THE
SEDGWICK
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SCIENTIA
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
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CIRCUMSPIGE
THE GIFT OF
Sidney C. Eastman
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54481
THE LINWOODS.
THE LINWOODS;
OR,
“SIXTY YEARS SINCE" IN AMERICA.,
BY:
Catharine
MISS SEDGWICK,
AUTHOR OF
(6 HOPE LESLIE,"
93 66
REDWOOD," &e.
The Eternal Power
Lodged in the will of man the hallowed names
Of freedom and of country.
IN THREE VOLUMES.
VOL. III.
MISS MITFord.
LONDON:
EDWARD CHURTON, LIBRARY, 26, HOLLES STREET.
1835.
LONDON
BRADBURY AND EVANS, PRINTERS, WHITefriars.
THE LINWOODS.
CHAPTER XXVI.
The wonder, or a woman keeps a secret!
ISABELLA moulded and arranged every thing
to profit by Sir Henry's boon. She persuaded
her father (one is easily led the way the heart
inclines), in consideration of Herbert's past suf-
ferings and uncertain future, to acquiesce in a
present oblivion of his offences. She exacted a
promise from Herbert that he would hear her
father laud King George, his ministers, and all
VOL. III.
B
321332
2
THE LINWOODS.
their acts, without interposing a disqualifying
word, or even a glance; and, what was a greater
feat for him, that he would sit quietly and hear
the names of Washington, Franklin, Jay, Ha-
milton, La Fayette--all that he most honoured,
coupled with the most offensive epithets. This
vituperation she knew was a sort of safety-valve,
by which her father let off the passion that
might otherwise burst on poor Herbert's head.
She felt that no sacrifice, short of that of principle,
was too great to obtain affectionate intercourse
between the father and son; that, between those
thus related, there never could be a "good war,
nor a bad peace.”
As Sir Henry had exacted a strict secrecy as
to his indulgence, Isabella congratulated herself
that she had long before this persuaded her
father to dismiss Jupiter (an irreclaimable
gossip), on the ground that he was a useless
THE LINWOODS.
3
piece of lumber; but really because Rose had
declared that it exceeded the ability of her com-
missary department to supply his rations. Rose
herself was worthy of all confidence.
Archer, of course, was one of the family cabinet.
Mrs.
The awkwardness of the first meeting got
over, all difficulties were past. Little differ-
ences, if let alone, soon melt away in the warmth
of hearty affection. Herbert was obliged some-
times to bite his lips, and at others, when his
frank and hasty spirit prompted a retort, a
glance from Isabella kept him silent.
It was not till Herbert's second or third visit
that Mr. Linwood manifested the uneasiness
incident to persons of his age and habits when
put out of their accustomed track. Rivington's
Royal Gazette, issued twice a week, and the
only newspaper in the city, was to Mr. Linwood,
as newspapers are to most men, one of the
B 2
4
THE LINWOODS.
necessaries of life.
66
My dear," he asked his
wife," where is the paper?"
"I left it below, my dear; there is nothing in
it." Mrs. Linwood had ventured this omission
from consideration to Herbert, whose temper
she feared might boil over at the hearing of one
of those high-toned tory gazettes,
"Pshaw-nothing in it! just so all women say,
unless they find some trumpery murder or ship-
wreck. Belle, be good enough to bring the
paper, and read it to me; and do ask Rose to
bring us in a stick of wood-it is as cold as
Greenland here-five pounds I paid Morton
yesterday for a cord of hickory. D-n the
rebels, I wish I had their bones for firewood."
66
They do their best, sir, to make it hot for the
tories," said Herbert, very good humouredly.
"Ah, Herbert my son, I forgot you were
here; I did indeed. But I can't be mealy-
THE LINWOODS.
5
10
mouthed--I must speak out, come what come
will. But it is hard not to be able to get the
wood from our own farms, is it not?"
«Very hard, sir, to be deprived of any of our
rights."
66
Rights!" Isabella entered, and Mr. Lin-
wood added, in a softened tone, “have a care,
my boy; there are certain words that fall on my
ear like sparks on gunpowder."
"Here is something to prevent your emitting
any more sparks just now, Mr. Herbert," said
Isabella, giving him a Boston paper, while she
retained the orthodox journal to read aloud.
"What's that? — what's that?
what's that?" asked her
father.
"A Boston paper, sir, sent to you with Colonel
Robertson's compliments."
Herbert read aloud a few lines written on the
margin of the paper, chuckling in spite of his
6
THE LINWOODS.
filial efforts to the contrary:-" Major-General
Putman presents his compliments to Major-
General Robertson, and sends him some Ame-
rican newspapers for his perusal. When General
Robertson shall have done with them, it is
requested they may be given to Rivington, in
order that they may print some truth.
"The impudent renegado! Come, Isabella,
what says Rivington to-day?"
. Isabella read aloud an order from Sir Henry
Clinton, "That all negroes taken fighting in the
rebel cause should be sold as slaves: and that
all deserting should live at what occupation
they pleased within the British lines!”
66
Very salutary that!" interposed Mr. Lin-
wood. "Black sons of Belial-they fighting
for liberty, d-n 'em !”
Herbert cleared his throat. "My father-
my upright father applauding a bounty offered
THE LINWOODS.
to cowardice and treachery!-Oh the moral
perversions engendered by war!" thought Isa-
bella; but she wisely kept her reflections to
herself, and striking another chord, ran over
one of Rivington's advertisements of fancy ar-
ticles for sale by himself, the sole editor and
publisher in the city. Oh, Smetz, Stewart,
Gardiner, Tryon, Baily, ye ministers to the
luxury of our city! well may ye exclaim, in
your rich repositories of the arts and industry
of the old world-
Great streams from little fountains flow.
For the curious in such matters, we permit
our heroine to read aloud verbatim: “For sale
at this office, scarlet dress-frocks, with silk lining
and capes, the work of celebrated operators west
of London; the celebrated new-fashioned buckle,
which owes its origin and vogue to the Count
8
THE LINWOODS.
d'Artois, brother to the King of France; of the
locket or depository for preserving the gentle
Saccharissa's hair, a great variety; crow-quills
for the delicate Constantia; scarlet riding-
dresses for ladies, made to suit the uniform of
their husbands or lovers; canes for the gallant
gay Lothario; gold and silver strings for plain
walking-canes, with silver and gold tassels for
plain Master Balance; vastly snug shaving
equipages; brocaded shoes and slippers; ladies'
shuttles for the thrifty in the knotting amuse-
ments; songs suited to the various humours and
affections of the mind."
"Bravo, friend Rivington!" exclaimed Her-
bert, "you do not expend all your imagination
in the invention of news."
"Is there nothing but this nonsense in the
paper, Belle? What is that in capitals about
letters from England?
THE LINWOODS.
9
Isabella resumed: "Letters from England
say they will never acknowledge the Independ-
ence of the United States, while there is a
soldier to be raised, or a tester to be expended,
in the three kingdoms!"
"John Bull for ever! What say you to that,
Mr. Herbert?" asked his father, exultingly.
"Nous verrons, sir!-but mercy upon us!
what is this?" Herbert read aloud from the
Boston paper: "We regret to state that the
daughter of Mrs. Lee, of Westbrook, left her
mother's house two weeks since, with the sup-
posed intention of going to New York. The
young lady has been for some time in a state of
partial mental alienation." A description of
Bessie's person followed, and an earnest request
that any information obtained might be trans-
mitted to the unhappy mother.
Both Herbert and Isabella were filled with
B 3
10
THE LINWOODS.
consternation and anxiety; and, after revolving
the past, both came to the same conclusion as to
the probable origin of poor Bessie's mental
malady. Mr. Linwood, who only recollected
her as a quiet, pretty little girl, exhausted his
sympathy in a few inquiries and exclamations,
became somewhat impatient of the sadness that
had overclouded his children. "We are as
doleful as the tombs here," he said: "What
can keep your aunt Archer to-night, Isabella?
-Ah! here she comes-right glad to see you,
Mary. Belle and Herbert are knocked up by
an unlucky bit of news.' The news was com-
municated to Mrs. Archer, who entered deeply
into their feelings.
"Ah!" said she, "this explains a note I
received this morning from Captain Lee."
"From Eliot?" exclaimed Herbert.
"Yes; he sent by a courier, who came to
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11
Sir Henry, a most acceptable present—a set of
chess-men for the children, which he has con-
trived, and, aided by an ingenious private, made
for them."
"Chessmen contrived by a rebel!" said Mr.
Linwood-" of course he has left out the king,
queen, and bishop?"
"Pardon me he may think kings, queens,
and bishops, very fit playthings.
"9
"But what says the note ?" asked Herbert,
impatiently.
"It says, that if the chessboard should fail to
be of use to Ned and Lizzy, it has at least served
the purpose of partially diverting his thoughts
from a grief that almost drives him mad. Of
course he alludes to the sad affair.”
"Undoubtedly," replied Herbert; "and this
business of the chessboard is just like himself-
he is the most extraordinary fellow! I never
knew him in any trouble, small or great, that
12
THE LINWOODS.
he did not turn to doing something for somebody
or other by way of a solace-
of a solace—a balm to his hurt
mind."
"I do not wonder you love him so devotedly,"
said Isabella.
"Oh, Belle," whispered Herbert in return,
“had Heaven but put him in Jasper's place,
or made Jasper like him!"
Mrs. Archer caught the words, and in spite
of her own discretion and Isabella's painful
blushes, she uttered a deep and insuppressible
"Amen!"
"Come, come, what are you all about?” said
Mr. Linwood: " suppose you imitate this won-
derful hero of yours in the use of his mental
panacea, and comfort me with a game of whist.
Do you play as deep a game as you used to,
Herbert; trump your partner's trick and finesse
with a knave and ten ?”
Herbert confessed he had forgotten the little
THE LINWOODs.
13
he knew. "Well, then, you may brood over
your Yankee paper, and we will call in your
mother, who, in five-and-twenty years' drilling,
has learned just enough not to trump her part-
ner's tricks."
Mrs. Linwood was summoned, and the party
formed. Mr. Linwood was in high good-
humour; and though Isabella made some in-
scrutable plays, all went smoothly till the family
party was alarmed by a tap at the door; and
before any one had time to reply to it, the door
was opened, and Lady Anne Seton appeared.
Startled by the appearance of a stranger, and
somewhat disconcerted by perceiving the em-
barrassment caused by her intrusion." Shall
I go back?" she asked, her hand still on the
door.
"Oh, no-no," cried Mr. Linwood, "come
in my dear little girl, by all means; you pro-
14
THE LINWOODS.
mised me a game of piquet, and I, an old savage,
forgot it, and so I have forfeited my right, and
now make it over to this young man, my son
Herbert." Lady Anne turned a surprised,
sparkling, and inquiring glance to Herbert, as
much as to say, "Is it possible!" and Herbert
made his bow of presentation.
"You know,
continued the father, "that this young man is
in limbo; but you do not know, and be sure
you let no one else know, that Sir Henry, God
bless him! permits the rascal to visit us privately."
"Am I really trusted with an important
secret ?-delightful!-and does any thing depend
on my keeping it ?"
"The continuance of my brother's visits and
Sir Henry's favour," replied Isabella, emphati-
cally, alarmed at the necessity of confiding their
secret to one so gay and inexperienced as Lady
Anne.
THE LINWOODS.
15
Inexperienced she was, but true and single-
hearted.
"Do not look so solemn, my dear
Miss Linwood," she said; "indeed I will not
tell. I am too much puffed up with the first
important secret I ever had in my keeping, to
part with it carelessly. I am even with aunt and
Jasper now, with their everlasting private talks;
and when it is stupid at home, I may come here,
may I not ?"
66
Always," interposed Mr. Linwood, really
delighted with the accession of the charming
girl to their circle. Mrs. Linwood, who only
waited for her husband to strike the key-note,
was voluble in her hospitable expressions. Her-
bert looked the most unequivocal welcome; and
Lady Anne, never querulous, did not trouble
herself about Isabella's merely civil assent, and,
perhaps, did not notice it. From this time her
visits were almost as regular as Herbert's.
She
16
THE LINWOODs.
was little addicted to romance; but every young
girl has a spice of it, and Herbert's romantic
and precarious position increased the charm of
his frank and spirited character. A dear lover
of sunshine was Herbert; and these short domes-
tic interludes, brightened by Lady Anne, were
hours in paradise to him. All day in his gloomy
prison he looked forward to his release from
purgatory; and, once engaged at a side-table with
his lively partner in the most fascinating of all
tête-à-tête games, or round the petit-souper, which
his good mother spent the day in contriving and
concocting, he forgot the ills of life, till the
summons from his keeper reminded him that he
had still to buffet with his portion of them.
"If I do not mistake," said Mrs. Archer to
Isabella, after the breaking up of one of their
evening meetings, "Herbert and Lady Anne
are beginning to see visions, and dream dreams.”
THE LINWOODS.
"Heaven forbid !
17
"And why, my dear Belle, should Heaven
forbid so natural and pleasant a consequence of
their familiar intercourse?
"How can you ask, aunt Mary! I could
not forgive Herbert if he were so soon to forget
poor Bessie."
"We must take man as he is, Belle. Her-
bert is too light-hearted to cherish a hopeless
passion; he regards his love for Bessie Lee
as a dream, and, rely on it, he is thoroughly
awakened from it. You must have perceived
that he has not been desperately afflicted about
your unfortunate little friend?
"Yes, I have-but men do not show their
feelings."
"Some men do not, but Herbert does; and
rely on it, Belle, he is not of a temper to
continue to love a person (even if poor little
THE LINWOOds.
18
Bessie were not, as she must now be, utterly
lost to him) whose heart is another's.'
"I suppose you are right, aunt Mary,"
replied Isabella, after a moment's hesitation,
colouring deeply; "the whole sex are alike
incapable of the generosity of unrequited affec-
tion!" Unacknowledged was her mental reading
of unrequited.
"Substitute folly or weakness for generosity,
Belle, and you will take a more masculine, and,
if may be, a more rational view of the case."
""
"Oh, aunt Mary, are you, like the rest of
the world, giving up all feeling for what you
call rationality?"
"No, my dear child, but I have learned that
what
you call feeling, what constitutes the dream
of a few weeks, months, or it may be years of
youth, makes but a small portion of the reality
or the worth of life. Providence has kindly so
THE LINWOODS.
19
organised man, that he cannot waste his affec-
tions in one hopeless, fruitless concentration;
nor lose life in a tissue of vain regrets. The
stream that is obstructed in one course will take
another, and enrich and beautify regions for
which it did not, at first, seem destined."
Isabella was not just now in a humour to
assent to Mrs. Archer's conclusions, but her
mind was the good ground in which the seed
could not be lost. She was conscious that,
though her aunt's strictures were ostensibly
directed to Herbert, they had some bearing
on herself. She was in a position the most
tormenting to a mind prompt both to decide
and act. Since Lady Anne's arrival she had
rarely seen Meredith. This she admitted was
in part her own fault. She had been restrained
by her promise to Sir Henry Clinton from
communicating to Jasper the favour granted
20
THE LINWOODS.
to Herbert.
"But when she gave the promise
to Şir Henry, ought she not to have excepted
Jasper? Was it not due to him? and would
she not have made the exception, through all
the blushing and faltering it must have cost
her, had she not felt sure that Sir Henry him-
self would have made Meredith a party to the
secret ?"
Sir Henry, after a little reflection, was
ashamed of the spell that had been wrought
on him, and communicated it to no one.
Meredith, partly spurred by pride, partly led
on by the incessant manœuvres of his mother,
partly incited by the worldly advantages of
an alliance with Lady Anne, and flattered to
by his cousin's frank and affectionate manner,
was fast verging towards that point, to attain
which his mother had compassed sea and land.
He had confidently expected that Isabella
THE LINWOODS.
21
would at once and fully have reciprocated his
declarations of attachment. Her reserve had
abased his pride, piqued his vanity, and disap-
pointed his affection. He believed he truly
loved her, and he did, as truly as he could love.
But Jasper Meredith's love, like water that
rises through minerals, was impregnated with
much foreign material. He at first had no
formed purpose in his devotion to Lady Anne;
but after being twice or thrice repulsed from
Mr. Linwood's door by "My master is better,
sir, but not yet down stairs; " and "Miss
Isabella is very much engaged," he half resolved
no longer to resist the "tide in his affairs that
was leading on to fortune."
22
THE LINWOODS.
CHAPTER XXVII.
Some die of weariness,
Some of disease, and some insanity,
And some of withered or of broken hearts;
For this last is a malady which slays
More than are numbered in the lists of fate,
Taking all shapes, and bearing many names.
BYRON.
BESSIE LEE'S sylvan lodge harmonised so
well with her wild fancies, that when she awoke
it seemed no more strange to her than her accus-
tomed sleeping-place. Whatever she might be
destined afterward to suffer from this exposure
on the damp earth through a cold autumnal
THE LINWOODS.
23
night, she was as unconscious of the ills that
flesh is heir to as if she were a disembodied
spirit. "Sluggard that I am!" she exclaimed,
starting up and shaking off the heavy dew-
drops, "the spirits of morning are at worship,
and I sleeping! the birds are singing their
hymns, and I, that have been watched and
guarded, am silent." She leaned her cheek on
the mossy stem of a tree, and began to repeat
the Lord's Prayer: "Our Father'-ay, nature
worships with me-beautiful waterfall, majestic
trees, glad light, is he not our father?- hal-
lowed be his name,'-ye hallow his name, for
ye are the manifestations of his wisdom, the
ministers of his love, the shadows of celestial
beauty!thy kingdom come'-it is come
here-obedience, peace, serenity, are his king-
dom-war is not-care is not-love is not-love
to fallible mortals, for there no peace is so I
24
THE LINWOODS.
will on my pilgrimage, and break the last link
in the chain-then will I return here, finish
prayer, and lay me down and rest again."
my
Thus mingling with her celestial meditations
one earthly purpose, she retraced her way to the
road, and looked about in vain for her horse,
who, having obeyed his rational impulses, was
now far on his way homeward.
"It was not
kind of you, Steady," she said, as she came to
the conclusion he had abandoned her; but
without one thought of relinquishing her pur-
pose, or one doubt of her ability to effect it,
she walked on for about half a mile, and pro-
bably began to have some obscure sense of
tremulousness and weakness, for, seeing a horse
equipped with saddle and bridle hitched to the
fence, and a basket standing by him containing
biscuits and apples, she laughed aloud, exclaim-
ing, "Who would have thought it!” and then
THE LINWOODs.
25
checking herself, raised her eyes devoutly and
added, "yet, I might have known they would
be provided by the wayside, just when I wanted
them. I wonder there is not a woman's saddle,
but I can manage;" and taking the basket in
one hand, she mounted, and rode briskly on.
She proceeded without any hindrance or moles-
tation whatever, now and then, probably, from
an insupportable feeling of weariness, dismount-
ing and lying for a moment under the shadow of
a tree. It was about the middle of the after-
noon, when she was entering the street of a little
village, that she heard behind her the trampling
of horses on the full gallop, and outcries of
66
Stop thief!" Her horse, incited more by the
uproar at his heels than by any impulse she was
able to give him, sprang forward. The people
rushed from their houses-their screams bewil-
dered her. She gazed fearfully around her
VOL. III.
C
•
26
THE LINWOODS.
her wearied horse soon slackened his speed, and
one of her pursuers reached her just at the
moment that, having dropped the bridle from
her powerless hand, she was falling from her
saddle. "Time you was spent, young madam,"
cried her rough assistant, as, supporting half
her weight, he prevented her sinking to the
ground.
The people of the village, chiefly women and
children, gathered around, all gazing on Bessie
with scrutinising glances. Her wandering eye
and blanched cheek must have half told her
story, for not one of them spoke till she, draw-
ing up from the arm that supported her, asked,
with an air of offended dignity," Why are ye so
unmannerly to me?”
"Ha, ha—not quite so topping, Miss-serve
your writ, Mr. Sheriff," replied one of her
pursuers. "Pretty high, to talk about man-
B
THE LINWOODS.
27
ners; when you've been riding fifty miles on a
stolen horse."
"Stolen !" echoed Bessie," indeed, I did not
steal him."
"How upon 'arth did you get him then?
answer that."
"I took him—" the standers-by interrupted
her with a coarse laugh; but Bessie, without
heeding them, proceeded: "I took him, where
he stood awaiting me.'
"Now, if that is not a high joke! Just hear
me, good people—the sheriff can swear to all I
say. This is Squire Saunders's horse—you
have all heard of the squire?" They had all
heard of Squire Saunders, whose fame rayed
through a large circle. "Well, the squire rode
up to his wood-lot this morning, to see about a
trespass that's committing there—you know,
sheriff; and the squire just hitched his horse to
i
c 2
28
THE LINWOODS.
the fence, and went up into the woods, and got
out of his reckoning; and two hours after, when
he came upon the road
""
"Take care of that poor young woman,
cried a benevolent looking man who was pass-
ing in an ox-cart, "don't you see she can't
stand?"
"I am tired," said Bessie, sinking to the
ground, and putting her hand to her head ;
"this noise tires me."
The spectators exchanged glances of inquiry
and pity; the sheriff looked compassionate; his
companion sturdy, and resolved not to be taken
in. The man of the ox-cart stopped his vehicle,
and joined the group: "are ye all blind and
deaf," he added, "that ye do not see the poor
girl's mind is unsettled?"
"Oh no, friend," said Bessie, shaking her
head, and looking up with a faint smile, " you
THE LINWOODS.
29
are very much mistaken-my mind is not the
least unsettled-indeed, it every day becomes
stronger and more capable than it was.
Her champion looked to the standers-by for
their assent to this confirmation of his opinion,
and then turning to the sheriff, said, “You will
not, I am sure, trouble her farther?"
66
No, I'll be hanged if I do!"
"Nor you?" appealing to the sheriff's
attendant.
"I don't know-if I were sure-I don't like
to be outwitted remember, sheriff, it was
for horse and thief the squire offered the
reward."
"The devil take the reward, Dan!'
"You may say so-for you that's got an
office can afford it, but I'm a volunteer. But
since you all take on so about it, if you're a
mind to contribute and pay something towards
30
THE LINWOODS.
my expenses and trouble and so on, I'll trust to
the squire for the rest.”
"I have not one copper to pay," said Bessie's
friend.
"Pay! is that all he wants?" asked Bessie,
thrusting her hand into her pocket, and giving
into his greedy grasp her few coins; "perhaps
it was meant," she added, in a confidential tone
to her champion, "that I should pay for the
use of the horse, but I know he was provided.
for me.
Are you satisfied?" she asked, in a
tone to pierce the heart; "indeed I have given
you all."
"He shall be satisfied-he must be satis-
fied!” cried every voice at once; and the man,
perceiving the general sentiment was against
him, was glad to mount his horse and follow the
sheriff, who was already leading away Squire
Saunders's recovered property. It was evident
THE LINWOODS.
31
the sheriff's organ of benevolence had resisted
the influence of his station.
-
"And now what is to be done with this poor
helpless thing?" asked Barlow, the kind-hearted
man who had so far befriended Bessie. At this
question, two or three of the spectators slunk
away; the rest exchanged fearful and uncertain
glances; one or two murmured that they "did
not love to have crazy folks in their houses;
and it was obvious that the benevolence of all
was restrained by that irrational fear which
so much increases the sufferings of those who
are mentally diseased. No one offering an
asylum for the poor wanderer, Barlow turned to
her and asked, "What will you do now, my
poor child ?"
"Oh, go on."
99
"Go on! where, in the name of wonder?
"To New York."
32
THE LINWOOds.
:
"Impossible! how are you to go?"
"I must go more than life depends on it-
now, I cannot tell exactly. I do not think I
could walk very far," she vainly attempted to
rise; "but do not be concerned about me, for
certainly He who hath helped me so far will not
now desert me.'
The gentle girl's unconsciousness of her wants
was more touching than the most passionate
appeal.
"Will you go home with me?" asked Bar-
low, after wiping his eyes, and clearing his
voice.
“Oh, no, I thank you; I cannot lose any
time."
"Poor child! but," he added, "I live six
miles nearer to New York than this, and I can
take
you so far on your way."
"Then indeed I will go. Did I not tell
THE LINWOODS.
33
A
-you, O ye of little faith, that the way would be
provided?" Again, and again without success,
she attempted to rise.
“Lend a hand, neighbours," said Barlow;
"the straw on my cart is clean, and we will lay
her on it." Bessie was placed in the cart, and
driven to Barlow's humble habitation, a dwell-
ing-house adjoining a blacksmith's shop, within
a few miles of Hartford, in Connecticut.
Barlow would have been justifiable, if ever
man was, in going on "the other side," and
leaving Bessie Lee to the chance mercies of
others. But Barlow's heart bore a faint resem-
blance to his own anvil; the stroke of his fel-
low-creature's necessities always brought forth
sparks of kindness.
"Dear me!" exclaimed his wife, when he
entered their little dwelling, supporting Bessie
with one arm ; “ whom have you got here?"
問
​c 3
34
THE LINWOODS.
"C
Open the door into the bedroom, Martha,
and I'll tell you afterwards." The door was
promptly opened, the bedspread turned down,
and Bessie laid upon the clean inviting bed.
"Oh, thank you, thank you!" she said: "I
shall tell mother and Eliot how very kind you
are to me."
"Dear me !" said pitiful Mrs. Barlow.
"Oh, ma'am, I am very well," said Bessie,
replying to her compassionate look; "only a
little tired-do not let me oversleep to-morrow
morning."
"Give her some warm milk, Martha; and
let her sleep, if she can-it's her only chance."
The hospitality was done, and Bessie left to
the ministry of nature, while Barlow related
to his marvelling wife all he knew of her.
"Well," said she, as he concluded, "I do feel
for her folks; and yet she don't look as if she
THE LINWOOds.
35
belonged to this world. I have dreamed of
seeing angels, and she looks like them; but
like nothing made out of clay. I'm glad you
brought her home, Barlow; its a great easement
to the heart to do a kindness, though we are in a
poor case to entertain strangers, even if they be
angels."
"We be in a poor situation; but it would
have been awful to have left such a young, deli-
cate, innocent, beautiful fellow-creature to perish
by the wayside!”
"Dear me! yes,
indeed."
“Or to have left her to people that were so
slack about helping her."
"It would."
"And so, knowing your feelings, Martha,
I've done what I have done.”
"You've done right, Barlow."
"I don't know, you are so poorly, and the
36
THE LINWOODS.
boys sick. Have they missed their chill to-
day?"
“No, neither they nor I."
Barlow rose, looked at the pale faces of his
little boys, who were lying in a truckle-bed,
then at his sickly wife, and shook his head.
"Martha, I am afraid I have been presump-
tuous."
99
"Dear me, husband! don't worry about that;
what would be the use of sickness if it did not
give us feelings for others?"
"True, Martha; and somehow I could not
help it; and now I can't but think Providence
will help us through with what his finger
pointed out. I have repented of a great many
things in my day; but I never saw reason to
repent of a good deed-look in the bedroom,
Martha, and see if she is sleeping."
"Dear me, no! but there's a quiet smile
THE LINWOODS.
37
on her lips, and her beautiful eyes are raised;
and she seems just like a lamb looking at the
shepherd."
"If she's still she may fall asleep; so let us
ask a blessing on her and the rest of us, and
then we'll to bed ourselves."
What grace and dignity do the devotion and
compassion of such pure hearts impart to the
dwelling of the poor man! Oh ye, who fare
sumptuously every day, imitate him in his only
luxury-the luxury of deeds never to be
repented of!
38
THE LINWOODS.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
The man I speak of cannot in the world be singly counter-
poised.
A WEEK subsequent to Bessie Lee's arrival
at Barlow's, a violent hallooing and knocking
were heard at the blacksmith's shop; and no
answer being given, Barlow's house-door was
soon beset with impatient knocks and cries of
-"Halloo, blacksmith, you are wanted!"
Barlow rose from the bed, where he had been
laid by a severe attack of intermittent fever,
and answered, that he was utterly unable to
THE LINWOODS.
39
go to his workshop. "What does he say?"
asked a young gentleman in a foreign accent,
who with two or three attendants was impa-
tiently awaiting Barlow's services.
"He says he cannot come, sir."
"Cannot ! Ce n'est pas le mot d'aujourd'hui.”
"Neither, I think, sir," replied the first
speaker, "is must current in these parts."
"Vous avez raison, mon ami; mais mon
Dieu! What are we to do ? "
The gentleman, being very much in the habit
of overcoming other men's impossibilities every
day of his life, dismounted, gave his bridle
to an attendant, and walked up to the open
door of our friend Barlow, who, on seeing the
uniform of an American general officer, was
somewhat abashed, though its wearer was a
fair young man, with a remarkably gentle and
benignant countenance. "If it were barely
40
THE LINWOODS.
possible, sir,” said Barlow, "I should be happy
to serve you; but I am scarcely able to stand."
J
"Ah, my good friend, I see you are in a
How long
bad position, and your wife too.
have you been ill, madame ?”
"I have had the fever 'nagur, sir, six weeks,
off and on."
>
"Fever 'nagur! Qu'est que c'est ?" asked
the gentleman, aside, of his companion.
“ Fever and ague."
"Ah, je comprends! very bad malady,
madame, very bad; you should take every
day a little port wine."
Mrs. Barlow smiled.
"Dear me! yes, sir,
if I had it."
"You go or send often to Hartford ?"
resumed the stranger, addressing Barlow.
"Almost every day, sir."
"
“Ah, very well! I have some port wine there
THE LINWOODS.
41
in a friend's cellar. I will give you an order
for a bottle or two; and I pray you to send
for it; and you and your wife, and these little
fellows, who by their blue lips have the ague
too, shall drink to my health and your own."
"Thank you, sir," said Mrs. Barlow; "a
little port wine is what I have been all along
thinking would cure us-dear me!"
"Is it only one horse, sir, that wants shoeing?"
asked Barlow, tying a handkerchief round his
throat.
Only one, my good friend; my own brave
beast, who has done much good service, and
has much more to do. Pauvre bête! it goes to
my heart to have his hoof broken up."
Barlow felt as if his strength came with the
sympathy and consideration manifested by the
person who needed it. "I guess, sir," he said
"I could stand long enough to do so small a job."
42
THE LINWOODS.
"Ah, my friend, mille-a thousand thanks;
but spare your strength to do what no one else
can do. Here, orderly, kindle up the black-
smith's fire quickly." While this was in pre-
paration, the stranger took writing materials
from his pocket, and addressed the following
note to a person whose munificence is still
remembered, though he has long ago gone to
the enjoyment of his treasures, where he was
then wisely laying them up.
"MY DEAR WADSWORTH,
"I have just chanced to call at a poor
blacksmith's, who, with his worthy family, is
at death's door with a protracted intermittent.
It seems to me that port, like that I drank with
you yesterday, might restore them. As the
man looks like too independent an American to
THE LINWOODS.
43
beg a favour, I have taken the liberty to give
him this order for a bottle or two, telling him
*
with a poetic truth, that I had wine in your
cellar. It is your own fault if all your friends
feel that they have a property in your posses-
Adieu."
sions.
Just as the stranger had signed and sealed
this billet the inner door opened, and Bessie
Lee appeared, her cheeks dyed with fever, her
eyes bright as gems, her lips of the brightest
vermilion, and her beautiful hair hanging in
many a tangled curl over her face and neck.
"Mon Dieu!" exclaimed the stranger.
"Dear me! my child, go back," said Mrs.
Barlow, gently repulsing her. Bessie, however,
without heeding her, pressed forward, and
addressing herself to the stranger in an energetic
business sort of a way, "You are going to New-
York?" she said.
44
THE LINWOODS.
"Not exactly, young lady; but I am going
in that direction."
"Do go back into the bedroom,-do, husband,
persuade her "
"No, no, Martha, let her have her own way."
"Thank you,” said Bessie. "Will you be
kind enough, sir, to step into my room?—this
buzzing confuses me."
The stranger, with characteristic sagacity, had
already half penetrated the truth. He motioned
to Bessie to precede him, saying in a low voice
to Mrs. Barlow, "Your husband is right. It is
best your child should have her own way."
"Dear me, she is not our child, sir!"
"She does not look as if she were,” thought
the stranger; but there was no time for farther
explanation. As soon as they were fairly within
the inner room, Bessie shut the door. She
seemed at first disconcerted; but instantly rally-
ing, she said, “I am unknown to you, sir, but
THE LINWOODS.
45
your
face seems to have that heavenly sentence
written on it: Ask and it shall be given to
you.'
"Then why do you hesitate?"
se
They would think it so strange that I should
be asking such a favour of a stranger-a young
gentleman_"}
"Who are they?”
..
My mother and brother.”
"Their names, my friend ?”
"I cannot tell their names. My present
object is to get to New-York as soon as possible,
where I have business of the greatest importance.
I have been staying her for some days with
very kind people. I would not wound their
feelings on any account," she added, in a whisper;
"but they are very weak-minded—no judgment
at all; indeed, there are few people that have,
so I do not choose to confide to them the reason
46
THE LINWOODS.
of my actions. All will be explained and pub-
lished when I return from New-York."
"But, my dear young lady, are you aware
that New-York is in possession of the enemy?'
"Oh, sir, I have no enemies."
Rough soldiers-foreign soldiers, my fair
friend, will make no exception in your favour."
“You do not know," she replied, drawing up
her little person with an air of assured but
mysterious superiority, "you do not know that
I am one of those of whom it was said, that
'their angels do always stand before my Father;'
and I could tell you of such difficult passes
where invisible spirits have guided and tended
me-so faithfully! but that at another time.
There is not the slightest danger in my going
to New-York-indeed, I have no choice; I
must go.
""
Do you know any one in New-York?"
THE LINWOODS.
47
"Yes, Miss Linwood, the friend to whom I
am going."
"Miss Linwood? Miss Isabella Linwood?
Ah, I have heard of her."
"She is not my only-" friend, she was
going to say; a shade passed over her counte-
nance, and she added, "acquaintance in New-
York. Now, sir, all that I am going to ask of
you is for liberty to ride behind you, or one of
your attendants, as far as you go on my way."
The stranger, compassionate as he felt, could
scarcely forbear a smile. "We should be hardly
a proper escort for you, my fair friend," he
replied.
"Oh, fear not for that; I am so fenced
about-so guarded by unseen and powerful
spirits, that it matters not with whom, if I but
get forward."
After a moment of anxious thought, "ell
48
THE LINWOODS.
me, young lady," he replied, "the name of that
brother of whom you spoke, and on my honour
I will do all in my power for you."
"No-never-this is a temptation of that
evil one who so long led me astray, to turn me
again from the straight path, to frustrate my
purpose. I do not blame you, sir. He has
before, in my dreams and at other times, whis-
pered to me, that if I were but to speak my
brother's name, I should be cared for; but this
would be trusting to a human arm. No: his
name must not pass my lips." If she had then
spoken it, how different would have been the
fate of many individuals!
I
The benevolent stranger perceived that the
impressions (whether illusions or not) from
which Bessie acted were ineffaceable, and that
she had that fixedness of purpose from which it
seems impossible, by reason or art of any sort
THE LINWOODS.
49
to turn an insane person. He was at an utter
loss what to do or say, and merely murmured,
“Would to Heaven I could serve you!"
"You would and cannot! Indeed, you look
to me like those favourites of Heaven, who both
Who are you?"
will and can.
"I am more generous than you, my friend,
and I will tell you. My name is La Fayette.”
"La Fayette! Now is it not wonderful,"
exclaimed Bessie, clasping her hands and looking
upward, her whole face bright and rapturous—
"Is it not wonderful that he who is chosen and
set apart of God for the cause of freedom, the
friend of Washington, the best friend of my
struggling country, should be guided to this
little dwelling to find me out and aid me? You
cannot choose but serve me," she added, laying
her hand on his, and faintly and wildly laughing.
"And I will serve you, my poor girl, so help
VOL. III.
D
50
THE LINWOODs.
me God!" he replied, kissing her faded, feverish
hand. "Sit you here quietly, and I will see
what can be done.”
"I will wait patiently; but remember, there
is but one thing to be done."
La Fayette appeared in the outer room. His
eyes were suffused with tears, and for a moment
he found it difficult to command his voice.
"You can make nothing of her," said Mrs.
Barlow, looking inquiringly. "No? I thought
so-she is the meekest and the beautifullest
mortal, the gentlest and the most obstinate, that
ever I came across.
"Where is your husband, my good friend?"
Shoeing your horse, sir."
66
"Ah, that's very kind, very kind indeed. I
will
go and speak with him." Accordingly, he
proceeded to the workshop, and there received
from Barlow all the particulars he could com-
THE LINWOODS.
51
municate of poor Bessie Lee.
"It is not only
her master beautiful looks, sir," said Barlow, in
conclusion; "but she seems so pure in heart,
and so well nurtured, and so pretty spoken. She
draws many a tear from us-being weak and
sick, sir, makes one easy to cry."
"The fountain of such tears is a good heart,
my friend; and no one need apologise for letting
them gush out now and then. You say you
have made every effort to find out who the poor
girl is?"
"Yes, sir, indeed I have; but it is impossible.
I have thought of advertising the stray lamb,"
he added, with a smile; "but somehow I did
not love to put her in the newspapers."
99
"That, perhaps, would have been wisest;
but now I think the best thing that can be done
is to gratify her ruling desire, and get her to
New York as soon as possible.”
D 2
52
THE LINWOODS.
"Ay, indeed, sir; but how get her there
now?"
66
Why, my friend, you must furnish the way,
and I the means. You know that those of us
who are best off in these times have no super-
fluity. I cannot spare more than a guinea from
the small sum I have with me."
"A guinea is a great sum, sir, in these hard
times; but-"
"But not enough to get the young lady to
New-York, I am aware of that; and therefore,
in addition, I shall give you my watch, which,
being of gold and a repeater, will enable you
to raise enough for her necessities, and a surplus
to make your family comfortable till you come
to the anvil again.”
"This is too much," replied Barlow, bending
low over the horse's hoof, either his gratitude or
his sickness making it "easy for him to cry
again."
THE LINWOODS.
53
"Not too much, nor quite enough, my friend.
You will find some worthy man and woman to
accompany her to the American lines; and I
will do what I can to secure her safe conduct.
She will certainly go safely to the British posts,
and beyond, I trust. Surely none of God's
creatures, who have a trace of his image, can
be inhuman to her; but we must take all pre-
cautions."
"Yes, indeed, sir. War, like a slaughter-
house, breeds vermin; and there be those abroad
whose hearts are as hard as my anvil."
“We will do our best to protect her from
such."
La Fayette then wrote an earnest recommen-
dation of Bessie to the protection and kindness
of all Americans. He requested the American
officer to forward her under the protection of a
flag, and finally addressed a note to the British
54
THE LINWOODS.
commander, and all his officers and agents,
stating the condition of the young person whom
he commended to their humanity, and praying
them to expedite her progress to New York,
where (as he thought proper to state, knowing
Mr. Linwood to be a tory) the friend to whose
house she was going, Robert Linwood, Esq.,
resided. The surprise of Barlow when he
received these notes, and saw the powerful, all-
honoured, and loved name of La Fayette attached
to them, is indescribable. La Fayette gave the
watch into his hands, and without waiting for
his thanks, he pressed Barlow's hand, mounted
his horse, joined his companions, and rode off
at full speed. Barlow gazed after him till the
cavalcade disappeared, then, after a fervent
thanksgiving to God, he said, looking at the
watch, "I must pledge this; but if Heaven
prosper me I will redeem it, and leave it,
THE LINWOODS.
55
as better than all my fast property, to my
children."
We have graced our page by recording here
one of His unnumbered good deeds, who has
filled up the measure of human benevolence by
every manifestation, from the least to the
greatest, of this divine quality.
56
THE LINWOODS.
CHAPTER XXIX.
But this was what I knew had come to pass,
When, answ'ring with your vacant no, and yes,
You fed upon your thoughts and mark'd me not.
"My dear Lady Anne," said Mrs. Meredith
to her niece, as they were one morning sitting
together, "you seem to have taken a wonderful
liking to that knotting (Lady Anne had become,
as our friend Rivington has it, "thrifty in the
knotting amusement"); where in the world did
you learn it?"
"Mrs. Linwood taught me."
THE LINWOODS.
57
"So I should think. It is as monotonous as
she is."
“Oh, aunt, I find it charming! It is the
very perfection of existence to have an occupa-
tion like this for your fingers, while your heart
and mind are left free to rove to the end of
the world, or, what is better still, to be at the
service of some agreeable companion you may
chance to have beside you."
"Chacun à son gout!" said Mrs. Meredith,
taking up a book, with a vexing consciousness.
that she was not the "agreeable companion'
preferred to her niece's maiden meditations.
Lady Anne had not spoken five words for the
hour they had been sitting together. As the
morning was rainy the ladies were likely to
remain uninterrupted; and it was too tempting
an opportunity for Mrs. Meredith to make an
attack she had long been meditating, to be
D 3
58
THE LINWOODS.
foregone; so she put aside her book and her
vexation, and said, in a voice sufficiently untoned
for an old diplomatist, "You seem quite fond
of the Linwoods, my love?"
"I am, aunt."
"You find the choleric, peevish, egotistical
old man charming?"
“Indeed, I do sincerely think him a delightful
old gentleman."
"And that living manifestation of all the
mediocrities, his patient consort ?"
"The most amiable woman in the world."
"And their lofty, capricious daughter, now
silent and infolded in her own sublimities, like a
worshipped idol on its pedestal, and now gracious
as a new-made queen ?"
“And always captivating and gentle, aunt."
Mrs. Meredith threw up her hands and eyes.
"I mean almost always gentle as a woman
THE LINWOODs.
59
should be. For my part, I do not fancy per-
petual sunshine. I am much of a certain English
sea-captain's way of thinking, who, after being
becalmed in the sunny waters of France, sailed
away in one of his own north-easters and thick
fogs, and thanked Heaven he was out of that
d-d sunshine."
"Your illustration is a fortunate one, Lady
Anne. I congratulate you on your peculiar
taste. But for this gusty variety in the temper
of your friend, your long evenings with that
little family coterie would be rather of the
becalmed order."
"The evenings never seem long to me,"
replied Lady Anne, her face dimpling with
recollected pleasure.
"How in the world do you kill time ?"
“Oh, the old gentleman and Mrs. Archer,
and Isabella and her mother, play whist."
60
THE LINWOODS.
"And you sit by and look on? This is
inscrutable, that you, my dear child, who are
so admired, courted, worshipped, should be
content to play so obscure a part. If there
were a young man in the case—if that son of
Mr. Linwood were at home-by the way, they
seem to make themselves exceedingly comfortable
while he is in durance. Yes, if the juice of
• that little western flower' were on your eye-
lids, I could understand why you should thus
"madly dote.""
Lady Anne laughed and shook her head, as
if to say, "Puzzle it out if you can."
Mrs. Meredith was displeased; but like many
persons who have self-command and good taste,
she chose to show her angry feelings in the
light of gentle emotions. Her voice faltered,
and her eyes filled with tears (her eyes, it may
be remembered, were fine, the prototypes of her
THE LINWOODS.
61
son's brilliant orbs). "I ought, my dear girl,"
she said," to be satisfied if you are; but I have
so set my heart upon you, the only child of my
dear lamented brother. I had hoped that Jasper
and I should make our home attractive to you,
that we might have, at least, a portion of your
affection."
66
My dear aunt!" exclaimed Lady Anne,
throwing down her knotting, " I—I—” do love
you dearly, she was on the point of adding, but
she was too honest to indulge her good nature
at the expense of truth, and she said, "I feel
your kindness to me. I should be most un-
grateful if I did not."
"Grateful, undoubtedly, you are, and so
you would have been to any faithful guar-
dian; but the heart asks something more.
You manifest neither to me nor Jasper more
than the affection of a common relative. What-
ever place I may take in the scale of your
62
THE LINWOODS.
friends, your cousin is certainly no common
person."
"No, indeed, that he is not," said Lady
Anne, charmed that she could soothe her aunt
and speak sincerely.
66
Jasper is by far the
most agreeable gentleman you have introduced
to me here. He is a little abstracted now and
then; but when he knows what he is saying, he
is perfectly delightful. I told Isabella Linwood
last evening that it was a mystery to me—une
veritable merveille-that she had never fallen
in love with Jasper."
"What did she say?" asked Mrs. Meredith,
eagerly, and off her guard.
"I do not remember. I believe she said
nothing."
"A provoking, inscrutable person she is,"
thought Mrs. Meredith; and then made a
remark which she meant to be what the lawyers
call leading:-" There was a report, before we
THE LINWOODS.
63
came, of an attachment between Jasper and Miss
Linwood."
"Bless me! was there?"
66
Why are you surprised ?"
"For the best reason in the world, aunt-
neither seems to fancy the other. As for Isa-
bella, whenever I praise cousin Jasper, she is
either quite silent, or turns the conversation,
as if she did not like to appear to disagree
with me.'
""
"Ah, my young lady," thought the aunt,
you do not see quite through a mill-
stone."
Jasper at this moment entered.
"Come
here, cousin," said Lady Anne; and when he
had approached, she added, in a playful voice,
putting her hand (the prettiest hand in the
world) on his arm, "Were you ever in love
with "her mischievous pause nearly sus-
64
THE LINWOODS.
pended the pulsations of Meredith's heart, "with
-don't be scared—the most loveable person in
the world ?"
He had recovered himself. "If I never have
been,” he replied, seizing her hand and kissing
it, “ I shall soon be—irretrievably.”
The past, the future, rushed upon him, and
overpowered his self-command. He turned from
Lady Anne, and left the apartment.
“Oh,
Jasper! Jasper!" cried Lady Anne, blushing,
laughing, and springing after him, "stop one
minute-you did not understand me." But
before she reached the stairs, the outer door
closed after Meredith. Mrs. Meredith clasped
her hands. Jasper was won-Lady Anne must
of course be!-and she seemed to herself to
have reached the summit of her Pisgah, and
thence to descry the promised land for which
she had come to the wilderness. That "there
-
THE LINWOODds.
65
is many a slip between the cup and the lip," is
a proverb somewhat musty; but it pithily indi-
cates the sudden mutations to which poor
humanity is liable.
66
THE LINWOODS.
CHAPTER XXX.
I would to Heaven I had your potency,
And you were Isabel! should it then be thus ?
No! I would tell what 'twere to be a judge,
And what a prisoner.
WE change the scene from Mrs. Meredith's
drawing-room to the gloomiest cell in the city
prison, where, stretched on a heap of straw, lay
a poor wretch condemned to be hung at four
o'clock in the afternoon of that day. The door
opened, and Isabella entered, attended by Rose,
and escorted by a turnkey, who, having set
down a candle to aid the feeble light of the
THE LINWOODS.
67
cell, went out himself, and locked the door upon
them.
"Take up the light, Rose," said Isabella,
who was shivering, not so much from the un-
sunned air of the apartment, as at the presence
of a fellow-creature in such circumstances;
"hold it near him, Rose, so that I can see
his face."
Rose approached close to him and said, as
if announcing the visit of an angel, “ Here's a
lady come to see you." He made no reply;
and, after an eager survey, she turned to her
young mistress and said, "His senses are clean
gone! Isabella held Rose's arm while she
gazed at him. His face was ashen, his hair
was in matted masses, and his pale blue eye
wandered inexpressively. "Who are you?"
99
asked Isabella. The music of her voice for an
instant fixed his uncertain gaze, but he made no
68
THE LINWOODS.
reply; and again his eye was bent on vacancy.
"Who are you, friend?" she repeated.
"I a'n't nobody," he replied, in a broken
voice between a laugh and a sob.
"Have you no friend?" He turned his face
to the straw, and muttered something inaudibly.
"What does he say, Rose?"
"Turn up your face so the lady can hear,"
said Rose. He obeyed; but Rose's voice seemed
to have broken the spell of her mistress's, and
he remained silent.
"Rouse yourself, my good friend," said
Isabella; "I wish to be of service to you.
Can you give me any reason why you should
not die the death to which you are sentenced?"
"No-lief as not."
"It cannot be--you must have something—
some friend for whom you would like to live and
come out of this place."
THE LINWOODS.
69
"Had !-had!" the poor creature sobbed like
a child.
“Tell me,” said Isabella, eagerly, “the name
But the obstinate mood had
of this friend?"
again seized him; and, though she varied the
question, and put it in every possible form, he
gave no sign of answer.
66
Try him upon some other hook, Miss
Belle," whispered Rose.
"How long had you been with the Skinners
when you were taken ?"
Now he answered promptly-"Years! —
years!"
"Years?-that cannot be.”
"Cannot? A'n't the minutes years to the
child that's crying for its mammy, hey?" He
had risen on his elbow; but he again sank
back on the straw, and renewed his piteous
crying.
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THE LINWOODS.
"What does this mean?
What can be done
"My poor
for him?" exclaimed Isabella.
friend, death is very near to you-do you
know it?"
“Yes, yes, lady. Ha'n't they brought me a
new suit?" He pointed to the execution suit
that was folded up and lying beside him.
"There be three times in every one's life
when they're sure of a new suit :—when they're
born, when they're married, and when they die.
I've got my last and prettiest, I'm thinking;
for I remember granny reading about the angels
being in white robes.”
His mind seemed now more collected, and
Isabella ventured to ask him if he were willing
to die?
"Glad on't—don't look at me, lady, with that
bright watery eye—I am glad on't.”
"Have you prayed for the pardon of your
sins ? "
THE LINWOODS.
71
"Haven't any never had
never had
never wronged
anybody, nor wished it, nor thought on't."
"Merciful Heaven!" exclaimed Isabella,
"what is to be done?”
"For me, lady?—nothing."
"Do you not wish to live?”
"Yes-with him. 'Out him?-no."
"Who?" Isabella spoke too eagerly. He
looked at her, shook his head, then broke into
an exulting laugh, like a boy who has seen a
trap and escaped it.
"Miss Belle,” said Rose, "you are wasting
your tears and your feelings - we must all die
once, and the stroke can't come in better time
to him than now, when he's so willing to go."
66
Willing? glad, hey! nobody cares for me,
and I cares for nobody but him; I think he
be dead; but," he added, laying his hand on
Isabella's arm, "be he dead, or be he living,
72
THE LINWOODS.
you'll see him-your soul is kin to his, lady-
and mind you tell him how the Skinners kept
me till the reg'lars came-did not tell 'em I was
not a Skinner-cheated 'em, hey!"
Isabella waited till he was through, and then
said quietly, “Who did you tell me to give your
message to ?"
"Misser Eliot." At the utterance of this
name poor Kisel sank back on the straw,
laughed and cried, and attempted to whistle,
but he was too weak to controul the muscles
of his lips. By degrees his voice subsided into
low moanings, and his eye wandered without
light or direction from his mind. The name
had produced its effect upon Isabella also. She
had been incited to this visit to the prison by
Herbert, who had communicated to her, the
previous evening, some particulars he had re-
ceived from a sub-keeper in the prison, in
THE LINWOODS.
73
relation to this condemned man, which had
excited a fear in Herbert's mind that there
was some mistake in relation to the culprit.
Herbert had not, however, the slightest sus-
picion that the poor victim was Kisel. One or
two particulars of the convict's apparent inno-
cence and simplicity had touched Isabella's
heart, and all night she had been disturbed by
the impression that he was unjustly condemned.
Some young ladies would have rested satisfied
with dropping a few pitiful tears over such a
mischance; but Isabella Linwood was of an-
other temper; and having no male friend on
whom she could rely, she went herself to the
prison, and easily obtained access to the pri
soner's cell. The moment Kisel pronounced
Eliot's name, she was convinced the condemned
must be the half-witted attendant of Captain
Lee, whom she had often heard Herbert
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74
THE LINWOODS.
describe; and she doubted not that, by going
to Sir Henry Clinton and communicating her
conviction, she might obtain an order for
having him identified by confronting him with
Herbert, or, at any rate, that she should pro-
cure a respite of his sentence.
Her carriage
was awaiting her; and having communicated
her intentions to Rose, she directed her to
walk home, saying she should go immediately
to Sir Henry's. Rose remonstrated.
"What
if he be the poor man you think for, Miss
Belle ? life is nothing to him-he can do nothing
with it-he would not thank you for it."
"But, Rose, the life of an innocent man is
sacred."
"La, Miss Belle, they don't stand on such
trifles as innocence in war-times-please don't
go to Sir Henry's. He won't think the man
belonging to Captain Lee alters the case much,
THE LINWOODS.
75
and you don't love to be denied, and—I don't
love to have you.'
Rose was right. Her young mistress did
not "love to be denied," but the discipline of
events was fast subduing her self-will, and
counteracting the indulgence and flattery of
her friends. A common nature is not taught
by experience, and may, therefore, be either
the tool or victim of circumstances; but a
creature like Isabella Linwood, composed of
noble elements (if, as with her, these elements
are sustained by religious principle), has within
herself a self-rectifying and all-controlling power.
"Rose little dreams," said she, as the carriage-
door closed upon-her, "how my fondest wishes
and expectations have been denied and defeated!
God grant that the affections thus cast back
upon me may not degenerate to morbid sensibi-
lity or pining selfishness, but that they may be
E 2
76
THE LINWOODS.
employed vigorously for the good of my fellow-
beings! This poor harmless, broken creature,
if I could but save him!-save him and render
Eliot Lee a service-Herbert's friend -poor
Bessie's brother—and the preserver of my dear
little pet, Lizzy !"
In the midst of these meditations she was
shown into Sir Henry's library, where she per-
ceived Jasper Meredith seated at the table,
reading, in the identical spot where, a few weeks
before, she had received so passionate a declara-
tion from him. A most embarrassing reminis-
cence of the scene struck them both. He
started from the table, and she asked the
servant to show her to the drawing-room.
"The drawing-room was occupied;" and
thus, though the awkwardness of entering was
increased tenfold by the effort to avoid it,
enter she must.
THE LINWOODS.
my my
Seldom have two persons been placed in a
more singular position in relation to each other.
Their destiny, while it was governed by inflex-
ible principles, seemed to have been at the
mercy
of the merest accidents. "If," as Mere-
dith had thought a thousand times, while pur-
suing his retrospections, "if Isabella had not
hesitated, and while she hesitated, Helen Ruth-
ven had not broken in upon us, our fate would
then have been fixed; or if, on the second occa-
sion, when I urged her decision, she had not again
hesitated till her impatient father called her,
I should not now be wavering between my
inclination and my better judgment !"
But Isabella did hesitate, and that hesitation,
proceeding from the demands of her pure and
lofty nature, was her salvation, and a fatal
rebuke and spur to his vanity.
They exchanged the ordinary salutations.
78
THE LINWOODS.
Isabella sat down. They were in the same
chairs they had occupied at that memorable
moment of their lives; the same table was
before them the same books on the table.
Feelings have their habits, and so easily revert
to their customary channels! A spell seemed
to have been cast over them. Neither spoke
nor moved, till Isabella, starting as one starts
from a thrilling dream, rose and walked to
the window. Ah," thought she, "what
memories, hopes, dreams, poor fancy's fol-
lowers,' has this place conjured up!"
6
Jasper, moved by an irresistible impulse,
followed her, and was arrested, in his half-
formed purpose, by the vision of Helen Ruth-
ven, who, as she was passing on the opposite
side of the street, had seen Isabella come for-
ward, and had vainly tried to catch her eye.
She was smiling and bowing. When she saw
THE LINWOODS.
79
Meredith, she beckoned.
"You had best go
to Miss Ruthven," said Isabella; "I have
some business with Sir Henry."
"I will go, Miss Linwood," he replied; and
adding bitterly, "the will of man is by his
reason swayed," he disappeared. Isabella burst
into tears. Was ever a woman disenthralled
from such a sentiment as Isabella had felt,
without efforts repeated and repeated, and
many such pangs as she now suffered, secretly
endured. The struggle is a hard one-the
conquest worth it.
Sir Henry entered.
"Your pardon, my
dear Miss Isabella. I believed Meredith was
here, and thought you might chance to profit
by the blessing promised to those who wait—
but
you look troubled-your father is not worse,
no?—your brother has not abused his liberty?
-papa does not frown upon the faithful knight ?"
80
THE LINWOODS.
“Oh, no, no—nothing of all this, Sir Henry
-I have again come a petitioner to you, but
not now in my own cause." Isabella then
proceeded to state concisely and eloquently
the case of the condemned; Sir Henry became
graver as she proceeded; and as she ended,
losing a good deal of his habitual courtesy,
he said, "Really Miss Linwood, these are not
matters for a young lady to interfere with.
The day for voluntary and romantic righters
of wrongs is past. This fellow has been ad-
judged to death after due investigation, before
the proper tribunal, and I do not see that it
makes any essential difference in his favour
even if he should have had the honour of once
being in the service of a man who is so fortu-
nate as to be the friend of your brother, and
to have rendered an accidental service to your
aunt. The poor wretch, as you allow, was
THE LINWOODS.
81
one of a band of Skinners when captured by
a detachment of our soldiers. His comrades
were hung last week, and I have already
granted a respite to this man for some reason,
(what, I do not precisely recollect,) alleged by
the proper officer."
"He was ill-unable to stand, when the
others suffered."
"Ah, yes-I remember."
Isabella urged her conviction that the pri-
soner had been accidentally involved with the
Skinners. She described his simplicity and
imbecility of mind, and, as it seemed to her,
his utter incapacity to commit the energetic
and atrocious crimes perpetrated by a band
of desperadoes. But to all her pleadings Sir
Henry still returned the answer so satisfactory
to an official conscience : "His death had
E 3
82
THE LINWOODS.
been decreed by the laws in such cases made
and provided."
Isabella said that so slight seemed to be the
prisoner's tenure of life, that if he were reprieved
for a week, Sir Henry might be relieved from
the responsibility of taking a life perhaps not
forfeited. But Sir Henry did not shrink from
responsibility, and though she still reasoned,
and urged, it was all in vain.
He alleged that the press of important affairs
rendered it impossible for him to make a per-
sonal investigation of the business; and that
indeed it was out of the question, occupying
the station he did, to attend minutely to such
a concern. The truth was, that Sir Henry
was somewhat fortified in his present decision
by a secret consciousness, that, on a former
occasion, he had surrendered a point purely
to the influence of a lovely young woman;
THE LINWOODS.
83
and he was now resolved to maintain the in-
vincible.
Isabella was obliged to take her leave,
having failed in her errand of mercy, and
feeling a just indignation at the carelessness
with which a man could make his station an
apology for neglecting the rights of his fellow;
and struck with the truth, that the only reason
for one man's occupying a station more elevated
than another, is, that it gives him the oppor-
tunity of better protecting and serving his
fellow-beings.
84
THE LINWOODS.
CHAPTER XXXI.
All torment, trouble, wonder, and amazement,
Inhabit here ! Some heavenly power guide us
Out of this fearful country.
THE hour appointed for Kisel's execution
drew nigh. The premonitory bell was already
sounding, when a countryman, who had come
from the other side of the Hudson, sheltering
his little boat in a nook under some cedars
growing where Warren-street now terminates,
was proceeding towards the city with a market-
THE LINWOODS.
85
basket, containing butter, eggs, &c. As he
was destined to enact an important part in the
drama of that day, it may not be superfluous
to describe the homely habiliments in which he
appeared. He had on a coarse dark-grey
overcoat, a sort of dreadnought, of domestic
manufacture, double-breasted, and fastened with
black mohair buttons, as large as dollars, up to
his throat; his cravat was a blue and white
linen handkerchief-an enduring article, then
manufactured by all thrifty housewives; his
stockings were blue and white yarn, ribbed;
his shoes cowhide, and tied with leather thongs.
A young man is rarely without a dash of
coxcombry, and our humble swain's was be-
trayed in a fox-skin cap, with straps of the
fur that decorated his cheek, much in the
mode of the brush-whisker of our own day.
The cap was drawn so close over his brow as
86
THE LINWOODS.
nearly to hide his dark pomatumed hair; and
finally, his hands were covered by scarlet
and white mittens, full fringed, and with
his name, Harmann Van Zandt, knit in on
their backs.
The storm of the morning had passed over.
The sun was shining out clear and warm for
the season; and as every one is eager to enjoy
the last smiles of our stinted autumn, the
countryman must have wondered, as he passed
the few habitations on his way to the populous
part of the town, not to see the usual group-
the good man with his pipe, the matron knit-
ting, and the buxom Dutch damsel leaning
over the lower portal of the door. As he
approached Broadway, however, the sounds
of life and busy movement reached his ear, and
he saw half a dozen young lads and lasses issue
from a house on his left, dressed in their
THE LINWOODS.
87
Sunday gear, their faces full of eager expecta-
tion, and each hurrying the other.
The good vrow, who stood on the door-step,
was giving them a last charge to hear every
thing and see every thing to tell her; for she
"always had to stay at home when any thing
lively was going on." As she turned from
them, her housewife eye fell on the country-
man's market-basket. "Stop, neighbour,"
said she, "and tell us the price of your butter
and eggs.
""
"Butter one dollar the pound, eggs three
for a shilling."
"That's the prettiest price asked yet;
but-"
"Ay, mother; but live and let live, you
know."
"Let live, truly. You Bergen people are
turning your grass into gold."
88
THE LINWOODS.
“We must make hay while the sun shines.”
"While the sun shines! Ah, it does shine
as through a knot-hole on a few, but the rest of
us are in solid darkness. Go your ways, friend;
you'll find lords and generals, admirals, com-
mandants, and gaol-keepers, to buy your butter
and eggs; honest people must eat their bread
without butter now-a-days. The hawks have
come over the water to protect the doves, for-
sooth, and the doves' food, doves and all, are
like to be devoured."
This was a sort of figurative railing much
indulged in by those who were secretly well-
affected to the country's cause, but who were
constrained by motives of prudence, to remain
within the British lines.
It seemed to have struck a sympathetic
chord in the countryman; for drawing near
the good woman, whose exterior expressed
THE LINWOODS.
89
very little resemblance to the gentle emblem
by which she had chosen to personify herself,
he said, kindly smiling, "Bring me a knife,
mother, and I'll give you a slice of butter to
garnish your tea-table when your comely lasses
come home.'
""
"This is kind and neighbourlike," said the
woman, hastily bringing the knife and plate;
"I thought, the first minute you opened your
lips, you were free-hearted. This an't the
common way of the Bergen people-they sell
the cat and her skin too-you have not their
tongue, neither-mine is more broken than
yours, and I'm only Dutch on the mother's
side."
"Ah, mother, trading with gentlefolks, and
such fair-spoken people as you, gets the mitten
off one's tongue. But I must be going. Can
you direct me to Lizzy Bengin's? our Lida
wants a pink riband against Christmas."
90
THE LINWOODS.
"Now don't say you come to market, and
don't know where Lizzy Bengin lives! Did
you never take notice of the little one-story
building at the very lower end of Queen-street,
with the stoop even with the ground, and plenty
of cochinia, and cookey horses, and men and
women, in the window, and a parrot hanging
outside that beats the world for talking?"
The man gave the expected assent, and his
informant proceeded-" That is Lizzy's; and
without going a step out of your way, you may
turn your butter and eggs into silver before you
get there. Call at the Provost-Cunningham
starves the prisoners, and eats the fat of the
land himself—or at Admiral Digby's, who has
the young prince William under his roof, and
therefore a warrant for the best in the land-or
at Tryon's, or Robertson's, or any of the
quality; their bread is buttered both sides;
but the time is coming"
THE LINWOODS.
91
"When the bread shall be fairly spread for
all. I think so, mother; but I must be going
-so, good-day."
66
Good-day, and good luck to you—a nice
youth and a well-spoken is that," said she,
looking after him; "and if butter must be a
dollar a pound, I'm glad the money finds its
way into the pockets of the like of him."
Meanwhile the subject of her approbation
pursued his way, and soon found himself in the
midst of a throng, who were hurrying forward
to the place of execution. The usual place for
military executions was in an apple orchard,
where East Broadway now runs; but the con-
demned having to suffer as one of the infamous
band of Skinners, was not thought worthy to
swing on a gallows devoted to military men.
Accordingly, a gallows was erected in a field
just above St. Paul's church. Our friend of
92
THE LINWOODS.
the butter and eggs found himself, on reaching
Broadway, retarded and encompassed by the
crowd. "Hold your basket up, fellow, and
let me pass," said a gentleman, who seemed
eager to get beyond the crowd. The country-
man obeyed, but turned his back upon the
speaker, as if from involuntary resentment at
his authoritative tone.
"Whither are you hastening, Meredith?”
asked another voice.
"Ah, St. Clair, how are you? I am trying
to get through this abominable crowd to join
my mother and Lady Anne, who have gone to
take a drive; my servant is waiting with my
horse beyond the barracks."
"Your mother, Lady Anne, and Miss
Linwood!"
An opening now before the countryman would
have allowed him to pass on but he did not
THE LINWOODS.
93
move.
"Upon my honour, St. Clair, I did not
know that Miss Linwood was with them. They
talked of asking Helen Ruthven."
"And so they did. Lady Anne sent me to
her, but Miss Ruthven said, not very civilly I
think, she had no inclination for a drive, and
begged me to stop while she wrote you this
note."
Meredith opened the note, sealed with an
anchor, and containing only these two lines,
exquisitely written in pencil :-" Could I endure
any thing called pleasure on the same day with
my tête-à-tête walk with you this morning?
Oh, no-there is no next best.-H.R."
"You seem pleased, Meredith," resumed St.
Clair, as he saw Meredith's eye kindle and his
cheek brighten. Meredith made no reply, but
thrust the note into his pocket. He was pleased.
He felt much like a musician, whose ears have
94
THE LINWOODS,
been tormented by discords, when the keys are
66
rightly struck. Lady Anne had hard work,”
continued St. Clair, "to persuade Miss Linwood
to go with her. It seems she has got up her
nerves for this poor devil of a Skinner. Lady
Anne persuaded her at last; indeed, I believe
she was glad to get beyond the tolling of the
bell till the rumpus is over."
66
"Women are riddles," thought Meredith;
they feel without reason, and will not feel
when reason bids them." He had lost his
desire to go alone to join the ladies; and he
offered St. Clair his horse, saying he would
himself ride his servant's. St. Clair eagerly
accepted his courtesy, and the two gentlemen
elbowed their way through the crowd. The
countryman turned to gaze after them; and
while his eye followed Meredith with its keenest
glance, the wave of the multitude had set
THE LINWOODS.
95
towards him, and so completely hedged his way
in front, that, not being able to proceed, he
thought best to retreat a few yards to where the
T
crowd was less dense, and wait till the pressure
was past, which must be soon, as the procession
with the prisoner had already moved from the
Provost. Meanwhile he secured the occu-
pation of a slightly elevated platform, an
entrance to a house, where, setting down his
basket, he folded his arms, and while detained
had the benefit of the various remarks of the
passers-by.
'
"What a disgrace it is," said a British
subaltern to his companion, " that those rebels,"
pointing to some American officers, prisoners on
parole," are permitted to walk the streets in
uniform. It is too annoying-I hate the sight
of them."
"Yes," retorted his companion laughing,
96
THE LINWOOds.
"and so you have ever since they distanced you
skating on the Kolch last winter.”
"A crying shame is it," said an honest
burgher to a fellow-vestryman, "that a human
creature is going to his doom, and but one bell
tolling. But the Lord's temples are turned
aside from all holy uses-our own sanctuary is a
prison for soldiers, and the Middle Dutch a
riding-school!"
“A soul's a soul," returned his companion;
"but the lordly English bells may not toll
for the parting of this poor wretch's; only the
tinkling bell of the methodist Chapel, that's kept
open, forsooth, because John Wesley and his
followers are loyal."
"We shall have our pains for our trouble,"
said a fellow, who seemed to have come to the
spectacle en amateur!" the boys say he never
will stand it to get to the gallows."
THE LINWOODS.
97
"Move on-move on," cried a voice that
heralded the procession; and the crowd was
driven forward, in order to leave an open space
around the prisoner and his assistants.
It is impossible for a benevolent man to look
on a fellow-creature about to suffer a violent
death (be his doom ever so well merited,)
without a feeling of intense interest. The days
of the culprit's youth, of his innocence, of his
parents' love and hope; the tremendous present,
and the possible future, all rush upon the mind!
It would appear that our country friend was a
man of reflection and sentiment; for, as he
gazed at the prisoner, his cheek was blanched,
his brow contracted, and the exclamation, "Oh,
God! Oh, God!" burst from lips that never
lightly uttered that holy name.
Poor Kisel appeared as if nature would fain
VOL. III.
F
98
THE LINWOODS.
save him from the executioner's touch. His
head had fallen on his bosom, his knees were
bent and trembling, and his step as wavering
and uncertain as that of a blind man.
He was
supported and helped forward by a stout man
on his right. When he was within a few feet
of the countryman, a ray of consciousness
seemed to shoot athwart his mind. He raised
his head, shook back his shaggy locks, cast
a wild inquiring glance around him, when his
eye encountering the stranger, he seemed elec-
trified, his joints to be reset, his nerves
restrung. He drew up his person, uttered a
piercing shriek, sprang forward like a cat, and,
sinking at his feet, sobbed out, "Misser Eliot,
hey!"
The multitude were for an instant palsied;
not a sound-not a breath escaped them: and
then a rush, and a shout, and cries of "Seize
THE LINWOODS.
99
him !” and shrieks from those who were trodden
under foot.
"Stand back-back-back, monsters!" cried
Eliot, himself almost wild with amazement and
grief- “give him air, space, breath, he is
dying!" He raised Kisel's head, and rested it
on his breast, and bent his face over him, mur-
muring, "Kisel, my poor fellow!"
Kisel's eye, gleaming with preternatural joy,
was riveted to Eliot's face. A slight convulsion
passed over his frame; drops of sweat, like
rain, gushed from every pore; and, while his
quivering, half-smiling lips murmured inaudibly,
"Misser Eliot !--Misser Eliot ! " they stiffened,
his eyes rolled up, and his released, exulting
spirit fled.
Eliot was but for one instant unmanned; but
for one instant did he lose the self-possession on
which even at this moment of consternation he
F 2
100
THE LINWOODs.
was conscious that much more than his own
individual safety depended. He made no effort
to escape from observation; that would have
excited suspicion; but said, calmly, still sup-
porting Kisel's head, "The poor man, I think,
is gone; is there not some physician here who
can tell whether he be, or not?" A doctor was
called for; and, while one was bustling through
the crowd, there were various conjectures,
surmises, and assertions. Some said " he
looked as good as dead when he came out of the
prison;" some asked "if he could have hoped
to have got away?" and others believed that
the excitement of the scene had maddened his
brain. Eliot said he had fallen at his feet like a
spent ball; and, while he was internally blessing
God that his poor follower had escaped all
farther suffering, the medical man announced,
with the authority of his art, that "life was
THE LINWOODS.
101
extinct." The body was conveyed to the prison
for interment. The crowd dispersed; and
Eliot, feeling that Heaven had conferred its best
boon on Kisel, and extended a shield over him,
pursued his way to Lizzy Bengin's shop.
102
THE LINWOODS.
!
CHAPTER XXXII.
Les revers de la verité a cent milles figures, et un
champ indefiny,
Les Pythagoriens font le bien certain et finy, le mal
incertain et infiny.
MONTAIGNE.
WHILE the circumstances related above were
in action, the ladies, in their drive, had stopped
at an opening to the Hudson, where the shore
was shelving and indented with a footpath,
on which the full mellow rays of the afternoon
sun shone. And who would not pause to gaze
at the noble Hudson, which, coming from its
source in distant mountains, infolds in its arins
THE LINWOODS.
103
the city it has created, wears on its bosom its
little emerald island gems, reposes in the bay,
and then finishes its course through the portal
of the Narrows?
The river is now precisely what it then was,
for "man's hand cannot make a mark upon the
waters;" but on its shores what changes has
that marvellous instrument wrought! Where
nature sat, like a hermit, amid the magnificence
of her solitary domain, are now bustling cities,
fortified islands, wharves and warehouses, manu-
factories, stately mansions, ornamented pleasure-
grounds, and citizens' cottages, and the parent
city extending up and branching out in every
direction, from the narrow space it then occu-
pied, covering with its thronged streets the
wooded heights and bosky dells, now, alas!
reduced from the aristocracy of nature to one
uniform level. Then the city's tributary waters
104
THE LINWOODS.
bore on their surface a few fishing-skiffs, and
Now see
some two or three British men-of-war.
the signals of population, enterprise, and com-
mercial prosperity: schooners from our own
eastern and southern ports, neatly rigged vessels
from a hundred river-harbours, mammoth
steamers bringing in and carrying out their
hundreds at every hour of the day, ferry-boats
scudding to and fro, sail-boats dancing over the
waves, row-boats darting out and in, hither and
yon, packets taking their semi-weekly departure
for England and France, ships with the star-
spangled banner floating from the mast-head,
and rich freighted argosies from all parts of
each quarter of the globe. What a change!
Lady Anne heard the trampling of horses,
and put her head out of the coach window. A
blush suffused her sunny face at the recollection
of her parting with Meredith in the morning.
:
THE LINWOODs.
105
Her embarrassment was as transient as the
suffusion. "Ah, cousin Jasper," she said, " you
have come at last; I have been waiting impa-
tiently, sitting here, like a dutiful niece (as I
am), because aunt has heard bugbear stories
about American rattlesnakes, and absolutely
forbade my strolling along the shore with Isa-
bella. You will not be afraid, aunt, if the
gentlemen are with me?"
"Not in the least, my love; indeed, I will
alight myself, if Major St. Clair will give an old
lady his arm."
"She understands tactics," thought St. Clair;
"She will defile with me, and leave Jasper to
a tête-à-tête on vantage ground!" He, however,
bowed, en militaire, and gave Mrs. Meredith
his arm; and she, as he had foreseen, led him
off in an opposite direction from that which
Lady Anne had taken.
F 3
106
THE LINWOODS.
Isabella had before alighted, and left her com-
panion, on the pretext of looking for an autumnal
flower, that she knew grew on the river's bank;
but really, that she might, in the freedom of
solitude, and in the calm of a sweet country walk,
indulge her sad reflections. Isabella had learned
to master herself in great trials; but she had
not yet learned that far more difficult lesson, to
be patient and serene under small annoyances.
She was vexed and wearied with Mrs. Meredith's
pompous talk and common-place and hollow sen-
timent, and somewhat disturbed by Lady Anne's
kind-hearted, but too manifest efforts, to divert
her thoughts from the tragedy enacting in the
city, to which she had imputed all the sadness
that might have been in part ascribed to another
cause.
Lady Anne had no enthusiasm for scenery:
she had never lived in the country, never been
THE LINWOODS.
107
trained in Nature's school, nor a guest at her
perpetual and sweetest banquet; but she had
youthful spirits stirred to joyousness by a ride,
or a walk, or any other exciting cause; and she
laughed, rattled, and bounded on, wondered
where Isabella could be, and at last, quite out
of breath, sat down on a grassy bank by a very
high rock, around which the pass was narrow
and difficult. "I will not venture that," said
she, pointing to the path. "You may go for
Isabella, Jasper, and I will wait here for you.”
Thank you, sweet coz ; but I prefer staying
here too, if you will permit me."
"You may as well, I fancy. Isabella is rather
penseroso this afternoon; and as she very faintly
seconded my entreaties to aunt that I might go
with her, I think she prefers la solitaire. To
tell you the truth, Jasper, she is horribly blue
to-day, though I would not own it to aunt."
108
THE LINWOODS.
"And why not?"
66
Oh, you
know she is no favourite with aunt ;
and when we really love a person, as I do really
and fervently Isabella Linwood, we are not fond
of speaking of their faults to those who do not
like them."
"Then perhaps you think she is a favourite
of mine?"
66.
Certainly I do-is she not?”
"She was."
With what different import do the same words
fall on different ears. This "she was" hardly
reached Lady Anne's sensorium. Her thoughts
were weighing something more important than
any of Meredith's words could be to her. Mere-
dith's heart throbbed as he pronounced them.
Uttered to Lady Anne, they seemed to him to
cut the gordian knot that bound him to Isabella.
There was another unseen, unwilling, and invo-
THE LINWOODS.
109
luntary auditor, who, as on the other side
of the rock she leaned breathless against it,
proudly responded from the depths of her soul
"she was-it is past-a finished dream to us
both!"
"How very nice these little scarlet berries
are," said Lady Anne, picking some berries from
their evergreen leaves.
"Very nice."
"This is a lovely river, Jasper. How I
should like a nice cottage on this very spot.”
nd when your imagination builds the cot-
tage coz, is there no one permitted to share it
with you?"
Lady Anne picked the leaves from the
stem in her hand, strewed them around, and
laughing and blushing, said, "that absolute
solitude in a cottage would be just as stupid as
in a palace."

110
THE LINWOODS.
"On this hint shall I can I speak?" thought
Meredith.
66
Formerly, when I built castles in the air,”
continued Lady Anne, engrossed in her own
sweet fancies, and not dreaming of the interpre-
tation Meredith's deluded vanity was giving to
her words, " I always put wings to them, and
would lodge them in London, Paris, or Italy, as
suited the humour of the moment-now I make
them fixtures in America."
Meredith felt somewhat like the sportsman,
who, accustomed to the keen pursuit of game
that incites and eludes him, cares not for the
silly prey that runs into his toils. "Heigh-ho!"
resumed Lady Anne, awaking from a reverie,
after a short pause, "it is time we returned-
the sun is setting-you are very stupid, Jasper
-you have not spoken three words."
66
My
dear cousin, there are moments when it
THE LINWOODS.
111
is far more agreeable to look, and to listen, than
to speak."
"But then, sir, you should look unutterable
things.'
“We may feel them without looking or
speaking them-do not go now-there are few
delicious moments in life- why not prolong
them ? "
"You talk limpingly Jasper, like one who has
conned a task, and recites it but half learned;
there should be a vraisemblance in compliments."
"On my honour!
""
"Oh, never swear to them; these are like
beggars' oaths, nobody believes them." Lady
Anne was already on the wing.
"Bless us,"
thought Meredith, "a little dash of coquetry
might make her quite charming ;" and springing
after her, he gave her his arm. When they met
his mother at the road-side, his face and air were
112
THE LINWOODS.
so changed and so animated, that, in the flush of
her hopes, she ventured to whisper to him—-
"Not Hermia, but Helena I love;
Who would not change a raven for a dove!"
He smiled assentingly, and his mother was
perfectly happy.
"Where is Isabella?" and "Where is Miss
Linwood?" "I thought she was on your side;"
and “ I thought she was on yours,” was asked
and reiterated, and answered by the person in
question appearing. She had left the shore,
scrambled through the wood, and come into the
road in advance of the party. They rallied her
on her preference of solitude, and she them (for
she had regained her self-command), on the
willing forbearance with which they had per-
mitted her to enjoy it. Mrs. Meredith, of
course, first entered the carriage; and while the
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113
young ladies were getting in, putting on their
cloaks, &c., she wrote on a card, and gave to
her son the following hint from Metastasio ;-
E folle quel nocchièro
Che cerca un' altra stella,
E non si fida a quella
Che in porto lo guidó.
"My sage mother is this sure star, by whose
C
directing light I am to pilot my bark,'” thought
Meredith, as he read the pencilled words-" well,
be it so."
Mrs. Meredith's carriage stopped at Mrs.
Linwood's door. Isabella alighted, and Lady
Anne was following her, when her aunt inter-
posed." My dear child," she said," I particu-
larly wish
home with me this evening."
to go
you to
"I would, aunt-but- but I have promised
Mr. Linwood
""
"I appeal to your generosity Miss Linwood;
114
THE LINWOODS.
I have not your passion for solitude, and I am
quite wretched without Lady Anne.”
Lady Anne's back was to her aunt; and she
turned up her eyes imploringly to Isabella, who
consequently resolutely professed herself afraid
to encounter her father if she should resign
Lady Anne. Lady Anne finished the parley by
springing from the carriage, and promising her
aunt to be at home an hour earlier than usual.
Mrs. Meredith, vexed, puzzled, and disconcerted,
drove home.
The young ladies were met at the door by
Rose, with a message from Mrs. Archer, re-
questing Isabella, without a moment's delay, to
come to her house. "Make my excuses to papa,"
said Isabella to Lady Anne, "and enact the
good daughter till I return."
"Yes, that I will," said Lady Anne; "and
the good daughter would I be in reality all my
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115
life to him," she thought; "but Herbert Lin-
wood will not, in his forlorn circumstances,
declare his love for me if he feels it; and I,
like all the rest of my sex, must keep the secret
of my pure love as if it were a crime." Whether
the open-hearted girl's eyes and cheeks would
betray the secret which the austere proprieties
of her sex forbade her to tell, and whether on
this hint Linwood would be emboldened to
speak, was soon put to the proof; for one hour
after, arriving on his evening visit, Rose con-
ducted him into the breakfast-room, informing
him that he must wait till a person who was
with his father on business should be gone.
Rose, sagaciously divining her young master's
inclinations, then went to Lady Anne and whis-
pered-"Mr. Herbert is in the breakfast-parlour;
and do, Miss, happen in there; poor boy, he has
enough of his own company in prison."
116
THE LINWOODS.
Lady Anne did not wait for the request to be
repeated. She went, nor did she and Herbert
appear in Mr. Linwood's room till after a
repeated, and finally, very impatient summons
from him; and then they entered, and kneeling
together at his feet, asked his blessing on their
plighted loves.
He did not speak for half a minute, and then
laughing, while the tears gushed from his eyes,
"God bless you, my children!" he said; "God
bless you!-kiss me, my dear little girl-this
has been pretty quickly hatched, though; but I
don't wonder; I loved you the first minute I
saw you."
"And I, like a good son, dutifully followed
my father's example."
“Vous n'avez fait que votre devoir filial;
fort bien, monsieur!" said Lady Anne, archly.
"My dear child!" interposed Mr. Linwood,
THE LINWOODS.
117
66 now you are going really to be my child, don't
torment me with interlarding your English with
French. There's nothing I detest like cutting
up a plain English road with these French
ditches. It's a slipshod tongue, good enough
for those that are born to parlez-vous and
gabble all their lives; but English, my dear,
is for men of sense and true-hearted girls like
you, that speak what they mean."
Lady Anne promised to cure herself of a habit
into which she had unconsciously fallen; and a
pause followed, which gave Mr. Linwood time
for a reflection that clouded his brow.
"This won't do, Herbert," he said; "I
´forgot myself entirely, and so have you. What
business have you to be making love, and steal-
ing away this dear little generous girl's heart-
you, a proscribed man-holding your life by
sufferance-disgraced."
118
THE LINWOODS.
"Not disgraced, sir!"
"Oh, no! dear Mr. Linwood, not disgraced."
“Well, well, 'tis a devilish ugly word to
bestow on one's own flesh and blood, but, my
dear little girl, we must look truth in the face,
Your aunt is a woman of the world; she will
accuse us; and she may very well suspect us of
conniving at this business-you have fortune-
we are poor." The proud old man's blood
mounted to his face-" No, no; it must not be.
I take back my consent."
Herbert's face expressed the conflict of his
love with his sense of rectitude-the last pre-
vailed. "My father is right," he said; "and
I, headlong as usual, have done just what I
ought not to do."
"You're right now, anyhow, my boy; you
show blood-go up to the mark, though a
lion" A glance at poor Lady Anne, lean-
THE LINWOODS.
119
ing on the side of his easy-chair, with tearful
eyes, mended his sentence-"I should say,
though an angel were in the way."
"I have been far enough from the mark, sir;
I should have remembered in time that I was
in the enemy's talons; and what is far worse,
under the censure of my own general."
"As to that, Herbert, as to that--."
"Be kind enough to hear me out, sir. I
should have remembered that I was penniless;
that Lady Anne is very young, careless for
herself, and an heiress; but how could I think
of any thing," he added, taking her hand, and
pressing it to his heart, "when I heard her
generous, bewildering confession, that she loved
me-but that I loved her with my whole soul?"
"It's-it's—it's hard; but you must come to
it, my children. You must just set to work and
undo what has been done; you must forget one
another."
120
THE LINWOODS.
66
Forget, dear Mr. Linwood! Herbert may
forget; for I think it seems very easy to him to
recede—”
" Anne!"
66
Forgive me, Herbert; but really you and
your father place me in such an awkward posi-
tion. Give you up, I will not; forget you, I
cannot. I cannot extinguish my memory; and
there is no thought in it, waking or sleeping, but
what concerns you. I know it is very shocking
and improper to say this before you, Mr. Lin-
wood, but it is true."
"I love truth, my child-such truth-God
knows I do, too well."
“Then sir,” she continued, smiling archly
through her tears, "let me go on and speak a
little more of it." Her voice faltered.
"I wish
Isabella were here-any woman would feel for
me."
"God bless me, child, don't I feel for you-
THE LINWOODS.
121
look at Herbert, the calf-don't he feel for
you?"
"Herbert says I am so very young. I am
sure seventeen and past has years and wisdom
enough for not quite two-and-twenty. He says
I am careless for myself; if I were as calculating
as my aunt Meredith, what could I do better
for myself than to supply the cruel deficiencies
of my lot? than to provide for myself the kind-
est and best of fathers and mothers, and a sister
that has not her peer in the wide world? Her-
bert says I am an heiress-I am so; but what
is fortune to me, if I may not select the object
with whom to share it? If I am not two-and-
twenty-" she cast an arch glance at Herbert,
"I have lived long enough to see that fortune
alone is perfectly impotent. It does not create
friends, nor inspire goodness, nor secure happi-
ness; but when it comes as an accessory to a
VOL. III.
G
122
THE LINWOODS.
happy home, to love, and health, and liberal
hearts; ah, then it is indeed a boon from
Heaven! Am I not right, Mr. Linwood?"
"Yes, by Jupiter, you are! Your views
could not be juster if you were as old as Methu-
selah, and as wise as Solomon. But, my dear,
we must come back to the point-what is very
right for you, and noble, would be very wrong
for us.
The Linwoods have always had a fair
name, and now, when every thing else is gone,
they must hold fast to that. Oh, Herbert, if
you had only stuck to your king, all would be
well; but I won't reproach you now-no, no,
poor boy! I never felt so much like forgiving
you for that d-d blunder."
"Then, for Heaven's sake, sir, say you for-
give me―let that account be settled.”
"I will-I do forgive you, my son; but
it's the devil and all to forget!" Herbert
THE LINWOODS.
123
grasped the hand his father extended to him.
There was a silence of a few moments, broken
by Mr. Linwood saying, "It's tough to come
to it, my children; but this must be the last
evening you meet.”
"
"Lady Anne," said Rose, opening the door,
"Mrs. Meredith's carriage is waiting for you.'
"Let it wait, Rose."
"But the footman bade me tell you, my lady,
that your aunt is ill, and begs you will come
home immediately."
"Then I must go," said the poor girl, burst-
ing into tears, all her natural buoyancy and
courageous cheerfulness forsaking her at the
foreboding that this might be a final separation.
Mr. Linwood hemmed, wiped his spectacles,
put them on, threw them down on the table,
stirred the fire, knocked down shoyel, tongs,
and fender, and cursed them all; while Lady
G 2
124
THE LINWOODS.
Anne retired with Herbert to the farthest part
of the room, to exchange words that can never
be appreciated rightly but by the parties, and
therefore must not be repeated. They verily
believed that mortals had never been so happy
―never so wretched as they.
Once there was a reaction in Lady Anne's
mind. She started from Herbert, and, appeal-
ing to his father, said—“ Think once more of
it, Mr. Linwood; why should you heed what
my aunt or any one else may impute to you?
We have all felt and acted right, naturally,
and honestly. I cannot, for my life I cannot,
see why we should sacrifice ourselves to their
false judgments."
Mr. Linwood shook his head. "It cannot
""
be," said Herbert ; we must cast ourselves
upon the future; if," he added, lowering his
voice, "it should please Heaven to permit me
THE LINWOODS.
125
to regain my freedom, if - but I am wrong-
I must not cherish these hopes. Years may
pass away before the war ends; and in the
meantime, you may bless another with that
love which
""
"Never end that sentence, Herbert Linwood.
You may take back your own vows-you cannot
give me back mine- I will not receive them.
My love will not depend on your freedom, your
name with friend or foe: it will not be touched
by circumstance, or time, or absence. Farewell,
Herbert."
One fond embrace she permitted—the first-
was it the last?
126
THE LINWOODS.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung,
With feigning voice, verses of feigning love;
And stolen the impression of her fantasy,
With bracelets of thy hair-rings, gawds, conceits,
Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats, messengers
Of strong prevailment in unhardened youth.
It will be remembered that Isabella, at her
aunt's summons, had gone to her house. She
met Mrs. Archer at her street door. Her face
spoke of startling intelligence before she uttered
it. 66
'My dear Belle," she said, "I have the
strangest news for you. I went to your father's
while you were out; and just as my foot was
THE LINWOODS.
127
on your door-step, a man drove up in a wagon,
with a girl as pale as death-such a face! The
inoment he stopped, she sprang from the wagon.
At once I knew her, and exclaimed, "Bessie
Lee!"
"Bessie Lee! Gracious Heaven!"
the
"Yes; she asked eagerly if you were at
home. I perceived the inconvenience
impossibility of your taking care of her in the
present state of your family. I felt anxious to
do any thing and every thing for the sister of
young Lee; I therefore told her you were not
at home, but she could see you at my house;
and I persuaded her to come home with me.”
"Dear Bessie! can it be possible that she is
here?'
"Yes, I have left her in that room. Her
attendant told me that she arrived this morning
at Kingsbridge, with a decent man and woman,
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THE LINWOODS.
who had passports from La Fayette, and a letter
from him to the commander of that post, com-
mending the unfortunate person to his huma-
nity, and entreating him to convey her, under a
proper escort, to Mr. Linwood's.”
"Poor Bessie! Heaven has miraculously
guided her into the best hands. How does she
appear?"
"With scarcely enough of mortality to shield
her troubled spirit; fluttering and gentle as a
stricken dove-pale, unnaturally, deadly pale-
a startling brightness in her deep blue eye—her
cheeks sunken; but still her features preserve
the exquisite symmetry we used to think so
beautiful, when a pensive, quiet little girl,
she stole after you like a shadow. And her
voice, oh Belle! you cannot hear it without
tears. She is mild and submissive, but restless,
and excessively impatient to see you and Jasper
THE LINWOODS.
129
Meredith.
Twice she has come to the door to
go out in search of him. I have ordered the
blinds to be closed, and the candles lighted, to
make it appear darker without than it really is.
I could only quiet her by the assurance that I
would send for him immediately."
"Have you done so ?"
"No; I have waited to consult
you.'
19
The house Mrs. Archer occupied was of the
common construction of the best houses of that
day, being double, the two front apartments
separated by a wide hall, a drawing-room in
the rear, and a narrow cross-passage opening
into a carriage-way to the yard. A few mo-
ments before Isabella arrived, a person had
knocked at the door, and asked to see Mrs.
Archer; and being told that she was particu-
larly engaged, he asked to be shown to a room
where he might await her convenience, as he
G 3
130
THE LINWOOds.
had business of importance with her. He was
accordingly shown into an apartment opposite
to that occupied at the moment by Mrs. Archer
and Bessie.
There he found the blind children, Ned and
Lizzy, so absorbed in a game of chess, that,
although he went near them, and overlooked
them, they seemed just conscious of his pre-
sence, but not in the least disturbed by it.
They went on playing and managing their
game with almost as much facility as if they
had their eyesight, till, after a closely-fought
battle, Lizzy declared a check-mate. Ned (only
not superior to all the chess-players we have
ever seen) was nettled by this unexpected defeat,
and gave vent to his vexation by saying, "Any-
how, Miss Lizzy, you would not have beaten, if
I had not thought it was my knight, instead of
yours, on number four.”
THE LINWOODs.
131
"Oh, Ned!"
"You would not; you know I always get
puzzled about the knights- I always said it
was the only fault in the chessmen-I always
said I wished Captain Lee had made them more
different."
"That fault is easily rectified," said the
looker-on.
"Captain Lee!" exclaimed Ned, whose me-
mory was true to a voice once heard, and who
never, in any circumstances, could have for-
gotten the sound of Eliot's voice.
Hush, my dear little fellow-for Heaven's
sake, hush!" cried Eliot, aware of the im-
prudence he had committed; but it was too
late.
Ned's feelings were as susceptible as his
hearing. He impetuously sprang forward, and
opening the door into the entry, where Mrs.
132
THE LINWOODS.
Archer had just uttered the last sentence we
reported of her conversation with Isabella, he
cried out “Oh, mamma, Captain Lee is
here!"
Eliot involuntarily doffed his fox-skin cap,
and advanced to them. Both ladies most cor-
dially gave him their hands at the same mo-
ment, while their brows were clouded with the
thoughts of the sad tidings they had to com-
municate. Conscious of the precarious position
he occupied, he naturally interpreted the con-
cern so evident on their faces, as the expression
of a benevolent interest in his safety.
" Do
not be alarmed, ladies," he said; "I have
nothing to fear, if my little friends here be
quiet; and that I am certain they will be, when
they know my life depends on my remaining
unknown."
"Oh, what have I done?" exclaimed Ned,
THE LINWOODS.
133
bursting into tears; but he was soon soothed by
Eliot's assurances that no harm as yet was done.
Mrs. Archer withdrew the children, while
Miss Linwood communicated to Eliot, as briefly
as possible, the arrival and condition of his
sister; and he, rather relieved than distressed
by the information, told her that his deepest
interest in coming to the city was the hope of
obtaining some tidings of the poor wanderer.
They then consulted how and when they had
best present themselves before her; and it was
decided that Miss Linwood should first go into
the apartment, and prepare her to see Eliot.
Eliot retreated, and stood still and breathless
to catch the first sound of Bessie's voice; but
he heard nothing but the exclamation, "She is
not here!" Eliot sprang forward. The door
of the apartment which led into the side passage
and the outer door were both open, and Eliot,
134
THE LINWOODS.
forgetful of everything but his sister, was rush-
ing into the street, when Bessie entered the
street door with Jasper Meredith! Impelled
by her ruling purpose to see Meredith, she had,
on her first discovery of the side passage, escaped
into the street, where the first person she en-
countered was he whose image had so long been
present to her, that seeing him with her bodily
organ seemed to make no new impression, nor
even to increase the vividness of the image
stamped on her memory. She had thrown on
her cloak, but had nothing on her head, and her
hair fell in its natural fair curls over her face
and neck. Singular as it was for the delicate,
timid Bessie to appear in this guise in the public
street, or to appear there at all, and much as
he was startled by her faded, stricken form, the
truth did not at once occur to Meredith. The
wildness of her eye was subdued in the dim
THE LINWOOds.
135
·
twilight; she spoke in her accustomed quiet
manner; and after answering to his first inquiry
that she was perfectly well now, she begged him
to go into Mrs. Archer's with her, as she had
something there to restore to him. He endea-
voured to put her off with a common-place
evasion-" He was engaged now, would come
some other time," &c., but she was not to be
eluded; and seeing some acquaintances ap-
proaching, whose observation he did not care
to encounter, he ascended Mrs. Archer's steps,
and found himself in the presence of those whom
he would have wished most to avoid; but there
was no retreat.
Bessie now acted with an irresistible energy.
"This way," said she, leading Meredith into
the room she had quitted; "come all of you
in here," glancing her eye from Meredith to
Isabella and Eliot, but without manifesting the
136
THE LINWOODS.
slightest surprise or emotion of any sort at
seeing them, but simply saying, with a smile of
satisfaction, as she shut the door and threw off
her cloak, "I expected this-I knew it would
In visions by day, and dreams by night,
be so.
I always saw you together.”
It was a minute before Eliot could command
his voice for utterance. He folded his arms
around Bessie, and murmured, "My sister!--
my dear sister!"
She drew back, and placing her hands on his
shoulders and smiling, said, "Tears, Eliot,
tears! Oh, shame, when this is the proudest,
happiest moment of your sister's life!"
"Is she mad?" asked Meredith of Isabella.
"Mad!"
Bessie's ear caught his last word.
she repeated. "I think all the world is mad;
but I alone am not! I have heard that whom
the gods would destroy they first make mad.
THE LINWOODS.
137
Men and angels have been employed to save me
from destruction."
"It is idle to stay here to listen to these
ravings," said Meredith, in a low voice, to Miss
Linwood; and he was about to make his escape,
when Isabella interposed. Stay for a moment,
*
I entreat you," she said; "she has been very
eager to see you, and it is sometimes of use to
gratify these humours."
In the meantime Eliot, his heart burning
within him at his sister's being gazed at as a
spectacle by that man of all the world from
whose eye he would have sheltered her, was
persuading her, as he would a wayward child,
to leave the apartment. She resisted his im-
portunities with a sort of gentle pity for his
blindness, and a perfect assurance that she was
"Dear Eliot,"
guided by light from Heaven.
she said, "you know not what you ask of me.
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THE LINWOODS.
For this hour my life has been prolonged, my
strength miraculously sustained. You have all
been assembled here- you, Eliot, because a
brother should sustain his sister, share her
honour, and partake her happiness; Jasper
Meredith to receive back those charms and
spells by which my too willing spirit was bound;
and you, Isabella Linwood, to see how, in my
better mind, I yield him to you."
She took from her bosom a small ivory box,
and opening it, she said, advancing to Meredith,
and showing him a withered rose-bud, “Do you
remember this? You plucked it from a little
bush that almost dipped its leaves in that cold
spring on the hill-side. Do you remember? It
was a hot summer's afternoon, and you had
been reading poetry to me; you said there
was a delicate praise in the sweet breath of
flowers that suited me; and some silly thing
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139
you said, Jasper, that you should not, of wishing
yourself a flower that you might breathe the
incense that you were not at liberty to speak;
and then you taught me the Persian language
of flowers. I kept this little bud: it faded, but
was still sweet. Alas! alas! I cherished it for
its Persian meaning." Her reminiscence seemed
too vivid-her voice faltered, and her eye fell
from its fixed gaze on Meredith; but suddenly
her countenance brightened, and she turned to
Isabella, who stood by the mantelpiece resting
her throbbing head on her hand, and added,
"Take it, Isabella, it is a true symbol to you."
Eliot for the first time turned his eye from
his sister, and even at that moment of anguish
a thrill of joy shot through every vein when
he saw Isabella take the bud, pull apart its
shrivelled leaves, and throw them from her.
Meredith stood leaning against the wall, his
140
THE LINWOODS.
arms folded, and his lips curled into a smile
that was intended to express scornful unconcern.
He might have expressed it, he might possibly
have felt it towards Bessie Lee; but when he
saw Isabella throw away the bud, when he met
the indignant glance of her eye flashing through
the tears that suffused it, a livid paleness spread
around his mouth, and that feature, the most
expressive and truest organ of the soul, betrayed
its inward conflict. He snatched his hat to
leave the room; Bessie laid her hand on his
arm. "Oh, do not go; I shall be cast back
into my former wretchedness if you go now."
"Stay, sir," said Eliot. " My sister shall not
be crossed."
"With all my heart. I have not the slightest
objection to playing out my dumb show between
vapouring and craziness.”
"Villain!" exclaimed Eliot.
The young
THE LINWOODS.
141
mén exchanged glances of fire. Bessie placed
herself between them, and stretching out her
arms, laid a hand on the breast of each, as if to
keep them apart.
"Now this is unkind-unkind
in both of you. I have come such a long and
wearisome journey to make peace for all of us;
and if you will but let me finish my task, I
shall lay me down and sleep-for ever, I think."
Eliot pressed her burning hand to his lips.
"My poor, dear sister," he said, "I will not
speak another word if I die in the effort to keep
silence."
“Thanks, dear Eliot," she replied; and put-
ting both her arms around his neck, she added,
in a whisper," do not be angry if he again call
me crazy; there be many that have called me so
-they mistake inspiration for madness, you
know." Never was Eliot's self-command so
tested; and retiring to the farthest part of the
142
THE LINWOODS.
room, he stood with knit brows and compressed
lips, looking and feeling like a man stretched on
the rack, while Bessie pursued her fancied mis-
sion. "Do you remember this chain ?” she
asked, as she opened a bit of paper, and let fall
a gold chain over Meredith's arm. He started
as if he were stung. "It cannot harm you,” she
said, faintly smiling, as she noticed his recoiling.
"This was the charm." She smoothed the
paper envelope. "As often as I looked at it,
the feeling with which I first read it shot through
my heart-strange, for there does not seem much
in it." She murmured the words pencilled by
Meredith on the envelope,
Can she who weaves electric chains to bind the heart,
Refuse the golden links that boast no mystic art?
"Oh, well do I remember," she cast up her
eyes as one does who is retracing the past, "the
night you gave me this; Eliot was in Boston;
THE LINWOODS.
143
mother was-I don't remember where, and we
had been all the evening sitting on the porch.
The honey-suckles and white roses were in
bloom, and the moon shone in through their
leaves. It was then you first spoke of your
mother in England, and you said much of the
happy destiny of those who were not shackled
by pride and avarice; and when you went away,
you pressed my hand to your heart, and put this
little 'packet in it. Yet" (turning to Isabella)
"he never said he loved me. It was only my
over-credulous fancy. Take it, Isabella; it
belongs to you, who really weave the chain that
binds the heart."
Meredith seized the chain as she stretched out
her hand, and crushed it under his foot. Bessie
looked from him to Isabella, and seemed for a
moment puzzled; then said, acquiescingly,
66
Ah, it's all well; symbols do not make nor
change realities. This little brooch," she con-
144
THE LINWOODS.
tinued, steadily pursuing her purpose, and
taking from the box an old-fashioned brooch, in
the shape of a forget-me-not, "I think was
powerless. What need had I of a forget-me-
not, when memory devoured every faculty of
my being? No, there was no charm in the
forget-me-not; but oh, this little pencil," she
took from the box the end of a lead pencil,
"with which we copied and scribbled poetry
together. How many thoughts has this little
instrument unlocked what feelings has it
touched-what affections have hovered over its
point, and gone thrilling back through the
heart! You must certainly take this, Isabella,
for there is yet a wonderful power in this
magical little pencil-it can make such reve-
lations."
"Dear Bessie, I have no revelations to
make."
"Is my task finished ?" asked Meredith.
THE LINWOODS.
145
not
"Not yet quite yet-be patient-patience
is a great help;
I have found it so.
Do you
remember this?" She held up before Meredith
a tress of her own fair hair, tied with a raven
lock of his in a true-love knot.
"Ah, Isabella,
I know very well it was not maidenly of me
to tie this; I knew it then, and I begged it of
him with many tears, did I not, Jasper? but I
kept it—that was wrong too. Now, Mr. Mere-
dith, you will help me to untie it?"
"Pardon me; I have no skill in such
matters."
"Ah, is it easier to tie than to untie a true-
love knot? Alas, alas! I have found it so.
But you must help me. My head is growing
dizzy, and I am so faint here!" She laid her
hand on her heart. "It must be parted-dear
Isabella, you will help me-you can untie a
true-love's knot ?"
VOL. III.
H
146
THE LINWOODS.
"I can sever it," said Isabella, with an
emphasis that went to the heart of more than
one that heard her. She took a pair of scissors.
from the table, and cut the knot. The black
lock fell on the floor; the pretty tress of Bessie's
hair curled around her finger:-" I will keep
"I
this for ever, my sweet Bessie," she said; "the
memorial of innocence, and purity, and much
abused trust."
"Oh, I did not mean that-I did not mean
Surely I have not accused him;
that, Isabella.
I told you he
never said he loved me.
not angry with him-you must not be.
I am
You
cannot be long, if you love him; and surely you
do love him."
Indeed, indeed I do not."
"Isabella Linwood! you have loved him."
She threw one arm around Isabella's neck, and
looked with a piercing gaze on her face. Isa-
THE LINWOODS.
147
bella would at this moment have given worlds
to have answered with truth-" No, never !”
She would have given her life to have
repressed the treacherous blood, that, rushing to
her neck, cheeks, and temples, answered unequi-
vocally Bessie's ill-timed question.
Meredith's eye was riveted to her face, and the
transition from the humiliation, the utter abase-
ment of the moment before, to the undeniable
and manifested certainty that he had been loved
by the all-exacting, the unattainable Isabella
Linwood, was more than he could bear, without
expressing his exultation. "I thank
you,
Bessie
Lee," he cried; "this triumph is worth all I
have endured from your raving and silly drivel-
ling. Your silent confession, Miss Linwood,
is satisfactory, full, and plain enough; but it
has come a thought too late. Good evening to
you." "A fair good night to you, sir." "I
H 2
148
THE LINWOODs.
advise you to take care that your sister sleep
more and dream less."
There is undoubtedly a pleasure, transient it
may be, but real it is, in the gratification of the
baser passions. Meredith was a self-idolater;
and at the very moment when his divinity was
prostrate, it had been revived by the sweetest,
the most unexpected incense. No wonder he
was intoxicated. How long his delirium lasted,
and what were its effects, are still to be seen.
His parting taunt was lost on those he left
behind.
Bessie believed that her mission was fulfilled
and ended. The artificial strength which, while
she received it as the direct gift of Heaven, her
highly-wrought imagination had supplied, was
exhausted. As Meredith closed the door, she
turned to Eliot, and locking her arms around
him, gazed at him with an expression of natural
THE LINWOOds.
149
tenderness, that can only be imagined by those
who have been so fortunate as to see Fanny
Kemble's exquisite personation of Ophelia ; and
who remember (who could forget it?) her action
at the end of the flower-scene, when reason and
nature seeming to overpower her wild fancies,
she throws her arms around Laertes' neck, and
with one flash of her all-speaking eyes makes
every chord of the heart vibrate.
The light soon faded from Bessie's face, and
she lay as helpless as an infant in her brother's
arms. Isabella hastened to Mrs. Archer; and
Eliot, left alone and quite unmanned, poured
out his heart over this victim of vanity and
heartlessness.
Mrs. Archer was prompt and efficient in her
kindness. Bessie was conveyed to bed, and
Eliot assured that everything should be done for
her that human tenderness and vigilance could
150
THE LINWOODS.
-
do. After obtaining a promise from Mrs.
Archer that she would write a letter to his
mother, and forward it with some despatches
which he knew were to be sent to Boston on the
following day; and after having arranged mat-
ters for secret visits to his sister, he left her,
fervently thanking God for the kind care that
watched over her flickering lamp of life.
Shall we follow Eliot Lee to his hiding-place?
shall we betray his secret meditations? shall we
a
- show the golden thread that ran through their
dark web? shall we confess, that, amid the
anxieties (some understood by our readers, and
some yet unexplained) that lowered over him,
star seemed to have risen above his horizon?
Yes we dare confess it; for a little reflection
rebuked his presumption, and he exclaimed,
"What is it to me if she be free?"
Isabella passed the night in watching with
THE LINWOODS.
151
Mrs. Archer over her unconscious little friend ;
and as she gazed on her meek brow, on the
beautiful features that were stamped with truth
and tenderness, her indignation rose against him,
who, for the poor gratification of his miserable
vanity, could meanly steal away the treasure of
her affections-that most precious boon, given
to feed the lamp of life, and light the way to
heaven.
Mrs. Archer, at this crisis, felt much like one
who, having seen a rich domain relieved by the
sudden interposition of Providence, from a per-
nicious intruder, is impatient to see it in posses-
sion of a lawful proprietor. It was womanly
and natural, that when she and Isabella were
watching at Bessie's bed-side, she should descant
on Eliot-should recal his tenderness and gen-
tleness to Bessie, and the true heroism with
which, for her sake, he repressed the indignation
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152
that was ready to burst on Meredith. Mrs.
Archer thought Isabella listened languidly, and
"Dear aunt
assented coldly. She told her so.
Mary," she replied, "my mind is absorbed in a
delicious, devout sense of escape. From my
childhood I have been in thraldom-groping in
mist. Now I stand in a clear light-I see
objects in their true colours-I am mistress of
myself, and am, as far as relates to myself, per-
fectly happy. Some other time we will talk
over what your friend said, and did, and did not
do, and admire it to your heart's content. Now
I am entirely selfish; I have but one idea-but
one sensation!" Mrs Archer was satisfied.
THE LINWOODS.
153
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Chi puo dir com' egli arde é in picciol fuoco.
MEREDITH left Mrs. Archer's in a state of
feverish excitement. He paced up and down
the street, trying by projects for the future to
drive away the memory of the past. The
thought of his degradation before Isabella Lin-
wood was insupportable; and the recollection
that Eliot Lee had bestowed the stinging epi-
thet of villain in him in her presence, roused
his strongest passions and stimulated him to
H 3
154
THE LINWOODS.
revenge. He turned his steps toward Sir Henry
Clinton's. "I shall but do a common duty,"
he said, "in giving information that a rebel
officer, high in Washington's favour, is in dis-
guise in the city—I shall, indeed, be summarily
avenged, if Tryon should requite on Lee's head
the death of Palmer." The man to whom his
thoughts adverted was he, in relation to whom,
Putnam had addressed to Tryon the famous
laconic note.
"SIR,
"NATHAN PALMER, a lieutenant in
the service of your king, has been taken in my
camp as a spy, condemned as a spy, and will be
hung as a spy.
"P.S.--He has been hanged."
The thought of such a catastrophe changed
Meredith's purpose.
He had no taste for
THE LINWOOds.
155
tragedy. He believed that Eliot's visit to the
city had relation only to Bessie, and, shrinking
from adding such an item to his account with
her as the betrayal of her natural protector, he
turned back, and retraced his way homeward,
meditating a retaliation better suited than
revenge, to his shallow character.
flow from deep sources.
Passions
Meredith's relations
with Isabella were far more interesting to him
than the life or death of Eliot Lee, or his poor
sister; and in trying to devise some balm for his
wounded vanity, he hit upon an expedient on
which he immediately resolved. This alluring
expedient was none else than an immediate
engagement with Lady Anne Seton; which,
being antedated but by a few hours, would
demonstrate to Isabella Linwood that he, and
not she, had first thrown off the shackles; and
would leave for ever rankling in her proud
156
THE LINWOODS.
bosom the tormenting recollection, that she had
involuntarily confessed she loved him, as he had
tauntingly said, " a thought too late."
His decision made, he hastened home, dwell-
ing with the most soothing complacency on his
recent meeting with his cousin on the banks of
the Hudson, and smiling, as he thought how
delighted she would be at his profiting by her
hint, in thus soon offering to be joint tenant of
her love-built American cottage.
"Where is my cousin?" he asked, as he
entered the drawing-room, and found his mother
sitting alone.
"Where she eternally is,” replied his mother
throwing down her book and eyeglass, and rising
with the air of one who has borne a vexation till
it is no longer supportable; "it is the most
inexplicable infatuation; the girl seems abso-
lutely bewitched by Isabella Linwood."
THE LINWOODS.
157
"But Miss Linwood is not at home this
evening. I left her at her aunt Archer's."
"At Mrs. Archer's?-you were with her
there, Jasper?"
Meredith replied, smiling, and without at-
tempting to evade his mother's probing eye,
"Yes, I was there, but much against my will,
for I had hoped to pass this evening with you
and my cousin."
"Thank you, my son, thank you. I flat-
tered myself that all was settled in your mind
-definitively settled-when you so gallantly
assured Anne that you soon should be irre-
trievably in love,' leaving her to supply the
little hiatus which no girl, in like case, would
fail to fill with her own name. And now I will
be perfectly frank with you, Jasper-indeed, if
there is any thing on which I pride myself, it is
frankness. You understood the intimation in
158
THE LINWOODS.
the Italian stanza, I gave you from the carriage
this afternoon ?" Meredith bowed.
"It con-
veyed a little history in a few words, my son;
I have simply aimed to be 'la stella,' by which
"
you, a wise and skilful nocchiero,' should,
taking advantage of fair winds and favourable
tides, guide your vessel into port. But why
speak in figures when we perfectly understand
one another? Our dear little Anne-a sweet
attractive creature, is she not?-was left to my
guardianship, or rather matronship, for your
poor uncle was so very thoughtless as to vest me
with no authority to controul her fortune, or
her choice of a husband.'
"Bless my soul; is it possible!"
"Too true, indeed. You now perceive in
what embarrassing circumstances I was placed.
This pretty girl on my hands, with her immense.
and unencumbered property; nothing short
THE LINWOODS.
159
of the utmost prudence and energy on my
part, could save her from being the prey of
fortune hunters, (alas! for poor human nature !
-the lady uttered this without a blush), rest
assured, Jasper, that nothing would have induced
me in these perilous times to cross the Atlantic,
but my duty to my orphan niece."
"And the remote prospect of benefiting me,
my dear mother."
Mrs. Meredith was too intent on the interest-
ing subject upon which she was entering, to
notice the sarcasm her son had not the grace to
suppress.
"I had my anxieties," she continued,
"I frankly confess to you, I had my anxieties
before I arrived, about Miss Linwood, and-
some few I have had since—————___”
Mrs. Meredith paused and fixed her eyes on
Jasper. "On my honour you have not the
slightest ground for them," he said.
160
THE LINWOODS.
She proceeded. "Miss Linwood is in some
respects a superior young person—she has not the
-the-the talent of Helen Ruthven-nor the
-the-the grace of Lady Anne (no wonder the
perplexed diplomatist hesitated for a comparative
that should place Isabella Linwood below these
young ladies); but as I said, she is a superior
young person-a remarkable looking person, cer-
tainly; at least, she is generally thought so. I
do not particularly like her style-tenderness
and `manageableness, like our dear Anne's, are
particularly becoming in a female. Miss Lin-
wood is too lofty-one does not feel quite com-
fortable with her. On the whole, I consider it
quite fortunate you did not form an attachment
in that quarter-prudence must be consulted-
not that I would be swayed by prudential con-
siderations—certainly not-no one thinks more
than I do of the heart; but when, as in your
THE LINWOODS.
161
case, Jasper, the taste and affections accord with
a wise consideration of-of-"
"Fortune, my dear mother?"
"Yes, Jasper, frankly, fortune-I esteem it
a remarkably happy circumstance. Your own
fortune may or may not be large. The Ame-
rican portion of it depends upon contingencies,
and, therefore, it would have been rash for you to
have encumbered yourself with a ruined family;
for, as I am informed, the Linwoods have but
just enough to subsist decently upon from day to
day. It is true they keep up a respectable
appearance. Anne, by-the-way, tells me they
get up the most delicate petits soupers there.
It is amazing what pride will do !—what sacri-
fices some people make to appearances. !
"
"There must be something besides mere table.
luxuries to make these suppers so attractive to
my cousin."
66
Undoubtedly; for as to that, you know, we
162
THE LINWOODS.
have every thing that money can purchase in
this demi-savage country; to be sure, Anne
might have a foolish, girlish liking for Miss
Linwood, but then, I am quite confident-I
hesitate, for if there is any thing on which I
pride myself, it is being scrupulous towards my
own sex in affairs of the heart; but I betray
nothing; for though you are perfectly free from
coxcombry, you are not blind, and you must
have seen
"Not seen, but hoped, my dear mother,"
replied Meredith, with a smile that indicated
assurance doubly sure.
66
Hope is the fitting word for you-but your
hope may be my certainty-I betray no secrets.
Anne has not been confidential, but the dear
child is so transparent"
"She seems, however, to have been rather
opaque in this Linwood attachment."
"Yes, I confess myself baffled there—you
THE LINWOODS.
163
may have opened a vein of coquetry, Jasper. I
know not what it means, but it can mean
nothing to alarm us. It is very odd, though—
there is nothing there to gratify her, and every
thing here. This very evening Governor Tryon
called, with the young Prince, to propose to get
up a concert for her. By-the-way, a pretty
youth is Prince William !-he left this bouquet
for Lady Anne. The honourable Mr. Barton
and Sir Reginald were here too, and the Digbys
-and there she is mewed up with that old
fretful Mr. Linwood. She must think, Jasper,
you are not sufficiently devoted to her.”
"She shall not think so in future."
"Hark, there is the carriage!-I sent her
word that I was not well. In truth, her
absence has teased me into a headach, and my
own room will be the best place for me." Thus
concluding her tedious harangue, the lady made
a hasty retreat; and before Lady Anne had ex-
164
THE LINWOODS.
changed a salutation with Meredith, and thrown
aside her hat and cloak, her aunt's maid appeared
with a message from this "frank" lady, import-
ing the sense of Lady Anne's kindness in
coming home, and informing her that prudence
obliged her to abstain from seeing her niece till
morning.
"I am very sorry!" said Lady Anne,
heaving a deep sigh, sinking down in the arm-
chair her aunt had just left, resting her elbow
on it, and looking pensively in the fire.
"You need not be so deeply concerned, my
kind cousin; my mother is not very ill," said
Meredith, with difficulty forbearing a laugh at
the disparity between the cause and the effect
on his apparently sympathising cousin.
"Ill!" exclaimed Lady Anne, starting, “I
did not suppose that she was ill.”
"Then, why in the name of Heaven, that
deep sigh ?"
THE LINWOODS.
165
"There are many causes of sighs, cousin
Jasper."
"To you, Lady Anne, so young, so gifted,
so lovely, so beloved."
“That should be happiness!" she replied,
covering her face with hands to hide the tears,
that, in spite of all the anti-crying tendencies
of her nature, gushed from her eyes.
(C
"Those dimpled hands," thought Meredith,
hiding so childishly her melting face, might
move an anchoret; but they move not me. I
am too pampered-to know that I have been
loved by Isabella Linwood, with all the bitter,
cursed mortification that attends it, is worth
a world of such triumphs as this. Poor Bessie!
I remember too-but, allons, I will take the
good the gods provide,' since I cannot have
that which they deny. Cousin-—————”
"Did you speak to me, Jasper?”
166
THE LINWOODS.
"Now, by my life," thought Meredith, "my
words are congealed-they will not flow to such
willing ears.
tears.
"I am playing the fool," exclaimed Lady
Anne, suddenly rising and dashing off her
"Good night, Jasper-I have betrayed
myself-no, no, I did not mean that-pray
forget my weakness-I am nervous this evening
for the first time in my life, and I know nothing
of managing nerves-Good night, Jasper !
Meredith seized her hand and held her back.
Indeed, my sweet coz, you must not go now."
"Must not go! Why not?" she replied,
excessively puzzled by the expressive smile that
hovered on his lips.
"Why not? Because you are too much of
an angel to shut your heart so suddenly against
me, after allowing me a glimpse at the paradise
within."
THE LINWOODS.
167
"What do you mean?" she asked, now
beginning, from Meredith's manner, and from
the well-tutored expression of his most senti-
mental eyes, to have some dim perception of his
meaning, and to be disconcerted by it.
"Dear Anne, did you not, with your own
peculiar, enchanting ingenuousness, say you had
betrayed yourself? Never was there a sweeter
a more welcome treachery." He fell on his
knee, and pressed her hand to his lips.
"For the love of Heaven, Jasper," she cried,
snatching her hand away, "tell me what I have
said or done."
66
Nothing that you should not, dearest cousin;
your betrayal, as you called it, was, I know,
involuntary, and for that the dearer."
❝ Are you in earnest, Jasper ?"
"In earnest! most assuredly; and do you,
Lady Anne, like all your sex, delight in tor-
168
THE LINWOODS.
turing your captives?-your captive I certainly
am, for life."
:
The truth was now but too evident to Lady
Anne; but she was so unprepared for it, her
mind had been so wholly pre-occupied, that it
seemed to her the marvellous result of some
absurd misunderstanding. At first she blushed,
and stammered, and then, following her natural
bent, laughed merrily.
His
To Meredith, this appeared a childish artifice
to shelter her mortification at having made, in
military phrase, a first demonstration.
interest was stimulated by this slight obstacle;
and rallying all his powers, he began a pas-
sionate declaration in the good set terms "in
such cases made and provided;" but Lady
Anne cut him off before he had finished his
peroration. "This is a most absurd business,
Jasper; I entreat you never to speak of it again.
THE LINWOODS.
169
Aunt, or somebody, or something, has misled
you-misled, you certainly are. I never in my
life thought of you in any other light, than
•
as a very agreeable cousin, nor ever shall. I
am very sorry for you, Jasper; but really, I
am not in fault, for I never, by word or look,
could have expressed what I never felt. Good
night, Jasper," She was running away, when
she turned back to add, "Pray, say nothing of
this to my aunt, and let us meet to-morrow as
we have always met before." She then disap-
peared, and left Meredith baffled, mortified,
irritated, and most thoroughly awakened from
his dreams. Her face, voice, and manner, were
truth itself; and rapidly reviewing their past
intercourse, and carefully weighing the words
that had misled him, he came to the conclusion
that he had been partly misguided by his
mother, and partly the dupe of his previous
VOL. III.
I
170
THE LINWOODS.
impressions. The measure of his humiliations
was filled up.
But his vanity survived the severe and
repeated blows of that evening. Vanity has a
wonderful tenacity of life: it resembles those
reptiles that feed greedily on every species of
food, the most delicate and the grossest, and
that can subsist on their own independent
vitality.
THE LINWOODs.
171
CHAPTER XXXV.
Heart! what's that?
Oh, a thing servant-maids have, and break for John the
footman.
IF Meredith could have borne off his charming
heiress-cousin, his love for Isabella might have
gone to the moon, or to any other repository
of lost and forgotten things. But, balked in
that pursuit, it resumed its empire over him.
He passed a feverish, sleepless night, revolving
the past, and reconsidering Isabella's every word
and look during their interview of the preceding
1 2
172
THE LINWOODS.
En-
evening; and finally, he came to a conclusion
not unnatural (for few persons give others.
credit for less of a given infirmity than they
themselves possess), that Isabella's vanity had
been wounded by the conviction that she had
been, for a time, superseded by Bessie Lee;
and that the ground he had thus lost might,
by a dexterous manœuvre, be regained.
grossed with his next move, he appeared at
breakfast-table as usual, attentive to his mother,
and polite to Lady Anne, who, anxious to
express her good-will, was more than ordinarily
kind; and Mrs. Meredith concluded that if
matters had not gone as far as she had hoped,
they were going on swimmingly. The breakfast
finished, Lady Anne ran away from her aunt's
annoying devotions to the Linwoods, and Mere-
dith retired to his own room to write, after
weighing and sifting each word, the following
THE LINWOODS.
173
note to Isabella. He did not send it, however,
till he had taken the precaution to precede it
by a written request to Lady Anne (with whom
he had found out too late that honest dealing
was far the safest) that she would, on no account
-he asked it for her own sake-communicate
to any one their parting scene of the preceding
evening. His evil star ruled the ascendant, and
Lady Anne received the note too late.
To Miss Linwood.
"Montaigne says, and says truly, that toutes
passions que se laissent gouster et digérer ne sont
que mediocres;' but how would he-how shall
I characterise a passion which has swallowed
up every other passion, desire, and affection of
my nature has grown and thriven upon that
which would have seemed fatal to its existence !
174
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66
Isabella, these are not hollow phrases; you
know they are not; and be not angry at my
boldness; I know your heart responds to them,
and, though I was stretched on the rack to
obtain this knowledge, I thank my tormentors.
Yes, by Heaven! I would not exchange that
one instant of intoxicating, bewildering joy,
when, even in the presence of witnesses, and
such witnesses! you confessed you had loved
me, for ages of a common existence. Thank
Heaven, too, the precious confession was not
through the hackneyed medium of words. Such
a sentiment is not born in your bosom to die.
I judge from my own inferior nature. I have
loved on steadily, through absence, coldness,
disdain, caprice (pardon me, my proud, my
adored Isabella), in spite of the canker and rust
of delay after delay; in spite of all the assaults
of those temptations to which the young and
THE LINWOODS.
175
fortunate are exposed. Can I estimate your
heart at a lower rate than my own?
"As to that silly scene last evening, though
it stung me at the moment, and goaded me to
an unmeaning impertinence, yet, on a review of
it, do you not perceive that we were both the
dupes of a little dramatic effect? and that there
is no reality in the matter, except so far as
concerns the lost wits of the crazed girl, and
the very natural affliction of her well-meaning
brother, whose unjust and hasty indignation
towards me, being the result of false impres-
sions, I most heartily forgive.
"As to poor Bessie Lee, I can only say, God
help her! I am most sincerely sorry for her;
but neither you nor I can be surprised that she
should be the dupe of her lively imagination,
and the victim of her nervous temperament. I
ask but one word in reply. Say you will see
176
THE LINWOODS.
me at any hour you choose; and, for God's
sake, Isabella, secure our interview from inter-
ruption."
In half an hour, and just as Meredith was
sallying forth to allay his restlessness by a walk
in the open air, he met his messenger with a
note from Miss Linwood. He turned back,
entered the unoccupied drawing-room, and read
the following.
"I have received your note, Jasper; I do
not reply to it hastily; hours of watchfulness
and reflection at the bed-side of my friend have
given the maturity of years to my present
feeling. I have loved you, I confess it now;
not by a treacherous blush, but calmly, delibe-
rately, in my own hand-writing, without faltering
or emotion of any sort. Yes, I have loved you,
THE LINWOODS.
177
if a sentiment springing from a most attachable
nature, originating in the accidental intercourse
of childhood, fostered by pride, nurtured by
flattery, and exaggerated by an excited imagi-
nation, can be called love.
"I have loved you, if a sentiment struggling
with doubt and distrust, seeking for rest and
finding none, becoming fainter and fainter in
the dawning light of truth, and vanishing,
like an exhalation in the full day, can be called
love.
"You say truly. Bessie Lee is the dupe
of a too lively imagination, and the victim of a
nervous temperament. To these you might
have added, an exquisitely organised frame,
and a conscience too susceptible for a creature
liable to the mistakes of humanity. Oh, how
despicable, how cruel, was the vanity that could
risk the happiness of such a creature for its own
I 3
178
THE LINWOODS.
gratification! I have wept bitterly over her;
I should scarcely have pitied her, had she been
the unresisting slave and victim of a misplaced
and unrequited passion.
"After what I have written, you will perceive
that
you need neither seek nor avoid an inter-
view with me; that the only emotion you can
now excite, is a devout gratitude that our former
interviews were interrupted, and circumstances
were made strong enough to prevail over my
weakness.
"ISABELLA LINWOOD.
"P.S.-I have detained my messenger, and
opened my note to add, that your cousin has
just come in, and with a confidence befitting
her frank nature, has communicated to me the
farce with which you followed up the tragedy
of last evening."
THE LINWOODS.
179
Meredith felt, what was in truth quite evident,
that Isabella Linwood was herself again. He
threw the note from him in a paroxysm of
vexation, disappointment, and utter and hope-
less mortification; and covering his face with
his hands, he endured one of those moments
that occur even in this life, when the sins,
follies, and failures of by-gone years are felt
with the vividness and acuteness of the actual
and present, and memory and conscience are
endued with supernatural energy and retributive
power.
What a capacity of penal suffering has the
All-wise infused into the moral nature of man,
even the weakest.
The mind is its own place, and in itself,
Can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.
Meredith was roused by the soft fall of a
footstep. He started, and saw Helen Ruthven,
180
THE LINWOODS.
who had just entered, and was in the act of
picking up the note he had thrown down. She
looked at the superscription, then at Meredith.
Her lustrous eyes suffused with tears, and the
tears formed into actual drops, and rolled down
her cheeks. “Oh, happy, most happy Isabella
Linwood!" she exclaimed. Meredith took the
note from her and threw it into the fire. Miss
Ruthven stared at him, and lifted up her hands
with an unfeigned emotion of astonishment.
After a moment's pause, she added, "I still say
most happy Isabella Linwood. And yet, if
she cannot estimate the worth of the priceless
kingdom she sways, is she most happy? You
do not answer me; and you, of all the world,
cannot." Meredith did not reply by word;
but Miss Ruthven's quick eye perceived the
cloud clearing from his brow; and she ventured
to try the effect of a stronger light. "I cannot
THE LINWOODs.
181
comprehend this girl," she continued; "she is
a riddle—an insolvable riddle to me. A passion-
less mortal seems to me to approach nearer to
a monster than to a divinity deserving your
idolatry, Meredith. She cannot be the cold,
apathetic, statue-like person she appears—
66
And why not, Miss Ruthven?"
Simply because a passionless being cannot
inspire passion-and yet-and yet, if she were
a marble statue, your love should have been
the Promethean touch to infuse a soul. Pardon
me-pity me, if I speak too plainly; there are
moments when the heart will burst the barriers
of prudence-there are moments of desperation,
of self-abandonment. I cannot be bound by
those petty axioms and frigid rules that shackle
my sex-I cannot weigh my words—I must
pour out my heart, even though this prodigality
of its treasures 'naught enriches you, and makes
me poor indeed!""
182
THE LINWOODs.
Helen Ruthven's broken sentences were linked
together by expressive glances, and effective
pauses. She gave to her words all the force
of intonation and emphasis, which produce the
effect of polish on metal, making it dazzling,
without adding an iota to its intrinsic value.
Meredith lent a most attentive ear, mentally
comparing the while Miss Ruthven's lavished
sensibilities to Isabella's jealous reserve. He
should have discriminated between the generosity
that gives what is nothing worth, and the fidelity
that watches over an immortal treasure; but
vanity wraps itself in impenetrable darkness.
He only felt that he was in a labyrinth of which
Helen Ruthven held the clew; and that he was
in the process of preparation to follow whither-
soever she willed to lead him.
We let the curtain fall here; we have no
taste for showing off the infirm of our own sex.
We were willing to supply some intimations
THE LINWOODS.
183
that might be available to our ingenuous and
all-believing young male friends; but we would
not reveal to our fair and true-hearted readers
the flatteries, pretences, false assumptions, and
elaborate blandishments, by which a hackneyed
woman of the world dupes and beguiles; and
at last (obeying the inflexible law of reaping as
she sows) pays the penalty of her folly in a
life of matrimonial union without affection a
wretched destiny, well fitting those who profane
the sanctuary of the affections with hypocritical
worship.
While the web is spinning around Meredith,
we leave him with the wish that all the Helen
Ruthvens in the world may have as fair game
as Jasper Meredith.
•
184
THE LINWOODS.
•
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Adventurous I have been, it is true,
And this fool-hardy heart would brave-nay, court,
In other days, an enterprise of passion ;
Yea, like a witch, would whistle for a whirlwind.
But I have been admonished.
OUR humble story treats of the concerns of
individuals, and not of historical events. We
shall not, therefore, embarrass our readers with
the particulars of the secret mission on which
Eliot Lee had been sent to the city by the
commander-in-chief. He needed an agent, who
might, as the exigency should demand, be pru-
THE LINWOODS.
185
dent or bold, wary or decided, cautious or
gallant, and self-sacrificing. He, had tested
Eliot Lee, and knew him to be capable of all
these rarely-united virtues. Eliot had confided
to Washington his anxieties respecting his
unfortunate sister, and his burning desire to
go to the city, where he might possibly ascer-
tain her fate. Washington gave him permission
to avail himself of every facility for the per-
formance of his fraternal duty, consistent with
the public service on which he sent him. His
sympathies were alive to the charities
domestic life. While the military chieftain
planted and guarded the tree that was to over-
shadow his country, he cherished the birds that
made their nests in its branches.
of
Eliot was instructed to seek a hiding-place
in the city at a certain Elizabeth Bengin's, a
woman of strong head and strong heart, whose
186
THE LINWOODS.
name is preserved in history as one who, often
at great personal risk, rendered substantial
service in the country's cause. Dame Bengin
and her parrot Sylvy, who seemed to preside
over the destinies of the shop, and did in fact
lure many a young urchin into it, were known
to all the city. The dame herself was a thick-
set, rosy little body, fair, fat, and forty; her
shop was a sort of thread and needle store:
but as the principle of division of labour had
yet made small progress in our young country,
Mistress Bengin's wares were as multifarious
as the wants of the citizens. Mrs. Bengin's
first principle was to keep a civil tongue in
her own and in Sylvy's head, she holding
civility (as she often said and repeated) to be
the most disposable and most profitable article
in her shop. It was indeed seriously profitable
to her, for it surrounded her with an atmosphere
THE LINWOOds.
187
of kindness, and enabled her, though watched
and suspected by the English, to follow her
calling for a long while unmolested.
She gave Eliot an apartment in a loft over
her shop, to which, there being no apparent
access, Eliot obtained egress and ingress by
removing a loose board that, to the uninstructed
eye, formed a part of the ceiling of the shop.
From this hiding-place Eliot sallied forth to
execute his secret purposes, varying his dis-
guises, which were supplied by Mrs. Bengin,
as caution dictated. As all sorts of persons
frequented the shop, no attention was excited
by all sorts of persons coming out of it. Eliot's
forced masquerading often compelled him to
personate various characters during the day,
and at evening, with simply a cloak over his
own uniform, and a wallet over his arm, like
those still used by country doctors, and pre-
188
THE LINWOODS.
cisely, as Dame Bengin assured him, like that
carried by the "doctor that attended the
quality," he made his way, sheltered by the
obscurity of the night, to Mrs. Archer's, where
he was admitted by one of the children, whose
acute senses caught the first sound of his ap-
proaching footsteps. Eliot, in spite of remon-
strances from his prime minister, Mrs. Bengin,
had persisted in appearing in his own dress at
Mrs. Archer's. In vain the good dame specu-
lated and soliloquised; she could not solve the
mystery of this only disobedience to her counsel.
"To be sure," she said, "it makes a sight of
difference in his looks, whether he wears my
tatterdemalion disguises, wigs, scratches, and
what not, or his own nice uniform, with his
own rich brown hair, waving off his sunshiny
forehead—a bright, pleasant, tight-built looking
youth he is, as ever I put my two eyes upon;
1
THE LINWOODS.
189
and if he were going to see young ladies, I
should not wonder that he did not want to put
his light under a bushel; but, my conscience!
to keep up such a brushing and scrubbing-
my loft is not so very linty either-just to go
before the widow Archer-to be sure, she is
a widow; but then, there never was a man yet
that dared to have any courting thoughts of
her, any more than if she were buried in her
husband's grave; and this is not the youth to
be presuming.'
""
Dame Bengin knew enough of human nature
to have solved the mystery of Eliot's toilet, if
she had been apprised of one material fact in
the case. At Mrs. Archer's, watching at
Bessie's bedside, Eliot always found Miss
Linwood; and though the truest, the most
anxious, and tender of brothers, he was not
unconscious of her presence, nor unconscious
190
THE LINWOODS.
that her presence mingled with his sufferings
for his sister a most dangerous felicity. His
fate was inevitable; he at least thought it so;
and that fate was an intense and unrequited
devotion to one as unattainable to him as if she
were the inhabitant of another planet. He did
not resist his destiny by abating one minute
of those hours that were worth years of a draw-
ing-room intercourse. In ordinary circum-
stances, Isabella's soul would have been veiled
from so new an acquaintance; but now con-
stantly under the influence of strong feeling
and fresh impulses, and a most joyous sense of
freedom, her lofty, generous, and tender spirit
glowed in her beautiful face, and inspired and
graced every word and movement.
Her devotion to Bessie was intense; not
simply from compassion nor affection, but
remembering, that in her self-will she had
THE LINWOODS.
191
insisted, in spite of her father's disinclination,
and her aunt's most reasonable remonstrances,
on Bessie's visit to the city, she looked upon
herself as the primary cause of her friend's
misfortunes, and felt her own peace of mind
to be staked on Bessie's recovery. What a
change had the discipline of life wrought in
Isabella's character! the qualities were still
the same; the same energy of purpose, the
same earnestness in action, the same strength
of feeling, but now all flowing in the right
channel, all having a moral aim, and all
governed by that religious sense of duty, which
is to the spirit in this perilous voyage of life
what the compass is to the mariner.
Of Bessie's recovery there seemed, from day
to day, little prospect. One hopeful circum-
stance there was. The intelligent physician
consulted by Mrs. Archer had frankly con-
fessed that his art could do nothing for her,
192
THE LINWOODS.
and had advised leaving her entirely to the
energies of nature. Would that this virtue
of letting alone were oftener imitated by the
faculty! that nature were oftener permitted
to manifest her power unclogged, and unem-
barrassed by the poisons of the drug-shop!
Bessie was as weak and helpless as a new-
born infant, and apparently as unknowing of
the world about her. With few and brief
exceptions, she slept day and night. Her face
was calm, peaceful, and not inexpressive, but
it was as unvarying as a picture. Her senses
appeared no longer to be the ministers of the
mind; she heard without hearing, and saw
without seeing, and never attempted to speak.
At times, her friends despaired utterly, believ-
ing that her mind was extinct; and then again
they hoped it was a mere suspension of her
faculties, a rest preluding restoration.
While fear and hope were thus alternating, a
THE LINWOODS.
193
week passed away. Eliot's mission was near
being accomplished. The evening of the follow-
ing day was appointed for the consummation of
his plans. The boats, with muffled oars and
trusty oarsmen, were in readiness, and the plan,
for the secret seizure of a most important per-
sonage, so well matured, that it was all but
impossible it should be baffled. The most bril-
liant result seemed certain and well-balanced
as Eliot's mind was, it was excited to the high-
est pitch when a communication reached him
from head-quarters, informing him that Wash-
ington deemed it expedient to abandon the
enterprise of which he was the agent; and he
was directed, if possible, to cross the Hudson
during the night, and repair to the camp near
Morristown. And thus ended the hope of bril-
liant achievement and sudden advancement;
VOL. III.
K
194
THE LINWOODS.
and he went to pay his last visit to his sister-
for the last time to see Isabella Linwood!
She met him with good news lighting her
eyes," Bessie is reviving!" she said; "she has
pressed my hand, and spoken my name!"
"Thank God!" replied Eliot, approaching
the bed-side. For the first time Bessie fixed
her eye on him, as if conscious at whom she
was looking; then, as he bent over her, she
stretched out her arms, drew his face to
hers, and kissed him, feebly murmuring, " dear
Eliot !"
The effort exhausted her, and she reverted to
her usual condition. "This must be expected,"
said Miss Linwood, replying to the shade of
disappointment that passed over Eliot's brow;
"but having seen such a sign of recovery, you
will leave her with a light heart?"
Eliot smiled assentingly; a melancholy smile
THE LINWOODS.
195
enough. "You still," she continued, "expect
to get off to-morrow evening?"
I
"No; my business in the city is finished, and
go this very night."
66
To-night! would to Heaven that Herbert
were going with you!”
"Not one regret for my going!" thought
Eliot, and he sighed involuntarily. ❝ You
seem," resumed Isabella, "very suddenly in-
different to Herbert's fate you do not care
to know, before you go, how our plans are
ripening?”
"Indifferent to Herbert's fate!-to aught
that concerns you, Miss Linwood!
"
"A common-place compliment from you,
Captain Lee-well, as it is the first, I'll forgive
you not so would Herbert, for making him
secondary in a matter where he is entitled to
the honour, as he has the misery of being prin-
K 2
196
THE LINWOOds.
cipal. Poor fellow! his adversities have not
taught him patience; and Rose tells me he is
very near the illness he has feigned, and that if
he does not get off by to-morrow night, he will
fret himself into a fever."
"Have you made Lady Anne acquainted
with your project?"
"Yes, indeed! and her quick wit, loving
heart, and most ingenious fingers, have been
busy in contriving and executing our prepara-
tions. She is wild enough to wish to be the
companion of Herbert's flight. This is not to
be thought of; but I have promised her that
she shall see him once more. Lizzy Bengin
will go with us to the boat, where, if Heaven
prosper us, he will be by eight to-morrow
evening. And then, Captain Lee, should you
persuade General Washington to receive and
forgive him, we shall be perfectly happy
again."
THE LINWOODS.
197
66
Perfectly happy!" echoed Eliot, in a voice
most discordant with the words he uttered.
"Oh, pardon me! I did not mean that. It
is cruel to talk to you of happiness while Bessie
is in this uncertain condition-and most unjust
it is to myself, for I never shall be happy
unless she is restored, and mistress of herself
again."
66
Ah, Miss Linwood, that cannot be. In her
best days she had not the physical and mental
power required to make her mistress of her-
self;' no, it can never be. If it were not for
my mother, who I know would wish Bessie
restored to her, even though she continue the
vacant casket she now is, I should, with most
intense desire, pray God to take her to himself;
there alone can a creature so sensitive and fragile
be safe and at peace!"
"You are wrong-I am certain
I am certain you are
198
THE LINWOODS.
wrong. There is a flexibility in our womanly
nature that is strength in our weakness. Bessie
will perceive the delusion under which she has
acted and suffered, and which had dominion
over her, because, like any other dream, it
seemed a reality while it lasted. Yes, her
affections will return to their natural channels
to bless us all." Eliot shook his head despond-
ingly. "You are faithless and unbelieving,"
continued Isabella; and then added, smiling
and blushing, "but I reason from experience,
and therefore you should believe me."
This was the first time that Meredith had
been alluded to. The allusion was intrepid
and generous; and if a confession of past weak-
ness, it was an assurance of present, conscious,
and all-sufficient strength. That Eliot at least
thought so, was evident from the sudden irradia-
tion of his countenance; a brightness misinter-
THE LINWOODS.
199
"" [
preted by Isabella, who immediately added,
have convinced you, and you will admit I was
not very rash in saying that we should all again
be perfectly happy.”
Eliot made no reply; he walked to the ex-
tremity of the room, paused, returned, gazed
intently, yet abstractedly at his sister, then at
Isabella, and then mechanically took up his hat,
laid it down, and again resumed it.
Isabella was perplexed by his contradictory
movements.
"You are not going so soon?" she
said. He did not reply.
aunt?” she added, rising.
"Shall I call my
Eliot seized her hand, and withheld her.
"No, no, not yet-Miss Linwood, I am playing
the hypocrite. It is not alone my anxiety for
my sister that torments me
that made your
W
prediction of happiness sound to me like a
knell." He paused, and then yielding to an
200
THE LINWOODS.
irresistible impulse, he impetuously threw him-
self at Isabella's feet. "Isabella Linwood, I
love you-love you without the presumption of
the faintest, slightest hope-before we part for
ever, suffer me to tell
you so."
66
mean
Captain Lee, you astonish me!—you do not
"I know I astonish you, but I will not offend
you. Is it folly-rashness-obtrusiveness, to
pour out an affection before you, that expects
nothing in return-asks nothing but the satis-
faction of being known, and not offensive to
you ?"
“Oh, no, no; but you may regret-
Never, never. From this moment I devote
my heart—I dedicate my existence to you;
insomuch as God permits me to love aught
beneath himself, I will love you. I must now
part from you for ever; but wherever I go
•
THE LINWOODS.
201
your image will attend me that cannot be
denied me; it shall defend me from temptation,
incite me to high resolves, pure thoughts, and
good deeds."
"Such homage might well make me proud,”
replied Isabella, "and I am most grateful for
it; but your imagination is overwrought; this
is a transient excitement-it will pass away."
"Never!" replied Eliot, rising, and recover-
ing in some degree the steadiness of his voice;
“hear me patiently; it is the only time I shall
ever ask your indulgence. I am not now, nor
was I ever, under the dominion of my imagina-
tion or my passions. I have been trained in
the school of exertion, of self-denial, and self-
subjection; and I would not, I could not love
one who did not sway my reason, who was not
entitled to the homage of my best faculties. I
have been moved by beauty—I have been
к 3
202
THE LINWOODS.
attracted by the lovely-I have had my fancies
and my likings-what man of two-and-twenty
has not? I never loved before; never before
felt a sentiment that, if it were requited, would
have made earth a paradise to me; but that un-
requited, unsustained but by its own independent
vitality, I would not part with for any paradise
on this earth.”
The flush of surprise that first overspread
Isabella's face had deepened to a crimson glow.
If a woman is not offended by such language as
Eliot's, she cannot be unmoved. Isabella's was
a listening eye. It seemed to Eliot, at this
moment, that its rays touched his heart, and
burned there. She passed her hand over her
brow, as one naturally does when the brain is
becoming a little blurred in its perceptions.
"This is so very strange, so unexpected," she
said, in the softest tone of that voice, whose
THE LINWOODS.
203
every tone was music to her lover's ear—“in
one short week-it cannot be !"
Isabella but half uttered her thoughts: she
had been misled, as most inexperienced ob-
servers are in similar cases, by the tranquillity
of Eliot's manner; she respected and liked him
exceedingly; but she thought him unexcitable,
and incapable of passion. She had yet to learn
that the strongest passions are reducible to the
gentlest obedience, and may be so subjected as
to manifest their power, not in irregular and
rebellious movements, but only in the tasks
they achieve. She did not now reflect or
analyse, but she felt, for the first time, there
was that in Eliot Lee that could answer to the
capacities of her own soul.
"This is, undoubtedly, unexpected to you,"
resumed Eliot, "but should not be strange.
When I first saw you I was struck with your
204
THE LINWOODs.
beauty; and I thought, if I were a pagan, I
should embody my divinity in just such a form,
and fall down and worship it ;-that might have
been what the world calls falling in love, but it
was far enough from the all-controlling senti-
ment I now profess to you. Our acquaintance
has been short (I date farther back than a week);
but in this short period I have seen your mind
casting off the shackles of early prejudices,
resisting the authority of opinion, self-rectified,
and forming its independent judgments on those
great interests in which the honour and pros-
perity of your country are involved. I have
gloried in seeing you willing to sacrifice the
pride, the exclusiveness, and all the little idol
vanities of accidental distinctions, to the popular
and generous side.
66
Nay, hear me out, Isabella; I
leave you till you have the reasons of
will not
my love;
THE LINWOODS.
205
till
you admit that I have deliberately elected
the sovereign of my affections; till you feel,
yes, feel, that my devotion to you can never
abate." He hesitated, and his voice faltered;
but he resolutely proceeded: "Other shackles
has your power over woman's weakness enabled
you to cast off."
“Oh, no—no; do not commend me for that
—they fell off.”
"Be it so they could not fetter you, that is
enough."
66
Then," said Isabella, somewhat mischie-
vously, "I think you like me for, what most
men like not at all-my love of freedom and
independence of controul."
66
Yes, I do; for I think they are essential to
the highest and most progressive nature; but I
should not love it if it were not blended with all
the tenderness and softness of your sex. The
206
THE LINWOODS.
fire, that mounts to Heaven from the altar,
diffuses its gentle warmth at the fireside.
Think you, that, while you have been tending
my sister, I have been unmindful of your
kindly domestic qualities, or blind to the
thousand womanly inventions by which I see
you ministering to the happiness of these
unfortunate children? Have you thought me
insensible to your intervention for my poor boy,
Kisel, though God, in much mercy to him,
willed it should be bootless? I do homage to
your genius, talent, and accomplishment, but I
love your gracious, domestic, home-felt virtues:
I am exhausting your patience." Isabella had
covered her face; overpowered with the accu-
mulated proof that Eliot had watched her with
a fond lover's eye. After a slight hesitation, he
proceeded to obey a most natural, if it be a weak,
longing. "Allow me, if you can, one solace
THE LINWOODS.
WOODS.
207
one blessed thought to cheer a long life of lone-.
liness and devotion. I am bold in asking it;
but, tell me, had I known you earlier, had no
predilection forestalled me, had no rival inter-
vened, do you think it possible that you should
have returned my love?”
Some one says that all women are reared
hypocrites-trained to veil their natures; Isabella
Linwood, at least, was not. She replied, impul-
sively and frankly, "Most certainly I should."
Eliot again fell at her feet. He ventured to
take her hand, to press it to his lips, to wet
it with his tears.. "I am satisfied," he said;
"now I can go; and the thought, that I might,
under a happier star, have been loved by
Isabella Linwood, shall elevate, guide, and
soothe me, in all the chances and changes of
life."
While Eliot was uttering these last words,
208
THE LINWOODS.
and while Isabella was absorbed in the emotions
they excited, the door was softly opened, and
Lizzy Archer, flitting across the room, said in a
low voice, "Oh, Captain Lee! what shall we
do?—there are horrid soldiers watching at both
our doors for you-mamma is out, and I could
not sleep-I never sleep when you are here, for
fear something will happen-I heard their voices
at the side door; and when I came through the
hall, I heard others through the street door-
what shall we do?-Cousin Belle, pray think-
you can always think in a minute."
But "Cousin Belle's" presence of mind had
Eliot's eye
suddenly forsaken her; and as
glanced towards her, he saw she was pale and
trembling. A hope shot into his mind, a
thought of the possibility that if he were not
now severed from her, that which she had gene-
rously admitted might have been, might still
THE LINWOODS.
209
be. To exclude this new-born hope seemed to
him like the extinction of life. He rapidly
revolved the circumstances in which he was
placed. He had done, in the affair intrusted to
him, all, and even more than his commander
expected; it had failed of consummation through
no fault of his; he was in the American uniform,
and thus captured, he might claim the rights of
a prisoner of war; the temporary loss of his
presence in camp would be unimportant to the
cause; and remaining for a time within reach of
Isabella Linwood might result in good, infinite
good, and happiness to himself. He wavered;
but the fixed habit of rectitude prevailed, the
duty of the soldier over the almost irresistible
inclinations of the man he shut out the temp-
tation, and only considered the means of escape.
"Dear Lizzy," he said, "if I could find my
way to your skylight-I have observed the
210
THE LINWOODS.
descent would not be dangerous from there to
the back building, and so down on the roofs of
the other offices."
"But," said Lizzy, for the little creature
seemed to have considered the whole ground,
"if there should be soldiers too at the back
gate?"
"I will avoid them, Lizzy, by going into the
next yard to yours, then over two or three
walls, till I find it safe to emerge into the
street.'
"I can lead you to the skylight. I am very
glad I am blind, so I shall not need any light;
for that would show you to the soldiers, who are
standing by the side windows of the hall-door.
Oh, dear, I hope they won't hear my heart
beat; but it does beat so!"
There were other hearts there that beat
almost audibly besides poor Lizzy's; but there
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211
was no time to indulge emotions. Eliot kissed
his unconscious sister; and then grasping the
hand Isabella extended to him, he would have
said, "Farewell for ever!" but his voice was
choked, and the last ominous word was unpro-
nounced. His little guide led him noiselessly
up the stairs, through the entries, and to the
skylight; and then fondly embracing him and
promising to give his farewells to "mother and
Ned," she parted from him, and stood fixed and
breathless, listening till she believed he had
eluded those who were lying in wait for him,
when she returned to give full vent to her
feelings on Isabella's bosom, and to find more
sympathy there than she wotted of.
We shall not follow our hero through his
"imminent dangers and hair-breadth 'scapes."
Suffice it to say, he did escape; and having
passed the Hudson in the same little boat that
212
THE LINWOODS.
brought “Harmann Van Zandt" to the city,
he eluded the British station at Powles Hook,
passed their redoubts, and at dawn of day
received at the camp at Morristown the warm
thanks of Washington, who estimated conduct
by its intrinsic merit, and not, according to the
common and false standard, by its results.
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213
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Good Sir, good sir, you are deceived; it is no man at all!
Ar any other juncture, Mr. Linwood would
have been restless and unappeasable under the
privation of Isabella's society; but now, in his
interest and sympathy in Herbert's affairs, and
in his fondness for Lady Anne, he found
full employment for his thoughts and feelings.
Lady Anne persisted in considering herself
Herbert's betrothed; and in spite of her aunt,
who, as her niece affirmed, had become insup-
214
THE LINWOODS.
portably cross and teasing, she persevered in
spending all her evenings with the Linwoods.
The charm that love imparts to those who
are connected with the object of a concen-
trated affection, was attached to Herbert's
father and mother. Lady Anne felt the most
tender anxieties for her lover; but, sustained
by the buoyancy of youth, and a most cheerful
and sanguine disposition, she was uniformly
bright and animated. Her sparkling eye and
dimpled cheek were happiness to Mr. Linwood;
the old love cheerfulness as the dim eye delights.
in brilliant colours.
Mrs. Archer, who was always, in Mr. Lin-
wood's estimation, the next best to Isabella,
devoted her evenings to him. She saw, or
fancied she saw, that Bessie's countenance
expressed a pleased consciousness of Isabella's
presence, at any rate, she knew that there
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215
was another countenance always lighted up
by it. Accordingly, she repaired every evening
to Mr. Linwood, and played rubber after rub-
ber, performing her tiresome duty with such
zest and zeal, that Mr. Linwood pronounced
her a comfortable partner and respectable anta-
gonist-"a deal more than he could say for
any other woman.”
While the surface of this little society re-
mained as usual, there was a strong under-
current at work. Herbert, after his explanation
with Lady Anne, was resolved to leave no
effort unmade to effect his escape from durance,
and put himself in the way of those brighter
hours that youth and health whispered might
come. His first step was taken the morning
after his parting with Lady Anne. He enclo-
sed the permit for his visits at home, sent to
him by Sir Henry Clinton, to that gentleman,
216
THE LINWOODS.
with an acknowledgement of his kindness, but
without assigning any reason for declining to
avail himself of it farther. He was careful
not to involve his honour by any pretences
in relation to that obligation; it was off his
hands, and he thanked Heaven he was now
free to use whatever stratagem would avail him.
He feigned illness. He knew Rose would be
sent to inquire after him; and he also knew
that, when told that he was ill, she would,
by force or favour, obtain access to him. For-
tunately, she was admitted without hesitation;
for Cunningham, conscious of the bad odour
he was in on account of his ill-treatment of
the American prisoners, deemed it his best
policy to inflict no gratuitous hardship on the
son of Mr. Linwood. Rose, once admitted,
became first counsellor and coadjutor; and
with the aid of the young ladies at home, a
THE LINWOODS.
217
project was contrived, of which this noble
creature was to be the main executer. Her-
bert's illness, of course, continued unabated;
and Rose repeated her visits daily, and made
her last, as she hoped, the evening succeeding
Eliot's escape.
"Lock me in," she said to
the turnkey, "and leave me a quarter of an
hour or so. I want to coax Mr. Herbert to
take a biscuit; he'd die on your dum stuff.”
Rose had, in fact, brought to Linwood, daily,
more substantial rations than biscuit, and thus
enabled him to gratify his appetite without
endangering his reputation as an invalid. He
was in bed when Rose entered, and out of it
the moment the turnkey closed the door-"Oh,
Rose, God bless you! Is all arranged?” he
asked.
66
"Every thing, Mr. Herbert, snug as a bug
in a rug. The young ladies came with me
VOL. III.
L
218
THE LINWOODS.
to Mrs. Lizzy's, and she is to be at Smith's
house with them precisely at seven. It is now
half past six. Mrs. Lizzy's boat, with the
muffled oars, that's got off many a prisoner
before you, is now waiting for you."
"And are my sister and Lady Anne going
to Smith's house without any male attendant ?"
"Dear, yes! they are wrapped in cloaks-
nobody will know them; and Mrs. Lizzy is
as good a guard as horse, foot, and dragoon;
there's not a thimbleful of danger, Mr. Her-
bert, and they fear none, bless their hearts!
To be sure, Miss Belle is no great of a soldier
in common, and Lady Anne will scream like
all natur' at a mouse; but love is a great help
to courage in young parsons!"
While Rose was making these communica-
tions, to which Herbert eagerly listened, she
was doffing an extra set of linsey-woolsey gar-
THE LINWOODS.
219.
ments, and transferring them to her young.
master, who somewhat delayed their adjust-
ment, by putting his feet first into the "cursed
petticoat," as he profanely termed it. That
most respectable feminine article arranged to
Rose's satisfaction, she put over it a short gown,
and a checked handkerchief over all. "Now
for the beauties," she said, drawing from her
pocket a wig and mask, and holding them up
in either hand, " Miss Belle made one, and
Lady Anne t'other.”
The mask, if it might be so called, was
well coloured, and bore a tolerable. likeness
to Rose. Linwood was enchanted. "Which,"
he exclaimed, “which did Lady Anne make,
Rose?"
66
"The mask."
Linwood seized it, kissed it, and exclaimed,
Admirably, admirably done!"
L 2
220
THE LINWOODS.
"It was not half the trouble the wig was,"
said Rose.
"Oh, that is capital too, Rose."
"But you don't carry
on so about it. Laud's
sake! However, I suppose you love Miss Belle
as well, only it an't a kind of love that breeds
antics."
"True, Rose; you may be sure I shall never
love anybody better than I do my sister.”
Rose was satisfied, and proceeded to tie on
"It's
the mask, and adjust the fleecy locks.
a main pity," she said, "to cover your pretty
shining hair with what looks like nigger's wool,
as they call it."
"Not a bit-not a bit, Rose. I know some
wool that covers a far better head than mine-
more capable, more discerning; and God never
created a nobler heart than beats under one
black skin."
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221
"Pooh! Mr. Herbert." Rose's "pooh" was
a disclaimer; but as she put it in, she brushed
a tear from her eye; then tying a mobcap and
black silk bonnet over the wig, and throwing
over his shoulders her short blue broadcloth
cloak, and hiding his white hands in her
mittens, she laughed exultingly, declaring she
"should not herself know him from herself."
"Now you're readied," she said, "settle down
as you walk-be prudent, Mr. Herbert-look
before you leap. Don't answer them dum
fellows, when you get out, a word more than
yes or no-I never do. Do your endeavours
and the Lord will help you. He helps them
as helps themselves-hark! there comes the
fellow."
Before the turnkey opened the door she was
in bed, her head enveloped in the bedclothes;
and Herbert stood, her basket on his arm,
222
THE LINWOODS.
apparently waiting. No suspicion was excited,
They went out, and the
nor questions asked.
door was re-locked.
listen to their receding footsteps. The footsteps
ceased, and she heard Cunningham's (the pro-
vost-marshal's) voice, "Well, wench," he said,
addressing, as she knew, her counterfeit," how
goes it with your young master?"
Rose raised her head to
"Now the Lord o' mercy help him!" she
exclaimed; "he used to mimic Jupe-if he
only can me."
She did not hear Herbert's reply; but she
heard Cunningham say, as if responding to it—
"Poorlier, hey? I've got something here that
will bring back his stomach-respects to your
master-mind, wench." Again she heard
Herbert's footsteps recede, and Cunningham
enter her cell, and shut and lock the door.
Cunningham's name was a terror to the
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223
whigs, and to all that cared for them. The
man's excessive cruelty and meanness may be
inferred from the extravagant allegations
current at the time; that he was in the habit
of putting the American prisoners of war to
death, in order to sequester the rations allowed
them. He had recently reason for apprehen-
sions that an inquiry would be instituted into
his conduct by the commander-in-chief, who
certainly did not authorise unnecessary cruelties,
if he neglected to take cognizance of them.
Rose's head was well muffled in the bed-
clothes, when Cunningham, coming up to the
bed, said, "How goes it, Mr. Linwood; bile
uppermost yet? Come, lift up your head, and
speak, man—can't you give an answer to a civil
word? Come, come, I'm not Tom nor Sam
to be put off this way-next thing you'll bolt,
and I shall have it to answer for; but they
sha'n't say I did not do the good Samaritan by
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THE LINWOODS.
you. You won't eat-you won't hear to the
doctor-the d-1 is in you, man; why don'.
you rise up? Here's a dose you must take,
any how-it's what they give in all cases,
calomel and jalap-come, man, if fair means
won't do, foul must."
The patient continued obstinate, and Cun-
ningham set down the dose, which was mixed
in a huge coffee-bowl, beside a basket of vials,
containing sundry nauseous medicines, designed
for the poor prisoners, as if bad food were not
poison and torture enough for them. A con-
test began, in which Cunningham had reason to
be astonished at the strength of the invalid.
In the scramble, Rose's head was disengaged
from the bedclothes; the truth was revealed,
and she sprang on him like a tiger on its prey.
The cowardly wretch shrank back, and drew
"You d-d nigger!"
a knife, crying out, “ You d~
Rose wrested it from him, and her spirit dis.
THE LINWOODS.
225
daining the assassin's weapon, she thrust it into
the wall, exclaiming-" Now we're even !"
He sprang towards the door-she pulled him
back, threw him down, put her knee on his
breast, and by the time he had made one
ineffectual struggle, and once bellowed for help,
she had added laudanum, castor-oil, and ipeca-
cuanha to the calomel and jalap; and holding
his nose between the thumb and finger of one
hand, she presented the overflowing bowl to his
lips with the other. When she had convinced
him of her potentiality, by making him gulp
down one swallow, she mercifully withdrew the
draught, saying, "If you offer to move one
inch, or make a sound, I'll pour it down your
throat to the last drop."
She then released him from her grasp, and
while he was panting and shuddering, she
turned her back, muttering something of string-
L 3
226
THE LINWOODS.
ing him up in her clothes. The "clothes,"
which she quickly disengaged from their
natural office, proved to be her garters. As
she stretched them out, trying their strength,
'My own spinning, twisting, and knitting,"
said she; "they'll bear the weight of twenty
such slim pieces as you.”
66
"Are you going to hang me?" gasped out
Cunningham.
"Hang you! Yes; but not harm you, if
you're quiet, mind. But I'd choke
But I'd choke you twice
over to give Mr. Herbert time: so mind and
keep your breath to cool your porridge.”
She then turned him over, bound his hands
behind him with one garter, and made a slip
noose with the other, while he, like a reptile in
the talons of a vulture, crawled and squirmed
with a hopeless resistance.
"There's no use," said Rose, “you're but a
THE LINWOODS.
227
baby in my hands-it's the strong heart makes
the strong arm."
She then set him upright on Herbert's bed,
put the noose round his neck, and made the
other end fast to an iron hook in the wall. This
was just achieved, when a hurried footstep was
heard, followed by a clattering at the door, and
a call for “Master Cunningham !-Master Cun-
ningham!" Rose placed her foot against the
foot of the bedstead; Cunningham understood
the menace, and suppressed the cry on his lips.
The calls were reiterated. Cunningham cast
one glance at Rose; her foot was fixed, her lips
compressed, and her eyes glaring with a resolu-
tion stern as fate. Cunningham felt that the alter-
native was silence or death, and his face became
convulsed between the impulse to respond and
the effort to keep quiet. The knocking and
screaming were repeated; and then finding them
228
THE LINWOODS.
ineffectual, the person went off to seek his master
elsewhere. Other sounds now roused Rose's
generous spirit, and tempted her to inflict the
vengeance so well deserved; but hers was not
the mind to be swayed by opportunity—" con-
venience snug."
The apartment adjoining Linwood's was spa-
cious, and crammed with American prisoners.
There was a communicating door between them,
through which could be distinctly heard any
sound or movement louder than usual. Loring,
in his customary evening round, had entered
this apartment. Loring was Cunningham's
coadjutor, and is described by Ethan Allen, who
had himself notable experience in that prison,
as "the most mean-spirited, cowardly, deceitful,
and destructive animal in God's creation." Rose
heard Loring command the prisoners to get to
their beds, in his customary phrase (we retrench
THE LINWOODS.
229
a portion of its vulgarity and profanity); "Ken-
nel, d—n ye-kennel, ye sons of Belial !”
At this brutal address to persons whom Rose
honoured as a Catholic honours the Saints, her
blood boiled within her. She hastily withdrew
her foot from the bedpost, and strode to the
extremity of the narrow apartment; then turn-
ing and stretching her arm towards Cunningham,
she said, with an energy that made his blood
curdle," It is not for me to 'venge them, but
God will. Their children shall be lords in the
land, and sound out their fathers' names with
ringing of bells and firing of cannon, when you,
and Loring, and all such car'on, have died and
rotted like dogs, as ye are.
The sounds in the adjoining apartment after
a while subsided, and with them Rose's ire. She
seated herself to await the latest hour when she
could retire from the prison, and elude the sus
230
THE LINWOODS.
picion of the sentinel, the only person whose
vigilance she had to encounter.
The footsteps had ceased from the passages,
and sleep seemed, like rain, to have fallen on the
just and the unjust—the keepers and their pri-
soners. Cunningham, seeing Rose preparing to
take her departure, begged her in the most
abject manner, before she went, to release him
from his frightful position.
"No, no," she obstinately replied to his sup-
plications, "ye shall hang in iffigy, to be seen
and scorned by your own people; but one marcy
I'll do you; if you'll hold your tongue, I'll not
let out, while the war lasts-while the war lasts,
remember, that you were strung up there by
a 'd-n nigger-a nigger woman!"
It appeared that Cunningham was glad to
accept this very small mercy, by the report which
afterwards prevailed, that he had only escaped
THE LINWOOds.
231
a fitting end through the forbearance of Mr.
Herbert Linwood.
Rose passed unmolested through the passage
and the outer door, which, being locked on the
inside, and the key in the wards, opposed no
obstacle to her retreat. The sentinel in the
yard saw and recognised her; but not being the
same who was on guard when the first Dromio
passed, he merely inferred that Rose had been
permitted to remain longer than usual; and
kindly opening the gate, he responded civilly to
her civil "good-night."
Rose went home, not however to enjoy the
quiet sleep which should have followed so good
a piece of work she had achieved, but to suffer,
and see others suffer, the most distressful appre-
hensions.
232
THE LINWOODS.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Let the great gods
That keep this dreadful pother o'er our heads,
Find out their enemies now.
ISABELLA and Lady Anne, cloaked and
hooded, repaired to Dame Bengin's some half
hour, as may be remembered, before the time
appointed for their meeting with Linwood.
This forerunning of the hour was to allow them
to take advantage of Rose's escort. It did not
pass without a censure from their wary coadju-
tor. "You lack discretion, young ladies," she
THE LINWOODS.
233
said; "and I lacked it too when I let you in
partners in this business. My father used to
•
say, if you want to go safe over a tottering
plank, always go alone.' However, we must
make the best of it now: so just take this box
of ribands, and stand at the farther end of the
counter, and seem to be finding a match. It is
nothing strange for ladies to be tedious at that."
The young ladies obeyed, but Lady Anne
fretted in an under voice at the delay; and
Isabella ventured a remonstrance, to which
Dame Bengin, an autocrat in her own domain,
replied, "She must go her own way; that full
twenty minutes were left to the time appointed
for the meeting at Smith's house, and time was
money to her."
"I wish to Heaven I could wring the parrot's
neck," whispered Lady Anne; "I do believe the
people answer to its call." The parrot kept up
234
THE LINWOODS.
a continuous scream of " Come in—come in!”
that might have tormented nerves less excitable
than our friends' were at this moment.
"I surmise we are going to have a storm,'
said an old woman, who had stepped in for a
pennyworth of cochinia for her grandchildren;
"its always a sign of a storm when Sylvy keeps
up such a chattering at night-fall.” · Lizzy
Bengin went to the door, and looked anxiously
at the gathering clouds.
"Come in-come in!" cried Sylvy; and, as
if obedient to her summons, trotted in, one after
another, half a dozen urchins. One wanted "a ·
skein of sky-blue silk for aunt Polly: not too
light nor too dark: considerably fine and very
strong; not too slack nor too hard twisted."
Lizzy Bengin looked over half a dozen papers
before she could meet the order of her customer.
Pray send the whole to aunt Polly,” cried
THE LINWOODS.
235
Lady Anne; "I will pay you, Bengin." The
boy stared, the dame seemed not to hear her,
and bade the boy run home and tell aunt Polly
she hoped the skein would suit.
"Twopence worth of button-moulds-just
this size ma'am." The indefatigable Mrs. Ben-
gin explored the button-mould box.
"Mammy wants a nail of silk, a shade lighter
than the sample." Mrs. Bengin looked over her
pile of silks.
"Come in-come in!" still cried Sylvy,
certainly not the silent partner of the house.
66
Aunty wants a dust of snuff, and she'll pay
you to-morrow."
"How much is a drawing of your best bohea,
Mrs. Bengin?"
"Mrs. Lizzy, uncle John wants to know if
you've got any shoes about little Johnny's size?"
While Mrs. Bengin, who was quite in the
236
THE LINWOODS.
habit of securing the mint, anise, and cummin of
her little trade, was with the utmost composure
satisfying these multifarious demands, the mi-
nutes seemed ages to our impatient friends;
Isabella took out her watch. The dame per-
ceived the movement, and seemed to receive the
impulse from it, for she was dismissing the shoe
inquirer with a simple negative, when in came
a black girl, with a demand for "spirits of
camphire."
"What's the matter, Phillis?"
"Madam Meredith has got the hystrikes."
"Then she has my note," whispered Lady
Anne.
While the camphire was pouring out, a sturdy
sailor-boy entered. "Ah, is that you, Tom
Smith? A hand of tobacco you're wanting ?
Well, first come first served-just be taking in
Sylvy, while I'm getting a cork to suit the vial.”
THE LINWOODS.
237
Mrs. Bengin seemed suddenly fluttered by a
look from Tom, and she bade the servant run
home sans cork. The moment Phillis had
passed the threshold, Lizzy said, "Speak out,
Tom, there are none but friends here!"
"It's too late, Lizzy Bengin, you're lost!"
The inquiries and replies that followed were
rapid. The amount of Tom's intelligence was,
that some combustibles had been discovered near
the magazine, and that, as strange persons had
recently been observed going to and coming
from Lizzy's shop, it was believed that a plot
had been there contrived; the commandant had
issued an order for her apprehension, and men
were by this time on their way to seize her.
Lizzy Bengin had so often been suspected,
and threatened, and eluded detection, that she
did not now believe her good fortune had
deserted her. She heard Tom through, and
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THE LINWOOds.
then said, "My boat is ready and I'll dodge
them yet."
Isabella ventured to ask with scarcely a ray
of hope, "If they might still go with her?"
"Yes, if you're not afeard, and will be pru-
dent. Shut the shutters, Tom-lock the door
after us, and keep them out as long as possible,
that we may gain time. Throw my books into
the loft-don't let 'em rummage and muss my
things, and look to Sylvy." Her voice was
slightly tremulous as she added, " If anything
"If
happens to me, Tom, be kind to Sylvy!"
and
By this time her cloak and hood were on,
they sallied forth. Dame Lizzy's valour was
too well tempered by discretion to have per-
mitted her to consent to the attendance of the
young ladies, if she had not, after calculating
the chances, been quite sure that no danger
would be thereby incurred. She believed that
THE LINWOODs.
239
her pursuers, after being kept at bay by her
faithful ally Tom, would be at a loss where next
to seek her. The place appointed for meeting
Linwood was a little untenanted dwelling, near
the water's edge, called "Smith's House."
There he was to doff his disguise, and there,
should there be any uproar in the streets, the
young ladies could remain till all was quiet.
Isabella and Lady Anne were in no temper to
consider risks and chances. Life, to the latter,
seemed to be set on the die of seeing Herbert
Isabella felt a full sympathy with
this most natural desire, and an intense eager-
ness to be immediately assured of her brother's
escape; so, clinging close to their sturdy friend,
they hastened forward.
once more.
The old woman's interpretation of Sylvy's
cries proved a true one.. A storm was gathering
rapidly. Large drops of rain pattered on the
240
THE LINWOODS.
pavement, and the lightning flashed at intervals.
But the distance to the boat, lying in a nook
just above Whitehall, was short, and the moon,
some seven nights old, was still unclouded.
They soon reached "Smith's House," and
heard the joyful signal-whistle previously agreed
on.
"He is here!" exclaimed Isabella.
Lady Anne's fluttering heart was on her
lips, but she did not speak. Herbert joined
them.
"Now kiss and part," cried Lizzy Bengin.
The first command was superfluous; the second
it seemed impossible to obey. It was no time
for words, and few did they mingle with the
choking sighs of parting, but these few were of
the marvellous coinage of the heart, and the
heart was stamped upon them.
The storm
´increased, and the darkness thickened.
"Come,
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in Original
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THE LINWOODS.
243
leader.
To the Whitehall Dock, boys, and
get out a boat!"
Our boat's company was silent. Herbert,
amid a host of other anxieties, was, as he felt
Lady Anne's tremulous grasp, bitterly repenting
this last act of a rashness which he flattered
himself experience had cured, and Isabella was
thinking of the beating hearts at home.
Dame Bengin, composed, and alone wholly
intent on the present necessity, was the first to
speak. "Don't be scared, little lady,” she said;
"sit down quiet-don't touch his arm-he
need all its strength. Do you take the til
Miss Linwood-mind exactly what I tel
I know every turn in the current
lay out co

r oar
244
THE LINWOODS.
herself on her nautical skill. Her father had
been a pilot, and Lizzy being his only child, he
had repaired, as far as possible, what he con-
sidered the calamity of her sex, by giving her
the habits of a boy. Her childhood was spent
on the water, and nature and early training had
endowed her with the masculine spirit and skill
that now did her such good service.
courage and cowardice of impulse are too much
the result of physical condition to be the occasion
of either pride or shame.

The
The wind was rising, the lightning becoming
ore vivid and continuous, and the pelting cold
driving in the faces of our poor fugitives.
ghtning gloriously lit up a wild scene;
"little islands,
a “pho
THE LINWOODS.
245
Still the little boat leaped the waves cheeringly,
and still no sound of fear was heard within it.
There is something in the sublime manifesta-
tions of power in the battling elements, that
either stimulates the mind of man, “stirs the
feeling infinite," and exalts it above a conscious-
ness of the mortality that invests it, or crushes
it under a sense of its own impotence. Our
little boat's company were a group for a painter,
if a painter could kindle his picture with electric
light. Lizzy Bengin, her short muscular arms
bared, and every nerve of body and mind strained,
plied her oars, at each stroke giving a new order
to her unskilled but most obedient coadjutors.
Isabella's head was bare, her dark hair hanging
in masses on each side her face, her poetic eye
turning from "heaven to earth and earth to
heaven," her face in the lurid light as pale as
marble, and like that marble on which the

246
THE LINWOODS.
Lady
sculptor has expressed his own divine imaginings
in the soft forms of feminine beauty.
Anne sat at Herbert's feet, her eye fixed on his
face, passively and quietly awaiting her fate,
not doubting that fate would be to go to the
bottom, but feeling that such a destiny would
be far more tolerable with her lover, than any
other without him. This dependence, "love
overcoming the fear of death," inspired Herbert
with preternatural strength. His fine frank face
beamed with hope and resolution, and his eye,
as ever and anon it fell on the loving creature
at his feet, was suffused with a mother's tender-
ness.
In the intervals of darkness they guided the
boat by the lights on the shores, and towards a
light that, kindled by a confederate of Lizzy
Bengin's for Herbert's benefit, blazed steadily,
in spite of the rain, a mile below Powles Hook.
THE LINWOODS.
247.
They were making fair headway, when they
perceived a sail-boat put off from Whitehall.
They were pursued, and their hearts sunk within
them; but Lizzy Bengin soon rallied, and her
inspiring voice was heard, calculating the chances
of escape.
"The storm," she said, "is in our
favour-no prudent sailor would spread a sail
in such a gusty night. The wind is flawy, too,
and we can manage our boat, running first for
one point and then for another, so as to puzzle
them; and in some of their turns, if they have
not more skill than any man has shown since
my father's day, they'll capsize their boat.”
We dare not attempt to describe the chase
that followed; the dexterous manoeuvring of
the little boat, now setting towards Long Island,
now back to the city, now for Governor's Island,
now up, and then down the river. We dare
not attempt it. Heaven seems to have endowed
248
THE LINWOODS.
a single genius of our land with a chartered
right to all the water privileges for the species
of manufacture in which we are engaged, and
his power but serves to set in desperate relief
the weakness of his inferiors. The water is not
our element, and we should be sure to show an
alacrity in sinking."
66
Suffice it to say, it seemed that the efforts of
our little boat's crew must prove unavailing;
that after Dame Bengin's sturdy spirit had
yielded to her woman's nature, and she had
dropped her oars, and given the common signals
of her sex's weakness in streaming tears and
wringing hands, Herbert continued laboriously
to row, till Lady Anne, fainting, dropped her
head on his knee, and Isabella entreated him to
submit at once to their inevitable fate. Nothing
indeed now remained but to run the boat ashore,
to surrender themselves to their pursuers, to
THE LINWOODS.
249
obtain aid for Lady Anne, and secure pro-
tection to her and Isabella. The resolution
taken, the boat was suddenly turned; the sail-
boat turned also, but too suddenly; the wind
struck and capsized it. The bay was in a blaze
of light when the sail dipped to the water-
intense darkness followed-no shriek was heard
After the first exclamations burst from the
lips of our friends, not a sound proceeded from
them, not a breath of exultation at a deliverance
that involved their fellow-beings in destruction.
The stroke of Herbert's oars ceased, and the
fugitives awaited breathlessly the next flash of
lightning, to enable them to extend their aid, if
aid could be given. The lightning came and
was repeated, but nothing was to be seen but
the boat drifting away at the mercy of the
waves.
A few moments more brought them to land,
M 3
250
THE LINWOODS.
where, beside their beacon-light, stood an un-
tenanted fisherman's hut, in which they found
awaiting them a comfortable fire and substantial
food. These "creature comforts," with rest
and rekindled hope, soon did their work of resto-
ration. And the clouds clearing away, and the
stars shining out cheerily, Lizzy Bengin, aware
that her presence rather encumbered and en-
dangered the companions of her flight than
benefited them, bade them a kind good-night,
and sought refuge among some of her Jersey
acquaintance, true-hearted to her, and to all
their country's friends.
THE LINWOODS.
251
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Good to begin well, better to end well.
WHAT was next to be done was as puzzling
to our friends as the passage of that classic
trio, the fox, the goose, and the corn, was to
our childish ingenuity. Duty and safety were
involved in Linwood's return to the American
camp with all possible expedition. General
Washington was at Morristown, and the Ame-
rican army was going into winter quarters in
its immediate vicinity. Thither Linwood must
252
THE LINWOODS.
go, and so thought Lady Anne must she.
66
"Fate," she said, "had seconded her inclina-
tions, and to contend against their united force
was impossible; why should she not give her
hand to Herbert at once and be happy, instead
of returning to vex and be vexed by her dis-
appointed aunt? After they had made sure
of happiness and Heaven's favour, for Heaven
would smile on the union of true and loving
hearts, let the world gossip to its heart's content
about Linwood running off with an heiress;
he who was so far above a motive so degrading
and soul-sacrificing, could afford the imputation
of it, and would soon outlive it." There was
both nature and truth in her reasoning, and it
met with her lover's full and irrepressible sym-
pathy; with Isabella's too, but not with her
acquiescence.
Poor Isabella! it was hard for one who had
THE LINWOODS.
253
her keen participation in the happiness of others
to oppose it, and to hazard by delay the loss
of its richest materials. There was an earnest
seconding of their entreaties, too, from a voice
in the secret depths of her heart, which whispered
that Eliot Lee was at Morristown; but what
of that? ay, Isabella, what of that? Once
at Morristown, her return to the city might
be indefinitely delayed; innumerable obstacles
might interpose, and to return to her father
was an imperative and undeferable duty. To
permit Lady Anne to proceed without her
would be to expose her to gossip and calumny.
Isabella's was the ruling spirit; and after argu-
ments, entreaties, and many tears on the lady's
part, the lovers deferred to the laws of propriety
as expounded by her; and it was agreed that
Linwood should escort the ladies to the outskirts
of the Dutch village of Bergen, which could
254
THE LINWOODS.
not be more than two or three miles distant;
that there they should part, and thence the
means of returning to the city without an hour's
delay might easily be compassed.
Accordingly, two hours before daylight, they
set forth, following, through obscure and devi-
ous footpaths, the general direction of Bergen.
Miranda truly says, "it is the good-will to the
labour that makes the task easy." Lady Anne
had no good will to hers, and her footsteps were
feeble and faltering. The day dawned, the
sun rose, and as yet they saw no landmarks to
indicate the vicinity of Bergen. Herbert feared
they had missed their way; but without com-
municating his apprehensions, he proposed the
ladies should take shelter in a log-hut they
had reached, and which he thought indicated
the proximity of a road, while he went to
reconnoitre.
THE LINWOODS.
255
He had been gone half an hour, when Isabella
and Lady Anne were startled by the firing of
guns. They listened breathlessly. The firing
was repeated, but unaccompanied by the sound
of voices, footsteps, or the trampling of horses.
"It is not near," said Isabella to her little
friend, who had clasped her hands in terror;
"Herbert will hear it and return to us, and we
are quite safe here.”
"Yes; but if he is taken-murdered, Isa-
bella? Oh, let us go and know the worst."
"It would be folly," replied Isabella, "to
expose ourselves, and risk the possibility of
missing Herbert; but if you will be quiet, we
will creep up to that eminence," pointing to a
hill before them; "if it is cleared on the other
side, we may see without being seen."
They forthwith mounted the hill, which
presented a view of an open country, traversed
256
THE LINWOODS.
by several cross-roads. The point where they
intersected, a quarter of a mile distant, at once
fixed their gaze. A party of some thirty Ame-
ricans, part mounted and part on foot, were
engaged in a hot contest with more than an
equal number of the enemy. Lady Anne
grasped Isabella's arm, both were silent for a
moment, when a cry burst from Lady Anne's
lips, "It is it is he!"
"Who? where—what mean you?
"Your brother, Isabella!-there, the fore-
most! on the black horse ! "
"It is he! God have mercy on us!-and
there is Eliot Lee! "
Lady Anne's eye was riveted to Linwood.
"There are three upon him," she screamed;
"fly, fly !—Oh, why does he not fly?"
"He fights bravely," cried Isabella, covering
her eyes.
"Heaven aid you, my brother!
""
THE LINWOODS.
257
"It's all over," shrieked Lady Anne.
Isabella looked again. Herbert's horse had
fallen under him. "No, no," she cried; "he
lives! he is rising!"
"But they are rushing on him-they will
cut him to pieces! "
Isabella sprang forward, as if she would her-
self have gone to his rescue, exclaiming-" My
brother, Herbert-Oh, Eliot has come to his
aid! God be praised !-See, Anne!-look up.
Now they fight side by side!—Courage, courage,
Anne! Mercy upon us, why does Eliot Lee
turn back?"
"Oh, why does not Herbert turn too? if he
would but fly while he can!"
"Ah, there he comes!" exclaimed Isabella,
without heeding her companion's womanly wish,
"urging forward those men from behind the
wagons-On, on, good fellows! Ah, that
258
THE LINWOODS.
movement is working well-see, see; the enemy
is disconcerted! they are falling back! thank
God, thank God! See what confusion they
are in; they are running, poor wretches; they
are falling under that back fire!
""
The flying party had taken a road which
led to an enclosed meadow, and they were soon
stopped by a fence. This opposed a slight
obstacle, but it occasioned delay. The Ame-
ricans were close upon them; they turned,
threw down their arms, and surrendered them-
selves prisoners.
Shortly after, Eliot Lee, his face radiant
with a joy that fifty victories could not have
inspired, stood at the entrance of the log-hut,
informing the ladies that Linwood had confided
them to his care; Linwood himself having
received a wound, which, though slight, unfitted
him for that office, and rendered immediate
THE LINWOODS.
259
surgical aid desirable to him. His friend had
bidden him say to Miss Linwood that they had
wandered far from Bergen; and that as they
could not now get there without the danger
of encountering parties of the enemy, nothing
remained but to accept Captain Lee's protection
to Morristown.
"Do you hesitate now, Isabella?" asked
Lady Anne, impatiently.
"No, my dear girl, there is now no choice
for us."
"Thank Heaven for that. Nothing but
necessity would conquer you, Isabella." The
necessity met a very willing submission from
Isabella; and she was half inclined to acquiesce
in a whispered intimation from Lady Anne,
"that it was undoubtedly the will of Heaven
they should go to Morristown." They were
soon seated in a wagon, and proceeding forward,
260
THE LINWOODS.
escorted by Eliot and a guard, and hearing
from him the following explanation of his most
fortunate meeting with Linwood.
Eliot Lee had been sent by Washington,
with wagons, and a detachment of chosen men,
to afford a safe convoy for some important
winter-stores that had been run across from
New-York to the Jersey shore for the use of
the officers' families at Morristown. In the
meantime, a vigilant enemy had sent an inti-
mation of the landing of these stores, and of
their destination, to the British station at Powles
Hook, and a detachment of men had been.
thence despatched with the purpose of anti-
cipating the rightful proprietors.
Eliot, on his route, encountered one of the
enemy's videttes, whom he took prisoner, and
who, to baffle him, told him the stores were
already at Powles Hook. Eliot, warily dis-
THE LINWOODS.
261
trusting the information, proceeded, and directly
after, and just as he came in view of the enemy's
party, he met Herbert issuing from the wood.
A half moment's explanation was enough. The
vidette was dismounted, Herbert put in his
place, armed with his arms, and a golden oppor-
tunity afforded (to which the brave fellow did
full justice), to win fresh laurels wherewith to
grace his return to the dreaded, and yet most
desired presence of his commander.
262
THE LINWOODS.
CHAPTER XL.
Our profession is the chastest of all. The shadow of a
fault tarnishes our most brilliant actions. The least inad-
vertence may cause us to lose that public favour which is
so hard to gain.
THE quotation from a public reprimand of
Washington to a general officer, which forms
the motto to this chapter, contains the amount
of his reproof to Linwood in their first and
private interview. Even this reproof was soft-
ened by the generous approbation his general
expressed of the manliness and respectful sub-
THE LINWOODS.
263
mission with which he had endured the penalty
of his rashness. Linwood's heart was touched;
and, obeying the impulse of his frank nature,
he communicated the circumstances that had
mitigated his captivity, and gave a sort of dot
and line sketch of his love-tale to the awe-
inspiring Washington. Oh the miracles of
love! But let not too much power be ascribed
to the blind god. Linwood's false impressions
of Washington's impenetrable sternness were
effaced by his own experience, the most satis-
factory of all evidence. He found that this
great man, like Him whom he imitated, was
not strict to mark iniquity, and was, whenever
he could be so without the sacrifice of higher
duties, alive to social virtues and affections.
"Well, my young friend," he said, as Lin-
wood concluded, "you certainly have made
the most of your season of affliction, and now
264
THE LINWOODS.
we must take care of these generous companions
of
your flight. Our quarters are stinted; but
Mrs. Washington has yet a spare room, which
they must occupy till they can return with
safety to the city, and choose to do so."
Linwood thought himself, and with good
reason, requited a thousand fold for all his
trials. His only embarrassment was relieved,
and he had soon after the happiness of present-
ing his sister and Lady Anne Seton to Mrs.
Washington, a most benign and excellent
woman, and of confiding them to the hospitali-
ties of her household. Eliot and Linwood's
gallantry, in their rencounter with the enemy,
was marked, and advanced them in the opinion
of their fellow-officers; but the signal favour
it obtained from the ladies of Morristown, must
have been in part a collateral consequence of
the immense importance, to their domestic
THE LINWOODS.
265
comfort, of those precious stores which our
friends had secured for them.
Their sympathy in the romantic adventures
of the young ladies was manifested in the usua
feminine mode, by a round of little parties :
from stern necessity, frugal entertainments,
but abounding in one luxury, so rare where
all others now abound, that it might be
thought unattainable; the highest luxury of
social life-what is it?
With the luggage of our heroines came
encouraging accounts from Mrs. Archer of
Bessie Lee's progress, assurances of Mr. Lin-
wood's unwonted patience, and hints that it
would be most prudent for her young friends.
to remain where they were, till the excitement,
occasioned by their departure, had subsided.
Still Isabella was so thoroughly impressed with
the filial duty of returning without any volun-
VOL. III.
N
266
THE LINWOODS.
tary delay, that, at her urgent request, measures
were immediately taken to effect it; but obstacle
after obstacle intervened. Sir Henry Clinton
was about taking his departure for the south,
and he put off from time to time giving an
official assurance of an act of oblivion in favour
of our romantic offenders. The rigours of that
horrible winter of 1780, still unparalleled in the
annals of our hard seasons, set in and embar-
rassed all intercommunication.
It must be confessed, that Isabella bore these
trials with such gracious patience, that it hardly
seemed to be the result of difficult effort. It
was quite natural that she should participate in
the overflowing happiness of her brother and
friend; and it was natural that, being now an
eye-witness of the struggles, efforts, endurance,
and entire self-sacrifice of the great men that
surrounded her, her mind, acute in perception,
THE LINWOODS.
267
and vigorous in reflection, should be excited
and gratified. There are those who deem
political subjects beyond the sphere of a
woman's, certainly of a young woman's mind;
but if our young ladies were to give a portion
of the time and interest they expend on dress,
gossip, and light reading, to the comprehension
of the constitution of their country, and its
political institutions, would they be less interest-
ing companions, less qualified mothers, or less
amiable women? "But there are dangers in
a woman's adventuring beyond her customary
path." There are; and better the chance of
shipwreck on a voyage of high purpose, than to
expend life in paddling hither and thither on a
shallow stream, to no purpose at all.
Isabella's mind was not regularly trained;
and, like that of most of her sex, the access to it
was through the medium of her feelings. Her
N 2
268
THE LINWOODS.
sympathies were not limited to the few, the
6.6
bright, the immortal names that are now
familiar as household words to us all. She saw
the same virtues, that illustrated them, conspi-
cuous in the poor soldiers; in that class of men
that have been left out in the world's estimate,
and whose existence is scarcely recognised in its
past history. The winter of 1780 was charac-
terised by Washington as "the decisive mo-
ment, the most important America had seen!"
The financial affairs of the country were in the
utmost disorder. The currency had so depre-
ciated, that a captain's pay would scarcely fur-
nish the shoes in which he marched to battle.
The soldiers were without clothes or blankets,
and this in our coldest winter. They had been
but a few days in their winter quarters before
the flour and meat were exhausted; and yet, as
Washington said in a letter to Congress, after
THE LINWOODS.
269
speaking of the patient and uncomplaining forti-
tude with which the army bore their sufferings,
<<
though there had been frequent desertions—
not one mutiny." Happy was it for America
that, in the beginning of her national existence,
she thus tested the virtue of the people, and,
profiting by her experience, was confirmed in
her resolution to confide her destinies to them!
Something above the ordinary standard has
been claimed for our heroine; but it must be
confessed, after all, that she was a mere woman,
and that the main-spring of her mind's move-
ments was in her heart. How much of Isabella's
enthusiasm in the American cause was to be
attributed to her intercourse with Eliot Lee, we
leave to be determined by her peers. That
intercourse had never been disturbed by the
cross-purposes, jarring sentiments, clashing opi-
nions, and ever-annoying disparities, that had
•
270
THE LINWOOds.
so long made her life resemble a troubled
dream. Eliot's world was her world; his spirit
answered to hers. During that swift month
that had flown away at Morristown, how often
had she secretly rejoiced in the complete sever-
ance of the chain that had so long bound her
to an "alternate slave of vanity and love!"-
how she exulted in her freedom-freedom! the
voluntary service of the heart is better than
freedom.
There were no longer any barriers to Isabella
and Lady Anne's return to the city. The day
was fixed; it came; and while they were pack-
ing their trunks, and thinking of the partings
that awaited them, Lady Anne's eyes streaming,
and Isabella's changing cheek betraying a trou-
bled heart, a letter was handed to Lady Anne.
She looked at the superscription, threw it down,
then resumed it, broke the seal, and read it.
THE LINWOODS.
271
Without speaking, she mused over it for a
moment, then suddenly disappeared, leaving her
affairs unarranged, and did not return till Isa-
bella's trunk was locked, and she was about
wrapping herself in her travelling furs. She
reproved her little friend's delay, urged haste,
suggested consolation, and offered assistance.
Lady Anne made no reply, but bent over her
trunk, where, instead of arrangement, she seemed
to produce hopeless confusion. "How strange,"
she exclaimed, "that Thérése should have sent
me this fresh white silk dress!"
"Very strange; but pray do not stay to
examine it now."
"Bless Thérése! Here is my Brussels veil
too!"
66
My dear child, are you out of your senses?
Our escort will be waiting-pray, pray make
haste."
272
THE LINWOODS.
"And pray, dear Belle, don't stand looking
at me—you fidget me so. Oh, I forgot to tell
you Captain Lee asked for you-he is in the
drawing-room-go down to him, please, dear
Belle." As Lady Anne looked up, Isabella
was struck with the changed expression of her
countenance; it was bright and smiling, the
sadness completely gone. But she did not stay
to speculate on the change, nor did she, it must
be confessed, advert to Lady Anne for the next
fifteen minutes. Many thoughts rushed through
her mind as she descended the stairs. She won-
dered, painfully wondered, if Eliot would allude
to their memorable parting at Mrs. Archer's;
"if he should repeat what he then said, what
could she say in reply?" When she reached
the drawing-room door, she was obliged to
pause to gain self-command; and when she
opened it, she was as pale as marble, and her
THE LINWOODS.
273
features had a stern composure that would have
betrayed her effort to any eye but Eliot's; to
his they did not.
Eliot attempted to speak the common-places
of such occasions, and she to answer them; but
his sentences were lame, and her replies mono-
syllables; and they both soon sunk into a
silence more expressive of their mutual feel-
ings.
66
Lady Anne said he asked for me—well, it
was but to tell me the cold had abated! and
the sleighing is fine! and he trusts I shall reach
the city without inconvenience! What a poor
simpleton I was, to fancy that such sudden and
romantic devotion could be lasting. A very
little reality-a little every-day intercourse, has
put the actual in the place of the ideal!”
If Isabella had ventured to lift her eye to
Eliot's face at this moment, she would have
N 3
274
THE LINWOODS.
'read in the conflict it expressed, the contradic-
tion of her false surmises; and if her eye had
met his, the conflict might have ceased, for it
takes but a spark to explode a magazine. But
Eliot had come into her presence resolved to
resist the impulses of his heart, however strong
they might be. He thought he should but
afflict her generous nature by a second expres-
sion of his love, and his grief at parting. There
had been moments when a glance of Isabella's
eye, a tone of her voice-a certain indescribable
something, which those alone who have heard
and seen such can conceive, had flashed athwart
his mind like a sunbeam, and visions of bliss
in years to come had passed before him; but
clouds and darkness followed, and he remem-
bered that Miss Linwood was unattainable to
him-that if it were possible by the devotion of
years to win her, how should he render that
THE LINWOODs.
275
devotion, pledged as he was to his country for
a service of uncertain length, and severed, as he
must be, from her by an impassable barrier of
circumstances? As he had said to Isabella, he
had been trained in the school of self-subjection,
and never had he given such a proof of it as in
these last few moments- the last he expected
ever to enjoy or suffer with her. Both were so
absorbed in their own emotions, that they did
not notice the various entrances and exits of the
servants, who were bustling in and out, and
arranging cake and wine on a sideboard, with
a deal of significance, that would have amused
unconcerned spectators. A louder, more por-
tentous bustle followed the door was thrown
wide open, and both Eliot and Isabella were
startled from their reveries by the entrance of
Mrs. Washington, attended by a gentleman in
clerical robes, and followed by Linwood and
276
THE LINWOODS.
Lady Anne, in the bridal silk and veil that
Thérése, with inspiration worthy a French
chambermaid, had forwarded.
“One word with you, Miss Linwood," said
Mrs. Washington, taking Isabella apart. “This
dear little girl, it seems, was left independent of
all controul by her fond father. The honourable
scruples of your family have alone prevented her
surrendering her independence into your bro-
ther's hands. She has this morning received a
letter from her aunt, written in a transport of
rage at her son's unexpected marriage with a
Miss Ruthven. I fancy it is a Miss Ruthven of
the Virginia family-Grenville Ruthven's eldest
daughter?"
"Yes-yes-it is Madam," replied Isabella,
with a faltering voice. The emotion passed with
the words.
(6
Lady Anne's aunt," resumed Mrs. Wash-
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277
ington, " declares her intention of immediately
returning to England, and renounces her niece
for ever. Lady Anne and your brother have
referred their case to me; she saying, with her
usual playfulness, that she has turned rebel, and
put herself under the orders of the commander-
in-chief, or rather, he being this morning absent,
under mine. I have decided according to my
best judgment. There seems to be no sufficient
reason why they should defer their nuptials, and
endure the torments and perils of a protracted
separation. So, my dear Miss Linwood, you
have nothing to do but submit to my decision-
take your place there as bridemaid-you see
your brother has already stationed his friend,
Captain Lee, beside him, as groom's-man
Colonel Hamilton is waiting our summons to
give away the bride.”
At a signal from his mistress, a servant opened
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the door to the adjoining room, and Hamilton
entered, his face glowing with the sympathies
and chivalric sentiment always ready to gush
from his heart when its social spring was touched.
Isabella had but time to whisper to Lady Anne.
"Just what I would have prayed for, had I
dared to hope it," when the clergyman opened
his book, and performed his office. That over,
Mrs. Washington, as the representative of the
parents, pronounced a blessing on the bridal
pair; and that no due ceremonial should be
omitted, the bridal cake was cut and distributed
according to established usage; accompanied by
a remark from Mrs. Washington, that it must
have been compounded by some good hymeneal
genius, as it was the only orthodox plum-cake
that had been, or was like to be seen in Morris-
town, during that hard winter.
Now came partings, and tears, and last kind
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279
words, and messages, that were sure to find their
way to Mr. Linwood's heart, and a bit of wed-
ding-cake for mamma, who would scarcely have
believed her son lawfully married, unless she
had tasted it; and, last of all, an order for a
fine new suit for Rose, in compensation for that
so unceremoniously dropped at " Smith's house."
At last, Isabella, in a covered sleigh, escorted
by a guard, and attended by her brother and
Eliot Lee, on horseback, set off for the place
appointed for her British friends to meet her,
and there she was transferred to their protection.
What Eliot endured, as he lingered for a
moment at Isabella's side, cannot be expressed.
She felt her heart rising to her eyes and cheeks,
and by an effort of that fortitude, or pride, or
resolution, which is woman's strength, by what-
ever name it may be called, she firmly said,
"Farewell!"
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Eliot's voice was choked. He turned away
without speaking;—he impulsively returned, and
withdrew the curtain that hung before Isabella.
She was in a paroxysm of grief, her head thrown
back, her hands clasped, and tears streaming
from her eyes.
What a spectacle—what a
blessed spectacle for a self-distrusting, hopeless
lover!
"Isabella!" he exclaimed, "we do not then
part for ever?”
"I hope not," she replied.
The driver, unconscious of Eliot's returning
movement, cracked his whip, the horses started
on their course, and the road making a sudden
turn, the sleigh instantly disappeared, leaving
Eliot feeling as if he had been translated to
another world-a world of illimitable hope,
immeasurable joy.
"I hope not."
"" Could Isabella have uttered
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281
a more common-place reply? and yet these
words, with the emotion that preceded them,
were a key to volumes-were pondered on and
brooded over, through summer and winter-ay,
for years.
“Ah, n'en doutons pas! à travers les temps
et les espaces, les âmes ont quelquefois des cor-
respondances mysterieuses. En vain le monde
réel élève ses barrières entre deux êtres qui
s'aiment; habitans de la vie idéale, ils s'appa-
raissent dans l'absence, ils s'unissent dans la
mort,"
282
THE LINWOODS.
CHAPTER XLI.
Boy, fill me a bumper-now join in the chorus,
There's happiness still in the prospect before us;
In this sparkling glass all hostility ends,
And Britons and we will for ever be friends.
Derry down, derry down.-Old Song.
MORE than three years from the date of our
last chapter had passed away. The European
statesmen were tired of the silly effort to keep
grown-up men in leading strings, and their soldiers
were wearied with combating in fields where
no laurels grew for them. The Americans were
eager-the old to rest from their labours, and the
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283
young to reap the fruit of their toils; and all
good and wise men contemplated, with joy, the
reunion of two nations who were of one blood
and one faith. King George, firm or obstinate
to the last, had yielded his reluctant consent to
the independence of his American colonies; and
the peace was signed, which was welcomed by
all parties, save the few American royalists who
were now to suffer the consequences that are
well deserved by those who learn, unwillingly,
and too late, that their own honour and interest
are identified with their country's.
The 25th of November, 1783, was, as we are
annually reminded, by the ringing of bells and
firing of cannon, a momentous day in this city
of New York. It was the time appointed for
the evacuation of the city by the British forces,
and the entrance of the American commander-
in-chief with his army. To the royalists who
284
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had remained in the garrisoned city, attached
from principle, and fettered by early association,
to the original government, this was a day of
darkness and mourning. With their foreign
friends went, as they fancied, all their distinc-
tion, happiness, and glory. We may smile at
their weakness, but cannot deny them our sym-
pathy. Such men as Sir Guy Carleton (Sir
Henry Clinton's successor), who made even his
enemies love him, had a fair claim to the tears
of his friends; and others were there whose
names grace the history of our parent land, and
names not mentioned that were written on living
hearts, and which made partings that day-
Such as press the life from out young hearts.
Though on the verge of winter, the day was
bright and soft. The very elements were at
peace. At the rising of the sun, the British
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285
flag on the Battery was struck. Boats were in
readiness at the wharves to convey the troops,
and such of the inhabitants as were to accom-
pany them, down to Staten Island, where the
British ships were awaiting them. At an early
hour, and before the general embarkation, a
gentleman, much muffled, and evidently sedu-
lously avoiding observation, was seen stealing
through the by-streets to a boat, to which his
luggage had already been conveyed, and which,
as soon as he entered it, put off towards the fleet.
He looked soured and abstracted, eager to de-
part, and yet not joyful in going. His attitude
was dejected, and his eyes downcast, till some
sound that betokened an approach to the ship
roused him, when suddenly looking up, he
beheld, leaning over the side of the vessel, an
apparition that called the blood and the spirit
to his face. This apparition was his wife-Mrs.
286
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Jasper Meredith. There she stood, bowing to
him, and smiling, and replying adroitly to such
congratulations from the officers of the ship as,
"Upon my word, Mrs. Meredith, you leave the
country with spirit-your husband should take
a leaf out of your book.”
"One
Meredith entered the ship. His wife took
him by the arm and led him aside.
word to you, my dear love," she said, “before
that cloud on your brow bursts. I have known,
from the first, your secret intention, and your
secret preparations to go off with the fleet, and
leave me here to get on as I could. I took my
measures to defeat yours. You should know,
before this time of day, that I am never foiled
in what I undertake--"
"No, by Heaven, never."
"There's no use in swearing about it, my
love; nor will there be any use," she added,
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287
changing her tone of irony to a cutting energy,
"in doing what, as my husband-my lord and
master-you may do, in raising a storm here,
refusing to pay my passage, and sending me
back to the city. Officers-gentlemen, you
know, all take the part of an oppressed wife-
you would be put to Coventry, and make your
début in England to great disadvantage. So,
my dear, make the best of it; let our plans
appear to be in agreement. It is in bad taste to
quarrel before spectators-we will reserve that
to enliven domestic scenes in England.”
"In England! my mother declares she will
never receive you there; and I am now utterly
dependent on my mother."
"I know all that; I have seen your mother's
letters." Meredith stared. "Yes, all of them,
and, in them all, she reiterates her governing
principle, that appearances must be managed.'
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THE LINWOODS.
I shall convince her that I am one of the mana-
gers, and the prima donna in this drama of
appearances.
"You
Meredith made no reply. He saw no eligible
way of escape, and he was, like a captive insect,
paralysed in the web that enclosed him.
are convinced, I perceive, my dear;" continued
his loving wife, "be kind enough to give me a
few guineas; I paid my last to the boatmen, and
it is awkward being without money.'
""
Meredith turned from her and walked hur-
riedly up and down the deck; then stopped, and
took out his pocket-book to satisfy her demand;
but his purpose was suspended by his eye
falling accidentally on the card, on which, ten
years before, he had recorded Effie's prediction.
The card was yellow and defaced; but like a
talisman, it recalled with the freshness of actual
presence the long, but not forgotten, past-the
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289
time when Isabella Linwood's untamed pulses
answered to his-when Bessie Lee's soft eye fell
tenderly upon him-when he was linked in
friendship with Herbert-when the lights of
nature still burned in his soul-while as yet his
spirit had not passed under the world's yoke,
and crouched under its burden of vanity,
heartlessness, and sordid ambition.
His eye
glanced towards his wife, he tore the card in
pieces, and honest, bitter tears flowed down his
cheeks.
Bessie Lee, thou wert then avenged! Avenged?
Sweet Spirit of Christian forgiveness and celes-
tial love, we crave thy pardon! Bessie Lee,
restored to her excellent mother, and to her
peaceful and now most happy home at West-
brook, was enjoying her renovated health and
"rectified spirit." The vigorous mind of Mrs.
Archer, and Isabella's frank communication of
VOL. III.
290
THE LINWOODS.
She no
her own malady and its cure, had aided in the
entire dissipation of Bessie's illusions, and no
shadow of them remained but a sort of nun-like
shrinking from the admiration and devotion of
the other sex. She lived for others, and chiefly
to minister to the sick and sorrowful.
longer suffered herself; but the chord of suffer-
ing had been so strained that it was weakened,
and vibrated at the least touch of the miseries of
others. The satirist who scoffs at the common
fact of devotion succeeding love in a woman's
heart, is superficial in the philosophy of our
nature. He knows not that woman's love
implies a craving for happiness, a dream of
bliss that human character and human circum-
stances rarely realise, and a devotedness and
self-negation due only to the Supreme. The
idol falls, and the heart passes to the true
God.
THE LINWOODS.
291
All things on earth shall wholly pass away,
Except the love of God, which shall live and last for aye.
That love of God, that sustaining, life-giving
principle, waxed stronger and stronger in Bessie
Lee as she went on in her pilgrimage. Her
pilgrimage was not a long one; and when it
ended, the transition was gentle from the heaven
she made on earth to that which awaited her in
the bosom of the Father.
We return to the shifting scenes in New
York. The morning was allotted to the depar-
ture of the British. "Rose," said Mr. Linwood,
66
give me my cloak and fur shoes, and I will go
through the garden to Broadway, and see the
last of them-God bless them!"
"And my cloak and calêche, Rose," said Mrs.
Linwood; "it is a proper respect to show our
friends that our hearts are with them to the last
0 2
292
THE LINWOODS.
-it should be a family thing. Come, Belle;
and you, Lady Anne, come too."
"With all my heart, dear mamma; but pray
-pray do not call me Lady Anne. I have told
you, again and again, that I have renounced
my title, and will have no distinction but that
which suits the country of my adoption—that
which I may derive from being a good wife
and mother—the true American order of
merit.'
"As you please, my dear child; but it is a
singular taste.”
66
Singular to prefer Mrs. Linwood to Lady
Anne! Oh, no, mamma."
Mrs. Linwood received the tribute with a
grateful smile, and afterwards less frequently
forgot her daughter-in-law's injunction. Her
affections always got the better of her vanity-
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293
after a slight contest. "Rose," continued Lady
Anne, "please put on little Herbert's fur cap,
and take him out to see the show too. Is not
that a pretty cap, mamma? I bought it at
Lizzy Bengin's."
66
Lizzy Bengin's! Has Lizzy returned ?”
“Yes, indeed; and re-opened her shop in the
same place, and hung up her little household
deity Sylvy again, who is screaming out as
zealously as ever- Come in-come in.' Lizzy,
they say, is to have a pension from Congress*
"The d- she is!" exclaimed Mr.
wood; "well, everything is turned topsturvy
now. Come, are we not all ready? where lags
Belle ?"
Isabella entered in a very becoming hat and
cloak, adjusted with more than her usual

* Lizzy Bengin actually received the pension.
294
THE LINWOODS.
care, and her countenance brilliant with ani-
mation.
66
'Upon my word, Miss Belle," said her father,
passing his hand over her glowing cheek, "you
are hanging out very appropriate colours for this
mournful occasion."
99
"The heart never hangs out false colours,
papa."
"Ah, Belle, Belle! that I should live to see
you a traitor too; but I do live, and bear it
better than I could have expected.”
"Because, papa, it no longer seems to you
the evil it once did-does it?"
“Yes, I'll be hanged if it don't, just the
same; but then, Belle, I'll tell you what it is
that's kept the sap running warm and freely in
this old good-for-nothing trunk of mine. My
child," the old man's voice faltered, "you have
been true and loyal to me through all this dark
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295
time of trial and adversity; you have been a
perpetual light and blessing to my dwelling,
Belle; and Herbert-if a man serves the devil,
I'd have him serve him faithfully-Herbert, in
temptation and sore trials, has been true to the
cause he chose-up to the mark. This it is
that's kept me heart-whole. And, Belle, if ever
you are a parent, which God grant, for you
deserve it, you'll know what it is to have your
very life rooted in the virtue of your children,
and to be sustained by that-yes, as mine is,
sustained and made pretty comfortable too, even
though my king has to succumb to these rebel
upstarts, and I have to look on and see every
gentleman driven out of the land to give place
to these tag-rag and bobtail.”
"But, papa," said Isabella, anxious to turn
her father's attention from the various groups
gathering in the streets, and who, it was evident.
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were only waiting, according to the previous
compact, for the last British boat to leave the
wharf, to give utterance to their joyous "huz-
zas;" "but, papa, you have overlooked some
important items in your
consolations."
"I have not mentioned them; but they are
main props. Anne, God bless her! and that
little dog," he shook his cane lovingly at his
grandson, who crowed a response, "though he
was born under Washington's flag, and sucks
in independence and republicanism with his
mother's milk, the little rascal!"
In spite of Mr. Linwood's habitual vitupera-
tion, it was evident that his cup of happiness
was full to overflowing, and that there was in
it only a few salutary bitter drops, without
which there is no draught commingled for
human lips.
Mrs, Archer, with her children, now joined
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297
her friends, and they were all grouped under a
fine old locust that stood just without the wall
of Mr. Linwood's garden, and was among the
few trees that retained any foliage at this
advanced season.
The last foreign regiment was passing from
Broadway to the Battery, in the admirable order
and condition of British troops: the arms of
the soldiers glittering, their uniform fresh and
unsullied, and that of the officers, who had seen
little service to deface and disarrange it, in a
state of preservation rather indicating a drawing-
room than a battle-field. Mr. Linwood gazed
after them, and said, sorrowfully, "We ne'er
shall look upon their like again."
"I hope not," muttered Rose to herself, in the
back-ground; "this a'n't to be the land for them
that strut in scarlet broadcloth and gold epaulets,
and live upon the sweat of working people's
03
298
THE LINWOODS.
brows. No, thank God-and General Wash-
ington."
“Ah,” said Mrs. Archer, "there is good old
General Knyphausen turning the key of his
door for the last time. Heaven's blessing will
go with him, for he never turned it upon a
creature that needed his kindness." The good
old German crossed the street, grasped Mr.
Linwood's hand, kissed the hands of the ladies,
and without speaking, rejoined his suite and
passed on.
"Who are those young gallants, Isabella,"
asked Mr. Linwood, "that seem riveted to the
pavement at Mrs. —--'s door ? ”
Isabella mentioned their names, and added,
"Miss
is there, a magnet to the last moment
a hard parting that must be."
No wonder it was deemed a "hard parting,"
if half that is told by her contemporaries of
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299
Miss
-'s beauty and auxiliary charms be
true; a marvellous tale, but not incredible to
those who see her as she now is, after the
passage of more than fifty years, vivacious,
courteous, and bright-eyed.
While Lady Anne was deepening the colour
on Isabella's cheek by whispering, "Better a
coming than a parting lover!" our old friend
Jupiter, arm in arm with his boon companion
"The gen'ral,” was passing.
"Where are you going in such haste, Jupe?"
asked his ex-master, in reply to Jupiter's re-
spectful salutation.
"I am 'gaged to 'black Sam' to dine with
General Washington, sir."
Mr. Linwood had been told that a fête was in
preparation at "black Sam 's," the great restaura-
teur of his day, for General Washington and
his friends. He was ready to believe almost
300
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any extravagance of the levelling Americans;
but the agrarianism that made Jupiter a party
at the festive board with the commander-in-
chief rather astounded him. "By the Lord!"
he whispered to Isabella, "Herbert shall come
home and eat his dinner."
CC
"You mean, Jupe," said Miss Linwood,
without directly replying to her father, "that
you are engaged to wait on General Washington
at black Sam's ?"
"Sartin, Miss Isabella; did not I 'spress
myself so?"
"Not precisely, Jupe; but I understood you
So.”
Jupiter drew near to Miss Linwood, whom
he, in common with others, looked upon as the
presiding genius of the family, to unfold a wish
that lay very near his heart. But Jupe was a
diplomatist, and was careful not to commit
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301
himself in the terms of a treaty. "Miss Belle,"
he said, "I hear Mrs. Herbert Linwood has got
a nice char❜ot sent over from England, and if
she wants a coachman, I don't know but I might
like to come back to the old place."
CC
Very well, Jupe, I will speak to my sister,
and we will consider of it."
"Do, Miss Belle, and I'll 'sider of it too. I
have not 'finitly made up my mind to stay in
New-York. They say there's to be such bustle
and racket here, building ships and stores, and
all this space," pointing to the still vacant space
between Broadway and the river, “all this
space
to be covered with housen bigger than them burnt
down. I'm afraid there'll be too much work
and 'fusion for me; 'tant genteel, you know,
Miss Belle, and I think of 'tiring to the manor
"That will be wisest, Jupe; New-York will
no longer be a place for idlers of any degree."
302
THE LINWOODS.
Jupiter, all complacency in a classification
which sorted him with those whom he styled the
genteel, bowed and passed on.
Music was now heard from the extremity of
the Battery. All had embarked save the band.
The band, that had been the pride and delight
of the inhabitants, through winter and summer,
now struck up, for the last time, “God save the
king!" Every sound was hushed, and white
handkerchiefs were waved from balconies, win-
dows, and doors. Mr. Linwood uncovered his
head, and the tears trickled down his cheeks.
As the music ceased, Edward Archer, who
stood with his arm over his sister's shoulder,
said, "Oh, Lizzy, how we shall miss the band!"
"Miss them! No, Ned; not when we get
back to dear breezy Beech Hill, and hear the
birds, and smell the flowers, and have none to
hurt us nor make us afraid."
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303
The last boat put off from the wharf, and at
the next instant the "star-spangled banner" was
unfurled from the flagstaff, and every bell in the
city poured forth its peal of welcome to the
deliverer of his country, who was seen, at the
head of a detachment of his army, approaching
the city through the Fields, then the general
designation of all that portion of New-York
beyond the British palisades which traversed
Broadway at Chambers-street.
Those who are familiar with the location of
this our noble street of Broadway, the pride of
the metropolis, can imagine the thrilling effect
of the moment on the spectators. They saw
the flag of an independent empire waving on
the Battery; beyond, the bay glittering in the
meridian sun; and, floating on the bay, the ships
that were to convey their late masters for ever
from the land that had rejected them. At the
-7
304
THE LINWOODS.
upper extremity of the street appeared General
Washington, the spotless patriot, the faultless
military chieftain, the father of his country,
"first in war, first in peace, and first in the
hearts of his countrymen;" he on whom every
epithet of praise has been exhausted, and whose
virtues praise never yet reached. With him
were his companions in arms and glory, and
following him his soldiers, their garments worn
and soiled, and their arms broken and defaced.
It mattered not. The period of toils and hard-
ship, of hope and fear, of seed-time, was past—
the harvest was to come, the abundant harvest
to them, their children's children, and the
stranger within their gates.
The procession drew near to Wall-street,
where it was to turn; a few paces lower down
was the locust-tree where our friends were
grouped. As the cavalcade approached, Mr.
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305
Linwood began to show signs of fidgeting.
Isabella's arm was in his. "Let us go in, sir,”
she said.
66
Presently, my dear, presently; I'll have
one look at Washington. By George of Oxford!
a noble figure of a man! Ah, but for him, the
rebels would never have carried the day."
"For him! and the Lord on their side!"
involuntarily added Rose, who had advanced to
give her little charge the chance of a glance at
his father.
"The Lord on the side of such a ragged
regiment of ragamuffins? High sons of Liberty,
forsooth!" replied Mr. Linwood, chuckling at
the wretched appearance of the American soldiers.
66
They are extremely ragged," said Mrs.
Linwood 1; "such a contrast to our army."
"They are, God bless them!" said Isabella,
"and sacred, in my eyes, as the garments of
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the Saints, are these outward signs of their brave
toils."
"Oh," exclaimed Mrs. Herbert Linwood,
"I see my husband!-and there, Belle, is
Colonel Lee, on the very horse General Putnam
gave him. I wish his poor man Kisel, of whom
I have so often heard him speak, had lived to
amble after him this day. 'Poor fool!' Eliot
will always have one part in his heart that's
sorry yet for thee.""
Isabella's eye had followed the direction of
her sister's; her cheek became suddenly pale,
and she reiterated her wish to her father to
return into the house.
"In a minute, my dear child, in a minute;
let's first see them wheel into Wall-street. Who
is that Colonel Lee you spoke of, Anne?"
"Eliot Lee, sir. Did not Belle tell you how
he was sent with the detachment from the
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307
northern army to the south, and how he behaved
with such gallantry at the taking of Cornwallis,
that he received a colonelcy immediately after
from Congress. Did you not tell, Belle?" she
added, archly smiling at her sister.
The turn into Wall-street was now to be
made, and the officers riding ahead came nearly
parallel to our friends. General Washington
seeing, and instantly recognising, Isabella Lin-
wood and her sister, saluted them. Mr. Linwood
instinctively doffed his hat, and bowed low to
the commander of the rebel army. Eliot Lee's
eye met Isabella's, and returned its brightest
beam to the welcome that flashed from hers.
Herbert kissed his hand to his friends, and
stretched his arms to his boy. Rose lifted the
little fellow high in the air; he was inspired
with the animation of the scene, and the word
that was then shouted forth from a thousand
308
THE LINWOODS.
tongues, the first he ever uttered, burst from
his lips-" Huzza!"
The following, and many successive evenings,
Eliot Lee passed with the Linwoods. Those
of our kind readers whose patience has brought
them to the close of these volumes, will not be
surprised that our heroine, after her conquest
over a misplaced, and, as it may strictly be
termed, an accidental passion, should return
with her whole heart his love who deserved, if
man could deserve it, that treasure.
Did the course of their true love run smooth?
Yes, true love though it was, it did. The bare
fact that his daughter Isabella, who seemed to
him fit to grace a peerage, was to wed the
portionless son of a New-England farmer, was
at first startling to Mr. Linwood. But, as few
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309
men are, he was true to his theories; and when
Isabella, quoting his own words on a former
occasion, frankly confessed that she had given
her heart to Eliot Lee, and "that meant her
respect, honour, esteem, and all that one of
God's creatures can feel for another," he re-
plied, fondly kissing her, "Then God's will
be done, my child, and give your hand too!”
We are aware that the champions of romance,
the sage expounders of the laws of sentiment,
maintain that there can be but one love. We
will not dispute with them, though we honestly
believe, that in the capacities of loving, as in
all other capacities, there be diversities of gifts;
but we will concede that such a sentiment as
united Isabella and Eliot Lee can never be
extinguished; and therefore can never be re-
pealed. It blended their purposes, pursuits,
hopes, joys, and sorrows; it became a part of
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their spiritual natures, and independent of the
accidents of life.
As the cause of humanity and the advance
of civilisation depend mainly on the purity of
the institution of marriage, I shall not have
written in vain if I have led one mind more
highly to appreciate its responsibilities and
estimate its results; its effect not only on the
happiness of life, but on that portion of our
nature which is destined to immortality: if I
persuade even one of my young country women
so to reverence herself, and so to estimate the
social duties and ties, that she will not give her
hand without her heart, nor her heart till she
is quite sure of his good desert who seeks it.
And, above all, I shall not have written in vain
if I save a single young creature from the
barter of youth and beauty for money, the
merely legal union of persons and fortunes
THE LINWOODS.
311
1
multiplying among us, partly from wrong
education and false views of the objects of life,
but chiefly from the growing imitation of the
artificial and vicious society of Europe.
It is only by entering into these holy and
most precious bonds with right motives and
right feelings, that licentious doctrines can be
effectually overthrown, and the arguments of
the more respectable advocates of the new and
unscriptural doctrine of divorce can be success-
fully opposed.
We boldly then advise our young friends so
far to cultivate the romance of their natures (if
it be romance to value the soul and its high
offices above all earthly consideration), as to
above
eschew rich old roué bachelors, looking-out
widowers with large fortunes, and idle, ignorant
young heirs; and to imitate our heroine int
trusting to the honourable resources of virtue
312
THE LINWOODS.
and talent, and a joint stock of industry and
frugality, in a country that is sure to smile
upon these qualities, and reward them with as
much worldly prosperity as is necessary to hap-
piness, and safe for virtue.
MAR 1 1 1918
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
DATE DUE
APR 1 1980
MAR 11 1993

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