeared nearly--if not +quite--untenanted. + +Sir Henry's surprise and anger were great, when the driver, coolly +stopping his horses, commenced taking off their harness;--and informed the +travellers, that _there_ must they remain, until he had received some +instructions from his owner, which he expected by a vettura leaving Rome +at a later hour. + +It was in vain that the brothers expostulated, and reminded him of +his agreement to stop when they pleased, expressing their +determination to proceed. + +The driver was dogged and unmoved; and the travellers had neglected +to draw up a written bargain, which is a precaution absolutely +necessary in Italy. + +They soon found they had no alternative but to submit. It was with a very +bad grace they did so, for Englishmen have a due abhorrence of imposition. + +They at length stepped from the vehicle--indulged in some vehement +remonstrances--smiled at Thompson's voluble execrations, which they found +were equally unavailing--and were finally obliged to give up the point. + +They were shown into a small room. The chief inmates were some Papal +soldiers of ruffianly air, engaged in the clamorous game of moro. Unlike +the close shorn Englishmen, their beards and mustachios, were allowed to +grow to such length, as to hide the greater part of the face. + +Their animated gestures and savage countenances, would have accorded well +with a bandit group by Salvator. + +The landlord, an obsequious little man, with face pregnant with +mischievous cunning, was watching with interest, the turns of the game; +and assisting his guests, to quaff his vino ordinario, which Sir Henry +afterwards found was ordinary enough. + +Delmé's equanimity of temper was already considerably disturbed. + +The scanty accommodation afforded them, by no means diminished his choler; +which he began to expend on the obstinate driver, who had followed them +into the room, and was busily placing chairs round one of the tables. + +"See what you can get for supper, you rascal!" + +"Signore! there are some excellent fowls, and the very best wine of +Velletri." + +The wine was produced and proved vinegar. + +The host bustled away loud in its praise, and a few seconds afterwards, +the dying shriek of a veteran tenant of the poultry yard, warned them that +supper was preparing. + +"Thompson!" said George, rather languidly, "do, like a good fellow, see +that they put no garlic with the fowl!" + +"I will, Sir," replied the domestic; "and the wine, Mr. George, seems none +of the best. I have a flask of brandy in the rumble." + +"Just the thing!" said Sir Henry. + +To their surprise, the landlord proffered sugar and lemons. + +Sir Henry's countenance somewhat brightened, and he declared he would +make punch. + +Punch! thou just type of matrimony! thy ingredients of sweets and bitters +so artfully blended, that we know not which predominate,--so deceptive, +too, that we imbibe long and potent draughts, nor awake to a consciousness +of thy power, till awoke by headache. + +Hail to thee! all hail! + +Thy very name, eked out by thine appropriate receptacle, recals raptures +past--bids us appreciate joys present--and enjoins us duly to reverence +thee, if we hope for joys in futurity. + +A bowl of punch! each merry bacchanal rises at the call! + +Moderate bacchanals all! for where is the abandoned sot, who would not +rather dole out his filthy lucre, on an increase of the mere +alchohol--than expend it on those grateful adjuncts, which, throwing a +graceful veil over that spirit's grossness, impart to it its chief and its +best attraction. + +Up rises then each hearty bacchanal! thrice waving the clear tinkling +crystal, ere he emits that joyful burst, fresh from the heart, which from +his uncontrolled emotion, meets the ear husky and indistinct. + +Delmé squeezed the lemons into not a bad substitute for a bowl, viz. a red +earthen vase of rough workmanship, but elegant shape, somewhat resembling +a modern wine cooler. + +George stood at the inn door, wistfully looking upward; when he remarked +an intelligent boy of fourteen, with dark piercing eyes, observing him +somewhat earnestly. + +On finding he was noticed, he approached with an air of ingenuous +embarrassment--pulled off his cap--and said in a tone of enquiry, + +"Un Signore Inglese?" + +"Yes! my fine fellow! Do you know anything of me or the English?" + +"Oh yes!" replied the boy with vivacity, replacing his cap, "I have +travelled in England, and like London very much." + +George conversed with him for some time; and found him to be one of that +class, whose numbers make us unmindful of their wants or their +loneliness; who eke out a miserable pittance, by carrying busts of +plaster-of-Paris--grinding on an organ--or displaying through Europe, +the tricks of some poodle dog, or the eccentricities of a monkey +disguised in scarlet. + +It is rare that these come from a part of Italy so far south; but it +appeared in this instance, that Giuseppe's father being a carrier, had +taken him with him to Milan--had there met a friend, rich in an organ and +porcupine--and had entrusted the boy to his care, in order that he might +see the world, and make his fortune. + +Giuseppe gave a narrative of some little events, that had occurred to him +during his wanderings, which greatly interested George; and he finally +concluded, by saying that his father had now retired to his native place +at Barberini, where many strangers came to see the "antichità." George, +on referring to the guide book, found that this was indeed the case; and +that Isola Barberini is marked as the site of ancient Veii, the rival of +young Rome. + +"And when do you go there, youngster, and how far is it from this?" + +"I am going now, Signore, to be in time for supper. It is only a +'piccolo giro' across the fields; and looks as well by moonlight as at +any other time." + +"Ah!" replied George, "I would be glad to accompany you. Henry," said he, +as he entered the room of the inn, "I am away on a classic excursion to +Veii. The night is lovely--I have an excellent guide--and shall be back +before you have finished your punch making. + +"_Do_ let me go!" and he lowered his voice, and the tears swam in his eyes, +"I cannot endure these rude sounds of merriment, and a moonlight walk will +at least afford nothing that can _thus_ pain me." + +Sir Henry looked out. The night was perfectly fine. The young peasant, +all willingness, had already shouldered his bundle, and was preparing to +move forward. + +"You must not be late, George," said his brother, assenting to his +proposal. "Do not stay too long about the ruins. Remember that you are +still delicate, and that I shall wait supper for you." + +As the boy led on, George followed him in a foot path, which led through +fields of meadow land, corn, and rye. + +The fire-flies--mimic meteors--were giddily winging their way from bush to +bush,--illuming the atmosphere, and imparting to the scene a glittering +beauty, which a summer night in a northern clime cannot boast. + +As they approached somewhat nearer to the hamlet, their course was over +ground more rugged; and the disjointed fragments of rocks strewed, and at +intervals obstructed, the path. + +The cottages were soon reached. + +The villagers were all in front of their dwellings, taking their last meal +for the day, in the open air. + +The young guide stopped in front of a cottage, a little apart from the +rest. The family party were seated round a rude table, on which were +plates and napkins. + +Before the master of the house--a wrinkled old man, with long grey +hair--was a smoking tureen of bread soup, over which he was in the act of +sprinkling some grated Parmesan cheese. + +A plate of green figs, and a large water melon--the cocomero--made up +the repast. + +"Giuseppe! you are late for supper," said the old patriarch, as the boy +approached to whisper his introduction of the stranger. + +The old man waved his hand courteously--made a short apology for the +humble viands--and pointed to a vacant seat. + +"Many thanks," said George, "but my supper already awaits me. I will not, +however, interfere with my young guide. Show me the ruins, Giuseppe, and I +will trouble you no further." + +The boy moved on towards what were indeed ruins, or rather the +vestige of such. + +Here a misshapen stone--there a shattered column--decaying walls, +overgrown with nettles--arches and caves, choked up with rank +vegetation--bespoke remains unheeded, and but rarely visited. + +George threw the boy a piece of silver--heard his repeated cautions as +to his way to Storta--and wished him good night, as he hurried back to +the cottage. + +George Delmé sat on the shaft of a broken pillar, his face almost buried +in his hands, as he looked around him on a scene once so famous. + +But with him classic feelings were not upper-most. The widowed +heart mourned its loneliness; and in that calm hour found the full +relief of tears. + +The mourner rose, and turned his face homeward, slowly--sadly--but +resignedly. + +The heavens had become more overcast--and clouds occasionally were +hiding the moon. + +It was with some difficulty that George avoided the pieces of rock which +obstructed the path. + +The road seemed longer, and wilder, than he had previously thought it. + +Suddenly the loud bay of dogs was borne to his ear; and almost, before he +had time to turn from the path, two large hounds brushed past him, +followed by a rider--his gun slung before his saddle--and his horse +fearlessly clattering over the loose stones. + +The horseman seemed a young Roman farmer. He did not salute, and probably +did not observe our traveller. As the sound from the horse receded, and +the clamour of the dogs died away, a feeling almost akin to alarm crossed +George's mind. + +George was one, however, who rarely gave way to vague fears. + +It so happened that he was armed. + +Delancey had made him a present of a brace of pocket pistols, during the +days of their friendship; and, very much to Sir Henry's annoyance, George +had been in the habit, since leaving Malta, of constantly carrying these +about him. + +He strode on without adventure, until entering the field of rye. + +The pathway became very narrow--so that on either side him, he grazed +against the bearded ears. + +Suddenly he heard a rustling sound. The moon at the moment broke from +a dark cloud, and he fancied he discerned a figure near him half hid +by the rye. + +Again the moon was shrouded. + +A rustling again ensued. + +George felt a ponderous blow, which, aimed at the left shoulder, struck +his left arm. + +The collar of his coat was instantaneously grasped. + +For a moment, George Delmé felt irresolute--then drew a pistol from his +pocket and fired. + +The hold was loosened--a man fell at his feet. + +The pistol's flash revealed another figure, which diving into the +corn--fled precipitately. + +Let us turn to Sir Henry Delmé and to Thompson. + +For some time after George's departure, they were busily engaged in +preparing supper. + +While they were thus occupied, they noticed that the Papal soldiers +whispered much together--but this gave rise to no suspicion on +their part. + +One by one the soldiers strolled out, and the landlord betook himself to +the kitchen. + +The punch was duly made, and Sir Henry, leaving the room, paced +thoughtfully in front of the inn. + +At length it struck him, that it was almost time for his brother to +return. + +He was entering the inn, for the purpose of making some enquiries; when he +saw one of the soldiers cross the road hurriedly, and go into the +courtyard, where he was immediately joined by the vetturino. + +Delmé turned in to the house, and called for the landlord. + +Before the latter could appear, George rushed into the room. + +His hat was off--his eyes glared wildly--his long hair streamed back, +wet with the dews of night. He dragged with him the body of one of the +soldiers; and threw it with supernatural strength into the very centre +of the room. + +"Supper!" said he, "ha, ha, ha! _I_ have brought you supper!" + +The man was quite dead. + +The bullet had pierced his neck and throat. The blood was yet flowing, and +had dabbled the white vest. His beard and hair were clotted with gore. + +Shocked as Sir Henry was, the truth flashed on him. He lost not a moment +in beckoning to Thompson, and rushing towards the stable. The driver was +still there, conversing with the soldier. + +As Sir Henry approached, they evinced involuntary confusion; and the +vetturino---at once unmanned--fell on his knees, and commenced a +confession. + +They were dragged into the inn, and the officers of justice were sent for. + +Sir Henry Delmé's anxious regards were now directed to his brother. + +George had taken a seat near the corpse; and was sternly regarding it with +fixed, steady, and unflinching gaze. + +It is certainly very fearful to mark the dead--with pallid +complexion--glazed eye--limbs fast stiffening--and gouts of +blood--standing from out the face, like crimson excrescences on a +diseased leaf. + +But it is far more fearful than even this, to look on one, who is bound +to us by the nearest and most cherished ties--with cheek yet +glowing--expression's flush mantling still--and yet to doubt whether the +intellect, which adorned that frame--the jewel in the casket--hath not for +ever left its earthly tenement. + + + + +Chapter VII. + +The Vetturini. + + + "Far other scene is Thrasymene now." + + * * * * * + + "Fair Florence! at thy day's decline + When came the shade from Appennine, + And suddenly on blade and bower + The fire-flies shed the sparkling shower, + As if all heaven to earth had sent + Each star that gems the firmament; + 'Twas sweet at that enchanting hour, + To bathe in fragrance of the Italian clime, + By Arno's stream." + + +The brothers were detained a few days at Storta; while the Roman police, +who, to do them justice, were active on the occasion, and showed every +anxiety to give the travellers as little trouble as possible--were +investigating the occurrences we have described. It appeared that some +suspicion had previously attached itself to Vittore Santado, and that the +eyes of the police had been on him for some time. + +It now became evident, both from his own confession, and subsequent +discoveries, that this man had for years trafficked in the lives and +property of others;--and that the charge connected with George, was one of +the least grave, that would be brought against him. + +It was shown that he was an active agent, in aiding the infamous designs +of that inn, on the Italian frontier, whose enormities have given rise to +more than one thrilling tale of fiction, far out-done by the +reality--that inn--where the traveller retired to rest--but rose not +refreshed to prosecute his journey:--where--if he slumbered but once, +that sleep was his last. + +Until now, his career had been more than usually successful. + +The crafty vetturino had had the art to glean a fair reputation even from +his crimes. + +More than once, had he induced a solitary traveller to leave the high road +and his carriage, for the purpose of visiting some ruin, or viewing some +famous prospect. + +On such occasions, Vittore's accomplices were in waiting; and the +unsuspecting stranger--pillaged and alarmed, would return to the vettura +penniless. + +Vittore would be foremost in his commiseration; and with an air of blunt +sincerity, would proffer the use of his purse; such conduct ensuring the +gratitude, and the after recommendations of his dupe. + +It is supposed that the vetturino had contemplated rifling the carriage in +the inn yard; but some suspicion as to the servant's not leaving the +luggage, and the sort of dog fidelity displayed by Thompson towards the +brothers; had induced him rather to sanction an attempt on George during +his imprudent excursion to Barberini. + +Vittore Santado was executed near the Piazza del Popolo, and to this day, +over the chimney-piece of many a Roman peasant, may be seen the tale of +his crimes--his confessions--and his death; which perused by casual +neighbour guests--calls up many a sign of the cross--and devout look of +rustic terror. + +After the incident we have related in the last chapter, George Delmé, +contrary to Sir Henry's previous misgivings, enjoyed a good night's rest, +and arose tolerably calm and refreshed. + +The following night he was attacked with palpitation of the heart. + +His brother and Thompson felt greatly alarmed; but after an hour's severe +suffering, the paroxysm left him. + +Nothing further occurred at Storta, to induce them to attach very great +importance to the shock George's nerves had experienced; but in after +life, Sir Henry always thought, he could date many fatal symptoms from +that hour of intense excitement. + +Delmé was in Rome two days; during which period, his depositions, as +connected with Santado, were taken down; and he was informed that his +presence during the trial would not be insisted on. + +Delmé took that opportunity again to consult his medical friend; who +accompanied him to Storta, to visit George; and prescribed a regimen +calculated to invigorate the general system. + +He directed Delmé not to be alarmed, should the paroxysm return; and +recommended, that during the attack, George should lie down quietly--and +take twenty drops of Battley's solution of opium in a wine glass of water. + +As his friend did not appear alarmed, Delmé's mind was once more +assured; and he prepared to continue their journey to Florence, by the +way of Perugia. + +Punctual to his time, the new vetturino--as to whose selection Sir Henry +had been very particular--arrived at Storta; and the whole party, with +great willingness left the wretched inn, and its suspicious inmates. + +There certainly could not be a greater contrast, than between the two +Vetturini. + +Vittore Santado was a Roman; young--inclined to corpulency---oily +faced--plausible--and a most consummate rascal. + +Pietro Molini was a Milanese;--elderly--with hardly an ounce of flesh on +his body--with face scored and furrowed like the surface of the hedge +pippin--rough in his manners--and the most honest of his tribe. + +Poor Pietro Molini! never did driver give more cheering halloo to +four-footed beast! or with spirit more elate, deliver in the drawling +patois of his native paesi, some ditty commemorative of Northern liberty! +Honest Pietro! thy wishes were contained within a small compass! thy +little brown cur, snarling and bandy-legged--thy raw-boned steeds--these +were thy first care;--the safety of thy conveyance, and its various +inmates, the second. + +To thee--the most delightful melody in this wide world, was the jingling +of thy horses' bells, as all cautiously and slowly they jogged on their +way:--the most discordant sound in nature, the short husky cough, emitted +from the carcase of one of these, as disease and continued fatigue made +their sure inroads. + +Poor simple Pietro! his only pride was encased in his breeches pocket, and +it lay in a few scraps of paper--remembrances of his passengers. + +One and all lavished praise on Pietro! + +Yes! we have him again before us as we write--his ill-looking, but easy +carriage--his three steeds--the rude harness, eked out with clustering +knots of rope--and the happy driver, seated on a narrow bench, jutting +over the backs of his wheelers, as he contentedly whiffs from his small +red clay pipe--at intervals dropping off in a dose, with his cur on his +lap. At such a time, with what perfect nonchalance would he open his large +grey eyes, when recalled to the sense of his duties, by the volubly +breathed execration of some rival whip--and with what a silent look of +ineffable contempt, would he direct his horses to the side of the road, +and again steep his senses in quiescent repose. + +At night, Pietro's importance would sensibly increase, as after rubbing +down the hides of his favourites, and dropping into the capacious manger +the variegated oats; he would wait on his passengers to arrange the hour +of departure--would accept the proffered glass of wine, and give utterance +to his ready joke. + +A King might have envied Pietro Molini, as---the straw rustling beneath +him--he laid down in his hairy capote, almost between the legs of his +favourite horse. + +To do so will be to anticipate some years! + +Yet we would fain relate the end of the Vetturino. + +Crossing from Basle to Strasbourg, in the depth of winter, and descending +an undulated valley, Pietro slept as usual. + +Implicitly relying on the sure footedness of his horses, a fond dream of +German beer, German tobacco, and German sauerkraut, soothed his slumbers. + +A fragment of rock had been loosened from its ancient bed, and lay +across the road. + +Against this the leader tripped and fell. + +The shock threw Pietro and his dog from their exalted station. + +The pipe, which--whether he were sleeping or waking--had long decked the +cheek of the honest driver, now fell from it, and was dashed into a +thousand pieces. + +It was an evil omen. + +When the carriage was stopped, Pietro Molini was found quite lifeless. He +had received a kick from the ungrateful heel of his friend Bruno, and the +wheel of the carriage, it had been his delight to clean, had passed over +the body of the hapless vetturino. + +Ah! as that news spread! many an ostler of many a nation, shook his head +mournfully, and with saddened voice, wondered that the same thing had not +occurred years before. + +At the time, however, to which we allude--viz., the commencement of the +acquaintance between our English travellers, and Pietro; the latter +thought of anything rather than of leaving a world for which he had an +uncommon affection. + +He and Thompson soon became staunch allies; and the want of a common +language seemed only to cement their union. + +Not Noblet, in her inimitable performance of the Muette, threw more +expression into her sweet face--than did Pietro, into the furrowed lines +of his bronzed visage, as he endeavoured to explain to his friend some +Italian custom, or the reason why he had selected another dish, or +other wine; rather than that, to which they had done such justice the +previous day. + +Thompson's gestures and countenance in reply, partook of a more stoical +character; but he was never found wanting, when a companion was needed for +a bottle or a pipe. + +Their friendship was not an uninstructive one. + +It would have edified him, who prides himself on his deep knowledge of +human nature, or who seizes with avidity on the minuter traits of a +nation, to note with what attention the English valet, would listen to a +Milanese arietta; whose love notes, delivered by the unmusical Pietro, +were about as effectively pathetic as the croak of the bull frog in a +marsh, or screech of owl sentimentalising in ivied ruin; and to mark +with what gravity, the Italian driver would beat his hand against the +table; in tune to "Ben Baxter," or "The British Grenadiers," roared out +more Anglico. + +There are two grand routes from Home to Florence:--the one is by Perugia, +the other passes through Sienna. The former, which is the one Sir Henry +selected, is the most attractive to the ordinary traveller; who is enabled +to visit the fall of Terni, Thrasymene, and the temple of Clitumnuss The +first, despite its being artificial, is equal in our opinion, to the +vaunted Schaffhausen;--the second is hallowed in story;--and the third has +been illustrated by Byron. + + "Pass not unblest the genius of the place! + If through the air a zephyr more serene + Win to the brow, 'tis his; and if ye trace + Along the margin a more eloquent green, + If on the heart, the freshness of the scene + Sprinkle its coolness, and from the dry dust + Of weary life a moment lave it clean + With nature's baptism,--'tis to him ye must + Pay orisons for this suspension of disgust." + +Poor George Delmé showed little interest in anything connected with +this journey. Sir Henry embarked on the lake above, in order to see the +cascade of Terni in every point of view; and afterwards took his +station with George, on various ledges of rock below the fall--whence +the eye looks upward, on that mystic scene of havoc, turbulence, and +mighty rush of water. + +But the cataract fell in snowy sheet--the waves hissed round the sable +rocks--and the rainbow played on the torrent's foam;--but these +possessed not a charm, to rouse to a sense of their beauty, the sad +heart of the invalid. + +Near the lake of Thrasymene, they passed some hours; allowing Pietro to +put up his horses at Casa di Piano. Sir Henry, with a Livy in his hand, +first proceeded to the small eminence, looking down on the round tower of +Borghetto; and on that insidious pass, which his fancy peopled once more, +with the advancing troops of the Consul. + +The soldier felt much interested, and attempted to impart that interest to +George; but the widowed husband shook his head mournfully; and it was +evident, that his thoughts were not with Flaminius and his entrapped +soldiers, but with the gentle Acmé, mouldering in her lonely grave. + +From Borghetto, they proceeded to the village of Torre, where Delmé was +glad to accept the hospitable offer of its Priest, and procure seats for +himself and George, in the balcony of his little cottage. From this +point, they looked down on the arena of war. + +There it lay, serene and basking in the rays of the meridian sun. + +On either side, were the purple summits of the Gualandra hills. + +Beneath flowed the little rivulet, once choked by the bodies of the +combatants; but which now sparkled gaily through the valley, although at +intervals, almost dried up by the fierce heat of summer. + +The lake was tranquil and unruffled--all on its margin, hushed and +moveless. What a contrast to that exciting hour, which Sir Henry was +conjuring up again; when the clang of arms, and crash of squadrons, +commingled with the exulting shout, that bespoke the confident hope of the +wily Carthaginian; and with that sterner response, which hurled back the +indomitable spirit of the unyielding, but despairing Roman! + +Our travellers quitted the Papal territories; and entering Tuscany, passed +through Arezzo, the birth-place of Petrarch; arriving at Florence just +previous to sunset. + +As they reached the Lung' Arno, Pietro put his horses to a fast trot, and +rattling over the flagged road, drew up in front of Schneidorff's with an +air of greater importance, than his sorry vehicle seemed to warrant. + +The following morning, George Delmé was taken by his brother, to visit +the English physician resident at Florence; and again was Delmé informed, +that change of scene, quiet, and peace of mind, were what his brother +most required. + +George was thinner perhaps, than when at Rome, and his lip had lost its +lustrous red; but he concealed his physical sufferings, and always met +Henry with the same soft undeviating smile. + +On their first visit to the Tribune, George was struck with the Samian +Sibyl of Guercino. + +In the glowing lip--the silken cheek--the ivory temple--the eye of +inspiration--the bereaved mourner thought he could trace, some faint +resemblance to the lost Acmé. Henceforward, it was his greatest pleasure, +to remain with eyes fixed on that masterpiece of art. + +Sir Henry Delmé, accompanied by the custode, would make himself +acquainted with the wonders of the Florentine gallery; and every now and +then, return to whisper some sentence, in the soothing tones of brotherly +kindness. At night, their usual haunt was the public square--where the +loggio of Andrea Orcagna presents so much, that may claim attention. + +There stands the David! in the freshness of his youth! proudly regarding +his adversary--ere he overthrow, with the weapon of the herdsman, the +haughty giant. + +The inimitable Perseus, too! the idol of that versatile genius, Benvenuto +Cellini:--an author! a goldsmith! a cunning artificer in jewels! a founder +in bronze! a sculptor in marble! the prince of good fellows! the favored +of princes! the warm friend and daring lover! as we gaze on his glorious +performance, and see beside it the Hercules, and Cacus of his rival Baccio +Bandanelli,--we seem to live again in those days, with which Cellini has +made us so familiar:--and almost naturally regard the back of the bending +figure, to note if its muscles warrant the stinging sarcasm of Cellini, +which we are told at once dispelled the pride of the aspiring +artist--"that they resembled cucumbers!" + +The rape of the Sabines, too! the white marble glistening in the +obscurity, until the rounded shape of the maiden seems to elude the strong +grasp of the Roman! + +Will she ever fly from him thus? will the home of her childhood be ever as +dear? No! the husband's love shall replace the father's blessing; and the +affections of the daughter, shall yield to the tender yearnings of the +mother's bosom. + +We marvel not that George's footsteps lingered there! + +How often have _we_--martyrs to a hopeless nympholepsy--strayed through +that piazza, at the self same hour--there deemed that the heart would +break--but never thought that it might slowly wither. + +How often have _we_ gleaned from those beauteous objects around, but +aliment to our morbid griefs;--and turning towards the gurgling fountain +of Ammonati, and gazing on its trickling waters, have vainly tried to +arrest our trickling tears! + + + + +Chapter VIII. + +Arguà. + + + + "There is a tomb in Arquà: rear'd in air, + Pillar'd in their sarcophagus, repose + The bones of Laura's lover." + + * * * * * + + "I stood in Venice on the Bridge of Sighs." + + +How glorious is the thrill, which shoots through our frame, as we first +wake to the consciousness of our intellectual power; as we feel the +spirit--the undying spirit--ready to burst the gross bonds of flesh, and +soar triumphant, over the sneers of others, and our own mistrust. + +How does each thought seem to swell in our bosom, as if impatient of the +confined tenement--how do the floating ideas congregate--how does each +impassioned feeling subdue us in turn, and long for a worthy utterance! + +This is a very bright moment in the history of our lives. It is one in +which we feel--indubitably feel--that we are of the fashioning of +God;--that the light which intellect darts around us, is not the result of +education--of maxims inculcated--or of principles instilled;--but that it +is a ray caught from the brightness of eternity--that when our wavering +pulse has ceased to beat, and the etherialised elements have left the +baser and the useless dust--that ray shall not be quenched; but shall +again be absorbed in the full effulgence from which it emanated. + +Surely then, if such a glorious moment as this, be accorded to even the +inferior votaries of knowledge--to the meaner pilgrims, struggling on +towards the resplendent shrines of science:--how must _he_--the divine +Petrarch, who could so exquisitely delineate love's hopes and story, as to +clothe an earthly passion, with half the attributes of an immortal +affection:--how must _he_ have revelled in the proud sensations called +forth at such a moment! + +It is the curse of the poet, that he must perforce leave the golden +atmosphere of loftiest aspirations--step from the magic circle, where all +is pure and etherial--and find himself the impotent denizen, of a sombre +and an earthly world, + +It was in the early part of September, that the brothers turned their +backs on the Etrurian Athens. Their destination was Venice, and their +route lay through Bologna and Arquà. + +They had been so satisfied, under the guidance of their old vetturino, +that Sir Henry made an arrangement, which induced him to be at Florence, +at the time of their departure;--and Pietro and Thompson were once more +seated beside each other. + +Before commencing the ascent of the Appennines, our travellers visited the +country seat of the Archduke; saw the gigantic statue executed by John of +Bologna, which frowns over the lake; and at Fonte-buona, cast a farewell +glance on Florence, and the ancient Fiesole. + +As they advanced towards Caravigliojo, the mountains began to be more +formidable, and the scenery to lose its smiling character. + +Each step seemed to add to the barrenness of the landscape. + +The wind came howling down from the black volcanic looking ridges--then +swept tempestuously through some deep ravine. + +On either side the road, tall red poles presented themselves, a guide to +the traveller during winter's snows; while, in one exposed gully, were +built large stone embankments for his protection--as a Latin inscription +intimated--from the violence of the gales. + +Few signs of life appeared. + +Here and there, her white kerchief shading a sun-burnt face, a young +Bolognese shepherd girl might be seen on some grassy ledge, waving her +hand coquettishly; while her neglected flock, with tinkling bell, browsed +on the edge of the precipice. As they neared Bologna, however, the +scenery changed. + +Festoons of grapes, trained to leafy elms, began to appear--white villas +chequered the suburbs--and it was with a pleasurable feeling, that they +neared the peculiar looking city, with its leaning towers, and old +façades. It is the only one, where the Englishman recals Mrs, Ratcliffe's +harrowing tales; and half expects to see a Schedoni, advancing from some +covered portico. + +The next day found them in the Bolognese gallery, which is the first which +duly impresses the traveller, coming from the north, with the full powers +of the art. + +The soul of music seems to dwell in the face of the St. Cecilia; and the +cup of maternal anguish to be filled to the brim, as in Guide's Murder of +the Innocents, the mother clasps to her arms the terrified babe, and +strives to flee from the ruthless destroyer. + +It was on the fourth morning from their arrival in Bologna, that they +approached the poet's "mansion and his sepulchre." + +As they threaded the green windings of vine covered hills, these gradually +assumed a bolder outline, and, rising in separate cones, formed a sylvan +amphitheatre round the lovely village of Arquà. + +The road made an abrupt ascent to the Fontana Petrarca. A large ruined +arch spanned a fine spring, that rushes down the green slope. + +In the church-yard, on the right, is the tomb of Petrarch. + +Its peculiarly bold elevation--the numberless thrilling associations +connected with the poet--gave a tone and character to the whole scene. The +chiaro-scuro of the landscape, was from the light of his genius--the shade +of his tomb. + +The day was lovely--warm, but not oppressive. The soft green of the hills +and foliage, checked the glare of the flaunting sunbeams. + +The brothers left the carriage to gaze on the sarcophagus of red marble, +raised on pilasters; and could not help deeming even the indifferent +bronze bust of Petrarch, which surmounts this, to be a superfluous +ornament in such a scene. + +The surrounding landscape--the dwelling place of the poet--his tomb facing +the heavens, and disdaining even the shadow of trees--the half-effaced +inscription of that hallowed shrine--all these seemed appropriate, and +melted the gazer's heart. + +How useless! how intrusive! are the superfluous decorations of art, amid +the simpler scenes of nature. + +Ornament is here misplaced. The feeling heart regrets its presence at the +time, and attempts, albeit in vain, to banish it from after recollections. + +George could not restrain his tears, for he thought of the dead; and they +silently followed their guide to Petrarch's house, now partly used as a +granary. Passing through two or three unfinished rooms, whose walls were +adorned with rude frescoes of the lover and his mistress, they were shown +into Petrarch's chamber, damp and untenanted. + +In the closet adjoining, were the chair and table consecrated by the poet. + +There did he sit--and write--and muse--and die! + +George turned to a tall narrow window, and looked out on a scene, fair and +luxuriant as the garden of Eden. + +The rich fig trees, with their peculiar small, high scented fruit, mixed +with the vines that clustered round the lattice. + +The round heads of the full bearing peach trees, dipped down in a leafy +slope beneath a grassy walk;--and this thicket of fruit was charmingly +enlivened, by bunches of the scarlet pomegranate, now in the pride of +their blossom. + +The poet's garden alone was neglected--rank herbage choking up its +uncultivated flowers. + +A thousand thoughts filled the mind of George Delmé. + +He thought of Laura! of his own Acmé! + +With swimming glance, he looked round the chamber. + +It was almost without furniture, and without ornament. In a niche, and +within a glass case, was placed the skeleton of a dumb favourite of +Petrarch's. + +Suddenly George Delmé felt a faintness stealing over him:--and he +turned to bare his forehead, to catch the slight breeze from below +redolent of sweets. + +This did not relieve him. + +A sharp pain across the chest, and a fluttering at the heart, as of a bird +struggling to be free, succeeded this faintness. + +Another rush of blood to the head:--and a snap, as of some tendon, was +distinctly felt by the sufferer. + +His mouth filled with blood. + +A small blood-vessel had burst, and temporary insensibility ensued. + +Sir Henry was wholly unprepared for this scene. + +Assisted by Thompson, he bore him to the carriage--sprinkled his face with +water--and administered cordials. + +George's recovery was speedy; and it almost seemed, as if the rupture of +the vessel had been caused by the irregular circulation, for no further +bad effects were felt at the time. + +The loss of blood, however, evidently weakened him; and his spasms +henceforward were more frequent. + +He became less able to undergo fatigue; and his mind, probably in +connection with the nervous system, became more than ordinarily excited. + +There was no longer wildness in his actions; but in his thoughts and +language, was developed a poetical eccentricity--a morbid sympathy with +surrounding scenes and impressions, which kept Sir Henry Delmé in a +constant state of alarm,--and which was very remarkable. + + * * * * * + +"What! at Mestré already, Pietro?" said Sir Henry. + +"Even so, Signore! and here is the gondola to take you on to Venice." + +"Well, Pietro! you must not fail to come and see us at the inn." + +The vetturino touched his hat, with the air of a man who would be very +sorry _not_ to see them. + +It was not long ere the glittering prow of the gondola pointed to Venice. + +Before the travellers, rose ocean's Cybele; springing from the waters, +like some fairy city, described to youthful ear by aged lip. + +The fantastic dome of St. Mark--the Palladian churches--the columned +palaces--the sable gondolas shooting through the canals--made its aspect, +as is its reality, unique in the world. + +"Beautiful, beautiful city!" said George, his eye lighting up as he spoke, +"thou dost indeed look a city of the heart--a resting place for a wearied +spirit. And our gondola, Henry, should be of burnished silver; and those +afar--so noiselessly cutting their way through the glassy surface--those +should be angels with golden wings; and, instead of an oar flashing +freely, a snowy wand of mercy should beat back the kissing billows. + +"And Acmé, with her George, should sit on the crystal cushion of glory--and +we would wait expectant for you a long long time--and then you should join +us, Henry, with dear Emily. + +"And Thompson should be with us, too, and recline on the steps of our bark +as he does now. + +"And together we would sail loving and happy through an amethystine sea." + +During their stay in Venice, George, in spite of his increasing languor, +continued to accompany his brother, in his visits to the various objects +of interest which the city can boast. + +The motion of the gondola appeared to have a soothing influence on the +mind of the invalid. + +He would recline on the cushions, and the fast flowing tears would course +down his wan cheeks. + +These, however, were far from being a proof of suffering;--they were +evidently a relief to the surcharged spirit. + +One evening, a little before sunset, they found themselves in the crowded +piazza of Saint Mark. The cafés were thronged with noble Venetians, come +to witness the evening parade of an Austrian regiment. The sounds of +martial music, swelled above the hum of the multitude; and few could +listen to those strains, without participating in some degree, in the +military enthusiasm of the hour. + +But the brothers turned from the pageantry of war, as their eyes fell on +the emblems of Venice free--the minarets of St. Mark, with the horses of +Lysippus, a spoil from Byzantium--the flagless poles that once bore the +banners of three tributary states--the highly adorned azure clock--the +palaces of the proud Doges--where Faliero reigned--where Faliero +suffered:--these were before them. + +Their steps mechanically turned to the beautiful Campanile. + +George, leaning heavily on Sir Henry's arm, succeeded in gaining the +summit: and they looked down from thence, on that wonderful city. + +They saw the parade dismissed--they heard the bugle's fitful blast +proclaim the hour of sunset. The richest hues of crimson and of gold, +tinted the opposite heavens; while on those waters, over which the +gondolas were swiftly gliding, quivered another city, the magic reflection +of the one beneath them. + +They gazed on the scene in silence, till the grey twilight came on. + +"Now, George! it is getting late," said Sir Henry. "I wonder whether we +could find some old mariner, who could give us a chaunt from Tasso?" + +Descending from the Campanile, Sir Henry made enquiries on the quay, and +with some difficulty found gondoliers, who could still recite from their +favourite bard. + +Engaging a couple of boats, and placing a singer in each, the brothers +were rowed down the Canale Giudecca--skirted many of the small islands, +studding the lagoons; and proceeded towards the Adriatic. + +Gradually the boats parted company, and just as Sir Henry was about to +speak, thinking there might be a mistake as to the directions; the +gondolier in the other boat commenced his song,--its deep bass mellowed by +distance, and the intervening waves. The sound was electric. + +It was so exquisitely appropriate to the scene, and harmonised so +admirably, with the associations which Venice is apt to awaken, that one +longed to be able to embody that fleeting sound--to renew its magic +influence in after years. The pen may depict man's stormy feelings: the +sensitive caprice of woman:--the most vivid tints may be imitated on the +glowing canvas:--the inspired marble may realise our every idea of the +beauty of form:--a scroll may give us at will, the divine inspiration, of +Handel:--but there are sounds, as there are subtle thoughts, which, away +from the scenes, where they have charmed us, can never delight us more. + +It was not until the second boatman answered the song, that the brothers +felt how little the charm lay, in the voice of the gondolier, and that, +heard nearer, the sounds were harsh and inharmonious. + +They recited the death of Clorinda; the one renewing the stanza, whenever +there was a momentary forgetfulness on the part of the other. + +The clock of St. Mark had struck twelve, before the travellers had reached +the hotel. George had not complained of fatigue, during a day which even +Sir Henry thought a trying one; and the latter was willing to hope that +his strength was now increasing. + +Their first design had been to proceed though Switzerland, resting for +some time at Geneva. Their plans were now changed, and Sir Henry Belme +determined, that their homeward route should be through the Tyrol and +Bavaria, and eventually down the Rhine. + +He considered that the water carriage, and the very scenes themselves, +might prove beneficial to the invalid. + +Thompson was sent over to Mestré, to inform Pietro; and they prepared to +take their departure. + +"You have been better in Venice," said Sir Henry, as they entered the +gondola, that was to bear them from the city. "God grant that you may long +remain so!" + +George shook his head doubtingly. + +"My illness, Henry, is not of the frame alone, although that is fragile +and shattered. + +"The body lingers on without suffering; but the mind--a very bright sword +in a worthless sheath--is forcing its way through. Some feelings must +remain to the last--gratitude to you--love to dear Emily! Acmé, wife of my +bosom! when may I join you?" + + + + +Chapter IX. + +Inspruck. + + + + "Oh there is sweetness in the mountain air, + And life, that bloated ease can never hope to share." + + +Inspruck! a thousand recollections flash across us, as we pronounce the +word! + +We were there at a memorable period; when the body of the hero of the +Tyrol--the brave, the simple-minded Anderl Hofer--was removed from Mantua, +where he so nobly met a patriot's death, to the capital of the country, +which he had so gallantly defended. + +The event was one, that could not fail to be impressive; and to us it was +doubly so, for that very period formed an epoch in our lives. + +We had lost! we had suffered! we had mourned! Our mind's strength was +shook. Ordinary remedies were worse than futile. + +We threw ourselves into the heart of the Tyrol, and became resigned if +not happy. + +Romantic country! did not duty whisper otherwise, how would we fly to thy +rugged mountains, and find in the kindly virtues of thine inhabitants, +wherewithal to banish misanthropy, and it may be purchase oblivion. + +Noble land! where the chief in his hall--the peasant in his hut--alike +open their arms with sheltering hospitality, to welcome the +stranger--where kindness springs from the heart, and dreams not of sordid +gain--where courtesy attends superior rank, without question, but without +debasement--where the men are valiant, the women virtuous--where it needed +but a few home-spun heroes--an innkeeper and a friar--to rouse up to arms +an entire population, and in a brief space to drive back the Gallic +foeman! Oh! how do we revert with choking sense of gratitude, to the years +we have spent in thy bosom! + +Oh! would that we were again treading the mountain's summit--the rifle +our comrade--and a rude countryman, our guide and our companion. + +In vain! in vain! the net of circumstance is over us! + +We may struggle! but cannot escape from its close meshes. + +We have said that we were at Inspruck at this period. + +It was our purpose, on the following morning, to take our departure. + +With renewed health, and nerves rebraced, we hoped to combat successfully, +a world that had already stung us. + +There was a group near the golden-roofed palace, that attracted our +attention. It consisted of a father and his five sons. + +They were dressed in the costume of the country; wearing a tapering +hat, with black ribbons and feather--a short green jerkin--a red vest +surmounted by broad green braces--and short boots tightly laced to +the ancle. + +They formed a picture of free mountaineers. + +We left our lodging, and passed them irresolutely twice or thrice. + +The old man took off his hat to the stranger. + +"Sir! I am of Sand, in Passeyer. + +"Anderl Hofer was my schoolfellow; and these are my boys, whom I have +brought to see all that remains of him. Oh! Sir! they did not conquer him, +although the murderers shot him on the bastion; but, as he wrote to +Pulher--_his_ friend and mine--it was indeed 'in the name, and by the help +of the Lord, that he undertook the voyage,'" + +We paced through the city sorrowfully. It was night, as we passed by the +church of the Holy Cross. + +Solemn music there arrested our footsteps; and we remembered, that high +mass would that night be performed, for the soul of the deceased patriot. + +We entered, and drew near the mausoleum of Maximilian the First:--leaning +against a colossal statue in bronze, and fixing our eyes on a bas relief +on the tomb: one of twenty-four tablets, wrought from Carrara's whitest +marble, by the unrivalled hand of Colin of Malines! + +One blaze of glory enveloped the grand altar:--vapours of incense floated +above:--and the music! oh it went to the soul! + +Down! down knelt the assembled throng! + +Our mind had been previously attuned to melancholy; it now reeled under +its oppression. + +We looked around with tearful eye. Old Theodoric of the Goths seemed to +frown from his pedestal. + +We turned to the statue against which we had leant. + +It was that of a youthful and sinewy warrior. + +We read its inscription. + +Artur, Konig Von England + +"Ah! hast _thou_ too thy representative, my country?" + +We looked around once more. + +The congregation were prostrate before the mysterious Host; and we alone +stood up, gazing with profound awe and reverence on the mystic rite. + +The rough caps of the women almost hid their fair brows. In the upturned +features of the men, what a manly, yet what a devout expression reigned! + +Melodiously did the strains proceed from the brazen-balustraded +orchestra; while sweet young girls smiled in the chapel of silver, as +they turned to Heaven their deeply-fringed eyes, and invoked pardon for +their sins. + +Alas! alas! that such as these _should_ err, even in thought! that our +feelings should so often mislead us,--that our very refinement, should +bring temptation in its train,--and our fervent enthusiasm, but too +frequently terminate in vice and crime! + +Our whole soul was unmanned! and well do we remember the morbid prayer, +that we that night offered to the throne of mercy. + +"Pity us! pity us! Creator of all! + +"With thousands around, who love--who reverence--whose hearts, in unison +with ours, tremble at death, yet sigh for eternity;--who gaze with eye +aspiring, although dazzled--as, the curtain of futurity uplifted, fancy +revels in the glorious visions of beatitude:--even here, oh God! hear our +prayer and pity us! + +"We are moulded, though faintly, in an angel's form. Endow us with an +angel's principles. For ever hush the impure swellings of passion! lull +the stormy tide of contending emotions! let not circumstances overwhelm! + +"Receive our past griefs: the griefs of manhood, engrafted on youth; accept +these tears, falling fast and bitterly! take them as past atonement,--as +mute witnesses that we feel:--that reason slumbers not, although passion +may mislead:--that gilded temptation may overcome, and gorgeous pleasure +intoxicate:--but that sincere repentance, and bitter remorse, are +visitants too. + +"Oh guide and pity us!" + +A cheerless dawn was breaking, and a thick damp mist was lazily hanging on +the water's surface, as our travellers waved the hand to Venice. + +"Fare thee well!" said George, as he rose in the gondola to catch a last +glimpse of the Piazzetta, "sea girt city! decayed memorial of patrician +splendour, and plebeian debasement! of national glory, blended with +individual degradation!--fallen art thou, but fair! It was not with +freshness of heart, I reached thee:--I dwelt not in thee, with that +jocund spirit, whose every working or gives the lip a smile, or moistens +the eye of feeling with a tear. + +"Sad were my emotions! but sadder still, as I recede from thy shores, bound +on a distant pilgrimage. Acmé! dear Acmé! would I were with thee!" + +Passing through Treviso, they stopped at Castel Franco, which presents one +of the best specimens of an Italian town, and Italian peasantry, that a +stranger can meet with. + +At Bassano, they failed not to visit the Municipal Hall, where are the +principal pictures of Giacomo da Ponte, called after his native town. + +His style is peculiar. + +His pictures are dark to an excess, with here and there a vivid light, +introduced with wonderful effect. + +From this town, the ascent of the mountains towards Ospedale is commenced; +and the route is one full of interest. + +On the right, lay a low range of country, adorned with vineyards; beyond +which, the mountains rose in a precipitous ridge, and closed the scene +magnificently. + +The Brenta was then reached, and continued to flow parallel with the road, +as far as eye could extend. + +Farther advanced, the mountains presented a landscape more varied:--_here_ +chequered with hamlets, whose church hells re-echoed in mellow harmony: +there--the only break to their majesty, being the rush of the river, as it +formed rolling cascades in its rapid route; or beat in sparkling foam, +against the large jagged rocks, which opposed its progress. + +At one while, came shooting down the stream, some large raft of timber, +manned by adventurous navigators, who, with graceful dexterity, guided +their rough bark, clear of the steep banks, and frequent fragments of +rock;--at another--as if to mark a road little frequented, a sharp turn +would bring them on some sandalled damsel, sitting by the road side, +adjusting her ringlets. Detected in her toilet, there was a mixture of +frankness and modesty, in the way in which she would turn away a blushing +face, yet neglect not, with native courtesy, to incline the head, and +wave the sun-burnt hand. + +From Ospedale, nearing the bold castle of Pergini, which effectually +commands the pass; the travellers descended through regions of beauty, to +the ancient Tridentum of Council celebrity. + +The metal roof of its Duomo was glittering in the sunshine; and the Adige +was swiftly sweeping by its fortified walls. + +Leaving Trent, they reached San Michele, nominally the last Italian town +on the frontier; but the German language had already prepared them for a +change of country. + +The road continued to wind by the Adige, and passing through Lavis, and +Bronzoli, the brothers halted for the night at Botzen, a clean German +town, watered by the Eisach. + +The following day's journey, was one that few can take, and deem their +time misspent. + +Mossy cliffs--flowing cascades--"chiefless castles breaking stern +farewells"--all these were met, and met again, as through Brixen, they +reached the village of Mülks. + +They had intended to have continued their route; but on drawing up at the +post-house, were so struck with the gaiety of the scene, that they +determined to remain for the night. + +Immediately in rear of the small garden of the inn, and with a gentle +slope upwards, a wide piece of meadow land extended. On its brow, was +pitched a tent, or rather, a many-coloured awning; and, beside it, a pole +adorned with flags. This was the station for expert riflemen, who aimed in +succession at a fluttering bird, held by a silken cord. + +The sloping bank of the hill was covered with spectators. + +Age looked on with sadness, and mourned for departed manhood--youth with +envy, and sighed for its arrival. + +After seeing their bedrooms, George leant on Henry's arm, and, crossing +the garden, they took a by-path, which led towards the tent. + +The strangers were received with respect and cordiality. + +Seats were brought, and placed near the scene of contest. + +The trial of skill over, the victor took advantage, of his right, and +selected his partner from the fairest of the peasant girls. + +Shrill pipes struck up a waltz--a little blind boy accompanied these on a +mandolin--and in a brief space, the hill's flat summit was swarming with +laughing dancers. + +Nor was youth alone enlisted in Terpsichore's service. + +The mother joined in the same dance with the daughter; and not +unfrequently tripped with foot as light. + +Twilight came on, and the patriarchs of the village, and with them our +travellers, adjourned to the inn. + +The matrons led away their reluctant charges, and the youth of the village +alone protracted the revels. + +The brothers seated themselves at a separate table, and watched the +village supper party, with some interest. + +Bowls of thick soup, with fish swimming in butter, and fruit floating in +cream, were successively placed in the middle of the table. + +Each old man produced his family spoon, and helped himself with primitive +simplicity:--then lighted his pipe, and told his long tale, till he had +exhausted himself and his hearers. + +Nor must we forget the comely waiter. + +A bunch of keys hanging on one side,--a large leathern purse on the +other--with a long boddice, and something like a hoop--she really +resembled, save that her costume was more homely, one of the portraits +of Vandyke. + +The brothers left Mülks by sunrise, and were not long, ere they reached +the summit of the Brenner, the loftiest point of the Tyrol. + +From the beautiful town of Gries, embosomed in the deep valley, until they +trod the steep Steinach, the mountain scenery at each step become more +interesting. The road was cut on the face of a mountain. On one side, +frowned the mountain's dark slope; on the other, lay a deep precipice, +down which the eye fearfully gazed, and saw naught but the dark fir trees +far far beneath. Dividing that dense wood, a small stream, entangled in +the dark ravine, glided on in graceful windings, and looked more silvery +from its contrast with the sombre forest. + +At the Steinach Pietro pulled up, to show the travellers the capital +of the Tyrol, and to point in the distance to Hall, famous for its +salt works. + +Casting a hasty glance, on the romantic vale beneath them:--the fairest +and most extensive in the northern recesses of the Alps, Sir Henry desired +his driver to continue his journey. + +They rapidly descended, and passing by the column, commemorative of the +repulse of the French and Bavarian armies, soon found themselves the +inmates of an hotel in Inspruck. + + + + +Chapter X. + +The Students' Stories. + + + + "The lilacs, where the robins built, + And where my brother set + The laburnum on his birth-day-- + _The tree_ is living yet." + + +At Inspruck, Delmé had the advantage of a zealous, if not an appropriate +guide, in the red-faced landlord of the hotel, whose youth had been passed +in stirring times, which had more than once, required the aid of his arm, +and which promised to tax his tongue, to the last day of his life. + +He knew all the heroes of the Tyrolese revolution--if revolution it can be +called--and had his tale to tell of each. + +He had got drunk with Hofer,--had visited Joseph Speckbacker, when hid in +his own stable,--and had confessed more than once to Haspinger, the +fighting Capuchin. + +His stories were very characteristic; and, if they did not breathe all the +poetry of patriotism, were at least honest versions, of exploits performed +in as pure and disinterested a spirit, as any that have ever graced the +sacred name of Liberty. + +After seeing all its sights, and making an excursion to some glaciers in +its neighbourhood, Delmé and George left the capital of the Tyrol, to +proceed by easy stages to Munich. + +In the first day's route, they made the passage of the Zirl, which has +justly been lauded; and Pietro failed not to point to a crucifix, placed +on a jutting rock, which serves to mark the site of Maximilian's cave. + +The travellers took a somewhat late breakfast, at the guitar-making +Mittelwald, where chance detained them later than usual. They were still +at some distance from their sleeping place, the hamlet of Wallensee, when +the rich hues of sunset warned Pietro, that if he would not be benighted, +he must urge on his jaded horses. + +The sun's decline was glorious. For a time, vivid streaks of crimson and +of gold, crowned the summits of the heaving purple mountains. Gradually, +these streaks became fainter, and died away, and rolling, slate-coloured +clouds, hung heavily in the west. + +The scene and the air seemed to turn on a sudden, both cold and grey; and, +as the road wound through umbrageous forests of pine, night came abruptly +upon them; and it was a relief to the eye, to note the many bright stars, +as they shone above the tops of the lofty trees. + +A boding stillness reigned, on which the sound of their carriage wheels +ungratefully broke. The rustling of each individual bough had an +intonation of its own; and the deep notes of the woodman, endeavouring to +forget the thrilling legends of his land, mingled fitfully with the hollow +gusts, which came moaning through the leafless branches below. + +Hist! can it be the boisterous revel of the _forst geister_, that meets +his ear? or is it but the chirp of insects, replying from brake to +underwood? + +Woodman! stay not thy carol! + +Yon sound _may_ be the wild laugh of the Holz König! Better for thee, to +deem it the whine of thine own dog, looking from the cottage door, and +awaiting but thy presence, to share in the homely meal. + +Arrived on the summit of the hill, the lights of the hamlet at length +glistened beneath them. The tired steeds, as if aware of the near +termination of their labours, shook their rough manes, and jingled their +bells in gladness. + +An abrupt descent--and they halted, at the inn facing the lake. + +And here may we notice, that it has been a source of wonder to us, that +English tourists, whose ubiquity is great, have not oftener been seen +straying, by the side of the lake of Wallensee. + +A sweeter spot exists not;--whether we rove by its margin, and perpetrate +a sonnet; limn some graceful tree, hanging over its waters; or gaze on its +unruffled surface, and, noting its aspect so serene, preach from that +placid text, peace to the wearied breast. + +They were shown into a room in the inn, already thronged with strangers. +These were students on their way to Heidelberg. + +They were sitting round a table, almost enveloped in smoke; and were +hymning praises to their loved companion--beer. + +As being in harmony with the moustaches, beard, and bandit +propensities--which true bürschen delight to cultivate--they received +the strangers with an unfriendly stare, and continued to vociferate +their chorus. + +Sir Henry, a little dismayed at the prospect before them, called for the +landlord and his bill of fare; and had the pleasure of discovering, that +the provisions had been consumed, and that two hours would elapse, before +more could be procured. + +At this announcement, Delmé looked somewhat blank. One of the students, +observing this, approached, and apologising, in English, for their +voracity, commenced conversing with the landlord, as to the best course to +be pursued towards obtaining supper. + +His comrades, seeing one of their number speaking with the travellers, +threw off some part of their reserve, and made way for them at the table. + +George and Henry accepted the proffered seats, although they declined +joining the drinking party. + +The students, however, did not appear at ease. As if to relieve their +embarrassment, one of them addressed the young man, with whom Sir Henry +had conversed. + +"Carl! it is your turn now! if you have not a song, we must have an +original story." + +Carl at once complied, and related the following. + + + +The First Story. + + +Perhaps some of you remember Fritz Hartmann and his friend Leichtberg. +They were the founders of the last new liberty club, and were famous at +_renowning_. + +These patriots became officers of the Imperial Guard, and at Vienna were +soon known for their friendship and their gallantries. + +Fritz had much sentiment and imagination; but some how or other, this did +not preserve him from inconstancy. + +If he was always kind and gentle, he was not always faithful. + +His old college chums had the privilege of joking him on these subjects; +and we always did so without mercy. Fritz would sometimes combat our +assertions, but they ordinarily made him laugh so much, that a stranger +would have deemed he assented to their truth. + +One night after the opera, the friends supped together at Fritz's. + +I was of the party, and brought for my share a few bottles of +Johannisberg, that had been sent me by my uncle from the last vintage. +Over these we got more than usually merry, and sang all the songs and +choruses of Mother Heidelberg, till the small hours arrived. The sitting +room we were in, communicated on one side with the bedroom;--on the other, +with a little closet, containing nothing but some old trunks. + +This last was closed, but there was a small aperture in the door, over +which was a slight iron lattice work. + +The officer who had last tenanted Fritz's quarters, had kept pheasants +there, and had had this made on purpose. + +After one of our songs, Leichtberg attacked Fritz on the old score. + +"Fritz! you very Werter of sentiment! I was amazed to see you with no +loves to-night at the opera. Where is the widow with sandy hair? or the +actress who gave your _kirschenwasser_ such a benefit? where our +sallow-faced friend? or more than all, where may the fair Pole be who +sells such charming fruit? Fritz! Fritz! your sudden attachment to grapes +is too ominous." + +"Come, Leichtberg!" said Hartmann, laughing, "this is really not fair. Do +you know I think myself very constant, and as to the Pole, I have thought +of little else for these three months." + +"Not so fast! not so fast! Master Hartmann. Was it not on Wednesday week I +met you arm in arm with the actress? Were you not waltzing with the widow +at the Tivoli? have you not"-- + +"Come, come!" said Fritz, reddening, "let us say no more. I confess to +having made a fool of myself with the actress, but she begged and prayed +to see me once more, ere we parted for ever. With this exception----" + +"Yes, yes!" interrupted Leichtberg, "I know you, Master Fritz, and all +your evil doings. Have you heard of our Polish affaire de coeur, Carl?", +and he turned to me. + +"No!" replied I, "let me hear it." + +"Well, you must know that a certain friend of ours is very economical, and +markets for himself. He bargains for fruit and flowers with the peasant +girls, and the prettiest always get his orders, and bring up their +baskets, and--we will say no more. Well! our friend meets a foreign face, +dark eye--Greek contour--and figure indescribable. She brings him home her +well arranged bouquets. He swears her lips are redder than her roses--her +brow whiter than lilies--and her breath--which he stoops to inhale--far +sweeter than her jasmines. To his amazement, the young flower girl sees no +such great attractions in the Imperial Guardsman; leaves her +nosegays,--throws his Napoleon, which he had asked her to change, in his +face,--and makes her indignant exit. Our sentimental friend finds out her +home, and half her history;--renews his flattering tales--piques her +pride,--rouses her jealousy;--and makes her love him, bon gré--mal gré, +better than either fruit or flowers. + +"Fritz swears eternal constancy, and keeps it, as I have already told you, +with the actress and the sandy haired widow." + +Leichtberg told this story inimitably, and Fritz laughed as much as I did. +At length we rose to wish him good night, and saw him turn to his bedroom +door, followed by a Swiss dog, which always slept under his bed. The rest +of the story we heard from his dying lips. + +It was as near as he could guess, between two and three in the morning, +that he awoke with the impression that some one was near him. For a time +he lay restless and ill at ease; with the vague helpless feeling, that +often attacks one, after a good supper. + +Fritz had just made up his mind to ascribe to this cause, all his +nervousness; when something seemed to drop in the adjoining room; and his +dog, starting to its feet, commenced barking furiously. + +Again all was still. + +He got up for a moment, but fancying he heard a footstep on the stair, +concluded that the noise proceeded from one of the inmates of the house, +who was come home later than usual. + +But Fritz could not sleep; and his dog seemed to share his feelings; +for he turned on his side restlessly, and occasionally gave a quick +solitary bark. + +Suddenly a conviction flashed across Hartmann, that there was indeed some +one in the chamber. + +His curtain stirred. + +He sprang from his bed, and reached his tinder box. As the steel struck +sparks from the flint, these revealed the face of the intruder. + +It was the young Polish girl. + +A fur cloak was closely folded around her;--her face was deadly +pale;--with one hand she drew back her long dark hair, while she silently +uplifted the other. + +Our friend's last impression was his falling back, at the moment his dog +made a spring at the girl. + +The inmates of the house were alarmed. His friends were all sent for. + +I arrived among the earliest. What a sight met me! + +The members of the household were so stupefied that they had done nothing. +Fritz Hartmann lay on the floor insensible:--his night shirt steeped in +blood, still flowing from a mortal wound in his breast. + +At his feet, moaning bitterly, its fangs and mouth filled with mingled fur +and gore, lay the Swiss dog, with two or three deep gashes across the +throat. In the adjoining room, thrown near the door, was the instrument of +Fritz's death--one of the knives we had used the evening before. + +Beside it, lay a woman's cloak, the fur literally dripping with blood. + +Fritz lingered for five hours. Before death, he was sensible, and told us +what I have stated:--and acknowledged that he had loved the girl, more +than her station in life might seem to warrant. + +Of course, the young Pole had been concealed in the closet, and heard +Leichtberg's sallies. Love and jealousy effected the rest. + +We never caught her, although we had all the Vienna police at our beck; +and accurate descriptions of her person were forwarded to the frontiers. + +We were not quite certain as to her fate, but we rather suppose her to +have escaped by a back garden; in which case she must have made a most +dangerous leap; and then to have passed as a courier, riding as such +into Livonia. + +Where she obtained the money or means to effect this, God knows. She must +have been a heroine in her way, for this dog is not easily overpowered, +and yet--look here! these scars were given him by that young girl. + +The student whistled to a dog at his feet, which came and licked his hand, +while he showed the wounds in his throat. + +"I call him Hartmann," continued he, "after my old friend. His father sent +him to me just after the funeral, and Leichtberg has got his meershaum." + + * * * * * + +The students listened attentively to the story, refilling their pipes +during its progress, with becoming gravity. Carl turned towards his right +hand neighbour. "Wilhelm! I call on you!" + +The student, whom he addressed, passed his hand through his long heard, +and thus commenced. + + + +The Second Story. + + +My father's brother married at Lausanne, in the Canton de Vaud, and +resided there. He died early, and left one son; who, as you may suppose, +was half a Frenchman. In spite of that, I thought Caspar von Hazenfeldt a +very handsome fellow. His chestnut hair knotted in curls over his +shoulders. His eyes, the veins of his temples, and I would almost say, his +very teeth, had a blueish tint, that I have noticed in few men; and which +must, I think, be the peculiar characteristic of his complexion. When +engaged in pleasure parties, either pic-nicing at the signal, or +promenading in the evening on Mont Benon, or sitting tête-à-tête at +Languedoc, he had no eyes or ears but for Caroline de Werner. + +He waltzed with her--he talked with her--and he walked with her--until he +had fairly talked, walked, and waltzed himself into love. + +She was the daughter of a rich old colonel of the Empire:--he was the +poor son of a poorer widow. What could he do? Caspar von Hazenfeldt could +gaze on the house of the old soldier; but the avenue of elms, the waving +corn-fields, and the luxuriant gardens, told him that the heiress of +Beau-Séjour could never he his. + +He was one evening sitting on a stone, in a little ruined chapel, near the +house of his beloved; ruminating as usual on his ill fate, and considering +which would be the better plan, to mend his fortunes by travel, or mar +them by suicide;--when an elderly gentleman, dressed in a plain suit of +black, appeared hat in hand before him. + +After the usual compliments, they entered into conversation, and at last, +having walked for some distance, towards Hazenfeldt's house, agreed to +meet again at the chapel on the next evening. + +Suffice it to say that they often met, and as often parted, on the margin +of the little stream, that ran before the door of Caspar's mother's +house:--that they became great friends;--and that the young man confided +the tale of his love, hopes, and miseries, to the sympathising senior. + +At last _the old gentleman_, for such he really was, told Caspar that he +would help him in a trice, through all his difficulties. + +"There is one condition, Caspar!" said he, "but that is a mere trifle. You +are young, and would be quite happy, were it not for this love affair of +yours:--you sleep soundly, you seek and quit your bed early, and you care +not for night-roving. Henceforth, lend me your body from ten at night, +until two in the morning, and I promise that Caroline de Werner shall be +yours. Here she is!" continued he, as he opened his snuff box, and showed +the lid to Caspar, "here she is!" + +And sure enough, there she was on the inside of the lid, apparently +reading to the gouty old colonel, as he sat in his easy chair in the petit +salon of Beau-Sejour. + +One evening, the old gentleman delighted Caspar, by telling him that he +had authority from Colonel de Werner, to bring a guest to a ball at +Beau-Séjour, and by begging Caspar to be his shade--to use our +Continental expression--on the occasion. + +Caspar von Hazenfeldt and he became greater friends than ever, since their +singular contract had been made; for made it was in a thoughtless +unguarded moment. + +Hazenfeldt was introduced to Caroline in due form, and engaged her for the +first dance. + +Before the quadrille began, his friend in black came to present his +compliments, and to say that he had never seen a more beautiful pair. + +"Caspar!" continued he, "when your dance is over, give me a few minutes in +the next room. We will chat together, and sip our negus." + +Caspar _did_ so, and _did_ sip his negus. The little gentleman in black, +was very facetious, and very affable. + +"Are you not going to dance again, Caspar? Look at all those pretty girls, +waiting for partners! Why do you not lead one to the country dance?" + +As he ended speaking, a sylph-like figure, with long golden ringlets, +floated past them. + +"I can, and I will," replied Caspar, laughing, as he took the fair-haired +girl by the hand, and led her to the dance. + +He turned to address his friend in triumph, but he had disappeared. + +The dance was over, and Caspar led the stranger towards a silken ottoman. + +"Will you not try one waltz?" said the beautiful girl, as she shook +her ringlets, over his flushed cheek; "but I must not ask you, if you +are tired." + +"How can I refuse?" rejoined Caspar. + +Caroline was forgotten, as his partner's golden hair floated on his +shoulders, and her soft white arms were twined around him, as they danced +the mazy coquettish waltz, which was then the fashion in Lausanne. + +"How warm these rooms are!" she exclaimed at last. "The moon is up: let us +walk in the avenue." + +Caspar assented; for he grew fonder of his new partner, and more forgetful +of Caroline. She pressed closer and closer to his side. A distant clock +struck ten. Entwined in her tresses, encircled in her arms, he sunk +senseless to the ground. + +When Caspar recovered from the trance, into which he had fallen, the cold +morning breeze, that precedes the dawn, was freshening his cheek; a few +faint streaks on the horizon, reflected the colours of the coming sun; and +the night birds were returning tired to the woods, as the day birds were +merrily preparing for their flight. He was not where he had fallen: he was +sitting on a rustic bench, beneath a moss-grown rock. + +Caroline de Werner was beside him. + +Her white frock was torn; her hair was hanging in Bacchante curls, twined +with the ivy that had wreathed it; her eyes glared wildly, and blood +bubbled from her mouth. Her hand was fast locked in that of Hazenfeldt. + +"Caroline!" he exclaimed, in a tone of wonderment, as one who awakes from +a deep sleep, "Caroline! why are we here? what means this disorder?" + +"You now speak," said she, "as did my Caspar," + +Caroline de Werner is in a mad-house near Vevay:--the man in black has not +been seen since he disappeared from the ball room of Beau-Séjour:--my +cousin, Caspar von Hazenfeldt, took to wandering alone over the Swiss +mountains; and before three months had elapsed, from the time he met _the +old gentleman_, was buried in the fall of an avalanche, near the pass of +the Gemmi. + + * * * * * + +Supper was not ready as the student finished this story; and George +proposed a stroll. The change from the heated room to the margin of the +lake, was a most refreshing one. As the brothers silently gazed upwards, a +young lad approached, and accosted them. + +"Gentlemen! I have seen the horses fed, and they are now lying down." + +"Have you?" said Delmé, drily. + +"A very fine night! gentlemen! Perhaps you have heard of the famous echo, +on the other side of the lake. It will be a good hour, I am sure, before +your supper is ready. My boat lies under that old tree. If you like it, I +will loose the chain, and row you over." + +The brothers acquiesced. They were just in the frame of mind for an +unforeseen excursion. The motion of the boat, too, would be easy for +George, and he might there unrestrainedly give way to his excited +feelings, or commune ungazed on, with the current of his thoughts. + +A thin crescent of a moon had risen. It was silvering the tops of the +overhanging boughs, and was quiveringly mirrored on the light ripple. +George leant against the side of the boat, and listened to the liquid +music, as the broad paddle threw back the resisting waters. + +How soothing is the hour of night to the wounded spirit! + +The obscurity which shrouds nature, seems to veil even man's woes--the +harsh outline of his sufferings is discerned no more. Grief takes the +place of despair--pensive melancholy of sorrow. + +As we gaze around, and feel the chill air damp each ringlet on the pallid +brow; know that _that_ hour hath cast a shade on each inanimate thing +around us; we feel resigned to our bereavements, and confess, in our +heart's humility, that no changes _should_ overwhelm, and that no grief +_should_ awaken repinings. + +To many a bruised and stricken spirit, night imparts a grateful balm. + +In the morning, the feelings are too fresh;--oblivion is exchanged for +conscious suffering;--the merriment of the feathered songsters seems to us +as a taunt;--our sympathies are not with waking nature. The glare and +splendour of noon, bid us recal _our_ hopes, and their signal overthrow. +The zenith of day's lustre meets us as a wilful mockery. + +Eve may bring rest, but on her breast is memory. But at night! when the +mental and bodily energies are alike worn out by the internal +struggle;--when hushed is each sound--softened each feature--dimmed each +glaring hue;--a calm which is not deceptive, steals over us, and we regard +our woes as the exacted penalty of our erring humanity. + +Calumniated night! to one revelling in the full noon-tide of hope and +gladness:--to the one, to whom a guilty conscience incessantly whispers, +"Think! but sleep not!"--to such as these, horrors may appear to bound thy +reign!--but to him who hath loved, and who hath lost,--to many a gentle +but tried spirit, thou comest in the guise of a sober, and true friend. + +The boat for some time, kept by the steep bank, under the shadows of the +trees. As it emerged from this, towards where the moon-beams cast their +light on the water, the night breeze rustled through the foliage, and +swept a yet green leaf from one of the drooping boughs. + +It fell on the surface of the lake, and George's eye quickly followed it. + +"Look at that unfaded leaf! Henry. What a gentle breeze it was, that +parted it from its fellows! To me it resembles a youthful soul, cut off in +its prime, and wandering mateless in eternity." + +Sir Henry only sighed. + +The young rower silently pursued his course across the lake; running his +boat aground, on a small pebbly strand near a white cottage. + +Jumping nimbly from his seat, and fastening the boat to a large stone, the +guide, followed by the brothers, shouted to the inmates of the cottage, +and violently kicked at its frail door. + +An upper window was opened, and the guardian of the echo--a valorous +divine in a black night-cap--demanded their business. This was soon told. +The priest descended--struck a light--unbarred the door--and with the +prospect of gain before him, fairly forgot that he had been aroused from a +deep slumber. + +They were soon ushered into the kitchen. An aged crone descended, and +raking the charcoal embers, kindled a flame, by which the rower was +enabled to light his pipe. + +The young gentleman threw himself into an arm chair, and puffed away with +true German phlegm. The old man bustled about, in order to obtain the +necessary materials for loading an ancient cannon; and occupied himself +for some minutes, in driving the charge into the barrel. + +This business arranged, he led the way towards the beach; and aided by the +old woman, pointed his warlike weapon. A short pause--it was fired! +Rebounding from hill to hill, the echo took its course, startling the +peasant from his couch, and the wolf from his lair. + +Again all was still;--then came its distant reverberation--a tone deep and +subdued--dying away mournfully on the ear. + +"How wonderfully fine!" said George, "but let us embark, for I feel +quite chilled." + +"I will run for the youngster," replied his brother. As he moved towards +the cottage, the priest seized him by the collar of the coat, and held up +the torch, by which he had fired the cannon. + +"This echo is indeed a wonderful one! It has nineteen distinct +repetitions; the first twelve being heard from _this_ side of a valley, +which, were it day, I would point out; the other seven, on the opposite +side. Tradition tells us, that nineteen castles in ancient times, stood +near the spot; that each of these laid claim to the echo; and that, as it +passes the ruin, where once dwelt Sigismund of the Bloody Hand, the chief +springs from the round ivied tower--waves his sword thrice, the drops of +blood falling from its hilt as he does so--and proclaims aloud, that +whosoever dare gainsay"-- + +"I am sorry to leave you," interrupted Sir Henry, as he shook him off, +"particularly at this interesting part of the story; but it is late, +and my brother feels unwell, and I wish to go to the cottage to call +our guide." + +Delmé was pursued by the echo's elucidator, who being duly remunerated, +allowed Sir Henry to accompany the guide towards the boat. George was not +standing where he had left him. Delmé stepped forward, and nearly fell +over a prostrate body. + +It was the motionless one of his brother. + +He gave a shriek of anguish; flew towards the house, and in a moment, was +again on the spot, bearing the priest's torch. He raised his brother's +head. One hand was extended over the body, and fell to the earth like a +clod of clay as it was. + +He gazed on that loved face. In that gaze, how much was there to arrest +his attention. + +On those features, death had stamped his seal. + +But there was a thought, which bore the ascendancy over this in Delmé's +mind. It was a thought which rose involuntarily,--one for which he could +not _then_ account, and cannot now. For some seconds, it swayed his every +emotion. He felt the conviction--deep, undefinable--that there was indeed +a soul, to "shame the doctrine of the Sadducee." + +He deemed that on those lineaments, this was the language forcibly +engraven! The features were still and fixed:--the brow alone revealed a +dying sense of pain. + +The lips! how purple were they! and the eye, that erst flashed so +freely:--the yellow film of death had dimmed its lustre. + +The legs were apart, and one of the feet was in the lake. Henry tried to +chafe his brother's forehead. + +In vain! in vain! he knew it was in vain! + +He let the head fall, and buried his face in his hands. + +He turned reproachfully, to gaze on that cloudless Heaven, where the moon, +and the brilliant stars, and the falling meteor, seemed to hold a bright +and giddy festival. + +He clasped his hands in mute agony. For a brief moment--his dark eye +seeming to invite His wrath--he dared to arraign the mercy of God, who had +taken what he had made. + +It was but for a moment he thus thought. + +He had watched that light of life, until its existence was almost +identified with his own. He had seen it flicker--had viewed it +reillumed--blaze with increased brilliancy--fade--glimmer--and fade. Now! +where was it? + +A bitter cry escaped! his limbs trembled convulsively, and could no longer +support him. + +He fell senseless beside his brother. + + + + +Chapter XI + +The Student + + + + "What is my being? _thou_ hast ceased to be." + + +Carl Obers was as enthusiastic a being as ever Germany sent forth. Brought +up in a lone recess in the Hartz mountains, with neither superiors nor +equals to commune with, he first entered the miniature world, as a student +at Heidelberg. + +His education had been miserably neglected. He had read much; but his +reading had been without order and without system. + +The deepest metaphysics, and the wildest romances had been devoured in +succession; until the young man hardly knew which was the real, or which +was the visionary world:--the one he actually lived in, or the one he was +always brooding over:--where souls are bound together by mysterious and +hidden links, and where men sell themselves to Satan;--the penalty merely +being:--to walk through life, and throw no shadow. + +Enrolled amongst a select corps of brüschen, warm and true; his ear was +caught by the imposing jargon of patriotism; and his imagination dwelt on +those high sounding words, "the rights of man;"--until he became the +staunch advocate and unflinching votary of a state of things, which, for +aught we know, _may_ exist in one of the planets, but which never can, and +which never will exist on this earth of ours. + +"What!" would exclaim our enthusiast, "have we not all our bodily and our +mental, energies? Doth not dame Nature, in our birth, as in our death, +deal out impartial justice? She may endow me with stronger limbs, than +another:--our feelings as we grow up, may not be chained down to one +servile monotony;--the lip of the precocious cynic"--this was addressed to +a young matter of fact Englishman--"who sneers at my present animation, +may not curl with a smile as often as my own; but let our powers of +acting be equal,--our prerogatives the same." + +Carl Obers, with his youth and his vivacity, carried his auditors--a +little knot of beer drinking liberty-mongers--_with_ him, and _for_ him, +in all he said; and the orator would look round, with conscious power, and +considerable satisfaction; and flatter himself, that his specious +arguments were as unanswerable, as they were then unanswered. + +Many of our generation may remember the unparalleled enthusiasm, which, +like an electric flash, spread over the civilised world; as Greece armed +herself, to shake off her Moslem ruler. + +It was one that few could help sharing. + +To almost all, is Greece a magic word. Her romantic history--the legacies +she has left us--our early recollections, identifying with her existence +as a nation, all that is good and glorious;--no wonder these things should +have shed a bright halo around her,--and have made each breast deeply +sympathise with her in her unwonted struggle for freedom. + +Carl Obers did not hear of this struggle with indifference. He at once +determined to give Greece the benefit of his co-operation, and the aid of +his slender means. He immediately commenced an active canvass amongst his +personal friends, in order to form a band of volunteers, who might be +efficient, and worthy of the cause on which his heart was set. + +He now first read an useful lesson from life's unrolled volume. + +Many a voice, that had rung triumphantly the changes on liberty, was +silent now, or deprecated the active attempt to establish it. + +The hands that waved freely in the debating room, were not the readiest to +grasp the sword's hilt. Many who had poetically expatiated on the +splendours of modern Greece; on reflection preferred the sunny views of +the Neckar, to the prospect of eating honey on Hymettus. + +Youth, however, is the season for enterprise; and Carl, with twenty-three +comrades, was at length on his way to Trieste. + +He had been offered the command of the little band, but had declined it, +with the sage remark, that "as they were about to fight for equality, it +was their business to preserve it amongst themselves." + +A slight delay in procuring a vessel, took place at Trieste. This delay +caused a defection of eight of the party. + +The remaining students embarked in a miserable Greek brigantine, and after +encountering some storms in the Adriatic, thought themselves amply repaid, +as the purple hills of Greece rose before them. + +On their landing, they felt disappointed. + +No plaudits met them; no vivas rung in the air: but a Greek soldier +filched Carl's valise, and on repairing to the commandant of the town, +they were told that no redress could be afforded them. + +Willing to hope that the scum of the irregular troops was left behind, and +that better feeling, and stricter discipline, existed nearer the main +body; our students left on the morrow;--placed themselves under the +command of one of the noted leaders of the Revolution:--and had shortly +the satisfaction of crossing swords with the Turk. + +For some months, the party went through extraordinary hardships;--engaged +in a series of desultory but sanguinary expeditions;--and gradually learnt +to despise the nation, in whose behalf they were zealously combating. + +At the end of these few months, what a change in the hopes and prospects +of the little band! Some had rotted in battle field, food for vultures; +others had died of malaria in Greek hamlets, without one friend to close +their eyes, or one hand to proffer the cooling draught to quench the dying +thirst;--two were missing--had perhaps been murdered by the peasants;--and +five only remained, greatly disheartened, cursing the nation, and their +own individual folly. + +Four of the five turned homewards. + +Carl was left alone, but fought on. + +Now there was a Greek, Achilles Metaxà by name, who had attached himself +to Carl's fortunes. In person, he was the very model of an ancient hero. +He had the capacious brow, the eye of fire, and the full black beard, +descending in wavy curls to his chest. + +The man was brave, too, for Carl and he had fought together. + +It so happened, that they slept one night in a retired convent. Their +hardships latterly had been great, and the complaints of Achilles had been +unceasing in consequence. In the morning Carl rose, and found that his +clothes and arms had vanished, and that his friend was absent also. + +Carl remained long enough to satisfy himself, that his friend was the +culprit; and then turned towards the sea coast, determined at all hazards +to leave Greece. + +He succeeded in reaching Missolonghi, in the early part of 1823, shortly +after the death of Marco Botzaris--being then in a state of perfect +destitution, and his mental sufferings greatly aggravated by the +consciousness, that he had induced so many of his comrades to sacrifice +their lives and prospects in an unworthy cause. + +At Missolonghi, where Mavrocordato reigned supreme, he was grudged the +paltry ration of a Suliote soldier, and might have died of starvation, had +it not been for the timely interposition of a stranger. + +Moved by that stranger's persuasion, Carl consented to form one of a +contemplated expedition against Lepanto; and, had his illustrious +benefactor lived, might have found a steady friend. + +As it was, he waited not to hear the funeral oration, delivered by +Spiridion Tricoupi; but was on the deck of the vessel that was to bear him +homewards, and shed tears of mingled grief, admiration, and gratitude, as +thirty-seven minute guns, fired from the battery, told Greece and Carl +Obers, that they had lost Byron, their best friend. + +Carl reached Germany, a wiser man than when he left it. + +He found his father dead, and he came into possession of his small +patrimony; but felt greatly, as all men do who are suddenly removed from +active pursuits, the want of regular and constant employment. + +He was glad to renew his intercourse with his old University; and found +himself greatly looked up to by the students, who were never wearied with +listening to his accounts of the Morea, and of the privations he had there +encountered. + +We need hardly inform our readers, that Carl Obers was one of the +pedestrian students at Wallensee, and was indeed the identical narrator of +the Vienna story. + +We left George and his brother, on the shore below the priest's +cottage. The one was laid cold and motionless--the other wished that +_he_ also were so. + +Immediately on Delmé's falling, the young guide alarmed the +priest--brought him down to the spot--pointed to the brothers--threw +himself into the boat--and paddled swiftly across the lake, to alarm the +guests at the inn. + +It was with feelings of deep commiseration, that Carl looked on the two +brothers. He was the only person present, whose time was comparatively his +own; he spoke English, although imperfectly; and he owed a deep debt of +gratitude to an Englishman. + +These circumstances seemed to point him out, as the proper person to +attend to the wants of the unfortunate traveller; and Carl Obers mentally +determined, that he would not leave Delmé, as long as he had it in his +power to befriend him, Sir Henry Delmé was completely unmanned by his +bereavement. He had been little prepared for such a severe loss; although +it is more than probable, that George's life had long been hanging on a +thread, which a single moment might snap. + +The medical men had been singularly sanguine in his case, for it is rarely +that disease of the heart attacks one so young; but it now seemed evident, +that even had not anxiety of mind, and great constitutional irritability, +hastened the fatal result, that poor George could never have hoped to have +survived to a ripe old age. + +There was much in his character at any time, to endear him to an only +brother. As it was, Delmé had seen George under such trying +circumstances--had entered so fully into his feelings and sufferings--that +this abrupt termination to his brother's sorrows, appeared to Sir Henry +Delmé, to bring with it a sable pall, that enveloped in darkness his own +future life and prospects. + +The remains of poor George were placed in a small room, communicating with +one intended for Sir Henry. + +Here Delmé shut himself up, brooding over his loss, and permitting no one +to intrude on his privacy. + +Carl had offered his services, which were gratefully accepted, in making +the necessary arrangements for his brother's obsequies; and Sir Henry, in +the solitude of the dead man's chamber, could give free scope to a flood +of bitter recollections. + +It may be, that those silent hours of agony, when the brother looked +fixedly on that moveless face, and implored the departed spirit to breathe +its dread and awful secret, were not without their improving tendency; for +haggard and wan as was the mourner's aspect, there was no outward sign of +quivering, even as he saw the rude coffin lowered, and as fell on his ear, +the creaking of cords, and that harsh jarring sound, to which there is +nothing parallel on earth, the heavy clods falling on the coffin lid. + +The general arrangements had been simple; but Carl's directions had been +given in such a sympathising spirit, that they could not be otherwise than +acceptable. + +About the church-yard itself, there is nothing very striking. It is +formed round a small knoll, on the summit of which stands a sarcophagus +literally buried in ivy. + +Beneath this, is the vault of the baronial family, that for centuries +swayed the destinies of the little hamlet; but which family has been +extinct for some years. + +Round it are grouped the humbler osiered graves; over which, in lieu of +tomb stones, are placed large black iron crosses, ornamented with brass, +and bearing the simple initials of the bygone dead. + +Even Delmé, with all his ancestral pride, felt that George "slept well." + +It is true no leaden coffin enclosed his relics, nor did the murky vault +of his ancestors, open with creaking hinge to receive another of the race. +No escutcheon darkened the porch whence they bore him; and no long train +of mourners followed his remains to their last home. + +But there was something in the quiet of the spot, that seemed to Delmé in +harmony with his history; and to promise, that a sorrowless world had +already opened, on one who had loved so truly, and felt so deeply in this. + +Sir Henry returned to the inn, and darkened his chamber. + +He had not the heart to prosecute his journey, nor to leave the spot, +which held what was to him so dear. + +Carl Obers attempted to combat his despondency; but observing how useless +were his arguments, wisely allowed his grief to take its course. + +There was one point, in which Delmé was decidedly wrong. + +He could not bring himself, to communicate their loss to his sister. + +Carl pressed this duty frequently on him, but was always met by the +same reply. + +"No! no! how can I inflict such a pang?" + +It is possible the intelligence might have been very long in reaching +England, had it not been for a providential circumstance, that occurred +shortly after George's funeral. + +A carriage, whose style and appointments bespoke it English, changed +horses at the inn at Wallensee. The courier, while ordering the relays, +had heard George's story; and touching his hat to the inmates of the +vehicle, retailed it with natural pathos. + +On hearing the name of Delmé, the lady was visibly affected. She was +an old friend of the family; and as Melicent Dashwood, had known +George as a boy. + +It was not without emotion, that she heard of one so young, and to her so +familiar, being thus prematurely called to his last account. + +The lady and her husband alighted, and sending up their cards, begged to +see the mourner. + +The message was delivered; but Delmé, without comment or enquiry, at once +declined the offer; and it was thought better not to persist. They were +too deeply interested, however, not to attempt to be of use. They saw Carl +and Thompson,--satisfied themselves that Sir Henry was in friendly hands; +and thanking the student with warmth and sincerity, for his attention to +the sufferer, exacted a promise, that he would not leave him, as long as +he could in any way be useful. + +The husband and wife prepared to continue their journey; but not before +the former had left his address in Florence, with directions to Carl to +write immediately, in case he required the assistance of a friend; and the +latter had written a long letter to Mrs. Glenallan, in which she broke as +delicately as she could, the melancholy and unlooked-for tidings. + + + + +Chapter XII + +The Letter. + + + + "And from a foreign shore + Well to that heart might _hers_ these absent greetings pour." + + +Three weeks had elapsed since George's death. + +It would be difficult to depict satisfactorily, the state of Sir Henry +Delmé's mind during that period. The pride of life appeared crushed within +him. He rarely took exercise, and when he did, his step was slow, and his +gait tottering. + +That one terrible loss was ever present to his mind; and yet his +imagination, as if disconnected with his feelings, or his memory, was +constantly running riot over varying scenes of death, and conjuring up +revolting pictures of putrescence and decay. + +A black pall, and an odour of corruption, seemed to commingle with each +quick-springing fantasy; and Delmé would start with affright from his own +morbid conceptions, as he found himself involuntarily dwelling on the +waxen rigidity of death,--following the white worm in its unseemly +wanderings,--and finally stripping the frail and disgusting coat from the +disjointed skeleton. + +Sir Henry Delmé had in truth gone through arduous and trying scenes. + +The very circumstance that he had to conceal his own feelings, and +support George through his deeper trials, made the present reaction the +more to be dreaded. + +Certain are we, that trials such as his, are frequently the prevailing +causes, of moral and intellectual insanity. Fortunately, Sir Henry was +endued with a firm mind, and with nerves of great power of endurance. + +One morning, at an early hour, Thompson brought in a letter. + +It was from Emily Delmé; and as Sir Henry noted the familiar address, and +the broad black edge, which told that the news of his brother's death had +reached his sister, he cast it from him with a feeling akin to pain. + +The next moment, however, he sprang from the bed, threw open the shutters, +and commenced reading its contents. + + + +EMILY'S LETTER. + + +My own dear brother, + +My heart bleeds for you! But yesterday, we received the sad, sad letter. +To-day, although blinded with tears, I implore you to remember, that you +have not lost your all! Our bereavement has been great! our loss heavy +indeed. But if a link in the family love-chain be broken--shall not the +remaining ones cling to each other the closer? + +My aunt is heart-broken. Clarendon, kind as he is, did not know our +George! Alas! that he should be ours no more! + +My only brother! dwell not with strangers! A sister's arms are ready to +clasp you:--a sister's sympathy must lighten the load of your sufferings. + +Think of your conduct! your devotedness! Should not these comfort you? + +Did you not love and cherish him? did you not--happier than I--soothe his +last days? were you not present to the end? + +From this moment, I shall count each hour that divides us. + +On my knees both night and morning, will I pray the Almighty God, who has +chastened us, to protect my brother in his travels by sea and land. + +May we be spared, my dearest Henry, to pray together, that HE may bestow +on us present resignation, and make us duly thankful for blessings which +still are ours. + +Your affectionate sister, + +EMILY. + +Delmé read the letter with tearless eye. For some time he leant his head +on his hand, and thought of his sister, and of the dead. + +He shook, and laughed wildly, as he beat his hand convulsively +against the wall. + +Carl Obers and Thompson held him down, while this strong paroxysm lasted. + +His sobs became fainter, and he sunk into a placid slumber. The student +watched anxiously by his side. He awoke; called for Emily's letter; and as +he read it once more, the tears coursed down his sunken cheeks. + +Ah! what a relief to the excited man, is the fall of tears. + +It would seem as if the very feelings, benumbed and congealed as they may +hitherto have been, were suddenly dissolving under some happier influence, +and that,--with the external sign--the weakness and pliability of +childhood--we were magically regaining its singleness of feeling, and its +gentleness of heart. + +Sir Henry swerved no more from the path of manly duty. He saw the +vetturino, and arranged his departure for the morrow. On that evening, he +took Carl's arm, and sauntered through the village church-yard. + +Already seemed it, that the sods had taken root over George's grave. + +The interstices of the turf were hidden;--a white paper basket, which +still held some flowers, had been suspended by some kind stranger hand +over the grave;--from it had dropped a wreath of yellow amaranths. + +There was great repose in the scene. The birds appeared to chirp softly +and cautiously;--the tufts of grass, as they bowed their heads against the +monumental crosses, seemed careful not to rustle too drearily. + +Sir Henry's sleep was more placid, on _that_, his last night at Wallensee, +than it had been for many a night before. + + * * * * * + +Acting up to his original design, Delmé passed through the capitals of +Bavaria and Wurtemburg; and quickly traversing the picturesque country +round Heilbron, reached the romantic Heidelberg, washed by the Neckar. + +The student, as might be expected, did not arrive at his old University, +with feelings of indifference; but he insisted, previous to visiting his +college companions, on showing Sir Henry the objects of interest. + +The two friends, for such they might now be styled, walked towards the +castle, arm in arm; and stood on the terrace, adorned with headless +statues, and backed by a part of the mouldering ruin, half hid by the +thick ivy. + +They looked down on the many winding river, murmuringly gliding through +its vine covered banks. + +Beyond this, stretched a wide expanse of country; while beneath them +lay the town of Heidelberg--the blue smoke hanging over it like a +magic diadem. + +"Here, here!" said Carl Obers, as he gazed on the scene, with mournful +sensations, "_here _ were my youthful visions conceived and +embodied--_here_ did I form vows, to break the bonds of enslaved +mankind--_here_ did I dream of grateful thousands, standing erect for the +first time as free men--_here_ did I brood over, the possible happiness of +my fellow men, and in attempting to realise it, have wrecked my own." + +"My kind friend!" replied Delmé, "your error, if it be such, has been +of the head, and not the heart. It is one, natural to your age and your +country. Far from being irreparable, it is possible it may have taught +you a lesson, that may ultimately greatly benefit you. This is the +first time we have conversed regarding your prospects. What are your +present views?" + +"I have none. My friends regard me as one, who has improvidently thrown +away his chance of advancement. My knowledge of any _one_ branch of +science is so superficial, that this precludes my ever hoping to succeed +in a learned profession. I cannot enter the military service in my own +country, without commencing in the lowest grade. This I can hardly bring +my mind to." + +"What would you say to the Hanoverian army?" replied Delmé. + +"I would say," rejoined Carl: "for I see through your kind motive in +asking, that I esteem myself fortunate, if I have been in any way useful +to you; but that I cannot, and ought not, to think, of accepting a favour +at your hands." + +Sir Henry said no more at that time: and they reached the inn in silence. + +Delmé retired for the night. Carl Obers sought his old chums; and, +exhilarated by his meershaum, and the excellent beer--rivalling the famous +Lubeck beer, sent to Martin Luther, during his trial, by the Elector of +Saxony--triumphantly placed "young Germany" at the head of nations. + +Early the following morning, they were again en route. + +They passed through Manheim, where the Rhine and Neckar meet,--through +Erpach,--through Darmstadt, that cleanest of Continental towns,--and +finally reached Frankfort-on-the-Maine, where it was agreed that Sir Henry +and Thompson were to part from their travelling companions. + +Sir Henry in his distress of mind, felt that theirs was not a casual +farewell. On reaching the quay, he pressed the student's hand with +grateful warmth, but dared not trust to words. + +On the deck of the steamer, assisting Thompson to arrange the +portmanteaux, stood Pietro Molini. + +The natural gaiety of the old driver had received a considerable check at +George's death. + +He could not now meet Sir Henry, without an embarrassment of manner; and +even in his intercourse with Thompson, his former jocularity seemed to +have deserted him. + +"Good bye, Pietro!" said Delmé, extending his hand. "I trust we may one +day or other meet again." + +The vetturino grasped it,--his colour went and came,--he looked down at +his whip,--then felt in his vest for his pipe, As he saw Delmé turn +towards the poop, and as Thompson warned him it was time to leave the +vessel,--his feelings fairly gave way. + +He threw his arms round the Englishman's neck and blubbered like a child. + +We have elsewhere detailed the luckless end of the vetturino. + +As for Carl Obers, that zealous patriot; the last we heard of him, was +that he was holding a commission in the Hanoverian Jägers, obtained for +him by Sir Henry's intervention. He was at that period, in high favour +with that liberal monarch, King Ernest. + + + + +Chapter XIII. + +Home. + + + + "'Tis sweet to hear the watchdog's honest bark + Bay deep-mouth'd welcome as we draw near home, + 'Tis sweet to know there is an eye will mark + Our coming, and look brighter when we come." + + +Embarking on its tributary stream, Delmé reached the Rhine--passed through +the land of snug Treckschut, and wooden-shoed housemaid--and arrived at +Rotterdam, whence he purposed sailing for England. + +To that river, pay we no passing tribute! The Rhine--with breast of +pride--laving fertile vineyards, cities of picturesque beauty, +beetling crags, and majestic ruins; hath found its bard to hymn an +eulogy, in matchless strains, which will be co-existent, with the +language they adorn. + +Sir Henry was once more on the wide sea. Where were they who were his +companions when his vessel last rode it? where the young bride breathing +her devotion? where the youthful husband whispering his love? + +The sea yet glistened like a chrysolite; the waves yet laughed in the +playful sunbeams--the bright-eyed gull yet dipped his wing in the billow, +fearless as heretofore;--where was the one, who from that text had deduced +so fair a moral? + +Sir Henry wished not to dwell on the thought, but as it flashed across +him, his features quivered, and his brow darkened. + +He threw himself into the chaise which was to bear him to his home, with +alternate emotions of bitterness and despair! + +Hurrah for merry England! Click, clack! click, clack! thus cheerily +let us roll! + +Great are the joys of an English valet, freshly emancipated from +sauerkraut, and the horrors of silence! + +Sweet is purl, and sonorous is an English oath. Bright is the steel, +arming each clattering hoof! Leather strap and shining buckle, replace +musty rope and ponderous knot! The carriage is easier than a +Landgravine's,--the horses more sleek,--the driver as civil,--the road is +like a bowling green,--the axletree and under-spring, of Collinge's latest +patent. But the heart! the heart! _that_ may be sad still. + +Delmé's voyage and journey were alike a blank. On the ocean, breeze +followed calm;--on the river, ship succeeded ship;--on the road, house and +tree were passed, and house and tree again presented themselves. He drew +his cap over his eyes, and his arms continued folded. + +His first moment of full consciousness, was as a sharp turn, followed by a +sudden pause, brought him in front of the lodge at Delmé. + +On the two moss-grown pillars, reposed the well known crest of his family. +The porter's daughter, George's friend, issued from the lodge, and threw +open the iron gates. + +She was dressed in black. How this recalled his loss. + +"My dear--dear--dear brother!" + +Emily bounded to his embrace, and her cheek fell on his shoulder. He felt +the warm tear trickle on his cheek. He clasped her waist,--gazed on her +pallid brow,--and held her lip to his. + +How it trembled from her emotion! + +"My own brother! how pale--how ill you look!" + +"Emily! my sister! I have something yet left me on earth! and my worthy +kind aunt, too!" + +He kissed Mrs. Glenallan's forehead, and tried to soothe her. She pressed +her handkerchief to her eyes, and checked her tears; but continued to sob, +with the deep measured sob of age. + +How mournful, yet how consoling, is the first family meeting, after death +has swept away one of its members! How the presence of each, calls up +sorrow, and yet assists to repress it,--awakes remembrances full of grief, +yet brings to life indefinable hopes, that rob that grief of its most +poignant sting! The very garb of woe, whose mournful effect is felt to the +full, only when each one sees it worn by the other--the very garb +paralyses, and brings impressively before us, the awful truth, that for +our loss, in this world, there is no remedy. How holy, how chaste is the +affection, which we feel disposed to lavish, on those who are left us. + +Surely if there be a guardian spirit, which deigns to flit through this +wayward world, to cheer the stricken breast, and purify feelings, whose +every chord vibrates to the touch of woe; surely such presides, and throws +a sunny halo, on the group, that blood has united--on which family love +has shed its genial influence--and of which, each member, albeit bowed +down by sympathetic grief, attempts to lift his drooping head, and to +others open some source of comfort, which to the kind speaker, is +inefficient and valueless indeed! + +For many months, Sir Henry continued to reside with his family. Clarendon +Gage was a constant visitor, and companion to the brother and sister in +their daily walks and rides. + +He had never met poor George, but loved Emily so well, that he could not +but sympathise in their heavy loss; and as Delmé noted this quiet +sympathy, he felt deeply thankful to Providence, for the fair prospect of +the happiness, that awaited his sister. + +Winter passed away. The fragile snowdrop, offspring of a night--the +mute herald of a coming and welcome guest--might be seen peering +beneath the gnarled oak, or enlivening the emerald circle beneath the +wide-spreading elm. + +Spring too glided by, and another messenger came. The migratory swallow, +returned from foreign travel, sought the ancient gable, and rejoicing in +safety, commenced building a home. At twilight's hour might she be seen, +unscared by the truant's stone, repairing to the placid pool--skimming +over its glassy surface, in rapid circle and with humid wing--and +returning in triumph, bearing wherewithal to build her nest. + +Summer too went by; and as the leaves of Autumn rustled at his feet, Delmé +started, as he felt that the sting and poignancy of his grief was gone. It +was with something like reproach, that he did so. There is a dignity in +grief--a pride in perpetuating it--and his had been no common affliction. + +It is a trite, but true remark, that time scatters our sorrows, as it +scatters our joys. + +The heat of fever and the delirium of love, have their gradations; and so +has grief. The impetuous throbbing of the pulse abates;--the influence of +years makes us remember the extravagance of passion, with something +approaching to a smile;--and Time--mysterious Time--wounding, but healing +all, leads us to look at past bereavements, as through a darkened glass. + +We do not forget; but our memory is as a dream, which awoke us in terror, +but over which we have slept. The outline is still present, but the +fearful details, which in the darkness of the hour, and the freshness of +conception, so scared and alarmed us,--these have vanished with the night. + +Emily's wedding day drew nigh, and the faces of the household once more +looked bright and cheerful. + + + + +Chapter XIV. + +A Wedding. + + + + "'Tis time this heart should be unmoved, + Since others it has ceased to move, + But though I may not be beloved, + Still let me love!" + + "I saw her but a moment, + Yet methinks I see her now, + With a wreath of orange blossoms + Upon her beauteous brow." + + +Spring of life! whither art thou flown? + +A few hot sighs--and scalding tears--fleeting raptures and still fading +hopes--and then--thou art gone for ever. Lovelorn we look on beauty: no +blush now answers to our glance; for cold is our gaze, as the deadened +emotions of our heart. + +Fresh garlands bedeck the lap of Spring. Faded as the shrivelled flowers, +that withering sink beneath her rosy feet: yet we exclaim:--Spring of +life! how and whither art thou flown? + +Clarendon Gage was a happy man. He had entered upon the world with very +bright prospects. The glorious visions of his youth were still unclouded, +and his heart beat as high with hope as ever. + +Experience had not yet instilled that sober truth, that Time will darken +the sunniest, as well as the least inviting anticipations; and that the +visions of his youth were unclouded, because they were undimmed by the +reflections of age. + +Clarendon Gage was happy and grateful; and so might he well be! Few of us +are there, who, on our first loving, have met with a love, fervent, +confiding, and unsuspecting as our own,--fewer are there, who in +reflection's calm hour, have recognised in the form that has captivated +the eye, the mind on which their own can fully and unhesitatingly +rely,--and fewest of all are they, who having encountered such a treasure, +can control adverse circumstances--can overcome obstacles that oppose--and +finally call it their own. + +Passionate, imaginative, and fickle as man may be, this is a living +treasure beyond a price: than which this world has none more pure--none as +enduring, to offer. + +Ah! say and act as we may--money-making--worldly--ambitious as we may +become--who among us that will not allow, that in the success of his +honest suit--that in his possession of the one first loved--and which +first truly loved him--a kind ray from heaven, seems lent to this +changeful world. Such affection as this, lends a new charm to man's +existence. It lulls him in his anger--it soothes him in his sorrow--calms +him in his fears--cheers him in his hopes--it deadens his grief--it +enlivens his joy. + +It was a lovely morning in May--the first of the month. Not a cloud +veiled the sun's splendour--the birds strained their throats in praise +of day--and the rural May-pole, which was in the broad avenue of +walnut trees, immediately at the foot of the lawn, was already +encircled with flowers. Half way up this, was the station of the +rustic orchestra--a green bower, which effectually concealed them +from the view of the dancers. + +On the lawn itself, tents were pitched in a line facing the house. Behind +these, between the tents and the May-pole, extended a long range of +tables, for the coming village feast. + +Emily Delmé looked out on the fair sunrise, and noted the gay +preparations with some dismay. Her eye fell on her favourite bed of +roses, the rarest and most costly that wealth and extreme care could +produce; and she mournfully thought, that ere those buds were blown, a +very great change would have taken place in her future prospects. She +thought of all she was to leave. + +Will _he_ be this, and more to me? + +How many a poor girl, when it is all too late, has fearfully asked herself +the same question, and how deeply must the answer which time alone can +give, affect the happiness of after years! + +Emily took her mother's miniature, and gazing on that face, of which her +own appeared a beautiful transcript; she prayed to God to support him who +was still present to her every thought. + +The family chapel of the Delmés was a beautiful and picturesque place of +worship. With the exception of one massive door-way, whose circular arch +and peculiar zig-zag ornament bespoke it co-eval with, or of an earlier +date than, the reign of Stephen--and said to have belonged to a ruin apart +from the chapel, whose foundations an antiquary could hardly trace--Delmé +chapel might be considered a well preserved specimen of the florid Gothic, +of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. + +The progress of the edifice, had been greatly retarded during the wars of +the Roses; but it was fortunately completed, before, the doctrine of the +Cinquecentists--who saw no beauty save in the revived dogmas of +Vitruvius--had so far gained ground, as to make obsolete and +unfashionable, the most captivating and harmonious style of Architecture, +that has yet flourished in England. + +Its outer appearance was comparatively simple--it had neither spire, +lantern, or transepts--and its ivy-hidden belfry was a detached tower. + +The walls of the aisles were supported by massive buttresses, and +surmounted by carved pinnacles; and from them sprung flying buttresses, +ornamented with traced machicolations, to bear the weight of the embattled +roof of the nave. + +The interior was more striking. As the stranger entered by the western +door, and proceeded up the nave, each step was re-echoed from the crypt +below:--as he trod on strange images, and inscriptions in brass; +commemorative of the dead, whose bones were mouldering in the subterranean +chapel. On them, many coloured tints fantastically played, through +gorgeously stained panes--the workmanship of the Middle Ages. + +The richly carved oaken confessional--now a reading desk--first attracted +the attention. + +In the very centre of the chapel, stood a white marble font, whose chaplet +of the flower of the Tudors, encircled by a fillet, sufficiently bespoke +its date. Between the altar and this font was a tomb, which merits special +attention. It was the chantry of Sir Reginald Delmé, the chief of his +house in the reign of Harry Monmouth. It was a mimic chapel, raised on +three massive steps of grey stone. The clustered columns, that bore the +light and fretted roof, were divided by mullions, rosettes, and trefoils +in open work; except where the interstices were filled up below, to bear +the sculptured, and once emblazoned shields of the Delmés, and their +cognate families. The entrance to the chantry, was through a little turret +at its north-eastern corner, the oaken door of which, studded with +quarrel-headed nails, was at one time never opened, but when the priests +ascended the six steep and spiral steps, and stood around the tomb to +chant masses for the dead. + +The diminutive font, and the sarcophagus itself, had once been painted. On +this, lay the figure of Sir Reginald Delmé. + +On a stone cushion--once red--supported by figures of angels in the +attitude of prayer, veiling their eyes with their wings, reposed the +unarmed head of the warrior:--his feet uncrossed rested on the image of a +dog, crouching on a broken horn, seeming faithfully to gaze at the face of +his master. + +The arms were not crossed--the hands were not clasped; but were joined as +in prayer. Sir Reginald had not died in battle. Above the head of the +sleeping warrior, hung his gorget, and his helmet, with its beaver, and +vizor open; and the banner he himself had won, on the field of Shrewsbury, +heavily shook its thick folds in the air. The fading colours on the +surcoat of the recumbent knight, still faintly showed the lilies and +leopards of England;--and Sir Henry himself was willing to believe, that +the jagged marks made in that banner by the tooth of Time, were but cuts, +left by the sword of the Herald, as at the royal Henry's command, he +curtailed the pennon of the knight; and again restored it to Sir Reginald +Delmé--a banner. + +The altar, which extended the whole width of the chapel, was enclosed by a +marble screen, and was still flanked by the hallowed niche, built to +receive the drainings of the sacred cup. + +The aisles were divided from the nave, by lancet arches, springing from +clustered columns. But how describe the expansive windows, with their rich +mullions, and richer rosettes--their deeply moulded labels, following the +form of the arch, and resting for support on the quaintest masks--how +describe the matchless hues of the glass--valued mementoes of a bygone +age, and of an art that has perished? + +The walls of the chapel were profusely ornamented with the richest +carving; and the oaken panels of the chancel, were adorned with those +exquisite festoons of fruit and flowers, so peculiarly English. The very +ceiling exacted admiration. It closed no lantern--it obstructed no +view--and its light ribs, springing from voluted corbels, bore at each +intersection, an emblazoned escutcheon, or painted heraldic device. The +intricate fan-like tracery of the roof--the enriched bosses at each +meeting of the gilded ribs--gave an airy charm and lightness to the whole, +which well accorded with the florid Architecture, and with the chivalrous +associations, with which it is identified. + +And here, beneath this spangled canopy, in this ancient shrine, whose +every ornament was as a memory of her ancestors; stood Emily Delmé, as +fair as the fairest of her race, changeful and trembling, a faint smile +on her lip, and a quivering tear in her eye. + +Clarendon Gage took her hand in his, and placed on her finger the golden +pledge of truth, and as he did so, an approving sunbeam burst through the +crimson-stained pane, and before lightening the tomb of Sir Reginald, fell +on her silvery veil--her snowy robe--her beautiful face. + +There was a very gay scene on the lawn, as they returned from the chapel. + +The dancing had already commenced--strains of music were heard from on +high--the ever moving circle became one moment contracted, then expanded +to the full length of the arms of the dancers, as they actively footed it +round the garlanded May-pole. + +At the first sight of the leading carriage, however, a signal was +given--the music suddenly ceased--and the whole party below, with the +exception of one individual, proceeded in great state towards an arch, +composed of flowers and white thorn, which o'ercanopied the road. + +The carriage stopped to greet the procession. + +On came the blushing May-Queen, and Maid Marian--both armed with wands +wreathed with cowslips--followed by a jovial retinue of morrice dancers +with drawn swords--guisers in many-coloured ribbons--and a full train of +simple peasants, in white smock-frocks. + +The May Queen advanced to the carriage, followed by the peasant girls, and +timidly dropped a choice wreath into the lap of the bride. Loud hurras +rung in the air, as Sir Henry gave his steward some welcome instructions +as to the village feast; and the cavalcade continued its route. + +We have said that one individual lingered near the May-pole. As he was +especially active, we may describe him and his employment. He was +apparently about fifteen. He had coarse straight white hair--a face that +denoted stupidity--but with a cunning leer, which seemed to belie his +other features. + +He was taking advantage of the cessation of dancing, to supply the +aspiring musicians with sundry articles of good cheer. A rope, armed with +a hook, was dropped from their lofty aërie, and promptly drawn up, on the +youngster's obtaining from the neighbouring tents, wherewithal to fill +satisfactorily the basket which he attached. + +Sir Henry Delmé and George had been so much abroad, and Emily's attachment +to Clarendon was of so early a date, that it happened that the members of +the Delmé family had mixed little in the festivities of the county in +which they resided; and were not intimately known, nor perhaps fully +appreciated, in the neighbourhood. + +But the family was one of high standing, and had ever been remarkable for +its kind-heartedness; and what _was_ known of its individuals, was so much +to their credit, that it kept alive the respect and consideration that +these circumstances might of themselves warrant. + +Sir Henry, on the other hand, regarded his sister's marriage as an event, +at which it might be proper to show, that neither hauteur nor want of +sociability, had precluded their friendly intercourse with the +neighbouring magnates; and consequently, most of the principal families +were present at Emily's wedding. + +While this large assemblage increased the gaiety of the scene, it was +somewhat wearisome to Delmé, who was too truly attached to his sister, to +be otherwise than thoughtful during the ceremony, and the breakfast that +succeeded it. + +At length the time came when Emily could escape from the gay throng; and +endeavour, in the quiet of her own room, to be once more calm, before she +prepared to leave her much-loved home. + +The preparations made, a note was despatched to her brother, begging him +to meet her in the library. As he did so, a fresh pang shot through +Delmé's heart. + +As he looked on Emily's flushed face--her dewy cheek--and noted her +agitated manner; he for the first time perceived, her very strong +resemblance to poor George, and wondered that he had never observed +this before. + +Clarendon announced the carriage. + +"God bless you! dear Henry!" + +"God bless and preserve you! my sweet! Clarendon! good bye! I am sure you +will take every care of her!" + +In another moment, the carriage was whirling past the library window; and +Sir Henry felt little inclined, to join the formal party in the +drawing-room. Sending therefore a brief message to Mrs. Glenallan, he +threw open the library window, and with hurried steps reached a +summer-house, half hidden in the shrubbery. He there fell into a deep +reverie, which was by no means a pleasurable one. + +He thought of Emily--of George--of Acmé,--and felt that he was becoming an +isolated being. + +And had _he_ not loved too? As this thought crossed him, his ambitious +dreams were almost forgotten. + +Sir Henry Delmé was aroused by the sound of voices. A loving couple, too +much engaged to observe _him_, passed close to the summer-house. + +It was the "Queen of the May," the prettiest and one of the poorest +girls in the parish, walking arm in arm with her rural swain. They had +left the "roasted beeves," and the "broached casks," for one half-hour's +delicious converse. + +There was some little coquettish resistance on the part of the girl, as +they sat down together at the foot of a fir tree. + +Her lover put his arm round her waist. + +"Oh! Mary! if father would but give us a cow or so!" + +This little incident decided the matter. Delmé at once resolved that Mary +Smith _should_ have a cow or so; and also that his own health would be +greatly benefited, by a short sojourn at Leamington. + + + + +Chapter XV. + +The Meeting. + + + + "Oh ever loving, lovely, and beloved! + How selfish sorrow ponders on the past, + And clings to thoughts now better far removed, + But Time shall tear thy shadow from me last." + + +We know not whether our readers have followed us with due attention, as we +have incidentally, and at various intervals, made our brief allusion to +the gradual change of character, wrought on Delmé, by the eventful scenes +in which he so lately played a prominent part. + +When we first introduced him to our reader's notice, we endeavoured to +depict him as he then really was,--a man of strong principles, warm +heart, and many noble qualities; but one, prone to over-estimate the +value of birth and fortune--with a large proportion of pride and +reserve--and with ideas greatly tinctured with the absurd fallacies of +the mere man of the world. + +But there was much in the family events we have described, to shake +Delmé's previous convictions, and to induce him to recal many of his +former opinions. + +He had seen his brother form a connection, which set at naught all those +convenances, which _he_ had been accustomed to regard as essential to, and +as indeed forming the very ingredient of, domestic happiness. + +And yet Sir Henry Delmé could not disguise from himself, that if, in +George's short-lived career, there had been much of pain and sorrow, they +were chiefly engendered by George's mental struggle, to uphold those very +opinions to which he himself was wedded; and that to this alone, might be +traced much of the suffering he had undergone. This was it that had so +weakened mind and body, as to render change of scene necessary;--this was +it that exposed Acmé to the air of the pestiferous marshes, and which left +George himself--a broken hearted man--totally incapable of bearing his +bereavement. + +On the other hand, the sunny happiness his brother had basked in,--and it +was very great,--had sprung from the natural out-pourings of an +affection, which,--unfettered as it had been by prudential +considerations,--had yet the power to make earth a heaven while Acmé +shared it with him, and the dark grave an object of bright promise, when +hailed as the portal, through which _he_ must pass, ere he gazed once +more on the load-star of his hopes. + +In the case, too, of Emily and Clarendon, although their union was far +more in accordance with his earlier theories, yet he could not but note, +how little their happiness seemed to rest on their position in society, +and how greatly was it based on their love for each other. + +These considerations were strengthened, by a growing feeling of +isolation, which the death of George and of Acmé,--the marriage of his +sister,--and probably the time of life he had arrived at, were all +calculated to awaken. + +With the knowledge of his disease, sprung up the hope of an antidote; and +it may be, that the little episode of the May Queen in our last chapter, +came but as a running comment, to reflections that had long been cherished +and indulged. + +The thoughts of Sir Henry Delmé anxiously centred in Julia Vernon; and as +he recalled her graceful emotion when they last parted, the unfrequent +blush,--it might be of shame, it might be of consciousness,--coloured his +sun-burnt cheek. + +At length,--the guests being dismissed, Delmé was at leisure to renew an +acquaintance, which had already proved an eventful one to him. He had +heard little of Miss Vernon since his return to England. His sister had +thought it better to let matters take their own course; and Julia, who +knew that in the eyes of the world, her circumstances were very different +to what they had been previous to her uncle's death; had from motives of +delicacy, shunned any intercourse that might lead to a renewed intimacy +with the family. + +Her health, too, had been precarious, and her elasticity of mind was gone. +Slowly wasting from day to day, she had sought to banish all thoughts +that were not of a world less vain than this--and her very languor of +body--while it gave her an apology for declining all gaieties, induced a +resigned spirit, and a quiet frame of mind. + +When Sir Henry Delmé was announced, Julia was alone in the drawing-room. +At that name, she attempted to rise from the sofa; but she was weak, and +her head fell back on the white pillow. + +Delmé stood for a moment irresolute,--a prey to the deepest pangs +of remorse. + +Well might he be shocked at that altered form! + +Her figure was greatly attenuated,--her cheeks sunken,--her eyes bright +and large; while over the forehead and drooping eyelid branched the +sapphire veins, with their intricate windings so clearly marked, that +Delmé almost thought, that he could trace the motion of the blood beneath. +That momentary pause, and the one mutual glance of recognition, told a +more accurate tale than words could convey. + +As Sir Henry pressed that small transparent hand, Julia's thin lip +quivered convulsively. She attempted to speak, but the exertion of +utterance was too great, and she burst into a flood of tears. + +"Julia! my own Julia! forgive me! we will never part more!" + +After this interview, it is needless to say that there was little else to +be explained. Mrs. Vernon was delighted at Julia's happy prospects, and it +was settled that their marriage should take place in the ensuing August. +Such arrangements as could be made on the spot to facilitate this, were at +once entered on. + +At the end of two months, it became necessary that Delmé should proceed to +town, for the purpose of seeing the Commander-in-Chief, in order to +withdraw a previous application to be employed on active service. He was +anxious also to consult a friend, whom he proposed appointing one of the +trustees for his marriage settlement; and Clarendon and Emily had exacted +a promise, that he would pay them a visit on his way to Delmé Park; which +he had determined to take on his route to town, that he might personally +inspect some alterations he had lately planned there. + +It was with bright prospects before him, that Delmé kissed off the big +tear that coursed down Julia's cheek; as she bade him farewell, with as +much earnestness, as if years, instead of a short fortnight, were to +elapse before they met again. + +Miss Vernon's health had decidedly improved. She was capable of much +greater exertion; and her spirits were sometimes as buoyant as in +other days. + +When Sir Henry first reached Leamington, the only exercise that Julia +could take was in a wheel chair; and great was her delight at seeing a +hand present itself over its side, and know that it was _his_. Latterly, +however, she had been able to lean on his arm, and take a few turns on the +lawn, and had on one occasion even reached the public gardens. + +Mrs. Vernon, with the deceptive hope common to those, who watch day by day +by the side of an invalid's couch, and in the very gradual loss of +strength, lose sight of the real extent of danger, had never been +desponding as to her daughter's ultimate recovery; and was now quite +satisfied that a few weeks more would restore her completely to health. + +Sir Henry Delmé, with the gaze of a lover, would note each flush of +animation, and mistake it for the hue of health; while Julia herself _felt +her love, and thought it strength_. + +There was only one person who looked somewhat grave at these joyous +preparations. This was Dr. Jephson, who noticed that Julia's voice +continued very weak, and that she could not get rid of a low hollow cough, +that had long distressed her. + +Clarendon and his wife were resident at a beautiful cottage near Malvern, +on the road to Eastnor Castle. The cottage itself was small, and half +hidden with fragrant honey-suckles, but had well appointed extensive +grounds behind it. _They_ were not of the very many, who after the first +fortnight of a forced seclusion,--the treacle moon, as some one has called +it,--find their own society, both wearisome and unprofitable. _Theirs_ was +a lover felt but by superior and congenial minds--a love, neither sensual +nor transient--a love on which affection and reflection shed their +glow,--which could bear the test of scrutiny,--and which owed its chief +charm to the presence of truth. + +Delmé passed a week at Malvern, and then proceeded towards town, with the +pleasing conviction that his sister's happiness was assured. + +Twenty-four hours at Delmé sufficed to inspect the alterations, and to +give orders as to Lady Delmé's rooms. + +Sir Henry had received two letters from Julia, while at Malvern, and both +were written in great spirits. At his club in London another awaited him, +which stated that she had not been quite so well, and that she was writing +from her room. A postscript from Mrs. Vernon quite did away with any alarm +that Sir Henry might otherwise have felt. + +Delmé attended Lord Hill's levee; and immediately afterwards proceeded to +his friend's office. To his disappointment, he was informed that his +friend had left for Bath; and thinking it essential that he should see +him; he went thither at an early hour the following day. + +At Bath he was again doomed to be disappointed, for his friend had gone +to Clifton. Sir Henry dined that day with Mr. Belliston Grĉme; and on +returning to the hotel, had the interview with Oliver Delancey, that has +been described in the thirteenth chapter of our first volume. + +On the succeeding morning, Delmé was with the future trustee; and finally +arranged the affair to his entire satisfaction. His absence from +Leamington, had been a day or two more protracted than he had anticipated, +and his not finding his friend in London, had prevented his hearing from +Miss Vernon so lately as he could have wished. + +Sir Henry had posted all night, and it was ten in the morning when he +reached Leamington. He directed the postilion to drive to his hotel, but +it happened that on his way he had to pass Mrs. Vernon's door. + +As the carriage turned a corner, which was distant some hundred yards from +Mrs. Vernon's house, Sir Henry was surprised by a momentary check on the +part of his driver. + +It had rained heavily during the early part of the day. The glasses were +up, and so bespattered with the mud and rain, that it was impossible to +see through them. Sir Henry let them down; saw a confused mass of +carriages; and could clearly discern a mourning coach. + +He did not give himself time to breathe his misgivings; but flung the door +open, and sprang from his seat into the road. It was still three or four +doors from Mrs. Vernon's house, and he prayed to God that his fears might +be groundless. + +As he approached nearer, it was evident that there was unusual bustle +about _that_ house. Delmé grasped the iron railing, and clung to it for +support; but with every sense keenly alive to aught that might dispel, or +confirm that horrible suspicion. + +Two old women, dressed in the characteristic red cloak of the English +peasant, were earnestly conversing together--their baskets of eggs and +flowers being laid on a step of one of the adjacent houses. + +"So you knowed her, Betsy Farmer?" + +"Lord a mercy!" responded the other, "I ha' knowed Miss July since she +wa' the height of my basket. Ay! and many's the bunch of flowers she ha' +had from me. That was afore the family went to the sea side. Well! it's a +matter o' five year, sin' she comed up to me one morning--so grown as I'd +never ha' known her. But she knowed me, and asked all about me. And I just +told her all my troubles, and how I had lost my good man. And sure enough +sin' that day she ha' stood my friend, and gived me soup and flannels for +the little uns, and put my Bess to service, and took me through all the +bad Christmas'. Poor dear soul! she ha' gone now! and may the Lord bless +her and all as good as she!" + +The poor woman, who felt the loss of her benefactress, put the corner of +her apron to her eyes. + +Sir Henry strode forward. + +Mutes were on each side of the front step. A servant threw open the door +of the breakfast room, and Delmé mechanically entered it. It was filled +with strangers; on some of these the spruce undertaker was fitting silk +scarfs; while others were busy at the breakfast table. + +An ominous whisper ran through the apartment. + +"Sir Henry Delmé?" said the rosy-cheeked clergyman, enquiringly, as he +laid down his egg spoon, and turned towards him. + +"I trust you received my letter. Women are so utterly helpless in these +matters; and poor Mrs. Vernon was quite overpowered." + +Delmé turned away to master his emotion. + +At this moment, a friendly hand was laid on his shoulder, and Mrs. +Vernon's maid, with her eyes red from weeping, beckoned him up stairs. + +He mechanically obeyed her--reeled into an inner drawing room--and stood +in the presence of the bereaved mother. + +Mrs. Vernon was ordinarily the very picture of neatness. _Now_ she sat +with her feet on a footstool--her head almost touching her lap--her silver +hair all loose and dishevelled. It seemed to Delmé as if age had suddenly +come upon her. + +She rose as he entered, and with wild hysterical sobs, threw herself +into his arms. + +"My son I my son! that _should_ have been. Our angel is gone--gone!" + +Delmé tried to speak, but his tongue clove to his mouth, and the hysteric +globe rose to his throat. + +Suddenly he heard the sound of wheels, and of heavy footsteps on +the stairs. + +He imprinted a kiss on the old woman's forehead--it was his farewell for +ever!--gave her to the care of the maid servant--and rushed from the room. + +He was stopped on the landing of the staircase by the coffin of her he +loved so well. The bearers stopped for an instant; they felt that this was +no common greeting. Part of the pall was already turned back. Delmé +removed its head with trembling hand. + + "Julia Vernon. ĉtate 22." + +He dropped the velvet with a groan, and was only saved from falling by the +timely aid of the old butler, whose face was as sorrowful as his own. + +But there was a duty yet to be performed, and Delmé followed the corpse. + +The first mourning coach was just drawn up. An intended occupant had +already his foot on the step. + +"This place is mine!" said Sir Henry in a hollow voice. + +The cortege proceeded; and Delmé, giddy and confused, heard solemn words +spoken over his affianced one, and he waited, till even the coffin could +he discerned no more. + +Thompson, who had followed his master, assisted him into his carriage, +placed himself beside him, and ordered the driver to proceed to the hotel. +But Delmé gave a quick impetuous motion of the hand, which the domestic +understood well; and the horses' heads were turned towards the metropolis. + +The mourner tarried not, even to bid his sister farewell; but sought +once more his brother's grave. Some friendly hand had kept its turf +smooth; no footsteps, save the innocent ones of children, had pressed +its grassy mound. It was clothed with soft daisies and drooping +harebells. The sun seemed to shine on that spot, to bid the wanderer be +contented and at rest. + +But as yet there was no rest for Delmé. And he stood beside the marble +slab, beneath which lay Acmé Frascati. The downy moss--soft as +herself--was luxuriating there; and the cry of the cicalas was pleasant +to the ear; and the image of the young Greek girl, as in a vivid +picture, rose to his mind's eye. She was not attired in her white cymar; +nor was her head wreathed with monumental amaranths;--health was on her +cheek, fond smiles on her pouting lip, and tender love swimming in her +melting glance. + +His own griefs came back on Delmé; he groaned aloud. He traversed the +deserts, he crossed lofty mountains, he knew thirst and privations. He was +scoffed at and spat upon in an infidel country--he was tossed on the +ocean--he shook hands with danger. + +He visited our wide Oriental possessions; and sojourned amid the spicy +islands of the Indian Archipelago, where vegetation attains a magnificence +unknown elsewhere, and animal life partakes of this unexampled +exuberance,--where flowers of the most exquisite colours and fragrance +charm the senses by day, and delicious plants saturate the air with their +odours by night. + +Delmé extended his wanderings to the rarely visited "many isles," which +stud the vast Pacific, and found that there too were fruitful and +smiling regions. + +But not on the desert--nor on the mountains--nor in the land of the +Moslem---nor on tempestuous seas--nor in those verdant islets, which seem +to breathe of Paradise, to greet the wearied traveller; could Delmé's +restless spirit find an abiding place, his thirst for foreign travel be +slaked, or his heart know peace. + +He madly sought oblivion, which could not be accorded him. + + + + +Chapter XVI. + +The Wanderer. + + + + "Then I consider'd life in all its forms, + Of vegetables first, next zoophytes, + The tribe that dwells upon the confine strange + 'Twixt plants and fish; some are there from their mouth + Spit out their progeny, and some that breed, + By suckers from their base or tubercles, + Sea-hedgehog, madrepore, sea-ruff, or pad, + Fungus, or sponge, or that gelatinous fish, + That taken from its element at once + Stinks, melts, and dies a fluid; so from these, + Through many a tribe of less equivocal life, + Dividual or insect, up I ranged, + From sentient to percipient, small advance, + Next to intelligent, to rational next, + So to half spiritual human kind, + And what is more, is more than man may know. + Last came the troublesome question--What am I?" + + * * * * * + + "And vain were the hat, the staff, and stole, + And all outward signs were a snare, + Unless the pilgrim's endanger'd soul + Were inwardly clothed with prayer. + + "But the pilgrim prays--and then trials are light-- + For prayer to him on his way, + Resembles the pillar of fire by night, + And the guiding cloud by day. + + "And salvation's helm the pilgrim wears, + Or vain were all other dress; + And the shield of faith the pilgrim bears, + With the breastplate of righteousness. + + "At length his tears all wiped away; + He enters the City of Light; + And how gladly he changes his gown of grey, + For Zion's robe of white." + + +It was on the 22nd of October, 1836, that an emissary from his sister, +sought Sir Henry Delmé. It was at the antipodes to his ancestral home; in +Australia, that wonderful country, which--belied and calumniated, as she +has hitherto been--presents some anomalous and creditable features. + +For her population, she is the wealthiest, the most enterprising, the most +orderly and loyal, of our British possessions. There, is the aristocracy +of wealth, to an unprecedented degree, subservient to the aristocracy of +virtue. While she is stigmatised as the cloacĉ of Britain, the philosopher +looks into the future, and already beholds a nation, perpetuating the +language of the brave and free; when the parent stock has perhaps ceased +to be an empire; or is lingering on, like modern Greece, in the hopeless +languor of decay and decrepitude. + +This agent had arrived from England, a very short period before; and, +accredited with a packet, containing various communications from Emily and +Clarendon, accompanied by the miniatures of their children, with little +silky curls attached to each, proceeded an expectant guest, to Sir Henry +Delmé's temporary residence. Early dawn saw him pacing the deck of a steam +vessel; and regarding with great surprise, the opposite banks of Hunter's +River, up which the vessel was gliding. + +A rich dark soil, of great depth, bespoke uncommon fertility; while the +varieties of the gum tree--then quite new to him--with their bark of every +diversity of colour, gave a primeval grandeur to the scene. + +Each moment brought in sight the location of some enterprising settler, +which, ever varying in appearance, in importance, and in extent yet told +the same tale of difficulties overcome, and success ensuing. + +On his reaching the township, near the head of the navigation, this agent +found horses waiting for him:--he was addressed by a well-appointed +groom--our old friend Thompson--who touched his hat respectfully, and +mentioned the name, he was already prepared for by his Sydney advices. + +Suffice it, that Sir Henry was no longer the Baronet, and that the name of +Delmé was a strange one in his household. + +Their route skirted the banks of one of those rivers, which, diverging +from that mine of wealth, the Hunter, wind into the bowels of the land, +like a vein of gold. + +That emissary will not soon forget his lovely ride. His eye, wearied with +gazing on the wide expanse of ocean, feasted on the rich and novel +landscape. They rode alternately, through cleared lands, studded with rich +farms, waving with luxuriant crops of wheat and rye; and again, through +regions, where the axe had never resounded, but where eucalypti, and +bastard box, and forest oak with its rough acorn, towered above beauteous +wild flowers, whose forms and varieties were associated in the mind of +the stranger, with some of the most precious and valued flowers which +adorn British conservatories. + +The russet Certhia, with outspread fluttering wing, pecked at the smooth +bark, and preying on some destructive insect, really preserved what it +seemed to injure. The larger parrots, travelling in pairs, screamed their +passing salutation, as they displayed their bright plumage to the sun; +while hundreds, of a smaller kind, with crimson shoulder, were concealed +amid the green leaves; and, as they rode beneath them, babbled--like +frolicsome children of the forest--a rude, but to themselves a not +unmeaning dialogue. + +The superb warblers, ornaments alike to the bush or the garden, flitted +cheerily from bough to bough. Strangely mated are they! The male, in suit +of black velvet, trimmed with sky blue, looks like a knight, attired for a +palace festival:--while his lady-love--she resembles some peasant girl, +silent and grateful, clothed in modest kirtle of sober brown. + +As he reined in his horse, to examine these at leisure, how melodiously +came on his ear, the clear, ceaseless, silver tinkle of the bell-bird; +this sound ever and anon chequered by the bold chock-ee-chock! of the +bald-headed friar. They had proceeded very leisurely, and the sun was +already declining, when Thompson, pointing to an abrupt path, motioned +him to descend, and at the same time, gave the peculiar cry, known in the +colony as the cooï; a cry which was as promptly answered. It was not +until he was close to the edge of the river, that the stranger understood +its purport. + +A punt was rapidly approaching from the opposite bank. An athletic +aboriginal native, in an attitude that seemed studiedly graceful, was +bending to the stout rope, which, attached to either side of the river, +served to propel the punt. He had been spearing fish; for his wife, or +gin, or queen--for she was born such, and contradicted in her person the +old adage, + + "There's a difference between + A beggar and a queen"-- + +was drawing the barb of a spear from the bleeding side of a struggling +mullet. She sat at the bottom of the boat, with a blanket closely wound +round her. She was young, and her looks were not unpleasing. Her +thickly-matted hair was ornamented with kangaroo teeth; and to her +shoulder, closely clung a native tailless bear, whose appearance could not +do otherwise than excite a smile. With convex staring eyes--hairless +nose--and white ruff of fur round his face--he very closely resembled in +physiognomy, some grey-whiskered guzzling citizen. The well-trained horses +gave no trouble, as they entered the punt; and the smiling boatman, +displaying his teeth to Thompson, but without speaking, commenced warping +the punt to the opposite side of the river. They were half way across, ere +the guest observed the mansion of the friend he sought. It stood on the +summit of the hill, on the left; beneath which the river made a very +abrupt bend. The house itself resembled the common weather-boarded cottage +of the early settler,--wide verandah was over the front entrance,--and two +small rooms, the exact width of this, jutted out on either side of it. + +Its site however was commanding. The house stood on an eminence, and from +the windows, a long reach of the river was visible. At the top of the brow +of the hill, extended a range of English rose trees, in full flower. The +bank, which might be about thirty yards in front of these, was clothed +with foliage to the water's edge. + +There might be seen the fragrant mimosa--the abundant acacia--the swamp +oak, which would have been styled a fir, had not the first exiles to +Australia found twined round its boughs, the misletoe, with its many home +associations--the elegant cedar--the close-growing mangrove--and strange +parasitical plants, pushing through huge fungi, and clasping with the +remorseless strength of the wrestler, and with the round crunching folds +of the boa, the trees they were gradually to supplant and destroy. + +Suddenly, the quick finger of the black pointed to an object close beside +the punt. A bill, as of a bird, and apparently of the duck tribe, +protruded above the surface of the water. For an instant, small, black, +piercing eyes peered towards them: but as the quadruped, for such it was, +prepared to dive in affright, the unerring shot of a rifle splashed the +water on the cheek of the stranger--the body rolled slowly over--the legs +stiffened--a sluggish stream of dark blood tainted the surrounding +wave--and the ferryman, extending his careless hand, threw the victim to +his companion, at the same time addressing a few words to her in their +native language. + +The guest had little difficulty, in recognising the uncouth form of the +ornithorhynchus, or water-mole; but he turned with yet more eagerness, +towards the spot, whence that shot had proceeded. On the summit of the +steep bank, leaning on his rifle, stood Sir Henry Delmé. + +His form was still commanding--there was something in the air with which +the cap was worn--and in the strap round his Swiss blouse--that bespoke +the soldier and the gentleman: but his face was sadly attenuated--the +lower jaw appeared to have fallen in--and his hair was very grey. + +He received his guest with a cordial and sincere welcome. While the latter +delivered his packet the native who had warped the punt over, came up +with the dead platypus, + +"Well, Boomeroo! is it a female?" + +"No, massa! full grown--with large spur!" + +Sir Henry saw that his guest was puzzled by this dialogue, and +good-naturedly showed him the distinguishing characteristic of the male +ornithorhynchus--the spur on the hinder foot, which is hollow, and +transmits an envenomed liquid, secreted by a gland on the inner surface of +the thigh. + +In November, of the year preceding, a burrow of the animal had been +opened on the bank of the river, which contained the dam, and three +live young ones;--there were many points, yet to be determined relative +to its interior organization; and it was on this account, that Sir +Henry was anxious to obtain a female specimen at this particular +period. As he spoke, Delmé introduced the stranger to his study, which +might more aptly be styled a museum;--applied some spirits of wine to +the platypus, and placing it under a bell-glass for the morrow's +examination, left him turning over his collection of birds, while he +perused his valued home letters. + +It was with unmixed pleasure, knowing as he did his melancholy history, +that the stranger found Sir Henry Delmé engaged in pursuits, which it was +evident he was following up with no common enthusiasm. In truth, a mere +accidental circumstance,--the difficulty of obtaining a vessel at one of +the Indian Islands for any port,--had at first brought him to Australia, a +country regarding which he had felt little curiosity. The strange +varieties, however, of its animal kingdom, had interested him;--he was +struck with the rapid strides that that country has made in half a +century--and he continued from month to month to occupy the house where +his friend had now found him. + +To the stranger's eye, the eye of a novice, the well arranged specimens of +birds of the most beautiful plumage--of animals, chiefly marsupial, of the +most singular developement--of glittering insects--and of deep coloured +shells; were attractive wonders enough; but from the skeletons beside +these, it was quite clear, that Delmé had acquired considerable knowledge +as to the internal construction of the animals themselves--that he had +studied the subsisting relations, between the mechanism and the +movements--the structure, and its varied functions. + +After dinner, Sir Henry Delmé, who appeared to think that the bearer of +his despatches had conferred on him a lasting favour, threw off his +habitual reserve, and delighted and interested him with his tales of +foreign travel. + +As the night wore on, the conversation reverted to his sister and his +home. It was evident, that what remained for the living of that crushed +heart, was with Emily and Clarendon, and their children; perhaps more than +all, with his young heir and god-son, Henry Delmé Gage. The very colour of +that sunny lock of hair, gave rise to much speculation: and it seemed as +if he would never be wearied, of listening to the minutest description of +the dawning of intellect, in a precocious little fellow of barely five +years of age. + +Encouraged by his evident feeling, and observing many more comforts +about him, than he had been led to expect from his previous errant +habits; his guest ventured to express his hope, that Sir Henry might yet +return to England. + +"My good friend!" replied he, "for I must call you such now, for I know +not when I have experienced such unalloyed satisfaction, as you have +conferred on me this night, by conversing so freely of those I love; I +certainly never can forget that I am the last male of an ancient race, and +that those who are nearest and dearest to me, are divided from me by a +wide waste of waters. I have learnt to suffer with more patience than I +had ever hoped for; and, it may be,--although I have hardly breathed the +thought to myself--it may yet be accorded me to revisit that ancient +chapel, and to dwell once more in that familiar mansion." + +His guest was overcome by his emotion, and pressed his hand with warmth, +as he made his day's journey the excuse for an early retirement. + +Sleep soon visited his eyelids, for the ride, to one fresh from a sea +voyage, had brought with it a wholesome weariness. He was aroused from +his slumbers, by the deep sonorous accents as of a man reading Spanish. + +The light streamed from an adjacent room, through the chinks of a +partition. He started up alike forgetful of Delmé, his ride, and his +arrival in Australia; conceiving that he was again at the mercy of the +waves, in his narrow comfortless cabin. + +That light, however, brought the stranger back to the wanderer, and +his griefs. + +Beside a small table, strewn with his lately received English letters, +knelt Sir Henry Delmé. The stranger had seen condemned criminals pray with +becoming fervour; and devotees of many a creed lift up their hearts to +heaven; but never had he witnessed a more contrite or a humbler spirit +imprinted on the features of mortal man, than then shed its radiance on +that sorrowful, but noble face. + +Strange as it may appear, he knew not whether the words themselves really +caught his ear, or whether the motion of the lips expressed them--but +this he _did_ know, that every syllable seemed to reach his heart, and +impress him with a mystic thrill, + +"OR EVER THE SILVER CORD BE LOOSED, OR THE GOLDEN BOWL BE BROKEN, OR THE +PITCHER BE BROKEN AT THE FOUNTAIN, OR THE WHEEL BROKEN AT THE CISTERN. +THEN SHALL THE DUST RETURN TO THE EARTH AS IT WAS: AND THE SPIRIT SHALL +RETURN UNTO GOD WHO GAVE IT." + + + + +Chapter XVII + +The Wanderer's Return. + + + + "And he had learn'd to love--I know not why, + For this in such as him seems strange of mood,-- + The helpless looks of blooming infancy, + Even in its earliest nurture; what subdued, + To change like this, a mind so far imbued + With scorn of man, it little boots to know; + But thus it was; and though in solitude + Small power the nipp'd affections have to grow, + In him this glow'd when all beside had ceased to glow." + + +Within a period of two months, from the interview we have described, the +stranger found that his arguments had not been thrown away; as he shook +Sir Henry's hand on the deck of a vessel bound for Valparaiso. His love of +travel and of excitement, had induced such an habitual restlessness, that +Delmé was not prepared at once to embark for England. He crossed the +Cordillera de los Andes--traversed the Pampas of Buenos Ayres--and +finally embarked for his native land. + +It was the height of summer, when the carriage which bore the long absent +owner to his ancestral home, neared the ancient moss-grown lodge. + +Fanny Porter, who was now married, and had a thriving babe at her breast, +started with surprise; as, throwing open the gate, she recognised in the +care-worn man with bronzed face and silver hair, her well known and +beloved master. As the carriage neared the chapel, it struck Sir Henry, +that it would be but prudent, to inform Clarendon of his near approach; in +order that he might prepare Emily for the meeting. He ordered the +postilion to pull up--tore a leaf from his memorandum book--and wrote a +few lines to Clarendon, despatching Thompson in advance. He turned into +the chapel, and as he approached its altar, the bridal scene, enacted +there nearly seven years back, seemed to rise palpably before him. + +But the tomb of Sir Reginald Delmé, with its velvet dusty banner--the +marble monument of his mother, with the bust above it, whose naked eye +seemed turned towards him--his withered heart and hopes soon darkened his +recollections of that bright hour. With agitated emotions, Sir Henry left +the chapel; and in a spirit of impatience, strode towards the mansion, +intending to meet the returning domestic. His feelings were strange, +various, and not easily defined. + +He was awakened from his day-dream by the sound of children's voices, +which sound he instinctively followed, until he reached the old orchard. +It was such an orchard, as might be planted by an old Delmé, ere any +Linnean or Loudonean horticulturist had decided that slopes are best for +the sun, that terraces are an economical saving of ground, that valleys +must be swamps, and that blights are vulgar errors. The orchard at Delmé +was strikingly unscientific; but the old stock contrived to bear good +fruit. The pippins, golden and russet--the pears, jargonelle and +good-christian--the cherries, both black and white heart--still thrived; +while under their shade, grew hips, haws, crabs, sloes, and blackberries, +happy to be shaded from rain, dews, and fierce sun-shine, and unenvious +of roses, cherries, apples, damsons, and mulberries; their self-defended, +and more aristocratic cousins. + +Sir Henry stopped unseen at the gate of the orchard, and for some minutes +looked on the almost fairy group, whose voices had led him thither. + +Lying on the bank, which enclosed the orchard, was a blue-eyed +rosy-cheeked little girl;--the ground ashes had been cut down; and her +laughing face was pillowed on the violets and oxlips, that burst from +between the roots. She was preparing to take another roll into the clayey +ditch below. Another little girl was gazing at the child from within the +orchard; half doubtful whether she should encourage or check her. One +pale-blue slipper and her little sock were half sunk in the clay, while +the veiny and pink-soled foot, the large lids half closed over her deep +blue eyes, the finger thrust between her red and pouting lips, her bonnet +thrown back and hanging by the strings round her swelling throat, her hair +dishevelled and stuck with oxlips, primroses, cowslips, violets, and +daisies; and wreathed with the spring-holly, or butcher's-broom--made her +a perfect picture of English beauty, and of childish anxiety and +indecision. + +Beside her stood a boy older than herself, and evidently as perplexed. +There was Julia perched cock-horse on the bank--there was Emily, her hair +undone, her bonnet crashed, with one shoe and stocking lost--and yet he +had promised Mamma, that if she would but once trust his sisters to him, +that he would bring them home, "with such a pretty basket of +spring-flowers." + +The beautiful blossoms of the cherry hung around the boy--the bees buzzed +in its bells--the apple and pear blossoms shook their fragrance in the +warm air--and the shadows of the flying clouds hurried like wings over the +bright green grass. The boy had dropped his basket of fresh-blown flowers +at his feet--tears were trembling in his eye-lids, as he gazed on his +sisters. His look was that of George. + +"Childhood too has its sorrows," said Sir Henry, half aloud, "even when +seeking joy on a bank of primroses. Why should _I_ then repine?" + +The boy started as he heard and saw the stranger:--he involuntarily put +one foot forward in an attitude of childish defiance: but children are +keen physiognomists, and there was nothing but affection beaming from that +mournful face. + +"My boy!" said Delmé, and his eyes were moist, "did you ever hear of your +Uncle Henry?" + +"Emily! Emily! Julia!" exclaimed the little fellow, as he rushed into Sir +Henry's arms, "here is Uncle Henry, my god-papa, and he will help us to +reach the blackberries." + +We need follow the wanderer no further. It is true that in his youth he +had not known sympathy; in his manhood he had experienced sorrow; but +it is a pleasure to us to reflect, that despair is not the companion of +his old age. + + + +The End. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Love Story, by A Bushman + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LOVE STORY *** + +This file should be named 8lvst10.txt or 8lvst10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8lvst11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8lvst10a.txt + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/8lvst10.zip b/old/8lvst10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f435cd4 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8lvst10.zip diff --git a/old/8lvst10h.htm b/old/8lvst10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..811b8fb --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8lvst10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10677 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?> +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + +<html> + +<head> +<title>A Love Story, by A Bushman (Vol. I)</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + h1,h2,h3,h4 { text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-variant: small-caps } + h1 { margin-top: 2em } + .smallcaps { font-variant: small-caps } + img { border-style: none } + --> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Love Story, by A Bushman + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: A Love Story + +Author: A Bushman + +Release Date: September, 2005 [EBook #8883] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on August 20, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LOVE STORY *** + + + + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1>A Love Story</h1> + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">by</p> + +<h2>A Bushman.</h2> + +<h3>Vol. I.</h3> + +<blockquote> + "My thoughts, like swallows, skim the main,<br /> + And bear my spirit back again<br /> + Over the earth, and through the air,<br /> + A wild bird and a wanderer." +</blockquote> + +<h4>1841.</h4> + + + +<p align="center">To<br /> +Lady Gipps<br /> +This Work Is Respectfully Inscribed,<br /> +By<br /> +A Grateful Friend.</p> + + + + +<h1>Preface.</h1> + + + +<p>The author of these pages considered that a lengthened explanation might +be necessary to account for the present work.</p> + +<p>He had therefore, at some length, detailed the motives that influenced +him in its composition. He had shown that as a solitary companionless +bushman, it had been a pleasure to him in his lone evenings</p> + +<p> "To create, and in creating live + A being more intense."</p> + +<p>He had expatiated on the love he bears his adopted country, and had +stated that he was greatly influenced by the hope that although</p> + +<p> "Sparta hath many a worthier son than he,"</p> + +<p>this work might be the humble cornerstone to some enduring and highly +ornamented structure.</p> + +<p>The author however fortunately remembered, that readers have but little +sympathy with the motives of authors; but expect that their works should +amuse or instruct them. He will therefore content himself, with giving a +quotation from one of those old authors, whose "well of English +undefined" shames our modern writers.</p> + +<p>He intreats that the indulgence prayed for by the learned Cowell may be +accorded to his humble efforts.</p> + +<p>"My true end is the advancement of knowledge, and therefore have I +published this poor work, not only to impart the good thereof, to those +young ones that want it, but also to draw from the learned, the supply +of my defects.</p> + +<p>"Whosoever will charge these travails with many oversights, he shall need +no solemn pains to prove them.</p> + +<p>"And upon the view taken of this book sithence the impression, I dare +assure them, that shall observe most faults therein, that I, by gleaning +after him, will gather as many omitted by him, as he shall shew +committed by me.</p> + +<p>"What a man saith well is not, however, to be rejected, because he hath +some errors; reprehend who will, in God's name, that is, with sweetness, +and without reproach.</p> + +<p>"So shall he reap hearty thanks at my hands, and thus more soundly help +in a few months, than I by tossing and tumbling my books at home, could +possibly have done in some years."</p> + + + + +<h1>A Love Story</h1> + + + + +<h1>Chapter I.</h1> + +<h2>The Family.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "It was a vast and venerable pile."</blockquote> + +<blockquote> "Oh, may'st thou ever be as now thou art,<br /> +Nor unbeseem the promise of thy spring."</blockquote> + + +<p>The mansion in which dwelt the Delmés was one of wide and extensive +range. Its centre slightly receded, leaving a wing on either side. +Fluted ledges, extending the whole length of the building, protruded +above each story. These were supported by quaint heads of satyr, martyr, +or laughing triton. The upper ledge, which concealed the roof from +casual observers, was of considerably greater projection. Placed above +it, at intervals, were balls of marble, which, once of pure white, had +now caught the time-worn hue of the edifice itself. At each corner of +the front and wings, the balls were surmounted by the family device--the +eagle with extended wing. One claw closed over the stone, and the bird +rode it proudly an' it had been the globe. The portico, of a pointed +Gothic, would have seemed heavy, had it not been lightened by glass +doors, the vivid colours of which were not of modern date. These +admitted to a capacious hall, where, reposing on the wide-spreading +antlers of some pristine tenant of the park, gleamed many a piece of +armour that in days of yore had not been worn ingloriously.</p> + +<p>The Delmé family was an old Norman one, on whose antiquity a peerage +could have conferred no new lustre. At the period when the aristocracy +of Great Britain lent themselves to their own diminution of +importance, by the prevalent system of rejecting the poorer class of +tenantry, in many instances the most attached,--the consequence was +foreseen by the then proprietor of Delmé Park, who, spurning the +advice of some interested few around him, continued to foster those +whose ancestors had served his. The Delmés were thus enabled to +retain--and they deserved it--that fair homage which rank and property +should ever command. As a family they were popular, and as individuals +universally beloved.</p> + +<p>At the period we speak of, the Delmé family consisted but of three +members: the baronet, Sir Henry Delmé; his brother George, some ten +years his junior, a lieutenant in a light infantry regiment at Malta; +and one sister, Emily, Emily Delmé was the youngest child; her mother +dying shortly after her birth. The father, Sir Reginald Delmé, a man of +strong feelings and social habits, never recovered this blow. Henry +Delmé was barely fifteen when he was called to the baronetcy and to the +possession of the Delmé estates. It was found that Sir Reginald had been +more generous than the world had given him credit for, and that his +estates were much encumbered. The trustees were disposed to rest +contented with paying off the strictly legal claims during Sir Henry's +minority. This the young heir would not accede to. He waited on his +most influential guardian--told him he was aware his father, from +hospitality and good nature, had incurred obligations which the law did +not compel his son to pay; but which he could not but think that equity +and good feeling did. He begged that these might be added to the other +claims, and that the trustees would endeavour to procure him a +commission in the army. He was gazetted to a cornetcy; and entered life +at an age when, if the manlier traits are ready to be developed, the +worthless ones are equally sure to unfold themselves. Few of us that +have not found the first draught of life intoxicate! Few of us that have +not then run wild, as colts that have slipped their bridle! +Experience--that mystic word--is wanting; the retrospect of past years +wakes no sigh; expectant youth looks forward to future ones without a +shade of distrust. The mind is elastic--the body vigorous and free from +pain; and it is then youth inwardly feels, although not daring to avow +it, the almost total impossibility that the mind should wax less +vigorous, or the body grow helpless, and decay.</p> + +<p>But Sir Henry was cast in a finer mould, nor did his conduct at this +dangerous period detract from this his trait of boyhood. He joined his +regiment when before the enemy, and, until he came of age, never drew on +his guardians for a shilling. Delmé's firmness of purpose, and his after +prudence, met with their due reward. The family estates became wholly +unencumbered, and Sir Henry was enabled to add to the too scanty +provision of his sister, as well as to make up to George, on his +entering the army, a sum more than adequate to all his wants. These +circumstances were enough to endear him to his family; and, in truth, +amidst all its members, there prevailed a confidence and an unanimity +which were never for an instant impaired. There was one consequence, +however, of Sir Henry Delmé's conduct that <i>he</i>, at the least, foresaw +not, but which was gradually and unconsciously developed. In pursuing +the line of duty he had marked out--in acting up to what he knew was +right--his mind became <i>too</i> deeply impressed with the circumstances +which had given rise to his determination. It overstepped its object. +The train of thought, to which necessity gave birth, continued to +pervade when that necessity no longer existed. His wish to re-establish +his house grew into an ardent desire to aggrandize it. His ambition +appeared a legitimate one. It grew with his years, and increased with +his strength.</p> + +<p>Many a time, on the lone bivouac, when home presents itself in its +fairest colours to the soldier's mind, would Delmé's prayer be embodied, +that his house might again be elevated, and that his descendants might +know <i>him</i> as the one to whom they were indebted for its rise. Delmé's +ambitious thoughts were created amidst dangers and toil, in a foreign +land, and far from those who shared his name. But his heart swelled high +with them as he again trod his native soil in peace--as he gazed on the +home of his fathers, and communed with those nearest and dearest to him +on earth. Sir Henry considered it incumbent on him to exert every means +that lay in his power to promote his grand object. A connection that +promised rank and honours, seemed to him an absolute essential that was +worth any sacrifice. Sir Henry never allowed himself to look for, or +give way to, those sacred sympathies, which the God of nature hath +implanted in the breasts of all of us. Delmé had arrived at middle age +ere a feeling incompatible with his views arose. But his had been a +dangerous experiment. Our hearts or minds, or whatever it may be that +takes the impression, resemble some crystalline lake that mirrors the +smallest object, and heightens its beauty; but if it once gets muddied +or ruffled, the most lovely object ceases to be reflected in its waters. +By the time that lake is clear again, the fairy form that ere while +lingered on its bosom is fled for ever.</p> + +<p>Thus much in introducing the head of the family. Let us now attempt to +sketch the gentle Emily.</p> + +<p>Emily Delmé was not an ordinary being. To uncommon talents, and a mind +of most refined order, she united great feminine propriety, and a total +absence of those arts which sometimes characterise those to whom the +accident of birth has given importance. With unerring discrimination, +she drew the exact line between vivacity and satire, true religion and +its semblance. She saw through and pitied those who, pluming themselves +on the faults of others, and imparting to the outward man the ascetic +inflexibility of the inner one, would fain propagate on all sides their +rigid creed, forbidding the more favoured commoners of nature even to +sip joy's chalice. If not a saint, however, but a fair, confiding, and +romantic girl, she was good without misanthropy, pure without +pretension, and joyous, as youth and hopes not crushed might make her. +She was one of those of whom society might justly be proud. She obeyed +its dictates without question, but her feelings underwent no debasement +from the contact. If not a child of nature, she was by no means the +slave of art.</p> + +<p>Emily Delmé was more beautiful than striking. She impressed more than +she exacted. Her violet eye gleamed with feeling; her smile few could +gaze on without sympathy--happy he who might revel in its brightness! +If aught gave a peculiar tinge to her character, it was the pride she +felt in the name she bore,--this she might have caught from Sir +Henry,--the interest she took in the legends connected with that name, +and the gratification which the thought gave her, that by her ancestors, +its character had been but rarely sullied, and never disgraced.</p> + +<p>These things, it may be, she had accustomed herself to look on in a +light too glowing: for these things and all mundane ones are vain; but +her character did not consequently suffer. Her lip curled not with +hauteur, nor was her brow raised one shadow the more. The remembrance of +the old Baronetcy were on the ensanguined plain,--of the matchless +loyalty of a father and five valiant sons in the cause of the Royal +Charles,--the pondering over tomes, which in language obsolete, but +true, spoke of the grandeur--the deserved grandeur of her house; these +might be recollections and pursuits, followed with an ardour too +enthusiastic, but they stayed not the hand of charity, nor could they +check pity's tear. If her eye flashed as she gazed on the ancient +device of her family, reposing on its time worn pedestal, it could melt +to the tale of the houseless wanderer, and sympathise with the sorrows +of the fatherless.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter II.</h1> + +<h2>The Album.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Oh that the desert were my dwelling place,<br /> +With one fair spirit for my minister;<br /> +That I might all forget the human race,<br /> +And, hating no one, love but only her."</blockquote> + + +<p>A cheerful party were met in the drawing room of Delmé. Clarendon Gage, +a neighbouring land proprietor, to whom Emily had for a twelvemonth been +betrothed, had the night previous returned from a continental tour. In +consequence, Emily looked especially radiant, Delmé much pleased, and +Clarendon superlatively happy. Nor must we pass over Mrs. Glenallan, +Miss Delmé's worthy aunt, who had supplied the place of a mother to +Emily, and who now sat in her accustomed chair, with an almost sunny +brow, quietly pursuing her monotonous tambouring. At times she turned to +admire her niece, who occasionally walked to the glass window, to caress +and feed an impudent white peacock; which one moment strutted on the +wide terrace, and at another lustily tapped for his bread at ne of the +lower panes.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to see you looking so well, Clarendon!"</p> + +<p>"And I can return the compliment, Delmé! Few, looking at you now, would +take you for an old campaigner."</p> + +<p>The style of feature in Delmé and Clarendon was very dissimilar. Sir +Henry was many years Gage's senior; but his manly bearing, and dark +decided features, would bear a contrast with even the tall and elegant, +although slight form of Clarendon. The latter was very fair, and what we +are accustomed to call English-looking. His hair almost, but not quite, +flaxen, hung in thick curls over his forehead, and would have given an +effeminate expression to the face, were it not for the peculiar flash of +the clear blue eye.</p> + +<p>"Come! Clarendon," said Emily, "I will impose a task. You have written +twice in my album; once, years ago, and the second time on the eve of +our parting. Come! you shall read us both effusions, and then write a +sonnet to our happy meeting. Would that dear George were here now!"</p> + +<p>Gage took up the book. It was a moderately-sized volume, bound in +crimson velvet. It was the fashion to keep albums <i>then</i>. It glittered +not in a binding of azure and gold, nor were its momentous secrets +enclosed by one of Bramah's locks. The Spanish proverb says, "Tell me +who you are with, and I will tell you what you are." Ours, in that album +age, used to be, "Show me your scrap book, I will tell you your +character." Emily's was not one commencing with--</p> + +<p> "I never loved a dear gazelle!"</p> + +<p>and ending with stanzas on the "Forget-me-not." It had not those +hackneyed but beautiful lines addressed by Mr. Spencer to Lady Crewe--</p> + +<blockquote>"I stay'd too late: forgive the crime!<br /> + Unheeded flew the hours;<br /> +For noiseless falls the foot of Time.<br /> + That only treads on flowers."</blockquote> + +<p>Nor contained it those sublime, but yet more common ones, on Sir John +Moore's death; which lines, by the bye, have suffered more from that +mischief-making, laughter-loving creature, Parody, than any lines we +know. It was not one of these books. Nor was it the splendid scrap book, +replete with superb engravings and proof-impression prints; nor at all +allied to the sentimental one of a garrison flirt, containing locks of +hair of at least five gentlemen, three of whom are officers in the army. +Nor, lastly, was it of that genus which has vulgarity in its very +title-page, and is here and there interspersed with devilish imps, or +caricatured likenesses of the little proprietress, all done in most +infinite humour, and marking the familiar friendship, of some half-dozen +whiskered cubs, having what is technically called the run of the house. +No! it was a repository for feeling and for memory, and, in its fair +pages, presented an image of Emily's heart. Many of these were marked, +it is true; and what human being's character is unchequered? But it was +blotless; and the virgin page looks not so white as when the contrast of +the sable ink is there.</p> + +<p>Clarendon read aloud his first contribution--who knows it not? The very +words form a music, and that music is Metastasio's,</p> + +<blockquote>"Placido zeffiretto,<br /> +Se trovi il caro oggetto,<br /> +Digli che sei sospiro<br /> +Ma non gli dir di chi,<br /> +Limpido ruscelletto,<br /> +Se mai t'incontri in lei,<br /> +Digli che pianto sei,<br /> +Ma non le dir qual' eiglio<br /> +Crescer ti fe cosi."</blockquote> + +<p>"And now, Emily! for my parting tribute--if I remember right, it was +sorrowful enough."</p> + +<p>Gage read, with tremulous voice, the following, which we will christen</p> + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">The Farewell.</p> + +<blockquote>I will not be the lightsome lark,<br /> + That carols to the rising morn,--<br /> +I'd rather be some plaintive bird<br /> + Lulling night's ear forlorn.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>I will not be the green, green leaf,<br /> + Mingling 'midst thousand leaves and flowers<br /> +That shed their fairy charms around<br /> + To deck Spring's joyous bowers.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>I'd rather be the one red leaf,<br /> + Waving 'midst Autumn's sombre groves:--<br /> +On the heart to breathe that sadness<br /> + Which contemplation loves.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>I will not be the morning ray,<br /> + Dancing upon the river's crest,<br /> +All light, all motion, when the stream<br /> + Turns to the sun her breast.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>I'd rather be the gentle shade,<br /> + Lengthening as eve comes stealing on,<br /> +And rest in pensive sadness there,<br /> + When those bright rays are gone.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>I will not be a smile to play<br /> + Upon thy coral lip, and shed<br /> +Around it sweetness, like the sun<br /> + Risen from his crimson bed.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>Oh, no! I'll be the tear that steals<br /> + In pity from that eye of blue,<br /> +Making the cheek more lovely red,<br /> + Like rose-leaf dipp'd in dew.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>I will not be remember'd when<br /> + Mirth shall her pageant joys impart,--<br /> +A dream to sparkle in thine eye,<br /> + Yet vanish from thy heart.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>But when pensive sadness clouds thee,<br /> + When thoughts, half pain, half pleasure, steal<br /> +Upon the heart, and memory doth<br /> + The shadowy past reveal.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>When seems the bliss of former years,--<br /> + Too sweet, too pure, to feel again,--<br /> +And long lost hours, scenes, friends, return,<br /> + Remember me, love--then!</blockquote> + +<p>"Ah, Clarendon! how often have I read those lines, and thought--but I +will not think now! Here come the letters! Henry will soon be busy--I +shall finish my drawing--and aunt will finish--no! she never <i>can</i> +finish her tambour work. Take my portfolio and give me another +contribution!" Gage now wrote "The Return," which we insert for the +reader's approval:--</p> + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">The Return.</p> + +<blockquote>When the blue-eyed morn doth peep<br /> +Over the soft hill's verdant steep,<br /> +Lighting up its shadows deep,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then!</i></blockquote> + +<blockquote>When the lightsome lark doth sing<br /> +Her grateful song to Nature's King,<br /> +Making all the woodlands ring,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then!</i></blockquote> + +<blockquote>Or when plaintive Philomel<br /> +Shall mourn her mate in some lone dell,<br /> +And to the night her sorrows tell,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then!</i></blockquote> + +<blockquote>When the first green leaf of spring<br /> +Shall promise of the summer bring,<br /> +And all around its fragrance fling,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then!</i></blockquote> + +<blockquote>Or when the last red leaf shall fall,<br /> +And winter spread its icy pall,<br /> +To mind me of the death of all,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then!</i></blockquote> + +<blockquote>When the lively morning ray<br /> +Is dancing on the river's spray,<br /> +And sunshine gilds the joyous day,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then</i>!</blockquote> + +<blockquote>And when the shades of eve steal on,<br /> +Lengthening as life's sun goes down,<br /> +Like sweetest constancy alone,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then</i>!</blockquote> + +<blockquote>When I see a sweet smile play<br /> +On coral lips, like Phoebus' ray,<br /> +Making all look warm and gay,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then</i>!</blockquote> + +<blockquote>When steals the tear of pity, too,<br /> +O'er a cheek, whose crimson hue<br /> +Looks like rose-leaf dipp'd in dew,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then</i>!</blockquote> + +<blockquote>When mirth's pageant joys unbind<br /> +The gloomy spells that chain my mind,<br /> +And make me dream of all that's kind,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then</i>!</blockquote> + +<blockquote>And when pensive sadness clouds me,<br /> +When the host of memory crowds me,<br /> +When the shadowy past enshrouds me,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then</i>!</blockquote> + +<blockquote>When seems the bliss of former years,--<br /> +Too sweet, too pure, to feel again,--<br /> +And long lost hours, scenes, friends, return,<br /> + I'll think of thee, love, <i>then</i>!</blockquote> + + + + +<h1>Chapter III.</h1> + +<h2>The Dinner.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Hues which have words, and speak to ye of heaven."</blockquote> + +<blockquote> "Away! there need no words or terms precise,<br /> +The paltry jargon of the marble mart,<br /> +Where pedantry gulls folly: we have eyes."</blockquote> + + +<p>We are told by the members of the silver-fork school, that no tale of +fiction can be complete unless it embody the description of a dinner. +Let us, therefore, shutting from our view that white-limbed gum-tree, +and dismissing from our table tea and damper, [Footnote: <i>Damper</i>. +Bushman's fare--unleavened bread] call on memory's fading powers, and +feast once more with the rich, the munificent, the intellectual +Belliston Græme.</p> + +<p>Dinner! immortal faculty of eating! to what glorious sense or +pre-eminent passion dost thou not contribute? Is not love half fed by +thy attractions? Beams ever the eye of lover more bright than when, +after gazing with enraptured glance at the coveted haunch, whose fat--a +pure white; whose lean--a rich brown--invitingly await the assault. When +doth lover's eye sparkle more, than when, at such a moment, it lights on +the features of the loved fair one? Is not the supper quadrille the most +dangerous and the dearest of all?</p> + +<p>Cherished venison! delicate white soup! spare young susceptible bosoms! +Again we ask, is not dinner the very aliment of friendship? the hinge on +which it turns? Does a man's heart expand to you ere you have returned +his dinner? It would be folly to assert it. Cabinet dinners--corporation +dinners--election dinners--and vestry dinners--and rail-road +dinners--we pass by these things, and triumphantly ask--does not <i>the</i> +Ship par excellence--the Ship of Greenwich--annually assemble under its +revered roof the luminaries of the nation? Oh, whitebait! called so +early to your last account! a tear is all we give, but it flows +spontaneously at the memory of your sorrows!</p> + +<p>As Mr. Belliston Græme was much talked of in his day, it may not be +amiss to say a few words regarding him. He was an only child, and at an +early age lost his parents. The expense of his education was defrayed +by a wealthy uncle, the second partner in a celebrated banking house. +His tutor, with whom he may be said to have lived from boyhood--for his +uncle had little communication with him, except to write to him one +letter half-yearly, when he paid his school bill--was a shy retiring +clergyman--a man of very extensive acquirements, and a first rate +classical scholar. After a short time, the curate and young Græme +became attached to each other. The tutor was a bachelor, and Græme was +his only pupil. The latter was soon inoculated with the classical mania +of his preceptor; and, as he grew up, it was quite a treat to hear the +pair discourse of Greeks and Romans. A stranger who had <i>then</i> heard +them would have imagined that Themistocles and Scipio Africanus were +stars of the present generation. When Græme was nineteen, his uncle +invited him to town for a month--a most unusual proceeding. During this +period he studied closely his nephew's character. At the end of this +term, Mr. Hargrave and his young charge were on their way to the +classical regions, where their fancy had been so long straying. They +explored France, and the northern parts of Italy--came on the shores of +the Adriatic--resided and secretly made excavations near the +amphitheatre of Polo--and finally reached the Morea. Not a crag, +valley, or brook, that they were not conversant with before they left +it. They at length tore themselves away; and found themselves at the +ancient Parthenope. It was at Pompeii Mr. Græme first saw the +beautiful Miss Vignoles, the Mrs. Glenallan of our story; and, in a +strange adventure with some Neapolitan guides, was of some service to +her party. They saw his designs of some tombs, and took the trouble of +drawing him out. The young man now for the first time basked in the +sweets of society; in a fortnight, to Mr. Hargrave's horror, was +rolling in its vortex; in a couple of months found himself indulging +in, and avowing, a hopeless passion; and in three, was once again in +his native land, falsely deeming that his peace of mind had fled for +ever. He was shortly, however, called upon to exert his energies. The +death of his uncle suddenly made him, to his very great surprise, one +of the wealthiest commoners of England. At this period he was quite +unknown. In a short time Mr. Hargrave and himself were lodged +luxuriously--were deep in the pursuit of science, literature, and the +belle arte--and on terms of friendship with the cleverest and most +original men of the day. Mr. Græme's occupations being sedentary, and +his habits very regular, he shortly found that his great wealth enabled +him, not only to indulge in every personal luxury at Rendlesham Park, +but to patronise largely every literary work of merit. In him the needy +man of genius found a friend, the man of wit a companion, and the +publisher a generous customer. He became famous for his house, his +library, his exclusive society. But he did not become spoilt by his +prosperity, and never neglected his old tutor.</p> + +<p>Our party from Delmé were ushered into a large drawing-room, the sole +light of which was from an immense bow window, looking out on the +extensive lawn. The panes were of enormous size, and beautiful specimens +of classique plated glass. The only articles of furniture, were some +crimson ottomans which served to set off the splendid paintings; and one +table of the Florentine manufacture of pietra dura, on which stood a +carved bijou of Benvenuto Cellini's. Our party were early. They were +welcomed by Mr. Græme with great cordiality, and by Mr. Hargrave with +some embarrassment, for the tutor was still the bashful man of former +days. Mr. Græme's dress shamed these degenerate days of black stock and +loose trowser. Diamond buckles adorned his knees, and fastened his +shoes. His clear blue eye--the high polished forehead--the deep lines of +the countenance--revealed the man of thought and intellect. The playful +lip shewed he could yet appreciate a flash of wit or spark of humour.</p> + +<p>"Miss Delmé, you are looking at my paintings; let me show you my late +purchases. Observe this sweet Madonna, by Murillo! I prefer it to the +one in the Munich Gallery. It may not boast Titian's glow of colour, or +Raphael's grandeur of design,--in delicate angelic beauty, it may yield +to the delightful efforts of Guido's or Correggio's pencil,--but surely +no human conception can ever have more touchingly portrayed the +beauteous resigned mother. The infant, too! how inimitably blended is +the God-like serenity of the Saviour, with the fond and graceful +witcheries of the loving child! How little we know of the beauties of +the Spanish school! Would I could ransack their ancient monasteries, and +bring a few of them to light!</p> + +<p>"You are a chess player! Pass not by this check-mate of Caravaggio's. +What undisguised triumph in one countenance! What a struggle to repress +nature's feelings in the other! Here is a Guido! sweet, as his ever are! +He may justly be styled the female laureat. What artist can compete with +him in delineating the blooming expression, or the tender, but lighter, +shades of female loveliness? who can pause between even the Fornarina, +and that divine effort, the Beatrice Cenci of the Barberini?"</p> + +<p>The party were by this time assembled. Besides our immediate friends, +there was his Grace the Duke of Gatten, a good-natured fox-hunting +nobleman, whose estate adjoined Mr. Græme's; there was the Viscount +Chambéry, who had penned a pamphlet on finance--indited a folio on +architecture--and astonished Europe with an elaborate dissertation on +modern cookery; there was Charles Selby, the poet and essayist; +Daintrey, the sculptor--a wonderful Ornithologist--a deep read +Historian--a learned Orientalist--and a novelist, from France; whose +works exhibited such unheard of horrors, and made man and woman so +irremediably vicious, as to make this young gentleman celebrated, even +in Paris--that Babylonian sink of iniquity.</p> + +<p>Dinner was announced, and our host, giving his arm very stoically to +Mrs. Glenallan, his love of former days, led the way to the dining-room. +Round the table were placed beautifully carved oaken fauteuils, of a +very old pattern. The service of plate was extremely plain, but of +massive gold. But the lamp! It was of magnificent dimensions! The light +chains hanging from the frescoed ceiling, the links of which were hardly +perceptible, were of silver, manufactured in Venice; the lower part was +of opal-tinted glass, exactly portraying some voluptuous couch, on which +the beautiful Amphitrite might have reclined, as she hastened through +beds of coral to crystal grot, starred with transparent stalactites. In +the centre of this shell, were sockets, whence verged small hollow +golden tubes, resembling in shape and size the stalks of a flower. At +the drooping ends of these, were lamps shaped and coloured to imitate +the most beauteous flowers of the parterre. This bouquet of light had +been designed by Mr. Græme. Few novelties had acquired greater +celebrity than the Græme astrale. The room was warmed by heating the +pedestals of the statues.</p> + +<p>"Potage à la fantôme, and à l'ourika."</p> + +<p>"I will trouble you, Græme," said my Lord Chambéry, "for the fantôme. I +have dined on la pritannière for the last three months, and a novel soup +is a novel pleasure."</p> + +<p>Of the fish, the soles were à la Rowena, the salmon à l'amour. Emily +flirted with the wing of a chicken sauté au suprême, coquetted with +perdrix perdu masqué à la Montmorenci, and tasted a boudin à la +Diebitsch. The wines were excellent--the Geisenheim delicious--the +Champagne sparkling like a pun of Jekyll's. But nothing aroused the +attention of the Viscount Chambéry so much as a liqueur, which Mr. +Græme assured him was new, and had just been sent him by the Conte de +Desir. The dessert had been some time on the table, when the Viscount +addressed his host.</p> + +<p>"Græme! I am delighted to find that you at length agree with me as to +the monstrous superiority of a French repast. Your omelette imaginaire +was faultless, and as for your liqueur, I shall certainly order a supply +on my return to Paris."</p> + +<p>"That liqueur, my dear lord," replied Mr. Græme, "is good old cowslip +mead, with a flask of Maraschino di Zara infused in it. For the rest, +the dinner has been almost as imaginaire as the omelet. The greater part +of the recipes are in an old English volume in my library, or perhaps +some owe their origin to the fertile invention of my housekeeper. Let +us style them à la Dorothée."</p> + +<p>"Capital! I thank you, Græme!" said his Grace of Gatten, as he shook +his host by the hand, till the tears stood in his eyes.</p> + +<p>The prescient Chambéry had made a good dinner, and bore the joke +philosophically. Coffee awaited the gentlemen in a small octagonal +chamber, adjoining the music room. There stood Mr. Græme's three +favourite modern statues:--a Venus, by Canova--a Discobole, by +Thorwaldson--and a late acquisition--the Ariadne, of Dannecker.</p> + +<p>"This is the work of an artist," said Mr. Græme, "little known in +this country, but in Germany ranking quite as high as Thorwaldson. +This is almost a duplicate of his Ariadne at Frankfort, but the +marble is much more pure. How wonderfully fine the execution! Pray +notice the bold profile of the face; how energetic her action as she +sits on the panther!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Græme touched the spring of a window frame. A curtain of crimson +gauze fell over a globe lamp, and threw a rich shade on the marble. +The features remained as finely chiselled, but their expression was +totally changed.</p> + +<p>They adjourned to the music-room, which deserved its title. Save some +seats, which were artfully formed to resemble lyres, nothing broke the +continuity of music's tones, which ascended majestically to the lofty +dome, there to blend and wreath, and fall again. At one extremity of +music's hall was an organ; at the other a grand piano, built by a German +composer. Ranged on carved slabs, at intermediate distances, was placed +almost every instrument that may claim a votary. Of viols, from the violin +to the double bass,--of instruments of brass, from trombones and bass +kettledrums even unto trumpet and cymbal,--of instruments of wood, from +winding serpents to octave flute,--and of fiddles of parchment, from the +grosse caisse to the tambourine. Nor were ancient instruments wanting. +These were of quaint forms and diverse constructions. Mr. Græme would +descant for hours on an antique species of spinnet, which he procured from +the East, and which he vehemently averred, was the veritable dulcimer. He +would display with great gusto, his specimens of harps of Israel; whose +deep-toned chorus, had perchance thrilled through the breast of more than +one of Judea's dark-haired daughters. Greece, too, had her +representatives, to remind the spectators that there had been an Orpheus. +There were flutes of the Doric and of the Phrygian mode, and--let us +forget not--the Tyrrhenian trumpet, with its brazen-cleft pavilion. But by +far the greater part of his musical relics he had acquired during his stay +in Italy. He could show the litui with their carved clarions--the twisted +cornua--the tuba, a trumpet so long and taper,--the concha wound by +Tritons--and eke the buccina, a short and brattling horn.</p> + +<p>Belliston Græme was an enthusiastic musician; and was in this peculiar, +that he loved the science for its simplicity. Musicians are but too apt +to give to music's detail and music's difficulties the homage that +should be paid to music's self: in this resembling the habitual man of +law, who occasionally forgetteth the great principles of jurisprudence, +and invests with mysterious agency such words as latitat and certiorari. +The soul of music may not have fled;--for we cultivate her +assiduously,--worship Handel--and appreciate Mozart. But music <i>now</i> +springs from the head, not the heart; is not for the mass, but for +individuals. With our increased researches, and cares, and troubles, we +have lost the faculty of being pleased. Past are those careless days, +when the shrill musette, or plain cittern and virginals, could with +their first strain give motion to the blythe foot of joy, or call from +its cell the prompt tear of pity. Those days are gone! Music may affect +some of us as deeply, but none as readily!</p> + +<p>Mr. Græme had received from Paris an unpublished opera of Auber's. +Emily seated herself at the piano--her host took the violin--Clarendon +was an excellent flute player--and the tinkle of the Viscount's guitar +came in very harmoniously. By the time refreshments were introduced, +Charles Selby too was in his glory. He had already nearly convulsed the +Orientalist by a theory which he said he had formed, of a gradual +metempsychosis, or, at all events, perceptible amalgamation, of the +yellow Qui Hi to the darker Hindoo; which said theory he supported by +the most ingenious arguments.</p> + +<p>"How did you like your stay in Scotland, Mr. Selby?" said Sir +Henry Delmé.</p> + +<p>"I am a terrible Cockney, Sir Henry,--found it very cold, and was very +sulky. The only man I cared to see in Scotland was at the Lakes; but I +kept a register of events, which is now on the table in my +dressing-room. If Græme will read it, for I am but a stammerer, it is +at your service."</p> + +<p>The paper was soon produced, and Mr. Græme read the following:--</p> + + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">"The Brahmin.</p> + +<p>"A stranger arrived from a far and foreign country. His was a mind +peculiarly humble, tremblingly alive to its own deficiencies. Yet, +endowed with this mistrust, he sighed for information, and his soul +thirsted in the pursuit of knowledge. Thus constituted, he sought the +city he had long dreamingly looked up to as the site of truth--Scotia's +capital, the modern Athens. In endeavouring to explore the mazes of +literature, he by no means expected to discover novel paths, but sought +to traverse beauteous ones; feeling he could rest content, could he meet +with but one flower, which some bolder and more experienced adventurer +might have allowed to escape him. He arrived, and cast around an anxious +eye. He found himself involved in an apparent chaos--the whirl of +distraction--imbedded amidst a ceaseless turmoil of would-be knowing +students, endeavouring to catch the aroma of the pharmacopaeia, or dive +to the deep recesses of Scotch law. He sought and cultivated the +friendship of the literati; and anticipated a perpetual feast of soul, +from a banquet to which one of the most distinguished members of a +learned body had invited him. He went with his mind braced up for the +subtleties of argument--with hopes excited, heart elate. He deemed that +the authenticity of Champolion's hieroglyphics might now be permanently +established, or a doubt thrown on them which would for ever extinguish +curiosity. He heard a doubt raised as to the probability of Dr. Knox's +connection with Burke's murders! Disappointed and annoyed, he returned +to his hotel, determined to seek other means of improvement; and to +carefully observe the manners, customs, and habits of the beings he was +among. He enquired first as to their habits, and was presented with +scones, kippered salmon, and a gallon of Glenlivet; as to their manners +and ancient costume, and was pointed out a short fat man, the head of +his clan, who promenaded the streets without trousers. Neither did he +find the delineation of their customs more satisfactory. He was made +nearly tipsy at a funeral--was shown how to carve haggis--and a fit of +bile was the consequence, of his too plentifully partaking of a +superabundantly rich currant bun. He mused over these defeats of his +object, and, unwilling to relinquish his hitherto fruitless +search,--reluctant to despair,--he bent his steps to that city, where +utility preponderates over ornament; that city which so early encouraged +that most glorious of inventions, by the aid of which he hoped, that the +diminutive barks of his countrymen might yet be propelled, thus +superseding the ponderous paddle of teak, He here expected to be +involved in an intricate labyrinth of mechanical inventions,--in a +stormy discussion on the comparative merits of rival machinery,--to be +immersed in speculative but gigantic theories. He was elected an +honorary member of a news-room; had his coat whitened with cotton; and +was obliged to confess that he knew of no beverage that could equal +their superb cold punch. Our philosopher now gave himself up to despair; +but before returning to his own warm clime, he sought to discover the +reason of his finding the flesh creep, where he had deemed the spirit +would soar. He at length came to the conclusion that we are all slaves +to the world and to circumstances; and as, with his peculiar belief, he +could look on our sacred volume with the eye of a philosopher, felt +impressed with the conviction that the history of Babel's tower is but +an allegory, which says to the pride of man,</p> + +<blockquote> "'Thus far shall ye go, and no farther.'"</blockquote> + +<p>The Brahmin's adventures elicited much amusement. In a short time, +Selby was in a hot argument with the French novelist. Every now and +then, as the Frenchman answered him, he stirred his negus, and hummed a +translation of</p> + +<blockquote> "I'd be a butterfly."</blockquote> + +<blockquote> "Erim papilio,<br /> +Natus in flosculo."</blockquote> + + + + +<h1>Chapter IV.</h1> + +<h2>The Postman.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Not in those visions, to the heart displaying<br /> +Forms which it sighs but to have only dream'd,<br /> +Hath aught like thee in truth or fancy seem'd;<br /> +Or, having seen thee, shall I vainly seek<br /> +To paint those charms which, imaged as they beam'd,<br /> +To such as see thee not, my words were weak;<br /> +To those who gaze on thee, what language could they speak?"</blockquote> + + +<p>Delmé had long designed some internal improvements in the mansion; +and as workmen would necessarily be employed, had proposed that our +family party should pass a few weeks at a watering place, until these +were completed. They were not without hopes, that George might there +join them, as Emily had written to Malta, pressing him to be present +at her wedding.</p> + +<p>We have elsewhere said, that Sir Henry had arrived at middle age, +before one feeling incompatible with his ambitious thoughts arose. It +was at Leamington this feeling had imperceptibly sprung up; and to +Leamington they were now going.</p> + +<p>Is there an electric chain binding hearts predestined to love?</p> + +<p>Hath Providence ordained, that on our first interview with that being, +framed to meet our wishes and our desires--the rainbow to our cloud, and +the sun to our noon-day--hath it ordained that there should also be +given us some undefinable token--some unconscious whispering from the +heart's inmost spirit?</p> + +<p>Who may fathom these inscrutable mysteries?</p> + +<p>Sir Henry had been visiting an old schoolfellow, who had a country seat +near Leamington. He was riding homewards, through a sequestered and +wooded part of the park, when he was aware of the presence of two +ladies, evidently a mother and daughter. They sate on one side of the +rude path, on an old prostrate beech tree. The daughter, who was very +beautiful, was sketching a piece of fern for a foreground: the mother +was looking over the drawing. Neither saw the equestrian.</p> + +<p>It was a fair sight to regard the young artist, with her fine profile +and drooping eyelid, bending over the drawing, like a Grecian statue; +then to note the calm features upturn, and forget the statue in the +breathing woman. At intervals, her auburn tresses would fall on the +paper, and sweep the pencil's efforts. At such times, she would remove +them with her small hand, with such a soft smile, and gentle grace, that +the very action seemed to speak volumes for her feminine sympathies. +Delmé disturbed them not, but making a tour through the grove of beech +trees, reached Leamington in thoughtful mood.</p> + +<p>It was not long before he met them in society. The mother was a Mrs. +Vernon, a widow, with a large family and small means. Of that family +Julia was the fairest flower. As Sir Henry made her acquaintance, and +her character unfolded itself, he acknowledged that few could study it +without deriving advantage; few without loving her to adoration. That +character it would be hard to describe without our description +appearing high-flown and exaggerated. It bore an impress of loftiness, +totally removed from pride; a moral superiority, which impressed all. +With this was united an innate purity, that seemed her birthright; a +purity that could not for an instant be doubted. If the libertine gazed +on her features, it awoke in him recollections that had long slumbered; +of the time when his heart beat but for one. If, in her immediate +sphere, any littleness of feeling was brought to her notice, it was met +with an intuitive doubt, followed by painful surprise, that such +feeling, foreign as she felt it to be to her own nature, could really +have existence in that of another.</p> + +<p>Thank God! she had seen few of the trickeries of this restless world, in +which most of us are struggling against our neighbours; and, if we could +look forward with certainty, to the nature of the world beyond this, it +is most likely that we should breathe a fervent prayer that she should +never witness more.</p> + +<p>Her person was a fit receptacle for such a mind. A face all softness, +seemed and <i>was</i> the index to a heart all pity. Taller than her +compeers,--in all she said or did, a native dignity and a witching +grace were exquisitely blended. She was one not easily seen without +admiration; but when known, clung Cydippe-like to the heart's mirror, an +image over which neither time nor absence possessed controul.</p> + +<p>The Delmés resided at Leamington the remainder of the winter, which +passed fleetly and happily. Emily, for the first time, gave way to that +one feeling, which, to a woman, is the all-important and engrossing one, +enjoying her happiness in that full spirit of content, which basking in +present joys, attempts not to mar them by ideal disquietudes. The Delmés +cultivated the society of the Vernons; Emily and Julia became great +friends; and Sir Henry, with all his stoicism, was nourishing an +attachment, whose force, had he been aware of it, he would have been at +some pains to repress. As it was, he totally overlooked the possibility +of his trifling with the feelings of another. He had a number of sage +aphorisms to urge against his own entanglement, and, with a moral +perverseness, from which the best of us are not free, chose to forget +that it was possible his convincing arguments, might neither be known +to, nor appreciated by one, on whom their effect might be far from +unimportant.</p> + +<p>At this stage, Clarendon thought it his duty to warn Delmé; and, to his +credit be it said, shrunk not from it.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, Delmé," said he, "will you allow me to say one word to you +on a subject that nearly concerns yourself?"</p> + +<p>Sir Henry briefly assented.</p> + +<p>"You see a great deal of Miss Vernon. She is a very fascinating and a +very amiable person; but from something you once said to me, it has +struck me that in some respects she might not suit you."</p> + +<p>"I like her society," replied his friend; "but you are right. She would +<i>not</i> suit me. <i>You</i> know me pretty well. My hope has ever been to +increase, and not diminish the importance of my house. It once stood +higher both in wealth and consideration. I see many families springing +up around me, that can hardly lay claim to a descent so unblemished I +speak not in a spirit of intolerance, nor found my family claim solely +on its pedigree; but my ancestors have done good in their generation, +and it is a proud thing to be 'the scion of a noble race!'"</p> + +<p>"It may be;" said Clarendon quietly, "but I cannot help thinking, that +with your affluence, you have every right to follow your own +inclination. I know that few of my acquaintances are so independent of +the world."</p> + +<p>Sir Henry shook his head.</p> + +<p>"The day is not very distant, Gage, when a Dacre would hardly have +returned two members for my county, if a Delmé had willed it otherwise. +But there is little occasion for me to have said thus much. Miss Vernon, +I trust, has other plans; and I believe my own feelings are not enlisted +deep enough, to make me forget the hopes and purposes of half a +life-time."</p> + +<p>It was some few days after this, when Emily had almost given up looking +with interest to the postman's visit, that a letter at last came, +directed to Sir Henry; not indeed in George's hand-writing, but with +the Malta post mark. Delmé read it over thoughtfully, and, assuring +Emily that there was nothing to alarm her, left the room to consider +its contents.</p> + +<p>By the way, we have thought over heartless professions, and cannot help +conceiving that of a postman, (it may be conceit!) the most callous and +unfeeling of all. He is waited for with more anxiety than any guest of +the morning; for his visits invariably convey something new to the mind. +He is not love! but he bears it in his pocket; he cannot be friendship! +but he daily hawks about its assurances. With all this, knowing his +importance, aware of the sensation his appearance calls forth, his very +knock is heartless--the tones of his voice cold. Feeling seems denied +him; his head is a debtor and creditor account, his departure the +receipt, and time alone can say, whether your bargain has been a good or +a bad one. He has certainly no assumption--it is one of his few good +traits; he walks with his arms in motion, but attempts not a swagger; +his knock is unassuming, and his words, though much attended to, are +few, and to the point. Why, then, abuse him? We know not, but believe it +originates in fear. An intuitive feeling of dread--a rushing +presentiment of evil--crosses our mind, as our eye dwells on his +thread-bare coat, with its capacious pockets. News of a death--or a +marriage--the tender valentine--the remorseless dun--your having been +left an estate, or cut off with a shilling--fortune, and misfortune--- +he quietly dispenses, as if totally unconscious. Surely such a man--his +round performed--cannot quietly sink to the private individual. Can such +a man caress his wife, or kiss his child, when he knows not how many +hearts are bursting with joy, or breaking with sorrow, from the tidings +<i>he</i> has conveyed? To our mind, a postman should be an abstracted +visionary being, endowed with a peculiar countenance, betraying the +unnatural sparkle of the opium-eater, and evincing intense anxiety at +the delivery of each sheet. But these,--they wait not to hear the joyful +shout, or heart-rending moan--to know if hope deferred be at length +joyful certainty, or bitter only half-expected woe. We dread a postman. +Our hand shook, as we last year paid the man of many destinies his +demanded Christmas box.</p> + +<p>The amount was double that we gave to the minister of our corporeal +necessities--the butcher's boy--not from a conviction of the superior +services or merit of the former, but from an uneasy desire to bribe, if +we could, that Mercury of fate.</p> + +<p>The letter to Sir Henry, was from the surgeon of George's regiment. It +stated that George had been severely ill, and that connected with his +illness, were symptoms which made it imperative on the medical adviser, +to recommend the immediate presence of his nearest male relative. +Apologies were made for the apparent mystery of the communication, with +a promise that this would be at once cleared up, if Sir Henry would but +consent to make the voyage; which would not only enable him to be of +essential service to his brother, but also to acquire much information +regarding him, which could only be obtained on the spot. A note from +George was enclosed in this letter. It was written with an unsteady +hand, and made no mention of his illness. He earnestly begged his +brother to come to Malta, if he could possibly so arrange it, and +transmitted his kindest love and blessing to Emily.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry at once made up his mind, to leave Leamington for town on the +morrow, trusting that he might there meet with information which would +be more satisfactory. He concealed for the time the true state of the +case from all but Clarendon; nor did he even allude to his proposed +departure.</p> + +<p>It was Emily's birth-day, and Gage had arranged that the whole party +should attend a little fête on that night. Sir Henry could not find it +in his heart to disturb his sister's dream of happiness.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter V</h1> + +<h2>The Fête.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Ye stars! which are the poetry of heaven!<br /> +If, in your bright leaves, we would read the fate<br /> +Of men and empires,--'tis to be forgiven,<br /> +That, in our aspirations to be great,<br /> +Our destinies o'erleap their mortal state,<br /> +And claim a kindred with you."</blockquote> + + +<p>The night came on with its crescent moon and its myriads of stars: just +such a night as might have been wished for such a fête. It was in the +month of April. April dews, in Britain's variable clime; are not the +most salubrious, and April's night air is too often keen and piercing; +but the season was an unusually mild one; and the ladies, with their +cloaks and their furs, promenaded the well-lighted walks, determined to +be pleased and happy.</p> + +<p>The giver of the fête was an enterprising Italian. Winter's +amusements were over, or neglected--summer's delights were not +arrived; and Signor Pacini conceived, that during the dull and +monotonous interval, a speculation of his own might prove welcome to +the public and beneficial to himself. To do the little man justice, he +was indefatigable in his exertions. From door to door he wended his +smiling way,--here praising the mother's French, there the daughter's +Italian. He gained hosts of partisans. "Of course you patronise +Pacini!" was in every one's mouth. The Signor's prospectus stated, +that "through the kindness of the steward of an influential nobleman, +who was now on the continent, he was enabled to give his fete in the +grounds of the Earl of W----; where a full quadrille band would be in +attendance, a pavilion pitched on the smooth lawn facing the river, +and a comfortable ball room thrown open to a fashionable and +enlightened public. The performance would be most various, novel, and +exciting. Brilliant fireworks from Vauxhall would delight the eye, and +shed a charm on the fairy scene; whilst the car would be regaled with +the unequalled harmony of the Styrian brethren, Messrs. Schezer, +Lobau, and Berdan, who had very kindly deferred their proposed return +to Styria, in order to honour the fete of Signor Pacini."</p> + +<p>As night drew on, the mimic thunder of carriages hastening to the scene +of action, bespoke the Signor's success. After the ninth hour, his +numbers swelled rapidly. Pacini assumed an amusing importance, and his +very myrmidons gave out their brass tickets with an air. At ten, a +rocket was fired. At this preconcerted signal, the pavilion, hitherto +purposely concealed, blazed in a flood of light. On its balcony stood +the three Styrian brethren,--although, by the way, they were not +brethren at all,--and, striking their harmonious guitars, wooed +attention to their strains. The crowd hurried down the walk, and formed +round the pavilion. Our party suddenly found themselves near the +Vernons. As the gentlemen endeavoured to obtain chairs for the ladies, a +crush took place, and Sir Henry was obliged to offer his arm to Julia, +who happened to be the nearest of her party. It was with pain Miss +Vernon noted his clouded brow, and look of abstraction; but hardly one +word of recognition had passed, before the deep voices of the Styrians +silenced all. After singing some effective songs, accompanied by a +zither, and performing a melodious symphony on a variety of Jew's-harps; +Pacini, the manager, advanced to address his auditors, with that air of +smiling confidence which no one can assume with better grace than a +clever Italian. His dark eye flashed, and his whole features irradiated, +as he delivered the following harangue.</p> + +<p>"Ladies and gentlemen! me trust you well satisfied wid de former +musical entertainment; but, if you permit, me mention one leetle +circonstance. Monsieur Schezer propose to give de song; but it require +much vat you call stage management: all must be silent as de grave. It +ver pretty morceau."</p> + +<p>The applause at the end of this speech was very great. Signor Pacini +bowed, till his face rivalled, in its hue, the rosy under-waistcoat in +which he rejoiced.</p> + +<p>Schezer stepped forward. He was attired as a mountaineer. His hat +tapered to the top, and was crowned by a single heron feather. Hussars +might have envied him his moustaches. From his right side protruded a +couteau de chasse; and his legs were not a little set off by the +tight-laced boots, which, coming up some way beyond the ancle, displayed +his calf to the very best advantage.</p> + +<p>The singer's voice was a fine manly tenor, and did ample justice to the +words, of which the following may be taken as a free version.</p> + +<p>"Mountains! dear mountains! on you have I passed my green youth; to me +your breeze has been fragrant from childhood. When may I see the chamois +bounding o'er your toppling crags? When, oh when, may I see my +fair-haired Mary?"</p> + +<p>The minstrel paused--a sound was heard from behind the pavilion. It was +the mountain's echo. It continued the air--then died away in the +softest harmony. All were charmed. Again the singer stepped +forward--the utmost silence prevailed--his tones became more +impassioned--they breathed of love.</p> + +<p>"Thanks! thanks to thee, gentle echo! Oft hast thou responded to the +strains of love my soul poured to--ah me! how beautiful was the +fair-haired Mary!"</p> + +<p>Again the echo spoke--again all were hushed. The minstrel's voice rose +again; but its tones were not akin to joy.</p> + +<p>"Why remember this, deceitful echo? War's blast hath blown, and hushed +are the notes of love. The foe hath polluted my hearth--I wander an +exile. Where, where is Mary?"</p> + +<p>The echo faintly but plaintively replied. There were some imagined that +a tear really started to the eye of the singer. He struck the guitar +wildly--his voice became more agitated--he advanced to the extremity of +the balcony.</p> + +<p>"My sword! my sword! May my right hand be withered ere it forget to +grasp its hilt! One blow for freedom. Freedom--sweet as was the +lip--Yes! I'll revenge my Mary!"</p> + +<p>Schezer paused, apparently overcome by his emotion. The echo wildly +replied, as if registering the patriot's vow. For a moment all was +still! A thundering burst of applause ensued.</p> + +<p>The mountain music was succeeded by a sweep of guitars, accompanying a +Venetian serenade, whose burthen was the apostrophising the cruelty of +"la cara Nina."</p> + +<p>It was near midnight, when all eyes were directed to a ball of fire, +which, rising majestically upward, soared amid the tall elm trees. For a +moment, the balloon became entangled in the boughs, revealing by its +transparent light the green buds of spring, which variegated and cheered +the scathed bark. It broke loose from their embrace--hovered +irresolutely above them--then swept rapidly before the wind, rising till +it became as a speck in the firmament.</p> + +<p>This was the signal for Mr. Robinson's fireworks, which did not shame +Vauxhall's reputation. At one moment, a salamander courted notice; at +another, a train of fiery honours, festooned round four wooden pillars, +was fired at different places, by as many doves practised to the task. +Here, an imitation of a jet d'eau elicited applause--there, the +gyrations of a Catherine's wheel were suddenly interrupted by the rapid +ascent of a Roman candle.</p> + +<p>Directly after the ascent of the balloon, Emily and Clarendon had +turned towards the ball room. Julia's sisters had a group of laughing +beaux round their chairs,--Mrs. Glenallan and Mrs. Vernon were +discussing bygone days,--and no one seemed disposed to leave the +pavilion. Sir Henry, in his silent mood, was glad to escape from the +party; and engaging Julia in a search for Emily, made his way to the +crowded ball room. He there found his sister spinning round with +Clarendon to one of Strauss's waltzes; and Sir Henry and his partner +seated themselves on one of the benches, watching the smiling faces as +they whirled past them. It was a melancholy thought to Delmé, how soon +Emily's brow would be clouded, were he to breathe one word of George's +illness and despondency. The waltz concluded, a quadrille was quickly +formed. Miss Vernon declined dancing, and they rose to join Emily and +Clarendon; but the lovers were flown. The ball room became still more +thronged; and Delmé was glad to turn once more towards the pavilion. The +party they had left there had also vanished, and strangers usurped their +seats. In this dilemma, Miss Vernon proposed seeking their party in the +long walk. They took one or two turns down this, but saw not those for +whom they were in search.</p> + +<p>"If you do not dislike leaving this busy scene," said Sir Henry, "I +think we shall have a better chance of meeting Emily and Clarendon, if +we turn down one of these winding paths."</p> + +<p>They turned to their left, and walked on. How beautiful was that night! +Its calm tranquillity, as they receded from the giddy throng, could not +but subdue them. We have said that the moon was not riding the heavens +in her full robe of majesty, nor was there a sombre darkness. The purple +vault was spangled thick with stars; and there reigned that dubious, +glimmering light, by which you can note a face, but not mark its blush. +The walks wound fantastically. They were lit by festoons of coloured +lamps, attached to the neighbouring trees, so as to resemble the pendent +grape-clusters, that the traveller meets with just previous to the +Bolognese vintage. Occasionally, a path would be encountered where no +light met the eye save that of the prying stars overhead. In the +distant vista, might be seen a part of the crowded promenade, where +music held its court; whilst at intervals, a voice's swell or guitar's +tinkle would be borne on the ear. There was the hum of men, too--the +laugh of the idlers without the sanctum, as they indulged in the +delights of the mischievous fire-ball--and the sudden whizz, followed by +an upward glare of light, as a rocket shot into the air. But the hour, +and the nameless feeling that hour invoked, brought with them a subduing +influence, which overpowered these intruding sounds, attuning the heart +to love and praise. They paced the walk in mutual and embarrassed +silence. Sir Henry's thoughts would at one time revert to his brother, +and at another to that parting, which the morrow would assuredly bring +with it. He was lost in reverie, and almost forgot who it was that leant +thus heavily upon his arm. Julia had loved but once. She saw his +abstraction, and knew not the cause; and her timid heart beat quicker +than was its wont, as undefined images of coming evil and sorrow, chased +each other through her excited fancy. At length she essayed to speak, +although conscious that her voice faltered.</p> + +<p>"What a lovely night! Are you a believer in the language of the stars?"</p> + +<p>This was said with such simplicity of manner, that Delmé, as he turned +to answer her, felt truly for the first time the full force of his +attachment. He felt it the more strongly, that his mind previously had +been wandering more than it had done for years.</p> + +<p>There are times and seasons when we are engrossed in a train of deep and +unconscious thought. Suddenly recalled to ourselves, we start from our +mental aberration, and a clearer insight into the immediate purposes and +machinery of our lives, is afforded us. We seem endowed with a more +accurate knowledge of self; the inmost workings of our souls are +abruptly revealed--feeling's mysteries stand developed--our weaknesses +stare us in the face--and our vices appear to gnaw the very vitals of +our hope. The veil was indeed withdrawn,--and Delmé's heart +acknowledged, that the fair being who leant on him for support, was +dearer--far dearer, than all beside. But he saw too, ambition in that +heart's deep recess, and knew that its dictates, unopposed for years, +were totally incompatible with such a love. He saw and trembled.</p> + +<p>Julia's question was repeated, before Sir Henry could reply.</p> + +<p>"A soldier, Miss Vernon, is particularly susceptible of visionary ideas. +On the lone bivouac, or remote piquet, duty must frequently chase sleep +from his eyelids. At such times, I have, I confess, indulged in wild +speculations, on their possible influence on our wayward destinies. I +was then a youth, and should not now, I much fear me, pursue with such +unchecked ardour, the dreams of romance in which I could then +unrestrainedly revel. Perhaps I should not think it wise to do so, even +had not sober reality stolen from imagination her brightest pinion."</p> + +<p>"I would fain hope, Sir Henry," replied Julia, "that all your mind's +elasticity is not thus flown. Why blame such fanciful theories? I cannot +think them wrong, and I have often passed happy hours in forming them."</p> + +<p>"Simply because they remove us too much from our natural sphere of +usefulness. They may impart us pleasure; but I question whether, by +dulling our mundane delights, they do not steal pleasure quite +equivalent. Besides, they cannot assist us in conferring happiness on +others, or in gleaning improvement for ourselves. I am not quite +certain, enviable as appears the distinction, whether the <i>too</i> +feelingly appreciating even nature's beauties, does not bear with it its +own retribution."</p> + +<p>"Ah! do not say so! I cannot think that it <i>should</i> be so with minds +properly regulated. I cannot think that <i>such</i> can ever gaze on the +wonders revealed us, without these imparting their lesson of gratitude +and adoration. If, full of hope, our eye turns to some glorious planet, +and we fondly deem that <i>there</i>, may our dreams of happiness <i>here,</i> be +perpetuated; surely in such poetical fancy, there is little to condemn, +and much that may wean us from folly's idle cravings.</p> + +<p>"If in melancholy's hour, we mourn for one who hath been dear, and sorrow +for the perishable nature of all that may here claim our earthly +affections; is it not sweet to think that in another world--perhaps in +some bright star--we may again commune with what we have <i>so</i> +loved--once more be united in those kindly bonds--and in a kingdom where +those bonds may not thus lightly be severed?"</p> + +<p>Julia's voice failed her; for she thought of one who had preceded her to +"the last sad bourne."</p> + +<p>Delmé was much affected. He turned towards her, and his hand +touched hers.</p> + +<p>"Angelic being!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke, darker, more worldly thoughts arose. A fearful struggle, +which convulsed his features, ensued. The world triumphed.</p> + +<p>Julia Vernon saw much of this, and maiden delicacy told her it was not +meet they should be alone.</p> + +<p>"Let us join the crowd!" said she. "We shall probably meet our party in +the long walk: if not, we will try the ball room."</p> + +<p>Poor Julia! little was her heart in unison with that joyous scene!</p> + +<p>By the eve of the morrow, Delmé was many leagues from her and his +family.</p> + +<p>Restless man, with travel, ambition, and excitement, can woo and almost +win oblivion;--but poor, weak, confiding woman--what is left to her?</p> + +<p>In secret to mourn, and in secret still to love.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter III.</h1> + +<h2>The Journey.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Adieu! adieu! My native land<br /> + Fades o'er the ocean blue;<br /> +The night winds sigh--the breakers roar--<br /> + And shrieks the wild sea mew.<br /> +Yon sun that sets upon the sea,<br /> + We follow in his flight:<br /> +Farewell awhile to him and thee!<br /> + My native land! good night!"</blockquote> + + +<p>We have rapidly sketched the dénouement of the preceding chapter; but it +must not be forgotten, that Delmé had been residing some months at +Leamington, and that Emily and Julia were friends. In his own familiar +circle--a severe but true test--Sir Henry had every opportunity of +becoming acquainted with Miss Vernon's sweetness of disposition, and of +appreciating the many excellencies of her character. For the rest, +their intercourse had been of that nature, that it need excite no +surprise, that a walk on a gala night, had the power of extracting an +avowal, which, crude, undigested, and hastily withdrawn as it was, was +certainly more the effusion of the heart--more consonant with Sir +Henry's original nature--than the sage reasonings on his part, which +preceded and followed that event.</p> + +<p>On Delmé's arrival in town, he prosecuted with energy his enquiries as +to his brother. He called on the regimental agents, who could give him +no information. George's military friends had lost sight of him since he +had sailed for the Mediterranean; and of the few persons, whom he could +hear of, who had lately left Malta; some were passing travellers, who +had made no acquaintances there, others, English merchants, who had met +George at the Opera and in the streets, but nowhere else. It is true, +there was an exception to this, in the case of a hair-brained young +midshipman; who stated that he had dined at George's regimental mess, +and had there heard that George "had fallen in love with some young +lady, and had fought with her brother or uncle, or a soldier-officer, he +did not know which."</p> + +<p>Meagre as all this information was, it decided Sir Henry Delmé.</p> + +<p>He wrote a long letter to Emily, in which he expressed a hope that both +George and himself would soon be with her, and immediately prepared for +his departure.</p> + +<p>Ere we follow him on his lonely journey, let us turn to those he left +behind. Mrs. Glenallan and Emily decided on at once leaving Leamington +for their own home. The marriage of the latter was deferred; and as +Clarendon confessed that his period of probation was a very happy one, +he acquiesced cheerfully in the arrangement. Emily called on the +Vernons, and finding that Julia was not at home, wrote her a kind +farewell; secretly hoping that at some future period they might be more +nearly related. The sun was sinking, as the travellers neared Delmé. The +old mansion looked as calm as ever. The blue smoke curled above its +sombre roof; and the rooks sailed over the chimneys, flapping their +wings, and cawing rejoicefully, as they caught the first glimpse of +their lofty homes. Emily let down the carriage window, and with sunshiny +tear, looked out on the home of her ancestors.</p> + +<p>There let us leave her; and turn to bid adieu for a season, to one, who +for many a weary day, was doomed to undergo the pangs of blighted +affection. Such pangs are but too poignant and enduring, let the +worldly man say what he may. Could we but read the history of the +snarling cynic, blind to this world's good--of him, who from being the +deceived, has become the deceiver--of the rash sensualist, who plunging +into vice, thinks he can forget;--could we but know the train of +events, that have brought the stamping madman to his bars--and his +cell--and his realms of phantasy;--or search the breast of her, who +lets concealment "feed on her damask cheek"--who prays blessings on +him, who hath wasted her youthful charms--then mounts with virgin soul +to heaven:--we, in our turn, might sneer at the worldling, and pin our +fate on the tale of the peasant girl, who discourses so glibly of +crossed love and broken hearts.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé left England with very unenviable sensations. A cloud +seemed to hang over the fate of his brother, which no speculations of +his could pierce. Numberless were the conjectures he formed, as to the +real causes of George's sickness and mental depression. It was in vain +he re-read the letters, and varied his comments on their contents. It +was evident, that nothing but his actual presence in Malta, could +unravel the mystery. Sir Henry had <i>one</i> consolation; how great, let +those judge who have had aught dear placed in circumstances at all +similar. He had a confidence in George's character, which entirely +relieved him from any fear that the slightest taint could have infected +it. But an act of imprudence might have destroyed his peace of +mind--sickness have wasted his body. Nor was his uncertainty regarding +George, Delmé's only cause of disquiet. When he thought of Julia +Vernon, there was a consequent internal emotion, that he could not +subdue. He endeavoured to forget her--her image haunted him. He +meditated on his past conduct; and at times it occurred to him, that +the resolutions he had formed, were not the result of reason, but were +based on pride and prejudice. He thought of her as he had last seen +her. <i>Now</i> she spoke with enthusiasm of the bright stars of heaven; +anon, her eye glistened with piety, as she showed how the feeling these +created, was but subservient to a nobler one still. Again, he was +beside her in the moment of maiden agony; when low accents faltered +from her quivering lip, and the hand that rested on his arm, trembled +from her heart's emotion.</p> + +<p>Such were the bitter fancies that assailed him, as he left his own, and +reached a foreign land. They cast a shadow on his brow, which change of +scene possessed no charm to dispel. He hurried on to France's capital, +and only delaying till he could get his passports signed, hastened from +Paris to Marseilles.</p> + +<p>On his arrival at the latter place, his first enquiries were, as to the +earliest period that a vessel would sail for Malta. He was pointed out a +small yacht in the harbour, which belonging to the British government, +had lately brought over a staff officer with despatches.</p> + +<p>A courier from England had that morning arrived--the vessel was about to +return--her canvas was already loosened--the blue Peter streaming in the +wind. Delmé hesitated not an instant, but threw himself into a boat, and +was rowed alongside. The yacht's commander was a lieutenant in our +service, although a Maltese by birth. He at once entered into Sir +Henry's views, and felt delighted at the prospect of a companion in his +voyage. A short time elapsed--the anchor was up--the white sails began +to fill--Sir Henry was once more on the wide sea.</p> + +<p>What a feeling of loneliness, almost of despair, infects the landsman's +mind, as he recedes from an unfamiliar port--sees crowds watching +listlessly his vessel's departure--crowds, of whom not one feels an +interest in <i>his</i> fate; and then, turning to the little world within, +beholds but faces he knows not, persons he wots not of!</p> + +<p>But to one whose home is the ocean, such are not the emotions which +its expanse of broad waters calls forth. To such an one, each plank +seems a friend; the vessel, a refuge from the world and its cares. +Trusting himself to its guidance, deceit wounds him no more-- +hollow-hearted friendship proffers not its hand to sting--love +exercises not its fatal sorcery--foes are afar--and his heart, if not +the waves, is comparatively at peace. And oh! the wonders of the deep! +Ocean! tame is the soul that loves not thee! grovelling the mind that +scorns the joys thou impartest! To lean our head on the vessel's side, +and in idleness of spirit ponder on bygone scene, that has brought us +anything but happiness,--to gaze on the curling waves, as impelled by +the boisterous wind, we ride o'er the angry waters, lashed by the sable +keel to a yeasty madness,--to look afar upon the disturbed billow, +presenting its crested head like the curved neck of the war +horse,--<i>then</i> to mark the screaming sea bird, as, his bright eye +scanning the waters, he soars above the stormy main--its wide tumult +his delight--the roaring of the winds his melody--the shrieks of the +drowned an harmonious symphony to the hoarse diapason of the deep! All +these things may awake reflections, which are alike futile and +transitory; but they are accompanied by a mental excitement, which land +scenes, however glorious, always fail to impart.</p> + +<p>Delmé's voyage was not unpropitious, although the yacht was frequently +baffled by contrary winds, which prevented the passage being very +speedy. During the day, the weather was ordinarily blustering, at times +stormy; but with the setting sun, it seemed that tranquillity came; for +during the nights, which were uncommonly fine, gentle breezes continued +to fill the sails, and their vessel made tardy but sure progress. Henry +would sit on deck till a late hour, lost in reverie. <i>There</i> would he +remain, until each idle mariner was sunk to rest; and nothing but the +distant tread of the wakeful watch, or the short cough of the helmsman, +bespoke a sentinel over the habitation on the waters. How would the +recollections of his life crowd upon him!--the loss of his parent--the +world's first opening--bitter partings--painful misgivings--the lone +bivouac--the marshalling of squadrons--the fierce charge--the +excitement of victory, whose charm was all but flown, for where were the +comrades who had fought beside him? These things were recalled, and +brought with them alternate pain and pleasure. And a less remote era of +his life would be presented him; when he tasted the welcome of home--saw +hands uplifted in gratitude--was cheered by a brother's greeting, and +subdued by a sister's kiss. But there <i>was</i> a thought, which let him +dwell as he might on others, remained the uppermost of all. It was of +Julia Vernon, and met him as a reproach. If his feelings were not of +that enthusiastic nature, which they might have been were he now in his +green youth, they were not on this account the less intense. They were +coloured by the energy of manhood. He had lost a portion of his +self-respect: for he knew that his conduct had been vacillating with +regard to one, whom each traversed league, each fleeting hour, proved to +be yet dearer than he had deemed her.</p> + +<p>In the first few days of their passage, the winds shaped their vessel's +course towards the Genoese gulf. They then took a direction nearly +south, steering between Corsica and Sardinia on the one hand--Italy on +the other.</p> + +<p>Delmé had an opportunity of noting the outward aspect of Napoleon's +birth-place; and still more nearly, that of its opposite island, which +also forms so memorable a link in the history of that demi-god of modern +times. How could weaker spirits deem that <i>there</i>, invested with +monarchy's semblance, the ruler of the petty isle could forget that he +had been master of the world?</p> + +<p>How think that diplomacy's cobweb fibre could hold the eagle, panting +for an upward flight?</p> + +<p>They fearfully misjudged! What a transcendent light did his star give, +as it shot through the appalled heavens, ere it sunk for ever in +endless night!</p> + +<p>The commander of the yacht pointed out the rock, which is traditionally +said to be the one, on which Napoleon has been represented--his arms +folded--watching intently the ocean--and ambition's votary gleaning his +moral from the stormy waves below. As they advanced farther in their +course, other associations were not wanting; and Delmé, whose mind, +like that of most Englishmen, was deeply tinctured with classic lore, +was not insensible to their charms. They swept by the Latian coast. +Every creek and promontory, attested the fidelity of the poet's +description, by vividly recalling it to the mind. On the seventh day, +they doubled Cape Maritime, on the western coast of Sicily; and two +days afterwards, the vessel neared what has been styled the abode of +Calypso, the island of Gozzo. As they continued to advance, picturesque +trading boats, with awnings and numerous rowers, became more +frequent--the low land appeared--they were signalled from the +palace--the point of St. Elmo was turned--and a wide forest of masts +met the gaze. The vessel took up her moorings; and in the novelty of +the scene, and surrounding bustle, Sir Henry for a time rested from +misgivings, and forgot his real causes for melancholy. The harbour of +Malta is not easily forgotten. The sun was just sinking, tinging with +hues of amber, the usually purple waters of the harbour, and bronzing +with its fiery orb, the batteries and lofty Baraca, where lie entombed +the remains of Sir Thomas Maitland. Between the Baraca's pillars, +might be discerned many a faldette, with pretty face beneath, peering +over to mark the little yacht, as she took her station, amidst the more +gigantic line of battle ships.</p> + +<p>The native boatmen, in their gilded barks with high prows, were seen +surrounding the vessel; and as they exerted themselves in passing each +other, their dress and action had the most picturesque appearance. Their +language, a corrupted Arabic, is not unpleasing to the ear; and their +costume is remarkably graceful. A red turban hangs droopingly on one +side, and their waistcoats are loaded with large silver buttons, the +only remains of their uncommon wealth during the war, when this little +island was endowed with a fictitious importance, it can never hope to +resume. Just as the yacht cast anchor, a gun from the saluting battery +was fired. It was the signal for sunset, and every flag was lowered. +Down came in most seaman-like style the proud flag of merry England--the +<i>then</i> spotless banner of France--and the great cross, hanging +ungracefully, over the stout, but clumsy, Russian man of war. All these +flags were then in the harbour of Valletta, although it was not at that +eventful time when--the Moslem humbled--they met with the cordiality of +colleagues in victory.</p> + +<p>The harbour was full of vessels. Every nation had its representative. +The intermediate spaces were studded by Maltese boats, crowded with +passengers indiscriminately mingled. The careless English soldier, with +scarlet coat and pipe-clayed belt--priests and friars--Maltese women in +national costume sat side by side. Occasionally, a gig, pulled by man of +war's men, might be seen making towards the town, with one or more +officers astern, whose glittering epaulettes announced them as either +diners out, or amateurs of the opera. The scene to Delmé was entirely +novel; although it had previously been his lot to scan more than one +foreign country.</p> + +<p>The arrival of the health officers was the first circumstance that +diverted his mind from the surrounding scene. There had been an epidemic +disease at Marseilles, and there appeared to be some doubts, whether, as +a precaution, some quarantine would not be imposed. The superintendent +of quarantine was rowed alongside, chiefly for the purpose of regulating +this. The spirited little commander of the yacht, however, was not at +all desirous of any such arrangement; and after some energetic appeals +on his part, met by cautious remonstrances on the part of the other, +their pratique was duly accorded.</p> + +<p>During the discussion with the superintendent, Sir Henry had enquired +from the health officer, as to where he should find George, and was +informed that his regiment was quartered at Floriana, one of Valletta's +suburbs. In a short time a boat from the yacht was lowered, and the +commander prepared to accompany the government courier with his +dispatches to the palace.</p> + +<p>Previous to leaving the deck, he hailed a boat alongside--addressed the +boatmen in their native language--and consigned Sir Henry to their +charge. Twilight was deepening into night as Delmé left the vessel. The +harbour had lost much of its bustle; lights were already gleaming from +the town, and as seen in some of the loftiest houses, looked as if +suspended in the air above. Our traveller folded his cloak around him, +and was rowed swiftly towards the shore.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter VII.</h1> + +<h2>The Young Greek.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "But not in silence pass Calypso's isles, +The sister tenants of the middle deep."</blockquote> + +<hr width="200" align="left" size="1" /> + +<blockquote> "Her reign is past, her gentle glories gone,<br /> +But trust not this; too easy youth, beware!<br /> +A mortal sovereign holds her dangerous throne.<br /> +And thou mayst find a new Calypso there."</blockquote> + + +<p>Night had set in before Sir Henry reached the shore. The boatmen, in +broken, but intelligible English, took the trouble of explaining, that +they must row him to a point higher up the harbour, than the landing +place towards which the commander's gig was directing its course, on +account of his brother's regiment being quartered at Floriana. Landing +on the quay, they took charge of Delmé's portmanteau, and conducted him +through an ascending road, which seemed to form a part of the +fortifications, till they arrived in front of a closed gate. They were +challenged by the sentinel, and obliged to explain their business to a +non-commissioned officer, before they were admitted.</p> + +<p>This form having been gone through, a narrow wicket was opened for their +passage. They crossed a species of common, and, after a few minutes' +walk, found themselves in front of the barrack. This was a plain stone +building, enclosing a small court, in the centre of which stood a marble +bason. The taste of some of the officers had peopled this with golden +fish; whilst on the bason's brim were placed stands for exotics, whose +fragrance charmed our sea-worn traveller, so lately emancipated from +those sad drawbacks to a voyage, the odours of tar and bilge water.</p> + +<p>On either side, were staircases leading to the rooms above. A sentry was +slowly pacing the court, and gave Delmé the necessary directions for +finding George's room. Delmé's hand was on the latch, but he paused for +a moment ere he pressed it, for he pictured to himself his brother lying +on the bed of sickness. This temporary irresolution soon gave way to the +impulse of affection, and he hastily entered the chamber. George was +reading, and had his back turned towards him. As he heard the footsteps, +he half turned round; an enquiry was on his lip, when his eye caught +Henry's figure--a hectic flush suffused his cheek--he rose eagerly, and +threw himself into his brother's arms.</p> + +<p>Ah! sweet is fraternal affection! As boys, we own its just, its +proper influence; but as men--how few of us can lay our hands on our +hearts, and in the time of manhood feel, that the thought of a +brother, still calls up the kindly glow which it did in earlier +years. Delmé strained his brother to his heart, whilst poor George's +tears flowed like a woman's.</p> + +<p>"Ah, how," he exclaimed, "can I ever repay you for this?"</p> + +<p>The first burst of joyful meeting over--Sir Henry scanned his brother's +features, and was shocked at the apparent havoc a few short years had +wrought. It was not that the cheek--whose carnation tint had once drawn +a comment from all who saw it--it was not that the cheek was bronzed by +an eastern sun. The alabaster forehead, showed that this was the natural +result, of exposure to climate. But the wan, the sunken features--the +unnatural brilliancy of the eye--the almost impetuous agitation of +manner--all these bespoke that more than even sickness had produced the +change:--that the mind, as well as body, must have had its sufferings.</p> + +<p>"My dear, dear brother," said Henry, "tell me, I implore you, the +meaning of this. You look ill and distressed, and yet from you I did not +hear of sickness, nor do I know any reason for grief." George smiled +evasively; then, as if recollecting himself, struck his forehead. He +pressed his brother's arm, and led him towards a room adjoining the one +in which they were.</p> + +<p>"It were in vain to tell you now, Henry, the eventful history of the +last few months; but see!" said he, as they together entered, "the +innocent cause of much that I have gone through."</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé started at the sight that greeted him. The room was +dimly lighted by a lamp, but the moon was up, and shed her full light +through part of the chamber. On a small French bed, whose silken linings +threw their rosy hue on the face of its fair occupant, lay as lovely a +girl as ever eye reposed on.</p> + +<p>The heat had already commenced to become oppressive; the jalousies and +windows were thrown open. As the night breeze swept over the curtains, +and the tint these gave, trembled on that youthful beauty; Delmé might +well be forgiven, for deeming it was very long since he had seen a +countenance so exquisitely lovely. The face did indeed bear the stamp of +youth. Delmé would have guessed that the being before him, had barely +attained her fifteenth year, but that her bosom heaved like playful +billows, as she breathed her sighs in a profound slumber. Her style of +beauty for a girl was most rare. It had an almost infantine simplicity +of character, which in sleep was still more remarkable; for awake, those +eyes, now so still, did not throw unmeaning glances.</p> + +<p>Such as these must Guarini have apostrophised, as he looked at his +slumbering love.</p> + +<blockquote> "Occhi! stelle mortale!<br /> +Ministri de miei mali!<br /> +Se chiusi m'uccidete,<br /> +Aperti,--che farete?"</blockquote> + +<p>Or, as Clarendon Gage translated it.</p> + +<blockquote>"Ye mortal stars! ye eyes that, e'en in sleep,<br /> +Can thus my senses chain'd in wonder keep,<br /> +Say, if when closed, your beauties thus I feel,<br /> +Oh, what when open, would ye not reveal?"</blockquote> + +<p>Her beauty owed not its peculiar charm to any regularity of feature; but +to an ineffable sweetness of expression, and to youth's freshest bloom. +Hafiz would have compared that smooth cheek to the tulip's flower. Her +eye-lashes, of the deepest jet, and silken gloss, were of uncommon +length. Her lips were apart, and disclosed small but exquisitely formed +teeth. Their hue was not that of ivory, but the more delicate though +more transient one of the pearl. One arm supported her head--its hand +tangled in the raven tresses--of the other, the snowy rounded elbow was +alone visible.</p> + +<p>She met the eye, like a vision conjured up by fervid youth; when, ere +our waking thoughts dare to run riot in beauty's contemplation--sleep, +the tempter, gives to our disordered imaginations, forms and scenes, +which in after life we pant for, but meet them--never!</p> + +<p>George put his finger to his lips, as Delmé regarded her--kissed her +silken cheek, and whispered,</p> + +<p>"Acmé, carissima mia!"</p> + +<p>The slumberer started--the envious eye-lid shrouded no more its lustrous +jewel--the wondering eyes dilated, as they met her lover's--and she +murmured something with that sweet Venetian lisp, in which the Greek +women breathe their Italian. But, as she saw the stranger, her face and +neck became suffused with crimson, and her small hand wrapped the snowy +sheet round her beauteous form.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry, who felt equally embarrassed, returned to the room they +had left; whilst George lingered by the bedside of his mistress, and +told her it was his brother. Once more together, Sir Henry turned +towards George.</p> + +<p>"For God's sake," said he, "unravel this mystery! Who is this young +creature?"</p> + +<p>"Not now!" said his brother, "let us reserve it for to-morrow, and talk +only of home. Acmé has retired earlier than usual--she has been +complaining." And he commenced with a flushed brow and rapid voice, to +ask after those he loved.</p> + +<p>"And so, dearest Emily will soon be married. I am glad of it; you speak +so well of Gage! I wish I had stayed three weeks longer in England, and +I should have seen him. We shall miss her in the flower garden, Henry! +Yes! and every where else! And how is my kind aunt? I forgot to thank +her when I last wrote to Delmé, for making Fidèle a parlour inmate!--and +I don't think she likes dogs generally either!--And Mrs. Wilcox! as +demure as ever?--Do you recollect the trick I played her the last April +I was at home?--And my favourite pony! does <i>he</i> still adorn the +paddock, or is he gone at last? Emily wrote me he could hardly support +himself out of the shed. And the old oak--have you railed it round as I +advised? And the deer--Is my aunt still as tenacious of killing them? I +suppose Emily's pet fawn is a fine antlered gentleman by this time. And +your charger, Henry--how is he? And Mr. Sims? and the new green house? +Does the aviary succeed? did you get my slips of the blood orange? have +the Zante melon seeds answered? And the daisy of Delmé, Fanny Porter--is +she married? I stole a kiss the day I left. And so the coachman is dead? +and you have given the reins to Jenkins, and have taken my little fellow +on your own establishment? And Ponto? and Ranger? and my friend Guess?"</p> + +<p>Here George paused, quite out of breath; and his brother, viewing with +some alarm his nervous agitation, attempted to answer his many queries; +determined in his own mind, not to seek the explanation he so much +longed for, until a more favourable period for demanding it arrived. The +brothers continued conversing on English topics till a late hour, when +Henry rose to retire.</p> + +<p>"I cannot," said George, "give you a bed here to-night; but my servant +shall show you the way to an hotel; and in the course of to-morrow, we +will take care to have a room provided for you. You must feel harassed: +will nine be too early an hour for breakfast?"</p> + +<p>It was a beautiful night, still and starry. Till they arrived in the +busy street, no sound could be heard, but the cautious opening of the +lattice, answering the signal of the guitar. Escorted by his guide, +Delmé entered Valletta, which is bustling always, even at night; but was +more than usually so, as there happened to be a fête at the palace. As +they passed through the Strado Teatro, the soldier pointed out the +Opera-house; although from the lateness of the hour, Rossini's melodies +were hushed. From a neighbouring café, however, festive sounds +proceeded; and Delmé, catching the words of an unfamiliar language, +paused before the door to recognise the singer. The table at which he +sat, was so densely enveloped in smoke, that it was some time before he +could make out the forms of the party, which consisted of some jovial +British midshipmen, and some Tartar-looking Russians. One of the Russian +officers was charming his audience with a chanson à boire, acquired on +the banks of the Vistula, His compatriots were yelling the chorus most +unmercifully. A few calèche drivers, waiting for their fares, and two or +three idle Maltese, were pacing outside the cafe, and appeared to regard +the scene as one of frequent occurrence, and calculated to excite but +little interest. His guide showed Delmé the hotel, and was dismissed; +and Sir Henry, preceded by an obsequious waiter, was introduced to a +spacious apartment facing the street.</p> + +<p>It was long ere sleep visited him. He had many subjects on which to +ruminate; there were many points which the morrow would clear up. His +mind was too busy to permit him to rest.</p> + +<p>When he did, however, close his eyes; he slept soundly, and did not +awake till the broad glare of day, penetrating through the Venetian +blinds, disclosed to him the unfamiliar apartment at Beverley's.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter VIII.</h1> + +<h2>The Invalid.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "'Mid many things most new to ear and eye,<br /> +The pilgrim rested here his weary feet."</blockquote> + + +<p>As Sir Henry Delmé stepped from the hotel into the street, the sun's +rays commenced to be oppressive, and, although it was only entering the +month of May, served to remind him that he was in a warmer clime. The +scene was already a bustling one. The shopkeepers were throwing water +on the hot flag stones, and erecting canvas awnings in front of their +doors. In the various cafés might be seen the subservient waiters, +handing round the small gilded cup, which contained thick Turkish +coffee, or carrying to some old smoker the little pipkin, whence he was +to light his genial cigar. In front of one of these cafés, some +English officers were collected, sipping ices, and criticising the +relieving of the guard. Turning a corner of the principal street, a +group of half black and three-parts naked children assaulted our +traveller, and vociferously invoked carità. They accompanied this +demand by the corrupted cry of "nix munjay"--nothing to eat,--which +they enforced by most expressive gestures, extending their mouths, and +exhibiting rows of ravenous-looking teeth. The calèche drivers, too, +were on the alert, and respectfully taking off their turbans, proffered +their services to convey the Signore to Floriana. Delmé declined their +offers, and, passing a draw-bridge which divides Valletta from the +country, made his way through an embrasure, and descending some half +worn stone steps--during which operation he was again surrounded by +beggars--he found himself within sight of the barracks. Acmé and George +were ready to receive him. The latter's eye lit, as it was wont to do, +on seeing his brother, whilst the young Greek appeared in doubt, +whether to rejoice at what gave him pleasure, or to stand in awe of a +relation, whose influence over George might shake her own. This did +not, however, prevent her offering Delmé her hand, with an air of great +frankness and grace. Nor was he less struck with her peculiar beauty +than he had been on the night previous. Her dress was well adapted to +exhibit her charms to the greatest advantage. Her hair was parted in +front, and smoothly combed over her neck and shoulders, descending to +her waist. Over her bosom, and fastened by a chased silver clasp, was +one of the saffron handkerchiefs worn by the Parganot women. A jacket +of purple velvet, embroidered with gold, fitted closely to her figure. +Round her waist was a crimson girdle, fastened by another enormous +broach, or rather embossed plate of silver. A Maltese gold rose chain +of exquisite workmanship was flung round her neck, to which depended a +locket, one side of which held, encased in glass, George's hair braided +with her own; the other had a cameo, representing the death of the +patriot Marco Bozzaris.</p> + +<p>"Giorgio tells me," said she, "that you speak Italian, at which I am +very glad; for his efforts to teach me English have quite failed. Do you +know you quite alarmed me last night, and I really think it was too bad +of George introducing you when he did;" and she placed her hand on her +lover's shoulder, and looked in his face confidingly. In spite of the +substance of her speech, and the circumstances under which Delmé saw +her, he could not avoid feeling an involuntary prepossession in her +favour. Her manner had little of the polish of art, but much of nature's +witching simplicity; and Sir Henry felt surprised at the ease and +animation of the whole party. Acmé presided at the breakfast table, with +a grace which many a modern lady of fashion might envy; and during the +meal, her conversation, far from being dull or listless, showed that she +had much talent, and that to a quick perception of nature's charms, she +united great enthusiasm in their pursuit. The meal was over, when the +surgeon of the regiment was announced, and introduced by George to Sir +Henry. After making a few inquiries as to the invalid's state of health, +he proposed to Delmé, taking a turn in the botanical garden, which was +immediately in front of their windows.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry eagerly grasped at the proposition; anxious, as he felt +himself, to ascertain the real circumstances connected with his +brother's indisposition. They strolled through the garden, which was +almost deserted--for none but dogs and Englishmen, to use the expression +of the natives, court the Maltese noon-day sun,--and the surgeon at once +entered into George's history. He was a man of most refined manners, and +a cultivated intellect, and his professional familiarity with horrors, +had not diminished his natural delicacy of feeling. His narrative was +briefly thus:--</p> + +<p>George Delmé's bosom companion had been an officer of his own age and +standing in the service, with whom he had embarked when leaving England. +Their intercourse had ripened into the closest friendship. George had +met Acmé, although the surgeon knew not the particulars of the +rencontre,--had confided to his friend the acquaintance he had made--and +had himself introduced Delancey at the house where Acmé resided. Whether +her charms really tempted the friend to endeavour to supplant George, +or whether he considered the latter's attentions to the young Greek to +be without definite object, and undertaken in a spirit of indifference, +the narrator could not explain; but it was not long before Delancey +considered himself as a principal in the transaction. Acmé, whose +knowledge of the world was slight, and whose previous seclusion from +society, had rendered her timidity excessive, considered that her best +mode of avoiding importunities she disliked, and attentions that were +painful to her, would be to speak to George himself on the subject.</p> + +<p>By this time, the latter, quite fascinated by her beauty and +simplicity, and deeming, as was indeed the fact, that his love was +returned, needed not other inquietudes than those his attachment gave +him. The pride of ancestry and station on the one hand--on the other, +a deep affection, and a wish to act nobly by Acmé--caused an internal +struggle which made him open to any excitement, nervously alive to any +wrong. He sought his friend, and used reproaches, which rendered it +imperative that they should meet as foes. Delancey was wounded; and +as <i>he</i> thought--and it was long doubtful whether it <i>were</i> +so--<i>mortally</i>. He beckoned George Delmé to his bedside--begged him to +forgive him--told him that his friendship had been the greatest source +of delight to him--a friendship which in his dying moments he begged +to renew--that far from feeling pain at his approaching dissolution, +he conceived that he had merited all, and only waited his full and +entire forgiveness to die happy. George Delmé wrung his hands in the +bitterness of despair--prayed him to live for his sake--told him, that +did he not, his own life hereafter would be one of the deepest +misery,--that the horrors of remorse would weigh him down to his +grave. The surgeon was the first to terminate a scene, which he +assured Delmé was one of the most painful it had ever been his lot to +witness. This meeting, though of so agitating a nature, seemed to have +a beneficial effect on the wounded man. He sunk into a sweet sleep; +and on awaking, his pulse was lower, and his symptoms less critical. +He improved gradually, and was now convalescent. But it was otherwise +with George Delmé. He sought the solitude of his chamber, a prey to +the agonies of a self-reproaching spirit. He considered himself +instrumental in taking the life of his best friend--of one, richly +endowed with the loftiest feelings humanity can boast. His nerves +previously had been unstrung; body and mind sank under the picture his +imagination had conjured up. His servant was alarmed by startling +screams, entered his room, and found his master in fearful +convulsions. A fever ensued, during which George's life hung by a +thread. To this succeeded a long state of unconsciousness, +occasionally broken by wild delirium.</p> + +<p>During his illness, there was one who never left him--who smoothed his +pillow--who supported his head on her breast--who watched him as a +mother watches her first-born. It was the youthful Greek, Acmé Frascati. +The instant she heard of his danger, she left her home to tend him. No +entreaties could influence her, no arguments persuade. She would sit by +his bedside for hours, his feverish hand locked in hers, and implore him +to recover, to bless one who loved him so dearly. They could not part +them; for George, even in his delirious state, seemed to be conscious +that some one was near him, and, did she leave his side, would rise in +his bed, and look around him as if missing some accustomed object. In +his wilder flights, he would call passionately upon her, and beg her to +save his friend, who was lying so dead and still.</p> + +<p>For a length of time, neither care nor professional skill availed. +Fearful was the struggle, between his disease, and a naturally hardy +constitution. Reason at last resumed her dominion. "I know not," said +the surgeon, "the particulars of the first dawning of consciousness. It +appears that Acmé was alone with him, and that it was at night. I found +him on my professional visit one morning, clear and collected, and his +mistress sobbing her thanks. I need perhaps hardly inform you," said the +narrator, "that George's gratitude to Acmé was vividly expressed. It was +in vain I urged on her the propriety of now leaving her lover. This was +met on both sides by an equal disinclination, and indeed obstinate +refusal; and I feared the responsibility I should incur, by enforcing a +separation which might have proved of dangerous consequence to my +patient. Alas! for human nature, Sir Henry! need it surprise you that +the consequences were what they are? Loving him with the fervency of one +born under an eastern sun--with the warm devotion of woman's first +love--with slender ideas of Christian morality--and with a mind +accustomed to obey its every impulse--need it, I say, surprise you, that +the one fell, and that remorse visited the other? To that remorse, do I +attribute what my previous communication may not have sufficiently +prepared you for; namely, the little dependence to be placed on the tone +of the invalid's mind. Reason is but as a glimmering in a socket; and +painful as my professional opinion may be to you, it is my duty to avow +it; and I frankly confess, that I entertain serious apprehensions, as to +the stability of his mind's restoration. It is on this account, that I +have felt so anxious that one of his relations should be near him. +Change of scene is absolutely necessary, as soon as change of scene can +be safely adopted. Every distracting thought must be avoided, and the +utmost care taken that no agitating topic is discussed in his presence. +These precautions may do much; but should they have no effect, which I +think possible; as a medical man, I should then recommend, what as a +member of his family may startle you. My advice would be, that if it be +ultimately found, that his feelings as regard this young girl, are such +as are likely to prevent or impede his mind's recovery; why I would then +at once allow him to make her any reparation he may think just.</p> + +<p>"To what do you allude?" enquired Sir Henry.</p> + +<p>"Why," continued the surgeon, "that if his feelings appear deeply +enlisted on that side of the question, and all our other modes have +failed in obtaining their object; that he should be permitted to marry +her as soon as he pleases. I see you look grave. I am not surprised you +should do so; but life is worth preserving, and Acmé, if not entirely to +our notions, is a good, a very good girl--warm-hearted and affectionate; +and it is not fair to judge her by our English standard. You will +however have time and scope, to watch yourself the progress and extent +of his disorder. I fear this is more serious than you are at present +aware of; but from your own observations, would I recommend and wish +your future line of conduct to be formed. May I trust my frankness has +not offended you?"</p> + +<p>Sir Henry assured him, that far from this being the case, he owed +him many thanks for being thus explicit. Shaking him by the hand, +he returned to George's room with a clouded brow; perplexed how to +act, or how best discuss with his brother, the points connected +with his history.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter IX.</h1> + +<h2>The Narrative.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "The seal Love's dimpling finger hath impress'd,<br /> +Denotes how soft that chin which bears his touch,<br /> +Her lips whose kisses pout to leave their nest,<br /> +Bid man be valiant ere he merit such;<br /> +Her glance how wildly beautiful--how much<br /> +Hath Phoebus woo'd in vain to spoil her cheek,<br /> +Which grows yet smoother from his amorous clutch,<br /> +Who round the north for paler dames would seek?<br /> +How poor their forms appear! how languid, wan, and weak."</blockquote> + + +<p>Love! Heavenly love! by Plato's mind conceived, and Sicyon's artist +chiselled! not thou! night's offspring, springing on golden wing from +the dark bosom of Erebus! the first created, and the first creating: but +thou! immaculate deity; effluence of unspotted thought, and child of a +chaster age! where, oh where is now thy resting place?</p> + +<p>Pensile in mid-heaven, gazest thou yet with seraphic sorrow on this, +the guilty abode of guilty man?--with pity's tear still mournest thou, +as yoked to the car of young desire, we bow the neck in degrading and +slavish bondage? Or dost thou, the habitant of some bright star, where +frailty such as ours is yet unknown, lend to lovers a rapture unalloyed +by passion's grosser sense; as, symphonious with the tremulous zephyr, +chastened vows of constancy are there exchanged? Ah! vainly does one +solitary enthusiast, in his balmy youth, for a moment conceive he really +grasps thee! 'tis but a fleeting phantasy, doomed to fade at the first +sneer of derision--and for ever vanish, as a false and fascinating world +stamps its dogmas on his heart! Celestial love! oh where may he yet find +thee? and a clear voice whispers, ETERNITY!</p> + +<p>Hope! guide the fainting pilgrim! undying soul! shield him from the +world's venomed darts, as he painfully wends his toilsome way!</p> + +<p>When Delmé returned to his brother, he found the latter anxiously +expecting him, and desirous of ascertaining the impression, which his +conversation with the surgeon had created.</p> + +<p>But Delmé thought it more prudent, to defer the discussion of those +points, till he had heard from George himself, as to many circumstances +connected with Acmé's history, and had been able to form some personal +opinion regarding the health of the invalid. He therefore begged +George, if he felt equal to the task, to avail himself of the +opportunity of Acmé's absence, to tell him how he had first met her. To +this George willingly assented; and as there is ever a peculiarity in +foreign scenes and habits, which awakens interest, we give his story in +his own language.</p> + +<p>"There are some old families here, Henry," began the invalid, "whose +names are connected with some of the proudest, which the annals of the +Knights of St. John of Jerusalem can boast. They are for the most part +sunk in poverty, and possess but little of the outward trappings of +rank. But their pride is not therefore the less; and rather than have it +wounded, by being put in collision with those with whom in worldly +wealth they are unable to compete, they prefer the privacy of +retirement; and are rarely seen, and more rarely known, by any of the +English residents, whom they distrust and dislike. It is true, there are +a few families, some of the male members of which have accepted +subordinate situations under government: and these have become +habituated to English society, and meet on terms of tolerable +cordiality, the English whose acquaintance they have thus made. But +there are others, as I have said, whose existence is hardly recognised, +and who vegetate in some lone palazzo; brooding over the decay of their +fortunes--never crossing the threshold of their mansions--except when +religious feelings command them to attend a mass, or public procession. +Of such a family was Acmé a member. By birth a Greek, she was a witness +to many of the bloody scenes which took place at the commencement of the +struggle for Grecian freedom. She was herself present at the murder of +both her parents. Her beauty alone saved her from sharing their fate. +One of the Turks, struck with, her expression of childish sorrow, +interfered in her behalf, and permitted a friend and neighbour to save +her life and his own, by taking shipping for one of the islands in our +possession. After residing in Corfu for some months, she received an +invitation from her father's brother-in-law, a member of an ancient +Maltese family; and for the last few years has spent a life, if not gay, +at least free from a repetition of those sanguinary scenes, which have +lent their impress to a sensitive mind, and at moments impart a +melancholy tinge, to a disposition by nature unusually joyous. It was on +a festa day, dedicated to the patron saint of the island, when no +Maltese not absolutely bed-ridden, but would deem it a duty, to witness +the solemn and lengthy procession which such a day calls forth; that I +first met Acmé Frascati.</p> + +<p>"I was alone in the Strada Reale, and strolling towards the Piazza, when +my attention was directed to what struck me as the loveliest face I had +ever seen.</p> + +<p>"Acmé, for it was her, was drest in the costume of the island; and, +although a faldette is not the best dress for exhibiting a figure, +there was a grace and lightness in her carriage, that would have +arrested my attention, even had I not been riveted by her countenance. +She was on the opposite side of the street to myself, and was attended +by an old Moorish woman, who carried an illumined missal. Of these +women, several may yet be seen in Malta, looking very Oriental and +duenna-like. As I stopped to admire her, she suddenly attempted to +cross to the side of the street where I stood. At the same moment, I +observed a horse attached to a calèche galloping furiously towards her. +It was almost upon her ere Acmé saw her danger. The driver, anxious to +pass before the procession formed, had whipped his horse till it became +unmanageable, and it was now in vain that he tried to arrest its +progress. A natural impulse induced me to rush forward, and endeavour +to save her. She was pale and trembling, as I caught her and placed her +out of the reach of danger; but before I could touch the pavement, I +felt myself struck by the wheel of the carriage, was thrown down, and +taken up insensible. When consciousness returned, I found they had +conveyed me to a neighbouring shop, and that medical attendance had +been procured. But more than all, I noticed the solicitude of Acmé. +Until the surgeon had given a favourable report, she could not address +me, but when this had been pronounced, she overwhelmed me with thanks, +begged to know where I would wish to be taken, and rested not until her +own family calèche came up, and she saw me, attended by the Moorish +woman, on the road to Floriana.</p> + +<p>"My accident, though not a very serious one, proved of sufficient +consequence, to confine me to my room for some time; and during that +period, not a day passed, that did not give me proof of the anxiety of +the young Greek for my restoration. I need not say that one of my +first visits was to her. Her family received me as they would an +absent brother. The obligations they considered I had conferred, +outweighed all prejudices which they might have imbibed against my +nation. On <i>my</i> part, charmed with my adventure, delighted with Acmé, +and gratified by the kindness of her relations, I endeavoured to +increase their favourable opinion by all the means in my power. Acmé +and myself were soon more than friends, and I found my visits gave and +imparted pleasure.</p> + +<p>"I now arrive at the unhappy part of my narrative. How do I wish it were +effaced from my memory. You may remember how, in all my letters to +Delmé, I made mention of my dear friend Delancey. We were indeed dear +friends. We joined at the same time, lived together in England, +embarked together, and when, one dreadful night off the African coast, +the captain of the transport thought we must inevitably drift on the +lee shore, we solaced each other, and agreed that, if it came to the +worst, on one plank would we embark our fortunes. On our landing in +Malta, we were inseparable, and my first impulse was to inform Delancey +of all that had occurred, and to introduce him to a house where I felt +so happy. I must here do him the justice to state, that whether I was +partly unaware of the extent of my own feelings towards Acmé, or +whether I felt a morbid sense of delicacy, in alluding to what I knew +to be the first attachment I had ever formed, I am unable to inform +you! but the only circumstance I concealed from my friend was my +attachment to the young Greek. Perhaps to this may be mainly attributed +what happened. God, who knows all secrets, knows this; but I may now +aver, that my friend, with many faults, has proved himself to have as +frank and ingenuous a spirit, as noble ideas of friendship, as can +exist in the human breast. For some time, matters continued thus. We +were both constant visitors at Acmé's house. With unparalleled +blindness, I never mistrusted the feelings of my friend. I never +contemplated that <i>he</i> also might become entangled with the young +beauty. I considered her as my own prize, and was more engaged in +analysing my own sensations, and in vainly struggling against a +passion, which I was certain could not meet my family's approval, than +at all suspicious that fresh causes of uneasiness might arise in +another quarter. As Acmé's heart opened to mine, I found her with +feelings guileless and unsuspecting as a child's; although these were +warm, and their expression but little restrained. There was a confiding +simplicity in her manner, that threw an air over all she said or did, +which quite forbade censure, and excited admiration. My passion became +a violent and an all-absorbing one. I had made up my mind, to throw +myself on the kindness of my family, and endeavour to obtain all your +consents. Thus was I situated, when one day Acmé came up to me with +frankness of manner, but a tremulous voice, to beg I would use my +interest with my friend, to prevent his coming to see her.</p> + +<p>"'Indeed, indeed,' said she, 'I have tried to love him as a friend, as +the friend of my life's preserver, but ever since he has spoken as he +now does, his visits are quite unpleasant. My family begged me to tell +you. They would have asked him to come no more, but were afraid you +might be angry. Will you still come to us, and love us all, if they tell +him this? If you will not, he shall still come; for indeed we could not +offend one to whom we owe so much.'</p> + +<p>"'<i>I</i>, too,' said I to Acmé, '<i>I</i>, too, dearest, ought perhaps to leave +you, <i>I</i>, too'--</p> + +<p>"'Oh, never! never!' said she, as she turned to me her dark eyes, bright +with humid radiance. 'We cannot thus part!'</p> + +<p>"She <i>did</i>, then, love me! I clasped her to my arms--our lips clung +together in one rapturous intoxicating embrace.</p> + +<p>"Yet, even in that moment of delirium, Henry, I told her of you, and of +the many obstacles which still presented themselves to retard or even +prevent our union. I sought my friend Delancey, and remonstrated with +him. He appeared to doubt my right to question his motives. Success made +me feel still more injured. I showered down reproaches. He could not +have acted differently. We met! and I saw him fall! Till then, I had +considered myself as the injured man; but as I heard him on the ground +name his mother, and one dearer still--as he took from his breast the +last gift <i>she</i> had made him--as he begged of <i>me</i> to be its bearer; I +then first felt remorse. He was taken to his room. Even the surgeon +entertained no hopes. He again called me to his side; I heard his noble +acknowledgment, his reiterated vows of friendship, the mournful tones of +his farewell. I entered this room a heart-broken man. I felt my pulse +throb fearfully, a gasping sensation was in my throat, my head swam +round, and I clung to the wall for support. The next thing of which I +have any recollection, was the dawn of reason breaking through my +troubled dreams. It was midnight--all was still. The fitful lamp shone +dimly through my chamber. I turned on my side--and, oh! by its light, I +saw the face I most loved--that face, whose gentle lineaments, were each +deeply and separately engraven on my heart. I saw her bending over me +with a maiden's love and a mother's solicitude. As I essayed to +speak--as my conscious eye met her's--as the soft words of affection +were involuntarily breathed by my feeble lips--how her features lit up +with joy! Oh, say not, Henry, till you have experienced such a moment of +transport, say not that the lips which then vowed eternal fidelity, that +the young hearts which <i>then</i> plighted their truth, and vowed to love +for ever--oh call not these guilty!</p> + +<p>"Since that time my health has been extremely precarious. Whether the +events crowded too thickly on me, or that I have not fully recovered my +health, or--which I confess I think is the case--that my compunctions +for my conduct to Acmé weigh me down, I know not; but it is not always, +my dear Henry, that I can thus address you. There are hours when I am +hardly sensible of what I do, when my brain reels from its oppression. +At such times, Acmé is my guardian angel--my tender nurse--my +affectionate attendant! In my lucid intervals, she is what you see +her--the gentle companion--the confiding friend. I love her, Henry, more +than I can tell you! I shall never be able to leave her! From Acmé you +may learn more of those dreary hours, which appear to me like waste +dreams in my existence. She has watched by my bed of sickness, till she +knows every turn of the disorder. From her, Henry, may you learn all."</p> + +<p>Thus did George conclude his tale of passion; which Delmé mused over, +but refrained from commenting on.</p> + +<p>Soon afterwards, George's calèche, in which he daily took exercise, was +announced as being at the door. The brothers entered, and left Floriana.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter X.</h1> + +<h2>The Calèche.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "The car rattling through the stony street."</blockquote> + + +<p>For an easy conveyance, commend us to a Maltese calèche! Many a time, +assaulted by the blue devils, have we taken refuge in its solacing +interior--have pulled down its silken blinds, and unseeing and unseen, +the motion, like that of the rocking-cradle to the petulant child of +less mature growth, has restored complacency, and lulled us to good +humour. The calèche, the real calèche, is, we believe, peculiar to +Malta. It is the carriage of the rich and poor--Lady Woodford may be +seen employing it, to visit her gardens at St. Antonio; and in the +service of the humblest of her subjects, will it be enlisted, as they +wend their way to a picnic in the campagna. Every variety of steed is +put in requisition for its draught.</p> + +<p>We may see the barb, with nostril of fire, and mane playing with the +wind, perform a curvet, as he draws our aristocratic countrywoman-- +aristocratic and haughty at least in Malta, although, in England, +perhaps a star of much less magnitude.</p> + +<p>We may view too the over-burthened donkey, as he drags along some aged +vehicle, in which four fat smiling women, and one lean weeping child, +look forward to his emaciated carcase, and yet blame him for being slow.</p> + +<p>And thou! patient and suffering animal, whose name has passed into a +proverb, until each vulgar wight looks on thee as the emblem of +obstinacy,--maligned mule! when dost thou appear to more advantage, more +joyous, or more self-satisfied, than when yoked to the Maltese calèche? +Who that has witnessed thee, taking the scanty meal from the hand of +thine accustomed driver, with whinnying voice, waving tail, thy long +ears pricked upwards, and thy head rubbing his breast, who that has +seen thee thus, will deny thee the spirit of gratitude?</p> + +<p>Most injured of quadrupeds! if we ascend the rugged mountain's path, +where on either side, precipices frown, and the pines wave far--far +beneath--when one false step would plunge us, with our hopes, our fears, +and our vices, into the abyss of eternity; is it not to thee we trust?</p> + +<p>Calumniated mule! go on thy way.</p> + +<p>This world's standard is but little to be relied on, whether it be for +good, or whether it be for evil.</p> + +<p>The motion of a calèche, such as we patronised, is an easy and luxurious +one--the pace, a fast trot or smooth canter, of seven miles an hour--and +with the blinds down, we have communed with ourselves, with as great +freedom, and as little fear of interruption, as if we had been crossing +the Zahara. The calèche men too are a peculiar and happy race--attentive +to their fares--masters of their profession--and with a cigar in their +cheek dexter, will troll you Maltese ditties till your head aches. Their +costume is striking. Their long red caps are thrown back over their +necks--their black curls hang down on each side of the face--and a +crimson, many-folded sash, girds in a waist usually extremely small. +Their neck, face, and breast, from continued exposure to the sun, are a +red copper colour. They are always without shoes and stockings; and even +our countrywomen, who pay much attention to the costume of their +drivers, have not yet ventured to encase their brawny feet in the +mysteries of leather. They run by the side of their calèches, the reins +in one hand--the whip in the other--cheering on their animals by a +constant succession of epithets, oaths, and invocations to their +favourite saint.</p> + +<p>They are rarely fatigued, and may be seen beside their vehicles, urging +the horses, with the thermometer at 110°, and perhaps a stout-looking +Englishman inside, with white kerchief to his face, the image of languor +and lassitude.</p> + +<p>Their horses gallop down steeps, which no English Jehu dare attempt; and +ascend and descend with safety and hardihood, stone steps which occur in +many parts of Valletta; and which would certainly present an +insurmountable obstacle to our steeds at home.</p> + +<p>The proper period, however, to see a calèche man in his glory, is during +the carnival. Every calèche is in employ; and many a one which has +reposed for the twelvemonth previous, is at that time wheeled from its +accustomed shed, and put in requisition for some of pleasure's votaries. +Long lines of them continue to pass and repass in the principal street. +Their inmates are almost universally of the fair sex, and of the best +part of it, the young and beautiful. Cavaliers, with silken bags, +containing bon-bons, slung on their left arm, stand at intervals, ready +to discharge the harmless missiles, at those whom their taste approves +worthy of the compliment. Happy the young beauty, who, returning +homewards, sees the carpet of her calèche thickly strewn with these +dulcet favours! The driver is now in his element! He ducks his head, as +the misdirected sweetmeat approaches; he has an apt remark prompt for +the occasion. As he nears too the favoured inamorato, for whom he well +knows his mistress' sweetest smile is reserved--who already with his +right hand grasping the sugared favours, is prepared to lavish his whole +store on this one venture--how arch his look--how roguish his eye--as he +turns towards his donna, and speaks as plainly as words could do, "See! +there he is, he whom you love best!"</p> + +<p>Ah! well may we delight to recal once more those minute details! ah! +well may we remember how--when our brow was smoothed with youth, as it +is now furrowed with care--when our eye sparkled from pleasure, as it is +now dimmed from time, or mayhap, tears--well may we love to remember, +how our whole hearts were engrossed in that mimic warfare. How +impatiently did we watch for <i>one</i>, amidst that crowded throng, for +one--whose beauty haunted us by day, and whose smile we dreamt over by +night. Well do we recal with what unexampled ingenuity, we laboured to +befit the snow white egg for a rare tenant--attar-gul. Well do we +remember how that face, usually so cloudless, became darkened almost to +a frown, as our heart's mistress saw the missile approach her. What a +radiant smile bewitched us, as it burst on her lap, and filled the air +with its fragrance! Truly we had our reward!</p> + +<p>Delmé and George took a quiet drive, and enjoyed that sweet interchange +of ideas, that characterises the meeting of two brothers long absent +from each other.</p> + +<p>They went in the direction of St. Julian's, a drive all our Maltese +friends will be familiar with. The road lay almost wholly by the sea +side. A gentle breeze was crisping the waters, and served to allay the +heat, which, at a more advanced period of the season, is by no means an +enviable one. Sun-shine seemed to beam on George's mind, as he once more +spoke of home ties, to one to whom those home ties were equally dear. +And gratefully did he bask in its rays! Long used to the verdant but +tame, beautiful but romantic landscapes, which the part of England he +resided in presented; the scenery around him, novel and picturesque, +struck Sir Henry forcibly. To one who has resided long in Malta, its +scenes may wear an aspect somewhat different. The limited country--the +ceaseless glare--the dust, or rather the pulverised rock--the +ever-present lizard, wary and quick, peeping out at each crevice--the +buzzing mosquito, inviting the moody philosopher to smite his own +cheek,--these things may come to be regarded as real grievances.</p> + +<p>But Delmé, as a visitor, was pleased with what he saw. The promising +vineyards--the orange groves, with their glowing fruit and ample +foliage, "looking like golden lamps" in a dark night of leaves--the +thick leaves of the prickly pear--the purple sky above him, lending its +rich hue to the sea beside--the architectural beauties of the +cottages--the wide portico of the mansions--the flat terrace with its +balustrade, over which might be seen a fair face, half concealed by the +faldette, smilingly peering, and through whose pillars might be noted a +pretty ancle, and siesta-looking slipper--these were novelties, and +pleasing ones! Their drive over, Delmé felt more tranquil as to George's +state of mind, and more inclined to look on the bright side, as to his +future fortunes.</p> + +<p>Acmé was waiting to receive them, and as she scanned George's features, +Delmé could not but observe the affectionate solicitude that marked her +glance and manner.</p> + +<p>Let it not be thought we would make vice seductive!</p> + +<p>Fair above all things is the pure affection of woman! happy he who may +regard it his! he may bask without a shade of distrust in its glorious +splendour, and permanently adore its holy beauty.</p> + +<p>While, fascinating though be the concentred love of woman, whether +struggling in its passion--enraptured in its madness--or clinging and +loving on in its guilt: Man--that more selfish wanderer from virtue's +pale, that destroyer of his own best sympathies--will find too late that +a day of bitterest regret must arrive: a day when love shall exist no +more, or, linked with remorse, shall tear--a fierce vulture--at his very +heart strings.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XI.</h1> + +<h2>The Colonel.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Not such as prate of war, but skulk in peace."<br /></blockquote> + + +<p>Delmé strolled out half an hour before his brother's dinner hour, with +the intention of paying a visit of ceremony to the Colonel of George's +regiment. His house was not far distant. It had been the palazzo of one +of the redoubted Knights of St. John; and the massive gate at which Sir +Henry knocked for admittance, seemed an earnest, that the family, who +had owned the mansion, had been a powerful and important one. The door +was opened, and the servant informed Delmé, that Colonel Vavasour was on +the terrace.</p> + +<p>The court yard through which they passed was extensive; and a spring</p> + +<p> "Of living water from its centre rose, + Whose bubbling did a genial softness fling."</p> + +<p>Ascending a lofty marble staircase, along which were placed a few +bronzed urns, Delmé crossed a suite of apartments--thrown open in the +Italian mode--and passing through a glass door, found himself on a wide +stone terrace, edged by pillars.</p> + +<p>Immediately beneath this, was an orange grove, whose odours perfumed the +air. Colonel Vavasour was employed in reading a German treatise on light +infantry tactics. He received Sir Henry with great cordiality, and +proposed adjourning to the library. Delmé was pleased to observe, for it +corresponded with what he had heard of the man; that, with the exception +of the chef d'oeuvres of the English and German poets, the Colonel's +library, which was an extensive one, almost wholly consisted of such +books as immediately related to military subjects, or might be able to +bear on some branch of science connected with military warfare. Pagan, +and his follower Vauban, and the more matured treatises of Cormontaigne, +were backed by the works of that boast of the Low Countries, Coehorn; +and by the ingenious theories, as yet <i>but</i> theories, of Napoleon's +minister of war, Carnot.</p> + +<p>Military historians, too, crowded the shelves. <i>There</i> might be noted +the veracious Polybius--the classic Xenophon--the scientific +Cæsar--the amusing Froissart, with his quaint designs, and quainter +discourses--and many an author unknown to fame, who in lengthy quarto, +luxuriated on the lengthy campaigns of Marlborough or Eugene; those wise +commanders, who flourished in an era, when war was a well debated +scientific game of chess; when the rival opponents took their time, +before making their moves; and the loss of a pawn was followed by the +loss of a kingdom. <i>There</i> might you be enamoured with even a soldier's +hardships, as your eye glanced on the glowing circumstantial details of +Kincaid;--or you might glory in your country's Thucydides, as you read +the nervous impassioned language of a Napier. <i>Thou</i>, too, Trant! our +friend! wert there! Ah, why cut off in thy prime? Did not thy spirit +glow with martial fire? Did not thy conduct give promise, that not in +vain were those talents accorded thee? What hadst <i>thou</i> done, to sink +thus early to a premature inglorious grave? Nor were our friends Folard +and Jomini absent; nor eke the minute essays of a Jarry, who taught the +aspiring youths of Great Britain all the arts of castrametation. With +what gusto does he show how to attack Reading; or how, with the greatest +chance of success, to defend the tranquil town of Egham. <i>Here</i> would he +sink trous de loup on the ancient Runnimede, whereby the advance of the +enemy's cavalry would be frustrated; <i>there</i> would he cut down an +abattis, or plant chevaux de frise. At <i>this</i> winding of England's +noblest river, would he establish a pontoon bridge; the approaches to +which he would enfilade, by a battery placed on yonder height.</p> + +<p>Before relating the conversation between Delmé and Colonel Vavasour, it +may not be improper to say a few words as to the character of the +latter. When we say that he was looked up to as an officer, and adored +as a man, by the regiment he had commanded for years; we are not +according light praise.</p> + +<p>Those who have worn a coat of red, or been much conversant with +military affairs, will appreciate the difficult, the ungrateful task, +devolving on a commanding officer.</p> + +<p>How few, how very few are those, who can command respect, and ensure +love. How many, beloved as men, are imposed on, and disregarded as +officers. How many are there, whose presence on the parade ground awes +the most daring hearts, who are passed by in private life, with +something like contumely, and of whom, in their private relations, few +speak, and yet fewer are those who wish kindly. When deserving in each +relation, how frequently do we see those who want the manner, the tact, +to show themselves in their true colours. An ungracious refusal--ay! or +an ungraciously accorded favour! may raise a foe who will be a bar to a +man's popularity for years:--whilst how many a free and independent +spirit is there, who criticises with a keener eye than is his wont, the +sayings and doings of his commanding officer, solely because he <i>is</i> +such. How apt is such an one to misrepresent a word, or create a wrong +motive for an action! how slow in giving praise, lest <i>he</i> should be +deemed one of the servile train! Pass we over the host of petty +intrigues--the myriads of conflicting interests:--show not how the +partial report of a favourite, may make the one in authority unjust to +him below him; or how the false tale-bearer may induce the one below to +be unjust to his superior. Colonel Vavasour was not only considered in +the field, as one of England's bravest soldiers; but was yet more +remarkable for his gentlemanly deportment, and for the attention he ever +paid to the interior economy of his corps. This gave a tone to the---- +mess, almost incredible to one, who has not witnessed, what the constant +presence of a commanding officer, if he be a real gentleman, is enabled +to effect. Colonel Vavasour had ideas on the duties of a soldier, which +to many appeared original. We cannot but think, that the Colonel's +ideas, in the main, were right. He disliked his officers marrying; often +stating that he considered a sword and a wife as totally incompatible.</p> + +<p>"Where," would he say, "is <i>then</i> that boasted readiness of purpose, +that spirit of enterprise? Can an officer <i>then</i>, with half a dozen +shirts in his portmanteau, and a moderate quantity of cigars, if he be a +smoker, declare himself ready to sail over half the world?"</p> + +<p>The Colonel would smile as he said this, but would continue with a +graver tone.</p> + +<p>"No, there is a choice, and I blame no one for making his election:--a +soldier's hardships and a soldier's joys;--or domestic happiness, and an +inglorious life:--but to attempt to blend the two, is, I think, +injudicious."</p> + +<p>On regimental subjects, he was what is technically called, a regulation +man. No innovations ever crept into his regiment, wanting the sanction +of the Horse Guards; whilst every order emanating from thence, was as +scrupulously adopted and adhered to, as if his own taste had prompted +the change. On parade, Colonel Vavasour was a strict disciplinarian;-- +but his sword in the scabbard, he dropped the officer in his manner,--it +was impossible to do so in his appearance,--and no one ever heard him +discuss military points in a place inappropriate. He knew well how to +make the distinction between his public and his private duties. On an +officer under his command, being guilty of any dereliction of duty, he +would send for him, and reprimand him before the assembled corps, if he +deemed that such reprimand would be productive of good effect to others; +but--the parade dismissed--he would probably take this very officer's +arm, or ask to accompany him in his country ride.</p> + +<p>Colonel Vavasour had once a young and an only brother under his command. +In no way did he relax discipline in his favour. Young Vavasour had +committed a breach of military etiquette. He was immediately ordered by +his brother to be placed in arrest, and would inevitably have been +brought to a court martial, had not the commanding officer of the +station interfered. During the whole of this time, the Colonel's manner +towards him continued precisely the same. They lived together as usual; +and no man, without a knowledge of the circumstance, could have been +aware that any other but a fraternal tie bound them together. What was +more extraordinary, the younger brother saw all this in its proper +light; and whilst he clung to and loved his brother, looked up with awe +and respect to his commanding officer.</p> + +<p>As for Colonel Vavasour, no one who saw his convulsed features, as his +brother fell heading a gallant charge of his company at Waterloo, could +have doubted for a moment his deep-rooted affection. From that period, a +gloomy melancholy hung about him, which, though shaken off in public, +gave a shade to his brow, which was very perceptible.</p> + +<p>In person, he was particularly neat; being always the best dressed +officer in his regiment, "How can we expect the men to pay attention to +<i>their</i> dress, when we give them reason to suppose we pay but little +attention to our own?" was a constant remark of his. And here we may +observe, that no class of men have a stricter idea of the propriety of +dress, than private soldiers. To dress well is half a passport to a +soldier's respect; whilst on the other hand, it requires many excellent +qualities, to counterbalance in his mind a careless and slovenly +exterior. Colonel Vavasour had an independent fortune, which he spent at +the head of his regiment. Many a dinner party was given by him, for +which the corps he commanded obtained the credit; many a young officer +owed relief from pecuniary embarrassments, which might otherwise have +overwhelmed him, to the generosity of his Colonel. He appeared not to +have a wish, beyond the military circle around him, although those who +knew him best, said he had greater talent, and possessed the art of +fascinating in general society, more than most men.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to see you here, Sir Henry," said he to Delmé, "although I +cannot but wish that happier circumstances had brought you to us. I have +a very great esteem for your brother, and am one of his warmest well +wishers. But I must not neglect the duties of hospitality. You must +allow me to present you to my officers at mess this evening. Our dinner +hour is late; but were it otherwise, we should miss that delightful hour +for our ride, when the sun's rays have no longer power to harm us, and +the sea breezes waft us a freshness, which almost compensates for the +languor attending the summer's heat."</p> + +<p>Delmé declined his invitation, stating his wish to dine with his brother +on that day; but expressed himself ready to accept his kind offer on the +ensuing one.</p> + +<p>"Thank you!" said Colonel Vavasour, "it is natural you should wish to +see your brother; and it pains me to think that poor George cannot yet +dine with his old friends. Have you seen Mr. Graham?"</p> + +<p>Delmé replied in the affirmative; adding, that he could not but feel +obliged to him for his frankness.</p> + +<p>"I am glad you feel thus," said Vavasour, "it emboldens me to address +you with equal candour; and, painful as our advice must be, I confess I +am inclined to side with George's medical attendant. I have myself been +witness to such lamentable proofs of George's state of mind--he has so +often, with the tears in his eyes, spoken to me of his feelings with +regard to Acmé Frascati, that I certainly consider these as in a great +measure the cause, and his state of mind the effect. I speak to you, +Sir Henry, without disguise. I had once a brother--the apple of my +eye--I loved him as I shall never love human being more; and, as God is +my witness, under similar circumstances, frankness is what I should have +prayed for,--my first wish would have been at once to know the worst. +Mr. Graham has told you of his long illness--his delirium--and has, I +conclude, touched upon the present state of his patient. Shall I shock +you, when I add that his lucid intervals are not to be depended upon; +that occasionally the wildest ideas, the most extraordinary projects, +are conceived by him? I wish you not, to act on any thing that Mr. +Graham, or that I may tell you, but to judge for yourself. Without this, +indeed, you would hardly understand the danger of these mental +paroxysms. So fearful are they, that I confess I should be inclined to +adopt any remedy, make any sacrifices which promised the remotest +possibility of success."</p> + +<p>"I trust," said Sir Henry, "there are no sacrifices I would not +personally make for my only brother, were I once convinced these were +for his real benefit."</p> + +<p>"I frankly mean," said Vavasour, "that I think almost the only chance of +restoring him, is by allowing him to marry Acmé Frascati."</p> + +<p>Delmé's brow clouded.</p> + +<p>"Think not," continued he, "that I am ignorant of what such a +determination must cost you. <i>I</i>, too, Sir Henry,"--and the old man drew +his commanding form to its utmost height,--"<i>I</i> too, know what must be +the feelings of a descendant of noble ancestors. I know them well; and +in more youthful days, the blood boiled in my veins as I thought of the +name they had left me. Thank heaven! I have never disgraced it. But were +<i>I</i> situated as <i>you</i> are, and the dead Augustus Vavasour in the place +of the living George Delmé, I would act as I am now advising you to do. +I speak solely as to the expediency of the measure. From what I have +stated--from my situation in life--from my character--you may easily +imagine that all my prejudices are enlisted on the other side of the +question. But I must here confess that I see something inexpressibly +touching in the devotion which that young Greek girl displayed, during +the whole of George's illness. But putting this on one side, and +considering the affair as one of mere expediency, I think you will +finally agree with me, that however desperate the remedy, some such must +be applied. And now, let me assure you, that nothing could have induced +me to obtrude thus, my feelings and opinions on a comparative stranger, +were it not that that stranger is the brother of one in whose welfare I +feel the liveliest interest."</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé expressed his thanks, and inwardly determined that he +would form no opinion till he had himself been witness to some act of +mental aberration. It is true, he had heard the medical attendant give a +decided opinion,--from George's own lips he had an avowal of much that +had been stated,--and now he had heard one, for whom he could not but +feel great respect--one who had evidently no interest in the +question--declare his sentiments as strongly. We are all sanguine as to +what we wish. It may be, that a hope yet lurked in Delmé's breast, that +these accounts might be unconsciously exaggerated, or that his brother's +state of health was now more established than heretofore.</p> + +<p>On returning to Floriana, Delmé found George and the blushing Acmé +awaiting him. A delightful feeling is that, of again finding ourselves +with those from whom we have long been parted, once more engaged in the +same round of familiar avocations, once more re-acting the thousand +little trifles of life which we have so often acted before, and that, +too, in company with those who now sit beside us, as if to mock the +lapse of intervening years. These meetings seem to steal a pinion from +time's wing, and hard indeed were it if the sensations they called forth +were not pleasurable ones; for oh! how rudely and frequently, on the +other hand, are we reminded of the changes which the progress of years +brings with it: the bereavement of loved ones--the prostration of what +we revered--our buoyant elasticity of body and mind departed--all things +changing and changed.</p> + +<p>We sigh, and gaze back. How few are the scenes, which memory's +kaleidoscope presents in their pristine bright colours, of that +journey, performed so slowly, as it once appeared, but which, to the +eye of retrospection, seems to have hurried to its end with the rapid +wings of the wind!</p> + +<p>Imbued with an association, what a trivial circumstance will please! As +the brothers touched each other's glass; and drank to mutual happiness, +what grateful recollections were called up by that act! How did these +manifest their power, as they lighted up the wan features of George +Delmé. Acmé looked on smilingly; her hair flowing about her neck--her +dark eyes flashing with unusual brilliancy. Delmé felt it would be +unsocial were he alone to look grave; and although many foreboding +thoughts crowded on him, <i>he</i> too seemed to be happy. It was twilight +when the dinner was over. The windows were open, and the party placed +themselves near the jalousies. They here commanded a view of the public +gardens, where groups of Maltese were enjoying the coolness of the hour, +and the fragrance of the flowers. The walk had a roof of lattice work +supported by wooden pillars; round which, an image of woman's love, the +honeysuckle clingingly twined, diffusing sweets.</p> + +<p>Immediately before them, the principal outlet of the town presented +itself. Laughing parties of English sailors were passing, mounted on +steeds of every size, which they were urging forward, in spite of the +piteous remonstrances of the menials of their owners. The latter, for +the most part, held by the tails of their animals, and uttered a +jargon composed of English, Italian, and Maltese. The only words +however, that met the unregarding ears of the sailors, were some such +exclamations as these.</p> + +<p>"Not you go so fast, Signore; he good horse, but much tire."</p> + +<p>The riders sat in their saddles swinging from side to side, evidently +thinking their tenure more precarious than that on the giddy mast; and +wholly unmindful of the expressive gestures, and mournful ejaculations +of the bare-legged pursuers. At another time, their antics and +buffoonery, as they made unmerciful use of the short sticks with which +they were armed, would have provoked a smile. <i>Now</i> our party gazed on +these things as they move the wise. They felt calm and happy; and +deceptive hope whispered they might yet remain so. Acmé took up her +guitar, and throwing her fingers over it, as she gave a soft prelude, +warbled that sweet although common song, "Buona notte, amato bene." She +sung with great feeling, and feeling is the soul of music.</p> + +<p>How plaintively! how tenderly did her lips breathe the</p> + +<p> "ricordati! ricordati di me!"</p> + +<p>There was something extremely witching in her precocious charms. She +resembled some beauteous bud, just ready to burst into light and bloom. +It is not yet the rose,--but a moment more may make it such. Her +beauties were thus ripe for maturity. It seemed as if the sunshine of +love were already upon them--they were basking in its rays. A brief +space--and the girl shall no longer be such. What was promise shall be +beauty. She shall meet the charmed eye a woman; rich in grace and +loveliness. As Delmé marked her sympathising glance at George--her +beaming features--her innocent simplicity;--as he thought of all she had +lost, all she had suffered for his brother's sake,--as he thought of the +scorn of the many--the pity of the few--the unwearied watching--the +sleepless nights--the day of sorrow passed by the bed of sickness--all +so cheerfully encountered for <i>him</i>--he could not reproach her. No! he +took her hand, and the brothers whispered consolation to her, and to +each other.</p> + +<p>Late that evening, they were joined by Colonel Vavasour, and Mr. Graham. +George's spirits rose hourly. Never had his Colonel appeared to such +advantage--Acmé so lovely--or Henry so kind--as they did to George Delmé +that night.</p> + +<p>It was with a sigh at the past pleasures that George retired to +his chamber.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XII.</h1> + +<h2>The Mess.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Red coats and redder faces."</blockquote> + + +<p>The following day, a room having been given up to Delmé, he discharged +his bill at Beverley's; and moved to Floriana. He again accompanied +George in his drive; and they had on this occasion, the advantage of +Acmé's society, who amused them with her artless description of the +manners of the lower orders of Maltese.</p> + +<p>Pursuant to his promise, at the bugle's signal Delmé entered the mess +room; and the Colonel immediately introduced him to the assembled +officers. To his disappointment, for he felt curious to see one, who had +exercised such an influence over his brother, Delancey was not amongst +them. Sir Henry was much pleased with the feeling that appeared to +exist, between Colonel Vavasour and his corps of officers:--respect on +one side--and the utmost confidence on both. We think it is the talented +author of Pelham, who describes a mess table as comprising "cold dishes +and hot wines, where the conversation is of Johnson of ours and Thomson +of jours."</p> + +<p>This, though severe, is near the truth; and if, to this description, be +added <i>lots</i> of plate of that pattern called the Queen's--ungainly +servants in stiff mess liveries--and a perpetual recurrence to Mr. Vice; +we have certainly caught the most glaring features of a commonplace +regimental dinner. Vavasour was well aware of this, and had directed +unremitting attention, to give a tone to the conversation at the mess +table, more nearly approaching to that of private life; one which should +embrace topics of general interest, and convey some general information. +Even in <i>his</i> well ordered regiment, there were some, whose nature would +have led them, to confine their attention to thoughts of the daily +military routine. This inclination was repressed by the example of +their Colonel; and these, if not debaters, were at least patient +listeners, as the conversation dealt of matters, to them uncongenial, +and the value of the discussion of which they could not themselves +perceive. Not that military subjects were interdicted; the contrary was +the case. But these subjects took a somewhat loftier tone, than the +contemplation of an exchange of orderly duty, or an overslaugh of guard.</p> + +<p>When dinner was announced, Colonel Vavasour placed his hand on the +shoulder of a boy near him.</p> + +<p>"Come, Cholmondeley!" said he, "sit near me, and give me an account of +your match. You must not fail to write your Yorkshire friends every +particular. Major Clifford, will you sit on the other side of Sir Henry? +You are both Peninsula men, and will find, I doubt not, that you have +many friends in common.</p> + +<p>"There is something," said he to Delmé, as he took his seat, +"revivifying to an old soldier, in noting the exhilaration of spirit of +these boys. It reminds us of the zeal with which <i>we</i> too buckled on +our coat of red. It is a great misfortune these youngsters labour under, +that they have no outlet for their ambition, no scene on which they can +display their talents. Never were youthful aspirants for service more +worthy, or more zealous, and yet it is probable their country will not +need them, until they arrive at an age, when neither body nor mind are +attuned for <i>commencing</i> a life of hardship, however well adapted to +<i>continue</i> in it. <i>We</i> have had the advantage there--<i>we</i> trod the +soldier's proudest stage when our hopes and buoyancy of heart were at +their highest; and for myself, I am satisfied that much of my present +happiness, arises from the very different life of my earlier years."</p> + +<p>The conversation took a military turn; and Delmé could not help +observing the attention, with which the younger members of the corps +heard the anecdotes, related by those who had been actually engaged. +Occasionally, the superior reading of the juniors would peep out, and +give them the advantage of knowledge, even with regard to +circumstances, over those who had been personal actors in the affairs +they spoke of. The most zealous of these detail narrators, were the +quarter-master of the regiment, and Delmé's right-hand neighbour, Major +Clifford. The former owed his appointment to his gallantry, in saving +the colours of his regiment, when the ensign who bore them was killed, +and the enemy's cavalry were making a sudden charge, before the +regiment could form its square.</p> + +<p>His was a bluff purple face, denoting the bon vivant. Indeed, it was +with uncommon celerity, that his previous reputation of being the best +maker of rum punch in the serjeants' mess, had changed into his present +one of being the first concoctor of sangaree at the officers'.</p> + +<p>Major Clifford merits more especial notice. He was a man hardly +appreciated in his own profession; out of it, he was misrepresented, and +voted a bore. He had spent all the years of his life, since the down +mantled his upper lip, in the service of his country; and for <i>its</i> +good, as he conceived it, he had sacrificed all his little fortune. It +is true his liberality had not had a very comprehensive range: he had +sunk his money in the improvement of the personal appearance of his +company--in purchasing pompons--or new feathers--or whistles, when he +was a voltigeur--in establishing his serjeants' mess on a more +respectable footing--in giving his poor comrade a better coffin, or a +richer pall:--these had been his foibles; and in indulging them, he had +expended the wealth, that might have purchased him on to rank and +honours. His eagle glance, his aquiline nose, and noble person, showed +what he must have been in youth. His hair was now silvered, but his coat +was as glossy as formerly--his zeal was unabated--his pride in his +profession the same--and what he could spare, still went, to adorn the +persons of the soldiers he still loved. He remained a captain, although +his long standing in the army had brought him in for the last brevet. It +is true every one had a word for poor Clifford. "Such a fine fellow! +what a shame!" But <i>this</i> did not help him on. At the Horse Guards, too, +his services were freely acknowledged. The Military Secretary had always +a smile for him at his levee, and an assurance that "he had his eye on +him" The Commander in Chief, too, the last time he had inspected the +regiment, attracted by his Waterloo badge, and Portuguese cross, had +stopped as he passed in front of the ranks, and conversed with him most +affably, for nearly two minutes and a half; as his colour serjeant with +some degree of pride used to tell the story. But yet, somehow or other, +although Major Clifford was an universal favourite, they always forgot +to reward him. A man of the world, would have deemed the Major's ideas +to be rather contracted; and to confess the truth, there were two +halcyon periods of his life, to which he was fond of recurring. The one +was, when he commanded a light company, attached to General Crauford's +light brigade;--the other, when he had the temporary command of the +regimental depot, and at his own expense, had dressed out its little +band, as it had never been dressed out before.</p> + +<p>Do you sneer at the old soldier, courtly reader?</p> + +<p>There breathes not a man who dare arraign that man's courage;--there is +not one who knows him, who would not cheerfully stake his life as a gage +for his stainless honour.</p> + +<p>The soup and fish had been removed, when Delmé observed a young officer +glide in, with that inexpressible air of fashion, which appears to shun +notice, whilst it attracts it. His arm was in a sling, and his +attenuated face seemed to bespeak ill health. Sir Henry addressed +Colonel Vavasour, and begged to know if the person who had just entered +the room was Delancey. He was answered in the affirmative; and he again +turned to scrutinise his features. These rivetted attention; and were +such as could not be seen once, without being gazed at again. His eyes +were dark and large, and rested for minutes on one object, with an +almost mournful expression; nor was it until they turned from its +contemplation, that the discriminating observer might read in their +momentary flash, that their possessor had passions deep and +uncontrollable. His dark hair hung in profusion over his forehead, which +it almost hid; though from the slight separation of a curl, the form of +brow became visible; which was remarkable for its projection, and for +its pallid hue, which offered a strong contrast to the swart and +sunburnt face.</p> + +<p>"Are you aware of his history?" said the Colonel.</p> + +<p>"Not in the slightest," replied Delmé. "I felt curious to see him, on +account of the way in which he has been mixed up with George's affair; +and think his features extraordinary--very extraordinary ones."</p> + +<p>"He is son," said Vavasour, "to the once celebrated Lady Harriet D----, +who made a marriage so disgracefully low. He is the only child by that +union. His parents lived for many years on the continent, in obscurity, +and under an assumed name. They are both dead. It is possible Delancey +may play a lofty role in the world, as he has only a stripling between +him and the earldom of D----, which descends in the female line. I am +sure he will not be a common character; but I have great fears about +him. In the regiment he is considered proud and unsocial; and indeed it +was your brother's friendship that appeared to retain him in our circle. +He has great talents, and some good qualities; but from his uncommon +impetuosity of temper, and his impatience of being thwarted, I should be +inclined to predict, that the first check he receives in life, will +either make him a misanthrope, or a pest to society."</p> + +<p>At a later period of his life, Delmé again encountered Delancey; and +this prophecy of the Colonel's was vividly recalled.</p> + +<p>In the ensuing chapter, we purpose giving Oliver Delancey's history, as +a not uninstructive episode; although we are aware that episodes are +impatiently tolerated, and it is in nowise allied to the purpose of our +story. But before doing so, we must detail a conversation which occurred +between Delancey and Delmé, at the table of the ---- mess. The latter was +scanning the features of the former, when their eyes met. A conviction +seemed to flash on Delancey, that Delmé was George's brother; for the +blood rushed to his cheek--his colour went and came--and as he turned +away his head, he made a half involuntary bow. Delmé was struck with his +manner, and apparent emotion; and in returning the salute, ventured "to +hope he was somewhat recovered."</p> + +<p>When Major Clifford left the table, Delancey took his vacant seat.</p> + +<p>"Sir Henry Delmé," said he, "I have before this wished to see you, to +implore the forgiveness of your family for the misery I have +occasioned. How often have I cursed my folly! I acted on an impulse, +which at the time I could not withstand. I had never serious views +with regard to Acmé Frascati. Indeed, I may here tell you,--to no +other man have I ever named it,--that I have ties in my own country +far dearer, and more imperatively binding. I knew I had erred. The +laws of society could alone have made me meet George Belmé as a foe; +but even then--on the ground--God and my second know that my weapon +was never directed at my friend. I am an unsocial being, Sir Henry, +and, from my habits, not likely to be popular. Your brother knew this, +and saved me from petty contentions and invidious calumnies. He was +the best and only friend I possessed. I purpose soon to leave Malta +and the army. The former is become painful to me,--for the latter I +have a distaste, A feeling of delicacy to Acmé Frascati would prevent +my seeing your brother, even if Mr. Graham had not forbidden the +interview, as likely to harass his mind. Will you, then, assure him of +my unabated attachment, and tell me that <i>you </i> forgive me for the +part I have taken in this unhappy affair."</p> + +<p>Delmé was much moved as he assured him he would do all he wished; that +he could see little to blame him for--that George's excited feelings had +brought on the present crisis, and that <i>he</i> had amply atoned for any +share he might have had in the transaction. Delancey pressed his hand +gratefully.</p> + +<p>It was at a somewhat late hour that Delmé joined Acmé and his brother; +declining the hearty invitation of the Quartermaster to come down to +his quarters.</p> + +<p>"He could give him a devilled turkey and a capital cigar."</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XIII.</h1> + +<h2>Oliver Delancey.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Then the few, whose spirits float above the wreck of happiness,<br /> +Are driven o'er the shoals of guilt, or ocean of excess;<br /> +The magnet of their course is gone, or only points in vain<br /> +The shore to which their shiver'd sail shall never reach again."</blockquote> + + +<p>We have said that Delmé saw Delancey once more. It was at a later period +of our story, when business had taken Sir Henry to Bath. He had been +dining with Mr. Belliston Græme, who possessed a villa in the +neighbourhood. Tempted by the beauty of the night, he dismissed his +carriage, and, turning from the high road, took a by-path which led to +the city. The air was serene and mild. The moon-light was sufficiently +clear to chase away night's dank vapours. The ground had imperceptibly +risen, until having ascended a grassy eminence, over which the path +stretched, the well-lighted city burst upon the eye.</p> + +<p>Immediately in front of the view, a principal street presented itself, +the lamps on either side stretching in regular succession, until they +gradually narrowed and joined in the perspective. Nearer to the +spectator, the flickering lights of the detached villas, and the moving +ones of the carriages in the public road, relieved the stillness of the +scene. Delmé paused to regard it, with that subdued feeling with which +men, arrived at a certain period of life, scan the aspect of nature. The +moon at the moment was enveloped in light clouds. As it broke through +them, its shimmering light revealed a face and form that Delmé at once +recognised as Delancey's. It was with a consciousness of pain he did so, +for it brought before him recollections of scenes, whose impressions had +still power to subdue him. All emotions, however, soon became absorbed +in that of curiosity, as he noted the still figure and agitated +features before him. A block of granite lay near the path. Delancey +leant back over it--his right hand nearly touched the ground--his hat +lay beside him. The dark hair, wet with the dews of night, was blown +back by the breeze. His high forehead was fully shewn. His vest and +shirt were open, as he gazed with an air of fixedness on the city, and +conversed to himself. His teeth were firmly clenched, and it seemed that +the lips moved not, but the words were fearfully distinct. We often hear +of these soliloquies,--they afford scope to the dramatist, food for the +poet, a chapter for the narrator of fiction,--but we rarely witness +them. When we do, they are eminently calculated to thrill and alarm. It +was evident that Delancey saw him not; but had it been otherwise, +Delmé's interest was so aroused that he could not have left the spot.</p> + +<p>"Hail! sympathising night!" thus spoke the young man, "the calm of thy +silent hour seems in unison with my lone heart--thy dewy breeze imparts +a freshness to this languid and darkened spirit, Sweet night! how I +love thee! And moon, too! fair moon! how abruptly!--how chastely!--how +gloriously!--dost thou break through the variegated and fleecy clouds, +which would impede thy progress, and deny me to gaze on thy white orb +unshrouded. And thou, too! radiant star of eve! oh that woman's love but +resembled thee! that it were gentle, constant, and pure as thy holy +gleam. That <i>that</i> should dazzle to bring in its train--oh God! what +misery." He raised his hand to his brow, as if a poignant thought had +stung him.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé stole away, and ruminated long that night, on the +distress that could thus convulse those fine features. Afterwards, when +Delancey's name was no longer the humble one he had first known it, but +became bruited in loftier circles,--for Vavasour's prediction became +realised,--Delmé heard it whispered, that his affections had suffered +an early blight, from the infidelity of one to whom he had been +affianced. We may relate the circumstances as they occurred. Blanche +Allen was the daughter of a country gentleman of some wealth, whose +estate joined that of the Earl of D----'s, where Delancey's boyhood +had been spent. For years Blanche and Oliver considered themselves as +more than friends. Each selected the other as the companion in the +solitary walk, or partner in the joyous dance. Not a country girl but +had her significant smile, as young Delancey's horse's head was turned +towards Hatton Grange.</p> + +<p>Delancey joined the army at an early age. Blanche was some eighteen +months his junior. They parted with tears, and thus they continued to do +for the two following years, during which Oliver frequently got leave to +run down to his uncle's. This was while he was serving with part of the +regiment at home. When it came to his turn to embark for foreign +service, it was natural from this circumstance, as well as from their +riper age, that their farewell should be of a more solemn nature. They +bade adieu by the side of the streamlet that divided the two properties. +It was where this made a small fall, down which it gushed in crystal +brightness, and then meandered with gentle murmur through a succession +of rich meadows. A narrow bridge was below the fall, while beside it, a +rustic seat had been placed, on which the sobbing Blanche sat, with her +lover's arm round her waist. For the first time he had talked seriously +of their attachment, and it was with youthful earnestness, that they +mutually plighted their troth. Nor did Blanche hesitate, though blushing +deeply as she did so, to place in his hand a trivial gage d'amour, and +that which has so long solaced absent lovers, a lock of her sunny hair. +Blanche was very beautiful, but she had a character common to many +English women--more so, we think, than to foreign ones.</p> + +<p>As a girl, Blanche was nature's self, warm, gentle, confiding,--as an +unmarried woman, she was a heartless coquette,--as a matron, an +exemplary mother and an affectionate wife. During the time Delancey was +abroad, he heard of Blanche but seldom, for the lovers were not of that +age in which a correspondence would be tolerated by Blanche's family. +She once managed to send him, by the hands of a young cousin, some +trifling present, with a few lines accompanying it, informing him that +she had not forgotten him. His uncle--his only correspondent in +England--was not exactly the person to make a confidant of; but he +would, in an occasional postscript, let him know that he had seen +Blanche Allen lately--that "she was very gay, prettier than ever, and +always blushing when spoken to of a certain person."</p> + +<p>To do Oliver justice, he at all times thought of Blanche. We have seen +him, with regard to Acme, apparently disregarding her, but in that +affair he had been actuated by a mere spirit of adventure. His heart was +but slightly enlisted, and his feelings partook of any thing but those +of a serious attachment.</p> + +<p>Oliver Delancey left Malta soon after his conversation with +Delmé. Previous to doing so, he had forwarded his resignation to +Colonel Vavasour.</p> + +<p>He passed some time in Italy, and, as the season arrived, found himself +a denizen in that gayest of cities, Vienna. Pleasure is truly there +enshrouded in her liveliest robes. As regards Delancey, not in vain was +she thus clothed. Just relieved from the dull monotony of a military +life--dull as it ever must be without war's excitement, and peculiarly +distasteful to one constituted like Delancey, who refused to make +allowance for the commonplace uncongenial spirits with whom he found +himself obliged to herd--he was quite prepared to embrace with avidity +any life that promised an agreeable change. Austria's capital holds out +many inducements to dissipation, and to none are these more freely +tendered, than to young and handsome Englishmen. The women, over the +dangerous sentimentality of their nation, throw such an air of ease and +frankness, that their victims resemble the finny tribe in the famous +tunny fishery. While they conceive the whole ocean is at their +command--disport here and there in imagined freedom--they are already +encased by the insidious nets; the harpoon is already pointed, which +shall surely pierce them. Delancey plunged headlong into pleasure's +vortex--touched each link between gaiety and crime. He wandered from the +paths of virtue from the infatuation of folly, and continued to err from +the fascinations of sin. He was suddenly recalled to himself, by one of +those catastrophes often sent by Providence, to awaken us from +intoxicating dreams. His companion, with whom he had resided during his +stay in Vienna, lost his all at a gaming table. Although he had not the +firmness of mind to face his misfortunes, yet had he the rashness to +meet his God unbidden. Sobered and appalled, Oliver left Germany for +England. There was a thought, which even in the height of his follies +obtruded, and which now came on him with a force that surprised himself. +That thought was of Blanche Allen. He turned from the image of his +expiring friend to dwell unsated on hers. A new vista of life seemed to +open--thoughts which had long slept came thronging on his mind--he was +once more the love-sick boy. The more, too, he brooded over his late +unworthiness, the more did his imagination ennoble the one he loved. He +now looked to the moment of meeting her, as that whence he would date +his moral regeneration. "Thank God!" thought he, "a sure haven is yet +mine. There will I--my feelings steadied, my affections +concentrated--enjoy a purified and unruffled peace. What a consolation +to be loved by one so good and gentle!"</p> + +<p>He hurried towards England, travelled day and night, and only wondered +that he could have rested any where, while he had the power of flying to +her he had loved from childhood. Occasionally a feeling of apprehension +would cross him. It was many months since he had heard of her--she might +be ill. His love was of that confiding nature, that he could not +conceive her changed. As he came near his home, happier thoughts +succeeded. In fancy, he again saw her enjoying the innocent pleasures in +which he had been her constant companion,--health on her +cheek--affection in her glance. He had to pass that well known lodge. +His voice shook, as he told the driver to stop at its gate. As he drove +through the avenue of elms, he threw himself back in the carriage, and +every limb quivered from his agitation. He could hardly make himself +understood to the domestic--he waited not an answer to his enquiry--but +bounded up the stairs, and with faltering step entered the room. +Blanche was there, and not alone but oh! how passing fair! Even Delancey +had not dared to think, that the beauty of the girl could have been so +eclipsed by the ripe graces of the woman. She recognised him, and rose +to meet him with a burst of unfeigned surprise. She held out her hand +with an air of winning frankness; and yet for an instant,--and his hand +as it pressed hers, trembled with that thought,--he deemed there was a +hesitating blush on her cheek, which should not have been there. But it +passed away, and radiant with smiles, she turned to the one beside her.</p> + +<p>"My dear," said she, as she gave him a confiding look, which haunts +Delancey yet, "this is a great friend of Papa's, and an old playmate of +mine--Mr. Delancey;" and as the stranger stepped forward to shake his +hand, Blanche looked at her old lover, with a glance that seemed to say, +"How foolish were we, to deem we were ever more than friends." Oliver +Delancey turned deadly pale; but pride bade him scorn her, and his hand +shook not, as it touched that of him, who had robbed him of a treasure, +he would have died to have called his.</p> + +<p>"And you have been to D---- Castle, I suppose, and found your uncle had +left it for Bath. Indeed, <i>we</i> only arrived the day before yesterday; +but Papa wrote us, saying he had got one of his attacks of rheumatism, +from the late fishing, and begged us to take this on our way to +Habberton, Did you see my marriage in the papers, or did your uncle +write you, Oliver?"</p> + +<p>Delancey's lips quivered, but his countenance did not change, as he +looked her in the face, and told her he had not known it until now.</p> + +<p>And now her husband spoke: "It was very late, and he must want +refreshment; and Mr. Allen intended to be wheeled to the dinner table; +and they could so easily send up to D---- Castle to tell them to get a +bed aired; and he could dismiss the chaise now, and their carriage could +take him there at night."</p> + +<p>And Delancey <i>did</i> stay, although unable to analyse the feeling that +made him do so.</p> + +<p>And during dinner, <i>he</i> was the life of that little party. He spoke of +foreign lands--related strange incidents of travel--dwelt with animation +on his schoolboy exploits. The old man was delighted--the husband forgot +his wife;--and she, the false one, sat silent, and for the moment +disregarded. She gazed and gazed again on that familiar face--drank in +the tones of that accustomed voice--and the chill of compunction crept +over her frame.</p> + +<p>But Delancey's brain was on fire; and in the solitude of his +chamber--no! he was not calm there. He paced hurriedly across the oaken +floor; and he opened wide his window, and looked out on the bright +stars, spangling heaven's blue vault; and then beneath him, where the +cypress trees bowed their heads to the wind, and the moon's light fell +on the marble statues on the terrace.</p> + +<p>And he turned to his bed-side, and hid his tearless face in his hands; +and in the fulness of his despair, he knelt and prayed, that though he +had long neglected his God, his God would not now forsake him. And, as +if to mock his sufferings, sleep came; but it was short, very short; and +a weight, a leaden weight, oppressed his eye-lids even in slumber. And +he gave one start, and awoke a prey to mental agony. His despair flashed +on him--he sprung up wildly in his bed. "Liar! liar!" said he, as with +clenched teeth, and hand upraised, he recalled that fond look given to +another. Drops of sweat started to his brow--his pulse beat quick and +audibly--quicker--quicker yet. A feeling of suffocation came over +him--and God forgive him! Oliver Delancey deemed that hour his last. He +staggered blindly to the bell, and with fearful energy pulled its cord, +till it fell clattering on the marble hearth stone. The domestics found +him speechless and insensible on the floor--the blood oozing from his +mouth and ears.</p> + +<p>It may be said that this picture is overcharged; that no vitiated mind +could have thus felt. But it is not so. In life's spring we all feel +acutely: and to the effects of disappointed love, and wounded pride, +there are few limits.</p> + +<p>Woman! dearest woman! born to alleviate our sorrow, and soothe our +anguish! who canst bid feeling's tear trickle down the obdurate cheek, +or mould the iron heart, till it be pliable as a child's--why stain thy +gentle dominion by inconstancy? why dismiss the first form that haunted +thy maiden pillow, until--or that vision is a dear reality beside +thee--or thou liest pale and hushed, on thy last couch of repose?</p> + +<p>And then--shall not thy virgin spirit hail him? Why first fetter us, +slaves to virtue and to thee; <i>then</i> become the malevolent Typhoon, on +whose wings our good genius flies for ever? In this--far worse than the +iconoclasts of yore art thou! <i>They</i> but disfigured images of man's rude +fashioning: whilst <i>thou</i> wouldst injure the <i>once</i> loved form of God's +high creation,--wouldst entail on the body a premature decay--and on +that which dieth not, an irradicable blight.</p> + +<blockquote> "Then the mortal coldness of the soul, like death itself comes down;<br /> +It cannot feel for others woes--it dares not dream its own.<br /> +That heavy chill has frozen o'er the fountain of our tears;<br /> +And though the eye may sparkle still, 'tis where the ice appears."</blockquote> + +<p>On such a character as was Delancey's, the blow did indeed fall heavy. +Not that his paroxysms of grief were more lasting, or his pangs more +acute, than is usual in similar cases; but to his moral worth it was +death. An infliction of this nature, falling on a comparatively virtuous +man, is productive of few evil consequences. It may give a holier turn +to his thoughts--wean him from sublunary vanities--and purify his +nature. On an utterly depraved man, its effects may be fleeting also; +for few can <i>here</i> expect a moral regeneration. But falling on Delancey, +it was not thus. The slender thread that bound him to virtue, was snapt +asunder; the germ whence the good of his nature might have sprung, +destroyed for ever. Such a man could not love purely again. To expect +him to wander to another font, and imbibe from as clear a stream, would +be madness. The love of a man of the world, let it be the first and +best, is gross and earthly enough; but let him be betrayed in that +love--let him see the staff on which he confidingly leant, break from +under him--and he becomes from henceforth the deceiver--but never the +deceived. When Delmé saw him, Delancey was writhing under his +affliction. When he again entered the world, and it was soon, he +regarded it as a wide mart, where he might gratify his appetites, and +unrestrainedly indulge his evil propensities. He believed not that +virtue and true nobility were there; could he but find them. He looked +at the blow his happiness had sustained, and thought it afforded a fair +sample of human nature. Oliver Delancey became a selfish and a +profligate man.</p> + +<p>He was to be pitied; and from his soul did Delmé pity him. He had been +one of promise and of talent; but <i>now</i> his lot is cast on the die of +apathy;--and it is to be feared--without a miracle intervene--and +should his life be spared--that when the wavy locks of youth are +changed to the silver hairs of age--that he will then be that thing of +all others to be scoffed at--the hoary sensualist. Let us hope not! Let +us hope that she who hath brought him to this, may rest her head on the +bosom of her right lord, and forget the one, whose hand used to be +locked in her own, for hours--hours which flew quick as summer's +evening shadows! Let us trust that remorse may be absent from her; +that she may never know that worst of reflections--the having injured +one who had loved her, irremediably; that she may gaze on her +fair-haired children, and her cheek blanch not as she recals another +form than the father's; that her life may be irreproachable, her end +calm and dignified; that dutiful children may attend the inanimate clay +to its resting place; that filial tears may bedew her grave; and, when +the immortal stands appalled before its Judge, that the destruction of +that soul may not be laid to her charge.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XIV.</h1> + +<h2>The Spitfire.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "And I have loved thee! Ocean! and my joy<br /> +Of youthful sports was on thy breast to be<br /> +Borne like thy bubbles onward."</blockquote> + +<hr width="200" align="left" size="1" /> + +<blockquote> "Pull away! yo ho! boys!"</blockquote> + + +<p>Delmé continued to reside with his brother, whose health seemed to amend +daily. George generally managed to accompany him in his sight-seeing, +from which Henry derived great gratification.</p> + +<p>He mused over the antique tombs of some of the departed knights; and +admired the rich mosaics in that splendid church, dedicated to Saint +John; than which the traveller may voyage long, and meet nothing +worthier his notice. He visited the ancient armoury--dined at the +palace, and at the different messes--inspected the laborious +travailings of the silkworm at the boschetto--conversed with the +original of Byron's Leila--a sweet creature she is!--looked with +wondering eye on the ostrich of Fort Manuel--and heard the then +commandant's wife relate her tale thereanent. He went to Gozzo too--shot +rabbits--and crossed in a basket to the fungus rock. He saw a festa in +the town, and a festa in the country--rode to St. Antonio, and St. +Paul's Bay--and was told he had seen the lions. Nor must we pass over +that most interesting of spectacles; viz., some figures enveloped in +monkish cowl, and placed in convenient niches; but beneath the close +hood, the blood mounts not with devotion's glow, nor do eyes glare from +sockets shrunk by abstinence. Skeletons alone are there!</p> + +<p>These, curious reader, are the bodies of saintly Capuchins; thus +exhibited--dried and baked--to excite beholders to a life of virtue!</p> + +<p>One morning, George said he felt rather unwell, and would stay at home. +An oar happened to be wanted in the regimental gig, which Sir Henry +offered to take. He was soon accoutred in the dress of an absent +member, and in a short time was discharging the duties of his office to +the satisfaction of all; for he knew every secret of <i>feathering,</i> and +had not <i>caught a crab</i> for years.</p> + +<p>It was a beautifully calm day--not a speck in the azure heaven. It was +hot too--but for this they cared not. They had porter; and on such +occasions, what better beverage would you ask? Swiftly and gaily did the +slim bark cleave through the glassy sea. Its hue was a dark crimson, +with one black stripe--its nom de guerre, the Spitfire.</p> + +<p>As the ------ regiment particularly prided itself on its aquatic costume, +we shall describe it. Small chased pearl buttons on the blue jacket and +white shirt; a black band round the neck, to match the one on the +narrow-brimmed thick straw hat; white trousers; couleur de rose silk +collar, fastened to the throat by a golden clasp; and stockings of the +same colour. How joyously did the gig hold her course! What a thrilling +sensation expanded the soul, as the steersman, a handsome little fellow +with large black whiskers, gave the encouraging word, "Stroke! my good +ones!" Then were exerted all the energies of the body--then was +developed each straining muscle--then were the arms thrown back in +sympathy, to give a long pull, and a strong pull--till the bark reeled +beneath them, and shot through the wave.</p> + +<p>The tall ship--the slender mole--the busy deck--the porticoed +palace--the strong fort--the bristling battery--the astonished fisher's +bark as it sluggishly crept on--were all cheeringly swept by, as the +bending oars in perfect unison, kissed the erst slumbering water. What +sensation can be more glorious? The only thing to compete with it, is +the being in a crack coach on the western road; the opposition slightly +in front--a knowing whip driving--when the horses are at their utmost +speed--the traces tight as traces can be--the ladies inside pale and +screaming--one little child cramming out her head, her mouth stuffed +with Banbury cakes, adding her shrill affetuoso--whilst the odd-looking +man in the white hat, seated behind, is blue from terror, and with +chattering teeth, mumbles undistinguishable sentences of furious +driving and prosecution. Surely such moments half redeem our miseries! +What bitter thought can travel twelve miles an hour?</p> + +<p>And ever and anon would the Spitfire dart into some little creek, and +the thirsty rowers would rest on their oars, whose light drip fell on +purple ocean, tinged by a purple sky. And now would the jovial steersman +introduce the accommodating corkscrew, first into one bottle and then +into another, as these were successively emptied, and thrown overboard, +to give the finny philosophers somewhat to speculate on.</p> + +<p>Delmé landed weary; but it was a beneficial weariness. He felt he had +taken manly exercise, and that it would do him good. He was walking +towards the barrack, with his jacket slung over his shoulder, when he +was met by George's servant.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Sir!" said the man, "I am so glad you are come. The Signora is +terribly afraid for my young master. I fear, Sir, he is in one of +his fits."</p> + +<p>Delmé hurried forward, and entered his brother's room. George held a +riding whip in his hand. He had thrown off his cravat--his throat was +bare--his eyes glanced wildly.</p> + +<p>"And who are you, Sir?" said he, as Henry entered.</p> + +<p>"What! not know me, dearest George?" replied his brother, in agony.</p> + +<p>"I do not understand your insolence, Sir; but if you are a dun, go to my +servant. Thompson," continued he, "give me my spurs! I shall ride."</p> + +<p>"Ride!" said Delmé.</p> + +<p>Thompson made him a quiet sign. "I am very sorry, Sir," said he, "but +the Arab is quite lame, and is not fit for the saddle."</p> + +<p>"Give me a glass of sangaree then, you rascal! Port--do you hear?"</p> + +<p>The glass was brought him. He drained its contents at a draught.</p> + +<p>"Now, kick that scoundrel out of the room, Thompson, and let me sleep."</p> + +<p>He threw himself listlessly on the sofa. Acmé was weeping bitterly, +but he seemed not to notice her. It was late in the day. The surgeon +had been sent for. He now arrived, and stated that nothing could be +done; but recommended his being watched closely, and the removing +all dangerous weapons. He begged Henry, however, to indulge him in +all his caprices, in order that he might the better observe the +state of his mind.</p> + +<p>While George slept, Delmé entered another room, and ordering the servant +to inform him when he awoke, he sat down to dinner alone and dispirited; +for Acmé refused to leave George. It was indeed a sad, and to Sir Henry +Delmé an unforeseen shock.</p> + +<p>In a couple of hours, Thompson came with a message from Acmé. "Master +is awake, Sir--knows the Signora--and seems much better. He has +desired me to brush his cloak, as he intends going out. Shall I do so, +Sir, or not?"</p> + +<p>"Do so!" said Delmé, "but fail not to inform me when he is about to go; +and be yourself in readiness. We will watch him."</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XV.</h1> + +<h2>The Charnel House.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "And when at length the mind shall be all free,<br /> +From what it hates in this degraded form,<br /> +Reft of its carnal life, save what shall be<br /> +Existent happier in the fly or worm;<br /> +When elements to elements conform,<br /> +And dust is as it should be."</blockquote> + + +<p>The last grey tinge of twilight, was fast giving place to the sombre +hues of night, as a figure, enveloped in a military cloak, issued from +the barrack at Floriana.</p> + +<p>Henry at once recognised George; and only delaying till a short distance +had intervened between his brother and himself, Delmé and Thompson +followed his footsteps.</p> + +<p>George Delmé walked swiftly, as if intent on some deep design. The long +shadow thrown out by his figure, enabled his pursuers to distinguish him +very clearly. He did not turn his head, but, with hurried step, strode +the species of common which divides Floriana from La Valette. Crossing +the drawbridge, and passing through the porch which guards the entrance +to the town, he turned down an obscure street, and, folding his cloak +closer around him, rapidly--yet with an appearance of caution--continued +his route, diving from one street to another, till he entered a small +court-yard, in which stood an isolated gloomy-looking house. No light +appeared in the windows, and its exterior bespoke it uninhabited. Henry +and the domestic paused, expecting George either to knock or return to +the street. He walked on, however, and, turning to one side of the +porch, descended a flight of stone steps, and entered the lower part of +the house.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we had better not both follow him," said the servant.</p> + +<p>"No, Thompson! do you remain here, only taking care that your master +does not pass you: and I think you may as well go round the house, and +see if there is any other way of leaving it."</p> + +<p>Sir Henry descended the steps in silence. Arrived at the foot of the +descent, a narrow passage, diverging to the left, presented itself. +Beyond appeared a distant glimmering of light. Delmé groped along the +passage, using the precaution to crouch as low as possible, until he +came before a large comfortless room in the centre of which, was placed +a brass lamp, whose light was what he had discerned at the extremity of +the passage. He could distinctly observe the furniture and inmates of +the room. Of the former, the only articles were a table--on which were +placed the remains of a homely meal--an iron bedstead, and a barrel, +turned upside down, which served as a substitute for a chair. The +bedstead had no curtains, but in lieu of them, there were hangings +around it, which struck Delmé as resembling mourning habiliments. +Whilst the light operated thus favourably, in enabling Sir Henry to +note the interior of the apartment, it was hardly possible, from its +situation, that he himself could be observed. Its rays did not reach +the passage; and he was also shrouded in some degree by a door, which +was off its hinges, and which was placed against the wall. Fastened to +the side of the room were two deep shelves--the lower one containing +some bottles and plates; the upper, a number of human sculls. In a +corner were some more of these, intermingled in a careless heap, with a +few bleached bones.</p> + +<p>George Delmé was standing opposite the door, conversing earnestly with a +Maltese, evidently of the lowest caste. The latter was seated on the +barrel we have mentioned, and was listening with apparently a mixture of +surprise and exultation to what George was saying. George's voice sunk +to an inaudible whisper, as the conversation continued, and he was +evidently trying to remove some scruples, which this man either affected +to feel, or really felt. The man's answers were given in a gruff and +loud tone of voice, but from the Maltese dialect of his Italian, Sir +Henry could not understand what was said. His countenance was very +peculiar. It was of that derisive character rarely met with in one of +his class of life, except when called forth by peculiar habits, or +extraordinary circumstances. His eyes were very small, but bright and +deeply set. His lips wore a constant sarcastic smile, which gave him the +air of a bold but cunning man. His throat and bosom were bare, and of a +deep copper colour; and his muscular chest was covered with short curly +hair. The conversation on George's part became more animated, and he at +length made use of what seemed an unanswerable argument. Taking out a +beaded purse, which Sir Henry knew well--it had been Emily's last +present to George--he emptied the contents into the bronzed hand of his +companion, who grasped the money with avidity. The Maltese <i>now</i> +appeared to acquiesce in all George's wishes; and rising, went towards +the bed, and selected some of the articles of wearing apparel Delmé had +already noticed. He addressed some words to George, who sat on the +bedside quiescently, while the man went to the table, and took up a +knife that was upon it. For a moment, Delmé felt alarm lest his design +might be a murderous one; but it was not so. He laughed savagely, as he +made use of the knife, to cut off the luxuriant chestnut ringlets, which +shaded George's eyes and forehead. He then applied to the face some +darkening liquid, and commenced choosing a sable dress. George threw off +his cloak, and was attired by the Maltese, in a long black cotton robe +of the coarsest material, which, descending to the feet, came in a hood +over his face, which it almost entirely concealed. During the whole of +this scene, George Delmé's features wore an air of dogged apathy, which +alarmed his brother, even more than his agitation in the earlier part of +the day. After his being metamorphosed in the way we have described, it +would have been next to an impossibility to have recognised him. His +companion put on a dress of the same nature, and Sir Henry was preparing +to make his retreat, presuming that they would now leave the building, +when he was induced to stay for the purpose of remarking the conduct of +the Maltese. He took up a scull, and placing his finger through an +eyeless hole, whence <i>once</i> love beamed or hate flashed, he made some +savage comment, which he accompanied by a long and malignant laugh. This +would at another time have shocked Sir Henry, but there was another +laugh, wilder and more discordant, that curdled the blood in Delmé's +veins. It proceeded from his brother, the gay--the happy George Delmé; +and as it re-echoed through the gloomy passage, it seemed that of a +remorseless demon, gloating on the misfortunes of the human race. Delmé +turned away in agony, and, unperceived, regained the anxious domestic. +Screened by an angle of the building, they saw George and his companion +ascend the stone steps, cross the yard, and turn into the street. They +followed him cautiously--Delmé's ears ringing with that fiendish laugh. +George's companion stopped for a moment, at a house in the street, where +they were joined by a sallow-looking priest, apparently one of the most +disgusting of his tribe. He was accompanied by a boy, also drest in +sacerdotal robes, in one hand bearing a silver-ornamented staff, of the +kind frequently used in processions, and in other observances of the +Catholic religion; and in the other, a rude lanthorn, whose light +enabled Delmé to note these particulars. As the four figures swept +through the streets, the lower orders prostrated themselves, before the +figure of the crucified and dying Saviour which surmounted the staff. +They again stopped, and the priest entered a house alone. On coming +back, he was followed by a coffin, borne on the shoulders of four of the +lower order of Maltese. At the moment these were leaving the house, +Henry heard a solitary scream, apparently of a woman. It was wild and +thrilling; such an one as we hear from the hovering sea bird, as the +tempest gathers to a head. To Delmé, coming as it did at that lone hour +from one he saw not, it seemed superhuman. In the front of the house +stood two calèches, the last of which, Sir Henry observed was without +doors. At a sign from the Maltese, George and his strange companion +entered it. They were followed by the coffin, which was placed +lengthways, with the two ends projecting into the street. In the +<i>leading</i> calèche were the priest and boy, the latter of whom thrust +the figure of the bleeding Jesus out at the window, whilst with the +other hand he held up the lanthorn. Twice more did the calèche +stop--twice receive corpses. Another light was produced, and placed in +the last conveyance, and Delmé took the opportunity of their arranging +this, to pass by the calèche. The light that had been placed in it shone +full on George. The coffins were on a level with the lower part of his +face. Nothing of his body, which was jammed in between the seat and the +coffins, could be seen. But the features, which glared over the pall, +were indeed terrific; apathy no longer marked them. George seemed wound +up to an extraordinary state of excitement. Gone was the glazed +expression of his eye, which now gleamed like that of a famished eagle. +The Maltese leant back in the carriage, with a sardonic smile, his dark +face affording a strange contrast to the stained, but yet ghastly hue of +George Delmé's.</p> + +<p>"They intend to take them to the vault at Floriana, your honor," said +the servant, "shall I call a calèche, and we can follow them?"</p> + +<p>Without waiting a reply, for the man saw that Sir Henry's faculties, +were totally absorbed in the strange scene he had witnessed; Thompson +called a carriage, which passed the other two--now commencing at a +funeral pace to proceed to the vault--and, taking the same direction +which they had done on entering the town, a short time sufficed to put +them down immediately opposite the church. They had time allowed them to +dismiss their carriage, and screen themselves from observation, before +the funeral procession arrived.</p> + +<p>This stopped in front of the vault, and Delmé anxiously scrutinised the +proceedings. Another man--probably the one whose place George had +supplied--had joined them outside the town, and now walked by the side +of the calèche. He assisted George's companion in bearing out the +coffins. The huge door grated on its hinges, as they opened it. The +coffins were borne in, and the whole party entered; the priest mumbling +a short Latin prayer. In a short time, the priest alone returned; and +looking cautiously around, and seeing no one, struck a light from a +tinder box, and lighted his cigar. The other two men brought back the +coffins, evidently relieved of their weight; and the priest--the +boy--with the man who had last joined them, and who had also lit his +cigar--entered the first calèche, after exchanging some jokes with +George's companion, and returned at a rapid pace towards the town. +During this time, George Delmé had been left alone in the vault. His +companion returned to him, after taking the precaution to fasten its +doors inside.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry was now at a loss what plan to adopt; but Thompson, after a +moment's hesitation, suggested one.</p> + +<p>"There is an iron grating, Sir, over part of the vault, through which, +when a bar was loose, I know one of our soldiers went down. Shall I +get a cord?"</p> + +<p>The man ran towards his barrack, and returned with it. To wrench by +their united efforts, one bar from its place, and to fasten the rope to +another, was the work of an instant. Space was just left them to creep +through the aperture. Sir Henry was the first to breathe the confined +air of the sepulchre. A voice warned him in what direction to proceed; +and not waiting for the domestic, he groped his way forward through a +narrow passage. At first, Delmé thought there was a wall on either side +him; but as he made a false step, and the bones crumbled beneath, he +knew that it was a wall, formed of the bleached remains of the bygone +dead. As he drew nearer the voice, he was guided by the lanthorn brought +by George's companion; and towards this he proceeded, almost overpowered +by the horrible stench of the charnel house, As he drew near enough to +distinguish objects, what a scene presented itself! In one corner of the +vault, lay a quantity of lime used to consume the bodies, whilst nearer +the light, lay corpses in every stage of putrefaction. In some, the lime +had but half accomplished its purpose; and while in parts of the body, +the bones lay bare and exposed; in others, corruption in its most +loathsome form prevailed. Here the meaner reptiles--active and +prolific--might be seen busily at work, battening on human decay. Sir +Henry stepped over a dead body, and started, as a rat, scared from its +prey, rustled through a wreath of withered flowers, and hid itself amid +a mouldering heap of bones. But there were some forms lovely still! In +them the pulse of life had that day ceased to beat. The rigidity of +Death--his impressive stillness was there--but he had not yet "swept the +lines where beauty lingers."</p> + +<p>The Maltese stood with folded arms, closely regarding George Delmé.</p> + +<p>George leant against a pillar, with one knee bent. Over it was stretched +the corpse of a girl, with the face horribly decomposed. The dull and +flagging winds of the vault moved her dank and matted hair.</p> + +<p>"Acmé," said he, as he parted the dry hair from the blackened brow, +"<i>do</i> but speak to your own George! Be not angry with me, dearest!" He +held the disgusting object to his lips, and lavished endearments on the +putrid corpse.</p> + +<p>Delmé staggered--and Thompson supported him--as he gasped for breath +in the extremity of his agony. At this moment his eye caught the face of +the Maltese. He had advanced towards George--his arms were still +folded--his eyes were sparkling with joy--and his features wore the +malignant expression of gratified revenge. Sir Henry sprang to his feet +and rushed forward.</p> + +<p>"George! my brother! my brother!"</p> + +<p>The maniac raised his pallid brow--his eye flashed consciousness--the +blue veins in his forehead swelled almost to bursting--he tossed his +arms wildly--and sunk powerless on the corpses around--his convulsive +shrieks re-echoing in that lonely vault. Thompson seized the Maltese, +and making him unlock the door, bore the brothers into the open air; for +Henry, at the time, was as much overpowered as George himself.</p> + +<p>A clear solution to that curious scene was never given, for George could +not give the clue to his train of mental aberration.</p> + +<p>With regard to his companion's share in the transaction, the man was +closely questioned, and other means of information resorted to, but the +only facts elicited were these:</p> + +<p>His son had been executed some years before for a desperate attempt to +assassinate a British soldier, with whom he had had an altercation +during the carnival.</p> + +<p>The man himself said, that he had no recollection of ever having +seen George before, but that he certainly <i>did</i> remember some +officers questioning him on two occasions somewhat minutely as to +his mode of life.</p> + +<p>This part of his story was confirmed by another officer of the regiment, +who remembered George and Delancey being with him on one occasion, when +the latter had taken much interest in the questioning of this man. The +Maltese declared, that on the night in question he was taken entirely by +surprise--that George entered the room abruptly--offered him money to be +allowed to accompany him to the vault--and told him that he had just +placed a young lady there whom he wished to see.</p> + +<p>Colonel Vavasour, who took some trouble in arriving at the truth, was +satisfied that the man was well aware of George's insanity, but that +he felt too happy in being able to wreak an ignoble revenge on a +British officer.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XVI.</h1> + +<h2>The Marriage.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "The child of love, though born in bitterness,<br /> +And nurtured in convulsion."</blockquote> + + +<p>For many days, George Delmé lay on his couch unconscious and +immoveable. If his eye looked calm, it was the tranquillity of +apathetic ignorance, the fixedness of idiotcy. He spoke if he was +addressed, but recognised no one, and his answers were not to the +purpose. He took his food, and would then turn on his side, and close +his eyes as if in sleep. In vain did Acmé watch over him--in vain did +her tears bedew his couch--in vain did Delmé take his hand, and +endeavour to draw his attention to passing objects.</p> + +<p>George had never been so long without a lucid interval. The surgeon's +voice grew less cheering every day, as he saw the little amendment in +his patient, and remarked that the pulse was gradually sinking. Colonel +Vavasour never allowed a day to elapse without visiting the invalid; and +in the regiment, his illness excited great commiseration, and drew forth +many expressions of kindness.</p> + +<p>"Oh God! oh God!" said Delmé, "he must not sink thus. Just as I am with +him--just as--oh, poor Emily! what will <i>she</i> feel? Can nothing he done, +Mr. Graham?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing! Sir: we must now put our whole trust in an all-seeing +Providence. <i>My</i> skill can neither foresee nor hasten the result."</p> + +<p>One soft summer's evening, when the wind blew in the scent of flowers +from the opposite gardens--and the ceaseless hum of the insects--those +twilight revellers--sounded happily on the ear, Acmé started from the +couch as a thought crossed her.</p> + +<p>"We have never tried music," said she, "I have been too unhappy to +think of it."</p> + +<p>Her tears fell fast on the guitar, as she tuned its strings. She sung a +plaintive Greek air. It was the first George ever heard her sing, and +was the favourite. He heard it, when watching; lover-like beneath her +balcony during the first vernal days of their attachment. The song was +gone through sadly, and without hope. George's face was from her, and +she laid down the guitar, weary of life.</p> + +<p>George gently turned his head. His eyes wore a subdued melancholy +expression, bespeaking consciousness. Down his cheek one big drop was +trickling.</p> + +<p>"Acmé!" said he, "dearest Acmé!"</p> + +<p>Delmé, who had left the room, was recalled by the hysterical sobs of the +poor girl, as she fell back on the chair, her hands clasped in joyful +gratitude.</p> + +<p>The surgeon, who had immediately been sent for, ordered that George +should converse as little as possible.</p> + +<p>What he did say was rational. What a solace was that to Henry and Acmé! +The invalid too appeared well aware of his previous illness, although he +alluded to it but seldom. To those about him, his manner was femininely +soft, as he whispered his thanks, and sense of their kindness.</p> + +<p>Immediately after the horrible scene he had witnessed, Sir Henry's mind +had been made up, as to the line of conduct he ought to pursue. The +affectionate solicitude of the young Greek, during George's illness, +gave him no reason to regret his determination.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Mr. Graham, one day as George was rapidly recovering, +"now, Sir Henry, I would recommend you to break all you have to say to +George. For God's sake, let them be married; and although, mark me! I +by no means assert that it will quite re-establish George's health, +yet I think such a measure <i>may</i> effectually do so, and at all events +will calm him for the present; which, after all, is the great object +we have in view."</p> + +<p>The same day, Delmé went to his brother's bed-side. "George," said he, +"let me take the present opportunity of Acmé's absence, to tell you what +I had only deferred till you were somewhat stronger. She is a good girl, +George, a very good girl. I wish she had been English--it would have +been better!--but this we cannot help. You must marry her, George! I +will be a kind brother-in-law, and Emily shall love her for your sake."</p> + +<p>The invalid sat up in his bed--his eyes swam in tears. He twice essayed +to speak, ere he could express his gratitude.</p> + +<p>"Thank you! a thousand times thank you! my kind brother! Even <i>you</i> +cannot tell the weight of suffering, you have this day taken from my +mind. My conduct towards Acmé has been bowing me to the earth; and yet +I feared your consent would never be obtained. I feared that coldness +from you and Emily would have met her; and that I should have had but +<i>her</i> smile to comfort me for the loss of what I so value. God bless +you for this!"</p> + +<p>Delmé was much affected.</p> + +<p>To complete his good work, he waited till Acmé had returned from a visit +she had just made to her relations; and taking her aside, told her his +wishes, and detailed his late conversation with George.</p> + +<p>"Never! never!" said the young Greek, "I am too happy as I am. I have +heard you all make better lovers than husbands. I cannot be happier! +No! no! I will never consent to it."</p> + +<p>All remonstrances were fruitless--no arguments could affect her--no +entreaties persuade.</p> + +<p>Delmé, quite perplexed at finding such a difficulty, where he had so +little expected to find one,--pitying her simplicity, but admiring her +disinterestedness,--went to George, and told him Acmé's objections.</p> + +<p>"I feared it," said his brother, "but perhaps I may induce her to think +differently. Were I to take advantage of her unsophisticated feelings, +and want of knowledge of the world, I should indeed be a villain."</p> + +<p>Acmé was sent for, and came weeping in--took Georg's hand--and gazed +earnestly in his face as he addressed her.</p> + +<p>"You must change your mind, dearest," said he. And he told her of the +world's opinion--the contumely she might have to endure--the slights to +which she would be subjected. Still she heeded not.</p> + +<p>"Why mention these things?" said she. "Who would insult me, were <i>you</i> +near? or if they did, should I regard them while <i>you</i> were kind?"</p> + +<p>And her lover's words took a loftier tone; and he spoke of religion, and +of the duties it imposes; of the feelings of his countrywomen; and the +all-seeing eye of their God. Still the fond girl wept bitterly, but +spoke not.</p> + +<p>"My own Acmé! consider <i>my</i> health too, dearest! Were you now to +consent, I might never again be ill. It would be cruelty to me to +refuse. Say you consent for <i>my</i> sake, sweet!"</p> + +<p>"For your sake, then!" said Acme, as she twined her snowy arms round his +neck, "for <i>your</i> sake, Giorgio, I do so! But oh! when I am yours for +ever by that tie; when--if this be possible--our present raptures are +less fervent--our mutual affections less devoted--do not, dearest +George--do not, I implore you--treat me with coldness. It would break my +heart, indeed it would."</p> + +<p>They were married according to the rites of both the Protestant and +Catholic Church. Few were present. George had been lifted to the sofa, +and sat up during the ceremony; and although his features were pale and +emaciated, they brightened with internal satisfaction, as he heard those +words pronounced, which made his love a legitimate one. Acmé was silent +and thoughtful; and tears quenched the fire of her usually sparkling +eye. George Delmé's recovery from this date became more rapid.</p> + +<p>He was able to resume his wonted exercise--his step faltered +less--his eye became clearer. His convalescence was so decided, that +the surgeon recommended his at once travelling, and for the present +relinquishing the army.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps the excessive heat may not be beneficial. I would, if possible, +get him to Switzerland for the summer months. I will enquire what +outward-bound vessels there are. If there is one for Leghorn, so much +the better. But the sooner he tries change of scene, the more +advantageous it is likely to be; and after all, the climate is but a +secondary consideration."</p> + +<p>An American vessel bound to Palermo, happened to be the only one in the +harbour, whose destination would serve their purpose; and determined +not to postpone George's removal, Sir Henry at once engaged its cabin. +Colonel Vavasour obtained George leave for the present, and promised to +arrange as to his exchanging from full pay. He likewise enabled him, +which George felt as a great boon, to take his old and attached servant +with him; with the promise that he would use all his interest to have +the man's discharge forwarded him, before the expiration of his leave.</p> + +<p>"He may be useful to you, my dear boy, if you get ill again, which God +forbid! He is an old soldier, and a good man--well deserving the +indulgence. And remember! if you should be better, and feel a returning +penchant for the red coat, write to me--we will do our best to work an +exchange for you."</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XVII.</h1> + +<h2>The Departure.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Farewell! a word that must be, and hath been,<br /> +A sound that makes us linger, yet farewell."</blockquote> + + +<p>The day of departure at length arrived. Thompson had been busy the +greater part of the night in getting every thing ready for the voyage. +It was a lovely morning, and the wind, although light, was propitious.</p> + +<p>Acmé had parted with her relations and friends the day previous.</p> + +<p>She was henceforward to share the destiny of one, who was to supply the +place of both to her. Attached to them as she was, and grateful as she +felt for their kindness in the hour of need, there was nothing in that +parting to throw a permanent gloom on the hopes of the youthful bride.</p> + +<p>Her love, and the feelings it engendered, were of that confiding nature, +that she could have followed George anywhere, and been happy still. As +it was, her lot seemed cast "in pleasant places," and no foreboding of +evil, except indeed for George, ever marred the waking dreams of Acmé. +Her simple heart had already learnt, to look up with respect and +affection to Sir Henry, and yearned with fond longing for the period +when she should return a sister's love.</p> + +<p>She had that lively talent too, which, miniatured as it was, allowed of +her fully appreciating the superiority of the English she had lately +met, to the general run of those with whom she had hitherto associated. +An English home had none but charms for her.</p> + +<p>"Come Acmé," said George, as he assisted her in adjusting the first +bonnet that had ever confined her wavy curls, "wish good bye to your +ring-dove, dear! Mrs. Graham will take good care of it; and Thompson has +just finished the packing."</p> + +<p>The boat which was to convey them to the vessel was so near, that they +had agreed to walk down to the place of embarkation.</p> + +<p>As George left the room, a tall figure presented itself on the +staircase.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Clark!" said George, "my good fellow! I am very sorry to part with +you. I do not know what I shall do without my pay serjeant!" and he held +out his hand.</p> + +<p>It was grasped gratefully.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, your honour!"</p> + +<p>The old soldier stood erect, and put his hand to his cap.</p> + +<p>"God bless you! Mr. Delmé. I have served under many officers, but never +under a kinder. May the Almighty bless you, Sir, in all your +wanderings."</p> + +<p>The soldier turned away--one large drop burst o'er the lid, and trickled +down his sun-burnt cheek.</p> + +<p>With the back of his hand, he brushed it off indignantly.</p> + +<p>His converse may be rough--his manner rude--his hand ever ready for +quarrel;--but, believe us! ye who deem the soldier beneath his +fellow-men,--that the life of change--of chance--of hardship--and of +danger--which is his, freezes not the kindlier emotions of the soul, if +it sweep away its sicklier refinements. Beneath the red vest, beat +hearts as warm and true, as ever throbbed beneath operative apron, or +swelled under softest robe of ermine.</p> + +<p>George was moved by the man's evidently sincere grief. He reached the +bottom of the stairs. The company to which he belonged was drawn up in +the court yard.</p> + +<p>In front of it, the four tallest men supported a chair, and almost +before George Delmé was aware of their purpose, bore him to it, and +lifted him on their shoulders, amidst the huzzas of their comrades. The +band, too, which had voluntarily attended, now struck up the march which +George delighted to hear; and, followed by his company, he was carried +triumphantly towards the mole.</p> + +<p>George's heart was full.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry felt deeply interested in the scene; and poor Acmé leant on +his arm, and wept with joy.</p> + +<p>Yes! there are moments in life, and this was one, when the approval of +our inferiors awakens a degree of pride and mental satisfaction, that +no panegyric of our superiors, no expressions of esteem from our +equals, could have ever called forth. Such approval meets us, as the +spontaneous effusion of hearts that have looked up to ours, and have +<i>not</i> been deceived.</p> + +<p>This pride was it that flushed George's cheek, and illumed with +brightness his swimming eye. He was thus carried till he arrived at the +spot where his boat should have been. It was already, with Thompson and +their baggage, half way towards the vessel. In its place was the +regimental gig, manned by George's best friends. Its steersman was +Colonel Vavasour, drest in the fanciful aquatic costume his regiment +had adopted.</p> + +<p>Trifling as this may appear, this act of his Colonel, seemed to George +the very highest compliment that had ever been paid him.</p> + +<p>George Delmé turned to his company, and with choking voice thanked them +for this last mark of attention. We are very certain that a shake of +the hand from a prince, would not have delighted him as much, as did +the hearty farewell greeting of his rough comrades.</p> + +<p>Even Acmé blushingly went up to the chair-supporters, and, with a +winning smile, extended her small hand. Vavasour assisted her into the +gig, and it was with a bounding elasticity of spirit, to which he had +long been a stranger, that George followed. As the boat cut through the +water, they were greeted with a last and deafening huzza.</p> + +<p>In a short time they were alongside the vessel. The captain was pacing +the deck, and marking the signs of the wind, with the keen eye of the +sailor. A chair was lowered for Acmé. She shook hands with the rowers. +George parted from them as if they had been brothers, and from Colonel +Vavasour last of all.</p> + +<p>"Take care of yourself, my dear boy," said the latter, "do not +forget to write us; we shall all be anxious to know how you have +stood the voyage."</p> + +<p>As the gig once more shot its way homewards, and many a friendly +handkerchief waved its adieu, George felt, that sad as the parting was, +he should have felt it more <i>bitterly</i> if they had loved him less.</p> + +<p>To divert their minds from thoughts of a melancholy nature, Sir Henry, +as the boat made a turn of the land, and was no longer visible, proposed +exploring the cabin. This they found small, but cleanly. Some hampers of +fruit, and a quantity of ice, exhibited agreable proofs of the attention +of Acmé's relations. We may, by the way, observe, that rarely does the +sense of the palate assert its supremacy with greater force than on +board-ship. There will the <i>thought</i>--much more the <i>reality</i>--of a +mellow pine--or juicy pomegranate--cause the mouth to water for the best +part of a long summer's day. On their ascending the deck, the captain +approached Sir Henry.</p> + +<p>"No offence! Sir; but I guess the wind is fair. If you want nothing +ashore, we will off, Sir, <i>now</i>! if you please."</p> + +<p>Delmé acquiesced.</p> + +<p>How disagreable is the act of leaving harbour in a merchant ship!</p> + +<p>Even sailors dislike it, and growl between their teeth, like captive +bears. The chains of the anchor clank gratingly on the ear. The very +chorus of the seamen smacks of the land, and wants the rich and free +tone that characterises it in mid-sea. Hoarse are the mandates of the +boat-swain! his whistle painfully shrill! The captain walks the deck +thoughtfully, and frowningly ruminates on his bill of lading--or on some +over-charge in the dock duties--or, it may be, on his dispute on shore +with a part owner of the vessel.</p> + +<p>And anon, he shakes off these thoughts, and looks on the +weather-side--then upwards at the masts--and, as he notes the +proceedings, his orders are delivered fiercely, and his passions seem +ungovernable.</p> + +<p>The vessel, too, seems to share the general feeling--is loath to +leave the port.</p> + +<p>She unsteadily answers the call of her canvas--her rigging creaks--and +her strong sides groan--as she begins lazily and slowly to make her way.</p> + +<p>Glad to turn their attention to anything rather than the scene around, +George began conversing on the effect the attentions of his company and +brother officers had had on him.</p> + +<p>"Their kindness," said George, "was wholly unexpected by me, and I felt +it very deeply. An hour before, I fancied that Acmé and my own family +monopolised every sympathy I possessed. But, thank God! the heart has +many hidden channels through which kindness may steal, and infuse its +genial balm."</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> felt it, too, George!" said his brother, "and was anxious as to the +effect the scene might have on you. I am glad it <i>was</i> unexpected. We +are sometimes better enabled to enact our parts improvising them, than +when we have schooled ourselves, and braced all our energies to the one +particular purpose.</p> + +<p>"Acmé, how did you like the way George's men behaved?"</p> + +<p>"It made me weep with joy," replied the young Greek, "for I love all who +love my Giorgio."</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XVIII.</h1> + +<h2>The Adieu.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Adieu! the joys of La Valette."</blockquote> + +<hr width="200" align="left" size="1" /> + +<blockquote> "No more! no more! No! never more on me<br /> + The freshness of the heart shall fall like dew."</blockquote> + +<hr width="200" align="left" size="1" /> + +<blockquote> "Absence makes the heart grow fonder,<br /> +Isle of Beauty! fare thee well."</blockquote> + + +<p>Malta! the snowy sail shivers in the wind--the waves, chafed by our +intruding keel, are proudly foaming--sea birds soar, screaming their +farewell aloft--as we wave our hand to thee for ever! What is our +feeling, as we see thee diminish hourly?</p> + +<p>Regret! unfeigned regret!</p> + +<p>Albeit we speed to our native land, on the wing of a bark as fleet as +ever--but it matters not--<i>thou</i> hast seen the best of our days.</p> + +<p>Visions conjured up by thee, have the unusual power, to banish +anticipations of Almack's glories, and of home flirtations.</p> + +<p>We are recalling balls enjoyed in thee, loved island! the valse spun +round with the darling fleet-footed Maltese, who during its pauses leant +back on our arm, against which her spangled zone throbbed, from the +pulsations of her heart.</p> + +<p>Dreams of turtle and of grand master--the <i>fish</i>, not the +<i>official</i>--and of consecutive iced champagne, mock our sight! But +more--yes! far more than all, are we reminded of thy abode--thou +dispenser of cheering liquids! thou promoter of convivial happiness! +meek Saverio! How swiftly glided the mirth-loving nights as--the +enchanting strains of the prima donna hushed--we adjourned to thy ever +to be praised bottegua!</p> + +<p>With what precision didst thou there mete out the many varied +ingredients--the exact relative proportions--which can alone embody our +conception of the nectar of the Gods, punch à la Romaine!</p> + +<p>Whose cigars ever equalled thine, thou prince of Ganymedes? and when +were cigars more justly appreciated, than as our puffs kept time with +the trolling ditty, resounding through the walls of thy domain?</p> + +<p>The luxury of those days!</p> + +<p>Then would Sol come peeping in upon us; as unwelcome and unlooked-for +a visitant, as to the enamoured Juliet, when she sighing told her +lover that</p> + +<p> "'Twas but a meteor that the sun exhaled, + To be to him that night a torch-bearer, + And light him on his way to Mantua."</p> + +<p>Then, with head dizzy from its gladness, with heart unduly elate, has +the Strada Teatro seen us, imperiously calling for the submissive +calèche. Arrived in our chamber, how gravely did we close its shutters! +With what a feeling of satisfied enjoyment, did we court the downy +freshness of the snow-white sheet!</p> + +<p>Sweet and deep were our slumbers--for youth's spell was upon us, and +our fifth lustre had not <i>yet</i> heralded us to serious thoughts and +anxious cares.</p> + +<p>Awoke by the officious valet, and remorseless friend, deemest though +our debauch was felt? No! an effervescent draught of soda calmed us; we +ate a blood orange, and smoked a cigar!</p> + +<p>We often hear Malta abused. Byron is the stale authority; and every +snub-nosed cynic turns up his prominent organ, and talks of "sirocco, +sun, and sweat." Byron disliked it--he had cause. He was there at a bad +season, and was suffering from an attack of bile. <i>We</i> know of no place +abroad, where the English eye will meet with so little to offend it, and +so much to please and impress.</p> + +<p>There is such a blending together of European, Asiatic, and African +customs; there is such a variety in the costumes one meets; there is +such grandeur in their palaces--such glory in their annals; such novelty +in their manners and habits; such devotion in their religious +observances; such simplicity and yet such beauty, in the dress of the +women; and their wearers possess such fascinations; that we defy the +most fastidious of critics, who has really resided there, to deny to +Malta many of those attributes, with which he would invest that place, +on whose beauty and agrémens, he may prefer of all others to descant.</p> + +<p>With the commonplace observer, its superb harbour, studded with gilded +boats; its powerful fortifications, where art towers over nature, and +where the eye looks up a rock, and catches a bristling battery; the +glare of its scenery, with no foliage to cover the white stone;--all +these, together with the different way in which the minutiae of life are +transacted,--will call forth his attention, and demand his notice.</p> + +<p>Art thou a poet, or a fancied warrior? What scene has been more replete +with noble exploits? In whose breasts did the flame of chivalry burn +brighter, than in those of the knights of St. John of Jerusalem? Not a +name meets thee, that has not belonged to a hero! If thou grievest to +find all dissimilar <i>but</i> the name; yet mayest thou still muse, +contemplative, over the tomb and ashes of him, whom thy mind has +shadowed forth, as a noble light in a more romantic age.</p> + +<p>Art thou a moralist, a thinking Christian? Thou mayest there trace--and +the pursuit shall profit thee--the steps of the sainted apostle; he who +was so signally called forth, to hear witness to the truth of ONE, whom +he had erst reviled. Yon cordelier will show you the bay, where his +vessel took refuge in its distress; and will tell you, that yon jagged +rock first gave its dangerous welcome, to the bark of his patron saint.</p> + +<p>Lovest thou music? hast loved? or been beloved? or both perchance?</p> + +<p>Steal forth when night holds her starry court, and the guitars around +are tinkling, as more than one rich voice deplores his mistress's +cruelty, in hopes she may now relent. But see! <i>there</i> is one, who puts +in requisition neither music's spell, nor flattery's lay.</p> + +<p>See! he approaches. His cloak wrapped around him, he cautiously treads +the tranquil street.</p> + +<p>He gains the portico--the signal is given. Who but an expectant maiden +could hear one so slight?</p> + +<p>Hark! a sound! cautiously the lattice opens--above him blushes the fair +one! How brightly her dark eye flashes! how silver soft the tones of +her voice!</p> + +<p>The stern father--the querulous mother--the tricked duenna--all--all +are slumbering. She leans forward, and her ear drinks in his honied +words; as her head is supported by her snowy arm.</p> + +<p>And now he whispers more passionately. She answers not, but hides her +face in her hands. She starts! she throws back her hair from her brow; +she waves a white fazzolet, and is gone.</p> + +<p>Not thus flies the lover. He crouches beneath the Ionic portico, his +figure hardly discernible. A bolt--the last bolt is withdrawn. A form is +dimly seen within--retiring, timid, repentant.</p> + +<p>Sweet the task to calm that throbbing heart, or teach it to throb no +more with fear!</p> + +<p>But let him of melancholy mood, wander to the deserted village. A more +fearful calamity has befallen it, than ever attended the soft shades, of +the one conjured up by the poet.</p> + +<p><i>Here</i> the demon Plague, with baneful wing, and pestilential influence, +tarried for many days; till not one--no! not one soul of that village +train--that did not join his bygone fathers.</p> + +<p>Stray along its grass-grown roofless tenements! where <i>your</i> echo alone +breaks the silence, as it startles from its resting-place the slumbering +owl--for who would dwell in abodes so marked for destruction? Stray +there! think of the gentle contadina diffusing happiness around her! +<i>then</i> think of her as she supports the youth she loves--as she clasps +his faint form--and drinks in a poisonous contagion from his pallid lip.</p> + +<p>Think of her as the disease seizes on its new victim--still +attempting to prop up his head--to reach the cup, that may relieve +his maddening thirst,--until, giddy and overpowered, she sinks at +last; but--beside him!</p> + +<p>Think of their dying together! <i>that</i> at least is a solace.</p> + +<p>Do not the scene and the thought draw a tear?</p> + +<p>If your eye be dry, come--come away--<i>your</i> step should not sound there!</p> + +<p>The wind continued fair during the whole of the first day. Every trace +of Valletta was soon lost; and the good barque Boston swept by the rocky +coast of the island, where few human habitations meet the eye, swiftly +and cheerily. The sea birds sported round the tall masts--the canvas +bulged out bravely--the Captain forgot his shore griefs, and commenced a +colloquy with Sir Henry. The sailors sung in chorus; whilst poor +Acmé,--we grieve to confess the fact, for never was a Mediterranean sea +looked down on by brighter sun, or more cloudless sky,--retired to her +cabin, supported by George, a prey to that unsentimental malady, sea +sickness. The following day, the wind shifted some points; and the +Captain judged it most prudent to forego his original intention of +steering direct for Palermo; but to take advantage of the breeze, and +adopt the passage through the Faro of Messina.</p> + +<p>Delmé felt glad of this change; for Scylla and Charybdis to an +Englishman, are as familiar as Whittington and his cat. For the first +two days Acmé continued unwell; and George, who already appeared +improved by the sea air, never left her side.</p> + +<p>Delmé had therefore a dull time of it; which he strove to enliven by +conversing, one after the other, with the Captain and his two mates. +From all of them, he learnt something; but from all he turned away, as +they commenced discussing the comparative merits of the United States, +and the old country; a subject he had neither the wish to enter on, nor +fortitude to prosecute. Not daunted, he attacked mate the third; and was +led to infer better things, as the young gentleman commenced expatiating +on the "purple sky," and "dark blue sea." This hope did not last long; +for this lover of nature turned round to Sir Henry, and asked him in a +nasal twang, if he preferred Cooper's or Mr. Scott's novels? Delmè was +not naturally a rude man, but as he turned away, he hummed something +very like Yankee-doodle.</p> + +<p>And then the moon got up; and Sir Henry felt lonely and sentimental. He +leant over the vessel's side, and watched it pictured on the ocean, and +quivering as the transient billow swept onwards. And he thought of home, +and Emily. He thought of his brother, his heir,--if he died, the only +male to inherit the ancient honours of his house,--married to a +stranger, and--but Acmé was too sweet a being, not to have already +enlisted all his sympathies with her. And as if all these thoughts, like +rays converged in a burning glass, did but tend to one object, the image +of Julia Vernon suddenly rose before him.</p> + +<p>He saw her beautiful as ever--gentleness in her eye--fascination in +her smile!</p> + +<p>And the air got cold--and he went to bed.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XIX.</h1> + +<h2>A Dream and a Ghost Story.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Touching this eye-creation;<br /> +What is it to surprise us? Here we are<br /> +Engendered out of nothing cognisable--<br /> +If this were not a wonder, nothing is;<br /> +If this be wonderful, then all is so.<br /> +Man's grosser attributes can generate<br /> +What <i>is</i> not, and has never been at all;<br /> +What should forbid his fancy to restore<br /> +A being pass'd away? The wonder lies<br /> +In the mind merely of the wondering man."</blockquote> + + +<p>It was the fourth evening of the voyage. Hardly a breath fanned the +sails, as the vessel slowly glided between the Calabrian and Sicilian +coasts, approaching quite close to the former.</p> + +<p>The party, seated on chairs placed on the deck, gazed in a spirit of +placid enjoyment on one of those scenes, which the enthusiastic +traveller often recals, as in his native clime, he pines for foreign +lands, and for novel impressions. The sun was setting over the purple +peaks of the Calabrian mountains, smiling in sunny gladness on deep +ravines, whose echoes few human feet now woke, save those of simple +peasant, or lawless bandit. Where the orb of day held its declining +course, the sky wore a hue of burnished gold; its rich tint alone +varied, by one fleecy violet cloud, whose outline of rounded beauty, was +marked by a clear cincture of white,</p> + +<p>On their right, beneath the mountain, lay the little village of Capo del +Marte, a perfect specimen of Italian scenery.</p> + +<p>Its sandy beach, against which the tide beat in dalliance--the chafed +spray catching and reflecting the glories of the setting sun--ran +smoothly up a slope of some thirty yards; beyond which, the orange +trees, in their greenest foliage, chequered with their shade the white +cottages scattered above them.</p> + +<p>The busy hum of the fishermen on the coast--the splash of the casting +net--and the drip of the oar--were appropriate accompaniments to the +simple scene.</p> + +<p>On the Sicilian side, a different view wooed attention. There, old Etna +upreared his encumbered head, around which the smoke clung in dense +majesty; and--not contemptible rivals of the declining deity--the moon's +silvery crescent, and the evening star's quiet splendour, were bedecking +the cloudless blue of the firmament.</p> + +<p>Acmé gazed enraptured on the scene--her long tresses hanging back on the +chair, across which one hand was languidly thrown.</p> + +<p>"Giorgio," said she, "do you see this beautiful bird close to the +ship--swimming so steadily--its snowy plumage apparently unwet from its +contact with the wave? To what can you compare it?"</p> + +<p>"That bright-eyed gull, love!" replied he, "riding on the water as if +all regardless that he is on the wide--wide sea--whose billows may so +soon be lashed up to madness;--where may I find a resemblance more +close, than my Acmé's simplicity, which guides her through a troubled +world, unknowing its treacheries, and happily ignorant of its dangers +and its woes?"</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said the blushing girl, "how poetical you are this evening; will +you tell us a story, Giorgio?"</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> will tell you one," said Delmé, interrupting her. "Do you recollect +old Featherstone, who had been in the civil service in India, and who +lived so near Delmé Park, George?"</p> + +<p>"Perfectly," said his brother, "I remember I used to think him mad, +because he always looked so melancholy, and used to send us word in the +morning when he contemplated a visit; in order that all cats might be +kept out of his way."</p> + +<p>"The very man! I am glad you know so much about him, for it is on this +subject I was going to speak. I cannot tell you where he picked up the +idea originally--but I believe in a dream--that a cat would occasion +his death.</p> + +<p>"Well! he was at Ascot one year, when a gipsy woman came up to him on +the course--told him his fortune--and, to his utter astonishment, warned +him to beware of the wild cat.</p> + +<p>"From that moment, I understand his habits changed. From being a +tolerably cheerful companion, he became a wretched hypochondriac; all +his energies being directed to the avoiding a contact with any of the +feline race.</p> + +<p>"Featherstone, two or three years ago, embarked in one of the mining +speculations--lost great part of his fortune--and found it necessary to +try and retrieve his affairs, by a second voyage to India.</p> + +<p>"I heard nothing more of him, till just before leaving England, when +my old school-fellow, Lockhart, who went as a cadet to the East, +called on me--reminded me of our old whimsical friend--and related +his tragic death.</p> + +<p>"Lockhart says that one day he and some mutual friends, persuaded +Featherstone to accompany them into the interior of the country, to +enjoy the diversion of a boar hunt.</p> + +<p>"They had had good sport, and were returning homewards, when they +suddenly came on a party of natives, headed by the Rajah.</p> + +<p>"They were mounted on elephants, and surrounding a jungle, in which, as +some sepoys had reported, lay a tiger.</p> + +<p>"You know Lockhart's manner--animated and enthusiastic--making one see +the scene he is describing.</p> + +<p>"I will try and clothe the rest of the story in his own words, although I +can hardly hope it will make the same impression on you, that its +recital did on me.</p> + +<p>"'Well, Sir! we all said we would see the sport--all but +Featherstone--who said something about coming on.</p> + +<p>"'We were engaged to dine with Sir John M----, who was in that part of +the world, on some six-and-eightpenny mission about indigo.</p> + +<p>"'The beaters went in, firing and shouting--intending to make him break +towards the hunting party.</p> + +<p>"'We all drew up on one side, to be in view, but out of the way; +Featherstone was next me. He suddenly grasped my arm, and pointed to the +jungle, his teeth chattering--his face ashy pale. I turned and saw the +tiger!--a splendid beast--certainly!</p> + +<p>"'He seemed not to notice us, and stalked on with an innocent yep! yep! +like a sick hound's, more than anything else.</p> + +<p>"'Suddenly his eye caught us, and flashed fire. At the first view, he +crouched to the earth, then came on us, bounding like a tost foot-ball. +More magnificent leaps I never beheld! We were struck dumb--but +fired--and turned our horses' heads!--all but Featherstone.</p> + +<p>"'I shall remember the tones of his voice to my dying hour.</p> + +<p>"'"The cat! Lockhart! the cat!"</p> + +<p>"'I don't know whether his horse refused the spur--or whether the rider's +nerve was gone: but neither appeared to make an effort, till the animal +was close on them.</p> + +<p>"'The horse gave one plunge--and had hardly recovered his feet, when down +went horse and rider.</p> + +<p>"'Featherstone gave a piercing scream! Some of the sepoys were by this +time up--and fired.</p> + +<p>"'The tiger trailed off--the blood spouting down his striped side.</p> + +<p>"'We came up--it was all over!</p> + +<p>"'The first stroke of that terrific paw had laid the unfortunate man's +scull bare. On his shoulder, were the marks of the animal's teeth.</p> + +<p>"'The horse was still writhing in agony. One of my pistols relieved him.</p> + +<p>"'We bore Featherstone to the nearest cantonment, and buried him there.'"</p> + +<p>"How terrible!" said Acmé, as she gave a slight shudder. "Englishmen are +generally more sceptical on these points than we are; and disbelieve +supernatural appearances, which we are accustomed to think are not +unfrequent. I could tell you many stories, which, in my native island, +were believed by our enemies the Turks, as well as by ourselves: but if +you would like it, I will tell you a circumstance that occurred to +myself, the reality of which I dare not doubt.</p> + +<p>"You have often, Giorgio! heard me revert with pain, to the horrible +scene which took place, on the recapture of our little isle by the +infidel Turks; when my family were massacred, and only poor Acmé left to +tell their tale."</p> + +<p>Here the young bride put her handkerchief to her face, and wept +bitterly. George put his arm round her and soothed her. She continued +her narrative.</p> + +<p>"You know my escape, and how I was sent to a kinsman, who had promised +to have me sent to my kind friends in Malta. He was a Corfuote, and it +was in Corfu I remained for a long--a very long time--and there first +met my dear friend, Zöe Scalvo-Forressi. I was then very young. We lived +in the Campagna--about four miles from each other.</p> + +<p>"We had both our Greek ponies, and used often to pass the evenings +together; and at length knew our road so well, that often it was night +before we parted.</p> + +<p>"One night, we had been singing together at her house, and it was later +than usual when I cantered home.</p> + +<p>"About four months had elapsed previous to my landing in Corfu, and I had +been eight months there; although at the time, I paid little attention +to these circumstances.</p> + +<p>"My road lay through an olive grove. I had arrived in its centre, where +a small knoll stretched away on my right; on whose summit, was a white +Greek monastery, backed by some dark cypress trees.</p> + +<p>"The moon was shining brightly--dancing on the silver side of the olive +trees--and illuminating the green sward.</p> + +<p>"This was smooth and verdant.</p> + +<p>"My spirits were more than usually buoyant, when suddenly my pony +stopped.</p> + +<p>"I could not conceive the reason.</p> + +<p>"I looked before me. Immediately in front of me, was the shattered trunk +of an old olive tree--it had been blasted by lightning--and sitting +quietly at its foot--I saw my own mother, Giorgio! as clearly as I see +you now. I could not be mistaken. She wore the same embroidered vest and +Albanian shawl, as when I had last seen her.</p> + +<p>"She conversed with me calmly for many minutes, and--which surprised me +much at the time--I felt no dread, and asked her and answered many +questions.</p> + +<p>"She told me I should die early, in a foreign land; and many--many more +things, which I dare not repeat; for I cannot contemplate the +possibility of their being true.</p> + +<p>"At the time, I told you I felt composed: without any sense of alarm +or surprise. For many days afterwards, however, I never left my bed +of sickness.</p> + +<p>"I told my kinsman all the circumstances, and he discovered beyond a +doubt, that it was on that very day, the twelve-month previous, that my +poor mother had been murdered."</p> + +<p>Sir Henry and George tried to smile at Acmé's story, and account for +what she had seen;--but her manner was so impressive, and her ingenious +reasonings--delivered in the most earnest tone--seemed to confute so +entirely all their speculations, that they were at length content to +deem it "wondrous strange."</p> + +<p>In the best and wisest of us, there is such a tendency to believe in a +mysterious link, connecting the living and the departed; that a story +of this nature, in exciting our feelings, serves to paralyse our +reasoning faculties, and leaves us half converts, to the doctrines that +we faintly combat.</p> + +<p>They looked forth again on the scene. The mountains of Calabria were +frowning on them. The village was far behind--and not a straggling light +marked its situation.</p> + +<p>Numberless stars were reflected on the glassy water, whose serenity was +no longer ruffled by wing of sea bird, which long ere now had returned +to its "wave girded nest."</p> + +<p>Our party and the watch were the only lingerers on deck.</p> + +<p>George wrapped Acmé's silk cloak around her, and then carefully assisted +her in her descent to the cabin.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XX.</h1> + +<h2>The Mad House.</h2> + + +<blockquote> "And see the mind's convulsion leave it weak."</blockquote> + + +<p>The land breeze continued to freshen, and the first dawn of morning saw +our party on deck, scanning with near view, the opposite coasts of +Sicily and Italy, as their vessel glided through the Faro of Messina.</p> + +<p>Some pilot boats,--how unlike those which greet the homeward-bound +voyager, as he first hails Britain's chalky cliffs--crowded around the +vessel, offering their services to guide it through the strait.</p> + +<p>Avarice--one incentive to language--had endowed these Sicilian mariners +with a competent knowledge of English, which they dealt out +vociferously.</p> + +<p>As the Captain made his selection, the rejected candidates failed not +to use that familiar English salâm; half the gusto of which is lost, +when used by foreign lip.</p> + +<p>On the Calabrian coast, the sea-port town of Reggio wore an unusual air +of bustle and animation.</p> + +<p>It was a festa day there; and groups of peasants, in many-coloured +costumes, paced up and down the mole; emitting that joyous hum, which +is the never-failing concomitant of a happy crowd. Passing through +the Faro, the vessel's course lay by the northern coast of Sicily. +The current and wind were alike favourable, as it swept on by Melazzo +and Lascari.</p> + +<p>Etna, towering over the lesser mountains, became once more visible; its +summit buried in the clouds of heaven.</p> + +<p>On the right, a luminous crimson ring revealed Stromboli, whose fitful +volcano was more than usually active.</p> + +<p>The following day our party arrived at Palermo. So pleasurable had been +their voyage, that it was with a feeling akin to regret, that they heard +the rumbling chains of the anchor, rush through the hawse-hole, as +their vessel took her station in the bay.</p> + +<p>After going through those wearisome forms, which a foreign sea-port +exacts; and which appear purposely intended, to temper the rapture of +the sea-worn voyager, as he congratulates himself on once more treading +terra firma; our party found themselves the inmates of the English +hotel; and spent the remainder of the day in engaging a cicerone, and in +discussing plans for the morrow.</p> + +<p>The morrow came--sunny and cloudless--and the cicerone bowed to the +ground, as he opened the door of the commodious fiacre.</p> + +<p>"Where shall I drive to, Sir?"</p> + +<p>"What were our plans, George?" said Sir Henry.</p> + +<p>"I think," replied George, "that we only formed one plan to change it +for another. Let the cicerone decide for us."</p> + +<p><i>He,</i> nothing loath, accepted the charge; and taking his station on the +box of the carriage, directed the driver.</p> + +<p>The carriage first stopped before a large stone building. The bell was +rung--a veteran porter presented himself--and our party entered the +court yard.</p> + +<p>"What place is this?" said Delmé.</p> + +<p>"This," rejoined his guide, with the true cicerone fluency, "is the +famous lunatic asylum, instituted by the illustrious Baron Pisani. This, +gentlemen, is the Baron!"</p> + +<p>Here a benevolent-looking little man with a large nose, took off his +hat.</p> + +<p>"So much approved of was his beneficent design, that our noble King, and +our paternal Government, have not only adopted it; but have graciously +permitted the Baron, to continue to preside over that institution, which +he so happily commenced, and which he so refulgently adorns."</p> + +<p>During this announcement, the Baron's face flushed with a simple, but +honest pride.</p> + +<p>These praises did not to him appear exaggerated; for his intentions had +been of the purest, and in this institution was his whole soul wrapt up. +Acmé became somewhat pale, as she heard where they were, and looked +nervously at George; who could not forbear smiling, as he begged they +would be under no apprehensions. + +"Yes! gentlemen," said the Baron, "circumstances in early life made me +regard mental disease as the most fearful of all. I observed its victims +struggling between reason and insanity; goaded on by the ignorance of +empirics, and the harsh treatment of those about them, until light fled +the tortured brain, and madness directed its every impulse. You, +gentlemen, are English travellers, I perceive! In <i>your</i> happy land, +where generosity and wealth go hand in hand, there are, I doubt not, +many humane institutions, where those, who--bowed down by misfortunes, +or preyed on by disease--have lost the power to take care of themselves, +may find a home, where they may be anxiously tended, and carefully +provided for.</p> + +<p>"Here we knew not of such things.</p> + +<p>"I have said, gentlemen, that chance made me feel a deep interest in +these unfortunates. I sunk the greater part of my fortune, in +constructing this mansion, trusting that the subscriptions of +individuals, would enable me to prosecute the good work.</p> + +<p>"In this I was disappointed; but our worthy Viceroy, who took an interest +in my plans, laid the matter before the Government, which--as Signer +Guiseppe observes--has not only undertaken to support my asylum, but +also permits me to preside over the establishment. <i>That</i>, gentlemen, is +my apartment, with the mignionette boxes in front, and without iron bars +in the window; though indeed these very bars are painted, at my +suggestion, such a delicate green, that you might not have been aware +that they were such.</p> + +<p>"This is our first chamber--cheerful and snug. Here are the patients +first brought. We indulge them in all their caprices, until we are +enabled to decide with certainty, on the fantasy the brain has conjured +up. From this room, we take them to the adjacent bed-room, where we +administer such remedies as we think the best fitted to restore reason.</p> + +<p>"If these fail, we apportion the patient a cell, and consider the case as +beyond our immediate relief. We cure, on an average, two-thirds of the +cases forwarded to us; and there have been instances of the mind's +recovering its tone, after a confinement of some years."</p> + +<p>"How many inmates have you in the asylum at present?" said Acmé.</p> + +<p>"One hundred and thirty-six, eighty-six of whom are males. These are our +baths, to which they are daily taken; this the refectory; this the +parlatorio, where they see their friends; and now, if the lady is not +afraid, we will descend to the court yard, and see my charges."</p> + +<p>"There is no fear?" said George.</p> + +<p>"Not in the least. Our punishment is so formidable, that few will incur +it by being refractory."</p> + +<p>"What! then you are obliged to punish them?" said Acmé, with a shudder.</p> + +<p>"Sometimes, but not often. I will show you what our punishment consists +in. You see this room without furniture! Observe the walls and floor; +and even the door as it closes. All these are carefully stuffed; and if +you walk across the room, there is no sound.</p> + +<p>"We cautiously search violent lunatics; who are then dressed in a plain +flannel suit, and left alone. It is seldom we have occasion to retain +them longer than twenty-four hours. They soon find they cannot injure +themselves; their most violent efforts cannot elicit a sound. Their +minds become calmed; and when released, they are perfectly quiet, and +generally inclined to melancholy."</p> + +<p>They descended to the court yard, set apart for the men. Its inmates +were pacing it hurriedly; some jabbering to themselves; others with +groups round them, to whom they addressed some quickly delivered jargon. +With one or two exceptions, all noticed the entrance of the strangers; +and some of them bowed to them, with mock gravity. One man, who wore an +old cocked hat with a shabby feather, tapped Sir Henry on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Vous me reconnaissez--Napoleon! votre Empereur!"</p> + +<p>He wheeled round, and called for his Mamelukes.</p> + +<p>The next moment, a young and interesting looking person came forward, +the tears standing in his, eyes, and extended his hand to Acmé.</p> + +<p>"Give me yours," said he, "as a great favour. I was a painter once in +Naples--and I went to Rome--and I loved Gianetta Cantieri!"</p> + +<p>A more ludicrous incident now occurred. At and since their entrance, +our party had heard what seemed the continued bark of a dog. A man on +all fours came forward from behind a group, and with unmeaning face, +and nostril snuffing up the wind, imitated to perfection the deep bay +of a mastiff.</p> + +<p>"That man's peculiarity," observed the Baron, "is an extraordinary one. +He had a cottage near Catania, and had saved some little wealth. His +house was one night robbed of all it contained. This misfortune preyed +on the man's reason, and he now conceives himself a watch dog. He knows +the step of every inmate of the asylum, and only barks at strangers."</p> + +<p>From the male court yard, the Baron ushered them to the female, where +insanity assumed a yet more melancholy shape.</p> + +<p>A pale-faced maniac, with quivering frame, and glaring eye-balls, +continued to cry, in a low and piteous tone, "Murder! murder!! +murder!!!"</p> + +<p>One woman, reclining on the cold pavement, dandled a straw, and called +it her sweet child; while another hugged a misshapen block of wood to +her bared breast, and deemed it her true love.</p> + +<p>A third was on her knees, and at regular intervals, bent down her +shrivelled body, and devoured the gravel beneath her.</p> + +<p>Acmé was happy to leave the scene, and move towards the garden; which +was extensive, and beautifully laid out.</p> + +<p>As they turned down one of the alleys, they encountered five or six men, +drawn up in line, and armed with wooden muskets.</p> + +<p>In front stood Napoleon, who, with stentorian voice, gave the word to +"present arms!" then dropping his stick, and taking off his hat to +Delmé, began to converse familiarly with him, as with his friend Emperor +Alexander, as to the efficiency of Poniatowski and his Polish lancers.</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow!" said the Baron, as they moved on. "Never was insanity +more harmless! He was once brigade major to Murat. This is his hour for +exercise. Exactly at two, he goes through the scene of Fontainbleau, +What will appear to you extraordinary is, that over the five or six men +you saw around him, whose madness has been marked by few distinguishing +traits, he has gradually assumed a superiority, until they now believe +him to be, in reality, the Emperor he so unconsciously personates."</p> + +<p>In the garden, which was of considerable size, were placed a number of +swings and whirligigs, in full motion and occupancy.</p> + +<p>On a stuccoed wall, were represented grotesque figures of animals +dancing; opposite to which, one of Terpsichore's votaries, with a +paper cap on his head, shaped like a pyramid, was executing agile +capers, whose zeal of purpose would have found infinite favour in the +eyes of Laporte.</p> + +<p>Having explored the garden, Delmé accompanied the Baron to a small room, +where the sculls of the deceased maniacs were ranged on shelves, with a +small biographical note attached to each; and heard with attention, the +old man's energetic reasoning, as to these fully demonstrating the truth +of Spurzheim's theory.</p> + +<p>Acmé, meantime, remained on George's arm, talking to a girl of +thirteen, who had been selected to conduct them to the carriage.</p> + +<p>They entered their names in a book at the lodge, and then, turning to +the benevolent director, paid him some well deserved compliments, for +which he bowed low and often.</p> + +<p>The young girl, who had been conversing most rationally with Acmé, moved +forward, and made a signal for the carriage to drive up.</p> + +<p>She was a fair-haired gentle-looking creature, with quiet eye, and +silvery voice. She assisted Acmé to step into the carriage, who +dropped a piece of silver into her hand, for which she gave a sweet +smile and a curtsey.</p> + +<p>She stood a moment motionless. Suddenly her eye lighted up--she darted +into the carriage, and clapped her hands together joyfully.</p> + +<p>"Viva! viva! we shall soon be home at Trapani!"</p> + +<p>The tears sprang to the eyes of the young Greek.</p> + +<p>Even the driver and cicerone were moved.</p> + +<p>Acmé took some flowers from her zone--kissed her cheek--and tried to +change the current of her thoughts; but it was not till the driver +promised he would call again, at the same hour the following day, that +she consented with a sigh to relinquish her journey home.</p> + +<p>From the Lunatic Asylum, our party adjourned to the Duomo, and beheld +the coffin, where the revered body of the Palermitan Saint, attracts +many a devout Catholic.</p> + +<p>Sweet Rosalia! thy story is a pretty one--thy festa beauteous--the +fireworks in thy honour most bright. No wonder the fair Sicilians adore +thy memory.</p> + +<p>In the cool of the evening, our travellers drove to the Marina; where +custom--the crowded assemblage--and the grateful sea breeze--nightly +attract the gay inhabitants of Palermo.</p> + +<p>The carriages, with their epauletted chasseurs, swept on in giddy +succession, and made a scene quite as imposing as is witnessed in most +European capitals.</p> + +<p>Delmé did not think it advisable, to remain too long in the metropolis +of Sicily; and the travellers contented themselves, with the +sight-seeing of the immediate neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>They admired the mosaics of the Chiesa di Monte Reale; and fed the +pheasants, at that beautiful royal villa, well styled "the Favourite." +They took a boat to witness the tunny fishery; and Sir Henry explored +alone the vast catacombs--that city of the dead.</p> + +<p>After a few days thus passed--the weather continuing uncommonly +fine--they did not hesitate to engage one of the small vessels of the +place, to convey them to Naples. + +After enjoying their evening drive as usual, they embarked on board the +Sparonara, one fine starry night, in order to get the full advantage of +the favouring night breeze.</p> + + + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">End of the First Volume.</p> + +<h1>A Love Story</h1> + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">by</p> + +<h2>A Bushman.</h2> + +<h3>Vol. II.</h3> + +<blockquote> + "My thoughts, like swallows, skim the main,<br /> + And bear my spirit back again<br /> + Over the earth, and through the air,<br /> + A wild bird and a wanderer." +</blockquote> + +<h4>1841.</h4> + + + + +<h1>A Love Story.</h1> + + + +<h1>Chapter I.</h1> + +<h2>Naples</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "And be it mine to muse there, mine to glide<br /> +From day-break when the mountain pales his fire,<br /> +Yet more and more, and from the mountain top,<br /> +Till then invisible, a smoke ascends,<br /> +Solemn and slow."</blockquote> + +<blockquote> "Vedi Napoli! e poi muori!"</blockquote> + + +<p>Memory! beloved memory! to us thou art as hope to other men. The +present--solitary, unexciting--where are its charms? The future hath no +joys in store for us; and may bereave us of some of the few faint +pleasures that still are ours.</p> + +<p>What then is left us--old before our time--but to banquet on the past?</p> + +<p>Memory! thou art in us, as the basil of the enamoured +Florentine. [Footnote 1: See Keats' poem taken from Boccaccio.] Thy +blossoms, thy leaves,--green, fresh, and fragrant,--draw their nurture, +receive their every colouring, from what was dearest to us on earth. And +are they not watered by our tears?</p> + +<p>The poet tells us--</p> + +<blockquote> "Nessun maggior dolore<br /> +Che ricordarsi del tempo felice<br /> +Nella miseria."</blockquote> + +<p>But it is not so. Where is he of the tribe of the unfortunate, who would +not gladly barter the contemplation of present wretchedness, for the +remembrance, clogged as it is by a thousand woes, of a time when joyous +visions flitted across life's path?</p> + +<p>Yes! though the contrast, the succeeding moment, should cut him to the +soul.</p> + +<p>But</p> + +<blockquote> "Joy's recollection is no longer joy,<br /> +Whilst sorrow's memory is a sorrow still."</blockquote> + +<p>Ah! there's the rub! yet, better to think it <i>was</i> joy, than gaze unveiled +on the cold reality around; than view the wreck--the grievous wreck--a +few short years have made.</p> + +<p>We care not,--and, alas! to such as we have in our mind's eye, these are +the only cases allowed,--we care not! whether rapture has been succeeded +by apathy, or whether the feelings continue as deeply enlisted--the +thoughts as intensely concentrated;--but--in the servitude of despair!</p> + +<p>And again we say--gentle memory! let us dream over our past joys! ay! and +brood over our sorrows--undeserved--as in this hour of solitude, we may +justly deem them.</p> + +<p>Yes! let us again live over our days of suffering, and deem it wiser to +steep our soul in tears, than let it freeze with an iced coating of cynic +miscalled philosophy.</p> + +<p>And shall adversity--that touchstone--softened as our hearts shall thus +be--shall it pass over us, and improve us not?</p> + +<p>No! it has purifying and cleansing qualities; and for us, it has them +not in vain.</p> + +<p>We are not dust, to be more defiled by water; nor are we as the turbid +stream, which passing over driven snow, becomes more impure by the +close contact.</p> + +<p>Thee, Mnemosyne! let us still adore; content rather to droop, fade, and +die--martyrs to thee! than linger on as beasts of the forest, that know +thee not. No hope may be ours to animate the future: let us still cling to +thee, though thine influence sadden the past.</p> + +<p>Away! we are on the placid sea! and Naples lies before us.</p> + +<p>The sun had just risen from ocean's bed, attired in his robe of gold; as +our travellers watched from the deck of their Sparonara, to catch the +first view of the "garden of the world," as the Neapolitans fondly style +their city,</p> + +<p>A dim haze was abroad, the mists were slowly stealing up the mountains, as +their vessel glided on; a light breeze anon filling its canvas, then dying +away, and leaving the sails to flap against the loosened cordage.</p> + +<p>On their left, extended the charming heights of Posilipo---the classic +site of Baia--Pozzuoli--Nisida--and Ischia, to be reverenced for its wine.</p> + +<p>On their right, Capra's isle and Portici--and Vesuvius--wreathed in +vapour, presented themselves.</p> + +<p>As their vessel held on her way, Naples became visible--its turrets capt +by a solitary cloud, which had not yet acknowledged the supremacy of the +rising deity.</p> + +<p>The effulgence of the city was dimmed, but it was lovely still,--as a +diamond, obscured by a passing breath; or woman's eye, humid from +pity's tear.</p> + +<p>"And this," said Sir Henry, for it happened that his travels in Italy had +not extended so far south, "this is Naples! and this sea view the second +finest in the world!"</p> + +<p>"Which is the first?" said Acmé, laughing, "not in England, I trust; for +we foreigners do not invest your island with beauty's attributes."</p> + +<p>"My dear Acmé!" replied Sir Henry, somewhat gravely, "I trust the day may +arrive, when you will deem Delmé Park, with its mansion bronzed by +time--its many hillocks studded with ancient trees--its glistening brook, +and hoary gateways--its wooded avenue, where the rooks have built for +generations--its verdant glades, where the deer have long found a +home:--when you will consider all these, as forming as fair a prospect, as +ever eye reposed on. But I did not allude at the time to England; but to +the Turkish capital. George! I remember your glowing description of your +trip in Mildmay's frigate, up the Dardanelles. What comparison would you +make between the two scenes?"</p> + +<p>"I confess to have been much disappointed," replied George, "in my first +view of Stamboul; and even the beauty of the passage to the Dardanelles, +seemed to me to have been exaggerated. But what really <i>did</i> strike me, as +being the most varied, the most interesting scenery I had ever witnessed, +was that which greeted us, on an excursion we made in a row boat, from the +Bosphorus into the Black Sea.</p> + +<p>"There all my floating conceptions of Oriental luxury, and of Moslem pomp, +were more than realised.</p> + +<p>"The elegant kiosks--the ornamented gardens--the pinnacled harems, the +entrance to which lofty barriers jealously guarded--the number of the +tombs in their silent cities---gave an intense interest to the Turkish +coast;--while sumptuous barges, filled with veiled women, swept by us, and +gave a fairy charm to the sea. On our return, we were nearly lost from our +ignorance of the current, which is rapid and dangerous."</p> + +<p>"Well! I am glad to hear such a smiling account of Stamboul," rejoined +Acmé. "My feelings regarding it have been quite Grecian. It has always +been to me a sort of Ogre city."</p> + +<p>The breeze began to freshen, and the vessel made way fast.</p> + +<p>As they neared the termination of their voyage, some church, or casino +bedecked with statues, or fertile glen, whose sides blushed with the +luscious grape, opened at every instant, and drew forth their admiration.</p> + +<p>Their little vessel swung to her anchor.</p> + +<p>The busy hum of the restless inhabitants, and the joyous toll of the +churches, announcing one of the never-failing Neapolitan processions, was +borne on the breeze.</p> + +<p>The whole party embarked for the quarantine office, and--once authorised +to join the throng of Naples--soon found themselves in the Strada Toledo, +moving towards the Santa Lucia.</p> + +<p>Their hotel was near the mole; its windows commanding an extensive view of +the purple sea, beyond which the eye took in the changeful volcano; and +many a vista--sunny, smiling, and beauteous enough, for the exacting fancy +of an Englishman, who conjures up for an Italian landscape, marble-like +villas--and porticoes, where grapes cluster, in festoons of the +vine--heaving mountains--a purple sky--faces bronzed, but oh how +fair!--and song, revelry, and grace.</p> + +<p>But what struck Acmé, and even Sir Henry, who was more inured to the whirl +of cities, as the characteristical feature of Naples, was its moving life. +In the streets, there was an incessant bustle from morning until midnight. +Each passer by wore an air of importance, almost amounting to a +consciousness of happiness. There was fire in the glance--speech in the +action--on the lip a ready smile.</p> + +<p>In no city of Italy, does care seem more misplaced. The noble rolls on in +his vehicle on the Corso, with features gay and self-possessed; while the +merry laugh of the beggar--as he feasts on the lengthened honors of his +Macaroni--greets the ear at every turn. Stray not there! oh thou with brow +furrowed by anguish!</p> + +<p>If thy young affections have been blighted--if hope fondly indulged, be +replaced by despair--if feelings that lent their roseate hue, to the +commonest occurrences of life, now darken every scene--if thou knowest +thyself the accessary to this, thy misery, stray not in Naples, all too +joyous for thee!</p> + +<p>Rather haunt the shrines of the world's ancient mistress! Perchance the +sunken pillar--and the marble torso--and the moss-grown edifice--and the +sepulchre, with the owl as tenant--and the thought that the great, the +good, and the talented, who reared these fading monuments--are silent and +mouldering below: mayhap these things will speak to thy heart, and repress +the full gush of a sorrow that may not be controlled! And if--the martyr +to o'er-sicklied refinement--to sentiment too etherialised for the world, +where God hath placed thee--ideal woes have stamped a wrinkle on the brow, +and ideal dreams now constitute thy pleasure and thy bane: for such as +thou art! living on feeling's excess--soaring to rapture's heights--or +sinking to despair's abyss--Naples is not fitting!</p> + +<p>Visit the city of the sea! there indulge thy shapeless imaginings--with no +sound to break thy day dreams--save the shrill cry of the gondolier, and +the splash of his busy oar.</p> + +<p>The young Greek, Delmé, and George, were soon immersed in the round of +sight seeing.</p> + +<p>Visits to the ancient palace of Queen Joanna--to the modern villa of the +Margravine--to the Sibyl's Cave, and to Maro's Tomb--to <i>some</i> sites that +owed their interest to classic associations--to <i>others</i> that claimed it +from present beauty--wiled away days swiftly and pleasurably.</p> + +<p>What with youth, change of scene, and an Italian sky, George was no +longer an invalid. His eye wore neither the film of apathy, nor the +unnatural flush of delirium; but smiled its happiness on all, and beamed +its love on Acmé.</p> + +<p>One night they were at the Fondo, and after listening delightedly to +Lalande, and following with quick glance, the rapid movements of the agile +ballerina, and after George had been honoured by a bow--which greatly +amused Acmé--from the beautiful princess; who, poor girl! <i>then</i> felt a +penchant for Englishmen, which she failed not to avow from her opera +box--the party agreed to walk home to the hotel. On their way, they turned +into a coffee-room to take ice.</p> + +<p>The fluent waiter prattled over his catalogue; and Acmé selected his +"sorbetto Maltese," because the name reminded her of the loved island.</p> + +<p>Leaving the coffee-room, they were accosted by a driver of one of the +public coaches.</p> + +<p>"Now, Signore! just in time for Vesuvius! See the sun rise! superb sight! +elegant carriage!"</p> + +<p>"Do let us go!" said Acmé, clapping her hands with youthful enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"No, no! my dear!" said Sir Henry, "we must not think of it! you would be +so tired."</p> + +<p>"No, no! you do not know how strong I am; and I intend sleeping on +George's shoulder all the way--and we are all in such high spirits--and +these improvised excursions you yourself granted were always best--and +besides, you know we must always start at this hour, if we expect to see +the sunrise from the mountain. What do <i>you</i> say, Giorgio?"</p> + +<p>The discussion ended, by the driver taking the direction of the hotel; +whence, after making arrangements as to provisions and change of dress, +the party started for the mountain.</p> + +<p>The warm cheek of Acmé was reposing on that of her husband; and the wanton +night air was disporting with her wavy tresses, as the loud halloo of the +driver, warned them that they were in Portici, and in the act of arousing +Salvador, the guide to the mountain. After some short delay, they procured +mules. Each brother armed himself with a long staff, and leaving the +carriage, they wended their way towards the Hermitage.</p> + +<p>It was a clear night. The moon was majestically gliding on her path, +vassalled by myriads of stars.</p> + +<p>There was something in the hour--and the scene--and the novelty of the +excursion--that enjoined silence.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the Hermitage, the party dismounted. Acmé clung to the strap, +fastened round their guide, and they commenced the ascent. In a short +time, they had manifest proofs of their vicinity to the volcano. The +ashy lava gave way at each footstep, and it was only by taking short and +quick steps, and perseveringly toiling on, that they were enabled to +make any progress.</p> + +<p>More than once, was Acmé inclined to stop, and take breath, but the guide +assured them they were already late, and that they would only just be in +time for the sunrise.</p> + +<p>As the last of the party reached the summit, the sun became +perceptible--and rose in glory indescribable. The scene afar how gorgeous! +around them how grand!</p> + +<p>Panting from their exertions, they sat on a cloak of Salvador's, and gazed +with astonishment at the novelties bursting on the eye.</p> + +<p>Each succeeding moment, gusts of flame issued forth from the crater.</p> + +<p>They looked down on the bason, above which they were. From a conical +pyramid of lava, were emitted volumes of smoke, which rolled up to heaven +in rounded and fantastic shapes of beauty. Below, a deep azure--above, of +a clear amber hue--the clouds wreathed and ascended majestically, as if +in time to the rumbling thunder--the accompaniments of nature's +subterraneous throes.</p> + +<p>Their fatigues were amply repaid. Sir Henry's curiosity was aroused, and +he descended with the guide to the crater. George and Acmé, delighted with +the excursion, remained on the summit, partaking of Salvador's provisions.</p> + +<p>The descent they found easy and rapid; the lava now assisting, as much as +it had formerly impeded them.</p> + +<p>At Portici, Salvador introduced them to his apartment, embellished with +specimens of lava. They purchased some memorials of their visit--partook +of some fruit--and, after rewarding the guide, they returned to Naples.</p> + +<p>Another of their excursions, and it is one than which there are few more +interesting, was to that city--which, like the fabulous one of the eastern +tale, rears its temples, but there are none to worship; its theatres, but +there are none to applaud; its marble statues, where are the eyes that +should dwell on them with pride? Its mansions are many--its walls and +tesselated pavements, show colours of vivid hue, and describe tales +familiar from our boyhood. The priest is at his altar--the soldiers in +their guard-room--the citizen in his bath. It is indeed difficult, as our +step re-echoes through the silent streets, to divest ourselves of the +impression, that we are wandering where the enchanter's wand has been all +powerful, that he has waved it, and lo! the city sleeps for a season, +until some event shall have been fulfilled.</p> + +<p>Our party were in the Via Appia of Pompeii, when Acmé turned aside, to +remark one tomb more particularly. It was an extensive one, surrounded +with a species of iron net work, through which might be seen ranges of red +earthen vases. Acme turned to the custode, and asked if this was the +burial place of some noble family.</p> + +<p>"No! Signora! this is where the ashes of the gladiators are preserved."</p> + +<p>From the Appian Way, they entered through the public gate; and passing +many shops, whose signs yet draw notice, if they no longer attract custom, +they came to the private houses, and entered one--that called +Sallust's--for the purpose of a more minute inspection.</p> + +<p>"Nothing appears to be more strange," said George, "on looking at these +frescoed paintings, and on such mosaics as we have yet seen; than the +extraordinary familiarity of their subjects.</p> + +<p>"There are many depicted on these walls, and I do not think, Henry, <i>we</i> +are first rate classics;--and yet it would be difficult to puzzle us, in +naming the story whence these frescoes have their birth. Look at this +Latona--and Leda--and the Ariadne abbandonata--and this must certainly be +the blooming Hebe. Ah! and look at this little niche! This grinning little +deity--the facsimile of an Indian idol--must express their idea of the +Penates. Strange! is it not?"</p> + +<p>"But are you not," rejoined Sir Henry, "somewhat disappointed in the +dwelling-houses? This seems one of the most extensive, and yet, how +diminutive the rooms! and how little of attraction in the whole +arrangement, if we except this classic fountain.</p> + +<p>"This I think is a proof, that the ancient Romans must have chiefly passed +their day abroad--in the temples--the forum--or the baths--and have left +as home tenants none but women, and those unadorned with the toga virilis.</p> + +<p>"These habits may have tended to engender a manlier independence; and +to impart to their designs a loftier spirit of enterprise. What say +you, Acmé?"</p> + +<p>"I might perhaps answer," replied Acmé, "that the happiness gained, is +well worth the glory lost. But I must not fail to remind you, that--grand +as this nation must have been--my poor fallen one was its precursor--its +tutor--and its model."</p> + +<p>Hence they wandered to the theatre--the forum--the pantheon--and +amphitheatre:--which last, from their converse in the earlier part of the +day--fancy failed not to fill with daring combatants. As the guide +pointed out the dens for the wild beasts--the passages through which they +came--and the arena for the combat--Sir Henry, like most British +travellers, recalled the inimitable story of Thraso, and his lion fight. +[Footnote: In Valerius.]</p> + +<p>The following day was devoted to the Studio, and to the inspection of the +relics of Pompeii.</p> + +<p>These relics, interesting as they are, yet convey a melancholy lesson to +the contemplative mind. Each modern vanity here has its parallel--each +luxury its archetype. Here may be found the cameoed ring--and the signet +seal--and the bodkin--and paint for the frail one's cheek--a cuirass, that +a life guardsman might envy--weights--whose elegance of shape charm the +eye. Not an article of modern convenience or of domestic comfort, that has +not its representative. They teach us the trite French lesson.</p> + +<p> "L'histoire se répète." + +With the exception of these two excursions, and one to Poestum; our +travellers passed their mornings sight-seeing in Naples, and chiefly at +the Studio, whose grand attraction is the thrilling group of the +Taureau Farnese.</p> + +<p>In the cool of the evening, until twilight's hour was past, they drove +into the country, or promenaded in the gardens of the Villa Reale, to the +sound of the military band.</p> + +<p>Each night they turned their footsteps towards the Mole; where they +embarked on the unruffled bay. To a young and loving heart--the heart of a +bride--no pleasure can equal that, of being next the one loved best on +earth--at night's still witching hour. The peculiar scenery of Naples, yet +more enhances such pleasure.</p> + +<p>Elsewhere night may boast its azure vault and its silver stars. Cynthia +may ride the heavens in majesty--the water may be serene--and the heart +attuned to the night's beauty:--but from the <i>land</i>, if discernible--we +can rarely expect much addition to the charms of the scene, and can never +expect it to form its chief attraction. At Naples it is otherwise.</p> + +<p>Our eyes turn to the Volcano, whose flame, crowning the mountain's summit, +crimsons the sky.</p> + +<p>We watch with undiminished interest, its fitful action--now bursting out +brilliantly--now fading, as if about to be extinguished for ever. Seated +beside George, and thus gazing, what pleasure was Acmé's! We need not say +time flew swiftly. Never did happiness meet with more ardent votary than +in that young bride--or find a more ready mirror, on which to reflect her +beaming attributes--than on the features of that bride's husband.</p> + +<p>Their swimming eyes would fill with tears--and their voices sink to the +lowest whisper.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry rarely interrupted their converse; but leant his head on the +boat's side, and thoughtfully gazed on the placid waters, till he almost +deemed he saw reflected on its surface, the face of one, in whose society +<i>he</i> felt he too might be blest.</p> + +<p>But these fancies would not endure long. Delmé would quickly arouse +himself; and, warned by the lateness of the hour, and feeling the +necessity that existed, for his thinking for the all-engrossed pair, would +order the rowers to direct the boat's course homewards.</p> + +<p>Returned to their hotel, it may be that orisons more heavenward, have +issued from hearts more pure.</p> + +<p>Few prayers more full of gratitude, have been whispered by earthly +lips, than were breathed by George and his young wife in the solitude +of their chamber.</p> + +<p>How often is such uncommon happiness as this the precursor of evil!</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter II.</h1> + +<h2>The Doctor</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Son port, son air de suffisance,<br /> +Marquent dans son savoir sa noble confiance.<br /> +Dans les doctes debats ferme et rempli de coeur,<br /> +Même après sa défaite il tient tête an vainqueur.<br /> +Voyez, pour gagner temps, quelles lenteurs savantes,<br /> +Prolongent de ses mots les syllabes traînantes!<br /> +Tout le monde l'admire, et ne peut concevoir<br /> +Que dans un cerveau seul loge tant de savoir."</blockquote> + + +<p>It was soon after the excursion to Poestum, that a packet of letters +reached the travellers from Malta. These letters had been forwarded from +England, on the intelligence reaching Emily, of George's intended +marriage. They had been redirected to Naples, by Colonel Vavasour, and +were accompanied by a few lines from himself.</p> + +<p>In Sir Henry's communication with his sister, he had prudently thrown a +veil, over the distressing part of George's story, and had dwelt warmly, +on the beauty and sweetness of temper of Acmé Frascati. He could hardly +hope that the proposed marriage, would meet with the entire approval of +those, to whom he addressed himself.</p> + +<p>The letters in reply, however, only breathed the affectionate overflowings +of kind hearts. Mrs. Glenallan sent her motherly blessing to George; and +Emily, in addition to a long communication to her brother, wrote to Acmé +as to a beloved sister; begging her to hasten George's return to England, +that they might meet one, in whom they must henceforward feel the +liveliest interest.</p> + +<p>"How kind they all are," said George. "I only wish we <i>were</i> with them."</p> + +<p>"And so do I," said Acmé. "How dearly I shall love them all."</p> + +<p>"George!" said Sir Henry, abruptly, "do you know, I think it is quite time +we should move farther north. The weather is getting most oppressive; and +we have nearly exhausted the lions of Naples."</p> + +<p>"With all my heart," replied George. "I am ready to leave it whenever +you please."</p> + +<p>On Sir Henry's considering the best mode of conveyance, it occurred to +him, that some danger might arise from the malaria of the Pontine marshes; +and indeed, Rome and its environs were represented, at that time, as being +by no means free from this unwelcome visitant.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry enquired if there were any English physicians resident in +Naples; and having heard a high eulogium passed by the waiter, on a Doctor +Pormont, "who attended the noble Consul, and my Lord Rimington," ventured +to enclose his card, with a note, stating that he would be glad of five +minutes' conversation with that gentleman.</p> + +<p>In a short time, Doctor Pormont was introduced.</p> + +<p>He was a tall man, with very marked features, and a deeply furrowed brow; +whose longitudinal folds, however, seemed rather the result of thought or +of study, than of age. The length of his nose was rivalled by the width of +his mouth. When he spoke, he displayed two rows of very clean and very +regular teeth, but which individually narrowed to a sharp point, and gave +his whole features a peculiarly unpleasing expression. His voice was +husky--his manners chilling--his converse that of a pedant.</p> + +<p>Doctor Pormont was in many respects a singular man. From childhood, he had +been remarkable for stoicism of character. He possessed none of the weak +frailties, or gentle sympathies, which ordinarily belong to human nature. +His blood ran cold, like that of a fish. Never had he been known to lose +his equanimity of deportment.</p> + +<p>A species of stern principle, however, governed his conduct; and his very +absence of feeling, made him an impartial physician, and one of the most +successful anatomists of the day.</p> + +<p>What brought him to bustling, sunny Naples, was an unfathomed +mystery. Once there, he acquired wealth without anxiety, and patients +without friends.</p> + +<p>Amongst the many anecdotes, current amongst his professional brethren, as +to the blunted feelings of Doctor Pormont, was one,--related of him when +he was lecturer at a popular London institution. A subject had been +placed on the anatomist's table, for the purpose of allowing the lecturer, +to elucidate to the young students, the advantages of a post mortem +examination, in the determination of diseases. The lecturer dissected as +he proceeded, and was particularly clear and luminous. He even threw light +on the previous habits of the deceased, and showed at what period of life, +the germ of decay was probably forming.</p> + +<p>A friend casually enquired, as they left the lecture room, whether the +subject had been a patient of his own.</p> + +<p>"No!" replied the learned lecturer, "the body is that of my cousin and +schoolfellow, Harry Welborne. I attended his funeral, at some little +distance from town, a couple of days ago. My servant must have given +information to the exhumer. It is clear the body was removed from the +vault on the same evening."</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé briefly explained to Doctor Pormont, his purpose in +sending for him. He stated that he was anxious to take his advice, as to +the best mode of proceeding to Rome, and also as to the best sleeping +place for the party;--that he had a wholesome dread of the malaria, but +that one of his party being a female, and another an invalid, he thought +it might be as well to sleep one night on the road. Regarding all this, he +deferred to the advice and superior judgment of the physician.</p> + +<p>"Judgment," said Doctor Pormont, "is two-fold. It may be defined, either +as the faculty of arriving at the knowledge of things, which may be +effected by the synthetic or analytic method; or it may be considered as +the just perception of them, when they are fully indagated.</p> + +<p>"Our problem seems to resolve itself into two cases.</p> + +<p>"First: does malaria exist to an unusual and alarming extent, on the route +you purpose taking?</p> + +<p>"Secondly: the existence conceded--what is the best method to escape the +evil effects that might attend its inhibition into the human system?</p> + +<p>"Let us apply the synthetic method to our first case."</p> + +<p>The Doctor prefaced his arguments, by a long statement, as to the gradual +commencement, and progress of malaria;--showed how the atmosphere, +polluted by exhalations of water, impregnated with decaying and putrified +vegetable matter, gave forth miasmata; which he described as being +particles of poison in a volatile state.</p> + +<p>He alluded to the opinion held by many, that the disease owed its origin +to the ravages of the barbarians, who destroying the Roman farms and +villas, had made <i>desert</i> what were <i>fertile</i> regions.</p> + +<p>He traced it from the time of the late Roman Emperors, to that of the +dominion of the Popes, whose legislative enactments to arrest the malady, +he failed not to comment on at length.</p> + +<p>He explained the uncertainty which continued to exist, as to the +boundaries of the tract of country, in which the disease was rife; and +then plunged into his argument. + +George, at this crisis, quietly took the opportunity of gliding from the +room. Sir Henry stretched his legs on an ottoman, and appeared immersed in +the study of a print--the Europa of Paul Veronese--which hung over the +mantel-piece.</p> + +<p>"The Diario di Roma," continued the Doctor, "received this day, decidedly +states that malaria is fearfully raging on the Neapolitan road. Pray +forgive me, if I occasionally glide into the vulgar error, of confounding +the disease itself, with the causes of that disease.</p> + +<p>"On the other hand, a young collegian, who arrived in Naples from Rome +yesterday evening, states that he smoked and slept the whole journey, and +suffered no inconvenience whatever.</p> + +<p>"Here two considerations present themselves. While sleep has been +considered by the best authorities, as predisposing the human frame to +infection, by opening the pores, relaxing the integuments, and retarding +the circulation of the blood; I cannot overlook the virtues of tobacco, +narcotic--aromatic--disinfecting--as we must grant them to be.</p> + +<p>"Here then may I place in juxta-position, the testimony of the Diario, and +that of a young gentleman, half of his time asleep--the other half, under +the influence of the fumes of tobacco.</p> + +<p>"Synthetically, I opine, that we may conclude that malaria does exist, and +to a great degree, in the Campagna di Roma. Will you now allow me, to +submit the question under dispute, to the analytic process? By many, in +the present age, though not by me, it is considered the more philosophical +mode of reasoning."</p> + +<p>"I am extremely obliged to you, Doctor," said Sir Henry, in a quiet tone +of voice, "but you have raised the synthetic structure so admirably, +that I think that in this instance we may dispense with your analysis. +Pray proceed!"</p> + +<p>"Having already shown, then--although your kindness has allowed me to do +so but partially--that malaria does indeed exist, it becomes me to show, +which is the best mode of avoiding its baneful effects.</p> + +<p>"Injurious as are the miasmata in general, and fatal as are the effects of +that peculiar form in this country, termed malaria; the diseases they +engender, I apprehend to be rather endemic than epidemic.</p> + +<p>"It would be difficult to determine, to what part of the Campagna, the +disease is at present confined; but I should certainly not advise you, to +sleep within the bounds of contagion, for the predisposing effects of +sleep I have already hinted at.</p> + +<p>"Rapid travelling is, in my opinion, the best prophylactic I can prescribe, +as besides a certain exhilarating effect on the spirits, the swift passage +through the air, will remove any spiculæ of the marsh miasmata, which may +be hovering near your persons. Air, cheerfulness, and exercise, however, +predispose to, and are the results of sleep: and to an invalid especially, +sleep is indispensable.</p> + +<p>"In Mr. Delmé's case, therefore, I would recommend a temporary halt."</p> + +<p>Dr. Pormont then gave an account of the length of the stages, the nature +of the post-house accommodations, and the probable degree of danger +attached to each site.</p> + +<p>From all this, Delmé gathered, that malaria existed to some extent, on the +line of road they were to travel--that sleep would be necessary for +George--and that, on the whole, it would be most desirable to sleep at an +inn, situated at a hamlet between Molo di Gaetà and Terracina, somewhat +removed from the central point of danger.</p> + +<p>But the truth is, that Sir Henry Delmé was disposed to consider Dr. +Pormont, with his pomposity, and wordy arguments, as a mere superficial +thinker; and he half laughed at himself, for having ever thought it +necessary to consult him. This class of men influence less than they +ought. Sensible persons are apt to set them down, as either fools or +pedants. Their very magniloquence condemns them; for, in the present day, +it seems an axiom, that simplicity and genius are invariably allied.</p> + +<p>This rule, like most others, has its exceptions; and it would be well for +all of us, if we thought less of the manner, in which advice may be +delivered, and more of the matter which it may contain.</p> + +<p>The Doctor rose to take leave,--Sir Henry witnessed his departure with +lively satisfaction; and, with the exception of enjoying a hearty laugh, +at his expense, with George and Acmé, ceased to recollect that such a +personage existed.</p> + +<p>Delmé, however, had cause to remember that Doctor Pormont.</p> + +<p>Were it not so, he would not have figured in these pages.</p> + +<p>The last evening they were at Naples, they proceeded, as was their +custom, to the Mole; and there engaging a boat, directed it to be rowed +across the bay.</p> + +<p>The volcano was more than usually brilliant, and the villages at its base, +appeared as clear as at noonday.</p> + +<p>The water's surface was not ruffled by a ripple. A bridal party was +following in the wake of their boat--and nuptial music was floating past +them in subdued cadence.</p> + +<p>A nameless regret filled their minds, as they thought of the journey on +the coming morrow. They had been so happy in Naples. Could they hope to be +happier elsewhere?</p> + +<p>It was midnight, when they returned to the hotel. As they neared its +portico, the round cold moon fell on the forms of the lazzaroni, who were +lying in groups round the pillars.</p> + +<p>One of the party sprang to his feet, alarming the slumberers. The whole +of them rose with admirable cheerfulness--took off their hats +respectfully--and made way for the forestieri.</p> + +<p>During the momentary pause that ensued, Acmé turned to the volcano, and +playfully waved her hand in token of farewell.</p> + +<p>Her eyes filled with tears, and she clung heavily to George's arm.</p> + +<p>She was doomed never to look on that scene again.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter III.</h1> + +<h2>The Beginning of the End</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Thou too, art gone! thou loved and lovely one,<br /> +Whom youth and youth's affections bound to me."</blockquote> + + +<p>At an early hour, rich aureate hues yet streaking the east, our party were +duly seated in a roomy carriage of Angrasani's, on their way to Rome.</p> + +<p>They had hopes of arriving at the capital, in time to witness that unique +sight, the illumination of Saint Peter's; a sight which few can remember, +without deeming its anticipation well worthy, to urge on the jaded +traveller, to his journey's termination.</p> + +<p>Who can forget the play of the fountains in front of the Vatican, the +music of whose descending water is most distinctly audible, although +crowds throng the wide and noble space.</p> + +<p>Breathless--silent all--is the assembled multitude, as the clock of Saint +Peter's gives its long expected signal.</p> + +<p>Away! darkness is light! a fairy palace springs before us! its +beautiful proportions starting into life, until the giddy brain reels, +from the excess of that splendour, on which the eye suddenly and +delightedly feasts!</p> + +<p>With the exception of a short halt, which afforded the travellers time for +an early dinner at the Albergo di Cicerone, which is about half a mile +from the Molo di Gaeta, they prosecuted their journey without +intermission, till arrived within sight of their resting place.</p> + +<p>This bore the aspect of an extensive, but dilapidated mansion, evidently +designed for some other purpose.</p> + +<p>Its proprietor had erected it, at a period, when malaria was either less +prevalent or less dreaded; and his descendants had quitted it, for some +more salubrious site.</p> + +<p>The albergo itself, occupied but a small portion of the building, +immediately on the right and left of the porch.</p> + +<p>The other apartments, which formed the wings, were either wholly +tenantless, or were fitted up as hay-lofts, granaries, or receptacles for +farming utensils.</p> + +<p>In the upper rooms, the panes of glass were broken; and the whole aspect +of the place betokened desolation and decay.</p> + +<p>As they drove to the door, a throng of mendicants and squalid peasants +came forth. Their faces had a cadaverous hue, which could not but be +remarked. Their eyes, too, seemed heavy, and deep set in the head; while +many had their throats bandaged, from the effects of glandular swellings, +brought on by the marshy exhalations.</p> + +<p>Acmé threw some small pieces of Neapolitan money amongst them; and their +gratitude in consequence was boundless.</p> + +<p>She sprang from the carriage like a young fawn.</p> + +<p>"Come, come, Giorgio! look at that sweet sun-set--and at the blue clouds +edged with burnished gold! Would it not be a sin to remain in-doors on +such an evening? and besides," added she, in a whisper--"is it not a +pleasure to leave behind us these sickly faces, to muse on an Italian +landscape, and admire an Italian sky? Driver! will you order supper? We +will take a stroll while it is preparing.</p> + +<p>"Come! Henry! come away! do not look so grave, or you will make me think +of your amusing friend--Dr. Pormont."</p> + +<p>"Thompson!" said George, as the smiling bride bore off the brothers in +triumph, "do not forget your mistress' guitar case!"</p> + +<p>The travellers passed a paved court, in rear of the building; whence a +wicket gate admitted them to a kitchen garden, well stocked with the +requisites for an Italian salad.</p> + +<p>Behind this, enclosed with embankments, was a small vineyard. The vines +twined round long poles, these again being connected with thin cords, +which the tendrils were already clasping.</p> + +<p>Thus far, there was nothing that seemed indicative of an unwholesome +situation. As they extended their walk, however, pursuing the +continuation of the path, that had led them through the vineyard, they +arrived at the edge of a dark sluggish stream, whose surface was nearly on +a level with them; and which, gradually becoming broader, at length +emptied itself into what might be styled a wide and luxuriant marsh, which +abounded with water-fowl. This was studded with small round lakes, and +with islets of an emerald verdure.</p> + +<p>From the bosom of the marsh itself, rose bulrushes and pollard willows, +towered over by gigantic noisy reeds.</p> + +<p>The stream was thickly strewn with the pure honours of the water lily.</p> + +<p>If--as Eastern poets tell us--these snowy flowers bathe their charms, +when the sun is absent, but lift up their virgin heads, when he looks +down approvingly:--but that, sometimes deceived, on some peerless +damsel's approaching, they mistake her eye for their loved luminary, and +pay to her beauty an abrupt and involuntary homage:--<i>now</i> might they +indeed gaze upward, to greet as fair a face as ever looked down on the +water they bedecked.</p> + +<p>They approached the edge of the marsh, and discovered a rural arbour +of faded boughs--the work of children--placed around a couple of +willow trees.</p> + +<p>Within it, was a rude seat; and some parasitical plant with a deep red +flower, had twined round the withered boughs, and mingled fantastically +with the dead leaves.</p> + +<p>Below the arbour, was a small stone embankment, which prevented the +waters from encroaching, and made the immediate site comparatively free +from dampness.</p> + +<p>Acme arranged her cloak--took one hand of each of the brothers in +hers--and in the exuberance of health and youth--commenced prattling in +that charming domestic strain, which only household intimacy can beget +or justify. George leant back in silence, but could have clasped her to +his heart.</p> + +<p>Memory! memory! who that hath a soul, cannot conjure up one such gentle +being,--while the blood for one moment responds to thy call, and rolls +through the veins with the tide of earlier and of happier days?</p> + +<p>At the extremity of the horizon, was a more extensive lake, than any near +them. Over this, the sun was setting; tinting its waters with a clear rich +amber, save in its centre, where, the lake serving as a halo to its glory, +a blood-red sun was vividly reflected.</p> + +<p>As the sun descended, one slender ray of light, came quivering and +trembling through the leaves of the arbour.</p> + +<p>This little incident gave rise to a thousand fanciful illustrations on the +part of Acmé. Her spirits were as buoyant as a child's; and her playful +mood soon communicated itself to her travelling companions.</p> + +<p>They compared the solitary ray to virtue in loneliness--to the flickering +of a lamp in a tomb--to a star reflected on quicksilver--to the flash of a +sword cutting through a host of foes--and to the light of genius illuming +scenes of poverty and distress.</p> + +<p>Thompson made his appearance, and announced the supper as being ready.</p> + +<p>"This," said George, good-naturedly, "is an odd place, is it not, +Thompson? Is it anything like the Lincolnshire Fens?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly, your honour!" replied the domestic, with perfect gravity, +"but there ought to be capital snipe shooting here."</p> + +<p>"Ah! che vero Inglese!" said the laughing Acmé.</p> + +<p>They retraced their steps to the inn, and were ushered into the supper +room, which was neither more nor less than the kitchen, although formerly, +perhaps, the show room of the mansion. Around the deep-set fireplace, +watching the simmering of the cauldron, were grouped some peasants.</p> + +<p>The supper table was laid in one corner of the room; and although neither +the accommodation nor the viands were very tempting, there was such a +disposition to be happy, that the meal was as much enjoyed as if served up +in a palace.</p> + +<p>The repast concluded, Acmé rose; and observing a countryman with his arm +bound up, enquired if he had met with an accident; and patiently listened +to the prosy narrative of age.</p> + +<p>An old bronzed husbandman, too, was smoking his short earthen pipe, near +the window sill.</p> + +<p>"What a study for Lanfranc!" said the happy wife, as she took up a burnt +stick, and sketched his dried visage to the life.</p> + +<p>The old man regarded his portrait on the wall, with intense satisfaction; +and commenced dilating on what he had been in youth.</p> + +<p>How different, thought Sir Henry, is all this from the conduct of a well +bred English girl! yet how natural and amiable does it appear in Acmé! +With what an endearing manner--with what sweet frankness--does this young +foreigner wile away--what would otherwise have been--a tedious evening in +an uncomfortable inn!</p> + +<p>As the night advanced, George brought out the guitar; and Acmé warbled to +its accompaniment like a fairy bird.</p> + +<p>It was a late hour, before Delmé ventured to remind the songstress, that +they must prosecute their journey early on the following morning.</p> + +<p>"I will take your hint," said Acmé, as she shook his hand, and tripped +out of the room; "buona sera! miei Signori."</p> + +<p>"She is a dear creature!" said Delmé,</p> + +<p>"She is indeed!" replied his brother, "and I am a fortunate man. Henry! I +think I shall be jealous of you, one of these days. I do believe she loves +you as well as she does me!"</p> + +<p>The brothers retired.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry's repose was unbroken, until morning dawned; when George entered +his room in the greatest agitation, and with a face as pale as death, told +him Acmé was ill.</p> + +<p>Delmé arose immediately; and at George's earnest solicitation, +entered the room.</p> + +<p>Her left cheek, suffused with hectic, rested on one small hand. The other +arm was thrown over the bed-clothes. Her eyes sparkled like diamonds. Her +lips murmured indistinctly--the mind was evidently wandering.</p> + +<p>A man and horse were sent express to Naples. The whole of that weary day, +George Delmé was by Acmé's side, preparing cooling drinks, and vainly +endeavouring to be calm.</p> + +<p>As the delirium continued, she seemed to be transported to the scenes of +her early youth,</p> + +<p>As night wore on, the fever, if it were such, gradually increased.</p> + +<p>George's state of mind bordered on distraction. Sir Henry became +exceedingly alarmed, and anxious for the presence of the medical +attendant.</p> + +<p>At about four o'clock the following morning, Doctor Pormont was announced,</p> + +<p>Cold and forbidding as was his aspect, George hailed him as his tutelary +angel, and burst into tears, as he implored him to exert his skill to the +uttermost.</p> + +<p>The physician approached the invalid, and in a moment saw that the case +was a critical one.</p> + +<p>His patient was bled twice during the day, and strong opiates +administered.</p> + +<p>Towards evening, she slept; and awoke with restored consciousness, but +with feelings keenly alive to her own danger.</p> + +<p>The following night and day she lingered on, speaking but little.</p> + +<p>During the whole of that time, even, when she slept, George's hand +remained locked in hers. On this, her tears would sometimes fall, but +these she strove to restrain.</p> + +<p>To the others around her, she spoke gratefully, and with feminine +softness; but her whole heart seemed to be with George.</p> + +<p>Doctor Pormont, to do him justice, was unremitting in his exertions, and +hardly took rest.</p> + +<p>All his professional skill was called to her aid; but from the second day, +he saw it was in vain.</p> + +<p>The strength of the invalid failed her more and more.</p> + +<p>Doctor Pormont at length called Sir Henry on one side, and informed him +that he entertained no doubt of a fatal result; and recommended his at +once procuring such religious consolation as might be in his power.</p> + +<p>No Protestant clergyman was near at hand, even had Delmé thought it +adviseable to procure one.</p> + +<p>But he was well aware, that however Acme might have sympathised with +George, her earlier religious impressions would now in all probability +be revived.</p> + +<p>A Catholic priest was sent for, and arrived quickly. He was habited in +the brown garb of his order, his waist girt with a knotted cord. He bore +in his hand the sainted pyx, and commenced to shrive the dying girl.</p> + +<p>It was the soft hour of sunset, and the prospect in rear of the mansion, +presented a wide sea of rich coloured splendour.</p> + +<p>Over the window, had been placed a sheet, in order to exclude the light +from the invalid's chamber. The priest knelt by her bedside; and folding +his hands together, began to pray.</p> + +<p>The rays of the setting sun, fitfully flickered on the sheet, over whose +surface, light shadows swiftly played, ever and anon glancing on the shorn +head of the kneeling friar.</p> + +<p>His intelligent face was expressive of firm belief.</p> + +<p>His eye turned reverentially to heaven, as in deep and sonorous accents, +he implored forgiveness for the sufferer, for the sins committed during +her mortal coil.</p> + +<p>Acmé sat up in her bed. On her countenance, calm devotion seemed to usurp +the place of earthly affections, and earthly passions.</p> + +<p>The soul was preparing for its upward flight. Delmé led away the sorrowing +husband, and the minister of Christ was left alone, to hear the contrite +outpourings of a weak departing sinner.</p> + +<p>The priest left the chamber, but spoke not, either to the physician, or +the expecting brothers. His impassioned glance belonged to another and a +higher world.</p> + +<p>He made one low obeisance--his robes swept the passage quickly--and the +Franciscan friar sought his lonely cell to reflect on death.</p> + +<p>The brothers re-entered. They found Acmé in the attitude in which they had +left her--her features wearing an expression at once radiant and resigned.</p> + +<p>But--as her eye met George's--as she saw the havoc grief had already +made--the feelings of the woman resumed the mastery.</p> + +<p>She extended her arms--she brought his lip to hers--as if she would have +made <i>that</i> its resting place for ever.</p> + +<p>Alas! an inward pang told her to be brief. She drew away her face, +crimsoned with her passion's flush--tremblingly grasped his hand---and, +with voice choked by emotion, gave her last farewell.</p> + +<p>"Giorgio, my dearest! my own! I shall soon join my parents. I feel +this--and my mother's words, as she met me by the olive tree, ring +in my ear.</p> + +<p>"She told me I should die thus; but she told me, too, that I should kill +the one dearest to me on earth. Thank God! this cannot be--for I know my +life to be ebbing fast.</p> + +<p>"Dearest I do not mourn for me too much. You may find another Acmé--as +true. But, oh! sometimes--yes! even when your hearts cling fondly +together, as ours were wont to do--think of your own Acmé--who loved you +first--and only--and does it now! oh! how well! Giorgio! dear! dearest! +adieu! My feet are <i>so, so</i> cold--and ice seems"--</p> + +<p>A change shadowed the face, as from some corporeal pang.</p> + +<p>She tried to raise an ebony cross hung round her neck.</p> + +<p>In the effort, her features became convulsed--and George heard a low +gurgling in the throat, as from suffocation.</p> + +<p>Ah! that awful precursor of "the first dark hour of nothingness."</p> + +<p>George Delmé sprang to his feet, and was supporting her head, when the +physician grasped his arm.</p> + +<p>"Stop! stop! you are preventing"----</p> + +<p>The lower lip quivered--and drooped--slightly! very slightly!</p> + +<p>The head fell back.</p> + +<p>One long deep drawn sigh shook the exhausted frame.</p> + +<p>The face seemed to become fixed.</p> + +<p>Doctor Pormont extended his hand, and silently closed those dark +fringed lids.</p> + +<p>The cold finger, with its harsh touch, once more brought consciousness.</p> + +<p>Once more the lid trembled! there was an upward glance that looked +reproachful!</p> + +<p>Another short sigh! Another!</p> + +<p>Lustreless and glaring was that once bright eye!</p> + +<p>Again the physician extended his hand.</p> + +<p>"Assuredly, gentlemen! vitality hath departed!"</p> + +<p>A deep--solemn--awful silence--which not a breath disturbed--came over +that chamber of death.</p> + +<p>It seemed as if the insects had ceased their hum--that twilight had +suddenly turned to night--that an odour, as of clay, was floating around +them, and impregnating the very atmosphere.</p> + +<p>George took the guitar, whose chords were never more to be woke to harmony +by that loved hand, and dashed it to the ground.</p> + +<p>Ere Delmé could clasp him, he had staggered to the bedside--and fallen +over Acmé's still form.</p> + +<p>And did her frame thrill with rapture? did she bound to his caress? did +her lip falter from her grateful emotion?--did she bury his cheek in her +raven tresses?</p> + +<p>No, no! still--still--still were all these! still as death!</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter IV.</h1> + +<h2>Rome</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Woe unto us, not her; for she sleeps well."</blockquote> + +<hr width="200" align="left" size="1" /> + +<blockquote> "The Niobe of nations! there she stands,<br /> +Childless and crownless, in her voiceless woe;<br /> +An empty urn within her wither'd hands,<br /> +Whose holy dust was scatter'd long ago.<br /> +The Scipios' tomb contains no ashes now;<br /> +The very sepulchres lie tenantless<br /> +Of their heroic dwellers; dost thou flow,<br /> +Old Tiber! through a marble wilderness?<br /> +Rise, with thy yellow waves, and mantle her distress."</blockquote> + + +<p>Undertakers! not one word shall henceforth pass our lips in your +dispraise!</p> + +<p>An useful and meritorious tribe are you!</p> + +<p>What! though sleek and rosy cheeked, you seem to have little in common +with the wreck of our hopes?</p> + +<p>What! if our ears be shocked by profane jests on the weight of your +burden, as you bear away from the accustomed mansion, what <i>was</i> its +light and its load star--but what <i>is</i>--pent up in your dark, narrow +tenement, but--</p> + +<blockquote> "A heap,<br /> +To make men tremble, that never weep."</blockquote> + +<p>What! if our swimming eye--as we follow those dear--dear remains to their +last lone resting place--glance on the heartless myrmidons, who salute the +passer by with nods of recognition, and smiles of indifference?</p> + +<p>What! if, returning homewards--choked with bitter recollections, which +rise fantastic, quick, and ill-defined--the very ghosts of departed +scenes and years--what if we start as we then perceive you--lightsome of +heart, and glib of speech--clustered and smirking, on that roof of +nodding plumes--neath which, one short hour since--lay what was dearest +to us on earth?</p> + +<p>Let us not heed these things! for--light as is the task to traders in +death's dark trappings; painful and soul-subduing are those withering +details to the grieving and heart-struck mourner!</p> + +<p>We left George lying half insensible by the side of his dead wife.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry and Thompson carried him to the apartment of the former, and +while Thompson hung over his master, attempting to restore +consciousness--Delmé had a short conference with Doctor Pormont as to +their ulterior proceedings.</p> + +<p>Doctor Pormont--as might be expected--enjoined the greatest promptitude, +and recommended that poor Acmé's remains, should be consigned to the +burial place of the hamlet.</p> + +<p>George's objections to this, however, as soon as he was well enough to +comprehend what was going forward, seemed quite insurmountable; and after +Sir Henry had sought the place by moonlight, and found it wild and open, +with goats browsing on the unpicturesque graves, and with nothing to mark +the sanctity of the spot, save a glaring painted picture of the Virgin, +his own prejudices became enlisted, and he consented to proceed to Rome.</p> + +<p>After this decision was made, he found it utterly impossible, to procure +a separate conveyance for the corpse; and was equally unsuccessful in his +attempt to procure that--which from being a common want, he had been +disposed to consider of every day attainment--a coffin.</p> + +<p>While his brother made what arrangements he best might, poor George +returned to the chamber of death, and gazed long and fixedly--with the +despair of the widower--on those hushed familiar features.</p> + +<p>Her hair was now turned back, and was bound with white ribbon, and +festooned with some of the very water lilies that Acmé had admired. A +snow-white wreath bound her brow. It was formed of the white convolvulus. +We have said the features were familiar; but oh! how different! The yellow +waxen hue--the heavy stiffened lid--how they affected George Delmé, who +had never looked on death before!</p> + +<p>First he would gaze with stupid awe--then turn to the window, and attempt +to repress his sobs--return again--and refuse to credit his bereavement. +Surely the hand moved? No! of its free will shall it never move more! The +eye! was there not a slight convulsion in that long dark lash?</p> + +<p>No! over it may crawl the busy fly, and creep the destructive worm, +without let, and without hindrance!</p> + +<p>No finger shall be raised in its behalf--that lid shall remain closed +and passive! + +The insect and the reptile shall extend their wanderings over the +smooth cheek, and revel on the lips, whose red once rivalled that of +the Indian shell.</p> + +<p>Moveless! moveless shall all be!</p> + +<p>The long--long night wore on.</p> + +<p>An Italian sunrise was gilding the heavens.</p> + +<p>Acmé was never to see a sunrise more; and even this reflection--trite as +it may seem, occurring to one, who had watched through the night, by the +side of the dead--even this reflection, convulsed again the haggard +features of the mourner.</p> + +<p>Delmé had made the requisite arrangements during the night, for their +early departure.</p> + +<p>Just previous to the carriage being announced, he led George out of the +room; whilst the physician, aided by the women, took such precautions as +the heat of the climate rendered necessary.</p> + +<p>Linen cloths, steeped in a solution of chlorate of lime, were closely +wound round the body--a rude couch was placed in the inside of the +carriage, which was supported by the two seats--and the carriage itself +was darkened.</p> + +<p>These preparations concluded--and having parted with Doctor +Pormont---whose attentions, in spite of his freezing manner, had been very +great--the brothers commenced their painful task.</p> + +<p>George knelt at the head of the corpse--ejaculated one short fervent +prayer--and then, assisted by his brother, bore it in his arms to +the vehicle.</p> + +<p>The Italian peasants, with rare delicacy, witnessed the scene from the +windows of the inn, but did not intrude their presence.</p> + +<p>The body was placed crosswise in the carriage. George sat next the +corpse. Delmé sat opposite, regarding his brother with anxious eye.</p> + +<p>Most distressing was that silent journey! It made an impression on Sir +Henry's mind, that no after events could ever efface; and yet it had +already been his lot, to witness many scenes of horror, and ride over +fields of blood.</p> + +<p>We have said it was a silent journey. George's despair was too deep +for words.</p> + +<p>The first motion of the carriage affected the position of the corpse. +George put one arm round it, and kept it immoveable. Sometimes, his +scalding tears would fall on that cold face, whose outline yet preserved +its beautiful roundness.</p> + +<p>It appeared to Sir Henry, that he had never seen life and death, so +closely and painfully contrasted. There sat his brother, in the full +energies of manhood and despair; his features convulsed--his frame +quivering--his sobs frequent--his pulse quick and disturbed.</p> + +<p>There lay extended his mistress--cold--colourless--silent--unimpassioned. +There was life in the breeze that played on her raven tresses--grim death +was enthroned on the face those tresses swept.</p> + +<p>Not that decay's finger had yet really assailed it; but one of the +peculiar properties of the preservative used by Doctor Pormont, is its +pervading sepulchral odour.</p> + +<p>They reached Rome; and the consummation of their task drew nigh.</p> + +<p>Pass we over the husband's last earthly farewell. Pass we over that +subduing scene, in which Henry assisted George to sever long ringlets, and +rob the cold finger, of affection's dearest pledge.</p> + +<p>Alas! these might be retained as the legacy of love.</p> + +<p>They were useless as love's memento. Memory, the faithful mirror, forbade +the relic gatherer ever to forget!</p> + +<p>Would you know where Acmé reposes?</p> + +<p>A beautiful burial ground looks towards Rome. It is on a gentle declivity +leaning to the south-east, and situated between Mount Aventine and the +Monte Testaccio.</p> + +<p>Its avenue is lined with high bushes of marsh roses; and the cemetery +itself, is divided into three rude and impressive terraces.</p> + +<p><i>There</i> sleeps--in a modest nook, surmounted by the wall-flower, and by +creeping ivy, and by many-coloured shrubs, and by one simple yellow +flower, of very peculiar and rare fragrance; a type, as the author of +these pages deemed, of the wonderful etherialised genius of the +man--<i>there</i> sleeps, as posterity will judge him, the first of the poets +of the age we live in--Percy Bysshe Shelley! There too, moulders that +wonderful boy author--John Keats.</p> + +<p>Who can pass his grave, and read that bitter inscription, dictated on his +deathbed, by the heart-broken enthusiast, without the liveliest emotion?</p> + +<p> "Here lies one, whose name was writ in water. + February 4th, 1821."</p> + +<p>The ancient wall of Rome, crowns the ridge of the slope we have described. +Above it, stands the pyramid of Caius Cæstius, constructed some twenty +centuries since.</p> + +<p>Immediately beneath it, in a line with a round tower buried with ivy, and +near the vault of our beautiful countrywoman, Miss Bathurst, who was +thrown from her horse and drowned in the Tiber, may be seen a sarcophagus +of rough granite, surmounted by a black marble slab.</p> + +<p>Luxuriant with wild flowers, and studded even in the winter season, with +daisies and violets, the sides of the tomb are now almost concealed. Over +the slab, one rose tree gracefully droops.</p> + +<p>When seen in the dew of the morning, when the cups of the roses are full, +and crystal drops, distilling from leaves and flowers, are slowly +trickling on the dark stone, you might think that inanimate nature was +weeping for the doom of beauty.</p> + +<p>Only one word is engraved on that slab. Should you visit Rome, and read +it, recollect this story.</p> + +<p>That word is--"Acmé!"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Sir Henry and his brother remained at Rome nearly a month.</p> + +<p>The former, with hopes that the exertion might be useful, in distracting +George from the constant contemplation of his loss, plunged at once into +the sight-seeing of "the eternal city."</p> + +<p>Their days were busily passed--in visiting the classic sites of Rome and +its neighbourhood--in wandering through the churches and convents--and +loitering through the long galleries of the Vatican.</p> + +<p>Delmé, fearfully looking back on the scenes that had occurred in Malta, +was apprehensive, that George's despair might lead to some violent +outbreak of feeling; and that mind and body might sink simultaneously.</p> + +<p>It was not so.</p> + +<p>That heavy infliction appeared to bear with it a torpedo-like power. The +first blow, abrupt and stunning, had paralysed. Afterwards, it seemed to +carry with it a benumbing faculty, which repressed external display. We +say <i>seemed</i>; for there were not wanting indications, even to Sir Henry's +partial eye, that the wound had sunk very deep,</p> + +<p>The mourner <i>might</i> sink, although he did not writhe.</p> + +<p>In the mornings, George, followed by Thompson, would find his way to +the Protestant burial ground; and weep over the spot where his wife +lay interred.</p> + +<p>During the day, he was Sir Henry's constant and gentle companion; giving +vent to no passionate display, and uttering few unavailing complaints. Yet +it was now, that a symptom of disease first showed itself, which Delmé +could not account for.</p> + +<p>George would suddenly lean back, and complain of a spasm on the left side +of the chest. This would occasionally, but rarely, affect the circulation. +George's sleep too, was disturbed, and he frequently had to rise from his +bed, and pace the apartment; but this last circumstance, perhaps, was the +mere result of anxiety of mind.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry, without informing George, consulted a medical gentleman, who +was well known to him, and who happened to be at Rome at the time, +regarding these novel symptoms.</p> + +<p>He was reassured by being informed, that these pains were probably of a +neuralgic character, and not at all likely to proceed from any organic +affection.</p> + +<p>George Delmé's mind was perfectly clear and collected; with the +exception, that he would occasionally allude to his loss, in connection +with some scene or subject of interest before them; and in a tone, and +with language, that, appeared to his brother eccentric, but +inexpressibly touching.</p> + +<p>For instance, they were at Tivoli, and in the Syren's grotto, looking up +to the foaming fall, which dashes down a rude cleft, formed of +fantastically shaped rocks.</p> + +<p>Immediately below this, the waters make a semicircular bend.</p> + +<p>On their surface, a mimic rainbow was depicted in vivid colours.</p> + +<p>"Not for me!" burst forth the mourner, "not for me! does the arc of +promise wear those radiant hues. Prismatic rays once gilded my existence. +With Acmé they are for ever fled. But look! how the stream dashes on! Thus +have the waters of bitterness passed over my soul!"</p> + +<p>In the gallery of the Vatican, too, the very statues seemed to speak to +him of his loss.</p> + +<p>"I like not," would he exclaim, "that disdainful Apollo. Thus cold, +callous, and triumphing in the work of destruction, must be the angel of +death, who winged the shaft at my bright Acmé.</p> + +<p>"May the launching of his arrow, have been but the signal, for her +translation to a sphere, more pure than this.</p> + +<p>"Let us believe her the habitant of some bright planet, such as she +pointed out to us in the Bay of Naples--a seraph with a golden lyre--and +shrouded in a white cymar! No, no!" would he continue, turning his +footsteps towards the adjacent room, where the suffering pangs of +Apollo's high priest are painfully told in marble, "let let me rather +contemplate the Laocoon! His agony seems to sympathise with mine--but was +his fate as hard? <i>He</i> saw his sons dying before him; could a son, or +sons, be as the wife of one's bosom? The serpent twines around him, too, +awaking exquisite corporeal pangs, but would it not have been luxury to +have died with my Acmé?</p> + +<p>"Can the body suffer as the mind?"</p> + +<p>At night, reposing from the fatigues of the day, might the brothers +frequently be seen at the fountain of Trevi; George listlessly swinging +on the chains near it, and steadfastly watching the water, as it gurgled +over the fantastic devices beneath--while his mind wandered back to +Malta, and to Acmé.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry's conduct during this trying period was most exemplary. Like the +mother, who lavishes her tenderest endearments on her sickliest child, +did he now endeavour to support his brother in his afflictions.</p> + +<p>As the bleak night wind came on, he would arouse George from his +reverie--would make him lean his tall form on his--would wrap closely +the folds of his cloak around him--would speak <i>so</i> softly--and soothe +<i>so</i> tenderly.</p> + +<p>And gratefully did George's heart respond to his kindness. He knew that +the sorrow which bowed <i>him</i> to the earth, was also blanching the cheek of +his brother, and he loved him doubly for his solicitude.</p> + +<p>Ah! few brothers have thus made sweet the fraternal tie!</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter V.</h1> + +<h2>The East Indian</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Would I not stem<br /> +A tide of suffering, rather than forego<br /> +Such feelings for the hard and worldly phlegm<br /> +Of those whose thoughts are only turn'd below,<br /> +Gazing upon the ground, with thoughts that dare not glow?"</blockquote> + + +<p>From Rome and our care-worn travellers, let us turn to Mrs. Vernon's +drawing-room at Leamington.</p> + +<p>An unforeseen event suddenly made a considerable change in the hopes and +prospects of our fair friend Julia.</p> + +<p>One warm summer's morning--it was on the very day, that the brothers, with +Acmé, were sailing close to the Calabrian mountains, and the latter was +telling her ghost story, within view of the sweet village of Capo del +Marte--one balmy summer's morning, the Miss Vernons were seated in a room, +furnished like most English drawing-rooms; that is to say, it had tables +for trinkets--a superb mirror--a Broadwood piano--an Erard harp--a +reclining sofa--and a woolly rug, on which slept, dreamt, and snored, a +small Blenheim spaniel.</p> + +<p>Julia had a mahogany frame before her, and was thoughtfully working a +beaded purse.</p> + +<p>The hue of health had left her cheek. Its complexion was akin to that of +translucent alabaster. The features wore a more fixed and regular aspect, +and their play was less buoyant and quick changing than heretofore.</p> + +<p>Deep thought! thus has been thy warfare for ever. First, thou stealest +from the rotund face its joyous dimples; then, dost thou gradually imprint +remorseless furrows on the anxious brow.</p> + +<p>A servant entered the room, and bore on a salver a letter addressed to +Miss Vernon.</p> + +<p>Its deep black binding--its large coat of arms--bespoke it death's +official messenger.</p> + +<p>Julia's cheek blanched as she glanced over its first page.</p> + +<p>Her sisters laid down their work, and looked towards her with some +curiosity.</p> + +<p>Julia burst into tears.</p> + +<p>"Poor uncle Vernon!"</p> + +<p>Her sisters seemed surprised at the announcement, but not to participate +in Julia's feelings on the occasion.</p> + +<p>One of them took up the letter, which had fallen to the ground, and the +two read its contents.</p> + +<p>"How very odd!" said they together, "uncle has left you Hornby, and +Catesfield, and almost all the property!"</p> + +<p>"Has he?" replied Julia, "I could not read it all, for however he may +have behaved to mamma, I ever found him good and kind; and had always +hoped, that we might have yet seen him with us once more. Poor old man! +and the letter says a lingering illness--how sad to think that we were +not with him to soothe his pillow, and cheer his death bed!"</p> + +<p>"Well!" said one of the sisters reddening, "I must say it was his own +fault. He would not live with his nearest relations, who loved him, and +tried to make his a happy home--but showed his caprice <i>then</i>, as he has +<i>now</i>. But I will go up stairs, and break it to mamma, and will tell her +you are an heiress."</p> + +<p>"An heiress!" replied Julia, with heart-broken tone! "an heiress!" The +tear quivered in her eye; but before the moisture had formed its liquid +bead, to course down her pallid cheek; a thought flashed across her, which +had almost the power to recal it to its cell.</p> + +<p>That thought comprised the fervency and timidity--the hopes and fears of +woman's first love. She thought of her last meeting with Sir Henry Delmé: +of the objections which might now be removed.</p> + +<p>A new vista of happiness seemed to open before her.</p> + +<p>It was but for a moment.</p> + +<p>The blush which that thought called up, faded away--the tear trickled +on--her features recovered their serenity--and she turned with a sweet +smile to her sisters.</p> + +<p>"My dear--dear sisters! it is long since we have seen my poor uncle.</p> + +<p>"Affection's ties may have been somewhat loosened. They cannot--I am +sure--have been dissolved.</p> + +<p>"Do not think me selfish enough to retain this generous bequest.</p> + +<p>"It may yet be in my power, and it no doubt is, to amend its too partial +provisions.</p> + +<p>"Let us be sisters still--sisters in equality--sisters in love and +affection."</p> + +<p>Julia Vernon was a very noble girl. She lived to become of age, and she +acted up to this her resolve.</p> + +<p>And, now, a few words as to the individual, by whose death the Miss +Vernons acquired such an accession of property.</p> + +<p>The Miss Vernons' father had an only and a younger brother, who at an +early age had embarked for the East, in the civil service. He had +acquired great wealth, and, after a residence of twenty-five years in the +Bengal Presidency, had returned to England a confirmed bachelor, and a +wealthy nabob. His brother died, while Mr. Benjamin Vernon was on his +passage home. He arrived in England, and found himself a stranger in his +native land.</p> + +<p>He shouldered his cane through Regent Street, and wandered in the +Quadrant's shade;--and in spite of the novelties that every where met +him--in spite of cabs and plated glass--felt perfectly isolated and +miserable.</p> + +<p>It is true, his Indian friends found him out at the Burlington, and their +cards adorned his mantelpiece--for Mr. Benjamin Vernon was said to be +worth a plum, and to be on the look out for a vacancy in the Directory.</p> + +<p>But although these were indisputably his Indian friends, it appeared to +Mr. Vernon, that they were no longer his friends of India. They seemed to +him to live in a constant state of unnatural excitement.</p> + +<p><i>Some</i> prided themselves on being stars in fashion's gayest +circle--others, whom he had hardly known, <i>were</i> fathers--for their +families were educating in England---he now found surrounded by children, +on whose provision they were wholly intent.</p> + +<p>These were off at a tangent, "to see Peter Auber, at the India House," +or, "could not wait an instant; they were to meet Josh: Alexander +precisely at two."</p> + +<p>And then their flippant sons! taking wine with him, forsooth--adjusting +their neckcloths--and asking "whether he had met their father at Madras or +Calcutta?"</p> + +<p>This to a true Bengalee!</p> + +<p>Nor was this all!</p> + +<p>The young renegades ate their curry with a knife!</p> + +<p>Others, from whom he had parted years before, shook hands with him at the +Oriental, as if his presence there was a matter of course; and then asked +him "what he thought of Stanley's speech?"</p> + +<p>Now, there are few men breathing, who have their sympathies so keenly +alive--who show and who look for, such warmth of heart---who are so +chilled and hurt by indifference--as your bachelor East Indian.</p> + +<p>The married one may solace himself for coldness abroad, by sunny smiles at +home;--but the friendless bachelor is sick at heart, unless he encounter a +hearty pressure of the hand--an eye that sparkles, as it catches his--an +interested listener to his thousand and one tales of Oriental scenes, and +of Oriental good fellowship.</p> + +<p>Mr. Benjamin Vernon soon found this London solitude--it was worse than +solitude--quite insupportable.</p> + +<p>He determined to visit his brother's widow, and left town for Leamington. +The brother-in-law felt more than gratified at the cordial welcome that +there met him.</p> + +<p>His heart responded to their tones of kindness, and the old Indian, in the +warmth of his gratitude, thought he had at length discovered a congenial +home. He plunged into the extreme of dangerous intimacy; and was soon +domiciled in Mrs. Vernon's small mansion. + +It is absurd what trifles can extinguish friendships, and estrange +affection. Mr. Vernon had always had the controul of his hours--loved his +hookah, and his after-dinner dose.</p> + +<p>His brother's widow was an amiable person, but a great deal too +independent, to humour any person's foibles.</p> + +<p>She liked activity, and disliked smoking; and was too matter-of-fact in +her ideas, to conceive that these indulgences, merely from force of habit, +might have now become absolute necessities.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vernon first used arguments; which were listened to very patiently, +and as systematically disregarded.</p> + +<p>As she thought she knew her ground better, she would occasionally secrete +the hookah, and indulge in eloquent discourse, on the injurious effects, +and waste of time, that the said hookah entailed.</p> + +<p>Nor could the old man enjoy in peace, his evening slumber.</p> + +<p>One of his nieces was always ready to shake him by the elbow, and address +him with an expostulatory "Oh! dear uncle!" which, though delivered with +silvery voice, seemed to him deuced provoking.</p> + +<p>For some time, the old Indian good-naturedly acquiesced in these +arrangements; and was far too polite at any time to scold, or +hazard a scene.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vernon was all complacency, and imagined her triumph assured.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the tempest gathered to a head. Bachelor habits regained their +ascendancy; and Mrs. Vernon was thunderstruck, when it was one morning +duly announced to her, that her brother-in-law had purchased a large +estate in Monmouthshire, and that he intended permanently to reside there.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vernon was deeply chagrined.</p> + +<p>She thought him ungrateful, and told him so.</p> + +<p>At the outset, our East Indian was anxious that his niece Julia, who had +been by far the most tolerant of his bachelor vices, should preside over +his new establishment; but the feelings of the mother and daughter were +alike opposed to this arrangement.</p> + +<p>This was the last rock on which he and his brother's widow split; and it +was decisive.</p> + +<p>From that hour, all correspondence between them ceased.</p> + +<p>Arrived in Wales, our nabob endeavoured to attach himself to country +pursuits--purchased adjoining estates--employed many labourers--and +greatly improved his property. But his rural occupations were quite at +variance with his acquired habits.</p> + +<p>He pined away--became hypochondriacal--and died, just three years after +leaving Mrs. Vernon, for want of an Eastern sun, and something to love.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter VI.</h1> + +<h2>Veil</h2> + + + <blockquote>"The seal is set."</blockquote> + +<p>On the day fixed for the departure of Sir Henry Delmé and his brother, +they together visited once more the sumptuous pile of St. Peter's, and +heard the voices of the practised choristers swell through the mighty +dome, as the impressive service of the Catholic Church was performed by +the Pope and his conclave.</p> + +<p>The morning dawn had seen George, as was his daily custom in Rome, +kneeling beside the grave of Acmé, and breathing a prayer for their +blissful reunion in heaven.</p> + +<p>As the widower staggered from that spot, the thought crossed him, and +bitterly poignant was that thought, that now might he bid a second +earthly farewell, to what had been his pride, and household solace.</p> + +<p>Now, indeed, "was the last link broken." Each hour--each traversed +league--was to bear him away from even the remains of his heart's +treasure.</p> + +<p>Their bones must moulder in a different soil.</p> + +<p>It was Sir Henry's choice that they should on that day visit Saint +Peter's; and well might the travellers leave Rome with so unequalled an +object fresh in the mind's eye.</p> + +<p>Whether we gaze on its exterior of faultless proportions--or on the +internal arrangement, where perfect symmetry reigns;--whether we consider +the glowing canvas--or the inspired marble,--or the rich mosaics;--whether +with the enthusiasm of the devotee, we bend before those gorgeous shrines; +or with the comparative apathy of a cosmopolite, reflect on the historical +recollections with which that edifice--the focus of the rays of +Catholicism--teems and must teem forever;--we must in truth acknowledge, +that <i>there</i> alone is the one matchless temple, in strict and perfect +harmony with Imperial Rome.</p> + +<p>Gazing there--or recalling in after years its unclouded majesty--the +delighted pilgrim knows neither shade of disappointment--nor doth he +harbour one thought of decay.</p> + +<p>Where is the other building in the "eternal city," of which we can say +thus much?</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé had engaged a vettura, which was to convey them with the +same horses as far as Florence.</p> + +<p>This arrangement made them masters of their own time, and was perhaps in +their case, the best that could be adopted; for slowness of progress, +which is its greatest objection, was rather desirable in George's then +state of health.</p> + +<p>As is customary, Delmé made an advance to the vetturino, who usually binds +himself to defray all the expenses at the inns on the road.</p> + +<p>The travellers dined early--left Rome in the afternoon--and proposed +pushing on to Neppi during the night.</p> + +<p>When about four miles on their journey, Delmé observed a mausoleum on the +side of the road, which appeared of ancient date, and rather curious +construction.</p> + +<p>On consulting his guide-book, he found it designated as the tomb of Nero.</p> + +<p>On examining its inscription, he saw that it was erected to the memory of +a Prefect of Sardinia; and he inwardly determined to distrust his +guide-book on all future occasions.</p> + +<p>The moon was up as they reached the post-house of Storta.</p> + +<p>The inn, or rather tavern, was a small wretched looking building, with a +large courtyard attached, but the stables appeared nearly--if not +quite--untenanted.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry's surprise and anger were great, when the driver, coolly +stopping his horses, commenced taking off their harness;--and informed the +travellers, that <i>there</i> must they remain, until he had received some +instructions from his owner, which he expected by a vettura leaving Rome +at a later hour.</p> + +<p>It was in vain that the brothers expostulated, and reminded him of +his agreement to stop when they pleased, expressing their +determination to proceed.</p> + +<p>The driver was dogged and unmoved; and the travellers had neglected +to draw up a written bargain, which is a precaution absolutely +necessary in Italy.</p> + +<p>They soon found they had no alternative but to submit. It was with a very +bad grace they did so, for Englishmen have a due abhorrence of imposition.</p> + +<p>They at length stepped from the vehicle--indulged in some vehement +remonstrances--smiled at Thompson's voluble execrations, which they found +were equally unavailing--and were finally obliged to give up the point.</p> + +<p>They were shown into a small room. The chief inmates were some Papal +soldiers of ruffianly air, engaged in the clamorous game of moro. Unlike +the close shorn Englishmen, their beards and mustachios, were allowed to +grow to such length, as to hide the greater part of the face.</p> + +<p>Their animated gestures and savage countenances, would have accorded well +with a bandit group by Salvator.</p> + +<p>The landlord, an obsequious little man, with face pregnant with +mischievous cunning, was watching with interest, the turns of the game; +and assisting his guests, to quaff his vino ordinario, which Sir Henry +afterwards found was ordinary enough.</p> + +<p>Delmé's equanimity of temper was already considerably disturbed.</p> + +<p>The scanty accommodation afforded them, by no means diminished his choler; +which he began to expend on the obstinate driver, who had followed them +into the room, and was busily placing chairs round one of the tables.</p> + +<p>"See what you can get for supper, you rascal!"</p> + +<p>"Signore! there are some excellent fowls, and the very best wine of +Velletri."</p> + +<p>The wine was produced and proved vinegar.</p> + +<p>The host bustled away loud in its praise, and a few seconds afterwards, +the dying shriek of a veteran tenant of the poultry yard, warned them that +supper was preparing.</p> + +<p>"Thompson!" said George, rather languidly, "do, like a good fellow, see +that they put no garlic with the fowl!"</p> + +<p>"I will, Sir," replied the domestic; "and the wine, Mr. George, seems none +of the best. I have a flask of brandy in the rumble."</p> + +<p>"Just the thing!" said Sir Henry.</p> + +<p>To their surprise, the landlord proffered sugar and lemons.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry's countenance somewhat brightened, and he declared he would +make punch.</p> + +<p>Punch! thou just type of matrimony! thy ingredients of sweets and bitters +so artfully blended, that we know not which predominate,--so deceptive, +too, that we imbibe long and potent draughts, nor awake to a consciousness +of thy power, till awoke by headache.</p> + +<p>Hail to thee! all hail!</p> + +<p>Thy very name, eked out by thine appropriate receptacle, recals raptures +past--bids us appreciate joys present--and enjoins us duly to reverence +thee, if we hope for joys in futurity.</p> + +<p>A bowl of punch! each merry bacchanal rises at the call!</p> + +<p>Moderate bacchanals all! for where is the abandoned sot, who would not +rather dole out his filthy lucre, on an increase of the mere +alchohol--than expend it on those grateful adjuncts, which, throwing a +graceful veil over that spirit's grossness, impart to it its chief and its +best attraction.</p> + +<p>Up rises then each hearty bacchanal! thrice waving the clear tinkling +crystal, ere he emits that joyful burst, fresh from the heart, which from +his uncontrolled emotion, meets the ear husky and indistinct.</p> + +<p>Delmé squeezed the lemons into not a bad substitute for a bowl, viz. a red +earthen vase of rough workmanship, but elegant shape, somewhat resembling +a modern wine cooler.</p> + +<p>George stood at the inn door, wistfully looking upward; when he remarked +an intelligent boy of fourteen, with dark piercing eyes, observing him +somewhat earnestly.</p> + +<p>On finding he was noticed, he approached with an air of ingenuous +embarrassment--pulled off his cap--and said in a tone of enquiry,</p> + +<p>"Un Signore Inglese?"</p> + +<p>"Yes! my fine fellow! Do you know anything of me or the English?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes!" replied the boy with vivacity, replacing his cap, "I have +travelled in England, and like London very much."</p> + +<p>George conversed with him for some time; and found him to be one of that +class, whose numbers make us unmindful of their wants or their +loneliness; who eke out a miserable pittance, by carrying busts of +plaster-of-Paris--grinding on an organ--or displaying through Europe, +the tricks of some poodle dog, or the eccentricities of a monkey +disguised in scarlet.</p> + +<p>It is rare that these come from a part of Italy so far south; but it +appeared in this instance, that Giuseppe's father being a carrier, had +taken him with him to Milan--had there met a friend, rich in an organ and +porcupine--and had entrusted the boy to his care, in order that he might +see the world, and make his fortune.</p> + +<p>Giuseppe gave a narrative of some little events, that had occurred to him +during his wanderings, which greatly interested George; and he finally +concluded, by saying that his father had now retired to his native place +at Barberini, where many strangers came to see the "antichità." George, +on referring to the guide book, found that this was indeed the case; and +that Isola Barberini is marked as the site of ancient Veii, the rival of +young Rome.</p> + +<p>"And when do you go there, youngster, and how far is it from this?"</p> + +<p>"I am going now, Signore, to be in time for supper. It is only a +'piccolo giro' across the fields; and looks as well by moonlight as at +any other time."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" replied George, "I would be glad to accompany you. Henry," said he, +as he entered the room of the inn, "I am away on a classic excursion to +Veii. The night is lovely--I have an excellent guide--and shall be back +before you have finished your punch making.</p> + +<p>"<i>Do</i> let me go!" and he lowered his voice, and the tears swam in his eyes, +"I cannot endure these rude sounds of merriment, and a moonlight walk will +at least afford nothing that can <i>thus</i> pain me."</p> + +<p>Sir Henry looked out. The night was perfectly fine. The young peasant, +all willingness, had already shouldered his bundle, and was preparing to +move forward.</p> + +<p>"You must not be late, George," said his brother, assenting to his +proposal. "Do not stay too long about the ruins. Remember that you are +still delicate, and that I shall wait supper for you."</p> + +<p>As the boy led on, George followed him in a foot path, which led through +fields of meadow land, corn, and rye.</p> + +<p>The fire-flies--mimic meteors--were giddily winging their way from bush to +bush,--illuming the atmosphere, and imparting to the scene a glittering +beauty, which a summer night in a northern clime cannot boast.</p> + +<p>As they approached somewhat nearer to the hamlet, their course was over +ground more rugged; and the disjointed fragments of rocks strewed, and at +intervals obstructed, the path.</p> + +<p>The cottages were soon reached.</p> + +<p>The villagers were all in front of their dwellings, taking their last meal +for the day, in the open air.</p> + +<p>The young guide stopped in front of a cottage, a little apart from the +rest. The family party were seated round a rude table, on which were +plates and napkins.</p> + +<p>Before the master of the house--a wrinkled old man, with long grey +hair--was a smoking tureen of bread soup, over which he was in the act of +sprinkling some grated Parmesan cheese.</p> + +<p>A plate of green figs, and a large water melon--the cocomero--made up +the repast.</p> + +<p>"Giuseppe! you are late for supper," said the old patriarch, as the boy +approached to whisper his introduction of the stranger.</p> + +<p>The old man waved his hand courteously--made a short apology for the +humble viands--and pointed to a vacant seat.</p> + +<p>"Many thanks," said George, "but my supper already awaits me. I will not, +however, interfere with my young guide. Show me the ruins, Giuseppe, and I +will trouble you no further."</p> + +<p>The boy moved on towards what were indeed ruins, or rather the +vestige of such.</p> + +<p>Here a misshapen stone--there a shattered column--decaying walls, +overgrown with nettles--arches and caves, choked up with rank +vegetation--bespoke remains unheeded, and but rarely visited.</p> + +<p>George threw the boy a piece of silver--heard his repeated cautions as +to his way to Storta--and wished him good night, as he hurried back to +the cottage.</p> + +<p>George Delmé sat on the shaft of a broken pillar, his face almost buried +in his hands, as he looked around him on a scene once so famous.</p> + +<p>But with him classic feelings were not upper-most. The widowed +heart mourned its loneliness; and in that calm hour found the full +relief of tears.</p> + +<p>The mourner rose, and turned his face homeward, slowly--sadly--but +resignedly.</p> + +<p>The heavens had become more overcast--and clouds occasionally were +hiding the moon.</p> + +<p>It was with some difficulty that George avoided the pieces of rock which +obstructed the path.</p> + +<p>The road seemed longer, and wilder, than he had previously thought it.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the loud bay of dogs was borne to his ear; and almost, before he +had time to turn from the path, two large hounds brushed past him, +followed by a rider--his gun slung before his saddle--and his horse +fearlessly clattering over the loose stones.</p> + +<p>The horseman seemed a young Roman farmer. He did not salute, and probably +did not observe our traveller. As the sound from the horse receded, and +the clamour of the dogs died away, a feeling almost akin to alarm crossed +George's mind.</p> + +<p>George was one, however, who rarely gave way to vague fears.</p> + +<p>It so happened that he was armed.</p> + +<p>Delancey had made him a present of a brace of pocket pistols, during the +days of their friendship; and, very much to Sir Henry's annoyance, George +had been in the habit, since leaving Malta, of constantly carrying these +about him.</p> + +<p>He strode on without adventure, until entering the field of rye.</p> + +<p>The pathway became very narrow--so that on either side him, he grazed +against the bearded ears.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he heard a rustling sound. The moon at the moment broke from +a dark cloud, and he fancied he discerned a figure near him half hid +by the rye.</p> + +<p>Again the moon was shrouded.</p> + +<p>A rustling again ensued.</p> + +<p>George felt a ponderous blow, which, aimed at the left shoulder, struck +his left arm.</p> + +<p>The collar of his coat was instantaneously grasped.</p> + +<p>For a moment, George Delmé felt irresolute--then drew a pistol from his +pocket and fired.</p> + +<p>The hold was loosened--a man fell at his feet.</p> + +<p>The pistol's flash revealed another figure, which diving into the +corn--fled precipitately.</p> + +<p>Let us turn to Sir Henry Delmé and to Thompson.</p> + +<p>For some time after George's departure, they were busily engaged in +preparing supper.</p> + +<p>While they were thus occupied, they noticed that the Papal soldiers +whispered much together--but this gave rise to no suspicion on +their part.</p> + +<p>One by one the soldiers strolled out, and the landlord betook himself to +the kitchen.</p> + +<p>The punch was duly made, and Sir Henry, leaving the room, paced +thoughtfully in front of the inn.</p> + +<p>At length it struck him, that it was almost time for his brother to +return.</p> + +<p>He was entering the inn, for the purpose of making some enquiries; when he +saw one of the soldiers cross the road hurriedly, and go into the +courtyard, where he was immediately joined by the vetturino.</p> + +<p>Delmé turned in to the house, and called for the landlord.</p> + +<p>Before the latter could appear, George rushed into the room.</p> + +<p>His hat was off--his eyes glared wildly--his long hair streamed back, +wet with the dews of night. He dragged with him the body of one of the +soldiers; and threw it with supernatural strength into the very centre +of the room.</p> + +<p>"Supper!" said he, "ha, ha, ha! <i>I</i> have brought you supper!"</p> + +<p>The man was quite dead.</p> + +<p>The bullet had pierced his neck and throat. The blood was yet flowing, and +had dabbled the white vest. His beard and hair were clotted with gore.</p> + +<p>Shocked as Sir Henry was, the truth flashed on him. He lost not a moment +in beckoning to Thompson, and rushing towards the stable. The driver was +still there, conversing with the soldier.</p> + +<p>As Sir Henry approached, they evinced involuntary confusion; and the +vetturino---at once unmanned--fell on his knees, and commenced a +confession.</p> + +<p>They were dragged into the inn, and the officers of justice were sent for.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé's anxious regards were now directed to his brother.</p> + +<p>George had taken a seat near the corpse; and was sternly regarding it with +fixed, steady, and unflinching gaze.</p> + +<p>It is certainly very fearful to mark the dead--with pallid +complexion--glazed eye--limbs fast stiffening--and gouts of +blood--standing from out the face, like crimson excrescences on a +diseased leaf.</p> + +<p>But it is far more fearful than even this, to look on one, who is bound +to us by the nearest and most cherished ties--with cheek yet +glowing--expression's flush mantling still--and yet to doubt whether the +intellect, which adorned that frame--the jewel in the casket--hath not for +ever left its earthly tenement.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter VII.</h1> + +<h2>The Vetturini</h2> + + +<blockquote> "Far other scene is Thrasymene now."</blockquote> + +<hr width="200" align="left" size="1" /> + +<blockquote> "Fair Florence! at thy day's decline<br /> +When came the shade from Appennine,<br /> +And suddenly on blade and bower<br /> +The fire-flies shed the sparkling shower,<br /> +As if all heaven to earth had sent<br /> +Each star that gems the firmament;<br /> +'Twas sweet at that enchanting hour,<br /> +To bathe in fragrance of the Italian clime,<br /> +By Arno's stream."</blockquote> + + +<p>The brothers were detained a few days at Storta; while the Roman police, +who, to do them justice, were active on the occasion, and showed every +anxiety to give the travellers as little trouble as possible--were +investigating the occurrences we have described. It appeared that some +suspicion had previously attached itself to Vittore Santado, and that the +eyes of the police had been on him for some time.</p> + +<p>It now became evident, both from his own confession, and subsequent +discoveries, that this man had for years trafficked in the lives and +property of others;--and that the charge connected with George, was one of +the least grave, that would be brought against him.</p> + +<p>It was shown that he was an active agent, in aiding the infamous designs +of that inn, on the Italian frontier, whose enormities have given rise to +more than one thrilling tale of fiction, far out-done by the +reality--that inn--where the traveller retired to rest--but rose not +refreshed to prosecute his journey:--where--if he slumbered but once, +that sleep was his last.</p> + +<p>Until now, his career had been more than usually successful.</p> + +<p>The crafty vetturino had had the art to glean a fair reputation even from +his crimes.</p> + +<p>More than once, had he induced a solitary traveller to leave the high road +and his carriage, for the purpose of visiting some ruin, or viewing some +famous prospect.</p> + +<p>On such occasions, Vittore's accomplices were in waiting; and the +unsuspecting stranger--pillaged and alarmed, would return to the vettura +penniless.</p> + +<p>Vittore would be foremost in his commiseration; and with an air of blunt +sincerity, would proffer the use of his purse; such conduct ensuring the +gratitude, and the after recommendations of his dupe.</p> + +<p>It is supposed that the vetturino had contemplated rifling the carriage in +the inn yard; but some suspicion as to the servant's not leaving the +luggage, and the sort of dog fidelity displayed by Thompson towards the +brothers; had induced him rather to sanction an attempt on George during +his imprudent excursion to Barberini.</p> + +<p>Vittore Santado was executed near the Piazza del Popolo, and to this day, +over the chimney-piece of many a Roman peasant, may be seen the tale of +his crimes--his confessions--and his death; which perused by casual +neighbour guests--calls up many a sign of the cross--and devout look of +rustic terror.</p> + +<p>After the incident we have related in the last chapter, George Delmé, +contrary to Sir Henry's previous misgivings, enjoyed a good night's rest, +and arose tolerably calm and refreshed.</p> + +<p>The following night he was attacked with palpitation of the heart.</p> + +<p>His brother and Thompson felt greatly alarmed; but after an hour's severe +suffering, the paroxysm left him.</p> + +<p>Nothing further occurred at Storta, to induce them to attach very great +importance to the shock George's nerves had experienced; but in after +life, Sir Henry always thought, he could date many fatal symptoms from +that hour of intense excitement.</p> + +<p>Delmé was in Rome two days; during which period, his depositions, as +connected with Santado, were taken down; and he was informed that his +presence during the trial would not be insisted on.</p> + +<p>Delmé took that opportunity again to consult his medical friend; who +accompanied him to Storta, to visit George; and prescribed a regimen +calculated to invigorate the general system.</p> + +<p>He directed Delmé not to be alarmed, should the paroxysm return; and +recommended, that during the attack, George should lie down quietly--and +take twenty drops of Battley's solution of opium in a wine glass of water.</p> + +<p>As his friend did not appear alarmed, Delmé's mind was once more +assured; and he prepared to continue their journey to Florence, by the +way of Perugia.</p> + +<p>Punctual to his time, the new vetturino--as to whose selection Sir Henry +had been very particular--arrived at Storta; and the whole party, with +great willingness left the wretched inn, and its suspicious inmates.</p> + +<p>There certainly could not be a greater contrast, than between the two +Vetturini.</p> + +<p>Vittore Santado was a Roman; young--inclined to corpulency---oily +faced--plausible--and a most consummate rascal.</p> + +<p>Pietro Molini was a Milanese;--elderly--with hardly an ounce of flesh on +his body--with face scored and furrowed like the surface of the hedge +pippin--rough in his manners--and the most honest of his tribe.</p> + +<p>Poor Pietro Molini! never did driver give more cheering halloo to +four-footed beast! or with spirit more elate, deliver in the drawling +patois of his native paesi, some ditty commemorative of Northern liberty! +Honest Pietro! thy wishes were contained within a small compass! thy +little brown cur, snarling and bandy-legged--thy raw-boned steeds--these +were thy first care;--the safety of thy conveyance, and its various +inmates, the second.</p> + +<p>To thee--the most delightful melody in this wide world, was the jingling +of thy horses' bells, as all cautiously and slowly they jogged on their +way:--the most discordant sound in nature, the short husky cough, emitted +from the carcase of one of these, as disease and continued fatigue made +their sure inroads.</p> + +<p>Poor simple Pietro! his only pride was encased in his breeches pocket, and +it lay in a few scraps of paper--remembrances of his passengers.</p> + +<p>One and all lavished praise on Pietro!</p> + +<p>Yes! we have him again before us as we write--his ill-looking, but easy +carriage--his three steeds--the rude harness, eked out with clustering +knots of rope--and the happy driver, seated on a narrow bench, jutting +over the backs of his wheelers, as he contentedly whiffs from his small +red clay pipe--at intervals dropping off in a dose, with his cur on his +lap. At such a time, with what perfect nonchalance would he open his large +grey eyes, when recalled to the sense of his duties, by the volubly +breathed execration of some rival whip--and with what a silent look of +ineffable contempt, would he direct his horses to the side of the road, +and again steep his senses in quiescent repose.</p> + +<p>At night, Pietro's importance would sensibly increase, as after rubbing +down the hides of his favourites, and dropping into the capacious manger +the variegated oats; he would wait on his passengers to arrange the hour +of departure--would accept the proffered glass of wine, and give utterance +to his ready joke.</p> + +<p>A King might have envied Pietro Molini, as---the straw rustling beneath +him--he laid down in his hairy capote, almost between the legs of his +favourite horse.</p> + +<p>To do so will be to anticipate some years!</p> + +<p>Yet we would fain relate the end of the Vetturino.</p> + +<p>Crossing from Basle to Strasbourg, in the depth of winter, and descending +an undulated valley, Pietro slept as usual.</p> + +<p>Implicitly relying on the sure footedness of his horses, a fond dream of +German beer, German tobacco, and German sauerkraut, soothed his slumbers.</p> + +<p>A fragment of rock had been loosened from its ancient bed, and lay +across the road.</p> + +<p>Against this the leader tripped and fell.</p> + +<p>The shock threw Pietro and his dog from their exalted station.</p> + +<p>The pipe, which--whether he were sleeping or waking--had long decked the +cheek of the honest driver, now fell from it, and was dashed into a +thousand pieces.</p> + +<p>It was an evil omen.</p> + +<p>When the carriage was stopped, Pietro Molini was found quite lifeless. He +had received a kick from the ungrateful heel of his friend Bruno, and the +wheel of the carriage, it had been his delight to clean, had passed over +the body of the hapless vetturino.</p> + +<p>Ah! as that news spread! many an ostler of many a nation, shook his head +mournfully, and with saddened voice, wondered that the same thing had not +occurred years before.</p> + +<p>At the time, however, to which we allude--viz., the commencement of the +acquaintance between our English travellers, and Pietro; the latter +thought of anything rather than of leaving a world for which he had an +uncommon affection.</p> + +<p>He and Thompson soon became staunch allies; and the want of a common +language seemed only to cement their union.</p> + +<p>Not Noblet, in her inimitable performance of the Muette, threw more +expression into her sweet face--than did Pietro, into the furrowed lines +of his bronzed visage, as he endeavoured to explain to his friend some +Italian custom, or the reason why he had selected another dish, or +other wine; rather than that, to which they had done such justice the +previous day.</p> + +<p>Thompson's gestures and countenance in reply, partook of a more stoical +character; but he was never found wanting, when a companion was needed for +a bottle or a pipe.</p> + +<p>Their friendship was not an uninstructive one.</p> + +<p>It would have edified him, who prides himself on his deep knowledge of +human nature, or who seizes with avidity on the minuter traits of a +nation, to note with what attention the English valet, would listen to a +Milanese arietta; whose love notes, delivered by the unmusical Pietro, +were about as effectively pathetic as the croak of the bull frog in a +marsh, or screech of owl sentimentalising in ivied ruin; and to mark +with what gravity, the Italian driver would beat his hand against the +table; in tune to "Ben Baxter," or "The British Grenadiers," roared out +more Anglico.</p> + +<p>There are two grand routes from Home to Florence:--the one is by Perugia, +the other passes through Sienna. The former, which is the one Sir Henry +selected, is the most attractive to the ordinary traveller; who is enabled +to visit the fall of Terni, Thrasymene, and the temple of Clitumnuss The +first, despite its being artificial, is equal in our opinion, to the +vaunted Schaffhausen;--the second is hallowed in story;--and the third has +been illustrated by Byron.</p> + +<blockquote> "Pass not unblest the genius of the place!<br /> +If through the air a zephyr more serene<br /> +Win to the brow, 'tis his; and if ye trace<br /> +Along the margin a more eloquent green,<br /> +If on the heart, the freshness of the scene<br /> +Sprinkle its coolness, and from the dry dust<br /> +Of weary life a moment lave it clean<br /> +With nature's baptism,--'tis to him ye must<br /> +Pay orisons for this suspension of disgust."</blockquote> + +<p>Poor George Delmé showed little interest in anything connected with +this journey. Sir Henry embarked on the lake above, in order to see the +cascade of Terni in every point of view; and afterwards took his +station with George, on various ledges of rock below the fall--whence +the eye looks upward, on that mystic scene of havoc, turbulence, and +mighty rush of water.</p> + +<p>But the cataract fell in snowy sheet--the waves hissed round the sable +rocks--and the rainbow played on the torrent's foam;--but these +possessed not a charm, to rouse to a sense of their beauty, the sad +heart of the invalid.</p> + +<p>Near the lake of Thrasymene, they passed some hours; allowing Pietro to +put up his horses at Casa di Piano. Sir Henry, with a Livy in his hand, +first proceeded to the small eminence, looking down on the round tower of +Borghetto; and on that insidious pass, which his fancy peopled once more, +with the advancing troops of the Consul.</p> + +<p>The soldier felt much interested, and attempted to impart that interest to +George; but the widowed husband shook his head mournfully; and it was +evident, that his thoughts were not with Flaminius and his entrapped +soldiers, but with the gentle Acmé, mouldering in her lonely grave.</p> + +<p>From Borghetto, they proceeded to the village of Torre, where Delmé was +glad to accept the hospitable offer of its Priest, and procure seats for +himself and George, in the balcony of his little cottage. From this +point, they looked down on the arena of war.</p> + +<p>There it lay, serene and basking in the rays of the meridian sun.</p> + +<p>On either side, were the purple summits of the Gualandra hills.</p> + +<p>Beneath flowed the little rivulet, once choked by the bodies of the +combatants; but which now sparkled gaily through the valley, although at +intervals, almost dried up by the fierce heat of summer.</p> + +<p>The lake was tranquil and unruffled--all on its margin, hushed and +moveless. What a contrast to that exciting hour, which Sir Henry was +conjuring up again; when the clang of arms, and crash of squadrons, +commingled with the exulting shout, that bespoke the confident hope of the +wily Carthaginian; and with that sterner response, which hurled back the +indomitable spirit of the unyielding, but despairing Roman!</p> + +<p>Our travellers quitted the Papal territories; and entering Tuscany, passed +through Arezzo, the birth-place of Petrarch; arriving at Florence just +previous to sunset.</p> + +<p>As they reached the Lung' Arno, Pietro put his horses to a fast trot, and +rattling over the flagged road, drew up in front of Schneidorff's with an +air of greater importance, than his sorry vehicle seemed to warrant.</p> + +<p>The following morning, George Delmé was taken by his brother, to visit +the English physician resident at Florence; and again was Delmé informed, +that change of scene, quiet, and peace of mind, were what his brother +most required.</p> + +<p>George was thinner perhaps, than when at Rome, and his lip had lost its +lustrous red; but he concealed his physical sufferings, and always met +Henry with the same soft undeviating smile.</p> + +<p>On their first visit to the Tribune, George was struck with the Samian +Sibyl of Guercino.</p> + +<p>In the glowing lip--the silken cheek--the ivory temple--the eye of +inspiration--the bereaved mourner thought he could trace, some faint +resemblance to the lost Acmé. Henceforward, it was his greatest pleasure, +to remain with eyes fixed on that masterpiece of art.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé, accompanied by the custode, would make himself +acquainted with the wonders of the Florentine gallery; and every now and +then, return to whisper some sentence, in the soothing tones of brotherly +kindness. At night, their usual haunt was the public square--where the +loggio of Andrea Orcagna presents so much, that may claim attention.</p> + +<p>There stands the David! in the freshness of his youth! proudly regarding +his adversary--ere he overthrow, with the weapon of the herdsman, the +haughty giant.</p> + +<p>The inimitable Perseus, too! the idol of that versatile genius, Benvenuto +Cellini:--an author! a goldsmith! a cunning artificer in jewels! a founder +in bronze! a sculptor in marble! the prince of good fellows! the favored +of princes! the warm friend and daring lover! as we gaze on his glorious +performance, and see beside it the Hercules, and Cacus of his rival Baccio +Bandanelli,--we seem to live again in those days, with which Cellini has +made us so familiar:--and almost naturally regard the back of the bending +figure, to note if its muscles warrant the stinging sarcasm of Cellini, +which we are told at once dispelled the pride of the aspiring +artist--"that they resembled cucumbers!"</p> + +<p>The rape of the Sabines, too! the white marble glistening in the +obscurity, until the rounded shape of the maiden seems to elude the strong +grasp of the Roman!</p> + +<p>Will she ever fly from him thus? will the home of her childhood be ever as +dear? No! the husband's love shall replace the father's blessing; and the +affections of the daughter, shall yield to the tender yearnings of the +mother's bosom.</p> + +<p>We marvel not that George's footsteps lingered there!</p> + +<p>How often have <i>we</i>--martyrs to a hopeless nympholepsy--strayed through +that piazza, at the self same hour--there deemed that the heart would +break--but never thought that it might slowly wither.</p> + +<p>How often have <i>we</i> gleaned from those beauteous objects around, but +aliment to our morbid griefs;--and turning towards the gurgling fountain +of Ammonati, and gazing on its trickling waters, have vainly tried to +arrest our trickling tears!</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter VIII.</h1> + +<h2>Arguà</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "There is a tomb in Arquà: rear'd in air,<br /> +Pillar'd in their sarcophagus, repose<br /> +The bones of Laura's lover."</blockquote> + +<hr width="200" align="left" size="1" /> + +<blockquote> "I stood in Venice on the Bridge of Sighs."</blockquote> + + +<p>How glorious is the thrill, which shoots through our frame, as we first +wake to the consciousness of our intellectual power; as we feel the +spirit--the undying spirit--ready to burst the gross bonds of flesh, and +soar triumphant, over the sneers of others, and our own mistrust.</p> + +<p>How does each thought seem to swell in our bosom, as if impatient of the +confined tenement--how do the floating ideas congregate--how does each +impassioned feeling subdue us in turn, and long for a worthy utterance!</p> + +<p>This is a very bright moment in the history of our lives. It is one in +which we feel--indubitably feel--that we are of the fashioning of +God;--that the light which intellect darts around us, is not the result of +education--of maxims inculcated--or of principles instilled;--but that it +is a ray caught from the brightness of eternity--that when our wavering +pulse has ceased to beat, and the etherialised elements have left the +baser and the useless dust--that ray shall not be quenched; but shall +again be absorbed in the full effulgence from which it emanated.</p> + +<p>Surely then, if such a glorious moment as this, be accorded to even the +inferior votaries of knowledge--to the meaner pilgrims, struggling on +towards the resplendent shrines of science:--how must <i>he</i>--the divine +Petrarch, who could so exquisitely delineate love's hopes and story, as to +clothe an earthly passion, with half the attributes of an immortal +affection:--how must <i>he</i> have revelled in the proud sensations called +forth at such a moment!</p> + +<p>It is the curse of the poet, that he must perforce leave the golden +atmosphere of loftiest aspirations--step from the magic circle, where all +is pure and etherial--and find himself the impotent denizen, of a sombre +and an earthly world,</p> + +<p>It was in the early part of September, that the brothers turned their +backs on the Etrurian Athens. Their destination was Venice, and their +route lay through Bologna and Arquà.</p> + +<p>They had been so satisfied, under the guidance of their old vetturino, +that Sir Henry made an arrangement, which induced him to be at Florence, +at the time of their departure;--and Pietro and Thompson were once more +seated beside each other.</p> + +<p>Before commencing the ascent of the Appennines, our travellers visited the +country seat of the Archduke; saw the gigantic statue executed by John of +Bologna, which frowns over the lake; and at Fonte-buona, cast a farewell +glance on Florence, and the ancient Fiesole.</p> + +<p>As they advanced towards Caravigliojo, the mountains began to be more +formidable, and the scenery to lose its smiling character.</p> + +<p>Each step seemed to add to the barrenness of the landscape.</p> + +<p>The wind came howling down from the black volcanic looking ridges--then +swept tempestuously through some deep ravine.</p> + +<p>On either side the road, tall red poles presented themselves, a guide to +the traveller during winter's snows; while, in one exposed gully, were +built large stone embankments for his protection--as a Latin inscription +intimated--from the violence of the gales.</p> + +<p>Few signs of life appeared.</p> + +<p>Here and there, her white kerchief shading a sun-burnt face, a young +Bolognese shepherd girl might be seen on some grassy ledge, waving her +hand coquettishly; while her neglected flock, with tinkling bell, browsed +on the edge of the precipice. As they neared Bologna, however, the +scenery changed.</p> + +<p>Festoons of grapes, trained to leafy elms, began to appear--white villas +chequered the suburbs--and it was with a pleasurable feeling, that they +neared the peculiar looking city, with its leaning towers, and old +façades. It is the only one, where the Englishman recals Mrs, Ratcliffe's +harrowing tales; and half expects to see a Schedoni, advancing from some +covered portico.</p> + +<p>The next day found them in the Bolognese gallery, which is the first which +duly impresses the traveller, coming from the north, with the full powers +of the art.</p> + +<p>The soul of music seems to dwell in the face of the St. Cecilia; and the +cup of maternal anguish to be filled to the brim, as in Guide's Murder of +the Innocents, the mother clasps to her arms the terrified babe, and +strives to flee from the ruthless destroyer.</p> + +<p>It was on the fourth morning from their arrival in Bologna, that they +approached the poet's "mansion and his sepulchre."</p> + +<p>As they threaded the green windings of vine covered hills, these gradually +assumed a bolder outline, and, rising in separate cones, formed a sylvan +amphitheatre round the lovely village of Arquà.</p> + +<p>The road made an abrupt ascent to the Fontana Petrarca. A large ruined +arch spanned a fine spring, that rushes down the green slope.</p> + +<p>In the church-yard, on the right, is the tomb of Petrarch.</p> + +<p>Its peculiarly bold elevation--the numberless thrilling associations +connected with the poet--gave a tone and character to the whole scene. The +chiaro-scuro of the landscape, was from the light of his genius--the shade +of his tomb.</p> + +<p>The day was lovely--warm, but not oppressive. The soft green of the hills +and foliage, checked the glare of the flaunting sunbeams.</p> + +<p>The brothers left the carriage to gaze on the sarcophagus of red marble, +raised on pilasters; and could not help deeming even the indifferent +bronze bust of Petrarch, which surmounts this, to be a superfluous +ornament in such a scene.</p> + +<p>The surrounding landscape--the dwelling place of the poet--his tomb facing +the heavens, and disdaining even the shadow of trees--the half-effaced +inscription of that hallowed shrine--all these seemed appropriate, and +melted the gazer's heart.</p> + +<p>How useless! how intrusive! are the superfluous decorations of art, amid +the simpler scenes of nature.</p> + +<p>Ornament is here misplaced. The feeling heart regrets its presence at the +time, and attempts, albeit in vain, to banish it from after recollections.</p> + +<p>George could not restrain his tears, for he thought of the dead; and they +silently followed their guide to Petrarch's house, now partly used as a +granary. Passing through two or three unfinished rooms, whose walls were +adorned with rude frescoes of the lover and his mistress, they were shown +into Petrarch's chamber, damp and untenanted.</p> + +<p>In the closet adjoining, were the chair and table consecrated by the poet.</p> + +<p>There did he sit--and write--and muse--and die!</p> + +<p>George turned to a tall narrow window, and looked out on a scene, fair and +luxuriant as the garden of Eden.</p> + +<p>The rich fig trees, with their peculiar small, high scented fruit, mixed +with the vines that clustered round the lattice.</p> + +<p>The round heads of the full bearing peach trees, dipped down in a leafy +slope beneath a grassy walk;--and this thicket of fruit was charmingly +enlivened, by bunches of the scarlet pomegranate, now in the pride of +their blossom.</p> + +<p>The poet's garden alone was neglected--rank herbage choking up its +uncultivated flowers.</p> + +<p>A thousand thoughts filled the mind of George Delmé.</p> + +<p>He thought of Laura! of his own Acmé!</p> + +<p>With swimming glance, he looked round the chamber.</p> + +<p>It was almost without furniture, and without ornament. In a niche, and +within a glass case, was placed the skeleton of a dumb favourite of +Petrarch's.</p> + +<p>Suddenly George Delmé felt a faintness stealing over him:--and he +turned to bare his forehead, to catch the slight breeze from below +redolent of sweets.</p> + +<p>This did not relieve him.</p> + +<p>A sharp pain across the chest, and a fluttering at the heart, as of a bird +struggling to be free, succeeded this faintness.</p> + +<p>Another rush of blood to the head:--and a snap, as of some tendon, was +distinctly felt by the sufferer.</p> + +<p>His mouth filled with blood.</p> + +<p>A small blood-vessel had burst, and temporary insensibility ensued.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry was wholly unprepared for this scene.</p> + +<p>Assisted by Thompson, he bore him to the carriage--sprinkled his face with +water--and administered cordials.</p> + +<p>George's recovery was speedy; and it almost seemed, as if the rupture of +the vessel had been caused by the irregular circulation, for no further +bad effects were felt at the time.</p> + +<p>The loss of blood, however, evidently weakened him; and his spasms +henceforward were more frequent.</p> + +<p>He became less able to undergo fatigue; and his mind, probably in +connection with the nervous system, became more than ordinarily excited.</p> + +<p>There was no longer wildness in his actions; but in his thoughts and +language, was developed a poetical eccentricity--a morbid sympathy with +surrounding scenes and impressions, which kept Sir Henry Delmé in a +constant state of alarm,--and which was very remarkable.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"What! at Mestré already, Pietro?" said Sir Henry.</p> + +<p>"Even so, Signore! and here is the gondola to take you on to Venice."</p> + +<p>"Well, Pietro! you must not fail to come and see us at the inn."</p> + +<p>The vetturino touched his hat, with the air of a man who would be very +sorry <i>not</i> to see them.</p> + +<p>It was not long ere the glittering prow of the gondola pointed to Venice.</p> + +<p>Before the travellers, rose ocean's Cybele; springing from the waters, +like some fairy city, described to youthful ear by aged lip.</p> + +<p>The fantastic dome of St. Mark--the Palladian churches--the columned +palaces--the sable gondolas shooting through the canals--made its aspect, +as is its reality, unique in the world.</p> + +<p>"Beautiful, beautiful city!" said George, his eye lighting up as he spoke, +"thou dost indeed look a city of the heart--a resting place for a wearied +spirit. And our gondola, Henry, should be of burnished silver; and those +afar--so noiselessly cutting their way through the glassy surface--those +should be angels with golden wings; and, instead of an oar flashing +freely, a snowy wand of mercy should beat back the kissing billows.</p> + +<p>"And Acmé, with her George, should sit on the crystal cushion of glory--and +we would wait expectant for you a long long time--and then you should join +us, Henry, with dear Emily.</p> + +<p>"And Thompson should be with us, too, and recline on the steps of our bark +as he does now.</p> + +<p>"And together we would sail loving and happy through an amethystine sea."</p> + +<p>During their stay in Venice, George, in spite of his increasing languor, +continued to accompany his brother, in his visits to the various objects +of interest which the city can boast.</p> + +<p>The motion of the gondola appeared to have a soothing influence on the +mind of the invalid.</p> + +<p>He would recline on the cushions, and the fast flowing tears would course +down his wan cheeks.</p> + +<p>These, however, were far from being a proof of suffering;--they were +evidently a relief to the surcharged spirit.</p> + +<p>One evening, a little before sunset, they found themselves in the crowded +piazza of Saint Mark. The cafés were thronged with noble Venetians, come +to witness the evening parade of an Austrian regiment. The sounds of +martial music, swelled above the hum of the multitude; and few could +listen to those strains, without participating in some degree, in the +military enthusiasm of the hour.</p> + +<p>But the brothers turned from the pageantry of war, as their eyes fell on +the emblems of Venice free--the minarets of St. Mark, with the horses of +Lysippus, a spoil from Byzantium--the flagless poles that once bore the +banners of three tributary states--the highly adorned azure clock--the +palaces of the proud Doges--where Faliero reigned--where Faliero +suffered:--these were before them.</p> + +<p>Their steps mechanically turned to the beautiful Campanile.</p> + +<p>George, leaning heavily on Sir Henry's arm, succeeded in gaining the +summit: and they looked down from thence, on that wonderful city.</p> + +<p>They saw the parade dismissed--they heard the bugle's fitful blast +proclaim the hour of sunset. The richest hues of crimson and of gold, +tinted the opposite heavens; while on those waters, over which the +gondolas were swiftly gliding, quivered another city, the magic reflection +of the one beneath them.</p> + +<p>They gazed on the scene in silence, till the grey twilight came on.</p> + +<p>"Now, George! it is getting late," said Sir Henry. "I wonder whether we +could find some old mariner, who could give us a chaunt from Tasso?"</p> + +<p>Descending from the Campanile, Sir Henry made enquiries on the quay, and +with some difficulty found gondoliers, who could still recite from their +favourite bard.</p> + +<p>Engaging a couple of boats, and placing a singer in each, the brothers +were rowed down the Canale Giudecca--skirted many of the small islands, +studding the lagoons; and proceeded towards the Adriatic.</p> + +<p>Gradually the boats parted company, and just as Sir Henry was about to +speak, thinking there might be a mistake as to the directions; the +gondolier in the other boat commenced his song,--its deep bass mellowed by +distance, and the intervening waves. The sound was electric.</p> + +<p>It was so exquisitely appropriate to the scene, and harmonised so +admirably, with the associations which Venice is apt to awaken, that one +longed to be able to embody that fleeting sound--to renew its magic +influence in after years. The pen may depict man's stormy feelings: the +sensitive caprice of woman:--the most vivid tints may be imitated on the +glowing canvas:--the inspired marble may realise our every idea of the +beauty of form:--a scroll may give us at will, the divine inspiration, of +Handel:--but there are sounds, as there are subtle thoughts, which, away +from the scenes, where they have charmed us, can never delight us more.</p> + +<p>It was not until the second boatman answered the song, that the brothers +felt how little the charm lay, in the voice of the gondolier, and that, +heard nearer, the sounds were harsh and inharmonious.</p> + +<p>They recited the death of Clorinda; the one renewing the stanza, whenever +there was a momentary forgetfulness on the part of the other.</p> + +<p>The clock of St. Mark had struck twelve, before the travellers had reached +the hotel. George had not complained of fatigue, during a day which even +Sir Henry thought a trying one; and the latter was willing to hope that +his strength was now increasing.</p> + +<p>Their first design had been to proceed though Switzerland, resting for +some time at Geneva. Their plans were now changed, and Sir Henry Belme +determined, that their homeward route should be through the Tyrol and +Bavaria, and eventually down the Rhine.</p> + +<p>He considered that the water carriage, and the very scenes themselves, +might prove beneficial to the invalid.</p> + +<p>Thompson was sent over to Mestré, to inform Pietro; and they prepared to +take their departure.</p> + +<p>"You have been better in Venice," said Sir Henry, as they entered the +gondola, that was to bear them from the city. "God grant that you may long +remain so!"</p> + +<p>George shook his head doubtingly.</p> + +<p>"My illness, Henry, is not of the frame alone, although that is fragile +and shattered.</p> + +<p>"The body lingers on without suffering; but the mind--a very bright sword +in a worthless sheath--is forcing its way through. Some feelings must +remain to the last--gratitude to you--love to dear Emily! Acmé, wife of my +bosom! when may I join you?"</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter IX.</h1> + +<h2>Inspruck</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Oh there is sweetness in the mountain air,<br /> +And life, that bloated ease can never hope to share."</blockquote> + + + +<p>Inspruck! a thousand recollections flash across us, as we pronounce the +word!</p> + +<p>We were there at a memorable period; when the body of the hero of the +Tyrol--the brave, the simple-minded Anderl Hofer--was removed from Mantua, +where he so nobly met a patriot's death, to the capital of the country, +which he had so gallantly defended.</p> + +<p>The event was one, that could not fail to be impressive; and to us it was +doubly so, for that very period formed an epoch in our lives.</p> + +<p>We had lost! we had suffered! we had mourned! Our mind's strength was +shook. Ordinary remedies were worse than futile.</p> + +<p>We threw ourselves into the heart of the Tyrol, and became resigned if +not happy.</p> + +<p>Romantic country! did not duty whisper otherwise, how would we fly to thy +rugged mountains, and find in the kindly virtues of thine inhabitants, +wherewithal to banish misanthropy, and it may be purchase oblivion.</p> + +<p>Noble land! where the chief in his hall--the peasant in his hut--alike +open their arms with sheltering hospitality, to welcome the +stranger--where kindness springs from the heart, and dreams not of sordid +gain--where courtesy attends superior rank, without question, but without +debasement--where the men are valiant, the women virtuous--where it needed +but a few home-spun heroes--an innkeeper and a friar--to rouse up to arms +an entire population, and in a brief space to drive back the Gallic +foeman! Oh! how do we revert with choking sense of gratitude, to the years +we have spent in thy bosom!</p> + +<p>Oh! would that we were again treading the mountain's summit--the rifle +our comrade--and a rude countryman, our guide and our companion.</p> + +<p>In vain! in vain! the net of circumstance is over us!</p> + +<p>We may struggle! but cannot escape from its close meshes.</p> + +<p>We have said that we were at Inspruck at this period.</p> + +<p>It was our purpose, on the following morning, to take our departure.</p> + +<p>With renewed health, and nerves rebraced, we hoped to combat successfully, +a world that had already stung us.</p> + +<p>There was a group near the golden-roofed palace, that attracted our +attention. It consisted of a father and his five sons.</p> + +<p>They were dressed in the costume of the country; wearing a tapering +hat, with black ribbons and feather--a short green jerkin--a red vest +surmounted by broad green braces--and short boots tightly laced to +the ancle.</p> + +<p>They formed a picture of free mountaineers.</p> + +<p>We left our lodging, and passed them irresolutely twice or thrice.</p> + +<p>The old man took off his hat to the stranger.</p> + +<p>"Sir! I am of Sand, in Passeyer.</p> + +<p>"Anderl Hofer was my schoolfellow; and these are my boys, whom I have +brought to see all that remains of him. Oh! Sir! they did not conquer him, +although the murderers shot him on the bastion; but, as he wrote to +Pulher--<i>his</i> friend and mine--it was indeed 'in the name, and by the help +of the Lord, that he undertook the voyage,'"</p> + +<p>We paced through the city sorrowfully. It was night, as we passed by the +church of the Holy Cross.</p> + +<p>Solemn music there arrested our footsteps; and we remembered, that high +mass would that night be performed, for the soul of the deceased patriot.</p> + +<p>We entered, and drew near the mausoleum of Maximilian the First:--leaning +against a colossal statue in bronze, and fixing our eyes on a bas relief +on the tomb: one of twenty-four tablets, wrought from Carrara's whitest +marble, by the unrivalled hand of Colin of Malines!</p> + +<p>One blaze of glory enveloped the grand altar:--vapours of incense floated +above:--and the music! oh it went to the soul!</p> + +<p>Down! down knelt the assembled throng!</p> + +<p>Our mind had been previously attuned to melancholy; it now reeled under +its oppression.</p> + +<p>We looked around with tearful eye. Old Theodoric of the Goths seemed to +frown from his pedestal.</p> + +<p>We turned to the statue against which we had leant.</p> + +<p>It was that of a youthful and sinewy warrior.</p> + +<p>We read its inscription.</p> + +<p><b>Artur, Konig Von England</b></p> + +<p>"Ah! hast <i>thou</i> too thy representative, my country?"</p> + +<p>We looked around once more.</p> + +<p>The congregation were prostrate before the mysterious Host; and we alone +stood up, gazing with profound awe and reverence on the mystic rite.</p> + +<p>The rough caps of the women almost hid their fair brows. In the upturned +features of the men, what a manly, yet what a devout expression reigned!</p> + +<p>Melodiously did the strains proceed from the brazen-balustraded +orchestra; while sweet young girls smiled in the chapel of silver, as +they turned to Heaven their deeply-fringed eyes, and invoked pardon for +their sins.</p> + +<p>Alas! alas! that such as these <i>should</i> err, even in thought! that our +feelings should so often mislead us,--that our very refinement, should +bring temptation in its train,--and our fervent enthusiasm, but too +frequently terminate in vice and crime!</p> + +<p>Our whole soul was unmanned! and well do we remember the morbid prayer, +that we that night offered to the throne of mercy.</p> + +<p>"Pity us! pity us! Creator of all!</p> + +<p>"With thousands around, who love--who reverence--whose hearts, in unison +with ours, tremble at death, yet sigh for eternity;--who gaze with eye +aspiring, although dazzled--as, the curtain of futurity uplifted, fancy +revels in the glorious visions of beatitude:--even here, oh God! hear our +prayer and pity us!</p> + +<p>"We are moulded, though faintly, in an angel's form. Endow us with an +angel's principles. For ever hush the impure swellings of passion! lull +the stormy tide of contending emotions! let not circumstances overwhelm!</p> + +<p>"Receive our past griefs: the griefs of manhood, engrafted on youth; accept +these tears, falling fast and bitterly! take them as past atonement,--as +mute witnesses that we feel:--that reason slumbers not, although passion +may mislead:--that gilded temptation may overcome, and gorgeous pleasure +intoxicate:--but that sincere repentance, and bitter remorse, are +visitants too.</p> + +<p>"Oh guide and pity us!"</p> + +<p>A cheerless dawn was breaking, and a thick damp mist was lazily hanging on +the water's surface, as our travellers waved the hand to Venice.</p> + +<p>"Fare thee well!" said George, as he rose in the gondola to catch a last +glimpse of the Piazzetta, "sea girt city! decayed memorial of patrician +splendour, and plebeian debasement! of national glory, blended with +individual degradation!--fallen art thou, but fair! It was not with +freshness of heart, I reached thee:--I dwelt not in thee, with that +jocund spirit, whose every working or gives the lip a smile, or moistens +the eye of feeling with a tear.</p> + +<p>"Sad were my emotions! but sadder still, as I recede from thy shores, bound +on a distant pilgrimage. Acmé! dear Acmé! would I were with thee!"</p> + +<p>Passing through Treviso, they stopped at Castel Franco, which presents one +of the best specimens of an Italian town, and Italian peasantry, that a +stranger can meet with.</p> + +<p>At Bassano, they failed not to visit the Municipal Hall, where are the +principal pictures of Giacomo da Ponte, called after his native town.</p> + +<p>His style is peculiar.</p> + +<p>His pictures are dark to an excess, with here and there a vivid light, +introduced with wonderful effect.</p> + +<p>From this town, the ascent of the mountains towards Ospedale is commenced; +and the route is one full of interest.</p> + +<p>On the right, lay a low range of country, adorned with vineyards; beyond +which, the mountains rose in a precipitous ridge, and closed the scene +magnificently.</p> + +<p>The Brenta was then reached, and continued to flow parallel with the road, +as far as eye could extend.</p> + +<p>Farther advanced, the mountains presented a landscape more varied:--<i>here</i> +chequered with hamlets, whose church hells re-echoed in mellow harmony: +there--the only break to their majesty, being the rush of the river, as it +formed rolling cascades in its rapid route; or beat in sparkling foam, +against the large jagged rocks, which opposed its progress.</p> + +<p>At one while, came shooting down the stream, some large raft of timber, +manned by adventurous navigators, who, with graceful dexterity, guided +their rough bark, clear of the steep banks, and frequent fragments of +rock;--at another--as if to mark a road little frequented, a sharp turn +would bring them on some sandalled damsel, sitting by the road side, +adjusting her ringlets. Detected in her toilet, there was a mixture of +frankness and modesty, in the way in which she would turn away a blushing +face, yet neglect not, with native courtesy, to incline the head, and +wave the sun-burnt hand.</p> + +<p>From Ospedale, nearing the bold castle of Pergini, which effectually +commands the pass; the travellers descended through regions of beauty, to +the ancient Tridentum of Council celebrity.</p> + +<p>The metal roof of its Duomo was glittering in the sunshine; and the Adige +was swiftly sweeping by its fortified walls.</p> + +<p>Leaving Trent, they reached San Michele, nominally the last Italian town +on the frontier; but the German language had already prepared them for a +change of country.</p> + +<p>The road continued to wind by the Adige, and passing through Lavis, and +Bronzoli, the brothers halted for the night at Botzen, a clean German +town, watered by the Eisach.</p> + +<p>The following day's journey, was one that few can take, and deem their +time misspent.</p> + +<p>Mossy cliffs--flowing cascades--"chiefless castles breaking stern +farewells"--all these were met, and met again, as through Brixen, they +reached the village of Mülks.</p> + +<p>They had intended to have continued their route; but on drawing up at the +post-house, were so struck with the gaiety of the scene, that they +determined to remain for the night.</p> + +<p>Immediately in rear of the small garden of the inn, and with a gentle +slope upwards, a wide piece of meadow land extended. On its brow, was +pitched a tent, or rather, a many-coloured awning; and, beside it, a pole +adorned with flags. This was the station for expert riflemen, who aimed in +succession at a fluttering bird, held by a silken cord.</p> + +<p>The sloping bank of the hill was covered with spectators.</p> + +<p>Age looked on with sadness, and mourned for departed manhood--youth with +envy, and sighed for its arrival.</p> + +<p>After seeing their bedrooms, George leant on Henry's arm, and, crossing +the garden, they took a by-path, which led towards the tent.</p> + +<p>The strangers were received with respect and cordiality.</p> + +<p>Seats were brought, and placed near the scene of contest.</p> + +<p>The trial of skill over, the victor took advantage, of his right, and +selected his partner from the fairest of the peasant girls.</p> + +<p>Shrill pipes struck up a waltz--a little blind boy accompanied these on a +mandolin--and in a brief space, the hill's flat summit was swarming with +laughing dancers.</p> + +<p>Nor was youth alone enlisted in Terpsichore's service.</p> + +<p>The mother joined in the same dance with the daughter; and not +unfrequently tripped with foot as light.</p> + +<p>Twilight came on, and the patriarchs of the village, and with them our +travellers, adjourned to the inn.</p> + +<p>The matrons led away their reluctant charges, and the youth of the village +alone protracted the revels.</p> + +<p>The brothers seated themselves at a separate table, and watched the +village supper party, with some interest.</p> + +<p>Bowls of thick soup, with fish swimming in butter, and fruit floating in +cream, were successively placed in the middle of the table.</p> + +<p>Each old man produced his family spoon, and helped himself with primitive +simplicity:--then lighted his pipe, and told his long tale, till he had +exhausted himself and his hearers.</p> + +<p>Nor must we forget the comely waiter.</p> + +<p>A bunch of keys hanging on one side,--a large leathern purse on the +other--with a long boddice, and something like a hoop--she really +resembled, save that her costume was more homely, one of the portraits +of Vandyke.</p> + +<p>The brothers left Mülks by sunrise, and were not long, ere they reached +the summit of the Brenner, the loftiest point of the Tyrol.</p> + +<p>From the beautiful town of Gries, embosomed in the deep valley, until they +trod the steep Steinach, the mountain scenery at each step become more +interesting. The road was cut on the face of a mountain. On one side, +frowned the mountain's dark slope; on the other, lay a deep precipice, +down which the eye fearfully gazed, and saw naught but the dark fir trees +far far beneath. Dividing that dense wood, a small stream, entangled in +the dark ravine, glided on in graceful windings, and looked more silvery +from its contrast with the sombre forest.</p> + +<p>At the Steinach Pietro pulled up, to show the travellers the capital +of the Tyrol, and to point in the distance to Hall, famous for its +salt works.</p> + +<p>Casting a hasty glance, on the romantic vale beneath them:--the fairest +and most extensive in the northern recesses of the Alps, Sir Henry desired +his driver to continue his journey.</p> + +<p>They rapidly descended, and passing by the column, commemorative of the +repulse of the French and Bavarian armies, soon found themselves the +inmates of an hotel in Inspruck.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter X.</h1> + +<h2>The Students' Stories</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "The lilacs, where the robins built,<br /> + And where my brother set<br /> +The laburnum on his birth-day--<br /> + <i>The tree</i> is living yet."</blockquote> + + +<p>At Inspruck, Delmé had the advantage of a zealous, if not an appropriate +guide, in the red-faced landlord of the hotel, whose youth had been passed +in stirring times, which had more than once, required the aid of his arm, +and which promised to tax his tongue, to the last day of his life.</p> + +<p>He knew all the heroes of the Tyrolese revolution--if revolution it can be +called--and had his tale to tell of each.</p> + +<p>He had got drunk with Hofer,--had visited Joseph Speckbacker, when hid in +his own stable,--and had confessed more than once to Haspinger, the +fighting Capuchin.</p> + +<p>His stories were very characteristic; and, if they did not breathe all the +poetry of patriotism, were at least honest versions, of exploits performed +in as pure and disinterested a spirit, as any that have ever graced the +sacred name of Liberty.</p> + +<p>After seeing all its sights, and making an excursion to some glaciers in +its neighbourhood, Delmé and George left the capital of the Tyrol, to +proceed by easy stages to Munich.</p> + +<p>In the first day's route, they made the passage of the Zirl, which has +justly been lauded; and Pietro failed not to point to a crucifix, placed +on a jutting rock, which serves to mark the site of Maximilian's cave.</p> + +<p>The travellers took a somewhat late breakfast, at the guitar-making +Mittelwald, where chance detained them later than usual. They were still +at some distance from their sleeping place, the hamlet of Wallensee, when +the rich hues of sunset warned Pietro, that if he would not be benighted, +he must urge on his jaded horses.</p> + +<p>The sun's decline was glorious. For a time, vivid streaks of crimson and +of gold, crowned the summits of the heaving purple mountains. Gradually, +these streaks became fainter, and died away, and rolling, slate-coloured +clouds, hung heavily in the west.</p> + +<p>The scene and the air seemed to turn on a sudden, both cold and grey; and, +as the road wound through umbrageous forests of pine, night came abruptly +upon them; and it was a relief to the eye, to note the many bright stars, +as they shone above the tops of the lofty trees.</p> + +<p>A boding stillness reigned, on which the sound of their carriage wheels +ungratefully broke. The rustling of each individual bough had an +intonation of its own; and the deep notes of the woodman, endeavouring to +forget the thrilling legends of his land, mingled fitfully with the hollow +gusts, which came moaning through the leafless branches below.</p> + +<p>Hist! can it be the boisterous revel of the <i>forst geister</i>, that meets +his ear? or is it but the chirp of insects, replying from brake to +underwood?</p> + +<p>Woodman! stay not thy carol!</p> + +<p>Yon sound <i>may</i> be the wild laugh of the Holz König! Better for thee, to +deem it the whine of thine own dog, looking from the cottage door, and +awaiting but thy presence, to share in the homely meal.</p> + +<p>Arrived on the summit of the hill, the lights of the hamlet at length +glistened beneath them. The tired steeds, as if aware of the near +termination of their labours, shook their rough manes, and jingled their +bells in gladness.</p> + +<p>An abrupt descent--and they halted, at the inn facing the lake.</p> + +<p>And here may we notice, that it has been a source of wonder to us, that +English tourists, whose ubiquity is great, have not oftener been seen +straying, by the side of the lake of Wallensee.</p> + +<p>A sweeter spot exists not;--whether we rove by its margin, and perpetrate +a sonnet; limn some graceful tree, hanging over its waters; or gaze on its +unruffled surface, and, noting its aspect so serene, preach from that +placid text, peace to the wearied breast.</p> + +<p>They were shown into a room in the inn, already thronged with strangers. +These were students on their way to Heidelberg.</p> + +<p>They were sitting round a table, almost enveloped in smoke; and were +hymning praises to their loved companion--beer.</p> + +<p>As being in harmony with the moustaches, beard, and bandit +propensities--which true bürschen delight to cultivate--they received +the strangers with an unfriendly stare, and continued to vociferate +their chorus.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry, a little dismayed at the prospect before them, called for the +landlord and his bill of fare; and had the pleasure of discovering, that +the provisions had been consumed, and that two hours would elapse, before +more could be procured.</p> + +<p>At this announcement, Delmé looked somewhat blank. One of the students, +observing this, approached, and apologising, in English, for their +voracity, commenced conversing with the landlord, as to the best course to +be pursued towards obtaining supper.</p> + +<p>His comrades, seeing one of their number speaking with the travellers, +threw off some part of their reserve, and made way for them at the table.</p> + +<p>George and Henry accepted the proffered seats, although they declined +joining the drinking party.</p> + +<p>The students, however, did not appear at ease. As if to relieve their +embarrassment, one of them addressed the young man, with whom Sir Henry +had conversed.</p> + +<p>"Carl! it is your turn now! if you have not a song, we must have an +original story."</p> + +<p>Carl at once complied, and related the following.</p> + + + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">The First Story.</p> + + +<p>Perhaps some of you remember Fritz Hartmann and his friend Leichtberg. +They were the founders of the last new liberty club, and were famous at +<i>renowning</i>.</p> + +<p>These patriots became officers of the Imperial Guard, and at Vienna were +soon known for their friendship and their gallantries.</p> + +<p>Fritz had much sentiment and imagination; but some how or other, this did +not preserve him from inconstancy.</p> + +<p>If he was always kind and gentle, he was not always faithful.</p> + +<p>His old college chums had the privilege of joking him on these subjects; +and we always did so without mercy. Fritz would sometimes combat our +assertions, but they ordinarily made him laugh so much, that a stranger +would have deemed he assented to their truth.</p> + +<p>One night after the opera, the friends supped together at Fritz's.</p> + +<p>I was of the party, and brought for my share a few bottles of +Johannisberg, that had been sent me by my uncle from the last vintage. +Over these we got more than usually merry, and sang all the songs and +choruses of Mother Heidelberg, till the small hours arrived. The sitting +room we were in, communicated on one side with the bedroom;--on the other, +with a little closet, containing nothing but some old trunks.</p> + +<p>This last was closed, but there was a small aperture in the door, over +which was a slight iron lattice work.</p> + +<p>The officer who had last tenanted Fritz's quarters, had kept pheasants +there, and had had this made on purpose.</p> + +<p>After one of our songs, Leichtberg attacked Fritz on the old score.</p> + +<p>"Fritz! you very Werter of sentiment! I was amazed to see you with no +loves to-night at the opera. Where is the widow with sandy hair? or the +actress who gave your <i>kirschenwasser</i> such a benefit? where our +sallow-faced friend? or more than all, where may the fair Pole be who +sells such charming fruit? Fritz! Fritz! your sudden attachment to grapes +is too ominous."</p> + +<p>"Come, Leichtberg!" said Hartmann, laughing, "this is really not fair. Do +you know I think myself very constant, and as to the Pole, I have thought +of little else for these three months."</p> + +<p>"Not so fast! not so fast! Master Hartmann. Was it not on Wednesday week I +met you arm in arm with the actress? Were you not waltzing with the widow +at the Tivoli? have you not"--</p> + +<p>"Come, come!" said Fritz, reddening, "let us say no more. I confess to +having made a fool of myself with the actress, but she begged and prayed +to see me once more, ere we parted for ever. With this exception----"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes!" interrupted Leichtberg, "I know you, Master Fritz, and all +your evil doings. Have you heard of our Polish affaire de coeur, Carl?", +and he turned to me.</p> + +<p>"No!" replied I, "let me hear it."</p> + +<p>"Well, you must know that a certain friend of ours is very economical, and +markets for himself. He bargains for fruit and flowers with the peasant +girls, and the prettiest always get his orders, and bring up their +baskets, and--we will say no more. Well! our friend meets a foreign face, +dark eye--Greek contour--and figure indescribable. She brings him home her +well arranged bouquets. He swears her lips are redder than her roses--her +brow whiter than lilies--and her breath--which he stoops to inhale--far +sweeter than her jasmines. To his amazement, the young flower girl sees no +such great attractions in the Imperial Guardsman; leaves her +nosegays,--throws his Napoleon, which he had asked her to change, in his +face,--and makes her indignant exit. Our sentimental friend finds out her +home, and half her history;--renews his flattering tales--piques her +pride,--rouses her jealousy;--and makes her love him, bon gré--mal gré, +better than either fruit or flowers.</p> + +<p>"Fritz swears eternal constancy, and keeps it, as I have already told you, +with the actress and the sandy haired widow."</p> + +<p>Leichtberg told this story inimitably, and Fritz laughed as much as I did. +At length we rose to wish him good night, and saw him turn to his bedroom +door, followed by a Swiss dog, which always slept under his bed. The rest +of the story we heard from his dying lips.</p> + +<p>It was as near as he could guess, between two and three in the morning, +that he awoke with the impression that some one was near him. For a time +he lay restless and ill at ease; with the vague helpless feeling, that +often attacks one, after a good supper.</p> + +<p>Fritz had just made up his mind to ascribe to this cause, all his +nervousness; when something seemed to drop in the adjoining room; and his +dog, starting to its feet, commenced barking furiously.</p> + +<p>Again all was still.</p> + +<p>He got up for a moment, but fancying he heard a footstep on the stair, +concluded that the noise proceeded from one of the inmates of the house, +who was come home later than usual.</p> + +<p>But Fritz could not sleep; and his dog seemed to share his feelings; +for he turned on his side restlessly, and occasionally gave a quick +solitary bark.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a conviction flashed across Hartmann, that there was indeed some +one in the chamber.</p> + +<p>His curtain stirred.</p> + +<p>He sprang from his bed, and reached his tinder box. As the steel struck +sparks from the flint, these revealed the face of the intruder.</p> + +<p>It was the young Polish girl.</p> + +<p>A fur cloak was closely folded around her;--her face was deadly +pale;--with one hand she drew back her long dark hair, while she silently +uplifted the other.</p> + +<p>Our friend's last impression was his falling back, at the moment his dog +made a spring at the girl.</p> + +<p>The inmates of the house were alarmed. His friends were all sent for.</p> + +<p>I arrived among the earliest. What a sight met me!</p> + +<p>The members of the household were so stupefied that they had done nothing. +Fritz Hartmann lay on the floor insensible:--his night shirt steeped in +blood, still flowing from a mortal wound in his breast.</p> + +<p>At his feet, moaning bitterly, its fangs and mouth filled with mingled fur +and gore, lay the Swiss dog, with two or three deep gashes across the +throat. In the adjoining room, thrown near the door, was the instrument of +Fritz's death--one of the knives we had used the evening before.</p> + +<p>Beside it, lay a woman's cloak, the fur literally dripping with blood.</p> + +<p>Fritz lingered for five hours. Before death, he was sensible, and told us +what I have stated:--and acknowledged that he had loved the girl, more +than her station in life might seem to warrant.</p> + +<p>Of course, the young Pole had been concealed in the closet, and heard +Leichtberg's sallies. Love and jealousy effected the rest.</p> + +<p>We never caught her, although we had all the Vienna police at our beck; +and accurate descriptions of her person were forwarded to the frontiers.</p> + +<p>We were not quite certain as to her fate, but we rather suppose her to +have escaped by a back garden; in which case she must have made a most +dangerous leap; and then to have passed as a courier, riding as such +into Livonia.</p> + +<p>Where she obtained the money or means to effect this, God knows. She must +have been a heroine in her way, for this dog is not easily overpowered, +and yet--look here! these scars were given him by that young girl.</p> + +<p>The student whistled to a dog at his feet, which came and licked his hand, +while he showed the wounds in his throat.</p> + +<p>"I call him Hartmann," continued he, "after my old friend. His father sent +him to me just after the funeral, and Leichtberg has got his meershaum."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The students listened attentively to the story, refilling their pipes +during its progress, with becoming gravity. Carl turned towards his right +hand neighbour. "Wilhelm! I call on you!"</p> + +<p>The student, whom he addressed, passed his hand through his long heard, +and thus commenced.</p> + + + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">The Second Story.</p> + + +<p>My father's brother married at Lausanne, in the Canton de Vaud, and +resided there. He died early, and left one son; who, as you may suppose, +was half a Frenchman. In spite of that, I thought Caspar von Hazenfeldt a +very handsome fellow. His chestnut hair knotted in curls over his +shoulders. His eyes, the veins of his temples, and I would almost say, his +very teeth, had a blueish tint, that I have noticed in few men; and which +must, I think, be the peculiar characteristic of his complexion. When +engaged in pleasure parties, either pic-nicing at the signal, or +promenading in the evening on Mont Benon, or sitting tête-à-tête at +Languedoc, he had no eyes or ears but for Caroline de Werner.</p> + +<p>He waltzed with her--he talked with her--and he walked with her--until he +had fairly talked, walked, and waltzed himself into love.</p> + +<p>She was the daughter of a rich old colonel of the Empire:--he was the +poor son of a poorer widow. What could he do? Caspar von Hazenfeldt could +gaze on the house of the old soldier; but the avenue of elms, the waving +corn-fields, and the luxuriant gardens, told him that the heiress of +Beau-Séjour could never he his.</p> + +<p>He was one evening sitting on a stone, in a little ruined chapel, near the +house of his beloved; ruminating as usual on his ill fate, and considering +which would be the better plan, to mend his fortunes by travel, or mar +them by suicide;--when an elderly gentleman, dressed in a plain suit of +black, appeared hat in hand before him.</p> + +<p>After the usual compliments, they entered into conversation, and at last, +having walked for some distance, towards Hazenfeldt's house, agreed to +meet again at the chapel on the next evening.</p> + +<p>Suffice it to say that they often met, and as often parted, on the margin +of the little stream, that ran before the door of Caspar's mother's +house:--that they became great friends;--and that the young man confided +the tale of his love, hopes, and miseries, to the sympathising senior.</p> + +<p>At last <i>the old gentleman</i>, for such he really was, told Caspar that he +would help him in a trice, through all his difficulties.</p> + +<p>"There is one condition, Caspar!" said he, "but that is a mere trifle. You +are young, and would be quite happy, were it not for this love affair of +yours:--you sleep soundly, you seek and quit your bed early, and you care +not for night-roving. Henceforth, lend me your body from ten at night, +until two in the morning, and I promise that Caroline de Werner shall be +yours. Here she is!" continued he, as he opened his snuff box, and showed +the lid to Caspar, "here she is!"</p> + +<p>And sure enough, there she was on the inside of the lid, apparently +reading to the gouty old colonel, as he sat in his easy chair in the petit +salon of Beau-Sejour.</p> + +<p>One evening, the old gentleman delighted Caspar, by telling him that he +had authority from Colonel de Werner, to bring a guest to a ball at +Beau-Séjour, and by begging Caspar to be his shade--to use our +Continental expression--on the occasion.</p> + +<p>Caspar von Hazenfeldt and he became greater friends than ever, since their +singular contract had been made; for made it was in a thoughtless +unguarded moment.</p> + +<p>Hazenfeldt was introduced to Caroline in due form, and engaged her for the +first dance.</p> + +<p>Before the quadrille began, his friend in black came to present his +compliments, and to say that he had never seen a more beautiful pair.</p> + +<p>"Caspar!" continued he, "when your dance is over, give me a few minutes in +the next room. We will chat together, and sip our negus."</p> + +<p>Caspar <i>did</i> so, and <i>did</i> sip his negus. The little gentleman in black, +was very facetious, and very affable.</p> + +<p>"Are you not going to dance again, Caspar? Look at all those pretty girls, +waiting for partners! Why do you not lead one to the country dance?"</p> + +<p>As he ended speaking, a sylph-like figure, with long golden ringlets, +floated past them.</p> + +<p>"I can, and I will," replied Caspar, laughing, as he took the fair-haired +girl by the hand, and led her to the dance.</p> + +<p>He turned to address his friend in triumph, but he had disappeared.</p> + +<p>The dance was over, and Caspar led the stranger towards a silken ottoman.</p> + +<p>"Will you not try one waltz?" said the beautiful girl, as she shook +her ringlets, over his flushed cheek; "but I must not ask you, if you +are tired."</p> + +<p>"How can I refuse?" rejoined Caspar. + +Caroline was forgotten, as his partner's golden hair floated on his +shoulders, and her soft white arms were twined around him, as they danced +the mazy coquettish waltz, which was then the fashion in Lausanne.</p> + +<p>"How warm these rooms are!" she exclaimed at last. "The moon is up: let us +walk in the avenue."</p> + +<p>Caspar assented; for he grew fonder of his new partner, and more forgetful +of Caroline. She pressed closer and closer to his side. A distant clock +struck ten. Entwined in her tresses, encircled in her arms, he sunk +senseless to the ground.</p> + +<p>When Caspar recovered from the trance, into which he had fallen, the cold +morning breeze, that precedes the dawn, was freshening his cheek; a few +faint streaks on the horizon, reflected the colours of the coming sun; and +the night birds were returning tired to the woods, as the day birds were +merrily preparing for their flight. He was not where he had fallen: he was +sitting on a rustic bench, beneath a moss-grown rock.</p> + +<p>Caroline de Werner was beside him.</p> + +<p>Her white frock was torn; her hair was hanging in Bacchante curls, twined +with the ivy that had wreathed it; her eyes glared wildly, and blood +bubbled from her mouth. Her hand was fast locked in that of Hazenfeldt.</p> + +<p>"Caroline!" he exclaimed, in a tone of wonderment, as one who awakes from +a deep sleep, "Caroline! why are we here? what means this disorder?"</p> + +<p>"You now speak," said she, "as did my Caspar,"</p> + +<p>Caroline de Werner is in a mad-house near Vevay:--the man in black has not +been seen since he disappeared from the ball room of Beau-Séjour:--my +cousin, Caspar von Hazenfeldt, took to wandering alone over the Swiss +mountains; and before three months had elapsed, from the time he met <i>the +old gentleman</i>, was buried in the fall of an avalanche, near the pass of +the Gemmi.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Supper was not ready as the student finished this story; and George +proposed a stroll. The change from the heated room to the margin of the +lake, was a most refreshing one. As the brothers silently gazed upwards, a +young lad approached, and accosted them.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen! I have seen the horses fed, and they are now lying down."</p> + +<p>"Have you?" said Delmé, drily.</p> + +<p>"A very fine night! gentlemen! Perhaps you have heard of the famous echo, +on the other side of the lake. It will be a good hour, I am sure, before +your supper is ready. My boat lies under that old tree. If you like it, I +will loose the chain, and row you over."</p> + +<p>The brothers acquiesced. They were just in the frame of mind for an +unforeseen excursion. The motion of the boat, too, would be easy for +George, and he might there unrestrainedly give way to his excited +feelings, or commune ungazed on, with the current of his thoughts.</p> + +<p>A thin crescent of a moon had risen. It was silvering the tops of the +overhanging boughs, and was quiveringly mirrored on the light ripple. +George leant against the side of the boat, and listened to the liquid +music, as the broad paddle threw back the resisting waters.</p> + +<p>How soothing is the hour of night to the wounded spirit!</p> + +<p>The obscurity which shrouds nature, seems to veil even man's woes--the +harsh outline of his sufferings is discerned no more. Grief takes the +place of despair--pensive melancholy of sorrow.</p> + +<p>As we gaze around, and feel the chill air damp each ringlet on the pallid +brow; know that <i>that</i> hour hath cast a shade on each inanimate thing +around us; we feel resigned to our bereavements, and confess, in our +heart's humility, that no changes <i>should</i> overwhelm, and that no grief +<i>should</i> awaken repinings.</p> + +<p>To many a bruised and stricken spirit, night imparts a grateful balm.</p> + +<p>In the morning, the feelings are too fresh;--oblivion is exchanged for +conscious suffering;--the merriment of the feathered songsters seems to us +as a taunt;--our sympathies are not with waking nature. The glare and +splendour of noon, bid us recal <i>our</i> hopes, and their signal overthrow. +The zenith of day's lustre meets us as a wilful mockery.</p> + +<p>Eve may bring rest, but on her breast is memory. But at night! when the +mental and bodily energies are alike worn out by the internal +struggle;--when hushed is each sound--softened each feature--dimmed each +glaring hue;--a calm which is not deceptive, steals over us, and we regard +our woes as the exacted penalty of our erring humanity.</p> + +<p>Calumniated night! to one revelling in the full noon-tide of hope and +gladness:--to the one, to whom a guilty conscience incessantly whispers, +"Think! but sleep not!"--to such as these, horrors may appear to bound thy +reign!--but to him who hath loved, and who hath lost,--to many a gentle +but tried spirit, thou comest in the guise of a sober, and true friend.</p> + +<p>The boat for some time, kept by the steep bank, under the shadows of the +trees. As it emerged from this, towards where the moon-beams cast their +light on the water, the night breeze rustled through the foliage, and +swept a yet green leaf from one of the drooping boughs.</p> + +<p>It fell on the surface of the lake, and George's eye quickly followed it.</p> + +<p>"Look at that unfaded leaf! Henry. What a gentle breeze it was, that +parted it from its fellows! To me it resembles a youthful soul, cut off in +its prime, and wandering mateless in eternity."</p> + +<p>Sir Henry only sighed.</p> + +<p>The young rower silently pursued his course across the lake; running his +boat aground, on a small pebbly strand near a white cottage.</p> + +<p>Jumping nimbly from his seat, and fastening the boat to a large stone, the +guide, followed by the brothers, shouted to the inmates of the cottage, +and violently kicked at its frail door.</p> + +<p>An upper window was opened, and the guardian of the echo--a valorous +divine in a black night-cap--demanded their business. This was soon told. +The priest descended--struck a light--unbarred the door--and with the +prospect of gain before him, fairly forgot that he had been aroused from a +deep slumber.</p> + +<p>They were soon ushered into the kitchen. An aged crone descended, and +raking the charcoal embers, kindled a flame, by which the rower was +enabled to light his pipe.</p> + +<p>The young gentleman threw himself into an arm chair, and puffed away with +true German phlegm. The old man bustled about, in order to obtain the +necessary materials for loading an ancient cannon; and occupied himself +for some minutes, in driving the charge into the barrel.</p> + +<p>This business arranged, he led the way towards the beach; and aided by the +old woman, pointed his warlike weapon. A short pause--it was fired! +Rebounding from hill to hill, the echo took its course, startling the +peasant from his couch, and the wolf from his lair.</p> + +<p>Again all was still;--then came its distant reverberation--a tone deep and +subdued--dying away mournfully on the ear.</p> + +<p>"How wonderfully fine!" said George, "but let us embark, for I feel +quite chilled."</p> + +<p>"I will run for the youngster," replied his brother. As he moved towards +the cottage, the priest seized him by the collar of the coat, and held up +the torch, by which he had fired the cannon.</p> + +<p>"This echo is indeed a wonderful one! It has nineteen distinct +repetitions; the first twelve being heard from <i>this</i> side of a valley, +which, were it day, I would point out; the other seven, on the opposite +side. Tradition tells us, that nineteen castles in ancient times, stood +near the spot; that each of these laid claim to the echo; and that, as it +passes the ruin, where once dwelt Sigismund of the Bloody Hand, the chief +springs from the round ivied tower--waves his sword thrice, the drops of +blood falling from its hilt as he does so--and proclaims aloud, that +whosoever dare gainsay"--</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to leave you," interrupted Sir Henry, as he shook him off, +"particularly at this interesting part of the story; but it is late, +and my brother feels unwell, and I wish to go to the cottage to call +our guide."</p> + +<p>Delmé was pursued by the echo's elucidator, who being duly remunerated, +allowed Sir Henry to accompany the guide towards the boat. George was not +standing where he had left him. Delmé stepped forward, and nearly fell +over a prostrate body.</p> + +<p>It was the motionless one of his brother.</p> + +<p>He gave a shriek of anguish; flew towards the house, and in a moment, was +again on the spot, bearing the priest's torch. He raised his brother's +head. One hand was extended over the body, and fell to the earth like a +clod of clay as it was.</p> + +<p>He gazed on that loved face. In that gaze, how much was there to arrest +his attention.</p> + +<p>On those features, death had stamped his seal.</p> + +<p>But there was a thought, which bore the ascendancy over this in Delmé's +mind. It was a thought which rose involuntarily,--one for which he could +not <i>then</i> account, and cannot now. For some seconds, it swayed his every +emotion. He felt the conviction--deep, undefinable--that there was indeed +a soul, to "shame the doctrine of the Sadducee."</p> + +<p>He deemed that on those lineaments, this was the language forcibly +engraven! The features were still and fixed:--the brow alone revealed a +dying sense of pain.</p> + +<p>The lips! how purple were they! and the eye, that erst flashed so +freely:--the yellow film of death had dimmed its lustre.</p> + +<p>The legs were apart, and one of the feet was in the lake. Henry tried to +chafe his brother's forehead.</p> + +<p>In vain! in vain! he knew it was in vain!</p> + +<p>He let the head fall, and buried his face in his hands.</p> + +<p>He turned reproachfully, to gaze on that cloudless Heaven, where the moon, +and the brilliant stars, and the falling meteor, seemed to hold a bright +and giddy festival.</p> + +<p>He clasped his hands in mute agony. For a brief moment--his dark eye +seeming to invite His wrath--he dared to arraign the mercy of God, who had +taken what he had made.</p> + +<p>It was but for a moment he thus thought.</p> + +<p>He had watched that light of life, until its existence was almost +identified with his own. He had seen it flicker--had viewed it +reillumed--blaze with increased brilliancy--fade--glimmer--and fade. Now! +where was it?</p> + +<p>A bitter cry escaped! his limbs trembled convulsively, and could no longer +support him.</p> + +<p>He fell senseless beside his brother.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XI</h1> + +<h2>The Student</h2> + + + +<blockquote>"What is my being? <i>thou</i> hast ceased to be."</blockquote> + + +<p>Carl Obers was as enthusiastic a being as ever Germany sent forth. Brought +up in a lone recess in the Hartz mountains, with neither superiors nor +equals to commune with, he first entered the miniature world, as a student +at Heidelberg.</p> + +<p>His education had been miserably neglected. He had read much; but his +reading had been without order and without system.</p> + +<p>The deepest metaphysics, and the wildest romances had been devoured in +succession; until the young man hardly knew which was the real, or which +was the visionary world:--the one he actually lived in, or the one he was +always brooding over:--where souls are bound together by mysterious and +hidden links, and where men sell themselves to Satan;--the penalty merely +being:--to walk through life, and throw no shadow.</p> + +<p>Enrolled amongst a select corps of brüschen, warm and true; his ear was +caught by the imposing jargon of patriotism; and his imagination dwelt on +those high sounding words, "the rights of man;"--until he became the +staunch advocate and unflinching votary of a state of things, which, for +aught we know, <i>may</i> exist in one of the planets, but which never can, and +which never will exist on this earth of ours.</p> + +<p>"What!" would exclaim our enthusiast, "have we not all our bodily and our +mental, energies? Doth not dame Nature, in our birth, as in our death, +deal out impartial justice? She may endow me with stronger limbs, than +another:--our feelings as we grow up, may not be chained down to one +servile monotony;--the lip of the precocious cynic"--this was addressed to +a young matter of fact Englishman--"who sneers at my present animation, +may not curl with a smile as often as my own; but let our powers of +acting be equal,--our prerogatives the same."</p> + +<p>Carl Obers, with his youth and his vivacity, carried his auditors--a +little knot of beer drinking liberty-mongers--<i>with</i> him, and <i>for</i> him, +in all he said; and the orator would look round, with conscious power, and +considerable satisfaction; and flatter himself, that his specious +arguments were as unanswerable, as they were then unanswered.</p> + +<p>Many of our generation may remember the unparalleled enthusiasm, which, +like an electric flash, spread over the civilised world; as Greece armed +herself, to shake off her Moslem ruler.</p> + +<p>It was one that few could help sharing.</p> + +<p>To almost all, is Greece a magic word. Her romantic history--the legacies +she has left us--our early recollections, identifying with her existence +as a nation, all that is good and glorious;--no wonder these things should +have shed a bright halo around her,--and have made each breast deeply +sympathise with her in her unwonted struggle for freedom.</p> + +<p>Carl Obers did not hear of this struggle with indifference. He at once +determined to give Greece the benefit of his co-operation, and the aid of +his slender means. He immediately commenced an active canvass amongst his +personal friends, in order to form a band of volunteers, who might be +efficient, and worthy of the cause on which his heart was set.</p> + +<p>He now first read an useful lesson from life's unrolled volume.</p> + +<p>Many a voice, that had rung triumphantly the changes on liberty, was +silent now, or deprecated the active attempt to establish it.</p> + +<p>The hands that waved freely in the debating room, were not the readiest to +grasp the sword's hilt. Many who had poetically expatiated on the +splendours of modern Greece; on reflection preferred the sunny views of +the Neckar, to the prospect of eating honey on Hymettus.</p> + +<p>Youth, however, is the season for enterprise; and Carl, with twenty-three +comrades, was at length on his way to Trieste.</p> + +<p>He had been offered the command of the little band, but had declined it, +with the sage remark, that "as they were about to fight for equality, it +was their business to preserve it amongst themselves."</p> + +<p>A slight delay in procuring a vessel, took place at Trieste. This delay +caused a defection of eight of the party.</p> + +<p>The remaining students embarked in a miserable Greek brigantine, and after +encountering some storms in the Adriatic, thought themselves amply repaid, +as the purple hills of Greece rose before them.</p> + +<p>On their landing, they felt disappointed.</p> + +<p>No plaudits met them; no vivas rung in the air: but a Greek soldier +filched Carl's valise, and on repairing to the commandant of the town, +they were told that no redress could be afforded them.</p> + +<p>Willing to hope that the scum of the irregular troops was left behind, and +that better feeling, and stricter discipline, existed nearer the main +body; our students left on the morrow;--placed themselves under the +command of one of the noted leaders of the Revolution:--and had shortly +the satisfaction of crossing swords with the Turk.</p> + +<p>For some months, the party went through extraordinary hardships;--engaged +in a series of desultory but sanguinary expeditions;--and gradually learnt +to despise the nation, in whose behalf they were zealously combating.</p> + +<p>At the end of these few months, what a change in the hopes and prospects +of the little band! Some had rotted in battle field, food for vultures; +others had died of malaria in Greek hamlets, without one friend to close +their eyes, or one hand to proffer the cooling draught to quench the dying +thirst;--two were missing--had perhaps been murdered by the peasants;--and +five only remained, greatly disheartened, cursing the nation, and their +own individual folly.</p> + +<p>Four of the five turned homewards.</p> + +<p>Carl was left alone, but fought on.</p> + +<p>Now there was a Greek, Achilles Metaxà by name, who had attached himself +to Carl's fortunes. In person, he was the very model of an ancient hero. +He had the capacious brow, the eye of fire, and the full black beard, +descending in wavy curls to his chest.</p> + +<p>The man was brave, too, for Carl and he had fought together.</p> + +<p>It so happened, that they slept one night in a retired convent. Their +hardships latterly had been great, and the complaints of Achilles had been +unceasing in consequence. In the morning Carl rose, and found that his +clothes and arms had vanished, and that his friend was absent also.</p> + +<p>Carl remained long enough to satisfy himself, that his friend was the +culprit; and then turned towards the sea coast, determined at all hazards +to leave Greece.</p> + +<p>He succeeded in reaching Missolonghi, in the early part of 1823, shortly +after the death of Marco Botzaris--being then in a state of perfect +destitution, and his mental sufferings greatly aggravated by the +consciousness, that he had induced so many of his comrades to sacrifice +their lives and prospects in an unworthy cause.</p> + +<p>At Missolonghi, where Mavrocordato reigned supreme, he was grudged the +paltry ration of a Suliote soldier, and might have died of starvation, had +it not been for the timely interposition of a stranger.</p> + +<p>Moved by that stranger's persuasion, Carl consented to form one of a +contemplated expedition against Lepanto; and, had his illustrious +benefactor lived, might have found a steady friend.</p> + +<p>As it was, he waited not to hear the funeral oration, delivered by +Spiridion Tricoupi; but was on the deck of the vessel that was to bear him +homewards, and shed tears of mingled grief, admiration, and gratitude, as +thirty-seven minute guns, fired from the battery, told Greece and Carl +Obers, that they had lost Byron, their best friend.</p> + +<p>Carl reached Germany, a wiser man than when he left it.</p> + +<p>He found his father dead, and he came into possession of his small +patrimony; but felt greatly, as all men do who are suddenly removed from +active pursuits, the want of regular and constant employment.</p> + +<p>He was glad to renew his intercourse with his old University; and found +himself greatly looked up to by the students, who were never wearied with +listening to his accounts of the Morea, and of the privations he had there +encountered.</p> + +<p>We need hardly inform our readers, that Carl Obers was one of the +pedestrian students at Wallensee, and was indeed the identical narrator of +the Vienna story.</p> + +<p>We left George and his brother, on the shore below the priest's +cottage. The one was laid cold and motionless--the other wished that +<i>he</i> also were so.</p> + +<p>Immediately on Delmé's falling, the young guide alarmed the +priest--brought him down to the spot--pointed to the brothers--threw +himself into the boat--and paddled swiftly across the lake, to alarm the +guests at the inn.</p> + +<p>It was with feelings of deep commiseration, that Carl looked on the two +brothers. He was the only person present, whose time was comparatively his +own; he spoke English, although imperfectly; and he owed a deep debt of +gratitude to an Englishman.</p> + +<p>These circumstances seemed to point him out, as the proper person to +attend to the wants of the unfortunate traveller; and Carl Obers mentally +determined, that he would not leave Delmé, as long as he had it in his +power to befriend him, Sir Henry Delmé was completely unmanned by his +bereavement. He had been little prepared for such a severe loss; although +it is more than probable, that George's life had long been hanging on a +thread, which a single moment might snap.</p> + +<p>The medical men had been singularly sanguine in his case, for it is rarely +that disease of the heart attacks one so young; but it now seemed evident, +that even had not anxiety of mind, and great constitutional irritability, +hastened the fatal result, that poor George could never have hoped to have +survived to a ripe old age.</p> + +<p>There was much in his character at any time, to endear him to an only +brother. As it was, Delmé had seen George under such trying +circumstances--had entered so fully into his feelings and sufferings--that +this abrupt termination to his brother's sorrows, appeared to Sir Henry +Delmé, to bring with it a sable pall, that enveloped in darkness his own +future life and prospects.</p> + +<p>The remains of poor George were placed in a small room, communicating with +one intended for Sir Henry.</p> + +<p>Here Delmé shut himself up, brooding over his loss, and permitting no one +to intrude on his privacy.</p> + +<p>Carl had offered his services, which were gratefully accepted, in making +the necessary arrangements for his brother's obsequies; and Sir Henry, in +the solitude of the dead man's chamber, could give free scope to a flood +of bitter recollections.</p> + +<p>It may be, that those silent hours of agony, when the brother looked +fixedly on that moveless face, and implored the departed spirit to breathe +its dread and awful secret, were not without their improving tendency; for +haggard and wan as was the mourner's aspect, there was no outward sign of +quivering, even as he saw the rude coffin lowered, and as fell on his ear, +the creaking of cords, and that harsh jarring sound, to which there is +nothing parallel on earth, the heavy clods falling on the coffin lid.</p> + +<p>The general arrangements had been simple; but Carl's directions had been +given in such a sympathising spirit, that they could not be otherwise than +acceptable.</p> + +<p>About the church-yard itself, there is nothing very striking. It is +formed round a small knoll, on the summit of which stands a sarcophagus +literally buried in ivy.</p> + +<p>Beneath this, is the vault of the baronial family, that for centuries +swayed the destinies of the little hamlet; but which family has been +extinct for some years.</p> + +<p>Round it are grouped the humbler osiered graves; over which, in lieu of +tomb stones, are placed large black iron crosses, ornamented with brass, +and bearing the simple initials of the bygone dead.</p> + +<p>Even Delmé, with all his ancestral pride, felt that George "slept well."</p> + +<p>It is true no leaden coffin enclosed his relics, nor did the murky vault +of his ancestors, open with creaking hinge to receive another of the race. +No escutcheon darkened the porch whence they bore him; and no long train +of mourners followed his remains to their last home.</p> + +<p>But there was something in the quiet of the spot, that seemed to Delmé in +harmony with his history; and to promise, that a sorrowless world had +already opened, on one who had loved so truly, and felt so deeply in this.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry returned to the inn, and darkened his chamber.</p> + +<p>He had not the heart to prosecute his journey, nor to leave the spot, +which held what was to him so dear.</p> + +<p>Carl Obers attempted to combat his despondency; but observing how useless +were his arguments, wisely allowed his grief to take its course.</p> + +<p>There was one point, in which Delmé was decidedly wrong.</p> + +<p>He could not bring himself, to communicate their loss to his sister.</p> + +<p>Carl pressed this duty frequently on him, but was always met by the +same reply.</p> + +<p>"No! no! how can I inflict such a pang?"</p> + +<p>It is possible the intelligence might have been very long in reaching +England, had it not been for a providential circumstance, that occurred +shortly after George's funeral.</p> + +<p>A carriage, whose style and appointments bespoke it English, changed +horses at the inn at Wallensee. The courier, while ordering the relays, +had heard George's story; and touching his hat to the inmates of the +vehicle, retailed it with natural pathos.</p> + +<p>On hearing the name of Delmé, the lady was visibly affected. She was +an old friend of the family; and as Melicent Dashwood, had known +George as a boy.</p> + +<p>It was not without emotion, that she heard of one so young, and to her so +familiar, being thus prematurely called to his last account.</p> + +<p>The lady and her husband alighted, and sending up their cards, begged to +see the mourner.</p> + +<p>The message was delivered; but Delmé, without comment or enquiry, at once +declined the offer; and it was thought better not to persist. They were +too deeply interested, however, not to attempt to be of use. They saw Carl +and Thompson,--satisfied themselves that Sir Henry was in friendly hands; +and thanking the student with warmth and sincerity, for his attention to +the sufferer, exacted a promise, that he would not leave him, as long as +he could in any way be useful.</p> + +<p>The husband and wife prepared to continue their journey; but not before +the former had left his address in Florence, with directions to Carl to +write immediately, in case he required the assistance of a friend; and the +latter had written a long letter to Mrs. Glenallan, in which she broke as +delicately as she could, the melancholy and unlooked-for tidings.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XII</h1> + +<h2>The Letter.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "And from a foreign shore<br /> +Well to that heart might <i>hers</i> these absent greetings pour."</blockquote> + + +<p>Three weeks had elapsed since George's death.</p> + +<p>It would be difficult to depict satisfactorily, the state of Sir Henry +Delmé's mind during that period. The pride of life appeared crushed within +him. He rarely took exercise, and when he did, his step was slow, and his +gait tottering.</p> + +<p>That one terrible loss was ever present to his mind; and yet his +imagination, as if disconnected with his feelings, or his memory, was +constantly running riot over varying scenes of death, and conjuring up +revolting pictures of putrescence and decay.</p> + +<p>A black pall, and an odour of corruption, seemed to commingle with each +quick-springing fantasy; and Delmé would start with affright from his own +morbid conceptions, as he found himself involuntarily dwelling on the +waxen rigidity of death,--following the white worm in its unseemly +wanderings,--and finally stripping the frail and disgusting coat from the +disjointed skeleton.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé had in truth gone through arduous and trying scenes.</p> + +<p>The very circumstance that he had to conceal his own feelings, and +support George through his deeper trials, made the present reaction the +more to be dreaded.</p> + +<p>Certain are we, that trials such as his, are frequently the prevailing +causes, of moral and intellectual insanity. Fortunately, Sir Henry was +endued with a firm mind, and with nerves of great power of endurance.</p> + +<p>One morning, at an early hour, Thompson brought in a letter.</p> + +<p>It was from Emily Delmé; and as Sir Henry noted the familiar address, and +the broad black edge, which told that the news of his brother's death had +reached his sister, he cast it from him with a feeling akin to pain.</p> + +<p>The next moment, however, he sprang from the bed, threw open the shutters, +and commenced reading its contents.</p> + + + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">Emily's Letter.</p> + + +<p>My own dear brother,</p> + +<p>My heart bleeds for you! But yesterday, we received the sad, sad letter. +To-day, although blinded with tears, I implore you to remember, that you +have not lost your all! Our bereavement has been great! our loss heavy +indeed. But if a link in the family love-chain be broken--shall not the +remaining ones cling to each other the closer?</p> + +<p>My aunt is heart-broken. Clarendon, kind as he is, did not know our +George! Alas! that he should be ours no more!</p> + +<p>My only brother! dwell not with strangers! A sister's arms are ready to +clasp you:--a sister's sympathy must lighten the load of your sufferings.</p> + +<p>Think of your conduct! your devotedness! Should not these comfort you?</p> + +<p>Did you not love and cherish him? did you not--happier than I--soothe his +last days? were you not present to the end?</p> + +<p>From this moment, I shall count each hour that divides us.</p> + +<p>On my knees both night and morning, will I pray the Almighty God, who has +chastened us, to protect my brother in his travels by sea and land.</p> + +<p>May we be spared, my dearest Henry, to pray together, that HE may bestow +on us present resignation, and make us duly thankful for blessings which +still are ours.</p> + +<p>Your affectionate sister,</p> + +<p class="smallcaps">Emily.</p> + +<p>Delmé read the letter with tearless eye. For some time he leant his head +on his hand, and thought of his sister, and of the dead.</p> + +<p>He shook, and laughed wildly, as he beat his hand convulsively +against the wall.</p> + +<p>Carl Obers and Thompson held him down, while this strong paroxysm lasted.</p> + +<p>His sobs became fainter, and he sunk into a placid slumber. The student +watched anxiously by his side. He awoke; called for Emily's letter; and as +he read it once more, the tears coursed down his sunken cheeks.</p> + +<p>Ah! what a relief to the excited man, is the fall of tears.</p> + +<p>It would seem as if the very feelings, benumbed and congealed as they may +hitherto have been, were suddenly dissolving under some happier influence, +and that,--with the external sign--the weakness and pliability of +childhood--we were magically regaining its singleness of feeling, and its +gentleness of heart.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry swerved no more from the path of manly duty. He saw the +vetturino, and arranged his departure for the morrow. On that evening, he +took Carl's arm, and sauntered through the village church-yard.</p> + +<p>Already seemed it, that the sods had taken root over George's grave.</p> + +<p>The interstices of the turf were hidden;--a white paper basket, which +still held some flowers, had been suspended by some kind stranger hand +over the grave;--from it had dropped a wreath of yellow amaranths.</p> + +<p>There was great repose in the scene. The birds appeared to chirp softly +and cautiously;--the tufts of grass, as they bowed their heads against the +monumental crosses, seemed careful not to rustle too drearily.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry's sleep was more placid, on <i>that</i>, his last night at Wallensee, +than it had been for many a night before.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Acting up to his original design, Delmé passed through the capitals of +Bavaria and Wurtemburg; and quickly traversing the picturesque country +round Heilbron, reached the romantic Heidelberg, washed by the Neckar.</p> + +<p>The student, as might be expected, did not arrive at his old University, +with feelings of indifference; but he insisted, previous to visiting his +college companions, on showing Sir Henry the objects of interest.</p> + +<p>The two friends, for such they might now be styled, walked towards the +castle, arm in arm; and stood on the terrace, adorned with headless +statues, and backed by a part of the mouldering ruin, half hid by the +thick ivy.</p> + +<p>They looked down on the many winding river, murmuringly gliding through +its vine covered banks.</p> + +<p>Beyond this, stretched a wide expanse of country; while beneath them +lay the town of Heidelberg--the blue smoke hanging over it like a +magic diadem.</p> + +<p>"Here, here!" said Carl Obers, as he gazed on the scene, with mournful +sensations, "<i>here </i> were my youthful visions conceived and +embodied--<i>here</i> did I form vows, to break the bonds of enslaved +mankind--<i>here</i> did I dream of grateful thousands, standing erect for the +first time as free men--<i>here</i> did I brood over, the possible happiness of +my fellow men, and in attempting to realise it, have wrecked my own."</p> + +<p>"My kind friend!" replied Delmé, "your error, if it be such, has been +of the head, and not the heart. It is one, natural to your age and your +country. Far from being irreparable, it is possible it may have taught +you a lesson, that may ultimately greatly benefit you. This is the +first time we have conversed regarding your prospects. What are your +present views?"</p> + +<p>"I have none. My friends regard me as one, who has improvidently thrown +away his chance of advancement. My knowledge of any <i>one</i> branch of +science is so superficial, that this precludes my ever hoping to succeed +in a learned profession. I cannot enter the military service in my own +country, without commencing in the lowest grade. This I can hardly bring +my mind to."</p> + +<p>"What would you say to the Hanoverian army?" replied Delmé.</p> + +<p>"I would say," rejoined Carl: "for I see through your kind motive in +asking, that I esteem myself fortunate, if I have been in any way useful +to you; but that I cannot, and ought not, to think, of accepting a favour +at your hands."</p> + +<p>Sir Henry said no more at that time: and they reached the inn in silence.</p> + +<p>Delmé retired for the night. Carl Obers sought his old chums; and, +exhilarated by his meershaum, and the excellent beer--rivalling the famous +Lubeck beer, sent to Martin Luther, during his trial, by the Elector of +Saxony--triumphantly placed "young Germany" at the head of nations.</p> + +<p>Early the following morning, they were again en route.</p> + +<p>They passed through Manheim, where the Rhine and Neckar meet,--through +Erpach,--through Darmstadt, that cleanest of Continental towns,--and +finally reached Frankfort-on-the-Maine, where it was agreed that Sir Henry +and Thompson were to part from their travelling companions.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry in his distress of mind, felt that theirs was not a casual +farewell. On reaching the quay, he pressed the student's hand with +grateful warmth, but dared not trust to words.</p> + +<p>On the deck of the steamer, assisting Thompson to arrange the +portmanteaux, stood Pietro Molini.</p> + +<p>The natural gaiety of the old driver had received a considerable check at +George's death.</p> + +<p>He could not now meet Sir Henry, without an embarrassment of manner; and +even in his intercourse with Thompson, his former jocularity seemed to +have deserted him.</p> + +<p>"Good bye, Pietro!" said Delmé, extending his hand. "I trust we may one +day or other meet again."</p> + +<p>The vetturino grasped it,--his colour went and came,--he looked down at +his whip,--then felt in his vest for his pipe, As he saw Delmé turn +towards the poop, and as Thompson warned him it was time to leave the +vessel,--his feelings fairly gave way.</p> + +<p>He threw his arms round the Englishman's neck and blubbered like a child.</p> + +<p>We have elsewhere detailed the luckless end of the vetturino.</p> + +<p>As for Carl Obers, that zealous patriot; the last we heard of him, was +that he was holding a commission in the Hanoverian Jägers, obtained for +him by Sir Henry's intervention. He was at that period, in high favour +with that liberal monarch, King Ernest.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XIII.</h1> + +<h2>Home</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "'Tis sweet to hear the watchdog's honest bark<br /> +Bay deep-mouth'd welcome as we draw near home,<br /> +'Tis sweet to know there is an eye will mark<br /> +Our coming, and look brighter when we come."</blockquote> + + +<p>Embarking on its tributary stream, Delmé reached the Rhine--passed through +the land of snug Treckschut, and wooden-shoed housemaid--and arrived at +Rotterdam, whence he purposed sailing for England.</p> + +<p>To that river, pay we no passing tribute! The Rhine--with breast of +pride--laving fertile vineyards, cities of picturesque beauty, +beetling crags, and majestic ruins; hath found its bard to hymn an +eulogy, in matchless strains, which will be co-existent, with the +language they adorn.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry was once more on the wide sea. Where were they who were his +companions when his vessel last rode it? where the young bride breathing +her devotion? where the youthful husband whispering his love?</p> + +<p>The sea yet glistened like a chrysolite; the waves yet laughed in the +playful sunbeams--the bright-eyed gull yet dipped his wing in the billow, +fearless as heretofore;--where was the one, who from that text had deduced +so fair a moral?</p> + +<p>Sir Henry wished not to dwell on the thought, but as it flashed across +him, his features quivered, and his brow darkened.</p> + +<p>He threw himself into the chaise which was to bear him to his home, with +alternate emotions of bitterness and despair!</p> + +<p>Hurrah for merry England! Click, clack! click, clack! thus cheerily +let us roll!</p> + +<p>Great are the joys of an English valet, freshly emancipated from +sauerkraut, and the horrors of silence!</p> + +<p>Sweet is purl, and sonorous is an English oath. Bright is the steel, +arming each clattering hoof! Leather strap and shining buckle, replace +musty rope and ponderous knot! The carriage is easier than a +Landgravine's,--the horses more sleek,--the driver as civil,--the road is +like a bowling green,--the axletree and under-spring, of Collinge's latest +patent. But the heart! the heart! <i>that</i> may be sad still.</p> + +<p>Delmé's voyage and journey were alike a blank. On the ocean, breeze +followed calm;--on the river, ship succeeded ship;--on the road, house and +tree were passed, and house and tree again presented themselves. He drew +his cap over his eyes, and his arms continued folded.</p> + +<p>His first moment of full consciousness, was as a sharp turn, followed by a +sudden pause, brought him in front of the lodge at Delmé.</p> + +<p>On the two moss-grown pillars, reposed the well known crest of his family. +The porter's daughter, George's friend, issued from the lodge, and threw +open the iron gates.</p> + +<p>She was dressed in black. How this recalled his loss.</p> + +<p>"My dear--dear--dear brother!"</p> + +<p>Emily bounded to his embrace, and her cheek fell on his shoulder. He felt +the warm tear trickle on his cheek. He clasped her waist,--gazed on her +pallid brow,--and held her lip to his.</p> + +<p>How it trembled from her emotion!</p> + +<p>"My own brother! how pale--how ill you look!"</p> + +<p>"Emily! my sister! I have something yet left me on earth! and my worthy +kind aunt, too!"</p> + +<p>He kissed Mrs. Glenallan's forehead, and tried to soothe her. She pressed +her handkerchief to her eyes, and checked her tears; but continued to sob, +with the deep measured sob of age.</p> + +<p>How mournful, yet how consoling, is the first family meeting, after death +has swept away one of its members! How the presence of each, calls up +sorrow, and yet assists to repress it,--awakes remembrances full of grief, +yet brings to life indefinable hopes, that rob that grief of its most +poignant sting! The very garb of woe, whose mournful effect is felt to the +full, only when each one sees it worn by the other--the very garb +paralyses, and brings impressively before us, the awful truth, that for +our loss, in this world, there is no remedy. How holy, how chaste is the +affection, which we feel disposed to lavish, on those who are left us.</p> + +<p>Surely if there be a guardian spirit, which deigns to flit through this +wayward world, to cheer the stricken breast, and purify feelings, whose +every chord vibrates to the touch of woe; surely such presides, and throws +a sunny halo, on the group, that blood has united--on which family love +has shed its genial influence--and of which, each member, albeit bowed +down by sympathetic grief, attempts to lift his drooping head, and to +others open some source of comfort, which to the kind speaker, is +inefficient and valueless indeed!</p> + +<p>For many months, Sir Henry continued to reside with his family. Clarendon +Gage was a constant visitor, and companion to the brother and sister in +their daily walks and rides.</p> + +<p>He had never met poor George, but loved Emily so well, that he could not +but sympathise in their heavy loss; and as Delmé noted this quiet +sympathy, he felt deeply thankful to Providence, for the fair prospect of +the happiness, that awaited his sister.</p> + +<p>Winter passed away. The fragile snowdrop, offspring of a night--the +mute herald of a coming and welcome guest--might be seen peering +beneath the gnarled oak, or enlivening the emerald circle beneath the +wide-spreading elm.</p> + +<p>Spring too glided by, and another messenger came. The migratory swallow, +returned from foreign travel, sought the ancient gable, and rejoicing in +safety, commenced building a home. At twilight's hour might she be seen, +unscared by the truant's stone, repairing to the placid pool--skimming +over its glassy surface, in rapid circle and with humid wing--and +returning in triumph, bearing wherewithal to build her nest.</p> + +<p>Summer too went by; and as the leaves of Autumn rustled at his feet, Delmé +started, as he felt that the sting and poignancy of his grief was gone. It +was with something like reproach, that he did so. There is a dignity in +grief--a pride in perpetuating it--and his had been no common affliction.</p> + +<p>It is a trite, but true remark, that time scatters our sorrows, as it +scatters our joys.</p> + +<p>The heat of fever and the delirium of love, have their gradations; and so +has grief. The impetuous throbbing of the pulse abates;--the influence of +years makes us remember the extravagance of passion, with something +approaching to a smile;--and Time--mysterious Time--wounding, but healing +all, leads us to look at past bereavements, as through a darkened glass.</p> + +<p>We do not forget; but our memory is as a dream, which awoke us in terror, +but over which we have slept. The outline is still present, but the +fearful details, which in the darkness of the hour, and the freshness of +conception, so scared and alarmed us,--these have vanished with the night.</p> + +<p>Emily's wedding day drew nigh, and the faces of the household once more +looked bright and cheerful.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XIV.</h1> + +<h2>A Wedding</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "'Tis time this heart should be unmoved,<br /> +Since others it has ceased to move,<br /> +But though I may not be beloved,<br /> +Still let me love!"</blockquote> + +<blockquote>"I saw her but a moment,<br /> +Yet methinks I see her now,<br /> +With a wreath of orange blossoms<br /> +Upon her beauteous brow."</blockquote> + + +<p>Spring of life! whither art thou flown?</p> + +<p>A few hot sighs--and scalding tears--fleeting raptures and still fading +hopes--and then--thou art gone for ever. Lovelorn we look on beauty: no +blush now answers to our glance; for cold is our gaze, as the deadened +emotions of our heart.</p> + +<p>Fresh garlands bedeck the lap of Spring. Faded as the shrivelled flowers, +that withering sink beneath her rosy feet: yet we exclaim:--Spring of +life! how and whither art thou flown?</p> + +<p>Clarendon Gage was a happy man. He had entered upon the world with very +bright prospects. The glorious visions of his youth were still unclouded, +and his heart beat as high with hope as ever.</p> + +<p>Experience had not yet instilled that sober truth, that Time will darken +the sunniest, as well as the least inviting anticipations; and that the +visions of his youth were unclouded, because they were undimmed by the +reflections of age.</p> + +<p>Clarendon Gage was happy and grateful; and so might he well be! Few of us +are there, who, on our first loving, have met with a love, fervent, +confiding, and unsuspecting as our own,--fewer are there, who in +reflection's calm hour, have recognised in the form that has captivated +the eye, the mind on which their own can fully and unhesitatingly +rely,--and fewest of all are they, who having encountered such a treasure, +can control adverse circumstances--can overcome obstacles that oppose--and +finally call it their own.</p> + +<p>Passionate, imaginative, and fickle as man may be, this is a living +treasure beyond a price: than which this world has none more pure--none as +enduring, to offer.</p> + +<p>Ah! say and act as we may--money-making--worldly--ambitious as we may +become--who among us that will not allow, that in the success of his +honest suit--that in his possession of the the one first loved--and which +first truly loved him--a kind ray from heaven, seems lent to this +changeful world. Such affection as this, lends a new charm to man's +existence. It lulls him in his anger--it soothes him in his sorrow--calms +him in his fears--cheers him in his hopes--it deadens his grief--it +enlivens his joy.</p> + +<p>It was a lovely morning in May--the first of the month. Not a cloud +veiled the sun's splendour--the birds strained their throats in praise +of day--and the rural May-pole, which was in the broad avenue of +walnut trees, immediately at the foot of the lawn, was already +encircled with flowers. Half way up this, was the station of the +rustic orchestra--a green bower, which effectually concealed them +from the view of the dancers.</p> + +<p>On the lawn itself, tents were pitched in a line facing the house. Behind +these, between the tents and the May-pole, extended a long range of +tables, for the coming village feast.</p> + +<p>Emily Delmé looked out on the fair sunrise, and noted the gay +preparations with some dismay. Her eye fell on her favourite bed of +roses, the rarest and most costly that wealth and extreme care could +produce; and she mournfully thought, that ere those buds were blown, a +very great change would have taken place in her future prospects. She +thought of all she was to leave.</p> + +<p>Will <i>he</i> be this, and more to me?</p> + +<p>How many a poor girl, when it is all too late, has fearfully asked herself +the same question, and how deeply must the answer which time alone can +give, affect the happiness of after years!</p> + +<p>Emily took her mother's miniature, and gazing on that face, of which her +own appeared a beautiful transcript; she prayed to God to support him who +was still present to her every thought.</p> + +<p>The family chapel of the Delmés was a beautiful and picturesque place of +worship. With the exception of one massive door-way, whose circular arch +and peculiar zig-zag ornament bespoke it co-eval with, or of an earlier +date than, the reign of Stephen--and said to have belonged to a ruin apart +from the chapel, whose foundations an antiquary could hardly trace--Delmé +chapel might be considered a well preserved specimen of the florid Gothic, +of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.</p> + +<p>The progress of the edifice, had been greatly retarded during the wars of +the Roses; but it was fortunately completed, before, the doctrine of the +Cinquecentists--who saw no beauty save in the revived dogmas of +Vitruvius--had so far gained ground, as to make obsolete and +unfashionable, the most captivating and harmonious style of Architecture, +that has yet flourished in England.</p> + +<p>Its outer appearance was comparatively simple--it had neither spire, +lantern, or transepts--and its ivy-hidden belfry was a detached tower.</p> + +<p>The walls of the aisles were supported by massive buttresses, and +surmounted by carved pinnacles; and from them sprung flying buttresses, +ornamented with traced machicolations, to bear the weight of the embattled +roof of the nave.</p> + +<p>The interior was more striking. As the stranger entered by the western +door, and proceeded up the nave, each step was re-echoed from the crypt +below:--as he trod on strange images, and inscriptions in brass; +commemorative of the dead, whose bones were mouldering in the subterranean +chapel. On them, many coloured tints fantastically played, through +gorgeously stained panes--the workmanship of the Middle Ages.</p> + +<p>The richly carved oaken confessional--now a reading desk--first attracted +the attention.</p> + +<p>In the very centre of the chapel, stood a white marble font, whose chaplet +of the flower of the Tudors, encircled by a fillet, sufficiently bespoke +its date. Between the altar and this font was a tomb, which merits special +attention. It was the chantry of Sir Reginald Delmé, the chief of his +house in the reign of Harry Monmouth. It was a mimic chapel, raised on +three massive steps of grey stone. The clustered columns, that bore the +light and fretted roof, were divided by mullions, rosettes, and trefoils +in open work; except where the interstices were filled up below, to bear +the sculptured, and once emblazoned shields of the Delmés, and their +cognate families. The entrance to the chantry, was through a little turret +at its north-eastern corner, the oaken door of which, studded with +quarrel-headed nails, was at one time never opened, but when the priests +ascended the six steep and spiral steps, and stood around the tomb to +chant masses for the dead.</p> + +<p>The diminutive font, and the sarcophagus itself, had once been painted. On +this, lay the figure of Sir Reginald Delmé.</p> + +<p>On a stone cushion--once red--supported by figures of angels in the +attitude of prayer, veiling their eyes with their wings, reposed the +unarmed head of the warrior:--his feet uncrossed rested on the image of a +dog, crouching on a broken horn, seeming faithfully to gaze at the face of +his master.</p> + +<p>The arms were not crossed--the hands were not clasped; but were joined as +in prayer. Sir Reginald had not died in battle. Above the head of the +sleeping warrior, hung his gorget, and his helmet, with its beaver, and +vizor open; and the banner he himself had won, on the field of Shrewsbury, +heavily shook its thick folds in the air. The fading colours on the +surcoat of the recumbent knight, still faintly showed the lilies and +leopards of England;--and Sir Henry himself was willing to believe, that +the jagged marks made in that banner by the tooth of Time, were but cuts, +left by the sword of the Herald, as at the royal Henry's command, he +curtailed the pennon of the knight; and again restored it to Sir Reginald +Delmé--a banner.</p> + +<p>The altar, which extended the whole width of the chapel, was enclosed by a +marble screen, and was still flanked by the hallowed niche, built to +receive the drainings of the sacred cup.</p> + +<p>The aisles were divided from the nave, by lancet arches, springing from +clustered columns. But how describe the expansive windows, with their rich +mullions, and richer rosettes--their deeply moulded labels, following the +form of the arch, and resting for support on the quaintest masks--how +describe the matchless hues of the glass--valued mementoes of a bygone +age, and of an art that has perished?</p> + +<p>The walls of the chapel were profusely ornamented with the richest +carving; and the oaken panels of the chancel, were adorned with those +exquisite festoons of fruit and flowers, so peculiarly English. The very +ceiling exacted admiration. It closed no lantern--it obstructed no +view--and its light ribs, springing from voluted corbels, bore at each +intersection, an emblazoned escutcheon, or painted heraldic device. The +intricate fan-like tracery of the roof--the enriched bosses at each +meeting of the gilded ribs--gave an airy charm and lightness to the whole, +which well accorded with the florid Architecture, and with the chivalrous +associations, with which it is identified.</p> + +<p>And here, beneath this spangled canopy, in this ancient shrine, whose +every ornament was as a memory of her ancestors; stood Emily Delmé, as +fair as the fairest of her race, changeful and trembling, a faint smile +on her lip, and a quivering tear in her eye.</p> + +<p>Clarendon Gage took her hand in his, and placed on her finger the golden +pledge of truth, and as he did so, an approving sunbeam burst through the +crimson-stained pane, and before lightening the tomb of Sir Reginald, fell +on her silvery veil--her snowy robe--her beautiful face.</p> + +<p>There was a very gay scene on the lawn, as they returned from the chapel.</p> + +<p>The dancing had already commenced--strains of music were heard from on +high--the ever moving circle became one moment contracted, then expanded +to the full length of the arms of the dancers, as they actively footed it +round the garlanded May-pole.</p> + +<p>At the first sight of the leading carriage, however, a signal was +given--the music suddenly ceased--and the whole party below, with the +exception of one individual, proceeded in great state towards an arch, +composed of flowers and white thorn, which o'ercanopied the road.</p> + +<p>The carriage stopped to greet the procession.</p> + +<p>On came the blushing May-Queen, and Maid Marian--both armed with wands +wreathed with cowslips--followed by a jovial retinue of morrice dancers +with drawn swords--guisers in many-coloured ribbons--and a full train of +simple peasants, in white smock-frocks.</p> + +<p>The May Queen advanced to the carriage, followed by the peasant girls, and +timidly dropped a choice wreath into the lap of the bride. Loud hurras +rung in the air, as Sir Henry gave his steward some welcome instructions +as to the village feast; and the cavalcade continued its route.</p> + +<p>We have said that one individual lingered near the May-pole. As he was +especially active, we may describe him and his employment. He was +apparently about fifteen. He had coarse straight white hair--a face that +denoted stupidity--but with a cunning leer, which seemed to belie his +other features.</p> + +<p>He was taking advantage of the cessation of dancing, to supply the +aspiring musicians with sundry articles of good cheer. A rope, armed with +a hook, was dropped from their lofty aërie, and promptly drawn up, on the +youngster's obtaining from the neighbouring tents, wherewithal to fill +satisfactorily the basket which he attached.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé and George had been so much abroad, and Emily's attachment +to Clarendon was of so early a date, that it happened that the members of +the Delmé family had mixed little in the festivities of the county in +which they resided; and were not intimately known, nor perhaps fully +appreciated, in the neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>But the family was one of high standing, and had ever been remarkable for +its kind-heartedness; and what <i>was</i> known of its individuals, was so much +to their credit, that it kept alive the respect and consideration that +these circumstances might of themselves warrant.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry, on the other hand, regarded his sister's marriage as an event, +at which it might be proper to show, that neither hauteur nor want of +sociability, had precluded their friendly intercourse with the +neighbouring magnates; and consequently, most of the principal families +were present at Emily's wedding.</p> + +<p>While this large assemblage increased the gaiety of the scene, it was +somewhat wearisome to Delmé, who was too truly attached to his sister, to +be otherwise than thoughtful during the ceremony, and the breakfast that +succeeded it.</p> + +<p>At length the time came when Emily could escape from the gay throng; and +endeavour, in the quiet of her own room, to be once more calm, before she +prepared to leave her much-loved home.</p> + +<p>The preparations made, a note was despatched to her brother, begging him +to meet her in the library. As he did so, a fresh pang shot through +Delmé's heart.</p> + +<p>As he looked on Emily's flushed face--her dewy cheek--and noted her +agitated manner; he for the first time perceived, her very strong +resemblance to poor George, and wondered that he had never observed +this before.</p> + +<p>Clarendon announced the carriage.</p> + +<p>"God bless you! dear Henry!"</p> + +<p>"God bless and preserve you! my sweet! Clarendon! good bye! I am sure you +will take every care of her!"</p> + +<p>In another moment, the carriage was whirling past the library window; and +Sir Henry felt little inclined, to join the formal party in the +drawing-room. Sending therefore a brief message to Mrs. Glenallan, he +threw open the library window, and with hurried steps reached a +summer-house, half hidden in the shrubbery. He there fell into a deep +reverie, which was by no means a pleasurable one.</p> + +<p>He thought of Emily--of George--of Acmé,--and felt that he was becoming an +isolated being.</p> + +<p>And had <i>he</i> not loved too? As this thought crossed him, his ambitious +dreams were almost forgotten.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé was aroused by the sound of voices. A loving couple, too +much engaged to observe <i>him</i>, passed close to the summer-house.</p> + +<p>It was the "Queen of the May," the prettiest and one of the poorest +girls in the parish, walking arm in arm with her rural swain. They had +left the "roasted beeves," and the "broached casks," for one half-hour's +delicious converse.</p> + +<p>There was some little coquettish resistance on the part of the girl, as +they sat down together at the foot of a fir tree.</p> + +<p>Her lover put his arm round her waist.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Mary! if father would but give us a cow or so!"</p> + +<p>This little incident decided the matter. Delmé at once resolved that Mary +Smith <i>should</i> have a cow or so; and also that his own health would be +greatly benefited, by a short sojourn at Leamington.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XV.</h1> + +<h2>The Meeting</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Oh ever loving, lovely, and beloved!<br /> +How selfish sorrow ponders on the past,<br /> +And clings to thoughts now better far removed,<br /> +But Time shall tear thy shadow from me last."</blockquote> + + +<p>We know not whether our readers have followed us with due attention, as we +have incidentally, and at various intervals, made our brief allusion to +the gradual change of character, wrought on Delmé, by the eventful scenes +in which he so lately played a prominent part.</p> + +<p>When we first introduced him to our reader's notice, we endeavoured to +depict him as he then really was,--a man of strong principles, warm +heart, and many noble qualities; but one, prone to over-estimate the +value of birth and fortune--with a large proportion of pride and +reserve--and with ideas greatly tinctured with the absurd fallacies of +the mere man of the world.</p> + +<p>But there was much in the family events we have described, to shake +Delmé's previous convictions, and to induce him to recal many of his +former opinions.</p> + +<p>He had seen his brother form a connection, which set at naught all those +convenances, which <i>he</i> had been accustomed to regard as essential to, and +as indeed forming the very ingredient of, domestic happiness.</p> + +<p>And yet Sir Henry Delmé could not disguise from himself, that if, in +George's short-lived career, there had been much of pain and sorrow, they +were chiefly engendered by George's mental struggle, to uphold those very +opinions to which he himself was wedded; and that to this alone, might be +traced much of the suffering he had undergone. This was it that had so +weakened mind and body, as to render change of scene necessary;--this was +it that exposed Acmé to the air of the pestiferous marshes, and which left +George himself--a broken hearted man--totally incapable of bearing his +bereavement.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, the sunny happiness his brother had basked in,--and it +was very great,--had sprung from the natural out-pourings of an +affection, which,--unfettered as it had been by prudential +considerations,--had yet the power to make earth a heaven while Acmé +shared it with him, and the dark grave an object of bright promise, when +hailed as the portal, through which <i>he</i> must pass, ere he gazed once +more on the load-star of his hopes.</p> + +<p>In the case, too, of Emily and Clarendon, although their union was far +more in accordance with his earlier theories, yet he could not but note, +how little their happiness seemed to rest on their position in society, +and how greatly was it based on their love for each other.</p> + +<p>These considerations were strengthened, by a growing feeling of +isolation, which the death of George and of Acmé,--the marriage of his +sister,--and probably the time of life he had arrived at, were all +calculated to awaken.</p> + +<p>With the knowledge of his disease, sprung up the hope of an antidote; and +it may be, that the little episode of the May Queen in our last chapter, +came but as a running comment, to reflections that had long been cherished +and indulged.</p> + +<p>The thoughts of Sir Henry Delmé anxiously centred in Julia Vernon; and as +he recalled her graceful emotion when they last parted, the unfrequent +blush,--it might be of shame, it might be of consciousness,--coloured his +sun-burnt cheek.</p> + +<p>At length,--the guests being dismissed, Delmé was at leisure to renew an +acquaintance, which had already proved an eventful one to him. He had +heard little of Miss Vernon since his return to England. His sister had +thought it better to let matters take their own course; and Julia, who +knew that in the eyes of the world, her circumstances were very different +to what they had been previous to her uncle's death; had from motives of +delicacy, shunned any intercourse that might lead to a renewed intimacy +with the family.</p> + +<p>Her health, too, had been precarious, and her elasticity of mind was gone. +Slowly wasting from day to day, she had sought to banish all thoughts +that were not of a world less vain than this--and her very languor of +body--while it gave her an apology for declining all gaieties, induced a +resigned spirit, and a quiet frame of mind.</p> + +<p>When Sir Henry Delmé was announced, Julia was alone in the drawing-room. +At that name, she attempted to rise from the sofa; but she was weak, and +her head fell back on the white pillow.</p> + +<p>Delmé stood for a moment irresolute,--a prey to the deepest pangs +of remorse.</p> + +<p>Well might he be shocked at that altered form!</p> + +<p>Her figure was greatly attenuated,--her cheeks sunken,--her eyes bright +and large; while over the forehead and drooping eyelid branched the +sapphire veins, with their intricate windings so clearly marked, that +Delmé almost thought, that he could trace the motion of the blood beneath. +That momentary pause, and the one mutual glance of recognition, told a +more accurate tale than words could convey.</p> + +<p>As Sir Henry pressed that small transparent hand, Julia's thin lip +quivered convulsively. She attempted to speak, but the exertion of +utterance was too great, and she burst into a flood of tears.</p> + +<p>"Julia! my own Julia! forgive me! we will never part more!"</p> + +<p>After this interview, it is needless to say that there was little else to +be explained. Mrs. Vernon was delighted at Julia's happy prospects, and it +was settled that their marriage should take place in the ensuing August. +Such arrangements as could be made on the spot to facilitate this, were at +once entered on.</p> + +<p>At the end of two months, it became necessary that Delmé should proceed to +town, for the purpose of seeing the Commander-in-Chief, in order to +withdraw a previous application to be employed on active service. He was +anxious also to consult a friend, whom he proposed appointing one of the +trustees for his marriage settlement; and Clarendon and Emily had exacted +a promise, that he would pay them a visit on his way to Delmé Park; which +he had determined to take on his route to town, that he might personally +inspect some alterations he had lately planned there.</p> + +<p>It was with bright prospects before him, that Delmé kissed off the big +tear that coursed down Julia's cheek; as she bade him farewell, with as +much earnestness, as if years, instead of a short fortnight, were to +elapse before they met again.</p> + +<p>Miss Vernon's health had decidedly improved. She was capable of much +greater exertion; and her spirits were sometimes as buoyant as in +other days.</p> + +<p>When Sir Henry first reached Leamington, the only exercise that Julia +could take was in a wheel chair; and great was her delight at seeing a +hand present itself over its side, and know that it was <i>his</i>. Latterly, +however, she had been able to lean on his arm, and take a few turns on the +lawn, and had on one occasion even reached the public gardens.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vernon, with the deceptive hope common to those, who watch day by day +by the side of an invalid's couch, and in the very gradual loss of +strength, lose sight of the real extent of danger, had never been +desponding as to her daughter's ultimate recovery; and was now quite +satisfied that a few weeks more would restore her completely to health.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Delmé, with the gaze of a lover, would note each flush of +animation, and mistake it for the hue of health; while Julia herself <i>felt +her love, and thought it strength</i>.</p> + +<p>There was only one person who looked somewhat grave at these joyous +preparations. This was Dr. Jephson, who noticed that Julia's voice +continued very weak, and that she could not get rid of a low hollow cough, +that had long distressed her.</p> + +<p>Clarendon and his wife were resident at a beautiful cottage near Malvern, +on the road to Eastnor Castle. The cottage itself was small, and half +hidden with fragrant honey-suckles, but had well appointed extensive +grounds behind it. <i>They</i> were not of the very many, who after the first +fortnight of a forced seclusion,--the treacle moon, as some one has called +it,--find their own society, both wearisome and unprofitable. <i>Theirs</i> was +a lover felt but by superior and congenial minds--a love, neither sensual +nor transient--a love on which affection and reflection shed their +glow,--which could bear the test of scrutiny,--and which owed its chief +charm to the presence of truth.</p> + +<p>Delmé passed a week at Malvern, and then proceeded towards town, with the +pleasing conviction that his sister's happiness was assured.</p> + +<p>Twenty-four hours at Delmé sufficed to inspect the alterations, and to +give orders as to Lady Delmé's rooms.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry had received two letters from Julia, while at Malvern, and both +were written in great spirits. At his club in London another awaited him, +which stated that she had not been quite so well, and that she was writing +from her room. A postscript from Mrs. Vernon quite did away with any alarm +that Sir Henry might otherwise have felt.</p> + +<p>Delmé attended Lord Hill's levee; and immediately afterwards proceeded to +his friend's office. To his disappointment, he was informed that his +friend had left for Bath; and thinking it essential that he should see +him; he went thither at an early hour the following day.</p> + +<p>At Bath he was again doomed to be disappointed, for his friend had gone +to Clifton. Sir Henry dined that day with Mr. Belliston Græme; and on +returning to the hotel, had the interview with Oliver Delancey, that has +been described in the thirteenth chapter of our first volume.</p> + +<p>On the succeeding morning, Delmé was with the future trustee; and finally +arranged the affair to his entire satisfaction. His absence from +Leamington, had been a day or two more protracted than he had anticipated, +and his not finding his friend in London, had prevented his hearing from +Miss Vernon so lately as he could have wished.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry had posted all night, and it was ten in the morning when he +reached Leamington. He directed the postilion to drive to his hotel, but +it happened that on his way he had to pass Mrs. Vernon's door.</p> + +<p>As the carriage turned a corner, which was distant some hundred yards from +Mrs. Vernon's house, Sir Henry was surprised by a momentary check on the +part of his driver.</p> + +<p>It had rained heavily during the early part of the day. The glasses were +up, and so bespattered with the mud and rain, that it was impossible to +see through them. Sir Henry let them down; saw a confused mass of +carriages; and could clearly discern a mourning coach.</p> + +<p>He did not give himself time to breathe his misgivings; but flung the door +open, and sprang from his seat into the road. It was still three or four +doors from Mrs. Vernon's house, and he prayed to God that his fears might +be groundless. + +As he approached nearer, it was evident that there was unusual bustle +about <i>that</i> house. Delmé grasped the iron railing, and clung to it for +support; but with every sense keenly alive to aught that might dispel, or +confirm that horrible suspicion.</p> + +<p>Two old women, dressed in the characteristic red cloak of the English +peasant, were earnestly conversing together--their baskets of eggs and +flowers being laid on a step of one of the adjacent houses.</p> + +<p>"So you knowed her, Betsy Farmer?"</p> + +<p>"Lord a mercy!" responded the other, "I ha' knowed Miss July since she +wa' the height of my basket. Ay! and many's the bunch of flowers she ha' +had from me. That was afore the family went to the sea side. Well! it's a +matter o' five year, sin' she comed up to me one morning--so grown as I'd +never ha' known her. But she knowed me, and asked all about me. And I just +told her all my troubles, and how I had lost my good man. And sure enough +sin' that day she ha' stood my friend, and gived me soup and flannels for +the little uns, and put my Bess to service, and took me through all the +bad Christmas'. Poor dear soul! she ha' gone now! and may the Lord bless +her and all as good as she!"</p> + +<p>The poor woman, who felt the loss of her benefactress, put the corner of +her apron to her eyes.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry strode forward.</p> + +<p>Mutes were on each side of the front step. A servant threw open the door +of the breakfast room, and Delmé mechanically entered it. It was filled +with strangers; on some of these the spruce undertaker was fitting silk +scarfs; while others were busy at the breakfast table.</p> + +<p>An ominous whisper ran through the apartment.</p> + +<p>"Sir Henry Delmé?" said the rosy-cheeked clergyman, enquiringly, as he +laid down his egg spoon, and turned towards him.</p> + +<p>"I trust you received my letter. Women are so utterly helpless in these +matters; and poor Mrs. Vernon was quite overpowered."</p> + +<p>Delmé turned away to master his emotion.</p> + +<p>At this moment, a friendly hand was laid on his shoulder, and Mrs. +Vernon's maid, with her eyes red from weeping, beckoned him up stairs.</p> + +<p>He mechanically obeyed her--reeled into an inner drawing room--and stood +in the presence of the bereaved mother.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vernon was ordinarily the very picture of neatness. <i>Now</i> she sat +with her feet on a footstool--her head almost touching her lap--her silver +hair all loose and dishevelled. It seemed to Delmé as if age had suddenly +come upon her.</p> + +<p>She rose as he entered, and with wild hysterical sobs, threw herself +into his arms.</p> + +<p>"My son I my son! that <i>should</i> have been. Our angel is gone--gone!"</p> + +<p>Delmé tried to speak, but his tongue clove to his mouth, and the hysteric +globe rose to his throat.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he heard the sound of wheels, and of heavy footsteps on +the stairs.</p> + +<p>He imprinted a kiss on the old woman's forehead--it was his farewell for +ever!--gave her to the care of the maid servant--and rushed from the room.</p> + +<p>He was stopped on the landing of the staircase by the coffin of her he +loved so well. The bearers stopped for an instant; they felt that this was +no common greeting. Part of the pall was already turned back. Delmé +removed its head with trembling hand.</p> + +<p> "Julia Vernon. ætate 22."</p> + +<p>He dropped the velvet with a groan, and was only saved from falling by the +timely aid of the old butler, whose face was as sorrowful as his own.</p> + +<p>But there was a duty yet to be performed, and Delmé followed the corpse.</p> + +<p>The first mourning coach was just drawn up. An intended occupant had +already his foot on the step. + +"This place is mine!" said Sir Henry in a hollow voice.</p> + +<p>The cortege proceeded; and Delmé, giddy and confused, heard solemn words +spoken over his affianced one, and he waited, till even the coffin could +he discerned no more.</p> + +<p>Thompson, who had followed his master, assisted him into his carriage, +placed himself beside him, and ordered the driver to proceed to the hotel. +But Delmé gave a quick impetuous motion of the hand, which the domestic +understood well; and the horses' heads were turned towards the metropolis.</p> + +<p>The mourner tarried not, even to bid his sister farewell; but sought +once more his brother's grave. Some friendly hand had kept its turf +smooth; no footsteps, save the innocent ones of children, had pressed +its grassy mound. It was clothed with soft daisies and drooping +harebells. The sun seemed to shine on that spot, to bid the wanderer be +contented and at rest.</p> + +<p>But as yet there was no rest for Delmé. And he stood beside the marble +slab, beneath which lay Acmé Frascati. The downy moss--soft as +herself--was luxuriating there; and the cry of the cicalas was pleasant +to the ear; and the image of the young Greek girl, as in a vivid +picture, rose to his mind's eye. She was not attired in her white cymar; +nor was her head wreathed with monumental amaranths;--health was on her +cheek, fond smiles on her pouting lip, and tender love swimming in her +melting glance.</p> + +<p>His own griefs came back on Delmé; he groaned aloud. He traversed the +deserts, he crossed lofty mountains, he knew thirst and privations. He was +scoffed at and spat upon in an infidel country--he was tossed on the +ocean--he shook hands with danger.</p> + +<p>He visited our wide Oriental possessions; and sojourned amid the spicy +islands of the Indian Archipelago, where vegetation attains a magnificence +unknown elsewhere, and animal life partakes of this unexampled +exuberance,--where flowers of the most exquisite colours and fragrance +charm the senses by day, and delicious plants saturate the air with their +odours by night.</p> + +<p>Delmé extended his wanderings to the rarely visited "many isles," which +stud the vast Pacific, and found that there too were fruitful and +smiling regions.</p> + +<p>But not on the desert--nor on the mountains--nor in the land of the +Moslem---nor on tempestuous seas--nor in those verdant islets, which seem +to breathe of Paradise, to greet the wearied traveller; could Delmé's +restless spirit find an abiding place, his thirst for foreign travel be +slaked, or his heart know peace.</p> + +<p>He madly sought oblivion, which could not be accorded him.</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XVI.</h1> + +<h2>The Wanderer</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "Then I consider'd life in all its forms,<br /> +Of vegetables first, next zoophytes,<br /> +The tribe that dwells upon the confine strange<br /> +'Twixt plants and fish; some are there from their mouth<br /> +Spit out their progeny, and some that breed,<br /> +By suckers from their base or tubercles,<br /> +Sea-hedgehog, madrepore, sea-ruff, or pad,<br /> +Fungus, or sponge, or that gelatinous fish,<br /> +That taken from its element at once<br /> +Stinks, melts, and dies a fluid; so from these,<br /> +Through many a tribe of less equivocal life,<br /> +Dividual or insect, up I ranged,<br /> +From sentient to percipient, small advance,<br /> +Next to intelligent, to rational next,<br /> +So to half spiritual human kind,<br /> +And what is more, is more than man may know.<br /> +Last came the troublesome question--What am I?"</blockquote> + +<hr width="200" align="left" size="1" /> + +<blockquote> "And vain were the hat, the staff, and stole,<br /> + And all outward signs were a snare,<br /> +Unless the pilgrim's endanger'd soul<br /> + Were inwardly clothed with prayer.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>"But the pilgrim prays--and then trials are light--<br /> + For prayer to him on his way,<br /> +Resembles the pillar of fire by night,<br /> + And the guiding cloud by day.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>"And salvation's helm the pilgrim wears,<br /> + Or vain were all other dress;<br /> +And the shield of faith the pilgrim bears,<br /> + With the breastplate of righteousness.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>"At length his tears all wiped away;<br /> + He enters the City of Light;<br /> +And how gladly he changes his gown of grey,<br /> + For Zion's robe of white."</blockquote> + + +<p>It was on the 22nd of October, 1836, that an emissary from his sister, +sought Sir Henry Delmé. It was at the antipodes to his ancestral home; in +Australia, that wonderful country, which--belied and calumniated, as she +has hitherto been--presents some anomalous and creditable features.</p> + +<p>For her population, she is the wealthiest, the most enterprising, the most +orderly and loyal, of our British possessions. There, is the aristocracy +of wealth, to an unprecedented degree, subservient to the aristocracy of +virtue. While she is stigmatised as the cloacæ of Britain, the philosopher +looks into the future, and already beholds a nation, perpetuating the +language of the brave and free; when the parent stock has perhaps ceased +to be an empire; or is lingering on, like modern Greece, in the hopeless +languor of decay and decrepitude.</p> + +<p>This agent had arrived from England, a very short period before; and, +accredited with a packet, containing various communications from Emily and +Clarendon, accompanied by the miniatures of their children, with little +silky curls attached to each, proceeded an expectant guest, to Sir Henry +Delmé's temporary residence. Early dawn saw him pacing the deck of a steam +vessel; and regarding with great surprise, the opposite banks of Hunter's +River, up which the vessel was gliding.</p> + +<p>A rich dark soil, of great depth, bespoke uncommon fertility; while the +varieties of the gum tree--then quite new to him--with their bark of every +diversity of colour, gave a primeval grandeur to the scene.</p> + +<p>Each moment brought in sight the location of some enterprising settler, +which, ever varying in appearance, in importance, and in extent yet told +the same tale of difficulties overcome, and success ensuing.</p> + +<p>On his reaching the township, near the head of the navigation, this agent +found horses waiting for him:--he was addressed by a well-appointed +groom--our old friend Thompson--who touched his hat respectfully, and +mentioned the name, he was already prepared for by his Sydney advices.</p> + +<p>Suffice it, that Sir Henry was no longer the Baronet, and that the name of +Delmé was a strange one in his household.</p> + +<p>Their route skirted the banks of one of those rivers, which, diverging +from that mine of wealth, the Hunter, wind into the bowels of the land, +like a vein of gold.</p> + +<p>That emissary will not soon forget his lovely ride. His eye, wearied with +gazing on the wide expanse of ocean, feasted on the rich and novel +landscape. They rode alternately, through cleared lands, studded with rich +farms, waving with luxuriant crops of wheat and rye; and again, through +regions, where the axe had never resounded, but where eucalypti, and +bastard box, and forest oak with its rough acorn, towered above beauteous +wild flowers, whose forms and varieties were associated in the mind of +the stranger, with some of the most precious and valued flowers which +adorn British conservatories.</p> + +<p>The russet Certhia, with outspread fluttering wing, pecked at the smooth +bark, and preying on some destructive insect, really preserved what it +seemed to injure. The larger parrots, travelling in pairs, screamed their +passing salutation, as they displayed their bright plumage to the sun; +while hundreds, of a smaller kind, with crimson shoulder, were concealed +amid the green leaves; and, as they rode beneath them, babbled--like +frolicsome children of the forest--a rude, but to themselves a not +unmeaning dialogue.</p> + +<p>The superb warblers, ornaments alike to the bush or the garden, flitted +cheerily from bough to bough. Strangely mated are they! The male, in suit +of black velvet, trimmed with sky blue, looks like a knight, attired for a +palace festival:--while his lady-love--she resembles some peasant girl, +silent and grateful, clothed in modest kirtle of sober brown.</p> + +<p>As he reined in his horse, to examine these at leisure, how melodiously +came on his ear, the clear, ceaseless, silver tinkle of the bell-bird; +this sound ever and anon chequered by the bold chock-ee-chock! of the +bald-headed friar. They had proceeded very leisurely, and the sun was +already declining, when Thompson, pointing to an abrupt path, motioned +him to descend, and at the same time, gave the peculiar cry, known in the +colony as the cooï; a cry which was as promptly answered. It was not +until he was close to the edge of the river, that the stranger understood +its purport.</p> + +<p>A punt was rapidly approaching from the opposite bank. An athletic +aboriginal native, in an attitude that seemed studiedly graceful, was +bending to the stout rope, which, attached to either side of the river, +served to propel the punt. He had been spearing fish; for his wife, or +gin, or queen--for she was born such, and contradicted in her person the +old adage,</p> + +<blockquote> "There's a difference between<br /> +A beggar and a queen"--</blockquote> + +<p>was drawing the barb of a spear from the bleeding side of a struggling +mullet. She sat at the bottom of the boat, with a blanket closely wound +round her. She was young, and her looks were not unpleasing. Her +thickly-matted hair was ornamented with kangaroo teeth; and to her +shoulder, closely clung a native tailless bear, whose appearance could not +do otherwise than excite a smile. With convex staring eyes--hairless +nose--and white ruff of fur round his face--he very closely resembled in +physiognomy, some grey-whiskered guzzling citizen. The well-trained horses +gave no trouble, as they entered the punt; and the smiling boatman, +displaying his teeth to Thompson, but without speaking, commenced warping +the punt to the opposite side of the river. They were half way across, ere +the guest observed the mansion of the friend he sought. It stood on the +summit of the hill, on the left; beneath which the river made a very +abrupt bend. The house itself resembled the common weather-boarded cottage +of the early settler,--wide verandah was over the front entrance,--and two +small rooms, the exact width of this, jutted out on either side of it.</p> + +<p>Its site however was commanding. The house stood on an eminence, and from +the windows, a long reach of the river was visible. At the top of the brow +of the hill, extended a range of English rose trees, in full flower. The +bank, which might be about thirty yards in front of these, was clothed +with foliage to the water's edge.</p> + +<p>There might be seen the fragrant mimosa--the abundant acacia--the swamp +oak, which would have been styled a fir, had not the first exiles to +Australia found twined round its boughs, the misletoe, with its many home +associations--the elegant cedar--the close-growing mangrove--and strange +parasitical plants, pushing through huge fungi, and clasping with the +remorseless strength of the wrestler, and with the round crunching folds +of the boa, the trees they were gradually to supplant and destroy.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, the quick finger of the black pointed to an object close beside +the punt. A bill, as of a bird, and apparently of the duck tribe, +protruded above the surface of the water. For an instant, small, black, +piercing eyes peered towards them: but as the quadruped, for such it was, +prepared to dive in affright, the unerring shot of a rifle splashed the +water on the cheek of the stranger--the body rolled slowly over--the legs +stiffened--a sluggish stream of dark blood tainted the surrounding +wave--and the ferryman, extending his careless hand, threw the victim to +his companion, at the same time addressing a few words to her in their +native language.</p> + +<p>The guest had little difficulty, in recognising the uncouth form of the +ornithorhynchus, or water-mole; but he turned with yet more eagerness, +towards the spot, whence that shot had proceeded. On the summit of the +steep bank, leaning on his rifle, stood Sir Henry Delmé.</p> + +<p>His form was still commanding--there was something in the air with which +the cap was worn--and in the strap round his Swiss blouse--that bespoke +the soldier and the gentleman: but his face was sadly attenuated--the +lower jaw appeared to have fallen in--and his hair was very grey.</p> + +<p>He received his guest with a cordial and sincere welcome. While the latter +delivered his packet the native who had warped the punt over, came up +with the dead platypus,</p> + +<p>"Well, Boomeroo! is it a female?"</p> + +<p>"No, massa! full grown--with large spur!"</p> + +<p>Sir Henry saw that his guest was puzzled by this dialogue, and +good-naturedly showed him the distinguishing characteristic of the male +ornithorhynchus--the spur on the hinder foot, which is hollow, and +transmits an envenomed liquid, secreted by a gland on the inner surface of +the thigh.</p> + +<p>In November, of the year preceding, a burrow of the animal had been +opened on the bank of the river, which contained the dam, and three +live young ones;--there were many points, yet to be determined relative +to its interior organization; and it was on this account, that Sir +Henry was anxious to obtain a female specimen at this particular +period. As he spoke, Delmé introduced the stranger to his study, which +might more aptly be styled a museum;--applied some spirits of wine to +the platypus, and placing it under a bell-glass for the morrow's +examination, left him turning over his collection of birds, while he +perused his valued home letters.</p> + +<p>It was with unmixed pleasure, knowing as he did his melancholy history, +that the stranger found Sir Henry Delmé engaged in pursuits, which it was +evident he was following up with no common enthusiasm. In truth, a mere +accidental circumstance,--the difficulty of obtaining a vessel at one of +the Indian Islands for any port,--had at first brought him to Australia, a +country regarding which he had felt little curiosity. The strange +varieties, however, of its animal kingdom, had interested him;--he was +struck with the rapid strides that that country has made in half a +century--and he continued from month to month to occupy the house where +his friend had now found him.</p> + +<p>To the stranger's eye, the eye of a novice, the well arranged specimens of +birds of the most beautiful plumage--of animals, chiefly marsupial, of the +most singular developement--of glittering insects--and of deep coloured +shells; were attractive wonders enough; but from the skeletons beside +these, it was quite clear, that Delmé had acquired considerable knowledge +as to the internal construction of the animals themselves--that he had +studied the subsisting relations, between the mechanism and the +movements--the structure, and its varied functions.</p> + +<p>After dinner, Sir Henry Delmé, who appeared to think that the bearer of +his despatches had conferred on him a lasting favour, threw off his +habitual reserve, and delighted and interested him with his tales of +foreign travel.</p> + +<p>As the night wore on, the conversation reverted to his sister and his +home. It was evident, that what remained for the living of that crushed +heart, was with Emily and Clarendon, and their children; perhaps more than +all, with his young heir and god-son, Henry Delmé Gage. The very colour of +that sunny lock of hair, gave rise to much speculation: and it seemed as +if he would never be wearied, of listening to the minutest description of +the dawning of intellect, in a precocious little fellow of barely five +years of age.</p> + +<p>Encouraged by his evident feeling, and observing many more comforts +about him, than he had been led to expect from his previous errant +habits; his guest ventured to express his hope, that Sir Henry might yet +return to England.</p> + +<p>"My good friend!" replied he, "for I must call you such now, for I know +not when I have experienced such unalloyed satisfaction, as you have +conferred on me this night, by conversing so freely of those I love; I +certainly never can forget that I am the last male of an ancient race, and +that those who are nearest and dearest to me, are divided from me by a +wide waste of waters. I have learnt to suffer with more patience than I +had ever hoped for; and, it may be,--although I have hardly breathed the +thought to myself--it may yet be accorded me to revisit that ancient +chapel, and to dwell once more in that familiar mansion."</p> + +<p>His guest was overcome by his emotion, and pressed his hand with warmth, +as he made his day's journey the excuse for an early retirement.</p> + +<p>Sleep soon visited his eyelids, for the ride, to one fresh from a sea +voyage, had brought with it a wholesome weariness. He was aroused from +his slumbers, by the deep sonorous accents as of a man reading Spanish.</p> + +<p>The light streamed from an adjacent room, through the chinks of a +partition. He started up alike forgetful of Delmé, his ride, and his +arrival in Australia; conceiving that he was again at the mercy of the +waves, in his narrow comfortless cabin.</p> + +<p>That light, however, brought the stranger back to the wanderer, and +his griefs.</p> + +<p>Beside a small table, strewn with his lately received English letters, +knelt Sir Henry Delmé. The stranger had seen condemned criminals pray with +becoming fervour; and devotees of many a creed lift up their hearts to +heaven; but never had he witnessed a more contrite or a humbler spirit +imprinted on the features of mortal man, than then shed its radiance on +that sorrowful, but noble face.</p> + +<p>Strange as it may appear, he knew not whether the words themselves really +caught his ear, or whether the motion of the lips expressed them--but +this he <i>did</i> know, that every syllable seemed to reach his heart, and +impress him with a mystic thrill,</p> + +<p>"<b>OR EVER THE SILVER CORD BE LOOSED, OR THE GOLDEN BOWL BE BROKEN, OR THE +PITCHER BE BROKEN AT THE FOUNTAIN, OR THE WHEEL BROKEN AT THE CISTERN. +THEN SHALL THE DUST RETURN TO THE EARTH AS IT WAS: AND THE SPIRIT SHALL +RETURN UNTO GOD WHO GAVE IT</b>."</p> + + + + +<h1>Chapter XVII</h1> + +<h2>The Wanderer's Return.</h2> + + + +<blockquote> "And he had learn'd to love--I know not why,<br /> +For this in such as him seems strange of mood,--<br /> +The helpless looks of blooming infancy,<br /> +Even in its earliest nurture; what subdued,<br /> +To change like this, a mind so far imbued<br /> +With scorn of man, it little boots to know;<br /> +But thus it was; and though in solitude<br /> +Small power the nipp'd affections have to grow,<br /> +In him this glow'd when all beside had ceased to glow."</blockquote> + + +<p>Within a period of two months, from the interview we have described, the +stranger found that his arguments had not been thrown away; as he shook +Sir Henry's hand on the deck of a vessel bound for Valparaiso. His love of +travel and of excitement, had induced such an habitual restlessness, that +Delmé was not prepared at once to embark for England. He crossed the +Cordillera de los Andes--traversed the Pampas of Buenos Ayres--and +finally embarked for his native land.</p> + +<p>It was the height of summer, when the carriage which bore the long absent +owner to his ancestral home, neared the ancient moss-grown lodge.</p> + +<p>Fanny Porter, who was now married, and had a thriving babe at her breast, +started with surprise; as, throwing open the gate, she recognised in the +care-worn man with bronzed face and silver hair, her well known and +beloved master. As the carriage neared the chapel, it struck Sir Henry, +that it would be but prudent, to inform Clarendon of his near approach; in +order that he might prepare Emily for the meeting. He ordered the +postilion to pull up--tore a leaf from his memorandum book--and wrote a +few lines to Clarendon, despatching Thompson in advance. He turned into +the chapel, and as he approached its altar, the bridal scene, enacted +there nearly seven years back, seemed to rise palpably before him.</p> + +<p>But the tomb of Sir Reginald Delmé, with its velvet dusty banner--the +marble monument of his mother, with the bust above it, whose naked eye +seemed turned towards him--his withered heart and hopes soon darkened his +recollections of that bright hour. With agitated emotions, Sir Henry left +the chapel; and in a spirit of impatience, strode towards the mansion, +intending to meet the returning domestic. His feelings were strange, +various, and not easily defined.</p> + +<p>He was awakened from his day-dream by the sound of children's voices, +which sound he instinctively followed, until he reached the old orchard. +It was such an orchard, as might be planted by an old Delmé, ere any +Linnean or Loudonean horticulturist had decided that slopes are best for +the sun, that terraces are an economical saving of ground, that valleys +must be swamps, and that blights are vulgar errors. The orchard at Delmé +was strikingly unscientific; but the old stock contrived to bear good +fruit. The pippins, golden and russet--the pears, jargonelle and +good-christian--the cherries, both black and white heart--still thrived; +while under their shade, grew hips, haws, crabs, sloes, and blackberries, +happy to be shaded from rain, dews, and fierce sun-shine, and unenvious +of roses, cherries, apples, damsons, and mulberries; their self-defended, +and more aristocratic cousins.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry stopped unseen at the gate of the orchard, and for some minutes +looked on the almost fairy group, whose voices had led him thither.</p> + +<p>Lying on the bank, which enclosed the orchard, was a blue-eyed +rosy-cheeked little girl;--the ground ashes had been cut down; and her +laughing face was pillowed on the violets and oxlips, that burst from +between the roots. She was preparing to take another roll into the clayey +ditch below. Another little girl was gazing at the child from within the +orchard; half doubtful whether she should encourage or check her. One +pale-blue slipper and her little sock were half sunk in the clay, while +the veiny and pink-soled foot, the large lids half closed over her deep +blue eyes, the finger thrust between her red and pouting lips, her bonnet +thrown back and hanging by the strings round her swelling throat, her hair +dishevelled and stuck with oxlips, primroses, cowslips, violets, and +daisies; and wreathed with the spring-holly, or butcher's-broom--made her +a perfect picture of English beauty, and of childish anxiety and +indecision.</p> + +<p>Beside her stood a boy older than herself, and evidently as perplexed. +There was Julia perched cock-horse on the bank--there was Emily, her hair +undone, her bonnet crashed, with one shoe and stocking lost--and yet he +had promised Mamma, that if she would but once trust his sisters to him, +that he would bring them home, "with such a pretty basket of +spring-flowers."</p> + +<p>The beautiful blossoms of the cherry hung around the boy--the bees buzzed +in its bells--the apple and pear blossoms shook their fragrance in the +warm air--and the shadows of the flying clouds hurried like wings over the +bright green grass. The boy had dropped his basket of fresh-blown flowers +at his feet--tears were trembling in his eye-lids, as he gazed on his +sisters. His look was that of George.</p> + +<p>"Childhood too has its sorrows," said Sir Henry, half aloud, "even when +seeking joy on a bank of primroses. Why should <i>I</i> then repine?"</p> + +<p>The boy started as he heard and saw the stranger:--he involuntarily put +one foot forward in an attitude of childish defiance: but children are +keen physiognomists, and there was nothing but affection beaming from that +mournful face.</p> + +<p>"My boy!" said Delmé, and his eyes were moist, "did you ever hear of your +Uncle Henry?"</p> + +<p>"Emily! Emily! Julia!" exclaimed the little fellow, as he rushed into Sir +Henry's arms, "here is Uncle Henry, my god-papa, and he will help us to +reach the blackberries."</p> + +<p>We need follow the wanderer no further. It is true that in his youth he +had not known sympathy; in his manhood he had experienced sorrow; but +it is a pleasure to us to reflect, that despair is not the companion of +his old age.</p> + + + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">The End.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Love Story, by A Bushman + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LOVE STORY *** + +This file should be named 8lvst10h.htm or 8lvst10h.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8lvst11h.htm +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8lvst10ah.htm + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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